I spend summers back near Pittsburgh and visit most of the pool halls while i'm back but not much of a gambler but I like watching the match ups.
Not sure about tournaments, Breakers in Pittsburgh usually has some action going on, and if there is nothing going on there, Steel City Billiards is about a ten minute drive down the road. I would think there is still action there even though Shane Jackson recently sold the place.
If your traveling from Pittsburgh to Erie, you should hit up Ice Breakers in Youngstown. Its just right off of interstate 80 and might be an hour out of your way off of 79. Always seen action going on there on one of there 4 9 footers or 12 bar boxes.
Never went to Detroit so cant really comment on that and never been to NY, but next year is NY. No pool though, just to have fun and take my boys site seeing.