Pittsburghers can usually tell when someone’s from out-of-town by the words they use or don’t use (i.e. jagoff) and by the clothes they wear (Ravens jersey in Pittsburgh? Really?). But, we’re a welcoming bunch and try to make visitors feel at home by giving them insight into our quirks. Here are 12 things Pittsburghers have to explain to visitors.

  1. You can breathe fresh air.

Flickr/Always Shooting Those pictures of Pittsburgh covered by a thick cloud of smoke from the steel mills? That was then. This is now. Our air is clean.

  1. We are Steelers fans.

Flickr/David Fulmer Yes, Steelers fans. That means if you come to Pittsburgh, we pretty much expect you to either be or to become a loyal follower of the black and gold too. Even if you can’t openly support the black and gold, just don’t root for the Ravens or the Browns when you’re in town.

  1. We have strict bad-weather protocol.

Flickr/Elias Friedman The local meteorologists might forecast a few inches or a few feet of snow but at that four letter word Pittsburghers leap in to action, rushing to Giant Eagle, Shop ‘N Save, or Aldi’s to stock up on bread, milk, and toilet paper. So, if you hear “snow,” when you’re in Pittsburgh, you know what to do.

  1. Something scares us about the Squirrel Hill Tunnels.

Flickr/Doug Kerr Unless you’re cruising down the Parkway East at midnight, you will stop in front of the Squirrel Hill Tunnel. How long that stop takes depends on the traffic. But, Pittsburghers stop in front of the Squirrel Hill Tunnel going into Pittsburgh without fail. Speculation is the tunnel might be inhabited by a vicious tunnel monster.

  1. Brunch is the most important meal of the day.

Flickr/Wally Gobetz You can find a delicious meal just about anywhere you go in the city and beyond but the most important meal of the day – especially on the weekend – is brunch.

  1. Kennywood’s open!

Flickr/Magne Hagesater Pittsburghers have our very own language. One that features jag-off, yinz, and Stillers. Just a word of warning: If someone tells you Kennywood’s open, especially during the off-season, check your fly.

  1. We redd up our rooms.

Flickr/Jacky Gronow Just about every Pittsburgher has been told, likely in an exasperated tone, “redd up your room!” Start cleaning if a Pittsburgher tells you that.

  1. We use gum bands and…

Flickr/Duncan Hall Not rubberbands.

  1. Drink pop.

Flickr/Allen Not soda.

  1. Ask us for directions and we’ll tell you in time or…

Flickr/thekirbster Head 10 minutes – not miles – down the parkway.

  1. Send you to your destination by referring to landmarks.

Flickr/Jim Rhodes Go down the road and turn left at the Isaly’s then… (Be forewarned that those landmarks may or may not still exist.)

  1. We’re a pretty friendly bunch.

Flickr/Amphis d’@illeurs In fact, you just might find yourself entwined in an interesting conversation with someone you met walking down the street or waiting for the bus.

Traveling to Pittsburgh must just be akin to going abroad. Because we have our own language and our own way of doing things, there are just some things Pittsburghers have to explain to visitors.

Flickr/Always Shooting

Those pictures of Pittsburgh covered by a thick cloud of smoke from the steel mills? That was then. This is now. Our air is clean.

Flickr/David Fulmer

Yes, Steelers fans. That means if you come to Pittsburgh, we pretty much expect you to either be or to become a loyal follower of the black and gold too. Even if you can’t openly support the black and gold, just don’t root for the Ravens or the Browns when you’re in town.

Flickr/Elias Friedman

The local meteorologists might forecast a few inches or a few feet of snow but at that four letter word Pittsburghers leap in to action, rushing to Giant Eagle, Shop ‘N Save, or Aldi’s to stock up on bread, milk, and toilet paper. So, if you hear “snow,” when you’re in Pittsburgh, you know what to do.

Flickr/Doug Kerr

Unless you’re cruising down the Parkway East at midnight, you will stop in front of the Squirrel Hill Tunnel. How long that stop takes depends on the traffic. But, Pittsburghers stop in front of the Squirrel Hill Tunnel going into Pittsburgh without fail. Speculation is the tunnel might be inhabited by a vicious tunnel monster.

Flickr/Wally Gobetz

You can find a delicious meal just about anywhere you go in the city and beyond but the most important meal of the day – especially on the weekend – is brunch.

Flickr/Magne Hagesater

Pittsburghers have our very own language. One that features jag-off, yinz, and Stillers. Just a word of warning: If someone tells you Kennywood’s open, especially during the off-season, check your fly.

Flickr/Jacky Gronow

Just about every Pittsburgher has been told, likely in an exasperated tone, “redd up your room!” Start cleaning if a Pittsburgher tells you that.

Flickr/Duncan Hall

Not rubberbands.

Flickr/Allen

Not soda.

Flickr/thekirbster

Head 10 minutes – not miles – down the parkway.

Flickr/Jim Rhodes

Go down the road and turn left at the Isaly’s then… (Be forewarned that those landmarks may or may not still exist.)

Flickr/Amphis d’@illeurs

In fact, you just might find yourself entwined in an interesting conversation with someone you met walking down the street or waiting for the bus.

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