December 23, 2020 - Pittsburgh City Paper

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DEC. 23, 2020-JAN. 6, 2021 VOLUME 29 + ISSUE 52 Editor-In-Chief LISA CUNNINGHAM Director of Advertising JASMINE HUGHES Director of Operations KEVIN SHEPHERD News Editor RYAN DETO Senior Writer AMANDA WALTZ Staff Writers HANNAH LYNN, JORDAN SNOWDEN Photographer/Videographer JARED WICKERHAM Editorial Designer ABBIE ADAMS Graphic Designers JOSIE NORTON, JEFF SCHRECKENGOST Sales Representative ZACK DURKIN, OWEN GABBEY Operations Coordinator MAGGIE WEAVER Circulation Manager JEFF ENGBARTH Featured Contributors REGE BEHE, LYNN CULLEN, TERENEH IDIA, CHARLES ROSENBLUM Interns NARDOS HAILE, LAKE LEWIS, KYLIE THOMAS National Advertising Representative VMG ADVERTISING 1.888.278.9866 OR 1.212.475.2529 Publisher EAGLE MEDIA CORP. In memory of ALEX GORDON 1987-2020

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COVER PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM LETTERING: ABBIE ADAMS

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Pittsburghers who made a difference in 2020

BY CP STAFF // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

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UST OVER A WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS, after months on the frontlines caring for

people during the pandemic, five Pittsburgh hospital workers became the first recipients in the city, and among the first in the nation, to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. In a city that ranks among the top for health care jobs in the country, it would be a mistake not to recognize the heroics of Pittsburgh’s brave doctors, nurses, and other health care workers in our People of the Year issue. We hope you’ll join us in giving them our sincere gratitude for not only the work they’ve done, but the work they’ll continue to do to care for our friends, family, and neighbors during these unprecedented times.

But for this year’s People of the Year issue, we have also found unsung heroes of the pandemic outside of hospital walls. A group of volunteers who worked nonstop to make sure frontline workers were protected. Organizations and businesses who found ways to adapt to never-before-seen financial and physical limitations.

And this year brought more than just the coronavirus pandemic. Following the police killings of Breonna Taylor in March and George Floyd in May, the world also faced one of the largest civil rights battles of our lifetimes, with Black Lives Matter protests taking to the streets, demanding long overdue equal rights. For our People of the Year issue, we’re recognizing a local activist group who helped fight for the cause here in Pittsburgh and a young entrepreneur who boosted Black businesses throughout the city.

We’re also highlighting a writer who began the year publishing one book and ended the year by publishing a second, to much critical acclaim; an arts group who boosted its community while growing its brand; a journalist who became a one-woman labor movement; and a politician who inspires as he leads. We invite you to check out all 10 of this year’s People of the Year winners in Politics, Theater, Visual Arts, Literature, Activism, Business, Food and Drink, Health, Music, and Labor. During our reporting throughout 2020, we’ve found Pittsburgh to be a city full of heroes, from those inspirational folks working every day in our hospitals, to the people making our food, to the people creating the artwork we admire, to the people fighting for all of our rights into the new year.

Here at Pittsburgh City Paper, we’re ending this year hoping 2021 is a better one than the last for all of you.

Activism - 4 Labor - 6 Business - 8 Health - 10 Literature - 14 Visual Arts - 18 Theater - 20 Music - 22 Politics - 24 Food - 26

— The editorial staff of Pittsburgh City Paper, this year’s People of the Year selection committee

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DECEMBER 23, 2020 - JANUARY 6, 2021

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CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

PITTSBURGH’S PEOPLE OF THE YEAR

ACTIVISM.

1HOOD 1hood.org

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HERE WASN’T 1HOOD this year? The activist organization had a presence at dozens of Black Lives

Matter protests throughout Pittsburgh, and served as an ally for other burgeoning activists. 1Hood also accomplished an extensive Get Out The Vote effort for the 2020 election cycle, using live forums on social media and events near satellite voting offices in Allegheny County as a way to encourage people to vote early and turn in mail-in ballots. In April, 1Hood distributed thousands of KN95 masks to essential workers in Pittsburgh because “the virus is disproportionately impacting Black and Brown people across the country, some of whom do not have access to personal protective equipment,” according to CEO Jasiri X. The organization also started a Virtual Town Hall, broadcast weekly on Facebook and YouTube, to help address Black Pittsburghers’ concerns about the pandemic, with health experts, scholars, and activists helping to break down issues and provide answers. Their activism throughout this year has been accessible, and multifaceted.

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING LOCAL JOURNALISM

Thank you to the following readers who have signed up for Pittsburgh City Paper’s new membership campaign Aaron Aupperlee Aaron Jentzen Abbey Farkas Abby Cook Abby Kuftic Abigail Gardner Abigail Hunter Abigail Noyce Adam Hart Adam Knoerzer Adam Schweigert Adam Shuck Addi Twigg Adeline Lord Al Hoff Alaina Cauchie Alan Cox Alan Sisco Alan Steinberg Albert Presto Alec Magnani Alex Blackman Alex Friedman Alex LaFroscia Alex McCann Alex Walsh Alexandra Hiniker Alexandria Rizzo Alexis Johnson Alison Marchioni Allen Ellis Allison Rowland Amanda Komar Amanda McAllen Amy Bayer Amy Bilkey Amy Hartman Amy Klodowski Amy Loveridge Amy Montgomery Amy Scanlon Amy Walker AmyJo Sanders Andrea Boykowycz Andrea Laurion Andrea Loew Andrea Lynn Andrew Bloomgarden Andrew Brown Andrew Conte Andrew Davis Andrew Hayhurst Andrew Mulkerin Andrew Seymour Andy Collins Andy Faulhaber Andy Mowrey Andy Terrick Angelos Tzelepis Anita Napoli Anna Reilly Anna Samuels Anni Riwen Sweetser Anthony Roscoe April Gilmore April McCann Ariel Zych Arielle Eyers Arla White Arlan Hess Arvind Suresh Ashleigh Bartges Ashley Kenawell Ashley Olinger Barbara Johnson Barbara Valaw Barbara Weaver Becca Tasker Ben Panko Ben Wilson Benjamin Weaver Bennett Aikin

Beth Boroumand Beth Newman Beth Nolle Beth Wickerham Bethany Davis Bethany Hallam Bethany Hockenberry Betsy Yates Bill Lazur Bob Heister Brandy Hadden Breanna Jay Brentin Mock Brett Scruton Brett Yasko Brian Kaleida Brian Kell Brian Kelly Brian Lysell Brian Stoots Brittany Fagan Brittney Chantele Brooke Strosnider Bryan Routledge Caitlin O’Connor Caitlin Virtue Campbell Robertson Cara & Bill Blumenschein Carlin Christy Carol Fraley Carol Pickerine Carolyn Biglow Carolyn Hall Carolyn Regan Carrie Blazina Carrie Roy Cassandra Masters Cassia Priebe Cassidy Turner Catherine Simpson Catherine Straka Cathy Elliott Chad Efaw Chad Vogler Charles Anthony Charles McMichael Chloe Bark Chris Belasco Chris Flyer Chris Gillotti Chris Ivey Chris Mueller Chris Potter Chris Sichi Chris Watts Chris Whissen Christen Cieslak Christian Resch Christina Barry Christine Dvonch Christopher Briem Christopher Peplin Christopher Perez Christy McGuire Chuck Kowalski Chuck Pascal Cindy Hudson Clare & Dennis Pawloski Cody Schalk Colby King Cole Gleason Coleman Lamb Cortney Bouse Courtney Ehrlichman Cory Mailliard Costa Samaras Cristy Gross Curt Conrad Dan Gardner Dan Kaufmann Dana Bell Dana Estep

Dana Farabaugh Daniel Burke Daniel Jacobowitz Daniel Jones Daniel M Crawford Daniel Scullin Daniel Tasse Danielle Walker Danielle Wenner Danika Lagorio Dara Pruszenski David & Catherine Bomstein David Andersen David Boevers David Eckhardt David Eichelberger David Findley David Hartman David Lampe David Newman David Oakley Debbie Breckenridge Delaney Lee Denise Seiffer Deno De Ciantis Diane Walter Divyansh Kaushik Dominic Campbell Don Pellegrino Donna Harrison Doreen Krut Dorothy Falk Dwight Chambers Eamon Geary Earl Laamanen Ed Ehrlich Ed Giles Ed Wrenn Edward Venator Eileen French Eliana Beigel Elaine Miller Elisabeth McCoy Elise Lavallee Elise Lu Elizabeth Archibald Elizabeth Butler Elizabeth Collura Elizabeth Engelhardt Elizabeth Silver Ellen Cicconi Ellen Doherty Ellen Philips Emilie Yonan Emily Cleath Emily Forney Emily Kiernan Emily Skopov Emily Wolfe Emma Diehl Emma Neely Emma Rehm Erica Warnitsky Erin Kelly Eva Schlinger Evan DiBiase Evelyn Meinert Finnian Carstens G Ronald Ripper G. Gerben Gabriel Ackman Geo Maroon Geoffrey Hutchison Georgann Jenkins George Kanakis Georgia Crowther Geral Schatten Gillian Kratzer Gina Vensel Gordon Core Greg Carey Greg Kellerman

Greg Kochanski Greg Seaman Gregory Nesbitt Gregory Scott Gretchen Swecker Griffin Conley Hal B Klein Hank McAnallen Hannah Diehl Harley Nester Harold Smoliar Heather Slack Heidi Bartholomew Helen Gerhardt Henry Doherty Hobart Webster Howard Seltman Ian Oman Ian Riggins J. Dale Shoemaker J.J. Abbott Jacob Bacharach Jade Artherhults James Conley James Heinrich James Kiley James Morgan James Saal James Santelli Jamie Piotrowski Janet Lunde Jared Pollock Jasiri X Jason Meer Jay Aronson Jay Walker Jean McClung Jeanne Cobetto Jeff Betten Jeffrey Benzing Jeffrey Brooks Jeffrey Bigham Jeffrey Zahren Jennie Sweet-Cushman Jennifer Reigler Jennifer Shumar Jennifer Strang Jenny Ladd Jeremy Kimmel Jess Williams Jessica Benham Jessica Bevan Jessica Manack Jessica Priselac Jessica Prom Jessica Prucnal Jill Bodnar Jill Harmon JoAnn Zindren Joanne Gilligan Jocelyn Codner Jodi Hirsh Joe D’Alessandro Joe Pasqualetti Joe Wagner Joey Gannon John Bechtold John Berry John Meyer John Oliver John Riggs John Ryan John Wise John Yackovich Jonathan Salmans Jordan Bender Joseph Corrigan Joseph Morrison Joseph Rubenstein Josephine Ulrich Joshua Axelrod Joshua Kiley

Joshua Pinter Joshua Pirl Joshua Smith Jude Vachon Judith Hartung Judith Koch Judith Lenz Juli Wright Julia Lee Julia Posteraro Julia Scanlon Julian Routh Julie & Nick Futules Justin Dandoy Justin Krane Justin Matase Justin McVay Justin Nodes Justin Pekular Justin Romano Justin Rossini Kai Gutschow Kara Holsopple Karen Brown Karen Hodes Karen Van Dusen Kate Jones Kate Roberts Kate Rosenzweig Katharine Kelleman Katherine Kennedy Katherine Oltmanns Kathleen Heuer Kathy Dax Kathy Woll Katie Damico Katie Hudson Katie Markowski Katie Urich Katy Greulich Kay Brink Kayla Cline Keegan Gibson Keith Bare Keith Recker Kelly Burgess Kelly Hiser Kendra Ross Kenneth Mostern Kevin Gallagher Kevin Jameson Kevin Marpoe Kevin Vickey Khris & Tom McGarity Kim Lyons Kimberly Ressler Kimberly Taylor Kristin Komazec Kristina Marusic Kyle Cunningham Kyle Gracey Lady MacBonald Lara Putnam Larry Lynn Laura Adams Laura Drogowski Laura Everhart Laura Heberton-Shlomchik Laura Hershel Laura Myers Lauren Banka Lauren Lief Lazar Palnick Leah Hoechstetter Lena DeLucia Leo Hsu Lesley Carlin Lesley Rains Leslie Cooley Levon Ritter Liam Lowe Linda Schott

Lindsay Forman Lindsay Hagerty Lindsay Wright Lisa Saks Lisa Steinfeld Liz Hrenda Liz Reid Lois Apple Loretta Deto Lori Delale-O’Connor Lorie Milich Lucas Miller Luke Rifugiato Lynn Cullen Lynne Cherepko Lynne Frank Lynne Hughes Mackenzie Moylan Madelyn Glymour Madison Stubblefield Magda Gangwar Mahita Gajanan Mandy Kivowitz-Delfaver Margaret Buckley Margaret Krauss Marjorie Waters Maria Sensi Sellner Marianne Donley Marilyn McCarty Marina Fang Mark Goodman Mark Solomon Mark Westbrook Mark Winer Marlee Brown Mary Briles Mary Guzzetta Mary Russell Maryellen Lammel Matt Adams Matt Dunlap Matt Malarich Matt Moret Matthew Buchholz Matthew Cartier Matthew Demers Matthew Griffin Matthew Hynes Matthew Kroen Matthew Lamberti Maureen Byko Max Garber Max Moclock Megan Brady Megan Fair Megan Winters Melinda Wedde Melissa Kohr Melissa Melewsky Micaela Corn Michael Colaresi Michael Damico Michael Donovan Michael DiGuglielmo Michael Lamb Michael McKinney Michael Shuker Michael Wasson Mike Beattie Mike Kutilek Mike Weis Mimi Forester MJ Holmes Moira Egler Molly Kasperek Molly Toth Morgan Jenkins Myles Gordon Nancy Dubensky Nancy Latimer Nate Good Nathan Thompson-Amato

Nathaniel Feuerstein Neil Bhaerman Neil Owen Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh Nicholas Gliozzi Nichole Remmert Nicole Connor Nick Goodfellow Nick Honkaal Nick Malawskey Nikki Walton Noah Theriault Norma Bronder Office of Public Art Olie Bennett Guarino Olivia Enders Olivia Tucker Olivia Zane Ollie Gratzinger Paolo Pedercini Patricia DeMarco Patricia Dinkelaker Patricia Oliver Patrick Conneely Patrick Kelley Patty Delaney Paul Hertneky Paul McGowan Paula Majersky Peter McKay Peter Mudge Peter Reichl Rachael Hopkins Rachel Belloma Bonnet Rachel Busch Rachel Dalton Rachel Tiche Rachelle Haynik Rainy Sinclair Randall Baumann Randy Gowat Randy Sargent Raymond Kozlowski Raymond Leech Raymond Martin Rebecca Boyer Rebecca Ciez Rebecca Seibel Regina Connolly Regina Yankie Rich Lord Richard Kress Richelle Meer Rick D’Loss Rob Rossi Robert & Erin Blussick Robert Baird Robert Davis Robert Jauquet Robert Lang Robert McKnight Robert Nishikawa Robert Raczka Robert Sage Robin Bolea Ron Vodenichar Rosemary Mendel Ross Reilly Rossilynne Culgan Ruth Craig Ryan Rydzewski Ryan Warsing Samantha Ritzer Samantha Wire Sam Barrett Samuel Boswell Samuel Gordon Sara Innamorato Sara Simon Sara Zullo Sarah Birmingham

Sarah Cassella Sarah Hamm Sarah Paul Sarah Pearman Sarah Peterson Sarah Sewall Sarah Sprague Sarah Vernau Sarah Wiggin Scott Bricker Sean Bailey Sean Collier Sean ODonnell Selene Wartell Shanna Carrick Shannon Kelly Sharee Stout Shawn Cooke Shawn Melvin Sherri Suppa Shirlie Mae Choe Siena Kane Slava Starikov Smitha Prasadh Stacey Campbell Stacey Federoff Stephanie Sedor Stephanie Wein Stephen Riccardi Stephen Wagner Steve Felix Steve Holz Steven Haines Stuart Strickland Sue Kerr Susan Caplan Susan Hawkins Susan Jackson Susan Rogers Susan Smith Susan Speicher Suzanne Kafantaris Tammy Schuey Tara Spence Tara Zeigler Tasha Eakin Ted Schroeder Tereneh Idia Terry Bicehouse Terry Peters Timons Esaias Tina Shackleford Tobin Seastedt Todd Derr Tom Samuel Toni Haraldsen Tracy Travaglio Travis Hefner Trenton Tabor Trevor Baumel Trey Mason Tyler Bickford Tyler McAndrew Uwe Stender Valerie Moore Vicki Cunningham Victoria Donahoe Virginia Alvino Young Will Bernstein Will Halim Will Simmons William Doran William Fulmer William J Schoy IV William Lovas William Maruca William O’Driscoll Yonatan Bisk Zack Tanner

NO NEWS IS BAD NEWS

If you value City Paper’s news reporting and arts and entertainment coverage, please consider becoming a member. More info — including perks! — can be found at pghcitypaper.com PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DECEMBER 23, 2020 - JANUARY 6, 2021

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CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

PITTSBURGH’S PEOPLE OF THE YEAR

LABOR.

ALEXIS JOHNSON twitter.com/alexisjreports 6

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LEXIS JOHNSON BASICALLY became a one-woman labor movement throughout 2020. When her union at

the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette highlighted how the paper banned the local journalist from covering the Black Lives Matter protest movement after she sent out a satirical tweet, Johnson took up the mantle and ran with it. She became a spokesperson for anti-racism within the news media, inspiring her fellow union members, and thousands of others, to join her. But she didn’t quit there. She filed a lawsuit against the Post-Gazette, which could have far-reaching implications in workplace treatment within media companies. If successful, it will solidify the notion that media companies can’t shield themselves with the shoddy defense that the First Amendment protects them from workplace conduct decisions, and that civil rights laws can, and should be applied to working journalists across the country. On top of that, she leveraged a difficult situation at the Post-Gazette into a new national reporter job at Vice News.

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DECEMBER 23, 2020 - JANUARY 6, 2021

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PITTSBURGH’S PEOPLE OF THE YEAR

BUSINESS

KYLEY COLEMAN instagram.com/blackowned.pgh

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URING THE CONTINUED reckoning against racist police

violence this summer, something else started to happen.

Anger spread further, and racism in businesses, publications, and other arenas was also called out. There were also calls to support more Black businesses, which is partially what inspired college student Kyley Coleman in May to create the Instagram account @blackowned.pgh as a resource to highlight everything from yoga studios to ice cream shops with Black owners. Since its creation, the account has amassed over 20,000 followers and has had a lasting impact on the community. Mo Rabinovitz, owner of Curated Flame, told Pittsburgh City Paper in October that his Millvale business was boosted after being featured by Black Owned PGH in July, with customers still coming in months later. While the pandemic has thrown a hitch in everyone’s plans, Coleman still hopes to expand Black Owned PGH. This summer, she organized a pop-up marketplace in Homewood, with 50 Black-owned businesses and performances from Black artists. In July, Coleman told City Paper she was hoping to turn Black Owned PGH into a website and an app. Ultimately, as the Instagram account’s description says, it’s a project to help “work towards economic equity for the Black community.”

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DECEMBER 23, 2020 - JANUARY 6, 2021

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PITTSBURGH’S PEOPLE OF THE YEAR

HEALTH.

OPERATION FACE MASK operationfacemask.com 10

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T’S HARD NOW to recall the period of the pandemic when most people didn’t have facemasks on hand, and many were

scrambling to make sure doctors, frontline workers, and everyone else had adequate protection from the virus. Operation Facemask was formed in April as a group of volunteers, led by professional tailor Jenn Gooch, who made and delivered hundreds of masks to community members, prioritizing those who needed them most. According to an interview with CMU, the group has worked with a doctor to get masks to inmates in the Allegheny County Jail, and, per the Operation Facemask website, has also sent masks far outside of Pittsburgh, including to teachers nationwide, as well as the Navajo Nation. While the team wrapped up their efforts in December, their work provided a crucial resource that will keep giving. The masks are reusable, and many of them have likely been washed and used dozens of times, protecting wearers over and over again. Plus, Operation Facemask just donated all of their remaining materials, and several hundred masks, to another local mask organization: PGH MasQue Project, which provides masks to the trans and queer community.

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PITTSBURGH’S PEOPLE OF THE YEAR

LITERATURE

DEESHA PHILYAW deeshaphilyaw.com

I

N MARCH, LOCAL author Deesha

Philyaw moderated a visit by civil rights activist Tarana Burke at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, right before the pandemic closed everything down. Just one month before that, she was celebrating the official book release of TENDER, an anthology she published with local poet and artist vanessa german, composed of their work and 17 other Black women writers and visual artists. But the pandemic didn’t stop her from an even bigger project. Philyaw says her debut short story collection, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, came about when a novel she had been working on stalled.

Her agent suggested focusing instead on turning a bunch of “church lady stories” Philyaw had been writing into a collection. The move paid off. Since its release in September, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies has received critical acclaim and was nominated as a 2020 National Book Award finalist. Philyaw hopes the book speaks to Black women who have “felt burdened and restrained by the church’s teaching,” and inspires readers to interrogate “the false binaries (good vs. bad, holy vs. whore) we learn from the church and the larger culture.” As for the future? “I’m going to finally finish that novel,” says Philyaw. “And I can share that Hollywood has come calling regarding adaptation, so stay tuned!”

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DECEMBER 23, 2020 - JANUARY 6, 2021

17

PITTSBURGH’S PEOPLE OF THE YEAR

VISUAL ARTS

BOOM CONCEPTS boomuniverse.co

S

INCE OPENING IN 2014, BOOM Concepts has seen its fair share of adversity, from being one of the few Black-owned and run spaces in a historically racist city, to surviving the problematic Penn Avenue reconstruction project that impacted many businesses and arts venues in Garfield. It’s no surprise, then, that BOOM co-founders DS Kinsel and J. Thomas Agnew sprang into action during the pandemic, providing support to local Black creative entrepreneurs, small businesses, and the community with everything from fundraising, to helping distribute meals to those in need. The arts hub also expanded its reach this year by organizing Black-led mural projects at the Carrie Blast Furnaces in Rankin, facilitating a new exhibition at the City of Asylum in the North Side, and partnering with the Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg. In 2021, BOOM foresees rolling out more public art projects, running an artist-in-residence program, and providing the Pittsburgh arts community with business and professional development, and more opportunities for people to create and experiment. “We’re always very open with our strategies,” says Kinsel. “We’re a DM or a door knock away.”

CP PHOTO: LAKE LEWIS

BOOM Concepts’ Thomas Agnew and D.S. Kinsel

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DECEMBER 23, 2020 - JANUARY 6, 2021

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CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

PITTSBURGH’S PEOPLE OF THE YEAR

THEATER.

CITY THEATRE citytheatrecompany.org

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PGHCITYPAPER.COM

W

HEN THE PANDEMIC hit earlier this year, City Theatre had to cancel, postpone, or move performances

completely online. The immediate future for local theater was unknown. City Theatre’s annual fundraiser, originally scheduled for September, was also sidelined. But the South Side theater company came up with an inventive live experience this fall that brought joy to a city full of people who were stuck at home for months. For two weeks, City Theatre presented the Drive-in Arts Festival at Hazelwood Green, bringing theater, comedy, music, magic, and dance to a giant stage in a parking lot, mimicking the experience of a drive-in movie theater. Audiences were able to enjoy a live in-person show in a pandemic-friendly fashion, from the comfort of their vehicles. City Theatre, in the meantime, was able to support fellow arts organizations and musicians from around Pittsburgh. Since the festival, City Theatre has continued to produce impressive online performances, including its recent show, Claws Out: A Holiday Drag Musical, proving its ability to continue to adapt and entertain.

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DECEMBER 23, 2020 - JANUARY 6, 2021

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CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on stage at Heinz Hall, from l-r: Mark Houghton, horn; Lorna McGhee, principal flute; Andrew Reamer, principal percussion; Melia Tourangeau, president and CEO; Lisa Gedris, librarian; and, Irene Cheng, violin

PITTSBURGH’S PEOPLE OF THE YEAR

MUSIC.

PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA pittsburghsymphony.org 22

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

A

S VENUES SHUT DOWN across the city during one of the most difficult years in recent memory, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra found a way to shine, coming up with creative ways to bring music into people’s homes.

Soon after the stay-at-home order began in spring, the PSO began posting intimate daily videos, self-produced by its musicians from inside their homes. Some were beautiful performances, others included tips for music students.

Sometimes, music director Manfred Honeck would host a program from his home in Austria. In July, as part of the Allegheny County Parks Summer Concert Series, the PSO put on masks and performed a concert aired on local TV and streamed on YouTube, since they were unable to perform before a live audience. In August, the PSO partnered with 13 other local arts and culture organizations to produce a video featuring their music, encouraging the public to “#MaskUp.” This fall, they revamped their season into Front Row: The PSO Virtual Experience, a series of creative at-home events featuring not only performances, but behind-the-scenes interviews with the musicians. When the symphony is finally back on stage and performing before a live audience again, fans will surely remember the ensemble’s personal touches this year.

Wherever you are in your brave journey, we are here. zŽƵ ĚŽŶ͛ƚ ŚĂǀĞ ƚŽ ƐƵƌǀŝǀĞ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ ǀŝŽůĞŶĐĞ ĂůŽŶĞ͘ dŚĞ ĐĂƌŝŶŐ ƐƚĂī ŽĨ tŽŵĞŶ͛Ɛ ĞŶƚĞƌ Θ ^ŚĞůƚĞƌ ŽĨ 'ƌĞĂƚĞƌ WŝƩƐďƵƌŐŚ ŝƐ ŚĞƌĞ ƚŽ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ LJŽƵƌ ũŽƵƌŶĞLJ ĨŽƌǁĂƌĚ͘

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DECEMBER 23, 2020 - JANUARY 6, 2021

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PGHCITYPAPER.COM

PITTSBURGH’S PEOPLE OF THE YEAR

POLITICS

ED GAINEY twitter.com/repgainey

R

ECOGNITION FOR STATE REP. Ed Gainey is long overdue.

He has been a consistent fighter for workers, for his community, for public transit, for anti-racist efforts, for criminal justice reform, for just about every issue progressives hold dear. And he does it without hogging the spotlight.

Take, for example, an amendment Gainey advocated for this October: decriminalizing trace amounts of medical marijuana in the state’s DUI law. That bill passed the Republicancontrolled state House with overwhelming Democratic support and some Republicans crossing the aisle. It never got a concurrence vote in the Senate, but Gainey’s support helped to bring together a coalition, and that’s worth celebrating. Plus, just listen to him speak at a rally or protest. His speeches rile up the crowd. This year in particular, his “CommUnity” good news social media posts have also been a constant source of positivity throughout the pandemic. He continuously uses his platform to not only educate, but to uplift his community. He’s inspiring while staying under the radar, and that’s a perfect formula in Pittsburgh politics.

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DECEMBER 23, 2020 - JANUARY 6, 2021

25

PITTSBURGH’S PEOPLE OF THE YEAR

FOOD AND DRINK

DON MAHANEY, SCRATCH & CO. scratchandcopgh.com

P

IVOT” HAS BEEN the word of the year for the food industry, and Don Mahaney of Scratch & Co. has championed it, serving his community with every step. In March, Mahaney responded to the needs of neighbors by converting his Troy Hill eatery in Pittsburgh’s North Side to a grocery stocked with hard-to-find goods, toiletries, and a variety of prepared foods. As people struggled with a loss of income, he instituted a temporary “paywhat-you-can” model. He also started doing weekly runs up city steps, raising money to provide meals for those who were food insecure. To help parents manage work and schooling from home, Mahaney designed a subscription box filled with five days of nutritious lunch food. Collaborations, kits, meal donations, and delivery services were constantly added to the restaurant’s bill of offerings, running alongside the reopening for in-person dining in June.

This all led to Scratch Food + Beverage rebranding to Scratch & Co. to better represent Mahaney’s commitment to community and collaboration.

“

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

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CP PHOTOS: TERENEH IDIA

His and hers holiday stockings

.VIEWS.

A COVID HOLIDAY LOVE STORY

BY TERENEH IDIA // CPCONTRIBUTORS@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

I

N A WORLD FULL of doubts and uncertainty, there is one sentence that kept replaying in my head. “I have no doubts about you,” he said.

The “he” is the man I met on OKCupid.

I. You. Does it, could it, equal “we”?

In real life, not just multiple text messages and video calls. “Like we are in high school,” he said, laughing as he scrolled through the reams and reams of messages.

We met in March, and as the months went by, it was clear that while COVID-19 brought us together, COVID-19 was also keeping us apart. His project in the United States kept getting postponed. Late spring turned to summer and by early autumn, I expressed my desire to take a break from America. “Why not just come

28

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

here?” he asked.

While most of the world was cut off from me, Turkey, where he lives, was one of the few places I could actually travel.

The idea was tempting. However, buying a plane ticket so impulsively ... There were questions of timing, work, money, safety, and rationality.

Was flying to Turkey ... romantic? Desperate? Desperately romantic? Romantically desperate? I asked one of my closest friends, someone who is like me: clunky about grand romantic and emotional gestures. Their advice was — Go for it! If not now, when?!

So I bought a plane ticket, and the countdown started. A text from him: “Only one month to go ...” It made me so very happy, in all of 2020, something to

look forward to. Thrilled, joyful, nervous, and excited. Yes, nervous and excited.

Then, a few days before my flight was due to take off, there was a large earthquake in Izmir, Turkey. We had been texting at the moment it happened. I was waiting for his response to some probably very witty and funny thing I said; instead, I got a photo of broken glass on the floor with the caption, “We just had an earthquake.”

I started shaking as if I was in the apartment with him. Then I started scanning the news, social media. If more than a few moments would pass without hearing from him, I would panic.

“Please keep sending me messages so I know you’re OK,” I texted. “Okay babygirl,” he would reply. I waited to see if my

flight would be cancelled or rerouted.

I was a ball of nerves for days. Finally, on Mon., Nov. 2, I wrapped myself up in plastic — mail-in ballot counted; COVID test no. 2, negative; N95 face mask, face shield, and PVC rainsuit — and flew halfway around the world to Izmir, Turkey.

I was aware I was taking an international flight in the middle of a global pandemic and while taking precautions, I wanted to be careful. So I had planned on taking a taxi from the airport to the old tiny stone house in Konak we rented for November. He would hear nothing of it. “I won’t be comfortable until you are in the house safely. I will pick you up from the airport.”

The TV movie version of this is that we rush into each other’s arms and give

Sociallydistancing herself but still broadcasting LIVE every Monday thru Thursday at 10 a.m. at

Finding the perfect holiday tree in Turkey

WAS FLYING TO TURKEY ...

ROMANTIC? DESPERATE? DESPERATELY ROMANTIC? each other a long kiss. The COVID-19 version of this: I see him before I see him. I do not know what kind of car he is driving, but when I see it, I say, “That is him.” I watch him pull over and jump out of the car, rushing to the door several feet away from where I am standing. I call out his name, and he sees me. We are wearing masks so you cannot see our smiles, but they are in our eyes.

We are nervous and excited. There are no hugs, no kisses. Yet. We are both a bit shy as my bags go into the trunk of the car, and I sit in the back, open windows.

“Driving Miss Tereneh,” we laugh.

I cannot remember what we said in the car, even though it was only a few weeks ago. I do remember he said, “My parents wanted me to call when you arrived.” So I was able to say hello to his mom and dad. Which was so sweet and kind, reassuring, too.

When we reach our funny little stone house in the hills of Konak, I won’t let him enter. What if I caught COVID-19 on

lynncullen.pghcitypaper.com

the flight? I bring the bags in myself. As he sits outside to wait, he said someone walked by and teased him, asking if “his wife kicked him out of the house.”

Once I get the bags inside, I open the door to show him that everything is fine and that I will be OK living here alone for two weeks as I quarantine. “Can I hug you now?” he asks.

“Not yet,” I say, “let’s be as safe as possible.” At which point, he takes the tip of his right index finger and lightly caresses the left side of my stomach. Like a little kid who had been told he cannot touch something but does anyway. All of this is like something that could not or should not be happening, but it is.

One month later, as we lay in bed, several feet away from a holiday tree the two of us purchased just days ago at the open air market in Izmir, I think back to the moment at the airport when I first felt his presence before I saw him, that certainty which said, “There he is.” It is glorious, maybe even a miracle.

Follow featured contributor Tereneh Idia on Twitter @Tereneh152XX

Metro Community Health Center is an integrated medical, mental health, and dental clinic, located in Swissvale, in the Edgewood Towne Center plaza. We serve the greater Pittsburgh area and all people who come to us. At Metro, our providers collaborate with each other to treat every aspect of a patient’s health, all under one roof.

We offer all of our services to everyone, regardless of identity, income, insurance status, or the ability to pay.

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metrocommunityhealthcenter.org PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DECEMBER 23, 2020 - JANUARY 6, 2021

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1. Arch of Constantine city 5. Lettershaped girders 10. No longer open 14. Spicy tea 15. Hammer of Hollywood 16. Plenty of time?

17. Irreplaceable vase type 18. Lori Lightfoot’s title 19. Chief Chirpa of Return of the Jedi, e.g.

20. Canes for VIPs? 23. Couple months at college 24. Jordanian ruins site 27. Oil reserve unit from a Persian Gulf sovereign state?

31. New Orleans jazz bandleader Louis 33. Talk like a lovebird 34. Went caroling 35. Cheaplooking hairpiece 36. 57-Down resident 40. Called while single 41. Kids likely to get coal in their stockings 43. Shutout for Tottenham Hotspur 44. All fired up 46. Vienna’s subway representative?

50. “What’s on your mind?”

51. Football Hall of

Famer Ronnie 52. Where the “Who Let the Dogs Out” guys go during a time out?

59. Annoying flyer 61. One thing to another, e.g.

62. Anti-death penalty org.

63. Basics, with “the” 64. Oiliest part of the face, to dermatologists 65. Everything is ___ (meme where things aren’t what they seem) 66. Azerbaijan’s capital 67. Church group 68. New Mexico county seat

DOWN 1. Force with the motto “Maintiens le droit”: Abbr.

2. Home of eight U.S. Presidents 3. Hermano’s grabber 4. Early start to the workday 5. Actress Hedy who holds patents for the basis of Wi-Fi 6. Hindu creator 7. Veggie burger brand 8. Laugh-aminute type 9. Pak with a putter 10. Golden Snitch grabbers 11. “Weird ...”

12. Game with Wild

Draw Four cards 13. “For shame” 21. Irish poet Brendan 22. Tax specialist, for short 25. She played Judy in 2019’s Judy 26. Spy Hiss 27. 2003 Bruce Springsteen single, with “The” 28. “Show me what you’re holding” 29. Positive sign?

30. Drag queen’s neckpiece 31. Toyota best seller 32. Ballroom dance 37. Come to a halt 38. Compete (for) 39. Totes fabu

42. Japanese acupressure technique 45. Draw closer 47. Last number in a series 48. Cause of rotten weather 49. Open up who gets to attend, perhaps 53. Creative ventures 54. Full of twists and turns 55. Prince Harry’s alma mater 56. Sports org. with a blue circle logo 57. See 36-Across 58. Has second thoughts about 59. Talk and talk and talk 60. Silver org.?

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DECEMBER 23, 2020 - JANUARY 6, 2021

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