Visiting Pittsburgh
by Anonymous New Guy on Jul 13, 2009 12:29 PM EDT
68 comments
Hey guys, I'm a Ranger fan from over at Lone Star Ball and am planning my annual baseball roadtrip. This year I will be visitng Pittsburgh on 8/4 to catch a game and then I'll be off to the next stop. While I'm there, is there anything I need to see or do (other than the game) before moving on...restaurants, a particular regional beer I need to try, historical sites, areas to avoid, etc? Also, if anyone has tips on getting cheap tickets (coupon codes - we practically give away Rangers tickets to get people to show up) that would be helpful as I am on a budget. Thanks in advance.
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Beer...
….you must have a Yuengling (or two or three)!
WE ARE.......PENN STATE!
by Nick7 on Jul 13, 2009 1:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
pronounced Ying-ling
WE ARE.......PENN STATE!
by Nick7 on Jul 13, 2009 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m not from Pittsburgh, but the Penn Brewing Company has some very solid beers, and it should be available around the city. I can’t vouch for the restaurant attached to the brewery one way or the other. Here’s their website:
charity standing orders
by BadMaafala on Jul 13, 2009 1:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The restaurant at the Penn Brewery
isn’t there anymore. They gave up their lease when the rent soared. I believe their beers are contract-brewed elsewehere now. The only brewing being done in the city now, as far as I know, is at the Church and at East End Brewing (unless they brew on premises at the Hofbrauhaus), and East End has no dining.
I’d suggest the Church just for the unusual building (it’s a bar in an actual old church), but I’ve read unflattering things lately about the quality of the beer, food and service.
Fat Head’s and Smokin’ Joe’s on the SouthSide are excellent beer (and food) places, but are just two among a bazllion bars on about a 10-block stretch of street. I’d warn you away from there on a Friday or Saturday, just because it tends to get pretty mayhemish, but on a Tuesday it should be fine.
by bucdaddy on Jul 13, 2009 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Primanti Brother’s Sandwhich…they have them at the stadium on the main level, first base side.
http://www.primantibrothers.com/
As far as places to go, there are quite a few bars around the stadium. Bettis’ Grill 36 is over by Heinz Field, which is a pretty cool place. (http://www.jeromebettisgrille36.com/) McFadden’s is another great place which is just to the right of the main entrance of PNC Park.(http://www.mcfaddenspitt.com/)
There are so many other cool things to do in this City that I could list, but it sounds like you’ll only be in town for 1 day.
Hope you enjoy your trip.
by G6 on Jul 13, 2009 1:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Agree
Penn Brewery beers are good…much better than Yuengling (which is not even as good as Iron City). I thought I heard the restaurant at Penn Brewery closed, though.
by mak_DC on Jul 13, 2009 1:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Wow....
….I am pretty surprised. I’ve had old toilet water that tastes better than IC.
Maybe the Ranger fan should have them all and let us know which he thinks is the best.
WE ARE.......PENN STATE!
by Nick7 on Jul 13, 2009 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You drank toilet water?
"The team that scores the most points wins."
John Madden
(Master of the obvious)
by PixburghArn on Jul 13, 2009 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And get the meatloaf too
Mmmmmmmm….meatloaf….
by Bucs Fever on Jul 13, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Penn Brewery
It was going to close because their landlord raised their rent substantially and they couldn’t afford it. However, they worked out a deal and they remained, but they had to close for a little bit to get things back in order.
by G6 on Jul 13, 2009 1:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Glad to hear that
although the still are doing some brewing elsewhere, right?
by bucdaddy on Jul 13, 2009 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
from what i hear they’re contracting out the brewing to lionshead in wilkes-barre.
by johnnycuff on Jul 13, 2009 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I must admit I’m not a fan of Yuengling either. I tried them a few weeks ago and was sad to discover how “watered down” it tasted.
by The Brain part II on Jul 13, 2009 1:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The lager is overrated
But the pilsner and the porter are pretty good.
by Bucs Fever on Jul 13, 2009 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed. I’m not a huge fan of the regular lager, but I really like their Black & Tan.
by CptnAwesome on Jul 13, 2009 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wanted to try the Black & Tan but after my dissapointment with the lager I went with my old standby: Modelo especial (it was on sale, “shudders”)
You know SB Nation should start up a beer blog. I think it would be a hit!
by The Brain part II on Jul 14, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Black & Tan is essentially a mix of the Lager and the Porter. I happen to think the Porter is pretty good, so even when mixed with the Lager its still a good beer. If you had to try just one though, go with the Porter.
by Bucs Fever on Jul 14, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Modelo Especial is okay IMO, but I really like Negro Modelo.
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 14, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Jul 14, 2009 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I take issue
The lager is a good, everyday all-seasons beer, at a very reasonable price by the case.
by bucdaddy on Jul 13, 2009 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, it’s okay. It’s cheap, which is nice, but it’s not the Holy Grail of beer or anything. I do like it better than IC, though. That stuff tastes like shit.
charity standing orders
by BadMaafala on Jul 13, 2009 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Even if you don't like IC for drinking...
…you should give it a look as a cooking beer. That faint metallic aftertaste is actually a really good complement to grilled shrimp. For a lazy marinade, mix a bottle of IC with some minced garlic, a splash of Worcestershire, and a little touch of hot sauce (plus some oil to make it coat).
Good stuff, I’m telling you.
by Vlad on Jul 13, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lol, I’ll remember that next time I’m making a lazy marinade.
charity standing orders
by BadMaafala on Jul 13, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
For food go with Primanti brothers or Bettis’ place in between PNC and Hienz Field other than that i really can’t help you out I’m from the western part of West Virginia so i don’t head up to Pittsburgh to often
by WVPiratesfan on Jul 13, 2009 2:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What He Said!
My personal recommendation at Grille 36 is the Deep Fried Hamburger
One of the best burgers I ever ate!
I’d almost give Manny’S BBQ a try behind center field but it’s a little too high priced compared to Primanti Brothers which you MUST HAVE!
by BadAndy on Jul 14, 2009 1:13 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
if you're looking for beer
try east end: http://www.eastendbrewing.com/
by johnnycuff on Jul 13, 2009 2:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Those are good beers
but you have to look around for them. Scott’s operation is mainly growlers and kegs and some specialty bottles. There’s no real bar to go to, so you have to look around for who might have EEBC on tap, and it’s not easy to find, even right in town. Last time I was at Smokin’ Joe’s, for instance: No EEBC.
by bucdaddy on Jul 13, 2009 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dont get Primantis at the game
they taste like sh!t compared to at a restaurant. there are 3-4 in town, Strip District, the original(5 minute drive to/from stadium), Downtown, South Side, they are much better there, and the service you get is worth the trip(sarcasm). Dont get cheesesteak, its the worst they sell, try a corn beef, or pastrami, or roast beef….THEN wash it down with beer(s). IC Light isnt bad. You can check out the Pitts Sports Museum too, or the Andy Warhol Museum, pretty neat places. Or stop by Heinz Field and see what 6 Super Bowl trophies look like, thats right SIX!!!
by rocket25 on Jul 13, 2009 2:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Go to Hofbrauhaus in the South Side. It’s a chain of sorts, but there’s only 3 in the nation, I think.
Go to Primanti’s, but NOT the one in the stadium. They use heating lamps and you don’t have nearly as many options as you do in the real place.
by CptnAwesome on Jul 13, 2009 3:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Agree......
at the stadium it isn’t good and the lines take forever.
by dtoddwin on Jul 14, 2009 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You can enter the park 2 hours before the game via the center field gate, and have access to the riverwalk area, which is very beautiful. If you’re not too picky about quality, I think the ‘all you can eat’ seats are the best value, if you eat as much as I do. Beer is not free, but after the game the Hall of Fame club does have beer for $2.50 and some nice snacks. It’s a cool place to hang out for a little while.
by chodan11 on Jul 13, 2009 3:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
$2.50 beer at the HoFClub?
I’ve never seen them under $6.50, but then the only two times I’ve been in there were after the past two home openers, when it’s still daytime.
by bucdaddy on Jul 13, 2009 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My mistake, that’s only after the night games. You’re right, during the game they milk it. They lower it to $2.50 to try to get people to stick about after the game into the evening.
by chodan11 on Jul 13, 2009 3:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Tourist recommendations:
The Carnegie museum has one of the top five dinosaur collections in the entire world, and they just opened a big re-mounted exhibit. It’s worth a visit.
The Warhol museum has a lot of Andy’s work, if you’re into pop art at all, and it’s only a few blocks from the stadium, so you could easily kill a few hours there before the game.
The zoo is a pretty nice one, though it’s a decent way out of town to the east.
If you want a nice view of the city, there are inclines in Mt. Washington that run up to observation decks. This is to the SW of the city proper, just across the river. There are also boat cruises of the river (the Gateway Clipper) if you’re into that.
As a baseball fan, you might appreciate the Clemente museum in Lawrenceville. Also, you’ll want to walk around the outside of PNC Park to see the three large statues (Clemente, Stargell, and Wagner). Clemente’s buddy Manny Sanguillen has a barbecue stand inside the stadium, past the right-center field bleachers, and he’s always willing to talk baseball and sign autographs/pose for pictures.
Hope that helps.
by Vlad on Jul 13, 2009 3:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
One site that never gets mentioned much
For the slightly morbidly inclined, Josh Gibson and Gus Greenlee are buried a pop fly apart in Allegheny Cemetery. They were two enormous figures in the history of the Negro Leagues. It would be like having Babe Ruth and George Steinbrenner (if he were dead) buried in the same section. Befitting the men, Josh has just a small standard grave marker while Greenlee has a huge, elaborate marker.
The cemetery is enormous, easy to find on a city map. Look uptown on the Allegheny River side, off or near Butler Sreet IIRC. The lot or section number is 50.
I realize a one-day visitor may not have time for this venture, but more locals should check it out, out of respect.
by bucdaddy on Jul 13, 2009 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good point.
Amusingly, they’re also fairly close to Harold Tinker, the former Negro League player and manager who first scouted and signed Gibson.
Also in Allegheny Cemetery: Popular songwriter Stephen Foster (“Oh Susanna”, “Camptown Races”, etc.). There was just a big public concert up there in his honor last weekend. One of my female co-workers is in an old-time musical band, and they played at the event.
by Vlad on Jul 13, 2009 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Huh. I knew Foster was from Pittsburgh but did not know he was buried there. I taught him in my American Music class last week.
by Charlie on Jul 14, 2009 3:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Foster's an interesting case.
Probably 99% of people wouldn’t recognize his name, but every one of those same people would know the words and the tune to at least a few of his songs.
by Vlad on Jul 14, 2009 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
But at least he has a statue. To my knowledge, there’s no Joe Raposo statue too, and I guarantee you know at least ten of his songs.
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 14, 2009 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Heh, good point.
I don’t think I’d ever heard his name before, but who doesn’t know “C is For Cookie”?
by Vlad on Jul 14, 2009 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
These Are All Nice Ideas
But the zoo is in town, in the Highland Park neighborhood.
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 13, 2009 7:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Technically city, yes.
But not in the part with the office buildings and all that, is the point I was trying to make: It would require a car and a bit of a separate trip, unlike stuff like the Warhol or the aviary or the Point, which is well within walking distance of PNC.
by Vlad on Jul 13, 2009 7:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Okay
And one more thing that wasn’t mentioned: The Mattress Factory, which is also on the northside. It’s a museum for contemporary art. It’s in the same part of town as the ballpark and the Warhol, although it’s not a short walk like the Warhol is. It’s a longer walk, or a short drive.
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 13, 2009 11:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh, one more
You can see a sliver of Mellon Arena from the ballpark. At one time at least it had the largest retractable dome in the world, and it’s the home of the Stanley Cup champions, and it’s the oldest arena in the NHL, and it won’t be there much longer. Don’t know if they offer tours or anything.
Anybody here ever been inside with the roof open? Many many years ago I saw a Yes concert where they opened it a quarter wedge, but I undertand over time it became impossible to open it anymore, I think due to the aging mechanisms involved.
by bucdaddy on Jul 13, 2009 4:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The Igloo is only visible from the upper deck down the first base line, from what I can see. It’s really not worth the tour. It’s a classic building, but there’s nothing interesting about it unless you have an appreciation for the history of the Penguins.
by Suffering Buc on Jul 13, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The reason why they don’t open it anymore is because the new scoreboard is in the way of the roof.
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 13, 2009 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The don't open it because seating.....
is now attached to the roof on the ends behind the goals. I saw it open a bunch of times including a few world team tennis matches with Goolagong and Rosewall back in the day.
by dtoddwin on Jul 14, 2009 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ha! You're as old as I am!
I used to go to WTT too, with Vitas and Evonne and Raynie Fox. I was at the match the Triangles won the WTT championship, and I got a mouth kiss from Peggy Michel.
Good times …
by bucdaddy on Jul 14, 2009 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Short version
There was one press pass between us and the sports editor pulled rank. So he went in the locker room and I got shooed outside with everyone else. I was waiting for him outside that floor level gate, there were lines of fans on either side of the corridor waiting for the players to come out. I was standing at the end of both rows and between them, so the S.E. would be able to find me easily when he came out. Instead, Peggy came strolling out looking all starry eyed (they’d had champagne in the locker room, I learned later) and happy and came right up to me, planted one and kept going. I was stunned and amazed, in a good way.
A while later the S.E. came out all smug and grinning and said he’d had some champagne from Goolagong’s glass. I told him what I got.
by bucdaddy on Jul 14, 2009 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Other teams:
If you like minor league and/or indy league games, there are also teams in Altoona, PA (the Curve, the Pirates’ AA affiliate) and Washington, PA (the Wild Things, a Frontier League indy ball outfit) that are fairly close to Pittsburgh.
by Vlad on Jul 13, 2009 6:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I don’t know if anyone else has said it but DO NOT EAT THE PRIMANTI BROS IN THE STADIUM. Honestly it tastes disgusting and will leave you ticked off. But you absolutley have to go to the Primanti Bros in the strip district. I can’t really tell you directions but I think its on 21st Street just somewhere in the strip anyone will tell you. Just don’t eat the primanti bros at the stadium.
by PITT3639 on Jul 14, 2009 7:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
seats
Oh and concering tickets dont worry about that. They sell bleacher seats for $4. Even in summer it isnt hot to sit there. And you can see the game and the city so its perfect.
by PITT3639 on Jul 14, 2009 7:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hey -
any yinz locals hear ’bout dis?
.Grant Bldg’s Morse Code Effed Up
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Jul 14, 2009 7:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Barack Obama’s favorite restaurant in Pittsburgh is Pamela’s. There are Pamela’s all over town. It’s a diner.
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 14, 2009 10:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
As far as diners go
You gotta go Ritters. Or, since its by the ballpark, Mullens.
Come to think of it, Ritters was where they shot the mock Sopranos ending with the Pirate Parrot.
by Bucs Fever on Jul 15, 2009 1:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If you want to go to a greasy spoon, then Ritters is the place. I just think greasy spoons are easy enough to find anywhere. And Ritters is kind of out of the way. Pamelas is a nice diner. There’s a Pamelas in the strip district close to downtown, and one in Oakland too where the museums are.
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 15, 2009 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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