Fairywood - Pittsburgh, PA

The Fairywood area initially encompassed multiple public housing developments, however after residents started migrating to nearby neighborhoods, these structures were removed. Single-family homes then began to populate the area, but the homes fell into disrepair after residents moved. In the 1960s, development on the Industrial Highway began, though construction was never completed, and the highway became an unused and abandoned aspect of the neighborhood. Aside from its residential properties and a couple of warehouses, and businesses, Fairywood consists mostly of urban prairie.

This neighborhood lacks a strong museum and arts culture. For a thriving arts scene and museums, residents visit downtown Pittsburgh. Annual events in Fairywood include the Annual Unity Day Festival.

Fairywood itself houses a limited number of restaurants, and the only two in the area border State Highway 60. For a more diverse selection of eateries, residents visit nearby Crafton, Ingram, and downtown Pittsburgh. Nightlife in this area also borders State Highway 60.

Hanlon’s Cafe, located in Crafton, stands as an inexpensive diner with excellent service and impressive menu items. Although this restaurant lacks the luster of a five-star establishment, guests praise the quality of the food, quick preparation and overall dining experience. Popular dishes include the French onion soup, tuna melt, wedding soup, various patty melts and the Duquesne burgers.

Another nearby restaurant, Portofino’s, has established a reputation for preparing the best pizza in the Fairywood area. This restaurant specializes in pizza, however guests highly recommend the sandwiches and salads as well. Popular sandwiches include hoagies and gyros, while popular pizzas include the Buffalo chicken pie and the spinach and feta white pizza. Guests praise Portofino's for impressive food quality and large portions at affordable prices.

Chan An Restaurant serves authentic Chinese cuisine that guests find appetizing and flavorful. The restaurant may appear to be a hole in the wall, however the food comes highly recommended. Chan An Restaurant has become popular as a result of its quick food preparation and friendly service. The restaurant serves food in 10 minutes or less and has distinct recipes, including a dark broth for wonton soup, and brown and spicy sauce for the General Tso dishes. Popular items include garlic chicken, steamed dumplings and sweet and sour chicken.

Fairywood has one bar, Sharp Edge Creekhouse, located on the southern border. This spot has become popular with locals for the wide selection of beers, including Belgian beers and American Crafts. Sharp Edge also has half-price happy hours and a menu that exceeds the typical bar food selections. Other nightlife locations near Fairywood includes Fireside Inn and Mugshots Cafe.

Fairywood ranks as one of the least walkable neighborhoods in Pittsburgh, and the area has a minimal bike infrastructure, incorporating bike lanes on just a few roads. This means that most errands require a vehicle. Fairywood has some transit and public transportation options, however, including Port Authority bus routes 21 and 29.

Ride-sharing services such as Lyft, Uber and Zipcar serve downtown Pittsburgh, and reach the Fairywood area. This area lacks local taxi service, though, and parking consists mostly of customer parking lots. For access to nearby destinations, State Highway 60 helps residents travel with ease.

Fairywood has two neighborhood parks, including Broadhead Manor Park and Fairywood Park. Fairywood Park consists of a small recreational area with basketball courts, a swimming pool, a playground for children, picnic shelters and a walled garden. This family friendly park has an abundance of green space perfect for exercise and sports-related activities. The walled garden and open green space allow residents to experience the beauty of nature. Annual events and activities remain limited to events hosted by residents.

The cost of living in Fairywood sits one percent lower than that of Pittsburgh. A one-way, single fare costs $2.50 on Port Authority bus lines. The average one-bedroom goes for $745 on average, though rental properties remain limited in this area. Gas rises about 15 percent higher than the national average, and residents can expect to pay $3.00 for a domestic beer at a bar.

Crafton-Ingram Shopping Center sits less than a mile away from Fairywood, and you'll discover a handful of specialty shops and boutiques in the neighborhood.

One of the speciality stores in the area, Spun Sugars, sells cotton candy and other sweet treats. This store provides all-natural cotton candy for parties, weddings, and special events. Spun Sugars has different flavors that include root beer, peach, bubble gum, banana, and pumpkin. The cotton candy has no fat or gluten, and remains safe for vegans. Another boutique, Mandy Fierens Photography, provides photography services for weddings, birthdays and other special occasions. Mandy Fierens provides excellent customer service that allows guests to feel comfortable and relaxed. This boutique has professional quality work and guests praise Mandy Fierens for being a pleasure to work with.

For grocery needs, residents shop at Giant Eagle. This grocery store stocks produce, meats, dairy products and basic home essentials. Although this store lacks the flair of other big-box retailers, Giant Eagle has competitive prices and an excellent selection of brand-name items.

Fairywood lacks a farmers market, but residents go to the Originals Farmers Market in the Bridgeville area of McDonald and others that open up shop near downtown Pittsburgh.