What we loved: The city's ethnic European cuisines. The pierogies served at The Church Brew Works -- formerly a Catholic church that's now a brewery -- were marvelous.
The best vantage point for surveying Pittsburgh is atop Mount Washington. Hollows and streams in the surrounding hills carve out distinctive neighborhoods that are linked by more than 700 bridges. Steeples of 19th-century churches dot tree-lined streets. Glittering skyscrapers cluster at the Golden Triangle, where the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers meet to form the Ohio.
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Slide Show of the Top Ten |
| Row 1 - Cell 0 | Affordable Homes in Our Top Ten |
| Row 2 - Cell 0 | Top 50 Smart Places |
| Row 3 - Cell 0 | Find Your Own Best City |
For a ground-level view of Pittsburgh's gradual changeover from a steel-driven economy to "eds and meds" -- education and health care -- take a ride around town with Carl Kurlander. He's a native son working on a documentary about the city's current renaissance. First stop is the Strip District, where warehouses have become upscale shops selling everything from cheeses to chocolates. Drop in at the 72-year-old Primanti Brothers restaurant, where Kurlander buys a sandwich topped with fries, the restaurant's signature touch.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Next stop is a campus of corporations on the Monongahela River that's so green you would never know it occupies the site of a former foundry. Inside is the Entertainment Technology Center, in which students who are candidates for master's degrees from Carnegie Mellon University create new devices, such as a touch screen that lets children in hospital waiting rooms color in 3-D characters that move. Steady prosperity is expected to bring 10% more jobs to the city by 2010.
Pittsburgh's recent median house values are low even in its priciest neighborhoods, such as Shadyside ($199,000) and Squirrel Hill ($184,000), according to Zillow, a home-data collector. Says longtime Squirrel Hill resident Alan Van Dine: "The city offers something like a millionaire's lifestyle on a middle-class budget."
-- Sean O'Neill
-
Stocks Chop as the Unemployment Rate Jumps: Stock Market TodayNovember job growth was stronger than expected, but sharp losses in October and a rising unemployment rate are worrying market participants.
-
Should You Renew Your CD?With rate cuts impacting earnings, we examine if now is a wise time to renew CDs.
-
7 Ways to Plan Now to Save on Medicare IRMAA Surcharges LaterUnderstand the critical two-year lookback period and why aggressive planning before you enroll in Medicare is the most effective way to minimize IRMAA.
-
How to Search For Foreclosures Near You: Best Websites for ListingsMaking Your Money Last Searching for a foreclosed home? These top-rated foreclosure websites — including free, paid and government options — can help you find listings near you.
-
Luxury Home Prices Rise as the Rich Dodge High Mortgage RatesLuxury home prices rose 9% to the highest third-quarter level on record, Redfin reports, growing nearly three times faster than non-luxury prices.
-
Four Tips for Renting Out Your Home on Airbnbreal estate Here's what you should know before listing your home on Airbnb.
-
Five Ways to Shop for a Low Mortgage RateBecoming a Homeowner Mortgage rates are high this year, but you can still find an affordable loan with these tips.
-
Looking to Relocate? Plan for Climate Changebuying a home Extreme weather events are on the rise. If you’re moving, make sure your new home is protected from climate change disasters.
-
Retirees, A Healthy Condo Has a Flush Reserve FundSmart Buying Reserve funds for a third of homeowner and condo associations have insufficient cash, experts say. Here are some cautionary steps you should take.
-
Cash Home Buyers: New Services Offer Help Making All-Cash OffersBecoming a Homeowner Some firms help home buyers make all-cash offers on homes. Weigh the fees before you sign on.
-
Home Sale Prices in the 50 Largest Metro AreasBecoming a Homeowner What’s happening in the market where you live?
