Pittsburgh Observations

Greetings readers. I felt today would be as good a day as any to comment on some of the observations I have made over the past year about Pittsburgh and "Pittsburghers".

One of the first things that intrigued me about Pittsburghers was how they ask questions in the form of a statement. It was immediately obvious to me upon arriving in town, but if you ask a native about this, they will look at you like you're crazy. Unfortunately, I don't have an audio clip of this, but here is an example: "You're heading dahn to the Stiler's game?" Now say that aloud to yourself in the form of a statement. Crazy, I know. It's like you're being TOLD that you are going to a Steeler's game. The questioner might have some idea that you were considering going, but they're not asking you if you will be going, they're informing you that you will be going -- end of story.

Pittsburgh has some of the worst roads you will ever drive on -- period. Similarly, the DOT could be the worst in the nation. As a case in point, as I drove home from work one day, I came upon a lane with workers in a truck that were patching holes in the road. Mind you, they were patching concrete with asphalt, but I suppose that's another story. What blew my mind was that they were shoveling in the asphalt, piling it up high, and then moving on. They were letting the cars and trucks coming up behind them as they moved forward do the job of compacting the loose asphalt into the hole. I exaggerate not when I say this created quite a mess. Asphalt and rocks flying everywhere -- clinking and clanking against your undercarriage and sticking to the exterior of your vehicle for you to clean up later.

Bus drivers are F'ing crazy up here. I'm talking public buses, private transportation buses, SCHOOL buses. If you drive a bus up here it is a requirement that you are a raging lunatic. I honestly think that because these people think they are doing the city a service, they can disobey traffic lights at will, cut you off, block intersections, and speed faster than you thought was possible for a land yacht.

If you're from the South you say "ya'll". If you're a native Pittsburgher you say "Yinz". "Yinz goin to the Giant Egg-le for some Pirogies?"

Motorcycles are HUGE up here. I've never seen so many people on motorcycles. Oh, and by the way, helmets are not required and almost noone uses them. "Big" Ben Roethlisberger famously wrecked his bike not far from where I work a few years ago and was lucky to walk away. While sitting at an intersection a few months ago, I saw a motorcycle accident whereby after the wreck the gentleman tried to stand up and his foot collapsed where his tib/fib had been broken in two. Motorcycling in PIT = hazardous to your health.

Italian wedding soup is on every menu at every restaurant in Pittsburgh. Most of it is excellent.

Buffalo chicken is also HUGE up here. A local favorite is the Buffalo Chicken Salad with french fries. Buffalo chicken pizza is another staple.

Sunny days that last ALL DAY are a true rarity in Pittsburgh. In general, there is not much sun here -- especially in winter. When there is sun, it will usually last for a few hours and then cloud up. I heard it had something to do with Lake Erie...