This page is intended to provide information to help you enjoy your time on this side of the Steel Curtain.
Below, you will find information on getting to and from the airport, hints about what to expect of the weather, recommendations for local hotels and tips for dining out and self-catering. Please do contact us if you have any questions that aren’t answered below.
The Basics
Our workshop will run from 9 am to 5 pm on Friday, January 26, 2024. Specific location details are still being finalized. It will be held on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh, which is located in the Oakland neighborhood.
Transportation to/from PIT
The Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) is located about 20 miles northwest of the University of Pittsburgh campus.
- Taxi/Uber/Lyft will be your most reliable means of travel to and from the airport.
- The 28X local bus route runs from the airport to Oakland, with at least two departures per hour between 4:30 am and 11:30 pm Monday through Friday (note that there is also a 12:15 am departure)
- To catch the bus, exit Door 2 on the lower level.
- A single-trip cash fare is $2.75 (no change given)
- This pdf schedule and route map details all route information, including stops in Oakland and Shadyside.
Weather
Pittsburgh in late January tends to be cold, with average lows around 24 and average highs around 37 degrees. While it can be quite overcast, January is generally a dry month, with about 7 days per month with either rain or snow. Lately, it seems rain is more common.
- Fun Fact: Pittsburgh can be awfully grey during the winter – so much so that local paint manufacturer PPG has dedicated a paint hue to “Pittsburgh Grey“.
Hotels
We have secured a block of rooms at the nearby Wyndham Pittsburgh University Hotel. To make a reservation through that block, please contact us for the relevant information.
If you would like to stay elsewhere, we recommend focusing your hotel search on the following neighborhoods:
- Oakland – Where the University of Pittsburgh is located, and therefore very much the “college”-y part of town.
- Bloomfield – An old-school Italian neighborhood that could be considered within walking distance of campus, depending on your definition.
- Squirrel Hill – Another traditional Pittsburgh neighborhood that is very close to campus and that features a dynamic (and walkable) shopping district.
- East Liberty – A nearby neighborhood undergoing active gentrification, with all that might suggest. It rests at the heart of the city’s bus system, should you wish to travel by bus.
- Shadyside – In between East Liberty and Squirrel Hill, with many lovely restaurants.
We recommend avoiding hotels that are downtown, in Lawrenceville, on the North Shore or on the South Side, as these locations are either too far geographically or too far logistically to make for an easy commute.
Restaurants & Self-Catering
There are many excellent restaurant options in and around the neighborhoods we recommend above. We particularly encourage you to consider the following (listed in no intentional order):
- Casbah – Appearing on “best of” lists for several decades, and for very good reason. We lovingly recommend the short rib ravioli, and offer a pro tip for vegans: although not listed on the menu, they will make you a custom entree from scratch if you ask. Reservations required.
- Butterjoint – Right on the edge of campus, known to have a good burger.
- Square Cafe – A beloved breakfast and lunch staple, with good food and even better vibes.
- Noodlehead – A Thai noodle house that is serious about their spice. Cash-only, no reservations, no phone.
- People’s Indian – Tucked away in a nearby neighborhood called Garfield, this no-frills spot is homey, friendly and delicious.
- Apteka – Shockingly delicious vegan Eastern European fare. Reservations highly recommended.
- Alta Via Pizzeria – A fancy pizza joint in a great space, run by the same folks who are responsible for Casbah.
- Tessaro’s – Probably the city’s favorite burger. Be aware that they have no fryer, so you cannot have fries with your burger. They’re really good anyway.
- Salim’s Middle Eastern Food – A tiny shop run by a lovely man. Everything for sale is delicious. While you can dine in, this would also be an excellent self-catering option.
- Ritter’s – A (very) old-school diner, with all of the standards you’d expect. It’s reliably good and may teleport you back in time. All of the servers wear scrubs as a nod to a nearby hospital, the staff of which make up much of Ritters’ clientele.
- Smoke – BBQ tacos. We would like to repeat: BBQ tacos. In addition to those BBQ tacos, they offer a cheese dip that is transformative. Smoke can be loud, and will require an Uber.
- Gaucho Parrilla Steakhouse: A wildly popular Argentinian steakhouse that will require both an Uber and advance reservations. It is totally worth both, unless you are a vegetarian.
Self-Catering Options
In addition to Salim’s mentioned above, Whole Foods is a very good self-catering option that is close to Oakland and each of the other recommended neighborhoods.
There is also a wonderful Mexican grocer in the heart of Oakland that also sells street tacos, and a sweet Italian grocery store up the road in Bloomfield.
The local grocery store chain is Giant Eagle. The closest to campus (and the recommended neighborhoods) is the Market District Giant Eagle on Centre Avenue.