Useful NAC "C" Pittsburgh info

[mfp]

Seems like it's time to start up a thread for Pittsburgh ...

The THS/USFA rates for both the Westin Convention Center and the Omni William Penn were $99 per night (when the rates were available).

We happily avoided THS and got the Omni for $58 a night for Thursday to Sunday via a Priceline bid.

The bid used was for $58 per night for the Pittsburgh "Downtown" zone (only) for "4 star" properties (only). The Westin, the Omni and the Renaissance Pittsburgh are the "4 star" hotels that have been reported accepting Priceline bids so if you get a bid accepted, you'll very likely end up with one of those.

[Fencing Mom]

If anyone has questions about Pittsburgh, members of the Western PA Division will be happy to answer.

In the meantime, we've got a welcome page up on our website:

<http://www.westernpafencing.com/nacinfo.htm>http://www.westernpafencing.com/nacinfo.htm

[Basquet]

Thanks for the info on Pittsburgh! We are looking forward to seeing this wonderful new convention center (we are an environmentally-conscious family, one of us professionally) and looking forward to watching steel used in a different way in the (former) Steel City USA! Try and lay on some not-too-brutal weather, would ya?

[smurfette]

Thanks for the info on the priceline bid, but that seems to be all used up already. Having waited so late to make our reservations, we got rooms through Hotwire at the downtown Hilton (walking distance from the venue) for 85 a night, the best option at this point. We, too, circumscribed our search to downtown, and this was characterized as a "3.5 star" hotel.

[penguin_2000]

It doesn't really matter how much you pay or how many stars it has, all the hotels downtown are top notch.

[Inquartata]

Do they have airport shuttles?

[penguin_2000]

Do they have airport shuttles?

Unfortunately no, they all use an airport shuttle service, $19 1-way, $34 round trip. If you have a big group, take a taxi... ~$35 plus tip.
OR ...
ride the bus. The bus number is 28X and costs less than $3. From this map it looks like it drops off at the Hilton or ~2-3 blocks away from the convention center, but I've never gotten of down town, so you may want to ask the driver where is the best place to get off. The map also doesn't show every stop the bus stops at... so it could get pretty close to the convention center.

[Tomas N]

Taking the bus is super easy and what a lot of my friends in Pittsburgh use to get to and from the airport.

Tomas

[Dee EffEll]

Taking the bus is super easy and what a lot of my friends in Pittsburgh use to get to and from the airport.

Tomas

A great idea. But somehow I can't picture getting onto a city bus with a fencing case and a largish suitcase.

[penguin_2000]

A great idea. But somehow I can't picture getting onto a city bus with a fencing case and a largish suitcase.

I've done it before... in the middle of winter going to a tournament. Thing was, I knew I had to hike it a bit after my bus stop, so I loaded all my gear into my hard-side golf case... that got some weird looks.

[misha]

Thanks for the info on the priceline bid, but that seems to be all used up already. Having waited so late to make our reservations, we got rooms through Hotwire at the downtown Hilton (walking distance from the venue) for 85 a night, the best option at this point. We, too, circumscribed our search to downtown, and this was characterized as a "3.5 star" hotel.

I got mine from priceline using mfp advise...
I started from $50 (Wednesday-Saturday) and it asked me
if I accept $64, which I did. It is Omni William Penn Hotel....


.

[bigdawg2121]

It's not that bad, the whole city bus thing, and you can catch the airport bus, which lets off downtown within a block of the hotel if that and 2 blocks of the convention center. It's a couple of bucks, but not a bad deal at all.

[Inquartata]

And what are those few blocks like, ambience-wise? Do you take your life in your hands walking around? Large numbers of aggressive panhandlers? Detroit all over? Or has Pittsburgh's downtown been gentrified?

[penguin_2000]

And what are those few blocks like, ambience-wise? Do you take your life in your hands walking around? Large numbers of aggressive panhandlers? Detroit all over? Or has Pittsburgh's downtown been gentrified?

Hmm... actually Pittsburgh is very safe. There's a stretch of maybe 2 blocks on Liberty Ave further downtown (where the bus runs) that's a bit shady (read: adult shops), but its really safe and I've walked there many times at night. It actually runs right next to all the concert houses, so despite the tendancy for some of the alleys to look like Gotham City, its usually lively and safe on weekends. Unlike the rest of pittsburgh, downtown is pretty well lit (it's no Times square... but...). The few panhandlers are usually very lazy and won't do more than shake their cups... a few crazy ones talk to themselves, but thats about it; sometimes they say "god bless you" when you don't give them money*. Weird thing is... bums aren't usually around on weekends, guess they take the weekends off and go... well... I dunno where they go


*translation for people who aren't used to seeing bums... "god bless you" = "GFY"

[Tomas N]

And what are those few blocks like, ambience-wise? Do you take your life in your hands walking around? Large numbers of aggressive panhandlers? Detroit all over? Or has Pittsburgh's downtown been gentrified?

I wouldn't call it gentrified exactly, but it seems pretty safe to me. I go to Pittsburgh about 6 times a year for cultural events, stay at places like the William Penn and walk to restaraunts or the Benedum Center, and have never had any problems.

Tomas

[Inquartata]

OK, let me put it another way: are you alert walking around there, or are you off in your own head, thinking about this and that? ( If you know the Cooper awareness color codes, are you in white or yellow? )

[Peach]

OK, let me put it another way: are you alert walking around there, or are you off in your own head, thinking about this and that? ( If you know the Cooper awareness color codes, are you in white or yellow? )

It is a city but it's a small city and it's clean. The bridges are pastel and there are many of them, and there are big lighted signs saying cheerful things everywhere. The stadiums are close to the center of town. Pittsburgh has its share of working-people standing waiting for buses, and an adult video store, and when I was there this past week walking from the convention center to my hotel room across the river at 7:30 p.m. on a Saturday night, a parking-lot attendant hit on me amiably but didn't pursue the matter when I kept going. Last Friday night they had the official Christmas-lights ceremony with fireworks and there were families with small children jammed in crowds in the center of the city, all looking cheerful and healthy.

In other words, it ain't Philadelphia. Philadelphia has a deep funky twistedness which is part of its appeal to me.

[Amadeus]

and an adult video store

wow, talk about thread drift. it took 17 posts until i found some information about pittsburgh that i will actually use.

[yeoldearmourer]

I found out that the referees that are being hired for this event is mainly 5 and 6 rated referees to give them a chance to up there rated. Adelia wanted to worked this event and was told this that because she is rated a 4 in all 3 weapons she wasn't hired because they what 5 and 6 levelo refrees. So all your vet5s and Div 1 type if the refreeing is below par you know why now

[Mauler]

What's there to do in the area?