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| - If you have one day to spend in Pittsburgh, the Andy Warhol Museum should be on your list.
There are seven floors--you start at the top and work your way down. (Be prepared to pass several taxidermy specimens of Warhol's along the way down the stairs.) Much of Warhol's art in these museum changes periodically as pieces are loaned to and from other institutions, so it's always fresh. Most of the multimedia displays are permanent, as well as the collection of Warhol's personal items--from his lipstick to his diploma--and "Silver Clouds." "Silver Clouds" is a 1966 interactive display of huge pillow-like balloons that float around in the one room where touching the art is encouraged. You'll feel like a kid swatting and batting the "clouds."
There are always new traveling exhibits featuring the works of other pop, avant-garde, and modern artists. Warhol founded Interview magazine and there are tons of display copies to check out in the museum as well. The gift shop is always worth a stop--I never fail to find a gift or card for some upcoming birthday...and maybe a little something for myself, too!
Even if you aren't a fan of Warhol's work, his young life epitomized industrial Pittsburgh: his parents were working-class immigrants, his father worked in a coal mine. He grew up in the same South Oakland neighborhood as football legend Dan Marino. Warhol attended the now gone Schenley High School and the university that is now Carnegie-Mellon.
If you're from out of town, consider starting at Penn & 7th Downtown. Sit in the eyeball chairs and eat a hot dog from the stand coincidentally named Andy's. Walk towards the yellow bridges, stopping to check out the Pittsburgh transformer statue and the view of PNC Park (to your left) and the old Heinz Factory (to your right) across the river. Stroll across the aptly named The Andy Warhol Bridge until you hit the museum.
Tip: The museum hosts Good Fridays from 5-10pm on every Friday, where there is 1/2 off admissions and a cash bar downstairs.
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