Here are some links/articles/blog posts that are worth a look:

• Penn State Cologne? – This is a funny post. Uncle Crappy looks at THE gift for Penn State fans.
• MINEO’S PIZZA | Dave and Dave’s Excellent Blog – Dave and Dave go to Mineo's Pizza. Even if you aren't a Mineo's fan you have to respect a place that still uses rotary phones.
• Pop City – Carnegie Mellon brings waffles and reality TV to empty East Liberty storefront – I had the choco-waffle last week. Tasty! This is a really great little project and it is nice to see the empty store front being used. Check out their photo booth too!
• Tree Sweaters – Check out the picture of the tree sweaters at the Pittsburgh Children's musuem.

Click here to see more links we like.

I work downtown and one of my favorite parts of the job is deciding where to have lunch every day! My co-workers and I started keeping tabs of all the great eateries in Pittsburgh last year and have hit up quite a few of them since then. I’ll admit, most of my favorites are places that offer pizza… because I am simply obsessed. Our latest lunch-time outing was to Piccolo Forno in Lawrenceville. We had been there a few times before but this time I was due for pizza. I love the atmosphere of Piccolo Forno, it is bright and airy throughout with brick walls, high ceilings and modern lighting. It isn’t very big, which I like… it gives you the feeling you are in a huge city and you are just thankful you get to be a tiny part of it! The staff is super friendly and you can watch them making your pizza in the fire oven right in front of you. It can be a place to go for a quite, relaxing lunch or somewhere to hang out with friends after work. You can even bring your own bottles of wine. How great is that? This trip, I ordered a pizza and I am not ashamed to admit I ate the WHOLE thing (don’t judge). I can’t wait until I get a craving for pizza again, or tiarmasu or panninis or a great salad (need I go on?) because I’ll be right back at Piccolo Forno enjoying every second of my meal. Stop by Butler Street and take a seat. Then be sure to let me know how you liked it… also, I’d like to know if I’m the only one who finishes an entire pizza BY MYSELF!

What a week to be in Pittsburgh. Last Wednesday, I participated in Pittsburgh’s first Tweet Up, which was beyond awesome. Rarely do things exceed my expectations, but I have been in a state of awe since I stepped foot in Belle Notte on Wednesday evening. My colleagues and I experienced by far the best pizza ever in the strip and will be partaking again this Wednesday. Needless to say, I am a bit antsy just thinking about the dough that is the perfect balance of thick and crispy, thanks to cooking it right on the stone and the shredded, yes shredded pepperoni. The place exuded an air of your down-home pizza joint and I pictured myself frequenting it with family and friends, having long conversations and laughing over the delicious aroma.

Ok enough of this, it is making me hungry, and onto my next praise of Pittsburgh. The fireworks on Saturday night were a definite example of just how awesome Pittsburgh really is. It was exhilarating to see fellow burgh’rs atop Mt. Washington cheering together in celebration of the Iron City. As if delicious local pizza and large firework displays weren’t enough…

I was utterly impressed by a coffee shop just this morning. 21st Street Coffee in the strip made my day in many ways. I loved the combination of the hot mocha and cool whipped cream almost as much as the combination of my hot drink and the cool, crisp morning we experienced. The staff was friendly, even at 7 a.m. and the raspberry pecan muffin was a perfect accompaniment to my coffee. As I drove to the office I thought to myself, how could one city offer so many wonderful places and things to do… and it took me all of 2 seconds to answer myself simply, “Because its Pittsburgh, that’s why!”