June 10, 2025 - Pittsburgh City Paper by Pittsburgh City Paper

Pittsburgh Preserves

BY: RACHEL WILKINSON

AAKANKSHA AGARWAL

PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

A NEW TURN

Adam McKinney, the first Black artistic director at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, has been modernizing traditional shows, interacting with audiences, and working to make dance more accessible

BY: STACY ROUNDS

Adam McKinney pressed play on his laptop to show me scenes from Barak Marshall’s Monger , part of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s next Spring Mix. I was transfixed. The movement of the dancers is staccato, sharp, and deeply emotional. The ballet so beautifully interprets the themes of hierarchy, class struggles, and the compromises of survival that a snippet made me teary-eyed. Between the dialogue of the actor/dancers and the muted tones of the costumes and lighting, this dance pulled me into a desperate world of forced labor and abusive servitude.

McKinney, artistic director of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, explained exactly what the dancers conveyed, “It’s almost like they have to peel away the layers of what performance allows, and to go deep into themselves — to be themselves within the context of the choreography. Near the end, they all show their anger.”

PHOTO: MICHAEL HENNINGER Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre artists

In addition to Monger, Mark Godden’s Angels In The Architecture, set to Aaron Copland’s evocative “Appalachian Spring,” will also join Spring Mix. McKinney selected this piece to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Graham Company and to honor Pittsburgh native Martha Graham. Then there will be a world premiere from acclaimed choreographer Garrett Smith. This work will showcase Smith’s sophisticated style, which combines contemporary aesthetics with classical vocabulary. nd finally, the pring ix will feature two Swan Lake selections — the Siegfried solo and the Act II Pas de Deux — both choreographed by McKinney.

Programming switches aren’t the only changes McKinney has made since taking the helm in 2023. And Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, as a whole, has made some notable, positive strides since shortly before his arrival.

In December 2024, I attended The Nutcracker with my daughter — something we do every year. And for the first time, I noticed di erences in the names of the Act dances, di erences that helped to heal the 13-year-old girl, who was once me, dressed in a Chinese-inspired costume and pointe shoes, waiting in

the wings to go onstage. One of the dance moms came over to touch up my makeup and said to me, “We need to make your eyes look more Asian,” and I felt a horrible rush of shame.

I knew there was something wrong with representing a beautiful culture outside of my own onstage, and not in the most respectful way. As an adult, I still feel a tinge of ickiness from the cultural appropriation I represented that season.

Marianna Tcherkassky, who retired from PBT at the end of the 2022-2023 season after 26 years serving as a rehearsal director, was behind the renaming. She told McKinney when he arrived that the Act 2 “nationality” dances or divertissements were renamed in ways that would express the tone of the choreography and the feelings they were meant to evoke.

With a desire to be more respectful of all cultures, PBT and other dance theaters around the country have implemented name changes to the incredible Act 2 dances in The Nutcracker. In the original 1892 ballet, the dances were “Chocolate (Spanish Dance),” “Tea hinese ance , “ o ee rabian ance , and “Trepak (Russian Dance).” The new names implemented by PBT are “Jubilation,” Joy,” “Elegance,” and “Exuberance,” respectively.

In March 2023, McKinney took over as the artistic director for the BT, the first person of color to do so in the company’s history. He’s been a teacher and a dancer with some of the world’s most renowned dance companies. As a leader, his brilliance and kindness could nearly overshadow his vast experience. His

PHOTO: MICHAEL HENNINGER Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre artists

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

Adam W. McKinney, Artisitic Director of Pittsburgh Ballet

thoughtfulness is genuine, as is his support and care for the community, which makes his plans for growing relationships and increasing inclusivity more evident. nyone can speak with him and the BT sta anytime they attend one of the company’s shows.

During the intermission of The Nutcracker last year, my daughter and I walked through the crowd to grab refreshments. uring that time, I noticed and brie y thanked McKinney, who was wearing a nametag, for a beautiful program; I spoke for a few moments with PBT’s executive director, Nicholas Dragga, in the foyer; and I got to spend time chatting with the dean of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School, Raymond Rodriguez, while waiting in line to grab a photograph with the Sugar Plum Fairy.

hen asked about the meet-andgreets, c inney beamed. “ They are intentional, yes, and for no other reason than to just develop relationships. There’s not an ulterior motive there or anything. It’s really just about

the way we are as an organization now, and ensuring that everyone knows that they belong here.”

McKinney and PBT’s Education and Community Engagement epartment developed a specific program called “Tea with the d, welcoming people to participate in an open and candid conversation about who PBT is now as an organization, and the direction in which it’s going.

McKinney also considers accessibility important. For one, PBT will continue to lead and expand upon its sensory-friendly programming. “ e will increase the number of performances to which people would like to attend that involve our sensory-friendly programming, specifically as we look to our new Nutcracker in . e’re also looking at incorporating sensory-friendly ideas within the production so that everyone has access to the work.”

There is also adaptive dance programming at PBT, including a program called “ fternoon of nchantment. oung people are invited to learn about a particular ballet and participate in that work. This year, the program is associated with The Nutcracker . McKinney plans to expand and also to incorporate sensory-friendly programming into it.

t the same time, BT will continue its ance for arkinson’s work and expand that program. They also recently started working on ance for l heimer’s. “ aving had family members who have had l heimer’s and, currently, with arkinson’s, that work is close to my heart,” McKinney says. Increasing pathways to understanding and participating in ballet is one of PBT’s goals. ering dance education to those who cannot access it for financial reasons is also on c inney’s radar. “ s we look to the intersection of education and community engagement and PBT school, we’re looking at o ering more programming in Pittsburgh Public Schools to more young people and to allow easy entrance into falling in love with ballet.” There is also a scholarship program at PBT for young students.

ll this, despite heading an arts nonprofit during trying times. “I think that there are opportunities to look at where we perform and to diversify the locations in which we perform. My goal is for people to understand what ballet does for us, which is for us as people, as ittsburghers, it’s a natural unifier. It’s difficult to perform ballet alone, and it’s important to understand the intricate possibilities therein.”

McKinney also touched on educating people of all ages, whether as students or fans, inviting them to participate in PBT.

nother one of c inney’s future goals is to start a second company — a company of younger dancers who perform locally, regionally, and nationally, in preparation for becoming professionals. “I think therein is an opportunity for us to increase the

“THERE’S NOT AN ULTERIOR MOTIVE THERE OR ANYTHING. IT’S REALLY JUST ABOUT THE WAY WE ARE AS AN ORGANIZATION NOW, AND ENSURING THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THEY BELONG HERE.”

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

An art installation at the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

Adam W. McKinney, artisitic director of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, poses for a portrait on Oct. 25, 2023.

number of performances that we o er, to increase the number of touch points in the community, and to link the community and the company I envision it is that the second company will also work with the school with a focus on education, training, and performance.”

This program, says c inney, prepares young people for the rigors of what it means to be a professional dancer. “There’s room for it here, and I’m excited about building that in the next few years.

In terms of programming, BT will bring back some old favorites, including The Nutcracker , and o er new and exciting ballet performances for the - season. orror lovers will delight when they open with Dracula , last performed in ebruary , ust in time for alloween weekend. In celebration of the th anniversary of the nited tates, America 250 will be performed with the BT rchestra. ext comes pring ix, followed by one of my favorite ballets, A Midsummer Night’s Dream

The Nutcracker will always be a favorite tradition for thousands of ittsburghers, including myself, a former ballerina with a love for the production, despite its former aws. But, like many ballet companies, there is an intentional move away from the old historical way of being while honoring the beauty and wonder of the original ballet.

c inney says, “I’m making small tweaks here and there, both to our current Nutcracker , which was choreographed in by the then artistic director Terrence . rr, and to other areas of the organi ation. e look forward to our new production in , and we’ll share more about that in time. •

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

Adam W. McKinney, artisitic director of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, poses for a portrait on Oct. 25, 2023.

NORTH SIDE ROOTS

As The Pittsburgh Project turns 40, its founder looks back on a long legacy

BY: ATIYA IRVIN-MITCHELL // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Technically speaking, Saleem Ghubril has two children, but in his mind, there is a third child he takes pride in acknowledging in the form of a three-story building on the North Side: The Pittsburgh Project.

The hristian nonprofit began in 1985 when, after Ghubril and his wife welcomed their daughter, he accepted a ob o er from a orth ills church, which tasked him with starting a youth project. Flash forward 40 years, and what started as a summertime program has evolved into a year-round nonprofit that hosts a day camp, an afterschool program, and multiple electives designed to help students keep learning outside of school hours.

“They were very gracious in terms of being a kind of permission-giving church while they hired me to work

with their kids. They recognized that I felt drawn to the city and to kids in the city, and they supported me in launching The Pittsburgh Project,” Ghubril tells Pittsburgh City Paper.

Still, Ghubril admits he didn’t originally foresee The Pittsburgh Project going beyond the summers, when he and the young program participants would go into North ide seniors’ homes and o er assistance. Sometimes, this meant home repair; other times it meant cleaning or painting. As time went on in the early years, Ghubril says the project expanded from the North Side to include areas such as Duquesne, Wilkinsburg, and Braddock.

As The Pittsburgh Project grew, Ghrubril went from being its only paid employee to ultimately moving into a building on Charles Street. e explains that a tenet of the work included living in the community you

CP PHOTO: ATIYA IRVIN-MITCHELL

The Pittsburgh Project on the North Side

work in. Ghrubril credits one of his mentors, Dr. John Perkins, a teacher on issues surrounding racial reconciliation, with educating him about the importance of building bridges across chasms.

“His conviction there is that if you want to be involved in developing communities, you’ve got to be a part of those communities you’re developing. So if you don’t live there, you relocate, and if you live there, you remain,” Ghubril says.

To this day, Ghubril still lives in the neighborhood, but he left The Pittsburgh Project in 2008 to work with The Pittsburgh Promise, a nonprofit geared towards setting urban youth up for secondary success. Although he feels that his 23 years as The Pittsburgh Project’s executive director were well spent, Ghubril says that, at the time, he believed that in order to make the lives of the young and the elderly better, he needed to shift his focus to addressing systemic issues.

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“I remember saying the words something like this: I’m no longer content helping kids with their homework, but then sending them to schools that are failing them; and I’m no longer content fixing houses for seniors on streets that remain unsafe for them,” Ghubril says. “If we truly care about these two populations, as we most certainly do, then we have to impact the systems that impact them most, namely, schools and neighborhoods.”

me to apply. For the three years that followed, I spent my Thursdays mostly working at The Pittsburgh Project’s then-farm stand, and my summers helping out in the ecology program.

When someone asks me why I know off the top of my head which neighborhoods run farm stands, or how I ended up spending three weeks in China when I was 16 years old, the answer is always The Pittsburgh Project.

Whether it was a service project

“IF YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING COMMUNITIES, YOU’VE GOT TO BE A PART OF THOSE COMMUNITIES YOU’RE DEVELOPING.”

Ghubril says that he left The Pittsburgh Project with his friends and coworkers’ blessings and still can be found at the organization’s annual Christmas party. When thinking about The Pittsburgh Project’s current leadership, Ghubril says he has the utmost faith in Rick Mason, who took the reins as the organization’s executive director in 2021.

“What excites me about the future of The Pittsburgh Project is the fact that Rick is leading it into that future,” Ghubril says. “I trust him, I trust his heart, I trust his mind, his compassion, and if there’s anything that Rick wants to do with which he needs my support, I am there for him.”

I was one of the youth who benefited from The Pittsburgh Project’s programming. The winter of my freshman year of high school, after yet another move I hadn’t wanted and a death that I hadn’t seen coming, I felt completely disillusioned. Yet, for all the sadness that year brought, it also made me cross paths with a woman named Bethany Friel, whose husband ran The Pittsburgh Project’s Leaders in Training program and encouraged

or a kind adult who likely had more pressing matters to attend to thanindulging a teenager's ramblings about her current hyperfixations, but listened avidly anyway, my years as an L.I.T. were indispensable.

A summer working at Sandcastle can give you spending money, but being an L.I.T. gave me a college scholarship, connections to people I still cherish, and leadership that stressed it isn’t just about having the loudest voice, but a willingness to serve others.

I know that life doesn’t make narrative sense, but it felt like a pleasant full-circle moment to interview Mason, the man who wrote one of my college recommendation letters.

Mason began his journey at The Pittsburgh Project in the fall of 2009 as the coordinator of the Leaders in Training program. Occupying positions at different levels within the nonprofit, such as a teacher and a department director, he says, prepared him well to become the executive director.

In 2025, Mason says The Pittsburgh Project ensures that students are given help with their homework and a snack

CP PHOTO: ATIYA IRVIN-MITCHELL

Rick Mason, The Pittsburgh Project’s executive director since 2021

while having the option to be taught about ches or robotics, participate in a fitness class, or utili e the organi ation’s maker space.

“We partner with the schools, we work with the schools, but we’re not teaching kids in the same way that they’re learning in schools,” Mason tells City Paper. “They come here and they’re able to have fun, they’re able to learn how to persevere.”

In addition to The Pittsburgh Project’s youth programming, the nonprofit maintains connections to organi ations such as the harles treet rea orporation, ight of ife, and the erry illtop iti ens ouncil to ensure that community members have access to resources.

“If there are things that our families or neighbors might need that The Pittsburgh Project can’t directly meet, we will connect with those

other organi ations to try to help our families as best we can,” Mason says.

When looking to the future, Mason wants to stay connected to the organi ation’s past and the principles that led to Ghubril’s founding

The Pittsburgh Project years ago.

In the months ahead, Mason looks forward to another summer spent hosting students. In the long term, he wants it to remain a place of truth, as Ghubril intended, where the residents can age gracefully and children can play together safely.

“The vision of the organi ation from the very start was that we will all live in a community where we were all loved, where we were all cared for, where we were all seen, no matter who you are,” Mason says. “And while we are imperfect, of course, we don’t always get it right. My hope is that that will continue to be the vision.” •

PHOTO COURTESY OF RICK MASON Children play at The Pittsburgh Project

BREWED UNDER PRESSURE

BThe doctor behind Oakmont’s Local Remedy discovered brewing was the prescription for connection during the pandemic

BY: AAKANKSHA AGARWAL

efore Local Remedy Brewing poured a single pint, Dr. Matt Synan, a critical care pulmonologist who still works in Pittsburgh’s ICUs, spent years monitoring oxygen levels, managing ventilators, and bracing for worst case scenarios. Even on good days, good spirits weren’t part of the job. “It’s never a feeling of actual joy. At best, it is a sigh of relief even when we win in medicine. A pause before the next crisis,” Synan tells Pittsburgh City Paper. That di erence — between relief and actual joy, is what drew him to beer. Brewing, he reali ed, o ered control, precision, and process — just like medicine. But instead of saving lives, you could hand someone a glass and watch them smile.

“Brewing is incredibly process-driven, which made sense to me,” he says. “But the end result, unlike medicine, is something you get to share in a happy moment.”

What started as a pandemic-era pressure release in a basement has since become one of the city’s most distinctive new breweries. Set in a former bakery on Allegheny Avenue in Oakmont, Local Remedy is furnished with reclaimed neighborhood trees and is occasionally visited by goats looking for a good time (don’t worry, they’re regulars).

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

Joe Vickless labels beer cans at Local Remedy Brewing in Oakmont on June 6, 2025.

FROM STETHOSCOPES TO SUDS

It started like a lot of pandemic projects do: casually, and then all at once. Before COVID hit, Synan and high school buddy BJ Swartzlander started homebrewing in ynan’s basement to blow o steam. They made beer for weddings, family barbecues, and pool days. Then came the strangers asking for second pours. Then came the medals. ue lightbulb moment.

“WE SET OUT TO FEEL A LITTLE BETTER, AND HELP OTHER PEOPLE FEEL THAT WAY, TOO.”

“ aving our beer be en oyed by strangers was the first time we realized this could be something bigger,” Synan says.

When the pandemic hit, and Synan found himself logging 14-hour shifts in pulmonary critical care, the brewing only intensified. Its stakes were low, but the reward, tangible (and very drinkable).

oon the basement filled out in addition to wart lander, there was Joe Vickless, ynan’s college friend and now head brewer Maria Synan, att’s wife and part of the original brewing crew an iliano , an earlier colleague of aria’s who now runs operations Sean Williamson, a CRNA ynan met on I shifts who manages the cellar Andrea Boswell, Maria’s sister and head of design and ean ogan, a close family friend. With this rotating cast of friends, siblings, and spouses, brewing turned into a ritual. It was not unusual, ynan recalls, to have five people show up at the house on brew days.

“We were still dealing with complex processes,” Synan says, but brewing provided focus, laughter, relief, and ultimately, connection.

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

Joe Vickless and Matt Synan label beer cans at Local Remedy Brewing in Oakmont on June 6, 2025.

THE BEER, THE FOOD, AND THE GIVE-BACK

Local Remedy leans hop-forward in its lineup but has a serious soft spot for lagers. “ e are beer lovers at heart and you’ll see that with our o erings, Synan says. “While we tend to lean toward hop-forward styles, we’re also very traditional in our lagers.”

Collaborations are central, and built on consistent presence rather than one-o events, with recent partnerships including Leone’s Pizza and Pittsburgh Taco Boys. The owers in beer can vases come from Roots To etals, a orist located next door.

On any given week, the tap list might feature something experimental from the “Remedy Trials” program, allowing customers to sample smallbatch test beers for free and leave feedback to shape future recipes.

To mark National Homebrew Day on May 7, the team collaborated with award-winning Oakmont homebrewer Clayton Homa to create Tmavè Hollow, a Czech dark lager inspired by the nearby Dark Hollow Woods. xpect rich Bohemian malts, herbal ech aa hops, and a finish that’s clean and endlessly drinkable. Look out for its release in the coming weeks.

Also now pouring on guest taps: Daisy Lampkin, a World Beer Cup silver medal–winning rauchbier from Late Addition Brewing, and Mild Stillage, a traditional English-style mild ale from Old Thunder.

Giving back is built into the business model. Inspired by a visit to Maine Beer Company, the Synans instituted a 1% give-back program, donating one percent of profits annually to rotating nonprofits.

“We’re only as strong as the people around us,” Synan says. “This isn’t branding. It’s obligation."

A BREWERY BUILT FROM OAKMONT’S ROOTS

After securing the old Oakmont Bakery space, the Local Remedy crew knew exactly what they didn’t want: another industrial-chic taproom.

They wanted the brewery to be a true re ection of the neighborhood — something rooted, literally, in Oakmont.

Vickless suggested salvaging fallen neighborhood trees for the bar and tables. His dad, a retired carpenter, teamed up with the Shade Tree Commission to make it happen. Woodworker Steve Orkis and Wooden Whale handled the heavy lifting, turning trees that once lined sidewalks into polished furniture.

Now, longtime residents sip pilsners at slabs of the very trees they once passed walking to school. “We’ve had people tell us, ‘I used to walk past this exact tree every day,’” Swartzlander says. “Now they’re having a beer at it.”

Inside, the vibe is more playroom than pub: Lego towers behind the bar, neighborhood kids’ drawings on display, parents clinking glasses of crisp brews.

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Matt Synan and Joe Vickless pose for a portrait at Local Remedy Brewing in Oakmont on June 6, 2025.

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Matt Synan presents a beer at Local Remedy Brewing in Oakmont on June 6, 2025.

AND THEN THERE WERE GOATS

If you think it all sounds too wholesome already, wait until you hear about the goats.

Local Remedy partners with goat grazing company Capricious Goats of Pittsburgh for “spent grain management,” which is brewer-speak for feeding leftover grain to goats. The relationship grew beyond sustainability: today, goats sometimes swing by the brewery in person.

“It started as a sustainability practice,” Synan says. “Now we’ve got goats showing up in the parking lot.”

Between baby goat yoga and a “Pet a Goat” party, the goats now outrank the brewers. Kids love them, and adults love them even more, Synan says. “It’s ridiculous, but in the best way.”

Of course, no great small-town story is complete without a little municipal drama.

“BREWING IS INCREDIBLY PROCESSDRIVEN, WHICH MADE SENSE TO ME,” HE SAYS. “BUT THE END RESULT, UNLIKE MEDICINE, IS SOMETHING YOU GET TO SHARE IN A HAPPY MOMENT.”

Since Local Remedy’s conditional use approval in early 2024, the brewery has been embroiled in legal disputes with prominent Oakmont restaurateur John Keefe over parking.

The dispute traces back to Oakmont’s old parking rules, which some said were sti ing new development. In , the borough passed a new ordinance allowing on-street parking to count toward the required spaces. Local Remedy followed the new process, received approval, and opened its doors.

Keefe pushed back, arguing that the change unfairly favored newcomers like Local Remedy while older businesses like his had been forced to pay for o -street parking. e also complained that new patrons crowded parking near his restaurants, frustrating his own customers and cutting into business.

eefe appealed, then appealed again, then filed for a preliminary injunction, which was later withdrawn. The case ping-ponged through the courts.

To be proactive, ocal emedy leased additional o -street parking to comply with the original requirements. Meanwhile, the borough amended its ordinance again in 2025 to clarify the rules. Despite the hassle, Synan says it’s been worth it.

“We never set out to open a brewery,” he says. “We set out to feel a little better, and help other people feel that way, too.”

better, and help other people feel that way, too.”

Turns out, that’s a pretty good prescription. •

PITTSBURGH PRESERVES

With the help of groups like Community Cultures, fermentation is evolving from latest trend to lifestyle

BY: RACHEL WILKINSON // RWILKINSON@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

During the severe thunderstorm that swept through Pittsburgh in April, Trevor Ring was teaching a fermentation class at Jackworth Ginger Beer.

Through his fermentation business and educational organization, Community Cultures, he offers a catalogue of events and workshops. Topics span the basics of fermentation, featuring well-known foods like sauerkraut and salsa, to fermented beverages like kombucha and kefir, to more advanced pickling and preservation techniques. With a goal to make fermentation education accessible to all, he holds workshops throughout the region — going from libraries and community centers to partnering with organizations like Community Kitchen Pittsburgh , Phipps Conservatory, and Jackworth , where the brewery’s signature drink is a naturally fermented ginger beer.

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

Valerie Christofel, center, plates up fermented veggies during a fermentation workshop at Chantal's Cheese Shop on May 29, 2025.

Trying to broaden the April workshop’s appeal to different groups, “I was interested to see if I could get some preppers out,” Ring tells Pittsburgh City Paper. “I was just messing around with different marketing, so I called the class, ‘Fermenting Veggies for the Apocalypse.'"

“If you’re interested in learning how to preserve your food, get into fermentation, learn more life/survival skills, and prepare for … who knows what, then this is the workshop for you!” he wrote in the class’s description.

As Ring demonstrated how to preserve pickles, the storm descended on the city with 90-mile-per-hour winds, knocking out the neighborhood’s power seemingly everywhere but the class at Jackworth.

“People were learning about how to preserve food without refrigeration, through fermentation,” Ring says, also seeing the humor in the situation. Not anticipating that some participants would be without power for days, he was glad “they were able to have safe, freshly fermented food available to them.”

Ring often begins Community Cultures classes by pointing to a map, noting that anywhere in the world, you can find fermented food: sauerkraut throughout Germany and Eastern and Central Europe, kombucha from China, and kimchi from Korea.

“It would actually be hard to go through your day without consuming some fermented product,” he says, naming bread, alcohol, vegetables, cheese, vanilla, chocolate, and tea.

Students at the “Pickling Spring Veggies through Fermentation” class ranged from first-timers to repeat participants. As Ring expected, they joined for a variety of reasons: hoping to preserve vegetables from a backyard garden; improve technique after mixed results pickling an onion; make sauerkraut after seeing older generations do it; reconnect with pickling vegetables after immigrating from Romania; and a last-minute invitation from a friend.

Even Chantal’s co-owners, husbandand-wife team Anaïs Saint-André Loughran and Chris Loughran, sat in to learn and

“I THINK IT’S LIKE MAGIC.”

Increasing food’s shelf life is one of numerous benefits of fermentation, whose practitioners tout its ability to enhance nutrition and flavor, reduce food waste, and potentially improve health and wellness, even benefitting the digestive system or gut microbiome.

Though humans have been fermenting food and beverages for millennia, the practice has been repopularized over the last 25 years, landing foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, and fermented blueberries in high-end restaurants. Pittsburghers have embraced the fermented food trend in their own kitchens, Ring says, seeking health benefits, connection to heritage and traditions, eco-friendliness, possible savings, and foodie novelty.

The list of fermented foods is broad, but during a recent class at Chantal’s Cheese Shop — Community Cultures’ first in the space — Ring defined fermentation simply as “the transformative process of microorganisms.” During fermentation, “everything from mold to yeast to specific strains of bacteria” breaks down food, alters its flavor, and preserves it.

look for parallels to their specialty. (“When you’re talking about fermentation, it’s like, ‘That’s cheese!’” Anaïs said.)

While some might be familiar with “quick pickling,” or pickling food and vegetables with vinegar, Ring and Community Cultures teach wild fermentation (or lactofermentation), a “great gateway” into the practice, Ring says. The beginner version immerses chopped vegetables in a saltwater brine to ferment lactic acid bacteria already naturally present on the vegetable. The fermentation process safely preserves the food — or “if it’s under the brine, all is fine,” as Ring puts it — as well as adding flavor, enhancing vitamin content, and breaking down toxins.

Another element of fermentation is honoring seasonality. For the class, Ring recommends an asparagus and bean ferment, which, in addition to being uncommon, Ring says, “is very fun, and just preserves the moment, that short moment of asparagus in spring.”

In a glass jar, students add spices to their salt brine, dropping in garlic, red pepper

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CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Fermentation class at Chantal's Cheese Shop

flakes, bay leaves, and cracked black peppercorn after the chopped vegetables. After one to three weeks of fermentation, the process will yield softened, uniquely flavored veggies like Community Cultures’ lemongrass brussel sprouts or ginger- and fennel-infused carrots.

“I think it’s like magic,” one

Foodie culture has taken a keen interest in fermented foods, particularly made from wild or foraged products, for these singular flavors. Fermented sodas, and the search for the perfect “pine needle Sprite,” are a recent TikTok obsession, Ring says. (You can find Community Cultures' recipe for wild fermented pine soda online, or try Ring’s sodas and other products at the Bloomfield Saturday Market.)

fermentation to be this celebratory, artistic, fun, DIY type of thing.”

The pandemic brought even greater enthusiasm, and during lockdown periods, Ring spent time at virtual fermentation festivals and saw “people just nerding out about it.”

“Because what else are you going to do if you’re at home?” he says. “Like many other things during the pandemic, it did seem to create a pretty big spark.”

As much as Ring has seen and even helped facilitate a fermented foods trend, he still draws inspiration from his teacher and mentor Sandor Katz, dubbed the “godfather of fermentation revival” by GQ for the release of his 2003 book Wild Fermentation. Ring quotes Katz, who affirms fermentation is an ancient practice, saying, “It’s not a fad, it’s a fact.”

“WE BELIEVE THESE ARE HEALING FOODS.”

Though culinary experimentation remains a draw, Ring came to fermentation in college through some “very strong dorm-brewed” kombucha (a fermented black tea) that he made under his bed. After suffering from digestive issues, he “experienced pretty profound effects” when eating fermented foods, spurring him to learn more about food production and agriculture.

Ring describes fermentation as a “middle space” between food production and preservation, and has been teaching workshops about it for more than a decade. After moving to Pittsburgh in 2017, he believes he teaches the most fermentation classes in the region.

As far as solidifying Pittsburgh’s interest, Ring also credits Justin Lubecki, founder of Ferment Pittsburgh, who started the Pittsburgh Fermentation Festival in 2016, and later folded fermentation into the larger Pittsburgh County Fair. Both Pittsburgh festivals not only helped grow fermentation education locally, says Ring, but “created this space for

Meryem

Mammedova of Prescription Foods, a Pittsburgh fermented foods company, tells City Paper she’s also seen undeniable benefits firsthand. She and her husband, self-described fermentation enthusiasts and food activists, started their business in 2015 with a focus on nutritional education. She thinks the health component of fermented foods has become a huge draw as public concern about food sensitivities and overall health consciousness has grown.

While foodies and environmentallyconscious consumers represent one segment of people eating fermented foods, “my approach is more like, this is medicine,” Mammedova says. “We believe these are healing foods.”

Similar to Ring’s experience, Mammedova found fermented foods while experiencing gut issues after taking an antibiotic. Her health problems worsened, spiraling into depression, fatigue, weight gain, and cold sores, she says, until she changed her diet. As a toddler, her son also had multiple food allergies

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

Julian Klein reaches for a head of garlic during a fermentation workshop on May 29, 2025.

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

Paul Lubold plates up fermented veggies during a fermentation workshop at Chantal's Cheese Shop on May 29, 2025.

and lactose intolerance until the family incorporated fermented foods.

Taking suggestions from both Sandor Katz and the best-selling book The Body Ecology Diet, Mammedova remembers going to the Strip District to shop for coconuts to make into coconut kefir water, a fermented drink that she says helped her son eat dairy again.

She adapted the recipe for Prescription Foods’ local product line, which now includes cultured coconut water, ofir, and coconut yogurt, or ogurt available at the ast nd ood o-op, where ammedova also teaches occasional classes). The family also made sauerkraut at home, echoing when ammedova got together with her aunts and cousins to chop cabbage in the fall, which became the basis for Prescription Foods’ sauerkraut.

hile avor will always be important to some, “I say, change your mindset about fermented foods,” Mammedova says, recommending people use a “baby step approach” to

introduce small amounts of healthier foods into their diets, similar to adding a condiment. “There are fermented foods that are more for taste, like kombucha but they don’t o er many health benefits. y goal is helping people heal.”

ticking with a multi-pronged approach, Ring is gearing up for a kefir and wild soda workshop at the end of une, and a class with natural wine shop ine ’ lock ines to coincide with icklesburgh.

Though pickle-loving Pittsburghers should naturally gravitate toward fermented foods, ing points out that most pickles are made with vinegar.

“ o in my work , I’m teaching people about the history and the tradition of pickling, how back in the day, people weren’t using vinegar, pre-Industrial Revolution,” Ring says. “Pickles can be nice and tasty as well, but I think about that nuanced avor, and that connection to tradition, and that could be beneficial. •

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

Fermentation class at Chantal's Cheese Shop on May 29, 2025

SPORTS • AVELLA

IN PITTSBURGH

THU., JUNE 12

COMEDY • ALLENTOWN

Jared Goldstein. 8 p.m. Doors at 5 p.m. Bottlerocket Social Hall. 1226 Arlington Ave., Allentown. $25.05. bottlerocketpgh.com

FRI., JUNE 13

PARTY

• OAKLAND

Jungle Journey 5:30-7 p.m. Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. One Schenley Dr., Oakland. Included with regular admission. All ages. phipps.conservatory.org

MUSIC • SOUTH SIDE

SouthSide Works kicks o its free Music on the Lawn series at New Town Square. The outdoor concert event (formerly Music on the Mon) features live performances from local and national acts paired with food and drink from SouthSide Works tenants and local purveyors. The 2025 series begins with music by Bayura and Nick Guckert, a pop-up bar, and games by Pins Mechanical. Music on the Lawn continues through August. 6-9 p.m. 27th Street and Sidney Street, South Side. Free. All ages. southsideworks.com

PARTY

• NORTH SIDE

JUNE

21+ Night: Pride. 6-10 p.m. Carnegie Science Center. One Allegheny Ave., North Side. $20-25. 21 and over. carnegiesciencecenter.org

FILM • HAZELWOOD

Movie Night on the Lawn: A Minecraft Movie 6:30 p.m. Hazelwood Green Plaza. Lytle Street and Eliza Street, Hazelwood. Free. RSVP required. All ages. hazelwoodlocal.com/calendar

MUSIC • SEWICKLEY

Sweet Jazz presents Boilermaker Jazz Band. 7-9 p.m. Doors at 6 p.m. The Walnut Green. 418 Walnut St., Sewickley. $20-25. sweetwaterartcenter.org/sweet-jazz

MUSIC • ASPINWALL

Allegheny RiverTrail Park Summer Concert Series presents The Commonheart. 7 p.m. Allegheny RiverTrail Park. 285 River Ave., Aspinwall. Free. alleghenyrivertrailpark.org

MUSIC

• NORTH SIDE

Sound Series: Sarah Klang 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. The Andy Warhol Museum. 117 Sandusky St., North Side. $20-25. warhol.org

PARTY • LAWRENCEVILLE

Jellyfish: Pride Edition. 8 p.m. Spirit. 242 51st St., Lawrenceville. $15-25. 21 and over. spiritpgh.com

SAT., JUNE 14

YARD SALE • MORNINGSIDE

Morningside Yard Sale 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Multiple locations, Morningside. Free. morningsidepgh.org

YARD SALE • NORTH SIDE

Mexican War Streets Yard Sale. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Brighton Road to Federal Street and West North Avenue to West Je erson Street. North Side. Free. mexicanwarstreets.org

Meadowcroft Atlatl Competition 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village. 401 Meadowcroft Rd., Avella. Included with regular admission. All ages. heinzhistorycenter.org

FESTIVAL • OAKLAND

It’s all about bones at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History during the first-ever DinoFest. Join experts and educators as they host hands-on activities that “explore how dinosaurs lived and how paleontologists work in the field.” Stretch at Dino Yoga, make dinosaur coloring pages, learn about fossil restoration, and more. Activities are designed for kids 5-12 and their families. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. Included with regular admission. Registration recommended. carnegiemnh.org

MUSIC • NORTH SHORE

Less Than Jake: Summer Circus with The Suicide Machines, Fishbone, and Bite Me Bambi 6 p.m. Stage AE. 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. $46.79-97.28. promowestlive.com

DANCE • EAST LIBERTY

Bodiography Center for Movement Spring Concert 6 p.m. Continues through Sun., June 15. Kelly Strayhorn Theater. 5941 Penn Ave., East Liberty. $30. kelly-strayhorn.org

FILM • MUNHALL

The Princess Bride: An Inconceivable Evening with Cary Elwes. 7 p.m. Doors at 6 p.m. Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall. 510 E. 10th Ave., Munhall. $63.71-75.51. librarymusichall.com

SWAP • LAWRENCEVILLE

Clothing Swap 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Hellbender Vinyl. 5794 Butler St., Lawrenceville. $5 hellbendervinyl.com

PHOTO: RAYMOND AMICO Fishbone at Stage AE

PHOTO: ERIC ROSÉ Bodiography Center for Movement Spring Concert at Kelly Strayhorn Theater

MARKET • ALLENTOWN

Allentown Night Market 7-11 p.m. 800 block of Warrington Ave., Allentown. Free. allentownnightmarket.com

MUSIC • BURGETTSTOWN

Halsey: For My Last Trick Tour 7 p.m. The Pavilion at Star Lake. 665 PA-18, Burgettstown. Tickets start at $36. burgettstowntheater.com

MUSIC • MCKEES ROCKS

Santigold. 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. Roxian Theatre. 425 Chartiers Ave., McKees Rocks. $45-124. roxiantheatre.com/shows

SUN., JUNE 15

MARKET • HIGHLAND PARK

Support queer artists and makers at the Union Project. The Queer Craft Market returns with a special Pride edition featuring handmade goods from local LGBTQ talent. Vendors include Stet Studio, Houndstooth USA, Yinz Soap Co., C.A.R.E (Crochet Arts Recycle Exchange), Collarbone Jewelry, and others. The Auto(nomous) Body Shop will also be on-site with health and harm reduction resources. 4-8 p.m. 801 N. Negley Ave., Highland Park. Free. Face masks required. instagram.com/queercraftmarket

MON., JUNE 16

LIT • NORTH SIDE

Writer-in-Residence: Oleksandr FrazéFrazénko, Nothing is Under Control Book Launch. 7-8:30 p.m. Alphabet City at City of Asylum. 40 W. North Ave., North Side. Free.

Livestream available. Registration required. cityofasylum.org

BINGO • STRIP DISTRICT

Tom Swoope’s Hip-Hop and R&B BINGO. 7:30 p.m. Doors at 6 p.m. Continues through Tue., June 17. City Winery. 1627 Smallman St., Strip District. $40. citywinery.com/pittsburgh

TUE., JUNE 17

THEATER • DOWNTOWN

Pittsburgh CLO presents Lerner and Loewe’s Camelot. 7:30 p.m. Sun., June 22. Benedum Center. Seventh Street and Penn Avenue, Downtown. $66.64-133.84. trustarts.org

MUSIC • LAWRENCEVILLE

Red Leather with De’Wayne. 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. Thunderbird Music Hall. 4053 Butler St., Lawrenceville. $26.84 in advance, $33.26 at the door. thunderbirdmusichall.com

WED., JUNE 18

MUSIC • DOWNTOWN

Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony. 7:30 p.m. Heinz Hall. 600 Penn Ave., Downtown. $47-112. pittsburghsymphony.org

MUSIC • NORTH SIDE

Velvet, Threaded, and Velvet Overkill. 8 p.m. The Government Center. 715 East St., North Side. $10. thegovernmentcenter.com

PHOTO: JOSHUA FRANZOS, TREEHOUSE MEDIA DinoFest at Carnegie Museum of Natural History

HELP WANTED FINANCIAL ANALYST

in Pittsburgh, PA. MS. $64,979/year. Resume: pavel@bonvuemanagement. com, Bonvue Management, LLC, 74 S 12th Street, Fl. 1, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.

HELP WANTED

SALES / ACCOUNT REP

Position: Sales / Account Rep

Compensation: Base + Commission

Hours: Monday thru Friday

Experience: 2+ years of successful outside sales experience

BOTTOM LINE ATTRIBUTES

We are looking for a cool chick…

· Rides Harleys....Even better.

· Can persuasively talk to and not get intimidated by burly old dudes.

· Has strong emotional intelligence.

Can handle rejection and not cry.

Can deal with the outside elements in all seasons and not afraid to get a little dirty.

· Will work autonomously and with a small team.

DUTIES

- “Get them to buy”…Responsible for the sales development to prospecting new business clientele…

- “Buy them a beer”…Enhance relationships with existing customers.

- “Type it up”…Basic computer knowledge....

- Interested candidates first go to Monstersmash.com……Look at the videos….That is the service you are selling to construction and manufacturing dudes….. If still interested then contact sales@monstersmash.com or call 724-513-6189.

And Ya Ya….We are EOE…….

And if this ad o ends you, don’t waste your time contacting us.

PLACE

ESTATE NOTICE

ESTATE OF RIZZUTO, ROBERT, C, DECEASED OF PITTSBURGH, PA No. 022503609 of 2025. Patricia Smith Extr. 130 Piper Dr, Pittsburgh, PA 15234

ESTATE NOTICE

HELP WANTED PROJECT ENGINEER

Elliott Company’s Jeanette, PA, o ice seeks a Project Engineer to be the primary interface between Elliott and the client on technical issues regarding their purchase of Elliott equipment. Apply at https://www.elliott-turbo. com/Careers #R2872.

HELP WANTED TECHNICAL MARKETING MANAGER

LANXESS Corp. seeks a Technical Marketing Manager in Pittsburgh, PA to direct the business market segment Biosecurity Solutions in AMS countries. MS in Animal or Veterinary Sci, 2 yrs exp and special skills reqd. Telecommuting permitted wthn the contiguous 48 states. To apply send resumes to Deena Sterry at deena.Sterry@lanxess.com

gris walls pans, Call Mark 814-520-5670

NAME CHANGE

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: NO. GD-25-003989

In re petition Robert C. Steele, change of name to Robert Charles Steele.

To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025, at 9:30 a.m, as the time and the Motions Room, City-County Building, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 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.

NAME CHANGE

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: NO. GD-25-3314, In re petition James A. Belczyk, parent(s) and Legal guardians of Jim Cunningham. Minor for a change of name to James Vincent Cunningham.

PERSONALS

White male, 56, health conscious, non-smoker, nondrinker. I’m very caring, talkative and loving. I enjoy oldies, nature, animal-lover. The simple things in life make me happy. Desire a girl with similar interest. 412-781-5989, best time 7p.m.-8:30p.m.

NAME CHANGE

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: NO. GD-25-004300, In re petition Royyan Daggag, for change of name to Ray Martin. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the Wednesday, June 18th, 2025, at 9:30 a.m, as the time and the Motions Room, City-County Building, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 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

NAME CHANGE

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: NO. GD-25-005355, In re petition Heidi Christopher, parent(s) and Legal guardian(s) of Jace James Haun and Travis Martin Haun Jr, change of name Jace James Christopher and Travis Martin Christopher.

To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the Wednesday, June 25th, 2025, at 9:30 a.m, as the time and the Motions Room, City-County Building, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 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

ESTATE OF VALENTOVISH, MARY ANN, DECEASED OF DUQUESNE, PA No. 022502370 of 2025. Gregg Valentovish Extr. Gregg Valentovish Adm 618 Redwood Court, Cranberry Twp, PA 16066

Many Americans are fortunate to have dental coverage for their entire working life, throughemployer-provided benefits. When those benefits end with retirement, paying dental bills out-of-pocket can come as a shock, leading people to put off or even go without care.

Simply put — without dental insurance, there may be an important gap in your healthcare coverage.

When you’re comparing plans ...

 Look for coverage that helps pay for major services. Some plans may limit the number of procedures — or pay for preventive care only.

 Look for coverage with no deductibles. Some plans may require you to pay hundreds out of pocket before benefits are paid.

 Shop for coverage with no annual maximum on cash benefits. Some plans have annual maximums of $1,000.

Medicare doesn’t pay for dental care.1

That’s right. As good as Medicare is, it was never meant to cover everything. That means if you want protection, you need to purchase individual insurance.

Early detection can prevent small problems from becoming expensive ones. The best way to prevent large dental bills is preventive care. The American Dental Association recommends checkups twice a year.

Previous dental work can wear out.

Even if you’ve had quality dental work in the past, you shouldn’t take your dental health for granted. In fact, your odds of having a dental problem only go up as you age.2

Treatment is expensive — especially the services people over 50 often need.

Consider these national average costs of treatment ... $222 for a checkup ... $190 for a filling ... $1,213 for a crown.3 Unexpected bills like this can be a real burden, especially if you’re on a fixed income.

FULL OF ENERGY

BY BRENDAN EMMETT QUIGLEY

“Absolutely love”

“I absolutely love my dental insurance. My dental ofﬁce ﬁles the claims, leaving me with very little balance to pay.”

Dorothy P., TN

ACROSS

1. Out of harm’s way

5. Launder

9. More than just a little silly

14. Rights org.

15. Tissue additive

16. Mushroom type

17. Have on 18. River near Khartoum

19. Green shampoo brand

20. “Holy cow, you two”?

23. Black __ event

24. Evaluate

25. Lift up

28. Big part of some labor contracts?

30. Deal with 31.

Drill command

33. Shaboozey song

36. ER employees who petrify patients?

52. One of the Muses

53. “Victory is mine!”

54. Miso soup ingredient

57. Pigpens

58. Ended, in France

59. “Oh, don’t you wish!”

60. On edge

61. Genesis creator

62. Full of energy, and what is added to this puzzle’s theme answers

DOWN

1. Carpentry tool

2. Coco Gau shot

3. Lose strength

4. Move that avoids a defender and ends with a layup in basketball

magazine

21. Get behind?

22. The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter author McCullers

25. Sound that’s coming back

26. Wading bird

27. Altar place

28. Big shots?

29. Shakespeare villain with more lines than the titular character

31. Parthenon’s goddess

32. New Mexico artists’ colony

33. Bread with dinner

34. “Do You

Want to Build a Snowman?” singer

35. Unpaid TV ads

37. “Here me out” 38. German greeting 42. Solid portfolio investments 43. Teutonic cry 44. À la ___ 45. Afresh

46. Spinning some tunes, say 47. Asia Minor region

48.

39. Number line?

40. Particle of light

41.

Arm bone

42. Head lock?

43. He did some heavy lifting in Greek myth

44. Camera company

46. Dungeon Master’s bagful

48. American Samoa toilets?

5. Jackson nicknamed “The Queen of Rockabilly”

6. Straighten

7. Song that’s a single?

8. Follow

9. Charlatan

10. “Take your time”

Colombian griddlecake

LPGA star Korda

Fashion