9 Pittsburgh Things We’ll Never Take For Granted Again
By Beth Price-Williams|Published March 27, 2020
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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?
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.
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.
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?
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.
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