June 12, 2024 - Pittsburgh City Paper

SEAN BEAUFORD

ANATOMY OF A PROTEST

With tragedy averted, distrust lingers after second Gaza encampment disbands

BY:COLIN WILLIAMS // CWILLIAMS@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Last week’s Gaza Solidarity

Encampment was a different affair than the first occupation near finals week. Instead of scenes of peaceful seminars and talks by local officials, the second such encampment quickly turned into a tense standoff between University of Pittsburgh police and organizers, who faced what they described as a “siege” in a press conference held on Flagstaff Hill.

According to protesters, the proximal cause for the end of the encampment was Pitt Chancellor

Joan Gabel’s “profoundly disappointing” decision to call Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro and request support from state law enforcement.

“Joan Gabel wanted to send in state police. She wanted to brutalize us,” an anonymous organizer told assembled media at a press conference held last Wendesday. “She wanted to arrest her own students on their own campus.” The protesters said they learned of the call to Pa. troopers during mediation with city and county officials that eventually led to the encampment’s peaceful disbandment.

(By way of full disclosure, I was raised mostly in Kent, Ohio — site of the Kent State shootings where four students were killed by the National Guard during an anti-Vietnam War protest — and have worked as an English instructor at Pitt for the past three semesters. In my mind, it is difficult to separate the presence of state police at an antiwar protest from the potential for deadly violence and personal concern for my students’ welfare.)

At the presser, protesters reiterated their demands for disclosure of Pitt’s investments in Israel, divestment from those investments, and a meeting with Gabel. They described disappointment and frustration with her lack of transparency and

described the university’s statements characterizing the encampment as “absurd and defamatory.”

“The reality is that Chancellor Gabel would rather initiate violence than initiate dialogue,” KateLynn Herrera, a junior involved with protests against the ongoing violence in Gaza, told media.

Gabel’s office responded to detailed questions from Pittsburgh City Paper with a brief statement that did not specify the timeline of Pitt's contact with Pennsylvania State Police (PSP). “University officials and our public safety team worked closely and collaboratively with a number of local, regional and state law enforcement and government entities at the onset and throughout

the entire demonstration to ensure the University of Pittsburgh and the surrounding community had every level of support necessary to maintain the safety of our community and to bring the demonstration to a conclusion,” senior director of external communications Jared Stonesifer wrote in an email.

However, Gabel had previously alleged antisemitic graffiti and intent to commit arson in a statement sent to the Pitt community. Protestors strongly disputed those assertions.

“We invite the Chancellor to provide any evidence of the claim she has made, but she has yet to do so,” Herrera said. “This is the truth: We established a liberated zone at the Cathedral [of Learning].” Herrera said

any alleged activity at the Frick Fine Arts Center had nothing to do with the Cathedral encampment.

While disputing any accusations of vandalism, organizers said they had suffered greatly. Their alleged experiences included the destruction of food and water, blocking of aid from those kept cordoned outside the encampment, and accounts of physical violence.

Valley View Presbyterian Church pastor Chad Collins read several anonymous accounts that described protesters being beaten with batons, thrown down stairs, kicked, and stripped of supplies. One anonymous community member said they were arrested for attempting to bring protesters tampons. Still, per Collins’

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

University of Pittsburgh Police stand their ground with clubs and a tear gas gun against pro-Palestine protesters on the lawn of the Cathedral of Learning on June 3, 2024.

as a protester described cradling their bleeding head inside an encampment tent. “I thought about the children in Rafah, who had been sleeping in tents for months while they try to ignore the sounds of bombs and planes and drones that could kill them at any moment,” the protester wrote. “Everything we do is to save them.”

The protesters claimed Shapiro had supported Gabel’s efforts to

interested in talking to anyone who wants to brutalize students.”

Shapiro’s spokesperson Manuel Bonder said the governor’s office had been in touch with local leaders as the situation on campus grew tense.

“Here in Pennsylvania, we stand against hate — and the Shapiro administration will not tolerate the proliferation of antisemitism or hate in any form,” Bonder told City Paper . “It is unfortunate that

Bonder described the claim that Gabel bypassed local leadership as “false and inflammatory.”

“The Pennsylvania State Police was in close contact with city, university, and county law enforcement monitoring the situation and standing ready to assist if requested by local authorities — as is standard practice,” he said.

PSP described the situation similarly without denying that Gabel had

bypass municipal law enforcement, but stood ready to assist if needed, as requested by the University and the City of Pittsburgh. PSP remains in contact with our local partners to ensure Pennsylvanians’ safety.”

City and county officials didn’t directly comment on their reaction to calls for state police.

“Per our previous statements, our focus was about one thing — finding a way to get everyone home

said, “we were able to negotiate a deal with the mayor to provide safe passage for the students who would absolutely have been brutalized at

Asked what was next for the groups who organized the protest, an anonymous protester was succinct: “In a word, I think what's next depends on the willingness of the university to reevaluate and recon-

All protesters involved were keen to stress that their focus remained squarely on the ongoing

“This does not begin and end with universities,” student Ilyas Khan told media as the press conference concluded. “This begins and ends in Palestine with freedom and liberation for all. That is all we are standing for. And that is what we have, time and again, joined hands with the

ENJOY WRESTLING

The beloved local promotion delivers a piledriver of fashion, queerness, and inclusivity

BY: RACHEL WILKINSON

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

Mr. Grim stands on the top rope before jumping onto Billy Dixon.

Enjoy Wrestling began in 2020 with the credo “wrestling is for everyone,” and since then, says Kurt Hackimer, co-owner of the Pittsburghbased independent wrestling promotion company, it’s kept to that.

At a recent sold-out show of Enjoy Wrestling: Odyssey at Mr. Smalls Theater, tag team act The Runway stood at a corner of the wrestling ring heckling the audience. The fashionable duo, made up of Calvin Couture, billed as “the fashionista of professional wrestling,” and Mr. Design Tyler Klein — known to pull a tape measure out of his trunks a la a disapproving Tim Gunn — jokingly scolded a group of fans, “Go home to your husbands!”

“We’re married to each other, we don’t have husbands!” one fan, wearing an Enjoy t-shirt, shouted back.

“The people that heckle us usually have our merch on, so they’ve already decided they love us enough to hate us,” Klein tells Pittsburgh City Paper with a laugh.

Being in Pittsburgh, it also didn’t take long for several “Cleveland sucks!” chants to break out, a taunt for Cleveland wrestler and heel, or "bad guy", Derek Dillinger. Many in the crowd were also in costume, common at Enjoy shows. To the uninitiated (and instantly converted) fan like myself, the show combined the familiar parts of wrestling — sports entertainment and live theater — with less-expected elements evoking drag performance, reality TV, and the excitement of a concert.

“We wanted to make wrestling that our friends who don’t like wrestling can appreciate,” Hackimer says. “It’s awesome to have an environment where people feel free to be themselves.”

For Enjoy co-owners Hackimer,

Maxx and Taylor Gregg, and Scotty Swemba, realizing that vision began with Enjoy’s talent roster, and, since launching four years ago, inclusivity has become the company’s calling card. All lifelong wrestling fans, the foursome aimed to break the industry mold and feature athletes and announcers of all races, genders, and sexualities.

Pro wrestling has had a long and complicated history with gender and sexuality in particular — World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), which puts on some of the world’s most popular wrestling shows, didn’t acknowledge the first openly gay pro wrestler, Pat Patterson, until 2014.

“Historically … [the] prototypical wrestler [has been] a big strong white dude,” Hackhimer tells City Paper “[But] I think part of wrestling that is appealing is that you can see somebody that [you] might relate to out in the ring and be inspired by that.”

Enjoy showcases wrestlers who openly identify as queer, trans, and nonbinary — including putting on a Gay Wrestlemania event in 2022 — and also puts on mixed-gender matches. High production value is another essential component of their vision, says Hackhimer, and Enjoy releases all its video content, which it considers WWE quality, free on YouTube.

In turn, the company hopes to draw a similarly diverse fanbase and broaden their shows’ appeal.

“It’s a good marketing strategy and also something that we believe in,” Hackimer says.

Enjoy’s first recruit was current champion Edith Surreal, who’s been performing with the company since its first show; she tells CP that it’s her home promotion and “favorite place to work.”

Surreal, a Philly-based trans

nonbinary artist and wrestler, previ ously competed as the character Still Life with Apricots & Pears (a nod to the genre of paintings). She became Edith Surreal at Enjoy’s first taped match, aired in February 2021.

Also nicknamed the “The Ephemeral Queen” and “The Exhibition of Intrigue,” Surreal believed the new character would showcase her “different approach to wrestling.” Known for her wrestling mask (similar to those from lucha libre in Mexico), Surreal’s costume was inspired by her artistic back ground and meant to evoke gold framed artwork.

“The costume is like the frame, and then my body and the move ment is the piece of art,” Surreal says. “[So] I’m thinking of my matches in a very artistic way, not strictly … in a sports entertainment way … The type of offense I have is very technical or submission-based, and I think of my submissions as if they’re sculptures.”

Her entrance song into the ring is Grimes’ “Kill V. Maim,” which, in addition to having a good beat to pump up the crowd, has lyrics invoking “weird gangster vampires that [are] gender fluid,” a “weird little activation that … fit all the things that I wanted out of an entrance song,” Surreal tells CP. Surreal credits Enjoy with promoting “more marginalized talent that doesn’t always get featured on other shows,” including LGBTQ wrestlers, which is “not always the case across independent wrestling.” An oft-repeated joke, Surreal tells CP , is that if a promotion has even one women’s match on their card, they book “25 dudes” to compensate.

By contrast, one of Enjoy’s first live shows in Oct. 2021 featured a match between Surreal and “scene queen” Ziggy Haim, with the event billed as “Edith’s mask versus Ziggy’s hair,” Hackimer recalls. It ended with Surreal driving Haim through two stacked tables — “still the craziest thing that’s ever happened at Enjoy,” Hackimer says — and chopping off Haim’s ponytail, solidifying Surreal’s status as a beloved babyface (the hero

[Mainly], we want you to know that you’re jealous of us that we’re up there looking fabulous.”

“Wrestling for me is kind of like an escape,” Klein says. “[I] get to be a facet of my personality that I don’t get to share every day … It’s bled into my real life a little bit, not heckling people, [but] just being more confi dent in myself, and it’s helped me be more confident as a member of the LGBTQ community.”

As LGBTQ wrestlers become more mainstream, Enjoy is “just something special,” says Klein. He also credits another Enjoy regular, Effy, for fea turing LGBTQ wrestlers during his Big Gay Brunch events.

With the platform Enjoy provides, Klein says, The Runway succeeded and “just kind of took on a life of its own,” a relative rarity for a tag team act in independent wrestling.

Since creating The Runway, Klein and Couture have become close friends, live together in Pittsburgh, and work at the same day job. (Their coworkers know their wrestling characters, have their autographed merch, and come to shows.)

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

Marco Narcisso crawls on the ground during Enjoy Wrestling's Gargantuan Battle Royale.

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

KC Warr and Brandon St. James crush beers during Enjoy Wrestling's Gargantuan Battle Royale.

“IT’S REALLY COOL HOW [ENJOY’S] REACH HAS GOTTEN TO ALL FANS. NO MATTER WHAT YOU IDENTIFY AS, ENJOY FEELS LIKE A HOME.”

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

Fans heckle wrestlers during Enjoy Wrestling's Odyssey Battle Royale at Mr. Smalls Theatre.

ENJOY WRESTLING, CONTINUES

Klein also attests that Enjoy shows excel at “giving a melting pot of different styles, being LGBTQ, everything … and the fans are equally different, too.” Performing in Pittsburgh last summer during Anthrocon, he remembers looking into the crowd and seeing someone in a fursuit.

“And it was like 100 degrees outside, so kudos to that person,” Klein says. By coincidence, Klein later saw the same fan, who recognized Klein out of character, in Massachusetts. They told Klein how excited they were that they could fly into Pittsburgh for Anthrocon the same week as an Enjoy show.

“It’s really cool how [Enjoy’s] reach has gotten to all fans,” Klein tells CP “No matter what you identify as, Enjoy feels like a home.”

Enjoy puts on its biggest show yet, Immaculate, on Sun., June 16 at Stage AE. According to Hackimer, it will mark the first time any Pittsburgh independent wrestling company

has appeared at the venue, which is typically reserved for national companies. (Shortly before publica tion, Edith Surreal announced that, due to injury, she will not compete at Immaculate, relinquish the title, and put her in-ring wrestling career on “indefinite hiatus.”)

The Runway faces off against Dirty Breeze, another tag team previously promoted by WWE.

Klein is excited about his and Couture’s outfits, “and I guarantee you we’re pulling out all the stops,” he says.

Reflecting, Hackimer says the move to a larger stage reflects what they’d hoped when they created Enjoy.

“Every time I go to an Enjoy show, people come up to me, and they’re like, this was my first wrestling show, [and] this is awesome,” he says. “And that’s really what we do this for, because I firmly believe that there are so many more wrestling fans out there that just don’t know it yet.”

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

Marc Doyle sports a Randy "Macho Man" Savage shirt during Enjoy Wrestling's Gargantuan Battle Royale.

VINTAGE VUE

From yinzer togs to ’90s keepsakes, The Closet is one of the region’s

On a Thursday afternoon, a young man brings a few items to the counter at a vintage clothing store in Bellevue. “You like Slipknot?” 22-year-old shop owner Christian Meskanick asks the customer after seeing one of the t-shirts. “I like the shirts,” the man replies, and they laugh. Meskanick mentions to the customer that he bought another Slipknot shirt from him last year. As he rings him up for $70 of clothes, he asks the customer which summer

concerts he plans to attend.

“I try to make it as comfortable and good shopping experience as possible. Ideally, I’d like to get a custo er on a first na e asis try and find what they like the si es they need, and try to accommodate them as best as possible,” Meskanick tells Pittsburgh City Paper . “Because I think it’s cool to have a connection with someone rather than just being like, ‘hey that’s a place where I get my vintage clothing.’”

The Closet, owned by Mars native

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

Christian Meskanick sorts through T-shirt racks inside his vintage shop on Fremont Ave. in Bellevue.

Meskanick, has found success in its few years of business and stands out due to its stock of decades-old Pittsburgh memorabilia, effective social media posts, and cozy, personable atmosphere.

The shop, opened in December 2021 at 10 S Fremont Ave. in Bellevue, has an approximately 500-squarefoot floor filled with racks of vintage clothing. It’s most known for its selection of vintage clothing featuring local sports teams. Store hours run noon to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

The racks, organized by size and color, feature items typically priced between $15 and $45, according to Meskanick. The Lion King and Aladdin shower curtains shroud a small changing booth. Behind the counter, pricier items adorn the walls.

To Meskanick’s left behind the counter, he has lovingly curated a collection of Space Jam VHS tapes, plushies and figurines, alongside some other tapes for nostalgic films such as Home Alone and Dumb and Dumber . (These collectables are for display only.)

It’s always Meskanick behind the counter. He currently has no employees but has been considering hiring in

TRaising Resources and Funds for ALZ

BY LEIGH FRANK

addition to obtaining a larger build ing. Such ambition comes after about a decade of thrifting and flipping clothes independently. He recalls an early score, when, as a teenager, he found a Michael Jackson T-shirt at Goodwill for one dollar and, within 24 hours, sold it online for $125. This confirmed for him that he wanted to stick with this venture.

“There’s definitely some money to be made, and it was a cool T-shirt too,” Meskanick says. “It wasn’t like it was an expensive brand. It was moreso, like, the story behind the T-shirt.”

His brother, who owns Pittsburgh Smoke Shop up the street, previously leased in the spot where The Closet currently operates. When it became available, Meskanick traded taking business classes at a community college for starting his own business. The COVID-19 pandemic had caused his classes to go virtual, which didn’t work for him, and he saw an opportunity he couldn’t pass.

“I figured I’d give it a shot,” Meskanick says. “I said, worst comes to worst, I just put myself into some debt and get to say I tried at following my dreams.”

Utilizing social media platforms

he Alzheimer's Association of Greater Pennsylvania has been busy throughout June, organizing events that not only raise awareness about these diseases that affect so many but also generate crucial funds for life-extending research and services that enhance the lives of those with the disease and their caregivers.

The Longest Day

Mark your calendars for next Thursday, June 20 The Longest Day® is a one-of-a-kind event that coincides with the summer solstice, the day with the most light. The funds raised go towards advancing the care, support, and research efforts of the Alzheimer's Association. What's incredible about this event is that it encourages participants to think about what they love to do, what they are passionate about, and how they can engage others in their passion, all towards raising funds for The Alzheimer's Association.

If you have a great idea or a favorite activity, you can still register, organize, and raise funds. All the necessary details are available at alz.org/tld. The Alzheimer's Association has made it incredibly easy for you to participate.

In Pittsburgh, many activities have been planned and are already underway. We will highlight just a few events here, but do not hesitate to visit the site to find the complete listing. We are confident you will find something to support that moves your soul! Please visit pghcitypaper.com for a longer article with detailed information about the events.

Movement & Music for Memory

YogaSix South Hills and Club Pilates South Hills, their neighbor at the Galleria, have combined their muscle to present Movement & Music for Memory.

This event will take place at Iroquois Park on Thursday, June 20, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Participants will enjoy a 30 minute Pilates class and a 30 minute yoga. The ticket is $30 and 100% of the proceeds will benefit the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Pennsylvania.

After the event, participants are invited to continue the spirit of giving by visiting Houlihan's at the Galleria of Mt. Lebanon from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Jarrid Danburg, co-owner of YogaSix, shares a hopeful perspective. "There is such a natural connection between movement and the brain. Research suggests that integrating physical fitness into the lives of those with Alzheimer's disease can significantly enhance their quality of life, providing cognitive stimulation, emotional relief, social interaction, and improved physical health."

The registration deadline is Monday, June 17 Contact YogaSix South Hills at 412-593-2464 , southhills@yogasix.com to register.

A Carniv-ALZ of Fun

On Sunday, June 30, Ginny's Caniv-ALZ offers an afternoon of excitement and joy at Ginny's Neighborhood Pizza Joint in Murrysville. Carnival attendees can expect a packed day with carnival games, a petting zoo, a dunk tank, a caricature artist, (of course) pizza, a unique beer collaboration between WYE Beer and Helltown Brewing, live music, basket raffles, and more.

The event was organized by Gateway Hospice, Independence Court of Monroeville, and Ginny's Pizza

Neighborhood Joint. According to Brittany Setaro, Marketing Director for Gateway Hospice, "A large number of the patients we care for at Gateway have some form of dementia - we pride ourselves in being able to give the best care possible to these patients and support for their family members. “

Young Professionals Raise Funds and Awareness

Mitchell Jenkins, a financial Representative from Lifetime Financial Growth, was only about 10 years old when a relative was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, "I remember many of the conversations and how it affected our family. It's my belief that no one deserves to go through that, and those who are faced with the disease deserve help and resources."

Mitchell has planned two events to support The Longest Day initiative.

The first event is the Pittsburgh Young Professionals' 2nd Annual Bowling Event, which will be hosted on June 23 at Arsenal Lanes in Lawrenceville from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The event is open to both members and nonmembers of the Pittsburgh Young Professionals. It will include lots of bowling, networking, and a cash bar.

The second event planned is "A Summer Solstice Celebration." Slated for Thursday, June 27 at The HELM (2239 Railroad St in the Strip District) from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. It will be a party with a purpose, featuring interactive and entertaining opportunities. Registration is limited and must be completed before the event. https://form.jotform.com/241434827647160

Unforgettable Play & Community Concert

While older Black Americans are twice as likely as older Whites to have Alzheimer's or another dementia, research hasn't yet identified the cause. Connecting with the Black community around education, early detection, and diversity in clinical trials, treatment, and services is crucial.

"Unforgettable" is a powerful stage play that showcases the effects of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's. This dynamic and emotional family drama is presented in partnership with the Alzheimer's Association and Gdavis Productions and Films, LLC. Creator Garrett Davis wrote "Unforgettable" in tribute to his late grandmother, Goodness, whose dementia diagnosis left his family feeling lost.

The play is touring the country this summer, visiting 10 cities, including Pittsburgh, at the August Wilson Center in Downtown on Saturday, June 22. It will be preceded by a community concert by Adrian Crutchfield and friends on Friday, June 21. Both events have sold out.

According to Reverend Brenda Gregg, founder and executive director of Project Destiny Inc. and Destiny of Faith Church on Pittsburgh's North Side, "We have been searching for new and engaging ways to educate the African American and Hispanic communities. Events like the play and concert help to educate, but also to reduce the stigma around Alzheimer's and other dementias."

Dr. Gregg is also part of a coalition that will present the African American Summit on Dementia on Tuesday, June 25. You are encouraged to pick up or visit the City Paper next week to learn more about the summit and the challenges facing the Black community regarding Alzheimer's.

Photo courtesy of: The Greater Pennsylvania Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association

has proved essential for growth of the business. In keeping with current trends, Meskanick focuses on the business’s Instagram account, which has about 34,000 followers, and TikTok account, which has garnered more than 81,000 likes. Videos of new items progressively filling a rack serve as some of his best-performing posts. One on Instagram secured almost 22,000 likes. On TikTok, one video of a ’90s Cholula Hot Sauce t-shirt stuffed in a fake bottle received more than 370,000 views.

see it or hopefully come across it, and from there you’ll find the store.”

Meskanick keeps busy. He mans the shop Tuesday through Saturday and spends Mondays at a laundromat cleaning new items. He’s developed a system, he says, that gets 150 to 300 items washed, dried and folded in two to four hours.

It’s not a typical life for someone in their early 20s. When he met with City Paper, he said he lived at home with his parents in Mars but that he would move next week to a Bellevue apartment.

“I SAID, WORST COMES TO WORST, I JUST PUT MYSELF INTO SOME DEBT AND GET TO SAY I TRIED AT FOLLOWING MY DREAMS.”

Almost all of his traffic comes from people who saw the business on social media, according to Meskanick. He’s even attracted artists who travel to Pittsburgh for their shows, including Knocked Loose, Madison Beer, and Subtronics.

“The content I post usually goes right to the right target market,” Meskanick says. “So, chances are, if you like vintage in Pittsburgh, you’ll

“It’s really nice,” Meskanick says. “It’s fulfilling … I’ve been doing this since I was 14. It was not always like this. I didn’t always have regular customers coming in on a daily basis. So like, at this point, I’m really happy with the stage of my business. I’m proud of it. I’m only 22, and I have plans to do a lot more, but for now, it’s a great feeling.” •

Christian Meskanick, owner of The Closet poses for a portrait behind the counter.

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

The Closet, owned and operated by Christian Meskanick offers a wide variety of vintage clothing, shoes, hats and collectibles on Fremont Ave. in Bellevue.

SPORTING ART

BY SEAN BEAUFORD //

The most recognizable intersections of art and sports are the ones where sport-related artworks are exhibited, and when sporting events feature art forms such as painting, dance, or music. These convergences tend to be highlighted as if sports and the arts are worlds apart — on the surface, they appear to be, but they aren’t so different.

focus on art. This includes closing the Carnegie Science Center during Steelers home games (which I get, but also don’t believe to be completely necessary).

“IN SPORTS, THE ART IS ALREADY THERE”

I believe that sports can be a platform for art if we’re willing to recognize the art that occurs organically within and around the game. This can go beyond collaborative marketing campaigns, beyond artists throwing out first pitches, beyond athletes who appear as celebrity guests during the party scene in Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s annual performance of The Nutcracker Speaking of ballet, consider the movement of athletes. I’ve seen Steelers running back Najee Harris leap over defenders with as much grace as PBT dancer Corey Bourbonniere. And while a spin move by Penguins center Evgeni Malkin might not be as graceful as a figure skater, it’s just as marvelous when you consider he’s doing it against defenders while escaping the violence they’re legally allowed to enact. The movements of Penguins legend Sidney Crosby are reminiscent of Pittsburgh-born choreographer and MacArthur Fellow, Kyle Abraham.

If you have an eye for design, there’s plenty in and around sports to acknowledge — the fields, the jerseys, the stadium signage, the fanmade signage, the graphics on the jumbotron, the equipment, the tickets, and the logos. The Steelers logo, with its three star-like shapes, was adopted in 1962 from the American Iron and Steel Institute’s Steelmark logo. The Steelmark logo was designed by Lippincott and Margulies, a firm responsible for some of the world’s most recognizable corporate designs, including the Campbell’s Soup label appropriated by Warhol.

The experience of watching any

PHOTO: COURTESY OF KELLY PERKOVICH

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre dancer Corey Bourbonniere

game becomes much more enjoyable when you know what to look for, and, sometimes, what to listen for.

In any game, songs and sounds are essential to the experience. One of many examples of this can be found in Nike’s Basketball Freestyle commercial (2001) where NBA stars dribble and pass a ball around to the rhythm of sounds made during a game. The basketball colliding with the wood before forcefully ascending to its sender’s hand, sneakers s ueaking against the oor the all diving through the net, the involuntary grunts resulting from bodies crashing, the yank of a steel rim, the slap of a tempered glass backboard, all perfectly blended. In real life, these sounds aren’t meticulously arranged and looped, but there is still a beauty in their organic rhythm that, when combined, can sound as beautiful as a walk in the park scored by birds singing, leaves rustling, and winds ouncing o nature’s architecture

Speaking of architecture, there’s plenty to behold at PNC Park, famous for its breathtaking view of the city’s

Congratulations

skyline. Architecture, however, isn’t just the design of buildings, it’s how they’re experienced, and how they impact our existence. Every game presents an opportunity to encounter the surrounding architecture. It’s astonishing when the sun sets and the buildings glow Pirates gold, but it’s also breathtaking when it’s Hawaiian shirt giveaway day and the yellow button-ups make the stadium glow from within. There’s a performance of beauty that is unique to every game, and if you appreciate that sort of thing, you should witness as many renditions as possible by going to as many games as you can. Instead of awkwardly placing art within the sports world — which can often do a disservice to both pastimes — I propose we highlight the art that already exists in sports spaces, things people love that maybe they didn’t previously consider artistic. The beauty of art is that it’s all around us. It’s not just that we learn to make and place art, it’s that we learn to notice and appreciate it when we see it. In sports, the art is already there.•

Pittsburgh City Paper was the proud recipient of four 2024 Golden Quill Awards from the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania, with winning entries spanning deep dives, service journalism and entertainment. The City Paper team is just as proud to serve the city of Pittsburgh daily with important content that informs, entertains, and starts conversations.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS YEAR’S WINNERS!

EXCELLENCE IN WRITTEN JOURNALISM, TRADITIONAL FEATURE – DIVISION 3

“What Happened to Pittsburgh’s Nightclub Scene? It’s Complicated” by Colin Williams

EXCELLENCE IN WRITTEN JOURNALISM, PROFILE – DIVISION 3

“Nick Offerman Promises to Be ‘Generally Redolent of Condiments’ When He Returns to Pittsburgh” by Rachel Wilkinson

EXCELLENCE IN WRITTEN JOURNALISM, ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT – DIVISION 3

“30 Years Later, Action Movie Classic ‘Striking Distance’ Still Hits” by Rachel Wilkinson

EXCELLENCE IN WRITTEN JOURNALISM, LIFESTYLE – DIVISION 3

“Pittsburgh’s Favorite Tourist Spot Poses Enduring Challenges for Disabled Community” by Bill Zlatos

Free haircuts, food trucks, Kona Ice, Trace Brewing, Moonlight Burgers and more!

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

A mural of Roberto Clemente by Jeremy Raymer painted on the side of Verdetto's on the North Side.

SEVEN DAYS IN PITTSBURGH

THU., JUNE 13

LIT • NORTH SIDE

Line & Verse: Cave Canem Presents Peter J. Harris, Duriel E. Harris, and Janice Harrington 7:30-9 p.m. Alphabet City at City of Asylum. 40 W. North Ave., North Side. Free. Registration required. Livestream available. cityofasylum.org

PARTY • NORTH SHORE

Museum of Illusions AfterDARK. 6-8 p.m. 267 North Shore Dr., North Shore. $39.95. Timed ticketing. 21 and over. moipittsburgh.com

THEATER • OAKLAND

Kinetic Theatre presents David Mamet’s A Life in the Theatre 7:30 p.m. Continues through Sun., June 30. Richard E. Rauh Studio Theatre-University of Pittsburgh. 4200 Fifth Ave., Oakland. $28.87-60.92. kinetictheatre.org

PODCAST • STRIP DISTRICT

Serial Killers with Dr. Scott Bonn. 7:30 p.m. Doors at 6 p.m. City Winery. 1627 Smallman St., Strip District. $40-50. citywinery.com

FRI., JUNE 14

MUSIC

• POINT BREEZE

Summer Fridays at the Frick: Make Music Pittsburgh with Vocal Confluence 6:30 p.m. The Frick Pittsburgh. 7227 Reynolds St., Point Breeze. $5 suggested donation. thefrickpittsburgh.org

COMEDY • DOWNTOWN

Arcade Comedy Theater pays tribute to Pride Month with Fondue By Your Two. The event, hosted by a comedy duo named after a Glee reference, showcases local LGBTQ improv, music, and more, with performances by Renaissance City Choir, drag queen Jose Queervo, and various improvisers. Enjoy a few laughs while supporting LGBTQ talent. 8 p.m. 943 Liberty Ave., Downtown. $5-15. arcadecomedytheater.com

SAT., JUNE 15

PARTY • OAKLAND

A popular outdoor event series returns to Carnegie Museum of Art with live performances, dance parties, art activities, and more. Inside Out kicks o with The Ripple E ect, described as extending “dance and sound from inside the museum to the Sculpture Court with a performance embodying patience and power.” Presented by PearlArts Movement & Sound, The Ripple E ect features Jasmine Hearn, slowdanger, and Chitra Subramanian. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Continues through Aug. 23. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. Free. carnegieart.org

TOUR • STATION SQUARE

DOORS OPEN Pittsburgh presents Histories and Mysteries of the Allegheny River. 1-3 p.m. Gateway Clipper Fleet Docks. 350 West Station Square Dr., Station Square. $15-40. doorsopenpgh.org

ART • GARFIELD

Beyond the Brush: Heather Heitzenrater, Lewis Pell, Christopher Boring, and Vania Evangelique 2-5 p.m. Continues through Sun., June 30. Irma Freeman Center for Imagination. 5006 Penn Ave., Garfield. Free. irmafreeman.org

PARTY • LAWRENCEVILLE

Jellyfish with Musclecars, Paurro, Don Esquivel, Pescadillo, and Land Shark. 8 p.m. Spirit. 242 51st St., Lawrenceville. $15-25. 21 and over. spiritpgh.com

PARTY • BLOOMFIELD

That’s Mother: Chappell Roan with DJ Rodeo Starr and Boo Barrymore. 10 p.m. Brillobox. 4104 Penn Ave., Bloomfield. $10. 21 and over. instagram.com/brilloboxpgh

FILM • OAKLAND

It’s Not a Burden: The Humor and Heartache of Raising Elderly Parents Community Screening and Resource Fair. 2 p.m. McConomy Auditorium-Carnegie Mellon University. 5000 Forbes Ave., Oakland. Free. Registration required. itsnotaburden.com

FILM • LAWRENCEVILLE

Lawrenceville welcomed its first movie theater in several decades when, in 2014, Row House Cinema opened on Butler St. The venue celebrates its 10th anniversary

MUSIC • LAWRENCEVILLE

Danielle Ponder with Bri Dominique. 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. Thunderbird Music Hall. 4053 Butler St., Lawrenceville. $20. thunderbirdmusichall.com

PHOTO: SEAN EATON Inside Out at Carnegie Museum of Art

PHOTO: COURTESY OF MATADOR RECORDS Horsegirl at Bottlerocket Social Hall

with a free block party and two movies. The party includes food and drink, a DVD/VHS swap, flash tattoos, and a screening of The Princess Diaries. At 6 p.m., ticket holders can head inside for a special screening of The Princess Bride, along with live music, birthday cake, and a toast. 3 p.m. 4115 Butler St., Lawrenceville. Pay-what-you-can for Princess Diaries, $30 for Princess Bride. rowhousecinemas.com

MUSIC • UPTOWN

Lionel Richie and Earth Wind and Fire: Sing a Song All Night Long Tour 7:30 p.m. PPG Paints Arena. 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown. Tickets start at $23. ppgpaintsarena.com

MUSIC • ALLENTOWN

Horsegirl with Cindy 8 p.m Doors at 7 p.m. Bottlerocket Social Hall. 1226 Arlington Ave., Allentown. $18 in advance, $22 at the door. bottlerocketpgh.com

SUN., JUNE 16

FILM • DOWNTOWN

Pittsburgh Sound + Image presents Come Back Baby 7:30 p.m. Harris Theater 809 Liberty Ave., Downtown. $9-11. trustarts.org

CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH

BY: CP STAFF

Juneteenth, which became a federal holiday in 2021, commemorates the enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation that liberated the last Black enslaved people in Texas on June 19, 1865. There’s a variety of ways to observe this second Independence Day in Pittsburgh this year, ranging from family-friendly parties to musical celebrations.

JUNE 13

Rankin Community Juneteenth Cookout 5-7 p.m. Rankin Community Center. 235 4th Ave., Rankin. Free

JUNE 14-16

MON., JUNE 17

MUSIC • OAKLAND

Little Feat with Los Lobos 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. Carnegie Music Hall of Oakland. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. $69.75-129.75. druskyentertainment.com

TUE., JUNE 18

MUSIC • DOWNTOWN

JazzLive presents Anqwenique 5 p.m. Agnes Katz Plaza. 667 Penn Ave., Downtown. Free. trustarts.org

CABARET • BLOOMFIELD

Steel City Cabaret Pride Show 7-9 p.m. Trace Brewing. 4312 Main St., Bloomfield. $10. instagram.com/cabaretpgh

WED., JUNE 19

MUSIC • DOWNTOWN

Lucinda Williams 7:30 p.m. Byham Theater. 101 Sixth St., Downtown. $51.75-71.50. trustarts.org

The annual Western Pennsylvania Juneteenth Homecoming Celebration returns to the Golden Triangle along Liberty Ave. between Point State Park and Market Square. Featuring three days of outdoor live music, a jubilee parade, a hip-hop showcase, a festival market with food vendors, and more, the three-day celebration has a little something for everyone in an exciting central location. Market opens 11 a.m. June 14. Liberty Ave., Downtown. Free. wpajuneteenth.com

JUNE 15

Juneteenth Fest featuring musical performers, giveaways, and vendors. 21+. 8-11 p.m. 210 E 7th Ave., Homestead. $10.

JUNE

19

Coraopolis NAACP 3rd Annual Banquet featuring Carlow University President Kathy W. Humphrey as keynote speaker. 5:30-9 p.m. Montour Heights Country Club. 1491 Coraopolis Heights Rd., Coraopolis. $35-65.

HBCU & Greek Juneteenth Happy Hour. Drink specials from 7-9 p.m. 6-11 p.m. Infinity Bar & Hookah Lounge. 2612 Brownsville Rd., Carrick. Free.

JUNE 22

Sewickley Juneteenth Community Fun Day MC’ed by Frzy. Features bounce houses, vendors, yoga, and a paint & sip (registration required). 12-5 p.m. Sewickley Community Center. 15 Chadwick St., Sewickley. Free. sewickleycommunitycenter.com/juneteenth

JUNE 29

The City of Pittsburgh’s first o icial Juneteenth party, FusionFest, will take over the Greenwood PlanBuilding indoors and outdoors for a celebration of Black culture and ingenuity. The day will include a walking tour of historic Black Pittsburgh, a fashion show, maker market, spoken word, musical performances, and more. Celebrate in this recently inaugurated Black business incubator while enjoying food and drink. Schedule TBA. Greenwood Plan Building. 213 Smithfield St., Downtown. Free. juneteenthfusionfest.com

MARKET PLACE

ESTATE NOTICE

ESTATE OF VITA, DOROTHY JEAN

DECEASED OF PITTSBURGH, PA

Dorothy Jean Vita, deceased, of Pittsburgh, PA. No. 02410 of 2024.

Cynthia A. Vita, Ext. 117 Reaghard Dr., Cheswick, PA 15024.

ESTATE NOTICE

DENTAL INSURANCE

Estate of MARJORIE A. BOSCHELE a/k/a MARJORIE ANN BOSCHELE, deceased Late of 19th Ward, City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

Letters Testamentary on the above estate having been granted to the undersigned, all persons indebted to the said estate are requested to make payment, and those having claims or demands against the estate to make the same known, without delay, to:

WILLIAM J. BOSCHELE, Executor c/o SUSAN MANKAMYER, Esquire P.O. Box 744 Davidsville, PA 15928 No. 022403463

STUDY SMOKERS WANTED

The University of Pittsburgh’s Alcohol & Smoking Research Lab is looking for people to participate in a research project. You must:

• Currently smoke cigarettes

• Be 18-49 years old, in good health, and speak fluent English

• Be right handed, willing to not smoke before two sessions, and to fill out questionnaires

Earn up to $260 for participating in this study.

For more information, call (412) 407-5029

CHANGE

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-24-005145

In re petition of Gary Bruce Lantz for change of name to Gary Bruce Rhoades. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 10th day of July, 2024, at 9:30 a.m., as the time and the Motions Room, City-County Building, Pittsburgh, PA, as the place for a hearing, when and where all persons may show cause, if any they have, why said name should not be changed as prayed for.

Keegan E. Miller, Esquire. Attorney for Petitioner. 20 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Suite 201, Greensburg, PA 15601. Phone: (724) 832-2499

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CIRCUS PERFORMERS

ACROSS

1.

Writing with lineation

“Station

Govt. security

Prenatal test, for short

45.  Stick with a fork

46.  “For shame!”

47.  Spot to get juice

49.  No neatnik

51.  Publisher’s ID

53.  Promise to start a family

54.  Good chunk of history

57.  Brass component

60.  2000 best seller by Mark Z. Danielewski

63.  Japanese city home to the Gate Tower Building

65.  Cpl.’s boss

66.  Makes bootees, say

67.  Get-go

68.  Ivy Leaguer in New Haven

69.  Alarming situation?

70.  Take a good hard look

71.  [their mistake, not mine]

72.  Grandson of Adam and Eve

DOWN

1.  Blue Ribbon brewer

2.  ___ Steaks (beef retailer)

3.  Boredom

4.  Tick o

5.  “To wit”

6.  Sexy hunk

god

Uncool sort

Pac-Man’s food

Like some dog-training classes

Bump in the paycheck

Morse bit 27.  Break in the action 29.  Grass clumps 31.  Clownfish’s home 32.  Delhi wrap

33.  In addition

34.  Ship that carried the Golden Fleece

35.  Molokai meal

36.  “That’s nuthin’!”

38.  True to life

41.  Trick football play

42.  “Convenience” charges on ticket sales

43.  Dwelling

48.  “Frankly,” in texts

50.  They may be balanced, hit, or cooked

52.  Glasses holders

54.  Perrier rival

55.  So out it’s in

56.  Beasts of burden

57.  Attractions in San Diego and the Bronx

58.  Fails to be

59.  Artemis org.

61.  ___ fruit

62.  Banquo’s son in Macbeth

64.  Had some dinner