Photographer: Curt Chandler
Date: March 10, 2008
Place: Liberty Avenue and 24th Street, Downtown, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
Why this sign?
This sign is on the Ironworkers Local #3 Apprenticeship Training Center. I originally planned to shoot this picture on a sunny day, but the gloomy winter weather hearkens back more to Pittsburgh's industrial past. The buildings in the background were built as proud testaments to the city's Steeltown past. The Mellon Building was originally erected for the Dravo company, which built landing craft during WWII. The building on the right, of course, is the USX Tower, built as headquarters for U.S. Steel.

Photographer: Alan Byrne
Date: September 29, 2007
Place: Craig Street, Oakland, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
Why this sign?

Alan gives no comment. Or I might have forgotten it. It's probably that. I've not known many times when Alan didn't have something to say.

The Top Notch facade was designed by Pittsburgh architect Arthur Lubetz.

A pencil, a big symbolic thing, a strip sensibility moving into Main Street, piercing its facade, questioning the structure of the storefront itself, of all storefronts. If you look at the eraser from the proper angle you can imagine the classical-looking pediment (or whatever you call that triangular shape above the window) being erased. The architect's pencil draws and erases.

I'm sure some people grumbled when the facade was first installed. But now it's part of Craig Street, just like the store inside.

Photographer: Rebecca Doshi
Date: December 3, 2006
Place: Northside
Why This Sign?
I thought this was a little presumptuous.

Photographer: Curt Chandler
Date: February 18. 2008
Place: Freeport Road, Cheswick, Allegheny County
Why this sign?
Answer: Purple Elephant. Question: How to make your business stand out in a sea of suburban shopping centers.

Photographer: Peter Pawlowski
Date: September 27, 2007
Place: 212 44th Street, Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh
Why this sign?
My home lanes. I've bowled hundreds of games here.

Photographer: Mark Stroup
Date: August 3, 2007
Place: Grant and 7th, Downtown
Why this sign?
Well, actually, no sign, yet. UPMC wants to put a sign on the Steel Building. But there is no new sign yet, which pretty much describes the status of the web site for now. But soon we'll have some new signs, we'll reopen the comments, and we'll have some exciting news. Well, exciting for me, at least.

For the folks who have sent me signs in the past weeks, they will go up soon. For anybody who has sent me a comment that didn't get posted, I'm very sorry. Send any questions to mstroup at gmail dot com.

We're ready to roll!

Photographer: Tom Bennett
Date: July 13, 2003
Place: Ben Avon
Why this sign?
I thought I would send you a picture of the sign out front of my fire department. I am a driver with Port Authority and an ad for your web site was on one of the buses.

Photographer: Elizabeth Perry
Location: Liberty Ave., Downtown
Date: September 30,2006
Why this sign? I was taken by the idea of "Artistic picture framing at lower prices," and liked the use of the keystones in the sign. The store is closed, and with all the redevelopment downtown, I'm not sure how much longer this storefront will remain as it is.

Photographer: Patrick Kent
Date: September 7, 2006
Place: Route 8 and Saxonburg Boulevard, North Hills
Why this sign?
Bob O'Connor (1944-2006)

Photographer: Noise
Date: August 16, 2006
Place: Strip District, Pittsburgh
Why this sign?
Whether you're looking up or down, you'll know when you come across the Saloon on the Strip. In additional to their traditional signs, their mark on the sidewalk is hard to miss, yet doesn't interfere with pedestrian traffic. Unless it gets slippery when wet?

Photographer: Frank Carr
Date: August 22, 2006
Place: Braddock Avenue, Swissvale
Why this sign?
No comment submitted.

Photographer: Noise
Date: August 16, 2006
Place: Penn Avenue, Strip District, Pittsburgh
Why this sign?
I love when old buildings are respectfully restored for new uses. I created this image to honor and reflect the transition from the old "No. 7 Engine Company" to the new "Firehouse Lounge".