First date

It was a very hot day in July, 2006.  Dave and Chris, who had previously shopped for each other on Match.com, had their first date at Lucky Bar, Dupont Circle, D.C.  

Chris had just finished her first year of PhD coursework at Maryland, and Dave was in between his first and second year of law school.   

Chris was a little bit late for that first date, but Dave never knew.  Despite working a summer internship next door to the bar, Dave was very late.  He had stopped back home to pick up his new motorcycle (motorcycles impress all women but Chris, he would later find out).

They talked, ate nachos, and finally got chased out of the bar by a loud and aggressive salsa-dancing tutorial.  After a quick stop at the bike, they continued their first date at a bar next door.  

As the evening came to a close, they planned a second date.  And the rest, as they say, is history!  

Dining in Pittsburgh

What follows is a quick guide to Pittsburgh cuisine. Not surprisingly, this steel town is best at down-home, rib-sticking breakfasts and lunches, and even the fanciest dinner restaurants never require more than "business casual."  We've listed our favorites below (as well as some of our lighter, healthier favorites).   

 Breakfast

We (along with President Obama) strongly endorse Pamela's Diner in the Strip.  If you're not the President, you'll have to wait - maybe for a long time - but the thin, crispy pancakes are worth every minute!

Other standout breakfast options include Deluca's Diner, also in the Strip, and Crepes Parisiennes in Shady Side. If you make it out to Shady Side, which is just beyond the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Melon campuses, be sure to stop by Prantl's Bakery.

(NB: Parking will be difficult in the Strip on Saturdays and Sundays. Try to find a spot on Smallman Street.) 

Lunch  

You should probably eat at Primanti's, Pittsburgh's epicenter, unless you think you'll really hate cole slaw and fries on your sandwich.  There are now a few branches throughout the city, but the original is again in the Strip.

If you're looking for a little less grease, check out Enrico Biscotti Cafe, also in the Strip. Nearby Klavon's Ice Cream Parlor makes a nice after-lunch treat.  

Additionally, you might head out to The Original Hot Dog Shop (The "O") in Oakland, Pittsburgh's college 'hood, or to Tessaro's in Bloomfield for killer hamburgers.  One quick and healthy option is vegetarian Hoi Palloi Cafe and Coffeehouse, located very close to all the North Side hotels.

Dinner 

For a casual dinner, you might hit Pittsburgh's South Side, where you'll find Yo Rita, a fairly new and pretty unique taco place, DISH Osteria Bar, for Italian, or Mallorca, for Spanish. 

Max's Allegheny Tavern is a tasty German restaurant conveniently located near all North Side hotels.

Or trek out to Bloomfield (a 10 minute drive) to our favorite, Bloomfield Bridge Tavern, for delicious Polish food and for some Pittsburgh heart and soul. 
More sophisticated dining (be sure to tuck in your Steelers jersey) includes Nine on Nine and Six Penn Kitchen, both in Pittsburgh's Cultural District; or Eleven and Lidia's Italy, blocks away in the borderland between Pittsburgh's Cultural District and the Strip.  

Best highbrow option for both atmosphere and food is Isabela on Grandview, serving Italian.

View Dining in Pittsburgh in a larger map

      

Self-penned ceremony

A draft blessing that did not make the cut:


 "May they support and challenge each other emotionally, intellectually and physically."

Some engagement pictures

 

Again, many thanks to Tif at Hot Metal Studio for the lovely photos !

Gift registries

We've registered at 

• Artistica (online and in Winnetka, IL),
• Bed, Bath & Beyond (online and almost everywhere else), and
• Wishpot (online only).  

If you'd like, you can find each of our registries under either "Chris Maffuccio" or "Dave Cann." 

Experience Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh really is a fun city.  There is a lot to do there while visiting for Memorial Day weekend, hopefully including coming to our wedding.  For those of you who live in Pittsburgh or have lived in Pittsburgh, please don’t just breeze past this blog entry - add to it! 

 

Hotels, hotels, hotels!

Thanks to the hard work of the father of the bride, Dick Maffuccio, we are pleased to present you with the following hotel options for your visit to Pittsburgh.  

Transportation to and from the wedding will be provided by our gracious hosts at The Spring Hill Suites Marriott on the North Shore, at the Inn on the Mexican War Streets, and at the Priory Hotel.

View North Side Hotels in a larger map

The Spring Hill Suites Marriott on the North Shore, on Sixth and Federal across the street from PNC Park (where the Pirates lose their home games), is 1 mile away from the Mattress Factory Museum, our wedding venue.

A block of rooms has been secured for guests of the wedding at a special rate of $139 per night contingent on 15 booked rooms. Call Eileen by April 29 at (412) 323-9005 and be sure to mention the Maffuccio/Cann wedding. 

The Inn on the Mexican War Streets is a small bed & breakfast just three blocks away from Mattress Factory Museum. (Chris and Dave will be staying here.)

The entire Inn (nine rooms in total) has been secured at a special $119/night rate.  Call Karl by April 29 at (412) 231-6544 and request a room for guests of the Maffuccio/Cann wedding.

The Priory Hotel, a cool, old-world bed & breakfast one mile from the Mattress Factory Museum.  

Rooms, which vary in price and size, are not reserved but should be available if booked far enough in advance.  Call (412) 231-3338.



Additionally, rooms have been blocked off at The Pittsburgh Marriot North in Cranberry Township, which is just a few short minutes away from the Maffuccios' in the North Hills and a 25 minute drive from the Mattress Factory Museum. 

Call Jill at (724) 772-3701.  If 10 rooms are booked by April 29, the hotel will offer wedding guests a special rate of $119/night.  Again, ask for the Maffuccio/Cann wedding block.

Wedding vows

The now relatively popular “Apache Wedding Blessing” was written in 1950 for a cowboy movie, Broken Arrow.  An even less well known fact is that other movies and TV shows have spawned popular wedding vows.  Here are just a few:

Broken Arrow,  “The Apache Wedding Blessing”

Now you will feel no rain,
For each of you will be shelter to the other.
Now you will feel no cold,
For each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there is no more loneliness,
For each of you will be companion to the other.
Now you are two bodies,
But there is one life before you.
Go now to your dwelling place,
To enter into the days of your togetherness.
And may your days be good and long upon the earth.

Deadwood, “Vows of South Dakota”

I, *#%$@*%&, take thee, to be my #%$@*%& wife,
and before #%$@*%& God and these #%$@*%& witnesses I promise to be
a faithful and true husband."

"Will you, #%$@*%&  have this #%$@*%& to be your #%$@*%& wife? Will you #%$@*%& #%$@*%& her, comfort and keep her, and #%$@*%&saking all#%$@*%& other remain true her as long as you both shall #%$@*%& live?"

"With this #%$@*%& ring I thee #%$@*%& wed, and all my worldly goods I thee endow. In #%$@*%& sickness and in health, in poverty or in wealth, 'til #%$@*%&death do us #%$@*%& part #%$@*%&."

Did you know...

• Chris and Dave met on match.com.
  
• At their first date, Chris told Dave he was “the sweatiest person" that she had ever seen.  It was true.
• Chris is in charge of making sure bills get paid on time; Dave is in charge of taking our the garbage and recycling.
• Dave informally proposed to Chris several times before finally procuring a ring and doing it properly.   While a fait acompli, it was still very nice.
• Chris’s engagement ring was Dave’s great grandmother’s.
• All of Dave’s co-workers have mentioned, independently, how smart Chris is.
• Chris was not wooed by Dave’s having a motorcycle, despite repeated assurances that she should be.
• During the duration of their relationship, Chris has never had fewer than 50 library books in the her apartment.
• When Chris and Dave began dating almost none of their friends had babies or dogs.  Now you all do. 
• Chris encourages Dave to work on his art projects; Dave discourages Chris from working so hard all the time.
• Chris cooks Mondays and Tuesdays; Dave cooks Wednesdays and Thursdays.  Friday is date night.