SamuearlJackson

Hi all,

After moving back to the UK from Houston last year my wife and I are now moving back to the US to Pittsburgh, PA, on a semi-permanent basis (I have a job at the uni there). The H1-B came through last week so we are all set to go. Just wondering if anyone here has any experience of Pittsburgh, knows nice places to live, shop (for my wife!) etc...

Thanks for any help and advice,

SamJ

Ray

Poor Bastard !!!!

Tami2

EEEEEK!!!! :scared:

Sarah

See if you can relocate to Philadelphia instead......

Okay, its not that bad, there are a few people on here who live in Pittsburgh, UKImmigrant, JumpingDoris to name a couple.

It has had a lot of money ploughed into it in the past couple of years so is experienceing a rennaisance of sorts and now has a fair few good restaurants, art galleries and theatres. However its still a bit of a bleak industrial landscape and crime there is still going strong. There are nice parts like everywhere....and there's always the Heinz factory and the Sports teams, if you're into that.

You will experience driving,and realise that road signs in Pitt are a bit of a joke and that it seems as though someone has only put them there for a laugh at your expense,a s they seem to make no sense whatsoever. At some point will have to go over the iron bridge which leads to the four-pit tunnel. Pittsburghians treat this as some sort of Nascar Death Race and if you're doing anything less than 140mph going over the bridge you're screwed. Oh and the sign for your exit will only appear as you drive past it and realise its 5 lanes over on the other side.

Good luck in Steel Town!

Scouse Express

That voice of reassurance strikes again!!!

Jim.

jumping doris

Oh god. I have just driven over the Fort Pitt for the first time and I've been here nearly a year!!!. I usually choose a different way into town but on this occasion I had no choice. I closed my eyes like all the locals do, hit the gas and aimed for downtown.
To the OP...where will you be living?
I like Pittsburgh and everyone we have met here has been great. I think it's a very friendly place. I wish it had more shops etc in the city centre because I don't enjoy shopping malls. We have found loads to de here and there is some really pretty country side around.
PM me if you would like to know anything specific.

paddingtongreen

You want them to go to Florida?

Rete

You poor thing ;-(

Enjoy the steel mills and polluted air.

Bob

Ouch...I've yet to hear a nice word said about the place, except that's it behind ya as you leg it through...everyone says it is a bit of a shit hole....and PA is just a weird state anyway

SamuearlJackson

Thanks for the replies. Nice to know someone likes it!!! We don't know where we'll be living yet. To begin with we'll be staying in a hotel or with another professor from the uni. Hopefully finding somewhere to rent after a few days to a week. I've heard that Squirrel Hill & Shadyside are pretty nice areas, and close to the universities. Credit allowing we'll probably be looking to buy after a year or so.

I'm a big sports fan so that is a big plus.

Cheers,
SamJ

Sarah

so, so true.

Celsius

Would the uni be CMU by any chance?

SamuearlJackson

it's Pitt.

jumping doris

Take no notice of them.
There are no steel mills left.
Shadyside and Squirrel Hill are very nice and have some lovely old houses but the schools are not brilliant if you have children. Most people move out when they have kids or educate privately.
Fox Chapel is nice, so is Sewickley also Mount Lebanon. I live in the South Hills because the schools are good. The North Hills also have good schools.
We have spent a few Summer evenings at the Pirate games. The stadium is amazing and we don't know enough about baseball to know if the team are any good. A great night out.
We moved here from Liverpool and Pittsburgh reminds me of it in many ways.

I live in a place called Upper Saint Clair and there is almost zero crime, mostly underage smoking and drinking.
I never lock my doors, most people where I am don't lock their cars.
I am amazed that we still have all our garden furniture because unless it was chained down back at home it would have been stolen.
There is more crime in the city and we have friends in Shadyside who hear gun fire very frequently.

Go to the Strip on Saturday mornings for lots of Italian, Mexican and other markets.
Shadyside has a lovely shopping street.
As I said before the surrounding countryside is beautiful.
I like having four seasons and of course the Winter means you can ski ( not my idea of fun, though).
I hope you have a great time here.

Wiganer

I spent about 6 months up in Pittsburgh working for Alcoa. It wasn't a bad place and I was staying downtown, in the Westin hotel. Having said that though, most of my evenings were spent in the hotel bar since downtown is nothing special at all.

People are very friendly and I never had any problems or noticed any problems.

The downtown has been revamped (according to the locals) and is much better than it used to be. I do like the way that the football stadium and baseball stadium are basically next door to each other.