Friendship Park, PGH PA

finito.

hail storm.

*click on above*

empty development - Baum & Liberty

 

*click on me

The now empty Don Allen dealership in the East End of Pittsburgh, Baum & Liberty Avenues where Bloomfield meets up w/ Shadyside.

I remember the plans, the public hearings, the disdain about parking, side roads, variances for building heights, underground parking, previously planned underground parking that failed to exist, and traffic...back in April of 2008 the City Paper was chattering about what was to come and then, all stop.

Now it sits empty, I hear plans of this and that now but nothing that was as promising as this prior development of the neighborhood I live in.  Perhaps the much larger scope was untold or just to big for the residents of Friendship to swallow, they were tucked in between all that was going to take place...in the long run let's hope the planners and the City of PGH get it right.  It's too important of a corridor to neglect nor deny something ambitious.

redux

 The Wonder Boys filmed here a while back

Bloomfield, Pittsburgh PA

no parking.

Pittsburgh neighborhoods, Mt. Washington patio

Pittsburgh neighborhoods, Mt. Washington

Christmas, twentyten

South Side/PGH PA, midnight mass

Stan's Market

Stan's Market on Penn Avenue in the Strip District of Pittsburgh has long been an icon.  I remember taking this image in June of 2003 w/ an old Canon PowerShot that was made during the time digital cameras were taking off.

Yes, that long ago.

But back to Stan's.

Generations have shopped here, all took advantage of fresh produce so close to downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods at great prices and variety.  The city had a vibrant Strip District neighborhood for quite some time, dating back to the early 19th century.  Strong ethnic roots have been laid in the alleys and main thoroughfares.  Early tenants of the Strip District included U.S. Steel, Westinghouse, The Pittsburgh Reduction Company (ALCOA), and later The H.J. Heinz Company  (*wikipedia.org).  Big industry fueled the local economy and the Strip District flourished into a hub of transport for fresh veggies, meats, bananas, fruits...it was a central hub for the entire Pittsburgh region.

When I picture the Strip in my mind I see it in this frame of Stan's.  It brings me to images taken 30, 40, 50+ years ago of the same area that I have seen and b&w suites the atmosphere and the nostalgia.  The hand-painted sign, the draping canvas to shun the rain and the seldom sun, racks upon racks of color, aroma and edible varietal.

Today Stan's Market still stands, still packs in the generations of customers.  It rings true of "mom & pop" and the small, independent city store and is a staple for shoppers on all the days of the week, not just Saturdays when the suburbs flock to Penn Avenue in the Strip.

Everyone deserves to visit Stan's, no matter if you are buying handfuls of fresh herbs, potatoes, greens or fruits or just window shopping.
It's worth the step back into history and supporting a local Pittsburgh icon.


and while you are searching for Pittsburgh history about the Strip District you can view an episode of "It's Pittsburgh" by Rick Sebak, the episode airing on Dec. 22, 2010 has a feature on the Strip District on the infamous "Saturday before Christmas in the Strip".
"SATURDAY before Christmas in the STRIP!
Cameraman Frank Caloiero weaves his way through the crowds while I stop and talk to anybody and everybody. The Strip still has wonderful characters, stupendous foodstuff and lots of homemade wine!" (*wqed.org).
It's always great to see Jimmy, who's interviewed during the end of the episode and Enrico's too.

back.

back, after what feels like forever, is my old photoblog whatthehellhappenedlastnight (.com)

not too exciting @ the moment, but I hope to liven it up a bit in the days ahead

as was the spirit of the last attempt and its prolonged existence and then URL lapsing...I will rant on about this, you get a chance to say "right on" or simply "fuck you"
there will be photography
there will be bits about life in Pittsburgh and where to go/do/eat/see/taste/drink/photograph/bitch about/touch/etc etc etc

plan on doing photo essays here as well
"Pittsburgh:  neighborhoods"  soon to start

so, it's off to Friendship and old school Christmas lights out along the large Victorian houses

there are a string of stars, lighted along Friendship Avenue, I have yet to spy them but might have to walk up that way



feel free to comment suggestions for places, faces, spaces in Pittsburgh for me to see and shoot
I sent out 85 invites only, if you landed here we've crossed paths sometime in the past, most of you are photographers or love and appreciate the art of photography, perhaps you are just a friend, a former co-worker or possibly we've never formally met, but it's good to see you here and hopefully participating in the future


and we're off!






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