Trip #209 Sterling Street, Southside Slopes, Pittsburgh took place on October 23, 2018, and was published on November 7, 2018.
We’re selective about what we choose to see. We can’t hold everything in our attention, so we pick and choose. Once we focus, the periphery fades and blurs. Everything that lies outside our immediate purview gradually diminishes. We know something else is there, off to the side, up above or down below, but investigating those details will need to wait until another time. Right now, I’m focused on this giant vine that twists and arcs over the Sterling Street stairway. The view up here is amazing, but all I can see is this fantastical living sculpture. I can’t attend to everything, and honestly, I don’t want to. I gladly pick this.
Field Notes: This one, like many others in the Southside Slopes, has incredible views but the main attraction is this crazy vine thing that grows and creeps up and over.
Want to visit these stairs? You can locate them on the Pittsburgh City Steps Plan website!
See the Risograph print of this photo and story in the Mis.Steps Shop.
Be a good neighbor! Have you visited these stairs and found them in poor condition or that illegal dumping (large items like tires, old furniture, and construction debris) and trash were abundant in the area? There are two things you can do to take action and make our city steps cleaner and safer for everyone! First, grab a photo if you can, and submit a report to Pittsburgh 311. All problems, both broken stairs, and railings, as well as trash and dumping, should be reported to the city. You can easily do this online or by calling. If the location has an abundance of illegal dumping and trash, also contact Allegheny Cleanways, letting them know the location and the nature of the garbage. Thank you!!
