Warhol, Wozniaks, and Wedding Soup – Paul’s Visit to Pittsburgh

When I head back to Pittsburgh for a visit, it's all about time with family.

The itinerary is usually pretty packed, and that's something that makes me continue to feel like a very lucky man. I have two sisters and they have seven kids between them, so once they show up at Mimi and Pop Pop's house (my mom and dad's) things range from lively to chaotic.In fact, chaotic is often the lowest volume that these visits ever reach.

With all the time I am saving for the birth of my first child, I didn't leave myself very much space to do much else besides visit with family. But we have to do a few things other than just eat, drink and be merry.

The Andy Warhol Museum

I had never been to the Warhol museum, even though I still lived in Pennsylvania for years after it opened. The world's largest museum dedicated to a single artist launched in 1994, and holds art worth tens of millions of dollars. It is arranged in chronological order and it was very interesting to see an art student go from learning his craft to a leader in the avant garde and weird.

There are various interactive displays, like the screen test that was so cutting edge in the 1960's. I played with this display, the results of which can be seen here.

Wedding Soup

I can't really find wedding soup in Colorado, except in those to go packages at the grocery store, and that's just not good enough. If you know where I can find it around the Front Range, let me know. I'll investigate. For now, it's a specialty item that I savor when I visit the city of bridges.

That, Isaly's chipped ham, and Mancini's bread are foods that I make sure I get a chance to devour when I'm in PA. Also, my sister's meatballs, which she doesn't make every time, but did this time, much to my delight.

Other than that, I spent my time sled riding, talking about baby names, showing my nephew how to play basketball and just enjoying time with family.

I always manage to get out into the woods with my nephews. Deer hunting is religion in western PA, so much so that entire school districts have the first day of buck hunting off of school. My nephews took me out to their stands in the dense deciduous forests by their house. Just like when I was a kid, my mom came along.

Colorado has my heart, but I always miss Pittsburgh, and it is a blessing to be able to visit.