Mural depicting Bloomfield's immigrant history.

Even though I’ve wandered through the Bloomfield section of Pittsburgh for many years either on the way home from my day job in Oakland or while waiting for my kids during their orthodontist appointments, I knew there had to things I’d been missing. Those little neighborhood gems. Local secrets.  So I signed up myself and my younger daughter for a tour with Sylvia McCoy’s company, ‘Burgh Bits and Bites. McCoy and her crew takes folks on walking tours though interesting ( and sometimes intimidating to newbies) Pittsburgh neighborhoods like Lawrenceville, Bloomfield and the Strip District.  Filled with bits of history and bites (mostly big bites) of food,  these tours are my idea of how to fill a few hours for natives and visitors alike. Not only did we go inside and get samples at some old time Italian stores and eateries, but we also got to meet many of the colorful owners and hear their stories. These characters are who make the neighborhood special.   I can’t really pick a favorite stop on the tour, but a highlight was certainly the short lesson in Pittsburgh history – the bridges, the nearby Allegheny Cemetery – by a young and hip frozen confection expert at Grasso Roberto Cafe. And my cherry straciatella gelato there was pretty darn good, too.

Cherry Straciatella Gelato

These new finds will certainly be on my new “go to” list in Bloomfield.  I’m going to sign up for the Lawrenceville tour next.  Can’t wait to see what I’ve been missing there!