CINDY ESSER'S FLORAL SHOP

I've not known of a nice, reliable place to get fresh flowers in Pittsburgh since Orr's in Shadyside closed a decade ago. So in January, I drove all over the East End looking for nice roses for my wife's 40th birthday. It was so exasperating: All I could find was wilted, overpriced garbage. I live in the South Side, but I'd never been to Cindy Esser's Floral shop at Carson and 12th. I stopped in after trying every other florist I could think of. At this point I was just hoping that they would have anything nice for my wife. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they had the freshest, most beautiful roses that I'd seen all day, and they were priced very well at $40 for a dozen. Right in my neighborhood! I had a delightful conversation with who I will assume was Mr. Esser, as he prepared my stunning flowers for me. My wife was thrilled with these fabulous red roses and I was very happy to support a local merchant who was selling a good product. Fast-forward to Easter weekend. We were having company, and I had been thinking for some time about stopping at Esser's to see if I could get more of those beautiful roses. I wanted a dozen excellent looking red roses for the weekend that afterwards I could hang to dry. I went to Esser's, and again they had just the freshest, nicest roses that I've ever seen. This time both Mr and Mrs Esser were there, and they are really charming and wonderful people. I bought a dozen, and after four days, the flowers are still looking fantastic. As soon as they start to wilt, I'm going to hang them upside down for a month, and make a dried bouquet.