Squirrel Hill

By far one of the most convenient nearby neighborhood bus trips – or walks, if you’re… By far one of the most convenient nearby neighborhood bus trips – or walks, if you’re feeling ambitious – is Squirrel Hill.

Take the 59U or any 61 bus heading in the direction of Carnegie Mellon University on Forbes Avenue, and soon you’ll find yourself in the neighborhood that’s home to one of the largest Jewish communities in the United States.

The 61A and B drop you off at the corner of Forbes and Murray. Turn right or hop onto a 61C, 61D or 61F or the 59U and continue down Murray Avenue to begin your exploration.

Forward Lanes and the two movie theaters – Squirrel Hill Theater on Forward Avenue and the smaller Manor Theater right on Murray Avenue – are some of the main attractions.

Manor Theater shows four movies at a time; sometimes blockbusters but more often less popular or foreign films while its neighbor, Squirrel Hill Theater, shows mostly mainstream movies. Manor Theater charges $6 before 6 p.m., and $8.50 after, while Squirrel Hill Theater charges $7 per movie.

Other shops and restaurants include Eat n’ Park, Panera Bread, Bruegger’s Bagels and Barnes and Noble on Murray Avenue just past the intersection of Forbes and Murray. A little farther down the street is a Giant Eagle that is open 24 hours a day, although the Giant Eagle Market District in Shadyside is larger.

You can also take advantage of Squirrel Hill’s independent bistros, like the 61C Cafe on the corner of Murray and Bartlett, or the Rose Tea Cafe on Forbes. Also located on Forbes is Little’s Shoes, and various other clothing stores and cafes that are worth checking out at least once.

There’s also a French restaurant, Ma Provence, that serves traditional French dishes like poisson du jour, filet mignon and of course, escargot.

Gullifty’s is another Squirrel Hill favorite, a restaurant known for its desserts.

Another cool locale near Forbes and Shady Avenue is the pottery shop, Color Me Mine. While it can be pricey, it’s a great place to take a date or spend an afternoon being creative. They have a number of different pieces you can paint, then your work is put in the kiln, and all you have to do is pick it up when it’s done.

A Squirrel Hill original is Jerry’s Records. Jerry, the owner, has everything from polka to rock to Albanian music. Customers come from all over the world to shop in this unique music store. “I get people who come from overseas, and they buy stuff like easy listening music, stuff you’d hear in the elevators,” he said. “They just love vinyl, they’ll come over here, and if it wasn’t for them people I probably wouldn’t be here.”

One of the most bizarre inquiries Jerry receives is when people come from Chicago asking for polka records, of which he has more than 2,000.

“I’m sure I’m the only person in Pittsburgh to have that many polkas,” he jokes.

“If you really like music you have to get a turntable,” he said. “I would say 75 percent of the music in here you can’t get anywhere. It’s not on CD, and it’s not even popular enough for people to have to download.

“We’re one of a kind,” he says. “We’re the only one left that actually sells records for fair prices for someone who likes to listen to them. That’s what I’m here for, the people who like music to listen to, it’s not a collector’s store — it’s a music lover’s store.”

Also in Squirrel Hill, should you choose to venture outside of Oakland’s famous Dave and Andy’s for ice cream – you’ll find Cold Stone Creamery located at the corner of Forbes and Murray.

Continue down Forbes, and you’ll notice a Baskin Robbins on your left, a Ben and Jerry’s just past that and a Rita’s back on your right just before reaching Shady Avenue, the end of the shopping district that makes up Squirrel Hill.

In addition to ice cream and coffee, Squirrel Hill also has some of the best pizzerias in town. Mineo’s Pizza House, Aiello’s Pizza and Napoli Pizzeria are all conveniently located on Murray Avenue.

Squirrel Hill also has several bakeries including The Greek Gourmet, Rolladin, Dozen Cupcakes and Allegro Hearth Bakery, all located on Murray Avenue.

Inside the Te Cafe, a tea shop located on Murray Avenue, sits Natalie Kaharick. She lived in Squirrel Hill while attending Duquesne University, and loved its unique character.

“You can walk anywhere,” she said. “There’s lots of culture and ethnic places, lots of good food, and it’s a safe neighborhood with lots of families.”

Her favorite stops were Gullifty’s, Aladdin’s Eatery, Pi Pizza and the Rose Tea Cafe for its bubble tea. She also liked the Jewish Community Center gym located near the corner of Forbes and Murray, which according to Kaharick, is very clean, has very good equipment and is available for use to all members. Her other favorite spot was the Squirrel Hill branch of the Carnegie Library.

While Squirrel Hill is a great place to shop and eat, it’s also a great place to live. When you’re ready to move off campus, houses, duplexes and apartments can be found for reasonable prices in this neighborhood. A little quieter than Oakland, but still very convenient, many college students from CMU and Pitt choose to move here when they’re ready for a place of their own.