Pittsburgh Rises: makes National Geographic Traveler's Top 20!

[Divernan]

Pittsburgh rises: National Geographic Traveler pays a compliment
Friday, October 28, 2011
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh may be the most livable city that is regularly complimented as such. In recent years, the praise has come from various publications and Pittsburghers, who remember when the city's smoky image ruled, are understandably flattered.

Add National Geographic Traveler to the list of flatterers. The magazine selected Pittsburgh as one of the 20 must-see places to visit in 2012. The trouble is even the proudest city resident might wonder if Traveler's editors have lost their compass. Of all the interesting places in the world, Pittsburgh made the top 20? We are great, but are we San Francisco, New York, Paris, Angkor Wat or Prague (all of which had their splendors ignored)?

Yes, and that's OK. Those storied locales might make anyone's bucket list but Traveler's list isn't that. It is a list for 2012 and a survey of what is hot at the moment. In those terms, Pittsburgh qualifies ahead of the known candidates for distinction. The city is a place transformed, as the magazine suggested, and so worth a look now.

An editor for the magazine told the Post-Gazette that release next year of the new Batman movie, "The Dark Knight Rises," which was filmed here, will generate more discussion of Pittsburgh's choice. Holy Toledo, Robin, we'll take the compliment.
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Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11301/1185530-192.stm#ixzz1c4aJMTdh

[Divernan]

1. An honor to be on this list!

Pittsburgh

Check out the great photograph by Brad Feinknopf at the National Geographic website


Extreme Metropolitan Makeover

Three rivers. One reinvented city. On all counts, the Steel City’s transformation over the past quarter century qualifies as revolutionary. Its mourning for its industrial past long concluded, this western Pennsylvania city changed jobs and reclaimed its major assets: a natural setting that rivals Lisbon and San Francisco, a wealth of fine art and architecture, and a quirky sense of humor.

Pittsburgh’s century-wide swath of architectural styles persuaded British film director Christopher Nolan to use downtown as a stand-in for Gotham City in this summer’s Dark Knight Rises. Sustainable design has transformed Victorian landmarks like the glass-domed Phipps Conservatory and created contemporary ones like the swooping waterfront convention center (above).

[babydollhead]

2. here is a cartoon about it, Rob Rogers, post gazette

[Divernan]

3. Rob Rodgers is very funny and makes all valid points!