>>> THIS PROGRAM IS PART OF WQED'S PITTSBURGH HISTORY SERIES.

>> OKAY.

IT'S NOVEMBER 3, 2010.

IF YOU'RE WATCHING THIS AND THAT'S TODAY'S DATE, YOU'RE WATCHING WQED CHANNEL 13 IN PITTSBURGH ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT, NOVEMBER 3, 2010, ABOUT 7:30 AT NIGHT.

YOU'RE WATCHING THE PREMIERE BROADCAST OF A NEW PROGRAM.

BUT TV PROGRAMS DON'T HAVE A SINGLE AIR SLOT ANYMORE.

MAYBE YOU'RE CATCHING US LATER ONLINE, OR MAYBE IT'S A REPEAT BROADCAST.

MAYBE WE'VE BEEN REALLY SUCCESSFUL, AND YOU'RE SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE, WATCHING US ON A DVD, OR YOU'VE DOWNLOADED A QUICKTIME OR SOME OTHER NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT WE DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT YET.

WE CAN ONLY HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.

BUT THE FORMAT DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER THAT MUCH ANYMORE.

I ALWAYS THINK HOWEVER THAT IT HELPS TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE APPROXIMATE TIME AT WHICH SOMETHING WAS MADE.

NOW, IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR, WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME BREAKFAST, WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE JOYS AND TERRORS OF OPENING A TIME CAPSULE, AND WE'RE GOING TO GO DOWNTOWN AND LOOK AT SOME STATUES.

I HOPE THERE WILL BE SOME SURPRISES.

WE'RE GOING TO CALL THIS NEW SHOW "IT'S PITTSBURGH & A LOT OF OTHER STUFF" BECAUSE MOST OF THE STUFF WE'LL BE LOOKING AT IS IN THE PITTSBURGH REGION, INCLUDING SURROUNDING TOWNS AND VILLAGES, HILLS, VALLEYS, RIVERS.

BUT THERE WILL BE SOME THINGS THAT WEREN'T SHOT IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

WE DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE ANY LIMITS.

BUT MOST OF THE TIME, IT'LL BE PITTSBURGH AND A LOT OF OTHER STUFF.

MY NAME IS RICK SEBAK.

I'LL BE YOUR HOST OR PRODUCER OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL WHAT I DO.

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY THE MICHAEL BAKER CORPORATION >> "IT'S PITTSBURGH & A LOT OF OTHER STUFF" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE BUHL FOUNDATION, SERVING SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SINCE 1927.

AND BY HUNTINGTON BANK, HELPING PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES WITH THEIR MONEY SINCE 1866.

WELCOME.

>> SO, "IT'S PITTSBURGH & A LOT OF OTHER STUFF."

WHAT'S IT GOING TO BE?

I SEE IT AS A MAGAZINE-STYLE PROGRAM WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL SORTS OF STORIES.

I LOVE CBS'S SUNDAY MORNING PROGRAM, AND I LOOK AT THAT AS A KIND OF MODEL.

BUT I'LL BE YOUR HOST AND YOUR REPORTER FOR MOST OF THE SEGMENTS.

SINCE 1987, I'VE BEEN WORKING HERE AT WQED ON A SERIES OF PROGRAMS THAT CELEBRATE PITTSBURGH AND A LOT OF ITS UNUSUAL CHARMS.

IF YOU KNOW ANY OF THOSE PROGRAMS, YOU'LL KNOW THAT I LOVE FINDING OUT ABOUT THINGS IN THIS AREA, THINGS THAT WE HAVE FORGOTTEN OR OVERLOOKED, AND I AIN'T TIRED YET.

THIS NEW PROGRAM GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW SOME OUTTAKES, TO MAYBE SHOW A STORY THAT NEVER MADE IT OUT OF THE EDITING ROOM, OR WE COULD UPDATE A STORY, OR IF IT SEEMS PERTINENT, JUST INCLUDE A PIECE OF ONE OF THOSE PAST PROGRAMS.

RIGHT NOW, AS ALWAYS, I THINK ANY NEW PROJECT IS BETTER IF YOU CAN START WITH A REALLY GOOD HEARTY BREAKFAST.

IN JULY OF 2010, WE PREMIERED A NATIONAL SHOW ON PBS CALLED "BREAKFAST SPECIAL" ABOUT INTERESTING PLACES FOR A MEMORABLE MORNING MEAL ACROSS AMERICA.

WE SHOT AT 17 OR 18 PLACES, BUT WE ONLY SQUEEZED EIGHT OF THOSE STORIES INTO THE SHOW.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF REALLY GOOD UNSEEN STORIES THAT WE HOPE TO MAKE INTO A SEQUEL CALLED "BREAKFAST SPECIAL 2: REVENGE OF THE OMELETS."

WE HOPE IT WILL BE COMING SOON TO A PUBLIC TV STATION NEAR YOU.

SO WE'VE BEEN EDITING THOSE UNSEEN STORIES NOW.

AND AS PART OF "IT'S PITTSBURGH & A LOT OF OTHER STUFF," WE'RE GOING TO SHARE THESE STORIES.

THEY ARE SOME OF THE "OTHER STUFF."

BUT OUR FIRST ONE OF THESE INTERESTING BREAKFAST PLACES IS HERE IN PITTSBURGH, IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, REGENT SQUARE.

WE SHOT THERE TWICE, EARLY ON A MORNING IN OCTOBER OF 2009 AND AGAIN IN JANUARY 2010.

IT'S ON BRADDOCK AVENUE, ON THE EDGEWOOD SIDE OF THE STREET.

IT'S CALLED SQUARE CAFE.

IT'S IN REGENT SQUARE.

IT'S OWNED AND OPERATED BY A WOMAN NAMED SHERREE GOLDSTEIN, WHO'S GETS HERE EARLY MOST MORNINGS.

>> YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY I WAS TRYING TO MAKE A CAFE OF MY DREAMS, AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE MORE OF A MUSIC, ENTERTAINMENT, EVENING KIND OF FORUM, AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD REALLY CALLED FOR A BREAKFAST PLACE, AND SO WE DECIDED TO DO BREAKFAST AND TOOK OFF.

WE STARTED WITH EIGHT EMPLOYEES OUR FIRST DAY.

BY THE FOLLOWING WEEK WE HAD 21.

WE TOTALLY UNDERESTIMATED WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO.

>> BASICALLY IT'S LIKE ONE OF THE FIRST BREAKFAST SPOTS, THAT OPENED UP ON SOUTH BRADDOCK IN REGENT SQUARE, AND SO IT ATTRACTS A REALLY INTERESTING GROUP OF NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> WHEN I'M ON A ROLL, I'M DOWN HERE TWO OR THREE TIMES A WEEK.

>> WE'D STOP IN A COUPLE TIMES A WEEK.

I'D DROP OFF MY WIFE FOR WORK, AND THEN I'D STOP IN FOR BREAKFAST LIKE 7:00, 8:00 IN THE MORNING.

>> SOMETIMES YOU GET UP EARLY, YOU GET DOWN HERE, WHICH IS NICE BECAUSE THEY OPEN EARLY.

>> I LIVE IN POINT BREEZE SO I'M REALLY CLOSE.

>> IT'S A GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD PLACE, AND THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT.

I LIKE COMING HERE AND SEEING ALL THE PEOPLE AND THE FAMILIES.

>> AND IT'S JUST ALL ABOUT THE BREAKFAST MENU.

IT'S A DIFFERENT TAKE ON BREAKFAST.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE AN UPSCALE, ARTSY, QUICK BREAKFAST THAT YOU CAN GET.

>> PEOPLE WHO GET TO WORK HERE ARE REAL NICE.

AND YOU RUN INTO SOME REALLY INTERESTING CHARACTERS, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU SIT UP AT THE BAR.

>> WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT US FOR?

>> SO WHEN IT OPENED, IT WAS REALLY KIND OF COOL AND FUNKY.

AND WE CAME -- RAYMOND AND I CAME WITH A BUNCH OF OUR FRIENDS BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR FRIENDS LIVE IN REGENT SQUARE, AS WELL.

>> CORAL LIVED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND IT'S DIFFERENT.

IT'S NOT YOUR AVERAGE SORT OF DIVE PLACE.

IT GIVES YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A CULTURAL EXPERIENCE.

>> AND I GET TO READ "THE NEW YORK TIMES" WHILE I'M HERE.

I LOVE THAT.

>> I'M THE HOSTESS.

I TAKE PEOPLE'S NAMES, PUT IT ON MY LIST.

>> I WOULD SAY, FOR ME, THIS RESTAURANT REMINDS ME OF EATING IN NEW YORK CITY BECAUSE THE TABLES ARE VERY CLOSE TOGETHER.

YOU HAVE TO WAIT.

THEY TRY AND GET YOU IN AND OUT SO THAT THE NEXT PEOPLE CAN ENJOY THE MEAL.

>> YOU KNOW EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY KNOWS YOU.

AND THEY'LL COOK WHAT YOU WANT.

WHAT'S BETTER THAN THAT?

>> THE DESIGNER WHO CAME UP WITH OUR LOGO, CAME UP WITH JUST "SQUARE CAFE."

WE'RE NOT EVEN "THE."

WE'RE JUST "SQUARE CAFE."

AND SO IT FITS.

THE WHOLE LOGO FITS.

IT MAKES IT FUN.

KIDS COME IN AND SAY WHY DO YOU HAVE CIRCLES ALL OVER THE PLACE IF YOU'RE A SQUARE?

AND -- >> AND THE KIDS THAT COME IN ALL THE TIME ARE HERE OFTEN.

SO WE KNOW THEM, THEY LIKE US.

THEY KNOW WHERE THE TOYS ARE.

>> PEOPLE COMMENT ON THE ENERGY WHEN THEY WALK IN, AND THE COLORS, AND IT'S A FUN PLACE.

>> VERY FAMILY ORIENTED, VERY.

>> WHEN I WAS PUTTING THE SIGN UP OUT FRONT, A GUY STOPPED AND HE HECKLED ME.

HE SAID, "IF IT'S THE SQUARE CAFE, HOW COME IT'S A ROUND SIGN?"

THANK YOU!

>> WE OPENED IN MAY OF 2003, JUST INTENDING TO DO BREAKFAST AND LUNCH.

AND WE DECIDED TO DO EVERYTHING LOCAL, AS MUCH STUFF AS WE COULD LOCALLY.

SO WE HAVE OUR COFFEE ROASTED LOCALLY, OUR PLATES ARE MADE LOCALLY, WE GET AS MUCH FOOD PRODUCTS AS WE CAN LOCALLY.

WE DO SOME ORGANIC PRODUCTS.

>> SHE HAS AN INCREDIBLY GOOD MENU OF INTERESTING FOODS AND SHE'S CONSTANTLY UPDATING IT AND DOING DIFFERENT THINGS.

>> IT'S SOMETHING, SORT OF A CROSS BETWEEN A GREASY SPOON AND A SILVER SPOON.

THERE'S SOME FANCY ITEMS ON THE MENU, AS WELL.

>> WE'VE HAD A CHEF SINCE WE STARTED AND THAT WAS, IT'S NOT JUST FLIPPED EGGS.

IT'S -- YOU KNOW, WE'VE REALLY UNIQUE, INTERESTING FOOD.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CHEFS.

DOUG GENOVESE GOT THE JOB IN 2009.

>> THIS IS REALLY FUN FOOD AND REALLY UPSCALE.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY LIKE REAL SUPER STAPLE FOR BREAKFAST HERE, JUST REALLY GREAT OMELETS AND REALLY GREAT SQUARE CUT HOME FRIES.

>> THEY HAVE A PEAR-SOMETHING PANCAKE NOW.

THAT I'M GOING TO TRY.

>> THEY HAVE A GREAT SPINACH GOATCHEESE OMELET HERE, WHICH I GET.

>> OH, I GOT OATMEAL.

YOU CAN ALWAYS GET OATMEAL HERE.

THAT'S ONE OF THE RARE QUALITIES, THE WONDERFUL QUALITIES OF THIS PLACE.

>> THE VEGGIE OMELET.

LOVE THE VEGGIE OMELET.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN OPTIONS ALSO, AND NOT JUST FOR VEGETARIANS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST TEND TO EAT YOU KNOW LESS MEAT.

>> SOMETIMES I JUST GO FOR THE PROTEIN BREAKFAST WHICH IS A LOT OF BACON AND A LOT OF EGGS.

>> COFFEE AND BACON.

>> COFFEE AND BACON, YES!

>> IT WAS HER IDEA.

>> THE BACON IS NOT LOCAL.

BUT WE'RE FAMOUS FOR OUR BACON.

WE HAVE THE THICKEST CUT BACON YOU CAN GET -- OFF THE PIG.

>> WOW.

>> TO ME, IT'S -- IT'S IMPORTANT.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE GOOD BACON, FORGET IT.

I'M NOT COMING TO YOUR RESTAURANT.

>> I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH BREAKFAST BECAUSE I ALWAYS WANT A LITTLE BIT OF EGGS, A LITTLE BIT OF POTATOES, TOAST, PANCAKE.

I WANT A LITTLE BIT OF IT ALL.

I CAN NEVER JUST DECIDE PANCAKES STRICTLY.

OR EGGS STRICTLY.

I WANT EVERYTHING.

>> WE DO AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF FOOD OUT OF A SMALL SPACE THAT WE HAVE.

WE ACTUALLY JUST HAVE EXPANDED OUR COOKING SPACE, BUT WE SEAT BETWEEN 400 AND 500 GUESTS ON A BUSY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

>> ALWAYS.

ON THE WEEKEND, THERE'S ALWAYS PEOPLE WAITING, YEAH.

>> YOU DON'T WANT TO GO TO A PLACE WHERE YOU WALK IN AND YOU'RE THE ONLY PERSON THERE.

YOU WANT TO BE THERE WHERE THERE'S A GREAT ENERGY AND FLOW FROM THE GROUP THAT YOU'RE WITH, BUT ALSO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SURROUNDING YOU.

>> LIKE I KNOW I HAVE THESE THREE PEOPLE HERE.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE GETTING UP.

I'LL BE ABLE TO PUT THEM THERE.

I PROBABLY WILL HAVE THOSE TWO TABLES AGAINST THE WALL BE GETTING UP AT THE SAME TIME.

I CAN PUSH THOSE TOGETHER AND MAKE THREE.

>> I THINK DEBBIE'S MORE INCLINED TO WAIT IN LINE THAN I AM.

I'M LESS PATIENT.

>> AS YOU CAN SEE, THE LINE KEEPS GETTING LARGER AND LARGER.

>> A GOOD PLACE TO EAT'S WORTH A LITTLE WAIT.

>> WOULD I WAIT IN LINE FOR BREAKFAST?

YES, I WOULD.

>> WELL, IT'S NUTS.

I MEAN LIKE THERE'S -- YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S REALLY HIGHLY ORGANIZED, BUT IT'S A REALLY, REALLY, REALLY FAST PACE.

>> I'M GOING TO PUT THE CHORIZO AND SOME BLACK BEANS IN THERE, THEN WE BURN A FLOUR TORTILLA.

THAT'S THE SPECIAL, ONE OF THE SPECIALS THIS WEEKEND.

>> IT WORKS OUT REALLY WELL.

EVERYBODY HAS THEIR SUPERSTRONG POSITIONS AND, UM, BUT IN GENERAL, EVERYBODY'S CROSS-TRAINED AND CAN DO EVERYTHING.

SO I DO HAVE TO SAY ONE THING, AND THAT'S SUPER IMPORTANT TO THE WORKING OF THE RESTAURANT, AND THAT'S OUR SERVICE STAFF IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

>> I MEAN THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE PLACE IS PACKED, AND SOMEHOW EVERYONE WHO WORKS HERE STILL HAS A GREAT ATTITUDE, AND IS LIKE REALLY HAPPY.

>> MORNING.

>> COFFEE?

>> YES, PLEASE.

>> DURING THE WEEK, YOU KIND OF GET TO KNOW PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN JUST SERVING THEM COFFEE.

ON THE WEEKENDS, I'M TYPICALLY IN THE KITCHEN, AND I AM WAVING THROUGH THE WINDOW.

SOMETIMES I'LL RUN AROUND AND SAY HELLO TO A FEW PEOPLE.

BUT IT'S HARD TO KNOW EVERYBODY, BUT WE TRY.

>> SHERREE IS ONE OF THOSE SMILING FACES THAT WE ALL SEEK AT THE BEGINNING OF OUR DAY.

>> SHERREE RUNS THIS PLACE.

THIS IS HER BABY.

>> AND SHERREE'S JUST FANTASTIC.

SHE ALWAYS COMES OVER, SHE GIVES US A BIG HUG!

>> SHE'S NOT REALLY OUR BOSS, SHE'S MORE LIKE OUR FRIEND.

JUST HAPPENS TO PAY US.

>> EVERY TIME I'M IN HERE, SHE HAS A GREAT SMILE ON HER FACE.

SHE JUST TRULY APPEARS LIKE SHE LOVES BEING HERE, LOVES THE COMMUNITY AND LOVES YOU KNOW, SHE JUST -- SHE'S A GOOD HOSTESS AROUND HERE.

>> WHEN SHE'S NOT HERE, PEOPLE ARE LIKE, "WHERE'S SHERREE?"

>> WITH ALL THESE FANS OF THE PLACE, YOU MIGHT WONDER WHY AREN'T THERE MORE SQUARE CAFES?

>> THERE IS THE CALLING EVERY SINGLE DAY TO FRANCHISE.

SOMEBODY ASKS ME, "WILL YOU OPEN ANOTHER LOCATION?"

"WILL YOU SELL?"

AND I -- TRUTHFULLY, I'VE SEEN OTHER BUSINESSES IN SECOND AND THIRD LOCATIONS CHANGE, AND I REALLY LIKE WHAT WE DO AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME.

SO, AND I DON'T WANT TO MAKE MYSELF CRAZY.

I LIKE TO BE HERE.

>> WELL, THIS IS PRETTY MUCH HER PERSONALITY AND HER VALUES.

AND THIS PLACE IS A LITTLE BIT LIKE NOAH'S ARK.

YOU CAN FIND ONE OR TWO OF JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING HERE.

>> IT'S DEFINITELY WORTH THE WAIT.

DEFINITELY.

>> SO YOU'RE GOING TO DITCH A FRIEND.

ALL RIGHT.

>> I LOVE THIS.

I LOVE MY JOB.

I LOVE THE ENVIRONMENT.

I FEEL LIKE WE'RE MORE OF A CO-OP THAN A CORPORATION.

I NEVER WORKED IN A RESTAURANT BEFORE I OPENED THE CAFE.

SO IT'S ALL NEW TO ME.

>> YOU CAN'T MAKE A GOOD DAY WITHOUT A GOOD BREAKFAST.

>> I THINK IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL OF THE DAY.

IT IS.

>> AND THEN IT ALSO GETS TWO EGGS OVER EASY ON TOP OF IT.

>> BREAKFAST IS GREAT.

BREAKFAST IS GREAT.

IF YOU START OFF WITH A GOOD BREAKFAST, THE REST OF THE DAY GOES WELL.

>>> WELL, ONE WEEKEND AFTER BREAKFAST CAMERAMAN BOB LUBOMSKI AND I HEADED FOR OAKLAND, TO THE CORNER OF FIFTH AND BIGELOW.

>> SO WE'RE SHOOTING THIS ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON, OCTOBER 2, 2010.

EXACTLY 102 YEARS AGO TODAY, THEY LAID THE CORNERSTONE FOR THAT MAGNIFICENT BUILDING THAT WE KNOW AS SOLDIERS & SAILORS.

BACK IN 2001, WE DID A SHOW CALLED "PITTSBURGH A TO Z."

IN THAT SHOW, "S" WAS FOR "SOLDIERS & SAILORS."

>> IT WAS A MEMORIAL FOR CIVIL WAR VETERANS.

OVER THE YEARS IT HAS EVOLVED TO BECOME A MEMORIAL FOR ALL VETERANS.

>> GRANT GERLICH, THE SENIOR CURATOR HERE, KNOWS IT'S NOT EASY TO EXPLAIN SIMPLY WHAT SOLDIERS & SAILORS IS.

>> TO ME, IT'S A MUSEUM WHERE WE HAVE ARTIFACTS, OR AS I SAY, STUFF.

I MEAN, WE HAVE SOME REALLY NEAT STUFF HERE.

WE HAVE A LINCOLN DEATH MASK WHICH IS UNIQUE.

THERE'S NOT MANY THAT I KNOW OF AROUND.

WE DO HAVE AN EXCELLENT COLLECTION OF WEAPONS, DATING FROM PRE-CIVIL WAR ALL THE WAY UP TO "DESERT STORM."

WHAT I'D LIKE PEOPLE TO REALIZE IS THAT THIS IS A PLACE THAT YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME INTO.

IT'S NOT A MAUSOLEUM.

IT'S NOT PART OF PITT.

IT'S AN ACTUAL MUSEUM THAT THEY CAN COME IN AND HAVE A GOOD TIME.

>> SO, THAT WAS 2001.

SINCE THEN, SOME OF THE PERSONNEL HAS CHANGED, BUT IT'S STILL A REALLY GREAT MUSEUM.

AND IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN HERE IN A WHILE, IT'S DEFINITELY WORTH A VISIT.

BUT THIS MORNING, PEOPLE WERE INVITED HERE TO KICK OFF THE 100th ANNIVERSARY OF SOLDIERS & SAILORS BY WATCHING A TIME CAPSULE BEING OPENED.

IT HAD BEEN BURIED IN THAT CORNERSTONE BACK IN 1908.

>> TO BE ABLE TO REMOVE SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN INTACT, TIME STANDING STILL, FOR 102 YEARS, IT'S PRETTY NEAT.

>> I MEAN IT WAS SUCH A BIG DEAL IN 1908 WHEN IT WAS PLACED.

THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WAS HERE.

>> AND SO IT WAS JUST, IT WAS SOMETHING I FELT, WE WERE 100 YEARS OLD, WE SHOULD SEE.

>> IT WAS AMBITIOUS AT FIRST, BUT THEN IT WAS ACTUALLY A PRETTY EASY PROCESS TO GET THAT OUT OF THERE.

>> THE FOLKS HERE WANTED TO BE READY FOR TODAY'S EVENT.

THIS PAST WEEK THEY DECIDED TO LOOSEN THE CORNERSTONE, GET THINGS READY.

SOLDIERS & SAILORS PRESIDENT RON GANCAS WAS THERE.

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT JOHN McCABE AND SENIOR STAFF ASSISTANT CASEY PATTERSON TOOK THESE VIDEOS WITH HER CAMERA.

CURATOR MIKE KRAUS WAS HELPING.

>> I WAS SCRATCHING, I WAS PULLING, DIRT WAS FALLING OUT.

THEY NEEDED A TOOL, I LEFT, I CAME BACK, AND THEY HAD THIS LITTLE TREASURE.

>> HOW IT ENDED UP IN THERE -- OUR CURATOR THINKS THAT MAYBE THE MASON WHO WAS PUTTING THE STONE IN THREW THEM INTO THE MIX.

OR HIS CHILD WAS AROUND AND DID THAT, I DON'T KNOW.

>> THEY'RE CALLED "FLATS."

THEY WERE LITTLE TOYS THAT ARE MADE OUT OF LEAD.

THEY WERE THE CHEAPEST TOYS YOU COULD POSSIBLY GET.

>> AND IT ALSO, AT THAT TIME, IF THAT'S WHAT WE FOUND JUST IN THE MORTAR, WHAT ELSE ARE WE GOING TO FIND?

>> AT THE EVENT TODAY THEY SHOWED SOME OF THIS VIDEO.

UNDER A THIN LAYER OF CONCRETE, THEY FOUND THE TIME CAPSULE, A BOX.

>> SO WE REMOVED THE BOX, IT WAS A COPPER BOX.

THIS IS THE BOX THAT WAS DOWN IN THE CORNERSTONE.

>> AND WE KNEW THERE WAS LOTS OF PAPER IN THERE.

WE HAD A LIST OF THE THINGS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE IN THERE.

PORTRAITS, NEWSPAPERS, BOOKS, REGISTRIES.

>> SO WE HAD TO LIFT THE LID OFF TO GET THE BOX OUT.

NOW I SAW IMMEDIATELY WHAT WAS IN THE BOX.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE THAT AT THIS MOMENT.

>> SO SOON AS WE SAW THAT THERE WAS MOISTURE WITHIN THE BOX, IT WAS LIKE OH, NO!

WHAT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE LEFT?

SO, I CALL IT A CAKE.

>> AND WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I THINK I COULD JUST GIVE YOU THIS.

THIS IS THE CONTENTS OF OUR BOX, RIGHT HERE.

>> THAT'S ALL THE PAPER?

>> IT'S UPSIDE DOWN.

YOU CAN SEE THE STRATA IN THE SIDE IF YOU LOOK.

IT'S SOGGY AND WET.

>> I FELT LIKE GERALDO RIVERA OPENING UP AL CAPONE'S VAULT.

AND YOU KNOW, IT WAS LIKE, MY GOD, THERE'S NOTHING THERE.

AT LEAST WE HAD SOMETHING.

>> I PEELED BACK THIS NEWSPAPER, SEPTEMBER 18, 1908.

IT'S NOT THE DAY OF THE CORNERSTONE LAYING.

>> WHEN WE FOUND WHAT WAS IN THE BOX, AND WE KNEW WE COULDN'T BE WHAT WE HAD EXPECTED AND WANTED IT TO BE, YOU KNOW, LIKE, OH HERE'S A FLAG, AND HERE'S THESE PORTRAITS, IT WAS LIKE, WHAT DO WE DO NOW?

>> THIS FLAG WAS PRESERVED.

IT WAS INSIDE THE BOX, BUT IT WAS ALONG THE EDGE, SO IT WAS PRESERVED.

IT WAS NOT LAYING IN THIS WATER.

AND WE FOUND ELEVEN CENTS.

WE FOUND A 1907 INDIAN HEAD PENNY AND A 1906 SILVER DIME.

>> EVERYBODY PUT ON THEIR THINKING CAPS.

IT'S LIKE, DO WE STILL HAVE IT?

DO WE JUST CANCEL IT?

I'M LIKE, NO, WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING.

AND IT'S STILL A BIG OCCASION.

IT'S GOOD PUBLICITY.

IT'S OUR 100th ANNIVERSARY, LET'S JUST KEEP GOING WITH THE MOMENTUM AND SHOW THEM WHAT WE DID FIND BECAUSE IT'S STILL A STORY.

IT'S WHAT WAS THERE, IT'S -- >> IT'S 100 YEARS TO THE DAY.

THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE.

UNFORTUNATELY THEY DIDN'T HAVE BAGGIES, AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, TUPPERWARE OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

THEY HAD COPPER, BUT THEY DIDN'T THINK TO SEAL IT.

IT IS WHAT IT IS, BUT IT IS WHAT THEY PUT IN THERE.

I MEAN IT'S NOT JUST A LUMP OF PAPER, IT'S THE LUMP OF PAPER.

>> I THINK NOW THAT THE THING THAT WILL TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF THE HURT AWAY -- WHAT DO WE PUT IN FOR THE NEXT 100 YEARS?

>> I THINK WE SHOULD LEAVE SOMETHING BETTER THAN WHAT THEY LEFT.

>> THE LIMITATIONS ARE THE SIZE OF THE BOX.

>> YOU KNOW, I WOULD PUT A CHUNK OF THE LUMP.

>> AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD NEED TO SEE IN THERE IS AN iPOD.

>> COMIC BOOKS AND, YOU KNOW, FOOTBALL CARDS, OR, YEAH, STEELER PENNANT, WHO KNOWS?!

ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.

>> WHETHER IT WORKS OUT OR NOT, WE'LL FIND OUT.

BUT IDEALLY, PUT IT BACK IN ON OCTOBER 2 OF 2011, WOULD BE A SPECIAL DAY.

>> THE AGONY OF DEFEAT IS PAST.

IT'S LIKE BEING ON A STEELER TEAM THAT LOOSES SOME SUNDAY.

YOU SAY, WELL, NEXT SUNDAY, WE'LL KICK THEIR BUTT.

WHEN WE PUT THIS BACK IN, WE'LL KNOCK THEIR SOCKS OFF.

>>> SO THEY PUT NEWSPAPERS IN A TIME CAPSULE.

YOU KNOW WE HEAR ALL THIS TALK THESE DAYS ABOUT NEWSPAPERS GOING AWAY.

THAT MAKES ME SAD.

I LOVE NEWSPAPERS.

I DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TIME EVERY DAY TO READ THEM, SO I COLLECT THEM AND I STACK THEM UP.

I LOVE TO READ OLD NEWSPAPERS.

EVERY NEWSPAPER HAS A STORY THAT ISN'T CONNECTED TO THE DATE.

NOT TOO LONG AGO, I READ THIS STORY IN A OLD JULY EDITION OF THE "POST-GAZETTE" ABOUT "URBAN OASES," PLACES IN THE PITTSBURGH REGION WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO AND SIT NEAR WATER, INCLUDING SITTING NEAR A RIVER, SITTING BY A FOUNTAIN, WHATEVER.

IT HAD A COUPLE PICTURES OF SOME STATUES THAT I REALLY LOVED.

I COULDN'T TELL FROM THE PAPER WHETHER THEY WERE SIX INCHES TALL OR SIX FEET TALL.

SO I HAD TO FIND THEM.

THEY'RE DOWNTOWN IN A SMALL PARKLET RIGHT OFF THE BOULEVARD OF THE ALLIES.

>> YEAH, SORT OF LIKE A HIDDEN TREASURE THAT WE DON'T WANT TO TELL EVERYBODY ABOUT IT.

>> IT'S LIKE A HIDDEN TREASURE, A JEWEL.

>> IT'S IN HIS SMALL INTIMATE "GROTTO," IF YOU WILL.

IT MAINLY SERVES A MORNING OR LUNCH CROWD.

>> THIS IS THE FIRSTSIDE PARKING GARAGE PARKLET BETWEEN THE BOULEVARD OF THE ALLIES AND FIRST AVENUE DOWNTOWN.

>> IT'S WORTH SEARCHING OUT.

THE STATUES ARE ABOUT 3 FEET TALL.

THEY'RE TERRA COTTA, EXACTLY THE COLOR OF BRICK.

THERE ARE ALSO SOME BAS-RELIEF SCULPTURES ON A TOWER WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE RIDING IN ELEVATORS.

I LIKED IT ALL, AND I FOUND OTHER FOLKS WHO KNOW AND LOVE THESE FIGURES TOO.

ANTHONY BOULE IS THE DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION FOR THE PITTSBURGH PARKING AUTHORITY, THE AGENCY THAT COMMISSIONED THE STATUES, AND HE REMEMBERS THE FIRST TIME HE SAW THEM.

>> IT WAS IN THE '90s.

I WAS COMING DOWN HERE TO THE PARKING AUTHORITY TO WORK AND I LOOKED AT THE PARKLET, AT FIRST BECAUSE I'M ALSO AN ARTIST IN MY OWN RIGHT, AND I SAID WOW!

LOOK AT THAT GREAT STATUARY AND THE FOUNTAINS WERE RUNNING AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, SO I STEPPED IN HERE FIRST AND SAID WOW!

DOESN'T LOOK LIKE SOMETHING THAT'S ATTACHED TO A PARKING GARAGE, BUT IT SURE DOES LOOK NICE.

>> CAROL SIEGEL CAME AND TALKED TO US, TOO.

SHE'S AN ART DEALER AND CONSULTANT, USED TO RUN "GALLERY G" JUST DOWN THE STREET.

AND BACK IN 1985, SHE WAS INVOLVED WITH GETTING THIS WHOLE THING DESIGNED AND CREATED.

>> THE GENESIS OF ALL OF THIS IS THAT THE CITY HAS A 1% FOR ART.

AND I FOUND OUT THAT THEY WERE BUILDING THIS NEW FIRSTSIDE GARAGE THAT WAS GOING TO BE RIGHT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THERE WAS GOING TO BE A LITTLE, SOME SPACE PROVIDED FOR A LITTLE PARK.

>> IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY GREEN SPACE, YOU HAD TO DO SOMETHING.

THAT'S IN THE ORDINANCE I BELIEVE, AND SO THIS WAS THAT PERCENTAGE THAT YOU DID.

>> I APPROACHED THE PARKING AUTHORITY AND ASKED THEM ABOUT THE 1% FOR ART, AND I SUGGESTED JERRY CAPLAN WHO WAS ONE OF MY STABLE OF ARTISTS TO CREATE THIS COMMISSION FOR THE PARKLET.

>> MORTON BROWN IS PUBLIC ART MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH.

HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CARE AND UPKEEP OF ALL PUBLIC ART OWNED BY THE CITY.

AND EVEN THOUGH THESE STATUES ARE ACTUALLY OWNED BY THE PARKING AUTHORITY, MORTON PAYS ATTENTION TO SUCH SITES AND KNOWS ABOUT ARTISTS LIKE THE SCULPTOR HERE, JERRY CAPLAN.

>> HE WAS A PROFESSOR AT CHATHAM COLLEGE FOR MANY YEARS.

HE WAS A RESIDENT OF SHADYSIDE.

HE WAS A LOCAL ARTIST, MUCH BELOVED.

I BELIEVE THIS PARTICULAR COMMISSION WAS HIS FIRST LARGE SCALE COMMISSION.

>> WELL, JERRY WAS A SCULPTOR.

SO HE WORKED IN CLAY.

HE WAS A CERAMIST.

SO THIS WASN'T A STRETCH FOR HIM.

BUT THE IDEA THAT HE WAS TO DO MAN ON THE STREET, PEOPLE THAT WERE PITTSBURGHERS.

>> THEY'RE WHIMSICAL, THEY'RE FUN, THEY'RE COMFORTABLE.

>> AND HE WORKED WITH PEOPLE IN OHIO THAT WERE, THAT EXTRUDED CLAY PIPES THAT ARE USED AS SEWER PIPES, AND HE BECAME FASCINATED WITH TAKING THESE EXTRUDED CLAY PIPES BEFORE THEY HAD BEEN FIRED, AND THEY WERE JUST CLAY, THEY WEREN'T HARD, THEY WERE STILL SOFT, AND USING THEM TO SCULPT.

>> THEY DO HAVE A STYLIZED LOOK AND FEEL TO THEM, ALMOST REMINISCENT OF THE ARTIST, THE PAINTER, BOTERO THAT ALSO DID SORT OF A, KIND OF A STOUT FIGURE, YOU KNOW SQUAT, IN PROPORTIONS AND SORT OF THICK.

>> THESE ACTUALLY ARE PEOPLE.

IN FACT, I AM RIDING THE ELEVATOR UP THERE IN THE MIDDLE WITH MAYOR CALIGIURI WHO WAS MAYOR AT THE TIME.

AND THE ARTIST JERRY CAPLAN IS ON THE ELEVATOR ON THE RIGHT IN THE BACK WITH THE GLASSES AND THE BALD HEAD, LOOKING FORWARD.

AND ANOTHER ARTIST WHO WAS A VERY CLOSE FRIEND OF JERRY'S, DONNA HOLLAND BAUMGREN, IS ON THE RIGHT.

>> THERE'S NO OFFICIAL GUIDE TO WHO'S WHO, BUT MANY PARKING AUTHORITY PEOPLE KNOW THAT ONE STATUE IS A FORMER COLLEAGUE.

>> THE ONE, STRAIGHT THROUGH UNDER THE TREE THERE, IS WASINDAR MOKHA.

HE WAS THE ENGINEER FOR THE PITTSBURGH PARKING AUTHORITY FOR MANY YEARS.

AND UNFORTUNATELY HE PASSED AWAY.

AND TO HONOR HIS MEMORY, WE CALLED JERRY CAPLAN'S OFFICE AND SAID WE'D LOVE FOR YOU TO DEVELOP A STATUE TO HONOR MR. WASINDAR MOKHA.

HE WAS A GREAT ENGINEER.

HE WAS DYNAMIC, HE WAS CULTURED, HE WAS FROM INDIA.

HE HAD STORIES THAT YOU WOULD BE MESMERIZED WITH BECAUSE OF HIS WORLD TRAVELS AND THE PEOPLE HE KNEW.

>> WHEN CAPLAN DESIGNED THIS SPACE, IT WAS AN INSTALLATION WITH WATER.

THERE WERE FOUNTAINS BUBBLING AND POOLS ALL AROUND THE STATUES.

>> WE'VE GOT THE JETS THAT SHOOT WATER UP IN SOME OF THE POOLS.

AND THEN BACK THERE WHERE THE BIG TOWER IS, WATER RUNS OVER, AND WATER'LL RUN FROM ONE POOL TO ANOTHER, JUST TO THE FEET LEVEL OF THE STATUES THAT ARE ACTUALLY IN THE WATER.

>> THESE ARE FOUNTAINS.

AND THIS IS A FOUNTAIN THAT IS PUMPED UP.

AND THE WATER COMES DOWN OVER THE ELEVATORS IN FRONT OF THE BAS-RELIEF THERE, AND THERE'S WATER IN ALL OF THESE, AND IT BUBBLES.

>> WE TRY TO MAINTAIN IT.

THEY'D FIX THE PIPES.

THEN THE PUMPS.

THEN WITH LAST YEAR'S WINTER AS SEVERE AS IT WAS, THE BRICKS NEED POINTED.

AND THERE'S LEAKING, BUT YES, WHEN THIS WATER IS RUNNING HERE, IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT MOOD AND ATMOSPHERE.

>> I THINK IT NEEDS A LITTLE LOVE.

AND OFTEN, EVEN THOUGH THE PARKING AUTHORITY IS SEPARATE FROM THE CITY, WE DO WORK TOGETHER ON THOSE INITIATIVES AND SHARE INFORMATION, AND CONSERVATION AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> I'D LIKE TO SEE THESE STATUES STANDING IN THEIR FOUNTAINS, BUT I LIKE THEM EVEN DRY.

>> NONE OF THEM ARE REALLY DATED LIKE THAT -- CLOTHING OR HAIR.

THEY'RE PRETTY -- THEY'RE PRETTY TIMELESS.

AND HE WOULD BE VERY PLEASED.

>> I'M DRAWN TO THEM, AND I LIKE THEM SO MUCH.

YOU KNOW, I'LL BE BACK.

I'D STOP BY HERE IF I WERE ANYWHERE NEARBY.

OR I'D BRING PEOPLE TO SEE THEM JUST BECAUSE I LIKE THEM SO MUCH.

>> AND THAT'S WHAT PUBLIC ART CAN DO.

IT CAN DRAW PEOPLE IN TO THESE -- THESE INTIMATE SETTINGS.

IT CAN DRAW ATTENTION TO A CITY.

IT CAN HELP, YOU KNOW, CITIZENS SORT OF FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEIR CITY, HELP RAISE THE QUALITY OF LIFE.

>> SO, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE HOPE TO DO WITH THIS NEW PROGRAM TOO, DRAW SOME ATTENTION TO THIS CITY.

IT'S PITTSBURGH.

WHAT SURPRISED ME ABOUT THIS SET OF STORIES?

HOW LOYAL AND ELOQUENT PEOPLE CAN BE WHEN THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT A RESTAURANT WHERE THEY EAT BREAKFAST.

I WAS SURPRISED, TOO, HOW UNIVERSAL SEEMS TO BE OUR HUMAN LOVE FOR THE IDEA OF A TIME CAPSULE.

AND I FIND IT REASSURING THAT AN ARTIST CAN MAKE PLEASANT HUMAN SHAPES OUT OF SOFT SEWER PIPES.

THIS IS JUST A START.

WE'LL BE BACK WITH MORE STORIES, MORE BREAKFAST SPOTS, MORE PIECES OF PITTSBURGH.

WE HOPE YOU'LL BE BACK, TOO.

STICK AROUND FOR THE CREDITS.

>>> IF YOU WANT TO SEE OTHER PRODUCTIONS FROM RICK SEBAK AND HIS COHORTS AT WQED, CHECK OUT THE MANY DVDS OFFERED AT -- SHOPWQED.ORG OR CALL -- 1-800-274-1307.

>>> THERE'S THAT EXCITEMENT, WHAT'S IN THERE?

WHAT ARE THEY TRYING TO TELL YOU WHAT ARE WE GOING TO LEARN, YOU KNOW?

IS IT MAGIC?

IT COULD BE MAGIC.

IT COULD BE HISTORY.

IT COULD BE NOTHING.

IT COULD BE A LUMP OF WET NEWSPAPER.

>>> TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THESE STORIES, TO LEAVE A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION, GO ONLINE TO -- WQED.ORG/ITS-PITTSBURGH.

WE ALSO HAVE A FACEBOOK PAGE, AND ON TWITTER, FOLLOW RICK AROUND HERE.

>>> "IT'S PITTSBURGH & A LOT OF OTHER STUFF" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE BUHL FOUNDATION, SERVING SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SINCE 1927.

AND BY HUNTINGTON BANK, HELPING PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES WITH THEIR MONEY SINCE 1866.