Preserving Memories Incorporated
Kind of tucked away in a non-descript strip mall, with a non-descript storefront, this scrapbooking store seems to stock a lot of supplies that I havent seen anywhere else. The back half of the store is dedicated to scrapbooking projects. Aside from the supplies, they seem to offer some scrapbook preservation services -- hence the name. Overall, prices seemed to be reasonable, and I didnt have any issues with the service.
Johnny Rockets
You may be surprised to learn that Kennywood is a National Historic Landmark, but it will become clear after you visit. Walking around Kennywood will instantly invoke memories of those amusement parks that you saw in classic movies or TV shows. However, the parks traditional look and feel -- including many old-time rides such as wooden coasters -- has been balanced with newer roller coasters and water rides. Kennywood also maintains its charm by limiting the commercialization and by being located in a non-tourist destination. You wont find anywhere near the crowds as a Six Flags or Disney park. The other bonus? Free parking!
Erie Art Museum
Probably Erie Art House is a more appropriate name. The Erie Art Museum is home to the work of some local artists and traveling exhibits, but it is disappointing overall when it comes to scope and size. It wont take long to run through the museum. The other issue with the visiting the museum is a lack of easily accessible parking, as the only close parking is metered street parking. Might be a fun way to spend a rainy afternoon with a date, but dont expect to be all that stimulated.
Erie Zoo
For a rather small city, Erie boasts a rather impressive zoo -- especially after the Wild Asia expansion in 2001. The zoo features over 500 animals from around the world, including polar bears, lemurs, cats, giraffes, lions, tigers, and a red panda. The zoo is just big enough where you can spend quite a few hours strolling, yet its not too big where you feel overwhelmed. The Erie Zoo also boasts good attractions for kids, with a petting zoo, a childrens area, and a train. Also, if you visit in the second half of October, then you can go to Zoo Boo in the evenings, which is geared for trick-or-treating kids -- but also is fun for adults. The animals are in Halloween displays, too. Previously, the biggest issue with the Erie Zoo was location/parking, as the parking was very limited and the surrounding streets were very poorly designed. Fortunately, local leaders got money to improve the roads around the zoo. This is definitely a top attraction if you visit Erie.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Lets get the bad out of the way: Heinz Field, with its horseshoe-shape and open end facing the river, is not as loud and as formidable as the old Three Rivers Stadium. While a view of Pittsburgh is perfect for baseball, it is not necessary for football. Still, the uniqueness of this design has played havoc on opposing kickers and creates some interesting viewing opportunities for those who stand in the south plaza. Compared to its neighbor, PNC Park, you will find that Heinz Field looks more blue-collar or matter-of-fact. With lots of steel and glass, it is not aesthetically impressive. However, it is very functional for the 64,500 fans at football games, with a vast improvement in concourse areas and bathrooms over the last stadium. It also boasts a very impressive Coca-Cola Great Hall of Steelers history. Watch out, though, if you sit in the upper deck. Be prepared for walk that takes seemingly forever to get up there. P.S. The rating is based on the stadium experience, not the team.
Lemieux Group LP
Mellon Arena (a.k.a. Civic Arena), with a capacity of 17,800, is more in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh than Pittsburghs other two sports teams. However, this also can make parking a little more challenging if youre unfamiliar with the surrounding area. The arena itself is now the oldest in the NHL, but the arena doesnt seem like it is terribly outdated or falling apart. It is just not quite as nice as the newer NHL arenas. P.S. The rating is based on the stadium experience, not the team.
Pittsburgh Associates
The Pittsburgh Pirates have a long tradition of MLB history, although their recent lack-of-success is more familiar to a younger generation. Still, the Pirates play in arguably the nicest ballpark in the country: PNC Park. Compared to their old home (Three Rivers Stadium), the Pirates now play in something thats luxurious and magnificent. It is the only modern-day ballpark with two levels rather than three, providing even the people in the upper deck with great viewpoints. The smaller seating capacity of 38,500 also leads to a more intimate feeling. Although there is a decent amount of parking near the stadium, a more viable option is to park in a downtown garage for a much cheaper rate. The city closes Robert Clemente Bridge on game days, making it a pedestrian route to the stadium. P.S. The rating is based on the stadium experience, not the team.
Erie Seawolves
The Erie Seawolves, originally a Class A affiliate of the Anaheim Angels, are now a Class AA affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. They play in Jerry Uht Park, which is a fairly impressive ballpark built during the stadium building boom of the 1990s. The stadium can hold 6,000 people. The most unique feature of the stadium is that it was squeezed into a partial city block, thereby causing differing styles of seating on the third and first base lines. I also came away impressed with the quality of the between-innings entertainment. This location doesnt have any on-site parking, but cheap or free parking really isnt that far away. Just be prepared to bundle up based on Eries seasonal weather! P.S. The rating is based on the stadium experience, not the team.
Erie Otters Hockey Club
If you live or ever have lived in Erie, then you probably know about the Erie Otters. The hockey club is part of the Ontario Hockey League, which is a Junior A Canadian hockey league. The league is mostly played by 16- to 18-year-olds, and some have made the jump directly to the NHL. The best thing about OHL hockey is that it is intense. Although these kids are still refining their skills, the game seems fast and furious. Tullio Arena (a.k.a. Erie Civic Center), which holds 5,500 people, is home to the Otters. The arena is located in downtown Erie, and its generally easy to find cheap or free parking near the site. Overall, the arena feels antiquated, but its hard to beat a little over $10 per person for being much closer to the action than you would find in an NHL arena. In fact, make sure you get close to the glass to experience some hard hits.
OFFLINE: Phipps Conservatory
A beautiful conservatory set right in downtown Pittsburgh. This all glass house conservatory also has a wonderfully landcaped exterior and a few smaller outdoor gardens. The grounds and gardens, both inside and out, are well maintained. They have very nice holiday displayes and gorgeous tulips in the spring. Nice place to walk and good place to visit.
