The Strip District, or simply "[The Strip]," is an eclectic area of [Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]. Historically known as an area of [warehouse]s and [industry], thousands flock to The Strip for more upscale reasons.

Geography

The Strip is located just east of Downtown Pittsburgh. It is bordered to the north by the [Allegheny River], to the south by [Grant's Hill] and [Polish Hill], and to the east by [Lawrenceville].

The Strip got its name from its shape: it incorporates only three major roads ([Liberty Avenue], [Penn Avenue], and [Smallman Street]) but spans some 22 blocks from 11th to 33rd Street.

History

(Courtesy [Neighbors in the Strip]: http://neighborsinthestrip.com/thestrip/thestrip.html)

The Strip originally existed only between 11th and 15th Streets, as established in [1814] by [James O'Hara] and [George Bayard]. Originally knwon as [Northern Liberties] or [Bayardstown], the Strip served as a hub for industrial development during the early 19th century. It joined the city as its own ward in 1837, the first addition to Pittsburgh since its incorporation.

The earliest businesses in the Strip as it expanded outward included [iron mill]s, [foundry|foundries], and many [factory|factories]. [Andrew Carnegie] himself ran iron and steel mills at Smallman & 33rd Street.

As railroad cars were rerouted out of the downtown area, the Strip became the new terminal for many food shipments, notably [fish], [fruit], and [meat]s. Starting in the early [20th century], produce markets moved their hub to Smallman & 21st Street, a building which still exists but is no longer the hub of produce trade. Warehouses and offices moved into the Strip until [the Great Depression] and the [St. Patrick's Day Flood] of [1936] caused catastrophic losses. Merchants continued to suffer as a result of [war rationing] during [World War II]. According to the [Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania], in the [1950s] "there were 71 wholesale produce dealers in the Strip district. By the [1970s] there were about two dozen dealers left in the produce terminal." It was only in the late 20th century that small businesses started to make their mark in the Strip.

The Present-Day

Today, the Strip is a thriving community of small businesses. Tax incentives mean that much of the development in the Strip is taxed at a low to zero rate. Mayor [Tom Murphy] of Pittsburgh has extended these incentives in order to encourage further growth.

The Strip is part of Pittsburgh's Second Ward, which also includes [Downtown Pittsburgh|Downtown]. According to the [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette], only 266 people lived in the Strip as of 2002 (http://www.post-gazette.com/neigh_city/20030730crimedatapart1p9.asp). That represents a tiny sliver of Pittsburgh's total urban population of about 280,000 people. Recent housing developments aim to bring more people to the Strip. I live in the [Brake House Lofts], a three-story apartment building that opened in 2002. The Brake House is so named because starting in the early 20th century, it was a factory for the [Westinghouse] Air Brake Company and manufactured brakes for [train]s. Every year, there is seemingly a new plan to renovate the [Armstrong Cork] building into lofts. The Armstrong Cork Building is located right on the [Allegheny River], but has fallen into disrepair and has been unused (except for the occasional [rave] or [murder]) for decades.

Due to the low population, you won't find any [pharmacy|pharmacies], general-purpose [grocery store]s, or [doctor]s offices (although there is an [animal hospital]) in the Strip. Instead, you will find a number of specialty markets including many [ethnic grocer]s. The Strip has also been known for its [nightlife], including many [bar]s and [club]s that go out of business disappointingly often.

Getting to the Strip

The Strip District extends from 11th Street to 33rd Street, but most of the [tourist]/[yuppie] traffic heads for the markets between 16th and 24th. If you're planning on visiting the Strip, park on Penn between 24th and 27th and walk for a bit, or prepare to be [price gouging|gouged] severely by parking lot attendants near the markets. Beyond 28th Street, most of the buildings are used for [factory|factories], [warehouse]s, [trucking] facilities, and of course the city's [auto pound].

[PATransit] also runs a few bus routes such as the [54C], [86B], and [91S] that travel to [Liberty Avenue] or [Penn Avenue] in the Strip. Party-goers can take the [Ultraviolet Loop] on Fridays and Saturdays from 7:00 PM to 3:00 AM, operating on a half-hourly schedule.

When the weather is good, Pittsburghers and folks from the suburbs flock to the Strip. Greeting them are many [street performer]s, [panhandler]s, and [street vendor]s. A friend of mine who is also from [Long Island] said that it reminded her of [Canal Street] in [New York City], only "less crappy." You can buy flowers, knives, blankets, handbags, DVDs, trinkeys, and other [objets d'crap] outside.

My picks for what's fun in the Strip:

Restaurants

[Mullaney's Harp & Fiddle] - 24th & Penn - An enjoyable [Irish pub], complete with wall-fuls of [Guinness] memorabilia. The food is good, and local Irish/[Celtic music] acts come through frequently. Unless you enjoy [packed house]s, don't come here within a week of [St. Patrick's Day]. (www.harpandfiddle.com)
[Roland's Seafood Grill] - 19th & Penn - A very good seafood [bar & grill] that features an outdoor patio and occasional live music. (rolands.citysearch.com)
[Sushi Kim] - 13th & Penn - Excellent Korean and Japanese food, including a large selection of [sushi] (hence the name). Also features an [all-you-can-eat] sushi night on the first Monday of every month. (www.sushikim.com)
[Aussom Aussie Boomerang BBQ] - 27th & Penn - It's far from the other markets, but this place (part of a small [chain]) serves up excellent barbecue and authentic imported [Australian beer]s like [Cooper's].
[Primanti Brothers] - 18th & Smallman - The original [Primanti's] will make you a [Pittsburgh-style] [sammich] with [french fries] and [cole slaw] on top, all for about $5. Open [24 hours] a day! (www.primantibrothers.com)
[DeLuca's] - Penn between 21st and 20th - A [greasy spoon] serving good [breakfast]s between 6:00 AM and 3:00 PM Monday-Saturday, and 7-3 on Sunday. All [smoking]. Does not take [credit card]s. About $6 per person. Often crowded on weekends.
[Pamela's P&G Diner] - 21st between Penn and Smallman - Right around the corner from DeLuca's is the latest location of local chain [Pamela's]. This location, which opened in June 2004, features a retro '50s look with lots of blue and pink throughout. Among its "high-carb" offerings are Pamela's famous crêpe-like hotcakes. Smoking seating available outside during warm weather. Does not take credit cards. About $7 per person.
[Smallman Street Deli] - Smallman between 28th and 29th - Just one block from my office is this young delicatessen, located next to [Weiss Provisions]. This [synergy] produces a shop that will sell you high-quality meats and cheeses by the pound or in a [sandwich]. Most sandwiches are $5-7. Great [New York City] [Kosher deli] food from a shop started in the late '90s by an [Irish] family.

Grocers and Fruit Stands

[Wholey's] - 17th & Penn - The closest thing to a full-service grocery store in the Strip, Wholey's was originally a [fish market]. It has expanded over the decades to include a [prepared foods] section (where you can get a [fried fish sandwich] up to 1 [pound] in size), a [sushi bar] ([Andy's Sushi Bar]), a [cookware] department ([Balcony Cookware], now its own store next door), a [butcher shop], a [deli] department, and a [produce] section.
[Benkovitz Seafoods] - 23th & Smallman - A fish market attached to a receiving depot for [Nordic Seafoods], Benkovitz sells a large variety of fresh and frozen seafood. It also has a [sushi bar] and a [prepared foods] section, which leads to extraordinarily long lines during [Lent]en [Friday]s. Another Benkovitz location is inside [PNC Park].
[Stan's Market] - 19th & Penn - A mostly-indoor market featuring lots of fruits and vegetables reasonably priced.
[Bill's Produce] - 18th & Smallman - An indoor produce market about the total size of Stan's, sometimes with a better selection. If I have time, I visit both.
[Lotus Food Market] - 17th & Penn - One of many [Asian grocer]s in the Strip, Lotus features a full assortment of Chinese, Korean, and Japanese goods including the ever-important [Pocky] and [Pretz].

Bars and Clubs

[Mixx Lounge] (formerly [Voodoo Lounge]) - Sometimes throws big [biker] bashes with live music and thousands of bikers all along Penn Avenue. Long after it's over, the bikers remain, guaranteeing that residents like me won't be able to sleep. Also gained notoriety in 2003 for introducing "[adult cabaret] acts" much to the chagrin of local business owners.
[Metropol], formerly [M], formerly [Metropol] has gone through many owners and could close at any time. While open, they host many musical acts from the past and present.
The [31st Street Pub] (31st & Penn) also hosts many rock artists, but they caused a stir in the early [2000s] by adding [exotic dancers] to make [happy hour] much happier. (www.31stpub.com)

Many more bars and clubs exist in the Strip, but they disappear too frequently to [Node for the Ages].

More Stores of Interest

[Mitro's Specialty Store] - Smallman between 21st and 20th - This store makes [key]s and sells -- among other things -- [candy], [martial arts] uniforms, [sword]s, [knive]s, [hip flask]s, and assorted [ninja gear].
[Mon Aimee Chocolat] - 21st & Penn - A [candy store] for [grown-up]s, of sorts: you can buy all sorts of imported and fancy chocolate here, including some [Nestle] and [Cadbury] treats like [Coffee Crisp] and [Aero Bar]s that I hadn't seen outside of [Canada] or the [United Kingdom]. They also sell [hot chocolate] and [gelato], for those cold or hot Pittsburgh days.
[Art of Steel] - Penn between 21st and 22nd - A store featuring all sorts of [steel] [objets d'art] including [wine rack]s, [sculpture]s, and a remarkable selection of [weaponry].
[Klavon's Ice Cream] - 28th & Penn - Far away from the hustle and bustle of the Strip markets lies this treasure of an ice cream shop, originally incorporated as a [pharmacy] in [1925]. Today, you can go there to get an old-fashioned [egg cream], [sundae], [waffle cone], or any other confection you can imagine.
[Eide's Entertainment] - 12th & Penn - Virtually downtown, this three-story entertainment warehouse sells music, movies, lots of comic books, and assorted [collectible]s.

Putting the "strip" back in the Strip

A long-running controversy among local residents and business owners is the slow rise and fall of adult businesses in the Strip. Some bars, like the aforementioned Voodoo Lounge and 31st Street Pub, have tried to increase business by adding adult acts. They have met with fierce opposition from neighborhood groups like [Neighbors in the Strip] (www.neighborsinthestrip.com).

In the last few years, a [strip club] called [Bare Elegance] took over a 12,000 square foot warehouse at 31st and Liberty, and was hit with fines of $1,000 per day due to violations of city ordinances governing adult clubs. Happily paying the fines, they stayed in business until early 2003, when they were suddenly seized by the [Feds] for dealing [cocaine] and [ecstacy]. Another club beneath Bare Elegance and not featuring adult acts remained open during court proceedings. In late summer 2003, Bare Elegance sported a new sign "Still bare, still elegant, still open," once again triumphing over legal threats.

The Strip District continues to grow into the 21st Century. As a proud non-native [Pittsburgher], I am excited to live and work in this fascinating, diverse neighborhood.

Strip District (place)