Badge entry Ritva
Ritva at Ritva Sillanmäki Photography

Welcome to Thursday Doors! This is a weekly challenge for people who love doors and architecture to come together to admire and share their favorite door photos, drawings, or other images or stories from around the world. If you’d like to join us, simply create your own Thursday Doors post each (or any) week and then share a link to your post in the comments below, anytime between 12:01 am Thursday morning and Saturday noon (North American eastern time). If you like, you can add our badge to your post.

The badge contest ended in a tie, so I will be altering the badge I use here, but you are welcome to use either of the winning badges.

Whenever we’re in Pittsburgh, we visit the Strip District, a former home to warehouses and wholesalers that has been undergoing a metamorphosis for many years. The Strip is now home to stores, cafes, restaurants, apartments and office buildings. The captions give you a feel for what’s going on in the photos, so I’m going to skip to the announcement we’ve been waiting for.

The 2025 Thursday Doors Writing Challenge (TDWC) is LIVE!

  • Visit the challenge home page
  • Pick one or more door(s) that inspires your creative spirit
  • Write something, anything, or otherwise create or perform something based on that image
  • Post your creation on your blog and link to the TDWC Page (preferred) or to any of my posts, or email me the link.
  • If you need to use email, you can reach me at NoFacilities at gmail dot com.

You can write once, twice, or as many times as you like. TDWC is active until Mat 31st. I’ll do my best to promote your posts, and I’ll be urging everyone to read or otherwise admire the various creations posted by the participants.

I hope you enjoy the photos in my gallery. I also hope you visit other participants and check on the TDWC page for new writing entries.

If you are in a hurry and don’t wish to scroll through the comments, click to Jump to the comment form.

123 responses to “Strip District—Part-1”

  1. What a great strip Dan with some fantastic buildings. I love the whiskey distillery and the No 7 engine company is unbelievable!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m glad you like these photos, Wayne. The Strip is a fun and busy place. I love it when they preserve and find new uses for old buildings.

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Love that too! Sadly some people are quick to flatten old buildings and rebuild ones without character.

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Great doors and a fun puzzle.

      Liked by 1 person

  2. wonderful doors, Dan. Lots of activity going on. I’ll be starting my poem writing this weekend 🙏💓

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thanks Robbie. I look forward to your poems!

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Shady cats in Pittsburgh (man)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. You can’t be too careful ;-)

      Like

  4. Dan, I really like your post this week. The photo of the art street is my fav, but these are really nice.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Ritva. It’s such a fun place, full of live. I think that’s what I like most of all.

      Like

  5. […] Posted for Dan’s Thursday Doors […]

    Like

  6. I love the street art, Dan!

    Here is mine:

    Thursday Doors – Tavira

    Liked by 1 person

  7. A superb post. When I see streets like this, I realise the similarities with our own streets of this period – a gentrified blend of old and new. I am also mindful of the architectural differences. I like also that you do wider shots with ‘a bunch of doors’, something I am moving more towards to give a sense of context.

    Another selection from Copenhagen in the district of the Kastellet this week, including a windmill: https://scooj.org/2025/05/01/thursday-doors-30-april-2025-copenhagen-doors-denmark/#Kastellet#Copenhagen#Denmark

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thanks Steve. The wider shots were also necessary. There’s so much traffic (vehicle and pedestrian) that it’s hard to focus on a single door. I love the fact that this area is so full of life. I really like the fact that they have saved so many of the older buildings.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. What a lively, colourful area!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Sheree. It is a fun place to visit.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Is that just one street? Lots going on. The sign is funny, gotta watch out for cats 😹
    Here’s my Thursday Doors offering. Still in Toowoomba

    The doors of Toowoomba (part 5)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. These photos are mainly from one street, Penn Avenue. They have recently converted a huge warehouse on the next street over (Smallman St). A couple photos are from that area. The Strip is expanding east and west (up and down the streets) as well as north and south (skipping to the next street over). At some point, it may get down to the river. I think that’s two more streets. Always pay attention to the cats.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thank you. It’s a good walk to take it all in.

        Like

  10. I especially liked the No 9 Engine Company building.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Me too, Frank. I’m so glad that’s still standing.

      Liked by 1 person

  11. I like all of these doors. But especially the mural doors and the signage about the cats and dogs.
    Here is my entry: https://wanderingteresa.com/roadtrip-in-christchurch/

    Like

    1. Thanks Teresa. Speaking of murals, your found a treasure trove this week :-)

      Like

  12. Dan, I love the vintage architecture in your appealing Pittsburgh photos!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Dave. It’s fun place.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. The sign has my vote, but the distillery is quite grand.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I tend to agree with you, GP.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. […] own Thursday Doors post each (or any) week and then share a link to your post in the comments on Dan’s blog post. Check out all the other door […]

    Like

  15. These doors are great! And I love that sign, too. It definitely makes me want to patronize that establishment. My Thursday Doors post is my first Steffie story of the year. I posted the link on the Challenge page, but here it is again. https://marianallen.com/2025/05/01-may-2025-steffie-gets-gruff/

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Excellent, Marian! Thanks for the Steffie story. TDWC is off to a great start!

      The sign is my favorite. I had to include it.

      Liked by 2 people

  16. I would love the Strip District, especially the Chocolate Shop! I feature a few restaurants today as well. https://darlenefoster.wordpress.com/2025/05/01/thursday-doors-altea/

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Every destination needs a chocolate shop, Darlene ;-) The Strip is a fun place for locals and tourists.

      I loved the colorful photos you shared.

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Now I’ve got “Bella Notte” from “Lady and the Tramp” stuck in my head. Worth it, though — what a great place! I love the names and the signs; they all make me think that people who invest in yesterday’s buildings have the imagination for tomorrow. And what magnificent windows! Of course I totally agree that someone has to sell chocolate. Thanks for taking us there!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you! I was wondering where I knew that name from. Phew, one mystery memory cornered. I like areas where merchants few free to express themselves. I think you’re right.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Oh, those mystery memories! I know them well. What a touching spaghetti moment that was (bowing deeply for pun here).

        Liked by 1 person

  18. The strip district is like Dumbo or the Meatmarket in NYC.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Good point, Sherry. I haven’t been to either in a long time – dang, I haven’t been to NYC in a long time. I need to fix that.

      Like

      1. Love to meet you if you decide to come to Manhattan. Marc can give you a free history tour of Greenwich Village if you like.

        Liked by 1 person

  19. Beautiful raw brick frontage, but it seems all the doors are new. Did they get rid of all the old woodwork?

    Here’s mine: https://anotherglobaleater.wordpress.com/2025/05/01/my-nearly-daily-walk/

    Like

  20. […] Alexandrine parakeets I realize. They are big. There’s a wall around the enclave. I pass a gate (see the featured photo) which would allow me to go up into the hill. But it is closed and locked. […]

    Like

  21. Gwen M. Plano Avatar
    Gwen M. Plano

    Wow! Very engaging photos, Dan. You’ve convinced me that I need to re-visit Pittsburgh. 🌞

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Haha – Thanks Gwen. I always enjoy visiting there, but I really don’t work for the Tourist Bureau ;-)

      Liked by 2 people

  22. What a wonderful area, Dan! Vibrant and colorful. The windows in the distillery are fabulous. The mural building — kudos to them for the fun and colors. I absolutely adore the firehouse building.

    I have my first contribution to your TDWC today. It’s a slice of life with characters from a 1950s novel you’ll remember. It “rings” of a mysterious undertone. ;) Hugs.

    #ThursdayDoors: #TDWC — Upside Down – Teagan’s Books

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Teagan. We love visitin the Strip whenever we’re in Pittsburgh.

      Thanks for helping to kickoff the TDWC and for bringing back some old friends.

      Liked by 1 person

  23. What a great street–and signs, too! 😹 Yinz–I’d not heard that before. In Jersey, it was ya’s as in ‘what are ya’s doing after school?’ A favorite writer of mine wrote: “Y’all” is singular, “all y’all” is plural, and “all y’all’s” is plural possessive.” 😂

    I would be fat and happy walking down this street…cheese, chocolate, coffee, biscotti….hold me back!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. In addition to all those food items, Lois is a Polish Deli. If you get there early enough, you can get take out pierogi, stuffed cabbage, kielbasa and haluski. My brother and I load up on that and take it back to our hotel for dinner.

      Thanks for the lesson on Y’all – yinz works for singular and a small group, after which it changes to “yinz guys”

      Liked by 1 person

      1. haha! I just love our language!!

        Liked by 1 person

  24. Great buildings!!! I love the Number 9 Company building. Mine is here

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That might be my favorite. I’m so glad it’s still there.

      Like

  25. I love the old Fire Station. Grandpa Joe’s candy shop looks like it would be a fun and sweet stop maybe after stopping for lunch at the Grille. 😊
    The Beerhive is a great name!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. IF we stopped at all the places we’d like to stop, Deborah, I’d be waddling back to our hotel. It really is a fun place to explore.

      Liked by 1 person

  26. What a collection. To think I missed probably 99% of them when I lived there. Of course, I was quite young…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. If you grew up when I did, the Strip District was still home to wholesalers, fruit and vegetable warehouses and distributors.

      Like

  27. Murphy’s Law Avatar
    Murphy’s Law

    Dan, this strip is a vacation in and of itself! I LOVE the dog and cat sign as well as The Beerhive. A little something for everyone. Great doors, windows and in some cases, brickwork. And look at that old firehouse standing tall and proud. The murals are fun to see.

    So happy to see these buildings repurposed and this area thriving. Thanks for taking us along. I really enjoyed this tour.

    Ginger🦋

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m glad you enjoyed this, Ginger. It’s always fun to go there. We had a little light rain, off and on, but we managed to stay dry. A little shopping, a little eating and a lot of walking.

      I do love the fact that so many of the historic buildings have been repurposed.

      Like

  28. Great doors, Dan. Thanks

    Liked by 1 person

  29. […] This door is for Dan Anton of #ThursdayDoors who was looking for story-inspiring doors. […]

    Liked by 1 person

  30. Great photos Dan.

    I love to see wonderful early century brick buildings still in good repair and service to the community. The Cadence Cellars Speakeasy is such a catchy name, and so are several of the others; even the chocolate shop has a sweet-sounding name that resonates (with my French heritage anyways), “Mon Aimee Chocolat”… just awesome!

    I love the welcoming open doors of the Allegany Coffee shop; looks like a fine place to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea.

    Wonderful drama in the skies; it looks like it had just rained or is about to rain. Great capture of soft lighting in your excellent photos, Dan. I enjoyed the journey along the strip.

    I cannot fail to mention, because I am a huge fan, the wall art, and your photo of it is amazing.

    Thanks, Dan, for the enjoyable, as always, journey.

    Hilarious sign about the cat… and dog! lol…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m glad you liked this, Suzette. The chocolate shop would be a great place to stop. You could grab something sweet and then head to the coffee shop. It’s the kind of day we often have there.

      I do love the way they’ve preserved and repurposed the buildings.

      It was a stormy weekend when we were there, but we were quite lucky. We avoided being caught in the rain, but I don’t think we saw the sun shining for more than a few minutes.

      The sign about the cat and dog made me smile. I know a lot of people that like street art, so I had to include that building.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Chocolate treat and coffee…a perfect blend.
        Thanks Dan for the wonderful tour and for taking us alongside your lens.
        I hope that you have a great weekend. Cheers.

        Liked by 1 person

  31. Dan I saw these Thursday Doors Anita

    100countrytrek.com

    Like

  32. […] To see more doors, visit Dan’s blog, No Facilities. […]

    Like

  33. What a vibrant, fun part of town.

    Liked by 1 person

  34. Great captures, Dave. You got me at chocolate! 🍫

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That’s a definite plus for any shopping district.

      Like

  35. I can see why you enjoy visiting the Strip District!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Fun and filling :-)

      Liked by 1 person

  36. This looks like a place I would definitely like to ramble…(K)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It’s always worth a visit.

      Liked by 1 person

  37. I can see why this is a district to visit!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. There’s always something to do, buy and eat, Frank!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. … and you forgot to mention drink

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Ha ha – yes, there is that option ;-)

          Liked by 1 person

  38. “The cat is a little shady too” makes me laugh and laugh. You can trust our dog with anything but your food but this boy cat will take you out for sport. 🤣

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Nature of the species, I think.

      Like

  39. What a terrific gallery, Dan! I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with the title and had to chuckle initially.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Ha ha – Pittsburgh isn’t that wild a own ;-)

      Liked by 2 people

  40. Lins Doodles Avatar
    Lins Doodles

    I like the engine company building.

    LinsArt: Friday Catch Up – 02 May 2025

    Liked by 1 person

  41. […] following Thursday Doors photo has been a long time in the works. The house sits at a busy intersection so timing is […]

    Like

  42. Really great captures! Would have been such a shame to not make this a daytrip (or longer) destination! Definitely worth repeat visits.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. And there seems to be something new every time

      Liked by 1 person

  43. Dan, I like all the people and extras in your street shots of doors in this post.

    The beerhive stands out for clever name – and the grandpa in the opening one ties into my post for this week with “slap your grandma good food” food truck doors at a festival.

    Also, I am so excited about the Thursday Doors May 2025 writing challenge. I have not been able to join for a few years and look forward to trying to join this year. How fun!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I hope you can join us, Yvette. It runs the entire month.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I saw that it runs all of the month and that is very cool –

        Liked by 1 person

  44. Oh, the Strip looks very inviting. I really like Grandpa Jo’s Candy Shop at the top and the street art with the doors. The No. 9 Engine Company is a cool looking building. Very nice post, Dan.

    Here’s mine from Banyuls-sur-Mer, France … https://brendasrandomthoughts.wordpress.com/2025/05/02/thursday-doors-banyuls-sur-mer-southern-france/

    I look forward to submitting a story soon. Thank you so much for hosting!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Brenda. The strip is a fun place to visit.

      Liked by 1 person

  45. Hi Dan – that was fun seeing the various outlets in your Pittsburgh Strip … and I know you enjoy going back to your hometown, especially as Faith goes with you – cheers Hilary

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We do like visiting the city, Hilary. Faith can’t always get away for a long visit, but we manage to cram a lot into a long weekend.

      Liked by 1 person

  46. The fire house and the distillery are my favorites. Great doors and architecture, Dan.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I knew you’d like the firehouse, Jennie. That’s my favorite.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Of course you did. 😀 I’m glad it was your favorite, too.

        Liked by 1 person

  47. Awesome collection of doors as always!! Great post!!

    Liked by 1 person

  48. Yinz guys!!! A wonderful walk through the Strip District, thanks for the ‘burgh memories. I’d first go to the candy store and then coffee.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Coffee is usually our first stop, but I could make an exception for candy (or the chocolate shop).

      Liked by 2 people

  49. […] in the Square is this beautifully painted door of by Jessie Rawcliffe. As it says on the IG post, “these paintings subvert the roles of the […]

    Like

  50. […] Strip District—Part-1 […]

    Like

  51. Hi Dan. I’ve heard of your wonderful Doors challenge, but somehow never managed to put up a doors post on a Thursday. Finally, I’ve done one.

    I have no idea how your challenge works. I understand I have to copy links? Otherwise, would you be so kind as to give me counter-instructions?

    Thanks very much.

    Here’s the link to my post.

    Take care.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. You did a great job. The post you linked to was an old one, but I still get notified. If you want the full text of how to participate, you’ll find it here. I revise it at the end of every year to account for things that changed, but it’s mostly accurate – https://nofacilities.com/how-to-participate/

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thanks Dan. Duly noted.

        Liked by 1 person

  52. Or maybe I should post the link to a recent post of yours?

    Let me know.

    Be good.

    Brian

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I replied with the link to the participation page. Normally, people link to my Thursday Doors post for the week. that makes the collection (of the links) process automatic for the weekly recap on Sunday.

      Liked by 1 person

Add your thoughts or join the discussion. One relevant link is OK, more require moderation.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Trending