The Swamp

I’ll be in Pittsburgh Friday through Sunday afternoons, 7/28 to 7/30. Catching the game Saturday night against Philly, and staying about 5 blocks away on the same side of the river. Anything I need to do? I did see the Warhol museum is a couple blocks away. Anything else?

I highly recommend Given to Fly chicken here and hopefully will be hitting them up this weekend myself (visiting U Pitt again).

If you haven’t been to the strip district, do that. And get the sandwich with fries, it’s good.

Oh, and if the Clemente bridge isn’t closed (I could have sworn they said it was when I watched one of the games when the Mets were in town) walk over that to the game.

rass wrote: ↑Tue Jul 11, 2023 7:08 pm I highly recommend Given to Fly chicken here and hopefully will be hitting them up this weekend myself (visiting U Pitt again).

If you haven’t been to the strip district, do that. And get the sandwich with fries, it’s good.

Damn, that menu is incredible! I think I’d have to go with the Thai sandwich, but the Nobu and McClucken sound great, too. Then a taco and a ramen place too? I’d be there every day!

If you want cool view of the city and a slightly interesting experience, the inclines are fun. Good way to get up Mt. Washington and see views of the city.
Phipps Botanical Garden
The Frick
Enrico Biscotti is on the strip. Owned by the family of a guy who worked for my dad.
Carnegie Science Center if a science museum is interesting
Children's museum is fun but does feel like other children's museums (Baltimore, Philly)..kids may be too old for this stuff these days?
Josh Gibson park
Find the statue for the Immaculate Reception and home plate for Forbes field
Kennywood if you want a theme park with wooden coasters
National Aviary
Randyland (if you are by the Warhol it is a walk)
Church Brew works (I mean how many churches have been converted into breweries)
Aslin is located near the strip. My buddy is a brewer for them and on Saturday told me that I need to try his new creation...El Frutero
But there are something like 75 breweries (https://www.discovertheburgh.com/pittsburgh-craft-beer/)

wish we could bookmark threads - might just copy/paste all suggestions in here for the next four years (youngest is heading to Pitt this fall).

I don't/didn't know Pittsburgh much at all before the last few years but each time we've visited have loved it; my daughter fell in love w/ it immediately and after that no school had a chance.

(n.b. have stepped on the Forbes Field home plate)

MaxWebster wrote: ↑Wed Jul 12, 2023 7:03 am wish we could bookmark threads - might just copy/paste all suggestions in here for the next four years (youngest is heading to Pitt this fall).

Write a nonsense word only you will remember so you can search. STEELERSSUCK or something like that.

The Sybian wrote: ↑Tue Jul 11, 2023 8:50 pm

rass wrote: ↑Tue Jul 11, 2023 7:08 pm I highly recommend Given to Fly chicken here and hopefully will be hitting them up this weekend myself (visiting U Pitt again).

If you haven’t been to the strip district, do that. And get the sandwich with fries, it’s good.

Damn, that menu is incredible! I think I’d have to go with the Thai sandwich, but the Nobu and McClucken sound great, too. Then a taco and a ramen place too? I’d be there every day!

There is a nice craft beer bar in there, too.

I got the Nobu when I visited last year and it was great. Going to brave something HOT this time. On that same visit I sorta begrudgingly ordered the $30 chicken tenders and fries platter for my daughter and niece and not only was it a huge plate of food (each tender was like 1/2 a breast?) they were the best chicken tenders I've ever had.

MaxWebster wrote: ↑Wed Jul 12, 2023 7:03 am wish we could bookmark threads - might just copy/paste all suggestions in here for the next four years (youngest is heading to Pitt this fall).

I don't/didn't know Pittsburgh much at all before the last few years but each time we've visited have loved it; my daughter fell in love w/ it immediately and after that no school had a chance.

(n.b. have stepped on the Forbes Field home plate)

Congrats man. I stepped on home plate, too, during the tour. Pitt was the first school our kid visited, and she loved it, but it's fallen down the list as we've seen other campuses this past year. I'm interested to see how this weekend goes.

MaxWebster wrote: ↑Wed Jul 12, 2023 7:03 am wish we could bookmark threads - might just copy/paste all suggestions in here for the next four years (youngest is heading to Pitt this fall).

I don't/didn't know Pittsburgh much at all before the last few years but each time we've visited have loved it; my daughter fell in love w/ it immediately and after that no school had a chance.

(n.b. have stepped on the Forbes Field home plate)

Sounds like you got the bapo tour.

The adult video store that wouldn't let Brainbo and I go into a "nudie booth" together is now a convenience store, but I wouldn't recommend that place, anyway.

i'm going to be flooding this thread for the next few years

Wento a Primanti Bros up near Hagerstown a few years ago to check out the hype... Might be that a satellite location didn't do it justice, but, man... Not a fan. It was just too dry with too much starch going on. Maybe I did it wrong, I dunno. Was fully prepared to love it.

Its a stupid concept.

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Wed Jul 12, 2023 8:43 am Wento a Primanti Bros up near Hagerstown a few years ago to check out the hype... Might be that a satellite location didn't do it justice, but, man... Not a fan. It was just too dry with too much starch going on. Maybe I did it wrong, I dunno. Was fully prepared to love it.

No, you are absolutely correct.

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Wed Jul 12, 2023 8:43 am Wento a Primanti Bros up near Hagerstown a few years ago to check out the hype... Might be that a satellite location didn't do it justice, but, man... Not a fan. It was just too dry with too much starch going on. Maybe I did it wrong, I dunno. Was fully prepared to love it.

Primanti’s is garbage. Worst sandwich I’ve ever had.

And obviously, I’m going to recommend going to the National Aviary, and not just because of my avatar. It’s a fantastic venue, especially the penguin exhibit.

There was a bar in Ybor back in the day that did Primanti style sandwiches at 3 a.m., (that's when I would visit, they probably were open at other times), and goddamn it was tasty as hell. The Primanti brothers sandwich that I had in Pittsburgh was just as awful as you report, NLFC. Are there other places in Pittsburgh making similar type sandwiches?

Yeah, and have you tried Primanti's sandwich really late at night while drunk?

Ok, cool... Good to hear I'm not on an island.

I don't remember if it was Fieri or some other Food Network jam, but I saw a segment years ago and had meant to try it out for awhile. Found a location within striking distance and hit it up.

Meh.

I had one in WV on my first drive to boston I think. It was fine, but nothing special. I anticipate they are better the closer you get to Pittsburgh. But my time spent in pittsburgh is a drive from the airport to a hotel downtown and then drive back to Lexington (work thing and I was low man so I got to drive back while others flew - we picked up our CEO in Pitt so that's how I lost my seat)

Primanti brothers > Eat and Puke (Park)....low bar

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Wed Jul 12, 2023 10:07 am Ok, cool... Good to hear I'm not on an island.

I don't remember if it was Fieri or some other Food Network jam, but I saw a segment years ago and had meant to try it out for awhile. Found a location within striking distance and hit it up.

Meh.

I've seen them featured on several shows and always wanted to go. My parents went to one and were disappointed.

The fries being on the sandwich (or in a "California" burritos) is a complete negative. As Nonlinear mentioned, too dry and starchy, feeling like a blob in your mouth, and other flavors are completely muted.

Here's the funny thing (to me): When my wife and I are on road trips, we're not above hitting McD's if that's the "best" option. We both get a 1/4 with cheese meal, and her go to move is to put a layer of fries on the burger. I'll occasionally take a bit or finish her portion.. The fries on the burger are delicious!

But that's a huge difference in fries we're talking about.

I feel like I should at least give fries in the sandwich a shot, but I really don't see how it adds anything. I've been known to put potato chips in a hoagie, but that adds some crunch to the mouthfeel. Fries in a sandwich just seems like you're trying to mashup a hoagie and gnocchi.

Don't forget the slaw too.

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Wed Jul 12, 2023 8:43 am Wento a Primanti Bros up near Hagerstown a few years ago to check out the hype... Might be that a satellite location didn't do it justice, but, man... Not a fan. It was just too dry with too much starch going on. Maybe I did it wrong, I dunno. Was fully prepared to love it.

Satellite locations are very hit or miss.

A_B wrote: ↑Wed Jul 12, 2023 10:10 am I had one in WV on my first drive to boston I think. It was fine, but nothing special. I anticipate they are better the closer you get to Pittsburgh. But my time spent in pittsburgh is a drive from the airport to a hotel downtown and then drive back to Lexington (work thing and I was low man so I got to drive back while others flew - we picked up our CEO in Pitt so that's how I lost my seat)

The sandwiches at the Primantis on Lauderdale beach are basically the same. The ones at the place further inland are absolute trash. Guess it depends.

I’m not a fan of putting fries in things. There is an otherwise good Greek place in our town that puts fries inside their gyros. I figure it’s just an inexpensive way for them to extend their filling.

Any of you assholes whine about NJ’s signature hot dog (even if I disagree with the restaurant from rush’s list) you’re going on my foe list.

Between this being Pitt, and all the Philly that invaded this weekend, there’s a lot of non-ironic mustaches here.












And I’m not even talking about the guys yet.

How was the trip?

Sorry LJam ignored you, Rass. We're making a late decision to road trip out there since our weekends are mostly gone March through September w/ two kids in travel softball. Aside from above, any restaurants that are "good food but not weird for kids" (or ones too good to not go anyway like Curate in Asheville) or outdoor eating/drinking spots or coffee?

Absolutely listen to me about the chicken place and the related food hall and order the kids the $30+ chicken finger platter and be amazed about how much food there is and eat some of it after you eat your own sandwich and drink your beer(s) I promise you the place is fantastic

Went to Golden Age last summer for a couple beers to meet up with some friends. Outdoor area with live jazz that was not too loud.

L-Jam3 wrote: ↑Tue Jul 11, 2023 6:58 pm I’ll be in Pittsburgh Friday through Sunday afternoons, 7/28 to 7/30. Catching the game Saturday night against Philly, and staying about 5 blocks away on the same side of the river. Anything I need to do? I did see the Warhol museum is a couple blocks away. Anything else?

The casino downtown has an excellent poker room if you play.

Yeah, and since its in the past, he'll already know what hands won!!!!!!!

rass wrote: ↑Thu Aug 03, 2023 3:31 pmHow was the trip?

Oh my, Rass. I'm sorry for never getting back to you on this. So here's my recap, 10 months late.

We got down on Friday night and stayed at the Holiday Inn near the ballpark. The Andy Warhol museum was right around the corner so we checked it out. Now I've said before several times, including here on this board, that I thought Warhol was an overrated hack. But after seeing his work, I will reconsider. He had bona fide talent as an artist. Sure, he was a self-promoter, but he had a good amount to say and a talent to express it. And I learned more about how instrumental he was with The Velvet Underground, including the iconic banana cover. Good learning experience. We stopped at a bar for a late dinner and I got a burger with a pierogi on it. I will admit that I don't think it added anything.

Saturday, under Sabo’s suggestion we went to the National Aviary, which was about a 15 minute walk. And damn, that was awesome. The penguin exhibit was cool, as there were little cubbies to poke your head up and watch them. Then they have an Amazon rainforest area with tropical birds. Then outside is an area for vultures and birds of prey. And finally there's the live presentation where big birds do demonstrations including this big-ass owl. Owls kick ass. Silent hunters.

On the way back we checked out Heinz Field for some swag. Then walked along the river stopping in a few beer gardens; I remember the rain was on and off all weekend. Then it cleared up, and they had a street party in front of the ballpark and the (then-closed) Roberto Clemente bridge. PNC Park is top-notch. I put that as the best park in baseball, especially the view. And the fans were great. It was a pretty full house, obviously with a decent number of Phillies phans making the trip. Andrew McCutchen got the biggest ovation considering both fanbases love the guy. Even if he doesn't make it to Cooperstown, he'll be one of those players that everyone will have good things to say about him. The scoreboard was the best. Between innings they were talking trash to the Phillies fans who made the trek. Like Penguins lead 5-2 in Stanley Cups, Steelers lead 6-1 in Super Bowls, the usual stuff. But the biggest reaction is when they claimed Sheetz was better than Wawa. That got the Philly contingent most up in arms. Good stuff. The game went the Pirates way (it was when Aaron Nola only had innings giving up 0 or crooked numbers), but a great weekend all-in-all. Definitely up for going back.

Oh, speaking of ... we're planning a game, probably Saturday. Is there a certain section / side / level that's best to sit in there for the view and overall experience?

I sat on the 3rd base side, and had a decent view of the skyline. To see the Clemente bridge better you should probably sit on first base. A really cool thing to check out there is outside on the waterfront (outside the stadium) they have balls with reproduced signatures of the city's baseball past, including its Negro Leaguers. Also be sure to check out the life-sized mold of Ralph Kiner's hands holding a bat. He had some mitts on him.

rass wrote: ↑Tue May 21, 2024 11:20 pm Absolutely listen to me about the chicken place and the related food hall and order the kids the $30+ chicken finger platter and be amazed about how much food there is and eat some of it after you eat your own sandwich and drink your beer(s) I promise you the place is fantastic

We’re finishing day 2 of 3 and this was our biggest non-Acuna disaster. Got there, had a beer then ordered another and went to order food and they were all shutting down 45 minutes early. Fryers off so no recourse. On the bright side, driftwood oven (sourdough pizza) was really great as the second option.

Scratch & Co. has made my official “places I badly wish were in my town” list. Homemade bagels and doughnuts and then like a dozen different shrubs which we got to go. (Canary melon + banana + sage was the choice this AM.)

Oops. And sucks seeing the injury. Hope the ballpark and the rest of the city treated you guys well.