Links to Useful Sites

Pittsburgh skyline at night
Founded in 1758, Pittsburgh is a thriving metropolitan area of 2.5 million offering both renowned cultural and recreational attractions, and safe affordable housing.

A fresh new face on three rivers. It's no surprise Pittsburgh consistently ranks as one of the most livable cities in the nation. It's home to world-class Universities, excellent medical facilities, and an ever-growing community of high-tech start-ups. But it's also home to bustling entertainment venues, a world-reknown symphony, a thriving theater arts district, low-cost housing, an extensive urban park system, waterfront entertainment on three rivers, accessibility to national and regional parks and an unmatched group of close-knit neighborhoods. Pittsburgh has successfully re-invented itself for the 21st century, without losing its 19th century charm. Pittsburgh is no longer the industrialized city your grandfather knew; get to know the new Pittsburgh and see for yourself.

Information on the City of Pittsburgh

		Mayor Luke Ravenstahl (left) invites you to visit the Official City of Pittsburgh Site, which has extensive links to sites offering information on Recreation, Real Estate and Community Activities in Pittsburgh and the surrounding communities.
		InPgh (pronounced "In Pittsburgh") is the website front for the populat entertainment weekly. Both the paper (a must read during lunch out in Oakland) and the web site are a terrific resource to find out what's happened now in Pittsburgh. If its happening, its here.
		Pittsburgh.Net is a great starting place for lots of information as well, and includes tours of specific regions of the city, including DownTown, the Sourth Side, etc.
		Three Rivers Free Net provides a wealth of community information, hosting sites for many not-for-profit organizations.
		The Student's Guide to Pittsburgh offers a different perspective for learning about the Steel City. Offered by the Spindle Publishing Company, the site contains student-oriented takes on shopping, dining, entertainment, student services, travel, and more.
		Although RealPittsburgh.com is associated with the television station Channel 11, it still has a fair amount of good information and will keep you abreast of activities in the greater Pittsburgh area.
		The Convention Bureau site is not just for for those arriving for meetings at the striking Davifd L. Lawrence Convention Center, there is a wealth of information on events and goings-on about town.

Information on Arts and Music

		The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is directed by Maestro Andrew Davis. Maestro Davis continues the tradition of musical excellence at the PSO established by past conductors Mariss Jansons, Lorin Maazel, Andre Pevin, and Fritz Reiner. The PSO performs in Heinz Hall, located in the cultural district in downtown Pittsburgh.
		Opera first found Pittsburgh in 1838, with a performance of Rossini's Il Barbiere di Siviglia. Visiting opera companies made continual impressions on Pittsburghers until the Pittsburgh Opera was founded in 1939. Former Artistic Director Tito Capobianco rejuvinated the Pittsburgh Opera with innovative stagings of repetory classics and overlooked opera gems alike. The Pittsburgh Opera performs in historic Benedan Hall, located in the cultural district oif downtown Pittsburgh. Recent works have included Verdi's La Traviata and Falstaff (featuring Sherill Milnes in the title role), Bellini's Norma, and Bizet's Carmen. Yearly offering mix retertory favorites with lesser-seen works.
		The Civic Light Opera indulges the lighter side of musical theater; offerings this summer in Brigadoon and A Chorus Line, among others.
		The Pittsburgh Chamber Music Society was founded in 1961 by an enthusisatic group, including individuals as Mrs. Paul G. Benedum, Henry J. Heinz II, Mrs. Lincoln Maazel and Maestro William Steinberg, who wanted local audiences to hear the world's finest chamber music artists perform in Pittsburgh. Through the years, the number of annual concerts has grown to six, featuring leading chamber music groups, distinguished guest artists and rising young ensembles.
		The Renaissance and Baroque Society of Pittsburgh organizes a concert series of early music, performed in Synod Hall in Oakland.
		The AcoustiCafe promotes performers of acoustic music in the Pittsburgh area; as they say, its "hardwood music for a steel string city."
		The Pittsburgh Ballet Theater offers a full season of ballet in the Benedum Theater for the Performing Arts. Widely acclaimed for its classical ballet masterpieces as well as innovative explorations of contemporary dance, the PBT is currently recognized as one of the world's leading ballet companies. PBT's repertoire is a blend of ballets by 20th century masters, including Taylor, Ailey, de Mille, Goh, Taylor-Corbett, Cranko and the great George Balanchine, new works by today's most passionate choreographers, and acclaimed versions of the 19th century classical ballets, including Coppelia, Don Quixote, Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake..
		The Pittsburgh Dance Council is Pittsburgh source for fresh, innovative contemporary dance. Patrons don't get bored with the same old thing here; some past seasons have seen a whopping 5 premeire shows as well as the return of 3 favorites. Visiting artists have included Momix, Dance Theater of Harlem and Tango Mujer.
		The Pittsburgh Public Theater was formed in 1974 and is still going strong. This season, see the world premiere of The Secret Letters of Jackie and Marilyn in the heart of Pittsburgh Cultural District.
		The City Theater is another of many theatrical venues available in Pittsburgh; the City theater offers about 6-10 productions a year, ranging from Broadway hits, to Shakespeare, to vibrant new works.
		Launched in 1934, the Pittsburgh Playhouse is the theatrical arm of Pittsburgh Point College and produces cutting-edge theater right here in Oakland.
		The Carnegie Museum of Art is located right in Oakland, just a minute's walk from the Department of Biological Sciences. Harboring an impressive collection, the Carnegie also sponsors numerous traveling exhibits, including a past exhibit on Aluminum in Art.
		Why is the Carnegie Library something to see? Founded by Andrew Carnegie as a library "Free to the People," the 18 branches of the Library offer more than the usual offers found in libraries across the nation. The Oakland branch in particular is replete with Pittsburgh cultural heritage; one Saturday afternoon in the stacks of the Carnegie goes a long way to connect yourself with your city. The Carnegie library is located adjacent to the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History right in the heart of Oakland.
		Clayton, the original mansion of Henry Clay Frick along the so-called "Millionaire's Row" in Pittsburgh houses the Frick Art and Historical Center. In addition ot the tour of the stunningly restored mansion, the Frick Art Musuem houses a marvelous little collection, including works by Rubens and Boucher, and hosts traveling shows as well.

Information on Museums and Attractions

		Carnegie Museum of Natural History has fabulous dinosaur exhibits that round out its collections, which include a terrific mineral room, an insect zoo, and a Discovery Room for youngsters. The museum is housed in the same building complex with the Carnegie Museum of Art, making for a stimulating afternoon.
		The Carnegie Science Center, located on the north side of Pittsburgh and overlooking the confluence of the Allegheny and Monogahela rivers to form the Ohio river (the "three rivers" Pittsburgh is known for), is fun for children and adults. Besides the huge model railroad, World War II era submarine and other attractions, the OmniMax Theatre offers unrivaled cinematic experiences.
		The Andy Warhol Museum is one of the only museums in the country specializing in a single-artist, and is the largest single-artist museum in the world. The collection includes paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, sculptures, film, and videotapes,. In addition, there is a collection of artefacts and ephemera, records, original source material for Warhol's creations, and other items from his life. Clearly he has had more than 15 minutes of fame...
		The Mattress Factory is an ecclectic museum of contemporary art that presents art on room-sized scales; as they say, its art that "you can really get into." All of the pices are created by local, in-house artists. Founded in 1977, the Mattress Factory is conveniently located in the nearby Mexican War Streets neighborhood along Pittsburgh's North Side; it is one of few museums of its kind anywhere.
		The National Aviary is located right here in Pittsburgh. Far from the usual collection, the Aviary boasts large flight rooms where visitors can wander among water fowl in one section, or forest birds in another. If you're there are feeding time, you can hold a fish that water birds will swoop down and take from you. The only danger I've run across is that the pheasants keep pecking at my shoe laces.
		The Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is also found right in the heart of Oakland, a few minutes' walk from campus. When opened, the Phipps was the largest conservatory in the US, and among the nation's oldest and largest Victorian glasshouses, featuring tropical plants, palms, orchids and a miniature orchid collection, ferns and succulent plants, seasonal flower shows and the ver-popular butterfly room. Outdoor gardens and collections include the Discovery Garden, a Japanese Courtyard Garden, an Outdoor Garden, bonsai, perennials, herbs and aquatic gardens. Nothing beats a noontime stroll through the gardens to prepare you for a long afternoon.
		The 77 acre Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium is open every day except Christmas Day. Besides offering a home to thousands, the Zoo participates in 19 species survival plans and is working on propagating 38 threatened or endangered species. Major habitat displays include the Asian Forest, the African Savannah, the Tropical rain Forest, Cheetah Valley, and the Aquarium (including the terrific crawl-through stingray tunnel). The Kid's Kingdom is ranked as one of the top three Children's Zoo's in the country. In Fall 2006, the polar bear exhibit reopened in a spectacular new veue.
		FallingWater is the astonishing Frank Lloyd Wright project built in the 1930's for the Kaufman family as a summer retreat in the Laurel highlands, just southeast of Pittsburgh. Build over a water fall, the home was conceived as a marriage of architecture to nature. Well worth a visit, FallingWater is like nothing you've ever seen before.
		The Sen. John Heinz Regional History Center includes a wealth of information about local and regional history and supports traveling historical exhibitions as well, including a recent exhibit on the writings of George Washington during his exploration of the Cumberland Valley.

Information on Local Sports Teams

		The Pittsburgh Steelers are our local NFL football team. Founded in 1933 as the Pittsburgh Pirates (name changed in 1940), the Steelers are the 5th oldest football team in the NFL. Steelers fans are eager for Coach Bill Cowher to lead the Steelers back to the peaks they attained during the dynasty years in the 1970's. The Steelers moved to a brand new "football only" stadium in the fall of 2002; historic Three River Stadium was imploded in February 2001. The Post-Gazzette has Steeler's coverage as well.
		The Pittsburgh Pirates are our local Major League baseball team. Founded in 1876 as the Pittsburgh Alleghenies, the team picked up their current name after being accused of "Pirating" another player from the rival Brooklyn team; and you thought Pittsburgh was the Jolly-Roger capital of Pennsylvania. The Pirates are now playing the in the newly constructed "baseball-only" PNC park, loacted on the north shore of Pittsburgh. Constructed in a city-friendly fashion, PNC park offers spectacular views into the park right from downtown.
		The Pittsburgh Penguins are our local NHL hockey team, and was the home to such hockey greats as Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr.
		The Pitt Panthers represent our very own University of Pittsburgh. The football team is often in bowl contention (although typically the Tuna Helper Bowl), and the men's basketball team has been a powerhouse making it to the sweet sixteen in the NCAA tournament almost every year of late. The women's volleyball team always puts on exciting matches that are well worth attending.
		The Duquesne Dukes represent Duquesne College, our collegues in downtown Pittsburgh. The Dukes put on a good show, especially in both men's and women's basketball.

Information on Outdoor Recreation

		The 513,161 acre Allegheny National Forest is less than an hour's drive from the Oakland campus of the University of Pittsburgh. The forest offers recreation in the forms of camping, boating, canoeing, jetskiing, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, swimming, and cross-country skiing and snowmobile trails.
		The the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources maintains a number of state parks within easy reach of the Pittsburgh area, including Raccon Creek State Park, just to the west of the city, Allegheny Isalnd, Hillman hiking trails, and numerous parks in the Laurel Highlands just to the southeast of the city, including Larel Ridge, Laurel Summit, and Ohiopyle. To the north, one can find French Creek and Pymatuning (the home of our field station), as well as Moraine State Park, which offers boating, swimming, and windsurfing.
		Rails to Trails is converting old railroad right-of-ways into biking trails. The trails from downtown Pittsburgh through the Laurel Highlands are not quite complete, but the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, Eliza Furnace Trails and Steel Heritage Trail are available in the city and take you along the Monogehela river to the east.
		With Pittsburgh host the confluence of the Mongehela and Allegheny Rivers to form the might Ohio River, its only natural that we celebrate summer with a boating regatta. The annual Three Rivers Regatta is held in August and is the pride of boating enthusiasts in western Pennsylvania. The non-profit event was founded in 1977 and draws more than 1.5 million attendants watching more than 80 events each year.
		The Seven Springs Mountain Resort offers downhill skiiing in the winter and hiking in the summer. Located just east of Pittsburgh, the resort is a great place for retreats and conferences as well.
		Kennywood Amusement Park is located 10 miles from downtown Pittsburgh, along the Monogehela River. In addition to the usual myriad of enterment venues, Kennywood offers 4 different water rides (great for hot summer days) the Exterminator subterranean roller coaster, and has replaced the beloved Steel Phanom Rollercoaster with the enormous Phantom's Revenge, reaching 82 MPH at a 228 ft drop (opening May 2001). The University of Pittsburh sponsors an annual trip to Kennywood in the summer, where faculty, staff and students can unwind together.
		Each year, the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Association stages the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix in Schenley Park, within walking distance of the University of Pittsburgh campus. The race benefits the Allegheny Valley School and the Autism Society of Pittsburgh. This event is one of the only all-volunteer staffed events of its kind, and certainly one of the only ones to attain such national recognition. The Vintage automobiles are striking to look at, and the old-fashioned road rally is amazing fun to watch. This event is a Pittsburgh gem.
		The Western Penn Conservancy enriches the greater Pittsburgh area through a host of beautification efforts. Besides conserving the region's places of exceptional ecological, recreational and scenic value, the conservancy works with communities to enhance livability and reduce pressure on undeveloped areas.

Information on Miscellaneous Activities

		That's right, Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood is right here in Pittsburgh. The children's television icon is not the only "family-friendly" side of Pittsburgh, which boasts safe neighborhoods (both with and without trolleys!), good schools and loads af family entertainment.
		Check out Movies in Pittsburgh for screen times. You can find where in Pittsburgh a movie is playing or check out a particular theatre and see what's playing there. IN addition to movies, the site lists live theatre performances as well.
		Consult Animal Friends of Pittsburgh for information on pet adoption. Since the 1940's, Animal Friends has operated as Pittsburgh's only no-kill animal shelter.
		The Race for the Cure raises money for Breast Cancer research and is an annual event in Pittsburgh, and in 113 other cities across America. The Race for the Cure is held annually on Mother's Day in Pittsburgh.
		If the Race for the Cure gets gets you warmed up for running, you may want to register for the Pittsburgh Marathon, held annually in the first week of May. With its notoriously hilly landscape, the Pittsburgh marathon offers a challenging course, and has recently been the site of the United States national time trials on several occasions.
		If you are planning a visit, check the local weather on Yahoo first.

This Site is maintained by the Bioscience Webmaster; this page was last modified 20 February 2008