Tag Archives: Matt Aquiline

The Best Block in Pittsburgh

Posted by Imagery Photography on

Three years ago we began having block parties on the Sunday after Run Around The Square. Since our block is along the race route we already have barricades available so it easy to do. Of course we have a wonderful neighborhood with children and parents of all ages.

The kids play on one side of the street and the parents hang out in the center of the block and listen to the sounds of our resident poet and songwriter. I encourage you to check out the poignant and humorous melodies of Matt Aquiline and the Dead End Streets.

If you don’t have a block party consider it. It is a great way to get to know your neighbors. This is Pittsburgh and we are all about neighborhoods and community.

To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.

Run Around The Square 2019

Posted by Imagery Photography on

Each year near the end of August Pittsburgh has one of its best 5k races. There are a number of things that make Run around The Square</em> different. The race goes through the cobblestone streets of Pittsburgh’s Regent Square Neighborhood and then through Frick Park ending in Fern Hollow in the midst of the park.

At the end of the race Regent Square’s famous Hot Dog Shop serves up free hot dogs and beer to the crowd in the park and other local business also offer water, snacks and free merchandise to entrants.

I couldn’t”t participate this year or volunteer much because of my back but since the race comes down or street I could still cheer and take pictures.

To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.

Run Around The Square 2019

Run Around The Square 2019

Pittsburgh’s Most Musical 5K Race

Posted by Imagery Photography on

Each year near the end of August Pittsburgh has one of its best 5k races. There are a number of things that make Run around The Square</em> different. The race goes through the cobblestone streets of Pittsburgh’s Regent Square Neighborhood and then through Frick Park ending in Fern Hollow in the midst of the park.

At the end of the race Regent Square’s famous Hot Dog Shop serves up free hot dogs and beer to the crowd in the park and other local business also offer water, snacks and free merchandise to entrants.

However what really makes the race unique is the music. Along the route and near each water stop you will find different musicians. A tuba player, a rock band, a salsa band are just a few entertaining the runners and walkers. Of course I am prejudiced because I live across the street from singer/songwriter Matt Aquiline of Matt Aquiline and The Dead End Streets. I recommend you give them a listen.

To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.

Matt Aquiline

Matt Aquiline and The Highballers at Club Cafe

Posted by Imagery Photography on

When we moved back to Pittsburgh in 2014 we really lucked out in a lot of ways. Of course neighbors sometimes can be a liability when buying a house. Just ask me about Long Island sometime. However, Regent Square is a wonderful Pittsburgh neighborhood and we have great neighbors. One bonus we couldn’t have planned for is that one of our neighbors is a singer-songwriter.

I have great respect for songwriters, they are poets. As a novelist, yes I can say that, I am even more impressed. It’s hard enough to think up the words let alone set them to music. Our local poet is Matt Aquiline and he writes alternative country rock music that is humorous and heartwarming and never depressing. Last night he played at Club Cafe in Pittsburgh with his new band and they were awesome. They were proceeded by The Highballers with Belén Pifel, who used to sing with Matt when they lived in Washington. At the end of the night Belén Pifel and John Woolf joined Matt and his new band for a great finish. Here are some images from the show.

To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.

Matt Aquiline with Belén Pifel and John Woolf

Matt Aquiline with Belen Pifel and John Woolf

The Highballers

The Highballers

singer

Belen Pifel

Belén Pifel

Matt Aquiline, Belén Pifel and John Woolf

Matt Aquiline, Belen Pifel and John Woolf

Neighbors that Rock

Posted by Imagery Photography on

In our life we have had some good luck with creative neighbors. In Montclair we lived next door to Janet Aldrich who was a musical comedy actress with a great voice. She actually borrowed our dog for a one month run in Anything Goes. Janet Shaw lived across the street. She was a set designer for many Woody Allen movies and when we knew her she worked on The Sopranos.

When we moved back to Pittsburgh we were excited to meet our new neighbors. We recently discovered that our neighbor across the street, Matt Aquiline was not only a musician but also a songwriter. I have always been fascinated by song writers. As a novelist I have enough problems just writing words let alone music to go with the words. To me music is a separate language and writing a song is like writing a poem in two different languages at the same time! We found out that he was performing at The Hard Rock Pittsburgh last night with his longtime singing partner Belen Pifel. It was a wonderful concert. His songs are filled with wit and passion and the harmonies were terrific. I have posted a couple of snaps from the show.

To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.

Belen Pifel and Matt Aquiline

Belen Pifel and Matt Aquiline

At The Hard Rock

At The Hard Rock

Matt and Company

Matt and Company