My D will be moving to Pittsburgh July 1 for a 1 year fellowship. Renting an apartment near UPMC. Any recommendations for things to do, areas to avoid, etc.? She’s only been there twice (for the interview and to look at apartments). She’s renting furnished, but will probably need to pick up things she forgets - it’s 6 hours away from us so we won’t be visiting often 
My S and his fiancé live in that area. They are just off Carson.
It’s a great area to be. They have tons of shops and bars and restaurants. My S works downtown and he’s able to take the bus to work, hardly ever drives.
Which UPMC? They have a bunch of hospitals in different areas of the city.
@raneck Across from 3333 Forbes Ave. (New Syvue Apartments)
She’ll be fine…Pittsburgh is actually a very nice city (as much as a single city can be) and Oakland is not a bad part to be in. The usual cautions apply. Lots to do, museums, food, friendly people, greenspace. Make sure she has a warm coat, and good weatherproof boots for the winter/mud seasons. We were just at UPMC for medical care (stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn on Forbes, so nice!) and were reminded how the 'Burgh is underrated.
Oakland is a nice enough area, but is clogged with students during the school year. Lots of lunch options, but you’ll definitely want to go to Southside or Shadyside for evenings out. Bus service through Oakland is really good.
I live about two miles from that location. As others have said, there will be many students in the area and I would consider it to be pretty safe. If she has a car, parking might be her biggest problem. Lots to do and plenty of restaurants in that area and only minutes from downtown (cultural district and sports venues) or the Southside (restaurants and bar scene).
If you have any specific questions, please feel free to PM me.
short walk to Schenley Park, Phipps conservatory, great restaurants in Squirrel Hill and Shadyside. There’s free use of public transport with a pitt ID (I’m assuming fellowships get that same ID) to get to Target in Shadyside. Pitt also has a student ticket svc to Pitt symphony, ballet, opera if that’s an interest. There’s probably more to do than a med student will actually have time for.
I go by the SkyVue apartments fairly frequently. It looks like they’ll be really nice. As others have said, Oakland is a nice area, if a bit grittier than Shadyside. She’ll be really close to a lot of restaurants, pharmacies, etc. and anything else is an easy bus ride away, especially since Forbes Ave. through Oakland does get excellent bus service.
Pittsburgh is generally a very safe city, especially in terms of violent crime. She should avoid Homewood (area pretty far east of where she’ll be) but there’s literally no reason she’d be there anyways since it’s pretty much just a poor residential area. Areas around East Liberty (near Target, Whole Foods, etc) can get a little dicey. Otherwise just common sense in terms of not being out alone at night in less-travelled areas.
Pittsburgh is a nice city, although maybe not as chock-full of entertainment as DC or Philly or NYC.
I have a friend who lives there, and apparently there is a lot of Lyme disease in the area. Tell your D to wear a DEET containing product if she visits parks, goes hiking etc.
True, but it’s not just the Pittsburgh area. Lyme Disease is very prevalent throughout most of the northeast.
http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/stats/maps.html
http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2015/07/20/map-lyme/
Also, Picaridin works well if you react poorly to DEET-based products.