#96 - Street Sweepers

It's been a long few months of knuckle dragging d-bags partying and puking on the back patio, skewing the love/hate feeling in the 'hate' direction. 

Walking home from some garage maintenance broom in hand, I see a random with a push broom sweeping dirt dust and crust from the street. 

My intention had been to sweep up the pile of glass, ever present but larger than usual, and call it a day.  

I dropped off my bucket of tools, grabbed my broom, and headed out to sweep up half our block with a newly known neighbor.

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#74 - default pronunciation

Even the most educated Pittsburgher defaults to a yinzer accent when trying to say a word they are unsure the pronunciation of. Think 'prosciutto' 'proletariat''hors d'oeuvre' or 'repertoire'

<35mm>

#58 - advice for transplants

I'm actually old enough I can give advise transplants on the benefits of raising children in the Pittsburgh area (from the perspective of growing up here, not as a baby daddy). Namely that they will grow up kind, courteous, respectful, and yinzer.

#55 - memorial day fashion

I'm not sure which was classier - the guy drinking outside Belvedere's at 2pm with a tightly permed mullet and a sleeveless belly shirt, or the guy walking through highland park with a bag of charcoal and a parrot on his shoulder.

#44 - Aiding and abetting a potential felon

I got lost with my new camera (Canon G12, stoked!*) in an industrial park in Hazelwood. Well, more accurately, I ignored a bunch of no trespassing signs to check out some cool decaying buildings. After cruising around for a bit, I realized the only way out was the way I came in - 1.5 miles in the opposite direction of my final destination. I found a gate, chainlink, barbed wire on the top, with just enough of a gap I could potentially squeeze my skinny pierogi ass through. As I stood and contemplated the gap in the fence, an SUV on the other (free!) side of the fence stopped, and with a smile, a passenger said "Need a hand there buddy?" I was obviously where I wasn't supposed to be, with a 5 o clock shadow, a little hungover, and these random yinzers were willing to help me navigate over a barbed wire fence.

I thanked them, sent them on their way, and hopped the fence with a bit more lightness.


*98% of the photos on this site are 35mm (Canon AE-1, older than I am) With the acquisition of the G12, I will be interspersing digital and analog - I'll always note which is which from here on aht.

Digital

#36 - Crooklyn

I wrote an article for my webzine, working class zero, making fun of Brooklyn Heights hipsters and how they look like Muammar al-Gaddafi, and in the first draft I wrote 'Brookline' instead of Brooklyn half the time because I'm such a goddamn yinzer.

#35 - out of town clothing selection

I didn't realize it until after I packed, but for a weekend away in upstate NY, I packed no less than (3) Pittsburgh related T-shirts, and am wearing one for the drive - Polish Hill Strangler, Rustbelt Homewreckers, Head Board Shop, Black Star Tattoo. My 'Jesus Loves the Steelers' stayed on the hanger since it's not season.

#30 - Pittsburgh Bands

I don't know if it's been tabulated but Pittsburgh has to hold the record for most bands named after / with reference to the city.

Off the top of my head:
Polish Hill Strangler (gotta represent)
Yinzers
Steel Drunk
Enemies of Yinz
Commonwealth Conspiracy (OK..sorta)
Le Cachot
Donora
Irwin
Dawn Cannon

Please add more in the comments! I know I missed a ton.

#25 - Bike Rides

I love bike rides that unfold like a well written short story. The protagonist (me, my bike, as one character) the antagonist (fucking cars), setting (the city), plot (bike ride, duh) setting (Pittsburgh) climax (Schenley overlook or maybe the cool down beer at Ruggers). The story might sound basic but it writes itself a little different each and every time.

#18 - Common Courtesy Hit N Run Follow-through

I talked to the dude who hit my car.

The phone number was legit.

He offered me $100.

The damage was minimal.

I agreed.

A check for $100 arrived today.

I love Pittsburgh

#17 - Common Courtesy Hit N Run

I parked at the laundromat last night. A corner spot. Something told me I shouldn't have parked there, but there was a snow outline from the car that had parked there previously.

Not 15 minutes later I walked out to find a note under the wiper on my car. It said "I hit your car. Please call me. [phone number]"

People in Pittsburgh have common courtesy, even when it comes to hit N runs.

#16 - Steelers

The loss that Pittsburghers feel
after the Steelers fall
is probably an embodiment
of battles lost
against
corporations
foreign competition
hope
and fate.
It is more than a simple
loss for a team
it is a loss for this town
with chips on its' shoulders
dragged down
beat up
left for dead
and recovered
with little to show
but inaccessible jobs in
medical technology
and a bitchin' football team.

#15 - Bartenders with Rhinestone Studded Steelers Shirts

It seems perfectly normal when your bartender is wearing a Rhinestone Studded Steelers Shirt. During the off-season.

#9: Global Warming

If people continue to believe that some dissenting opinion on global warming gives them reason to continue to drive school-bus sized SUVs and leave their lights on 23 hours a day, 364 days a year, Pittsburgh will soon be a tropical destination like Florida or the Bahamas(which will no longer exist). The occasional Polar Bear floating down the Mon on a glacier will serve to remind us how good we have it.


Note: This photo was taken with a 35mm Kodak throwaway camera. I think, in the right light, throwaways take better pics than all but the best DSLRs.

#8: Out of State Steelers Bars

With plans to visit friends in Columbus, OH, Saturday night, I was concerned I wouldn't make it back for the Steelers / Bengals game Sunday at 1pm. Turns out there is a Steelers bar less than 10 minutes away from where we are staying. Epic.

#5: Location, Location, Location

I'm about to jump in my car and drive 2.5 hours to a place with the least light pollution on the east coast.

#4: Six Degrees of Yinzer

I was talking to another department's manager today at work, and found out his wife's sister owns the arcade my punk band played at last weekend.

#2: Stuffed Shirts

When you close your eyes and listen to the six figure stuffed shirt upper management at my company, they sound remarkably similar to the yinzers at my local tavern.