Any gay Pittsburghers here?

[buckylarue]

My partner and I are looking at a move from Minneapolis, and Pittsburgh is on the short list, but neither of us has been there before. Can anyone here tell us anything about it? Specifically, we are looking at buying a house in the Beechview area to be close to the 'T'. Both of us are retired, so job commute is not an issue. Want a house with a yard where we can sit in the garden with the cats, and from the real estate sites I've been visiting, Beechview looks like a likely place.
Any hints, tips, suggestions appreciated!!

 

[PghLybrt]

Yep native Pittsburgher here….. Although my girl made me move to what I feel is the sticks, so I no longer live in the city…. Oh well. …Let me tell you Pittsburgh is a beautiful city and every time I have friends visit they either end up coming back again and again or they move here. There is tons of stuff to do from museums (we do have the Andy Warhol Museum) sports (Home of the superbowl champs) and even top rated amusement parks (kennywood) The gay bar scene, if your into it, is kind of weak but still not bad. We do have many of them just not really nice ones. Living here you would be within an hour drive to ski resorts, whitewater rafting and all sorts of outdoorsy things. I guess it just depends what you two like to do …now beech view…. I personally do not have any friends that live there but many in various other parts of the Southside….lets just say lots of hills )
But there I would imagine you should be able to get easily over to Mt Washington (which overlooks the city and has a beautiful view) down the incline and over to station square where there are lots of neat places to eat and drink. There is an Art festival every year at the point (where the 3 rivers meet) and that always includes lots of free concerts (a few years ago we had the Indigo Girls for free! Well ok I liked it ) the Southside itself is where our women’s football team plays home games as well as many many little shops and other places to eat (a great sushi place over there!) and during the fall and winter Outrageous Bingo goes on at the Goodwill building in the Southside (it is so much fun! And the crowd is really diverse, from college students to couples who have been together 30+ years….although I still have not won a game!)

 

[buckylarue]

Good info, thanks! We've actually started looking at Dormont and Castle Shannon, since one of our DISers told us that the city income tax is lower oin the burbs than in the city proper, and they are still pretty convenient to the T, etc. Looks like one or both of us might make it there in October to have a looksee and maybe get in touch with a local realtor. Any gay or gay-friendly realtors there you know of?

 

[Banzai]

I'm from Pittsburgh. I live in Hampton. I've never been to Bingo. Doesn't Marsha Mallow host it?

 

[PghLybrt]

Funny I grew up in Hampton....small little world huh?


And as to the other...Dormont I have friends living there and I think its really cute. And a realtor......hmmm I used my mom but she got out of the business, I will ask around!

 

[buckylarue]

Thanks! I think I'll be coming for a short visit in mid-September for a few days. Maybe I'll see you then!

ETA: OK, I jumped on an airfare sale. I'll be there 9/14-9/19. Hope to see some sights, do some open houses on the weekend, get a little feel for the city and see where it goes from there!

 

[Banzai]

Quite a small world. I'm Hampton High '05.

 

[PghLybrt]

Well i have you beat.....HHS class of....93. I don"t think that there would even be any siblings of friends of mine in that class....... actually i lied there is probably one.....
So did you do any activites there? I did the whole artsy thing....is Mr Coulter still there?

 

[PghLybrt]

http://www.glccpgh.org/

that is the link to the gay and lesbian center in Pgh. They probably would be able to point you in the right direction with a realtor among other things.....i don't know why I didn't think of it before!! sorry


(oh and I saw on another thread that you 2 were not Steeler fans.......... Ok we can work on that )

 

[buckylarue]

http://www.glccpgh.org/

that is the link to the gay and lesbian center in Pgh. They probably would be able to point you in the right direction with a realtor among other things.....i don't know why I didn't think of it before!! sorry


(oh and I saw on another thread that you 2 were not Steeler fans.......... Ok we can work on that )

Thanks; I did have them bookmarked, and plan on stopping by to see them, as well as PATF.

And while I haven't been a Steelers fan, I have to admit, Ben Roethlisberger is still very nice to look at...

 

[PghLybrt]

Well big Ben is a start at least !!! But i am a huge fan of Troy Polamalu!!!


And you might be here for the 1st OUTrageous bingo of the year......i will have to look.... it is surprisingly alot of fun...and a great way to meet people!

 

[Banzai]

Yes, Mr. Coulter is still there. I did yearbook and French club, as well as a new arts club called On Location. Hrm...Class of 93. Did you know Amy Johnson or Joe Lagnese?

 

[PghLybrt]

Nope I do not know them...at least that I remember anyway....Ahhh Mr.Coulter we had such a hate/hate relationship! I think I may be the only person to fail choir in the history of hhs .........hmmm so the only family I think that I know that would have kids young enough would be the Linders.... the youngest was Jessica .....

 

[Coopsmum77]

Hello,

I live in the west suburbs, so not along the T line. But we do have the west busway over here. It's a pretty quick ride into the city, about 10 minutes from my stop. There are parking lots at every stop. It starts in Carnegie, and goes through Crafton and Ingram, along with Sheraden (which is city). I live in a small city neighborhood, and the taxes, while higher, aren't too bad. There are still some services that we don't have to pay for: no fee for garbage removal, paid EMS and fire crew, etc. There are ups and downs everywhere.

What other cities are on your short list?

 

[buckylarue]

I'm looking more in towards downtown now, since I found the assessor's office website with the assessments and taxes shown. Never thought Mt. Washington would be within reach $$-wise, but looks like if you are a few blocks back from Grandview the prices are very reasonable. Also looking at SouthSide / Lawrenceville, and stll very interested in Beechview.

So many neighborhoods, so little time!

 

[moretigger]

Thanks! I think I'll be coming for a short visit in mid-September for a few days. Maybe I'll see you then!

ETA: OK, I jumped on an airfare sale. I'll be there 9/14-9/19. Hope to see some sights, do some open houses on the weekend, get a little feel for the city and see where it goes from there!

Hi - I live in Pittsburgh and love it. I am not as familiar with Beechview, Dormont (though they are cute looking areas) as I live in Squirrel Hill, so I thought I might jump in with a City/East End recommendations. I think residence wise the areas you are looking at are all great. If you can though, come to visit Shadyside and Squirrel Hill. Not sure of your interests/tastes, but Ellsworth Avenue in Shadyside is a goood place to start - several shops, restaurants and galleries, as well as NewYork, NewYork, a gay bar that has been around for ages and would be a great resource as far as info/opinions on places and things. Harris Grill right down the block has a great patio out front and is a friendly neighborhood place. Forbes and Murray in Squirrel Hill are bustling as well - any restaurant you might want - Russian, Thai, Kosher, Indian. You already said you were planning to check out the SouthSide as well - great neighborhood - though look well off the main street (Carson), as that is quite the young kids party place and is loud on the weekends.
Enjoy your visit!

 

[buckylarue]

Hi - I live in Pittsburgh and love it. I am not as familiar with Beechview, Dormont (though they are cute looking areas) as I live in Squirrel Hill, so I thought I might jump in with a City/East End recommendations. I think residence wise the areas you are looking at are all great. If you can though, come to visit Shadyside and Squirrel Hill. Not sure of your interests/tastes, but Ellsworth Avenue in Shadyside is a goood place to start - several shops, restaurants and galleries, as well as NewYork, NewYork, a gay bar that has been around for ages and would be a great resource as far as info/opinions on places and things. Harris Grill right down the block has a great patio out front and is a friendly neighborhood place. Forbes and Murray in Squirrel Hill are bustling as well - any restaurant you might want - Russian, Thai, Kosher, Indian.

Definitely plan on getting to Squirrel Hill at least to check things out; thanks for the tip on NY, NY!

You already said you were planning to check out the SouthSide as well - great neighborhood - though look well off the main street (Carson), as that is quite the young kids party place and is loud on the weekends.

We currently live about 200 yards or so from the end of 3 of the 4 runways at MSP International Airport, so loud partying folks on the weekends would be a nice change of pace!

Enjoy your visit!

Thanks; looking forward to it!

 

[PghLybrt]

I just thought to tell you that "OUTrageous Bingo" is on the 16th. It is at the goodwill center in southside. It is well worth going, you will meet so many people from the community! And it is alot of fun. There is info about it on the web site i posted a few posts ago....if you do want to go i suggest buy your tickets now or go really early.