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| - Market Square... the least square of all the squares. Unless you are talking physically. Then it is very square.
Ever since I was but a wee lad age 7 or 8 and my father brought me to Pittsburgh i dreamt of working downtown. Now that I do I've fallen in love with Market Square.
This review is in two parts, the first covering history, the second an actual review.
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History Part: (Skip if you just want to hear about today. I'll see you down below.)
This historic center of town lies equidistant from both the Allegheny and "The Mon" Rivers. Historically this was the center of the town that was built outside Fort Pitt- the Town known as Pittsburgh. It was called the Diamond originally (much like the famous Diamond in Ligonier, just East) and over time a Market sprung up known as "The Diamond Market".
The Square has been through a lot over the years. In the 1800's this was not only the physical center of the city, but it was a central stop on The Underground Railroad. When you come here, don't forget that this is historic and hallowed ground.
In the redevelopment and "renaissance" of the 1950s in PIttsburgh the square got cleaned up, and was given a facelift. This period of rebirth helped the city emerge from it's dirty dusty lamps-on-at-noon image.
In the 1980's PPG built their world famous PPG place, occupying one quadrant of thesquare and putting another plaza right next to Market Square.
Most recently, Market Square received a major overhaul again. This time the roads were rerouted around the outer edges, and you can no longer (legally) drive through the center of square. This is nice as it lends itself to better use.
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REVIEW PART (for those who don't wanna learn about the past and just want to know if they should go to Market Square):
GO. It is awesome. There are a few chain places here now, but also some great local eateries.
Chains include (but not limited to): Subway, Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks.
Local places: Nicholas Coffee, NOLA, Las Velas, Primanit Brothers, Diamond Market Grill, Prantl's Bakery, Mancini's Bread Company and others. Also, in the basement of PPG you will find the PPG Food court (open mostly for lunch, and a couple of places for breakfast.)
Also right off Market Square just two doors up Fifth you will find little gems like George Aiken's and Cherry's Diner.
In the summer months there is a Farmer's Market every Thursday, free music almost every day and events put on by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership (PDP).
In one of the few admirable moves that LML (Little Mayor Lukey) has made, the paying-for-parking-until-way-after-dark-and-robbing-the-citizens-of-pittsburgh-law was repealed and you can now park in and around the square and all over downtown for free after 6:00pm. This is awesome because I can now work a little late, have my significant other meet me for a nice dinner in Market Square and then drive home after the rush is all over.
Also, they recently added $5 valet parking in the Square. The only unfortunate part of this is that the valet has taken up quite a few spaces, but it's nice to feel affluent by pulling up, and giving your car to kid and saying "first gear has a lot more power than you'd think. Take'er easy." Just hope they haven't seen Ferris Bueller. I'm getting off topic again. Apologies.
Yes. Go to Market Square. Take a date there before a show, have some beers before a Steeler Game (to save money) or before a Pirate game (to save yourself) or just spend an evening here enjoying the alfresco dining and one of the prettiest cities in our country... nay... on this planet.
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