The third and final day in Pittsburgh was a good combination of culture and crossing off a few items from my own bucketlist.
To kick start the day, the Fairmont Hotel provided a Sunday breakfast buffet - complete with local cured meats and cheeses, salmon and every breakfast pastry under the sun. The chefs at the Habitat know their way around the kitchen, even at the early hours of the morning.
While dining, I noticed an abundance of street blockages and families hanging out on the roads. After a little research, I found that Pittsburgh hosts an annual event called "Open Streets" aimed at getting people outside and moving. We saw outdoor Zumba and hip-hop dance classes, rock walls, roller skating circles and Burgh Man, Pittsburgh's very own superhero.
The activities followed us as we walked to Heinz Field for a quick photo to satisfy the football fan in me. On the way back, baseball fans started packing PNC Park early for the 1 p.m. game. While the Pirates ended up losing the game, they still won the weekend series. And if you're in town during the summer and the Bucs are around, hope for a win because they'll provide a firework show after the game. I was able to catch the show Saturday night from the 23rd story of the Fairmont hotel. There's nothing like an eye-level view of a fireworks display!
Now, I'm a fan of cartoons and animation, but editor Garth Bishop is the true fanatic, so in his honor, I had to stop by ToonSeum. Inside the gallery are a few features - this time around was a Marvel and DC showcase and an 8-bit display. Along with these were historic animation equipment and illustrated originals.
What struck me as most impressive about the museum was its interactivity. They welcome guests to sit down at the animator's table and try their hand at creating. Afterward, visitors can display their masterpieces on the wall for all to see. ToonSeum also keeps a shelf of free comics for people to snag on their way out as a keepsake. I, myself, made sure to grab an "Adventure Time" issue.
After a quick checkout, it was off to the final destination: the Center for PostNatural History. This free and public showcase of human genetics was simply mind-blowing. Stories about animal and crop mutations and gene splicing littered the space. Along with these, on the do-it-yourself tour, was a mini-library of bioengineering inspired books. One that stood out the most was "Mind Control."
Perhaps the most intriguing display was that of the active human papillomavirus (HPV). Doctors took the infected cells from a patient who was suffering and the cells continued to live on, even after the patient died from cervical cancer. It really put into perspective the severity of the disease, but also the ability of science to harvest and utilize information from something microscopic.
The day was cut a little short due to scheduling conflicts, but I believe we got a great deal out of the time. This stay was just enough to entice my interests and encourage me to come back when the time allows.
Until next time, Pittsburgh.
Visit Day 1 Here
Visit Day 3 Here
