Ladies of Lawrenceville

Kyndall and Simone

No description of our trip to Pittsburgh would be complete without mention of our gracious hosts -- the very people we came to see during our six-day five-night visit.

It was great to see Simone and Kyndall again, as well as their sweet little dog Quimby. By chance, Simone had minimal commitments at school -- a study group, some homework and preparation for an exam she took Tuesday, the day we left -- so she was able to join us much of the time as we ate meals out and toured the city. Kyndall picked us up at the airport, drove us around to different neighborhoods and rose early Tuesday to deliver us back to the airport before the sun even came up.

We spent our first full day with Kyndall, riding the Duquesne Incline, lunching at a hilltop restaurant with a spectacular view  of the Ohio River and its tributaries, and walking along East Carson Street in the South Side district, ending our trek at a Goodwill store where, shockingly, none of us purchased a thing.

Lori and I spent two nights in a residential hotel, two nights in a bed-and-breakfast and one night in between with Kyndall and Simone, which allowed us to get a glimpse of the real Pittsburgh, from a decidedly blue-collar perspective. They live in the Lawrenceville neighborhood, one block from the main thoroughfare, Butler Avenue, and a short walk from a neighborhood park where Quimby is a regular visitor.

Butler Avenue is the lifeblood of the neighborhood, offering a mix of taverns and pizza joints, new restaurants, art galleries and other businesses. The girls live in a two-story brick house, likely a hundred years or older, with a fenced backyard that leads to an alley. I'd describe their place as gritty but functional, with lots of natural light and a spacious kitchen. We met a handful of their friends and they seem like very nice folks.

On Saturday, we all went down to the Strip District, a collection of shops, restaurants and warehouses, where two days later Vice President Biden came to schmooze at Klavon's Ice Cream Parlor on behalf of a Democratic Senate candidate. On Sunday, we went to Arsenal Bowling Lanes, an old school bowling alley that was offering 50-cent hot dogs, 50-cent soft drinks and 50-cent games. Very cool.

Simone and Kyndall seem to be adjusting well to their new city. They will be in Pittsburgh for two years while Simone pursues her masters in public policy and management at Carnegie Mellon while also working a few hours a week at Pittsburgh Public Schools. Kyndall is being deliberate about looking for work and, in the meantime, is volunteering at a community radio station and some nonprofits.

As good as it was to see them, it will be even nicer to see them again in Portland. They will arrive in mid-December for a month-long stay between semesters. Based on what I saw, their time in Pittsburgh will be well spent and yield lots of fond memories. I've already come home with some fond memories of my own, thanks to our daughter and her wonderful partner.