Describe Pittsburgh, PA Folks For Me

[Hammer67]

One thing I have noticed about Pittsburgh is that the people are more southern then the other people from the Rust Belt cities. I spent a lot of time in Cleveland, Cincy and now live in Detroit. I also lived in Georgia and Florida when I was a kid…and my Parents currently live in Louisville.

The "Rust Belt" is Western PA, Ohio, Northern Indiana, Southern Michigan, and up to the Chicago area. People tend to keep to themselves, always in a hurry, lacking basic manners (saying thank you, or holding doors for people, driving etiquette, etc.). I think it has something to do with the hard, industrialized landscape and the harsh winters…it is definitely cultural.

Pittsburgh people tend to be more polite, in general, and much more laid back then other Rust Belt cities and people. Especially those from the Detroit area. The culture changes when I visit my parents in Louisville…the people there remind me more of Pittsburghers. More friendly and not so "in their own worlds".

Does any of this make sense?

[Preacher]

Originally Posted by hindes204

you have to go to "perogies plus" on island ave too, i grew up right down the street from it, best perogies EVER!!!!


http://www.pierogiesplus.com/

NOW YOU TELL ME. . . WHEN WE DONT HAVE A TRIP PLANNED THIS YEAR

[HometownGal]

Originally Posted by hindes204

you have to go to "perogies plus" on island ave too, i grew up right down the street from it, best perogies EVER!!!!


http://www.pierogiesplus.com/

Pierogies Plus makes the BEST pierogies anywhere!!! Their potato and cheese pierogies, as well as their meat pierogies, are simply off the charts delish! Their haluski is to DIE FOR!!! I try to get there at least once a month - I have to work out a little more the following day - LOL!

hindes - I'm sure you visited the Jenny Lee Bakery right up Island Avenue from Pierogies Plus. They went out of business a short time ago shortly after that devastating fire - I miss that place soooooo much! :

[tony hipchest]

Originally Posted by hindes204

10 minutes from dahntahn....most people are friendly, not so much in my old neighborhood, they view outsiders as dangerous, of coarse, my hood itself was dangerous...

hmmm. kinda reminds me of lawrenceville which is only 30 blocks from downtown. as a foreigner (from NM and the southwest) who has spent about 6 summers there, i can say i felt what you describe, both as a kid and as an adult.

im not too familiar with suburban pittsburgh. but ive taken hunnerds of bus rides, to go to the games, downtown, the malls, kennywood, to the museum, etc. so that tells you the majority and the types of folks ive encountered. lots of interesting characters on the bus.

its a very culturally diverse bunch and a bit more segregated (as i suppose most big cities with large immigration populations are) compared to what im used to, growing up on military bases and in indian/mexico country.

ive been looked at funny plenty of times walking by a stranger sitting on their porch and saying "how ya doin?".

of course in a southwestern small town a smile and a nod, or a tip of the cap is just a common courtesey and making eye contact isnt considered a threat.

but i LOVE it. i love the old row houses, all the different people, the brick streets, the city smell, living a block away from the allegheny, taking a walk across the bridge or up to the cemetary. strolling the strip or hanging out at market square just to people watch. i love how every neighborhood has a bar...or 12! (down here there are zoning issues). i love going to Gators for a liquid heroin and a puerto rican monkey f*(k, and to frankies for a polish sausage and a carry out beer. i love just sitting and listenning to all the regulars and then getting in on the conversation.

[hindes204]

Originally Posted by HometownGal

Pierogies Plus makes the BEST pierogies anywhere!!! Their potato and cheese pierogies, as well as their meat pierogies, are simply off the charts delish! Their haluski is to DIE FOR!!! I try to get there at least once a month - I have to work out a little more the following day - LOL!

hindes - I'm sure you visited the Jenny Lee Bakery right up Island Avenue from Pierogies Plus. They went out of business a short time ago shortly after that devastating fire - I miss that place soooooo much! :

yep.......speaking of bakeries, have you ever been to Mancinis in da rocks....i can remember standing in line for 30 minutes every saturday just to get a fresh loaf of bread MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.....greatest bread ever

[hindes204]

Originally Posted by tony hipchest

hmmm. kinda reminds me of lawrenceville which is only 30 blocks from downtown. as a foreigner (from NM and the southwest) who has spent about 6 summers there, i can say i felt what you describe, both as a kid and as an adult.

im not too familiar with suburban pittsburgh. but ive taken hunnerds of bus rides, to go to the games, downtown, the malls, kennywood, to the museum, etc. so that tells you the majority and the types of folks ive encountered. lots of interesting characters on the bus.

its a very culturally diverse bunch and a bit more segregated (as i suppose most big cities with large immigration populations are) compared to what im used to, growing up on military bases and in indian/mexico country.

ive been looked at funny plenty of times walking by a stranger sitting on their porch and saying "how ya doin?".

of course in a southwestern small town a smile and a nod, or a tip of the cap is just a common courtesey and making eye contact isnt considered a threat.

but i LOVE it. i love the old row houses, all the different people, the brick streets, the city smell, living a block away from the allegheny, taking a walk across the bridge or up to the cemetary. strolling the strip or hanging out at market square just to people watch. i love how every neighborhood has a bar...or 12! (down here there are zoning issues). i love going to Gators for a liquid heroin and a puerto rican monkey f*(k, and to frankies for a polish sausage and a carry out beer. i love just sitting and listenning to all the regulars and then getting in on the conversation.

Been to lawrenceville many times, i used to work construction before the air force so ive seen alot of da burgh, met alot of interesting people

not alot of "how ya doins" in my part of the city...not unless you were ready to throw down......or duck the

[xfl2001fan]

Originally Posted by hindes204

you have to go to "perogies plus" on island ave too, i grew up right down the street from it, best perogies EVER!!!!


http://www.pierogiesplus.com/

That'll be more for my wife. I like pierogies like I like cheeseburgers...they're good to eat...but nothing that I would do a handstand for. I've always been more ove a sandwhich/sub person...or some good (i.e. authentic) italian.

[xfl2001fan]

Originally Posted by Hammer67

One thing I have noticed about Pittsburgh is that the people are more southern then the other people from the Rust Belt cities. I spent a lot of time in Cleveland, Cincy and now live in Detroit. I also lived in Georgia and Florida when I was a kid…and my Parents currently live in Louisville.

The "Rust Belt" is Western PA, Ohio, Northern Indiana, Southern Michigan, and up to the Chicago area. People tend to keep to themselves, always in a hurry, lacking basic manners (saying thank you, or holding doors for people, driving etiquette, etc.). I think it has something to do with the hard, industrialized landscape and the harsh winters…it is definitely cultural.

Pittsburgh people tend to be more polite, in general, and much more laid back then other Rust Belt cities and people. Especially those from the Detroit area. The culture changes when I visit my parents in Louisville…the people there remind me more of Pittsburghers. More friendly and not so "in their own worlds".

Does any of this make sense?

Absolutely it makes sense. I've always felt that people (in general) where as "warm" as the weather they grew up in. My mom was raised near USC before moving to OH (after Grandpa retired from the Navy) so she raised us to be more open/friendly. I get lots of funny looks, because the instant I hear someone say "Hi", I return it, whether they're talking to me or not. Most of my friends are used to it by now...so they just roll with it...but for a perfect stranger who grew up in northern OH...not so much.

Now, I live so far out in the country, that I can't see my neighbors houses through the trees (except in the dead of winter.) It's nice and quiet...but that also lends itself to livnig "in my own world." I've met my neighbors and all, but most are signifcantly older than my wife and I (retired) and aren't typically around through the winter anyways. I know the old couple on the North side of our property are really nice....I help Jerry work on his lawn mower when it needs fixed (sharpen the blades and such). My wife trades recipes with his wife (her name ALWAYS escapes me...) when they return from Florida (which should be in the next week or so) to start the spring cleaning process...and plan for the gardening/canning season.

[X-Terminator]

Originally Posted by HometownGal

Pierogies Plus makes the BEST pierogies anywhere!!! Their potato and cheese pierogies, as well as their meat pierogies, are simply off the charts delish! Their haluski is to DIE FOR!!! I try to get there at least once a month - I have to work out a little more the following day - LOL!

hindes - I'm sure you visited the Jenny Lee Bakery right up Island Avenue from Pierogies Plus. They went out of business a short time ago shortly after that devastating fire - I miss that place soooooo much! :

OK that's it - we need to make a trip to Pierogies Plus ASAP!

And I miss Jenny Lee Bakery too. It's a shame that they couldn't rebuild and stay in business after the fire. They had the best doughnuts in town, period.

hindes - I've not been to the Mancini's in The Rocks in quite some time, but it is an awesome place. Have you ever been to The Breadworks on the North Side? It's literally right down the hill from where I grew up, which isn't a great neighborhood either. But the bread is great, and the smell is even better!

[Hammer67]

Originally Posted by xfl2001fan

Absolutely it makes sense. I've always felt that people (in general) where as "warm" as the weather they grew up in. My mom was raised near USC before moving to OH (after Grandpa retired from the Navy) so she raised us to be more open/friendly. I get lots of funny looks, because the instant I hear someone say "Hi", I return it, whether they're talking to me or not. Most of my friends are used to it by now...so they just roll with it...but for a perfect stranger who grew up in northern OH...not so much.

Now, I live so far out in the country, that I can't see my neighbors houses through the trees (except in the dead of winter.) It's nice and quiet...but that also lends itself to livnig "in my own world." I've met my neighbors and all, but most are signifcantly older than my wife and I (retired) and aren't typically around through the winter anyways. I know the old couple on the North side of our property are really nice....I help Jerry work on his lawn mower when it needs fixed (sharpen the blades and such). My wife trades recipes with his wife (her name ALWAYS escapes me...) when they return from Florida (which should be in the next week or so) to start the spring cleaning process...and plan for the gardening/canning season.

True, and I am definitly genralizing, of course. There are assholes and nice people no matter where you go, north or south. But, in terms of an overall attitude in the region. I notice a difference. When I moved from Pittsburgh to Detroit, I had to noticeably change my driving habits. People here are agressive on the roads, don't like to let you merge, always are on cell phones while driving, sudo-tailgate and rarely use turn signals. If someone gives you a courtasy wave for letting them merge, it's maybe 1 in 20. I know this happens everywhere, but I noticed it trending majorly in the Southern Michigan and northern Ohio areas...it was totally noticeable. Now, when drive back to Pittsburgh or down to Louisville, I notice the change, as does my wife, a Detroit native.

In fact, since she has known me, I have heard her say "Wow, people from this town sure are nice" when talking about Pittsburgh.

It fascinates me that culturally, these things tend to happen. I also notice that it is also affected by age (generational).