About the Location:
Pittsburgh is a city of immense vitality and variety and, with a population of approximately 2.5 million, greater Pittsburgh is the 13th largest metropolitan area in the United States. Nestled in the Allegheny Mountains at the confluence of three major rivers (the Allegheny and the Monongahela Rivers meet to form the Ohio River), the 'City of Bridges' abounds in natural beauty.
Pittsburgh has recently been ranked with Honolulu among the healthiest cities in the United States, and Pittsburgh is also one of the most livable, with a wealth of affordable housing options in one of the nation's most diverse architectural communities.
Common Living Areas:
North Hills is suburban living with quieter atmosphere and nearby many restaurants.
Lawrenceville is up and coming area with many local shops and restaurants where children's hospital of pittsburgh is located.
Strip District: local food markets, multinational restaurants and bars with mostly apartment living.
Shadyside: large number of residents live in this area with multple local restaurants and affordable housing including houses and apartments.
Squirrel Hill: Multiple local restaurants with many areas to live in close to the hospital.
South Hills: Located through bridge tunnel with more suburban housing and hills with quieter atmosphere.
The Environment:
The past decade has brought extensive development to the area, with a significant shift away from heavy industry and a new emphasis on biomedical, biotechnical, and applied-technology enterprises. Several office towers, a convention center, and a 600-room international hotel have been built during this period to support the changing economic base
Research is now Pittsburgh's third largest industry, with more than 150 laboratories and more than 7,500 scientists and engineers. USX, Westinghouse, Alcoa, H.J. Heinz, Bayer, and Mellon Bank are a few of the corporations that make their home in the heart of the downtown district, making Pittsburgh one of the largest metropolitan corporate headquarters in the country
Cultural events flourish in Pittsburgh, home of the world-renowned Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the extraordinarily rich offerings of the cultural community include the Pittsburgh Opera, Civic Light Opera, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Pittsburgh Public Theater, The Pittsburgh Arts Festival, Three Rivers Shakespeare Festival, Pittsburgh Dance Council, and Pittsburgh Dance Alloy, and many smaller local venues. During the summer, the American Wind Symphony travels the nation's waterways giving riverbank performances. Internationally acclaimed ensembles perform each year under the aegis of the Pittsburgh Chamber Music Society. Major art exhibits include the Carnegie Museum, the Andy Warhol Museum, and the Mattress Factory
An ethnically rich city, Pittsburgh has retained it neighborhoods, small communities where families cherish their traditions. Each year the Pittsburgh Folk Festival brings together more than 20 nationality group for three days of singing, music, dancing and cuisine sampling.
Pittsburgh is known as the 'City of Champions,' and no aspect of the city inspires more enthusiasm than its sports. Home to the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins, the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers, and the MLB's Pittsburgh Pirates, the black and gold of Pittsburgh's team have graced the Stanley Cup, the Super Bowl and many divisional titles, pennants and World Series. New baseball and football stadia opened in 2001.
For the athlete in all of us, there are 91 public and semi-private golf clubs in the Greater Pittsburgh region, including Schenley Golf Course (public) right in the city proper. Ski slopes can be reached in less than an hour. Boating is a popular activity on the three rivers, and sailors can also enjoy the open water of Lake Arthur at Moraine State Park and Pymatuming Reservoir, both to the north. Even world-class whitewater rafting is close by. If outdoors pursuits are where your interests lie, we are within an hour of some of the best skiing in the area as well as hiking trails, biking trails, and white water rafting.
Excellent local science museums and facilities include the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the Carnegie Science Center, and the Allegheny Observatory.
History buffs can visit the restored homes of Pittsburgh's Gilded Era; enjoy the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center; or, after only a two-hour drive, walk through Civil War battlefields. Students of architecture will enjoy a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's classic house Fallingwater, which is just a short drive out of the city.
The Education:
Home to a number of institutions of higher learning -- including Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University, and the University of Pittsburgh -- the city supports a vigorous intellectual life.
Overall:
Pittsburgh has the feel of a small town but offers all of the amenities that you will find in any big city in the country. We have a world-class symphony, opera, and theatre as well as a six-time Super Bowl championship football team and a five-time Stanley Cup championship hockey team. The Carnegie Museum of Natural History is renowned around the country. It is a vibrant city rich in cultural, educational, and artistic opportunities for residents and visitors alike. You don’t even need to leave the city to enjoy an hour or two of kayaking around the three rivers or a leisurely stroll through the Strip District on a Saturday morning (of course stopping at Enrico’s Biscotti for fresh out of the oven biscotti, cookies, or homemade bread). Many enjoyable hours can be spent exploring its 88 small and distinct neighborhoods and taking in the rich heritage on which Pittsburgh is founded.
Below are some links that will give you more information regarding Pittsburgh and what it has to offer.