Point Breeze

Point Breeze is a smarmy neighborhood in the East End. (I say that word affectionately) From this point on, I am being very sarcastic so hold on tight.

Some fun demographics for ya to get the ball rolling...

89.5% white
median household income $90,000 per year
50% Voted for Romney (probably)

So I'll begin by saying it was 90 degrees and I chose to wear all black (my beloved "I love bacon" T shirt). I parked my 1995 acclaim right in front of a big mansion.



It's OK, it didn't look suspicious because of all the landscaper's vehicles and there were literally dozens.

I don't think anyone was home in these large mansions, and if they were, they were probably still sleeping or having Brunch brought onto their respective verandas. In Point Breeze, Brunch happens not just on Sunday. Point Breeze is Pittsburgh's "The Hamptons." I imagine Ina Garten sauntering around a huge kitchen making snacks for her gay friends.

"Clayton" the home of Henry Clay Frick is here. (don't watch the whole video...it's pointless.

So yeah, most of the homes here are basically the same with the exception of the charming commercial district on Reynolds and Hasting St.



Point Brugge Cafe is pretty much the best restaurant in Pittsburgh in my opinion. And the Make Your Mark Coffee Shop and Art Space with its superfluous name once employed the infamous Sharon Needles; The Winner of Ru Paul's Drag Race Season 4. She also just got kicked out of Vienna for making a Nazi joke or something like that.

So anyway, city steps. Point breeze has some. I imagine they were only in use for the "help" to get to work at the many mansions.

did I mansion there are lots of mansions?



So yeah...the steps are barely worth the mention...speaking of Worth....this is worth street.



There...done.

In all seriousness, I'd be honored to live in Point Breeze. I'd also probably be very privileged from birth, not appreciate the money my family worked hard to hoard, and also be a republican asshole. No offense. But I really did see a lot of Romney Stickers.

Washington's Landing

Formerly known as Herr's Island after Benjamin Herr whom once owned it. It was a post industrial brownfield until the late 80s when the band, Starship, swooped in and "built this city" on top of the rock and roll that was left there once the roll dump had closed. (Ever wonder what happens to the uneaten bread sticks from the Olive Garden..?) Ok, that's not true. But George Washington once capsized his boat in the Allegheny and spent the night on the Island. That part really did happen. How cool do you have to be to clumsily tip a boat over and dry off on the shore and they still want to name the whole Island after you? Now the Island is home to town homes, some office complex, lovely trails, and the Three Rivers Rowing Association. Of which I am not involved in.



Literally hundreds of boats fill its boat houses and the association has won numerous awards over the years since its inception. It is truly a beautiful place to go put a boat in the water.



The other strange thing about Washington's Landing is the rabbits. There are thousands of them if I had to guess. I took a small stroll along the river while we waited for our turn to start rowing and in the mere 100 yards or so I counted over 20 wild rabbits just lounging around completely unafraid of humans it seemed.



I'm guessing it's because the damned things multiply so quickly...that and the fact that they are stuck on an island with no natural predators. Ummmmmmm they should host an Easter egg hunt here. It would be epic.

So yeah, I don't just do steps people. I am on a rowing team now. See? well rounded.



Just thought I'd throw that last candid shot of some random guy scraping duck poop off his running shoes in there. It makes me chuckle. You won't be seeing that in the brochure.

Central Norhside And Perry Hilltop

Ok, So There's Perry South, Perry North, Perry Hilltop, Perry whatever...It's all pretty much the same to me. There are a ton of steps up there, that 's all I care about. There was also an alarming amount of poison ivy. Not cool.

Sorry for the photo dumb. I didn't have time to put any work into this blog post. I did 950 new steps today so that is enough, no?

Becoming more proactive

The Soth Side Slopes has a great advocacy group centered around the city steps. They were able to make this happen...


I don't think a neighborhood exists that better highlights its city step assets. This installation of hundreds of led lights has me thinking; what else can we do? The 18th street steps had me geeking out. I want steps like that in my neighborhood. I thought about something similar for Ray Ave. as it meets West Liberty ave.

As you can see, there are four sets that all have more than 100 steps. Stetson St, Belle Isle, Ray Ave, and Templeton. We could do something clever even if it's just getting neighbors together for the holidays and putting Christmas lights up. As cars come up West Liberty Avenue they would see lovely zig zagging lines of lights up the hillside. It wouldn't even cost that much money. Just a thought.

Pictures! I went a bit crazy with the new camera.

I don't know a lot about cameras but I do know what a good picture looks like. I just got a sony cybershot DSC-H7 if the name means anything to you people. All I know is it has a delicious zoom and lots of settings and it's NOT my cell phone camera.
The intersection of Mission Street ans St. Thomas Street in the South Side Slopes.



The View of Oakland/Greenfield from the Slopes



Looking up at the Slopes from Carson Street and 18th.



I caught this couple getting their picture taken midway down St. Michael Street. Adorable.



A closer view of the Cathedral Of Learning. My favorite building in the burgh.



The 10th Street Bridge in the South Side.



The vista from "point of View" state park in Duquesne Heights.



Sunset in Duquesne Heights.