The Strip Show (Special Interest/Produce Yards & Shopping)
Picture: C+
Sound: C+ Extras: C+ Main Program: B
Despite the racy-sounding title, there is noting sexual
and XXX rated about The Strip Show.
This “strip” is a section near the river and business district of
Downtown Pittsburgh with an exceptional amount of specialty stores, especially
when it comes to food. Between the
restaurants, clubs and markets, it is an ever-amazing place that has changed a
bit since the show was first broadcast and produced in 1996.
This 2004 DVD updates the program a bit, yet there have
been some more changes since that have actually added some nice new food
places. Being near the river helps
bring in fresh product quickly, but the rich influx of trucks loaded with
goodies helps. There is even a train
nearby, so wholesale sales are huge.
The great food and shopping brings people together in a great mood,
which makes visiting it additionally fun.
So is this program, which rightly remains one of Sebak’s favorites.
DeLuca’s and Jo Jo’s are amazing breakfast spots, the
Sunseri/Pennsylvania Macaroni Company is a great place to go for fresh food and
bread, though they recently have found themselves in competition with a
Mancini’s outlet with amazing bread of their own, as covered in Pittsburgh A
To Z as also reviewed on this site.
Sunseri makes their own cheeses.
We also hear about the early days when more industry existed in the area
in relation to steel production. The
food is endless and too much to go into here, but will not disappoint food
fans, even having street venders. It is
also a place for novelties, though not like it used to be.
Once again, the 1.33 X 1 full screen image was shot in
professional NTSC analog tape and looks very good considering that. Over and over again, these DVDs look so good
and have been mastered very carefully so rewatchability is always a
pleasure. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
is simple, but clean and clear. Extras
include the usual previews for this show, other national show and installments
of The Pittsburgh Series, all with Mr. Sebak.
Additional extras include the Klavon’s Ice Cream update also on An
Ice Cream Show (elsewhere on this site), a segment on the year-end holiday
in The Strip from Happy Holidays In Pittsburgh (also on this site), fish
sandwiches from Roland’s Seafood Grill from (again) Pittsburgh A To Z,
and a local radio personality’s additional thoughts on the area from the main
program. That show runs 75 minutes and
the DVD has a few more extras than usual says something about the rich ness of
the show. We recommend it highly.
- Nicholas Sheffo
