Fun, Food and Flowers

This trip to Pittsburgh featured a packed itinerary.  There was a Christmas party, a get together with friends and church obligations.  That didn't stop me from wanting to experience more of Pittsburgh.  Checking out Visitpittsbugh.com, I noticed that the Carnegie Art Museum had free admission on Saturday, that there was a large outdoor nativity scene and that Phipps had special evening hours.  I was determined to fit some touristy activity into the weekend.

Once again I took the Megabus and pulled into the convention center around dinner time.  Starving because I hadn't eaten lunch, Primanti Brothers was suggested.  I had tried a Pittsburgh salad before (a tasty combination of steak, french fries and riveria dressing) but had only heard about the bizarre sandwich that combined coleslaw, fries and whatever meat you chose.  We went to the original location in the Strip District. Since it was after 5:00, most of the shops and vendors in that area were closed, but I made note of the fact that I would need to return to this eclectic community filled with food vendors (including many ethnic varieties), Pittsburgh sports memorabilia, arts and culture venues and speciality boutiques to name just a few.  The menu at Primanti Brothers was simple but I still had a hard time deciding which sandwich to try.  I was assured by our friendly server that regardless of what I chose I would not be disappointed so I quickly surveyed the menu and chose turkey breast and cheese.  The server told the story about how the original sandwich was constructed so workers could combine their favorite ingredients into one easy to handle lunch package.  It was enjoyable to know a little more about the history of the sandwich I was about to try.  When our sandwiches arrived, I was amazed at the size.  Even though I was hungry, I doubted I could finish.  I took my first bite and knew I'd be back to this restaurant.  Not only was the sandwich tasty, but somehow the fries maintained some crispness and the bread didn't get soggy!  I ate the whole sandwich (probably quicker than I should have) and had plenty of praise to pass on to our server.  I can't wait to go back and try other varieties!

Saturday was a busy day but the schedule opened up around 5:00 that evening.  By then the art museum was closed but Phipps Conservatory had evening hours for their Christmas displays.  Having been to the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, I had an idea of what it might be like, but was blown away by my experience there.

When we first entered, the main lobby had a gorgeous Chihuly glass piece hanging from the ceiling. 

I became a fan of his work many years ago when there was an exhibit at the Albright Knox in Buffalo so I recognized it was his work almost immediately.  After stopping for the obligatory photo, we moved on into the main area of the gardens.  The domes of the gardens were lit with soft white Christmas lights and all of the pathways were illuminated by tea light candles.  A beautiful touch to add to the already fantastic atmosphere.  The first room we entered (the Serpentine Room) had a Nutcracker theme.  Each tree was decorated in the various themes of the dances of the popular Christmastime ballet.  There was the Russian tree, the Spanish tree, the Chinese tree.  Each meticulously decorated according to the theme.  I was disappointed I didn't have my camera with me but was glad my iPhone takes decent shots.  Buffalo has a reputation for being the "city of good neighbors" but Pittsburghers must be similarly inclined because every time it was apparent we were going to take a photo, there were offers to take one of both of us.  People even framed better shots for us and offered to hold our coats so they didn't disrupt the picture!  We ended up taking many more pictures than we probably would have because of the helpfulness of complete strangers.  Room after room, I continued to be impressed by the beauty of the plants on display and the settings around them.   The Nutcracker theme carried throughout the gardens and seeing the kids with their stamp activity books brought me back to experiencing the Nutcracker for the first time as a child.    I was also astonished by the number of Chihuly pieces scattered throughout the gardens and how they were embedded so cleverly into the landscape.  I especially enjoyed the gold star in the Desert room and various pieces scattered throughout the Palm Court.  I almost felt like I was on a scavenger hunt to see where I could spot the next Chihuly piece!  I really enjoyed the Orchid room and the Sunken Garden but the real highlight for me (aside from all the Chihuly glass) was the garden railroad.  This model train spanned across the whole South Conservatory room and had incredible detail.  I followed the trains around the massive layout with more wonder and excitement than the kids who were also in the room!  I also had a first time experience that evening - a kiss under the mistletoe (or, as it was labeled there, a "kissing ball").  After a photo in front of the huge Christmas tree in the Palm Court, we left Phipps with a lot of great memories and pictures.  I am sure I'll make a return visit, perhaps in the spring or summer.


There is a saying that all good things must come to an end and that meant that my weekend in the Steel City also had to end.  Before I hopped back onto the Megabus, we had one last stop in downtown Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Creche.  The Creche is the world’s only authorized replica of the crèche in St. Peter’s Square in Rome. It was constructed from plans by Vatican architect and has larger-than-life-size renderings of the Holy Family, the magi, an angel, shepherds, animals and a stable.  There was stunning, life like detail and in today's world of political correctness, I appreciated the public display of such an important part of my Catholic faith.  As we spent a few minutes visiting the Creche, I wondered how many people drove by every day without even noticing the beautiful display and how many others may have noticed but not taken the time to appreciate the event in a meager stable that would change the world forever.

I boarded the bus sad to be leaving but excited to return the next week for even more adventures.