By Kailey Love | The Duquesne Duke
This coming weekend, eager parents and siblings alike will invade campus for Duquesne’s annual Parent’s Weekend. For many students, Parent’s Weekend is the first time they will be reunited with their family since August. Not only is this weekend an opportunity for you to show your family around your new home in the city, it is also a great time to try out some new places that you might not have explored yet!
Pamela’s Diner
Although you may have to wait two hours in line on a weekend, Pamela’s is a non-negotiable first stop to start your day, and undoubtedly worth the wait. Between the famous crêpe-style pancakes and homemade burgers, you cannot go wrong. With three locations throughout the city including the Strip District, Oakland and Shadyside, you can’t let your parents go without eating at Pamela’s for breakfast or lunch. This is perhaps the best way to jumpstart your tour!
The Mattress Factory
After explaining to your parents that you aren’t actually dragging them to a factory full of mattresses, this contemporary art museum is a must for your tour around Pittsburgh. Located in the heart of North Side, the museum features life-sized exhibits that are both abstract and fascinating, some of which take up entire rooms.
While not as popular as the Carnegie trilogy of museums, the Mattress Factory is more than worth a trip across the river. All artwork exhibited in the museum is created by in-residence artists from all around the world, setting it apart from any other attraction in the city and making it among very few of its kind across the globe. All in all, not a bad way to spend an afternoon!
Shadyside
What is a trip to the city without a little shopping? With unique boutiques such as Eons Fashion Antique and Hey Betty, high-end shops like Banana Republic and Anthropologie, and even an Apple Store for any technology essentials, Shadyside has something interesting for everyone in the family. It’s truly unique in comparison to other shopping centers around the city. Especially with winter fast approaching, the need for winter coats and warm clothing is a pressing matter, so this would be a great time to stock up.
Even if you aren’t planning to shop, Shadyside is a quaint and charming little part of town that is a change of pace from the bustle of Downtown. It is worth a trip just to walk around and discover somewhere new with the folks.
Spirit Halloween
With Halloween on the horizon, if you don’t already have a costume in mind or dorm decorations, Spirit Halloween in South Side is the place you’ll want to go. Boasting over a thousand costumes, you’re sure to find the perfect ensemble – and your parents can pick up some last-minute decorations for themselves before they head back home.
The Melting Pot
After a long day showing your family around Pittsburgh, you’ve probably worked up quite an appetite, and what better way is there to end a family outing than with a great dinner? While there are hundreds of great restaurants throughout the city that you can choose, one of Pittsburgh’s most renowned eateries would be The Melting Pot.
Even though its famous fondue and irresistible chocolate concoctions are legendary, one glance at the prices can scare any college student away. With entrees ranging from $20 to $50 dollars in price (not even including your appetizers and desserts) for many a low budget college student, this isn’t even an option worth considering. That said, with your folks in tow, this delectable dining experience becomes a much more realistic option and gives you a chance to enjoy an evening free of expense worries. Not to mention it’s a way to give your family a great taste of life in Pittsburgh!
