Dinner Out Coincides with Millvale Days Once Again
It was Thursday night. Steve and I met our friend V at Grant Avenue Bar in Millvale for a casual dinner and saw the road was blocked off and a banner overhead announced MILLVALE DAYS 2015. We were there!
This exact experience has happened to me and Steve before, three years ago (see post). But there wasn’t any wrestling going on this evening.
After dinner we walked down Grant Avenue, listened to a couple of live bands, checked out the vintage cars and ate a piece of Yetter’s chocolate. Unexpected fun. Of course, I’d left my camera at home!
And there’s a to-go container of tapioca in the fridge downstairs. Looking forward to breakfast.
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Pittsburgh Skyline, Incline and Sea of Fog
Made the decision to turn right at the mouth of the Liberty Tunnel, go to Mount Washington and photograph the city in fog on the way to school this morning.
I thought the above shot was best with the gift of light on the incline car, as it prepared to head down the mountain. No tripod although there was a man with one. I stabilized my camera on the iron fence.
Of course, the light changes every moment as the sunrises in the east. All shots taken with 24-70 lens on the Canon 5D Mark ii
One vertical shot. Light and dark/ Cloud and shadow.
Trying to get the best view in the frame.
Being there. looking at the city in the fog, was a magnificent experience. The limits of photography.
It felt like being in a plane but you’re standing on a concrete platform by the incline, looking at the city disappear in a foggy sea. Wasn’t it just last week I was photographing the icy river and the barge lane? Today felt like early Spring.
Three young men agreed to let me capture their silhouettes. Thanks guys. I’ll email them the blog post link today.
Ohio River Fog Before Sunrise, Then Clear Reflections
Sunday morning I met my friend and her son to photograph his senior pictures at the boathouse where he rows.
It was foggy and felt like fall.
I could hear a tugboat chugging along the river but could just make out the lights. Not even an outline.
Then as the time passed the bridge was visible and the fog burned off. It was a beautiful morning.
Getting down to the river.
Pretty thick fog.
You can see the lights of the boat.
Can’t see the bridge
Front row seating on the Ohio River
Visible bridge now.
Daylight burned off the fog
Like a mirror, barely a ripple
Sun and light, reflections.
Ohio River Reflections
Ohio River Sky
With the fog burned off
What I saw when I drove home. Holy Family Wishing Well.
Polish Hill Skateboard Spot
When I saw what I thought was a wading pool filled with graffiti, I thought I’d return another day and photograph it.
Sunday after coffee, Steve and I drove over to the park in Polish HIll and as I walked closer, I realized it was NOT a wading pool that was decorated with urban art but a place for kids to skateboard.
Here’s a list of skateboarding terms and info about the physics of it but not sure if I am properly labeling this pit a half- pipe or not.
Alas, not a skateboarder in sight on Sunday morning so no action shots.
just few satellite dishes for reception
Little Italy Days Nighttime Collage
Steve and I went over to Bloomfield Saturday night to see what was happening at Little Italy Days. We saw fire consumption as we did in June by @PghFireGirl
The recycled glass Aurora Lamps were eye-catching. And there were a ton of food vendors and food trucks.
We met Lenny and James and admired the BBQ trophies. James gave us a sample to take home and will be competing down at Heinz Field next week. The Wool Sports Logo Banners would look great at school in the counselor’s office.
The Sacred Heart Window
Daniel Striped Tiger was the Highlight for Me
But the kids loved everything in the Children’s Museum on the North Side.
They said “Just like Lala’s porch swing” (at the entrance)
Jack and Maura rushing to get inside. We lucked out – THROWBACK THURSDAY the kids were 1/2 price admission.
Silk screening first so everything had a chance to dry in the studio before we took it home
Maura loved putting her artwork into the dryer and watching it come out the other end on the conveyor belt.
Of course Grandma had to take a shot of the installation art More Light by Dick Esterle with the beautiful ribbons and the rotunda of the Old Post Office.
Don’t bother buying toys, just tape of corrugated boxes so the kids can build. STUDIO
I found this Tower Clock n the stairwell when I checked on Jack.
Climbing in the Ant Farm. They never tired of climbing up and down.
One of the Mr. Rogers’ items in the museum. His mother knit this- perfectly
You can watch Mr Rogers explain how his mother shows love here
His sneakers were in the next exhibit area- ATTIC
Maura tried her hand at STOP animation video production in MAKESHOP®
Lost count how many times they went down the slide via the Gravity Room
Cool puppets display in the ATTIC
But here is my favorite Daniel Striped Tiger
Henrietta Pussycat Puppet from Mr. Rogers Neighborhood
This sand design created by spinning the disk is mesmerizing – Avalanche by Ned Kahn
Videoing the emotion on the screen This is SCARED in the XOXO exhibit. All you need is love………..
A really great installation art piece of the spinning barrels by Will Schlough in the GARAGE
Jack cranked the parachute up to the ceiling but it got trapped.
You can see the Old Post Office Rotunda from the outside
At the outdoor lemonade stand, Jack promised to buy me a new car on his promise of a good deed tag. No money for the lemonade. I promised to be a patient grandmother and tweeted it with a hashtag.
Jack got on the KDKA news clip
Waiting for the mist to come in Buhl Community Park- Cloud Arbor by Ned Kahn click here to see an excellent photo
The original Carnegie Free Library on the North Side (Allegheny). Walked by on the way to the car. It was a great day.
Thanks to my friend V for suggesting I take the kids. A very good idea.
32nd Vintage Grand Prix Pittsburgh- Rich, Luke and Chris and Lauren’s First VGP
After sipping coffee in Squirrel Hill with a friend, catching up on the last few months of our lives, I headed home via Schenley Park. NOT!
Everything was blocked off with white sawhorses. I found a parking spot and strolled around, chatting with the women at the gate letting the trucks and car trailers into the park, realizing that this has been going on for all these years but I’d not experienced it in the 25 years I’ve lived in Pittsburgh. The 32nd Vintage Grand Prix in Pittsburgh where the cars are raced right on the streets.
from their website
“The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix’s mission is to produce a world-class vintage racing event to raise funds that help provide residential care, treatment and support for children and adults with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities through the Autism Society of Pittsburgh and Allegheny Valley School.”
I learned a lot in a short amount of time, walking down the road, talking with car owners and pit crew or significant others. I met a volunteer who is a “rope tower” during the races. No one wants his services but I understand some will need to be towed.
A nice couple from Milwaukee with a really cool MG that they toured in England with 89 other MG owners. I’m always fascinated how people get into different interests and activities in their lives, why people collect things, their hobbies. One man had a former show dog, Vivian ( or perhaps Vivien, sorry) who was a distinctive English bull dog. He said showing dogs, racing cars, there are a lot of similarities.
I can tell you that the people I talked to are making themselves happy by participating in this sport, caring and restoring their cars, and being part of an eclectic group with passion for what they are investing themselves in.
Meet Luke. From the North Hills. He has worked on this Lotus for 5 years. Check out the humps he created so he can fit into the car as he is 6’2″. He shared the photos of the work he accomplished, what it looked like when he started and it is amazing. When his mother was expecting him in two short months, she drove demo laps at the VGP. His father was there offering support and advice, cheering him on. He told me how there was a meeting for the drivers and then they would walk the course. He even invited me to ride in the Lotus at the Charity ride but Saturday I am shooting a wedding. I looked in and down and wondered if I would fit or if several people would have had to extricate me from the seat.
Luke taking time to show his Lotus photos and explain how he rebuilt it to a young man who is going to be a seventh grader at Colfax this fall. This almost seventh grader been coming to the Vintage Grand Prix on his bike for the past three years and has a real interest in cars.
Lotus Interior
Luke and his dad
Meet Rich. Drove in from Denver, Colorado. His wife flew in from a business trip in New York so they are at the VGP for the first time. He races cars after an experience with an avalanche while extreme skiing.
He explained a lot to me (which I am hesitant to write for fear it will be inaccurate) but his 912 (which he got off Craig’s List) uses gas without ethanol. NOTE: A Porsche 912 NOT 911.
Inside the trailer that holds the car.
You should hear his engine when he fires it up! Porsche 912 1967
Here’s Rich replacing the jet due to the low altitude here.
The jet
Rich has installed an automatic fire extinguisher as a safety measure. If the temperature rises above 155 degrees it will go off.
I thought it would be fun for Rich to meet Luke (turns out they will be competitors in the same class) as they were both first time racers in this particular event so Rich drove his car down the road and I followed.
Here are Rich and Luke
And here’s Chris. Chris is from Verona, PA. He has restored cars for years. But this is his first race. You can just tell he has put a lot of love into his car.
MGB GT 1968 Under two litre class
And here is Richard Barnes the Competition Director and the man who introduced me to Rich
Yes, there are female drivers. Here are some competitors lined up to register.
Without realizing I caught a shot of Lauren in line at registration. She is “paddocking” with Luke but wasn’t there when I was doing all the pictures. See edit below with addition of Lauren and the 1956 Turner she drives. Thanks Luke B for the photograph below. 
A couple more cars so you can see the variety participating
Driving by some of the open wheel cars. A nice man from Toronto who is on a Pit Crew explained all about the open wheel construction and the rear engines. Another man with a couple of Sprites offered to get me some contact information so I could share the photos.
When I left there were still cars arriving
Late addition courtesy of Luke B the Lotus Owner Saturday 9:00 AM
After reading the post Luke B sent me the following photograph of another first time driver
Here’s what he said
I saw you caught a photo of my friend Lauren at registration. It’s too bad you didn’t get a chance to meet her – she’s paddocked with us now, but I think that was after you left. Not only is she one of only a few female drivers this weekend and one of the few young drivers, but she’s another local entrant and, like me, it’s her first time racing here. Here’s a photo of her and the 1956 Turner she races:
Photographed by Luke B.
Sweets to the Suites at PNC Park
It was a busy and happy weekend with the grandsons staying over two nights, the family wedding on Saturday and some generous neighbors/friends inviting Steve and me to accompany them to a Pirates Game at PNC Park.
It was good to have an activity and a place to go after the kids left, so I didn’t have time to be in a quiet, empty house on a Sunday afternoon or think about going to school tomorrow to finish the grades and end out the school year this week.
We had the luxury of excellent seats (thanks, Rich) and as the game progressed (Pirates lost to Brewers 1-zip which was unfortunate) we were asked if we would enjoy something from the dessert cart. Who knew there was a dessert cart in the suites section of the private boxes? Certainly not us. Steve and I are usually getting those fifteen dollar last minute, last row seats as high as you can go.
Our host treated us to lemon cake (although there was quite a variety to choose from. Tim (in the black shirt and gold tie) described each of the desserts with great flourish and he created sundaes for the kids and added a dollop of ice cream to a slice of cake.
I asked him if I could photograph him and at first there is a bit of awkwardness for about two seconds and then he relaxed and we worked together to get his result.
Thanks Tim. ( and Matt is writing up the check which our host graciously picked up) The desserts are baked on the premises. By Levy Restaurants. I asked!
Tim and our host Rich. You might remember Rich as the local man who discovered a new use for the newspaper sleeve on my 777th post
I tasted the root beer cake. It tasted like root beer.
and a couple of photos from the excellent seats
the rain held off although we got drenched from a cloud burst as we walked to the T (subway)
I like to practice my timing and I was able to capture McCutcheon hitting the ball.
A fun hat in the next box
Great seats today, thanks Rich.
This boy caught a foul boy. He was so excited.
Can you spot the two birds on a wire, watching the game!
As we were leaving with some fellow baseball fans
I almost forgot One of my favorites to watch- the groundskeepers team.
Getting on the T I don’t think I have ever ridden it before but am trying to remember.
Market Square Chess Game
Used the 70-200mm lens on my Canon 5D Mark ll.
I had to take the 5D into the Camera Repair Shop on Market Street.
One thing when I take a shot like this, I realize I’m not a persistent or aggressive or even comfortable street photographer.
I remained unnoticed and now wish I had taken more angles as I think about it in retrospect.
One certainly wouldn’t want to interrupt the intense concentration.
Full Moon, Blimp and a Night Game at PNC Park
It was the Sunday night I returned from Columbus OH.
Mother’s Day evening.
The blue night sky asks to be photographed.
I enjoy taking photos of the city at night.
There’s the blimp
From the red light at the Convention Center.Night Game at PNC Park
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