4 Fireplaces at the Red Light on Fifth Ave and Kirkpatrick Street
Taken with the iPhone. Through my dirty windshield. I was at the end of Birmingham Bridge ready to go up the hill onto Kirkpatrick Street to Centre.
Not ideal conditions but there were those four fireplace openings staring at me as I sat and watched the cars come down Kirkpatrick Street.
Different from my daily route, it was my old route from last year’s school but I’d gotten my hair cut on Carson Street and was headed home.
You might remember Jurassic Pittsburgh from April 2012 if you ‘ve been following for awhile. I took that shot of the dinosaur-like demolition machine on the way to my former school. Added it here at the end cause who has time to back and look. But this is the result of the demolition.
Below are the photos from April 2012 that I took on the way to my former school.
Last Sliver of Sun
Before I drove up the mountain, I went to one of my favorite spots on West Carson Street. This is what made me decide to head up to Mt. Washington to catch the incline in the snow as the sun set.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Beyond
Beyond repair.
Beyond belief.
Beyond reasonable doubt.
Beyond recognition.
Beyond comprehension.
Beyond the fence.
Beyond the horizon.
Beyond the trees.
Faith in the Great Beyond.
Beyond that?
Beyond me.
Downtown Alley
The illumination challenge could have kept me going for the rest of the year. I shoot a lot of photos in the dark with lights! When you look at your body of work ( or parts of it) you notice different things and details on different days.
When I was sifting through files, I found this city alley downtown and just liked the perspective, the people, the shapes and lines. Although it was captured in another season, the thermometer went up to 69 degrees ( I saw it lit up on a sign!) and for the second week of January it feels odd.
I think I need to return downtown and shoot some more alley views.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Renewal
The Weekly Photo Challenge: Renewal.
Autumn offers no crocuses or tiny redbud blooms on trees. I thought of library books and contracts, being signed up for a team. Commitment.
Everything is preparing for dormancy, dropping beautiful gold and orange leaves in gutters like crazy. There is a sense of approaching winter, the urge to cocoon, make soup. And then the temperature is in the 60s and predicted 70 for Sunday. One day you are making up your bed with flannel sheets, boiling water for tea, making chili or soup. The next day you are ripping off your sweater and sporting a cotton T. The fluctuations feel strange and off.
As I left school, this is what I saw…
The fresh pine cones dangling for the pine trees branches, bobbing in the wind and the late day sunlight shining right on them said renewal to me.
Everything has been focused on the vibrant palette of the deciduous trees but look at this magnificent coniferous tree!
Weekly Photo Challenge: Wrong
A flag in tatters. Montclair, New Jersey. Corner of Claremont and Valley Road. A revolutionary marker at the site commemorating George Washington’s Temporary Headquarters.
Parking on the wrong side of the street, going the opposite direction of traffic. Some neighborhoods ticket for this offense.
No Cardboard (you may have seen this one before)
No Parking in New York City. Just over the line.
Looks like the light is red but perhaps it was flashing
Green Eggs. And other interpretations for this week’s photo challenge may be seen here
Weekly Photo Challenge: Purple
What I discovered is I shoot a lot of red.
I blurred my eyes to spot purple in the archives.
Yes, I made the rainbow jello to photograph. It took 5 hours. I got the recipe from my daughter Laura who found it on the web here
The one pictured is not spiked and no one ate it either. It is still in my freezer to slice and photograph with light coming through the jello like stained glass.
Purple views, white balance setting askew but it works for the challenge.
A compendium of purple.
Fellow bloggers links are at the Daily Post at WordPress. (Thanks to Jo I know how to get on the list now.)
and the cake is by Aubrey’s Bakery in Steubenville Ohio for Justin and Vicky’s wedding
Pay Phone Missing in Short North- Guest Blog
My daughter Laura sent me this photo from her iPhone to my iPhone. She was the one who turned 21 in the Weekly Photo Challenge: fleeting moment post. She’ll be 29 in August.
She and her husband James were walking in Short North, going to Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream Shop (she had a scoop of grapefruit and a scoop of lemon and blueberries frozen yogurt, cause she told me when I asked.
“James had his usual” Laura said and I knew what it was but had to get the official name of the flavor on Jeni’s website
The Buckeye State “Our version of Ohio’s favorite confection. Rich and salty peanut butter yields to the crunch of exceptional dark chocolate for perfect balance. Total comfort for Buckeyes and Buckeyes at heart.”Anyway, I digress. This is about the pay phone and the missing pay phone.
I remember the days of pay phones and phone booths, a pile of change.
She saw this and I bet she thought, my mom would photograph this! I have photographed and posted a similar scene in Wisconsin in 2009.
It’s fun to receive photos from family and friends. Thanks Laura.
For My Son on Father’s Day
Last year my Father’s Day post was honoring my father and this year I am honoring my son who is a wonderful father (along with Erika their wonderful mom) to the four children pictured- Anna, Michael, Jack (John) and Maura.
Murphy is an important part of clan so while I watched the kids tonight and we were playing in the back yard I tried to get a shot of each of them for the Father’s Day post, the 1000th post!
Happy Father’s Day Mark!. love, Mom
Yikes- You’ve Got to Pull Over, Get Out of Your Car and Shoot It!
In the distance you can see the Cathedral of Learning at Pitt.
The sparkly Christmas Tree caught my eye . St Patricks’s preparation?
And as I returned to my car, I saw the sidewalk/stairs in the shade.
City Shapes
Old and new, shapes and colors.
From a Downtown Parking Lot Window
No students on Monday or Tuesday. Clerical day on Monday to complete semester’s grades and the Art and Music teachers went downtown Tuesday morning to the August Wilson Center for an inservice. Then back to our schools after lunch. When I went to my car I saw this view and shot the Ninth Street Bridge and the street below. It was a Spring like day today, getting all the way up to 60 degrees.
Pittsburgh Ninth Street Bridge
Unretouched, But Who’d Believe It?
Sunlight in January. Blue sky. Although predictions for the tonight and morning are snowfall, we are not convinced. Everything has been mild and though some wet, it has felt almost like Spring.
I caught the sunlight on this garage as I pulled out of the school parking lot and it was just aglow with the sun. It was a one shot chance from the car window. I know it looks like I increased the saturation on the red. But I didn’t. This is how it looked.
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Flat Ruthie is a VW Hood Ornament on Cardboard Me Travels
It looked like a jewel to me.
Wylie Avenue View – Winter Afternoon
Wylie Avenue view of the city skyline in my mirror. I was pulled over to the curb.
The last of the light on our first real winter afternoon- snow, icy roads, dropping temps. I was headed home.
Read Guest Blogger Theresa of Third Hand Art -
Flat Ruthie/ Cardboard Me Travels is in Independence Missouri click here to see her photos
NYC Sidewalk Scene: a Writing Prompt?
- Garbage that didn’t make it into the truck on pickup day? I have photographed other shoes and flip flops found on the street. Makes me wonder who was walking around in them before they were abandoned.
Find the Mantel in the Remains of the House Demolished on Centre Ave.
At first I thought it was an upright piano on top of the pile. M-a-n-t-l-e is usually a cloak. M-a-n-t-e-l is the fireplace one. Although it seems they are interchanged frequently. I try to spell correctly on this blog but sometimes it’s tricky.
Driving to school I saw this pile of rubble which was a house last week. An abandoned, boarded-up house but still standing. Webb Construction guys were nice to let me take the photo. I asked them how they do it and he said you start at the top and work your way down. Oh, and I met a contractor who restores houses and is looking for worthy pieces to salvage for the homes he restores. What a contrast.
When It Is Too Far Gone to be Repaired or Restored
It gets torn down.
No one has the money to fix it up.
Houses stand boarded up a long time.
Sometimes there are occupied homes right next door.
Seems the city is demolishing abandoned homes at breakneck speed.
No archeological digs as in Philadelphia sites.
You wonder who lived here and the stories of their lives.
The Newspaper said “Little to no accumulation…” but-
A friend called and invited me for a slice of cherry pie for President’s Day. Hot tea. I walked down the hill wrapped up in hats and scarves and boots. A good thing- I couldn’t believe it when I came out of her front door two hours later and the snow had accumulated and was piling up. That 60 degree weather on Saturday and now this? YIKES. I trudged home, shoveled the walk and it’s blowing and snowing and really cold. The snow was wet and heavy and a 2 hour delay has been called already for school. How they will clear all the streets before the school buses head out is a puzzle to me. (edit 5:30 AM. All schools are CLOSED! At least they didn’t wait to call it at 7 when everyone is already there. My friend just called, teaches instrumental music and gave me the news auf Deautsch singing Schnee Tag )
Not Spring Yet!
It isn’t that we aren’t ready for the crocus
and blossoms.
We got an unexpected snowstorm.
Shoveling again. And again.
Burrowing in the flannel sheets.
Florida friends, I am thinking of you!
Back to bed.
View from my friend's front porch as I started my walk home up the hill.
Heard from many friends and family who knew and loved Lori today. And from friends who didn’t know her but were touched by her story and loving image with Fredi. I tried to write back little notes of thank you to those who emailed or posted and I told her sister Sara about the overwhelming response but she can’t bear to look at it right now, understandably. A sad day.
Windy With a Chance of Sunlight
A beautiful day. And though inside from 7:30-4:00 I was able to catch the unfurled flag from the second floor window AND the flag shadow on the asphalt during lunch. Right through the glass.
The Cathedral of Learning in the distance, the light fluctuating as clouds rolled across the sky. Had to tilt the camera to get both the flag and the shadow- the angle a technique I don’t use often.
Windy
In the daytime look out the windows.
Branches bend, papers blow across the yard.
Ripples or waves on water.
A pile of leaves caught up in a whirl.
You can tell it’s windy.
At night, listen.
A train along the river whistles.
Calm, a burst, a roar.
Earlier in my car on the bridge.
Wait for the light.
Feel it. Vibrate.
Bounce bounce bounce
right up through the tires.
Eye level to the top of a flag pole- a cool perspective.
What You Should Never Eat- But Tastes Great!
Hungry
Sometimes you are hungry
for something that is just not good for you.
And you eat it.
And regret doing so.
Or not!
Wednesday nights I take a class at Manchester Craftsmen’s and eat an early dinner on the South Side, driving down the slopes from Arlington. The last two weeks it was Carson Street Deli sandwiches but then I started thinking French fries. Undoing all the work at the gym yesterday.
So I crossed at 16th St and went into Mario’s, the only patron at that off hour but not for long. Cory was hosting and tending bar and took my order for an Alpine burger (don’t ask) and their house cut fries. A tall ginger ale. I asked if I could photograph the stained glass windows. Designed by Williams Stained Glass of Bethel Park. It was a good time to photograph the architectural details. Woshner’s was once “haberdashery” and is now Mario’s. I was too early for Karaoke night. Had to get to class.
Six AM in the Strip District and La Prima Espresso is OPEN
A two hundred mile ahead of me so getting a bold cup of coffee (and an almond mele) seemed a great start to the trip. The whole block was dark except for the welcoming neon and glass doors and window of La Prima Espresso and the neighboring bakery (Colangelo’s). A standing coffee bar with the best coffee in Pittsburgh. A thought of the day on a chalkboard, written in Italian. Italian TV playing above the barista making espresso, cappuccino, lattes. Fresh squeezed orange juice until 2 PM. You can see the newspaper outside on the sidewalk by the front doors.
One of the most recognizable scents
I remember when I didn’t even drink coffee.
A hot cup in my hand before dawn–
all is right with the world.
Especially if it from La Prima Espresso!
A welcome sight at 6 Am Saturday morning.
Empty Church in a Foggy Mist
Taken from the Bakery Square Parking lot...
Too many churches, not enough parishioners. One afternoon I photographed 8 closed churches on the South Side in one hour’s time. Now a law office, one a Dueling Pianos Bar, two were condominiums, some just locked and empty. I had a plan for a series on the closed churches of Pittsburgh converted for other uses, like the Church Brew Works and Mr. Smalls Theater, the Altar Bar, The Priory etc. but then I abandoned the effort as it just felt sad to me. No shortage of subjects. There are some beautiful and interesting preservation photos of St. Peter and Paul (click here)
Could Have Been Taken Anywhere
East Liberty PA
Once a bustling business
and thriving cultural center.
Gone through decades of changes.
Now some new businesses.
I looked out and saw the closed church.
So hauntingly beautiful in the winter fog and mist.
Button, Button, Whose Got the Button? ( & Bridal Veils, too!)
1700 Carson Street is the home of a great button store. It fascinates me- Parker Button. Boxes and boxes stacked from floor to ceiling. All colors, shapes and sizes. Like an artist’s palette. Shank or flat. Frogs and belt buckles. Ribbon and trim. Spools of thread to sew them all on for utility or ornamentation. My mother had a glass jar full of buttons. My sister made me the coolest necklace from vintage mother-of-pearl shirt buttons, strung onto embroidery floss. Do you have any clothing missing a button?
The other half of the shop is Clarissa’s Boutique . One word to describe the bridal veils, jewelry and accessories for custom headpieces and wedding necessities- exquisite? lovely? classic? ethereal? They will create a custom headpiece for you but allow three months. Feathers, flowers, jewels, or pearls. Voted the Best of the Knot for weddings 2011.
These Days Buttons are Often a Part of Web Design
Or people push our buttons.
Press the button to call the elevator
or select your floor.
Today’s post is the old fashioned kind.
Two-hole, four-hole or shank.
Metal, plastic, shell or bone.
Beatrix Potter shapes of rabbits.
When was the last time you sewed on a button?
Today marks 500 blog posts and counting!
Growing up we had a record with the song ( these lyrics are from 1929)
Button up your overcoat, When the wind is free, Oh, take good care of yourself, You belong to me! Eat an apple every day, Get to bed by three, Oh, take good care of yourself, You belong to me! Be careful crossing streets, ooh-ooh, Cut out sweets, ooh-ooh, Lay off meat, ooh-ooh, You'll get a pain and ruin your tum-tum!
Whose Chairs?
A recurring theme around the city as I travel between schools- I see chairs. The chairs make me wonder about the owners, their usual occupants. Somewhere in my hard drive I’ve a photo of a high chair near the curb, waiting for pick-up. Chairs have a personality of their own. I love to hear the names of different types of chairs, each evoke an image- wing chair, ladderback, Windsor or Eames. Lawn chair, rocking chair, lounge or arm. High chair, club chair, captain chair, molded plastic, patio or kitchen chair. School chairs are not particularly comfortable. Kids love the rolling ones on wheels. Folding, stackable, side chair or throne. Where do you sit?
Two yellow chairs and a gray one on Evaline Street. Yellow curb peeking through the snow.
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