The Chelsea was one of those things that grows on you. It's grungy, smelly in some places, like that old-building-who-has-suffered-so-much-in-its-years kind of way, but there is a vibe there that you can't deny. It has been home to so many famous writers, artists, and musicians, and it's like each person has left behind a little piece of inspiration for the people who would come next. We had the best conversations, the funniest jokes, and the most productive writing sessions of recent memory while we were there.
That said, I still compulsively checked the sheets and mattresses for cleanliness and a lack of bedbugs. Oh, and I started checking the city for resassuring sights that reminded me of home. That's what this blog is - five Pittsburgh references in New York City. Believe me, this was harder to find than I thought it would be!
#5. Steeler Guy on the Train:
There were a ton of backwards Pirates hats floating around, but this was one of the rare Steeler shirts we could spot in our travels. Thanks, Steeler guy on the F Train!
#4. Pierogies on the Menu:
Our last night in the city, we searched for a bar in Chelsea with cheap bar food and stumbled upon Flight 151. They had pierogies on the menu, and a whole mess of flavors to choose from. They were slightly more fried than the traditional Ukrainian ones we make, but man were they still good! I thought we only put pierogies on the menu here in the 'Burgh, but I was glad to see them out of state!
#3. Pittsburgh Publishers:
We hit up the famous Strand Bookstore in the East Village, and what was on the poetry shelves but a Pitt Poetry Series compilation by Kathleen Norris, published by our very own University of Pittsburgh Press.
#2. Thunderbolt:
We walked into a random dive bar in the Lower East Side after dinner, and although it was a bit too crowded for us to stick around and have a drink, we saw this picture hanging over the door. Not sure if it's truly the Kennywood Thunderbolt (there is also a Thunderbolt ride at Coney Island, but it's much more like a Music Express than our famous wooden coaster), but it counts!
#1. Hibernia:
On the hottest day of our trip, when it was in the mid-90s with 100% humidity, we found ourselves wandering up near Hell's Kitchen and dying for a cold drink and some lunch. Lucky for us, we were just a few blocks from a true NYC Steeler bar, Hibernia. An interesting piece of trivia: the guys who used to run Scruffy Duffy's (the awesome Steeler bar just a few blocks away that closed down a few years back) now run this place. And they are super wicked kind to Yinzers. Just let them know you're a Steeler fan, or a current or former Pittsburgh resident, and see what I mean. :) We were not disappointed, and now have yet another Steeler Bar added to our list. Someday, when I'm rich and famous and have nothing better to do than travel, I'm going to hit every one and tell you all about it.
For now, I'm going to get back to the lengthy task of captioning and posting all of the trip photos, but I'll be back soon with some captivating hockey discussions and Arts Festival reviews!
No comments:
Post a Comment