Posts Tagged ‘Yard Way City Steps’
Sinking feelings
Monday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Mountain Avenue to Yard Way part three.
Not gonna lie, your humble narrator has been ‘bumming out’ of late. The news isn’t a subject which I like to dwell upon these days, as whether it’s National or Global – it’s all bad. I’ve made it a point of not talking about world events here, in an attempt to provide some bit of diversion that isn’t apocalyptic or horrible.
The future has ended up to just kind of suck.
Somehow, I’m not surprised, but then again – I am – after all, a member of Generation X. We always figured that the Baby Boomers would figure out a way to screw everyone else, during their dotage and on their way out. It’s how they lived, it’s how they’ll die.
One likes to ruminate while out, and scuttling about, which your humble narrator was involved with on this particular day.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Dribbling down the Yard Way steps, in the manner of a greasy liquid one associates with that which might ooze forth from an abattoir, me. My countenance is horrific, with dogs and children shrieking as I pass by. Cats hiss. Blossoms fold as if it was night as I scuttle past. A bird once saw me from above, and dropped out of the air dead, right in front of me. Pestilential.
I’ve been called that, as a point of fact. Pestilential.
Yard Way’s City Steps terminate at Pius Street, where the steps transmogrify into a series of sidewalk ramps. A block or two away from this spot are the Church Route City Steps, upon which I’d continue this scuttle.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Looking back at where I’d been, above.
As far as the bad mood goes, mental health complaints don’t necessarily refer to me slipping into or feeling ‘batshit crazy,’ but at the time of this writing I would describe myself as suffering from a bit of a ‘psychic cold.’
Low grade, no fever, just your run of the mill stuffy nose, headache, and sore throat kind of thing – that’s the analogy. It’s annoying, being bummed out, but just like when you’ve got a cold – you just have to wait it out, and then go for a walk in the sun when you’re feeling better.
Normally, I’m an ‘effin beacon of positivity, yo.
That’s me, just ask anyone who knows me in real life. I’m all sunshine and lollipops if you meet me in person.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Times like these are when all of those little guiding aphorisms of mine, which I pass off as wisdom, come into play.
‘It’s all downhill from here, and wherever that goes, there you are. Take a picture, it’ll last longer. One foot after the other, other, and soon you’ll be walking out the door. You’ll never win a fight with a woman you love, find a better way. Be early, at least they can’t hold that against you. Nothing matters, and nobody cares.’
The songbook from the musical ‘Annie’ suggests that the sun will indeed come out tomorrow. The Gorilla Biscuits also chide one to ‘Start Today.’
– photo by Mitch Waxman
My plan had been was to try and catch some Norfolk Southern train traffic along the way, but that neighborhood cleanup mentioned in earlier posts extended down to their tracks, and there were people with hi-viz vests and NS hats on who were talking on walkie talkies while the neighborhood people did their thing on and along the rails.
No bueno.
One decided to ‘try’ for CSX instead, an ideation which would involve a bit more scuttling. There would a possibility of a beer, too.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
As far as cheering up, it’s a fairly difficult, intractable, and closed system. Me. Whatever happens behind the eyes and between the ears is sort of tidal in nature. When a storm comes, you just ride it out.
Only thing to do – really – is get out and shoot a bunch of photos, scuttling about, and turning the earth beneath my feet.
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.
Yard Way City Steps
Friday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Mountain Avenue to Yard Way part two.
Pittsburgh’s South Side Slopes section, and your humble narrator was pretty close to the top of the world, here in the Paris of Appalachia.
One was heading for the Yard Way City Steps, which can be observed on a Google map here.
Now… realistically… I have zero desire to experience ‘all’ 400 plus sets of Pittsburgh’s City Steps. It’s likely that over the course of time I will… but… the desire to surmount that particular catalog isn’t there at the moment.
My interests at the moment are centered around the dramatic views available from the South Side Slopes, and I’m always game for cutting around a bunch of different places hosting cool City Steps.
Remember ‘Rising Main’? ‘Sunday Street’? The ‘Church Route’ or ‘Lauer Way’? ‘Sterling Street’? Yeah.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
At the apex of the landform, there’s a ball field and an abandoned house which seems to be in mid collapse. These are – what look like – one family homes, with an occasional multi family setup, populating the streets up here. This is very much ‘car country,’ due to the ridiculously steep nature of the streets.
Said public streets are also quite narrow, even though they run as two way streets. Parking density is a serious issue up here, and one needs to consider egress for emergency vehicles when pulling your keys from the ignition. It’s common practice for residents to park their cars with at least one set of wheels up on their sidewalk to preserve access.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Top of the world, ma, top of the world.
As a reminder, the Newtown Pentacle time warp is still in effect.
You’re receiving this in early/mid June, but these words were written back on the 9th of May, and further – the photos were captured in late April. I’ve somehow managed to manufacture a terrific amount of ‘lead time’ again, with posts being scheduled far in advance.
This is a good thing for your humble narrator, but I think it should be explained why you’re looking at shots of early spring in the early summer.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This is a massive set of City Steps, I’d mention.
Blocks and blocks and blocks of them, descending downwards towards the South Side Flats. Most of this pathway sees you descending through what can be described as a ‘vegetation tunnel.’ Ultimately, the Yard Way steps terminate nearby another set of City Steps which can carry you down towards the ‘flats.’
As is usually the case with walks around this area, I’d offer the observation that you really, really want to reconsider your decision to plant bamboo on Pittsburgh’s hills. It just takes over and crowds out native species of plant and tree, is a breeding ground for rats, and it’s infestations allow feral deer too much in the way of comfort.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Down, down, down.
Along the path, one ran into a group of people from the neighborhood who were performing an organized citywide clean-up that was organized in advance of the NFL Draft which was called ‘The Immaculate Collection.’ Picking up litter from places where it collects, all that. Nice peeps they were. I reminded them to weigh the bags of garbage afterwards, so as to say ‘we collected X number of pounds of trash.’
Back at Newtown Creek in Brooklyn and Queens, we would arrange for an entity like the DEP (who once dropped off a dumpster for us), DSNY, or even a private outfit like Waste Management to cart away the trash afterwards. They’d always let us know a number, as far as weight.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Check out those raised sidewalks, on Yard Way at Baldauf Street.
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.
The Newtown Pentacle 