North Oakland

As Fifth Avenue pumps a plethora of cars, buses, bikers and pedestrians through the heart of… As Fifth Avenue pumps a plethora of cars, buses, bikers and pedestrians through the heart of the Pitt campus, a quieter neighborhood sits just off the shoulder of this Oakland artery.

North Oakland, the portion of Oakland that holds the bulk of Pitt’s campus and extends to the residential areas north of Fifth Avenue, has a different type of neighborhood feel for student and resident Pittsburghers alike.

From the lush lawns of Soldiers and Sailors all the way down to a few blocks past the bustling nightlife of Craig Street lie charming residential blocks shaded by the many trees of North Oakland.

The area is home to students, of course, with the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority house on Bayard Street and North Dithridge Street’s Multicultural House prominently flanking rows of traditional houses converted into separate flats and the occasional high-rise apartment building.

But unlike its rival South Oakland across the great divide of Boundary and Bouquet streets, the North has 10 or so residential blocks called Schenley Farms.

A historic Pittsburgh area established in 1906, the houses standing on the north side of Bigelow Boulevard and up around the snaking brick retaining wall of Parkman Avenue are significantly larger and more architecturally awesome than some of the surrounding neighborhoods.

These homes, with their driveways, manicured lawns and wide sidewalks are usually worth six figures or more.

While you may get lost admiring the aesthetics of Schenley Farms, O’Hara Street, Bayard Street and Bigelow Boulevard can throw North Oakland travelers for a loop.

O’Hara Street begins at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital and runs parallel to Fifth Avenue through North Oakland. The road abruptly changes street names because of a 90-degree turn at the back of Soldiers and Sailors, becoming Bigelow Boulevard.

Bigelow continues for a few blocks through Schenley Farms, until it makes another right angle to snake back toward Centre Avenue. That’s where Bayard Street takes over and runs the whole way into Shadyside.

Before hitting Shadyside, O’Hara, Bayard and Bigelow give way to a North Oakland gem, Craig Street, with its many restaurants, retail shops and doctors’ offices.

Craig Street acts as the cultural center of North Oakland and runs from Forbes Avenue toward Lawrenceville and the Allegheny River.

Many high-rise apartment buildings sit on the residential area of Craig Street, up from its busiest business blocks.

On Craig between Forbes and Centre avenues you can find the hotspot Kiva Han, a coffee shop, as well as the popular Lulu’s Noodle Shop and Yum Wok Asian restaurant. Crepes Parisiennes, a French caf