yk spent a fabulous Fourth of July holiday in Pittsburgh! (Trip Report)
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Thanks for posting yk. As a native Pittsburgher, it's sometime difficult to determine what a visitor might find interesting or not. I have a female friend who is coming from Germany to visit in September and it's really hard for me to know what types of things she might find interesting.
Glad you enjoyed Monterrey Bay - it is on my list of places to visit with her so I'm glad to hear you liked it. I'm not a fan of the Warhol Museum, so that's out. As I have not seen the Chihuly exhibit yet, I think I will take her there. I'll have to check with her to see if there is any interest in the Wright houses. I've seen them both, but think she might enjoy the drive (I would take the backroads --- Route 40) rather than the turnpike. Yes, probably farther, but more interesting to drive.
I'm not so interested in the Strip. The John Heinz history museum is supposed to be very nice though - I may try that. I hope the other Pittsburgher visitors will post a trip report and make some suggestions as well.
Glad you enjoyed Monterrey Bay - it is on my list of places to visit with her so I'm glad to hear you liked it. I'm not a fan of the Warhol Museum, so that's out. As I have not seen the Chihuly exhibit yet, I think I will take her there. I'll have to check with her to see if there is any interest in the Wright houses. I've seen them both, but think she might enjoy the drive (I would take the backroads --- Route 40) rather than the turnpike. Yes, probably farther, but more interesting to drive.
I'm not so interested in the Strip. The John Heinz history museum is supposed to be very nice though - I may try that. I hope the other Pittsburgher visitors will post a trip report and make some suggestions as well.
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yk - Thanks to the new and improved Fodors format, which now allows us to "flag" our trip reports, when I search for Pennsylvania posts on the US board, I keep seeing two of your trip reports come up.
Well, I finally had the time this morning to read this report from 2007, and I have to tell you, it makes me want to go and visit Pittsburgh! I was there way back in 1976, before revitalization took effect. It was pretty run down.
Same goes with Fallingwater. I remember the guide complaining about the cantilevered covered walkway - they were considering closing down that section because it was becoming unsafe (it did look neat, though). And the glass walls over the waterfall were leaking, and parts of the foundation were ready to crumble. It certainly is a pretty looking house, but it has major, major building flaws. I found Wright's "skinny hallway theory" to be odd - hallways are wasted space so they have to be as skinny as you can make them.
It would be nice to go back to Fallingwater and Pittsburgh, and see all the sites again, and some new ones. I guess I've found myself so intent on travelling in Europe, that I forgot to look at what's to offer in my own backyard. Thanks for the trip report.
Robyn
Well, I finally had the time this morning to read this report from 2007, and I have to tell you, it makes me want to go and visit Pittsburgh! I was there way back in 1976, before revitalization took effect. It was pretty run down.
Same goes with Fallingwater. I remember the guide complaining about the cantilevered covered walkway - they were considering closing down that section because it was becoming unsafe (it did look neat, though). And the glass walls over the waterfall were leaking, and parts of the foundation were ready to crumble. It certainly is a pretty looking house, but it has major, major building flaws. I found Wright's "skinny hallway theory" to be odd - hallways are wasted space so they have to be as skinny as you can make them.
It would be nice to go back to Fallingwater and Pittsburgh, and see all the sites again, and some new ones. I guess I've found myself so intent on travelling in Europe, that I forgot to look at what's to offer in my own backyard. Thanks for the trip report.
Robyn
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Hi Robyn-
I'm glad you found this! Actually, before the new format took over, this trip report was lost to the "black hole" as it would NEVER come up with any kind of search I could think of. I did bookmark the URL so I could always find it myself, but no one else could with the search function.
Pittsburgh indeed was a pleasant surprise, and I was a bit embarrassed that I never bothered to visit duing my 6-year stay in Philadelphia... but better late than never! I still have to take my husband there some day, as I'm sure he'd enjoy FallingWater. I hope you'll go visit some time soon (when the weather is better).
I'm glad you found this! Actually, before the new format took over, this trip report was lost to the "black hole" as it would NEVER come up with any kind of search I could think of. I did bookmark the URL so I could always find it myself, but no one else could with the search function.
Pittsburgh indeed was a pleasant surprise, and I was a bit embarrassed that I never bothered to visit duing my 6-year stay in Philadelphia... but better late than never! I still have to take my husband there some day, as I'm sure he'd enjoy FallingWater. I hope you'll go visit some time soon (when the weather is better).
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We went to Pittsburgh for the 2009 Fourth of July holiday as well AS yk! I love to go to Pittsburgh once a year. There is such spectacular urban geography to appreciate, and so many interesting noghborhoods to explore. In additon to watching the fireworks from atop Mount Washington, we photgraphed some of America's most interesting art neuveau architecture. The Heidelberg Apartments and another which is called, I believe, Highland Terrace in Shadyside are a ArtN as anything in Vienna or Budapest!!! HOwever the absolute highlight of our weekend was a vist to the Phipps Conservatory in Schenley Park. Recently expanded and renovated to achieve the highest standards of energy efficiency offered through the LEED Program, this spectacular indoor garden is ALWAYS worth the vist. Last Summer though the Phipps was the site of a special glass exhibit by German born glass sculptor, Hans Godo Frabel. This was unquestionably the highlight of our visit to Pittsburgh. Hundreds of Frabel's exquisite glass sculptures were integrated into the conservatory settings. In addition the Phipps has acquired a number of Chihuly glass sculptures, which wer also on display. Many of the best restaurants are in neighborhoods like Southside Flats, Northside's German Village, Italian Bloomfield, Jewish Squirrel Hill and uberhip Shadyside. Lastly for Greenies out there, Pittsburgh has one of the largest collection of LEED certified sustainable buildings in all of America. Pittsburgh is one of America's best kept secrets.
E B Pennsylvania
E B Pennsylvania
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Fun report! We recently spent a long weekend in pittsburgh and had a great time. A highlight was a unique dinner at The Church Brew Works. Its an historic church converted into a restaurant and microbrewery. Tables were made to match up with pews, the huge vats are on the altar, and there were plenty of big screens placed throughout to watch the games. Good food and good times
www.churchbrew.com
rkkwan, i like cleveland too. Like pittsburgh, it's really nice in the summer.
www.churchbrew.com
rkkwan, i like cleveland too. Like pittsburgh, it's really nice in the summer.
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A note to anyone visiting Pittsburgh -
The Strip is an area known for it Saturday market. Most days, it can seem like your average food processing neighborhood (yk made a good analogy about the Meatpacking District) but on Saturdays from about 8 am to 1 pm, it reminds me more of Pike Place market in Seattle in terms of vendors and craziness.
The Strip is an area known for it Saturday market. Most days, it can seem like your average food processing neighborhood (yk made a good analogy about the Meatpacking District) but on Saturdays from about 8 am to 1 pm, it reminds me more of Pike Place market in Seattle in terms of vendors and craziness.
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So glad to hear the great review of Pittsburgh. Having grown up in the suburbs, a trip to Phipps was always always a field trip during high school days. Oh, how I remember the trips to the "strip" with my dad and buying all the goodie at Penn Mac. Now that we are retired, we have a summer home in the northern suburbs and still enjoy the now gentrified strip on Sat. mornings, the Pitt. Zoo, Phipps and of course. the wonderful restaurants in the south side.
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