West of Mars -- the Meet and Greet

Since Rhian (and hopefully Lisa) and Jennifer Estep and Colleen Gleason, Tilly Green, and Shane Gericke and everyone else I've forgotten (leave your name in the comments and I'll add you) are coming to my fair city in April for the Romantic Times conference, Rhi thought it would be fun to tag me for the Weekend in (insert your city here) meme. (but feel free to give her some garbage 'cause she's not supposed to be tagging me for things! she's supposed to be designing a ShapeShifter logo!)

Since you guys should be able to look cool and sound like you've got a clue, here's a primer, in the form of the meme.

Best Place to Eat: The Carlton in the Mellon Building. Can't walk there from the hotel, the tablecloths are white and the wine's famously priced at $10 over cost, but this is my favorite. Hands down. Sure, you'll spend $25 an entree, but you'll be in ecstasy with every bite. (DO NOT, I repeat, do NOT look at their dinner menu! Aaugh! Take me there now!)

There's also the Church Brew Works, in Lawrenceville. This is where we bring out-of-town friends to eat (assuming they don't keep kosher). Slightly cheaper and instead of wine, go for the beer. They're not making the Belltower Brown Ale at the moment. It's my favorite. They serve bison, too, from time to time. And if you can get the rattlesnake and cactus pierogies, you're set. Don't forget the ice cream!

Best Shopping Mall: Downtown? Forget it. Try Macy's or Saks. Otherwise, it's out to the Burbs with you!

Famous Landmark: Duh... the Point. You'll be able to see the famed fountain from the ballrooms of Hilton, which is located across the street from another famous landmark: Point State Park. (see a pattern?)

But be sure to spend any free time on the inclines or the Gateway Clipper. I wish the convention was going to be small enough for us to party one night on the Majestic. It's always fun to cruise the city's other famed landmark: its three rivers. If your hotel room's high enough, you'll be able to see them. Assuming you're facing the right way.

Take a trip into Oakland and check out the Cathedral of Learning. More famously called the Tower of Ignorance, or the Pittsburgh Phallus, it's a mastery of gothic architecture. If you have time (which I doubt you will), take a tour of the Nationality Rooms. Classrooms on the first, second, and third floors have been reconfigured to show and celebrate the different countries around the world. I had classes in the Chinese room and the one on the third floor with the lights that took forever to warm up and the chairs we weren't allowed to move into a circle. That made it hard to hold a really good writer's workshop, but the professor more than made up for it.

Have I mentioned PNC Park or Heinz Field? This is a sports town, baby. If the Pens are in the playoffs, I'm bailing on you guys for a few hours!

Best Tourism Attraction: Any and all of the above, but don't forget to add in a Just Ducky tour if you have the time. And remind me to tell you the story of how I managed to get a group of fifteen or so of us bicyclists chased by a Just Ducky boat...

Best Place for the Kids: The Carnegie Science Center. No contest. The Children's Museum is fun, but it's nothing compared to the Science Center. And don't accuse me of being biased; I've got memberships at both places. Like you'll be bringing the kids anyway...

Popular Outdoor Activity: Must be a Pirates game 'cause there's no other reason why people go when they stink so bad...

Seriously. Biking is gaining a foothold in the city; bike paths are springing up all over the place. Soon, you'll be able to bike from Pittsburgh to Washington, DC. Not in one day, though.

And if the timing is right, check out the Head of the Ohio. Since it won't be, come back in October.

Breathtaking Views: I'm partial to the view of the Bayer clock on Mt. Washington, as seen from the banquet rooms in the Hilton, but that's because I watched the minutes tick away during my wedding to the Tour Manager.

For better ones, be sure you're watching as your taxi or limo brings you through the Fort Pitt Tunnels and you've got the famed panoramic view of the city stretched out before you. Or ride the incline and see the city from Mt. Washington. Keep your eyes open; a tornado's been known to touch down on Mt. Washington. And keep your hands on your wallets, too. They've been known to find new owners while you're up there.

Riverside, there's always the Gateway Clipper. You'll be able to look inside the bowl of Heinz Field, which we know a certain author will be doing, to snap pictures to bring home and hang on her walls. Hallowed ground, Heinz Field.

Only found in Pittsburgh: What? All that's not enough??

Well, then, let me remind you of this: ME.

If you'll be joining me in April, be sure to let me know. I'd like to try to take you guys out for the best fries you'll ever taste. Followed up by even better ice cream.

I'll bring the Zantac, have no fear.

Labels: Jennifer Estep, meme, Pittsburgh, Rhian/Crowwoman