Phoenix Bus Ride to the Hotel.
Could be a six word Saturday too.
Guest blogger is portrait artist Sharon Weaver You’ve seen an example of Sharon’s portrait painting of my daughter Laura on a Dec 2010 blogpost Unexpected Gift Late Christmas Eve link
Laura’s brother Mark titled it Mona Laura
Vehicles and ways of getting around the city – the skateboarder was across the street
The other day I took a bus downtown (Senior Citizen perk= free bus pass) and went to S.W, Randall Toys Store on Smithfield Street. I climbed to the the doll floor on three, looking for a fresh doll outfit for a 14 year old doll when I came upon a two sided display of a variety of paper dolls.
I remember cutting out paper dolls when I was young. So careful not to ruin them and cut off the little white tabs you needed to fold over to hold the clothes onto the doll. Sometimes tape was involved.
A looooong time ago. I had no idea all these different paper dolls were available in 20I asked the sales clerk if I could photograph them and she said sure but now I’m wishing I opened them up and peeked inside and photographed the dolls and clothes. Going to have to plan a return trip downtown.
I considered buying a book of them- many choices. Wondered who is playing with paperdolls nowadays.
Do kids even know about paper dolls? I talked with a friend today and she said she cut out magazine fashion and made up clothes out of the magazines. I relied on the printed and dotted lines to cut around. I can picture a little doll with a full white slip on- waiting to be dressed. Modest!
Opening day of Little Italy Days.
Steve photographed me with Franco Harris who was gracious to all his fans.
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When you turn 65 in Pittsburgh you can apply for a free PAT bus pass.
Monday morning I went downtown on the 71 B. I am going to familiarize myself with schedules and routes but having a smart phone is a big help
You can pick the stop where you’re waiting it tells you how many minutes until a bus arrives. My plan is to visit all of the 88 neighborhoods in the city of Pittsburgh.
Here’s Day One of my Free Bus Pass Photography Adventure.
Me waiting at Highland and Bryant for the 71 B to go downtown.
Meet Kevin M. who accepted my medicare card until I get the pass.
His portrait will be wonderful in the People at Work show next July.
taken as I exited the bus, with his gracious permission.
The Port Authority where you fill out your application to get your bus pass.
I went to the City County Building where I was greeted by a sign and a bronze statue of Mayor Caligiuri
Mayor Caligiuri by Robert Berks 1990
Cathedral of Learning University of Pittsburgh
I rejoined the Carnegie Museum of Art in Oakland
Crabcake and Slaw lunch at the Union Grill
St. Paul Cathedral as I went to the next Bus Stop to get to Shadyside where they were setting up a Vintage Car Show on Walnut Street
Cars arriving in trailers I caught the next bus on Highland Avenue and guess who my driver was? Yep you guessed. Turns out Kevin went to the same high school as my sons but he was a class ahead of Mark.
Steve and I took a ride up to Shadyside later to see the vintage cars but it was raining
New homes in the burbs might have a 3-car. Many city houses don’t have one! Saw this 1-car garage while stopped at a red light on Steuben Street. No automatic garage door opener on this one. My garage doors fold, glass panes at the top of each panel from the late 1920’s when it was built, and a tin ceiling! Garages- attached, detached, living quarters above. The bus garages taken from the parking lot at the gym by Bakery Square. 
“Things you find in a garage”, a good category for a game show. Mine is full of sleds, garbage cans, pruning shears, a stack of shingles, window washer fluid and old golf clubs. Time for a garage sale!
Touch-a-Truck Day in Westerville Ohio -Tow truck,news van, fire & rescue, police car, farm machinery, helicopter, animal control van, big diggers, school bus and a giant truck cab. Kids and babies in strollers, parents carrying and corralling them, wait in line for a turn- vehicle to vehicle. Each sat in the driver’s seat, held the wheel, while honking the horn. A bus driver distributing transfers and the children were given How to Ride a COTA (Central Ohio Transit Authority) Bus coloring/activity bookS, a package of crayons, in the plastic bags. I sat across from them as they listened, Jack holding his transfer. Thought this scene called for conversion to black and white.
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CONTACT INFO If you need a mural artist come Spring email Mark Runco <panzagallery@mac.com>
