Pittsburghers are one of a kind. We live in the City of Champions, a hub of innovation, and a beautiful spot with friendly, loyal people who will go out of their way to help others. Are you an official Pittsburgher? If not, here are 12 things you should probably do before you’re an official Pittsburgher.
- Call someone a jagoff.
Flickr/Dan Yes, Pittsburgh, it’s official. Jagoff made it into the Oxford English Dictionary. If you’re hoping to become an official Pittsburgher, you know what jagoff means and you’ve used it, probably more than once (and most likely when you’re driving).
- Speak fluent Pittsburghese.
Flickr/Matt Niemi Okay, so maybe you only speak semi-fluent Pittsburghese. That works, too, as long as you know how to properly pronounce some of the most commonly used words in the Burgh, like yinz and dahntahn.
- Wear shorts and a sweatshirt – together.
Flickr/Thom Wong It’s a Burgh thing. Wearing shorts and a sweatshirt together on those chilly fall days and downright frigid winter afternoons. Give it a try. You’ll see why Pittsburghers find it such an appealing apparel combo.
- Go to a Kennywood school/work picnic.
Flickr/Tyler Neu Every Pittsburgher has gone to a school or a work picnic at Kennywood. It’s just what we do. Oh, and while you’re there, don’t forget to have an order of Potato Patch fries - with or without the bacon and cheese.
- Wave a Terrible Towel.
Flickr/AJ Wms Pittsburghers are die-hard Steelers fans who wave the Terrible Towel, at the stadium, at home, or wherever we happen to be watching the game. Find yourself a Terrible Towel, and use it, if you want to become an official Pittsburgher.
- Swear your allegiance to the black and gold.
Flickr/Daniel X. O’Nell And…it’s not just the Steelers. Pittsburghers bleed black and gold and stand behind their pro sports teams - the Steelers, the Pens, and the Buccos - win or lose (although Pittsburgh is known as the City of Champions for a reason).
- Eat your sandwich or salad topped with fries.
Flickr/Dan4thNicholas You don’t have to like it, but every Pittsburgher has undoubtedly eaten a sandwich or a salad topped with French fries and maybe even coleslaw. It’s a Burgh thing.
- Order lunch from a food truck.
Facebook/PGH Pierogi Truck Pittsburgh’s pretty much a food lover’s dream. Walk around the Pittsburgh area most afternoons, especially around lunchtime, and you’re bound to run into one of the popular food trucks. Grab a quick, delicious meal that you can eat while you’re on the go.
- Tell someone Kennywood’s open…
Flickr/Katy Warner Kennywood’s open! If you’re a Pittsburgher, you know what that means. And, if you don’t, the picture above might just give you a clue.
- Save your parking space with a chair.
Flickr/Zach Ellerbrook It’s a time-honored tradition in the City of Champions: Digging our parking spaces out then saving them with a chair. Dig out your spot, put down your chair, and respect the work others have done to clear their parking space if you want to be an official Pittsburgher.
- Wake up early to watch school closings/delays.
Flickr/Neill Turner Just about every Pittsburgher has, undoubtedly, set the alarm to get up early on a snowy winter morning to watch the school closings and delays scroll across the screen. Whether we’re the kids, the parents, or the grandparents, we’ve all experienced the rush of joy - or dread - at an impromptu day off.
- Drink a slush/slushie.
Flickr/Allen You’ve made it to the end of the list and you may already be an official Pittsburgher or are well on your way to becoming one. Toast your status as a Pittsburgher with a slush/slushie, one of those delicious icy treats that many of us begged our parents for after leaving stores, like Hills, when we were kids.
What else should be on the list of what you need to do before you’re an official Pittsburgher? Why, you may ask, would someone want to be an official Pittsburgher? Here are 15 reasons Pittsburghers are the best kind of people you’ll ever meet.
Flickr/Dan
Yes, Pittsburgh, it’s official. Jagoff made it into the Oxford English Dictionary. If you’re hoping to become an official Pittsburgher, you know what jagoff means and you’ve used it, probably more than once (and most likely when you’re driving).
Flickr/Matt Niemi
Okay, so maybe you only speak semi-fluent Pittsburghese. That works, too, as long as you know how to properly pronounce some of the most commonly used words in the Burgh, like yinz and dahntahn.
Flickr/Thom Wong
It’s a Burgh thing. Wearing shorts and a sweatshirt together on those chilly fall days and downright frigid winter afternoons. Give it a try. You’ll see why Pittsburghers find it such an appealing apparel combo.
Flickr/Tyler Neu
Every Pittsburgher has gone to a school or a work picnic at Kennywood. It’s just what we do. Oh, and while you’re there, don’t forget to have an order of Potato Patch fries - with or without the bacon and cheese.
Flickr/AJ Wms
Pittsburghers are die-hard Steelers fans who wave the Terrible Towel, at the stadium, at home, or wherever we happen to be watching the game. Find yourself a Terrible Towel, and use it, if you want to become an official Pittsburgher.
Flickr/Daniel X. O’Nell
And…it’s not just the Steelers. Pittsburghers bleed black and gold and stand behind their pro sports teams - the Steelers, the Pens, and the Buccos - win or lose (although Pittsburgh is known as the City of Champions for a reason).
Flickr/Dan4thNicholas
You don’t have to like it, but every Pittsburgher has undoubtedly eaten a sandwich or a salad topped with French fries and maybe even coleslaw. It’s a Burgh thing.
Facebook/PGH Pierogi Truck
Pittsburgh’s pretty much a food lover’s dream. Walk around the Pittsburgh area most afternoons, especially around lunchtime, and you’re bound to run into one of the popular food trucks. Grab a quick, delicious meal that you can eat while you’re on the go.
Flickr/Katy Warner
Kennywood’s open! If you’re a Pittsburgher, you know what that means. And, if you don’t, the picture above might just give you a clue.
Flickr/Zach Ellerbrook
It’s a time-honored tradition in the City of Champions: Digging our parking spaces out then saving them with a chair. Dig out your spot, put down your chair, and respect the work others have done to clear their parking space if you want to be an official Pittsburgher.
Flickr/Neill Turner
Just about every Pittsburgher has, undoubtedly, set the alarm to get up early on a snowy winter morning to watch the school closings and delays scroll across the screen. Whether we’re the kids, the parents, or the grandparents, we’ve all experienced the rush of joy - or dread - at an impromptu day off.
Flickr/Allen
You’ve made it to the end of the list and you may already be an official Pittsburgher or are well on your way to becoming one. Toast your status as a Pittsburgher with a slush/slushie, one of those delicious icy treats that many of us begged our parents for after leaving stores, like Hills, when we were kids.
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