Post #318365 by midnite on Fri, Jul 13, 2007 1:58 AM

Pittsburgh 2007

Sweet Home Pennsylvania....(turn it up)

Going home to see some kin, yes. That's right, I may be a Florida-born cracker like many members of a certain Southern Rock band, but the rest of my familia: all Steel Town Natives. Heck, even my Dad, the ole Sarge, although born in Czechoslovakia, actually spent most of his formative years in Pittsburgh. So, I'm coming home to you, Pennsylvania.

Last time I was in Pittsburgh was exactly thirty years ago and a lot has changed. Then again, a lot has not. New generations have come and older ones have gone. The city has transformed from steel & factories to medicine & universities. The purpose of this particular trek? See some family, see if this midnite can return to the Mother, and sort of Father...land, as a resident. Can the hills of Frisco be swapped for the hills of the 'burgh? I guess, I don't know, sure? Now, where's the sandwiches, Hon?

Sandwiches, you say? Lordy, the ole steel town is a mecca for thrilling works in the bread & cold cuts arts. Leading the pack is, while not a conventional club, an exciting and adventurous treat: the Primanti Brothers signature, uh, sand... sandwic...meal! It's big, messy, and an experience on many sensory fronts. Blue collar, rough, not for the feint of heart...it says "Pitts-burgh" and says it loudly. I enjoyed it, but my palate leans toward the traditional, the classic, the club. More on that, later.

Considering a sandwich is but one part of a balanced diet and can account for only two, perhaps four, of the day's meals, there's got to be more to see and consider before moving to a new city. See and consider we did: The incline (shit, that's steep!), the dramatic skyline, the many diverse neighborhoods. Saw my late Uncle's name on a WWII memorial. Crossed the Clemente Bridge (my baseball hero) and made a wonderful discovery in the Strip District: Klavon's. If I felt about ice cream sundaes like I do about club sandwiches I would've submitted my job application on the spot, have them pay me in desserts, and instruct them to bury me out back when the Grim Reaper strikes me down. The place is a heaven on Penn Ave for ice cream/soda shop devotees. Plus, they sell candy cigarettes! Good sandwiches, a real vintage era soda shop...this town is looking a-ok, and I'm stay-n-cool.

We took in some cultural sites as well. The Pittsburgh Museum (stellar, even if connected to the Heinz klan) and that little museum dedicated to the work of my Dad's old neighbor: Andrew Warhola. Got lucky and caught a Buc's game at PNC Park, which is an incredible baseball park, that hosts a really bad team...hmm, no change from Frisco! Ya know, Pittsburgh's a cool city, not too big, lots of character, loads of "my people" (Oily Bo-Hunks)....and affordable real estate. Traffic's a problem, as are the taxes, and I don't think the weather stays sunny, around 74 degrees, with low humidity, all year long. Nonetheless, it's definitely a keeper for the "Where's Midnite?" game in early '08.

Tiki? Why yes, sort of, I think. Pittsburgh is home to a newish tiki bar, named, logically, "Tiki Lounge." The fates did not work in my favor and the closest I got to the place was out front a few hours before they would open. That was a disappointment as this watering hole has received some favorable reviews and a decent spot to score a well-made cocktail is a bit important to this old rummy. Here's a collage of exterior shots. I suppose I have another reason to return to Pittsburgh. See ya next time, Tiki Lounge!

Overall, it was a one heck of a trip. I saw some family I had not seen in decades. Won two out of three arm wrestling with my 85 year-old Aunt Mary. Spent some time with my even older Uncle hearing about the town in Slovakia where he and my Dad were born, watching him draw a crude map as he spoke. The pencil jumped from one spot to another on the page as he recalled this field, that building. It's almost eighty years since he's been there, but I could see on his face he was reliving it all as he put pencil to paper. Those enchanting few moments listening to my Uncle John describe that little town will be a memory which stays with me for a long long time.

Club Sandwich? Oh yeah, one more item in Pitt's favor. As pictured above from the Westin, more of a turkey BLT than traditional Club. Still, we're really only talking about an extra slice of bread. It's a fine club, substantial, well made....tasty. That's a sandwich that could pick me up when I'm feeling blue.

I liked that club. I liked Pittsburgh. I'd better, as it is, in many ways, home.

Tell the truth,
cyptyn mydnyt