Posts Tagged ‘PNC Park’
Citrus fruit needed
Friday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Recent endeavor found your humble narrator scuttling the misery away while heading towards the T light rail, here in Pittsburgh’s Dormont.
The shot was my ‘gray card’ photo, wherein I figure out the ‘ball park’ that the day’s photo exposures will require – as far as aperture/ ISO/ and a base shutter speed. The ‘gray card’ street pictured above is dubbed ‘Mattern Avenue,’ and it’s just off the main drag of Dormont’s Potomac Avenue, with the latter byway leading to the T light Rail station.
This wasn’t going to be a ‘photo day’ per se, as in the main goal for the effort revolved around exercise, and burning out a few miles of pure walkie walkie cardio style time while shooting a ‘photowalk’ series as I did so. Got to keep it interesting.
In fact, my goal for the day was six to seven miles, which I hit.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A T light Rail unit arrived, and after paying the fare, your humble narrator settled into a seat. They use a zone system on the service, and the customer pays when boarding on a rail unit heading into Pittsburgh, and conversely when debarking after heading away from Pittsburgh. They’ve also got a sliding fare scale with discounts for kids, senior citizens, and others. It’s all very confusing.
It’s about a 20-30 minute trip, from Dormont to one of the T stations that’s nearby a baseball stadium, on Pittsburgh’s North Shore.
The ‘North Shore’ is a complex of high volume bars and restaurants with a football and baseball stadium, and there’s a very well used pedestrian/bicycle trail. Apparently ‘North Shore’ is the colloquial name for this northern bank of the Allegheny River, distinguishing it from ‘North Side,’ which is an entirely different ‘zone.’ Also very confusing.
The T deposited me on an underground platform beneath said baseball stadium, PNC Park. This is the section of the T’s route where it runs like a subway. This too is confusing, but I’m slow and old.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Luckily, the escalators were working just fine, and soon this device rudely thrust me back up onto the streets where I belong.
The plan for the day revolved around ‘flat’ and pushing my busted up ankle’s capabilities in pursuit of speeding up both gait and stride. I’ve always been quite aware of my walking postures, as it’s a ‘thing,’ but this injury really forced me into analytical thought about stride and gait. Where the toe is pointed, how the heel strikes, the rolling nature of a step, the push off at the end of said step… all that.
A weird thing about this walk was that I was experiencing emotions, of an almost human nature. All of my prior twelve months were swirling about, between the ears and behind the eyes, a year which started with me confined to a wheelchair and stuck in the house with a shattered ankle. Now look at me, walking about aimlessly like a big boy, again.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
My footfalls, which now omit the ‘drag’ and have become just a steady ‘thump, thump, thump,’ carried me to the shoreline of the Allegheny River and the popular waterfront trail mentioned above.
The plan was to hang a left on the trail, and follow a more or less northwesterly path to either the 31st or 40th street bridges upriver. From there, I’d then cross the river and hang a right, following one of the avenue streets back downtown where I’d catch a ride back to HQ on the T at one of the downtown area stations.
About 6-7 miles, this plan, ended up being about 6.5 miles ultimately. Some interesting stuff was encountered along the way, but as stated – this was an exercise walk which would provide opportunities for photography – rather than the other way around.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
An access ramp for wheelchair users to access the baseball stadium from the riverfront trail is adorned with a series of numbers fabricated from steel. Apparently, these are historical and retired numbers which were worn by hall of fame members of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Me? I just thought it looked neat, and I wanted to check out how the ramp functioned, given my recent acquaintance with the challenges of losing your mobility.
To be fair, though, I was always the singular voice in Western Queens who asked ‘what about people in wheelchairs’ when the bike people were shouting and accusing car owners of existing in a ‘state of pre murder.’
When I was on the Astoria community board in NYC, I actually boxed the bike people in during one meeting when a statement from the Deputy ‘Commish’ of the DOT included the phrase ‘all electric and human powered wheeled vehicles will be welcome in the Crescent Street Bike Lane.’ I asked ‘so… the one big wheel skateboard things… they’re welcome too?’ They said ‘yes.’ ‘Scooters?’ I asked. ‘Yes.’ ‘What about electric wheelchairs?’
The DOT people got up and huddled in the corner, having a quick meeting of whispers. They came back and said ‘yes.’
The ‘death eyes’ stare I got from the Transportation Alternatives crowd and their allies in NYC DOT is something that still makes me giggle, years later. Ableist iceholes.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
One continued on his lonely way, filthy black raincoat flapping about in the breeze. It was cold in Pittsburgh, and overcast. This time around, I was relistening to another old favorite in my audio books collection – a podcast by a fellow named Mike Duncan called ‘The History of Rome.’
On did I scuttle…
Back next week with more – at this – your Newtown Pentacle.
“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.
Peanuts & Crackerjacks, yo
Friday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
After having ridden the T light rail into Downtown Pittsburgh from HQ in Dormont, your humble narrator hit the streets. Pictured above is (what I’m told) the former home and 1893 vintage ‘flagship’ department store of the Joseph Horne Company at Stanwix Street and Penn Avenue.
There was an event going during this particular afternoon, a couple of miles away, meant to be taking place on the North Side of the Allegheny River which seemed like it was going to be quite silly, and was the sort of thing I normally would like to point a camera at. When I got there, no event. It was, in fact, silly.
My footsteps were nevertheless being loosely organized in that general direction.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The Pirates were three innings into a baseball game with the Reds, directly across the Allegheny River.
It was positively sultry out, with temperatures in the low 90’s and a fair amount of humidity. A steady breeze was blowing, however, and whenever shade could be found – things were existentially tolerable.
Saying that, it was hot, and this ended up being one of my ‘short walks.’
– photo by Mitch Waxman
As an aside, I have managed to survive all of the tests and ministrations which my team of doctors have insisted upon in the last four weeks.
After having to delay several prescribed things due to the ankle situation, I can report that your humble narrator has now been analyzed fully. Just visited the dentist too, so I can honestly say ‘head to toe.’ Not ‘exactly’ a clean bill of health came back to me from all the tests, but then again, I’m in my late 50’s so… you ain’t gonna get no good news from the blue pajamas and white coats crowd after 50.
As is usually the case with me, just keep walking, that’s the curative for everything. When you stop moving, that’s when you’ve started to decay. Get out of the house and go see something, ya lazy…
My entire philosophy is based, suffice to say, on this: Put one foot in front of the other… (There’s also ‘What would Superman do’ of course.)
– photo by Mitch Waxman
On game days, such as this particular Sunday, the city closes the Roberto Clemente Bridge to traffic so that the baseball fans can use it as a pedestrian ramp to the stadium from downtown. No way am I not going to take advantage of that – as it’s a very interesting situation.
No shade, though, and did I mention it was HOT. Saying that, I seem to possess an ability which most do not these days.
I can sublimate temporary discomfort for a while, without freaking out about becoming dehydrated within three minutes or worrying about my electrolyte balance. Yeah, it was uncomfortable, but it’s the world. You want comfort, stay home.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
There were a steady stream of Baseball fans leaving the stadium, and I overheard one of them telling his wife on the phone that it was just ‘too damn hot to sit in the stands.’ That’s probably why so many people were sitting in those shady ‘nose bleed’ seats at PNC Park.
I attended a Pirates game here in 2024, check out the views from inside the stadium here if you like.
The earphones came out shortly after starting the walk on the Clemente Bridge, which is one of Pittsburgh’s iconic ‘Three Sisters Bridges.’ Full sensory and situational awareness was required.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A heel spin, and looking back at the pathway I’d walked.
An old habit, born in NYC, to see if anyone is following me. Let me tell you, the camera gets instantly noticed by the street people here. Usually, I’ll stand there staring at their eyes so when the gaze retreats off the camera and up to the ‘size the victim up’ phase, they see me intently glaring at them and sometimes smiling. That’s usually enough in Pittsburgh, but… everybody besides me is packing a pistol in Pennsylvania. Concealed carry is kosher here.
I can do the Bene Gesserit voice from Dune, as a note. Just tell people what to do and they start doing it without realizing.
Back next week with more, from the Paris of Appalachia, at this – your Newtown Pentacle.
“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.
All Allegheny
Wednesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
As is my habit, a long walk was recently underway. This time around I had ridden the T light rail to its terminal stop on Pittsburgh’s North Side and eventually found myself in front of a statue of Roberto Clemente. The bridge in the background is named for the athlete, and it spans the Allegheny River as part of a trio of mostly identical bridges.
This statuary is installed on the grounds of PNC Park, where the Pirates Baseball outfit resides.
As you might discern from the images, it was a lovely afternoon and the air temperature never rose above 70 degrees. Low humidity as well, a perfect late summer/early fall day.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
In the distance, there was a historic boat visiting Pittsburgh, one which was supposed to have been used to launch tanks during WW2, but I missed out on checking it out. Probably should have, but a humble narrator can’t always make it when something cool is happening. Hey, I attended that historic plane dealie back in July, remember?
Ultimately, this was a ‘long walk’ day, and that’s what was on my dance card. Scuttle, scuttle, scuttle – that’s me.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
My toes were pointed squarely in the direction of downtown Pittsburgh, and the Allegheny was crossed. Ultimately, my goal for the day was to ride back to HQ on the T Light Rail, with a penultimate stop which would reward me with a pint of beer, at that brewery I’ve been haunting that sits alongside the CSX subdivision tracks but that was still another river crossing and a few more miles of walking away from where I was in the shot above.
As a note – Pittsburgh is becoming more and more familiar to me at this stage of the game. I’m able to just wander around these days, rather than needing to map out a route prior to leaving HQ.
Back tomorrow.
“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.
Stadium visita
Tuesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I got to attend a Sportsball game at the 2001 vintage PNC Park, wherein the Pittsburgh Pirates faced off against the Arizona Diamondbacks. I fully realize how shockingly out of character this is – for one such as myself – but Our Lady of the Pentacle’s company had organized a summer get together around the game, and there were ‘comp’ tickets and an allowance for refreshments. Can’t say no to ‘free.’
It was a very cool experience, I’d offer, until a thunderstorm at the bottom of the 4th inning caused nearly 38,000 people to have to run inside and shelter from an onslaught of rain and wind. All in good fun, I guess.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The views from PNC Park are fairly spectacular, looking across the Allegheny River at Downtown Pittsburgh. That’s the Roberto Clemente bridge, in the bottom of the shot above, which is closed to vehicle traffic on game days to allow pedestrian access to the ball field.
The Pirates were in a three game series with the Diamondbacks, and as it happens they won the night at 4-2. When the storm interrupted things, Our Lady and I decided to split, and make our way back to Moe the Dog – as he’s not a huge fan of thunder and is clinically insane.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The neat part of the night, for a harbor nerd like me, was that the Gateway Clipper service sells back and forth ferry tickets on game days, launching from their home base on the Monongahela River and then sliding right in at the stadium doors on the Allegheny River’s north side. We also rode back in the boat pictured above, and made our way back to the Clipper’s parking lot to retrieve the Mobile Oppression Platform.
We then made our way back to Moe the Dog via automobile.
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.
The Newtown Pentacle 