In Pittsburgh
The slow and painful shuttering of its once-mighty steel mills made Pittsburgh the capital of the Rust Belt, but with millions of dollars being poured into the expansion and redevelopment of the city, it seems the rusty spots are shining anew. Two new stadiums, both completed in 2001, spiffed up the pro-sports scene here: PNC Park (tel. 412/323-5000; http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com), the 38,000-seat baseball stadium that's home to the Pirates, and the 65,000-seat Heinz Field (tel. 412/323-1200; www.steelers.com), the spot for the hometown heroes, the Steelers. Nearby, the North Shore Riverfront Park is a new mile-long, bi-level public space on the banks of the Allegheny and Ohio rivers that offers a phenomenal view of downtown Pittsburgh. The lower level is a boardwalk along the waterfront, with tie-up spots for boats, while the second level has expansive grassy areas, cut with trails that mimic the shape of the rivers.
The Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens (tel. 412/622-6914; www.phipps.conservatory.org) is undergoing a $36.6-million expansion and redevelopment, adding more great outdoor space for visitors. Plans include an environmentally friendly visitor center, a 12,000-square-foot tropical forest conservatory, and modern techno-savvy greenhouses, as well as an overhaul of the existing exhibition space. The Andy Warhol Museum (tel. 412/237-8300; www.warhol.org), dedicated to the city's superstar son, has long been a destination for fans of the Factory man with its substantial permanent collection of 12,000 of Warhol's works. Fans of the arts should also check out the August Wilson Center for African American Culture (tel. 412/258-2700; www.africanaculture.org), recently renamed for the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and Pittsburgh native who passed away in 2005. Undergoing a $32.7-million upgrade, the center is building an entirely new facility with galleries, classrooms, and a 500-seat theater to educate and celebrate the contributions of African Americans to the arts, politics, education, sports, medicine, and culture, both locally and globally.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
