LOVE the Omni

If you've never seen the lobby at the Omni William Penn at Christmastime you're really missing out. The highlight is a HUGE decorated Christmas tree. Pair that with the live music and it's truly spectacular. We had relatives stay there over the holidays, and they were so impressed with the space and service. We met them for a last minute dinner at the Tap Room - and after a wonderful meal my toddler enjoyed ENDLESS running throughout the huge lobby! They even have goody bags for children staying at the hotel! We weren't the ones staying, but they gave him a goody bag nonetheless. Top notch!

Interesting times at the Westin

So, I had a very "interesting" time at the Westin a few days before Christmas. I had walked to the Strip to finish some last minute Christmas shopping, and I needed to mail one card while I was out. In search of a stamp, I stopped at Fedex on Penn Avenue - they were out. The employee suggested I try the gift shop at the Westin. It's not that far (in the wrong direction) from home, so off I go. The gentleman in the gift shop said he did not have stamps, but to try the front desk. I go up to the front desk, and ask if I could purchase one stamp. I explained to the front desk clerk that the employee at Fedex sent me to the Westin gift shop, who then sent me to his desk. He paused, and then asked if I was staying at the hotel. When I said "No, I live Downtown" he said, "I'm sorry, I don't have any stamps left." WHAT?!?! First, I find it hard to believe the Westin did not have a single stamp I could purchase, and second, the fact they had no stamps was predicated on NOT being a hotel guest!

Fortunately, I ended up speaking with a very apologetic front desk manager who seemed to be appalled for this employees actions. Sadly, I ended up leaving with out buying my 42 cent stamp but was happy in knowing that hopefully this will not happen to another Downtown resident. Not that it's a local hotel's responsibility to sell stamps - I understand it's not the post office. I just happened to be in a last minute Christmas pinch - and I guess I've gotten used to the excellent treatment I receive from most local businesses. Living Downtown is spoiling me!

Why would I ever leave?

Between the shops Downtown, Station Square and the Strip, why would anyone leave to get anything done? I have done the majority of my Christmas shopping here (a few things online, but they were VERY specific things) and will continue to do more! Even better? Fedex/Kinkos on Penn Ave. sells stamps, and they are HOLDING them for me until I can get there later this evening. How great is that? They have been selling stamps like crazy due to the holidays and they're holding them for me! Sometimes it's the little things that make my day.

Shop Downtown!!!

PLEASE!!! Support your neighbors and do your holiday shopping Downtown when possible. It was so nice to see so many people out and about shopping on Saturday. I must say running around Downtown in the lightly falling snow, looking at the Macy's windows and seeing the trains displayed at SW Randall really put me in the Christmas spirit. I saw lots of folks with many bags!

Side note - Why wasn't Ann Taylor open in One Oxford Centre? This is the second Saturday I've been by this season and they haven't been open. Talbots was though, in case anyone is interested :)

Ugh, the smoking!

Thank you cold weather, for you have forced some of the smoke off of our wonderful sidewalks! Had I started my blog in the summer this would have been SUPER high on my priority list. While I love that you can't smoke in restaurants anymore, it really forces smokers to take it to the streets. When you're walking by with a toddler in a stroller you can't help but feel like you're polluting their lungs! I remember multiple times this summer - hot humid days - where the smoke would just linger. My throat actually burned a little, so I can't imagine what it was doing to my kid's lungs.

Smoking is a choice, so I guess some would say living in a downtown environment is our choice and this comes with the territory. While I personally can't stand smoking, those that do should have a place to do so where non-smokers have the choice NOT to breathe it in! A select few are very courteous about smoking, and attempt to divert their smoke away from those it may offend. THANK YOU! The rest of you? Stop waving your cigarettes around while talking on your cell phones blowing smoke wherever you happen to have your attention averted.

My worst cigarette encounter? We were walking home from the fireworks on the Fourth of July, and as usual there was a large crowd outside of a bar near our home. I understand there's going to be smoke at a venue such as this, so I take it in stride. As we're making it through the crowd, I see a lit cigarette butt flying through the air just missing my child's stroller!!! A girl turns around and says, "oh I'm sorry, I didn't see a baby there" as if that makes it okay to send a lit cigarette butt flying through a crowd otherwise. Obviously I was less than gracious about her apology and heard her mutter something about we should not have a baby out here anyway. Fortunately I'm the non-violent type, but I can't tell you how hard it was to keep myself from knocking her out! Shame on us for having a baby downtown for the fireworks??? Shame on her for being a crappy human being!

Long story short, I know I can't stop people from smoking Downtown, but I ask our residents to be mindful when doing so, and to keep it away from the babies!

Everyone's intitled to mistakes - it's what you do to correct them that counts!

Yeah to the owner of MixStirs for reading my post and not tolerating bad customer service! Thank you for your comments. My intention is not to anger, but to evoke change when necessary. I've been to MixStirs a couple of times before with great service, which is why I was so disappointed this particular Tuesday evening. I apologize for not mentioning this before, although I did remember to note my love for hummus and veggie pitas :) I had walked many blocks with a toddler strapped to my back and was pretty darn irritated by the time I got home. Before having my kiddo I worked in a service-oriented industry and was held to wonderfully high standards, so I tend to expect the same from the businesses I frequent.

Thanks to the owner's comment, I will happily try MixStirs again - for I truly believe it's their intention to provide excellent service. Maybe I just went on a REALLY bad day.

I was specifically visiting MixStirs that fateful Tuesday because they are now open on Sundays. I want to continue to support Downtown businesses catering to its full time residents.

Right By Nature

Okay, so I went to the new all natural and organic grocery in the Strip called Right By Nature and it is FABULOUS! It's the perfect size - not too big so you get lost, but not too small so they don't have what you want. The best part - you don't have to rifle through the things you don't want. It's ALL what you want! I had to make a big grocery run so I took the car, but it was so quick and convenient. The staff was friendly and helpful when asked, but kept to themselves otherwise which was perfect. It was really quiet on this Sunday evening. It was great for shopping but I hope it gets busier - I want them to stay!

Oh, and the prices? Wonderful for a store of this size and quality. Most items were by far less expensive than Whole Foods. If you have a kid that still eats baby food, you will totally appreciate the extensive organic baby food section. This is truly a "destination" grocery store. Lucky me that it's so close by, but I would drive here regardless... they have free parking across the street!

Yeah organics!

I'm so excited about the new grocery store that just opened in the Strip - Right By Nature! Yeah, I know it's not technically Downtown, but I can still walk to it for a couple of things. They have free parking right across the street so that will help for bigger trips (although I hate taking the car anywhere - kind of defeats the whole walk everywhere Downtown purpose). I plan on making my first trip there sometime next week. I'm sure I'll have lots to say about the trip!

There is a local Downtown grocery store - Rosebud. Unfortunately it is sometimes a bit of a disappointment. It's really cool that it's local, and they're great about ordering particular items you need... when they come in. I'm often making trips to Whole Foods or Giant Eagle to fill in the gaps, and since food at both locations are cheaper I'm more apt to stock up. I totally understand the prices at Rosebud being higher... smaller quantity=higher prices. I make it a point to shop Rosebud because I certainly don't want it to go away. I'd love to see them carry more of the items we need to eliminate shopping elsewhere. The big thing? No organic produce! What a niche market - people will travel for organics, or even make a trip there before leaving Downtown to go back to the burbs. I'm curious as to why Rosebud hasn't capitalized on this yet... hmm... Now you see why I'm so excited about Right By Nature!

I love this city!

I don't think there's anything cooler than walking out your front door, walking 3 blocks to an amazing restaurant, another block to a fabulous show, and another couple of blocks home! I kind of feel sad for all the people having to trek to their cars and wait in parking garage jams just to get stuck at the Fort Pitt tunnel. If you've never been to Palate Bistro you're missing out - it's SO yummy, and even more importantly they have fabulous service. Spamalot was great too, but you have to have seen (and liked) the movies to really get it. Even the technical difficulties were funny!

Light Up Night

There are so many cool things to do Downtown during the holidays! Although we were freezing cold, all three of us trekked out to see the unveiling of the Macy's holiday windows, the lighting of the Christmas tree at PPG Rink, the gingerbread house displays, and the carny food all around Market Square. The kiddo is a little young to enjoy it all, but we enjoyed it nonetheless. We were pretty much popsicles upon returning, making us all a little cranky, but so worth it. Hopefully next year it won't be too bitter cold, and my son will be old enough to try ice skating - so fun! The next day, a friend and I went around to get a better view of everything without fear of freezing our toddlers. The horse drawn carriages running between PPG and Oxford Centre are the icing on the cake! It was so festive. I'm not a huge holiday person, but you can't help but get into the spirit of these things when they're all around you!

My MixStirs boycott

I used to LOVE MixStirs! A few weeks ago, I had a hankering for a hummus and veggie pita - YUM! So, I strapped my son to my back and off we went. They close at 6 during the week, and we got there at 5:45. The door was open, but when I went in, the told me they were closed! I asked what time it was, they said 5:45. I asked if they closed at 6, and they said they did.... WTF? I explained I walked over 7 blocks, their doors are unlocked, and according to their signage they were still open - that wasn't right. They seemed unconcerned and downright rude, so I left without my pita.... BOOOO!!!

The silver lining? Brueggers was open until 6, and they were SO gracious! They couldn't believe what happened at MixStirs. I've always had such great experiences with them throughout the city. I prefer to support independently owned local eateries, but if they treat me like crap I'll be happy to give my business to the super kind chain across the street! Kudos to Brueggers!

What pissed me off today

ARGH! Our whole family has been going to Salon Christine for haircuts since moving here in April. My son needed a haircut DESPERATELY, so I made an appointment for this morning. He's had his hair cut many times, but he's going through a "fear" phase thanks to an x-ray at Children's Hospital last week (they have to pin toddlers down to do this - NOT fun). I knew once he had his hair cut again the fear would subside, but he was SOOOO upset! My plan was to calm him down and get his hair cut. The owner's plan was to not do it. She pretty much told me she was not going to cut his hair today. I can understand being afraid of a screaming toddler, or even feeling unqualified to cut a toddler's hair, but say so - don't be so rude. I was visibly upset, which didn't seem to phase her. The girl that actually cuts our hair was extremely polite and apologetic. Unfortunately, all my son learned today was 1. He'll get his way with a tantrum, and 2. I have reason to be afraid of haircuts. I brought him home and cut it myself, and it looks good enough. Needless to say our family will not be giving them our business.

This needs to be done

I have created this blog as an active, enthusiastic resident of Downtown Pittsburgh. Since moving to Pittsburgh in April, I've found no other neighborhood I'd rather live in. Yes, Downtown Pittsburgh IS a neighborhood... or I'm going to continue to try really hard to make it one. Over the past few months, I've wanted to shout from the rooftops how much I love this place. At other times, I've wanted to scream over something terribly irritating. This will give me the forum to do both, and for what it's worth, maybe it will help shape Downtown Pittsburgh into the neighborhood I want it to continue to become.