Brian has been talking about going to Pittsburg to see Steven play for months and months. He was checking the schedule in early Sept and realized that ESPN was listing Steven as the starting pitcher for their home game on Saturday Sept 7! Could this be true? I quickly asked Steven and he said yes!
The only thing on our calendar for that day was Macy's season opener for baseball. Ut oh. We actually let her choose- her team, the Rays, or Steven's team, the Pirates. Who do you think she chose?
We've been tossing around the idea of going on a trip with the Melendez family before we move, but we seemed to be running out of available weekends. So when this all came together, I reached out to Christine to see if they could come too. Nico has been following Steven's career closely this year- and even plays him on his MLB video game. He also has high hopes to get to every baseball stadium in America, and he had not yet been to PNC Park. But Nico had a sweet 16 party on Saturday night.... so they let him choose- party or Pirates. And he also chose Pirates!
Brian got us a hotel directly across the street from the stadium- literally there was only a cross walk separating us from the park. And some amazing seats- 4th row behind the Pirates dugout. THIS IS GOING TO BE AMAZING!
All geared up and headed out for snacks-
4 hr car ride, this should be enough-
Girl car- Christine's minivan and boy car, my Volvo. Macy loved riding in style with the recliner captains chair-
She also loved the drink Jose got her! Little did he know that the Baja Blast is Steven's favorite fast food beverage- and Macy had never had one.
In the girl car, we listened to Steven's IMHO podcast on the way to Pittsburg, and Christine quickly started loving Steven and Trevor as much as we do.
Our hotel had a silent auction for charity in the lobby, with replicas of the Steelers Championship ring and the Penguins also. It's was a bit too gaudy for us-
Off we go!
We wanted to get in the park early to get the giveaway- the limited addition Marvel Spiderman Pirate Bobblehead-
And we all got one!
We walked around the park, went to the fan shop, grabbed some food and drinks and then found our seats, which were so incredible-
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Yes, Brian is in a pirate hat and coat... Apparently the fans who dress like pirates/buccaneers sit in a section of their own.
Opps, my bad!
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And here he is!
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walked on the field, he looked back and pointed right to us. We were so close that I swear we could see his bubble gum!
It was cancer awareness night at the park, sponsored by Katie Couric's Stand Up to Cancer organization, and before the game they brought a bunch of kids onto the field for a meet and greet with the players. Because Steven was the starting pitcher, he wasn't able to come out but Trevor Williams, Steven's podcast cohost who just adopted a second child, was right in front of us. During the 7th inning stretch all fans got to hold up a sign in honor of someone they know who has fought a courageous cancer battle-
Yup, christine is a breast cancer survivor!
When the Pirates fell out of the lead, Tate put on his rally cap-
They just couldn't pull off a win that night. Steven sent me a text during the last inning saying he was going to keep our visit short and sweet, which I totally understood. He'd had a bunch of good games recently, a crummy one was due.
We know to meet him along the fence on the 3rd base line, and as we did- all 8 of us- a few other people gathered too. They didn't know who they were waiting for, they just sensed someone was coming out. And when Steven came out he was amazing. I introduced him to the Melendez's, we all got our hugs and he was happy to sign anything for Nico and Mia.
As you see in the pictures above, random people were trying to pass him balls, t-shirts, photos- anything for him to sign. He was so respectful and just said to everyone that he would sign one or two, but then wanted to spend time with his family.
I needed a group photo, so I asked Steven if it'd be okay if he signed something for whomever I asked to take our photo, which he was happy to do. And then we here Brian yelling from a few rows up, that he'd purposely stood back to quickly snap a photo for us all. I love this picture below when Steven realizes it's Brian!
Brian didn't come down for the photo, knowing Steven's time- and patience- was short. But some nice lady got her ball signed for taking this great shot of us-
We said our goodbyes and then a police officer came over and escorted Steven away- puff, just like that he was gone!
This night really was just too good to be true. The weather, the friends, the seats, the cousin- all of it!
Brian struck a pirate pose after the game-
We decide to put all the kids in one room and head out to grab a couple drinks together! Off we go!
Someday this won't seem like a big deal- but leaving our kids- 10, 12, 13 and 15- all alone in a hotel in a strange city while we Uber across town in the dark- WOW WOW WOW!
I'd asked Steven earlier where we should go to have a few drinks after the game and he told me go to Sienna Mercato, so we did! It was a rooftop bar and we loved it. I had a few Gin and Tonic's in his honor- 
Just FYI- if Steven was ever on death row, that'd be the alcoholic drink of choice before the firing squad took him out. (Thank you IMHO podcast!)
Let's take a picture together babe-
And now for a real one-
We went to a second place, which just happened to be next door, and also on the IMHO podcast, Bakersfield. And there the guys like to have Spicy Margaritas-
Pittsburg is a city of love-
Me "Morning Christine, how'd you sleep?"
Christine "Not very well."
Me "Oh no. What was wrong?"
Christine "Let's wait until we all get to the table to share this story"
Turns out that when we arrived at the hotel, Brian parked Christine's van for her in the hotel lot.
Well, at 2:30am the hotel room phone started ringing and ringing and ringing. Christine, in a dead sleep, didn't get to it in time before the person on the other end hung up. Next thing she knows, her cell phone is lighting up with someone calling it.
Christine "Hello?"
Other person "Hello ma'am. This is the front desk. Just wanted to let you know that our security guard just found that your minivan is in the parking lot still running"
WHAT?!?! Well, Brian wasn't aware exactly about how to turn off the keyless ignition that their van has, so he thought he'd done everything right- but it was all in vain. That minivan ran for about 13.5 hours straight! When we got in it Sunday morning, there were only 6 miles left in that gas tank. Brian happily helped find the closest gas station and filled it up!
Christine said the honestly the worst part about it was that they had NO idea where the van was even parked after the front desk called because they didn't even park it! And Jose kept reminding her "I didn't drive" over and over and over in his sleepy state. Thankfully Mia and Macy were gazing out the hotel room windows earlier when we'd left them alone and they saw our cars in the parking lot down below. So when Mia woke up to the bickering, she was able to give some assistance! Go Mia!
We'd not seen Steven's banner on the outside of the park the day before, so after breakfast we went out for a little walk to find it-
The park was already buzzing with activity as the Pirates had a 1pm game that day that we were all soooo tempted to go to, but knew we could only afford those seats once a decade!
Over breakfast we debated taking off and driving to Gettysburg, which is on our bucket list, but instead decided to check out what ever Pittsburg had in store for us. First up, The Duquesne Incline-
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The Duquesne Incline is a funicular located near Pittsburgh's South Side neighborhood and scaling Mt. Washington in Pennsylvania, United States. Designed by Samuel Diescher, the incline was completed in 1877 and is 800 feet long, 400 feet in height, and is inclined at a 30-degree angle. Voted one of the top 10 sites in the WORLD for viewing a cityscape by USA Today
The sign says "Mind the Step" but there is no step at all if the cart isn't there! It was a bit frightening!
Up we go!
Macy's face says it all-
At the top there is another small station-
and an observation deck with some amazing city views-
But all things that go up, must also come down. So here we go!
The Incline was so cool. And to think that that is not just a tourist attraction, but it is how workers used to travel from their neighborhoods at the top of the mountain to get to downtown each and every day. Many still do!
Next we went to The Strip District- where we found some amazing grocery stores, restaurants, souvenirs shops and stumbled upon a Catholic Italian festival!
Lined with converted warehouses, the hip Strip District has a vibrant mix of old-style grocers and gourmet food shops, street stands selling produce and t-shirts, plus upbeat bars, classic Italian eateries
Next up- Steven's favorite cookie place in The 'Burgh-
The mint chocolate chip cookie really was "to die for"
And lastly, one more claim to fame for Pittsburgh- the steepest street in America and the 2nd steepest street in the world! Canton Ave-
Canton Avenue, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's Beechview neighborhood, is the steepest officially recorded public street in the United States.
Canton Avenue is 630 ft long (the hill is about 65 meters long) and is claimed to include a 37% grade, 21 ft feet long. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Ffordd Pen Llech in Wales is the world's steepest street with a gradient of 37.45%.
In March 2016, the street was the subject of a commercial, featuring freeskier Bene Mayr, snowboarder Heikki Sorsa, downhill mountain biker Aaron Gwin, and racing driver Mattias Ekström for the Audi Quattro A4 automobile.
Oh Pittsburgh, you are my kind of city! With lots of history mixed in with new and modern industry and die hard sports fans- we really liked you.
PS- Nico told me that he slept with the ball Steven signed for him that first night in the hotel room. Love that kid.
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