Washington DC: A land flowing with materialism, politics, and money.
Pittsburgh: A land flowing with (literally) steel and blue-collar pride.
So Steven and I are here in Pittsburgh, our second city in 9 months of marriage. And unlike the first move, this one had a trillion bumps in the road that made me promise to become a minimalist for as long as I live.
For those of you who have never been to Pittsburgh, the next few paragraphs should give you an idea of this city of 300,000.
First and foremost, Pittsburgh is a blue-collar city, and they are very proud of it. Tons of abandoned steel mills line the Monongahela River on the south side, serving as a reminder of the city's beginnings. The South Hills is the more "industrial", I-wouldn't-go-running-there-again-without-pepper-spray side that has transformed into the place to be for 20 somethings on a Friday or Saturday night. The North Hills, quite frankly, is where you would find a snob if you were looking for one. It is where all the white-collar folks moved their families to get away from the city. They have about 23849 times more money than the south side, and the entire geographical portion of Pittsburgh knows it. To the east is Monroeville (who kind of live in their own little world) and the airport lies to the west (Hello Ohio!!)
Like I mentioned, Pittsburgh has blue-collar pride. They take pride in working hard no matter what the task, which has really formed a culture that is unique to this city. Because of this, they are therefore appreciative of the money and things that they have, adore/obsess/rally around their sports teams (yes, even the Pirates), and more generous than I could have guessed (my tips increased by 30% literally overnight despite the fact that my store does 2/3 the business of my old store). Pittsburgh-ers are Burgh for life, speak Pittsburgh-ese, and generally don't take life to seriously.
Now let's compare to DC, shall we? Northern VA would be to the North Hills as Maryland is to the South Hills. No one is really from DC; people just migrate in and out as their jobs see fit. Their sports teams are mediocre, and so are their attitudes about them. Most people in DC (or Northern VA at least) expect to get what they want when they want it, and if they don't their worlds are turned upside down and they will let you know it and demand 14 free drinks for the minor inconvenience you just caused them. It is a culture of materialism: everyone drives the nicest cars; wears really expensive clothes; buys $500,000, 700 square feet condos; and is probably in debt up to their ears (except for my brother and sister-in-law for sure... shout out to you).
Yes, DC has class, but so does the Burgh. Downtown has transformed from a lung-cancer-inducing atmosphere of the early 1900's to one of the neatest skylines I have ever seen. New skyscrapers are right next to buildings from the 1800's; art, sports, science, universities, medicine, and a plethora of other areas are showcased in such a small area. And as if you need proof, National Geographic showcased it as one of the best trips to take in 2012 (and I must agree):
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/best-trips-2012/#/botw-main-gallery-pittsburgh_41334_600x450.jpg
In short, I love Pittsburgh so much because it's unique in that has the small-town mentality but is still a city. The aura of DC can be found in New York, LA, Chicago or other similar cities. Steven and I are loving it here so far and are hoping for a great 6 months ahead.
