Experience the SouthSide
The South Side of Pittsburgh is an excitingly diverse part of Pittsburgh's landscape. It is the only neighborhood where you can see two totally different types of people who have purple hair-the elderly who have lived here their whole lives and the youth who flock to Carson Street for bar hopping, entertainment and food .
Originally, this dense area housed all of the factory workers from the glass and steel industries. None of those plants remain, but the families continue and they make up the purple-haired elderly who frequent places like Lee's coffee shop and the Green Front Inn.
The social activities for visitors start at 9th Street and go to the Hot Metal Bridge which is 28th Street. Every block offers its own variety of shops, bars and restaurants and so experimentation is a welcome part of returning to the area again and again. The largest and newest section, the former J&L steel plant, is now SouthSide Works. It offers a higher end urban experience with its flagship Cheesecake Factory and shopping such as Urban Outfitters and BCBG. There is a bandstand with live music on the weekends in the nice weather and a great water sculpture for the kids to play in.
Bars include such choices as the Lava Lounge, Mario's, FatHeads and Dee's. If you want some unique fast food try Primanti's at 19th, The Deli at 17th or The Pretzel Shop at 23rd. For coffee try The Behive, Pittsburgh's original locally owned coffee house. There's the alternative City Theatre and live music at Club Cafe. For fine dining try Spanish food at Mallorca, French cuisine at LePommier, or European at Dish.
Finally, when you have had your fill of food and drink and need a little fresh air, head down 18th Street to the public boat dock and a walk along the river. Watch for future blogs with more specific reviews of my particular favorites.
