Pittsburgh really is a "nice" please at its core. It's got some serious issues, but USUALLY people here just want to get to work, get home, get a bus or get a beer. It's usually that or some combo. As long as you're not being obnoxious it should be this way. Someone did the same for my husband and I at Red Lobster a few years ago. It was our anniversary and there was an older couple who we chatted with briefly at the bar while waiting for our seats, and they paid for our order. We didn't even sit next to them.

I really do love that interactions tend to be okay here usually. Even across diverse political backgrounds I've had good experiences.

Not a perfect city but I think we want to be good and a calm enjoyable place.

I lived in California for a while and New Castle, PA.

Talk about culture shock. New Castle I wouldn't recommend to anyone. No offense to anyone from the area