I Live for Little Moments like That

Although many Penn Staters are born to hate Pitt, Oakland happens to be one of my favorite parts of town.  Located right in between Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh, Oakland reminds me a little bit of State College, even though they're completely different, but it is busy and full of college students. Although I know little about CMU, my knowledge about Pitt is pretty high. 

The Cathedral of Learning

My favorite part of Pitt's campus is the Cathedral of Learning. I guess I don't know the 'real' Cathedral, since I'm not a Pitt student, but the parts that I do know are beautiful. The largest part of the first floor is the "commons room," where students go to study, but part of the first floor is also a large tourist attraction: the Nationality Rooms. I've visited the rooms more times than I can remember, and they're all beautiful. Some of my favorites include the German, the Irish, and the French room.  All together there are 27 rooms, each representing a different culture that had an influence on Pittsburgh's growth. Pittsburgh, as it exists now, could not exist without the help of these cultures, and the nationality rooms are a way to show how thankful the current residents are because of these immigrants' help. The nationality rooms were a common field trip during my elementary school years, all the way up until my senior year of high school.

The stairs of the Cathedral

Oakland is not just the University of Pittsburgh and other universities, it has museums and hospitals, as well as shopping, restaurants, and obviously tons of students. The area has two city designated historic districts, the residential area of Schenley Farms and the predominantly institutional Oakland Civic Center.

The part I'm most familiar with is North Oakland; it's also the area I spend the most time. Right near the Cathedral of Learning is a street called South Craig Street. It's full of restaurants and cool shops that you can't really find anywhere else. I've spent many a late night in Oakland eating at Lulu's Noodles and Razzy Fresh.

Places in Oakland are actually open past dinnertime on weeknights, unlike most of the places by my house. So when we want to grab a late dinner, we automatically drive down to Lulu's. As one can tell by the name, it's a noodle shop and the food is really cheap. Dinner is probably around eight bucks, which is a price you can't beat. Plus the food is delicious.

Even though you'll be completely full by the time you're done there, there's always room for Razzy Fresh, a frozen yogurt place a block away. There are TONS of flavors and toppings there. Luckily, you get to make your dessert yourself and can pick and choose as much as you want-- just be careful, the price is based on weight.

Goodbyes the day before I left for college at the Carnegie Museum

I spent way to many late summer nights stuffing my face with the delicious places mentioned above. After taking our normal seats across the street on the steps of a cute little apartment building we talked about everything. We cried about break ups, went on double dates, said our goodbyes on the stairs of the Carnegie Museum, and talked about our scary future that was fast approaching. This summer will be different; same places, different topics. We won't be scared of college, and we'll have become pros at goodbyes at this point. Lulu's and Razzy will just be another reminder of what high school was, and what college is becoming. The places are the same, but the people have changed. But even though all of my friends, including myself, have become different people, it's nice to know that our order at Lulu's and favorite flavors are Razzy are still the same.

Burgers and Shopping and Bessemers, Oh My!

If it hasn't become obvious, I love going downtown.  Whether it is to eat, shop, see a show, or just walk around, I love taking in the sights of the city. Station square is one of the places I've probably spent the most time.  I've been hanging out there for as long as I can remember. Anytime someone wants to go out to dinner for their birthday, we ALWAYS end up at Hard Rock Cafe, ordering nachos and burgers. 

Like I said, delicious burgers.

Hard Rock is one of 65 restaurants, shops and entertainment venues in Station Square.  Although I love me a good burger from time to time, the absolute best place to go in Station Square is the Gandy Dancer/Grand Concourse. Same place, but the Gandy Dancer is the the bar side, while the Grand Concourse is more of a fancy place. 

Not a shabby setting, right?

Not only does the Grand Concourse have delcious food (poppyseed rolls are to die for, let me tell you), but it is built the old Lake Erie Railroad Station.  Walking into the Station for the first time is beautiful, and it goes right along with the area, which has perserved a lot of Pittsburgh's Steel City past.  I've been to the Grand Concourse more times than I can count on my entire families hands and feet (and I have five siblings). We use everything and anything as an excuse to go there for dinner.  I remember running up to look at the lobster tank as a child and being able to watch them for hours, my dad always ordering the same meal (pasta in red clam sauce), and the birthday I celebrated there with my mom and step-dad.



fatherpitt.com

I remember going to the Hard Rock Cafe before senior boat ride, for both of my best friend's birthdays and finally learning what the huge steel thing in the middle of Station Square was (yeah... it's a Bessemer converter).  The plaza connects and the area behind them is called "The Fountain at Bessemer Court." I wouldn't be lying if I said every single person I know from Pittsburgh has at least one photo on this court. Not only is it frequently visited, it has a beautiful view of the city skyline. 

As mentioned earlier, at Mt. Lebanon, we have a tradition called "Senior Boatride."  Station Square is also home to something called the Gateway Clipper Fleet, which gives tours of the city and sails around the three rivers. 

My beautiful friends, my beautiful city

Station Square is one of those places I'm able to call  part of my home.  I know it like the back of my hand. Yes, there are parts I'm not familiar with, such as the club scene, but that's not the Station Square I know.  One day it will be, but until then my version of Station Square is one where I've spent years growing up, running through the tunnel connecting the Grand Concourse to the parking lot, eating burgers, celebrating birthdays, questioning what the Bessemar converter was, and reuniting with friends during breaks from college.

And frankly, I wouldn't give up those memories for anything.

Good Eats, Better Memories

As much as I love good old Lebo, there’s no denying that it gets boring. So, on weeknights when looking for something to do, I quickly learned that you have to venture to the city. The Southside is probably my favorite place to go.  It’s a really cool part of the city that has recently been built up over the past couple of years. Although it’s more of a place for "young adults" and those in their twenties, there are definitely places for adults as well.

South Side Works

Restaurants, clubs, cafés and great shopping are just a few of the things that define South Side.  It’s the best place to go on a calm summer night when nothing else is going on…and everything else is closed in Mt. Lebanon.  It’s also not a bad place to go for a piercing or tattoo if you’re into that kind of thing.  South Side Works is the nicest part of the area, as it was recently built up. It has a ton of really great places to eat, like Cheesecake Factory, this cool Irish Pub, and even authentic German food at the Hofbrӓuhaus. Pittsburgh is one of the few Hofbrӓuhaus locations outside of Germany, which is pretty impressive.

I can remember many summer nights when we had nothing better to do than to drive down to South Side to grab a bite to eat and do some shopping. No night in South Side is completed without a few things:

1. A trip to the Double Wide Grill, they honestly have the BEST hamburgers (well I don’t eat hamburgers, but hey, their turkey burgers are good too!). Plus it’s cheap food, there isn’t anything better.

2. Some quick shopping at Urban Outfitters, H&M, and Forever 21 (along with a lot of other stores).  It’s like a hipster dream come true. Just come with your wallets full if you actually want to be able to afford something at Urban. 

3. The Milkshake Factory. I don’t even think that needs explaining. Who doesn’t love a good milkshake? You can make all sorts of flavors and they all taste amazing. My personal favorite is the Cajun chocolate shake. 

I spent at least one night a week grabbing milkshakes, stopping by the Rex Theatre to see my best friends play a gig (The Numbered Feathers, check them out), or just walking around aimlessly, taking in the summer night. One of my favorite parts of the summer were spent driving to the city, windows down and country music blasting. We always promised ourselves we wouldn’t end up back on the same bench outside of the Milkshake Factory, slurping down another 500 hundred liquid calories (every single one of them was totally worth it though), but we usually did. Nights with my best friends at Double Wide, Nakama, a Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar that is consistently rated as one of the best restaurants in Pittsburgh, looking for a Steeler or Penguin, and spending every last cent of your sad looking paycheck from Panera Bread expensive dresses from Urban pretty much defined a typical week for me.

East Carson Street, the main drag of Southside

It isn’t just about my friends though; I've had plenty of awesome experiences there with my family. I remember moving my brother into his first house in the South Side, or the dinner at Cheesecake Factory with all of my siblings that still sticks in my mind as one of my favorite times with them, especially now that two of us are in college, even though it was years ago or that time I begged my step dad to take me to South Side to get my nose pierced. 

Each and every memory sticks out to me and I’m sure when May comes, I’ll be spending many nights doing the same thing as last year, reminiscing about how much different things were then.  Freshly out of high school, ready for some change, but not realizing how hard it would actually be. New school, new surroundings, new everything.

And it's true, things changed a lot this year, but it’s nice to know that my favorite things never will.

Pittsburgh: Home of the Yinzer

Living in the same place my whole life, I came to college 100% positive that I DO NOT have an accent.  Well, apparently I do.  I can't hear it, nor can most of my friends, but I've been told certain words I say sound weird to other people. 
In fact, some words go over people's heads all together:
"Guys, watch out it's slippy!"
"Anyone want to go grab hoagies and pop?"
"You should probably redd up your room"
"Come on guys, quit jagging around!"

Any of that make sense?

Here's the translation, for you non-Pittsburghers:
"Guys, watch out it's slippery!:
"Anyone want to go grab subs and soda?"
"You should probably clean up your room" "Come on guys, quit messing around"

I've heard each and everyone of those statements for as long as I can remember.  Realizing people don't understand me sometimes seems so weird. Realizing so much of my speech is slang from my hometown, I decided to look up some other Pittsburghese words:

 jimmies: sprinkles
nebby: trying to pry into the affairs of others
spicket: faucet
sweeper: vacuum cleaner
gumband: rubber-band

I won't lie, I say all of those.  But I am not an Yinzer. Urban dictionary defines a yinzer as "A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Known for their love of all things Steelers and Donnie Iris and extreme hatred of Cleveland. Consists mainly on Primanti Brothers and ethnic cuisine. Yinzers can be easily identified by their one-of-a-kind, ridiculous accent."

So yes, a lot of those things apply to me, but that "one of a kind" accent they refer to, I do not have.

I don't say yinz, aka "you guys".
I have never said the word "stillers," aka steelers.
N'at (and that) has never passed my lips.
Or Sliberty, which actually means East Liberty, a urban area of the city.

I am guilty of possibly the WORST Pittsburghese though: I leave out "to be" in sentences.
Example:
Instead of "the car needs to be washed," I would say "the car needs washed"
Yes, that is not proper English. I wasn't actually aware of that until a few years ago. 

Thanks to my crazy city, I may say some stupid things, leave out basic words in English sentences, and people can't understand me. Frankly, I don't care. I'm proud to have an accent that makes me distinct from everyone else, represents my city, and has partially made me who I am.

Long live the Yinzer.

PS here is a video showing some of common Pittsburghese (Yes, the girl is so annoying):

Also, here's a website dedicated to everything Pittsburghese:

http://www.pittsburghese.com/