More shopping options than any fashionista could fathom

It’s a sunny Saturday afternoon. You can’t bear to think of schoolwork. You’ve got a few… It’s a sunny Saturday afternoon. You can’t bear to think of schoolwork. You’ve got a few dollars in your pocket and are looking for a place to burn them. Don’t worry — that money won’t plague you long, because Pittsburgh boasts a variety of places where you can get rid of that pesky cash on the days when you just need to shop.

If you’re strapped for time, a short stroll down Forbes Avenue will take you to Rue 21 and Avalon Exchange. Rue 21 caters to the trendy, American Eagle-esque types with current college fashions that fall neatly within a student’s price range. It’s also a great place to go if you’re in need of some quick and cheap accessories to jazz up your current wardrobe.

Avalon, on the other hand, specializes in used clothing. At Avalon, you can sell the stuff that’s taking up space in your closet, and then fill that space with someone else’s discarded treasures — anything from shoes to jeans to scarves.

And that is just where the shopping begins.

Once you start to feel more adventurous, you should grab a bus (71C, 71D or 500) on Fifth Avenue and take a short ride to Shadyside (get off at South Aiken Avenue and walk a few blocks to Walnut Street). There you will find some of Pittsburgh’s best shopping.

Ladies, if you’re interested in apparel you can check out Ann Taylor, Victoria’s Secret, as well as several accessory-specializing shops and boutiques, such as Ten Toes (really cute shoes!) and Silver Lining (fun jewelry).

Men, you’ll be happy to know that you can join your gal in the spending fun at stores like Banana Republic, Moda and Gap.

In addition, Shadyside is always a great place to dine; this district boasts cuisine from France, Thailand, the Mediterranean region and beyond.

After you’ve exhausted this resource, head over to The Waterfront via the 59U or the 61C. Be aware: The buses take a roundabout route and the return schedule is sporadic, so be sure to allot travel time and check the bus schedule carefully. However, once you’re there, you’ll find that The Waterfront was well worth the trip.

There you will discover a large shopping area that has some less-pricey alternatives to Shadyside’s posh stores. Within the sprawling, strip-setup of The Waterfront, you can find Old Navy, Marshalls, Filene’s Basement and Kaufmann’s department store — essential stops for the cash-conscious student.

However, it’s easy to get sucked into the more centralized, festive shopping area of The Waterfront, which hosts Abercrombie ‘ Fitch, Hollister, American Eagle, Journey’s, Pacific Sunwear, Express, Victoria’s Secret and more, as well as Loews Cineplex movie theater and a plethora of places to eat.

Another spot to keep in mind is the South Side. Traditionally the home of the city’s quirkier shops and eateries, the recently constructed South Side Works is invading the area and bringing new, yet familiar, big-name retail stores to the area. Current Works shopping attractions include Urban Outfitters, Puma, Kenneth Cole, Steve Madden, BCBG and United Colors of Benetton. But stay tuned as the construction continues and more retailers move in.

Finally, if the outdoor shopping setup isn’t your idea of a good time, you can find all the comforts of conventional mall shopping by heading to the Monroeville Mall, Ross Park Mall and the Mall at Robinson. Each is jam-packed with attractive stores and located within easy driving/busing distance.

With all of these options, and the time you may spend traveling between them to hit all of your favorite stores (because, of course, no one place ever encompasses them all), you’ll never be short of ways to spend time and money on yourself in Pittsburgh.