Pittsburgh, a city which once typified the American rust belt. Steel mills, pollution, migrant population and a fan base that loved its sports teams harder working than it’s residents. I guess I owe my love of the city to my brother in law Randy. Randy grew up in Pittsburgh in the late 60’s and early 70’s when his dad played for the Penguins. Randy used to regal me with stories about “ the Burgh”. Going for skates as a kid at the old igloo with then current Penguins like Bryan Hextall, Jean Pronovost, Syl Apps ect. He became good friends with former nhl goalie/gm Ron Hextall during these skates as well. I also owe my infinity for the Steelers to Randy. During his time in “the Burgh” Randy lived at one point several doors down from Steeler legend “Mean Joe Green”! That’s cool!
With a small window in our schedule from work, hockey and a house renovation going on Jacquie and I have decided to take a mini vacation. No time to head south so I ask her “ where would you like to go”? Chicago? Toronto? New York?……. Our pick? Pittsburgh!
The “ Burgh” is my kinda town. First and foremost a sports town. But a sports town with a bit of culture, lots of history, aesthetically pleasing, a great food scene and the home of Iron City Brewing. Thursday night we take off for Pittsburgh with an overnight stop in Erie PA. Supper at a local bbq joint, dessert and iron city lights at Primantii Bros ( more on Primantii bros later). Friday morning we cruise down i79 headed to the Steel City. This weekend we are staying downtown Pittsburgh. While driving downtown is a little taxing, compared with Toronto it’s a breeze. As we enter into the downtown core we cross veterans bridge and are soon at our hotel. Check in and it so happens to be happy hour. Beers at happy hour, back to the room and at 7:30 we are heading out to a local establishment to eat and watch the Penguins and Islanders play game #2. Our choice of establishment for supper and game viewing is Primantii Bros at market square. It’s a beautiful night 72f and we find a spot on the patio. More iron city lights, a famous Primantii Bros sandwich and the rest of the night is spent game and people watching. The Pens drop the game ( ended up losing the series 4 straight to the islanders) however the people watching doesn’t disappoint. It happens to be comic con this weekend in the “Burgh” , the combination of Pens fans and Comic con attendees provides hours of entertainment. So good in fact that we are still on the patio at 11:30 that night. A night cap at the hotel bar includes a serenade from a group of inebriated Duquesne university girls who sing Rick Springfields 80’s hit Jessie’s girl over and over and over again. Haha
Saturday morning breakfast and a 20 minute walk to Pittsburgh’s station market. We take in the sights and hit another patio for iron city lights while we kill a little time before we get on a boat for a city tour. Jacquie and I aren’t much for the traditional tourist/sight seeing expeditions but this was well worth the $20 or so. The tour cruises on the Monongahela, Ohio and Allegheny rivers where we get excellent views of Heinz field ( of course home of the Steelers), PNC park ( Pirates), Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh’s famous bridges and many other landmarks. Did you know the Monongahela River flows south to north? Extremely rare. And bridges within the city are painted Aztec gold. Pittsburgh has more bridges than any other city in the world. The rivers are clean enough to eat the fish you catch! After the tour we hop in an Uber and we are off to The Church Brew Works in the Polish Hill district.
On the outside this looks like just another old church, but once you open the door Wow! This place is incredible. Tons of seats, tv’s for sports (the masters is on), great original architecture and the back part of the church contains the on site brewing. We grab a tall table at the bar and order a flight of beers. 7 draft beers on the flight. A couple American ipa’s ( one called hockey hair) a lager called Vienna I really like, a stout, a couple ales and a German Pilsner. All in all quality beers. We stick around for a couple more pints of Lager and head back to the hotel for happy hour and to get ready for the evening.
Saturday evening another warm spring night. Back to market square for supper at a place called “ city works” I go for a burger which is good but not great. Lots of tv’s, a large crowd which includes everything from families, to partiers. This place has a great patio though. We finish supper and hit Primantii Bros patio for a night cap and more hockey/people watching. Midnight and we are ready to call it a night. It’s been a beautiful couple nights here in the “Burgh”. Sunday morning comes and it’s pouring rain as Penguins fans are walking to the rink for the noon game time start. We are on our way out of the city and I’m thinking “ should have stayed for the game”. Catching the game on the radio will have to do. The penguins are on the wrong side of the score in this one again but the weekend has been a success. Pittsburgh, what a great city. I can’t wait to get back. Hopefully in the fall for the annual Pittsburgh Girls Thanksgiving classic.
That’s it for this blog as Jimmy B sings “ nomads know when the show is done”.
Famous Primantii bros sandwich, paired with an iron city light
Church brew works
Enjoying the patio
Gotta like iron city beer