How are you hanging in there, Pittsburgh? Whether you’re in self-isolation or at work every day, we all have to learn to deal with our new reality. However, the light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how close or how far away, means the return of all we love in Pittsburgh. Here are just nine Pittsburgh things we’ll probably never take for granted again.
- Hanging out with family and friends
Flickr/Steve Snodgrass Just about everyone – no matter where we live – misses hanging out with family and friends while we’re social distancing. Even though it’s not unique to Pittsburgh, it’s something we all share, and it definitely deserves a mention.
- The Squirrel Hill Tunnels
Flickr/Jimmy Emerson DVM Traffic breezes through the Squirrel Hill Tunnel these days. Those days of sitting in rush hour traffic, inching ever closer to the tunnel, are now on hold. While it probably won’t take too long for that traffic to aggravate us again, it certainly will make things feel, well, normal.
- Spring evenings at PNC Park
Flickr/daveynin Whether you love ‘em or hate ‘em, the Pirates are a part of one of spring’s biggest traditions: opening day. Even if you’re not going to the games, there’s just something comforting about driving past PNC Park to see the lights glowing.
- The St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Flickr/DrivingtheNortheast Covid-19 brought this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade to a roaring halt. One of the largest events of the year, it even went on during the Blizzard of ’93 when two to three inches of snow were falling each hour. It took a pandemic to stop the parade. But, it will be back. Here’s to the 2021 parade!
- Chats with random Pittsburghers
Flickr/Cam Miller We, Pittsburghers, are known for our friendliness. How many times have you just struck up a conversation with someone while waiting for the bus, sitting on a bench at the mall, or just hanging out downtown?
- Breakfast or lunch at our favorite diners
Flickr/Via Tsuji A leisurely breakfast or lunch at Pamela’s Diner, Deluca’s Diner, or Kelly O’s Diner – just one of so many amazing eateries in the Burgh – is a tradition for many Pittsburghers. Sure, we can whip up a delicious meal at home, but there’s something about the busyness and friendliness of a classic diner that just can’t be beat.
- Easter (and spring) on the farm
Facebook/Trax Farms Did you ever really stop to think how farms – Trax, Triple B, and Soergel Orchards, for example – play a role in our memories? We visit them, of course, to stock up on fresh fruit and veggies, but they’re also the backdrop for meeting the Easter Bunny and Santa and for picking pumpkins.
- An afternoon in our favorite neighborhoods
Facebook/Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream How many times have you just spent a few hours walking through your favorite neighborhood – Squirrel Hill or Shadyside, perhaps – meandering in and out of shops and stopping for a bite to eat? Homemade ice cream from Millie’s. A salad bar lunch from Eat ‘N Park. What are your favorite things to do in your favorite neighborhood?
- Visiting our favorite attractions
Facebook/Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium Warm spring days usually mean day trips to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, the National Aviary, and Phipps Conservatory. We have so much to do in Pittsburgh that we may not have realized it - until now.
What are some of the things you’ll never again take for granted once life returns to normal? Join the conversation in the comments! When things get back to normal, don’t forget to check out these 7 quirky things in Pittsburgh.
Flickr/Steve Snodgrass
Just about everyone – no matter where we live – misses hanging out with family and friends while we’re social distancing. Even though it’s not unique to Pittsburgh, it’s something we all share, and it definitely deserves a mention.
Flickr/Jimmy Emerson DVM
Traffic breezes through the Squirrel Hill Tunnel these days. Those days of sitting in rush hour traffic, inching ever closer to the tunnel, are now on hold. While it probably won’t take too long for that traffic to aggravate us again, it certainly will make things feel, well, normal.
Flickr/daveynin
Whether you love ‘em or hate ‘em, the Pirates are a part of one of spring’s biggest traditions: opening day. Even if you’re not going to the games, there’s just something comforting about driving past PNC Park to see the lights glowing.
Flickr/DrivingtheNortheast
Covid-19 brought this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade to a roaring halt. One of the largest events of the year, it even went on during the Blizzard of ’93 when two to three inches of snow were falling each hour. It took a pandemic to stop the parade. But, it will be back. Here’s to the 2021 parade!
Flickr/Cam Miller
We, Pittsburghers, are known for our friendliness. How many times have you just struck up a conversation with someone while waiting for the bus, sitting on a bench at the mall, or just hanging out downtown?
Flickr/Via Tsuji
A leisurely breakfast or lunch at Pamela’s Diner, Deluca’s Diner, or Kelly O’s Diner – just one of so many amazing eateries in the Burgh – is a tradition for many Pittsburghers. Sure, we can whip up a delicious meal at home, but there’s something about the busyness and friendliness of a classic diner that just can’t be beat.
Facebook/Trax Farms
Did you ever really stop to think how farms – Trax, Triple B, and Soergel Orchards, for example – play a role in our memories? We visit them, of course, to stock up on fresh fruit and veggies, but they’re also the backdrop for meeting the Easter Bunny and Santa and for picking pumpkins.
Facebook/Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream
How many times have you just spent a few hours walking through your favorite neighborhood – Squirrel Hill or Shadyside, perhaps – meandering in and out of shops and stopping for a bite to eat? Homemade ice cream from Millie’s. A salad bar lunch from Eat ‘N Park. What are your favorite things to do in your favorite neighborhood?
Facebook/Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
Warm spring days usually mean day trips to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, the National Aviary, and Phipps Conservatory. We have so much to do in Pittsburgh that we may not have realized it - until now.
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