PITTSBURGH’S ALTERNATIVE FOR NEWS, ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT SINCE 1991
ROCK ME, MAMA
10-17, 2025
BY: KAHMEELA ADAMS-FRIEDSON
ROCK ME, MAMA
These Pittsburgh women balance making music with the pressures of motherhood
AMANDA WALTZ
AAKANKSHA AGARWAL
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Shani Banerjee
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Jess Zoric
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Anqwenique Kinsel
PHOTO COURTESY: MAGGIELYNNNEGRETE The Garment Disctrict
ROCK ME, MAMA ROCK ME, MAMA
BY: KAHMEELA ADAMS-FRIEDSON // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
Jessica Zoric, singer and washboard player for D.B. Djanco, noticed how the dynamics of parenting intertwined with her musical journey. Her 8-year-old daughter, Ginny, was initially hesitant about seeing her mom on stage — she now plans on forming her own band, Beatles Junior.
Zoric adores the occasional appearances her daughter makes on stage with her.
“She has her tambourine. She’s still embarrassed to sing, but, God, she’s wonderful,” Zoric tells Pittsburgh City Paper
The world of music, often envisioned as a realm of late nights, touring, and spontaneous creation, might seem at odds with the demands of motherhood. Yet, women in Pittsburgh are consistently proving that they aren’t mutually exclusive. These local moms/musicians aren’t
These Pittsburgh women balance making music with the pressures of motherhood
just juggling schedules; they’re redefining what it means to be both a dedicated artist and a devoted parent, hitting high notes on stage and at home.
But what does that look like when you don’t have Beyoncé money to pay a staff to help with the everyday push and pull of raising children?
The decision to return to the stage, or to continue playing through pregnancy and early motherhood, often stems from an undeniable passion for the art. It’s not just a hobby — it’s a fundamental part of their identity. And, speaking from personal experience, mothers can often feel as though they have no identity outside of their child.
“I think being really grounded in my own autonomy when it comes to [music] is probably one of … I don’t feel like I’ve lost a part of myself,
which I think is kind of a rarity,” Shani Banerjee tells City Paper. “That’s not to say things are perfect all the time.”
Since 2021, the mother of a 2-year-old daughter has provided lead vocals and electric violin for the “dusty indie punk” band Sewer Head. She is no stranger to shifting gears between her full-time job, parenting, and the band at a moment’s notice.
Still, she admits something can still put an unexpected spin on her day.
“Last night, we decided practice would be at 7:30, and my daughter was like, in the middle of a meltdown. And then — I’m just gonna be very honest — there was a poop in the tub,” Banjeree says.
The logistical challenges are, without a doubt, immense. Band practice, often held
“DON’T GIVE UP ON CREATIVITYYOURJUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE PUKINGSOMEONE ON YOU.”
in the evenings, requires meticulous planning. Childcare becomes paramount, frequently requiring the help of partners, trusted friends, or family. Touring, the lifeblood of many musicians, transforms into a complex puzzle of nannies, co-parenting schedules, and sometimes, even bringing the children along for parts of the journey.
“Luckily, I do have bandmates that are not curmudgeons about children,” Maggie Lynn Negrete, whose 6-year-old daughter, Mora, has carved her own place in the Psych Pop band The Garment District, tells CP. “[It's great] being in a band that the people you’re with are also looking out for your kid, who are excited to see your kid.”
The band welcomes ora, who served as an unofficial production assistant for one of The Garment District's photoshoots, capturing behind-the-scenes footage on her tablet. “I get really excited seeing her be a part of the experience. And she really loves it. She has a performer’s heart,” says Negrete.
There is plenty of fun to be had, but at times, the emotional landscape can be tricky to navigate. The guilt that often accompanies working mothers can be amplified when one’s “work” involves late-night shows and time away from home.
But, the moms who spoke with CP articulate a different perspective. They view their musical pursuits not as a selfish act, but as a vital form of self-care and an empowering example for their children. Saxophonist Negrete joined The Garment District as she was looking for a reprieve from the isolation of parenting a young child during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I felt like I was just ready to explode. I needed to be out in the world and do something really creative. And I didn’t realize that performing was maybe the answer, but it definitely has been,” says egrete.
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
Shani Banerjee poses for a portrait at home on Aug. 21, 2025.
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These women also believe their children learn the importance of pursuing what they love by seeing their mothers actively engage in their music. “I think being really grounded in my own autonomy when it comes to that is probably one of the most rewarding aspects of being both a mom and a musician,” says Banerjee.
Modeling a level of creative pursuit and resilience is a powerful, if often unacknowledged, aspect of their parenting. They can walk off stage or away from a rehearsal inspired and ready to embrace creativity and life in new ways. “I hope [Mora] is fearless with her creativity and knows that, as long as she’s alive, she can always explore a new practice,” says Negrete.
Anqwenique Kinsel, who has traveled the world as a jazz, opera, and classical vocalist, puts it simply: “If we as humans are denied our ability to be creative, what is that?”
Kinsel, a mother of three, credits her supportive husband, family, and arts collective, Sibyls Shrine, with helping her continue to grow as an artist. Kinsel recently returned from performing at The Clazz International Music Festival in Italy, and she expresses gratitude for the opportunity to focus solely on her craft. “This bigger purpose within the purpose … I’m really super proud of it. Me going to Italy and doing this festival is a part of that,” Kinsel tells CP. “This just elevated, a more expansive version of how I’m doing my creative work.”
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CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
Jess Zoric poses for a photo in Aspinwall on Aug. 28, 2025.
In a world where mothers feel pressure to conform to societal expectations, losing oneself on the stage is one of the more productive ways to work out the aggression, worry, or overstimulation they face every day. Zoric admits that her theatrical on-stage persona is very different from who she actually is. “I think that that’s half of what’s fun about seeing a live performance. If I want to see somebody, I want you to make me remember it forever. So I like just being as huge as possible, and then as soon as I’m done, I’m like, OK, all done.”
Dingo, lead vocalist for the metal group Ancient Torture, has not let pregnancy slow her down. As the mother-to-be prepared for the birth of her first child, she was hesitant about continuing to perform live shows. After getting the green light from her doctor, she returned to her guttural vocals and head thrashing. “I was kind of worried, physically, how I would be,” Dingo tells CP. “But honestly, when I’m up there, with a mixture of adrenaline and just performing, I kind of physically forget.”
The death-doom vocalist is well aware that dynamics will change and a hiatus is necessary, but she has no plans to hang up the band life for good. “I can continue writing lyrics, and I can listen to recordings," she says. "We won’t play as a band until whenever I can.”
With a strong, supportive tribe, personal passions and family life can coexist harmoniously. “The creative practice, our artwork, what we do, is directly tied to who we are,” says Kinsel.
All of these women agree that it’s possible to pursue their artistic dreams while raising a family. “I just think you should continue if you like performing. I don’t think you should give it up,” says Dingo. Zoric urges others to “find what calls to you and go for it.”
Banerjee hopes to see more moms (and dads) in the musical space, adding, “We can really have this be a really active part of our lives. I hope to see more of it.”
But the most impactful life advice may come from Negrete, who says, “Don’t give up on your creativity just because you have someone puking on you.” •
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Anqwenique Kinsel poses for a portrait at East Liberty Presbyterian Church.
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Min Schultz searches for otters along the Monongahela River.
OTTER QUEST
Why one Pittsburgher made it her mission to spot a river otter in city limits
BY: GAVIN PETRONE // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
At dawn, the sun rising above Pittsburgh’s Monongahela River is nothing short of serene.
Pink hues bounce off the river’s mist and sharpen a bright orange re ection along its still waters. Hobbyist boaters are just beginning to rev their engines in the distance. The roads and bridges above are free of car traffic. It’s an otherworldly end-of-summer tran uility that’s perfect for finding a river otter, says Alexandra “Min” Schultz.
Since July earlier this year, Schultz has ventured out daily, she says, hoping to spot and photograph an otter within
city limits, all while documenting the process through her TikTok account. She says it would be “more special” for the otter to be within the boundaries of Pittsburgh, she tells Pittsburgh City Paper , adding that she is especially drawn to urban ecology.
Schultz begins the search dressed in neutral safari pants with wading boots cinched up past her calves. With her jacket tucked in, she’s straight out of a nature show.
For this excursion, Schultz has elected to look for the elusive otter near Duck Hollow — otters have been
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
Min Schultz searches for otters along the Monongahela River.
spotted here before. Schultz says revealing the exact location of her hunt might encourage others to follow suit and inadvertently lead to ecological damage.
She begins her search by scanning the waters of the Mon with binoculars from a vantage point. Schultz says she is looking for “triangles” in the water — the shape an otter’s head makes while it swims.
Schultz was first spurred into her otter mission through research for her master’s in wildlife conservation from Miami University’s Project Dragonfly program. The program led her to Namibia, where she studied the country’s ecology.
in 2017 working serving shifts at Rivers Casino. At that time, Schultz worked there and at the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium.
there would be a trail of hay behind me, because I’d be running in with my zoo uniform and stuff.” Schultz says, laugh ing with Petrelli.
then-5-year-old son to see Schultz work at the zoo.
thought she was so cool,” Petrelli tells Paper
“I DO KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THERE ARE OTTERS IN THE MON.”
As Schultz peers down at the river’s waters, backup arrives: her longtime friend Danielle Petrelli.
clamber down a trail and head for a river bank. There, Schultz says, they hope to find one of two things: tracks, or a latrine,
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Danielle Petreli searches for otters along the Monongahela River on Aug. 15, 2025.
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
Min Schultz searches for otters along the Monongahela River on Aug. 15, 2025.
Another indicator of an otter, Schultz says, is dragging marks behind potential tracks. If the webbing can’t be properly distinguished, Schultz says she knows for sure the tracks are an otter’s by their drag marks.
She soon spots what look to be drag marks on a bank and beckons Petrelli to come and see. In the same moment, Schultz prepares her phone to record the marks for her TikTok.
Schultz’s method of identifying otter tracks “could be” accurate, says Allegheny County Game Warden Tyler Castronova. Finding an otter, though, might be a stretch.
“Within city limits might be difficult,” he says. “I do know for a fact that there are otters in the Mon, as well as the Yough[iogheny].”
And while they might be in there, Castronova tells CP that noise pollution from boats and traffic above could scare them away.
Because of regular boat traffic along the Monongahela, “the otters themselves don’t really have a lot of space to go,” Castronova says. “So, they’re probably going to try and stay more towards the outside of [Pittsburgh] city limits.”
Castronova added that the winter time, with fewer boats and less noise, might be a better time to search for otters.
Schultz is undeterred by this and humble about her ecological expertise.
“Everybody who wants to be a naturalist and scientist, they want to know everything,” Schultz says, “They want to be the expert. [But]
there’s times I come up to shit and I’m like … What the hell is that?”
Most of her know-how, Schultz says, comes from her time working at the Pittsburgh Zoo. She grew close to otters while working in the Children’s Zoo, which she says is part of the reason why she’s so dedicated to finding one of the critters in the wild.
She worked there when the zoo first took in Oakley the otter, who, at that point, was named Pretzel. He came to the zoo from Oklahoma with severe heartworms that had killed his brother prior to his arrival in Pittsburgh, Schultz says.
After helping him through a year and a half of recovery, Schultz says she grew close to Oakley and was especially fond of what she called his “man boobs.” Oakley was young when he initially came into the zoo, she says, which helped him get used to people.
“Before we know it, this otter’s eating meatballs in my lap,” Schultz recalls. “He’s crate trained, and he paints.” She says she still has some of the canvases Oakley painted.
Schultz has since left the zoo, and Oakley is adjusting to his new roommate, Squirt.
Many river banks have yet to be checked, and the journey continues for a bit. Schultz is immersed in her method: find a bank, check it for evidence of an otter, and then wait. She sits and scans for otter triangles while Petrelli does the same above her from the trail.
The two get through about five banks in
roughly 2 hours. Before long, Schultz is ready to summarize the expedition with a TikTok. Schultz says she got a taste of virality in 2022 when she was still at the zoo after she documented what it was like taking care of sloths. That video, for more reasons than one, is why Schultz does what she does — she says her candid description of sloth “shit” cost her the job.
A major part of her otter project, beyond her love of the semiaquatic mammal and her master’s research, is a hope of one day going viral again. Schultz says the community’s reaction to her otter project has given her new motivation to continue, and she's branded her TikTok as “adult environmental education.”
“[Adults aren’t] sitting and reading signs when they go to a zoo,” Schultz says. “They’re not stopping and reading them because they’re either A, on a date, or B, they have their family and they don’t have fucking time to sit there and read through … So there’s this whole audience that’s missed.”
So, with a finished TikTok and knowing otters are near, Schultz and Petrelli pack up unfettered, ready to hit the trail again next week. Neither of them really seem to care when exactly they will find an otter. They know that day will eventually come.
“Day 50 will be more special,” Petrelli says to Schultz.
“Day 50 will be special,” Schultz replies. •
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
Min Schultz searches for otters with Danielle Petrelli along the Monongahela River on Aug. 15, 2025.
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
Min Schultz examines possible footprints while searching for otters along the Monongahela River.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF CAT BRIGGS Cat Briggs poses with the third-place ribbon she won at the Pittsburgh County Fair in 2024
FAIR THEE WELL
The
Pittsburgh County Fair
harvests countrified fun and friendly competition
BY: AMANDA WALTZ // AWALTZ@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
Pittsburgh residents don’t have to travel to the Big Butler Fair for farm animals, prize-winning produce, and carnival-type rides and games. Even after the big fair season has come and gone, the Pittsburgh County Fair gives locals a chance to indulge in countrified fun and friendly competition.
Now in its third year, the Pittsburgh County Fair — taking place Sat., Sept. 13 at Allegheny Commons Park West — promises a free, all-ages affair full of “hands-on demonstrations,” contests, appearances by local farms, and “sustainability-focused artisans,” as well as line dancing hosted by 12 Step, live music, and local food and drinks, including beer from Allegheny City Brewery.
True to form, the alt-fair delivers familiar entertainment, including a petting oo and pony rides, along with more offbeat activities such as a “bacteria scavenger hunt.” The competition aspect, a central focus for any county fair, has become a big draw for both participants and attendees.
“It’s an interesting thing, because the first contest we ever did, the first year, was only the tomato,” Pittsburgh County Fair organizer Justin Lubecki tells Pittsburgh City Paper. “I was like, this is the lowest barrier to entry — you just have to show up with a tomato that you grew. That’s all we’re asking, and then you get stuff for it.”
clubs like Ferment Pittsburgh that encourage time-honored, at-home food prep like canning and pickling.
“Our county is really fascinating, where you can drive 10 minutes [outside Pittsburgh] and you’re in farmland,” he says.
Tomatoes aren’t the only thing receiving the spotlight this year. The
“OUR COUNTY IS REALLY FASCINATING, WHERE YOU CAN DRIVE 10 MINUTES [OUTSIDE PITTSBURGH] AND YOU’RE IN FARMLAND.
Lubecki says he created the fair as an extension of his work with Ferment Pittsburgh, an organization he founded to provide resources “for fermentation and homesteady-type things.” He believes the fair reflects the agriculture-leaning nature of the Pittsburgh region, which has increasingly spread into the city in the form of urban farming and gardening, backyard chicken-keeping, and
activities are stations where guests can try indigo dyeing, flax scutching, and sorghum pressing. Lubecki also touts the chance to toss around a baseball made from flax he grew, “handspun and stitched together” by a team of volunteers.
“Our activities are all very much rooted in active agriculture, where almost everything grown at my farm is used as an activity,” he says, describing it as an all-around “tangible relationship.”
Pittsburgh County Fair contests now cover a range of growing, making, and animal husbandry, from a Natural Fiber Arts exhibition to an Urban Backyard Poultry Show presented by Chicks in the Hood. There are also less conventional contests, including the Farmers Market Olympics, grape stomp, kraut mash, and homemade oat milk chug, which, for this millennial, recalls the dairy challenge from the Kenny Rogers Jackass sketch on Mad TV.
The fair emphasizes the empowering aspects of going handmade, Lubecki says. Among the fair’s various
Also handmade are the rodeo-style belt buckles that, for the first time in the fair’s history, will be awarded to competition winners.
In the past, Lubecki says, serious contenders have shown up for the baked goods contests, recalling how one couple tested “40 different recipes of mini pies with all these variations” in their quest to make the perfect award-winning dessert. Last year, Cat Briggs received a third-place ribbon for what she calls a “modified version of a Bavarian apple torte.” She describes it as a “sugar cookie crust” and “layer of cream cheese mixture” topped with a “huge pile of apples tossed in sugar and a unique spice mix including
PHOTO: COURTESY OF PITTSBURGH COUNTY FAIR Grape stomping at the Pittsburgh County Fair
PHOTO:
pink peppercorn, mace, and sesame.”
Briggs, who works professionally as a data scientist, plans on competing again in this year’s fair.
“I’m coming for first place,” she tells City Paper.
While entertaining and full of friendly competition, Lubecki believes the fair also serves a highly educational purpose, especially when it comes to young attendees who have little to no exposure to farm life. He recalls a conversation with City of Pittsburgh representatives, in which they described hosting an event with pony rides where the kids “freaked out” because they had never seen real-life horses before.
“There’s a whole spectrum of what people have been exposed to,” Lubecki says, adding that the fair brings in livestock like sheep, goats, and cows so guests can “see them and interact with them.”
Ultimately, Lubecki sees the fair, as well as the Fermentation Festival, another event led by Ferment Pittsburgh, as celebrating the efforts of people yearning for some form of self-sustainability, especially after the uncertain days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We do things our own kind of unique way, where it’s all very DIY,” says Lubecki. “I’m surrounded in a world of people that care a ton about what they do … We decided to keep a pretty tight standard for those events in order to give a platform to those people that are putting in all that extra work for what they do that’s generally unsung.”
LYNN CULLEN LIVE
PHOTO: COURTESY OF CAT BRIGGS
Cat Briggs’ award-winning Bavarian apple torte at the Pittsburgh County Fair
BACK IN THE SOUTH SIDE GROOVE
“I WOULD’VE NEVER CONSIDERED BUYING A CLUB IF IT WASN’T THIS ONE. IT’S SUCH A HUGE PART OF PITTSBURGH’S MUSIC HISTORY. IT’S THE FIRST STAGE FOR SO MANY ARTISTS.”
Club Café’s neon sign is glowing once again on East Carson Street, less than a year after the storied music venue closed.
For 25 years, the 125-seat performance space served as a launchpad, where future stars like John Mayer and Norah Jones cut their teeth, where Pittsburgh artists played their first sets, and where countless late-night encores turned strangers into regulars. Its sudden closure in December 2024 felt like a gut punch to the city’s music community, including event coordinator Danielle Mashuda.
“ hen I first heard it was closing, I was in disbelief before the sadness could even hit me,” Mashuda tells Pittsburgh City Paper. Then her business partner, addy Lafferty, texted: “We should buy it.”
“I rolled my eyes,” Mashuda says. “That’s just Maddy. When we go to Texas, she emails illie elson and invites him to our events. She’s fearless.”
Within minutes of the closure announcement, Lafferty emailed Michael Sanders, the longtime owner who, through his company Opus One Productions, turned Club Café into one of Pittsburgh’s most intimate music venues. Sanders agreed to meet, and by the end of the conversation, ashuda and Lafferty convinced him they were the right people to carry Club Café forward. “You remind me of myself 20 years ago,” Sanders told them.
By April 2025, the keys were theirs.
“I would’ve never considered buying a club if it wasn’t this one,” Mashuda says. “It’s such a huge part of Pittsburgh’s music history. It’s the
CP PHOTO: JEFF SCHRECKENGOST Club Café on the Southside
first stage for so many artists.”
The purchase was a natural extension of their work. Mashuda and Lafferty met in 2019 and bonded over making Pittsburgh a better place for working artists. They founded Keystone Artist Connect and started producing live shows, collaborating with WYEP and the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, and booking SXSW showcases.
“We’re very artist-forward,” Mashuda says. “Every decision is about making the artist happy, giving them a great experience so they want to come back to Pittsburgh.”
That starts with booking. By leveraging their Keystone Artist Connect network, Lafferty and Mashuda are turning Club Café into a place where local acts open for national touring artists. “It’s not just our Keystone artists,” Mashuda says. “If you’re a Pittsburgh artist and you’re ready
in 2007, played his first venue gig at Club Café, brings hospitality expertise to the team.
The new Club Café bar program, led by local mixologist Cullen J. Sanchez, features a cocktail list that’s inventive but approachable, anchored by a purple-hued gin drink inspired by the venue’s retro vibe. Food is playful and unfussy — “adult Lunchables” from The Cheese Queen (charcuterie boxes loaded with artisan cheeses and cured meats), breakfast sandwiches from Pittsburgh Sandwich Society for the morning coffee crowd, and a hot dog roller turning out classic and veggie dogs, as well as housemade dips and small bites like pickles and olives.
Other members of the Club Café crew include in-house sound engineer Wes Peters and Nick Guckert, a musician and the club’s facilities director, who painted walls, built custom tables, and wired the space for live shows. “Without Nick, this wouldn’t have happened,” Mashuda says. “He’s our house musician, our handyman, our everything.”
bathroom selfies everywhere we go,” Mashuda says. “So we made one worth taking.”
Bold burgundy walls lead upstairs to the green room, with its massive white faux-fur sectional, teal velvet armchairs, record player stacked with vinyl, and Dolly Parton wall that Mashuda insists on calling “nonnegotiable.” There is even a vanity stocked with everything from phone chargers to toothbrushes. “Musicians shouldn’t have to run to CVS between soundcheck and the show,” Mashuda says. “We wanted a place where they could actually relax.”
Under Mashuda and Lafferty, Club Café promises an expansive range of programming while staying true to the club’s acoustic roots. Folk, Americana, and singer-songwriter acts will share the stage with funk and jazz jams, punk shows, and hip-hop sets. The venue will also host drag revues, queer-fronted bands like Keystone’s own The Laurel Lowlifes, and LGBTQ DJ dance nights.
for that stage, we want to give you the shot.”
They also focused on turning the venue into a hangout, not just a performance space. Club Café will double as a coffee shop during the day, and even on nights without shows, the doors will stay open for community programming such as open mics, DJ sets, trivia, karaoke, and “whatever else gets people in here,” Mashuda says.
In the process of reopening Club Café, Mashuda and Lafferty recruited a team of local professionals familiar with the city’s music and hospitality scenes. Read Connolly, a pedal steel guitarist who has toured with Zach Bryan, joined as a partner. So did Kristen Whitlinger, a designer and founder of Women of Country PGH, who created the club’s new visual identity. Elliott Sussman, a longtime bartender and musician who,
Walk through the front door, and the transformation becomes immediately noticeable. The walls are lined with art and Easter eggs of Pittsburgh’s past — there’s a framed Rusted Root promotional photo, a sepia-toned print of the building from the 1800s (a gift from Sanders), and, if you ask Mashuda, “a ghost named Phil” who might still be hanging around.
“We’re very vibrant and loud,” Mashuda says. “Everyone who came to our soft opening said, ‘We can feel all of you in here.’”
That sense of personality is everywhere. A vintage red phone begs guests to pick up with a neon sign that reads “Call for a good time” — doing so prompts ABBA’s “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” to erupt from hidden speakers. The bathrooms, once purely utilitarian, now border on theater. One stall features a disco ball suspended from the ceiling.
“We’re those people who take
“We want everybody to come in,” Mashuda says, “and feel welcome on our stage and in our crowd.”
That philosophy was clear during the reopening: four nights of shows, two sold-out performances from soul-rockers The Commonheart, and an opener set from Paul Luc, the artist who first pulled Mashuda into Pittsburgh’s music scene when she moved back to the city from Colorado.
“It’s full circle,” Mashuda says. “That show, those people, that’s what brought me into this community.”
Now, she and Lafferty are paying it forward.
“This place isn’t about us,” Mashuda says. “It’s about the artists. We want them to feel safe. Respected. Thought of.”
CP PHOTO: JEFF SCHRECKENGOST Club Café
SAT., SEPT. 13
ART • SHARPSBURG
IN PITTSBURGH
THU., SEPT. 11
MUSIC • OAKLAND
MISSING! Album Release Show with Main Street Detour and King Blue Heron 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. Haven. 401 Atwood St., Oakland. $13.75. havenvenue.com
COMEDY • BLOOMFIELD
Well Known Strangers Improv Show. 9 p.m. Brillobox. 4104 Penn Ave., Bloomfield. Free. brilloboxpgh.com
FRI., SEPT. 12
FILM • DOWNTOWN
Clemente 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Continues through Thu., Sept. 18. Harris Theater. 809 Liberty Ave., Downtown. $10-13. trustarts.org
MUSIC • NORTH SHORE
Pixies with Spoon and Fazerdaze. 5:30 p.m. Stage AE. 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. $67.19. promowestlive.com
ART • NORTH SIDE
Exhibition Opening: Yasmine El Meleegy. 6-8 p.m. Ongoing exhibition. Mattress Factory. 500 Sampsonia Way, North Side. Free. mattress.org SEPT.SAT.,13
ART • OAKLAND
PARTY • LAWRENCEVILLE
In Bed by Ten 6-9 p.m. Spirit. 242 51st St., Lawrenceville. $12.51. 21 and over. Ticket sales benefit Collaborative for Immigrant Impact. spiritpgh.com
ART • BLOOMFIELD
Opening Weekend: From Flicker to Flame. 6-9 p.m. Continues through Sun., Sept. 14. Songbird Artistry. 4316 Penn Ave., Bloomfield. Free. 10% of all opening weekend sales benefit Alina’s Light. songbirdartistry.com
MUSIC • NEW KENSINGTON
Four Chord Pre-Show with Knuckle Puck, Set Your Goals, Koyo, Hit the Lights, Millington, and Rematch. 6-11 p.m. Doors at 5 p.m. Preserving Underground. 1101 Fifth Ave., New Kensington. $43.65. preservingconcerts.com/shows
FILM • DOWNTOWN
Steel City High School Film and Animation Festival. 6 p.m. Continues through Sat., Sept. 13. Point Park University-Pittsburgh Playhouse. 350 Forbes Ave., Downtown. $20-30. playhouse.pointpark.edu
THEATER • HOMESTEAD
10 Minute Playfest 7:30 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. Continues through Sat., Sept. 13. The Glitterbox Theater. 210 W. Eighth Ave., Homestead. $10-20. theglitterboxtheater.com
A new Carnegie Museum of Art exhibition explores how Black publishers and journalists shaped media. Described in a press release as a “landmark” show, Black Photojournalism spotlights the work of nearly 60 photojournalists from Pittsburgh and beyond who “documented pivotal moments in American history — from the end of World War II through the civil rights movements of the 1950s to the 1970s and into the presidential campaigns of the 1980s.” The show opens with a day of talks and tours, appearances by featured photographers, and more. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Continues through Jan. 19, 2026. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. Free. Registration required. carnegieart.org
FESTIVAL • OAKLAND
Tropical Forest Panama Festival. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. One Schenley Dr., Oakland. Included with regular admission. All ages. phipps.conservatory.org
FESTIVAL • SQUIRREL HILL
Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Festival 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Mellon Park. Squirrel Hill. Free. All ages. pghccc.org
TALK • DOWNTOWN
Speaker Saturday: The Fur Trade with Duane Schrecengost. 1-3 p.m. Fort Pitt Museum. 601 Commonwealth Pl., Downtown. Included with regular admission. heinzhistorycenter.org
FESTIVAL • DOWNTOWN
Go to bat for a Pittsburgh sports legend during a fundraiser suspended above the Allegheny River. Clemente Bridge Fest honors the life and legacy of Roberto Clemente on his namesake bridge that connects Sixth Street from Downtown to Federal Street on the North Shore. Organized by the Clemente Museum, the event promises food, vendors, and fun activities focused around the Puerto Rican athlete who made history during his time with the Pittsburgh Pirates. 3-7 p.m. 115 Federal St., Downtown. $12-21. All ages. All proceeds benefit The Clemente Museum. clementemuseum.com/fundraiser
Artists Reception: familiar rabbits and persistent beasts by Patrica Bellan-Gillen 5-8 p.m. Continues through Oct. 26. ZYNKA Gallery. 904 Main St., Sharpsburg. Free. zynkagallery.com
MUSIC • SOUTH SIDE
Glitterfox with Halloway. 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. Club Café. 56 S. 12th St., South Side. $15 in advance, $17 at the door. clubcafelive.com
SUN., SEPT. 14
COMEDY • OAKMONT
Addicted to Laughter Recovery Comedy Tour. 7 p.m. Doors at 6:30 p.m. The Oaks Theater. 310 Allegheny River Blvd., Oakmont. $20. theoakstheater.com
MUSIC • DORMONT
The Sun Champs. 7-10 p.m. The Parking Pad. 1516 Hillsdale Ave., Dormont. $12.51. theparkingpad.com
MON., SEPT. 15
CONVENTION • DOWNTOWN
Eradicate Hate Global Summit 9 a.m. Continues through Wed., Sept. 17. David L. Lawrence Convention Center. 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Downtown. $150-300. Registration required. eradicatehatesummit.org
PHOTO: PUBLIC DOMAIN/WIKIPEDIA COMMONS
Clemente Bridge Fest on the Roberto Clemente Bridge
PHOTO: JULIA VARGA Glitterfox at Club Café
PHOTO: COURTESY OF CARNEGIE MUSEUM OF ART
“America Seen Through Stars and Stripes” by Ming Smith, part of Black Photojournalism at Carnegie Museum of Art
ADULT • GARFIELD
Kink meets competition when Mary’s hosts the inaugural SLAP Academy Spelling Bee. The Sadomasochist and Leather Assembly of Pittsburgh celebrates the start of the school year with games, dancing, art, community resources, and more. Show o your spelling skills and get either a punishing reward or a rewarding punishment. Stock up on free harm reduction supplies from the Autonomous Body Shop, view prints by Eriko Hattori, and more. 6 p.m. Spelling bee signup 7 p.m. 5128 Penn Ave., Garfield. $5-10 suggested donation. instagram.com/412cumslap
TUE., SEPT. 16
MUSIC • DOWNTOWN
Brooklyn Rider 7:30 p.m. Carnegie Music Hall. 4400 Forbes Ave., Downtown. $36.70-57.10. chambermusicpittsburgh.org
MUSIC
• STRIP DISTRICT
Joe Henry and Mike Reid: Each and Together. 7:30 p.m. Doors at 6 p.m. City Winery. 1627 Smallman St., Strip District. $30-85. citywinery.com/pittsburgh
MUSIC • LAWRENCEVILLE
Superchunk. 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. Thunderbird Music Hall. 4053 Butler St., Lawrenceville. $41.23 in advance, $52.53 at the door. 18 and over. thunderbirdmusichall.com
WED., SEPT. 17
TOUR • DOWNTOWN
Pittsburgh River History Tour with Venture Outdoors. 6-8 p.m. 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Downtown. $18, $38 with equipment rental. ventureoutdoors.org/events
SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION • MILLVALE
Pittsburgh City Paper Best Of PGH Party: In Your Dreams 6-10 p.m. Mr. Smalls Theatre. 400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale. $69.50-104.50, general $85-135. 21 and over. mrsmalls.com
MUSIC • ALLENTOWN
Catbite with Rodeo Boys, Flying Raccoon Suit, and Dakka Skanks
Sky Tour 8 p.m. Benedum Center. Seventh Street and Penn Avenue, Downtown. Tickets . 8 p.m. Doors at
7 p.m. Bottlerocket Social Hall. 1226 Arlington Ave., Allentown. $18 in advance, $22 at the door. bottlerocketpgh.com
PHOTO: COURTESY OF JOHN W. MOSLEY PHOTOGRAPH
by
Mosley,
Photo
- Personal budgeting 412-737-7672 PUBLIC NOTICE
- Tax Preparation
- Tax planning
NAME CHANGE
IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: NO. GD-25-8364, In re petition of Micheal Nolden, parents and Legal Guardians of Gabriel Daniel-Lee Stowers-Martin for change of name to Gabriel Daniel-Lee Nolden. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 24th day of September, 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
MARKET PLACE
PERSONALS
White male, 56, health conscious, non-smoker, 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.
PERSONALS
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!
ESTATE NOTICE
ESTATE OF ANDREWS, GABRIEL KING A/K/A IF NECESSARY, GABRIEL, KING ANDREWS, DECEASED OF PITTSBURGH, PA No. 022504855 of 2025. Suzanne Andrews Extr. 340 Bank Street, Sewickley, PA 15143
HELP WANTED ARTIST SEEKS FEMALE MODEL
I’m an artist who hires models as reference for paintings. No exp needed. I photograph you in a 1-to-1.5 hr session. $50. More details follow. Contact me/ see my work: instagram.com/ faj_dano PortraitsByFaj.com
ESTATE NOTICE
ESTATE OF HICKEY, GARY, W DECEASED OF PITTSBURGH, PA No. 02230576 of 2023.
Michelle Hickey Extr. 449 Ridgemont Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15220
ESTATE NOTICE
ESTATE OF GALLA, JOANNE, A, DECEASED OF BRIDGEVILLE, PA No. 04197 of 2025. Bernard Galla Extr. 10 Landgraf Ave, Bridgeville, PA, 15017
OFFICIAL ADVERTISEMENT
THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION of the SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
Sealed proposals shall be deposited at the Administration Building, Bellefield Entrance Lobby, 341 South Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15213, on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, until 2:00 P.M., local prevailing time for:
PITTSBURGH OBAMA 6-12
• HVAC Renovation
• Mechanical, Electrical, General, and Abatement Primes
PITTSBURGH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY & ADMINISTRATION BUILDINGS
• Steam Pressure Reducing Station Replacement
• Mechanical Prime
Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at Modern Reproductions (412-488-7700), 127 McKean Street, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15219 between 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M.
The cost of the Project Manual Documents is non-refundable. Project details and dates are described in each project manual.
We are an equal rights and opportunity school district.
PUBLIC AUCTION
PET ADOPTION
FREE 2 AKC REGISTERED MALE & FEMALE TEACUP YORKIES PUPPIES are ready for Adoption Raised in a Loving Home. Small size, a ectionate and ready for their forever home, if Interested Contact: boylecharlesallen@ gmail.com
Public notice is hereby given that property placed in storage by the following persons at the following locations will be sold via public sale to satisfy Guardian Storage liens for unpaid rent and other charges. Bidding for property of persons renting space at the following locations will be held online at www.Storageauctions.com ending on September 24, 2025 at 12:00 pm, and day to day thereafter until sold at which time a high bidder will be determined.
350 Old Haymaker Road, Monroeville, Pa 14146: Unit #1224 Benjamin Brown, Unit #1529 Taerice Johnson, Unit #2111 Kenneth Mitchell, Unit #3514 Darniece Hall
1002 E. Waterfront Dr., Munhall, Pa 15120: Unit #1019 Michelene Parker, Unit #1108 Diane Powell, Unit #1401 Massa Rukundo, Unit #1613 Anna Munsie, Unit #1921 Lynise Rouse, Unit #3718 Robert Konish
14200 Route 30, North Huntingdon, Pa 15642: Unit #1124 Cherie White, Unit #2134 Cassandra M Johnson, Unit #3514 Joe Divald
711 William Penn Highway, Monroeville, PA 15146: Unit #11708 Verginio Vergin, Unit #12603 Shari Johnson, Unit #13209 Verginio Vergin, Unit #13410 Tracey Bresnahan, Unit #23209 Annette Kasardo, Unit #23506 Mondale King 1028 Ridge Road, Tarentum, Pa 15084: Unit #41109 Regis Bielawski, Unit #41312 Jennifer Gravelle
901 Brinton Road, Pittsburgh, Pa 15221: Unit #10204 Carol Howze, Unit #12204 Carol Howze, Unit #12412 Derrick Johnson, Unit #6102 Adrain Morris, Unit #6213 Margaret Clark, Unit #7113 Michael Edwards
5873 Centre Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15206: Unit #4209 Miah Thomas, Unit #4410 Jayrue Lemon, Unit #5110 Shelly Howard, Unit #5411 Shelly Howard
750 South Millvale Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213: Unit #1105A Sitso Agbeme
2839 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222: Unit #2627 Shawn Kenney, Unit #4808 Jacquelyn Tune (Jai Norvelle Cakes and Events), Unit #6201 Brian Manni (Pup O’Clock), Unit #6208 Pamela Wieland, Unit #6301 Brian Manni (Pup O’Clock), Unit #6401 Brian Manni (Pup O’Clock), Unit #6405 Brian Manni (Pup O’Clock)
1599 Washington Pike, Bridgeville, PA 15017: Unit #1201 Omar Beccan, Unit #4107 Theresa Gordon, Unit #6108 Shirley Freker, Unit
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.
GET A CLUE
BY BRENDAN EMMETT QUIGLEY
ACROSS
1. White whale pursuer 5. Prima ballerina’s jump 9. Award won by the New York Times’s Connections in 2024 14. Magic charm 15. Stately trees 16. Daisy type 17. See 3-Down 20. HBO ___ 21. Fish eggs 22. Sings in lederhosen, say 23. Is willing to 25. No. in some email signatures 26. British invaders 29. He owns Wrexham AFC alongside Rob 31. It may lead to a prophet statement 34. Warning 35. King Charles’s mum, briefly 36. Blue hue
37. See 53-Down
40. Son of Seth 41. Guitarist Lofgren
42. Shannon’s county 43. Bowser’s buddy 44. Fitting measurement
45. Stadium
entrance features 46. Cat 47. Place for drying out 49. Snowy mountain feature 52. PGA rival 53. Very small 56. See 35-Down 59. Break down in English 60. Little bit 61. Ctrl-Z command 62. One who makes it count?
63. Heirs, at times 64. Flub (up)
DOWN
1. Switch on some alarms
2. “Yo, hombre”
3. Play by Sophocles
4. “Has it been a morning!”
5. Euphoric
6. Canvas holder
7. Ref’s decision
8. Look over
Like bad actors
Shine brightly
Hotel desk feature
High seeds’ rewards 13. “No doubt of it”
Wuthering Heights author
19. Bloviation
23. “The most powerful drug used by mankind,” per Rudyard Kipling
24. NBA legend nicknamed “Clyde the Glide”
26. Cavalry sword
27. Unmatched
28. Copy
30. Sudden and unexplained loss of ability among athletes
31. Peer
32. Bolivian capital
33. Cracker spreads
35. Sporcle o ering
36. Think quickly on one’s feet
38. ___ magnetism
39. Scale range
44. Activity for goal-oriented people?
45. Stints on the job
46. To the point
48. Leprechaunish
49. It may be tapped in a game room
50. Juice provider
51. Sunday service settings
53. Bordeaux product
54. Wraps up
55. They may get crushed or massaged
56. Microdermabrasion location
57. “For real?”
58. Dark ‘n’ Stormy ingredient
LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS
READERS’ POLL 2025
PARTY
Join us as we honor the people and places that make Pittsburgh a dream come true! Get ready to conjure up your most whimsical outfits and celebrate with us!
Music and DancePerformances by: Slappers ‘N Bangers • Lil Lenny • Frzy • fireWALL Theater + Local Business Vendors!! pers Len Slap Thank You to Our Sponsors and Perfomers: Buy Tickets Now:
fire WALL Dance Theater