Pittsburgh getaway

We took advantage of the warm temperatures on Friday to spend the day in Pittsburgh. Of course, had to make a quick stop to Ikea first. Then headed to the North Shore to check out The Andy Warhol Museum. Our oldest son was with us and he had not seen it.

Andy Warhol was born and raised in Pittsburgh. He also attended Carnegie Mellon University nearby (at the same time my father was a student there). He was so fascinating and so influential on American culture that the museum is very interesting. Several new exhibits were being built so there will be more to check out next time.

The museum is situated next to the 16th Street Bridge that crosses the Allegheny River into downtown. There is another bridge down river named for Andy Warhol, also crossing the Allegheny River. The museum is also just down the street from PNC Park, the home of the Pittsburgh Pirates MLB baseball team.  Love the black ironwork on both this stadium and Heinz Field, where the Steelers play that is also close by.

Photographs are only allowed on the first floor. I was able to get just these shots. It is a six floor museum.

Wallpaper with repeated images of this self portrait is used throughout the museum.

He was a successful illustrator in New York after graduating form Carnegie Mellon.

Warhol images on skateboards in the gift shop.

We then headed to Oakland for some fresh oxygen to my favorite Phipps Conservatory in Schenley Park which is adjacent to Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh.

The tower in the background down the hill is the Gothic styled Cathedral of Learning, the tallest educational building in the Western Hemisphere, on the University of Pittsburgh campus, Carnegie Mellon is next door across the lawn.

Phipps is a very large greenhouse.

It was beautiful, full of orchids and bonsai.

Phipps owns several glass works by Seattle artist Dale Chihuly.

Another Chihuly sculpture.

Charming model railroad with a miniature Phipps.

I loved this delicate Poinsettia.

We decided to stop on Mt. Washington for a cocktail and appetizers before heading home. We chose The LeMont for sentimental reasons. I ate there several times as a child with my grandmother and family. It is an old school/ fancy/ gaudy decor /had to be a favorite of the Mafia type restaurant but has great huge floor to ceiling windows with beautiful views of the city. The sky cleared just as we arrived.

The typical Ohio River sight...coal barges, in the foreground of this shot. The Ohio River starts its journey to the Mississippi here, created at the confluence of the Allegheny River you see here with the bridges and the Monongahela River to the right.

I think they made a mistake by choosing bright Steeler yellow for the Heinz Field seats. Takes over the view. You cannot visit Mt.Washington without taking a ride down and up the hill on the Duquesne Incline, one of two inclines left in Pittsburgh, there used to be twenty or so. We wanted to take in the city lights before heading home.

This is what it looks like in the daylight.

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Last view of the sparkling city from the incline observation platform.

There is so much more to see in thriving and diverse Pittsburgh...next time. It is our favorite quick getaway destination.