Category Archives: Commentary

No Longer Seedy

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A lot of cities in the rust belt have reinvented themselves. Maybe no city has done this better than Pittsburgh. Throughout these cities you see relics of a bygone era and signs of long gone establishmentsforgotten by most. The Beckert Seed and Bulb Company was a Pittsburgh business downtown and on the North Side in the early 1900’s and lasted all the way through the early 1950’s. You can still see their 1923 seed catalog online by clicking here.

I love to collect images of these old signs of the times and was surprised to see this sill intact in Market Square.

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Sign of the Times

Sign of the Times

Why Do I Care?

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A few weeks ago we photographed the Parade at #Anthrocon in Pittsburgh and I published a number of images on this blog. While doing a picture review last week I noticed this image and have tried to figure out what the Furrie was asking. I still don’t know. Why do I care? About what? Please comment if you have an interpretive answer to this age old question.

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Why do you care?

Why do you care?

Hibiscus–A Perfect Bloom

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There are few blooms that can compete with the Hibiscus for size and beauty. This almost perfect flower was photographed at the Phipps outside garden in Mellon Park in east Pittsburgh. It is about six inches in diameter. Normally when I photograph close ups of blooms they have a flaw. A hole from a bug or a leaf damaged by wind. This one however is nearly perfect!

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A Perfect Bloom

A Perfect Bloom

Same As It Ever Was

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When I taught Photography at the Ivy School of Professional Art I would frequently take students on photographic field trips to Pittsburgh’s Market Square. The variety of subjects included people feeding pigeons,street performers,old architecture,street performers and local characters. This cultural stew offered students a variety of subjects to test their skills on.

From this perspective nothing has changed. Sure the stores are more upscale now but the clientele is still the same. Kids chasing birds, saxophone serenades at lunch and giant fish sandwiches from The Original Oyster House. I swear these same two guys were playing chess when I left 35 years ago.

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The Chess Game

The Chess Game

DreamMap on Sale for $.99 through Wednesday

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We have begun work on World’s Apart, the second book in the DreamMap trilogy. To celebrate we will be offering DreamMap on sale! Starting on August 12th and ending on August 19th you can buy our exciting fantasy/mystery novel DreamMap at Amazon for just $.99 for the Kindle version. You can also purchase the trade paperback for just $10.53 and get the Kindle version for just $1.99 additional. So discover the other world romance of Jake and Rose and experience the thrilling ride through our world of the DreamMap.

To order your copy, click here!

DreamMap

The Pittsburgh Strip District

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When we first returned to Pittsburgh we were excited to visit Wholey’s in the Strip District. I had great memories of going there with my Dad on Saturday mornings. He knew a guy and we got these great strip steaks at a deep discount. We would pull up to the wholesale side and load a cooler with these excellent steaks. When we first went back last Spring we made the stupid mistake of going on a Friday afternoon at lunch time. We could barely get in to the store, the streets were filled with people and we fled in terror. Since we have learned to go Tuesday through Thursday between 9 and 11 A.M. The butcher shop and seafood store are clearly the best around.

We have also discovered the Ohio River Pasta Company, Lotus Asian Market and at least two wonderful produce markets. Next trip we check out the sausage guy in the Italian deli. All though we have been down there a few times, it wasn’t until the last trip that I discovered this beautiful mural.

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Pittsburgh Strip District

Pittsburgh Strip District

A Pittsburgh Original

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The last time I ate in the Original Oyster House was 1977. It was a unique place and Pittsburgh’s oldest restaurant (1870). Back then it was a smoke filled place with great food and only Pittsburgh Beers on tap. I didn’t care about smoke then since I smoked and it was a fun place for lunch.

I had lunch there on Friday and the only thing that changed was a lack of smoke. Few things in life are that consistent. The food was the same excellent fare, the beer was still only Pittsburgh Beer, the same bar and still filled with characters. The barkeeps and servers were “Pittsburgh Friendly”.I love this city, it’s good to be home.

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The Original Oyster House

The Original Oyster House

More From Anthrocon

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Anthrocon (#anthrocon, #furries) was founded in 1998 with about 500 people. The convention was in Philadelphia but moved to Pittsburgh in 2006 in search of a larger hotel and venue. The first convention in Pittsburgh attracted over 2400 people and has continued to grow each year and brings millions to the Pittsburgh economy.

This year was the first year that the Fursuit Parade of over 1000 characters was in public and Pittsburghers came out in the thousands to show their support and cheer The Furries as they paraded around the convention center. Here are a few more images from this years event.

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Furry Princess

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Most of the furries at Anthrcon (#anthrocon, #furries) dress up in complete fur suits and are completely anonymous. I think this ability to hide in plain site attracts a lot of the furries. However, some do not hide their identities and use elaborate make up techniques to highlight their costumes. I think this is very daring and brave and shows a self confidence that some of the others may lack.

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Furry Princess

Furry Princess

Birdman

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The reason I liked Anthrocon (#anthrocon, #furries) so much is that all the people in the parade last Saturday wanted to have their picture taken. The Furries have found a way to express themselves and express their inner soul in a non threatening and colorful way. They want you to “see” them and photograph them.

But not all people that “dress up” are so nice or even furies. This guy needs to seriously rethink his look and put his finger away. In Pittsburgh we have real Pirates

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birdman