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November 09, 2005
Apologies to and for Pittsburgh
We've returned from Pittsburgh -- and visiting Carnegie-Mellon and Pitt as prospective students -- impressed. The city was far smaller and cleaner than we had glumly predicted and overflowed with weird reminders of the industry-driven affluence of earlier times. The names "Carnegie," "Mellon," "Frick," and "Heinz" are plastered on innumerable buildings, and the architecture and collections that bear their monikers reflect a younger America still trying to figure out the ways and means of establishing a legacy. The result is the intricate gothic architecture of the Heinz Memorial Chapel and Pitt's Cathedral of Learning (yes, we know it's quaintly modernist), the rolling greenways spliced between cream-colored brick buildings, countless statues memorializing historical figures who have no real connection to Pittsburgh, and two odd art collections that are unabashed copies of European masterworks. Other pluses include housing prices comparable to St. Elmo, wide, walkable sidewalks, and Yuenglings on draft for $1 all day, every day at many a fine establishment.
Pittsburgh, I'm sorry I doubted you. If you'll have us, we just might be excited about returning.
Carefully Dramatized Life Accounts | By elissa | 10:39 PM
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Comments
I grew up on yuenglings.
Pittsburg is a cool town, but you'll grow to hate pennsylvania. I lived there for 14 years, and the state, categorically, is a shit-hole.
Posted by: JosiahQ at November 10, 2005 08:01 AM
I like Yuenglings. On tap, they remind me of a northern version of Sweetwater.
I can't say that we're excited about the state of PA, but we're still optimistically hoping that Pittsburgh's proximity to other fun towns (proximity=less than a full day's drive) will mitigate some of indignity of living in PA. Of course, we're also worried that we'll never see the sun.
Posted by: elissa at November 10, 2005 11:24 AM
I'll just say it: Pittsburgh is my favorite American city. I don't like to think of it as part of Pennsylvania. I imagine it more as the urbane metropolis of West Viginia -- an internal contradiction that makes me happy.
Posted by: mesh at November 10, 2005 12:00 PM
I traveled often to Pittsburgh last year visiting Ian. (I lived in Harrisburg. It's a long drive.)
Ian hated Pittsburgh. He said the weather was awful. However, this was coming from a Kansas country boy who loves his open sky.
Visiting is one thing, but living is another. If God moves you to Pittsburgh, then great! It was a good city for me to visit often, but Ian found that the weather depressed him, and comparing notes with him about my Pennsylvania city make me thankful to live on the east side of the Appalachians.
Still, there are cool views in the city. If you move there, get used to driving over hills. And under them.
Posted by: Krista at November 10, 2005 01:16 PM
Also, a lot of the bridges are kind of crumbling and rusty, which creeped me out big time.
Posted by: Krista at November 10, 2005 01:40 PM
Thanks for the votes, folks. I wonder if the admissions people will consider our meteorological personalities when making their decisions.
Mesh, I like the idea of pretending that Pittsburgh isn't part of Pennsylvania.
Krista, I did notice the bridges, but I kinda thought the age and crumbliness was cool. ;) I think it's an effect of living for so long in Hawaii where everything is relatively new.
Posted by: elissa at November 10, 2005 01:56 PM
In Hilo, everything was old, dingy, and rusty, except for the sea. And the a'a seacoast. And the palms.
The crumbliness made me think "Aaah! It's going to come tumbling down on me as I sit in traffic under it!"
Posted by: Krista at November 10, 2005 03:51 PM
