August 7, 2019 - Pittsburgh City Paper

2019 Readers’ Poll

Opens Aug. 15

A new exhibition of artworks made in, about, and for our city.

It’s a really big dill.

2

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

AUG 15, 2019 8–11 p.m.

Third Thursday: Pittsburgh Fest Bring your friends for an unforgettable night at the art museum and celebrate creative life in Pittsburgh with the opening of A Pittsburgh Anthology.

Online: $10 (Students $5) Tickets prices go up at the door.

cmoa.org/pittsburgh-fest

Artwork: Duane Michals, A Gursky Gherkin is Just a Very Large Pickle, 2001, Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, The Henry L. Hillman Fund Š Duane Michals. By permission.

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

3

650 Smithfield Street, Suite 2200 Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412.685.9009 E-MAIL info@pghcitypaper.com

pghcitypaper.com PGHCITYPAPER PITTSBURGHCITYPAPER

AUG. 7-14, 2019 VOLUME 28 + ISSUE 32

Culture and Nightlife - 10 Goods and Services - 36 Food and Drink - 58 People and Places - 78

Editor-In-Chief LISA CUNNINGHAM Associate Publisher JUSTIN MATASE Director of Operations KEVIN SHEPHERD Managing Editor ALEX GORDON Senior Writers RYAN DETO, AMANDA WALTZ Staff Writers HANNAH LYNN, JORDAN SNOWDEN Photographer/Videographer JARED WICKERHAM Digital Media Manager JOSH OSWALD Editorial Designer ABBIE ADAMS Graphic Designers JOSIE NORTON, JEFF SCHRECKENGOST Events and Sponsorship Manager BLAKE LEWIS Sales Representatives KAITLIN OLIVER, NICK PAGANO Office Coordinator MAGGIE WEAVER Events and Marketing Coordinator BRYER BLUMENSCHEIN Circulation Manager JEFF ENGBARTH Featured Contributors REGE BEHE, LISSA BRENNAN, LYNN CULLEN, TERENEH IDIA, CHARLES ROSENBLUM, JESSIE SAGE Interns SARAH CONNOR, JARED MURPHY, EMILY WOLFE Office Administrator RODNEY REGAN National Advertising Representative VMG ADVERTISING 1.888.278.9866 OR 1.212.475.2529 Publisher EAGLE MEDIA CORP.

GENERAL POLICIES: Contents copyrighted 2019 by Eagle Media Corp. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in Pittsburgh City Paper are those of the author and not necessarily of Eagle Media Corp. LETTER POLICY: Letters, faxes or e-mails must be signed and include town and daytime phone number for confirmation. We may edit for length and clarity. DISTRIBUTION: Pittsburgh City Paper is published weekly by Eagle Media Corp. and is available free of charge at select distribution locations. One copy per reader; copies of past issues may be purchased for $3.00 each, payable in advance to Pittsburgh City Paper.

FIRST CLASS MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS: Available for $175 per year, $95 per half year. No refunds.

COVER PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM MODELS: MIKEY AND BIG BOB FROM THE MORNING FREAK SHOW ON 96.1FM

4

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Free testing HIV • stD • hep c

Dr. Stacy Lane, D.O. • 412-515-0000

HELP HEAL ALL WITH NO JUDGEMENT

YOUR BODY & SOUL

ARE WELCOME

ALL INSURANCES ACCEPTED • WALK INS WELCOME tRANSPORATION PROGRAM • NO INSURANCE? WE CAN HELP NORTH SHORE LOCATION

WASHINGTON, PA LOCATION

127 Anderson Street - Suite 101 Timber Court Building, PIttsburgh, PA 15212 Phone: (412) 322-4151

95 Leonard Avenue - Suite 203 Washington PA 15301 Phone: (724) 249-2517 PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

5

COSTUMES PROVIDED

BY SCAREHOUSE SCAREHOUSE.COM

6

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

COME ONE, COME ALL TO THE GREATEST SHOW IN TOWN: PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER’S

2019 READERS’ POLL YOU’LL FIND ALL THE BEST PARTS OF A SHOW-STOPPING CARNIVAL ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES:

AMAZING ENTERTAINMENT, WONDROUS GOODS, INCREDIBLE FOOD, AND EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE. This year, a record-breaking 204,897 votes were cast by 29,507 Pittsburghers.

And since no carnival is truly complete without a sideshow, we invited two of your favorite local radio personalities, Mikey and Big Bob from 96.1 KISS FM’s The Morning Freak Show, to guide you through our list of winners.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show. Then, come hang out with the winners LIVE! and IN PERSON! at our Best of Pittsburgh party on Thu., Aug. 8 at Nova Place. For tickets, visit bestofpgh.com.

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

7

SIX NEW PLAYS

BY AMERICA’S BEST PLAYWRIGHTS

YOU’VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS! 8

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

SEPT 14 – OCT 6, 2019

NOV 9 – DEC 1, 2019

JAN 11 – FEB 2, 2020

CAMBODIAN ROCK BAND

ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI...

DOWNSTAIRS

Part thrilling new play, part electrifying rock concert, it’s an epic tale of family, love, and heritage featuring the Cambodian surf rock music of Dengue Fever.

Cassius Clay, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown together for a historic night in Miami. It’s 1964 and A Change Is Gonna Come.

This ominous, darkly intriguing new play – from Broadway’s most produced female playwright – confronts family secrets, regrets, and the threat of madness in the search of the good life.

by Lauren Yee

FEB 29 – MAR 22, 2020

by Kemp Powers

APR 4 – MAY 10, 2020

WORLD PREMIERE

by Theresa Rebeck

MAY 9 – 31, 2020

WORLD PREMIERE

CRY IT OUT

PERKUP P ERK UP

F*CK7thGRADE

When it comes to being a new parent, you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.

Brilliantly funny and painfully true, Cry It Out confronts the pressure to have it all when having it all is a giant lie.

Welcome to the best coffee shop in town, where the biggest challenge is pushing the cold brew – until someone new arrives… Isaac Gomez delivers a pulsating and searing new play about an America divided and on the brink.

Songwriter Jill Sobule – whose 1990’s hits include “Supermodel” and the original “I Kissed a Girl” – takes audiences through a Rock’n’Roll celebration of coming of age and coming out.

by Molly Smith Metzler

by Isaac Gomez

music, lyrics and concept by Jill Sobule book by Liza Birkenmeier

The 2019/2020 Season at City Theatre

Subscriptions and Single Tickets On Sale Now! PH#

412-431-CITY (2489)

WEB

CityTheatreCompany.org PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

9

10

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Culture and Nightlife PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

11

Culture and Nightlife BEST ALT-FOLK/ ALT-COUNTRY BAND

SMOKESTACK LIGHTNING

Search “Smokestack Lightning” on Facebook • • • • • • • •

2nd: November Blue novemberblueband.com _________

3rd: The Shiners shinersrock.com BEST BAR (DOWNTOWN AND VICINITY)

BEST OF PITTSBURGH

CONDADO TACOS

SPIRIT

971 Liberty Ave., Downtown and 4300 Butler St., Lawrenceville condadotacos.com

BEST PLACE TO DANCE, BEST CLUB, AND BEST NEW BAR (UNDER FIVE YEARS OLD)

• • • • • • • •

BY AMANDA WALTZ // AWALTZ@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

2nd:olive-twist.com Olive Or Twist _________

3rd:butcherandtherye.com Butcher and the Rye

CONTINUES ON PG PG. 14

12

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

C

ONSIDERING the impressive num-

ber of events it hosts, as well as its signature menu of original cocktails and fresh food, it’s no surprise that Spirit has dominated three Best Of categories. In the few short years since it took over a former Moose Lodge in Lawrenceville, it’s become a staple of the local arts and entertainment scene, with a regular schedule of live music, DJs, and cultural events, including readings, art openings, and comedy shows. On any given weekend, patrons can hit the floor at In Bed By Ten, Afroheat, Diamond Life, or any other of its regular dance parties, only to return, perhaps hungover, for the pizza brunch buffet offered every Saturday and Sunday.

To sample anything off the cocktail or draft list, or from the on-site pizzeria, Slice Island, is to know that

242 51st St., Lawrenceville. spiritpgh.com

this isn’t your normal bar fare. The draft list features a diverse, rotating selection of tasty beverages from local and national breweries, as well as creative, yet unpretentious cocktails, including the Garden Mule, made with lavender syrup and the refreshing Gin and Juice. Vegans and vegetarians need not despair, as the food menu features dairy-free and meat-free slices, as well as Italian veggie dishes like the homemade black pepper tagliatelle made with Spirit’s own garden pesto.

But it’s not all DJs, drafts, and hot, cheesy slices, as Spirit has worked to dis-

tinguish itself with its ongoing Rooftop Garden project. The staff currently grows herbs and produce in a number of raised beds, but the project would provide them with more fresh ingredients for Spirit’s many cocktails and food offerings. It would also feature energy-generating solar panels, a new dining area, and better sound insulation to keep party and concert noise at a minimum for the surrounding neighborhood.

Previously, founder and co-owner Thomas Barr told CP that he hopes the project will “institutionalize Spirit in a way” and help continue its goal of “being a good neighbor, as well as a sort of industry home base for progressive and sustainable culture.”

The project gives fans of the venue more to look forward to besides the usual pizza and beer.

•

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

13

CULTURE AND NIGHTLIFE, CONTINUED FROM PG. 12

BEST BAR (EAST)

KELLY’S BAR & LOUNGE

6012 Penn Circle South, East Liberty Search “Kelly’s Bar and Lounge” on Facebook • • • • • • • •

2nd: Spirit spiritpgh.com _________

BEST LOCAL ARTIST WITH A BASSNECTAR REMIX

3rd (TIE): Blue Moon Bar

BUKU

Search “Blue Moon Bar” on Facebook _________

and Mixtape mixtapepgh.com

BEST BAR (WEST)

BIGHAM TAVERN

Congratfs, Best o h Pittsburrgs!

Winne

321 Bigham St., Mount Washington bighamtavern.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Shiloh Grill harrisgrill.com

BUKUDATDUDE.COM • • • • • • • •

Buku’s track “Front To Back” was already a standalone hit, but when Bassnectar remixed the song, adding drums and speeding up the tempo, the new mix cemented Buku’s name in the EDM world.

And because the Pittsburgh native, born Robert Balotsky, likes to spend much of his free time at home, the highprofile remix has helped bring more of the EDM scene to the city.

_________

3rd: Coughlin’s Law eatatcoughlinslaw.com

BEST BAR (SOUTH)

HITCHHIKER BREWING CO.

BEST BAR (NORTH)

OVER THE BAR BICYCLE CAFE NORTH PARK 10301 Pearce Mill Road, Allison Park otbbicyclecafe.com

190 Castle Shannon Blvd., Mount Lebanon hitchhiker.beer

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Tequila Cowboy tequilacowboy.com/

• • • • • • • •

2nd: The Library thelibrary-pgh.com _________

pittsburgh _________

3rd: Smiling Moose smiling-moose.com

parkhousepgh.com

3rd: Park House CONTINUES ON PG. 16

14

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Ready to adopt?

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

15

CULTURE AND NIGHTLIFE, CONTINUED FROM PG. 14

BEST BAR TO DAY DRINK

GRIST HOUSE CRAFT BREWERY 10 E. Sherman St., Millvale gristhouse.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Federal Galley federalgalley.org _________

3rd: Over the Bar Bicycle Cafe otbbicyclecafe.com

BEST BAR TO PREGAME

SOUTHERN TIER BREWERY 316 N. Shore Drive, North Side stbcbeer.com/taprooms/ pittsburgh

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

BEST OF PITTSBURGH

ROW HOUSE CINEMA

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Federal Galley federalgalley.org _________

3rd: Mario’s South Side Saloon mariospgh.com/southside BEST BARTENDER

LARA BORRASSO, RUGGERS PUB 40 S. 22nd St., South Side ruggerspub.com • • • • • • • •

2nd:gooskis.com Tim, Gooski’s _________

3rd: Mildred the Lunch Lady facebook.com/ mildredthelunchlady CONTINUES ON PG. 17

16

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

BEST INDEPENDENT MOVIE THEATER AND BEST LOCAL MOVIE THEATER

BY HANNAH LYNN // HLYNN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

O

NE OF THE BIGGEST downsides of the streaming era has been the decline of movie theaters.

It’s so easy to watch movies at home — and so much cheaper, considering how expensive and elaborate chain movie theaters have gotten. While they don’t have glorified La-Z-Boy chairs as seating, locally-owned, independent theaters have a lot to offer that their mainstream competitors don’t.

Row House Cinema in Lawrenceville has just one screen, but it manages to satisfy every type of moviegoer with a diverse lineup, from documentaries, to cartoons, to foreign dramas, to black-andwhite classics. Row House specializes in showing movies you can’t see at mainstream theaters, like second-run movies and cult classics.

Each week at Row House has a

4115 Butler St., Lawrenceville. rowhousecinema.com

theme, varying in specificity. Sometimes a week will feature a slate of films by one director, like Alfred Hitchcock or the Coen brothers. Other times, there will be a broader theme tying different films together, like the upcoming Modern Action Classics week, which includes the likes of Mad Max: Fury Road and John Wick. On top of the theme, Row House will also add other attractions. One night of the Action Classics week, for example, is “Puppy Adoption Night with John Wick” (Aug. 14), which features visiting puppies from the Humane Animal Rescue, inspired by the title character’s quest for revenge over the killing of his dog.

Row House is known too for its film festivals, which also come with a twist.

Every year, the theater hosts a Sweded Film Festival, showing purposely amateurish recreations of popular films. The recent Pittsburgh International Children’s Festival featured an array of international, independent, and nostalgic programming for kids, as well as ways to make it easier on parents. The festival included “baby-friendly screenings,” where parents who wanted to get out of the house could bring their baby to a low-volume screening without worrying about if a baby crying or getting fed would disturb other customers.

Watching movies at home on your own couch is nice, but it can’t really compare to watching something — even a movie you’ve seen a dozen times — on the big screen.

•

BEST CLUB

BEST ESCAPE ROOM

SPIRIT

ESCAPE ROOM PITTSBURGH

242 51st St., Lawrenceville spiritpgh.com • • • • • • • •

569 Greenfield Ave., Greenfield and 145 E. Eighth Ave., Homestead escaperoompgh.com

2nd:belvederesultradive.com Belvedere’s Ultra-Dive _________

3rd: Tequila Cowboy

• • • • • • • •

tequilacowboy.com/pittsburgh

2nd: Enter the Imaginarium Pittsburgh enterthe

BEST DANCE COMPANY

PITTSBURGH BALLET THEATRE 2900 Liberty Ave., Strip District pbt.org • • • • • • • •

imaginariumpgh.com _________

3rd: 60 Minute Missions Escape Room 60minutemissions.com

2nd: Tamburitzans thetamburitzans.org _________

BEST FUNDRAISING GALA

3rd: Attack Theatre attacktheatre.com

HELLO BULLY hellobully.org • • • • • • • •

BEST DISTANCE RACE

2nd: Bitches Ball humaneanimal

PITTSBURGH MARATHON

rescue.org _________

3rd: Pittsburgh Vintagepvgp.org Grand Prix

thepittsburgh marathon.com • • • • • • • •

2nd:rungreatrace.com The Great Race _________

3rd: YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh Turkey Trot pittsburghymca.org

BEST GALLERY FOR LOCAL ARTISTS

MATTRESS FACTORY

500 Sampsonia Way, North Side mattress.org

BEST DJ

TJ HARRIS

• • • • • • • •

booktj.co

2nd: Black Forge Coffee House

• • • • • • • •

2nd: BREIS breis.net

blackforgecoffee.com _________

_________

3rd: DJ Femi

3rd:boomuniverse.co BOOM Concepts

facebook.com/djfemi CONTINUES ON PG. 18

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

17

CULTURE AND NIGHTLIFE, CONTINUED FROM PG. 17

CRANBERRY - MILLVALE MT LEBANON - MONROEVILLE GREAT FOR A NIGHT OUT, TEAM BUILDING EVENTS OR PARTIES WITH FRIENDS, FAMILY OR CO-WORKERS! CP PHOTO: JARED MURPHY

2 SEDGWICK STREET PGH, PA • 412.408.2650 WWW.AXETHROWINGPGH.COM

BAUM B LV D

AUTOMOTIVE University Discount -10% Off Labor We Accept Credit Cards By Phone

All G Generall R Repairs i • State Inspection • Emission Tests • Bosch Service Center • AAA Approved • Tire Rack Installer • All Foreign & Domestic Cars Serviced •

Only the BEST for the BEST

BEST HAUNTED ATTRACTION

BEST KARAOKE NIGHT

SCAREHOUSE

NICO’S RECOVERY ROOM

118 Locust St., Etna scarehouse.com • • • • • • • •

176-178 Pearl St., Bloomfield nicosbloomfield.com

2nd: Hundred Acres Manor Haunted House hundredacresmanor.com

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Smiling Moose smiling-moose.com

_________

3rd: Phantom Fright Nights kennywood.com

_________

3rd: Blue Moon Bar Search “Blue Moon Bar” on Facebook

BEST INDEPENDENT MOVIE THEATER

ROW HOUSE CINEMA

BEST LGBTQ BAR

BLUE MOON BAR Search “Blue Moon Bar” on Facebook

4115 Butler St., Lawrenceville rowhousecinema.com

• • • • • • • •

2nd: 5801 Video Lounge & Café

• • • • • • • •

412.682.1866

2nd:manorpgh.com Manor Theatre _________

5801videolounge.com _________

4741 BAUM BLVD • PITTSBURGH

3rd:dependabledrivein.com Dependable Drive-In

3rd: P Town Bar ptownbar.com

WWW.BAUMBLVDAUTO.COM 18

BEST JAZZ/BLUES BAND OR PERFORMER: AFRO YAQUI MUSIC COLLECTIVE

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

CONTINUES ON PG. 20

M E D ICAL MAR IJ UAN A

PITTSBURGH’S

BEST DISPENSARY

thehealingcenterusa.com PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

19

CULTURE AND NIGHTLIFE, CONTINUED FROM PG. 18

BEST LITERARY EVENT

DRAG QUEEN STORY HOUR

dragqueenstoryhour.org • • • • • • • •

2nd: The Moth themoth.org _________

BEST MUSIC VIDEOS

3rd: Battle of the Books carnegielibrary.org

SPISH SPISH.TV

• • • • • • • •

Fuzzy VHS, lo-fi animation, found footage, puppets, a journey into the wiggling torso of a Thanksgiving turkey — these are all components you’re likely to find in a Spish video. Posted frequently to Facebook aka SpishTV, these shorts range from one-offs to official videos (the “We Like Jesus” one is a masterpiece) all draped in the band’s deeply odd but very friendly point of view.

BEST JAZZ/ BLUES BAND OR PERFORMER

AFRO YAQUI MUSIC COLLECTIVE afroyaquimusic collective.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Phat Man Dee

BEST LOCAL CARTOONIST

facebook.com/ PhatManDee _________

ROB ROGERS

3rd: RogerHumphries

robrogers.com

rogerhumphriesband.com

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Ed Piskor edpiskor.com

BEST LOCAL ANNUAL CONVENTION

_________

ANTHROCON

3rd: Joe Mruk redbuffalo.org

• • • • • • • •

BEST LOCAL COMEDIAN

anthrocon.org

2nd: Pittsburgh Pride Festival pittsburghpride.org

BILL CRAWFORD

twitter.com/dveBillCrawford

_________

• • • • • • • •

3rd: Pittsburgh Whiskey & Fine Spirits Festival

2nd:vanessastclair.com Vanessa St. Clair

pittsburghwhiskeyfestival.com

facebook.com/1chrissycosta

_________

3rd: Chrissy Costa

CONTINUES ON PG. 22

20

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

21

CULTURE AND NIGHTLIFE, CONTINUED FROM PG. 20

BEST LOCAL COMEDY TROUPE

THE UNION AT STEEL CITY IMPROV THEATER steelcityimprov.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Penny Arcade arcadecomedytheater.com/ pennyarcade _________

3rd: The Knights of the Arcade arcadecomedytheater.com/ knights

BEST LOCAL MOVIE THEATER

ROW HOUSE CINEMA

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

BEST OF PITTSBURGH

4115 Butler St., Lawrenceville rowhousecinema.com

VANESSA GERMAN

• • • • • • • •

2nd:manorpgh.com Manor Theatre

BEST LOCAL POET AND BEST LOCAL VISUAL ARTIST

_________

3rd: Century Square Luxury Cinemas centurysquareluxury

BY AMANDA WALTZ // AWALTZ@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

here is a boy who should be dancing./here is a boy who should be up in the morning making his mother laugh, eye shine reflecting the sky, a sigh in his chest leaning into the wind of the day with a sweet ache to own the horizon in his wing span.

cinemas.com

S

CONTINUES ON PG. 24

22

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

O BEGINS A poem by Pittsburgh writer, activist, and multidisciplinary artist Vanessa German in honor of Antwon Rose II, the local teen whose death at the hands of a police officer sparked outrage and protests throughout the city. Her words and images have clearly resonated with local readers, who voted German Best Local Poet and Best Local Visual Artist.

Since the early 2000s, German has given voice to the struggles of marginalized Pittsburgh communities through her writing. Her artwork has gone beyond the gallery into the streets with the “Stop Shooting: We Love You” signs protesting gun violence.

That’s in addition to the many

other projects that have earned her local and international acclaim, from her African-American “power figure” sculptures confronting the violence of white supremacy and racism to taking the stage in 2018 as the titular real-life blues legend in the August Wilson play, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

pavelzoubok.com/artist/ vanessa-german

“I’d like my work to both open doors and be obstacles,” says German. “I want the work to move creative, human, loving, curious,

connected power and to be an obstacle, a hindrance to hate, cruelty, shame, and violences of the heart, soul, and body.”

Her commitment to activism elevates her art and writing to something truly inspiring. At the Homewood-based community ARThouse, she shares her gifts with local youth, and in 2018, vowed to use winnings from a major art award to create a Museum of Resilience honoring the many single Black mothers and their children dealing with violence in the surrounding neighborhood.

“As a human citizen, I am bound by love — love and justice,” says German.

“So, in Pittsburgh, my role as a creative human citizen is to love and to create. I fight for this.”

•

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

23

CULTURE AND NIGHTLIFE, CONTINUED FROM PG. 22

BEST LOCAL HIP-HOP PERFORMER

MAC MILLER

pittsburghfoundation.org/ macmiller • • • • • • • •

2nd: Walkman facebook.com/ItsWalkman _________

3rd: Benji. facebook.com/AvatarBenj

BEST WAY TO AVOID UBER

BIKESHARE

BEST LOCAL MUSIC VENUE

MR. SMALLS THEATRE

WITH

400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale mrsmalls.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Stage AE promowestlive.com _________

3rd: Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall librarymusichall.com BEST LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER

DAVE DICELLO

CONNECTCARD HEALTHYRIDEPGH.COM • • • • • • • •

Pittsburgh has something special to help those looking to stay loyal to the bus. After registering with bikeshare nonprofit Healthy Ride, users get unlimited free 15 minute rides by tapping ConnectCards on the bikes.

Take a free ride to or from the bus stop or T station, and you’d be shocked at how easy it is to avoid hailing an Uber to get wherever you want in the city.

davedicello.com • • • • • • • •

BEST LOCAL STAGE PRODUCTION

2nd: Lexi Shapiro (Pose PGH)

HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH AT PITTSBURGH MUSICAL THEATER

posepgh.com _________

3rd: M Philip Sam mphilipphoto.com BEST LOCAL POET

VANESSA GERMAN facebook.com/ VanessaGerman.1 • • • • • • • •

2nd:facebook.com/ Rachel Bovier Rachel.Ann.Bovier _________

3rd: Indigo Baloch motherofmugwort.com

327 South Main St., West End pittsburghmusicals.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: The Steel City Kitty Burlesque and Variety Show ffacebook.com/steelcitykittyshow _________

3rd: Disney’s Newsies at Pittsburgh Musical Theater pittsburghmusicals.com CONTINUES ON PG. 26

24

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

25

CULTURE AND NIGHTLIFE, CONTINUED FROM PG. 24

BEST LOCAL THEATER COMPANY

BEST LOCAL WRITER

PITTSBURGH PUBLIC THEATER

BRIAN BUTKO

brianbutko.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Damon Young verysmartbrothas.

621 Penn Ave., Downtown ppt.org

theroot.com _________

• • • • • • • •

3rd:brianbroome.me Brian Broome

2nd: City Theatre citytheatrecompany.org _________

3rd: Bricolage Production Company bricolagepgh.org

BEST MUSIC FESTIVAL

THREE RIVERS ARTS FESTIVAL

BEST LOCAL VISUAL ARTIST

VANESSA GERMAN

traf.trustarts.org • • • • • • • •

2nd: Deutschtown Music Festival deutschtownmusic

facebook.com/ VanessaGerman.1 • • • • • • • •

2nd: Zachary Rutter zacharyrutterart.com

festival.com _________

_________

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

BEST LGBTQ BAR: BLUE MOON

3rd: Zach Brown zachbrownart.com

3rd: Millvale Music Festival millvalemusic.org

CONTINUES ON PG. 28

Western Pennsylvania’s

Hydroponic Super Store Indoor/Outdoor Growing Specialists.

Great variety, experience, and pricing.

WE CARRY OVER 50 QUALITY CBD PRODUCTS “The Place to know if you grow”

Root 22 Hydroponics Garden Center 7993 US-22 • New Alexandria PA 15670 878.295.4227 • root22hydroponics.com OPEN Mon- Fri 12pm - 6pm & Sat 12pm - 4pm 26

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

FOLLOW US!

Liberty Beer is your local one-stop-shop for beer. Our selection exceeds 200 different brands, including some of the more rare seasonal or international brews. Choose from cases, 12 packs, 6 packs, and singles.

4133 Liberty Ave. Pgh 15224 • 412.683.7478 • libertybeerpgh.com

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

27

CULTURE AND NIGHTLIFE, CONTINUED FROM PG. 26

Made by Our Family

Just for Yours

®

BEST METAL BAND

THE FILTHY LOWDOWN

facebook.com/ TheFilthyLowdown • • • • • • • •

2nd: Code Orange codeorangetoth.com _________

3rd: Everyone Hates Everything facebook.com/

BEST PLACE FOR DEER AND WILD FOWL TO LIVE IN HARMONY

ALLEGHENY CEMETERY

EveryoneHatesEverything

BEST NEW BAR (OPEN FIVE YEARS OR LESS)

ALLEGHENYCEMETERY.COM • • • • • • • •

SPIRIT

242 51st St., Lawrenceville spiritpgh.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Federal Galley federalgalley.org _________

3rd: Tina’s facebook.com/tinaspgh

BEST PLACE FOR A DATE NIGHT

If you’re driving up Mossfield Street past the Allegheny Cemetery, you’ll most likely see deer peacefully grazing alongside turkeys and geese, like a Pennsylvania wildlife version of a 1990s United Colors of Benetton ad. For some, it may look like turkeys and deer fighting an epic turf war among the tombstones.

For others, it’s a reminder that we can all get along despite our differences.

PHIPPS CONSERVATORY AND BOTANICAL GARDENS 1 Schenley Drive, Oakland phipps.conservatory.org • • • • • • • •

2nd: Row House Cinema rowhousecinema.com Let’s Connect!

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Ichiban Hibachi Steakhouse ichibanhibachi 3rd: Monterey Bay Fish Grotto montereybayfish

3rd: Lumberjaxes Axe Throwing Pittsburgh axethrowingpgh.com

grotto.com CONTINUES ON PG. 30

28

MAD MEX

Multiple locations madmex.com

steakhouse.com _________

_________

SarrisCandies.com • 1-800-255-7771

BEST PLACE TO CELEBRATE YOUR BIRTHDAY

Voted Best Pizza in Pittsburgh for over Forty years Squirrel Hill 2128 Murray Ave. 521-9864 521-2053

WWW.MINEOSPIZZA.COM

Mt. Lebanon 713A Washington Rd. 344-9467 344-9468

Pastas • Pizza • Hoagies • Party Trays • More PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

29

CULTURE AND NIGHTLIFE, CONTINUED FROM PG. 28

BEST PLACE FOR A GIRLS NIGHT OUT

ROUND CORNER CANTINA

3720 Butler St., Lawrenceville roundcornercantina.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Hidden Harbor hiddenharborpgh.com _________

3rd: The Waterfront waterfrontpgh.com BEST PLACE FOR A GUYS NIGHT OUT

PNC PARK

115 Federal St., North Side mlb.com/pirates/ballpark • • • • • • • • CP PHOTO: LUKE THOR TRAVIS

2nd: Lumberjaxes Axe Throwing Pittsburgh

BEST OF PITTSBURGH

MAC MILLER

axethrowingpgh.com _________

BEST LOCAL HIP-HOP PERFORMER AND BEST LOCAL LEGEND

3rd: Industry Public House industrypgh.com BEST PLACE TO DANCE

SPIRIT

242 51st St., Lawrenceville spiritpgh.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Belvedere’s Ultra-Dive belvederesultradive.com _________

3rd: Tequila Cowboy tequilacowboy.com/pittsburgh CONTINUES ON PG. 32

30

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

BY JORDAN SNOWDEN // JSNOWDEN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

O

FTEN TIMES, it is not until death that a person’s talent and contribution to the world is genuinely appreciated. Enter the Dragon, the movie that made martial artist Bruce Lee a household name, hit theaters a month after his death. Emily Dickinson’s acclaimed writing wasn’t acclaimed until after her passing. Latin American singer Selena’s legacy catapulted after she was shot at the age of 23. Pittsburgh native Mac Miller, who died of a drug overdose on September 7, 2018, was not unknown, but his music and his name weren’t recognized across multiple generations and demographics until his death, solidifying him as a

local Pittsburgh legend and a celebrity known across the country.

Miller, whose real name was Malcolm James McCormick, grew up in Point Breeze and was known for packing his songs with Pittsburgh references.

Besides the obvious ones like “Party on Fifth Ave,” “Frick Park Market,” and “Blue Slide Park” — which was also the name of Miller’s debut album — nods to the ‘Burgh could be found throughout the lyrics on his five studio albums, the latest being Swimming, released Aug. 3, 2018.

Because of this hometown pride — and his blunt honesty about mental health and drug use — local fans forged a special connection with Miller, made

even stronger with his death. When Ariana Grande, Miller’s ex-girlfriend, and Thundercat, a longtime friend and creative partner, seperately came to perform in Pittsburgh this year, their shows were both overtly and subtly about Miller, whether in setlist, dedications, or just a general vibe of somber remembrance.

Miller left a mark on Pittsburgh that continues to mount and shows no signs of slowing down. Next month, on the anniversary of his passing, a “Celebration of Mac Miller” tribute is scheduled to take place at Blue Slide Park. It’s the same place fans gathered to mourn Miller last year, and where memorabilia can still be found.

•

SON OF A

MONDAYS & TUESDAYS $10 LUNCH BUFFET

WEDNESDAYS 2 FOR $20 SELECT MENU

BIRTHDAY CAKE GELATO STARTING AT $3.50 EVERY DAY

BURGER, FRIES & A SHAKE

FOR $10

MONDAYS, TUESDAYS & WEDNESDAYS

Visit RiversCasino.com for more Anniversary specials!

777 CASINO DRIVE, PITTSBURGH PA 15212 RIVERSCASINO.COM Must be 21 years of age or older to be on Rivers Casino property. An 18% gratuity will be added onto the checks of parties of 8 or more. Visit RiversCasino.com for Grand View Buffet hours of operation. Special applies to lunch buffets only and does not apply to dinner buffet. Cash or credit only. Cannot be combined with comps, Players Club offers or any other discounts. Excludes holidays. Offer is non-transferable. Excludes add-ons. Management reserves all rights.

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

31

CULTURE AND NIGHTLIFE, CONTINUED FROM PG. 30

BEST PLACE TO GAMBLE

BEST PLACE TO TAKE OUT-OF-TOWNERS

BEST PLACE TO SEE A LOCAL BAND

BEST PUNK ROCK BAND

RIVERS CASINO

THE STRIP DISTRICT

MR. SMALLS THEATRE

THE WEIRD PAUL ROCK BAND

777 Casino Drive, North Side riverscasino.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: The Meadows Racetrack & Casino

stripdistrictneighbors.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Mount Washington visitpittsburgh.com/ neighborhoods/mt-washington gton _________

400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale mrsmalls.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Club Cafe

3rd:randy.land Randyland

clubcafelive.com _________

BEST POP SINGER

3rd: Smiling Moose smiling-moose.com

meadowsgaming.com

BEST PLACE TO TAKE A FIRST DATE

PHIPPS CONSERVATORY AND BOTANICAL GARDENS 1 Schenley Drive, Oakland phipps.conservatory.org • • • • • • • •

2nd: Mount Washington visitpittsburgh.com/ neighborhoods/ mt-washington _________

3rd: Allegheny Wine Mixer alleghenywinemixer.com

DAYA

weirdpaul.com weirdpa • • • • • • • •

2nd: An Anti-Flag anti-fla anti-flag.com _________ _____

theofficialdaya.com

3rd: Submachine Subm submachinepgh. submach

• • • • • • • •

bandcamp.com bandcam

2nd: Brittney Chantelee brittneychantele.com

BEST SM SMALL/ INTIM INTIMATE MUSIC V VENUE

_________

3rd: Dylan Reynolds

MR. SMALLS THEATRE

facebook.com/ dylanreynoldsofficial

BEST POP/ROCK BAND D

400 Linco Lincoln Ave., Millv Millvale mrsmalls.com mrsmal

THE CLARKS clarksonline.com

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Clu Club Cafe

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Bastard Bearded Irishmen om bastardbeardedirishmen.com

clubcafel clubcafelive.com _________ _____

3rd: Steamworks Stea Collective Collec

_________

3rd: Aubrey Burchelll aubreyburchell.com

steamworks steamw creative.com creativ CONTINUES ON PG. 34

5326 Butler Street • Upper Lawrenceville

alleghenywinemixer.com

32

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

A NIGHT OF

BOLD & BRIGHT. Presented by

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019 North Shore Amphitheater at Rivers Casino 5LYHUOLIH¡V DQQXDO IXQGUDLVHU FHOHEUDWHV WKH EROG YLVLRQ WUDQVIRUPLQJ 3LWWVEXUJK¡V ULYHUIURQWV -RLQ XV IRU D VSHFWDFXODU DQQLYHUVDU\ SDUW\ DV ZH PDUN \HDUV RI FUHDWLQJ DQ XUEDQ RDVLV RI ULYHUIURQW SDUNV WUDLOV SXEOLF RSHQ VSDFH DQG LQYHVWPHQW LQ 'RZQWRZQ 3LWWVEXUJK 5DLVH D JODVV WR WKH IXWXUH RI WKH ULYHUIURQWV DW WKH FDQ¡W PLVV HYHQW RI WKH VXPPHU

FABULOUS FOOD • CRAFT COCKTAILS • BOAT RIDES ON THE GATEWAY CLIPPER FLEET • DANCING • BOLD STYLE

PartyAtThePier.com Thank you to our generous 2019 sponsors (as of 7/18)

All Occasions Party Rental and Marbella Event Furniture and Decor – Desmone Architects – Evoqua Mascaro Construction Company, L.P. – Ring Bender LLP – Soffer Organization/South Side Works The ofďŹ cial registration and ďŹ nancial information of Riverlife may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999.

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

33

CULTURE AND NIGHTLIFE, CONTINUED FROM PG. 32

BEST STRIP CLUB

CHEERLEADERS

3100 Liberty Ave., Strip District cheerleaderspittsburgh.com

BEST SPORTS BAR

PIPER’S PUB

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Rick’s Cabaret (formerly Blush)

1828 E. Carson St., South Side piperspub.com

blushexotic.com _________

• • • • • • • •

3rd (TIE): Cricket Lounge instagram.com/

2nd: Sidelines sidelinesbar andgrill.com _________

cricketloungepgh _________

3rd: City Works Eatery & Pour House cityworksrestaurant.com/

and facebook.com/ Tennyson Lodge TheTennysonLodge

pittsburgh

BEST TRIVIA NIGHT

VOODOO BREWERY HOMESTEAD

BEST STREET FESTIVAL

LITTLE ITALY DAYS

205 E. Ninth Ave., Homestead voodoobrewery.com

littleitalydays.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Deutschtown Music Festival deutschtown

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Trivia Jockey triviajockeys.com

musicfestival.com _________

3rd: Picklesburgh picklesburgh.com

_________

CP PHOTO: MIKE SCHWARTZ

BEST LOCAL ANNUAL CONVENTION: ANTHROCON www.ClubCyclePGH.com

412-586-7588

E V O LV E W E L L N E S S S PA

228 S HIGHLAND AVE. PITTSBURGH, PA 15206 SHADYSIDE 412-441-0860 EVOLVEWELLNESSSPA.COM

34

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

3rd: Buzz Worthy Pub Trivia buzzworthypubtrivia.com

Pittsburgh’s Premier Indoor Cycling Studio Use promo code BEST2019 to redeem 1 Premium Drop-In Ride for FREE ($24 value)

Located in Downtown Pittsburgh on the corner of Stanwix St. and Fort Pitt Blvd.

BOOK IN MONROEVILLE 222 CENTER RD MONROEVILLE, PA 15146 (412) 327 - 2224

BOOK IN PITTSBURGH

W W W. L A L A S S A L O N S PA . C O M

5341 PENN AVE PITTSBURGH, PA 15224 (412) 404 - 2003

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

35

Fast. Professional.

Alterations Expert DryCleaning BRIDGEVILLE

36

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

ILLLS S• W WA A WARRENDALE • EAST LIBERTY • NORTH HILLS

Goods and Services w w w. a l t e r a t i o n s - ex p r e s s . c o m

Any Alteration. Anytime.

Pant Hems While You Wait.

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

37

Goods and Services BEST ALTERATIONS SHOP/ SEAMSTRESS

ALTERATIONS EXPRESS

Multiple locations alterations-express.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Suz Pisano facebook.com/suz.pisano _________

3rd: Pitt Tailoring & Alterations pghtailoring.com CP PHOTO: JARED MURPHY

BEST ADULT STORE

BEST OF PITTSBURGH

ADULTMART

LALA’S SALON AND SPA

Multiple locations adultmart.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Sassy Sensations

BEST NAIL SALON

sassysensations.com _________

3rd: Naughty Cocktail Parties naughtycocktailparties.com

BEST BICYCLE SHOP

THICK BIKES

62 S. 15th St., South Side thickbikes.com • • • • • • • •

2nd:probikerun.com PRO BIKE+RUN _________

3rd: Kraynick’s Bike Shop kraynicksbikeshop. weebly.com CONTINUES ON PG. 39

38

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

BY HANNAH LYNN // HLYNN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

L

ESS THAN TWO years ago, Lauren Long was making house calls to do clients’ nails and running a business out of the back of her car. She built up a customer base and opened LaLa’s Salon and Spa on Penn Avenue in Garfield in July 2018, and this past June, opened a second location in Monroeville.

LaLa’s offers a variety of nail services but specializes in flashy and intricate acrylic nails. Scrolling through the salon’s Instagram is a captivating collection of long, colorful, sparkling, painted, and sculpted nails. “What I love most about my business is that we don’t tell people ‘no,’ so even if it’s something that I’ve never done before, I’m going to try,” says Long.

Some recent nail designs include

three-inch pointed nails, dripping in golden honey and adorned with even more golden bees. Other sets feature shining clusters of Swarovski crystals, which Long learned how to apply from a class with Cardi B’s nail tech, Jenny Bui.

5341 Penn Ave., Garfield and 222 Center Road, Monroeville. lalassalonspa.com When Long started studying cosmetology in high school, she had to drop her art class electives and turned to nail design as a creative outlet. “I felt like through nail art, I was able to still be creative, and still paint, and still be crafty, but on a very small scale,” she says.

Long opened LaLa’s after moving back to Pittsburgh from New York and felt there was a gap missing in the city’s nail offerings. She wanted to create a salon that wasn’t just a place to get nails done, but a full experience. With the Monroeville location, Long wanted to create a space that amplified the feel and decor of the first location.

“I just really wanted to cater to the woman that wants to be pampered and wants to feel beautiful, and wants to feel like a queen,” says Long. “I’m not oblivious to the fact that people work very hard for their money, and when they come in here and spend on average $100 for a set of nails, they want more than just the nails; they want a memorable experience.”

•

BEST ANTIQUE SHOP

BEST BARBER SHOP

E. N. MILLER ANTIQUE MALL

HOUSE OF HANDSOME BARBERSHOP AND BOUTIQUE

614 E. Railroad Ave., Verona Search “EN Miller Antique Mall” on Facebook • • • • • • • •

2906 W. Liberty Ave., Dormont houseofhandsome.com

2nd: Wexford General Store Antiques

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Mister Grooming and Goods mistergroomingandgoods.com

wexfordantiques.com _________

3rd: Curiosity Shop

_________

curiosityshoptattoo.com

3rd: 10thfacebook.com/ Ward Barbershop

BEST BANK

10thwardbarbershop

PNC BANK

BEST BEER DISTRIBUTOR

Multiple locations pnc.com

DUFFY’S BEER AND MUCH MORE

• • • • • • • •

2nd:dollar.bank Dollar Bank _________

3rd: Clearview Federal Credit Union clearviewfcu.org

294 Curry Hollow Road, Baldwin duffysbeer.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Liberty Beer libertybeerpgh.com _________

3rd: Save-Mor Beer &savemorbeer.com Pop Warehouse BEST BODY-PIERCING SHOP BE

NEVERENDING INK TATTOOS 1100 Muldowney Ave., Lincoln Place facebook.com/ neverendinginktattoos • • • • • • • •

22nd:zackwatson.rocks Z. Watson Piercing _________

33rd: Hot Rod Piercing Co. hotrodpiercingcompany.com ho CONTINUES ON PG. 40

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

39

GOODS AND SERVICES, CONTINUED FROM PG. 39

SERVICES Services are offered to everyone, regardless of identity, income, or insurance status.

• Full medical practice • Mental health services • Community health Navigator program • Transportation program • Food box program • Discounted pharmacy program

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

BEST PITTSBURGH MOBILE APP: 412 FOOD RESCUE CONTACT 1789 S. Braddock Ave, #410 Pittsburgh, PA 15218 M Th F 8 AM - 4:30 PM Tu W 8 AM - 7:30 PM To make an appointment: (412) 247-2310

LOVE, PITTSBURGH

805 Liberty Ave., Downtown and 301 Shiloh St., Mount Washington lovepittsburghshop.com

BEST CAR DEALER

BEST CIGAR SHOP

BOBBY RAHAL MOTORCAR COMPANY

LEAF & BEAN

10701 Perry Highway, Wexford bobbyrahalmotorcar.com

2200 Penn Ave., SStrip District and 3525 Washington Road, McMurray leafandbean.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Butler Cigars & Smoking Lounge

Proudly serving LGBT patients since 1999.

• • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • •

2nd: The Weeping Glass

“Whole People, All People.”

3rd: Raion Zou Holistic Healing

2nd: Baierl Subaru baierlsubaru.com 3rd: Shults Lincoln

3rd: Allegheny Smokeworks

raionzou.com

shultslincoln.com

alleghenysmokeworks.com

metrocommunityhealthcenter.org

40

BEST LOCALLY OWNED RETAIL SHOP

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

moroseandmacabre.com _________

_________

CONTINUES ON PG. 42

facebook.com/ ButlerCigarsandSmokingLounge _________

222 MAIN STREET • DOWNTOWN IRWIN 724-367-4000 • LAMPTHEATRE.ORG

Established in 1937, The Lamp Theatre tre m boasts a variety of entertainment from movies to concerts and everything inn hat at between. A true community project that ghh was built and currently staffed through volunteer efforts. We look forward too hosting our neighbors and friends att aar! r!

The Lamp Theatre throughout the yea year!

JJOIN US FOR THESE UPCOMING SHOWS! U

A Tribute To van Morrison

Sept 14 - 8pm

Into The Mystic

O Oct 6 5PM & 8pm

JimLiveBrEuer and Let Laugh Tour

Sept 20 - 8pm

Nov 8 - 8pm

The Granati Brothers with Guest Donnie Iris American Idol

Tristan McIntosh in The Linda Ronstadt Experience

TW O SHOWS!

Back Tribute in Black to AC/DC

Dec 1 - 8pm

Sept 28 - 8pm

Twelve Twenty Four A Holiday

Rock Orchestra PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

41

GOODS AND SERVICES, CONTINUED FROM PG. 40

BEST CARD STORE

WILDCARD

4209 Butler St., Lawrenceville wildcardpgh.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Kards Unlimited kardsunlimited.com _________

3rd: Pat’s Hallmark Shop hallmark.com BEST CHILDREN’S STORE

BRAMBLER BOUTIQUE

3609 Butler St., Lawrenceville bramblerboutique.com

CP PHOTO: JARED MURPHY

BEST OF PITTSBURGH

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Happy Baby Company

THE HEALING CENTER

happybabycompany.com

BEST MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY

BEST DAY SPA

EVOLVE WELLNESS SPA 228 S. Highland Ave., Shadyside evolvewellnessspa.com • • • • • • • •

2nd (TIE): KiKi Beauty Bar kikibeautybar.com _________

and The Sewickley Spa sewickleyspa.com _________

3rd: Metamorphosis Salon & Day Spa spapgh.com CONTINUES ON PG. 43

42

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

BY RYAN DETO // RYANDETO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

W

ESTERN PENNSYLVANIA has

only had medical marijuana dispensaries for a bit over a year, but they are as popular as ever.

Demand for cannabis medication has been so high that most dispensaries have had trouble keeping products on their shelves.

This can mean some impatient patients, and that can lead to chronic headaches for dispensaries. But, The Healing Center has figured out a way to keep everyone happy.

Winners of City Paper’s first ever Best Medical Marijuana Dispensary award, The Healing Center has dispensaries in Monroeville and Washington, Pa., with a Cranberry location set to open in November.

Chris Kohan, co-founder of The Healing Center, says customers are drawn to the professionalism of his dispensaries.

He says his dispensaries are averaging

about 500 patients a day, with some days pushing 900 patients a day.

Kohan says the centers are handling the large volumes of patients because of their dedication to follow everything by the book.

130 Mall Circle Drive, Monroeville and 799 West Chestnut St., Washington

“We are mapping the way the [Pennsylvania] Department of Health mandated,” says Kohan. “I wanted to put out a dispensary that is the poster child for the state.”

This means having knowledgeable and well trained employees, and as many pharmacists on staff as possible. Kohan says his team is continually educating themselves on the most up-to-date

research and information about cannabis products. He believes this medical-first approach is a big reason The Healing Center has been successful at guiding patients to the proper dosage and suggesting the best ways to partake in medical marijuana, whether through edibles, tinctures, or vapes.

“Pharmacists run our stores. We are a pharmacy, that is what we are,” says Kohan. “We consult you on your health and try to alleviate your illness.”

Kohan adds that many patients also appreciate The Healing Center’s online ordering system, which helps expedite patient wait times, which he says never exceed 15-20 minutes. Anxiety recently became a qualifying condition for medical marijuana in Pennsylvania, which will undoubtedly increase the number of patients coming to The Healing Center.

But Kohan says the dispensaries will be ready.

•

BEST CITY TOUR

JUST DUCKY TOURS

125 W. Station Square Drive, South Side (Closed for 2019) justduckytours.com • • • • • • • •

202 38th Street (above Round Corner Cantina)

2nd: Doors Open Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA 15201

BEST SEASONED EVERYTHING BAGELS

doorsopenpgh.org _________

3rd: Bike the Burgh Tours

PIGEON BAGELS

biketheburgh.com

PIGEONPGH.COM

BEST DOGGIE DAYCARE

As far as bagel flavors go, everything ranks pretty high. It has everything! But so many bagel shops skimp on the seasoning, leaving you with a couple poppy seeds and a fleck of salt. Pigeon Bagels heavily seasons both sides of the bagel (revolutionary) and really hits home the meaning of the seasoning.

• • • • • • • •

PITTSBURGH PAWS PET RESORT 9 Ohio River Blvd., Sewickley and 3234 Burtner Road, Natrona Heights pghpaws.com

Tue - Sun: 11am - 9pm ׄ​ׄ‫ ׇ׀‬ɐɈǶƵȲ ²ɈȲƵƵɈ §ǞɈɈȺƦɐȲǐǘ‫ § ة‬ 15201 412.224.2518

At Ki Pollo, we are keeping it simple with lip smackin’ fried chicken, empanadas ƮƵǶǞƧǞȌȺȌ‫ ة‬ƊȁƮ DzǞǶǶƵȲ ˛ɮǞȁȺ‫ خ‬ɐȲ ǘȌɐȺƵ ǿƊƮƵ ǶǞȁƵٌɐȯ ǞȺ ǐǶȌƦƊǶǶɯٌǞȁȺȯǞȲƵƮ‫ ة‬ȺɈȲƊǞǐǘɈ ȌɐɈ ȌǏ mƊɩȲƵȁƧƵɨǞǶǶƵ‫ خ‬àƵ ƊȲƵ Ɗ BYOB ƵȺɈƊƦǶǞȺǘǿƵȁɈ‫خ‬

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Camp Bow Wow campbowwow.com

BEST THRIFT SHOP

RED WHITE & BLUE THRIFT STORE

_________

3rd: Big Easy Dog Daze & Cafe bigeasydogdaze.com BEST DRY CLEANER

ALTERATIONS EXPRESS

Multiple locations alterations-express.com

890 Saw Mill Run Blvd., 8 Brookline and 935 Ohio River Blvd., Bellevue redwhiteandbluethriftstore. com/pittsburgh-pa1

• • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Rocky’s Tailor Shop

2nd: Animal Lifeline Thrift Shop

bloomfieldnow.org/business/ rockys-tailor-shop-and-cleaners _________

3rd: Zoom Dry Cleaners zoomdrycleaning pittsburgh.com

animallifelinepgh.org _________

3rd: Thriftique ncjwthriftique.com

CONTINUES ON PG. 44

3720 Butler St • Lawrenceville • roundcornercantina.com PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

43

GOODS AND SERVICES, CONTINUED FROM PG. 43

BEST FITNESS CENTER

BEST MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY

ORANGETHEORY FITNESS

THE HEALING CENTER

Multiple locations orangetheoryfitness.com

130 Mall Circle Drive, Monroeville and 799 W. Chesnut St., Washington thehealingcenterusa.com

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Club Cycle Pittsburgh

• • • • • • • •

22nd:maitrimedicinals.com MaitriMedicinals LLC.

clubcyclepgh.com _________

3rd: ASCEND Pittsburgh

_________

ascendpgh.com

3rd: Solevo Wellness solevowellness.com

BEST FLORIST

BEST LOCAL BOOKSTORE

THE FARMER’S DAUGHTER FLOWERS

WHITE WHALE BOOKSTORE 4754 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield whitewhale bookstore.com

431 E. Ohio St., North Side thefarmersdaughter flowers.com

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Alphabet City

• • • • • • • •

alphabetcity.org _________

2nd: Petal Pushers petalpusherspa.com _________

3rd: City Grows

CP PHOTO: JOSIE NORTON

BEST LOCAL CLOTHING STORE: STEEL CITY

citygrowspgh.com

mysterylovers.com CONTINUES ON PG. 46

FRESH HANDMADE FOOD LOCAL CRAFT BEER DAILY SPECIALS

Family Owned and Operated

AUTHENTIC & FRESH Franchise Opportunities Available.

Visit our website for more details.

5523 Walnut Street • Shadyside • 412-621-6220

mercuriosgelatopizza.com 44

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

3rd: Mystery Lovers Bookshop

CRAFTYJACKALOPE.COM

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

45

GOODS AND SERVICES, CONTINUED FROM PG. 44

BEST HAIR SALON

DENHAM & CO. SALON

100 Fifth Ave., Downtown denhamandco.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Val-Lerie’s Hair Designs facebook.com/ Vallerieshairdesigns _________

3rd: XO Salon xosalonpgh.com

BEST LOCAL CLOTHING STORE

STEEL CITY 625 Smithfield St., Downtown shopsteelcity.com

CP PHOTO: JARED MURPHY

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Wight Elephant

BEST OF PITTSBURGH

THREADS ON CARSON

wightelephant.com _________

3rd: Pittsburgh Clothing Co.

BEST SNEAKER SHOP

pghclothing.com

BEST LOCAL JEWELRY STORE

HENNE JEWELERS

5501 Walnut St., Shadyside hennejewelers.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: SIX16 Body Piercing & Fine Jewelry six16piercing.com _________

3rd: Songbird Artistry songbirdartistry.com CONTINUES ON PG. 47

46

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

BY JORDAN SNOWDEN // JSNOWDEN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

S

OME SNEAKERS, like the latest pair

of Sauconys or those fresh new Asics, won’t be found in a typical department store, and buying online is a pain. Luckily, sneakerheads can browse the latest styles and popular brands in person, with a comfortable shopping experience at Threads on Carson.

Now in two locations – South Side and the Monroeville Mall – Threads began as a small store in 2013, about a block from the current Carson Street location. “[It was] a dream and venture with my late brother and best friend, Hussein,” says Fuad Ashwash, owner of Threads on Carson. “It has always been a business focused on community, with a foundation in family. From the beginning, we have partnered with local brands, artists, and entrepreneurs, helping to provide

a platform for all facets of the greater Pittsburgh community.”

1511 E. Carson St., South Side and 200 Mall Circle Drive, Monroeville. threadsoncarson.com Ashwash moved to Pittsburgh about 10 years ago, and after living in the city for a few years, he realized something was missing, especially in South Side.

Ashwash was in grad school at the University of Pittsburgh, and getting his MBA gave him the confidence to open a streetwear store, an interest he’d had since childhood.

Threads on Carson took first place in Pittsburgh City Paper’s Best Sneaker Shop category, but the store sells much more

than footwear. Music paraphernalia (Bob Dylan tees, Santana vests), brand name apparel, sports jerseys, jeans, shorts, and more can be found online and in-store. In fact, Ashwash says that denim and tops in general are the store’s best sellers, next to sneakers.

The diverse streetwear selection found at Threads is made even better with the store’s friendly and pleasurable retail atmosphere.

“Our team prides itself on not only providing excellent customer service, but really getting to know our clients,” says Ashwash. “My clients have known my son since birth, just as I have had the opportunity to get to know their kids, too. We talk about Threads being a family a lot. That is what has allowed us to grow and thrive over the last five years.”

•

BEST LOCAL PET STORE

BEST GARDEN SHOP/NURSERY

PETAGOGY

TRAX FARMS

• • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • •

2nd: The Black Cat Market blackcatmarketpgh.com

2nd: Cavacini Landscaping & Garden Center

528 Trax Road, Finleyville traxfarms.com

5880 Ellsworth Ave., Shadyside petagogy.com

_________

3rd: Lawrenceville Pet Supply

exclusive excl ex clus cl usiv iiv veto to to

Road Trip Compatible.

cavacinigarden center.com _________

lawrencevillepetsupply.com

3rd: City Grows citygrowspgh.com

BEST FARMERS MARKET

BEST LOCAL STORE TO BUY FURNITURE

BLOOMFIELD SATURDAY MARKET

LEVIN FURNITURE Multiple locations levinfurniture.com

5050 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield bloomfieldnow.org

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Pittsburgh Furniture Company

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Market Square Farmers Market downtownpittsburgh.com _________

3rd: Squirrel Hill Farmers Market pittsburghpa.gov/events/ farmers-market

BEST LOCAL STORE TO BUY MUSIC

JERRY’S RECORDS

pittsburghfurniture company.com _________

3rd:hothautehot.net Hot Haute Hot BEST BRIDAL SHOP

BRIDAL BEGINNING

450 Cochran Road, Mount Lebanon bridalbeginning.com • • • • • • • •

2136 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill jerrysrecords.com

2nd: Blanc de Blanc Bridal

• • • • • • • •

2nd:atticrecordstoreinc.com Attic Record Store Inc. _________

3rd:davesmusicmine.com Dave’s Music Mine

blancdeblancbridal.com _________

3rd: Luna Boutique luna-boutique.co

One of the nation’s largest women-owned adult retailers, welcoming people of all genders to shop for their pleasure for decades. Stop into one of our 9 local stores for the best selection of erotic toys, lingerie, and DVDs available.

Pittsburgh Locations: 7600 McKnight Rd. • 4611 McKnight Rd. • 346 Blvd of the Allies

Outside Pittsburgh: Elizabeth: 931 Hayden Blvd.

Export: 6094 William Penn Hwy Monroeville: 2735 Stroschein Blvd.

Bentleyville: 8 McIlvaine Rd. West Erie: 1313 State St. Wheeling, WV: 1437 Market St.

Visit adultmart.com to find store hours, see all of our store locations, and shop 24/7.

CONTINUES ON PG. 50

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

47

GOODS AND SERVICES, CONTINUED FROM PG. 47

BEST MOTORCYCLE SHOP

GATTO CYCLE SHOP

BEST LOCAL PLACE TO BUY VINTAGE CLOTHING

117 E. Seventh Ave, Tarentum gattocycle.com

AVALON EXCHANGE

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Mothership Moto

5858 Forbes Ave., Squirrel Hill avalonexchange.com/ pittsburgh

mothershipmoto.net

BEST NAIL SALON

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Three Rivers Vintage facebook.com/

LALA’S SALON & SPA

ThreeRiversVintage _________

3rd (TIE): Eons Fashion Antique Search “Eons Fashion Antique”

5341 Penn Ave., East Liberty and 222 Center Road, Monroeville lalassalonspa.com • • • • • • • •

on Facebook _________

and Society of St. Vincent de Paul svdppitt.org

2nd: Maniküre CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

BEST PLACE TO BUY YOURSELF HAPPINESS: OAKMONT BAKERY CONTINUES ON PG. 52

GET ON THE WATER THIS SUMMER! Kayak & Stand-Up Paddleboards Rentals available Daily, Weekend & Weekly Rates

1130 S. Braddock Ave. www.3riversoutdoor.com 50

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

The 5th Judicial District of T Pennsylvania and Allegheny County Pretrial Services urges you to enjoy your weekend out in Pittsburgh but

make the right choice,

don’t drink & drive.

manikurepgh.com _________

3rd: Beauty Bungalow PGH facebook.com/ beautybungalowpgh

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

51

GOODS AND SERVICES, CONTINUED FROM PG. 50

BEST PITTSBURGH MOBILE APP

BEST NEIGHBORHOOD MARKET

BEST PLACE TO BUY CBD PRODUCTS

412 FOOD RESCUE

EAST END FOOD CO-OP • • • • • • • •

MURRAY AVENUE APOTHECARY

2nd: Bloomfield Saturday Market

• • • • • • • •

412foodrescue.org • • • • • • • •

2nd: Duolingo duolingo.com BEST PLACE FOR A KID’S BIRTHDAY PARTY

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF PITTSBURGH 10 Children’s n’s Way, North Side pittsburghkids.org kids.org • • • • • • • •

WE BUY RECORDS & CDS

TOP PRICES PAID FOR QUALITY COLLECTIONS TI

2nd: Sky Zone Canonsburg burg skyzone.com/canonsburg anonsburg

7516 Meade St., Larimer eastendfood.coop

bloomfieldnow.org

22nd: Hippie & French

BEST PLACE TO BUY LOCALLY MADE GIFTS

hippieandfrench.com _________

I MADE IT! MARKET

imadeitmarket.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Wildcard wildcardpgh.com _________

3rd: love, Pittsburgh lovepittsburghshop.com

_________ ___

3rd: Animall Friends

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Pittsburgh 2n Guitars pittsburghguitars.com pittsb

1 Sweet Swe St., Oakmont oakmontbakery.com oakm • • • • • • • •

2nd: Kards Unlimited kardsunlimited.com kard

2nd: Animall Friends

52

468 Freeport Road, Blawnox nstuffmusic.com nst

OAKMONT BAKERY

• • • • • • • •

ATTICRECORDS@VERIZON.NET

N STUFF MUSIC

BEST PLACE TO B BUY YOURSELF HAPPINESS

6926 Hamilton ton Ave., Homewood and 1101 Western Ave., North Side humaneanimalrescue.org alrescue.org

513 GRANT AVENUE • MILLVALE Questions? Call Us 412-821-8484

BEST PLACE TO BUY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

3r Brighton 3rd: Music M Center brightonmusic.com brig

thinkingoutsidethecage.org ethecage.org

HUMANE ANIMAL RESCUE

MON-FRI 9AM-6PM SAT 10AM-5PM

3rd: Solevo Wellness solevowellness.com

_________

BEST PLACE ACE TO ADOPT A PET

SINCE 1980

4227 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill maapgh.com

thinkingoutsidethecage.org ethecage.org _________ ___

_________

3rd: Nose 2 Tail Cat Rescue scue nose2tailcatrescue.org escue.org

3r The Black 3rd: Cat Market blackcatmarketpgh.com blackc CONTINUES ON PG. 54

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

53

GOODS AND SERVICES, CONTINUED FROM PG. 52

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

BEST BICYCLE SHOP: THICK BIKES BEST PLACE TO GET A TATTOO REMOVED

DISAPPEARING INK

106 Nelbon Ave., Penn Hills and 3603 Butler St., Lawrenceville disappearinginkltr.com • • • • • • • •

BEST PLACE TO TAKE THE KIDS FOR AN AFTERNOON

PITTSBURGH ZOO & PPG AQUARIUM 7370 Baker St., Highland Park pittsburghzoo.org • • • • • • • •

1100 Muldowney Ave., Lincoln Place facebook.com/ neverendinginktattoos • • • • • • • •

2nd: Human Canvas Tattoo Gallery

2nd: Carnegie Science Center

neverendinginktattoos _________

carnegiesciencecenter.org _________

facebook.com/ thehumancanvasllc _________

3rd: Nice Look Permanent Makeup facebook.com/

3rd: Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh

3rd: American National Tattoo americannational

pittsburghkids.org CONTINUES ON PG. 56

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

NEVERENDING INK TATTOOS

2nd: Neverending Ink Tattoos facebook.com/

nicelookpermanentmakeup

54

BEST TATTOO SHOP

tattoos.com

Saturday, August 17, 2019 Gates Open at 2:00 pm Monroeville Community Park West Tall Trees Ampitheater Free Admission • Free Parking For More Info: www.MonroevilleJazz.org

Kind of Blue - 2:30 pm Steeltown Horns - 4:00 pm Benny Benack Band - 5:30 pm

t our Check ou

Over

B E ER CAVE!

1,000 varieties of beer!

Hosted By:

ds6pax.com

Drink the BEST!

1118 S Braddock Ave

Pgh Jazz Orchestra - 7:00 pm

Swissvale, PA 15218

(412) 241-4666

Presenting Sponsors:

True Blue Sponsors:

Featuring Food Trucks and Full Pint Brewery!

Bring your blankets, chairs, and friends PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

55

GOODS AND SERVICES, CONTINUED FROM PG. 54

BEST RECORD STORE

JERRY’S RECORDS

2136 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill jerrysrecords.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Attic Record Store Inc. atticrecordstoreinc.com _________

3rd: Dave’s Music Mine davesmusicmine.com BEST SECONDHAND CLOTHING SHOP

THRIFTIQUE

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

125 51st St., Lawrenceville ncjwthriftique.com

BEST OF PITTSBURGH

LOVE, PITTSBURGH

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Goodwill goodwill.org

BEST LOCALLY OWNED RETAIL SHOP

_________

3rd: Clothes Minded clothesmindedpgh.com BEST SNEAKER SHOP

THREADS ON CARSON

1511 E. Carson St., South Side threadsoncarson.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Refresh PGH refreshpgh.com _________

3rd: Senseless facebook.com/ senselessstore CONTINUES ON PG. 57

56

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

BY SARAH CONNOR // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

W

ITH TWO RETAIL stores and an online market, the team behind love, Pittsburgh describe themselves as “champions of local.” Founded by two local makers, Monica Yope and Kelly Sanders, the first love, Pittsburgh store opened in Mount Washington in June 2017, with a second store opening Downtown in spring 2018. Both locations feature a wide array of gifts created by Pittsburgh artists and makers.

Items for sale at love, Pittsburgh go beyond the traditional t-shirts and coffee mugs. The most popular t-shirts feature unique designs, such as illustrations of city’s many bridges, from Fort Pitt, to McKees Rocks, to Highland Park. The bridge design was created

by Mount Lebanon artist Kim Fox, who sells art under the name Worker Bird.

The bridge design was brought to t-shirt form after it was released as a print, and quickly became a best-seller.

301 Shiloh St., Mount Washington.

805 Liberty Ave., Downtown. lovepittsburghshop.com

Another online best-seller is a print of a penguin holding a pierogi by McKnight art studio Hey Beast. Other honorable mentions include a print of the Cathedral of Learning done by Shane Henderson of New Kensington, and a postcard-style illustration of the

Duquesne Incline done by Jim Zahniser of Red Robot Gallery in Homewood.

Pittsburgh-themed candles from local brand PGH Candle are also a popular item at love, Pittsburgh. The candles are each named after a neighborhood — Mount Washington, Dahntahn, Strip District, and Lawrenceville — and feature a scent of Oak Moss and Amber.

The love, Pittsburgh website explains that the mission of the retailer is to “connect makers to shoppers, by serving the local community as well as the thousands of visitors who travel to Downtown and Mount Washington each year.” By supporting local artists and showcasing the city’s character, love, Pittsburgh truly does embody the phrase “champions of local.”

•

BEST LOCAL WELLNESS CENTER

PITTSBURGH CENTER FOR COMPLEMENTARY

HEALTH AND HEALING

1124 S. Braddock Ave., Regent Square pghhealthandhealing.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Mookshi Healing Arts Center mookshi.com _________

3rd: Murray Avenue Apothecary maapgh.com BEST VAPE SHOP

COOL VAPES Multiple locations coolvapes.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Steel City Vapors steelcityvapors.com _________

3rd: Monster Vape and CBD monstervape.com BEST YOGA STUDIO

YOGA INNOVATIONS

BEST VIEW IF WE DIDN’T LOVE CARS SO MUCH

FRANK CURTO PARK

BIGELOW BOULEVARD • • • • • • • •

Every night at a park tucked between Polish Hill and the Hill District, the sun sets over North Side and pink hues are cast on Downtown’s skyline. It’s spectacular. Problem is, hardly anyone enjoys it because Frank Curto Park is a cast-off public space. Why? Because Bigelow Boulevard runs adjacent, and it’s designed like a highway to ferry people from Downtown to the East End. If this view and park were more of a priority, we would redesign the road to force drivers to slow down, and then maybe they could stop off and enjoy the view.

BEST WEDDING VENUE

PHIPPS CONSERVATORY AND BOTANICAL GARDENS

102 Broughton Road, Bethel Park yogainnovations.com

1 Schenley Drive, Oakland phipps.conservatory.org

• • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Mookshi Wellness Center mookshi.com

2nd:carnegiemuseums.org Carnegie Museums

_________

3rd: Amazing Yoga amazingyoga.net

_________

3rd: The Grand Hall atthepennsylvanian.com The Pennsylvanian PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

57

58

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

d e h c n u Br

Food and Drink The Pittsburgh Brunch Event of theYear. www.brunchedpittsburgh.com PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

59

Food and Drink BEST ASIAN FOOD

CHENGDU GOURMET

5840 Forward Ave., Squirrel Hill chengdugourmet.net • • • • • • • •

2nd: Banh Mi and Ti facebook.com/BanhMiandTi _________

3rd:facebook.com/ Thai Gourmet

CP PHOTO: JARED MURPHY

ThaiGourmetPittsburgh

BEST OF PITTSBURGH

BEST BURGER

BURGATORY

MATT CHRISTIE

Multiple locations burgatorybar.com • • • • • • • •

BEST CHEF

2nd: Tessaro’s tessaros.com

BY MAGGIE WEAVER // MWEAVER@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

_________

3rd: Burgh’ers Brewing burgherspgh.com

CONTINUES ON PG. 62

60

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

A

LL MATT CHRISTIE wants to do is

cook. The mind and co-owner behind Streets on Carson has never wanted to do anything else.

Christie set his sights on being a chef as a teenager, picking up his first shift on a line as soon as he was old enough, and eventually attending the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute. At 22, he had his first executive position and continued bouncing around small, independentlyowned kitchens, until three and a half years ago when he opened Streets on Carson with his wife, Lauren Leon.

Opening a table-service restaurant wasn’t the original plan; the husband and wife team were looking to run a food truck. Because food truck regulations are incredibly strict, the two turned to restaurant ownership instead. After passing a “For Sale” sign in the window

of a Carson Street storefront, the duo purchased the space and transformed it into a hub for international food.

“Now,” Christie says, “I’m running 15-20 food trucks in one restaurant.”

1120 E. Carson St., South Side streetsoncarson412.com

On a short menu, Christie travels the world. Right now, there are dishes from Venezuela, Italy, Pakistan, and Turkey on the list (and of course, a few from Pittsburgh). The chef, who has never been as far as California, let alone Europe, spends hours researching dishes and traditions, in hopes of putting out authentic representations of international cuisine.

He picks his dishes from markets around the world, homing in on dishes that are “cool and hot,” or that someone’s grandmother is blogging about. Christie, who used to pride himself on owning just two cookbooks, is now reliant on books, spice websites, and recipes to learn about the flavors of a culture. It’s hard to miss the commitment he gives to understanding the cultural and culinary significance of street food.

Christie, who comes from a fine dining background, never thought he’d be slinging sandwiches all day, especially not in his own restaurant. But it’s clear from the regulars that return two or three times a week that Christie’s wild, 15restaurants-in-one idea worked. Streets on Carson is what Pittsburgh needed: a place for top-notch, approachable plates that keep the adventure coming.

•

Squirrel Hill 5837 Forbes Ave. P i t t s b u r g h , PA 1 5 2 1 7 412.682.1966

Market Square 435 Market St. P i t t s b u r g h , PA 1 5 2 2 2 412.682.1966

Pittsburgh Int’l.

Airport Concourse A 412.682.1966

East Liberty OPEN! 6006 Penn Ave. P i t t s b u r g h , PA 1 5 2 0 6 412.661.1966

NOW

W W W. G A B Y E T J U L E S . C O M

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

61

FOOD AND DRINK, CONTINUED FROM PG. 60

Free testing HIV • stD • hep c confidential

Dr. Stacy Lane, D.O. • 412-515-0000

HELP HEal all WITH NO JUDGEMENT

your body & soul

are welcome

• ALL INSURANCES ACCEPTED • WALK INS WELCOME • tRANSPORATION PROGRAM • NO INSURANCE? WE CAN HELP

NoRTH SHORE LOCATION 127 Anderson Street - Suite 101 Timber Court Building, PIttsburgh, PA 15212 Phone: (412) 322-4151

WASHINGTON, PA LOCATION 95 Leonard Avenue - Suite 203 Washington PA 15301 Phone: (724) 249-2517

FEATURED ON INK MASTER :ANGELS

PYRAMID

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT: TAJ MAHAL

TATTOO & Body Piercing

BEST BBQ

SMOKE BARBEQUE TAQUERIA 4115 Butler St., Lawrenceville smokepgh.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Pork & Beans porkandbeanspgh.com _________

PYRAMIDTATTOO.COM

BRIDGEVILLE, PA

62

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

3rd: Pittsburgh Barbecue Company pghbbq.com

BEST BLOODY MARY

LUKE WHOLEY’S WILD ALASKAN GRILLE 2106 Penn Ave., Strip District lukewholey.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Bar Marco barmarcopgh.com _________

3rd: Roland’s Seafood Grill rolandspittsburgh.com CONTINUES ON PG. 63

BEST COFFEEHOUSE

BLACK FORGE COFFEE HOUSE 1206 Arlington Ave., Allentown and 701 Chartiers Ave., McKees Rocks blackforgecoffee.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Commonplace Coffee commonplacecoffee.com _________

3rd: The Coffee Tree Roasters coffeetree.com

BEST BUFFET

GRAND CONCOURSE

100 W. Station Square Drive, South Side grandconcourse restaurant.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Rivers Casino

BEST VEGGIE BURGER

riverscasino.com/pittsburgh _________

PITTSBURGH SANDWICH SOCIETY

3rd: Taj Mahal tajmahalinc.com BEST CANDY STORE

SARRIS CANDIES

PGHSANDWICH SOCIETY.COM • • • • • • • •

511 Adams Ave., Canonsburg sarriscandies.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop grandpajoescandyshop.com _________

3rd: My Favorite Sweet Shoppe myfavoritesweetshoppe.com

Meatless “impossible” burgers get a lot of love these days, but beefaverse Pittsburghers shouldn’t sleep on the city’s selection of good old fashioned veggie burgers. The PGH Sandwich Society tops its veggie patty with cheddar, caramelized onions, greens, tomato, and aioli. It’s simple, delicious, and a great option for both vegetarians and meat-lovers looking to try something new.

BEST CHEF

MATT CHRISTIE, STREETS ON CARSON 1120 E. Carson St., South Side streetsoncarson412.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Justin Severino, Morcilla, Cure, and Larder

BEST CHINESE RESTAURANT

SICHUAN GOURMET

1900 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill and 328 Atwood St., Oakland sichuan-gourmet.com • • • • • • • •

morcillapittsburgh.com, curepittsburgh.com, and larderpittsburgh.com _________

2nd: Sesame Inn sesameinn.com

3rd: Kevin Sousa, Superior Motors

3rd: Chengdu Gourmet

superiormotors15104.com

chengdugourmet.net

_________

CONTINUES ON PG. 64

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

63

FOOD AND DRINK, CONTINUED FROM PG. 63

BEST BAKERY

OAKMONT BAKERY

1 Sweet St., Oakmont oakmontbakery.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: La Gourmandine lagourmandinebakery.com _________

3rd:prantlsbakery.com Prantl’s Bakery BEST COCKTAIL LIST

HIDDEN HARBOR

CP PHOTO: JARED MURPHY

1708 Shady Ave., Squirrel Hill hiddenharborpgh.com

BEST OF PITTSBURGH

• • • • • • • •

BAE BAE’S KITCHEN

2nd: Butcher and the Rye butcherandtherye.com _________

BEST KOREAN FOOD

3rd: Acacia

BY MAGGIE WEAVER // MWEAVER@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

acaciacocktails.com

BEST CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN RESTAURANT

MEAT & POTATOES

649 Penn Ave., Downtown meatandpotatoespgh.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: The Porch dineattheporch.com _________

3rd: Eleven elevenck.com CONTINUES ON PG. 65

64

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

W

HEN LUNCH HOUR strikes

Downtown, one thing is certain: There will be a line at Bae Bae’s Kitchen.

The Korean-inspired eatery, run by husband and wife team Ashely Bae and Edward Lai, opened in 2017. The tiny restaurant boasted creative Korean fare in a fast-casual setting, something Pittsburgh had never seen before.

Now, Bae Bae’s has somewhat of a cult following. Diehard fans preach love for the fresh, bold flavors to anyone who passes. And if that’s not enough to get you inside, the irresistible smell will.

Bae and Lai wove their kitchen into a sustainable model from the start.

Almost immediately, the restaurant was awarded a silver designation from Sustainable Pittsburgh Restaurants. In 2018, they built a greenhouse-patio for

diners. The space, while providing a welcome extension to the Liberty Ave. sidewalk, also collects rain water and filters air.

The green atmosphere continues inside, a jungle of plants overtaking the front window. Vines hang around the charming, wood-studded space. It’s light, airy, and adorable.

951 Liberty Ave., Downtown baebaes.kitchen

A meal at Bae Bae’s starts with one of three things: rice, glass noodles, or salad.

From there, it’s diner’s choice of meats like bulgogi (grilled BBQ steak), Korean fried chicken, crispy tofu, and whatever special is cooking that day. Then, before

it’s boxed up and ready to take away, pick a side of daikon, cucumber, or napacabbage kimchi and vegetable tempura.

There are no bad choices. The bulgogi is deep, rich, and full of spice; the huge pieces of Korean fried chicken are crunchy on the outside but not dry; and the crispy tofu matches perfectly with a sweet, tart plum sauce.

Sides go beyond kimchi and tempura (though both are incredible). There are dumplings, cheese wontons, and anything else the chef feels like putting out.

The build-your-own-bowl is Bae Bae’s main draw, but its menu knows no bounds. They cover boba tea, Vietnamese coffee, and Thai iced tea. There’s always something new — a Korean hot dog, grilled corn, deep fried avocado, brown butter cake — on the menu. Bae Bae’s is never boring.

•

BEST COOKIE

NANCY B’S BAKERY

415 W. Seventh Ave., West Homestead nancybsbakery.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Moio’s Italian Pastry Shop moios.com _________

3rd: Bethel Bakery bethelbakery.com

BEST CRAFT COCKTAIL

BEST DOG-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

HIDDEN HARBOR

GRIST HOUSE CRAFT BREWERY

1708 Shady Ave., Squirrel Hill hiddenharborpgh.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Mixtape mixtapepgh.com _________

3rd: Bar Marco barmarcopgh.com

4905 Penn Ave., Garfield glutenfreegoat.com

• • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • •

2nd: DDouble Wide Grill doublewidegrill.com doublewi

2nd: Onion Maiden

3rd:federalg Federal Fede Galley federalgalley.org

WHITFIELD AT ACE HOTEL PITTSBURGH

BEST DOWNTOWN DO LUNCH SPOT

CONDADO TACOS

120 S. Whitfield St., East Liberty whitfieldpgh.com

971 Libe Liberty Ave., Downtown Down condadotacos.com condado

• • • • • • • •

2nd: The Commoner at Kimpton Hotel Monaco thecommonerpgh.com _________

pittsburgh-william-penn

onionmaiden.com _________

3rd: Gluuteny Bakery gluuteny.com BEST FOOD-RELATED EVENT OR FESTIVAL

ST. NICHOLAS GREEK FOOD FESTIVAL

• • • • • • • •

stnickspgh.org

2nd: GGaucho Parrilla AArgentina eat-gaucho.com eat-gau

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Picklesburgh

3rd: Bae Ba Bae’s Kitchen Kitc baebaes.kitchen baebae

3rd: Little Italy Days

_________ ____

3rd: Speakeasy at Omnii William Penn Hotel omnihotels.com/hotels/

GLUTEN FREE GOAT BAKERY & CAFÉ

10 Sher Sherman St., Mil Millvale gristho gristhouse.com

_________ ____

BEST HOTEL BAR

BEST GLUTEN-FREE MENU

picklesburgh.com _________

littleitalydays.com

CONTINUES ON PG. 66

Come check out our Summer Specials on flowers!

Cavacini

Summer Is In Garden Center Full Bloom!

Coffee & Tea Specialist

ANNUAL FLOWERS • PETUNIAS • BEGONIAS • GERANIUMS

You Must See Our Variety of Trees & Shrubs, Hanging Baskets, Perennials & Vegetable Plants.

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK • DELIVERY SERVICE AVAILABLE 100 51st ST. • LAWRENCEVILLE • 4126872010 Off Butler Street. Across from Goodwill.

1719 Penn Ave • Strip District Over 200 Fresh Roasted Coffees & 300 Loose Teas

www.prestogeorge.com

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

65

FOOD AND DRINK, CONTINUED FROM PG. 65

BEST FOOD TRUCK

THE MAC ‘N’ GOLD TRUCK

macandgoldtruck.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: PGH Taco Truck pghtacotruck.com _________

BEST SOUP TO CURE A BAD DAY

3rd: Blue Sparrow

TRAM’S KITCHEN

bluesparrowpgh.com

BEST FRENCH FRIES

NOW - AUGUST 11 • BENEDUM CENTER • PITTSBURGHCLO.ORG

4050 PENN AVE., BLOOMFIELD

THE POTATO PATCH

• • • • • • • •

4800 Kennywood Blvd., West Mifflin kennywood.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: The Original Hot Dog Shop

There is no better cure for a bad ailment than good soup, and there is no better soup than a bowl of pho from Tram’s Kitchen. The broth is flavorful and comforting.

It’s salty, sweet, tangy, hearty, and everything else you could want. It’s great on a cold winter day, but worth sweating through in the summer too.

theoriginalhotdogshop.com _________

3rd: Point Brugge Café

BEST ICE CREAM

MILLIE’S HOMEMADE ICE CREAM

pointbrugge.com

BEST FRENCH RESTAURANT

POULET BLEU

Multiple locations millieshomemade.com • • • • • • • •

3517 Butler St., Lawrenceville pouletbleupgh.com

66

2nd: Page Dairy Mart

• • • • • • • •

TWO LOCATIONS: 1511 E. CARSON ST. SOUTH SIDE _______________ MONROEVILL MALL

2nd: Paris 66 Bistro paris66bistro.com

THREADSONCARSON.COM

thetwistedfrenchman.com

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

pagedairymart.net _________

_________

3rd: The Twisted Frenchman

3rd: Dave & Andy’s Homemade Ice Cream facebook.com/DaveNAndys

CONTINUES ON PG. 68

EVERY F*CKING WEDNESDAY

OPEN STAGE BAMBI

HOSTED BY

ALL ACTS WELCOME TO COMPETE SIGN UPS 11PM • SHOWS MIDNIGHT AUDIENCE PICKS THE WINNER

BLUE MOON BAR | 5115 BUTLER STREET | PGH, PA 15201 PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

67

FOOD AND DRINK, CONTINUED FROM PG. 66

BEST HAPPY HOUR

FEDERAL GALLEY

200 Children’s Way, North Side federalgalley.org • • • • • • • •

2nd: Condado Tacos condadotacos.com _________

3rd: Kaya kaya.menu

BEST HOT DOG

FRANKTUARY 3801 Butler St., Lawrenceville franktuary.com

CP PHOTO: JARED MURPHY

BEST OF PITTSBURGH

• • • • • • • •

2nd: D’s Six Pax & Dogz ds6pax.com

PITA MY SHAWARAMA

3rd: The Original Hot Dog Shop

BEST NEW FOOD TRUCK

_________

theoriginal hotdogshop.com

BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT

TAJ MAHAL

7795 McKnight Road, Ross Township tajmahalinc.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: People’s Indian Restaurant peoplesindian.com _________

3rd: Udipi Cafe zomato.com/ pittsburgh/ udipi-cafe-monroeville CONTINUES ON PG. 69

68

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

BY ALEX GORDON // ALEXGORDON@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

S

OME GOOD ADVICE for anybody

thinking about opening a food truck: keep it simple. Space is limited and even with the relatively low overhead of a mobile business (at least compared to brick-and-mortar), there’s no need to offer a diner-length menu on four wheels. Figure out what dishes work consistently well and give the people what they want.

That was the winning approach for this year’s Best Food Truck, Pita My Shawarma, which has kept its core menu to a svelte four items since opening last year. Clearly, the minimalist approach is working.

If you’re unfamiliar, shawarma is a Middle Eastern dish generally consisting of marinated meat cooked slowly on a spit, sliced thin, and served with vegetables and other garnishes in a pita wrap (it’s sort of a cousin to the gyro).

Pita My Shawarma’s “Modern Mediterranean” approach involves using fresh

ingredients for the garnishes (lettuce, tomatoes, pickled turnips), pita made fresh from Pitaland in Brookline, and letting the richness of the meat speak for itself.

pitamyshawarma.com

Back to that menu: There’s beef shawarma (bottom round roast beef with lettuce, tomatoes, pickled turnips, and lemon sesame sauce), chicken shawarma (chicken with lettuce, tomatoes, pickled turnips, and garlic sauce), hummus wrap (fresh hummus with garnishes, parsley, and olive oil), and fries served with a sesame-thyme seasoning. Whether for special events, catering, or just regular appearances around town, Pita My Shawarma delivers these four items with remarkable consistency, a testament to the simplicity

of the menu, the freshness of the ingredients, and the unbeatable formula for marinating meat overnight and cooking it slow the next day. (The meat and the wraps get a lot of love, and deservedly so, but the fries are easily some of the best in the city, food truck or otherwise.)

According to Pita My Shawarma’s owner Jason Taylor, the idea started “with an empty truck” (an old mail truck bought on auction) and “a book of his favorite Mediterranean recipes.”

The plan was to provide the city with the type of cuisine he craved and couldn’t find consistently, and on that front, he’s nailed it. In the short time the truck has been in business, word of mouth and love from the press have woken up Pittsburghers to the simple joys of slow-roasted meat, pickled turnips, and fresh pita. If this is what he can do in a year, we can’t wait to see what he does next.

•

BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT

BEST KID-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

DIANOIA’S EATERY

EAT’N PARK

SQUIRREL HILL 1900 Murray Ave. Tel 412-521-1313 Fax 412-521-1223

OAKLAND

Multiple locations eatnpark.com

328 Atwood St. Tel 412-621-6889 Fax 412-621-6890

• • • • • • • •

2549 Penn Ave., Strip District dianoiaseatery.com

2nd: Burgatory burgatorybar.com _________

• • • • • • • •

3rd: Mad Mex madmex.com

2nd: Piccolo Forno piccolo-forno.com

Mon-Thur 11am-10pm

/ Fri-Sat 11am-10:30 pm

BEST FOOD-DELIVERY SERVICE

_________

3rd: Alla Famiglia

GRUBHUB

allafamiglia.com

BEST JAPANESE RESTAURANT

grubhub.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: DoorDash doordash.com

UMAMI

_________

202 38th St., Lawrenceville umamipgh.com

3rd: Uber Eats ubereats.com

ON LIN E | PARTY RO OM TAKE OUT | DELIVERY | ORDER

BEST KOREAN FOOD

2nd: Nakama

BAE BAE’S KITCHEN

eatatnakama.com _________

littletokyo pittsburgh.com

BEST JUICE/ SMOOTHIE BAR

EAST END FOOD CO-OP 7516 Meade St., Point Breeze eastendfood.coop • • • • • • • •

2nd: The Pittsburgh Juice Company

(Call for Reservations)

www.sichuan-gourmet.com

• • • • • • • •

3rd: Little Tokyo Bistro

/ Sun Noon-10pm

951 Liberty Ave., Downtown baebaes.kitchen • • • • • • • •

2nd: Golden Pig

Do you have immunity? August serves as National Immunization Month. Stay healthy and protect yourselves and loved ones against Vaccine – Preventable Diseases such as: Measles, meningitis, HPV, and influenza. Contact your local PCP or come visit our walk in Immunization Clinic to get vaccinated.

facebook.com/yongsgoldenpig _________

3rd: Green Pepper facebook.com/greenpepperpgh

BEST LATE-NIGHT MENU

RITTER’S DINER

5221 Baum Blvd., Bloomfield rittersdinerpittsburgh.com • • • • • • • •

pittsburghjuice company.com _________

2nd: Primanti Bros. primantibros.com

3rd: Smoothie King

3rd: Mad Mex madmex.com

Attention Parents, the new school year is approaching fast. Make sure your child won’t miss the first day, by not having their required vaccinations administered.

_________

smoothieking.com

ACHD is here to help!

Hartley Rose Building, Entrance on Cherry Way 425 First Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Website: www.alleghenycounty.us/healthdepartment Phone: 412-578-8304

CONTINUES ON PG. 70

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

69

Eating Happily.

Leaving with Smile.

FOOD AND DRINK, CONTINUED FROM PG. 69

The True Taste of Thai

2018 MURRAY AVE. PGH, PA 15217

412-422-6767

WWW.TOOKTOOK98.COM

CP PHOTO: HEATHER MULL

BEST ASIAN FOOD: CHENGDU GOURMET BEST LOCAL BEER

GRIST HOUSE CRAFT BREWERY 10 Sherman St., Millvale gristhouse.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Voodoo Brewery voodoobrewery.com _________

3rd: East End Brewing Company eastendbrewing.com

BEST MEXICAN/ LATIN AMERICAN RESTAURANT

BEST MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT

GAUCHO PARRILLA ARGENTINA

SALEM’S MARKET AND GRILL

1601 Penn Ave., Strip District eat-gaucho.com

2923 Penn Ave., Strip District salemsmarketgrill.com

• • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Mad Mex madmex.com

2nd: B52 Cafe b52pgh.com

_________

3rd: Condado Tacos condadotacos.com CONTINUES ON PG. 72

70

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

_________

3rd: Pitaland pitaland.com

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

71

FOOD AND DRINK, CONTINUED FROM PG. 70

BEST LOCALLY MADE SPIRIT

WIGLE

Multiple locations wiglewhiskey.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Maggie’s Farm Rum maggiesfarmrum.com _________

3rd: Boyd and Blair boydandblair.com BEST MACARON

GABY ET JULES Multiple locations gabyetjules.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: La Gourmandine lagourmandinebakery.com _________

3rd: Jean-Marc Chatellier’s French Bakery jeanmarcchatellier.com

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

BEST OF PITTSBURGH

BEST MARGARITA

FEDERAL GALLEY

MAD MEX

Multiple locations madmex.com

BEST HAPPY HOUR

• • • • • • • •

2nd:roundcornercantina.com Round Corner Cantina _________

3rd: Condado Tacos condadotacos.com BEST MARTINI

OLIVE OR TWIST 140 Sixth St., Downtown olive-twist.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Acacia acaciacocktails.com _________

3rd: Bar Louie barlouie.com CONTINUES ON PG. 73

72

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

BY ALEX GORDON // ALEXGORDON@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

W

HEN FEDERAL GALLEY opened in 2017, the headlines focused entirely on the incubator format. And why wouldn’t they? Pittsburgh now had two restaurants from the Galley Group (Smallman Galley opened in the Strip District in 2015) to provide innovative, casual, delicious dining from a rotating lineup of amazing chefs. It’s a novel concept without feeling laboriously hip. It deserves the love.

But that attention meant that Federal Galley’s impressive bar program played second fiddle to the food during its first few months. Luckily, that’s changed. In the two years since opening, Federal Galley’s bar has become a favorite drinking spot for Pittsburghers and tourists alike.

And what better reflection of a great bar than a great happy hour?

200 Children’s Way, North Side. federalgalley.org

Happy hour at Federal Galley runs from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (which is rare, considering most happy hours are used to draw in guests at odd hours, and Friday after work is not an odd hour). On paper, the specials — half off all beer, cocktails, and wine — doesn’t seem all that special, but considering the creativity and breadth of the selections, it’s a standout in the city.

Seasonal cocktails are divided into Fruits and Flowers, Vegetal and Herbaceous, Bright & Citrus-forward, and Tropical & Booze-forward, with each section

thoughtfully kept to one or two options apiece. The beer selection goes for a deeper bench, with an average of 900 rotating beers being served on 25 taps throughout the year, from local favorites like Fat Head’s, Threadbare Cider, and Yellow Bridge Brewing, to national favorites like Harpoon to Evil Twin. Additional perks include a charity cocktail each month, with $1 from every sale going to a local charity (it’s Humane Animal Rescue in August).

The happy hour has been a wild success since Federal Galley opened, and a big part of that is the willingness to adapt to customer tastes, says Taylor Blocksom, brand and marketing manager for Federal and Smallman Galley.

“We are a bar program for the people,” says Blocksom. “We listen to the guests and provide for them what they want.”

•

BEST MILKSHAKE

BEST PIZZA

THE MILK SHAKE FACTORY

MINEO’S PIZZA HOUSE

Multiple locations themilkshakefactory.com • • • • • • • •

2128 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill and 713A Washington Road, Mount Lebanon mineospizza.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Burgatory burgatorybar.com _________

2nd:fiorispizzaria.com Fiori’s Pizzaria

3rd: Page Dairy Mart

3rd: Iron Born Pizza ironbornpizza.com

_________

pagedairymart.net

BEST OUTDOOR DINING BEST NEW FOOD TRUCK

PITA MY SHAWARMA

THE ABBEY ON BUTLER STREET 4635 Butler St., Lawrenceville theabbeyonbutler street.com

pitamyshawarma.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Pittsburgh Burrito Bus facebook.com/

• • • • • • • •

2nd:roundcornercantina.com Round Corner Cantina _________

pghburritobus _________

3rd (TIE): Nicky’s Thai Kitchen nickysthaikitchen.com

3rd: Main Squeeze Juice mainsqueeze juice412.com

_________

and The Café at the Frick thefrickpittsburgh.org/cafe

BEST NEW RESTAURANT

IRON BORN PIZZA

413 Grant Ave., Millvale ironbornpizza.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Condado Tacos, Lawrenceville condadotacos.com _________

3rd: Porked porkyourhunger.com CONTINUES NTINUES ON PG. PG 74

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

73

FOOD AND DRINK, CONTINUED FROM PG. 73

BEST PUB-GRUB

BEST RESTAURANT (DOWNTOWN AND VICINITY)

PIPER’S PUB

DIANOIA’S EATERY

1828 E. Carson St., South Side piperspub.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Big Jim’s

2549 Penn Ave., Strip District dianoiaseatery.com

bigjimsrestaurant.com _________

• • • • • • • •

3rd: Bigham Tavern

2nd: Condado Tacos condadotacos.com

bighamtavern.com

_________

BEST RESTAURANT BEER LIST

3rd: Nicky’s Thai Kitchen

D’S SIX PAX & DOGZ

nickysthaikitchen.com

BEST RESTAURANT (EAST)

NOODLEHEAD

1118 S. Braddock Ave., Regent Square ds6pax.com

242 S. Highland Ave., Shadyside noodleheadpgh.com

• • • • • • • •

2nd: The Urban Tap theurbantap.com _________

3rd: Sharp Edge Bistro sharpedgebeer.com

• • • • • • • •

CP PHOTO: HEATHER MULL

BEST MEXICAN/LATIN AMERICAN RESTAURANT AND BEST STEAKHOUSE: GAUCHO PARRILLA ARGENTINA CONTINUES ON PG. 75

2nd: Superior Motors superiormotors15104.com _________

3rd: Girasole 733copeland.com

Circus is a movement that fosters community, artistry, fitness, and joy in anyone adventurous enough to give it a try.

Our mission is to provide everyone an opportunity to be part of this movement.

IRON CITY CIRCUS ARTS • THE BREW HOUSE, SOUTHSIDE • 711 SOUTH 21ST STREET • PITTSBURGH, PA 15203 • 412-253-2512

74

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

BEST RESTAURANT FOR DESSERTS

THE CAFÉ AT THE FRICK

BEST RESTAURANT (NORTH)

FEDERAL GALLEY

7227 Reynolds St., Point Breeze thefrickpittsburgh.org/café • • • • • • • •

200 Children’s Way, North Side federalgalley.org

2nd: Poulet Bleu pouletbleupgh.com _________

• • • • • • • •

3rd: Onion Maiden onionmaiden.com

2nd: Nicky’s Thai Kitchen nickysthaikitchen.com _________

3rd: Burgatory

BEST ROOFTOP BAR

burgatorybar.com

SIENNA MERCATO

BEST RESTAURANT (SOUTH)

FIORI’S PIZZARIA

942 Penn Ave., Downtown siennamercato.com

103 Capital Ave., Dormont and 3801 Washington Road, McMurray fiorispizzaria.com

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Biergarten at the Hotel Monaco

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Piper’s Pub piperspub.com _________

monaco-pittsburgh.com _________

3rd: Dish Osteria and Bar dishosteria.com

newamsterdampgh.com

BEST RESTAURANT (WEST)

BEST SANDWICH

FOUR TWELVE PROJECT

3rd: New Amsterdam

PRIMANTI BROS.

988 Brodhead Road, Moon fourtwelveproject.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Industry Public House (North Fayette) industrypgh.com _________

3rd: Hyeholde Restaurant hyeholde.com

Multiple locations primantibros.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Gaucho Parrilla Argentina eat-gaucho.com _________

3rd: Triangle Bar & Grill trianglebarswissvale.com

CONTINUES ON PG. 76

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

75

FOOD AND DRINK, CONTINUED FROM PG. 75

BEST SEAFOOD

MONTEREY BAY FISH GROTTO

1411 Grandview Ave., Mount Washington montereybayfishgrotto.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Robert Wholey & Co. wholey.com _________

3rd: Off The Hook offthehookfish.com BEST STEAKHOUSE

GAUCHO PARRILLA ARGENTINA

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

BEST OF PITTSBURGH

1601 Penn Ave., Strip District eat-gaucho.com

APTEKA

• • • • • • • •

2nd:thecapitalgrille.com The Capital Grille

BEST VEGAN/VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT

_________

3rd: Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse fogodechao.com BEST SUNDAY BRUNCH

GRAND CONCOURSE

100 W. Station Square Drive, South Side grandconcourse restaurant.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Square Café square-cafe.com _________

3rd:dianoiaseatery.com DiAnoia’s Eatery CONTINUES ON PG. 77

76

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

BY EMILY WOLFE // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

W

HEN KATE LASKY and her

partner Tomasz Skowronksi started a pop-up peddling their Central and Eastern European vegan recipes a few years ago, they quickly started drawing hundreds of customers each night. The feedback was so intense and positive that it wasn’t hard for Lasky and Skowronski to decide to convert their pop-up into Apteka, Bloomfield’s dinner-only vegan restaurant.

“What we’ve been surprised by is how much the restaurant continues to grow,” Lasky says.

Eastern European cuisine is famous for poultry, sausages, and smoked ham, with plenty of sour cream and cheese mixed in — not the most obvious starting point for an all-vegan menu. But Apteka became instantly popular anyway, pioneering its own twist on Central and Eastern European dining.

Today, the restaurant regularly has

lines out the door as customers wait for their turn to order pierogies, borscht, or veggie schnitzel at the counter. As a Pittsburgh restaurant, of course, Apteka’s pierogies have to be a key draw. The restaurant has two varieties: one sauerkraut and mushroom, the other smoked cabbage and potato. Both are delicious.

4606 Penn Ave., Bloomfield. aptekapgh.com

It’s no surprise that in 2019, Pittsburghers chose Apteka as Pittsburgh’s best vegan or vegetarian restaurant for the second year in a row.

“We felt like we would be able to represent a lot of that through different ingredients and methods,” Lasky said.

“We have a smoker here, we just smoke

vegetables instead of meat. We do a lot of ferments and pickling, we make a yogurt out of cashew and almonds.

We’re still able to pull in a lot of the ideas and experience from that region without necessarily incorporating meat into it, and it still can be authentic.”

Both of the restaurant’s owners grew up in households where Central and Eastern European dishes were prepared regularly. While Lasky’s family has lived in Pittsburgh for several generations, their cooking has always borne traces of their Croatian roots.

And Skowronski is a first-generation Polish immigrant.

“We’re both from Pittsburgh and we’re really excited to do something here,” Lasky says. “We’re wholeheartedly trying to do this project really well, and that means utilizing this space as best as we can and really fleshing out our idea here.”

•

BEST SUSHI

UMAMI

202 38th St., Lawrenceville umamipgh.com • • • • • • • •

2nd:slipperymermaid.com The Slippery Mermaid _________

3rd: Nakama eatatnakama.com BEST TACO

CONDADO TACOS

971 Liberty Ave., Downtown condadotacos.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Las Palmas Pittsburgh Search “Las Palmas Pittsburgh” on Faceboook _________

3rd: Tako takopgh.com

BEST TEA SHOP

DOBRA TEA PITTSBURGH 1937 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill dobrateapgh.com • • • • • • • •

2nd:tupelohoneyteas.com Tupelo Honey Teas _________

3rd: Arnold’s Coffee & Tea arnoldsteapittsburgh.com BEST THAI RESTAURANT

NICKY’S THAI KITCHEN Multiple locations nickysthaikitchen.com

BEST VEGAN/VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT

APTEKA

MONDAY - SATURDAY 10 A.M. - 11 P.M. SUNDAY 12 P.M. - 5 P.M.

4606 Penn Ave., Bloomfield aptekapgh.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Onion Maiden onionmaiden.com _________

3rd:doublewidegrill.com Double Wide Grill BEST WINE LIST

BAR MARCO

2216 Penn Ave., Strip District barmarcopgh.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Alla Famiglia allafamiglia.com _________

3rd: The Pennsylvania Market thepamarket.com BEST WINGS

BIG SHOT BOB’S HOUSE OF WINGS Multiple locations bigshotbobs.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Bigham Tavern bighamtavern.com _________

7206 McKnight Rd Pittsburgh, PA 15237 (412)358-0200 20232 Route 19 Cranberry, Pa 16066 (724)779-2040

3rd: Fat Head’s Saloon fatheads.com

4960 Route 8 Allison Park, Pa 15101 (724)939-3275

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Noodlehead noodleheadpgh.com _________

3rd:smilingbananaleaf.com Smiling Banana Leaf

WWW.COOLVAPES.COM PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

77

78

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

People and

Places Meet our People.

The People at Central Outreach congratulate all the winners in this year’s reader poll! ?? /Gao] G a Yi ĹŻ { ?= /Ga { ? ME Ăľ] GaYM] i/MG Y]M'] E ĹŻ GM /Gao] G š { G , ?Y ĂŠĹś aĂľÂŠÂ˜Ä? ?ŠÒ£Ź ĹśMĹś ĹŻ Ä Ä?ĞƇĥÄ?ÄĄĆ‡ÄœÄœÄœÄœ PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

79

People and Places BEST ACTIVIST

PHAT MAN DEE phatmandeemusic.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Jasiri X jasirix.com _________

3rd:sisterspgh.org Ciora Thomas BEST ATTORNEY

PHIL DILUCENTE AND ASSOCIATES, LLC

PHOTO: PA.GOV

BEST OF PITTSBURGH

GISELE AND JOHN FETTERMAN

getphil.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: David J. Shrager shragerdefense.com

BEST PITTSBURGH POWER COUPLE

3rd:cozzalaw.com Rocco E. Cozza

BY RYAN DETO // RYANDETO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

_________

CONTINUES ON PG PG. 82

80

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

I

F YOU WERE to look at Gisele Fetterman’s social media and study her photos with her husband, John, you might think she doesn’t know what she’s doing. John is 6’8” and is constantly getting most of his head cropped out of Gisele’s photos. It looks amateurish, but in reality it is a long running joke, one that has been adapted by many others in the Pennsylvania social media world.

Both Gisele and John lean into it.

It’s the very nature of the joke that makes the Fettermans an obvious choice for Pittsburgh’s best power couple. The couple is well-known and hold high profile positions, yet remain adored by Pittsburgh readers. Their direct interactions with Pittsburghers and Pennsylvanians alike made the choice easy for Best Of voters. The

couple has been that way since they entered the public sphere, when John ran against the incumbent mayor of Braddock in 2005 and won by a single vote; he later ran in the Democratic primary to challenge Pat Toomey’s senate seat in 2016 and lost the nomination to Katie McGinty. But he later won the race for Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor in 2018.

Though the Fettermans have a powerful influence in the state, both maintain a very personal connection with people in the area. Even as lieutenant governor, John replies to just about anyone on Twitter. Gisele founded the nonprofit Free Store, co-founded by 412 Food Rescue, and snagged CP’s best activist award in 2017, but loves taking Instagram photos with fans or talking

in depth about immigration with critics.

They have maintained that commitment to making personal connections in their professional lives, too. John toured all 67 Pennsylvania counties in 2018, meeting with constituents on a listening tour about the possibilities of enacting recreational marijuana legislation in the state. Gisele has been in charge of water safety programs at the lieutenant governor’s mansion pool.

The couple doesn’t stay at the official residence, but they opened it to the public this year in hopes of providing a swimming pool to kids who normally don’t have access to one.

It’s that combination of power without pretension that Pittsburghers love. It’s what the Fettermans bring to the table.

Clearly the sign of a true power couple.

•

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

81

PEOPLE AND PLACES, CONTINUED FROM PG. 80

PROUDLY TATTOOING PITTSBURGH SINCE ‘94!

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

BEST LOCAL TV PERSONALITY: JEFF VERSZYLA

tattoo & piercing studio

Open Daily, 1pm-8pm walk-ins welcome, appointments recommended!

(412) 683-4320 5240 Butler St. Pgh, PA • 15201 @inkadinkadoo_tattoo

inkadinkadoo.net 82

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

BEST LOCAL BLOG

BEST PITTSBURGH POWER COUPLE

PITTSBURGH LESBIAN

GISELE AND JOHN FETTERMAN

CORRESPONDENTS pghlesbian.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Burgh Brides burghbrides.com _________

3rd: YaJagoff.com YaJagoff.com

BEST NONPROFIT

ANIMAL FRIENDS

562 Camp Horne Road, Ohio Township thinkingoutsidethecage.org

• • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Nicole Battle & Jarrett Tebbets _________ 3rd: Jasiri X and Celeste Smith

2nd: Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank pittsburghfoodbank.org

CONTINUES ON PG. 84

_________

3rd:sisterspgh.org SisTers PgH

PITTSBURGH’S #1 SOURCE OF PERSONALIZED LIVE CIRCUS ENTERTAINMENT!

WWW.PITTSBURGHCIRCUS.COM

HALF PRICE

DEALS! Go to

justpayhalfpittsburgh.com for half price deals!

als include:

Some of our de

Restaurants • Events • Family Fun Activities • And More!

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

83

PEOPLE AND PLACES, CONTINUED FROM PG. 82

BEST DAY TRIP

OHIOPYLE dcnr.pa.gov • • • • • • • •

2nd: Fallingwater fallingwater.org _________

3rd: Strip District stripdistrictneighbors.com

BEST FACIAL HAIR

BRETT KEISEL brettkeisel.com • • • • • • • •

2nd:billpeduto.com Mayor Peduto _________

3rd: Jason Renner facebook.com/jason.renner.10

BEST BIKE LANE

MONTOUR TRAIL

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

BEST OF PITTSBURGH

Runs from Clairton to Coraopolis montourtrail.org

JUJU SMITH-SCHUSTER

• • • • • • • •

BEST LOCAL SPORTS PERSONALITY

2nd: Penn Avenue Runs from Strip District to Downtown _________

3rd: North Park Runs around North Park Lake

BEST DANCER

WEIRD PAUL PETROSKEY weirdpaul.com • • • • • • • •

2nd:slowdanger slowdanger slowdanger.com _________

3rd: Mario Quinn marioquinn.com CONTINUES ON PG. 85

84

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

BY RYAN DETO // RYANDETO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

W

E FIRST FELL in love with Pitts-

burgh Steelers Wide Receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster because of his bike. As a rookie in 2017, SmithSchuster rode his bike to practice in the South Side. His earnestness, his pragmatism, and his dedication to the city were evident. Not to mention all those greenhouse gas emissions he was saving!

He was the perfect model of the new Pittsburgh, one that appreciated all the new bike lanes, but was also committed to its traditions, like making the Steelers a first-class football team.

Eventually, Smith-Schuster earned his driver’s license and ditched the bike, but stayed in Pittsburghers’ hearts because he’s shown he is still earnest, pragmatic, and dedicated on and off the field. In 2018, the Steelers players named him the team’s Most Valuable Player. He led

the team in total receptions (111) and total receiving yards (more than 1,400), surpassing Antonio Brown as the Steelers’ top receiver for the 2018 season.

teamjuju.com Brown didn’t take kindly to the transition to Smith-Schuster becoming Ben Roethlisburger’s leading target, and he insulted Smith-Schuster in a tweet by calling him out for a costly fumble Smith-Schuster had late in the 2018 season. Some back and forth ensued on Twitter between the two receivers, with Smith-Schuster taking the high road for the most part. Brown ended up being traded to Oakland and signing a large contract.

“All I ever did was show that man

love and respect from the moment I got to the league. I was genuinely happy for him too when he got traded to Oakland w/ a big contract, and now he takes shots at me on social media?” tweeted Smith-Schuster. “Crazy how big that ego got to be to take shots at people who show you love!”

Steelers fans by-and-large sided with Smith-Schuster and were happy to see Brown traded.

But Smith-Schuster’s actions off the field have earned him fans too. He has taken on a large role in the Pittsburgh philanthropic scene, giving to causes like Meals on Wheels and starting his own foundation. Naturally, he even hosted a charity bike ride last year.

We hope to see Smith-Schuster continue to rack up touchdowns, and some miles on his bike.

•

BEST LOCAL MASCOT

BEST LOCAL RADIO PERSONALITY

(TIE) MIKEY AND BIG BOB LARRY RICHERT 961kiss.iheart.com

ICEBURGH

Pittsburgh Penguins • • • • • • • •

2nd: The Pirates Pierogies Pittsburgh Pirates _________

3rd: Pirate Parrot Pittsburgh Pirates

kdkaradio.com • • • • • • • •

2nd:dve.iheart.com Randy Baumann

BEST LOCAL PODCAST

THRIFTY PODCAST

_________

3rd: Bubba starpittsburgh.radio.com

thriftypodcast.com BEST LOCAL INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT

• • • • • • • •

2nd:soundcloud.com/ Girls Running Shit

DAVE DICELLO

girlsrunningshit _________

instagram.com/davedicello • • • • • • • •

2nd: Chancelor Humphrey instagram.com/

3rd: Unprofessional Engineering unprofessionalengineering.com BEST LOCAL LEGEND

keeppittsburghdope _________

3rd: Pittsburgh Punk Rock instagram.com/pghpunkrock

MAC MILLER

pittsburghfoundation.org/ macmiller • • • • • • • •

BEST BUILDING

PHIPPS CONSERVATORY AND BOTANICAL GARDENS

1 Schenley Drive, Oakland phipps.conservatory.org • • • • • • • •

2nd: Rick Sebak wqed.org/rick-sebak _________

3rd: pghdad.com Pittsburgh Dad BEST HAIR

WEIRD PAUL PETROSKEY weirdpaul.com

2nd: Cathedral of pitt.edu Learning

• • • • • • • •

_________

2nd:twitter.com/ Phil Kessel

3rd: August Wilson African American Cultural Center aacc-awc.org

3rd: Cole Tucker twitter.com/cotuck

pkessel81 _________

CONTINUES ON PG. 86

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

85

PEOPLE AND PLACES, CONTINUED FROM PG. 85

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

BEST LOCAL MASCOT: ICEBURGH BEST LOCAL TV PERSONALITY

BEST LOCAL YOUTUBE ACCOUNT

JEFF VERSZYLA

PITTSBURGH DAD

pittsburghweathernow.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Rick Sebak wqed.org/rick-sebak _________

3rd: Sally Wiggin

BEST PUBLIC FOUNTAIN

youtube.com/pittsburghdad • • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Lily Whispers

2nd: Water Steps pga-sea.com/northshore

youtube.com/whisperslily _________

3rd: Courtney Raine youtube.com/courtneyraine

twitter.com/sallywiggin_

BEST PITTSBURGH EXPAT

BEST LOCAL TWITTER ACCOUNT

JEFF GOLDBLUM

DAVE DICELLO

riverfrontpark.htm _________

3rd: PPG Place ppgplace.com

JUJU SMITHSCHUSTER

twitter.com/teamjuju • • • • • • • •

2nd: Sidney Crosby nhl.com/player/sidney-crosby _________

3rd: Mike Lange nhl.com/penguins

BEST PUBLIC PARK

NORTH PARK

twitter.com/DaveDiCello

facebook.com/ goldblumofficial

303 Pearce Mill Road, Allison Park alleghenycounty.us

• • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Bill Peduto

2nd: Frick Park

2nd: Joe Manganiello

BEST RISING SUPERSTAR

GABBY BARRETT • • • • • • • •

gabbybarrettofficial.com

2nd: Benji.

twitter.com/billpeduto _________

facebook.com/joemanganiello _________

pittsburghparks.org _________

facebook.com/avatarbenji _________

3rd: John ‘Fu’ Jacob twitter.com/ImJustFu

3rd: Billy Gardell billygardell.com

3rd: Blue Slide Park pittsburghparks.org

3rd:vanessastclair.com Vanessa St. Clair

CONTINUES ON PG. 87

86

THE POINT

Point State Park, Downtown dcnr.pa.gov

BEST LOCAL SPORTS PERSONALITY

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

BEST PITTSBURGH FASHION ICON

BILLY PORTER facebook.com/ theebillyporter • • • • • • • •

2nd: Gisele Barreto Fetterman facebook.com/gisele.fetterman

BEST POLITICAL SIDEKICK

LT. GOVERNOR JOHN FETTERMAN johnfetterman.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Tippy the Dog

_________

(Corey O’Connor’s dog) twitter.com/coreyoconnorpgh _________

3rd: Sharon Needles sharonneedles.com

twitter.com/danielgilman

BEST PLACE TO VOLUNTEER

BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT

HUMANE ANIMAL RESCUE

CHRISTIAN WILHELM

6926 Hamilton Ave., Homewood and 1101 Western Ave., North Side humaneanimalrescue.org • • • • • • • •

2nd:412foodrescue.org 412 Food Rescue

3rd: Dan Gilman

cowdencreek.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Corey Kelly coldwellbankerhomes.com _________

_________

3rd: Brian Carothers remax.com

3rd: Animal Friends

BEST TOURIST ATTRACTION

thinkingoutsidethecage.org

BEST PUBLIC ART

RANDYLAND

1501 Arch St., North Side randy.land • • • • • • • •

2nd:jmraymer.com Jeremy Raymer _________

3rd: Baron Batch baronbatch.com

MOUNT WASHINGTON mwcdc.org • • • • • • • •

2nd: Incline duquesneincline.org q g _________

3rd: Kennywood kennywood.com

BEST PUBLIC BATHROOMS

RIVERS CASINO

777 Casino Drive, North Side riverscasino.com

2nd: Sheetz sheetz.com _________

3rd: William Penn Hotel omnihotels.com/ pittsburgh-william-penn

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

87

Thai & Burmese Specialties!

Noodle

4770 Liberty Ave 412.904.1640 padthainoodlepittsburgh.com

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Pad Thai

DINING OUT

SPONSORED LISTINGS FROM CITY PAPER ’S FINE ADVERTISERS

THIS WEEK’S FEATURED RESTAURANT

THE CAFÉ CARNEGIE 4400 FORBES AVE., OAKLAND 412-622-3225 THECAFECARNEGIE.COM An excellent dining experience from James Beard Semi-Finalist, Sonja Finn featuring a locally-focused menu, full service dining, and espresso and wine bar.

BAJA BAR & GRILL 1366 OLD FREEPORT ROAD, FOX CHAPEL 412-963-0640, WWW.BAJABARGRILL.COM The Baja Bar & Grill is the perfect destination any time of the year for dancing to live bands and taking in great entertainment every weekend. In addition, there’s good food along with amazing views of the Allegheny River and the Fox Chapel Marina.

BEA’S TACO TOWN 633 SMITHFIELD STREET, DOWNTOWN 412-471-8361, WWW.BEATAQUERIA.COM Authentic Mexican cuisine in the heart of Downtown Pittsburgh! Bea Taco Town offers tacos, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, and much more all with traditional recipes. Slow cooked meats and fresh vegetables prepared daily will have you coming back to try it all.

CARMELLA’S PLATES & PINTS 1908 EAST CARSON STREET, SOUTHSIDE 412-918-1215, CARMELLASPLATESANDPINTS.COM Featuring an upscale ambiance, Carmella’s is located in the heart of South Side, serving a variety of refined comfort cuisine for dinner and brunch. The décor features a lodge-like feel with a wood beamed cathedral ceiling, stained glass and open fireplace. A local purveyor delivers fresh ingredients daily, which are crafted into unique and inventive meals, served alongside a curated cocktail list and comprehensive wine selection.

COLONY CAFE 1125 PENN AVE., STRIP DISTRICT 412-586-4850 / COLONYCAFEPGH.COM Whether stopping in for a weekday lunch, an afternoon latte or after-work drinks with friends, Colony Cafe offers delicious house-made bistro fare in a stylish Downtown space.

EIGHTY ACRES 1910 NEW TEXAS ROAD, MONROEVILLE/PLUM 724-519-7304 / EIGHTYACRESKITCHEN.COM Eighty Acres Kitchen & Bar offers

88

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

a refined, modern approach to contemporary American cuisine with a strong emphasis on local, farm-totable products.

ELIZA HOT METAL BISTRO 331 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE, PITTSBURGH 412-621-1551, ELIZAHOTELINDIGO.COM Set on the site of former iconic iron works, Eliza Furnace, Eliza is an American Bistro exploring classic Pittsburgh flavors, beloved by those that worked the furnaces, combined with the fresh perspective and seasonal sourcing that define what we eat in our region today. Relax with great food, cocktails, and enjoy live entertainment on the rooftop bar.

LEON’S CARIBBEAN 823 E WARRINGTON AVE., ALLENTOWN 412-431-5366 / LEONSCARIBBEAN.COM Family owned and operated since December 2014. Here at Leon’s, we take pride in our recipes and quality of dishes. Simple menu with all the traditional dishes! Leon Sr. has been a chef for 30+ years, mastering the taste everyone has grown to love and can only get at Leon’s.

MERCURIO’S ARTISAN GELATO AND NEAPOLITAN PIZZA 5523 WALNUT ST., SHADYSIDE 412-621-6220 / MERCURIOSGELATOPIZZA.COM Authentic Neapolitan pizza, artisan gelato, and an inviting atmosphere are just a small part of what helps create your experience at Mercurio’s Gelato and Pizza in Pittsburgh.

It’s not your standard pizza shop; in fact, this isn’t a “pizza shop” at all.

PAD THAI NOODLE 4770 LIBERTY AVE, BLOOMFIELD 412-904-1640 PADTHAINOODLEPITTSBURGH.COM This new café in Bloomfield features Thai and Burmese specialties.

Standards like Pad Thai and Coconut Curry Noodle are sure to please. But don’t miss out on the Ono Kyowsway featuring egg noodle sautéed with coconut chicken, cilantro and curry sauce.

SUPERIOR MOTORS 1211 BRADDOCK AVE., BRADDOCK 412-271-1022 / SUPERIORMOTORS15104.COM Thoughtfully prepared food, drawing inspiration from Braddock, its people, its history, and its perseverance.

The cuisine best represents the eclectic style which has become a trademark of Chef Kevin Sousa. Fine dining in an old Chevy dealership with an eclectic, farm-to-table menu and a community focus.

TOOK TOOK 98 2018 MURRAY AVE., SQUIRREL HILL 412-422-6767 / TOOKTOOK98.COM Eating Happily. Leaving with Smile. The True Taste of Thai. Our goal is to provide the highest customer satisfaction as well as offering authentic Thai street food with Thai environment. Therefore, we have been working hard to bring exceptional dine-in experience to you. We offer variety of authentic Thai food, drinks, and desserts including smiling full-service with BYOB.

TOTOPO MEXICAN KITCHEN AND BAR 660 WASHINGTON ROAD, MT. LEBANON 412-668-0773 / TOTOPOMEX.COM Totopo is a vibrant celebration of the culture and cuisine of Mexico, with a focus on the diverse foods served in the country. From Oaxacan tamales enveloped in banana leaves to the savory fish tacos of Baja California, you will experience the authentic flavor and freshness in every bite. They also feature a cocktail menu of tequila-based drinks to pair the perfect margarita with your meal.

.FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 8

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

BY ROB BREZSNY // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Let’s enjoy a moment of poignant silence in honor of your expired illusions. They were soulful mirages: full of misplaced idealism and sweet ignorance and innocent misunderstandings. Generous in ways you may not yet realize, they exuded an agitated beauty that aroused both courage and resourcefulness. Now, as those illusions dissolve, they will begin to serve you anew, turning into fertile compost for your next big production.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Old rules and traditions about how best to conduct intimate relationship are breaking down.

New rules are still incubating. Right now, the details about how people express their needs to give and receive love seem to be riddles for which there are no correct answers. So what do you do?

How do you proceed with the necessary blend of confidence and receptivity? Can you figure out flexible strategies for being true both to your need for independence and your need for interdependence? I bring these ruminations to your attention, Libra, just in time for the “Transforming Togetherness” phase of your cycle.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): It’s time for your once-a-year shout-out to your most audacious possibilities. Ready? Go ahead and say, “Hallelujah! Hosanna! Happiness! Hooray for my brilliant future!” Next, go ahead and say, “I have more than enough power to create my world in the image of my wisest dreams.”

Now do a dance of triumph and whisper to yourself, “I’m going to make very sure I always know exactly what my wisest dreams are.”

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): During the next three weeks, I advise you to load up on copious amounts of caffeine from Monday at 8 a.m. until Friday at 6 p.m. Then drastically cut back on the coffee and consume large amounts of alcohol and/or marijuana from 6:01 p.m. on Friday through 6 p.m. on Sunday. This is the ideal recipe for success. JUST KIDDING! I lied.

Here’s the truth, Sagittarius: Astrological indicators suggest you would benefit from making the coming weeks be the most undrugged, alcoholfree time ever. Your potential for achieving natural highs will be extraordinary, as will your potential to generate crucial breakthroughs while enjoying those natural highs. Take advantage!

TAURUS (April 20-May 20):

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):

There’s an old Rosicrucian vow you might have fun trying out: “I pledge to interpret every experience that comes my way as a communication of God with my soul.” If you carry out this intention with relaxed playfulness, every bird song you hear is an emblem of Divine thought; every eavesdropped conversation provides hints of the Creator’s current mood; the shape that spilled milk takes on your tabletop is an intimation of eternity breaking into our time-gripped realm. In my years of offering you advice, I have never before suggested you try this exercise because I didn’t think you were receptive. But I do now. (If you’re an atheist, you can replace “God,” “Divine,” and “Creator” with “Life.”)

I am overjoyed that you’re not competing for easy rewards or comparing yourself to the mediocre crowd. Some people in your sphere may not be overjoyed, though. To those whose sense of self isn’t strong, you may be like an itchy allergen; they may accuse you of showing off or acting puffed up.

But freaks like me appreciate creative egotists like you when you treat your personality as a work of art. In my view, you’re a stirring example of how to be true to one’s smartest passions. Keep up the good work! Continue to have too much fun! I’m guessing that for now you can get away with doing just about anything you want as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone.

I don’t presume you should or will gleefully embrace the assignment I’ll propose. The task may indeed be too daunting for you to manage right now. If that’s the case, don’t worry. You’ll get another chance in a few months. But if you are indeed ready for a breathtaking challenge, here it is: Be a benevolent force of wild nature; be a tender dispenser of creative destruction; be a bold servant of your soulful dreams — as you demolish outmoded beliefs and structures that have been keeping a crucial part of your vitality shackled and latent.

results from your hesitation to love as deeply and openly and bravely as you could. Another 13 percent originates in an inclination to mistake some of your teachers for adversaries, and 21 percent from your reluctance to negotiate with the misunderstood monsters in your closet. But I suspect that fully 37 percent of your fear comes from the free-floating angst that you telepathically absorb from the other 7.69 billion humans on our planet. So what about the remaining four percent? Is that based on real risks and worth paying attention to? Yes! And the coming weeks will be an excellent time to make progress in diminishing its hold on you.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):

ARIES (March 21-April 19):

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):

I have cast a feisty love spell that will be triggered in anyone who reads the first line of this horoscope. And since you have done that, you are now becoming even smarter than you already were about getting the most out of your intimate alliances. You’re primed to experiment with the delights of feeling with your head and thinking with your heart. Soon you’ll be visited by revelations about any unconscious glitches that might be subtly undermining your togetherness, and you’ll get good ideas about how to correct those glitches. Astrological rhythms will be flowing in your relationships’ favor for the next seven weeks!

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): I estimate that about 25 percent of your fear

When it came time to write your horoscope, I was feeling unusually lazy. I could barely summon enough energy to draw up the planetary charts. I said a weak prayer to the astrological muses, pleading, “Please don’t make me work too hard to discover the message that Aries people need to hear; just make the message appear in my mind.” As if in response, a voice in my head said, “Try bibliomancy.” So I strolled to my bookcase, shut my eyes, pulled out the first book I felt and went to a random page. Here’s what I saw when I opened my eyes: “The Taoist concept of wu-wei is the notion that our creative active forces are dependent on and nourished by inactivity; and that doing absolutely nothing may be a good way to get something done.”

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Below are unheralded gifts possessed by many Geminis but not commonly identified by traditional astrologers: 1. a skill for deprogramming yourself: for unlearning defunct teachings that might otherwise interfere with your ability to develop your highest potentials; 2. a sixth sense about recognizing artificial motivations, then shedding them; 3. a tendency to attract epiphanies that show you why and how to break taboos that may once have been necessary but aren’t any longer; 4. an ability to avoid becoming overwhelmed and controlled by situations you manage or supervise.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): In 1993, I began writing a book titled The Televisionary Oracle. By 1995, I had generated over 2,000 pages of material that I didn’t like.

Although I was driven by a yearning to express insights that had been welling up in me for a long time, nothing about the work felt right. I was stuck. But finally, I discovered an approach that broke me free: I started to articulate difficult truths about aspects of my life about which I was embarrassed, puzzled, and ashamed. Then everything fell into place. The process that had been agonizing and fruitless became fluidic and joyful. I recommend that you try this strategy to dissolve any mental blocks you may be suffering from: dive into and explore what makes you feel ashamed, puzzling, or embarrassed. I bet it will lead to triumph and fulfillment, as happened for me.

GO TO REALASTROLOGY.COM TO CHECK OUT ROB BREZSNY’S EXPANDED WEEKLY AUDIO HOROSCOPES AND DAILY TEXT-MESSAGE HOROSCOPES. THE AUDIO HOROSCOPES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE BY PHONE AT 1-877-873-4888 OR 1-900-950-7700

Great Fall Line up of classes including: •FOODS OF BRAZIL 9/6• FOODS OF INDIA 9/27•SUSHI 9/28• •ITALIAN DESSERTS 9/21• •CREAM PUFFS & MERINGUES 9/24• For the kids: sushi making 9/21 & pasta making 9/28 •

Visit our website for a complete list of classes

309 EAST CARSON STREET • PGH, PA 15219 412.325.2703 • GAYNORSSCHOOLOFCOOKING.COM PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

89

Sponsored by

EARLY WARNINGS SPONSORED UPCOMING EVENTS FROM CITY PAPER’S FINE ADVERTISERS Photo © J. Fasano

WED., AUG. 21 POPA CHUBBY 6 P.M. JERGEL’S RHYTHM GRILLE WARRENDALE. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. $14-25.

724-799-8333 or ticketfly.com.

WED., AUG. 21 OFF WITH THEIR HEADS W/ SINGLE MOTHERS

SUN., AUG. 25 THE BACON BROTHERS

8 P.M. MR. SMALLS THEATRE MILLVALE. $14. 412-421-4447 or mrsmalls.com.

THU., AUG. 22 TED LEO AND THE PHARMACISTS 8 P.M. SPIRIT LAWRENCEVILLE. All-ages event. 20 412-586-4441.

THU., AUG. 22 TAB BENOIT 6 P.M. JERGEL’S RHYTHM GRILLE WARRENDALE. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. $35-49.

724-799-8333 or ticketfly.com. With special guest The Whiskey Bayou Revue.

JERGEL’S RHYTHM GRILLE WARRENDALE.

FRI., AUG. 23 THE BORSTAL BOYS 8 P.M. THUNDERBIRD CAFÉ & MUSIC HALL LAWRENCEVILLE. 21 and up. $10-12.

412-331-1050 or roxianlive.com

SAT., AUG. 24 CHRIS YOUNG: RAISED ON COUNTRY TOUR 7:30 P.M. KEYBANK PAVILION BURGETTSTOWN. $32.25-87.

724-947-7400 or livenation.com.

THU., AUG. 22 INDIAN HILL MEADOW TOUR

SAT., AUG. 24 TWILIGHT PICNIC

6:30 P.M. BOYCE PARK PLUM. Free event. alleghenycounty.us/parks

7 P.M. HARTWOOD ACRES PARK. $250 .alleghenycounty.us/parks

THU., AUG. 22 BONE THUGS-N- HARMONY

SAT., AUG. 24 ULTIMATE LIVER FUNCTION!

8 P.M. MR. SMALLS THEATRE MILLVALE. All-ages event. $33. 412-421-4447 or mrsmalls.com. With special guests Lyn Starr, Jayy Braxx, and Treble.

5 P.M. ROXIAN THEATRE MCKEES ROCKS. 18 and up. $50.

412-331-1050 or roxianlive.com

FRI., AUG. 23 THE CADILLAC THREE 6 P.M. JERGEL’S RHYTHM GRILLE WARRENDALE. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. $22-35.

724-799-8333 or ticketfly.com.

FRI., AUG. 23 INPAX 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY INPAX MCCANDLESS. 724-759-7571 or livewithconfidence.com.

SAT., AUG. 24 WORKING BREED & CELLO FURY 7 P.M. THUNDERBIRD CAFÉ & MUSIC HALL LAWRENCEVILLE. 21 and up. $12.

412-331-1050 or roxianlive.com

SUN., AUG. 25 I SEE STARS (ACOUSTIC) 6 P.M. CRAFTHOUSE SOUTH HILLS. All-ages event. $15-20.

412-653-2695 or ticketfly.com.

SUN., AUG. 25 THE BACON BROTHERS 6 P.M. JERGEL’S RHYTHM GRILLE WARRENDALE. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. $34-49.

724-799-8333 or ticketfly.com.

With special guest Lauren Lucas.

SUN., AUG. 25 VANDOLIERS 7:30 P.M. HARD ROCK CAFE STATION SQUARE. $8-10. 412-481-ROCK or ticketfly. com. With special guests Gary Burk III and Dylan Rooke.

SUN., AUG. 25 ROCK, REGGAE, & RELIEF 4 P.M. REVEL + ROOST DOWNTOWN. All-ages event. $15-275. universe.com

SUN., AUG. 25 +LIVE+ & BUSH THE ALTIMATE TOUR 6 P.M. STAGE AE NORTH SHORE. $55-130.

412-229-5483 or ticketmaster.com.

TUE., AUG. 27 ROB THOMAS 7 P.M. BENEDUM CENTER DOWNTOWN. $39.50-232.50.

412-456-6666 or trustarts.org

TUE., AUG. 27 KENNY PEAGLER TRIO 5 P.M. AGNES KATZ PLAZA DOWNTOWN. Free event. 412-456-6666 or trustarts.org

FOR UPCOMING ALLEGHENY COUNTY PARKS EVENTS, LOG ONTO WWW.ALLEGHENYPARKS.COM 90

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER

CLASSIFIEDS FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIEDS ADVERTISEMENT, CALL 412-316-3342

FOR SALE 35 -40 secluded acres in Crawford county. Beaver damn for fishing in center of property. Easily accessible by old well site road.

Drilled water well sufficient for 3 houses. Prime white tail deer hunting.

Serious inquires only.

Phone 814-789-3361

HELP WANTED

REHEARSAL

ATTIC SALE

ROOMMATES

WANTED! 36 PEOPLE

Rehearsal Space

to Lose Weight. 30-day money back guarantee.

Herbal Program. Also opportunity to earn up to $1,000 monthly. 1-800-492-4437 www.myherbalife.com

starting @ $150/mo.

Many sizes available, no sec deposit, play @ the original and largest practice facility, 24/7 access.

412-403-6069

Flea Mkt. & Consignment Shop. Sat. 10th - every Sat. Junk From Trunk Sale Sun 11th - every 2nd Sun. of the month on Outside Lot Cost: 1 space $5.00, add’l space $4.00. Both events 9a-1p Farmers Mkt Bldg. 344 N. Sheridan Ave., 15206 (2nd floor & next to Home Depot) FREE Parking & Admission *5% disc for students. Items: Lamps, Chairs, Tables, Vacuums, Dishes, Furniture, Storage Bins, Records, Computers, and much more. Tarot Card Reader creating Psychic Pictures. Space Avail: Events, Performances, Meetings. Questions / Inquires Call: 412-301-1234 or email attic2fl@comcast.net

ALL AREAS Free Roommate Service @ RentMates.com.

Find the perfect roommate to complement your personality and lifestyle at RentMates.com!

(AAN CAN)

HELP WANTED

MISCELLANEOUS

HEALTHCARE/MEDICAL

Sodexo is now hiring for positions in our Award Winning Café and Catering department at Phipps Conservatory. BANQUET SERVERS, DISHWASHERS, HOUSEKEEPRS AND COOKS. Interested candidates can call 412-315-0644 or email Mary.Story@sodexo.com

HughesNet Satellite Internet - 25mbps starting at $49.99/mo! FAST download speeds. WiFi built in! FREE Standard Installation for lease customers! Limited Time, Call 1-800-490-4140 (AAN CAN)

Has your career stalled?

Interested in the medical field? Advance your career today, train to become a medical scribe! Self paced online training course.

Receive your certificate in as little as 60 days.

Healthcarescribes.com

HELP WANTED Assistant to Director for Retention and Evaluation Duquesne University seeks an Assistant to Director for Retention and Evaluation to work in Pittsburgh, PA and provide data analysis and interpret information for the purpose of evaluation of students, staff, instructors, programs, activities, and instructional methods. Send resume and cover letter to careers@duq.edu

NEW AUTHORS WANTED! Page Publishing will help you self-publish your own book. FREE author submission kit! Limited offer! Why wait?

Call now: 888-231-5904 (AAN CAN)

HELP WANTED

MISCELLANEOUS

Phipps Conservatory will be holding OPEN INTERVIEWS for GUEST SERVICE ASSOCIATES (PT) from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Thursdays July 25, August 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 plus Saturday, August 24 from 10 am – 3 pm.

Permanent positions, as well as seasonal opportunities for the upcoming holiday season, are available.

Interested candidates should come to the Welcome Center located at One Schenley Park, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, with a cover letter and resume. For more information, visit www.phippsjobs.org.

HELP WANTED ENGINEERING Aurora Innovation is accepting resumes for System Engineer in Pittsburgh, PA. Architect and define behavioral and performance requirements for electrical, mechanical, and software systems and subsystems.

15% Domestic travel required. Mail resume to Aurora Innovation, Attn: Staffing Dept, 1880 Embarcadero Road Palo Alto, CA 94303. Must reference Ref. PV-SE.

EMPLOYMENT

Lung Cancer?

And Age 60+? You And Your Family May Be Entitled To Significant Cash Award. Call 844-898-7142 for Information. No Risk. No Money Out Of Pocket.

(AAN CAN)

TIGER SPA Best of the Best in Town!

420 W. Market St., Warren, OH 44481 76 West, 11 North, 82 West to East Market Street.

End of downtown Warren, on right hand side.

Open 8am-12 midnight 7 days a week!

Licensed Professionals Dry Sauna, Table Shower, Deep Tissue, Swedish

330-373-0303 Credit Cards Accepted

Bring this ad for a special treat!

NAME CHANGE

NAME CHANGE

NAME CHANGE

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-19-8917. In re petition of Salvador James Azzarello for change of name to James David Azzarello.

To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 19th day of August, 2019, at 9:45 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

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-19-9929, In re petition of Melissa Noel Longmore parent and legal guardian of Alan Voughn Comedy III, for change of name to Tobin Alan Comedy Longmore.

To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 21st day of August, 2019, at 9:45 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

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-19-9456, In re petition of Xiuchang Ann Huang parent and legal guardian of Grace Bing Zhou and Jason Hao Zhou, for change of name to Xiuchang Ann Huang, Grace Bing Zhou and Jason Hao Zhou. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 6th day of September, 2019, at 9:45 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

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

91

MASSAGE M2M by Dallas Same Day Appt.

412-494-8170 MASSAGE! 412-807-0140

ADULTS ONLY

HEALTH SERVICES MAKE THE CALL TO START GETTING CLEAN TODAY. Free 24/7 Helpline for alcohol & drug addiction treatment. Get help! It is time to take your life back! Call Now: 855732-4139 (AAN CAN)

GO HAM

BY BRENDAN EMMETT QUIGLEY // WWW.BRENDANEMMETTQUIGLEY.COM

Mature Lady Veronica PHONE Non-sexual role Connect instantly with play, etc.

412-339-4374 sexy local singles. No NAMASTE! Find a healthy balance of the mind, body and spirit with one of our massage therapists, yoga, or spa businesses!

HEALTH SERVICES Struggling with DRUGS or ALCOHOL? Addicted to PILLS? TALK TO SOMEONE WHO CARES. Call The Addiction Hope & Help Line for a free assessment. 800-978-6674 (AAN CAN)

MISCELLANEOUS HEAR AGAIN! Try our hearing aid for just $75 down and $50 per month!

Call 866-787-3141 and mention 88271 for a risk free trial! FREE SHIPPING! (AAN CAN)

paid operators, just real people like you.

Free Now! 412-5661861 Livelinks 18+ VIBELINE 412-235-6296 Black singles find your soul mate. CHAT NOW 18+, Make a Connection with Real People.

ALL MALE HOT flirtyGAY HOOKUPS! Call FREE! 412-325-0019 GuySpy 18+ WHERE REAL GAY MEN MEET for UNCENCENSORED fun! Connect in a safe and discrete environment! Browse and Reply for FREE 412-894-0171 18+

ACROSS 1. Tests for future Wharton graduates: Abbr.

6. Union breaker 10. Test sites 14. Very strange 15. Danish shoe brand 16. Somewhat 17. Ellen who was the first Hispanic female astronaut 18. Repeat “breaker breaker 1-9” and “you want to give me a 10-9 on that pig pen”?

20. School whose mascot drives a Model T? 22. That over there, Tomas 23. Pasta suffix 24. Relating to birth 26. Dancing while covering your face 29. Crucial 31. The same partner 32. ___ Koothrappali (“The Big Bang Theory” character) 33. University of Michigan football coach Harbaugh 34. Toledo’s lake 35. Yellow fruit makes fun of you?

38. Small plot 40. Broheim 41. Old t-shirt’s new purpose 42. Sinn Féin leader Mary ___ McDonald 43. It’s got a little charge

92

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

44. Way, way, way back in the past 48. 2001 Nobel Peace Prize co-winner 50. “How Bizarre” band 51. “Issues in the News” radio station: Abbr.

52. Employ glissando in the style of guitar god Jeff?

57. Kids in a ship’s jail?

58. Weasley family Owl in Harry Potter novels 59. Tehran coin 60. One with an avatar 61. Fine hosiery material 62. Wings leftover 63. Kind of terrier 64. Like a no-tell motel

DOWN 1. Fooled (around) 2. Lubricating membrane 3. Pulsating 4. Walked (on) 5. The Chargers retired his number 55 6. Dating 7. Number of days of the year in 2020, if we ignore April and November and put that number into Roman numerals 8. Soreness 9. Party pooper 10. Anatomical lips 11. Getaway drivers and lookouts, e.g.

12. Spicy Indian rice dish

13. Haloed sorts: Abbr.

19. “Our House” band, initially 21. Lego toy line with a martial arts theme 25. Moh’s “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood” role 27. Highlands hill 28. Royals closer Kennedy 29. Kourtney, Khloe, Kendall, and Kylie’s sister 30. Genre for The Get Up Kids and Funeral For A Friend 33. Blue bird 34. Hosp. diagnostics 35. Resident of Bandar Seri Begawan

36. She’s got a habit 37. Soda container 38. In the style of 39. With vigor, in music 43. Memorial Day race, briefly 44. Political escapee 45. Not open (to) 46. Start losing a lot 47. She had a sure shot 49. Geometry measurement 50. “Baseball Tonight” analyst Buster 53. Short people’s reminders 54. Narwhal feature 55. Fish caught in pots 56. Runny cheese 57. “Stepping away for a moment,” briefly LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

93

PEEPSHOW A sex and social justice column

BY JESSIE SAGE // PEEPSHOWCAST@GMAIL.COM

I

WAS IN the Netherlands the first

time I went to a swinger club.

Neither my partner at the time nor I had been to Europe, and we had certainly never been to a sex club.

Without really knowing what we were getting into, we got dressed up and were excited for an adventure.

Our taxi dropped us off at a mansion in a secluded area where we were greeted by a guide who registered us, shared a few ground rules, and gave us a tour. After a few drinks, we wandered to the upstairs rooms where couples and groups were engaged in various sexual activities, from flirting to screwing.

I sat down to people-watch when a very sexy and buxom woman came and sat next to me. Without saying anything, she looked at me intensely and then kissed me. When we were done kissing, she gave me a sly smile and while she walked away she said in French, “bonsoir.”

While the whole scene was extraordinarily hot, it was also really confusing.

Was it the norm for people to start making out without asking consent?

What did my partner think of what just happened? Should I follow her and try to talk to her? Or should I just sit there stunned? (This is ultimately what I did.)

While that experience turned out to be sexy and fun, going into a club like that without having a sense of

IF YOU DON’T YET KNOW WHAT YOU WANT, IT IS ALSO OKAY TO SPEND SOME TIME IN THE SPACE AND SEE WHAT FEELS EXCITING TO YOU, IF ANYTHING. what to expect, what your boundaries are, and what you hope to get out of it can be an overwhelming (and possibly negative) experience. Here are a few things to keep in mind and talk to your partner(s) about before embarking on a similar adventure.

While that particular club was in Europe, the ones that I have since been to in the U.S. and Canada, including one here in Pittsburgh, share similar features. There tends to be a bar and a dance floor; one or more big open spaces for group sex; an area with

BDSM equipment; and rooms with doors that you can close if you want privacy, or leave open if you feel like being an exhibitionist.

What this should tell you is that people enter into these spaces for a variety of reasons. While one person may desire to be seen having sex with their partner, another may want the energy of an orgy, and another may be interested in meeting someone new for an anonymous rendezvous (and this is by no means an exhaustive list).

Thinking about what sort of experience you want to have and clearly communicating it with your partner(s) and those you interact with at the club is important. If you don’t yet know what you want, it is also okay to spend some time in the space and see what feels exciting to you, if anything.

I would even suggest, as a new person, that you give yourself latitude to enjoy the energy of the room without feeling pressure to directly participate. You can still have fun at the pool table, bar, dance floor, hot tub, or as a spectator in some of the public areas.

There are any number of ways to enjoy the excitement of the space and to feed your erotic imagination. But the most important thing is that you listen to your own desires, honor your boundaries, and communicate openly with your partner(s).

•

JESSIE SAGE IS CO-HOST OF THE PEEPSHOW PODCAST AT PEEPSHOWPODCAST.COM. HER COLUMN PEEPSHOW IS EXCLUSIVE TO PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER. FOLLOW HER ON TWITTER @PEEP_CAST. HAVE A SEX QUESTION YOU’RE TOO AFRAID TO ASK? ASK JESSIE! EMAIL INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM. QUESTIONS MAY BE CONSIDERED FOR AN UPCOMING COLUMN.

Pittsburgh’s lone liberal talkshow host for 30+ years Listen live Monday thru Thursday at 10 a.m. at lynncullen.pghcitypaper.com 94

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

JADE

Free testing HIV • stD • hep c confidential

Wellness Center Services are offered to everyone, regardless of identity, income, or insurance status.

Start taking your life back

1789 S. Braddock Ave, #410 Pittsburgh, PA 15218 To make an appointment: (412) 247-2310

NOW OPEN IN SOUTH SIDE Locations in Monroeville, Wexford and South Side, PA

Dr. Stacy Lane, D.O. • 412-515-0000

Premiere, Family Owned and Operated Outpatient Drug and Alcohol Treatment:

GOT HEPATITiS C ?

GET THE CURE.

metrocommunityhealthcenter.org

NEW Office in Export/Greensburg offering integrative psychiatry:

• SUBOXONE • VIVITROL • Group and Individualized Therapy

Suboxone, Vivitrol, personalized detox.

NORTH SHORE LOCATION

Premier. Private. Affordable.

Immediate Openings Call today 412-668-4444 5855 Steubenville Pike Robinson Twp., PA 15136

341 Story Rd. Export, PA 15632

journeyhealthcare.com

• ALL INSURANCES ACCEPTED • WALK INS WELCOME • tRANSPORATION PROGRAM • NO INSURANCE? WE CAN HELP

NO WAIT LIST Accepts all major insurances and medical assistance

CALL NOW TO SCHEDULE

412-380-0100 www.myjadewellness.com

Gain the confidence and coping skills you need to address life on life’s terms.

127 Anderson Street - Suite 101 Timber Court Building, PIttsburgh, PA 15212 Phone: (412) 322-4151

WASHINGTON, PA LOCATION 95 Leonard Avenue - Suite 203 Washington PA 15301 Phone: (724) 249-2517

Addiction and mental health difficulties don’t have to define you forever.

If you’re ready to embark on a journey free from active addiction and mental health struggles, our certified therapists are ready to help you.

• Opioid Dependency Counseling • Alcohol Counseling • Depression • Anxiety • Anger Management • OCD

1. Group / Individual Counseling RENEW YOUR IDENTITY AT POSITIVE PATHWAYS

2. Suboxone / Vivitrol Treatment.

3. Hepatitis C Treatment 4. Psychiatrists on Staff

WWW.POSITIVEPATHWAYSPA.COM Your pathway to a fresh start and new way of thinking begins with a phone call.

We Accept:

CALL NOW: 412-224-2812 PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 7-14, 2019

95

Traditional Thai since 2007

Nicky’s Thai Kitchen

VOTED BEST THAI RESTAURANT FOR THE PAST 8 YEARS! New Expansion Downtown

Downtown

Expanded Bar Original Cocktails Delicious Sake Local Beers Outdoor Dining North Hills

Covered Patio Garden on Northside

Full Bar-Expanded Selection

BYOB-Free corkage on first bottle!

Northside

North Hills

903 Penn Ave Pgh, PA 15222 412.471.8424

856 Western Ave Pgh, PA 15233 412.321.8424

1026 Mt. Nebo Rd Pgh, PA 15237 412.438.8424

Full Bar-Expanded Selection

Open for Lunch and Dinner at all locations See website for Hours, Take out menus and now DELIVERY!

www.nickysthaikitchen.com