Tomato Capital has growing art scene
Pittston, the self-proclaimed “Quality Tomato Capital,” is a colorful city celebrating small-town values. The community comes together for events like the Paint Pittston Pink Gentleman’s Dash, a breast cancer awareness fundraiser moving into the greater Scranton area, or Shop with a Cop, where local police officers give children $100 to spend on Christmas gifts for their parents. Murals, often tomato-inspired, are painted on the sides of buildings, and art galleries, dance studios and music stores are typical along Main Street. “Growing up in the area, it’s been wonderful to see so much change,” says Jen Moran, director of Pittston Memorial Library. This growth is attributed to the construction of River’s Edge condominiums, a new medical center and the developing art scene.
Rooftops and Redner’s
Locally owned restaurants fill Pittston, including the diner Majestic Lunch, which has served the city since 1954. Rikasa is a fine-dining restaurant with rooftop seating that Moran recommends “even if you have to save it for special occasions – which you shouldn’t.” These restaurants and other small businesses get involved in community events. Residents get groceries at Sabatelle’s Market or chain stores like Walmart and Redner’s Warehouse Market. Lowe’s Home Improvement is 10 miles away, near Ollie’s Bargain Outlet.
Pittston Tomato Festival
Every August, the Tomato Capital leans into its name with the Pittston Tomato Festival. This annual event has a packed program, including a 5k race, the Tomato Parade and the Little Miss and Mr. Tomato pageants. It would not be complete without the Tomato Contest, where gardeners submit their crops to win in four categories: Largest, Smallest, Ugliest and Most Perfect.
Tomatoes are not the only thing the city celebrates. Every year, people flood the streets for St. Patrick’s Day. Residents dress in their best Irish-inspired costumes for the Leprechaun Loop, a 1-mile-long race that awards the top runners and the best costumes. Floats, Irish dancers and fife and drum bands fill the roads for the Pittston City St. Patrick’s Parade.
Twentieth-century homes near the street
Early and mid–20th–century homes sit on small grassy lawns beside the sidewalks. American Foursquare, bungalows, two-story shotguns and houses with Queen Anne influences line the roads. Most homes have covered porches where neighbors can sit outside and chat. A three-bedroom can be as low as $100,000 and as much as $250,000.
LCTA stops at stores around Pittston
In the Pittston Area School District, students complete kindergarten and first grade at Pittston Area Primary Center, which earns a B-minus from Niche. Pittston City Intermediate, rated C, teaches second through fourth grade. The primary and intermediate centers partner with Carrie Flower Company, which uses children’s books to help caregivers develop their kids’ social and emotional health. Pittston Area Middle School scores a C-minus, and Pittston Area Senior High School receives a B-minus.
M&T Educational Center is a satellite campus of Luzerne County Community College in Pittston. It offers general education classes that fulfill the requirements for most majors provided by the college.
Statues by the river and the readers
The city has six public parks, so there are plenty of options for people to get outside. Jefferson Park offers a playground where kids can run around, while Albert West Park has a football field and outdoor track that schools use to practice. Pittston’s Little League team plays ball on the fields at Sullivan Park. Bordering the Susquehanna River, Riverfront Park has sculptures near the benches and an entrance to the 2-mile-long Luzerne County Rail Trail.
The Pittston Memorial Library is more than a place to get books. “We are almost a community center,” Moran says. The library hosts several events throughout the year, including movie nights and author visits. The Art Loop Trail, a walking path filled with more than 20 sculptures, is in the library’s backyard.
Transportation
Luzerne County Transportation Authority's (LCTA) route, the Pittston Circular, runs three times daily. It stops throughout the city, including at Pittston Commons and Walmart. LCTA also offers a rideshare program for people who need extra help getting around town. Pittston is 4 miles from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, which offers flights to popular U.S. destinations and connections to international flights. Locals can catch a train at Pittston’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Regional Railroad Station. U.S. Route 11 goes through the middle of town, eventually connecting with Interstate 476, known locally as the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Video By
Jonathan Bradley
