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Helen W.
Hometown:
Pittsburgh, PA, 15243
Insider ExpertRank: 3,204
First Reviews: 28
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Ice Castle
Ice Castle is conveniently located in Castle Shannon, not far from Route 88. There is plenty of free parking. The rink itself is very nice and is kept is pretty good condition, and offers classes in learning how to skate for people of all ages. The main drawback to this rink , however, is that it is used for ice hockey so much of the time, that it is often unavailable for open skating sessions. Skating prices are about average.
Volkwein's Music
Volkwein's has been THE place to buy musical instruments and sheet music for as long as I can remember here in Pittsburgh. They used to be located on North Side, (which was probably much more convenient for most Pittsburgh shoppers), but for a long number of years now, they are located just off the Parkway West , near Robinson Township.
They carry sheet music for all instruments, a large selection of musical instrument instruction books, and, of course, an extensive line of musical instruments of all kinds. They also carry instrument accessories, and many gift items with a "music" theme. They also give music lessons in the store by appointment. If you play an instrument, or know someone who does, Volkwein's is a good place to check out.
J Crew
Gap Kids is a very nice store in which to shop, but they are fairly expensive. The clothing is cute, and they have a large selection, if you don't mind the prices. However, the clothing is of good quality, so it does last. I like shopping here for gifts.
Gram & Gramps
There are very few places in the South Hills where you can go to get better quality children's clothes, especially dress-up clothing for special occasions. However, Gram and Gramps has a great selection of this type of clothing, They also carry very nice christening sets. If you are looking for wooden toys, vintage-type toys, or toys that are a little bit different than you see at other stores, this is the place to shop. This is a great place to shop for special presents for children.
Eastern Mountain Sports
I like to shop at Eastern Mountain because they have a nice selection of outdoor clothing and sporting equipment. Their prices are not cheap, but their quality is very good. If you shop when something is on sale, you can get some good deals on clothing, shoes and boots, especially near the end of a season. They also have a very large selection of camping , hiking, and backpacking supplies and equipment.
Gander Mountain
Gander Mountain advertises itself as a sporting goods store, but it is primarily geared toward sports like hunting, fishing, etc. as opposed to basketball, soccer, football, etc. It has a large assortment of clothing, shoes and boots, and camping equipment. They also have a nice assortment of supplies for outdoor grilling and cooking, and lots of dried foods for camping and backpacking. Their prices are not cheap, but their clothing and equipment are of very good quality.
True Green
Trugreen Chemlawn is fairly expensive for the services that you receive. You also have to watch that you get the services that you are expecting. I have seen the lawn spraying guys walk around the lawn so fast that they hardly sprayed the lawn at all. They often don't really do the thorough job that you expect, and that you are paying for. Then, when the weeds still erupt in your lawn, you have to call them and request another application, which they are sometimes reluctant to do.
Pat Catan's
Pat Catan's is a great place for finding crafting supplies of all kinds. It is very large, and has just about anything you might need for arts and crafts. Because it is so large, you may want to ask someone to help you locate what you need, if you are in a hurry, and don't have the time to look for something in particular.
Shackelfords & Maxwells Flowers
I have used Shackelford's and Maxwell's many times for funeral arrangements and flowers for special occasions. Their flowers have always seemed fresh, and their arrangements were artistically put together. They carry a nice assortment of fresh cut flowers in their shops. I find their prices to be a bit higher than other florists for similar products, but I would still recommend them.
Gene Sanes Upholstery
It is hard to find a place to reupholster your furniture with high quality workmanship, but Gene Sanes' is just such a place. The staff is very friendly and helpful, and they have a huge selection of fabrics from which to choose. They will reupholster, repair, and rebuild furniture as necessary to please the customer. Their prices are not cheap, but they are reasonable, and their workers deliver your completed furniture to your home in a timely fashion. My parents have been very satisfied with several pieces of furniture reupholstered at Gene Sanes' and would use them again.