Regent Square
Regent Square is a tree-lined neighborhood on the eastern edge of the City of Pittsburgh. Sited along both sides of Braddock Avenue between the Parkway East and Forbes Avenue, the neighborhood is composed of portions of the municipalities of Edgewood, Pittsburgh, Swissvale and Wilkinsburg. Regent Square includes a mix of apartments, single-family homes and a small central business district.
Regent Square, like much of Pittsburgh’s East End, contains a large proportion of professionals associated with the city’s medical and educational institutions. These residents share the neighborhood with a significant number of students and younger singles attracted to its proximity to Chatham, Carlow and Carnegie Mellon Universities, the University of Pittsburgh, Frick Park, and readily available mass transit to Oakland and downtown Pittsburgh.
Scenic Frick Park borders the western edge defining the unique physical character of the neighborhood and creating its strong sense of place. Frick Park is the largest of the City of Pittsburgh’s four major parks, with 561 acres of mostly wooded parkland in the Nine Mile Run stream valley. Park amenities include playgrounds, red clay tennis courts, a bowling green, and the nearby Frick Art & Historical Center. The many trails through the park’s steep valleys and wooded slopes are ideal for hikes alone, with families or pets, bird watching and mountain biking.
The Regent Square Civic Association (RSCA) serves all the residents, businesses, and property owners in Regent Square. Carrie Webber, President of RSCA, sums up the neighborhood’s appeal: “The community is all encompassing. We have everything—the diversity of older established families who have lived here for decades and young parents moving to the area. … People don’t want to leave.”
Bloomfield
Pittsburgh’s Little Italy & More
Centrally located, Bloomfield is only minutes away from several universities, as well as Pittsburgh’s Cultural District, new stadiums and new Convention Center. Its colorful mix of shops and restaurants attracts thousands of visitors from other city neighborhoods and the Pittsburgh region.
Bloomfield is known as Pittsburgh’s Little Italy, with Italian roots that go back five generations or more. The historic mix also includes German and Polish ancestries, all of which have strong ethnic pride, customs and commitment to family and neighborhood. Descendants from both groups still give the neighborhood its character today. This character can perhaps best be described as earthy, gritty, close-knit, and proud; as local author Chris Potter puts it, “Bloomfield has always taken pride in its modest working-class aspirations and a lack of…upper-class trappings.” The local row houses, constructed mostly of wooden frames covered long ago by aluminum siding, have unpretentious exteriors that often conceal lovingly maintained interiors.
The business district along Liberty Avenue puts most of life’s necessities, and several luxuries, within an easy walk of Bloomfield residents: besides the two churches and West Penn Hospital, there are many bars and restaurants, one supermarket and two Italian markets, plus tanning and hair salons, gifts and card shops, several gyms, a barber shop, two cobblers, a sweeper repair shop, and much more. Many restaurants serve Italian cuisine, although the neighborhood does feature a noted Polish restaurant. There are also two great Thai restaurants and two Chinese restaurants on Liberty Avenue.
Bloomfield is known as a great place to live. The Bloomfield Bridge, built in 1914, makes Bloomfield convenient to downtown and the universities in Oakland. On the side streets of Bloomfield, tree-lined avenues complement lovely, restored Edwardian and Victorian homes built in the late 1800s. Within a mile of the heart of the district live 38,000 of the newest generations, the majority employed in white collar service industries: Bloomfield is located in the center of several world class medical facilities including West Penn Hospital, UPMC Shadyside Hospital, Children’s Hospital and the Hillman Cancer Center, all of which bring visitors and employees to the business district.
Come and enjoy Bloomfield’s historic, ethnic and culinary flavors!
Lawrenceville
Whether you’re talking to a Lawrenceville “lifer” or a neighborhood newcomer, you’ll find that people can barely contain their enthusiasm for this place. So, what is it about Lawrenceville that’s turned everyday citizens into legions of community advocates? Ask around, and you’ll most likely get a response that falls into these general categories…
It’s like a little village. Welcoming, walkable and weathered by a rich history—like Mayberry with an industrial urban patina. And the recreational opportunities of parks, the Allegheny River, and Allegheny Cemetery give a little kick to our assets.
It’s affordable. Whether you’re renting or buying a home, going out for dinner, or getting a haircut—good living is within reach.
It’s old and new. Shabby and shiny-new exist side by side. And we like it that way.
It’s engaging. You have choices to get involved, whether it’s purely social or civically minded. From play dates to happy hours, or community clean-ups to Art All Night, Lawrenceville offers a way for singles, couples, and families to connect.
It’s convenient. Most of the city’s major employment centers (including Downtown, the North Side, and Oakland) are just a bus ride or short commute away. And you can live a car-free lifestyle here, with business districts that serve your every need.
In Lawrenceville, you can be yourself and become part of something that’s much bigger than you. We think that makes us pretty special. It gives this place that incomparable feeling called “community.”
Strip District
Pittsburgh’s Historic Market District
A unique urban adventure awaits you in The Strip District, Pittsburgh’s only historic market district. By day, this old-world-style marketplace is abuzz with shoppers patronizing an exciting mix of shops and a variety of sidewalk vendors. At night, the “gritty vitality” of The Strip District draws a diverse and lively crowd to dine in one of the many distinctive restaurants, to enjoy a happy hour with friends, listen to music or relax at a variety of scintillating nightspots, ranging in style from upscale lounges to cozy “everybody knows your name” pubs.
But the Strip District has even more to offer. This curious neighborhood, with residential lofts on one block, a sprinkling of row houses on another, and a series of warehouses sandwiched in between, provides a captivating opportunity to explore an innovative re-imagining of obsolete urban industrial spaces. For those with an interest in culture, the Strip District also provides a home to a world-class museum, an exceptional gallery of international crafts, Pittsburgh Opera, the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Attack Theater, and two historic churches.
The Strip District is exhilarating and dynamic. It evolves from day to night, from weekday to weekend, from year to year. A stroll through the Strip is a trip into the essence of Pittsburgh’s multi-cultural history…where diverse cultures and commerce intersect.
Downtown
The most diverse, historic and vibrant of Pittsburgh’s 90 different neighborhoods, Downtown is the heart of the City, connected by all major highways. It is also the hub of the county transit system, so you really can get here from wherever you are.
Downtown’s skyline is dotted with a mixture of gorgeous 19th century architecture and modern skyscrapers—all surrounded by Pittsburgh’s three rivers and connected by Point State Park. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the miles of hiking and biking trails in addition to the wide array of river sports, such as kayaking, boating, fishing and rowing. You can also find parks, plazas and water fountains throughout Downtown as you stroll through our very walk-able city.
Downtown is a haven for foodies, coffee lovers or anyone looking to try something new. The diverse cultural heritage of Pittsburgh brings the flavors of the World to Downtown—including restaurants featuring cuisine from Spain, Mexico, Italy, India, China and Turkey. Students will love Downtown’s newly-renovated Market Square for its wide array of coffee shops, bars and restaurants. Oh yeah, we have free Wi-Fi too!
The Cultural District, a thriving, 14-square block along Penn and Liberty Avenues, is filled with theater-goers and diners every night of the week. Free, quarterly Gallery Crawls showcase the many unique art galleries, exhibits and entertainment venues in the Cultural District. There’s something for everyone to enjoy in Downtown, so what are you waiting for?
Oakland
Getting out to discover Oakland leads one on a trip through one of Pittsburgh’s most diverse and lively neighborhoods. From prestigious universities and museums, world-class hospitals, grand architecture, quaint coffee shops, international cuisine and specialty shops all describe the hustle and bustle that is Oakland. If you are planning a picnic in the park, an evening of theater, trying out a new ethnic dish, or if you are searching for that Picasso masterpiece, Oakland has it all.
Serving over 100,000 people daily, Oakland is home to over 200 businesses and over 100 restaurant establishments and the campuses of the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, and Carlow University.
Oakland offers fabulous dishes to please every palate and pocketbook. Exotic curry dishes, Northern Italian specialties, creamy homemade ice creams and international flavors provide an eclectic assortment of cuisine from around the world. From classic American, Greek, Middle Eastern, Italian, and Thai to Japanese, Mexican, Spanish and Indian, Oakland offers a wide assortment of international cuisines.
Oakland is home to world class museums, theaters, galleries, gardens, trails, parks, libraries and more. Plan a day in Oakland and you could picnic in Schenley Park, explore collections of ancient and modern, meet Tyrannosaurus Rex, learn the lyrics of “Oh Susannah”, view the international classrooms symbolizing the heritage of Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East, enjoy a cup of java while browsing a classic novel, get in an evening of gripping drama, from Shakespeare to Shaw, or simply surround yourself in natural flora in a Victorian glass house.
See these sights and so much more here in Pittsburgh’s Oakland!
South Side
South Side is a neighborhood like no other. Home to the nation’s longest Victorian-era business district, South Side offers visitors and residents an all-inclusive experience. Whether shopping in our eclectic shops, dining in one of the many restaurants throughout the district, or taking in the sights, you can’t help but feel welcomed by the spirit that is – South Side.
South Side is a neighborhood consisting of two distinct areas: the Flats and the Slopes. The Flats is the area between Josephine Street and the Monongahela River while the Slopes is the hillside that extend South of Josephine Street to the South Hills of Pittsburgh. South Side is a great place to visit before and after dark. More than 350 shops, restaurants, and entertainment destinations can be found along East Carson Street. From national music acts to local favorites, you are sure to find a sound to suit any taste.
South Side offers a global variety for food lovers. Thai, Spanish, French, Mediterranean, Italian, Japanese, Lebanese, and good old-fashioned American cuisine can be found here.
Those who hope to do more shopping than eating may choose from the wide selection of boutiques, thrift stores, and specialty shops. From designer denim to custom creations, you can find just about any style to fit your budget. Is body art what you’re looking? South Side is home to more than nine different tattoo and piercing studios.
South Side welcomes all new students to the Pittsburgh area and hopes that you will find this community to be a great place to live, work, and play.
Shadyside
Sometimes, you know when you’ve got it good. You’re in Shadyside. As a student, you have a great opportunity to search for an extraordinary way to spend a day, a night or a semester—Think Shadyside. Hip and sophisticated, trendy and classic, vintage and posh, a neighborhood that is the best-known shopping area with boutiques, salons, shops and galleries mingled with national retailers in a neighborhood of tree-lined streets, historic homes, hip events and distinctive restaurants. You’ll find the latest technology or the hottest fashion at one of the boutiques. Everything is within walking distance and the whole neighborhood is wired for FREE WI-FI. It is in the City of Pittsburgh, so very convenient, yet miles away from the ordinary.
