Five Reasons To Visit Pittsburgh In 2015
Pittsburgh is a culturally diverse, modern city with a lot to offer pit-stoppers, the curious or those here on business. From magnificent dining, to nightclubs, museums and outstanding hospitality, Pittsburgh should be among the first cities you'd want to travel to in 2015. Here's a short list of just some of the unique amenities, events and landmarks this beautiful city has to offer.
Pittsburgh Wine Festival
Heinz Field
100 Art Rooney Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
(412) 281-2681
www.pittsburghwinefestival.com
Home to the venerable and most recognized football team in the world, Heinz Field hosts its annual wine festival. In 2015, the Pittsburgh Wine Festival will host some of the world's finest wine and food enthusiasts. The festival boasts over 165 vendors offering over 500 varieties of wines from both domestic and international vineyards. Tasting tickets range between $125-$250, and this wonderful event is almost always held in May. Continue to check the website for the 2015 date and plan your visit to Pittsburgh accordingly.
Duquesne Incline
1197 West Carson St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
(412) 381-1665
www.duquesneincline.org
A century-old cable car that offers the best views of downtown Pittsburgh is one tourist attraction you'll need to see upon your imminent arrival to the Steel City. Adorably old-timey, with tons of kitsch, this funicular climbs the sharpest side of Mount Washington and offers a breathtaking expanse of downtown Pittsburgh. Make a point to visit this serene and romantic site at night when the skyline is ablaze, and the Mount Washington overlooks are less crowded, unless you're in the market for a traditional Pittsburgh-themed token. The Duquesne Incline's gift shop is only open until 7 p.m., but the trolley runs until midnight,
Urban Photography
Downtown, Lawrenceville
Polish Hill, Mexican War Streets
Bloomfield
Whether you're a novice photography buff or a pro, Pittsburgh is your one-way ticket to raw, honest photos that you wouldn't otherwise be able to find in a city rife with tourism. Mix that with the sleek and modern skyscrapers that abound in downtown Pittsburgh, and you're onto something - dare we say - magical. Pittsburgh has 446 bridges alone, which make for spectacular shots, but don't expect any flouncy, decorative buildings. Pittsburgh's claim to fame is its functionality, mixed with an original splash of both old and new, clean lines, and many, many beautiful bridges. While it might not boast the most modern of faces, it cannot be denied that it's at least very different.
Films on Location
The Century Building
130 7th Street, Suite 202
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
(888) 744-3456
www.pghfilm.org
In recent years, Pittsburgh has begun to rival the sheer aesthetic that many other film franchise cities have been known for. In fact, there have been so many movies filmed in Pittsburgh since the late '80s that it would be difficult to name them all. While a handful of popular films, such as "Flashdance," "Night of the Living Dead," "All the Right Moves" and "Striking Distance" had previously utilized Pittsburgh as a backdrop, the industry has blown apart at the seams in recent memory. In the past five years alone, "One Shot," "Southpaw," "Batman: The Dark Knight Rises," "Fathers and Daughters," "Foxcatcher" and "The Fault in Our Stars," to only name a few, have been filmed in Pittsburgh. Check out the Pittsburgh Film Office's website for current and post-production schedules, and plan your trip around one of the PFO's productions - who knows, you may just run into Brad Pitt on Penn Avenue.
The Zenith
86 S 26th St
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
(412) 481-4833
www.zenithpgh.com
Unlike any other establishment in the city (and arguably the country) Zenith is an amazing antique shop and vegetarian eatery. Tucked away into a corner of the South Side, this wonderful establishment hosts a killer brunch, which is presented in both a main dish, and also accompanied by a buffet with all of the delicious side dishes you could ask for. While you're waiting for your table (note: The Zenith also has a habit of sitting those on a time crunch with regular patrons, but understands personal preference if you require your own table), check out the store's rare, exotic, vintage items for sale.
Nikki Tiani-Moroney is a full time mum of two boys, wife of a professional poker player/photographer/amateur pencil-sharpening competitor and writer from Pittsburgh, PA. When she isn't studiously neglecting her housework in favor of a good book, she's out simultaneously fighting crime and picking up sidewalk litter while savoring an occasional cigarette. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
