LOCALpittsburgh Issue 11

ISSUE 11 p

FOOD NEWS cure your culinary curiosity

NOSTALGIA the eclectic time machine of our city

THE GIRL NEXT DOOR an intimate look into pittsburgh’s adult entertainment industry

COMIC CRAZY we interview wayne wise, owner of phantom of the attic

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Rodney Burrell rburrell@local-pittsburgh.com EDITORIAL

DESIGN

Julianna Bagwell | Managing Editor

Jordan Mitchell | Art Director

Ben Hamrick | History Editor

Alicia Scheiferstein | Graphic Designer

Leah George | DIY Editor

Kalie Berkey | Graphic Designer

Krista Graham | Film Editor

Patrick Farris | Graphic Designer

Kate Benz | Features Writer Aleita Hermanowski | Features Writer Emily Catalano | Food Writer Mike Buzzelli | Arts Writer Heidi Balas | Blogger

PHOTOGRAPHY Julie Kahlbaugh | Photo Director John Altdorfer | Photographer CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Kenny Gould | General Assignment

Timothy Cox

Haleigh Kopinski | General Assignment

Jeremy Matthews

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Letter From The Editor I’ve been granted the pleasure of having two kids, Niko (6) and Roman (4). Both are seasoned experts in pushing the limit. With every turn of the corner, a new stratosphere of questions arise, “Dad, can I have…” followed by the subsequent, “Why?” after I deny their request. You know the drill, the relentless pursuit of everything, and yet again I am reborn into new levels of amazement. “Why did you put your socks in the fish tank?” or “Ketchup doesn’t go on that.”

As the years soldier on, we’re told that limits help us limit ourselves for the betterment of the world. It’s our job to follow the rules, and make everyone happy, or at least attempt to make everyone happy. Never speak out of turn, never cause a thought outside of the status quo, and by no means, never offend anyone, ever.

And here we sit, a day and age when everyone is offended by everything.

How does it affect our brand, our customers, and our bottom line?

The culture of today is encouraged to speak their minds, but never to offend anyone by doing so. Now, more than ever, our unfiltered freedom of speech comes with what I like to call, very 2016 consequences. (Ahem, Wendy Bell.)

Over the past year, I’ve been slowly pushing the limits with our content, and much like my sons, I’ve been asking “Why?” to our publisher… “Why can’t we do this, and can I say that?” I’ve yet to throw a toddler-esque temper tantrum, but growth is never easy. I have no desire to hold the “edgy magazine in Pittsburgh” moniker, but we want to tell stories that can’t or (won’t) be told by other publications. My goal, and our publisher’s vision is to create a legitimate resource that readers can pick up and engage in a meaningful narrative.

In this issue, we’re admittedly walking the proverbial tightrope. Over the past two months, a journalism/photojournalism duo constructed an investigative story about Pittsburgh’s adult entertainment industry, specifically, gentlemen’s clubs. We’re not glamorizing dancing or dancers, nor exploiting them for views. We simply want to start a conversation, stimulate a thought, or change a perspective.

As we continue to explore hard-hitting content, we hope you appreciate our desire to not only to grow our publication’s editorial reach, but to encourage self-exploration in all facets of our existence.

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Rodney Burrell, Editor-In-Chief 6

| Issue 11

CONTENTS 09 The LOCAL Blog, Nostalgia Head over to Hills and get your favorite pair of stonewashed jeans, we’re going for a ride.

22

LOCAL Heroes

38

Good Food Pittsburgh

26

Comics are Life

40

Music

A project in honesty, trust, and accountability at Bistro-to-Go.

An interview with Wayne Wise, the man behind Phantom of The Attic.

Stay informed with food news from around the ‘burgh.

Hand-picked musical talents to make your ears happy.

44

10

Art

A look at local artists and what makes them tick.

Braddock Library

There’s so much more than books in there.

48

Fashion

Vintage and Funk.

14 Words Without Walls

A program breathing inspiration into the prison community.

17 LOCAL Film

News and Happenings.

30

The Girl Next Door

18

Cara Garofalo

A violin pays the bills.

An in depth look into the secret life of the exotic dancer, and the mysterious industry that captures so many.

37

How Stella Got Her Kitchen Back

It’s kismet as the former Billy’s chef now resurfaces at Scratch.

60 Fitness Files

No gym, No excuses.

Super sets in the city!

A Neighborhood Trattoria

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b blogger

Nostalgia.

by Heidi Balas / www.thesteeltrap.net

Here in Pittsburgh, we cling to our nostalgia by infusing it into our present lives. It’s no secret that we give directions based on where places used to be, whether it’s the Civic Arena; a Hills, a Horne’s, or a Kaufmann’s; a bygone ride at Kennywood; or even the Rally Burger in Homewood (I am still not over that loss by the way). In our homes you might find the parking chairs that we used before we got houses with precious “off-street parking,” the particular Terrible Towel that we waved when the Steelers won the Super Bowl in (insert any one of six years here), the Heinz pickle pin we got as a child at some event to benefit some good cause, or the VHS tape of Three Rivers Stadium crumbling on a rather frigid winter morning.

Thankfully, this warmer weather season brings two especially fun ways in which Pittsburghers can embrace our pasts with something new.

First, the Sugar Creek Candle Company has released a new candle called “Pittsburgh Dad’s Hills Snack Bar,” which will bring our senses back to that feeling of walking into a Hills Department Store with its unforgettable aroma of popcorn, cherry slush, and soft pretzels. Like many other locals, I spent the fleeting moments of my childhood in Hills’ toy aisles gazing from the bottom to the top of the shelves (where the Big Wheels rested) with wide and eager eyes; and if I behaved in the layaway line, my mother and I would split a

soft pretzel on the way out. If this candle can bring that feeling back with its scent, then it will be $14.99 well spent.

Then, Pittsburghers will find themselves a little lighter… or dare I say, squishier on their feet this season at Kennywood.

The infamous blue whale will making its valiant return as the rightful entrance of Noah’s Ark. Once again, we will be able to enter the attraction on its soft, cushioned pink tongue, reliving our younger years and introducing it to children who have only heard our “back in the day” tales of the whale. Has it really been twenty years since it wasn’t a part of our Kennywood picnics? Oh you know, the ones where we planned our outfits for weeks

in advance. Opening day for Kennywood is May 7!

In addition to these, I implore you to think of the ways that will you infuse some nostalgia into your lives this season. Will it be blasting Rusted Root’s “Send Me On My Way” as you drive (or sit) on the parkway with the windows down? Will it be a refusal to call that amphitheater in Burgettstown anything but “Star Lake?” Whatever you decide, do it with a smile and a chuckling acknowledgement of our Pittsburgh ways.

It’s who we are.

- Heidi

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Built as the first Carnegie Library of the United States, the Braddock Library has served as a communal space, an education center, and an architectural treasure. Fueled by the creativity of William Halsey Wood and the educational passion of Andrew Carnegie, the Library initially functioned as a recreational center for steel mill workers of Carnegie’s Edgar Thomson Works in Braddock. Amenities included billiard tables, reading rooms, and a bathhouse in the basement for workers to shower before their leisurely activities. Additions made in 1893 doubled the size of the building including a gymnasium, bowling alley, music hall, and swimming pool. It was at this time the Carnegie Club was created to encourage health and exercise for the patrons of the Library.

h history

The

Braddock 12

rary Lib

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The Centerpiece of Braddock’s Recreation and Education Written by Ben Hamrick Photography by Julie Kahlbaugh

The Library remained in continuous use throughout much of the twentieth century. Unfortunately, due to lack of funding, the structure fell into disrepair (especially the roof), forcing its closure in 1974. The building was scheduled for demolition in the late 1970’s but a group known as the Braddock’s Field Historical Society purchased the building for $1 and began raising money for restorations. Much of the building’s disarray had been caused by water damage and erosion of the roof and wood paneling over time. The Library reopened in 1983 as a small one-room children’s library. Over time, the Society slowly reoccupied the remainder of the building by restoring not only the roof, but the gymnasium and the Music Hall.

Today,

the building serves not only as a library, but a community center, print shop, and ceramics studio.

It stands as a testament to historic preservation in Pittsburgh’s new economic renaissance following the decline of the steel industry. The Library offers many programs for all ages and serves as a cornerstone of Braddock’s history. The Library has also gained exposure in films such as The Bride In Black (1990), Shelter (2010), and most recently, Concussion (2015), mostly due to its unique medieval architectural style. Though the days of the Carnegie Club are long gone, recreation and education still thrive. After all, it was Carnegie himself who said, “I trust you will not forget the importance of amusements…life must not be taken so seriously.”

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i impact

And they didn’t. During their inaugural visit, the Chatham students accidentally entered the jail through the drunk tank and came up through inmate processing. They needed to call Jack Pischke, Inmate Programming Coordinator, to bail them out.

But the Chatham students arrived at a fortuitous time: Gould Ford was ready to move on, and the Chatham students wanted to get more involved.

In the Summer of 2009, they taught their first two classes in the Allegheny County Jail.

WORDS

WITHOUT

WALLS Written by Kenny Gould

In 2009, Chatham University MFA students visited a creative writing class in the Allegheny County Jail taught by Pittsburgh author, artist, and volunteer teacher Sandra Gould Ford. The inmates in Gould Ford’s class were studying Slam Poetry, and the Chatham students served as judges. They were nervous: “Not of being around inmates, but of our own incompetence,” says Sarah Shotland, one of the Chatham student judges. “We were worried about not following the rules correctly.”

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Today, thanks to grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Heinz Foundation, and the Pittsburgh Foundation, Chatham runs a program called Words Without Walls that coordinates eighteen classes in three different facilities: the Allegheny County Jail, State Correctional Institution Pittsburgh (formerly known as Western Penitentiary), and Sojourner House, a Pittsburgh-based residential rehabilitation facility for women struggling with addiction. It also runs a press that annually puts out an anthology of inmate work; on weekends, it facilitates a free writing workshop called Voice CATCH, designed to serve people after they get released.

Shotland, who now serves as a Chatham instructor and the program director of the Words Without Walls Program, recently spoke with LOCALpittsburgh about the program’s history, where it stands, and why it’s important.

“Education helps people be more peaceful and more understanding in their own communities,” she says. “Most people do not spend their whole lives in jail or prison, and it’s better for all of us if they have opportunities to do positive, productive things.”

One of the program’s biggest success stories is Eric Boyd, a former inmate who won second place in the PEN American Prison Writing Contest for Fiction. Because he was out of prison

when PEN American made the announcement, he got to fly to New York City, where he accepted his award and gave a reading.

In attendance was the director of The Foundry, the MFA program at Brooklyn College, who recruited him to the program and gave him a full scholarship. Boyd, a Pittsburgh native, has since gone on to attend the Breadloaf Writers Conference, publish with nationally renowned journals like Tin House, and receive nominations for two Pushcart Prizes.

Asked whether or not she feels safe during her teaching positions, Shotland explains that the incarcerated students and recovering addicts with whom she works are some of the most respectful, generous, and grateful people that she has ever encountered.

“At the prison, the vast majority of people I meet admit their crime,” she says. “I meet very few people who say, ‘You got the wrong guy.’ The questions I see my students dealing with are, basically, Why did I do this? How did I get to a place where I did this? What factors were involved in me making this terrible decision?”

The laid-back author and teacher is perhaps unsurprisingly modest about co-founding one of the most unique models for community engagement and social justice in the country. She paints the average incarcerated student as someone you might meet at the grocery store, only under slightly different circumstances.

“We all make mistakes,” she says. “None of us want to be judged forever based on the worst day of our lives.”

In the near future, Words Without Walls hopes to start teaching classes with the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force, Western Psych, and several different halfway houses. Their most recent anthology, hailed

by Publishers Weekly as a “stunning read,” is available on Amazon or from the Trinity University Press Website.

“ W E A L L M A K E M I S TA K E S , ”

“None of us want to be judged forever based on the worst day of our lives.”

| Issue 11

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f film

What’s Going On In The Pittsburgh Film Scene: A Hollywood Roundup

Pittsburgh has become home to blockbusters and indie films alike.

Luckily this summer, the lineup of what is being filmed here in town is growing as big and strong as the flowers at Phipps.

Written by Krista Graham

Destined for an Oscar nod, Fences starring Denzel Washington is filming right here in Pittsburgh’s own Hill District. The stuff of legends, the once glamorous Hill District’s tumbled ruins are the backdrop for August Wilson’s famous play. The movie being filmed in the old home of August Wilson, The Flamingo Club and the Fences Pittsburgh Courier itself is a celebration of August’s masterpiece, the broken, sooty American dream grazed by the mist of the coal mines, and African American life. I for one can’t wait to see the film or hopefully bump into Denzel at Gooski’s across the way.

Mindhunter based on the 1996 book Mind Hunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit will be filming here in town. Directed and produced by David Fincher, famous for directing the cult classic Fight Club as well as The Social Network and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button will be directing the new Netflix series starring Charlize Theron, Kevin Spacey, and Jennifer Orme Erwin.

Netflix isn’t the only company clamoring to film in our movie making hot spot. WGN’s Outsiders is returning to the Pittsburgh area again for a second season, a fact that the director of the Pittsburgh Film Office, Dawn Keezer is very proud of. Outsiders is about an Appalachian community with hints of Sons of Anarchy, Breaking Bad, and the Hatfields and McCoys. It stars Ryan Hurst and

Gillian Alexy and will be filming all summer.

Not only does Pittsburgh have Netflix and WGN filming here, Cinemax’s Banshee will also be filming here this summer. Banshee chronicles the story of an ex-con who fights his enemies with a badge. Banshee stars Antony Starr, Ivana Milicevic, Ulrich Thomsen, Frankie Faison, and Hoon Lee. Set in the fictional

Banshee

Fritz are seeking Pennsylvania collectors and antique sellers to feature on the show, and have already scoped out some great PA talent in the Lebanon Valley area. Released by Cineflix, you can submit your collection of antique all American collections to americanpickers@ cineflix.com.

Taking it back to Pittsburgh’s own The Way That I Am directed by Kaleigh Fitzgerald and starring Emily Goode and Derek McDonnel is being filmed all over Pittsburgh. The independent film is about a young girl reeling from her first experiences with loss and struggling to become a great playwright. The film is currently looking for various scenes, and patronage would be appreciated to get this little movie that can into festivals.

If you’re into the independent film scene here, every second Tuesday of every month you can catch regional short films at The Melwood Screening Room as a part of Pittsburgh Filmmaker’s Film Kitchen. Film Kitchen is sponsored by Mellinger’s Beer, Spak Brothers Pizza and 92.1 WPTS. You can grab a snack at 7pm, the Pittsburgh area made films, at 8pm all for just $5.

Whether you’re like me and begging Mosser Casting to use you as an extra, just want to see some cool shows made in our Steel City film hub, or want to try your hand at getting your DIY film screened, There’s work to be had for actors, independent filmmakers and Union 3 members alike and great stories to be told.

Banshee, PA, the final fourth season will finish filming here in town.

Fan favorite American Pickers is also filming in the Pittsburgh area come August. Filming for season 8 in PA, Mike Wolfe and Frank

So, keep your eyes out for basecamp signs, and be ready to see some great stars come out of Pittsburgh later this year.

American Pickers

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From Rock to Rachmaninoff: Pittsburgh Violinist Cara Garofalo Talks Music and More Written by Onastasia Yousef Photography by Julie Kahlbaugh

Cara Garofalo is living an artist’s dream in Pittsburgh as a full-time music teacher and a performing violinist at symphonies, musicals, weddings, churches, and with your favorite local pop and rock artists.

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She first arrived in the Steel City to study at Duquesne University, but hails from a small town outside of Scranton, PA called Clarks Summit. Cara grew up with a music-loving father who signed her up for her first violin lesson at the age of four.

“My dad is a classical pianist, and is a big music history buff. There was always classical music in the background at our house. So I started taking music lessons with his influence. It was just one of those things where it was my favorite hobby growing up.”

Her move didn’t only open up doors for classical music, but also introduced her to the local rock scene, as well. Cara was featured on Nathan Zoob’s solo EP and performed with Meeting of Important People on their album and at their live shows.

Cara played with blues-rock singer Melinda Colaizzi on her latest single “Keeper of the Flame” and is also featured in the music video.

In high school, Cara deepened her study of music by exploring music theory, attending music camps and auditioning for other local performances outside of school. Once she decided to pursue music as a career, her musical journey became “intense.” “I took several college auditions and I ended up going to Duquesne. That’s what brought me to Pittsburgh.”

In her free time, Cara enjoys doing yoga, which she says helps after hours of performing. “Working as a musician can be exhausting. It’s very physical and demands a lot of energy. You can’t do this if you’re sleep-deprived. At least I can’t! I want to make sure I’m staying healthy and on top of my game.”

However, most of her time is devoted to teaching. She provides private lessons to students, along with group classes at the Waldorf School in Bloomfield.

She credits WDVE host and keyboard player Randy Baumann for introducing her to many of her collaborators. “Randy’s all about promoting the local music scene and getting people out there. He holds these shows called Rambles which usually happen every few months at the Thunderbird Cafe and feature about 20 local musicians. I’m having a great time meeting a lot of great people and making music with them.”

“Music education can help students to be more well-rounded people in general and has benefits besides just making music.

Seeing that it is having a positive effect on them...and seeing that I could pass the knowledge that I have attained at this point on to someone else is rewarding.”

“I’m really grateful for all the opportunities I’ve had in Pittsburgh. I had no idea what my life would end up being like. I originally just came here for school. It’s pretty cool how I’ve expanded as a person and a musician.” | Issue 11

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h heroes

Written by Aleita Hermanowski Photography by Julie Kahlbaugh

Owner of Bistro-to-go, Nikki Heckman and Manager, Brandon Jackson

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Food is Nikki Heckman’s vehicle for doing good. In 2007 she and her husband, Stanley, opened Bistro to Go, a restaurant and catering company where entrepreneurship, commerce and compassion converge to strengthen their Northside community. With high tin ceilings, colorful décor, and a warm, homey atmosphere created by designer Robert Sands, customers can’t help but feel at home the minute they walk in the door.

GO

HEROES 2

Nikki’s passion for what she does is evident. Before launching Bistro to Go, she provided food service for nearby Allegheny Center Alliance Church and other nonprofits. Her love of the people of the Northside motivated her to do more.

“We see people on the streets who have lost their way in life. Whether it’s addiction, childhood abuse, or poverty, ‘there but for the grace of God go I.’ It could be me,” says Nikki. “It’s not about becoming a savior. I stand beside people and show them how to save themselves. In my opinion it’s entrepreneurship and commerce that can do that,” says Nikki. “Teaching job skills is paramount to changing people’s lives. It’s not only job skills that people gain from working here.

They also learn how to communicate and live life.”

Built on core values of caring for community, customers, employees, and the earth, Bistro to Go engages in a variety of community activities and partnerships.

In 2013 they began a summer partnership with the Young Professional Mentoring Program, an initiative of Allegheny Center Alliance Church. A sevenweek summer program, it is designed to give adolescents 14 through 17 an op-

“We pay $15 an hour,” says Nikki.

“We have to work hard to be able to do that, but when people are valued it gives them a sense of worth.

They want to do a good job and stick around for a while.”

portunity to grow spiritually, emotionally, socially, academically, and vocationally. It gives them an opportunity to learn the responsibility of having a job and grow their understanding of the day-today operations of a small business.

Catering at the Bistro comprises most of its sales, and is the primary focus of the staff. They cater a variety of events, whether planned or last-minute, from meetings at the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust to weddings, parties and other events. Everything is cooked from scratch with fresh, organic locally grown ingredients, using ‘green’ packaging when possible.

have been paying their employees a living wage from the start. “We pay $15 an hour,” says Nikki. “We have to work hard to be able to do that, but when people are valued it gives them a sense of worth. They want to do a good job and stick around for a while.”

Ray Speicher and his wife, Marcia, travel from Ligonier to work with Nikki. “I own a marketing company, but my wife and I both wanted to get out and do more. We love what Nikki is doing to make this street beautiful and we believe in her mission,” smiles Ray, “it’s also a lot of fun working here.”

Nikki comes from a large Italian family and learned to cook from her grandmother. She wanted to bring a family atmosphere to the workplace, and now employs 45 people who are in different stages of transition in their lives. “We hire all kinds of people, not just the homeless or disadvantaged. You could be a college kid in med school trying to get by, or a homemaker trying to integrate back into the workforce,” says Nikki.

A few of her paintings grace the walls of Bistro to Go, and convey the beauty of Pittsburgh streets and architecture. She studied art at Case Western Reserve University, and assumed that after graduation she’d paint and live as an artist. Instead she embarked on a successful career in food service, gaining culinary skill and management experience from corporate and individually owned restaurants including Wendy’s, TGI Fridays and Bewley’s in Ireland. “I had no idea I would end up here,” says Nikki. “It’s been scary and hard and wonderful. I couldn’t imagine anything better.”

Income inequality and raising the minimum wage are hot-button issues lately, but Nikki and Stanley | Issue 11

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LOCAL writer Onastasia Youssef sat down with Wayne Wise at the bustling comic book shop Phantom of the Attic Comics to talk about local artists, the cultural impact of comics, his favorite superheroes, Stan Lee, and more.

Lp: How did Phantom get its start?

WW: We’ve been on the street since 1983. I arrived in May of 1997. I’m the new guy in term of full time employees - the assistant manager.

We don’t really have titles here. We have changing part-timers. We have two stores, comics and games. As a store, we’re about reading, enjoying the art, enjoying the story more than the collecting aspect of it, so we’ve weathered the storm of explosions and crashes in the comic book market.

A Conversation with...

Lp: Have the movies - Iron Man, Avengers, etc. - helped out with sales?

WW: The movies have increased an overall awareness of comics. The Watchmen movie drove sales... but that was something where people saw the movie, and I could hand them the graphic novel. The Scott Pilgrim movie did that. Dark Knight is one of the perennial bestsellers.

Lp: Any cool memories from when Dark Knight Rises filmed in Pittsburgh?

WW: Yeah! Actually, they filmed right over here...The alley one street over was Blackgate Prison. The big fight was on the steps of the Mellon Institute, which they filmed in July, so the street was covered in fake snow for two weeks. The day they blew up Heinz Field, I was there. I was one of the extras in the crowd. If you look really closely, I’m this one pixel in the middle of the crowd. I’m there.

Lp: How does Phantom get involved with the local art scene?

WW: Pittsburgh is a small enough city that there’s a strong local arts community. Just by being here, the people who are doing that are typically shopping at the local stores, so they come in and ask us and through conversations, we get to know them. We also have a table at PIX and there’s the Pittsburgh Zine Fair.

Lp: Do you have any advice for any readers who want to pursue art?

Wayne wise Written by: Onastasia Youssef | Photography by: Julie Kahlbaugh

WW: Do it. In this day and age, if you really want to do comics, do comics. Write, draw - there’s no limits. Okay, so you can’t draw like the people who work for Marvel, that’s fine. I can show you incredible comics that are little more than stick figures. But they’re really good comics! Find your style. Write and do it. Study, see what other people are doing. Determine what interests you and what you want to do and what you like to do. Bottom line with comics or any other art, do it.

Show up for work.

Lp: Has the media picked up on everything that’s been happening?

WW: Yes and no. There’s an awareness with the mainstream media. They’re aware of the Avengers - they’re not aware of anything else happening. They want to talk about the stuff their readers can identify with. As cool as I think Jonesy is, are the local news stations going to pick up on this? Do they even know this is happening?

A couple years ago, I appeared on WPXI, and they do Pittsburgh NOW. I was on an episode talking abou t comics. The Chutz-Pow project I did with the Holocaust Center got a lot of coverage when it was first released. We have a second one of those coming out.

Lp: Have there been any changes in recent years to the comics market?

WW: The last five to ten years there’s been more young people coming into the hobby and more specifically, more women coming into the hobby. But it’s not just a business thing. I love comics, I want everybody to love comics.

This should be the safest place in the world for people to read comics. You don’t have to like what I like, let me find something you will like. That’s my job: matching up potential readers to the things they will love. That’s what we’ve always done here. It’s never been this fanboyish ‘Oh you should read this.’ We want people to come in here and feel comfortable.

Lp: Who was one of the most interesting guests you’ve had here at Phantom?

WW: A couple years ago, we had Neal Adams. Neal Adams revolutionized the way Batman was draw in the early 60s, early 70s. He was the artist on the Green Lantern and Green Arrow series that really brought to the forefront social issues of the time. If I was making a list of the most influential comics creators ever, he would easily be top 10, possibly top 5. I hung out at a Holiday Inn after a convention with Frank Miller in 1986, the guy who did Dark Knight and Sin City. Y’know! 1986, no one knew who he was outside of the comics industry. But Neal Adams, is one of their names. I met Stan Lee in the past. I did a phone interview with him in the 90s. But Neal Adams was a big deal.

Lp: How have comics changed your life?

Lp: What artists have you worked with here in Pittsburgh and which ones have had success nationally?

WW: Ron Frenz worked for Marvel and DC for thirty plus years. You name a Marvel/DC superhero, Ron’s drawn it. We have Eddie [Piskor] doing Hip Hop Family Tree. That’s getting a tremendous response. We have a variety of stuff going on at all levels - it’s phenomenal.

There’s more opportunity than ever before with the ease of self-publishing.

WW: Comics have meant so much to me personally in terms of who I am as a person. It’s something that I’ve always loved. The most rewarding thing is sharing that with other people. I love turning people onto this hobby. I think it can take people in so many different creative directions, scientific directions, the stuff you learn just about being human from reading different stories. I love the narrative, I love the story.

Lp: You’re their hero.

WW: I guess so! Growing up myself, I can mention four or five people that were specifically very important to me when I was in high school and at college in my 20s - just people who, through their presence in my life, changed my life. That awareness in the last ten years of ‘Oh! Crap. I’m doing that for other people. Well, that’s weird.’ As much as I’m joking here, it’s important for people and if I can be that for people, that’s great.

Lp: Anything else you’d like to say to our readers?

WW: Come read comics. If you haven’t, come talk to me. If you don’t know what they are and want to know what they’re about, come talk to me, come talk to anybody here.

Phantom of the Attic Comics is located in Oakland | Issue 11

29

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e exposé

The Girl Next Door Life of an Exotic Dancer There’s a wariness to Roxy. The way she sizes you up, light eyes taking you in. She’s polite. Friendly enough.

But there’s a dividing line.

Within arm’s reach is a stack of porno DVDs with titles like We Swallow 39.

Stacks of cash are always present, varying only in height.

In a few moments, she’ll walk through a long, mirrored hallway that is far too bright - fluorescent lighting that flatters no one. She’ll pass walls tattooed with pink and red lipstick kisses, push aside heavy, beaded curtains hanging across a doorway.

The flat screen hanging above the desk reveals nearly two dozen live images coming from discreetly hung cameras that are everywhere: champagne rooms, dressing room, back corridors, main floor.

After a few steps, she’ll be under the heat of strobing lights, the pulse of reverberating music. She’ll hit the stage, curl her small hand around a gleaming, brass pole, and gaze down at the faces below her.

Within minutes, Roxy begins to reveal much. Which, might seem like everything. Outwardly, it is everything.

But the reality is, no matter what you see over the next eight hours, when Roxy leaves, she will walk out the door close to $1,000 richer, without having shown you anything at all.

The club where Roxy works is one of five in Pittsburgh. Back in the office, a piece of purple paper is tacked to a bulletin board with the phone number for Toys for Tots, hanging next to photos of smiling adults and kids.

32

| Issue 11

Written by Kate Benz Photography by John Altdorfer

There’s a lot to pay attention to. The business is billed as a gentlemen’s club, and patrons are expected to act as such. There’s a dress code. Drink prices are higher. Security is tight, imposing bouncers ready to go. Four times a week, a detail cop is paid to stand at the door. Customers usually stay in line. Sometimes they do not.

They get drunk, too aggressive with the girls, decide they don’t want to pay for a string of $25 lap dances.

When that happens, action is swift, congenial negotiations going only so far.

“That happens when I’m trying to be a gentleman with you and you’re not being a gentleman with me,” grins the club’s manager. Tactics are used to resolve issues, depending on the infraction. One involves asking you politely to leave. Another involves the basement.

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When it comes to an unpaid bill, you’re given a 24-hour grace period. When you don’t make good, you’ll find yourself in front of the magistrate. “We will go to get our girl’s money,” he said.

Making sure the girls are well taken care of is a practice that everyone, managers, owners, former and current dancers – agrees is paramount.

They want a happy environment.

Fighting, drug use, underage drinking, public intoxication, theft, and prostitution are prohibited.

“I could get fired for talking shit to one girl about another girl. They just

“I know who I am as a person,” she said. “I know my morals. Just because I’m showing the outer shell doesn’t mean they know me as a person.” don’t put up with it,” said Roxy.

Even with all those security cameras, all those warnings, things do happen: blow jobs, drug use, underage drinking. To defer it, the club maintains a “one strike and you’re out” policy. But ultimately, it’s the money that brings everyone here.

The process begins with paperwork – Who’s you’re emergency contact?

Then the girls meet with a manager, who wants to get an idea for what’s going on in their life. Do you have kids? Are they in school? How about you - are you in school? Oh, really?

Why not?

He’s also checking for signs of visible intoxication or red flags indicating a history of escorting. When he’s comfortable there are none, he takes 34

| Issue 11

them to the dressing room, gives them time for hair and makeup. Then it’s time to audition - in front of a live audience.

Some girls never make it past the dressing room. Some run off the stage. But most stay, joining a roster of 120 performers who make their own schedule, picking from three shifts: 4 p.m.to 11 p.m., 7 p.m. to 2 a.m., or 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

During each, they’ll tip out $10 to the DJ and the housemother and, depending on their shift, $10, $15 or $20 to the house. On the rare occasion a girl doesn’t break even, the latter is usually waved. They also get some advice. “I tell them, ‘Part of your job is acting,’” said another manager. “‘You come here, you’re someone’s fantasy.’”

The fantasy begins with a stage name - something sexy that’s easily remembered but not reminiscent of a customer’s mother, sister, girlfriend or wife. It’s not common to hear the booming voice of the DJ welcoming Mary or Ruth to the stage.

The costume reflects any number of fetishes or fantasies: flowing floral camisoles, leg warmers, and Victoria’s Secret bra and panty sets are interspersed with cutout black mini-dresses, leather monokini’s and lace teddy’s slit through the torso.

Performances also vary widely.

Acrobatics are accomplished by ascending a 20-foot pole, twisting and spinning, often head first, back down. There is coy flirting, aggressive sexual innuendo, graceful posturing, erotic writhing. The club is not typically all nude, but for the occasional promo that lasts a few minutes, and always done at the discretion of the girls. During a slow weeknight, a younger looking brunette takes advantage of the

college-aged students in front of her, thrusting her pelvis in the air, hand between her thighs, hips rotating. When she flips onto all fours and spreads her knees, mere inches from the attentive, appreciative face of a middle-aged customer, he slides his money into the space between her breasts and the stage. It is always about the money.

A more privatized experience in the champagne room costs $120 for 15 minutes, $250 for 30 minutes and $500 for an hour. Of that, the girl will pocket $60, $125, $250.

The club does not endorse aggressively enticing a customer to visit one. There are no sales quotas.

“We always tell the girls…don’t force anything. Build a rapport,” the manager said. “These guys are here to relax. When they’re ready, they’ll pull the trigger.”

When they do, the payoffs can be huge to the benefit of many. In 2015, Cricket Lounge, Controversy, Penthouse Club, Blush, and Cheerleaders generated $68,000 in entertainment/amusement tax revenues for the city. Nationwide, gentlemen’s clubs hold a $15 billion share of the $75 billion dollar worldwide adult entertainment market, according to industry reports.

Roxy averages $8,000 a month working three shifts per week.

Claudia, who now books as an occasional feature dancer, once walked out of a champagne room with $2,000. Customers become regulars, sugar daddies.

“This is what I don’t like about dancing – you make your money manipulating the customer to really love you. To make them care about you, you have to get close to them,” said Claudia. “They will give you everything they have and that’s what you

want. And that is something that is real questionable and gives all strippers a bad name – we can be conniving and really hungry bitches. I became obsessed with ‘How can I get the most money out of these guys?’”

with her son and with her boyfriend hang on buttery yellow walls. As does rustic wall art: “Life is short – break the rules,” “Faith, Love, Hope,” and “Welcome Friends.” The door mat reads, “The dog holds the leash to my heart.”

because she needed money to fight a looming custody battle with her son’s father.

Though female customers aren’t unusual, the majority remain men: black, white, Hispanic, Asian, college students, senior citizens, middle-aged, professionals, retirees; men who flaunt their money, men who never throw a bill. Some are engrossed by what’s on stage while others remain transfixed by their iPhone or the televised Penguins game.

Her blonde hair is pulled into a high ponytail, her face free of makeup. She’s wearing grey sweatpants, a black tank top, and a silver heart-shaped pendant engraved with the word love.

“I know who I am as a person,” she said. “I know my morals. Just because I’m showing the outer shell doesn’t mean they know me as a person.”

If there is one thing they have in common, it’s usually what brought them here in the first place: I’m lonely. My wife never touches me. She’d never wear that.

“I’ve had guys pay money to go into a room and all they wanted to do was talk,” Roxy said. “I didn’t take any clothes off, I didn’t shake my butt. We just sat there and talked.”

In her modest, suburban brick home an hour away, Roxy sits on a grey sectional couch, folding laundry into neat stacks. Framed photos of Roxy

Without the makeup and costume, she’s barely recognizable - making her appear younger than her 26 years, though experience might as well double them. When she was 5, her uncle began molesting her. At 7, he raped her. In high school, she became addicted to Oxycontin to relieve the pain from a deteriorating sacroiliac joint, segued into a heroin habit that involved shooting 30 to 40 bags a day, and ultimately overdosed.

“That puts some character into someone and insights that you don’t have at 19, 20 years old,” she said, her tattoos homages to those experiences.

She began dancing at 18, was high most of the time, and quit after becoming pregnant. Following a successful stint in rehab, she returned only

As a single mom who dances, she’s aware of why people judge her, the misconceptions: You have no morals. You’re a slut.

What her customers see is the fantasy she’s created. They’ll never see the tree lined street she lives on, dotted with basketball hoops, green lawns, and freshly built retaining walls. They won’t see the two dogs waiting at the door, noses pressed against the glass, the laundry basket, the line on the kitchen wall marking her son’s current height.

They have no idea she can change the oil on her late model SUV, loves coffee, and is saving money so she and her boyfriend can invest in flipping houses or restoring old cars.

“I’m more successful than most – not because of financially – just because of happiness,” she said.

“And people I’ve known forever will see me and still call me a junkie, and even if I tell them I’ve been clean for four years, the next thing is, ‘You’re | Issue 11

35

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a fucking stripper.’”

There is nothing in her house to indicate what she does for a living. No stripper heels amongst the pile of sneakers next to the front door. She stores her costumes in a dressing room locker at the club – a stack of short, vertical rectangles comprising almost an entire wall, each adorned with dancer’s names written in swirling, bright, bold magic marker and accented with things like hearts, stars, flowers, and stickers of Hello Kitty and the Pirate Parrot. Something you’d expect to see adorning the lockers of a high school volleyball squad.

Before she started dancing again, she was barely supporting herself and her son working in the day as a waitress and a bartender at night. “Too much for assistance, too little to live,” she said. “I never saw my son. Now I’m around so much he thinks I’m basically a stay at home mom who bartends at night.”

She folds the last of the laundry just as her boyfriend comes home for lunch. They talk about making salmon and asparagus for dinner, and whether her son will finally grow the 2 inches he needs to be tall enough to ride the roller coasters on vacation.

She changes into jeans, a black, long sleeved t-shirt and a pair of white Sketchers. She grabs a Vitamin Water, keys, and her purse, en route to pick up her son from school.

I’m so proud of how far along you are coming. Please continue to pay attention and participate always.

Practice makes perfect! The more you practice the better you will get.

You can do ANYTHING you put your mind to! I love you!

Mommy

As she leaves, she passes a bulletin board next to the front door covered in his artwork and a handwritten note: When she returns to the club in a few hours, she’ll slip into another costume, another fantasy, let them think they’ve seen everything, under the heat of the strobing lights, without ever showing them anything at all.

“The people that are judging me are the people that don’t matter to me in my life,” she said, dividing line redrawn.

It’s show time. *All names have been changed | Issue 11

37

Luke Wholey’s WILD ALASKAN GRILLE 2106 Penn Ave

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yster Sp 1/2 Pr e ic Rocke e Raw Oys cials ters tgang Broile s d or F ters Pizza r Oyste ied Oyster s r Po’ B oy

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Thirty years of baking

nta! e l o P y r a d Legen

for Nicholas complimented by Denese’s 15 plus years of traditional Italian culinarian expertise proudly serving

Pizza, Pasta, Salads, sandwiches, soups and pastries………

How Stella Got Her Kitchen Back Written by Kenny Gould

Photography by Julie Kahlbaugh

Thirty eight years ago, Stella Welsh came up to Troy Hill to live with her new husband, Anthony Bauerle, and his two sons. Though the Glenshaw native has had a driver’s license since she was sixteen, she doesn’t like to drive—the last time she drove was 20 years ago, in Anthony’s light blue Plymouth—and so when looking for work, she had only one constraint: the job needed to be local.

After applying for a job at Billy’s, a bar and family restaurant on Troy Hill, she began work as a cook.

“I learned by trial and error with the kids,” says Stella, who is entirely self-taught. “Michael is forty three and Mark turns forty two in May, so I think I did all right.”

In October of 2015, Billy’s became Scratch, a New American restaurant that caters to Troy Hill’s burgeoning population of young, white collar

professionals. The restaurant features a full bar, beautiful wood flooring, and a seasonal menu, but also Stella, who has become a Troy Hill institution.

She works the restaurant’s tiny kitchen beside executive chef Matt Patruna, crafting all of Scratch’s delectable baked goods, desserts, and soups.

“The menu is similar to Billy’s, but different,” says Stella. “You can still get a shot and a beer. That’s never going to change. Every item on the menu is still recognizable, though each has some type of twist.”

Example? Scratch’s seasonal broccolini appetizer, which Stella whipped up with hardly any preparation. Stella notes that the menu variation is indicative of a larger shift in Troy Hill demographics, with its recent influx of young, typically whitecollar professionals.

“It’s a welcome change, and a long time coming,” says Stella, who also points out that many of her longtime neighbors feel less positively inclined.

“It’s time that the Hill got a breath of fresh air.”

Despite their views on the changes in the neighborhood, former residents and newcomers alike agree on one thing: they’re glad that the old school Pittsburgh native is still cooking, and hopes to cook for a while yet.

Come say Hi to Stella at Scratch: Scratch is located at 1720 Lowrie Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15212. The restaurant is open Tuesday through Sunday. Scratch is closed on Mondays.

| Issue 11

39

And now.. for your regular

PITTSBUR with

Emily

GH

Restaurant Roundup

o Catalan

Over in Millvale, Stickler’s Ice Pops (formerly the Pop Stop) is getting ready to open the doors to their brand-new popsicle shop, just in time for the summer season. They’ll have their fresh fruit ice pops available for sale, plus packages of their limited-edition seasonal flavors, too.

Now that the weather is finally nice, it’s the perfect time to visit The Abbey on Butler Street, the newly-opened breakfast, lunch, and dinner spot in upper Lawrenceville, and take advantage of their massive outdoor patio area. The building is split into three distinct areas: a coffee shop, full service restaurant, and three different bars, giving each area a unique feel.

40

| Issue 11

Beer heads are eagerly anticipating the opening of East End Brewing’s Strip District tap room. The expanded taproom will feature 12 taps pouring East End brews, plus dining options.

After months of anticipation, Roger Li’s new Japanese-style pub, Umami, has opened in a cozy spot above Round Corner Cantina in Lawrenceville. You’ll find a sushi list that’s updated daily, ramen, sashimi, rice bowls, and robatayki skewers, plus a stellar sake bottle list and intriguing twists on classic cocktails.

Get ready to see a lot of pickles on your Instagram page! Picklesburgh, now in its second year, is coming back to the Rachel Carson bridge on July 15 and July 16. Event organizers promise food, vendors, and even more pickles this year as they look for ways to expand.

Want even more Pittsburgh restaurant and food news?

Visit GoodFoodPittsburgh.com for daily updates.

At Good Food Pittsburgh, we focus mainly on the highs (and sometime

Somet hing To Wr ite About : Pitt sburg h Foo d B logge rs You Need To Fo llow

lows) of the Pittsburgh restaurant and dining scene. But cooking at home can be just as rewarding as going out, and when I want to find a new recipe to try for dinner with family and friends, I turn to one of these Pittsburgh food bloggers and recipe developers, who are always churning out new dinner and dessert ideas on their sites.

Brown Eyed Baker

How Sweet It Is

Looking for something sweet?

Michelle Lettrich is your new go-to blogger. At Brown Eyed Baker, she doesn’t just post dessert recipes from her Pittsburgh kitchen – but those dessert recipes are absolutely amazing, and definitely worth trying.

Baking is a science, but Lettrich breaks it down and makes it easy for even novice home bakers to create impressive desserts, like Salted Chocolate Caramel Tarts, Cappuccino Cheesecake Bars, and homemade Zeppole.

Pittsburgh-based recipe developer and full-time blogger Jessica Merchant’s How Sweet It Is has been a local favorite for years – and, with the introduction of her cookbook called Seriously Delish, her audience is now global. All kinds of recipes are covered in Merchant’s blog, from healthy salads and vegan fare, to sweet treats and desserts. With gorgeous photography for recipes like Jerk Shrimp Tacos with Spicy Melon Salsa, Almond Crème Crepe Cake and even a simple house salad, all explained in her accessible, breezy directions, How Sweet It Is is a daily must-read.

www.BrownEyedBaker.com

The Hungry Hounds Husband-and-wife team Paul and Rebecca Shetler first launched their culinary blog while they were living in Pittsburgh, and now that the duo has made some big moves, they’ve taken their readership on the journey with them. The two are currently based in Haiti, in the middle of a five-year volunteer term, and their blog is a mix of their experiments with Haitian cuisine, and their attempts to recreate their favorite American standbys – like the perfect, fresh-from-the-oven New York deli-style bagel. Look to them to introduce you to new ways of adding unique flavor to your old favorites, or to try new-to-you dishes, like Yucatan Citrus Pulled Pork with Cochinita Pibil.

www.HowSweetEats.com

Parmesan Princess Terri Dowd, also known as the ‘Parmesan Princess’ is a Pittsburgh-based food blogger, and host (along with David Carmine) of Between the Eats, an online cooking show that also appears on Cozi TV. On her blog, ParmesanPrincess.com, Dowd specializes in creating recipes for busy families, including dinners that can be made in 20 minutes or less. Look for dishes that are perfect for easy entertaining, like Moroccan Beef and Lentils, Cherry Goat Cheese Pastries, and Bun-less Meatball Sliders. www.TheHungryHounds.com

www.ParmesanPrincess.com | Issue 11

41

m music Written by Enzo Knight

SOME KIND of ANIMAL Some Kind of Animal integrates a somewhat dark lyrically, yet, soulful voice in an upbeat-indie-meets-folk sound.

Starting as a side project between Pittsburgh natives, close friends, and longtime collaborators, Anthony Jardine (Vocals, Guitar, Keys) and Tim Mulhern (Vocals, Guitar),

Visit Some Kind of Animal online at www.somekindofanimal.com

somewhere along the way, Some Kind of Animal turned into the songwriters primary musical focus. Their songs are laced with lyrical imagery

The tunes are set in musical beds that have a

was focused on writing and recording their

and have melodic harmonies spun throughout.

part modern, part timeless vibe. Dave Rocco

upcoming debut LP that was produced by Tyler

(Drums) and Rich Condon (Bass) have since

Watkins (of the band Margot & The Nuclear So &

rounded out the lineup and the majority of 2015

So’s) at Postal Recording Studio in Indianapolis.

NEW RELEASES

A LOVELY CRISIS Where Do You Stand

42

| Issue 11

SWISS

EMILY

ARMY

ROGERS

Self Titled

2 Years

is the daughter of Bangladeshi immigrants, and spent her childhood in rural Pennsylvania. She describes her music as “Gotham Pop” because of its shadowy cinematic quality. Her music combines punk-rock angst with sensual Hip-Hop/R&B production over a non-conventional song structuring.

The 22-year-old focuses on themes of social alienation, existential confusion and overindulgence in toxic relationships, with both people and substances.

OMNE’s musical ethos is inspired by her upbringing in a conservative Muslim home. No subject is off limits as she weaves thought the world of sex, insecurity, and drug abuse. Her soulful and haunting tone truly captures a beautiful vocal architecture not to be missed.

A true hidden gem in the Pittsburgh music scene, visit OMNE online at soundcloud. com/2omne

44

| Issue 11

RISING STAR

OMNE (Monica Khan)

MCGONIGLE and GLADSTONE McGonigle & Gladstone began their musical

Patsy Cline, Michael McGonigle fell in love with

exploits in January 2014 after meeting through

Gladstone’s voice, messaged her, and the rest

Facebook. Who said social media couldn’t

is history.

produce anything but pictures of people fake sleeping? After a YouTube video was posted of

The duo’s musical Genre is somewhere between

Suzanne Gladstone singing a cover of “Crazy” by

folk, country, and pop. Gladstone’s vocals are crisp, and work well with McGonigle as the accompaniment. Their original song, “You Walked Away”, doesn’t have any glaring holes, and is digestible if you’re into a country twang.

As a whole, I would like to see them push the envelope with songwriting and work towards something a bit darker instrumentally and vocally that showcases Gladstone’s range.

The band is currently touring and their music is available for download through their website.

For more information, visit facebook.com/ mcgoniglegladstone or mcgoniglegladstone.com

a arts

RACHEL RENAUDIN My immediate surroundings are the constant inspiration of what I draw and paint. For me, art is not only an aesthetic representation of the world, but also an opportunity to communicate intellectual concepts where words fall short.

I strive to compel the viewer to be the subject, as I specifically design my compositions to lead the observer inside the world of the painting. Creating this sensation is pivotal in how I elicit my artistic language, as I believe there is immeasurable power in the human experience.

By momentarily capturing my audience in a line of sight outsidetheir own, I work to create a bridge of instantaneous understanding.

Throughout the years of my artistic development, this conceptual drive has personally led me to utilize a thematic color palette and characteristic application of paint while still maintaining a highly observed foundation of form and figure.

I play off these two visual sensations together on a large scale to create a harmonious dichotomy of a representational reality. In a world that is quickly transitioning towards a passive and technologically removed existence, I feel physical paint on canvas has never had the opportunity to project louder. I draw to speak. I paint to feel alive.

Visit www.rachelrenaudin.com

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BAILEY DONOVAN

I’ve wondered for a long time why my art has always had a dark twist to it. My best guess is, to me, creating something that makes people comfortable feels like a waste of time.

You wouldn’t think that based on my personal life — I typically do whatever I can to make those around me as happy and comfortable as possible.

But when it comes to art, creating something pretty or pleasant just feels like a kind of unearned celebration, a celebration that excludes those who don’t have the luxury of a carefree existence.

When a face I’m drawing comes out looking calm or attractive, for example, I can’t help but get the feeling that it must not be done yet. Before I add the stress lines and thinning hair, the whole thing feels disingenuous.

Seeing these thoughts written out, this sounds like a pretty cynical approach, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. I truly believe artists have the power to make the world a more beautiful place — I just believe you do so by confronting darkness, not ignoring it. Maybe one day, when everyone is a little happier, I’ll paint a pretty picture to celebrate. | Issue 11

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f fashion

SPRING IS HERE Written by Katie C’etta Photography by Julie Kahlbaugh

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Business Casual

Romantic

Be the talk of the office on casual Fridays with a great pair of jeans cuffed at the bottom styled with a lighter collared shirt. Tie the look together with a classic blazer and an amazing bag. All items in this look can be found at Vestis in Lawrenceville.

Keep it simple with a gorgeous silk dress from Kristi Boutique that feels like being wrapped in a little piece of heaven. Pull the look together by adding a gorgeous necklace from Kristi Boutique offset with a trendy strap bracelet by Nordic Motif and a great pair of heels.

This look gives a graceful silhouette that is perfect for any romantic occasion.

Street Style Keep your wardrobe versatile with this amazing look by Ragged Row. A pair of black joggers dressed up with a great sweater for a more formal look, or you can snag one of Ragged Row’s original t-shirts designs to keep your casual vibes.

70s Chic Fall in love with this white leather fringed top paired perfectly with an incredible white leather jacket and distressed jeans with a cropped flare. Layer multiple necklaces and add a cute bag for a finishing touch. This modern twist on classic 70’s fashion is a great way to embrace a trend.

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Casual Chic

Visit Vestis in Lawrenceville for the latest and greatest of men’s fashion. Step out in spectacular style in a great pair of khakis paired with a well fitted collared shirt. Try a subtle pattern versus a solid color. Accessorize with this amazing belt that sports our city’s colors and reads “Pittsburgh” paired with an incredible backpack in a bold color designed in the North Side. Hang on to this cozy warm white over shirt to add on if needed.

Fitness

You can find these incredibly comfortable Under Armour joggers at Ragged Row in Bakery Square as part of their Ragged Row Fit line. Check out Kristi Boutique in Aspinwall to snag a functional short sleeved, hooded shirt with a pop of neon.

Kick off spring with some amazing new workout gear. Ragged Row Fit has all your work out essentials in one place. Hit the gym in a comfortable and trendy heather grey half-zip by Under Armour paired with charcoal grey workout pants.

Try something new by pairing this figure flattering, multi-layered black dress with a pair of white skinnies from Kristi Boutique. Add some flare with a clutch, and mix in Celtic jewelry by D&O Designs (docelticjewelry.com).

Top it off with a pair of black booties to give the outfit a little more edge.

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FA I ON

SH ON

Take your business look to a new level by pairing this chic and accessible skirt with your not-so-standard button down blouse.

Throw on a bold accessory to add just a tad more spice to your look.

Written by Katie C'etta Photography by Timothy Cox Outfits courtesy of No. 14 Boutique & Boutique la Passerelle | Issue 11 57

Less is more with this springy jump suit ensemble. Rock chunky heels to complete the look.

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Don’t sacrifice comfort

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roomy printed trousers. Add a bangle to pull the outfit together.

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Traditional Vietnamese Cuisine in the Strip Among the mouth-watering dishes served at Pho Van are Pho Tai (noodles with rare eye round) - Pho Chin (noodles with well-done brisket) - Grilled pork and shrimp on rice vermicelli - and Goi Cuon (fresh spring rolls with shrimp, pork, noodles, and herbs).

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f fitness

Shed The Sweats with Super Sets G e t F i t w i t h H . I . I . T. . . A n y w h e r e .

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Get ready to tone your arms and torch calories with this H.I.I.T. workout. Perform all exercises consecutively for 40 seconds with 10 seconds rest in between. Complete 4-6 rounds.

SPIDER PUSH-Ups Start in a plank position. Pull your right knee towards your right elbow while bending your elbows to perform a push up. Press through your palms as you extend your right foot back to the starting position. Alternate sides.

SQUAT JACKS Start with your feet slightly wider than your hips. Squat down as you reach towards the ground. Raise your arms out and up as you jump your feet together. Jump back to starting position.

Tip: Keep your knees over your ankles and drive your hips back to perform the squat.

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FLOOR JACKS Start in a plank position with your feet close together. Keep your upper body and torso in line as you jump your feet wider than hip-width apart and back to the starting position. Tip: Keep your core tight and your shoulders over your wrists.

Step-UPS Start with your right foot firmly on an elevated surface.

Extend your arms overhead as you step up with your right foot and kick back with your left leg. Return to starting position and alternate sides.

TRICEP BENCH DIPS Place your palms shoulder width apart on an elevated surface (fingertips facing forward).

Extend your legs forward, hinging at your hips.

Bending your elbows, slowly lower down until your arms reach 90 degrees. Press through your palms to return to starting position.

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On the move?

New to town, or just a new neighborhood? If you haven’t tried transit before maybe now is the time. Port Authority has convenient and frequent service to and from the urban areas of Pittsburgh.

East Liberty is the heart of the East End’s transit service. Many Port Authority bus routes use the East Busway to bypass local traffic including the P1 and P3 from East Liberty’s busway station which offer quick rides to Downtown and Oakland. Various other routes have stops on Penn Ave. and serve just about anywhere in the East End of the city.

Living Downtown? You CAN get anywhere from here.

You can catch a bus or T to almost anywhere in Allegheny County.

Groceries in the Strip District, take the 88. For all the flavor of Lawrenceville the 91 works. Nearly all of Port Authority's 100 routes travel in and out of Downtown.

For more neighborhoods go to onthemove.portauthority.org and make this town your own.