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Pittsburgh is for the birds. That's no insult, the Steel City happens to be the home of the National Aviary, America's premiere bird park. With 600+ birds of more than 200 species that are able to fly about in a state-of-the art facility, visitors get an unparalleled look at some of the planet's most beautiful - and in some cases, endangered - birds, from Pacific Parrotlets to Andean Condors. Guests are free to wander the aviary meeting and interacting with birds of all kinds, but there are a few daily events to be aware of. First of all, you don't want to miss the various feeding times throughout the day. At 11:00 am. and again at 3:00 pm, for example, trainers in the Tropical Forest area deliver a feast of wiggly worms, crickets, and grapes to birds such as golden-breasted starlings, fairy bluebirds, and Carmine bee-eaters. Delicious! And at at 2:30 pm, they sky opens up and a tropical rainstorm falls inside the Wetlands of the Americas pavilion. You'll stay dry while the birds frolic in the gentle mist, just like nature intended. The National Aviary is five minutes away from the Westin Convention Center, Pittsburgh and less than ten minutes from the Sheraton Station Square Hotel.
Recently in Pittsburgh Category
Get A Bird's Eye View of Pittsburgh at the National Aviary
Thursday April 10, 2008
MorePittsburgh's Signature Sandwich
Friday February 8, 2008
Along the riverfront docks in downtown Pittsburgh, a short drive away from the Westin Convention Center, is the birthplace of a truly special sandwich, one as unique and locally beloved as Philadelphia's cheesesteak or New Orleans' po'boys. I'm talking about the Primanti sandwich, created by serendipity at Primanti Brothers 24-hour diner in 1933.
Take your standard deli sandwich — anything from ham and cheese to pastrami to tunafish — and add a mess of coleslaw, tomatoes and french fries. Yes, french fries. Yes, on the sandwich, in there between the slices of fresh Italian bread. Depending on the other fillings, the resulting sandwich can be as much as 7 inches tall — more than enough to satisfy your hunger pangs. Ask any resident of the Steel City and they're likely to tell you that this is the meal they miss when they're away from home. It's so cherished that even Youtube star Ijustine did an episode revolving around it. There are several locations around the city, but the Strip District original is still the best.
Starpick the Westin Convention Center Pittsburgh
Monday August 6, 2007
Pittsburgh is often called America's most livable city, and thanks to Starpicks, it's now also one of America's most visitable cities. Okay, even if "visitable" isn't a real word, the Westin Convention Center Pittsburgh is one of this week's participating Starpicks properties, which means that last-minute rates are at least 20% off regular rates for stays this weekend. Since there's so much to do in Pittsburgh, it might be best to start off with something smart and cultural, and then get progressively more jiggy as the day goes on.
The Carnegie Museum of Natural History, for example, recently reopened its Hillman Hall of Minerals and Gems after a major expansion, so check it out if you like diamonds and other sparkly objects. The Andy Warhol Museum, which we've written about here before, is a Pittsburgh classic dedicated to one of the city's most famous native sons. I'm intrigued by quirky things, like the fact that of the 70 incline railroads (funiculars, if you like) that used to grace the hills of Pittsburgh, only two remain. So make haste and take a ride on the 130-year-old Duquesne Incline (pictured) and the Monongahela Incline, which dates back to 1870. If the great views of this sparkling city at the confluence of the Ohio, Allegheny, and Monongahela Rivers inspire you to sing the Funiculì Funiculà song, nobody's going to stop you, but the incline operators have probably heard it before. When evening comes around, toast your perfect Pittsburgh day with a Pipe Organ Pale Ale at the Church Brew Works and plan your next adventure.
[image via the Duquesne Incline]
Visit the Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh
Friday July 6, 2007
Pittsburgh is a city that's really worth visiting if you've never been before. It has a beautiful location at the confluence of the Allegheny, Ohio and Monongahela rivers, and a rich history that includes many business leaders, statesmen, and artists. Andy Warhol (pictured in a 1986 self portrait) was one of Pittsburgh's most well known native sons, and an excellent collection of his work is on display at the Andy Warhol Museum. A Budget Travel item points out that one of the best times to visit is on Friday nights, thanks to the museum's Good Fridays events, which offer half-priced admission, live music, drinks, a mixtape exchange, and a gathering of the city's current crop of fine artists. In addition to Warhol's work, the work of artists he inspired is also on display. Elsewhere in town, the Mattress Factory museum specializes in room-sized environments created by contemporary in-residence artists. Current exhibitions include a collection by Navin Thomas involving salvaged electronics, found twigs, mouse traps, and a steel sphere. Cutting edge indeed. Starwood has five hotels in and around Pittsburgh, including the Sheraton Station Square Hotel, Pittsburgh’s only riverfront hotel.
[image via the Andy Warhol Museum]
Eating Through Pittsburgh
Friday April 20, 2007
Pittsburgh's Strip District is a former neighborhood of wholesale grocers and food distributors that nowadays is the city's main nightlife destination. Where nightclubs go, 24 hour eats follow, and the Washington Post just published a guide to 24 hour dining in the Strip District. Recommendations include espresso at La Prima, food samples from the Pennsylvania Macaroni Company and Mon Amee Chocolate and Jamaican cuisine at Kaya. But on top of the list is Pittsburgh's contribution to food culture: Primanti Brothers. The restaurant's signature dish is a sandwich topped with french fries, fried egg and coleslaw (pictured). Pittsburgh is home to three Starwood properties: The Westin Convention Center Pittsburgh, the Sheraton Station Square Hotel and the Four Points by Sheraton Pittsburgh Airport.
Pittsburgh Slang 101
Wednesday June 28, 2006
Visiting Pittsburgh? Curious to find out what a yinzer is? Or what's in a chipped ham sandwich? Or why your business papers are wrapped in a gumband? Or why the weatherperson on the radio said the road is slippy? The good folks over at Carnegie Mellon University put together the Pittsburgh Speech & Society Dictionary, one of the best sources for regional slang on the 'net for any city. It's perfect if you're staying at the Westin Convention Center Pittsburgh, Sheraton Station Square Hotel or Four Points by Sheraton Pittsburgh Airport.
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