I am traveling with three other ladies to Pittsburgh Nov 17th-21st for a conference. We are staying at the Omni William Penn. I am assuming this is the downtown area??? Is this a safe neighborhood for walking in the evening? We are looking for some restaurants, a nice place to have a drink, things to do and shopping in that area. We will be looking for great food, but not really fancy restaurants. We are teachers, so we are on a budget. Our per deim is pathetic! We will not have a rental car either, but have used mass transit in other cities. Any suggestions or ideas. (I am very sad the the Steelers will be gone that week. That was the first thing I checked.)

Check out the Pittsburgh Ballet. We enjoyed the Fish Market for dinner. We had many courses and drinks so it was expensive but you could choose what to indulge in. Everything was delicious and we enjoyed the atmosphere.

There is a good amount of music and theater downtown, where, yes, the William Penn is located. It's a nice hotel. Shopping downtown isn't that great, but Saks is quite near the hotel and nice for browsing. Pretty expensive, though.

More fun is the Strip District, but only during the day for shopping. A taxi from the hotel should be very inexpensive, but Pgh. cabbies bulk at fares that aren't goint to the airport. Maybe ask the concierge for bus directions.

Another choice for shopping is the Station Square complex, just across the river. If the day is nice, it's a nice walk. If not, the T (subway, goes pretty much from your hotel to Station Square) will take you there.

Dining: a very nice downtown retaurant is Sonoma Grill, with a pretty upscale and attractive bar.

My favorite dining in the area is Kaya in the Strip. If you are going for a weekend dinner, get reservations.

This will be a nice part of staying at the William Penn: the have great service.

Another good shopping area is the Southside. More funky, but the new area of the SS has upscale, but chain-type shops. The older area (10th through 22nd Sts.) has the funkier and more interesting shops. Safe day and night. Lots of good eating options on the Southside: my favorite for inexpensive Middle Eastern is Kassab's. The meat (NOT the vegetarian) moussaka is sublime, and they have the city's best Baba ganoush (I just had some for dinner). Conversely, their vegetarian grape leaves are better than the ones with meat.

Kaya is moderately priced; Sonoma Grill is higher, and Kassab's is cheap.

Your hotel is in a safe area, but unfortunately, just dead at night. Get yourselves to the Cultural Center for a livelier scene, about 4 blocks to the north.

Pittsburgh is a fairly safe city. Avoid all chain restaurants.

Thank you for the information and ideas of things to do! I just saw where there is a special event on Nov 18th, Light up Night. Anyone ever do any of these things? I am also wondering what I should pack to wear in the day and or night. I am in NM right now and it was almost 80 degrees today. I'm betting it is colder there, huh.

I've always enjoyed the view from the hill where the Duquesne incline is located. At the bottom of the hill is Station Square, where shopping and restaurants are.

As a lifelong resident of the area, I can intone the three characteristics which would be on the tip of every Real Estate expert's tongue when discussing Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are three items with which people around the world are intensely familiar within Pittsburgh. These three items are Penguins, Pirates, Steelers!!!

Pis

Here's some arts info for downtown
http://www.pgharts.org/

Also, try to visit the Conservatory and museums in the Shadyside/Carnegie Mellon neighborhood.

I just did a trip report on the beautiful city so please check it out. Also I cannot say enough about Mantini's on the South Side for dinner.

If you are in town for Light Up Night, then good for you. Unless it is pouring rain, the streets will be full of people, there should be some street performers, and other things. You can also ask about this at the hotel.

A ride on the incline: take the T from the stop nearest your hotel to the Station Square station, get off and walk to the Incline station. If it is Light Up Night, you are really in luck. The view will be great and there will be lots of people out. But do this even if it isn't Light Up Night. It's fun.

And yeah, people here love the sports teams, but there are those of us living full and interesting lives here that have nothing to do with watching sports.

If you can get out to Oakland, the area around the Carnegie Museums is great. Pitt's Cathedral of Learning, the Museums, the Carnegie Library, the Dinosaur statue, and Craig Street for shops and cafes is all quite nice. You can get a bus from Downtown, or, again, a taxi.

I meant to say that cabbies balk, and not "bulk" ... sorry.

Title: Sunnyledege won our hearts

Having traveled quite abit in the United States I realize that European tastes and North American tastes as they relate to hotels are somehwhat different. I believ howver that Sunnyledge in Pittsburgh PA transcends the continental divide in terms of hotel taste.

While the rooms are not huge they are in fact quite cozy and charming. The beds are very compforatble with goose duvets. The chef prepared raisin oatmeal cookies with turn down service were a nice touch.

The staff was very friendly although it is obvious the hotle employs mainly college students from Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh. Some might prefer seasoned veterans but we were happy with a less stuffy and jovial concierge and front desk staff which were quite good at making dining recommendations.

Aside from our deluxe room we enjoyed the martini bar and restaurant.

Overall Sunnyledge was a good fit for this European.

Is the Pitt campus part of the downtown? Is it a nice area --restaurants, shopping,theatre...? Thanks!

I'll be at the same teacher's convention as scsmom. Thanks to all for the Pittsburg suggestions, and please keep them coming--especially restaurants. We like good food and wine at moderate prices--especially suggstions where a group of 8-10 would be comfortable.