Wordless Wednesday
Maura and I went to Staples today and the man in front of us was getting signs laminated for his business- AN ICE CREAM TRUCK. I am nostalgic for the ice cream trucks of my childhood. We discovered he would be in our neighborhood later after lunch so Maura and I went by the Highland Park Pool and saw some campers lining up to order cool treats. When I met him in the morning, I’d asked if it would be okay to photograph him as part of the ongoing People at Work series and he agreed.
A minimum order of $20 and he will bring his truck to your game, fundraiser, company picnic, birthday party, sporting event, church socia or family reunion. You name it. He sponsors a lot of East End sports teams, too.
Maura had the water ice, cherry flavor and I had a classic ice cream sandwich. Perfect for a summer afternoon. As we left to get into our car Maura said it was great he didn’t play annoying music!
Meet the Youngblood family. James, Eric and Ziarrah. James told me he has been in the ice cream business for six years now. He became self employed as he was having difficulty finding a job so put everything he had, plus a loan of a thousand, into purchasing the truck. I asked him what he does in the winter, Deep Fried Cornish Hens! On a FoodTruck.
I will be sure to check that out. Stay tuned.
James, Ziarrah and Eric work as a team.
How about a Jolly Rancher Popsicle?
Campers and swimmers and families line up to buy ice cream or chips and a drink.
You can see me and Maura and his ice cream truck in James’ sunglasses.
At noon, I met my former teaching colleague and friend Jennifer for lunch. Her suggestion. My first visit to Geppetto Café – Butler Street in Lawrenceville neighborhood ofPittsburgh. Open for breakfast or lunch. It is a delightful place to eat and the service was excellent.
Coffee,latte, espresso, teas, milkshakes (a Nutella milkshake was on the menu) and ice cream. too.
Savory crepes, sweet crepes, eggs, fruit, waffles, paninis and salads. Mmmm. I had the Challah French Toast. Jen ordered The Bonjour pictured below- scrambled eggs and Brie in a crepe with fresh fruit on the side and Applewood Smoked bacon on top. A leaf shaped dish of maple syrup.
Patrons have contributed much of the decor. I didn’t count all the wooden Pinocchio figures but the owner graciously showed all the items that people have brought in- the books, paintings,wooden Pinocchio puppets and marionettes.
Margaret Welsh wrote a wonderful review in City Paper calling Geppetto Café a “European-style breakfast nook.”
How about all these books suspended in net from the ceiling?
A snowboard bench in the front.
P.S. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinocchio_(1940_film) “PInocchio is a 1940 American animate musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Productions based on the Italian children’s novel The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. It was the second animated feature film produced by Disney, made after the success of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)” Geppetto was the wood carver/carpenter who created the wooden puppet Pinocchio who can” become a real boy”
One of my favorite evenings and images.
Originally posted 7-14-2011.
The Bocce Court underneath the Bloomfield Bridge.
From the archives.
Romeo und Romeo Cafe in Berlin. Schoenberg neighborhood on our way to shop at KaDeWe
A six word Saturday.
The middle close up shot of the sign taken by my DIL.
Here’s a Six Word Saturday post about the official originator of the concept and the one who is carrying it on now.
Chef Sam cooks a Lentil Cheeseburger recipe with a Roasted Red Pepper sauce and prepares a Caesar Salad during Cooking Class. He told how he sterilized the eggs for the dressing, gently lowering them into boiling water for five minutes. Safety was emphasized. Lentils, mushrooms, beets, carrot, onions and garlic were a few of the main ingredients. Miso paste helped hold it together. There were ten participants and we all enjoyed the delicious meal at the end of the class.
The class was held Wednesday afternoon at The Stephen Foster Community Center on 286 Main Street, located next to the Lawrenceville Branch of the Carnegie Library. The center is housed in an 1865 brick building now on the National Historic Register. The center offers fitness classes such as Cardio Strength and Flexibility, Tai Chi, Yoga, Soul Line Dancing, and Practical Meditation in addition to craft and other recreational activities.
Next cooking class with Chef Sam is May 29 at 12:30. $4 is the cost of the class.
Thank you Chef Sam for a great class and delicious meal.
Allegheny County senior citizens can eat lunch for a modest donation of a dollar but should register by calling the Community Center office by noon the day before at 412-350-5460. Contact Allegheny County Seniorline 412-350-5460 for eligibility, if you need a Home Delivered Meal.
Recliners in the rain. Spotted on Ella Street in Bloomfield. You know these discards catch my eye.
Too bad they couldn’t be salvaged and used by someone else. And then the rain comes and soaks then through. 
We were sad when a local neighborhood business on Cedarville Street, Groceria Italiana, closed their doors last summer..
But here’s the good news!
It has recently reopened as Bloomfield Groceria. It’s really close to Steve’s work so he picked up this wonderful ravioli and brought it home.
We are thrilled they are in business under new proprietors.
Especially after tonight’s dinner of their delicious Spinach and Cheese Ravioli. I sautéed baby spinach- you can see it peeking out underneath.
And I grated some fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano on top. I asked Steve if he could to pick up mushroom ravioli for dinner next week.
Here’s an Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article written by Bob Batz, Jr., about the new Bloomfield Groceria
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/neighborhood/2019/03/25/Bloomfield-Groceria-Italiana-Italian-grocery-store-Cedarville-Little-Italy-opens/stories/201808050006
In the next neighborhood, my daughter-in-law found this Easter house. She drove me by today and took a quick snap with the old phone.
Bowling Ball Garden in Brookline. Hopeful for Spring.
This was shot two weeks ago but I wanted to post this bowling ball garden in a Pittsburgh neighborhood- Brookline. Thanks to Donna for finding it for me.
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