On a cool and enigmatic evening in May 2024, residents of Pittsburgh were granted a celestial spectacle rarely seen this far south: the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, shimmered in the skies due to a powerful solar storm. That Saturday night of May 10th, became a canvas for nature’s own light show, painting the sky with ethereal colors that are usually reserved for the far northern or southern regions of the planet. 

Unfortunately, as I walked along Liberty Avenue flying solo, I didn't really see anything of such wonder - drowned out no doubt by the neon glow of the Froggy's bar sign and the bright lights of Bloomfield's Liberty Ave. So what did I do, I went home and added my own Northern Lights to imagine a world where Pittsburgh's Bloomfield neighborhood stood at the Earth's magnetic north. These are those images below. 

A Walk Through Bloomfield Under An AI Sky

Amidst this rare event, I took to the streets of Pittsburgh’s Bloomfield neighborhood, an area fondly referred to as Pittsburgh’s Little Italy. Known for its rich Italian heritage, Bloomfield combines old-world charm with the vibrant energy of Liberty Avenue’s boutiques, restaurants, and bars. As I strolled along the neighborhood's main thoroughfare, the usual glow of streetlights and neon signs was augmented by the celestial phenomenon unfolding above.

While the city lights slightly dimmed the aurora's visibility, the experience of walking under such an unusual sky was surreal. The historical context of Bloomfield, with its century-old buildings and longstanding community ties, added a layer of depth to the night’s experience. This neighborhood, typically bustling with the lively spirit of local commerce and Italian culinary delights, took on a quieter, more reflective demeanor.

The Science Behind the Northern Lights

The Aurora Borealis occurs when charged particles from the sun collide with atoms in Earth's atmosphere. These collisions release photons, creating the beautiful green, purple, and sometimes red lights that dance across the sky. This display is more commonly observed near the poles due to the Earth's magnetic field, but strong solar storms can occasionally push the aurora to lower latitudes, giving cities like Pittsburgh a rare glimpse of this natural wonder.

Enhancing the Experience with AI

Upon returning home, I couldn't help but feel that my photographs hadn’t quite captured the ethereal quality of the aurora over Bloomfield. I decided to use artificial intelligence to enhance the images, drawing out the vibrant colors and starry backdrop that my camera alone couldn’t seize. This AI-enhanced visual exploration allowed me to reimagine the night sky as it might have appeared without the interference of urban light pollution - and of course with the Noodles penchant for exaggerating things - like bar stories and well, Northern Light stories.

Reflecting on the Evening: Would You Like To Swing On A Star

Still at the end of the night, when I hard my last Sinatra song at The Pleasure Bar, this rare event reminded me and my fellow Pittsburghers to look up and appreciate the wonders of the cosmos. In Bloomfield, a neighborhood steeped in history and community, the aurora added a layer of mystique to our understanding of this dynamic area. It was a reminder of the ever-present link between our daily lives and the broader universe. 

Somewhere up there, crooning amidst the Northern Lights, I imagined Frank Sinatra and his rat pack were belting out Swinging On A Star or some other timeless torch tune. 

Would you like to swing on a star
Carry moonbeams home in a jar
And be better off than you are (Ooo) 
—Swinging On A Star

Experiencing the Northern Lights in Pittsburgh, especially from a neighborhood as culturally rich as Bloomfield, was a reminder of the beauty and unexpected surprises our world holds. It was a night that many of us will recount for years to come, a night when the sky connected us all — if you could see it, which I could not — under one shimmering, luminous dome, which while unseen by me, was felt in my Black N' Gold heart.

Now, with all apologies to Drew at the Pleasure Bar (by the way, an awesome bartender), what joint in da' burg is not out of Compari? After imaging Bloomfield awash in the glow of northern lights, Noodles needs a Negroni.