Top 10 Things to do during the 55^th Annual DRAP Conference:

1. Learn to speak the native tongue. Since you probably don’t have a “Yinzer” app on your phone, let me help you. You’ll need to say “yinz” instead of you; “n’at” instead of “and that”; “Jagoff” instead of jerk; “pop” instead of soda; “gum band” instead of rubber band; “nebby” instead of nosey; “crik” instead of creek; “slippy” instead of slippery; “jumbo” instead of bologna; “redd up” instead of clean; “buggy” instead of shopping cart; and “sweeper” instead of vacuum. Please take note that we use “yinz” to start most of our sentences and “n’at” to end them.

2. Dip your feet in the Fountain (or one of our three rivers) at Point State Park. Be careful, it can be “slippy” near the Fountain!

3. Ride the Duquesne Incline to Mount Washington. Take a bunch of selfies from the Observation Decks that run along Grandview Avenue. There’s no finer skyline in America!

If you’re going with a vendor, dine at Altius, Monterey Bay or Le Mont. If you’re on a County budget, grab some wings at the Bigham Tavern or stop by the Melting Pot, Gandy Dancer Saloon or Tupelo Honey in Station Square.

4. Tailgate before the Steelers (pronounced “Stillers” by Yinzers) Home Opener at Heinz Field (we are never going to call it Acrisure Stadium). If you can’t get a good parking spot or aren’t able to crash some Yinzers tailgate party, you can always go to the Rivers Casino, Tequila Cowboy, McFadden’s, Southern Tier Brewing Co., Bar Louie, Burgatory, The Foundry, North Shore Tavern, Mike’s Beer  ar or Shorty’s Pins x Pints on the North Shore.

5. Take a ride on the Gateway Clipper.

You can take the short ride from Station Square to the North Shore before the Steeler’s Home Opener on Sunday, September 18th or the one-hour boat ride on the following Wednesday or Thursday.

6. Eat, drink and shop in the Strip District. Get some “dippy” (over easy) eggs at De Luca’s Diner or crepe-style pancakes at Pamela’s; a fish sandwich at Wholey’s; the “#2 Best Seller” at the world-famous Primanti’s (which is best eaten on the hood of your car after a night of drinking); or a pepperoni roll at Sunseri’s. And, of course, you’ll want to pick up some Steelers or Penguins gear to wear back in Philly.

7. Get Cultured. The Burgh has the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Science Center, Andy Warhol Mueum, Heinz History Center, August Wilson Center, Heinz Hall, Benedum Center and Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, n’at.

8. Be Entertained. The Burgh also provides home to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, the National Aviary, Kennywood Park (make sure that you get some potato patch fries while you are between rides), PNC Park, Heinz Field (again, we are never going to call it Acisure Stadium), PPG Paints Arena and the Rivers Casino.

9. Pay homage to the late, great Pat Quinn. Have a seat on his bench overlooking Duquesne University’s Rooney Field, see the playground dedicated to him at the Family Court Center or stop by for a drink at his “home away from home”, Satilio’s (27 Bailey Avenue on Mt. Washington).

10. Enjoy an evening at the best ballpark in America, PNC Park. Come watch a mediocre baseball team play ball in the most beautiful ballpark in America, PNC Park. If you’re lucky, it will be a fireworks or bobble head night!

In addition to the traditional hot dogs and peanuts, you can munch on a Primanti’s sandwich, a Pittsburgh Cone (which is a waffle cone filled with kielbasa and pierogies), or a pulled pork sandwich at Manny’s BBQ (which is often frequented by Pirates catcher Manny Sanguillen himself).

Take a selfie with Pirate legends Honus Wagner, Roberto Clemente, Bill Mazeroski and Willie Stargell (or, at least, with their statues) or walk down river and visit with Pittsburgh icon, Mr. (Fred) Rogers, because it’s always a beautiful day in the  eighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania!