Study in Pink: Bear

WHEN: January 2009
WHERE: Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh

Opening a series of abandoned pink toys is this bear, face down in dirty snow, and potentially the victim of some German automotive engineering.

The Left-Backs of Notre Dame

WHEN: March 2009

WHERE: Wilkinsburg, PA

In both windows of an abandoned storefront, these forgotten, faded gargoyles from the Disney movie keep their lonely watch.

ISO: Teddy Bear Head

WHEN: 2004
WHERE: Bufflao, NY
PHOTO: Julian M. in Buffalo

Julian sez: "I found this headless teddy bear behind a vacant shopping plaza. I was looking for (and finding) stray shopping carts." [Check out Julian's lost-shopping-cart project; link is on blog roll to the right.]

March Sadness

WHEN: March 2009
WHERE: Braddock, PA
PHOTO: Larry R. of Pittsburgh

While everybody's all het up over college hoops this week, this b-ball gets no love.

Goodbye Winter!

WHEN: February 2009
WHERE: Friendship, Pittsburgh

That's one big thawing Hulk Hand saying buh-bye!

All Dressed Up ...

WHEN: March 2009
WHERE: Lawrenceville, Pitsburgh
ADDED PATHOS: Cigarette butt

This little cat has got his tuxedo on -- or at least the top half of it -- and is ready to be somewhere more fabulous than the gutter by the gas station.

Candy Nobody Wants

WHEN: March 2009

WHERE: Downtown, Pittsburgh

I go by this spot twice a day and last week, a stuffed giant roll of Lifesavers suddenly appeared on the train tracks.

Street Smarts

WHEN: March 2009
WHERE: Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh
ADDED PATHOS: Cigarette butts

It's not often you see a brain lying in the gutter. This one is on the loose from The Law School, Duquesne University. It made it halfway across town, but the journey ended here.

Disgruntled Gorilla

WHEN: March 2009
WHERE: Bellevue, PA
PHOTO: Andrew

Yeah, I'd be pissed, too.

Another Abandoned Baby

WHEN: June 2007
WHERE: Wicker Park, Chicago
PHOTO: Laurie in Chicago

It sorta looks peaceful, but then there are those weird scratches on the head ...

Asleep With Jesus

WHEN: Winter 2007
WHERE: Groveland, California
PHOTO: Lizzie

Continuing a series of lost babies is this awesomely bizarre photo.

Lizzie says: "Last winter, I was in a cemetery, taking pictures of old gravestones (something I often do.) Lots of times you'll see children's graves with toys or balloons on them, which are sweet and sad. This wasn't one of those. This was more like somebody lost their baby doll in the graveyard (which sounds like a Ramones song)."

Babe in the Woods

WHEN: December 2008
WHERE: Homestead, PA
ADDED PATHOS: Beer bottle

It could be bucolic -- the naked babe among the leaves, except these are all nasty, wet dead leaves, there's trash everywhere and the doll's all twisted. Still working that pacifier, though.

River of Lost Toys

WHEN: February 2009

WHERE: Station Square docks, Pittsburgh

Over the winter, a lot of trash backs up on the rivers. This epic pile-up on the Mon River is harboring a disordered flotilla of toys that headed downstream to nowhere. Leaning over the bridge, I counted over 20 balls and a couple pool noodles. Visible in all the muck: a basketball.

Bad Hair Day

WHEN: November 2008

WHERE: Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh

This gal's got a lot of problems -- lying in the gutter, no body -- but even just a light comb-out would help mess on her head.

My Little Pony

WHEN: January 2009
WHERE: Washington, D.C.
PHOTO: Stewart in DC

Run free, little pony, run free!