I haven't been home much over the past month. In fact, in bouncing across the continent to cover the Penguins with three stops in California, then one each in Nashville and Tampa, plus two separate trips now to the Pirates' spring training, the calendar can show I've spent almost as much time everywhere else as I have here.
Much as I love the job, I loath that part.
When I flew out of Florida -- my favorite Florida-related activity, by the way -- late Sunday night, I knew I'd missed yet another of Dali's birthdays that same day, as well as a day that Dara had spent at home on a college break. But I also knew, at the very least, that I'd have all that waiting for me, in addition to the only remedy for the standard Pittsburgh homesickness that I tend to develop after being away for even a brief spell.
And then, a surprise: Steak!
On the 17th-floor rooftop of our new Smithfield Street residence, no less!
There's a ton of stuff that's very different about living Downtown, or any urban core, vs. anywhere else, but I'm super-stoked to share that ours might have one of the greatest concentrations of steakhouses on the planet, as this little map will illustrate:
Insane, right?
It's like we're a miniature Alberta or something, with every one of those red pindrops representing a restaurant that's either a true steakhouse or that serves steak at a high level. Even exempting the two on the North Shore — including our friends at North Shore Tavern, where it’s sizzling on a stone — and another at Station Square, there are 16 in the actual Golden Triangle alone. It's only growing, too. Where it once was just Ruth's Chris, Morton's and Capital Grille, we've added a bunch in the past half-decade alone. And according to the Pittsburgh Business Times, several of those enjoyed record revenues in 2022.
What's up with the connection between Downtown and steak?
Honestly, I've got no clue. We'll splurge for a dinner at one every few months, but those tend to be pricy for a sports writer, so maybe someone reading this can share some insight.
On this specific homecoming, though, the steak was happening at home. Dali bought six prime pieces, fired up our residence's Weber grill that can achieve 700 degrees in a snap and made ... wow, I don't even have words. Might be the finest steak dinner I've ever had.
Which isn't to deny that I'd have been influenced by the scenery all around us, not least of which was the newly fixed-up Mon Incline on Mount Washington straight ahead over the grill.
There are more than 8,000 permanent residents Downtown now, and the apartment complexes alone are currently operating at a staggering 94% occupancy. I'm sure there are all kinds of reasons for that, but my own is that I love living in the middle of everything while eliminating almost all of the ugliest logistical hassles from my life. Especially traffic. My car sits in the garage for days at a time, exiting only for Steelers (South Side) or Penguins (Cranberry) practices. Everything else is a walk or a subway ride.
And check this out:
DEJAN KOVACEVIC / DKPS
Rear view of old GNC headquarters, Wood Street, Downtown.
This is just a block away from us. Used to be GNC's American headquarters. They slid about a mile away into the Strip, leaving this old beauty on Wood Street to a developer that's investing $71 million into more residential. Another 254 units. Construction's underway.
There are 10 ongoing projects in that vein at the moment. And yes, I said 10. With a cumulative input of more than $300 million.
Maybe we'll have 'em all over for a cookout.