Brentology.com

As I learn my way around the city, I have noticed that Pittsburgh is really one big hill. Every street from the long gradual incline of Murray Avenue in my neighborhood to the incredibly steep South Negley in Shadyside (which has the nickname BFH, figure it out), to the winding up and down of the freeways, can really make driving an adventure. While it does wear on your brakes and tires more than the flatlands I came here from, it does provide some great views from just about anywhere you travel since you usually find yourself at a high elevation at some point during your outing. This is especially cool at night when the lights of city are shining from downtown or the lights from the houses in the hills are dotting the skyline. I have recently trekked up to the roof of my building on a couple occasions to get some fresh air and take in some lights.

The neighborhoods of Pittsburgh surround the main business center of the city just across the water and various bridges connect everything. These numerous neighborhoods all are unique in their own historical way. My neighborhood, Squirrel Hill, has a large Jewish population and the main streets have several Jewish centers and businesses. The business district is busy and offers a large variety of stores and restaurants. Two movie theaters are within walking distance of my apartment. It is great for walking and also has some awesome houses. Some very large and very pricey, but the architecture is tremendous. There are streets where I just like to travel and look at the houses. Another is Shadyside. This one is a busy place with its many trendy shops and galleries. It also has the Walnut Street grill which is one of my favorite restaurants. Greenfield is where Alison and Paul live. I can cross into their neighborhood on foot since they are so close. Lots of residential streets in this neighborhood and it is the gateway for me to the waterfront. At least one park, of which there are some great ones throughout Pittsburgh, is in it. It was a great area for them to buy a house in and me being so close just makes it that much better. Finally there is the South Side. This is a mix of old and new. New developments including my Caribou Coffee, restaurants, theaters, and shops give way to the old neighborhood hangouts down the road. This is another good area to take a stroll. There are some others which I have been to, but have yet to appreciate them enough to name them and their attributes. That will come in time as my travel radius is slowly growing as I find my way around more and more and get adventurous. I especially look forward to the parks when the weather gets warmer in the spring. So these few were just a small snapshot of the many neighborhoods in Pittsburgh. So much to see and do, it will be a long time before the newness wears off.