If you are in town early enough, I’d seriously recommend making my way to one. Whenever someone asks me where I’m from and I respond “Pittsburgh”, if they’ve been they often respond “Oh Primanti sandwiches.”

There is one in PNC Park but it’s a pale imitation to the real stores. I think the closest one to PNC is in Market Square but the original is not very far away in the Strip District which is a very interesting neighborhood on its own.

Anyways, enjoy your trip.

Anywhere along the third base line is great, even higher up in the less expensive seats. In fact, when I come to Pittsburgh to check out games I prefer to sit a little further up — you still have a great view of the field, and the view of the city is unmatchable.

However, if you’re looking to save money try wpxi.com and click on the “Just Pay Half” or “Half-Price” bar. It should bring up a list of shops and restaurants that you can get $25 and $50 worth of certificates for half that, plus a handling/mailing fee. We went to the opener and before the game went to Courthouse Tavern, in the 300 block of Forbes Ave. about five-minute walk from the stadium. Beer selection was OK, food was pretty good. I used $50 worth of certificate for which I’d paid $28.75. The station holds a sale about once a month, so check to see what’s good before you go. The goods usually arrive by mail 4-5 days after you buy.

Might also suggest the Original Oyster House in Market Square for primo fish sammiches.

I’ll second Ugly, it’s my go-to bar for right before the game. In fact we missed the Steve Blass tribute because that’s where we were.

You should be able to find parking right downtown a few minutes’ walk from the park for around $6. Also, Dejan has told me that the gendarmes don’t ticket at downtown street meters after 5 p.m. You might write him first to confirm that, as I’ve never tried it. We did park for free on the street in the Strip for a Sunday game last September and hiked down the river, 10-12 blocks. There’s a three-hour limit in effect, but nobody was following it that day, don’t know if that works all the time, so caveat emptor.

Brian O’Neill had a column in the PG a few days ago about a guy who runs a river taxi out of the Strip, said it’s free to park and $6 round trip on his boat, drops you right at the ballpark. Think it had a link for more info. Boats also run from Station Square, on the south bank of the Mon. Boat is a pretty cool way to go to a game.

I’m kinda meh about the Warhol. I think just walking around the triangle is cool (and free). There are lotss of 21st century office towers butting up against 19th century churches, that sort of thing, and it’s almost impossible to get lost as long as you can see a river. Or just ask, ’Burghers are notoriously friendly and proud of their town.

Good luck, have a great time!

there’s a chunk of the Maz Wall on riverwalk now. Stop and pay homage. Though you should REALLY see the piece that still stands out in Oakland, where Forbes Field stood.

And … it’s pretty far out of your way on a short stay and wouldn’t be easy to find, but if you know your baseball history, Josh Gibson and Gus Greenlee are buried a pop fly away from each other in Allegheny Cemetery. It’s quite a contrast: Greenlee’s headstone is huge and ornate, just like the man. The black Babe Ruth has a headstone about the size of a legal pad. They’re both buried most of the way up a pretty hillside.

baseballgroupiesunite.com

It’s an Italian place, a couple miles from PNC, on 500 East North Avenue

Parking – Parking garage across from stadium ($20) or you can park at a meter further up near Allegheny Center. You are safe as long as you stay around Allegheny Center. If you get to Allegheny General Hospital – you have gone too far. Most meters are free or hardly if ever ticketed during night games. You could also park at Station Square and take the boat over. I think it is $10 to park and either $3 or $6 round trip to take the boat.

Drinks – Finnegans Wake is by far my favorite mainly because I like Irish pubs and imports. It is one block down from PNC Park. Ugly and the sports bar in the Marriott are also good.

Food – I am personally a big fan of Atrias and it is at the ballpark. I definitely second Primanti’s and the one in Market Square is relatively close. Market Square also has several neat little bars and restaurants.

Milling around before the game – You can walk the riverwalk all the way from PNC Park to the Carnegie Science Center which is past Heinz Field. Nice view of the city all along the river. Market Square is a cool little oasis among all the skyscrapers. Point State Park has some great views of the three rivers around the point.

Where to sit in PNC – Not a bad seat in the house. I personally like sitting over the right field wall. There is also a handicap area you can stand in that is in the middle of the RF wall – nothing like watching a game through the chain link fence. If I were you and this was your first trip, I would get a 1st base or 3rd base grandstand ticket and mill around the park. I think the rotunda in left field is the best spot to catch a game. Either that or the bleachers. There really isnt a bad seat….

Enjoy! You will definitely want to come back!