Back in the good old days, when people took pride in their work, or at least when bronze was cheaper, some contractors would put a bronze plate in the concrete of every sidewalk they laid. They were meant to be permanent, and they do seem to last at least as long as the sidewalks around them. Some of the most ornate plates were the ones left by the Wadsworth Stone & Paving Co., whose plates are works of art in themselves. This one was set in a sidewalk in Squirrel Hill.

A worn face on a worn urn in Mellon Park seems immemorially ancient. It isn’t, but it’s old enough to remember when the park was a millionaire’s private playground.

What this niche really needs is a statue of Diana, or of some other chaste goddess who appreciates nature. Not one of those urban party-girl goddesses.