This would have made a good Valentines Post.
Right before you get to A.Boss Optical Shop.
Tag: Braddock PA
Vintage Eyeglasses at Neighborhood Flea
Sunday July 8 10-4. 26th and Smallman Street. A. Boss Opticians of Braddock will have a booth of vintage eyeglasses for sale.
They are about the only establishment who will install replacement lenses in vintage eyeglasses.
The flea market will have lots more vintage items besides eyeglasses.
I learned this today when I picked up my new reading and computer glasses. Mr. Boss brought out some samples and I photographed them.
poster above taken from Simonsgranddaughter.com
Meet A.Boss Master Optician
Wordless Wednesday
Meet A. Boss, Master Optician
Meet Al Boss of A-Boss Opticians in Braddock PA. It’s a family owned business. That’s his father up above the eyeglass frames, Albert A. Boss (1917- 2009) who established A-Boss Opticians, Inc. in 1971.
Mr. Boss was able to put new lenses into my current frames AND I ordered a new pair of glasses that I’ll pick up on Tuesday. Since I wear glasses all day, everyday, it’s crucial for me to have glasses that work well. Reasonable prices and great customer service.
I heard about A- Boss Opticians at two separate art events. One time a woman at an art opening downtown was wearing some really cool glasses, She told me how A -Boss will put lenses into vintage frames. Hers were from Paris. They do repairs, too.
Outlook Drive View of the Mill on the Monongahela River
A favorite place to capture the look of yesteryear but it is tonight. Right now. 2014 from West Mifflin across the Monongahela River.
After being with the family up on VistaView I drove down Outlook Drive. The leaves aren’t full yet and I found a good clearing between two homes.
Propped the camera up onto the passenger window ledge and tried to get a steady shot with a long shutter.
That mill is working all day and night every day and I just drive by for a glimpse a couple of times every year.
I have posted the mill at night a few times but I never get tired of seeing it. Here is it in the snow
And another April shot from a few years ago
Just Hours Left to Support Superior Motors Community Restaurant and Farm Ecosystem
http://kck.st/189WnyE click the KICKSTARTER link to get the latest update.
Upped my pledge and watched the numbers change! Great idea Jen S.
11:06 update Sunday night
1,426backers
$234,358 pledged of $250,000 goal
24 hours to go
p.s. 10:51 update Sunday night– I have to go to bed to get up for school Looks like it is going to be “a go” for sure. Very exciting.
1,408 backers
$232,558 pledged of $250,000 goal
25 hours to go
7:05 PM update Sunday night
1,139 backers
$206,883 pledged of $250,000 goal
28 hours to go
Thanks to my former colleague Jane McK – the one who initially shared a link about this project.
The 1000 donor mark was reached this afternoon.
The clock is ticking down but pledges have increased as of today. People want to be a part of something positive. Although my pledge was modest, I thought that blogging about the incredible effort being made would be another way to contribute.
I received a message from the KICKSTARTER update about using whatever networks you have to get the word out. I’d posted the request on FB a couple of times. Then I thought, BLOG IT!
I know even blog readers in South Africa, Australia, the UK and Croatia will cheer Chef Sousa on in spirit and hope his goal is reached by midnight tomorrow night. No bank will lend the money necessary due to the location!
Trying to reach the $250,000 goal for the
Superior Motors: Community Restaurant & Farm Ecosystem
and getting close. There’s a deadline! 11:59 PM Monday January 6th
It will mean a lot to the Braddock community to have Chef Kevin Sousa’s restaurant supported and launched.
What Kevin posted earlier this afternoon
“We are humbled and proud to announce the support of Rob Stephany of The Heinz Endowments who has graciously committed $40,000 towards the job training facet of Superior Motors if we are able to reach our fundraising goal of $250,000. Therefore, if successful, we would have nearly $300,000 to put towards the project with an extra $40,000 committed expressly to training young people to work in the culinary arts.
“Rob is a living, working legend in economic development. To have his support is beyond humbling. Kevin and I are incredibly honored and grateful.” – Mayor John Fetterman
Superior Motors also recently secured a prominent mention in one of the premier food publications in the nation, Food & Wine Magazine.” click Build a Restaurant Revive a Town
Here’s the KICKSTARTER link
And a sample from the KICKSTARTER site- pledge amount with what you will receive in return for your pledge
Pledge $100 or more 89 backers (Long-Distance Supporter)
Limited edition Braddock T-shirt “Build it Back up” on the front “Rebuilding 15104” on the back, designed by Braddock Youth Project + Exclusive access to an online gallery of Mathew Hodgman high resolution Braddock photographs which will be available to do with as you wish + Our gratitude displayed on the Superior Motors website + A huge thank you on our Facebook page + A personalized tweet commemorating your pledge
or
FLY in for this one
“Pledge $3,000 or more 1 backer
Dinner at home with Kevin Sousa. Chef Sousa will prepare a custom designed tasting menu for you and up to three guests in the convenience of your own home (only available in greater Pittsburgh area). We take care of everything including clean up + Signed and numbered 11×14 fine art print of your choice from Matthew Hodgman’s Braddock Gallery delivered to you+ Exclusive access to an online gallery of Matthew Hodgman high resolution Braddock photographs which will be available to do with as you wish + Our gratitude displayed on the Superior Motors website + A huge thank you on our Facebook page + A personalized tweet commemorating your pledge + Your name on our dedication wall for all of those in support of this project.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2014″
When Ann’s son, Aaron Myers had an art show at the UnSmoke Systems Artspace across the parking lot, I took this photograph. You can see the words MOTOR CO. on the brick building on the left. That’s the location of the Superior Motors Community Restaurant.
The Mill on a Winter Night 2012
I have posted photographs of the mill at night before, and in the winter the leaves are off the trees so I can get a nice shot from West Mifflin hill, near VistaView Street. I think there are four Christmas light decorations on it this time.
This photo is looking across the Monongahela River to Braddock.
Many family members of blog followers have worked in the mills of Pittsburgh. This is the last mill.
Click to see the earlier view from the blog in April 2010. I liked reading that post because my friend Dorothy H. wrote a comment on the blog post about a poem she wrote in response to another mill photo I took. The mill is endlessly fascinating to me, the smoke always different shapes. The cloud cover affecting the light at night. The snow. The darkness.
I remember a class in photography suggested to return to the same subject, a different season, a different time of day, but the same location. Close to it.
Guess I am doing that assignment again and again.
and this view is farther up the hill, with the naked trees on the right.
And the Opening at UnSmoke Artspace
The third day. The actual opening. The third in a series of posts highlighting emerging artists and their exhibition.
It was a great night at UnSmoke Artspace, Braddock PA. Seems to make sense to show the successful and well attended exhibition after two days of hardwork and preparation.
Everyone was waiting and waiting for the plank to break as Aaron drilled and drilled for more than four and a half hours. You can see him fall in the blurry photo and applause broke out!
Congratulations to Aaron Meyers and Justin Sorensen on (Voice of rational being)
Justin Sorensen Sets Up Exhibition (Voice of rational being) at UnSmoke Artspace
After a drive from Rhode Island School of Design to Erie PA and then today to Braddock, PA, Justin Sorensen is setting up his artwork for Friday night’s opening at UnSmoke Artspace . Yesterday’s blogpost showed Aaron Meyers installing his portion of the exhibition but Justin hadn’t arrived yet.
I called Aaron and asked if I could come over and shoot Justin for the blog and he said it was fine by them.
I drove over with my neighbor who can’t make the opening so he could catch a preview of the exhibition. Justin was a good sport and we didn’t stay too long as they were really busy completing the final preparations. Twenty four hours later and Aaron was still drilling into the brick walls.
They took a break and showed us around and I was able to capture Justin and his artwork for today’s post and photos. Opening Friday night at 6 PM. Unsmoke Artspace 1137 Braddock Avenue, Braddock PA.
Aaron Meyers Sets Up Exhibition (Voice of rational being) at UnSmoke Artspace
After school on Wednesday, I drove to Braddock. Directly across from the Edgar Thomson USS Mill is an old Catholic school building that’s been transformed into a spacious art gallery. UnSmoke Artspace.
This Friday night (May 11th 6-9PM) is the opening of (Voice of rational being) An exhibition featuring the works of Aaron Meyers and Justin Sorensen.
I was fortunate to spend an hour or so watching Aaron set up some of his work and followed him around, shooting and talking and only once did he ask me to hold a plank while he drilled into the brick wall so I wasn’t too useful. He was gracious and explained his exploration of materials and how he had transported the art in a truck and what his performance would be during the exhibit.
One thing that struck me is how Aaron inquired about my teaching at school AND about what my blog is about. So although I was there for the purpose of photographing him and his art, he expressed interest in what I do and it was an easy exchange. Aaron has empathy and understanding for the teaching as his mom and I are colleagues. He told me how almost every school he attended in the city is now closed.
