Trip #211 Sterling Street to Holt Street, Southside Slopes, Pittsburgh took place on October 25, 2018, and was published on November 12, 2018.
Given the black and gold color scheme in the kitchen, you’d have thought Grandma Z was a Steelers fan, but this story takes place in Pawtucket, RI, in a neighborhood not unlike this one, on a Sunday afternoon in 1976. On this memorable day, football was the last thing on Grandma Z’s mind because a dozen overcooked, oily green beans sat coagulating on my dinner plate. The rule was pretty clear; I wasn’t going anywhere until I had eaten them. There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, so I stuffed them all in my mouth and tried to swallow. But drastic measures often bring bad results, and I quickly vomited them back up, along with the pork chop and Bisquick biscuit. I don’t remember what happened next, but I’m sure it involved some yelling. It’s too bad Grandma Z wasn’t a football fan. My story would have had a different ending had she left me in the kitchen to join Grandpa Z and Uncle Mike watching the game downstairs in the family room.
Field Notes: All wooden sidewalk stairs that connect Sterling Street to Holt Street. They look a bit wobbly, but they’re in fine shape.
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!!
