Trip #525 Walden Street, Mount Washington, Pittsburgh took place on November 20, 2020, and was published on December 11, 2020.
In traditions around the globe, it’s believed that a person with a “good eye” is one who shows goodwill and kindness. They wish everyone well and rejoice when others prosper. Conversely, having an “evil eye,” indicates the opposite. This person feels no joy, becomes angry when others thrive and rejoices when they suffer. Merely being in the presence of such a person is sure to cause misfortune or injury. (I’m not naming names, but I’m sure you can think of a few appropriate candidates.) But what can be done when inadvertently crossing paths with a joyless one who snarls, snaps, and grimaces? I’d like to think that Pittsburghers are naturally surrounded by plenty of evil-deflecting power: Look no further than the abundance of “bird’s eye” figures in our region’s trees. They look remarkably like the traditional evil eye talisman! So be warned, all you malcontented ones, your negative attitude rays are bouncing right back ‘atcha!
Field Notes: This wooden flight is in pretty good shape and continues along two blocks. It’s quite stunning when viewed from across the street. I wonder if wooden stairs in this location pre-dated 1997… The street is pretty steep so I’m thinking a flight was already in place and the 1997 date is when they were re-furbished.
Love city steps? Get yourself the latest issue of Mis.Steps: Our Missed Connections with Pittsburgh’s City Steps! Each copy is unique and features 10 randomly selected “trading cards” of Pittsburgh’s 739 public stairways. Visit the Mis.Steps online store to see all issues and place your order.
Want to visit these stairs? You can locate them on the Pittsburgh City Steps Plan website!
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.
