DETAILS

Pittsburgh's South Side

GETTING THERE: Pittsburgh is about 240 miles from the Beltway. Numerous airlines fly from the Washington area to Pittsburgh; fares start at about $199, with restrictions.

Once in the South Side, parking is limited, but walking is easy. From downtown, East Carson Street is a 15-minute ride on the 51B or 51G bus, or take the subway to Station Square and walk 10 blocks on East Carson.

WHERE TO STAY: Stroll to everything from the Holiday Inn Express Pittsburgh-South Side (20 S. 10th St., 412-488-1130, http://www.hiexpress.com/pittsburghpa ); rates start at $131 a night double, including breakfast. A larger, convention-style riverfront choice is the Sheraton Station Square (200 W. Station Sq., 412-261-2000, http://www.sheraton.com/ ); rates from $176. A century away is the Morning Glory Inn (2119 Sarah St., 412-431-1707, http://www.gloryinn.com/ ), a Victorian B&B. Rooms and suites, all with private baths, start at $135.

WHERE TO EAT: Dish Osteria and Bar (128 S. 17th St., 412-390-2012) serves up such Mediterranean-influenced entrees as pan-roasted pork chops stuffed with truffle cheese, prosciutto and basil; dinner for two with wine is about $90. Nakama Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar (1611 E. Carson St., 412-381-6000) is open daily for hibachi, sushi platters, even "Karate Kids" meals; dinner for two with drinks is about $70. UUBU 6 (178 Pius St., 412-381-7695) serves upscale American food and seafood; dinner for two with wine is about $100.

WHAT TO DO: The Brew House (2100 Mary St., 412-381-7767) hosts eclectic events and frequent exhibits by local artists in its Space 101 gallery. Zany Umbrella Circus performs throughout the city; visit http://www.zanyumbrella.com/ or call 412-390-4054 for a schedule. City Theatre (1300 Bingham St., 412-431-2489, http://www.citytheatrecompany.org/ ) stages Eve Ensler's "The Good Body" through Saturday.

The Silver Eye Center for Photography (1015 E. Carson St., 412-431-1810, http://www.silvereye.org/ ) hosts "It's a Dog's Life: Photographs by William Wegman From the Polaroid Collection" through Saturday, while La Fond Galleries (1711 E. Carson St., 412-431-3337) hangs contemporary art in a converted 1868 bakery.

Want to burn off some energy? Borrow a bike from lockers along the Three Rivers Heritage Trail; see http://www.friendsoftheriverfront.org/ or call 412-488-0212 for locations and details.

Print out a self-guided walking tour of the neighborhood from http://www.pittsburghneighborhoodtours.com/ , or search weekly events calendars at http://www.pghcitypaper.com/ .

INFORMATION: South Side Local Development Co., 412-481-0651, http://www.southsidepgh.com/ . Greater Pittsburgh Convention and Visitors Bureau, 800-359-0758, http://www.visitpittsburgh.com/ .

-- Christine H. O'Toole