Steel Making- Braddock PA
Edgar Thomson Plant United States Steel Mon Valley Works in Braddock, PA Shot less than two weeks ago
How does color or lack of it affect a photograph? What about cropping?
The five photos below are all from one master image.
Discovered the folklore of Joe Magarac, a legendary steel worker from Croatia tried to find online if that statue of a steelworker is supposed to be legendary Joe Magarac. Check out the article Folklore or Fakelore?
And I found a cool driving tour of the mills video from 1988
or see the Steel making process in this video
Demolition in Swissvale
Driving back from Braddock, I saw people on the sidewalk with cameras in hand.
Then I saw the demolition of a house taking place.
I turned a corner and parked and got out and took a few pictures.
I thought the first one the best as it showed most of the scene. But the progressive close-ups complete the story.
My son’s in-laws grew up in this part of Pittsburgh. I heard that the house had been empty for ten years.
It was sad to see it demolished even though it must have been in bad shape. Y0u wonder who lived there.
What happened that it became abandoned. You know there is a story.
I saw a green plastic basket in the rubble
*And I looked up the CASE excavator model # and it says it is 37, 700 pounds operating weight.
Tie-Dye With a New Generation
Eighth graders in the art room.
Rubber bands and string. Buckets of color. Vinyl gloves.
Bought more shirts tonight to take to school to try again.
They’ve got the hang of it. The practice.
I tell them - no design turns out exactly as planned.
Friday morning in the hallway a blur of t-shirts walked by.
I felt satisfied.
Did you ever tie-dye anything in your life?
Yoga Facing North
At the David Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown Pittsburgh
The Farm to Table Conference back in March-
This image has a lot of lines. You can see Allegheny General Hospital.And a bit of the Allegheny River with all the buildings on the other side of the span.
Buildings Demolished- A Sign Discovered
Converted to black and white to accompany this discovery.
A bit of research on the web and I found the photograph of the Fiore Family in their Larimer Meat Market.
I drove by just before sunset and was surprised to find some buildings missing. The ground covered with hay. And then I spied this wonderful sign. What a gift. Larimer used to be densely populated with Italian immigrants but this area is fairly desolate now. Vacant lots were restaurants and shops used to be. There are still homes in the area but lots of spaces in-between of what used to be there. About a mile from my house.
Only the automobiles in the photo give it a date. TODAY.
I hope some of their descendants find this post and write a comment.
copied and pasted from a Google Search.
General Grant’s 190th Birthday Party
We have interesting friends. Here’s a creative celebration Steve and I went to on Saturday night. What a fun event. Here are a few of the details. Hardtack crackers and dried black-eyed peas. The sheet music for Tenting Tonight on the piano. Photographs and books bearing the General’s likeness. A willingness to celebrate and have fun. A Prantl’s cake with five candles for his rank. I made Rice Pudding after reading that it was a favorite on the Presidents’ Food Timeline. Thanks Tim and Bernadette for being such welcoming hosts. We had a wonderful time!
Price Bennett- Street Musician on Liberty Ave
Elvis the Penguin Paints at National Aviary for Persad Patron Party
Pittsburgh’s National Aviary was the happening scene on Friday night in the city. Steel Band music. Desserts.
Artist Reception and Patron Party was in full swing.
Elvis the African Penguin Makes Art to Auction Off to Benefit Persad Center
His feet were all aflutter. Perhaps he enjoys making art without an audience.
Here is the piece I donated. They invited a group of artists to create a commemorative artwork to celebrate their fortieth anniversary. I know one should just make a donation and not tell about it but it is a good cause and perhaps some of my students might seek counseling here in the future and be helped as my good friend J always tells about a former student the organization helped a long time ago.
Below is the photograph I created to commemorate their 40th Anniversary.
Thanks to Steve I was able to get 40 candles lit and photograph quickly in the dark dining room at night.
Had to bake the cake first before I could photograph it and I chose the wedding cake recipe from the Cake Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum and used lots of gel food color by Wilton. Buttercream icing.
UPMC presents Celebrate Life, Celebrate Art
Monday, May 14, 2012
August Wilson Center for African American Culture
980 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
6:00 – 11:00 p.m
“Persad’s signature event is both a verbal and silent auction featuring over 200 pieces of art from local, national and international artists including photography, painting, sculpture and jewelry. Come enjoy great food, drinks and entertainment and take home some fabulous artwork.
To purchase tickets to the event or to purchase an underwriting package, click here.“
Einstein in the Flower Shop on the Corner
The sign in the window says, BEWARE OF DOG! I’ve driven by this place for almost six years as I go back and forth to school everyday. Sometimes there are balloons tied to the signboard outside. It’s on the corner at Brownsville Road- PLANTS & FLOWERS by Lisa .
Today I pulled over to the curb, ignored the meter, got out and went inside. I was headed to Bridgeville to visit a friend. Einstein used to have two white tufts of hair that stuck out, hence his name. The two women were really helpful to me and I asked if I might photograph him and they agreed. I thought about the flower shop as I left and drove in traffic, finding my way to Bridgeville. I’d heard that photographing animals with a black fur coat is difficult and looking at the shots now (available light) I concur. But those eyes were really checking me out! Einstein was friendly and wanted to communicate. Must be used to new customers off the street.
My grandmother worked in a flower shop in Lincoln, Illinois, and when I was small I would visit her there. I remember the spools of ribbon, the sticky green tape, the wire stands and styrofoam base, that green squishy foam and of course the smell of the place but the thing that sticks with me the most was her can of spinach and a hard boiled egg she kept in the cooler for lunch.
What I Found on the Sidewalk by School
I walked on by-
nearly passed it up-
even thought it caught my eye.
It’s a rush and a hike between schools.
Time’s always short.
But after I stepped past, I turned around
got down on one knee and shot this little gift
to me- hard boiled yolk, a bit dried,
rolled in sandy crumbs,
abandoned on a sidewalk, fell from a lunch bag
or on the way to the nearby dumpster, missed.
Easter is over.
Didn’t make it to the egg salad bowl.
I drove by after school, to see if it was smashed
maybe rolled an inch, more dry, but still there
all those hours later, just not in as good a light!
Alexis and Jarrett Tie the Knot and Jump the Broom
A happy wedding celebration. Alexis and Jarrett exchanged vows and rings in a beautiful ceremony, witnessed by family and friends. They were declared husband and wife………..
then they jumped the broom (the bride’s mother had decorated it in the wedding colors)
Alexis and Jarrett granted me permission to post photos from their Saturday March 31st wedding.
Wishing them every happiness!
(You might remember the Christmas party of Pastor Garland (his mother) when I photographed their church dinner. They’re in that picture too!)
People at Work- Butcher at Schwartz’s Market (now closed)
The market closed a year ago after being open for 83 years! Photo taken 2009
Outdoor Seating Available
Same couch, a different day. Through the chain link fence.
The Hide-a-bed across the street from school.
Penn Hills Volunteer Fire Department No. 3 Fundraiser & Steel City Shows
Comedy night fundraiser(there ‘s another show Saturday March 24th 8PM) - No. 3 Fire Hall, Penn Hills Volunteer Fire Department.
I was invited by Matt of Steel City Shows.(the man behind the soundboard, in a suit and tie)
It was a fun evening.
After the comedy show ended, Firefighter Vinnie gave me a tour of the trucks, Jaws of Life, and the uniforms hanging ready.
Comedians Mike Wysocki and Joey O’Connell are listed on the site but there were two others who warmed up the crowd, Sean Collier and Mike Travers.
Yes, That’s Crabmeat on the Asparagus- La Cucina Flegrea
V and I went La Cucina Flegrea on Murray Avenue for a decade and then it closed. We had missed going there for the Spaghetti Arugula and Rigatoni in Vodka Sauce. J and I took a cooking class there, you might remember that post click here
Well, Chef Anna is back and she was glad to see us. Our first visit to the new place. She opened last November but it was Laura’s wedding and all. It was my friend R who told me about this new location. Here is the website for the new one, complete with menu-La Cucina Flegrea to downtown’s Market Square. We were celebrating V’s birthday. Happy birthday V!
We started with the 5 Fagioli soup and then because we ordered the Baccalá with Sweet Onion and Shrimp Sauce, a Mozzarella Wagon with Fresh Tomato sauce came as an appetizer- 4 balls of mozzarella breaded and fried and accompanied by a delicious sauce. Here’s a shot of the Asparagus with all the lovely, succulent crab meat on it.
Dessert was Baba au Ruhm. Whipped cream and raspberries, a rum sugar sauce. And a cup of hot tea.
It was a happy birthday dinner and we were glad to eat at La Cucina Flegrea again. Everything was delicious.
The La Cucina FLegrea entrance is the Pumpkin colored awning
Elegant and Delicious: Spoon
A classy restaurant we’ve driven by on a daily basis but never stopped to dine.
Celebrating 19 years- our unanniversary- a solid friendship and steadfast companionship, not sure where all that time has gone but there we were in East Liberty and we headed to SPOON.
What we ate- the service was excellent and even though we weren’t ordering up the Foie Gras or the Tasting Menu or a Magnum of Champagne, they treated us hospitably and did not make us feel out of place as we were “walk-ins” and didn’t have reservations which would be a good idea for future visits.
Breadbasket: warm cream cheese chive biscuits/baguette and warm muffins
garden vegetable baby mix green salad: Golden Harvest Farm baby mix greens, fresh garden vegetables, champagne vinaigrette
Spoon burger: 8 oz. Kobe beef, aged white cheddar cheese, parmesan + herb fries, challah bun
Too full for the desserts but they sounded wonderful.
Someone Left a Fake Fur in the Snow
White snow on white fur. Too bright, the reflected light. But what looks like just a pile of snow is some white fake fur puddled on the sidewalk as I got out of the car to go into school Monday morning.
Close up of the white fur with snow on top.
Anyone Want to Take a Stab at the Meaning of the Balloons?
A bird’s eye view of a downtown intersection. I think it’s a couple of ladies standing in the back of the truck.
300-500 Pounds of Potatoes on a Weekend Day – Station Street Hot Dogs and Union Pig and Chicken
Another post for indulge perhaps-
Saturday Steve and I ventured to the “new” hot dog shop just a mile from the house. It had been empty and abandoned for the longest time. The shop was built in the 60′s and the tile inside is almost Harvest Gold, Avocado Green and Burnt Orange. Saturday it was sparkling clean. Chef Kevin Sousa has opened not one, not two, but THREE new places to eat in the neighborhood! A trifecta, all winners for sure.
You can read about them in the review right here
Station Street offers French Fries fried in DUCK FAT. Wash it all down with a Mexican Coca-Cola (with cane sugar). We had the New York Dog with sauerkraut and grainy mustard and shared an order of fries.The hot dog had a good flavor and a nice bite to the casing. The music playing was the Temptations and you felt like you were in another decade but with new and fresh food.
See the countertop with the talking hot dogs. Even the rest rooms have a hot dog on the door who look like they can walk and talk.
I drove by Union Pig and Chicken the other night on the way home and took a shot from the car but have to try the food. They just opened up for business. The menu looks inviting so watch for a post in the near future highlighting the fare. And number three is Salt of the Earth which has an incredible menu on their link.
Count the baskets of French Fries ready to fry!
You can read a review here
Shrouded Downtown Church from the Parking Garage Spiral & Detail
Going to fact check but believe this is the church with 13 Tiffany windows
City Shapes
Old and new, shapes and colors.
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