Good Ole Pittsburgh Bars (Crafton, Gordon: photos, road, near)

[Merge]

Originally Posted by steindle

I wouldn't really call Sidelines a "dive," but otherwise this is a good list. I've been meaning to do a little Etna Bar Crawl one of these days. There are at least a half dozen others in Millvale, too.

I guess your right. Sidelines did put on a new front/facade and they've expanded their menu recently, so it probably has drifted out of the dive category.

[Rocket88]

I was trying to keep the list within city limits as I am well aware of the old towns along the river having old school bars. I guess upon further inspection, there are more of these than I thought within the city. It just seems that in the more popular neighborhoods, like Lawrenceville, South Side, Shadyside, Oakland, Squirrel Hill, fern bars are the norm. Yet, shot and beer bars can still be found in those also.

[fat lou]

In Lawrenceville? Conley's, baby. And Kelly's Korner. And a whole lot of old-school ethnic/veteran's clubs. We keep the door locked and the hipsters on the other side of it.

[CFP]

this is a great thread

[charisb]

Originally Posted by Rocket88

It just seems that in the more popular neighborhoods, like Lawrenceville, South Side, Shadyside, Oakland, Squirrel Hill, fern bars are the norm.

Fern bars still exist?

[Rocket88]

Originally Posted by charisb

Fern bars still exist?

It is a generic term that I still use to describe bars that are not cheap that specialize in crafts and small plates and other newfangled fare, as opposed to being an inexpensive shot and beer bar with hard boiled eggs and chips and peanuts.http://www.google.com/url?q=http://e...rBBqj9Lw-jKxPQ

[Geeo]

I think the first "fern bar" in Pittsburgh appeared in the early 1970s - Brandy's in the Strip District. After that came places like Houlihan's, Max & Erma's, etc. Anyplace that had the walls totally covered with old pictures, objects, and sayings was a fern bar. It was the "preppie" years, about a decade before the "yuppies."

[doo dah]

Originally Posted by Geeo

I think the first "fern bar" in Pittsburgh appeared in the early 1970s - Brandy's in the Strip District. After that came places like Houlihan's, Max & Erma's, etc. Anyplace that had the walls totally covered with old pictures, objects, and sayings was a fern bar. It was the "preppie" years, about a decade before the "yuppies."

Don't forget the ferns!

[doo dah]

Okay, here is a question - anyone ever been in the Old Stone Tavern, back when it was open?

Back a long time ago, when I was under 21, I can recall my boyfriend at the time taking me to a very old place, but I seem to recall there was a parking place, not exactly a lot, in front, and wide, worn wooden steps leading to a wide porch. Absolutely no idea where that could have been. They told me there was a Revolutionary War (!) jail cell in the basement, but I wasn't interested in going down there to see it.

All the photos I have found online of the Old Stone Tavern show stone steps and it is right on the road.

Sound familiar to anyone?

[Rocket88]

Hamfeldts in Aspinwall was the fern bar of choice in my area. It was where the Fox Chapel preppies would gather over Christmas Break in the late 70s and 1980s. It is now the Cornerstone Restaurant at the corner of Eastern and Freeport Road.https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Freep...109.47,,0,2.72