My Trip to Pittsburgh
Title
My Trip to Pittsburgh
Identifier
MY_TRIP_TO_PITTSBURGH
Creator
Jacob Schlitt
Description
"I did it. On Friday Jan. 29, I flew out of Boston’s Logan Airport on Jet Blue, arrived in Pittsburgh, David picked me up, and we drove to David’s apartment in Squirrel Hill."
Date
2016-02-04
Coverage
2016
Format
application/pdf
Type
text
Text
MY TRIP TO PITTSBURGH
I did it. On Friday Jan. 29, I flew out of Boston’s Logan Airport on Jet Blue, arrived in Pittsburgh, David picked me up, and we drove to David’s apartment in Squirrel Hill. I have to admit, it was not easy going from the gate to the terminal in Boston, and vice versa in Pittsburgh. Next time, the wheel chair.
Despite all that David had on his plate, he was a wonderful host and guide. And despite the fact that David is a great cook, we had take-out Chinese for dinner. I am having increased difficulty doing stairs, so I stayed at a hotel, the Sheraton Pittsburgh, which I got through Hotwire at a ridiculously low rate. Elevators, big TV, two double beds, and a great view of the city.
David described his job, and the upcoming program he put together, as Director of the Rauh Jewish History Program and Archives. It was cosponsored with the Western PA Sports Museum and was to be held at the Senator John Heinz History Center, Sunday, honoring Pittsburgh’s legendary sportscaster Myron Cope. David had been interviewed about it that afternoon on the local NPR station.
There is supposed to be a country and western song, “It Takes Me All Night To Do What I Used To Do All Night.” It is the same for me as a tourist these days. Where I used to see a dozen sights in a day, I am lucky to get to one or two. Can’t get around much any more. No more running. I can hardly walk. No jumping on and off public or private conveyances. I was dependent on David driving me around. On Saturday, he picked me up and we saw the sights from Station Square to Squirrel Hill. Brunch at Pamela’s. Great pancakes. David did some business with the Jewish Federation, and we saw some more sights: Oakland, Shadyside, Mount Washington and Grandview Avenue. Though we were near the Inclines, we didn’t do them. We did do the Hill District, which is now largely black but was once a Jewish neighborhood, and David drove to the area which is now industrial, where my mother lived for a short time, after she left Toronto and before she came to New York (1905-6?). Also, an area called Mexican War Streets with neat houses with murals, and the Mattress Factory, which we didn’t go into.
We did go into the Cathedral of Learning, which is really the University of Pittsburgh, piled high, 42 stories. The ground floor looks like a Cathedral. There is a bank of elevators and you punch the floor you want to go to, and the elevator appears and takes you there. They have a bunch of Nationality Rooms, striking classrooms contributed by Pittsburgh’s different ethnic groups. We drove lots of hills, hairpin turns, narrow streets, and saw spectacular buildings and passed pretty parks. I was exhausted and David had to prepare for the next day. Still we did dinner at the Church Brew Works. The enormous copper brewing kettles are on the altar of the former St. John the Baptist Church. Quite a sight.
Sunday, I thought I would see downtown before David’s program. The hotel has a van which takes guests to the T. I got in the van and the driver told me the T has a problem and is not running. I said I wanted to see the downtown area. He said he is not busy and will take me. How about that! So off we went to see downtown Pittsburgh—the sights I was unable to see with David. David also arranged for his friend Anthony’s parents to pick me up at 1 pm, and we went together to the History Center.
The program was billed as a celebration of the life and legacy of a true Pittsburgh original, Steelers broadcaster Myron Cope. It was scheduled to be held in the Center’s library, but there was such a large turnout, more than 350, it was held in the auditorium, and the staff had to add chairs. David was introduced, welcome everyone, and in turn introduced keynote speaker Murray Chass, former New York Times sports writer. The MC was a sportscaster who worked with Cope, Bill Hillgrove, and there was a panel of people close to Cope, including his daughter, Steelers great Franco Harris, and David. David had also put together a slide and video show. It was a winner. We had a sandwich, David drove me back to the hotel, and he returned hone, pleased but exhausted.
Monday, we went to the Carnegie Museum of Art which is in a fabulous building next to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. A remarkable collection, but after a couple of hours, I had it. Those marble floors…We went to a Middle Eastern restaurant on Forbes Av. and back to the hotel for me, and to work for David. The town has lots of mansions and lots of bridges. I suspect there may be some remnants of Steel City, but we didn’t get there. And we didn’t get to the United Steelworkers building. Maybe next time. When we were last here, for a wedding, we saw the Andy Warhol Museum and the National Aviary. (That’s where the wedding took place.) We will do some more sights next time. I am impressed that most guides put the Senator John Heinz History Center at the top of the list of sights to see. I have now seen it.
Monday evening David returned for our last supper, and Tuesday morning David returned to drive me to the airport. Thank you, David. A great flight home. I am becoming a fan of Jet Blue. Of course, I took lots of pictures. The ones with my I phone were not as good as the ones with my camera. But I can make and receive calls with my I phone. Pix to follow.
I did it. On Friday Jan. 29, I flew out of Boston’s Logan Airport on Jet Blue, arrived in Pittsburgh, David picked me up, and we drove to David’s apartment in Squirrel Hill. I have to admit, it was not easy going from the gate to the terminal in Boston, and vice versa in Pittsburgh. Next time, the wheel chair.
Despite all that David had on his plate, he was a wonderful host and guide. And despite the fact that David is a great cook, we had take-out Chinese for dinner. I am having increased difficulty doing stairs, so I stayed at a hotel, the Sheraton Pittsburgh, which I got through Hotwire at a ridiculously low rate. Elevators, big TV, two double beds, and a great view of the city.
David described his job, and the upcoming program he put together, as Director of the Rauh Jewish History Program and Archives. It was cosponsored with the Western PA Sports Museum and was to be held at the Senator John Heinz History Center, Sunday, honoring Pittsburgh’s legendary sportscaster Myron Cope. David had been interviewed about it that afternoon on the local NPR station.
There is supposed to be a country and western song, “It Takes Me All Night To Do What I Used To Do All Night.” It is the same for me as a tourist these days. Where I used to see a dozen sights in a day, I am lucky to get to one or two. Can’t get around much any more. No more running. I can hardly walk. No jumping on and off public or private conveyances. I was dependent on David driving me around. On Saturday, he picked me up and we saw the sights from Station Square to Squirrel Hill. Brunch at Pamela’s. Great pancakes. David did some business with the Jewish Federation, and we saw some more sights: Oakland, Shadyside, Mount Washington and Grandview Avenue. Though we were near the Inclines, we didn’t do them. We did do the Hill District, which is now largely black but was once a Jewish neighborhood, and David drove to the area which is now industrial, where my mother lived for a short time, after she left Toronto and before she came to New York (1905-6?). Also, an area called Mexican War Streets with neat houses with murals, and the Mattress Factory, which we didn’t go into.
We did go into the Cathedral of Learning, which is really the University of Pittsburgh, piled high, 42 stories. The ground floor looks like a Cathedral. There is a bank of elevators and you punch the floor you want to go to, and the elevator appears and takes you there. They have a bunch of Nationality Rooms, striking classrooms contributed by Pittsburgh’s different ethnic groups. We drove lots of hills, hairpin turns, narrow streets, and saw spectacular buildings and passed pretty parks. I was exhausted and David had to prepare for the next day. Still we did dinner at the Church Brew Works. The enormous copper brewing kettles are on the altar of the former St. John the Baptist Church. Quite a sight.
Sunday, I thought I would see downtown before David’s program. The hotel has a van which takes guests to the T. I got in the van and the driver told me the T has a problem and is not running. I said I wanted to see the downtown area. He said he is not busy and will take me. How about that! So off we went to see downtown Pittsburgh—the sights I was unable to see with David. David also arranged for his friend Anthony’s parents to pick me up at 1 pm, and we went together to the History Center.
The program was billed as a celebration of the life and legacy of a true Pittsburgh original, Steelers broadcaster Myron Cope. It was scheduled to be held in the Center’s library, but there was such a large turnout, more than 350, it was held in the auditorium, and the staff had to add chairs. David was introduced, welcome everyone, and in turn introduced keynote speaker Murray Chass, former New York Times sports writer. The MC was a sportscaster who worked with Cope, Bill Hillgrove, and there was a panel of people close to Cope, including his daughter, Steelers great Franco Harris, and David. David had also put together a slide and video show. It was a winner. We had a sandwich, David drove me back to the hotel, and he returned hone, pleased but exhausted.
Monday, we went to the Carnegie Museum of Art which is in a fabulous building next to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. A remarkable collection, but after a couple of hours, I had it. Those marble floors…We went to a Middle Eastern restaurant on Forbes Av. and back to the hotel for me, and to work for David. The town has lots of mansions and lots of bridges. I suspect there may be some remnants of Steel City, but we didn’t get there. And we didn’t get to the United Steelworkers building. Maybe next time. When we were last here, for a wedding, we saw the Andy Warhol Museum and the National Aviary. (That’s where the wedding took place.) We will do some more sights next time. I am impressed that most guides put the Senator John Heinz History Center at the top of the list of sights to see. I have now seen it.
Monday evening David returned for our last supper, and Tuesday morning David returned to drive me to the airport. Thank you, David. A great flight home. I am becoming a fan of Jet Blue. Of course, I took lots of pictures. The ones with my I phone were not as good as the ones with my camera. But I can make and receive calls with my I phone. Pix to follow.
Original Format
application/msword
Collection
Citation
Jacob Schlitt, “My Trip to Pittsburgh,” Autobiographical stories & other writing by Jacob Schlitt, accessed April 23, 2025, https://tsirlson.omeka.net/items/show/409.