Walking Club: Sights to See
Written by Amanda Buchman and Elisabeth Kay
As part of our Living Well Initiative, the Downtown Neighbors Alliance (DNA) is excited to kickoff our downtown walking club on Saturday, October 25th! We’re looking forward to supporting healthy lifestyles and the community of downtown Pittsburgh. We’ve crafted a route that showcases some iconic Pittsburgh landmarks and views, so this is something you don’t want to miss.
Meet us at Mellon Square, a historic park built in the 1950s. After a restoration, the park reopened in 2014, revealing to the public new lighting fixtures, renewed terrazzo paving, and fresh plantings. This green oasis in the heart of our bustling city is the perfect place to start our walk.
From a distance, you’ll see PPG Place, the Crown Jewel of our city’s skyline. The glistening tower houses several offices and restaurants as well as event spaces like Wintergarden, which is open to the public. Soon, you’ll be able to enjoy the UPMC Rink in PPG Plaza, where outdoor seating is available during the warmer months.
The Benedum Center for Performing Arts is a 2,800-seat theater featuring dozens of original architectural pieces, from crystal chandeliers to marble and woodwork. The theater has staged more than 7,000 performers since it opened its doors to Pittsburgh’s Cultural District in 1987, from stand-up comedians to symphonic orchestras.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a complete walk through downtown Pittsburgh if it didn’t include the iconic yellow bridges, known to some as the Three Sisters. We’ll walk along the Andy Warhol Bridge before we head back on the Roberto Clemente Bridge, named for the Pirates’ right fielder. These historic infrastructure projects are known not only for their namesakes, but also as part of the only trio of identical self-anchored suspension bridges in the world. Seize this opportunity to appreciate the history of these landmarks while overlooking the stunning Allegheny River.
The Andy Warhol Museum on the North Shore documents the Pittsburgh native’s life story through art. From the “Skull” paintings to several experimental film documentaries, the gallery explores the work of one of the most influential artists of the pop art movement. If you feel like coming back later, stop by the gift shop and pick up a souvenir print, or browse their comprehensive selection of biographies.
On our way back, we’ll pass Heinz Hall on Penn Ave, a 2,675-seat venue home to the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Here, you can listen to the soundtracks to Elf, Bugs Bunny, Star Wars, and more, played on elegant string instruments; or simply marvel at the building interior’s grand pillars and 24-karat gold leafing.
We’ll end our walk at Mellon Square Coffee, a delightfully elegant café serving beverages, pastries, sandwiches, and snacks. Its calm atmosphere invites you to sit back and relax after a rewarding journey through the downtown area.
Throughout the walk, we encourage you to participate in our photo scavenger hunt! Choose one of eight downtown features to take a photo of and post it on your social media with the hashtag #WalkDowntownPGH. Don’t forget to tag us @pittsburghdna to enter a raffle for free tickets to our upcoming Candlelight Crescendo event!
With beautiful views and community fun, there’s lots to look forward to in DNA’s downtown walking club. We hope to see you there! Want more events from the Living Well Initiative? Let us know what you would like to do!
