Lawrenceville's Lasting Impressions

It didn't take us very long to explore Pitt'sburgh's small, dense neighborhood of Lawrencville, and it took us even less time to formulate a general "feeling" about the neighborhood. However, I still can't come to a clear conclusion about this place.
It seems that a black-and-white label cannot be put on such an interesting destination, thus I share the ups and downs of my experience (with only a little bias).


Unfortunately,
we decided to visit on a Monday.





Don't visit on a Monday.




















No really. Don't.



I'd suggest a late Saturday morning to be the best time. Most places close pretty early, so a late night escapade would be futile. Any other day of the week, and your chances of exploration diminish immensely.



Fortunately,
it wasn't crowded when we went.


Unforunately,
the neighborhood is a little run down.




The shops are predominately on one side of the street, and though they are gorgeous in an artsy way, the other side of the street isn't exactly where I'd like to be walking.




Fortunately,
I'm confident it won't be like that for long.






There's construction all over the place. It's obvious that the neighborhood isn't going to shambles; it's just getting started.
It may not be up and coming, but it's definitely coming.









Unfortunately,
this building...





is a school.
Don't let the prison lights and barbed wire fence fool you.


It's probably electric.




Fortunately,
there is an amazing sense of community throughout the neighborhood.






Nearly every building we entered had a table near the door with brochures, maps, pamphlets, (you name it!) about the neighborhood and it's future happenings. Entire walls and windows were dedicated to housing the flyers and posters of various events. It's website is much the same way. It was completely welcoming. Becoming an active member of this community would not be difficult.




After siphoning through all the good and the bad squeezed into only a few blocks, it's clear that this neighborhood has character. It's full of interesting things to see and do, with a variety of quirks that make it different from any other place I've visited.

Even more so than it's charm, the most unique thing about Lawrenceville is it's promising potential. Never have I seen a place so ready to grow. It certainly isn't perfect, but it deserves a whole lot of credit.

Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth in Lawrenceville

During our foray into Lawrenceville, we sampled some of the culinary creations that this neighborhood has to offer. Our very first stop was at “Dozen Bake Shop,” which is a small, art deco-themed bakery. They make their tasty treats in small batches and are actually reasonably priced, a perk for any financially frustrated college student.

Their gourmet cupcakes were $2-$3. The three of us split a cinnamon bun ($3) that was almost the size of our heads and drowning in super caloric cream cheese frosting – delicious.

Another perk – it also happens to be one of the only places open on Mondays in Lawrenceville.

When we visited, it was devoid of any humanity besides the cashier (much like the rest of Lawrenceville), but the pastel walls and relaxed atmosphere made it an enjoyable experience. Don’t just take our word for it, according to their website, “Dozen Bake Shop has been recognized as Pittsburgh’s best bakery for the city’s best desserts in Pittsburgh City Paper, Pittsburgh Magazine, & others, with national recognition in Forbes, MSN.com and more.”

After potentially clogging our arteries with sugar and trans-fats, we took our taste testing to “Espresso a Mano.” If you want an image of this place…well, it’s basically the coffee shop all the hipsters went too after Starbucks got too mainstream. In accordance with this theme, their website boasts, “We also emphasize sustainability in our coffees, carrying many Fair Trade, Direct Trade, and Organic coffees from fine roasters like Counter Culture, La Prima Espresso, and Commonplace Coffee.”

To be fair, the iced coffee I got was decent, although a little weak for my taste. The “espresso bar,” as they call themselves, features a few comfy couches, tables, while the walls sport pictures from local photographers and vintage music and events poster prints.

Final Verdict: The baked goods are, well, good, the hipster scene is thriving, but I’d rather get a Frap from Starbucks than brave the busses.