Trip #627 Rutherford Avenue, Beechview, Pittsburgh took place on August 15, 2021, and was published on August 25, 2021.
Growing up, the radio was always on, in the kitchen, in the car; I even had a boombox with plug-in headphones to listen to music long past bedtime. While my preferences ranged from rock to disco to new wave, I was solidly in the pop culture “American Top 40” camp, with Casey Kasem’s weekly countdown defining my Sunday afternoons. And like most kids, I found it annoying to relinquish radio control to my parents or an older relative. Frank Sinatra? (not again!) Elvis? (bored sigh) Bread? (eye roll) As the years went by, I noticed how the “oldies” stations changed. The playlists progressed from the music of my grandparents and parents to songs I remembered dancing to, driving to, singing along to. Songs I played over and over on mixed tapes and CDs. Noticing this passage of time isn’t so bad. In fact, I kind of like it. It’s easier now than ever before to hear music I haven’t thought about in years, and it amazes me how I can still remember lyrics. But I wonder how I’ll feel when I no longer recognize what’s played on the “classic hits” stations because the songs are without a personal connection. Maybe that’s when I’ll give up on radio for good.
Field Notes: This was a lovely section of Rutherford Avenue in Beechview. Lots of folks sitting on front porches, working in their yards, fixing up houses… near the end, someone has a “classic” car parked on the street. I kind of felt that I was transported back in time!
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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.
