The Newtown Pentacle

Monday

– photo by Mitch Waxman

Last week, I brought y’all along on a scuttle in the California Kirkbride section of Pittsburgh, and my toes were pointed squarely in the direction of the ‘Sunday Street’ City Steps. Nowhere near as grandiose as the Rising Main, or as enigmatic and picturesque as the City Steps in the South Side Slopes section, this public byway was nevertheless something which I wanted to experience.

As it turns out, that section of California Kirkbride, along Brighton Road, is on a bit of a plateau. The approach to Sunday Street has a set of steps – which are more of a stepped sidewalk ramp than they are proper stairs.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

A lesser section of the Union Dale cemetery was on the other side of that fence. Some sort of industrial outfit was across the street, and somebody who worked there was moving panel trucks around from one bay to the other. A couple of old timers were walking their dogs.

I jabbered along like some obscene mockery of a man, encased within a swirling maelstrom of black sack cloth, gesticulating towards odd things with a camera. Loathsomeness incarnate, horrible to behold, avoidance demanding… that’s me. Everybody hates this guy, so just ask around and they’ll tell you why. Fruit spoils when I near, dogs bark, children cry.

That fearful monstrosity which I see in the mirror, I have discovered, is myself.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

The City Steps here were in a condition which I’ve discovered as being concordant with the mores of Pittsburgh’s maintenance schedules. Spalling concrete, loose or detached bannisters, cracked pavement and lots of vegetative intrusion into the masonry. Looks like these steps haven’t been meaningfully touched by laborers in decades. Feh!

Right about here is when the realization that Brighton Road behind me sits on some sort of plateau occurred, incidentally.

In the distance, and for some context as to where these shots were gathered in relation to places I’ve talked about frequently in the past, you can see the gold arch of the West End Bridge over the Ohio River, poking up at the top right of the shot above and the ridge that it’s in front of is Mount Washington.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

Looking over my shoulder and back at where I’d just walked, an old habit held over from Brooklyn’s past.

Normally, this activity revolves around seeing if anyone is following me. Given that by this point of the morning – other than seeing people driving by in their cars – I had seen not more than ten humans blundering around the neighborhood, and half of those were following their leashed up dogs around.

Right around here was when I decided to use my headphones again, as the bird song had dropped off when I moved away from the main fields of the cemetery. I was listening to a newish British band called Big Special.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

There’s the intersection with the set of City Steps I wanted to see, which I’ll be showing all of y’all tomorrow. This is an interesting spot, as three sets of Steps merge into one path here.

There were a couple of youngish guys walking on the steps too, but other than that the place seemed deserted.

I thought to myself that the area ‘looked like Salem’s Lot, but during the day when all the vampires are asleep.’

– photo by Mitch Waxman

I should also mention that I’ve been keeping busy for the last few weeks, and am way ahead of schedule again. These shots were captured on the 15th of March, and the posts written during the first week of April. If I’ve got my scheduling right, you’re seeing this during the last week of April.

Given how chaotic the world is at the moment, if it seems like I’m ‘out of touch’ with whatever the latest calamity is, that’s why.

Back tomorrow with more.

“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle

Buy a book!

“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.