The Scholar
There are many inviting places for the scholar in Oakland; this section will only highlight three of them:
- a café
- a restaurant
- a cultural institution
Redhawk Coffee Café on Meyran Avenue is one of the best places to get excellent coffee in Pittsburgh. Redhawk is, from first to last, all about serving top-flight coffee in its small and inviting café. I ordered a cappuccino the first time that I visited Redhawk, and there has never been a reason to try anything else! The combination of a double espresso with steamed milk and foamed milk is done perfectly and served in a true cappuccino cup. I thoroughly enjoy having meetings at Redhawk with my colleagues and students.
Thomas J. Morton, Ph.D.
Department of History of Art & Architecture
University of Pittsburgh
Towards the eastern end of Oakland Business Improvement District, one has Lucca Ristorante – a wondrous Italian restaurant on Craig St. Having both indoor and outdoor seating that can accommodate parties of various sizes, Lucca’s is a divine place to meet other scholars for lunch or dinner and discuss the latest research. The Pumpkin Romano and Capesante are wise lunch entrees. Further, the pasta dishes are exquisite, especially the Truffled Short Pappardelle. Be sure to leave room for dessert; traditional Italian desserts are done well, and creative new desserts, such as the limoncello cheesecake, are offered. The lunch, dinner, and brunch menus change regularly, and this is a reason in and of itself to keep returning to Lucca’s!
When one strolls through Oakland, I always encourage people to visit the Carnegie Institute – home to the Carnegie Library, Music Hall, Museum of Art, and Museum of Natural History. Regardless of whether this is your first year in Oakland, or if you are a lifetime resident, there is always something new to see and do within the Carnegie Institute. The art galleries have been reinstalled, and there is wonderful new Teenie Harris gallery that everyone should visit. If your research tends to address older things, by all means, head to the Hall of Architecture and take in the stunning plaster casts of major works of architecture that go back in time thousands of years. The Carnegie gift shop and café are destinations in their own right. Enjoy!
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