We asked Redfin real estate agents in Pittsburgh to give us the scoop on life in the Steel City. So what do yinz think? Did we get it right? What’d we miss?
1. You speak, or at least understand, the Yinzer language.
Haus come yinz didn’t shovel the walk sees in’at it’s so slippy? Jinz wanna meet up dahntahn, watch the Stillers and throw back some Auld Ahrns n’at? “The Pittsburgh accent can be hard to describe, but you know it when you hear it,” said Keith Jimenez, a Redfin real estate agent in Pittsburgh.
2. You respect the parking chair.
“It snows a ton here and there isn’t a lot of street parking. People will clear the snow out of their space and put a chair there to save the space for when they return home,” said Jimenez. “I don’t think it would work in other cities, but locals respect it. We would never move the chair or steal the spot.”
3. You expect fireworks for everything.
“It seems like we have fireworks for every holiday and every sporting event. Each time the Pirates score, a firework is set off. Zambelli Fireworks Company is world renowned for their displays and located right up the road. Fireworks are just expected.”
4. You like your fries and coleslaw on your sandwich.
“The famous sandwich spot, Primanti Bros. started this trend. The original shop is located in The Strip District, which is basically the warehouse district. And the truck drivers that would go for lunch wanted a meal they could hold in their hand. That’s how the idea of putting the fries on your sandwich was born,” Keith explained.
5. You bleed black and gold.
Pittsburgh is a sports fanatic city. Call it the City of Champions, Blitzburgh and Sixburgh – a reference to the Steelers’ record six Super Bowl rings. We love our Steelers, Penguins and Pirates and it’s pretty convenient that every team shares the black and gold colors. Every household has a stash of Terrible Towels. Athletes are our hometown heros. It’s been more than 30 years, but we still like to talk about the Immaculate Reception.
6. Heinz is the only acceptable brand of ketchup.
“If it’s not Heinz, you’ll definitely hear about it.”
7. You aren’t surprised to see someone wearing a coat and shorts at the same time.
“Sure, most sane people prefer to wear pants and dress in layers when it’s below freezing, but I’ve seen guys heading into a Steelers game in shorts and a parka.”
8. You use a buggy at the grocery store. Drink pop, not soda. Skip rocks at the crick and shoot gumbands at your little brother.
The more you know.
9. You’ve been to the ‘Dirty O’ at 2 am.
The Original Hot Dog Shop is a landmark by Pitt’s campus, but it’s definitely not just a student joint. According to Keith the hot dogs come with all kinds of toppings… and hopefully without a side of regret in the morning.
10. You practice the Pittsburgh Left.
Say you are waiting at a stop light to go straight and someone across the intersection is waiting to make a left turn. In Pittsburgh, when the light changes, it’s common courtesy to wait a beat and allow the driver to make the left in front of you before proceeding straight.
11. Your definition of vacation is camping up by Conneaut Lake.
Pittsburghers enjoy the outdoors explains Keith. Camping near Conneaut Lake, or any of the other lakes and parks in the region, is a popular vacation for locals. Pittsburgh is located at the intersection of three rivers, so boating and watersports are naturally popular, and many people enjoy hunting and fishing as well.
12. You always use your e-brake.
“The terrain is very hilly, so it’s just habit to use the e-brake every time you park, even when it’s flat.”
13. You wish people wouldn’t hit the brakes before a tunnel for no reason.
“Despite the fact that they drive through it every day, people seem to hit the brakes every time they approach a tunnel. I refer to it as the Tunnel Monster,” joked Keith.
14. You cross at least one bridge on your way to work.
It’s called the City of Bridges for a reason.
15. Your Sunday best is jeans and a jersey.
“We aren’t a fashion-minded place. Most folks aren’t concerned with brands. Unless it’s a wedding or a funeral, you can find us in jeans and t-shirts.”
16. You know it’s not summer without a trip to Kennywood.
“The day Kennywood Amusement Park opens is practically a local holiday. Every kid looks forward to visiting.”
17. And a visit to Kennywood isn’t complete unless you eat Potato Patch fries.
“Sometimes the Potato Patch line is longer than the ride lines,” Keith said. “Melted cheddar and chopped bacon… you can’t go wrong!”
18. You know that Jalapeño Hannah is a pierogi and she can be vicious with her handbag.
The Pirates Pierogies race around the field at every home game. Everyone roots for their favorite: Sauerkraut Saul, Cheese Chester, Jalapeno Hannah, Oliver Onion or Bacon Burt. “Pierogies are big here – both the racing and the edible versions. There are large populations of Polish Americans and German Americans, so those foods are common.”
19. You commiserate about road construction.
“We love to whine about road construction, but it’s a legitimate complaint,” said Keith. “When May comes around, you can expect a project to shut down a major highway. Then, they’ll start doing construction on the detour route too!”
20. You know that when Arts Festival comes around, it will definitely rain.
“Three Rivers Arts Festival is a week-long event ‘dahn The Point’ each June with live music, art vendors and downpours. It’s local lore that it seems to rain every year. The myth persists, even though the Post-Gazette debunked it.
21. Your favorite part of a wedding is… the cookies!
“The cookie table is a common scene at wedding receptions. Often the families of the bride and groom will start baking weeks in advance and make an assortment of family favorites for guests to sample. Bonus Pittsburgh credit if the wedding is in a fire hall.”
22. You give directions by landmarks, not street names.
“We are a friendly bunch. If you’re lost, we’ll definitely point you in the right direction. But if you want street names, you’re outta luck. ‘Follow the road dahn past the Jine Iggle (Giant Eagle) and make a right at the Sheetz.’ And if you’re from here, you know that Sheetz is way more than just a convenience store.”
23. You had a least 30 relatives at your last holiday gathering. And all of them live less than 30 minutes away.
“Pittsburghers tend to stay in the area,” said Keith. “It’s common for younger people to move away for college and career and then move back to Pittsburgh when they want to start a family.”
24. You can’t imagine living anywhere else!
“I’ve travelled extensively throughout the U.S. and I think we have some of the friendliest, most down-to-earth people here in Pittsburgh. You can expect strangers to look you in the eye and say hello when you pass on the sidewalk. Sure, we have a lot of local pride and may take our sports a bit too seriously, but we’re always happy to welcome new people, tell them about our city and have a beer with them. Unless you’re from Philly, then you can just go right back to where you came from.”
For all the Yinzers out there, which “signs” did you like the best, and what did we miss? Tell us on Facebook, Twitter or in the comments below. And if you’re thinking of buying or selling a home in the ‘Burgh, be sure to get in touch with our local Redfin real estate agents, or check out what’s on the market on Redfin.com.
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