Best Pittsburgh Neighborhood to Stay In

Traveling to Pittsburgh for the first time with the wife in late May. We plan on seeing a Pirates game, visiting some museums, maybe going to a botanical garden, the zoo, maybe doing a river tour and/or bus tour. Hope to see some of the attractions listed for Pittsburgh on Atlas Obscura. We like arcades (pinball and retro games especially), breweries and dive bars, record stores, vintage stores, coffee shops, little hole in the wall ethnic restaurants (as opposed to high end dining), etc.

I’ve done some research and I’m trying to figure out whether it makes more sense to get a hotel in the north side area near PNC Park, or if it would be better to stay east of downtown in Lawrenceville, Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, Oakland, Bloomington, East Liberty. We’d like a walkable area where we can walk right out of the hotel and walk to some of the attractions and interests I listed. How easy is it to get from the east side of downtown across the river to PNC Park and that area? I know similar questions have been asked in this sub, but I couldn’t find what I’m looking for. Any advice would be appreciated.