Posts Tagged ‘Strip District’
Down, and then out
Friday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
After negotiating a Boulevard called Bigelow, and descending the steep streets of Polish Hill, and then crossing a set of rail tracks and a busway, one arrived at a flat section of the City of Pittsburgh, built upon the flood plain of the Allegheny River.
As is my recent habit, further scuttling occurred along the ‘way’ or alley streets in this zone. In Pittsburgh, if a street is called a ‘way,’ it’s an alley. The avenue blocks could be popping with crowds, but the ways are fairly unoccupied.
I avoid human infestations whenever possible.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The way led me, unfortunately, back to an avenue.
The humans gamboled and played, honking car horns and drinking sugar solutions from plastic vessels. Some ate fried things. Others gesticulated towards various points of interest. Everybody seemed to have somewhere to go. There was a baseball game scheduled for the night of the day which this scuttle occurred on, so lots of humans were in the area, dubbed ‘The Strip District.’ They were buying souvenirs and sports jerseys, drinking their carbonated syrups, and eating the high fat foods.
Many of them seemed disused to walking. Their feet pointed outwards, and the steps were shuffling. They hung together in family groupings. Formations of mutual defense, perhaps. These units would often flatten out into skirmish lines, with five or more people slowly shuffling along shoulder to shoulder while pouring things into their mouths and watching their phones carefully for some sort of update. When a skirmish line met an opposing group or line, chaos ensued. Socially awkward and passive aggressive maneuvering of their formations occurred, designed to allow access through for the interloper’s passage but not comfortably so.
They walk just like they drive, I thought.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Many were clothed in what I’d describe as ‘redneck drag.’ Suburbanites all dressed up to look rural. One guy I saw was wearing a shirt that said ‘patriot.’ He was wearing an American flag themed hat, which is – of course – a no-no as far as the official rules surrounding usage of the United States Flag, for patriots. Ask a Scout, they’ll tell you what’s kosher as far as using or handling the Stars and Stripes.
It was really, really hot out. My path was altered a bit to accommodate finding some shade. Luckily, lots of off and on ramps hereabouts.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This was a short walk, maybe four miles in length if you consider the changes in elevation. I was engaged for about two hours worth of walking, all I had time for on this day. I wasn’t feeling terribly well, I should mention, due to a specialized diet which yet another forthcoming medical test demanded I eat. The plan involved me eating exactly the set of foods which I normally avoid, regarding my cardiovascular situation. Lotsa fats and carbs, basically zero vegetables or fruit. Yuck.
Luckily, at this writing, that test has been accomplished. Now, I’ve only got a Dentist Appointment to make and I’m done with my annual set of ordeals. I may have to admit that the Doctors are smarter than me, and thereby it’s logical to subvert my will to theirs, but I don’t have to like it.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A rideshare was summoned, which would carry me back to HQ in Dormont in air conditioned comfort. Worth every damned penny.
Now, on to my latest obsession.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The entire time I was sitting in that god damned wheelchair in Dormont, I was hearing train horns sounding off from a direction which didn’t make any sense to me. It took me a bit of searching, but… there ye be.
This is Wheeling & Lake Erie’s Rook Yard, which I’ve visited at street level, via Carnegie, in the past. I’ve finally figured out a spot where I can both park the car and also get elevated POV photos of the yard. This is where the RR enters into a trench, which then leads it into a tunnel under the neighborhood of Greentree, and I now have a pretty good idea where that tunnel comes out in West End… so, yeah…
For one such as myself, this is nepenthe.
Back next week with something different.
“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.
Mud splatters
Tuesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Well, I finally missed a day, yesterday, disappointing all those who expect regularly posted missives from your humble narrator to appear in their inboxes as normal, on a Monday. At any rate, there you are. Sorry, and ‘Oops.’
Pictured is an apartment complex in Pittsburgh’s Green Tree neighborhood. Don’t know much about it, other than marveling at its observed size and bulky brutalist architecture. There’s a few large apartment complexes in Green Tree, and I often wonder why. Most of the community is housed in one family suburban style homes, yet…
Recently, I learned that quite a few of those suburban style homes are built on top of a subterranean freight rail tunnel, and also where that tunnel emerges back onto the surface. It’s a bit of a hike, involves a bit of fence climbing and woods walking, activities which I’m not ready to chance yet.
Something to look forward to.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A recent social engagement in Pittsburgh’s Strip District found me waiting for a cab afterwards, and standing under the 16th street David McCullough Bridge while sheltering from rain. McCullough, a noted historian and Pittsburgh native, wrote what I consider to be the best book on the building of the Brooklyn Bridge (1983’s ‘The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge.’) McCullough narrated the audiobook of it as well, which I listen to periodically.
It seems like life is returning to normal, finally, or at least whatever ‘normal’ is for one such as myself. I’ve been walking as much as the weather and schedules allow, and following the instructions from the team of doctors who cared for me during all of this busted ankle related drama. Continuing the stretching exercises from ‘PT’ and all that.
See… I mentioned the ankle. Promise that I’ll stop talking about that situation soon. Should be nothing more than just another war story within a few months.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Circumstance recently found me in one of the lesser populated sections of Mount Washington’s Grandview Avenue, where this view awaited. I’m planning on heading to this location again with the full kit, setting up the tripod and getting busy. This is pretty far from the overlooks and inclines, this particular spot, and a less common point of view.
Back tomorrow with something different, 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.
The views from Valaskjálf
Tuesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Continuing with what I saw during a recent double decker tourist bus excursion in Pittsburgh, in todays post. As mentioned yesterday, the bus I was riding on had a preordained route which it rides through, one which is designed to hit several areas of interest in the metro area. It crossed the Allegheny River, heading south, and then towards the convention center, using one of the Three Sister’s Bridges. As it happens, this was the Andy Warhol Bridge which we were riding over.
A humble narrator was randomly pointing the camera around, and working the dials in a very quick fashion. It’s a good exercise, photography wise, this sort of thing. A lot like when I used to ride the Staten Island and NYC Ferries looking for random stuff in NY Harbor.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
For instance – as the bus turned off the bridge, the scene above popped at me. I had about 5 seconds to recognize, compose, and click the shutter while the vehicle I was in was moving at about 15-20 mph. Try this sort of thing sometime, photo peeps. Breaks you out of the same old/same old way that you do things.
Not something I’d normally shoot for Newtown Pentacle, the scene above, but when I spotted that ‘How’s it going’ ad on the bus shelter – woof. Ka-click.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The route progressed into the Strip District, and St. Stanislaus Kostka R. C. Church and headed more or less eastwards.
Regarding the gobblety gook in the title: part of my continuing treatise on obscure terms associated with Odin and the spiritual side of Proto Germanic and Scandinavian antiquity, Valaskjálf was the Asgardian Palace in which Odin placed his ‘Hlidskjalf’ or ‘High Seat’ from which he could look down on and observe the worlds of both Midgard (men) and Jotunheim (monsters).
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.
Apples are Doctor prophylaxis
Tuesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I’m only joking with that title, but I actually have been eating a daily apple since I moved to Pittsburgh for some reason. Granny Smith kind. Yummy. As I’ve discovered, my new friend Moe the Dog likes the green apples too, so double win.
That’s the 16th street or David McCullough Bridge pictured above, which spans the Allegheny River. Pittsburgh native McCullough wrote one of my all time favorite NYC history books about the Brooklyn Bridge’s construction – ‘The Great Bridge, the epic story of the building of the Brooklyn Bridge.’ I can highly recommend the audiobook version available on Amazon’s Audible service, which is free if you’re a ‘Prime’ member. The last time I posted a photo of the 16th street span, interest in the comments section was espoused in seeing a close up of the ornamental metalwork at the top of the bridge towers, so here you go.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
On the north side of the river, there’s a bit of heavy industrial activity going on, including a waste transfer/recycling facility called “Warhola Recycling.’ Yes, they are related to Andy Warhol (his nephews), and yes they are scrappers. There’s an Andy Warhol bridge in Pittsburgh, and a museum, not too far from this spot. I’ve been to the bridge, but haven’t been to the museum yet.
I continued on my merry freaking way, while sweating heavily. It was a very humid day, with atmospheric dew points in the high 70’s, as I was taking this walk. Rain, snow, sun… whatever, I’m still obliged to scuttle about every other day.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
On the peninsular section of the city, on the Allegheny’s southern shore, is found Pittsburgh’s ‘strip district.’ A cold storage warehouse used to be located where the rubble in the shot above is observed, and oddly enough – given my newness to the area – I’ve somehow managed to document several phases of its demolition. Funny that.
It seems that the bar next door, which is located in the extant red brick building, has been structurally compromised due to the demolition project, which has slowed down the process of building – you guessed it – affordable housing – on the surrounding site. There’s lots of newly constructed housing stock nearby, but I’m told it’s largely occupied by the ‘tech Bros’ from Microsoft and Google who are working on developing self driving automobiles here in Pittsburgh.
There’s someone in Pittsburgh who’s working on what are essentially robot shoes, too. If anyone wants to send me $1,100 to get a pair, I’ll gladly get them and let you know how many bones I ended up breaking.
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.
St. Patrick R.C. Church
Tuesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A few blocks away from St. Stanislaus Kostka Roman Catholic Church, which Our Lady of the Pentacle and myself got to visit on a walking tour of Pittsburgh’s Strip District offered by the ‘Doors Open Pittsburgh’ organization, is another church called St. Patrick’s. It has an interesting history, one which is detailed at this site.
I was struck, while our guide was describing the place to us, by the accoutrements. Sculpture and stained glass were everywhere, as were several oil paintings of important former Vicars and Priests. The Pieta pictured above was particularly well sculpted, in my opinion.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I once did a comic that involved the Angels, using Sammael/Lucifer and Michael to fight back an analogous form of Cthulhu, but I interpreted them through a superheroic and pop cultural lens. I’m thinking that’s the Archangel Michael pictured above, as interpreted in the form of stained glass. Patrick is one of the Saints I’ve never seen rendered up like a medieval soldier with wings, which is conventionally how you see Gabriel or Metatron or Michael represented, instead it’s mostly bishop or monk robes for him. The rendering above is a bit more ‘Bible compliant’ than most of the Catholic art related to the Sons of Fire (men are the Sons of Clay), with the multiple sets of wings set into a roundish shape. Read the Book of Ezekiel if you want to know more about that description of God’s Squad.
If this Angel business is a topic that you have any sort of scholarly interest in, there’s an amazing set of books by a fellow named Jeffrey Burton Russell which explores the development of Christian philosophy from prehistoric times into the modern era. The conceit used is eminently Zoroastrian in nature – as in you cannot perceive the light without studying the shadows – so Russell focused in on what individual cultures during the various eras described as being tempting evil to discern what heights they aspired to instead. Russell’s bibliography includes ‘Satan: The Early Christian Tradition (1981),’ ‘Lucifer: The Devil in the Middle Ages (1984),’ ‘Mephistopheles: The Devil in the Modern World (1986)’ and others. Fully footnoted in both Latin and Greek, I would mention. Great stuff.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The stairs at the bottom of the shot above are a ‘Scala Sancta’ or Holy Stairs, which congregants are meant to ascend only on their knees. This is the ‘sacred space’ chapel area, which is remarkable for its unadorned and plain nature. Normally, Catholic spaces I’ve visited in the United States are more like St. Stanislaus Kostka – ornate and somewhat baroque with paintings and sculptures everywhere. This sort of chapel reminds me of small village churches I’ve seen in Europe.
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.
The Newtown Pentacle 