if you know anything about Pittsburgh, PA, you know that it used to be a major steel town for nearly a century. a working class city with a reputation for winning several Super Bowl Championships and for being the city with the most bridges in the world (446 total), Pittsburgh is the second largest city in the state of Pennsylvania; and, it happens to be where I was raised and reared.
1 of 446 Bridges in Pittsburgh
three weeks ago, i boarded my first Jet Blue flight to Pittsburgh for a week long visit with my mom. it had been nearly ten years since i stayed “home” for longer than five days; therefore, one week felt lengthy given that Pittsburgh is land-locked and i was without my bicycle. it’s not that i don’t love my family – i do. they are an extension of who i am yet it doesn’t always feel this way. most often i feel like a visiter or alien observing the lives of others in a strange land.
by age twelve, i remember feeling like i was ready to move [to France]. i insisted my family call me Chantal and made crepes several times per week in preparation for my adult life in Paris. i knew that when i finally left home, it would most likely be for good.
since my departure at the age of seventeen, i have not had to return for any substantial amount of time — although I have called for loans and support more times than i can count. my mother was having minor surgery so it was my turn to support her and spend some quality time with other members of my family. remember, i have over 200 cousins so seeing everyone would be impossible — and this is just on my maternal grandfather’s side.
Trees
upon landing, i was received with gorgeous autumn weather and trees adorned with colors ranging from bright yellow to deep auburn and pumpkin pie. i could tell my mother was glad to have me home because she pranced me around her office and introduced me to co-workers and friends alike. check out the view from her office window. the glass castle-like structure is the PPG Building – a childhood favorite in terms of design.
PPG Building, Downtown Pittsburgh, PA
Three Rivers Stadium
my mother recovered swiftly so she treated me to a Public Theatre show called, Ella, a musical about the late great jazz singer, Ms. Ella Fitzgerald. What an fantastic yet simple performance with only Ella, her band members, and her manager who spent most of his time off stage. the lead actress who played Ella, Tina Fabrique, must have channeled Ella’s spirit, giving an uncanny performance of the Lady of Song.
Ella at the Pittsburgh Public Theatre
Ella, stage
the day before the show, we took a ride to the Andy Warhol Museum not fully aware of their closing time. it was Friday which was great because they were open until nine o’clock and admission was half price since we arrived after 5 p.m. (full admission price is $15). each time i go to the AW museum, i grow more attracted to Mr. Warhol’s visionary talents and level of sensitivity when it came to the ordinary. did you know he co-founded the magazine, Interview?
Andy
in between theatre and museum visits, i managed to see my Dad’s eldest sister, my two uncles, and many cousins on “football day” aka Sunday. as i walked in the door, i was given several speedy hugs, a paper plate, and was told to help myself to food in the kitchen (soul food). just as i made a beeline towards the mac n’ cheese, the entire house erupted in bone chilling screams: Touchdown!! the Steelers won. i quietly stood in the corner until I regained full consciousness then we viewed photos from events I had missed this past year via the enormous flat screen television on the living room wall. did you know you can access your FaceBook page via Fios cable? well, I don’t really know what Fios is or how this is different from other cable networks but there they were, photos of my younger cousin who is currently working in Kuwait. so crazy! i remember when he was born.
One of the newest members of our family, Prince and his mom (my cousin)
below are a few more images from my stay. i am so proud of my mother who has blossomed into a yogi who enjoys Tai Chi, drinks organic milk, and frequents “ethnic” restaurants with her two buddies, N & L. during my teenage years, we rarely ate food outside of the traditional American fare. this included steak umms, pizza rolls, lots of sugar-y cereals, fried chicken, lasagna, tuna casserole, meatloaf with mash potatoes, and let’s not forget poptarts. no complaints here, my mother was doing her very best and we loved every sugar-y bite!
Mural, there are many beautiful ones throughout the city
now two decades later, we enjoyed the #18 dish at Tram’s Vietnamese restaurant followed by a spicy plate of Mesir Wot at the local Ethiopian restaurant called, Abay, the very next day. this was certainly not the Pittsburgh I remembered proving again that nothing stays the same. this visit was far more enjoyable. my mother has been able to spread her wings and discover a revitalized city that is making a major comeback — just like her — and i am grateful that she is alive and doing well 🙂
Tram's Vietnamese Restaurant
MY dish at Tram's, looks messy but tastes so good
Across the street from the Warhol Museum is a building with art by Shepard Fairey, who is currently exhibiting his work inside the museum as well. He is well known for his Obama art.
OBEY
OBEY, my least favorite word.
hope the sun is shining your way!
remember drink plenty of water and take lots of deep breaths 🙂
love/Lala
The Adventures of Lala the Sunchaser 