Braddock’s Street Side Review – Whiskey and Reubens in Pittsburgh

Braddock's Brasserie inside the Renaissance Hotel brings intensity to the hotel dining scene. With hearty, meaty entrees and a bar that could make any whiskey fanatic weep, it's safe to say that Braddock's is not for the faint of heart.

But if you're looking to indulge without going all out at the main restaurant, the Street Side bar is a perfect spot for craft cocktails and sandwiches bigger than your face.

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10 Must See Attractions During Christmas in Pittsburgh

Christmas is one of the most popular holidays in Pittsburgh, and there is a very good reason for it- there is so much to do!

In fact, over the course of our exploration of the city we've found nine incredible holiday activities to enjoy in the region, meaning you can enjoy something holiday-related every weekend from Light Up Night all the way until Christmas day.

For more about each highlight in this list, click the link in the description to read more!

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Western Pennsylvania Model Railroad Museum Features History

The Western Pennsylvania Model Railroad Museum (WPMRM for short) is a truly unique museum in the region as it has been able to stand the test of time in its permanent location in Gibsonia, PA, just north of Pittsburgh.

For model railroads, a substantial effort is required just to plan and build a display in the first place, and that is all before other traditional museum logistics come in to play like opening the space for visitors, generating revenue, hiring employees, and more. You're likely to see model railroads in other museums as a small portion of a larger theme, but at the WPMRM the only features are model trains, and what a beautiful design it is.

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5 of the Best Hotels Near Pittsburgh Airport

Pittsburgh International Airport is located approximately 20 miles west of downtown Pittsburgh off of I-376. Although the commute to the airport in and out of downtown Pittsburgh is a breeze most of the time (outside of rush hour traffic, at least), there are some cases where you would want to consider a stay at one of the many Pittsburgh airport hotels nearby.

For residents, this would be when you have an extremely early flight and would want the convenience of some extra sleep before your journey. For visitors, this would be when you're coming in for business and do not necessarily need to (or want to) head into the city for an otherwise brief stay.

With over a dozen hotels near Pittsburgh airport to choose from, you have numerous options. To help with your selection, we wanted to highlight five hotels with unique amenities that we think are well worth considering!

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SpringHill Suites Pittsburgh North Shore Review – Perfect for Game Day

The North Side is home to a number of Pittsburgh hotels that predominately serve visitors coming in for a Pirates or Steelers game.

When our friends at SpringHill Suites North Shore invited us out to stay at the hotel for an evening, we wanted to see what made this hotel worth staying in- both for those coming in for a game and others who simply want to explore this awesome city we call home.

As it turns out, we were pleasantly surprised with what we found.

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Taking a Trip Back in Time at the Photo Antiquities Museum

The Photo Antiquities Museum on East Ohio Street in the North Side is the kind of place you'd pass by and not give a second thought.

We've known about this one for several years, but kept forgetting about it until we made visiting all of Pittsburgh's attractions a priority for this site. As we slowly made our way through our list, the Photo Antiquities Museum kept popping up time and again. And although I love photography much more than the average person, for some reason it always got pushed back on our schedule just as it had before.

I say this as the introduction to this review to emphasize a very important point: we made a mistake waiting so long to visit.

This museum is incredible, and you do not have to be photography crazy like me to think the same.

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Hampton Inn Pittsburgh University Review – Go For the Location

Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood is home to many of the city's universities, but it also has a distinct lacking in available hotels to accommodate the influx of visitors the colleges receive. Our visit to the Hampton Inn University / Medical Center is our first entry covering the Oakland hotel scene, and we wanted to answer very important question: is it worth your visit?

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Big Jim’s in the Run Review – Comfort Food in Greenfield

Big Jim's is a quintessential Pittsburgh bar and restaurant in “the run,” aka lower Greenfield. A dimly lit space with wood paneled walls, the emphasis here is on huge portions of classic Italian and Pittsburgh food.

Calzones so big they take 45 minutes to bake and don't even fit on a single plate? Check.

Reubens piled a mile high with corned beef? Yep.

Burgers, hoagies, and salads topped with fries? That's so Pittsburgh.

First things first, you definitely shouldn't come here if you're on a diet or a vegan. And you should definitely expect a wait on the weekends. If neither of those things bother you, then wear your fat pants and prepare to step back in time for a true Pittsburgh experience.

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Taking in the Pittsburgh Opera at the Benedum Center

When it comes to live performances in the city, Pittsburgh has no shortage of venues and performing arts groups looking to entertain.

During a recent trip down to the Cultural District I was lucky enough to take in a dress rehearsal screening of the Pittsburgh Opera's rendition of Salome. Between enjoying the ambiance of one of our favorite performing arts venues, the Benedum Center, and taking in the show, it was yet another incredible night out in downtown Pittsburgh.

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Bill’s Bar and Burger Review – A Stellar Burger in Pittsburgh

Bill's Bar & Burger, located in the same building as the Westin downtown, is an over-the-top burger spot with a surprisingly delicious weekend brunch menu.

Although Bill's has several other locations in the New York area, the Pittsburgh location is developing its own character by using local suppliers and creating special menu items unique to the local dining scene.

The burgers are some of the most tender, juicy ones we've had in the city, the beer selection is pretty impressive, and the Bloody Marys at brunch are not to be missed.

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