Re: Meet up - Pittsburgh!

1

A meetup 2 weeks from now gets top billing, but one that's happening in 30 minutes has fallen off the front page? No respect!


Posted by: SP | Link to this comment | 06-14-15 12:25 PM
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2

I say we hijack this thread.


Posted by: Kreskin | Link to this comment | 06-14-15 12:35 PM
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3

I think we're going to be late for the meetup in 18 minutes because Zardoz is still asleep.


Posted by: Beefo Meaty | Link to this comment | 06-14-15 12:44 PM
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4

In two weeks: MOAR LIVEBLOGGING

Today: I guess you can comment or something, whatevs.


Posted by: fake accent | Link to this comment | 06-14-15 12:46 PM
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5

People just like me more, for which they can hardly be blamed.


Posted by: Thorn | Link to this comment | 06-14-15 12:49 PM
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People just like me more, for which they can hardly be blamed.


Posted by: Thorn | Link to this comment | 06-14-15 12:49 PM
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7

Damnation! Though while I'm lying, I'm sure they do like me double.


Posted by: Thorn | Link to this comment | 06-14-15 12:50 PM
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8

The Carnegie Museums are pretty great. Art! Gemstones! Jane the juvenile T-Rex!


Posted by: snarkout | Link to this comment | 06-14-15 1:34 PM
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9

8.last: You probably shouldn't talk about your daughter that way, though I understand the temptation.


Posted by: Thorn | Link to this comment | 06-14-15 1:57 PM
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10

My take on P'burgh for kids/families by "area." (And I might have some tour guide availability but would not want to presume.)

North Side:
Aviary:++ (if they like birds). One of my top attractions for kids here. In a park.
Children's Museum: No idea, not been in years. Walking distance to Aviary. Am guessing nothing special.
Carnegie Science Center: Liked it when it first opened, but no idea now. Probably pretty average.
Warhol: Next door to my office. Depends on the kids. I'm thinking probably not.
Some decent little food places semi-near the Aviary.

Oakland:
Phipp's Conservatory: + But might not be best for kids unless they like plants. In a nice park.
Carnegie Natural History:+ Dinos and gems. Walking distance from Phipp's.
Carnegie Art Museum: Average biggish city art museum. But attached to Nat History (and assume they still have some kind of joint admission)
Cathedral of Learning: If you are in area worth a quick stop in--they used to have "nationality" rooms on 2nd(?) floor--but probably not a kid thing.
Semi in the vicinity of Cosma's place.

Station Sq. (across the Mon from downtown)
Incline to Mt. Washington:++ I think you will want to do this. I actually like the view better from the top of the one a little further down the road.
Amphibious Duck Tours:+ (I think they start from Station Sq.) Land/water tour.
Gateway Clipper: Boat tour. I find it boring. And probably something similar in Cincy. I'd go for the novelty of the ducks.
St. Sq. itself has some shops and restaurants. Nothing very special--but if you are in the area pop in to the Grand Concourse to see a grand old train station space.

Strip District
Morning food fun- esp.Saturday but crowded. JRoth the expert.
History Museum: Really quite nice but probably only if kids like history stuff. But sometimes they have kid-interesting special exhibits.
Somewhere between NS/Station/Strip might want to go to the Point with the fountain (although no idea if it is currently fountaining).

Laurel Ridge (but you probably don't want to make the drive)
Bear Run: great short hiking trails along great little streams lined with Rhododendron. (might be bloom time or might be too late--they've been done down here for a while) Still a great place. (It is part of the Fallingwater property but FW *not* for kids).
OhioPyle: A few miles down the road from FW/BR-- great waterfall on the Yough. Where rafters tend to start. BIke trail along the gorge.


Posted by: JP Stormcrow | Link to this comment | 06-14-15 2:21 PM
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Thanks, Stormcrow!! The incline is mandatory. They are livid that ours are out of commission and you got to keep yours.


Posted by: Thorn | Link to this comment | 06-14-15 3:59 PM
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12

What good is the inclination if you haven't got the time.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 06-14-15 5:30 PM
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13

I'm sorry I'll miss it. We have a family trip that I was hoping we could take the week before but now has to be that weekend. I'll be out of town.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 06-14-15 5:32 PM
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14

I'll lift something in you honor, Mobes.


Posted by: Thorn | Link to this comment | 06-14-15 5:52 PM
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15

If you go to the natural history museum, lift me one of those native pots. Those are great.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 06-14-15 5:54 PM
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14: your little finger, maybe.


Posted by: nosflow | Link to this comment | 06-14-15 5:59 PM
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Yeah, I was going to recommend the Carnegie Museums as well -- they have a cast of Jane the Juvenile T-Rex.


Posted by: snarkout | Link to this comment | 06-14-15 6:09 PM
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18

8 to 17.


Posted by: teofilo | Link to this comment | 06-14-15 6:11 PM
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19

17 meet 8?


Posted by: redfoxtailshrub | Link to this comment | 06-14-15 6:11 PM
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20

17 to 8? It's a good suggestion plus I think they have reciprocity with our local museum, so it's a cheap one too.


Posted by: Thorn | Link to this comment | 06-14-15 6:12 PM
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21

Ha.


Posted by: teofilo | Link to this comment | 06-14-15 6:13 PM
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22

17 was only posted because I thought 8 hadn't gone through. I promise that I haven't had a stroke.


Posted by: snarkout | Link to this comment | 06-14-15 6:13 PM
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23

That sounds like something someone who had a stroke would say.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 06-14-15 6:15 PM
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24

Does anyone else smell toast?


Posted by: snarkout | Link to this comment | 06-14-15 6:16 PM
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10 is very helpful to me for planning next month's family road trip from Chicago to DC, because we were looking for a good in-between place to stop for a day, and Cleveland was the previous front-runner.


Posted by: Todd | Link to this comment | 06-14-15 8:16 PM
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Cleveland is all serial killers and hemorrhagic cerebrovascular problems.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 06-14-15 8:23 PM
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27

Ooh ooh, which one am I?


Posted by: redfoxtailshrub | Link to this comment | 06-14-15 8:26 PM
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Or partners thereof.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 06-14-15 8:27 PM
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Anyone wanting my address / directions should e-mail me; also, let me know about any food issues.


Posted by: Cosma Shalizi | Link to this comment | 06-15-15 7:44 AM
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19: Children's Museum: No idea, not been in years. Walking distance to Aviary. Am guessing nothing special.

Although via a billboard I saw on the way to work this morning I see that they currently have an exhibit Very Erice Carle. I forget how old your kids are, but I recall at some ages he was huge hit with my kids.


Posted by: JP Stormcrow | Link to this comment | 06-16-15 5:33 AM
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The Children's Museum was best at about four or five for us. Six or seven would work, but past that I think they'd get bored.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 06-16-15 5:59 AM
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The aviary is nice except that in the end, it's just birds.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 06-16-15 6:09 AM
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I've said before, but I'm not going to make it. Massive bummer.

I enjoyed the Science Center when I was of the appropriate age. The submarine is neat.

If they misbehave, you could threaten to go to the Fort Pitt Museum, which would doubtlessly be very boring. It does have a bunch of creepy colonial era dummies/wax statues.


Posted by: dalriata | Link to this comment | 06-16-15 6:43 AM
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And a fountain that has been under repair for about 50% of the time I've lived here.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 06-16-15 6:47 AM
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An awesome giant fountain that I think is functioning now. And kids can get away with going in it and not seeming weird.


Posted by: dalriata | Link to this comment | 06-16-15 6:56 AM
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Oh yeah: they're just outside the city, but we do have an amusement park (Kennywood) and waterpark (Sandcastle). I've somehow never been to Sandcastle, but I have lots of cherished childhood memories of Kennywood. Lots of stuff for kids of all ages. If you're willing to drive east to around Latrobe, there's also Idlewild, a combined amusement/water park, that is much more kids oriented.


Posted by: dalriata | Link to this comment | 06-16-15 6:57 AM
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If we can see billboards of her beloved Eric Carle, that would make Selah happy, but I'm not sure I want to spend my own time elsewhere in a children's museum. I try to minimize it even at home. You guys are doing a great job selling Pittsburgh, though!


Posted by: Thorn | Link to this comment | 06-16-15 7:14 AM
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I strongly recommend the aviary, but know nothing about the children's museum.


Posted by: Cosma Shalizi | Link to this comment | 06-16-15 8:00 AM
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It's made from the unholy union of a post office and a planetarium.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 06-16-15 8:02 AM
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I've been meaning to go to the aviary, which Iv'e only heard good things about, but haven't gotten around to it as I'd have to go alone; my wife is intensely afraid of birds.


Posted by: dalriata | Link to this comment | 06-16-15 8:03 AM
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The aviary does sound great! (And 50% off admission with our zoo membership; I love getting to do that while traveling.) Violating the SOOBC, Rance has some extended family with young children who are going to join us for fun at various Carnegie spots and/or zoo on Saturday. I'm sure other people could tag along too.


Posted by: Thorn | Link to this comment | 06-16-15 8:05 AM
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Maybe the aviary on Friday afternoon when we arrive? So many options!


Posted by: Thorn | Link to this comment | 06-16-15 8:05 AM
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It is not a good place for those who are afraid of birds. It's not like a zoo (except for the zoo-smell) because you're usually not physically separated from the birds at all.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 06-16-15 8:09 AM
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43: Yes it was how I discovered that my sister was of a mind with teo/asilon/dalriata's wife when it comes to unconstrained birds.


Posted by: JP Stormcrow | Link to this comment | 06-16-15 8:13 AM
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Shit, I had a very specific recommendation in mind, and now I can't think of it.

I guess the big question is how jam-packed you want this to be. There are some deeply delightful activities that are kind of low key, and you may want more bang for the buck.


Posted by: JRoth | Link to this comment | 06-17-15 4:24 PM
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