JOHNSON
AGARWAL
CP ILLUSTRATION: SAM SCHAFFER
PHOTO: COURTESY OF RANGOLI
PHOTO COURTESY OF EDDA FIELDS-BLACK
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON CP COVER PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
HERE, QUEER, AND CREATING COMMUNITY
For queer South Asians in Pittsburgh, Rangoli offers a place for cultural celebration, political resistance, and chosen family
BY: AAKANKSHA AGARWAL // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
Arangoli is a pattern made on the ground, often at the entrances of Indian homes, temples, or courtyards, using colored rice, petals, or pigment. These beautiful designs are most often made during festivals to greet gods, neighbors, and good fortune.
Just like the queer South Asian collective that borrows its name, it is never just decoration. It is a warm welcome.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF RANGOLI
Attendees at Chaand Raat (a South Asian tradition typically celebrated the night before Eid) show off their henna at an organizer’s house.
“JUST SHOWING UP ON FLAGSTAFF HILL, SPREADING OUT RUGS, PASSING FOOD AROUND, IT’S LIKE A DREAM OF COMMUNITY WE ACTUALLY GET TO LIVE OUT.”
That is the spirit Rangoli Pittsburgh carries into everything it does. This grassroots collective, built by and for queer South Asians in the city, has grown from a quiet four-person meet-up into a vibrant and evolving community. They show up in parks, in cafes, in drag bars, and, most of all, in each other’s lives.
Every year on June 1, the volunteer-run group gathers for an LGBTQ+ AAPI Day of Visibility picnic, a thirdspace celebration of food, joy, and community. Now in its seventh year, the event has become both a beloved tradition and a powerful statement. Organized in collaboration with Jaded PGH , it takes place at the intersection of Pride Month and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. It is a day to claim space as both queer and South Asian and to celebrate the fullness of that identity.
This year, the weather was colder than anyone had hoped, but no one seemed to mind. The picnickers brought their own rainbow of pride with them.
“Thankfully we had hot chai and plenty of joy to go around. That saved the day,” Surya Ramachandran, one of Rangoli’s earliest members, tells Pittsburgh City Paper.
Flagstaff Hill in Schenley Park bloomed with blankets, rugs, and tubs filled with homemade food. There was chaat, a tangy, spice-laced Indian snack; japchae, glossy
Korean noodles with sesame and vegetables; crispy cauliflower Manchurian in a sticky chili sauce; creamy pasta salad; and soft, pillowy Chinese-style steamed buns.
Someone brought in fresh lychees that vanished in minutes. Another carried a carrom board. Others played mahjong in the grass. There were gold henna tattoos, rounds of badminton, and hot masala chai from Karavansarai Chai to cut through the chill. People wore ethnic clothes layered under puffer jackets. The playlist swayed from indie pop to old-school Bollywood.
“It’s always sweet,” co-founder Satvika Neti tells City Paper . “That’s the word that keeps coming back to me. Sweet. Just showing up on Flagstaff Hill, spreading out rugs, passing food around, it’s like a dream of community we actually get to live out.”
Rangoli hosted its first LGBTQ+ AAPI Day of Visibility in 2019, without much fanfare. “We got proclamations from the city of Pittsburgh and the state of Pa. demarcating the day,” Neti says. “But we didn’t get the buzz we were hoping for that first year.”
Today, that quiet beginning has grown into something with national reach. “We were recently invited to help organize the Bay Area’s Week of Visibility, inspired by us,” Neti says. “It was so moving to be part of queer Asian history in that way.”
PHOTO: COURTESY OF RANGOLI
Organizers and attendees play mah jong together at a LGBTQ+ AAPI Day of Visibility picnic at Flagstaff Hill.
Something we needed.”
“We were too brown for queer spaces and too queer for brown spaces,” Sharma tells CP. “It was really important to us at the beginning that we let people know that this specific intersection of identities existed at all.”
Their earliest meetups were intimate. Friendsgivings with two guests. Potlucks where organizers outnumbered attendees. They also started Chill & Chats — casual hangouts designed to create a space for conversation and simply existing together. “At the beginning, we ourselves were the community we were hoping to meet the needs of,” Sharma says.
When the pandemic hit, they adapted. Virtual drag shows took the place of parties. Chill & Chats moved to Zoom. Instagram DMs became lifelines. But it was after lockdown, in 2022, that things truly opened up.
“It felt like all these folks had moved here during the pandemic and were looking for community,” Sharma says. “And they found it with us.”
By 2024, their Friendsgiving had grown to nearly 20 people. “Many of these folks talked about how thankful they were for the community Rangoli had offered them,” Neti says. “They’d met their best friends here.” They’ve gone on to host dance parties with 100+ attendees.
This sense of connection is now the bedrock of Rangoli’s model. Their monthly Chill & Chats, hosted at places like Bantha Tea Bar, Dobrá Tea , or Margaux, consistently draw a crowd.
“My first Chill & Chat, meeting another Desi trans person for the first time, it affirmed that it was a possibility for me,” member Vasu Magesh tells CP. “And that I’m certainly not alone.”
That sense of possibility is what drives Rangoli’s approach to programming. Ramachandran puts it simply: “Our events often begin with the question: what do we wish existed? Or, it would be cool if that happened. And then we proceed to make that happen.”
They’ve curated iftar celebrations, virtual drag shows, and queer dance nights blending Bollywood and Tollywood, amongst other events.
“Art has always been part of Rangoli’s heart,” Ramachandran says. “It’s how we resist the idea that queerness is only a Western thing.”
But joy and celebration have always been braided with political clarity.
“We are anti-imperialist and anti-fascist,” Magesh says. “We speak publicly about advocating for a free Palestine and Kashmir. We are against Hindutva ideology, casteism, and Islamophobia. And we center our activism on combating transmisogyny.”
Rangoli’s origin story begins in 2017, at a meeting of the Alliance for South Asians in Pittsburgh (ASAP). Neti, co-founder Deepshikha Sharma, and another participant realized, in a moment of recognition, that they were all queer. That realization became the seed of something more.
“When we realized how important that queer and South Asian intersectional identity was to us and how much we wanted to share that with others who looked like us,” Neti says, "we started meeting more regularly.”
A fourth member joined, and the group became a queer offshoot of ASAP. When ASAP dissolved the following year, Rangoli Pittsburgh emerged as an independent group in 2018.
“We were in our early 20s at the time,” Neti says. “just trying to create something we hadn’t seen before.
Taking a stance has not been without cost. “Some people expect solidarity with Hindutva-aligned movements,” Neti explains. “And when we don’t deliver that, they push back hard.” One event focused on Kashmir-facing protests. Others have been criticized for queering religious imagery or dismissed as importing a Western identity.
Still, Rangoli remains resolute. Their event invitations come with community guidelines that set the tone from the outset. “We’re not gatekeeping,” Ramachandran says. “But we don’t allow harm to go unchecked.”
The group is also deliberate about representation. “We work to include Sri Lankan, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Nepali voices,” Magesh says. “And we try to make our events intergenerational.”
Compensation, too, is a baseline. “From the beginning, we’ve worked to make sure artists and collaborators are paid,” Sharma says. “Whether it’s a drag queen, a poet, or a chai maker, we believe labor deserves respect.”
PHOTO: COURTESY OF RANGOLI
Attendees get gold temporary henna tattoos at our Jalebi Baby! dance party at Cobra night club.
In 2023, for their five-year anniversary, Rangoli hosted a drag night that paired a veteran performer, KaMani Sutra, with a first-time performer who had just started attending events. The two shared the stage. The crowd roared. We’re not just about the polished performances, Neti says. We want to make space for people to grow.
Another memory that stays with Neti came from tabling at the Mustard Seed ilm estival in Philadelphia. I saw my first South Asian-only drag show, Neti says. It was the first time I’d seen that many ueer South Asians in one place in my life. Being able to recreate even a little of that magic back home has been everything.
That magic often emerges in personal moments, too. At the Jalebi Baby dance party in Pittsburgh, a new member who had just moved from the Bay Area turned to Neti on the dance floor and said, This instantly made Pittsburgh feel like home.
Their most enduring creation might be their zine, Mirrors. It gathers poems, stories, and artwork by ueer South Asians from Pittsburgh and beyond. unded through community donations, Mirrors offers not just a platform, but a reflection of identities so often erased or oversimplified in mainstream narratives.
Collaboration is a constant in Rangoli’s work. They have partnered with Jaded PGH, City of Asylum , ormosa, drag artists, advocacy groups like APIPA and APALA, and the City’s LGBT IA Commission. Their earliest allies came from that original 201 meeting, now organized under ASAPP, the Alliance for South Asian Progressives in Pittsburgh.
Perhaps Rangoli’s biggest impact is also the hardest to measure it is the breath of relief when someone walks into a Rangoli event and realizes they are not alone.
There’s always someone who comes up to us and says, I didn’t know this e isted. I’ve lived in Pittsburgh for
10 years and I’ve never seen anything like this.’ And that’s what keeps us going, Neti says.
Ramachandran recalled the gasps when Bollywood songs dropped during drag performances. It reminds people of who they are. And who they can be.
What sustains Rangoli is not only visibility, it is intimacy. We’ve always joked that the worst thing we could’ve done for productivity was becoming friends, Neti says. We are trying first and foremost to build a base of community, and then working with that community to build advocacy. ur favorite parts of Rangoli are the in-betweens. Reminding each other to eat before an event. Jamming to Punjabi folk metal during si -hour meetings. r just venting about the week without opening our laptops. We keep each other whole. And that joy
and community is a huge part of why we’re able to do all the work we’ve done. Because we love each other.
Looking ahead, Rangoli hopes the ne t generation of ueer South Asians will feel less isolated, more empowered, and never again invisible.
It can be hard. r at least, it has been hard for us to find South Asians in leftist spaces, Magesh says. We want them to not only find each other there, but be able to grow from there as well. ur hope is that other ueer South Asians can grow up knowing that despite what they’ve been told, they are not alone. That they have somewhere not just where they’re heard, but where they can continue to fight for the world that they want. We hope that one day, no one has to fight for that world anymore. •
RENOVATING THE ROTUNDA
BOOM Concepts is set to repurpose the long-vacant rotunda of the B’nai Israel synagogue into a collaborative community arts center
BY: AMANDA WALTZ // AWALTZ@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
BOOM Concepts host a preview of their new space located at 333 N. Negley Ave.
The former Congregation B’nai Israel synagogue sat empty for decades. The property, with its dramatic arching dome and stained glass windows by pioneering abstract artist Jean-Jacques Duval, closed in 1995 and remained a dormant beauty on Negley Avenue in the East End.
The historic site recently came back to life when BOOM Concepts, a Black-led arts organization based in Garfield, announced that it would move into the space, creating what a press release describes as a “cultural center and headquarters, enhancing BOOM’s support for Black artists and creative entrepreneurs.” Now in the early stages of a multi-year renovation, the space will eventually become The Rotunda Collaborative, hosting events ranging from exhibitions to concerts, and serving as an inclusive hub for artists and community members in Garfield and other Pittsburgh neighborhoods.
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
Lillian Sogga dances during a celebration for BOOM Concepts' new rotunda project in the East End.
RENOVATING THE ROTUNDA, CONTINUES ON PG. 10
“WE ARE MOVING TO THE EDGE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOPE THIS SPACE ACTS AS A TOWN SQUARE AND MUCH-NEEDED ENTERTAINMENT CENTER.”
On May 15, The Rotunda Collaborative and committee members hosted Raising the Roof on the Rotunda, a community event that invited the public inside the Negley Avenue site and showcased what will soon become a “flexible, 500seat arts and events center.” Crowds donning hard hats and other protective gear — what an event description dubbed “Construction Site Casual” — toured the pre-renovated Rotunda as drummers and other performers provided entertainment.
In a joint statement, BOOM cofounders D.S. Kinsel and Thomas
Agnew tell Pittsburgh City Paper that they “spent the past two years exploring potential locations” for their forever home, adding that, since 2020, the organization has “hosted few — if any — programs” at their longtime storefront location on 5139 Penn Ave.
“We knew that when we returned to in-person programming, we wanted it to be on a larger scale,” they explain. “Our goal has always been to grow our capacity to produce events and evolve how we engage with artists, patrons, and neighbors.”
They drew on their strong
relationship with the BloomfieldGarfield Corporation, saying that “partnering with their team on this new neighborhood development project felt like a natural fit.”
The Boston-based development firm Beacon Communities originally acquired the property in 2022 to construct a reported 45 mixedincome housing units, as well as an urban farm and water-reclamation system. Kinsel and Agnew say Beacon invited BOOM to produce a public art project on the construction fence during Beacon’s phase of the redevelopment, which created what are
now the Carina Apartments, located in the adjoining school portion of the former synagogue.
Kinsel and Agnew say renovations on the Rotunda are slated for the fall and will begin restoring the building’s electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and structural systems. From there, they say they need to “repair and insulate the walls, add a new set of bathrooms and catering area at the rear of the structure, replace the roof, level the floor, install removable seating, and, in a final phase, build out a stage and other accommodations for a flexible theater space.”
BOOM Concepts host a preview of their new space located at 333 N Negley Ave.
We also need to secure off-site parking facilities if we’re to host any larger types of events when the renovations are mostly finished, they add.
Should all go to plan, the Rotunda will open in September 2029. Kinsel and Agnew hope that, before then, the city will allow them to begin hosting smaller types of events and programming that would be pop-up’ in nature at the facility.
While the Rotunda marks a major move for B M, Kinsel and Agnew stress that it only strengthens their commitment to Garfield. Last year, B M, with support from tourism nonprofit isitPITTSBURGH, hosted a takeover of Unblurred, the monthly art crawl along the Penn Avenue business district in Garfield, featuring e hibitions across si participating locations.
ver the past 11 years, we’ve participated in Unblurred in many ways from hosting e hibitions and events on-site, to creating public art activations along the avenue, to supporting, sponsoring, and providing scholarships for night market vendors, they e plain. The B M team has also contributed to postUnblurred neighborhood cleanups. ur role in the community continues
to evolve just like the neighborhood itself.
Since its founding, B M has worked to support local artists and fellow Garfield residents, hosting residencies and youth programs.
In 2020, City Paper named B M as one of Pittsburgh’s People of the Year for their various community projects and their efforts to help community members during the pandemic, with everything from fundraising to helping distribute meals to those in need.
We are moving to the edge of the neighborhood and hope this space acts as a town s uare and muchneeded entertainment center not only for Garfield, but for all ast nd neighborhoods and Greater Pittsburgh, they say, adding that their current head uarters sits less than a mile away.
They believe that, once completed, The Rotunda Collaborative will be an intentional community arts organization that will develop partnerships and identify arts organizations to activate the space.
We are e cited about how the space will host and hold different partners, they add. •
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON BOOM Concepts host a preview of their new space located at 333 N Negley Ave.
Pride P traits of
Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ community celebrated loud and proud this year with a massive Pride parade downtown, drag performances, and liberating marches. In these uncertain times, the Pittsburgh ueer community finds a way to highlight strength and joy. Thank you to everyone who showed up to celebrate our vibrant beautiful city. As always, it is an honor to document and meet each and every human in Pittsburgh. •
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Hazell Azzer performs a vogue routine during the Pittsburgh Pride Parade on June 1, 2025.
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
Thousands of people march over the Andy Warhol Bridge during the 2025 Pittsburgh Pride Parade.
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
Thousands of people march over the Andy Warhol Bridge during the 2025 Pittsburgh Pride Parade.
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
Hundreds of people march down Liberty Avenue in Bloomfield during the Pittsburgh Dyke March on June 6, 2025.
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
Hundreds of people march down Liberty Avenue in Bloomfield during the Pittsburgh Dyke March on June 6, 2025.
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Matthew Jenkins as Penny Slot hits the ball during a drag softball game in Swissvale.
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
Hundreds of people march down Liberty Avenue in Bloomfield during the Pittsburgh Dyke March on June 6, 2025.
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
Heather Morrow poses for a portrait during the 2025 Pittsburgh Pride Parade.
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
Nav Nie poses for a portrait in Downtown Pittsburgh during the Pride Parade on June 1, 2025.
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
Pup Paimon performs during a Pride pet party at Brewer's Bar on May 31, 2025.
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
Thousands of people march over the Andy Warhol Bridge during the 2025 Pittsburgh Pride Parade.
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Brewer's Bar hosts a Pride pet party with Steel City Pups on May 31, 2025.
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
Valerie Costa applies lipstick on Jim Sampson prior to the start of the drag softball game in Swissvale on May 31, 2025.
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
Team members line up prior to the start of the Gloves and Glitter game.
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
Local drag queen Indi Skies hosts the Gloves and Glitter tournament at Les Getz Memorial Park in Swissvale.
READ THIS, YINZ
SBY: AAKANKSHA
ummer is here in Pittsburgh, and the days feel as long as the line at Primanti’s on game day. Whether you’re perched on your porch swing, chilling at Schenley Park, or soaking up the sunshine by one of our three rivers, there’s no better time to crack open a good book. Lucky for us, the ‘Burgh is home to a lineup of literary heavyweights. We have authors whose voices are as dynamic as the neighborhoods they call home.
We’re talking everything from hard-hitting memoirs and smoky jazz club dramas to magical family stories that span generations. So toss a book in your bag, find a shady spot, and let these six Pittsburgh authors keep you company all summer long.
CP ILLUSTRATION: SAM SCHAFFER
Ghost Boys
by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Jewell Parker Rhodes grew up in Pittsburgh’s Manchester neighborhood, where tight-knit families and community pride shaped her storytelling. A first-generation college grad, she’s now a beloved author of books for kids and teens. Ghost Boys tells the story of Jerome, a 12-year-old Black boy killed by a police officer who watches the aftermath of his death from the afterlife. Rhodes tackles tough issues like racism and justice with honesty and heart.
American Bastard
by Jan Beatty
A fierce voice in Pittsburgh poetry, Jan Beatty’s work is rooted in her working-class upbringing. Having spent years teaching at Carlow University and conducting author readings in local bars and libraries, Beatty brings the same raw honesty to her memoir American Bastard. She unpacks her own adoption story with grit and vulnerability, and it’s guaranteed to resonate with anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider.
The Blues Walked In
by Kathleen George
Kathleen George is a staple in Pittsburgh’s literary scene, with years of teaching and writing locally that make her a trusted voice. Known for her crime novels, she takes a different turn in The Blues Walked In, set in the Hill District’s 1930s jazz scene. Through the eyes of a young Lena Horne and a cast of local dreamers, George paints a vivid picture of a neighborhood that’s still a big part of the city’s soul.
Catina’s Haircut: A Novel in Stories by
Paola Corso
Hailing from a family of Italian immigrants who worked in Pittsburgh’s steel mills, Paola Corso is a poet, fiction writer, and chronicler of working-class stories. Weaving together steel town grit and southern Italian folklore, Corso’s writing in Catina’s Haircut feels like swapping stories at Nonna’s table after Sunday dinner. The book follows four generations of an Italian American family, bringing mill-town neighborhoods to life with warmth and a touch of magic. It’s a summer read that feels both familiar and full of wonder.
40 Patchtown by
Damian Dressick
Damian Dressick knows coal country, and it shows in 40 Patchtown. His family ties to Western Pennsylvania’s mining history give his writing an edge of authenticity that’s hard to beat. Set during the fierce 1922 coal miners’ strike in Windber, Pa., 40 Patchtown centers on 14-year-old Chet Pistakowski as he struggles to support his family through the hardships and tensions of this turbulent time.
What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Blacker
by Damon Young
If you’ve ever read Damon Young’s essays on Very Smart Brothas or his columns in The Washington Post or The New York Times, you know he’s one of Pittsburgh’s sharpest and funniest voices. His memoir-in-essays What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Blacker is equal parts hilarious and heartfelt, with reflections on race, identity, and growing up Black in Pittsburgh. Young’s wit and honesty make this a summer read that’s as entertaining as it is thought-provoking. •
Hemlock For Socrates. 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m.
IN PITTSBURGH
THU., JUNE 26
MARKET
• ASPINWALL
Aspinwall Summer Series Alley Bash
5-8 p.m. Alley A between First Street and Freeport Road, Aspinwall. Free. All ages. instagram.com/aspinwall_neighbors
MUSIC • DOWNTOWN
An Evening of Electronic Sound and Image with Wolf Eyes, The Orgone Archive, Cloning, Slacking, and Nightglare 7 p.m. Wood Street Galleries. 601 Wood St., Downtown. $10-20 suggested donation. All
instagram.com/tylerjacobthompson
MUSIC • OAKLAND
Psych Ward Grips, Ten Pound Snail, and Times New Wrestlers. 7 p.m. Haven. 401 Atwood St., Oakland. $13.75. havenvenue.com
OUTDOORS • LAWRENCEVILLE
Pittsburgh Underwear Ride: Pride Edition. 8 p.m. 46th Street and Butler Street, Lawrenceville. Free. instagram.com/pittsburghunderwearride
LIT • BLOOMFIELD
Stay Gold Books and Jake Maynard present Sex and Death Vol. 3 8 p.m. Brillobox. 4104 Penn Ave., Bloomfield. Free. brilloboxpgh.com
FRI., JUNE 27
MUSIC • ALLENTOWN
Experience two days of noise and experimental music at Little Giant Studio Pittsburgh Noise Fest, a joint production of Cleaner Tapes and Black Ring Rituals Records, presents a lineup of music artists and video DJs from Pittsburgh and beyond. Hear harsh noise, drone, electronic, death industrial, and more. 4 p.m. Continues through Sat., June 28. 100 Asteroid Way,
Thunderbird Music Hall. 4053 Butler St., Lawrenceville. $16.15 in advance, $20.92 at the door. thunderbirdmusichall.com
COMEDY • NORTH SIDE
White Label Comedy Night with Amir Abdallah 8 p.m. The Government Center. 715 East St., North Side. $10. thegovernmentcenter.com
JUNE 26
Allentown. $30-70. 18 and over. BYOB. pittsburghnoisefest.com
DANCE • OAKLAND
Pittsburgh Dance Workshop. 7 p.m. Continues through Sat., June 28. Charity Randall Theatre-University of Pittsburgh. 4301 Forbes Ave., Oakland. $20. pittsburghdanceworkshop.com
PRIDE • BLOOMFIELD
Steel City Cabaret Pride Show 7 p.m. Doors at 6 p.m. Trace Brewing. 4312 Main St., Bloomfield. $12.51. instagram.com/cabaretpgh
MUSIC • LAWRENCEVILLE
Pittsburgh Honky-Tonk 7-11 p.m. Spirit. 242 51st St., Lawrenceville. $23.18. 21 and over. spiritpgh.com
DRAG • CARNEGIE
Wanda B. Meighnaybor: A Make-Believe Show. 7:30-8:30 p.m. Continues through Sat., June 28. Carnegie Stage. 25 W. Main St., Carnegie. $15-25. carnegiestage.com
MUSIC • LAWRENCEVILLE
Normal Creatures Album Release Show with Princess, Zinnia’s Garden, and
SAT., JUNE 28
MARKET • GARFIELD
Punk Rock Flea Market. 12-5 p.m. The Mr. Roboto Project. 5106 Penn Ave., Garfield. Free. dltsgdom.com
HOLIDAY
• LAWRENCEVILLE
Lawrenceville Independence Day Celebration 12-10 p.m. Arsenal Park. 290 40th St., Lawrenceville. Free. All ages. facebook.com/LawrencevilleUnited/events
PARTY • EAST LIBERTY
Honor a beloved bygone institution during the Shadow Lounge Block Party. Local DJs, emcees, and music acts will descend on Lorelei — the bar now occupying the former Shadow Lounge space — to celebrate what would have been the 25th anniversary of a venue known for its dance parties, rap showcases, and live performances. Dance, drink, eat, and commune with people who have kept Pittsburgh partying since the 2000s. 4 p.m. After party 10 p.m. 124 S. Highland Ave., East Liberty. $41.80. Block party free for kids 12 and under. After party 21 and over. instagram.com/slreunionpgh
PRIDE • HAZELWOOD
Hazelwood Pride. 6 p.m. Continues through Sun., June 29. Hazelwood Brewhouse. 5007 Lytle St., Hazelwood. Free. abstractrealmbrewing.com
JUNE28
MUSIC/ART •
LAWRENCEVILLE
Freak Meet: A Psych Rock and Live Art Series
Redfishbowl. 4327 Butler St., Lawrenceville. $10. redfishbowl.com
FILM • DOWNTOWN
Festival of 35mm: Street Trash (2024) 10 p.m. Harris Theater. 809 Liberty Ave., Downtown. $17. trustarts.org
CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM Pittsburgh Underwear Ride: Pride Edition
WED., JULY 2
SUN., JUNE 29
MUSIC • STATION SQUARE
Jazz on the River with Roger Humphries and The R.H. Factor 12:30-4 p.m. Gateway Clipper. 350 West Station Square Dr., Station Square. $55 in advance, $60 day of event. gatewayclipper.com
MUSIC • ALLISON PARK
Allegheny County Music Festival. 7:30 p.m. Doors at 3 p.m. Hartwood Acres Park Amphitheater. 4000 Middle Rd., Allison Park. Free. All ages. alleghenycounty.us
MON., JUNE 30
MUSIC • STRIP DISTRICT
A Soulful Return, A Testimony of Triumph with The Floacist. 7:30 p.m. Doors at 6 p.m. City Winery. 1627 Smallman St., Strip District. $25-55. citywinery.com/pittsburgh
TUE., JULY 1
MUSIC
311: Unity Tour with Badflower and Sitting on Saturn 6 p.m. Stage AE. 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. Tickets start at $62. promowestlive.com
FILM • ALLENTOWN
Chow down on a night of prime glizzy cinema when Bottlerocket Social Hall presents A Hot Dog Program with director Rick Sebak. The 1999 WQED documentary takes viewers on a cross-country journey honoring the
meaty summer food staple, highlighting Nathan’s in New York City, Demon Dogs in Chicago, the now-closed Original Hot Dog Shop in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood, and more. And yes, hot dogs will be served. 7:30 p.m. Doors at 5 p.m. 1226 Arlington Ave., Allentown. $7.27. bottlerocketpgh.com
WED., JULY 2
ART • LARIMER
Bakery Square Public Art Reveal and Jenna Boyles Meet and Greet. 12-2 p.m. The Conservatory/City Kitchen. 145 Bakery Square Blvd., Larimer. Free. bakery-square.com/events
MUSIC • DOWNTOWN
Diana Krall 7:30 p.m. Heinz Hall. 600 Penn Ave., Downtown. $67-166. pittsburghsymphony.org
WED., JULY2
PHOTO: COURTESY OF BAKERY SQUARE Bakery Square Public Art Reveal with Jenna Boyles
PHOTO: M. MCCARTNEY
Diana Krall at Heinz Hall
MARKET PLACE
A happy guy who loves good food, great conversation, and even better company—just looking for someone who enjoys the same interests! Give me a call at 412-313-4320—and if I miss your call, leave a message and I’ll get back to you soon!
conscious,
non-drinker. 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.
HELP WANTED METALLURGIST ENGINEER
FINANCIAL
Keystone Profiles, Ltd, in Beaver Falls, PA, sks a Metallurgist Engineer; Dmstc trvl 5% job duties incl. Devp & optmz materials, steel & metallurgical process in connctn w/ steel bar heat treatmnts for compliance w/cold draw, devp & ovrsee heatng & coolng cycls for low & med carbn steels; coord var furnaces (ex. coil anneal & long furnaces, ceramic isolatn, etc) to meet material specs, certfy steel undr intl stndrds (ASTM, AMS, ISO, NACE, SAE, etc); prep & validate MTRs; cndct tests ex. decarburizatn, fractogrphy, hardnss & microstructural anlysis; coord w/extrnl labs; devp engineerng specs for new materials & eval mechnicl, physcl & chem props; propose alt materials w/o compromisng perf/ machinability; cndct process & qualty audits in hot bar rollng mills (SBQ & MBQ); implmnt enginr mngmnt sys on steel processng; prov tech spprt to clients, eval business opptys & cndct materials feasiblty, participt in finite elemnt simulatns pref usng
ANSYS. Bach Deg reqd. Min exp reqts: 48 mo in job o rd, or 48 mos in metallurgy engineerng, material engineerng; mechncl engineerng or rel fld. Must have ASTM Level II Certificatn in nondestructv testng. Send res: epapa@ keystoneprofiles.com
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.
FINANCIAL
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HELP WANTED BUSINESS
Philips RS North America LLC (formerly Respironics, Inc.) is accepting resumes for the position of Senior Procurement Project Manager in Pittsburgh, PA (Ref. # 7407752). Collaborate with company’s Sleep and Respiratory Care category and business unit stakeholders to build relationships exemplified by openness, trust, shared action, mutual long-term benefits. Telecommuting permitted. Mail resume to Philips North America LLC, Legal Department, Barbara Bickford, 222 Jacobs Street, Third Floor, Cambridge, MA 02141. Resume must include Ref. # 7407752, full name, email address & mailing address. No phone calls. Must be legally authorized to work in U.S. without sponsorship. EOE.
FINANCIAL
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NAME CHANGE
IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: NO. GD-25-004801, In re petition of Oluwatubi Olasimbo, change of name to Jordan Sanders.
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
MISCELLANEOUS
Guaranteed Life Insurance! (Ages 50 to 80). No medical exam. Affordable premiums never increase. Benefits never decrease. Policy will only be cancelled for non-payment. HOURS: M-F 9a-10p & Sat 11a-2p EST 1-888-386-0113 (Void NY) (AAN CAN)
NAME CHANGE
IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: NO. GD-25-5279, In re petition of China Ryu, change of name to Tina Ryu. 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 16th, 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
Buying old watches, broken or not, custom jewelry, coins, old silverware, gris walls pans, Call Mark 814-520-5670 White male, 56,
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 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
LEGAL NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that Spit Supply, LLC has filed or will file an application for registration of the fictitious name “SPIT” under 54 Pa. C.S. §311, with the Pennsylvania Department of State. The principal o ice is located at 6360 Broad St Unit 4658, Pittsburgh, PA 15206.
Let Pittsburgh City Paper help you hire! Every month, over 400,000 people visit pghcitypaper.com for news, entertainment, and job listings. New jobs are posted every Sunday online and in our Tuesday City Pigeon e-newsletter.
Contact T’yanna McIntyre at tmcintyre@ pghcitypaper.com to advertise your job listing in City Paper. Now Hiring
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please contact us at 412-626-6111.
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.
QUACK WACKINESS
BY BRENDAN EMMETT QUIGLEY // BRENDANEMMETTQUIGLEY.COM
“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. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” pres.
4. Author’s name, e.g.
10. Bird call
13. Spreadable seafood delicacy
14. Hybrid waterside lodgings
15. Perfect
16. Nav. rank 17. Experts at trivia?
19. Make a permanent mark
21. Apothecary’s weight
22. Birth
23. Taco cheese
25. Homes
27. Interrogate the most-tired?
30. Friendship actor Robinson
31. Minor holdup
doing laundry?
51. Underground and out of sight
52. Mosque o icials
53. Online money lender
54. Essential
57. Spot for some aromatherapy
59. Speedy modern pagan
62. Animal house?
63. Second word of the Golden Rule
64. Outward appearance
65. Flub up
66. “___ my pleasure!”
67. Emcee’s segue
68. Home o ice, perhaps
DOWN
1. Doing nothing
2. “Keep going”
11. Range that runs through sevent countries
12. Left in an atlas
15. “Reach for the sky!”
18. Actress Deschanel
20. Ship’s pronoun
24. The “S” in “iOS”
26. Garbage collector
27. Parts of gals.
28. Polish o
29. Shining
34. African cuckoo: var.
36. Chinese tea
38. “Wow! Just wow!”
39. Game room?
40. Pop-ups, e.g.
42. Reality show about Kat Von D’s High Voltage Tattoo parlor
43. Su ix with crossword
45. “Should we start?”
46. Resistance unit
48. Kin of horseshoes
49. Computer/TV cable slot
50. Gentle pat
51. Matter-of-fact
53. Prefix with distant
55. Sch. in La Jolla
56. Digitize
58. Half ender, perhaps
60. Only st. entirely in Appalachia
61. Never before seen
32. Washington Square sch.
33. Leave in, editorially
35. RN’s letters
37. Bread with tabbouleh
41. Cheer for Boca Juniors
44. Athens home
47. Make, as a few alterations
48. Put a stop to
3. 1965 #1 hit by Fontella Bass
4. Spicy food
5. “Game, bro?”
6. Leopard’s home
7. Chichén ___ (Mayan city)
8. Julie who played Catwoman
9. ___ Lilly (pharma company)
10. It can give you a wasp waist
