Pittsburgh???

[Slim and Gabby]

Ya, ya... we know about Pittsburgh's psuedo-armpit designation, but also that it is a real place. Where we plan to hang with our family friends.

Anyone know of cool / MCM / artsy fun things in and around Pittsburgh?

Kennybrook is a given; the dark ride sounds fab.

I heard there was some kind of neon museum there?

Any tips for our July visit will be much appreciated.

Slim and Gabby

[spinsLPs]

I like Pittsburgh. I found the people there to be really friendly.

Two things I always do; Primanti Bros. for a sandwich and the Warhol Museum.

[googieagog]

Check out the Tin Angel restaurant, a Miesian box cantilevered on the edge of Mt. Washington, if not for a meal than at least a drink. Good architecture and a great view. Ride up there on the Incline, really cool in an HG Wells steampunk sort of way. There's also a good and interesting restaurant in the vintage train station downtown. Haven't been there in years, but Hey Betty was the best vintage clothes shop in town. If you can get out of town, Fallingwater & Kentucky Knob are only about an hour away.

[sky]

Beware the Iron City, my friends!
The beer that bites, the pot holes that claw.

I haven't been there since the 70s, but I do remember they had some pretty good diners. The only one that I could readily verify is still going strong is Ritters - 5221 Baum Blvd - but I could swear it used to be on Liberty Ave.

Falling Water sounds like a winner. And although it's not the right time of year, Punxsutawney (I had to look up the spelling for that) might still be a hoot!

Yuns have a good time.

[Slim and Gabby]

Thanks, all for the tips.

Think Fallingwater and Kentucky Knob are likely not on the list with squirmy kids. Won't be fun for them....but may take a day out to do FW anyway.

The Tin Angel sounds pretty interesting, and not anything I'd seen elsewhere.

Looks like we might get to hit a Johnny Mathis show, which would fit the general MCM theme, as well.
I heard there is a good retro movie thing going on in Dormont.

Primanti's seems to be the top of everyones list.

Still looking for that Neon Museum I heard about. Must be there somewhere!

Should be a neat trip..

Gabby

[rockland]

I phoned a friend. He doesn't have kids but a big goof and childlike
himself.

Warhol on weekends. Called Weekend Factory
http://www.warhol.org/education/weekend_factory.html
Great for kids and you get to make stuff.
http://pittsburgh.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi ... arhol.org/

And something about a clown on a boat. If just for the creep, humor
and photo op.
...Good Ship Lolipop

[egads]

Ahh, kids. I was there last June, missing the grandkid. Went to the science Museum:

http://www.carnegiesciencecenter.org/

Killer views of the rivers convergence. There is a huge model train layout.

[Mod Betty / RetroRoadmap]

[sky]

Well, I hope you weren't planning on seeing the Penguins play for the Stanley Cup because they were eliminated tonight.

It might be worth checking out the old Igloo - currently named Melon Arena. I don't know what is going to happen to it after the Pens move to a new Igloo for the 2010-2011 season. The old one is an interesting early 60s building. A lot of people don't know this, but it has a retractable roof - which had to be one of the first if not the first. I saw a few games there mid-70s - closed roof - and my friends that went to area schools there told me that the retractable part was broken. I don't really know if that's truly the case, or if it's just a ridiculous climate in which to have a retractable roof. Still - an historic building that may soon be gone.

[Slim and Gabby]

Thanks to all for the great suggestions.

Sadly, we missed the igloo, despite trying to see it in it's glory. We did meet a guy who says he spent much time there, and has seen the roof in action.

The Duquesne Incline and Mt. Washington were nice-even for an SF girl like me. The Science museum was just OK-the robots were not as detailed as we had hoped, but we loved the Submarine. Art Museums were great.

Klavons was the real deal-great tip.
As was Ritters-it was super hot the night we went there, and the staff was a hoot.

The Photo Antiquities Museum was really, really small and cool. Tons of daguerrotypes up through color slides and equipment as well. They know what they are doing-and super fun for folks who like old stuff.

Only did a little junque shopping so far from home, but Slim scored a gorgeous PINK and turquoise banner for GE Washers from the 1962 world's fair. Must be seen to be believed.

My favorite spot was the Nationality Rooms in the "Cathedral of Learning" at U Pitt. Hoky, deco and poignant with WWII foreshadowing. What more could you ask for? A gothic fantasy tower to put it in.

Thanks to all for the great tips. Pittsburgh is actually really cool-you helped us get the most out of it. Would recommend it to others, especially as a kid friendly cheap spot for fun.

Gabby