ANNOUNCER: And now, "Get Out of Town," a WETA original series.

♪ LAUREN: We're on the road again.

♪♪ LAURITA: Yes, we are.

LAUREN: So come along.

LAURITA: Look what we have!

LAUREN: There are horses!

(gunshot).

LAURITA: Isn't this room beautiful?

(cheering).

LAURITA: I made it!

GRETCHEN: Thank you.

LAURITA: Oh!

That was so cute!

BOTH: Whoa, whoa.

LAUREN: Crank it, crank it, crank it.

LAURITA: It's never a competition, is it?

LAUREN: There you go!

(cheering).

LAURITA: Oh yes!

What's next, what's next?

Hi, I'm Laurita.

LAUREN: And I'm her daughter, Lauren.

LAURITA: We're from the DMV, and we love to travel.

LAUREN: We definitely do.

LAURITA: One of the best things about living in the DC area are the many places you can visit that are just a few hours away.

LAUREN: So many options, and now we get to check them out together.

LAURITA: So join us for some really cool places to stay... LAUREN: Great food.

LAURITA: And nonstop fun.

BOTH: As we Get Out of Town!

LAURITA: Here we are off to Pittsburgh.

It's gonna be a great weekend.

Another mother and daughter mad weekend!

LAUREN: In the PA.

It should take us about like three and a half hours, give or take with some traffic.

I have never been to Pittsburgh before.

I've driven through it.

LAURITA: It was an industrial steel town.

LAUREN: Yes.

LAURITA: Back in the day.

LAUREN: We're gonna be doing some cool things this weekend.

We're gonna go to a Pirates game.

LAURITA: I'm excited about that.

LAUREN: I love some baseball and America loves baseball too.

We're gonna be making stemless wine glasses at the Pittsburgh Glass Center.

LAURITA: Are we blowing the glass?

LAUREN: Yes!

LAURITA: I can't wait to do that.

LAUREN: I know.

Me too.

LAURITA: So we're also going to Carrie Furnace, that's where we're gonna get our history lesson and it really talks about the Black steelworkers in Pittsburgh.

LAUREN: Nice.

LAURITA: Well, Lauren, since I am driving, I need some music.

♪ CAMEO: Wave your hands in the air like you don't care.

♪ ♪ Fly by the people as they stop to look and stare.

♪ ♪ Do your dance, do your dance.

♪ ♪ Do your dance quick, mama.

♪ ♪ Come on, baby, tell me what's the word... ♪ LAUREN: Wow, this city is so pretty.

LAURITA: Oh, I love the architecture.

LAUREN: It definitely reminds me a lot of Philly.

Like the big tall skyscrapers.

Modern on one side, but then the old architecture on the other side.

LAURITA: You see these bridges, you really realize that Pittsburgh is a steel town.

'Cause there's a lot of steel bridges in the area.

LAUREN: I know.

LAURITA: It's really a vibrant-looking city.

JERAD: For people that have not been to Pittsburgh yet.

What we describe the city as is that it's an unexpected surprise.

A lot of people, when they come into Pittsburgh, they're coming in through the Fort Pitt Tunnel.

With the Fort Pitt Tunnels, we have noted them as really the only front-door that any major city has anywhere in America.

So, as you come through the tunnels, the city just unfolds right in front of you.

We are at the merging of three different rivers here in the downtown area alone.

But even beyond that, the rolling green hills that we have, the topography that we have, it really has led to a lot of individuals who are coming here for the first time and exploring all of our outdoor adventures that we have on hand.

The most talked about area, of course, is the Golden Triangle.

The area in the downtown that is right between the rivers.

Downtown Pittsburgh is such a thriving metropolis.

It is one of the most walkable cities in America.

So it's an easy place to live.

It's an easy place to get around.

♪ ♪ MADISON: Hello.

Welcome to Pittsburgh.

We're so excited to have you.

LAUREN: Thank You for having us.

MADISON: Of course.

Have you been to Pittsburgh before?

LAURITA: We haven't.

LAUREN: Right, this is our first time.

MADISON: Oh my goodness.

Well, you're gonna have so much fun.

LAUREN: So are these birds, and I see bird cages up there.

Is that a note to Pennsylvania or Pittsburgh specifically?

MADISON: Yeah, it is.

We're actually home to the National Aviary.

BOTH: Oh.

MADISON: We also have the Pittsburgh Penguins, and we have the Pittsburgh Pirates, whose mascot is a parrot.

LAURITA: I love that.

MADISON: So, lots of birds, very bird-friendly city.

LAUREN: I love that.

LAURITA: Nice.

MADISON: Here are your keys.

LAUREN: Thank you.

MADISON: And we hope you have such a great stay.

LAUREN: Thank you so much.

LAURITA: We will!

MADISON: So the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh, it's in downtown Pittsburgh, but we're a little bit pushed to the side over by PPG Paints Arena, which is where the Pittsburgh Penguins play.

Here at the hotel, it's very whimsical.

We're known as being playfully unafraid.

And you walk in and notice a beautiful flower chandelier that is hanging up top with all the different wildflowers.

You'll turn, you'll see our big yellow couch, which is the bold colors are another thing we are really known for.

So this originally was Duquesne Light, which is an electric company around here.

And all the guest rooms, you can see a little green light bulb that's framed for Duquesne Light.

After that, it was the Reed Smith Law Firm.

You can see it if you go into our ballroom area, we have these incredibly high ceilings.

So that actually used to be the law library.

So Lauren and Laurita are staying in our "Corner King Spa Room."

LAURITA: I love this wallpaper.

LAUREN: It's very boutiquey.

I love it.

Here we are.

LAURITA: Okie dokie.

LAUREN: Wow, nice.

LAURITA: This is such a vibe!

You know, I love the brass touches in here.

LAUREN: My eyes immediately went to the curtain.

I like the houndstooth.

LAURITA: Yeah, I would totally take this picture.

The colors like, set the room off.

LAUREN: Mm-hmm.

LAURITA: I have to take this all in 'cause this room is spectacular.

LAUREN: I know there's so many details, LAURITA: But I love the pop of color!

LAUREN: The yellow houndstooth that they have in the bathroom.

LAURITA: Oh, the tub is spectacular.

LAUREN: Oh, it's so nice.

I love a good shower-tub combo!

LAURITA: You know I'm getting in that tub, right?

LAUREN: Well, you're gonna have to wait till I get in.

LAURITA: Well, we'll see about that.

LAUREN: Wait your turn.

LAURITA: Well, let's check out the rest of this large room that we have.

Wow.

LAUREN: Ooh.

Oh, I love that birdcage.

Just tying it all in again.

LAURITA: I love it too.

And look at the headboard.

LAUREN: That lime green is eating!

LAURITA: And see that fabric on that pillow?

LAUREN: Mm-hmm.

LAURITA: That gold on it makes it really tie in with that grain.

LAUREN: I know, so nice.

LAURITA: We got a lot to do, and I know we're gonna eat well.

LAUREN: I know we have to get ready.

We're gonna go to the Monterey Bay Fish Grotto for dinner tonight.

All right, let's do it.

LAURITA: Okay, girl.

♪ ♪ LAUREN: We are heading up to Monterey Bay Fish Grotto Restaurant.

BOTH: Ooh!

LAURITA: What a nice view.

See that view?

JOHN: Monterey Bay Fish Grotto is a restaurant with floor-to-ceiling glass walls that is located from Mount Washington above the city of Pittsburgh.

It's a neighborhood that peaks at Grandview Avenue.

You take an elevator ride up to the top, and you turn around, and you look, and you see the city, and it's just something to take in.

Everybody comes in, and they see the main dining room and the high ceilings and the grandeur, and they think, wow, this is awesome.

You can see the city from everywhere, and you can have a great meal.

The name itself was selected from Monterey Bay in California, and the idea was to bring the fresh fish that people on the west coast could experience into the city of Pittsburgh.

2025 will actually be our 30th year in operation.

LAURITA: The reason we chose this restaurant was for this amazing view.

And you know, this is the place where the three rivers actually meet.

LAUREN: I know, I think that's actually Point State Park.

SERVER: I have our lobster arancini.

So we have fresh lobster risotto.

I have our fried Roman artichoke hearts served over a bed of fresh arugula and a side of roasted tomato aioli.

LAURITA: Thank You.

LAUREN: I don't think I've ever had a tomato aioli before, but the softness of the tomato pairs so well with the saltiness of the artichoke.

It's so good, and it has a little crunch.

(crunch).

The best part.

LAURITA: I heard that crunch girl.

JOHN: Our executive chef, Richard Sphatt, likes to create dishes.

It has more of a Mediterranean flare to it.

We have hand-cut steaks.

However, our shining star has always been fish.

SERVER: If I may.

LAUREN: Certainly may.

SERVER: So we have our French onion file mignon served with all of the best things from a French onion soup.

LAUREN: Yum.

LAURITA: All red.

SERVER: I have our Chilean sea bass.

This is going to have a cucumber, watermelon, salsa over top.

I'll finish with our fire-roasted Mexican Street corn.

LAUREN: Yes.

SERVER: A little cotija cheese over top and a pinch of tajin.

LAUREN: Thank you so much.

LAURITA: Because of the watermelon, cucumber, and lime, it wakes up your taste buds.

LAUREN: It really tastes like I'm eating French onion soup with the steak.

Top-tier perfection.

JOHN: Lauren and Laurita finished off with a grilled cheese sandwich.

This is angel food cake.

LAUREN: Ooh.

JOHN: Cream cheese filling vanilla bean gelato.

Three berry compote, strawberry, blueberry, blackberry.

And if that's not enough, they put some candied slivered almonds on top.

LAURITA: Oh wow.

JOHN: So please enjoy.

LAURITA: Next to this amazing view is all of this great, amazing food that we had.

And I tell you, I would've never thought of a grilled cheese dessert.

I will pass that along, and uh, you know, you talk about the view, the only thing better than that view, uh right there is the view of you two.

Mother and daughter sitting enjoying a dinner with us today.

So, thank you so much for visiting Pittsburgh.

BOTH: Thank You.

JOHN: Alright.

Enjoy.

LAURITA: We'll be back.

LAUREN: Woo.

LAURITA: That is so good.

The cream cheese and the angel food cake... Top shelf.

LAUREN: I have to say.

Chefs kiss.

LAURITA: Yes.

LAUREN: Cheers.

Off to Carrie Blast Furnaces.

RON: Where we are right now are the Carrie Blast Furnaces National Historic Landmark.

What this was was the iron-producing facility for the Homestead Works.

What's behind me here are the last extant, pre-World War II, blast furnaces left in this country.

These furnaces were built in 1907, and they operated until 1978, at which point they were shut down.

And that's really the beginning of the end of heavy industry in this region.

They are the place where all the technology that built the American 20th century in the iron and steel industry was put in place.

That's why they're historic landmarks.

But it's also what happened here, changed not just this region, but changed the world.

KIRSTEN: I'm gonna give you a little bit of a background of what this place is.

Take a look at every roof that you see around you, and in your imagination, multiply it out three times.

LAURITA: Oh, my gosh.

LAUREN: Okay.

KIRSTEN: Okay, so you're really only seeing about one-third of what actually used to be here.

LAUREN: Wow.

About how many people would be working here at one time?

KIRSTEN: At its height... LAUREN: Mm-hmm.

KIRSTEN: Um, Carrie employed about 5,000 people.

LAURITA: Because I imagine that this had to stay open continuously.

LAUREN: Yeah.

LAURITA: If the water had to flow if the air had to flow... LAUREN: The gas had to flow all that, yeah.

LAURITA: So couldn't shut it down.

KIRSTEN: You can't stop.

It's 24-7, 365.

BOTH: Wow.

KIRSTEN: But it's made, just like all of the others are made.

Inside, a layer of brick.

LAUREN: Mm-hmm.

KIRSTEN: Outside, a layer of steel.

LAUREN: Okay.

KIRSTEN: At the bottom, hot air goes in at the top, all of your raw materials go in.

So essentially, what you're looking at is kind of like a giant lava lamp.

So why don't we head on this way, and I can show you some more, okay?

LAURITA: Let's do it.

Sounds good.

RON: This is a site where everybody can take part, everybody can see a bit of themselves here.

Then we do the Black Experience Tour, where it's looking very specifically at the experience of the workers who came here in the 1930s as part of the Great Migration, escaping the South looking for a better life.

And though this is a rough place to work, it was opportunity.

LAURITA: This is huge.

LAUREN: Oh my goodness.

KIRSTEN: It is.

So, the hot air is going around the bottom of the furnace.

LAUREN: Mm-hmm.

KIRSTEN: You've got the raw materials going into the top of the furnace.

This is basically the same process as what's been going on since the Iron Ages.

LAURITA: Wow.

KIRSTEN: It's just industrialized.

LAUREN: Wow.

LAURITA: So with all that heat, I'm sure that took a toll on the workers.

KIRSTEN: Horrible toll.

Imagine being in here when that is running, and they have opened up the bottom of that furnace to get the iron out.

That iron is 3,000 degrees.

LAURITA: Oh my gosh.

KIRSTEN: It's lava.

But you can't move, you can't escape it.

You're working.

So, if you can imagine, by 1950, about 90% of all of the workers here were Black.

LAURITA: Wow.

KIRSTEN: Because this was the highest they could go.

They couldn't get into management.

BOTH: Right.

KIRSTEN: Couldn't get into trade.

And so this is where they wanted to be.

And we often tell the story of a man named John Hughey.

He started working here in 1947.

So he works for years, and he realizes that there's a lot of people here that look like me.

LAUREN: Yeah.

KIRSTEN: There's a lot of people here who maybe want a shot, but his goal it's, “I want a fair wage and a fair contract for everybody here.” LAURITA: Okay.

KIRSTEN: He's consequential in making Carrie what is considered the “Black Mill” in the Monongahela River Valley.

LAUREN: What Mark did John Hughey leave on the steel mill industry?

KIRSTEN: He made it possible for any person, man, woman, Black, White, that if you wanted a job here, you could get a fair contract, that everybody has an equal chance.

LAUREN: Oh, I love that.

KIRSTEN: And later on when asked about how he felt about the work that he did, he said, you know, "I never thought that what I was doing was civil rights work."

And that's one of the things that continues to overwhelm me is that despite knowing that, and despite knowing how dangerous it was, people came here by the hundreds of thousands... LAURITA: They needed a job.

KIRSTEN: And this was not just a job, it was a chance.

BOTH: Yeah.

LAURITA: So that's a really big piece of Black history.

KIRSTEN: Huge.

LAURITA: So I know there's more Black history here... KIRSTEN: It's all over... LAURITA: At the furnaces.

So, let's see what else we can find.

KIRSTEN: Absolutely.

Let's head out this way.

LAURITA: Okay.

Thanks.

RON: By 1988, US Steel sold this site to a scrapper who their intention was to tear it all down.

But a number of folks in this region came together and said, "If you tear this all down and you take it all away, you're taking away our ability as a region to use our history to help, you know, revitalize the region."

People want to know about this.

They wanna see this.

KIRSTEN: So this place, after it closes down in 1982, this place has never truly abandoned.

It becomes very quickly a haven for graffiti artists.

So now what we've got behind us is an example.

LAURITA: Wow.

KIRSTEN: Of probably one of the most complex pieces of art we have on this site.

This particular piece is called "Black Excellence."

It was made by a collection of artists, and their mission is to elevate Black art.

LAURITA: So I would imagine they came to create the art, but they left with the stories of probably some of their ancestors... KIRSTEN: Yes.

LAURITA: ...who worked here at the steel mill.

KIRSTEN: I think some of them did, actually.

LAURITA: Yes, so thank you for bringing us here.

LAUREN: And thank you so much for showing us around this space.

I always say Black history is American history, so it's so special that you guys are highlighting it in this way because this really is important history that might be lost at times.

So, thank you.

KIRSTEN: Thank you so much for coming today.

♪ ♪ TONI: Primanti's has been here since 1933.

There was a big produce yard that was here.

So people would come and pick up the produce 2:00 in the morning, 3:00 in the morning, and they would come in and grab a sandwich, and that's how, really, the sandwich started.

It was three brothers, only two worked here.

So they started make like a plain sandwich.

Then before, you know, they started put stuff on it, and that's how really we started.

We have fresh bread delivered every day.

We have fresh coleslaw made every day, we cut potato every day.

So everything gets fresh.

When somebody say, "What's your number one seller?"

I say, "Beer."

They say, "Well, that's not a sandwich!"

I said, "I know that."

Number two, it's "The Pittsburgh," it's like a steak sandwich with french fry.

Everything on.

SERVER: Lauren, you have the Reuben.

LAUREN: Yes.

LAURITA: Oh, good choice.

SERVER: That's a newer sandwich in within the past couple of years.

LAUREN: Mm-hmm.

SERVER: But it quickly rose to the top, and then it's a fan favorite.

LAUREN: Ooh!

SERVER: Laurita, you have one of our famous pastramis.

LAURITA: Oh my gosh.

LAUREN: Yum!

LAURITA: So, what makes your sandwiches so unique?

SERVER: The fries and slaw.

SERVER: Okay, well, we are gonna dig in.

SERVER: I'll be back to check on you shortly.

LAUREN: This Is like... LAURITA: It's hard to figure out what to do, but I'm just gonna go for it.

LAUREN: It's like as big as my head.

LAURITA: Wow.

You know, when I first saw that they put the slaw and the fries on the sandwich, I thought, well, that's unique, and how's it gonna taste?

But it really tastes really delicious.

LAUREN: I really like the crunch of the coleslaw in the sandwich.

LAURITA: Yes.

LAUREN: All the meat and the fries have kind of, like melted together.

So it's like a perfect combination of, like the saltiness, a little bit of the sweetness from the coleslaw.

LAURITA: Yes, I agree.

LAUREN: This sandwich will definitely fuel us for the rest of our day.

LAURITA: Well, you know, we need to finish up and get ready to check into the Oaklander Hotel.

Well, Bon Appetite LAUREN: Bone, apple, teeth.

♪ ♪ HOST: Welcome To the Oaklander.

BOTH: Thank you.

HOST: You're welcome.

I have your keys.

Be sure to check out our recording studio on the lower level.

It's a really cool amenity.

LAUREN: Ooh, that is cool.

Maybe I'll drop a beat or something.

LAURITA: Oh yeah, it'll be a beat.

That's all we need.

LAUREN: Thank you.

HOST: Enjoy your stay.

JOSH: The Oaklander Hotel opened up in February of 2019.

It's set in Oakland's Cultural District and right on the University of Pittsburgh's campus.

Back in the early 1800s um, William Eichbaum owned a huge piece of farmland here.

He sold the land and, in the early 1800s, created what's called the Syria Mosque.

It was Pittsburgh's largest concert venue at the time.

And then, it closed and was torn down in the early '90s.

So then they decided then to build a hotel on the property, which is now the Oaklander.

We have 167 guest rooms.

Of that, there's 13 suites, and 12 of those suites are what Lauren and Laurita are staying in is called a "Studio Suite."

LAUREN: Ooh, this is nice.

LAURITA: I love it.

This is lovely.

LAUREN: Look at the tub and that shower.

Oh, the shower-head is to die for.

LAURITA: Really sweet.

Now, let's check out the rest of it.

Wow.

I love the pop blue color.

It goes really nice with the black, white and gray.

LAUREN: I know, and I like the gold accents too.

LAURITA: I do too.

LAURITA: Oh, I thought this was the sofa.

It's actually a headboard.

A very unique headboard.

This is actually uniquely placed in this room to take in the beautiful view of these windows.

LAUREN: I know.

LAURITA: And look, there's the University of Pittsburgh.

LAUREN: Oh.

But we should go head out to the Duquesne Incline before we go to the Pirates game.

You ready to go?

LAURITA: I'm ready to go.

LAUREN: Alright, come on.

JERAD: So looking back at the evolution of Pittsburgh as a city, a lot of what was seen as being needed by our forefathers and people who are designing the city throughout the decades, they knew that we needed to get people in and around this entire region.

That is difficult to do when you have rolling hills.

And that means building bridges.

We are home to 446 bridges.

A lot of them are in the true colors of the destination, which are black and gold.

All of our professional sports team have adopted the same color scheme, and so has the city.

In addition to that, the funiculars that are located on Mount Washington, the Duquesne Incline and the Monongahela Incline, they're still very much used today just as they were 130 years ago and are one of the most popular visited attractions for tourists who are visiting the city.

(bell) LAUREN: While we were on the incline, we could see the beautiful skyline.

We saw multiple bridges, and we also were able to see the PNC Park where we will be going next to go see the Pittsburgh Pirates.

JERAD: Sports is such a big part of everything that we do here in Pittsburgh from a culture standpoint, but also a main reason why people come into the city.

You have to take in a ball game at PNC Park, which is where the Pittsburgh Pirates play, the view from that park is unrivaled anywhere in the MLB stadium series.

LAUREN: We made it to the Pirates stadium!

LAURITA: Let's go, Pirates.

LAUREN: Go Pirates.

Woo-hoo!

It's been so long since I've been to a baseball game, so this is so exciting to come out because we had a really cool time.

♪ ♪ LAURITA: Wow.

LAUREN: We just made it to Pittsburgh Glass Center.

We're gonna blow some glass and make wine glasses today.

They'll be stemless.

HEATHER: I'm so happy to welcome you to Pittsburgh Glass Center today.

We're an incredible non-profit public access facility where anyone who knows nothing about glass or who is an experienced, seasoned glass maker can come in and try making glass.

And if maybe making's not for you, you can also come and see things in our exhibition space.

We have three to four changing exhibits in our gallery every year.

So, the Pittsburgh Glass Center opened in 2001.

The idea was that we're connecting Pittsburgh's incredibly rich history with glass making with a creative future in glass making.

At one point, more than 80% of the nation's glass was actually produced here in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

And for a lot of the reasons that steel thrived in this region, glass did as well.

The rivers could bring in raw materials.

There were manufacturing facilities that already existed.

The rivers could ship out finished products at the end.

Glass was made in this region that sat on the tables of the White House and has been literally all over the world.

But then, unfortunately, for a lot of the same reasons that the steel industry died, the glass industry started to go away and leave this region as well.

And so we really have been revitalizing that history and telling people about it.

ROSWELL: Welcome to the Pittsburgh Glass Center.

LAURITA: Hi.

ROSWELL: I'm Roswell, I'm gonna be your instructor today, and we're gonna learn how to make some stemless wine glasses.

LAURITA: Awesome.

LAUREN: We are excited.

ROSWELL: Yeah, so this is our hot shop in here.

This is where all of our glass-blowing happens at the moment.

You can feel how hot this furnace is.

It is 2,200 degrees in there.

It is warm.

LAUREN: Geez, Louis.

ROSWELL: So what we're gonna do is we're gonna keep turning when we walk with it.

I'm gonna cool the pipe off.

You'll see it's gonna sizzle, sort of like putting water in a hot pan.

You want to help me?

We can start turning, trying to keep this glass on center and we're going to go pick what two colors you wanted to do.

Said you wanted this green in that blue over there, right?

LAURITA: Yes.

ROSWELL: And we'll head over to our reheating chamber over here.

LAURITA: Okay.

ROSWELL: Reheating chamber is a little bit hotter than our furnaces.

LAUREN: Yeah.

ROSWELL: Um, we'll go ahead and take it outta here.

LAUREN: Okay.

ROSWELL: And I'm gonna use this tool here, believe it or not, this table we do call a tool.

It's called a marver.

This is gonna help us shape this glass.

LAUREN: Ah.

ROSWELL: And so now I'm gonna put a bubble in there.

What's gonna happen is I'm going to basically fill this pipe with pressure.

I'm capping the back with my thumb.

LAUREN: Okay.

ROSWELL: And if you look at the top there, you should see a little bubble beginning to happen... LAUREN: I do see it.

LAURITA: Yes.

ROSWELL: ...at the tip.

So now we're gonna wait for this to cool down a little bit, and then we're gonna get a little bit more glass on the outside.

LAUREN: Okay.

ROSWELL: So if you wanna go ahead and sit down at this bench here, and then you'll scoot all the way up against this far rail here on the right.

Awesome.

I'm gonna go grab more glass right now, and then I'll come right back.

LAUREN: Alright, look at you.

LAURITA: This is exciting!

ROSWELL: This will be all that we'll need to make that wine glass.

LAUREN: Oh wow.

ROSWELL: Luckily, this wooden block will actually be able to shield my hand, so I'll be able to actually touch, right.

LAURITA: It's taking shape, it's taking shape!

LAUREN: I know!

HEATHER: One of the things that's really interesting about glass making is almost nobody has tried it before, and that puts everybody on a level playing field to create an absolutely amazing object.

ROSWELL: We're gonna have you blow, um... LAURITA: Okay.

ROSWELL: And you're gonna start pretty soft.

A little bit like you're blowing out a birthday candle.

LAURITA: Okay.

ROSWELL: And you can listen to me, I'll tell you to blow harder or softer.

So, you're gonna go ahead and blow, you can watch this expand.

Blow a bit harder if you want.

LAUREN: Go, go, go.

ROSWELL: Awesome.

LAUREN: Oh, I see the line.

ROSWELL: Yeah.

LAUREN: Woo.

LAURITA: Ah.

ROSWELL: It's a pretty fresh paddle, too.

Normally, they'll be kind of burnt pretty through.

LAUREN: Woo.

LAURITA: Ah, there we go.

ROSWELL: See it kind of becoming the shape that you want.

LAURITA: This is definitely a talented skill to have.

LAUREN: You make it look so easy, too.

ROSWELL: Years of practice.

I've been doing it for about four years.

LAURITA: Oh wow.

ROSWELL: Little bit harder.

Perfect.

LAURITA: Ah.

ROSWELL: That came right off... LAURITA: Oh!

ROSWELL: Now you've got yourself a nice little cup.

LAUREN: That's so cute.

LAURITA: That's nice.

ROSWELL: So I will take this cup with these Kevlar tongs to protect my hand.

LAURITA: Okay.

ROSWELL: In here, it's about 900 degrees.

LAUREN: Awesome.

ROSWELL: That's how you make a stemless wine glass.

LAURITA: Thank you.

ROSWELL: Can go ahead and make one with you, too so you're not all left out.

Lauren, it'll be your turn.

LAUREN: Yes.

ROSWELL: Same deal.

You'll get to stand here.

You'll feel this heat again.

LAUREN: Okay.

LAURITA: Yes.

ROSWELL: Come over and get your colors while I talk about that.

LAURITA: Great color choice, Lauren.

LAUREN: I know.

I like my choice.

LAURITA: Yeah, I heard this place was one of the top three in the country, so... ROSWELL: Yeah, there are very few... LAURITA: That's why people are moving here.

ROSWELL: Yeah, there are very few public access facilities of the size that we are.

LAUREN: Mm-hmm.

ROSWELL: And we're just lucky enough to have just expanded so we can have more people coming in here.

LAUREN: I see it.

LAURITA: There it goes.

That line.

I see that line forming.

LAUREN: I see it too.

LAURITA: Actually, the burning wood smells good to me.

LAUREN: I know.

ROSWELL: Yeah, it's a cherry wood as well.

So it's got this really nice, kind of smokey smell.

I'll bring it up on this, little tap.

LAURITA: Look at your little glass taking shape.

LAUREN: She is cute, okay.

ROSWELL: Perfect, that's great.

You can go ahead and take that off.

Woo-hoo.

ROSWELL: Awesome.

LAURITA: She looks good, Lauren.

LAUREN: She does.

LAURITA: Home run.

ROSWELL: Nice.

LAURITA: Yes.

LAUREN: One and done.

LAURITA: Yep.

ROSWELL: Ta-da.

LAUREN: She's cute.

ROSWELL: Yeah.

Got your glass right here.

(both cheering).

LAURITA: Good job, girl.

Well, this was so exciting for us today.

LAUREN: Thank you so much for showing us your amazing craft.

This is such a cool experience.

ROSWELL: Of course.

I'm glad to show you guys around our hot shop and show you everything.

I'm happy to talk you're ear off if you ever give me the chance.

LAUREN: I love that.

LAURITA: Alright, well, take care of our two girls in there, and we will get them later.

ROSWELL: All right, you got it.

HEATHER: One of the things that we talk about when people come to the Glass Center, they're amazed.

It's something they've never seen before.

And that sense of awe and wonder is something that we really love seeing in people.

LAUREN: What a great trip.

LAURITA: This was a fantastic weekend, and I have a whole new appreciation for Pittsburgh.

LAUREN: Mm-hmm.

LAURITA: I really thought it was gonna be a cold, like industrial-looking town, but it was just a warm and beautiful and welcoming city.

LAUREN: Yeah.

Very upbeat.

Very lively.

But I really enjoyed being able to kind of see Pittsburgh through the eyes of Pittsburgh going up the Duquesne Incline and being able to see the city line and being able to see a baseball game was a really cool experience.

LAURITA: I think one of my favorite things that we did while we were here was our own personal glass-blowing.

LAUREN: Mm-hmm, I had actually never gone glass-blowing before, so now I feel like I can add that to the resume.

LAURITA: Check.

That's right.

Take us home, girl, take us home.

♪ Take me away.

♪ ♪ A secret place.

♪ ♪ (A secret place).

♪ ♪ A sweet escape.

♪ ♪ (A sweet escape).

♪ ♪ Take me away ♪ ♪ (Take me away).

♪ ♪ Take me away.

♪ ♪ (Take me away).

♪ ♪ To better days.

♪ ♪ LAURITA: Doo-do-dup, ♪ ♪ We are going to have a great weekend.

♪ ♪ LAUREN: We will.

♪ ♪ LAURITA: Because we like to get up and go.

♪ ♪ LAUREN: We do.

♪ ♪ LAURITA: Once we get on the road, you know, ♪ ♪ we're going to do some fun things.

♪ ♪ LAUREN: Always.

♪ ♪ LAURITA: We're going to eat good food.

♪ ♪ We're gonna have some fun.

♪ ♪ LAUREN: Oh, yeah.

♪ ♪ LAURITA: And stay in two really cool places.

♪ ♪ LAUREN: Hey!

♪ ♪ LAURITA: So we're rocking around... ♪ ♪ BOTH: The Oaklander at the "Rock n Oak" studio.

♪ ♪ LAUREN: Hey, hey, hey.

♪ ♪ LAURITA: We have so much more to stay, but now... ♪ ♪ BOTH: We gotta go!

♪ ♪ LAUREN: Hey, that went by.

♪ ♪ BOTH: But now we've got to go... ♪ LAURITA: And that's a wrap.

LAUREN: Ha.

Mic drop.

LAURITA: Boom.

ANNOUNCER: To discover more places to visit outside the Washington Metro area, visit weta.org/getoutoftown.