Get to know Untapped Cities contributor Sabrina Romano, who has been running the vintage photography column and a summer intern at the Untapped HQ.
What’s your “day job”?
From September to August, my “day job” is schoolwork. I am a junior at the University of Pittsburgh studying nonfiction English writing and communication with a minor in American politics. During the summer, when I am not interning, I am a server assistant at a restaurant near my hometown.
What’s your favorite Untapped spot in your city?Â
My favorite Untapped spot in Pittsburgh is the Cathedral of Learning, the tallest educational building in the United States. The commons room, which resembles Hogwarts, is where I spend most of my time studying. Sometimes I take the elevator to the 42nd story to get a spectacular view of my campus and the surrounding city.
What’s your favorite piece you’ve written for Untapped:
From my vintage photography column, I enjoyed finding vintage photos, researching, and writing Vintage NYC Photography: the Construction and Inner Workings of the Holland Tunnel. I have driven through the Holland Tunnel countless times before without knowing any of its history. Because of its remarkable ventilation system, it serves as the construction model for tunnels around the world. I also loved researching for 6 of NYC’s Best Secret Supper Clubs.
I will never forget when the New York Times and I both published pieces about the Central Park Zoo on the same day. I felt super savvy because I had pitched and then wrote a post about the history of Central Park Zoo and the Times had an article about the zoo’s history in their paper that day. You can check out my piece on the zoo, Vintage NYC Photography: The Central Park Zoo.
What’s your favorite Untapped place you’ve visited while traveling?
I was lucky enough to spend January to May studying abroad in Paris, France. Even though, I took weekend trips to many other countries, Paris was always my favorite place and I considered it my home. In Paris, I discovered my love for museums and artwork. I found the Musee d’Orsay to be absolutely divine and I would admire all of the art, especially the impressionist paintings, a few times a week.
At the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland for St. Patty’s Day, my travel buddy and I climbed over the rock barrier and hung out really close to the edge until a security guard came running and screaming at us.
Next, I want to travel to Brazil to volunteer at the 2016 Olympics. Volunteers get to stay in the Olympic Village for free and get free tickets to all of the events that happen during their time off. Basically, I will only have to pay for a flight. Even though we aren’t athletic, my family and I have always watch the Olympic trials and the Olympic Games on television. I think it would be amazing to experience the worldly event in person.
What’s your favorite obscure fact about your city?
Pittsburgh has 446 bridges, the most any city has in the world. Yes, that means there are more bridges within city limits than there are in Venice. Most people don’t know that there are three main rivers in the city– the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio.
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