Neighborhood of the week: Squirrel Hill (Pittsburgh, Liberty: school, delivery, eat)

[jay5835]

Originally Posted by Copanut

Back in the mid 70's I lived in Forest Hills and worked in Oakland. I used to take the back way home through SH and on Tuesdays it was double feature night at the old Guild Theater on Murray Avenue.

I saw a movie at the Manor last night with a friend, and he was asking about the old Squirrel Hill movie theatres, and of course, I had to mention the Guild, where I saw practically everything those days, Cabaret, The Godfather, The French Connection, Fiddler on the Roof.

Originally Posted by Copanut

One thing about SH, I don't think they ever had a hotspot bar. At least I never heard of one.

Who drank in that zip code in the early ‘70s? Pot and Quaaludes, those were the thing.

Originally Posted by Copanut

Not far from there was Heads Together in the Underground Mall. They sold pipes and records n'at. Once a month they would have a Saturday Midnight sale, 3 records for 10 bucks. You can find it all at the Underground Mall.

I had a friend who worked at Heads Together, back when albums were 4 for $10 every day. It was owned by King Larry and Queen Charlene. There was a price war of sorts on albums then. Heads Together and Lou's (Forward Avenue) in Squirrel Hill, Flo's in Oakland (South Bouquet Street), and one in Shadyside, but I don't remember the name. The Listening Post on Walnut Street stayed full-service and full-price, but it was a much better record store, with a full back catalogue, something you never found at the cheapatoriums.

Originally Posted by Goinback2011

That place always reeked of patchouli to cover up the pot smell. To this day I associate patchouli with the East End.

So have I. Ever since the '70s, I associated the smell of patchouli with the platinum triangle formed by zip codes 15213, 15232, and 15217. It mainly reminds me of going to Pitt, though. There was a woman who worked in the registrar's who wore enough of it every day to stink up all three zip codes, plus every third hippie was wearing either it or musk oil. My friend Jane was so into musk oil, we called her "Queen Jane Muskproximately."

[Copanut]

Ah, the Listening Post, pretty cool store. I was never much for drugs and grass, strictly a fratboy beerkeg kinda guy. But, I do recall Quaaludes being popular.

[okaydorothy]

My son brought me for lunch to a crepe place in Squirrel Hill yesterday. Boy the area is fantastic. I loved all the little shops and trendy places to eat. If I wasn't moving, I would consider there.

[norcider]

On SH hot spot bars; don't think it was ever "hot" but the Squirrel Hill Cafe (Cage) has been a long time standout destination. I was dismayed to see they removed the gigantic half circle mirror at some point in the last 15 years or so.

[sky329]

Homes appreciate here more than almost anywhere in the city... and what’s better mineo’s or aiello’s will be a debate until the end of time

[Moby Hick]

Mineo's, but Aiello's new storefront looks very nice.

The Squirrel Cage's mirror is something I don't remember. I'm there often enough, but I'm not good at noticing things.

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by sky329

Homes appreciate here more than almost anywhere in the city... and what’s better mineo’s or aiello’s will be a debate until the end of time

Mouthful of grease vs. mouthful of flour.

[szug-bot]

Originally Posted by sky329

... and what’s better mineo’s or aiello’s will be a debate until the end of time

i will never understand the lack of enthusiasm over the years, for Napoli's. It is my preferred over Mineo's (never a fan of them - never), and I haven't had Aiello's in ages. Napoli's pizza (OK, its been maybe 3 years since my last venture to that part of the Sq. Hill) has been perfect for my tastes.

[jay5835]

Originally Posted by szug-bot

i will never understand the lack of enthusiasm over the years, for Napoli's. It is my preferred over Mineo's (never a fan of them - never), and I haven't had Aiello's in ages. Napoli's pizza (OK, its been maybe 3 years since my last venture to that part of the Sq. Hill) has been perfect for my tastes.

Napoli is my favorite among the three, too. Mineo's is too oily, and Aiello's just isn't very good. But Napoli is a good, consistent slice place. Murray Avenue's best.

[charisb]

I hesitate to wade into the pizza wars because I am not sure I am a connoisseur but I like Pastoli's. Has anyone elese tried them? I have never actually tried any of the big three (Mineo's, Aiello's, or Napoli).