Pittsburgh! - June 1 and 2.

Though we love DC and it's wonderful suburbs, by May we had to admit, we were getting a little tired of big city life.  There is ALWAYS traffic to be stuck in and everything costs a ton (times 5).  We were desperate for an escape and found it in the most unlikely place- Pittsburgh. 

Don't get us wrong- as true Cincinnati people, we were raised to hate Pittsburgh, but the Steelers aren't very good lately, and we've head lots of good things about the city- like they serve french fries ON their sandwiches.

Plus, the Reds were in town playing the Pirates.  

I mean, how can you not like a place that has Racing Perogies?

Henry and June were very pleased to get to go to a baseball game and stay up late.  And eat snacks!(Georgie was with some friends we were staying with in town.)

The sugar kicked in and we all got a little silly.

Look!  Joey Votto!

They're goofy, but they're also toughing each other without fighting.  (Until the elbow at the end.)

Even surrounded by Pirates fans, we had a good time.

PNC Park.  We'll definitely be back.

June gave Willie Stargell a big hug before we left (but not before I made everyone stay longer to watch a post-game concert from Kool and the Gang.

How can you not like a ballpark on the river?

Many thanks to our friends, the Griffins, who let us stay at their house and visit the pool.  We only got this shot of our friends Connor, Drew, and Will.

On Sunday morning, we headed out to see this new charm of Pittsburgh that everyone is talking about.  I can't remember why, but somehow Henry wound up pantless and stuck in the trunk.  Haven't we all been there?

The Strip (the old warehouse district) is every but as cool as we've heard.  Papa got another Primanti Bros. meal on a sandwich.  I dined on a meal of freshly fried fish and other brown foods from Wholey's Seafood and Market.

Henry enjoyed a bottle of Hank's soda.  

Before we headed home, we took a ride up the Dequesne Incline.  Our camera died before we got to the top to get a good shot of the city, but it is forever burned in our minds.  Free parking, good midwestern food, $2 trolley rides up the side of a mountain.  Pittsburgh, you had us at hello.