There are a lot of things I love about Pittsburgh. Check out this piece from Pittsburgh Magazine about some of the neighborhoods in the city. There are 90 neighborhoods within the city limits. And they all have something really unique.
It is easy to put in words the things I love about Pittsburgh - it’s a very long list. But, the feeling here is what is really special. It’s kind of like home, but not exactly. Pittsburgh just...feels. I moved here as an adult and it was just the right fit. I fell in love with the way Pittsburgh embraces those who transplant here in the same way it embraces their native children and ‘prodigal sons’. It’s easy to get involved here. There are organizations and clubs and forums and ‘meetups’ and Happy Hours and Tweetups and places of worship and theaters for everyone! I’ve met some pretty amazing people, some ‘natives’ and some fellow transplants. These great things that happen here just happen - organically because someone has an idea and makes it happen. (There are a lot of economic and development reasons for this, but that is another blog post for another time.)
One thing I’ve noticed about people who have stayed here, both those from elsewhere and those who grew up here, is that they all have a special quality about them - one that is similar to that feeling I get from being here. It’s hard to put into words; it’s just a feeling. I’ve known people who just didn’t...get Pittsburgh. You have to ‘get’ it. You rarely find someone here who just kind of likes being here. There are Pittsburgh lovers and haters, and not a lot in between. Some of the haters are caught up in the old stereotypes of the ‘smoky city’, etc. Some who just feel like it was too small. But those who can see through the rusty ‘perceptions’ of Pittsburgh to see what is truly going on here at the individual, neighborhood, and community level - they are the ones who stay.
You have to come to Pittsburgh to understand this. It is simultaneously a major U.S city with all of the benefits, attractions, resources that come with that and a small town with the close, tight-knit communities (not a joke - everyone knows freaking everyone!) and local quirks, and sandwiches with French fries on them. A coworker and I joked recently that trying to find ‘six degrees of separation’ between Pittsburghers is impossible: you’ll NEVER get to six degrees. Maybe you can get to four, just maybe. I can tell you about these things, but, my friends who visit me here, even for a few days at a time, can feel that it’s different and wonderful.
So, Pittsburgh is awesome. Come visit and give it a chance.