Pittsburgh

Though Ive never lived in Pittsburgh myself, Ive been there dozens of time and really enjoy this city. Growing up in Cleveland, Pittsburgh was just a 2 hour day trip away, and my family visited often.

A major reason why we visited was to go to a Steelers game. My dad somehow managed to get on the season ticketholders list, and hasnt let go of them since, because they are nearly impossible to come by. Im not a particularly passionate fan, but my childhood is filled with memories of going to the game with dad (even though he got a lot of heat for caring more about the Steelers than the Browns!). They won the Superbowl 6 times, and though none of those wins were during my childhood, the fan base was still wild for them.

I also remember going to a fieldtrip to Pittsburgh in middle school to see one of the citys most famous landmarks: the pre-revolutionary Fort Pitt. To be more accurate, it was just to see the Block House, which is all thats left of the fort. Its been preserved by the Daughters of the American Revolution and was built in the late 18th century. Part of what used to be the fort has now become a state park, but unfortunately theres nothing original that has been preserved besides the Block House.

Pittsburgh is also home to quite a few higher education institutions. A large number of friends from Cleveland ended up studying in Pittsburgh, and most of them stayed there to work afterwards. University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University and Carnegie Mellon are some of the best known universities, but there are also quite a few smaller schools. It was fun to visit friends while they were studying there because Pittsburgh has the most bars per capita in the country! However, the city center can get pretty empty at night, and you have to know where to go to find the most popular bars. Now, a few friends work for some of the many tech companies that have large offices there. It used to be more of an industrial city, but now the economy is more centered on tech, health care, and education.

Another reason friends have stayed there is because of the very reasonable cost of living. Though living in the golden triangle will cost you, outside of that area you can find pleasant housing options for a modest price. I appreciate how walkable many of the neighborhoods are as well. However, since the city is located at the convergence of two rivers, there are some long bridges that are essentially a walking barrier between downtown and the suburban neighborhoods. But the public transit isnt bad, so its not a big problem.

Last Ill mention one other great memory I have of Pittsburgh. When I was a recent graduate, Pittsburgh elected Luke Ravenstahl, the youngest mayor in the history of the country! He was only 3 years older than me when he was elected at 26, and I remember being inspired by the idea that someone so youthful could achieve that.

It is located in Brookline which is one of the top areas in the City of Pittsburgh. It is an ideal location for the morning and evening commute. You can be downtown in 15 minutes!