Pittsburghers take pictures of everything. So when Pittsburgh high school students go to the senior prom, their mothers demand photographic documentation of the evening, but only pictures classy enough for grandma’s coffee table will suffice. Prom pictures taken in front of the backyard birdbath aren’t enough for a Pittsburgh mom.
They instruct their sons to give the limo driver a disposable camera, tip him twenty dollars, and request a full city tour, stopping at recognizable locations for photos before the actual dance. A photo shoot at PPG Plaza, a marginally attractive business area, is a regular limo stop during prom season. Well trained Pittsburgh sons know that pictures near fountains are sophisticated. Defiant sons will attempt to take photos in front of Hooters or homeless people in the name of rebellion.
Other tasteful locations include old Gothic-style churches, restored train stations, and the Roberto Clemente statue. But the most elegant locale for a prom picture is Mt. Washington. The proudest Pittsburgh mothers all have a framed picture of their child (and date) on a Mt. Washington overlook, with an illuminated downtown Pittsburgh as the backdrop, cascaded by a partly cloudy sunset. This is the caviar of mantle decorations.
Note: If at a loss for where to go, ask your date. Many Pittsburgh girls know the photo circuit well because most of them go to senior prom about three times, starting at age 14, as they often date much older boys. There are many 23 year olds at Pittsburgh proms, most of which are online-college students.
ajgrieco
