August 8, 2018 - Pittsburgh City Paper

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AUG. 8-15, 2018

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650 Smithfield Street, Suite 2200 / Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412.316.3342 / FAX: 412.316.3388 / E-MAIL info@pghcitypaper.com

EDITORIAL Editor ROB ROSSI Managing Editor LISA CUNNINGHAM Associate Editor ALEX GORDON Senior Writer RYAN DETO Arts Writer HANNAH LYNN Photographer/Videographer JARED WICKERHAM Featured Contributors REGE BEHE, GAB BONESSO, ADAM CROWLEY, LYNN CULLEN, TERENEH IDIA, LAUREN ORTEGO Interns ANNIE BREWER, ALEX MCCANN

ART Director of Operations KEVIN SHEPHERD Graphic Designers MAYA PUSKARIC, JEFF SCHRECKENGOST

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AUG. 8-15, 2018 // VOLUME 28 + ISSUE 32

BEST OF PITTSBURGH

50 STATES

REPRESENTED WITH AT LEAST ONE VOTE

ADVERTISING Associate Publisher JUSTIN MATASE Digital Development Manager RYAN CROYLE Advertising Representatives BLAKE LEWIS, KAITLIN OLIVER Marketing and Sales Assistant CONNOR MARSHMAN National Advertising Representative VMG ADVERTISING 1.888.278.9866 OR 1.212.475.2529

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VOTES FROM

UKRAINE’S NORTHERN BORDER

ADMINISTRATION Office Coordinator MAGGIE WEAVER Circulation Manager JEFF ENGBARTH Office Administrator RODNEY REGAN

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VOTES FOR

PITTSBURGH PUBLIC THEATRE IN A&E CATEGORIES

THE RESULTS OF OUR 2018 READERS’ POLL

GENERAL POLICIES: Contents copyrighted 2018 by Eagle Media Corp. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in Pittsburgh City Paper are those of the author and not necessarily of Eagle Media Corp. LETTER POLICY: Letters, faxes or e-mails must be signed and include town and daytime phone number for confirmation.

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On the move?

New to town, or just a new neighborhood? If you haven’t tried transit before maybe now is the time. Port Authority has convenient and frequent service to and from the urban areas of Pittsburgh.

East Liberty is the heart of the East End’s transit service. Many Port Authority bus routes use the East Busway to bypass local traffic including the P1 and P3 from East Liberty’s busway station which offer quick rides to Downtown and Oakland. Various other routes have stops on Penn Ave. and serve just about anywhere in the East End of the city.

Living Downtown? You CAN get anywhere from here. You can catch a bus or T to almost anywhere in Allegheny County. Groceries in the Strip District, take the 88. For all the flavor of Lawrenceville the 91 works.

Nearly all of Port Authority's 100 routes travel in and out of Downtown.

For more neighborhoods go to onthemove.portauthority.org and make this town your own.

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

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REPEAT WINNERS

BEST OF PITTSBURGH

TOP ZIP CODE BY VOTERS:

15201

654 VOTES FOR

BEST BANK (PAGE 31)

YOU THE PEOPLE T

1,372 VOTES

FOR BEST PHOTOGRAPHER (PAGE 77)

HIS IS YOUR City Paper.

The annual Best Of Pittsburgh issue is not possible without you. We write the stories, snap the photos, sell the ads, design the pages, and print the paper. But you pick the people and places, goods and services, food and drink, and culture and nightlife that are nominated for Best Of categories — and then you vote to determine the winners.

And yeah, we’ve heard you say it again and again after the Best Of Pittsburgh issue comes out: this [place/person/thing] always wins.

Seemed that way to us, too.

As you flip through this big book, you’ll come across stories on 14 “legacy” winners. This group — one person and 13 businesses — comprises the best of Best Of Pittsburgh. This legacy club is for winners in five or six consecutive years (and Rick Sebak, who is practically his own category).

Turns out, not that many [place/person/thing] always wins.

Still, there is one reigning, defending, undisputed winner when it comes to Best Of Pittsburgh: us.

Everybody associated with CP benefits from Best Of Pittsburgh because it provides a direct connection with readers. From the online nomination process through the digital voting and up to the final edits, Best Of Pittsburgh gives CP employees verifiable information about the likes and loves of the people for whom we’re writing.

You the People … are the reason we at City Paper say Best Of Pittsburgh is “our most important issue.” >>

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VOTES FOR

BEST YOUTUBE CHANNEL (PAGE 60)

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

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$24 in advance at CarnegieScienceCenter.org $29 at the door See U2 3D at The Rangos Giant Cinema.

Tickets sold separately.

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Revitalize - A Sewickley Wellness Centre Opens In an ever increasingly hectic, stressful world, Revitalize offers individuals an oasis of calm to allow the body to heal naturally while relaxing the mind. This MINDANDBODY approach to wellness is the first of it’s kind in the Tri-State Area.

The Centre, located in the heart of Sewickley Village offers three proven modalities that simply require an individual to lie back and allow the body to experience temporary physical relief while calming the mind.

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

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BEST OF PITTSBURGH:

LEGACY RICK SEBAK

BY ROB ROSSI // ROBROSSI@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

H

E SAYS “it’s a hoot,” and Rick Sebak would know. The Face of WQED has won in five City Paper Best of PGH categories over the years, as readers have picked him for everything from “Best Media Personality” (twice) to “Best Local Celebrity to Take a Selfie With.”

That last one particularly pleases Sebak, who “lives by the Fred Rogers Rule” when it comes to being recognized in public: never say no to a photo.

Kind of perfect when you think about it. After all, Sebak is probably more associated with WQED than anybody other than the late Mister Rogers.

Sebak has been creating unforgettable programming at WQED for 31 years — only two fewer than the original run of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” But Sebak’s shows, described on WQED’s website as “wacky documentaries,” are not what always draw people into his space, whether he is at a chain bookstore or snacking at an eatery made famous by, say, “What Makes Pittsburgh Pittsburgh?”.

“Oddly, I’m reminded of being in (Washington) D.C., at a store in Georgetown, and somebody coming up and asking, ‘Are you Rick Sebak?’” he says. “My friend was, like, ‘Wow, I’m impressed.’

“For many years, if people recognized me around Pittsburgh it was because of pledge (drives). It’s still so rarely because of the shows.”

If this answer is surprising to readers, Sebak might find it fitting. His being surprised “still … is the best part of my job.”

In fact, Sebak was surprised he took

what became a life-changing gig way back in 1987. A colleague pointed out an advertisement in a trade journals and urged Sebak to apply. Enjoying work in South Carolina, he was hesitant.

“I thought, ‘Do I want to go back already?’” Sebak says. Born and raised in Bethel Park, he had been away for 16 years before returning to the region and quickly thinking, “Wow, this is so cool.”

City Paper readers have selected WQED’s Rick Sebak for: Best Media Personality (2014, 2017)

Best Local Celebrity You’d like to Take to Dinner (2016) Best Local Celebrity to Take a Selfie With (2017) Best Pittsburgher to Have a Beer With (2018) Best TV Personality (2018) What makes home cool now is what did then. “We’re all surprised by this city that’s endlessly fascinating,” Sebak says.

“We love this town, but we don’t know so much about it. I did a show on Route 88.

In it, I drove to the end. I had never done that, and I grew up right off 88.”

The rides on which Sebak has taken us contribute to his legacy as a beloved Pittsburgh personality. Pittsburghers have had a hoot being shown the best of, well, almost everything.

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PHOTO OF RICK SEBAK AT DOWNTOWN’S MILKSHAKE FACTORY BY JARED WICKERHAM

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

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BEST ALT-FOLK/ ALT-COUNTRY BAND

THE SHINERS shinersrock.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Paul Luc paulluc.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Buffalo Rose buffalorosemusic.com

BEST BAKERY

OAKMONT BAKERY 531 Allegheny Ave., Oakmont oakmontbakery.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: La Gourmandine Multiple locations lagourmandinebakery.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Prantl’s Bakery Multiple locations prantlsbakery.com

BEST ANTIQUE SHOP

ANTIQUE MALL AT OHIO RIVER 4331 Ohio River Blvd., Bellevue

Facebook search “Antiques on Ohio River” • • • • • • • •

2nd: Who New Retro Mod Decor 5156 Butler St., Lawrenceville Facebook search “Who New? Retro Modern Decor” • • • • • • • •

3rd: Ever After Consignments Multiple locations everafterconsignments.com

BEST ACTIVIST

LEON FORD leonfordspeaks.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Monica Ruiz Casa San José • • • • • • • •

3rd: Blakk Rapp M.A.D.U.S.A 1Hood

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

Brass Monkeys:

Tribute to The Beastie Boys

Saturday August 18 8pm $25

The Prince Project Saturday September 8

WYLD CHYLD TATTOO A Brookline ink parlor is readers’ pick for Best Tattoo Shop in 2018 When Wyld Chyld Tattoo won Best Tattoo Shop, it made 16 years of hard work all the more worthwhile from owner Sarah Miller and her team of talented artists.

Miller was 26 when she founded Wyld Chyld. Her goal was to become the very best tattoo shop Pittsburgh had to offer BEST OF PITTSBURGH: with this ink parlor in Brookline. Support from friends and family — not to mention Pittsburgh and its citizens — has meant the everything to the Wyld Chyld family. Artists gathered for a dinner, and that is when Miller broke the news.

For Miller, selection by City Paper readers as Best Tattoo Shop is validation that Wyld Chyld (wyldchyldpittsburgh.com) is “on the map” as a representative of culture and community in and around Pittsburgh.

8pm $25

The Granati Brothers Friday September 14 8pm $29.75 - $49.75

spotlight

CP PHOTO BY SARAH WILSON

Wyld Chyld tattoo artist Lauren Toohey

With Special Guest

Donnie Iris Classic Stones Live

The Ultimate Tribute to the Rolling Stones

Completely Unchained Friday September 21

Saturday September 15 8pm $ $27.50

Van Halen Tribute w/ Twisted Fate

8pm $ 25

BEST BBQ

Box of Ra Rain

SMOKE BARBEQUE TAQUERIA

Grateful Dead Tribute

Saturday September 22

4115 Butler St., Lawrenceville

8pm m$ $20

smokepgh.com • • • • • • • •

The Trucks:

2nd: South Side BBQ Company

A Tribute to The Cars

75 S. 17th St., South Side southsidebbqcompany.com

Friday September 28

• • • • • • • •

3rd: Twelve Whiskey Barbecue 1222 E. Carson St., South Side twelvepgh.com

8pm $23

The Tubes

Friday October 26 8pm $45 PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

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BEST RECORD STORE

JERRY’S RECORDS 2136 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill jerrysrecords.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Attic Record Store Inc

PITTSBURGH’S FIRST AXE THROWING VENUE!

513 Grant Ave., Millvale atticrecordstoreinc.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Dave’s Music Mine 1210 E. Carson St., South Side davesmusicmine.com

GREAT FOR A NIGHT OUT, TEAM BUILDING EVENTS OR PARTIES WITH FRIENDS, FAMILY OR CO-WORKERS!

BEST BEER DISTRIBUTOR

DUFFY’S BEER AND MUCH MORE 294 Curry Hollow Road, Baldwin duffysbeer.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Pistella Beer Distributor

2 SEDGWICK STREET

5514 Penn Ave., Friendship Facebook search “Pistella Beer Distributor”

PGH, PA • 412.408.2650

• • • • • • • •

3rd: Save-Mor Beer & Pop Warehouse

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4516 Browns Hill Road, Squirrel Hill savemorbeer.com

BEST ARCADE

GAMES N’ AT

2010 Josephine St., South Side Facebook search “Games N’ At” • • • • • • • •

2nd: Kickback Pinball Cafe 4326 Butler St., Lawrenceville kickbackpgh.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Victory Pointe Arcade and Gaming Cafe 1113 E. Carson St., South Side victorypointe.com

BEST BUFFET

GRAND CONCOURSE

100 W. Station Square Dr., Station Square grandconcourserestaurant.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Rivers Casino 777 Casino Dr., North Side riverscasino.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Texas De Brazil 240 W. Station Square Dr., Station Square texasdebrazil.com/locations/pittsburgh

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BEST BAR

(DOWNTOWN AND VICINITY)

BUTCHER AND THE RYE

HOME OF THE BAR-BA-CONE

212 Sixth St., Downtown butcherandtherye.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Condado Tacos 971 Liberty Ave., Downtown condadotacos.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Nola on the Square 24 Market Square, Downtown nolaonthesquare.com

BEST BODY-PIERCING SHOP

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HOT ROD PIERCING CO. Multiple locations

hotrodpiercingcompany.com

Food Truck: (412) 491-1997 • Restaurant: (412) 381-4566 75 S 17th St., 15203 • www.southsidebbqcompany.com

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Pittsburgh Tattoo Company 103 Smithfield St., Downtown tattoo-pittsburgh.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: South Side Tattoo

BEST BUS ROUTE

P1

2208 E Carson St., South Side southsidetattooshop.com

• • • • • • • •

2nd: 61A • • • • • • • •

3rd: 54

BEST BAR TO DAY DRINK

GRIST HOUSE CRAFT BREWERY

THIRD THURSDAY: Intimate Subjects

10 E. Sherman St., Millvale gristhouse.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Arsenal Cider House & Wine Cellar Multiple Locations arsenalciderhouse.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Round Corner Cantina 3720 Butler St., Lawrenceville roundcornercantina.com

Play with the meaning of intimacy with your closest friends and perfect strangers. Explore our new contemporary galleries through the lens of performances by slowdanger, City of Play, and friends.

This 18+ event also features a return of the long spoons table, brand new immersive experiences, a cash bar, and live music.

August 16 8–11 p.m. tickets: cmoa.org/3t online advance: $10 ($8 members, $5 students) door: $15 ($10 members and students)

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

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BEST OF PITTSBURGH:

LEGACY PGH TACO TRUCK

BY LISA CUNNINGHAM // LCUNNING@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

P

eople follow PGH Taco Truck.

Sure, the truck has over 40,000 followers combined on its social media sites. But no, not that.

Literally. People follow it. Like, down the highway.

“All the time,” owner James Rich says.

“Once, a customer walked up to us at a stoplight, asking for tacos. We thought he was joking, but we had a bag of tacos we were going to eat ourselves, and I said, ‘Why not?’ and passed him the bag through the front window.”

Rich has been one of the leaders of Pittsburgh’s food truck renaissance since 2013, when he first started serving tacos from his easy-to-spot red-andyellow truck. Before then, he worked at numerous Pittsburgh restaurants — including a brief stint as an owner in 2001, when he opened Café Du Jour, a French-inspired bistro on the South Side.

But it was his three years in the early 1990s, working on the Burrito Buggy as a college student in Athens, Ohio, that Rich credits with “laying the blueprint in my mind for the taco truck.”

When he first started talking about his food truck business plan, most people balked at it. “Lots of obstacles: the weather, the restrictive ordinances, and restaurants weren’t fans of competition,” he says.

He finds Pittsburgh’s recent foodtruck development exciting.

“Food trucks are a viable industry

in this town, employing hundreds of people, allowing more entrepreneurs to enter the market,” Rich says. “I think we will see it grow even bigger over the next several years.”

Earlier this year, Pittsburgh Food Truck Park opened in Millvale. Rich said he’s visited a handful of times and thinks it’s one more opportunity for food trucks to keep serving.

PGH Taco Truck is leader of the pack. Owner James Rich’s red-and-yellow staple has won Best Food Truck every year since 2013.

“The more food trucks there are, the larger the crowd,” he says. “Each month, there’s a new food truck, and that has translated to more acceptance of food trucks, more events with food trucks, and even more business to go around.”

What does he predict is next?

“More niche food trucks focusing on a specific item, existing restaurants opening food trucks to support their brand, and more mobile food operators opening restaurants,” he says.

Rich also hopes to see more international foods. And a bagel truck.

“When I worked on the Burrito Buggy in Athens, the Bagel Buggy was parked next to us,” he says. “So, I guess I was spoiled!”

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PHOTO BY JARED WICKERHAM

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

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BEST CHEF (TIE)

JUSTIN SEVERINO, CURE 5336 Butler St., Lawrenceville curepittsburgh.com

KEVIN SOUSA, SUPERIOR MOTORS 1211 Braddock Ave., Braddock superiormotors15104.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Dave Anoia, DiAnoia’s Eatery 2549 Penn Ave., Strip District dianoiaseatery.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Jamilka Borges, Independent Brewing Company 1704 Shady Ave., Squirrel Hill independentpgh.com

RACHEL NARDOZZI The billboard doesn’t lie: Rachel Nardozzi is “Pittsburgh’s premier poet” and the best in the ‘Burgh.

BEST BRIDAL SHOP

BLANC DE BLANC BRIDAL BOUTIQUE 1806 Brownsville Road, Carrick blancdeblancbridal.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Bridal Beginning

Sorry we copied your style but your smile is contagious.

You’re one of Pittsburgh’s finest and have been for ages.

When we asked you to name Pittsburgh’s best asset, You said, “The people!”

Because you’re a class act.

Whether on billboards or in the pages of P-G, your poems and stories make people feel peachy.

Thanks for being you and sharing your rhymes and playing your songs and creating good times.

We know that you’re modest but we want you to know it The people have spoken: You’re Pittsburgh’s best poet.

BEST OF PITTSBURGH:

spotlight CP PHOTO BY JOHN COLOMBO

Rachel Nardozzi

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

3rd: Carlisle’s Bridal of Pittsburgh 7219 McKnight Road, Ross carlislesbridal.com

BEST DOG PARK

FRICK PARK

1981 Beechwood Blvd., Squirrel Hill

4016 Butler St., Lawrenceville

• • • • • • • •

belvederesultradive.com

1613 Maple Springs Drive, South Park alleghenycounty.us/parks • • • • • • • •

3rd: North Park 10301 Walter Road, Wexford alleghenycounty.us/parks

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BELVEDERE’S ULTRA-DIVE

pittsburghparks.org/frick-park

2nd: South Park

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BEST CLUB

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Cavo 1916 Smallman St., Strip District cavopgh.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Scenario 1005 E Carson St., South Side scenariopgh.com

BEST CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN RESTAURANT

MEAT & POTATOES 649 Penn Ave., Downtown meatandpotatoespgh.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Eleven 1150 Smallman St., Downtown elevenck.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Legume 214 N. Craig St., Oakland legumebistro.com

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BEST BAR TO PREGAME

SOUTHERN TIER BREWING CO.

Family Owned and Operated

316 North Shore Dr., North Side

AUTHENTIC & FRESH

stbcbeer.com/taprooms/pittsburgh • • • • • • • •

2nd: Jack’s Bar

Franchise Opportunities Available.

Visit our website for more details.

1117 E Carson St., South Side jacksbarpittsburgh.com

5523 Walnut Street • Shadyside • 412-621-6220

• • • • • • • •

mercuriosgelatopizza.com

3rd: Tequila Cowboy Bar & Grill 380 North Shore Dr., North Side tequilacowboy.com/pittsburgh

BEST ADULT STORE

SASSY SENSATIONS Multiple locations

sassysensations.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Adultmart Multiple locations adultmart.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Naughty Cocktail Parties naughtycocktailparties.com

BEST HAIR

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

2nd: The Moon Baby soundcloud.com/themoonbaby • • • • • • • •

3rd: Brittney Chantele brittneychantele.com

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

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BEST BLOODY MARY BEST LOCAL RADIO PERSONALITY

MIKEY & BIG BOB, 96.1 KISS 961kiss.iheart.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Randy Baumann, 102.5 WDVE dve.iheart.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Rosemary Welsch, 91.3 WYEP

BLUE DUST

601 Amity St., Homestead bluedustpgh.com

BEST BARBER SHOP

FELLA’S BARBERSHOP 317 W. Barr St., McDonald

• • • • • • • •

fellasbarbershoppgh.com

2nd: Harris Grill Multiple locations harrisgrill.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: The Commoner 458 Strawberry Way, Downtown thecommonerpgh.com

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Mister Grooming & Goods 4504 Butler St., Lawrenceville mistergroomingandgoods.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Maestro’s Barbershop 609 Washington Ave., Bridgeville maestrosbarbershop.com

wyep.org

BEST DANCE COMPANY

PITTSBURGH BALLET THEATRE

2900 Liberty Ave., Downtown pbt.org • • • • • • • •

2nd: The Tamburitzans 1801 Boulevard of the Allies, Uptown thetamburitzans.org • • • • • • • •

3rd: Attack Theatre 2425 Liberty Ave., Strip District attacktheatre.com

BEST COFFEEHOUSE

BLACK FORGE COFFEE HOUSE

1206 Arlington Ave., Allentown blackforgecoffee.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Espresso A Mano 3623 Butler St., Lawrenceville espressoamano.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Zeke’s Coffee Pittsburgh 6015 Penn Ave., East Liberty zekescoffeepgh.com

LEON FORD A police reformer is the readers’ selection for Best Activist in 2018 After Antwon Rose Jr. was fatally shot by East Pittsburgh police, Leon Ford was moved to tears.

He doesn’t cry much, but the tragedy occurred six years after Ford was shot and paralyzed by Pittsburgh police. Both Rose and Ford were unarmed when they BEST OF PITTSBURGH: were shot. Ford survived; Rose did not.

Having mourned Rose’s death, Ford is reinvigorated. Already a past winner of Best Activist for his work advocating for police reform, City Paper again readers chose Ford for the honor — and it’s easy to understand why.

“Antwon didn’t die in vain. It is going to be Antwon who is going to help change things,” said Ford at a rally in June. “We can’t afford to sit by and do nothing. You can take to the streets, but you can also vote.”

spotlight

CP PHOTO BY CHANCELOR HUMPRHEY

Leon Ford

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BEST OF PITTSBURGH:

LEGACY THICK BIKES

BY RYAN DETO // RYANDETO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

C

HRISTOPHER BEECH believes as

more cyclists hit the streets, Pittsburghers will start to embrace bikes en masse. Even though drivers still have an “us versus them” mentality towards cyclists, change is coming.

“With more people commuting by bike and riding bikes, there is a bit less [hostility],” says Beech, owner of Thick Bikes — City Paper readers’ pick for Best Bicycle Shop for the past six years.

“As soon as it comes closer to home, you develop a bit of compassion. You wouldn’t want your son or daughter or spouse to be put in a dangerous situation when on a bike.”

Thick Bikes has serviced Pittsburgh from its South Side location since 1996.

Beech has witnessed only improved acceptance towards cyclists has over the years. He gives a lot of credit to bikeadvocacy group BikePGH for helping make the city more bike-friendly. “I think there has been positive momentum,” Beech says. “The addition of bike lanes and the bike paths. It is making it easier to get around. I think the city has come a long way.”

Beech believes some new bike technology will keep momentum going.

Thick Bikes now carries electric-assist bikes. They operate like regular bikes but have a small motor to provide an extra boost.

“The electric bikes, they are kind of eye-opening,” Beech says. “It makes

it a lot easier and a lot less work. For some people who want to ride but are daunted by the hills or the distance, I think the electric bikes are a great choice.”

The ascendance of electric-assist bikes will likely broaden biking’s appeal. Models start at about $2,500 — more expensive than a traditional bike, but much cheaper than a car.

Beech feels electric-assist bikes will encourage more people to ride bikes for all types of trips and could bring to an ending the bike-car war. “As more people take the roads on bikes, it brings it home.” Beech says. “It gets rid of the ‘us versus them’ mentality. It reminds drivers that we are all people.”

The (black and) yellow jersey fits Christopher Beech. His bike business is a six-time winner of Best Bicycle Shop.

And Thick Bikes will still be providing the same service during this potential car-to-bike transition.

“We are just always trying to improve,” Beech says. “We have one store, and that is our focus. We are just trying to have one shop and do as best we can.”

•

PHOTO OF OWNER CHRISTOPHER BEECH BY JARED WICKERHAM

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

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19

Presenting the SUNDAY area’s Newest AUGUST Record Fair 10AM-3PM

PITTSBURGH RECORD ROUNDUP 45’s • LP’s 78’s • 12”

WHITE OAK

ALL KINDS OF MUSIC

Admission Early Bird (9-10AM): $ General: 3

$

10

BEST BURGER

BURGATORY Multiple locations burgatorybar.com

BEST BAR (NORTH)

GRIST HOUSE CRAFT BREWERY

LEGION

10 E. Sherman St., Millvale

Capitol St. • 15131

2nd: Southern Tier Brewing Co.

2813

F O O D & D R I N K S AVA I L A B L E

SELLERS WANTED: Plenty of recordroundup@yahoo.com Parking!

gristhouse.com

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Tessaro’s 4601 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield tessaros.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: BRGR Multiple locations brgrpgh.com

• • • • • • • •

316 North Shore Drive, North Side stbcbeer.com/taprooms/pittsburgh • • • • • • • •

3rd: Federal Galley 200 Children’s Way, North Side federalgalley.org

BEST BICYCLE SHOP

THICK BIKES

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

2nd: Bicycle Heaven 1800 Preble Ave., Chateau bicycleheaven.org

NO JAGS!

• • • • • • • •

3rd: Kraynick’s Bike Shop 5003 Penn Ave., Garfield kraynicksbikeshop.weebly.com

BEST BAR

(SOUTHEAST)

BEST CANDY STORE

SARRIS CANDIES

205 E. 9th Ave., Homestead

sarriscandies.com

2nd: D’s Six Pax & Dogz

511 Adams Ave., Canonsburg • • • • • • • •

2nd: Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop Multiple locations grandpajoescandyshop.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: The Milk Shake Factory Multiple locations themilkshakefactory.com

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VOODOO BREWERY HOMESTEAD voodoobrewery.com • • • • • • • •

1118 S. Braddock Ave., Swissvale ds6pax.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Hidden Harbor 1708 Shady Ave., Squirrel Hill hiddenharborpgh.com

FIORI’S PIZZARIA A South Hills standard was readers’ pick for Best Pizza in 2017, ending a run by Mineo’s Pizza House It’s possible, if not likely, “Fiori’s” will be the answer to a future trivia question: Which place broke the Best Pizza run by Mineo’s Pizza House?

A favorite of South Hills suburbanites for its savory sauce, Fiori’s Pizzaria (fiorispizzapittsburgh.com) was the choice of City Paper readers in 2017. That first-place finish snapped a four-year winning streak by Mineo’s (mineospizza.com), which reclaimed its familiar top status this year.

BEST OF PITTSBURGH: Pizza is as subjective as it gets when it comes to Best Of debates.

His favorite isn’t hers, yours isn’t theirs … you get the idea. Each part of the Pittsburgh area seems to have a standard for pizza, and Fiori’s has long been considered “it” for folks that go home through the Fort Pitt tunnel.

For those who work at the two Fiori’s locations, last year was their year in a decade that has belonged to Mineo’s. This whole thing must be really bugging the Aiello’s Pizza crowd, huh?

spotlight

CP PHOTO BY JOHN COLOMBO

Fiori’s Pizzaria

BEST DIVE BAR

BEST CITY TOUR

JUST DUCKY TOURS 125 W. Station Square Drive, Strip District justduckytours.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Gateway Clipper Fleet 350 W. Station Square Drive, Station Square gatewayclipper.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Burgh Bits and Bites Food Tours Multiple locations burghfoodtour.com

JACK’S BAR

1117 E. Carson St., South Side

BEST BARTENDER

MILDRED THE LUNCH LADY, BLUE MOON 5115 Butler St., Lawrenceville • • • • • • • •

jacksbarpittsburgh.com • • • • • • • •

BEST LOCAL PODCAST

DRINKING PARTNERS

2nd: Beverly, Jack’s Bar

epicastnetwork.com/ partnerspod

1117 E. Carson St., South Side jacksbarpittsburgh.com

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Talk’n Pops

• • • • • • • •

talknpops.com

3rd: Wolf, Blue Moon 5115 Butler St., Lawrenceville

2nd: Dee’s Café 1314 E. Carson St., South Side deescafe.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Blue Moon 5115 Butler St., Lawrenceville

• • • • • • • •

3rd: The Double D Podcast doubledpodcast.com

ASSOCIATED PRESS ©Disney

T H E H I T B R O A D WAY MUSICAL

1 2- 4 5 6 -4 - 4 8 0 0 ∙ G R O U P S (10 ( 1 00+ + ) 412-471-6 +) 411 2-- 4 7 1-66 9 3 0 AUGUST 22 – SEPTEMBER 9 ∙ BEENE NEDDUUM CENTER ∙ 4412-4 TRUSTARTS.ORG /BROADWAY PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

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(412) 922-1888 GREENTREE :

BEST DOWNTOWN LUNCH SPOT

THE YARD 100 Fifth Ave.

993 Greentree Rd. Pgh, PA 15220

theyardpgh.com

WASHINGTON :

2nd: Nicky’s Thai Kitchen

• • • • • • • •

301 Franklin Farms Rd. Washington, PA 15301

903 Penn Ave. nickysthaikitchen.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: The Commoner

MULTI-SERVICE

SALON

WELCOME TO THE GLOSS SOCIETY When you join The Gloss Society you get more than just incredible nails, gorgeous lashes, or an awesome new cut and color. You get a relaxed environment where you can be yourself and unwind. Stop by anytime.

458 Strawberry Way thecommonerpgh.com

BEST CASINO

RIVERS CASINO PITTSBURGH 777 Casino Drive, North Side riverscasino.com/pittsburgh • • • • • • • •

In-Home Senior Care

2nd: The Meadows Racetrack & Casino 210 Racetrack Road, North Strabane Township meadowsgaming.com • • • • • • • •

• Personal Care

3rd: Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin 4067 National Pike, Farmington ladylucknemacolin.com

• Homemaking • Meal preparation • Errands & Shopping

BEST CARD STORE

WILDCARD

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

2nd: Kards Unlimited

412-363-5500

5522 Walnut St., Shadyside kardsunlimited.com • • • • • • • •

Get PrEP today!

A once-a-day pill to protect you against HIV To learn more about PrEP and if it’s right for you, call us or visit our website to make an appointment.

3rd: love, Pittsburgh 301 Shiloh St., Mount Washington lovepittsburghshop.com

BEST PLACE TO TAKE THE KIDS FOR AN AFTERNOON

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

$IIRUGDEOH &RQğGHQWLDO &RQYHQLHQW

933 Liberty Avenue 1.800.230.PLAN www.ppwp.org @PPWPA 26

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

2nd: Carnegie Science Center 1 Allegheny Ave., North Side carnegiesciencecenter.org • • • • • • • •

3rd: Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh 10 Children’s Way, North Side pittsburghkids.org

BEST CHINESE RESTAURANT

BEST DAY SPA

THE SEWICKLEY SPA 337 Beaver St., Sewickley spasewickleypa.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: LanaVita Massage & Skincare 3760 Willow Ave., Castle Shannon lanavita.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Metamorphosis 5112 Butler St., Lawrenceville spapgh.com

SICHUAN GOURMET Multiple locations

sichuan-gourmet.com

BEST OPEN MIC NIGHT

• • • • • • • •

(MUSIC)

2nd: Sesame Inn

BLUE MOON

Multiple locations sesameinn.com

5115 Butler St., Lawrenceville • • • • • • • •

2nd: Speal’s Tavern 1850 Lions Club Road, New Alexandria spealstavern.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Hambone’s 4207 Butler St., Lawrenceville hambonespittsburgh.com

• • • • • • • •

3rd: Chengdu Gourmet 5840 Forward Ave., Squirrel Hill chengdugourmetpittsburgh.com

BEST DOGGIE DAYCARE

PITTSBURGH PAWS PET RESORT Multiple locations pghpaws.com

BEST LOCAL INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT

@KEEPPITTSBURGHDOPE • • • • • • • •

2nd: @ricksebak • • • • • • • •

3rd: @bambiqween

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Camp Bow Wow Multiple locations campbowwow.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: The Dog Stop Multiple locations thedogstop.com

WEAR FAIR Discover fairly made clothing for all occasions.

5820 Forbes Avenue . Pgh, PA 15217 Tenthousandvillages.com/Pittsburgh . 412-421-2160

Mon, Wed, Fri-Sat: 10 AM - 6 PM . Tue, Thur: 10 AM - 8 PM Offer valid at participating stores until 9/8/18. Not valid with other offers or discounts, purchase of gift cards, Oriental rugs, Traveler’s Finds or consumables. One coupon per store per customer.

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

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BEST OF PITTSBURGH:

LEGACY NICKY’S THAI KITCHEN

BY RYAN DETO // RYANDETO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

N

ICKY’S THAI Kitchen is collecting so many honors from City Paper’s readers that it’s getting hard to keep track: Best Thai Restaurant since 2013; Best Downtown Lunch Spot in 2017; and Best Restaurant (North) this year. General manager David Brunner thinks intense flavors keep people satisfied.

“We always have new specials every month and authentic Thai dishes with amazing flavors,” Brunner says. “The only kind of food we don’t serve is bland.”

Two of Nicky’s three restaurants have amazing patios that are another big draw. At the North Side and North Hills locations, an outdoor-seating area is completed with authentic Thai art and tropical greenery. The North Side patio whisks patrons away to a scene from Bangkok. That patio is covered with a translucent roof and filled with ferns, vines, and a tranquil fountain.

“People really enjoy going out on the patio,” Brunner says. “It’s definitely a point of interest. You go from walking on Western Avenue, and then it opens up like a secret oasis on the North Side.”

It’s an oasis inspired by an owner’s authentic love for Thai landscaping and design. In fact, Nicky’s art is from Thailand, which requires approval by the Thai government.

“One of Nicky’s hobbies and interest is in horticulture and landscaping, he really gets into it,” Brunner says of the restaurants’ namesake. “He really enjoys

Thai art. It makes for a really pleasant dining experience.”

Brunner suggests diners try the papaya or glass-noodle salads while enjoying fresh air as part of patio dining.

The larb salad, a Northern Thai-inspired dish, is also best enjoyed al fresco. (Fresh herbs really take the larb salad to the next level.)

At the North Hills Nicky’s location, along Mt. Nebo Road, diners can drink fresh-fruit smoothies. Coconut, mango, and watermelon are a few options. For adventurous adults, smoothies can be mixed with rum or tequila.

The flavors are intense at every location. No wonder this Thaifood favorite keeps collecting Best of PGH awards.

The teams at Nicky’s are pleased to have maintained popularity through the years.

“We are just really happy to provide something unique to Pittsburgh,” Brunner says. “We really enjoy all our neighbors and guests. And we have a really good team and that is what makes our success possible.”

And seriously, people shouldn’t forget about the patios. “All those little aspects from the art, the good food, and the outdoor space that is unique,” Brunner says.

“It all adds to the whole experience.”

•

PHOTO BY JARED WICKERHAM

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

29

22ND ANNUAL

SHADYSIDE

The Art Festival

BEST BAR

(NORTHEAST)

BLUE MOON

5115 Butler St., Lawrenceville • • • • • • • •

2nd: Kelly’s Bar & Lounge 6012 Centre Ave., Shadyside • • • • • • • •

3rd: Whitfield at the Ace Hotel Pittsburgh 120 S. Whitfield St., East Liberty whitfieldpgh.com

BEST LOCAL MOVIE THEATER

ROW HOUSE CINEMA

4115 Butler St., Lawrenceville rowhousecinema.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: The Manor Theatre 1729 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill manorpgh.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Hollywood Theater 1449 Potomac Ave., Dormont hollywoodtheaterpgh.org

ON WALNUT STREET

Sat., August 25th 10am – 7pm Sun., August 26th 10am – 5pm On Walnut Street between South Aiken Avenue & South Negley Avenue in Shadyside (Pittsburgh)

BEST DISTANCE RACE

PITTSBURGH MARATHON

Downtown, North Shore thepittsburghmarathon.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: The Great Race Frick Park rungreatrace.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Run Around the Square Downtown runaroundthesquare.com

BEST THRIFT SHOP

ArtFestival.com A Howard Alan Event

RED, WHITE & BLUE THRIFT STORES Multiple Locations

(561) 746-6615

redwhiteandbluethriftstore.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Goodwill Multiple Locations goodwillswpa.org • • • • • • • •

3rd: The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Thrift Store Multiple Locations svdppitt.org

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BEST DJ

DJ SELECTA soundcloud.com/ grandgrooveradio • • • • • • • •

2nd: DJ Nugget djnugget.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: DJ BREIS breis.net

BEST BANK

PNC BANK Multiple locations pnc.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Dollar Bank Multiple locations dollar.bank • • • • • • • •

3rd: Citizens Bank Multiple locations citizensbank.com

BEST COCKTAIL

HIDDEN HARBOR

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

2nd: Mixtape 4907 Penn Ave., Garfield mixtapepgh.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: The Summit 200 Shiloh St., Mount Washington thesummitpgh.com

LILY WHISPERS ASMR A woman who wants her YouTube channel to be “hush-hush” was reader’s pick for Best Blogger this year.

Ever get a tingle that you feel over your whole body? That’s what Lily — she goes only by her first name — is all about on YouTube. Her channel, Lily Whispers ASMR, calms an audience through sound or roleplay. (Take “Big Sis Does Your Makeup Roleplay,” one of Lily’s BEST OF PITTSBURGH: most popular videos; it simulates a sibling putting makeup on the viewer.)

Lily has tried to keep her channel “hushhush,” which makes selection by City Paper readers for Best YouTube Channel a surprise — albeit a pleasant one. Already a proud Pittsburgher, she says being recognized for Lily Whispers ASMR makes her “feel even more appreciative to be part of this community and proud of what I do.”

spotlight

CP PHOTO BY CHANCELOR HUMPHREY

Lily Whispers

BEST FOOD TRUCK

PGH TACO TRUCK Multiple locations pghtacotruck.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Mac and Gold Truck Multiple locations macandgoldtruck.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Dad’s Mobile Grub Multiple locations dadspub.com

BEST NONPROFIT

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF GREATER PITTSBURGH 5989 Centre Ave., East Liberty bbbspgh.org • • • • • • • •

2nd: Hello Bully 4885-A McKnight Road #197, Ross Township hellobully.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Girls Rock! Pittsburgh girlsrockpittsburgh.org

The 5th Judicial District of Pennsylvania and Allegheny County Pretrial Services urges you to enjoy your weekend out in Pittsburgh but make the right choice,

don’t drink & drive.

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

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BEST ESCAPE ROOM

ESCAPE ROOM PITTSBURGH Multiple Locations

escaperoompgh.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Enter the Imaginarium 32 Alpha Drive, Harmarville entertheimaginariumpgh.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: 60 Minute Missions 116 E. Pittsburgh St., Greensburg 60minutemissions.com

BEST MARCH OR POLITICAL ACTION

WOMEN’S MARCH • • • • • • • •

2nd: Pittsburgh Pride • • • • • • • •

3rd: March for Our Lives

BEST FARMERS MARKET

BLOOMFIELD SATURDAY MARKET 5050 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield bloomfieldnow.org/ bloomfield-saturday-market • • • • • • • •

2nd: Market Square Farmers Market 23 Market Place, Downtown downtownpittsburgh.com/ market-square-farmers-market • • • • • • • •

3rd: East Liberty Farmers Market 5900 Penn Circle N., East Liberty pittsburghpa.gov/events/farmers-market

BEST GLUTEN-FREE MENU

GLUTEN FREE GOAT BAKERY & CAFÉ 4905 Penn Ave., Bloomfield glutenfreegoat.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Onion Maiden 639 E. Warrington Ave., Allentown onionmaiden.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Double Wide Grill Multiple locations doublewidegrill.com

32

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BEST OF PITTSBURGH:

LEGACY CITY THEATRE COMPANY

BY HANNAH LYNN // HLYNN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

A

REGULAR theatergoer at City

Theatre Company won’t necessarily like all the plays in a season, but that’s part of the plan. “If somebody loves everything we do, we might not actually be doing our job,” says managing director James McNeel. “We want to challenge our audiences.”

The City Paper’s readers-portions of those audiences has responded by selecting City Theatre as Best Theatre Company every year from 2013-2017.

The upcoming season begins in September and features a broad range of subjects and characters. Pipeline by Dominique Morisseau explores the aftermath of a black student getting suspended from a mostly white private school. In Where Did We Sit on the Bus?, Brian Quijada’s rhythmic autobiography explores hip-hop, family, and Latinx identity. The Burdens, a premiere by Carnegie Mellon University grad Matt Schatz, depicts a dark family comedy through millennials’ texting.

“That the style of the plays, the scenes are different from each other to really give a full gamut of the contemporary playwright’s view on the world,” McNeel says. Although City Theatre doesn’t set out to convey a political message with its plays, the hope is that by showcasing a diverse and inclusive view of the world, audiences will gain a new perspective. “[The plays] hopefully bring people together in a peaceful discourse about what’s going on in the world and be a safe place for people to gather and use art to heal.”

Founded in 1975, City Theatre began

as a touring company before settling with a residency at the University of Pittsburgh. In 1991, it settled into the current home in the former building of the Bingham United Methodist Church in South Side. Artistic director Marc Masterson returned earlier this year, having initially departed in 2001 after holding the position for 20 years. The upcoming season of plays was chosen by artistic team staff members Reginald Douglas and Clare Drobot in the interim of searching for a new artistic director.

Its name is apt. Its five consecutive Best Theater Company honors have made this city collective worthy of several curtain calls.

The process starts by sorting through up to 200 scripts and narrowing down six for the season. While the playwrights are often from New York City or Los Angeles, productions are always heavy on local talent. McNeel notes about two-thirds of the cast, creative team, and directors involved are from Pittsburgh.

When theatergoers see a local production of Hamlet, they know more or less what they’re getting into. City Theatre takes a risk by putting on modern, innovative, and challenging works.

“New plays exist without the safety net of tradition,” says McNeel. “There is no experience if the audience is not there breathing in the same air as the artists making the work.”

•

PHOTO OF CITY THEATRE MANAGING DIRECTOR JAMES MCNEEL BY JARED WICKERHAM

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

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BEST HAUNTED ATTRACTION

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

:

We live here!

2nd: Hundred Acres Manor Haunted House 1 Hundred Acre Drive, Bethel Park hundredacresmanor.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Kennywood Phantom Fright Nights 4800 Kennywood Blvd., West Mifflin kennywood.com/pfn

BEST FOODDELIVERY SERVICE

GRUBHUB

We Pick up & Deliver!

grubhub.com

2nd: Uber Eats ubereats.com

Boarding & Daycare B Calm, Balanced, Homestyle Days Outdoor Supervised Playtimes Continuous Contact with Staff

Grooming

Grooming by Jen Certified Hotel Staff Groomer Experienced in All Breeds & Coat Types

Pet Supplies

Dog & Cat Food Grain Free Options Treats, Chews, Toys, Leashes, Collars and More!

All USA Made!

See why others call us their pet’s...

Multiple locations

clubcycleonline.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh Multiple locations ymcaofpittsburgh.org • • • • • • • •

3rd: California Cycle Path 3635 California Ave., Brighton Heights californiacyclepath.com

BEST BAR (WEST)

BEST SUSHI

123 Shiloh St., Mount Washington

Multiple Locations

SHILOH GRILL

Pittsburgh’s Original Pet Hotel

theshilohgrill.com/

OPEN DAILY 7:30AM - 6:00PM CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR BOARDING, DAYCARE & GROOMING PRICES.

WWW.COUNTRYLANEPETHOTEL.COM

1075 3RD STREET | NORTH VERSAILLES PA 15137 36

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

postmates.com

CLUB CYCLE

Home Away from Home 412.824.7991

3rd: Postmates

BEST FITNESS CENTER

• • • • • • • •

2nd: The Summit 200 Shiloh St., Mount Washington thesummitpgh.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Bakn 335 E. Main St., Carnegie eatbakn.com

NAKAMA eatatnakama.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Little Tokyo Multiple Locations littletokyopittsburgh.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Umami 202 38th St., Lawrenceville umamipgh.com

BEST LITERARY EVENT

DRAG QUEEN STORY HOUR

4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland www.carnegielibrary.org/event/ drag-queen-story-hour • • • • • • • •

2nd: The Moth 1602 E. Carson St., South Side themoth.org/events/education-pittsburgh • • • • • • • •

3rd: After Hours at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland carnegielibrary.org/event/afterhours

BEST LOCAL PET STORE

PETAGOGY Multiple locations petagogy.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Pet Supplies Plus Multiple locations petsuppliesplus.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Lawrenceville Pet Supply 5152 Butler St., Lawrenceville lawrencevillepetsupply.com

BEST JUICE/ SMOOTHIE BAR

BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT

TAJ MAHAL

THE PITTSBURGH JUICE COMPANY

7795 McKnight Road, North Hills

3418 Penn Ave., Lawrenceville

tajmahalinc.com

pittsburghjuicecompany.com

• • • • • • • •

2nd: People’s Indian Restaurant 5147 Penn Ave., Bloomfield peoplesindian.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Udipi Cafe 4141 Old William Penn Highway, Monroeville 412-373-5581

• • • • • • • •

2nd: East End Food Co-op 7516 Meade St., Point Breeze eastendfood.coop • • • • • • • •

3rd: Salud Juicery Multiple Locations saludjuicery.com

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

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BEST JAPANESE RESTAURANT

NAKAMA

Multiple Locations

LIVE MUSIC AUG 9

eatatnakama.com • • • • • • • •

AUG 16

Eden Sparks Trio

Truth & Rites Reggae

(starting 8-9 pm)

(starting 8-9 pm)

2nd: Umami 202 38th St., Lawrenceville umamipgh.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Little Tokyo Restaurant EatShady.com

ȏȦȶ ȰȟȮ ȉȟȉȟ

ȍȍȉȉ ;EPRYX XVIIX LEH]WMHI

Multiple Locations littletokyopittsburgh.com

BEST MARGARITA

MAD MEX Multiple Locations

HEPATICA

madmex.menu

A flower shop named for a buttercup flower is readers’ choice for Best Florist in 2018.

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Round Corner Cantina 3720 Butler St., Lawrenceville roundcornercantina.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Tako 214 6th St., Downtown takopgh.com

BEST LOCAL CARTOONIST

ROB ROGERS Outdoor seating, food and drink ŸŞåÎĜ°ĬŸƉŅýåųåÚƉ°ƋƉÅŅƋĘƉĬŅΰƋĜŅĹŸ

robrogers.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Marcel Walker

Named for a genus of buttercup flowers, the easy beauty of Hepatica’s name is second only to the stunning floral arrangements it churns out.

In 2016, during one particularly long, hard week of floral design at Hepatica, the women responsible for its bouquets, corsages, and centerpieces learned that their work had led City Paper readers to select it as Best Florist that year.

Hepatica’s manager-owner, Dana Pruszynski, BEST OF PITTSBURGH: says “[being selected] caused buzz and excitement throughout the shop for the next several days.”

Since that selection, Hepatica has continued to strive to be the best. Though it missed out on last year’s top three, it’s back this year, finishing third. First is the place Hepatica wants to earn, though: “The win helps to serve as motivation for our design work and customer service,” Pruszynski says. “We strive to be deserving of the title every day.”

marcelwalker.com

spotlight

CP PHOTO BY SARAH WILSON

Hepatica manager-owner Dana Pruszynski

• • • • • • • •

3rd: Tim Hartman timhartman.com

BEST METAL BAND

LIVE MUSIC AUG 11

AUG 18

Acoustical Bruce

Sam Stucky (12-4 pm)

(12-4 pm)

CODE ORANGE codeorangetoth.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Everyone Hates Everything everyonehateseverything.bandcamp.com • • • • • • • •

BakerySocial.com

ȏȦȶ ȴȰȶ Ȧȶȴȏ

Ȱȏȶȍ 5IRR &ZI 'EOIV] UYEVI

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3rd: Fist Fight In the Parking Lot fistfightintheparkinglot.bandcamp.com

BEST PLACE TO TAKE A FIRST DATE

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

2nd: Row House Cinema 4115 Butler St., Lawrenceville rowhousecinema.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: The Abbey on Butler Street 5635 Butler St., Lawrenceville theabbeyonbutler.com

BEST LOCAL PLACE TO BUY VINTAGE CLOTHING

AVALON EXCHANGE

5858 Forbes Ave., Squirrel Hill

BEST LOCAL PIZZA

MINEO’S PIZZA HOUSE

MILLIE’S HOMEMADE ICE CREAM Multiple locations

millieshomemade.com • • • • • • • •

Multiple Locations

avalonexchange.com

2nd: Page Dairy Mart

mineospizza.com

• • • • • • • •

4600 E. Carson St., South Side pagedairymart.net

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Eons Fashion Antique 5850 Ellsworth Ave., Shadyside Facebook search “Eons Fashion Antique”

BEST LOCAL ICE CREAM

2nd: Fiori’s Pizzaria Multiple Locations fiorispizzapittsburgh.com

• • • • • • • •

3rd: Clothes Minded 4740 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield clothesmindedpgh.com

• • • • • • • •

3rd: Dave & Andy’s Homemade Ice Cream 207 Atwood St., Oakland facebook.com/davenandys

• • • • • • • •

3rd: Proper Brick Oven & Tap Room 139 7th St., Downtown properpittsburgh.com

BEST PLACE FOR A GIRLS NIGHT OUT

SIENNA MERCATO 942 Penn Ave., Downtown www.siennamercato.com • • • • • • • •

BEST LOCAL SNAPCHAT ACCOUNT

PITTSBURGH STEELERS • • • • • • • •

2nd: Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership • • • • • • • •

3rd: ArtLikeUs

2nd: Tequila Cowboy Bar & Grill 380 North Shore Drive, North Side tequilacowboy.com/pittsburgh • • • • • • • •

3rd: The Allegheny Wine Mixer 5326 Butler St., Lawrenceville www.alleghenywinemixer.com

Outdoor B a n ds a l l g Summer Lon Aug. 10 Aug. 11 Aug. 12 Aug. 17 Aug. 18 Aug. 19 Aug. 24

Tony Janflone, Jr. Band (8pm) Walk of Shame Band (8pm) Vagrants (12-4pm) / Buffettman (5-8pm)

No Bad JuJu Band (8pm) In Transit Band (8pm) Nieds Hotel Band (2-6pm) Ferris Bueller’s Revenge Band (8pm)

*FREE Sunday Summer Concert Series!

www.ds6pax.com d 6 Open Daily: 11:30 AM Lunch-Dinner-Late Night Fare Happy Hour Monday-Friday: 5-7PM Best Live Bands Every Weekend!

The Baja Bar & Grill is not just a bar and restaurant...

it’s a destination!

1366 Old Freeport Road • Pgh, PA 15238

412.963.0640 • www.bajabargrill.com

DROP IN FOR SOME DOGZ & CHECK OUT OUR AMAZING BEER CAVE STOCKED WITH OVER

1,000

VARIETIES! 1118 S Braddock Avenue • Swissvale, PA 15218 • (412) 241-4666 PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

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BEST OF PITTSBURGH:

LEGACY OAKMONT BAKERY

BY ALEX MCCANN // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

N

OBODY SAID much when Oak-

mont Bakery unveiled frosted cookies bearing the likenesses of President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney in November 2012. Founder Marc Serrao’s bakery has been icing cookies with political candidates’ portraits since that technology became available.

Four years later, the reaction was not as tempered. While customers bought red Donald Trump and blue Hillary Clinton cookies by the dozens, others couldn’t even bear to look. Some particularly incensed customers even wrote negative online reviews.

Think of those as exceptions to the rule that is Pittsburghers loving Oakmont Bakery — the Best Bakery since 2013 and Best Dessert in 2014 and 2017, as voted

by City Paper readers.

Serrao has kept to himself his personal politics for years, long before the political climate had become so acrimonious that baked goods could be viewed as divisive.

And he never wanted to make headlines for selling cookies related to hotbutton issues.

When he opened Oakmont Bakery 30 years ago, Serrao sought to create a neighborhood bakery with a great atmosphere.

“The bakery’s a happy place,” he says.

Another of Serrao’s goals when he took over a 1,200-square foot facility in 1988 was to create the best bakery in Pittsburgh. Three decades later, Oakmont Bakery has gone from just another neighborhood confectionery to a regionally recognized institution.

It’s about to go, literally. Oakmont Bakery

is on track for relocation to an all-encompassing, 18,000-square foot building in January. There, its 125-plus employees (including at least 25 bakers and 12 cake decorators) will continue making baked goods, wedding cakes, pies, and donuts daily. That everyday process is a foundational ingredient for decades of success.

“You can’t really fool a customer, you know?” Serrao says. “When they’re a regular customer, they know if they’re getting the real deal, fresh stuff every day.”

Oakmont’s confectionary institution is about to move into a new building, where it can hang the last six Best Bakery awards.

One of the most popular “real deal” pastries at Oakmont Bakery is a Polish classic: paczki. Pronounced like “punchkey,” paczki are the richer, heavier, Eastern European cousins of donuts. They’re stuffed with whole fruit fillings or vanilla “Pittsburgh cream.” Paczki are traditionally eaten on Fat Thursday — though in America, they’re most commonly enjoyed two days prior on Fat Tuesday (aka Mardi Gras).

And on Fat Tuesday every year, paczki lovers flock to Oakmont Bakery and buy more than 5,000 of them.

While cookies featuring presidential candidates’ mugs might get people talking in November 2020, it’s freshly baked staples such paczki that lead them to Oakmont Bakery time and time again.

•

PHOTO BY JARED WICKERHAM

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

41

BEST LOCAL COMEDIAN

BILL CRAWFORD

talentnetworkinc.com/ artists/bill-crawford • • • • • • • •

2nd: Tony T-Robe Roberson comediantrobe.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Aaron Kleiber aaronkleiber.com

BEST LOCALLY MADE SPIRIT

WIGLE WHISKEY GARDEN & BARRELHOUSE Multiple Locations wiglewhiskey.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Maggie’s Farm Rum Distillery Pittsburgh’s only full-service organic salon, spa, and wellness studio

You look your best, when you feel your best!

3212 Smallman St., Strip District maggiesfarmrum.com

BEST LOCAL STORE TO BUY FURNITURE

THE SOCIETY OF SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL THRIFT STORE Multiple Locations svdppitt.org • • • • • • • •

2nd: Red, White & Blue Thrift Stores Multiple Locations redwhiteandbluethriftstore.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Hot Haute Hot Inc 2124 Penn Ave., Strip District hothautehot.net

3rd: Liberty Pole Spirits

BEST KID-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

68 W. Maiden St., Washington libertypolespirits.com

Multiple Locations

• • • • • • • •

EAT’N PARK eatnpark.com • • • • • • • •

BEST SPORTS BAR

2nd: Burgatory

321 Bigham St., Mount Washington

3rd: Square cafe

BIGHAM TAVERN bighamtavern.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Hough’s Taproom 563 Greenfield Ave., Greenfield facebook.com/houghspgh • • • • • • • •

-Find Us In Lawrenceville-

5112 Butler Street ) Pittsburgh, PA 15201 412-781-1262 ) www.Spapgh.com 42

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

3rd: William Penn Tavern 739 Bellefonte St., Shadyside wmpenntavern.com

Multiple Locations burgatorybar.com • • • • • • • •

1137 South Braddock Ave., Regent Square square-cafe.com

BEST TEA HOUSE

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

2nd: Tupelo Honey Teas 211 Grant Ave., Millvale tupelohoneyteas.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Beehive Coffeehouse 1327 E. Carson St., South Side beehivebuzz.com

BEST MILKSHAKE

THE MILK SHAKE FACTORY

Multiple Locations themilkshakefactory.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Burgatory Multiple Locations burgatorybar.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Page Dairy Mart 4600 E. Carson St., South Side pagedairymart.net

ARSENAL CIDER HOUSE A cidery is the readers’ selection for Best Beer/Cider in 2018 Bill and Michelle Larkin are obsessed. With cider, that is.

Arsenal Cider House made a home out of house near the historic Allegheny Arsenal in 2010, the first cidery in Western Pennsylvania. The Civil War-themed business focuses on a small BEST OF PITTSBURGH: batch cider, mead, and fruit wine.

Arsenal’s inventive libations have taken Pittsburgh by storm.

The Larkins are Pittsburghers to the core. Michelle says her favorite part of the city is the people: “It’s like we are all one big extended family!”

“We appreciate each and every one of our customers no matter if they’ve been there once or keep coming back for more!” says Larkin. “Stay tuned ... we are always changing things up!”

spotlight

CP PHOTO BY JOHN COLOMBO

Arsenal Cider House

BEST TRIVIA NIGHT

BEST LOCAL STAGE PRODUCTION

SPIRIT

AVENUE Q, PITTSBURGH MUSICAL THEATER

241 51st St., Lawrenceville

327 S Main St., West End

www.spiritpgh.com

pittsburghmusicals.com/shows/westend/aveq

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Hemmingway’s Cafe 3911 Forbes Ave., Oakland hemingwayspgh.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Element 5744 Ellsworth Ave., Shadyside www.elementpgh.com

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Big Fish, New Hazlett Theater 6 Allegheny Square East, North Side newhazletttheater.org/event/big-fish

The 5th Judicial District of Pennsylvania and Allegheny County Pretrial Services urges you to enjoy your weekend out in Pittsburgh but make the right choice,

• • • • • • • •

3rd: The Princess Jafar Show Pittsburgh, Glitter Box Theater 460 Melwood Ave., Oakland theglitterboxtheater.com

don’t drink & drive.

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

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BEST OF PITTSBURGH:

LEGACY JUST DUCKY TOURS

BY MAGGIE WEAVER // MWEAVER@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

I

S IT A CAR? Is it a boat? Is it both?

Just Ducky Tours touches land and sea — and hearts — in Pittsburgh. City Paper readers have annually chosen it as Best City Tour dating to 2014.

You might say locals have joined tourists as voices amongst the quacks.

After almost a year in Pittsburgh, I hadn’t tried the Ducky Tour. But on the final day of July, I spent an afternoon trying to figure out what makes Pittsburghers so darn Ducky.

First Mate Carol and Captain Bill greeted my group. As we pulled out of Station Square, it started to pour, but the captain and first mate were undeterred. As we were all ducklings, the rain was welcome, or so they said.

(It wasn’t.)

The tour started out with a drive through Downtown. Carol strung together a stream of educational facts while intermittently having us quack at passing businesspeople.

We laughed in the rain at Carol’s eyeroll-worthy jokes.

It was Bill who rolled us into the river. The car-to-boat transition was surprisingly smooth. And while in the water, Carol and Bill seemed to switch roles, with the captain offering a Wikipedia-worthy assortment of

facts about Pittsburgh. At one point, we were allowed to steer the boat.

The Ducky Tours should satisfy anyone. (Only the plastic duck whistles, which children blow until your eardrums are blown, are a negative.) The factoids, though plentiful, never feel forced. There is rarely a break in conversation during a quick-but-unique expedition through the city.

By land. By sea.

Pittsburghers are on a five-year run of going quackers for this Best City Tour.

Even amid constant rain, Carol and Bill maintained high levels of energy.

Neither ran out of jokes. (First mate: “They even have stuffed pierogi mascots! Bill likes the jalapeno one, right?”

Captain: “Yeah, she’s hot.”)

I laughed harder than I’d like to admit at that one.

If the mark of a great tour is a terrific guide, the Just Ducky Tour delivers for all the Pittsburghers — those raised near the Three Rivers, and those who are still trying to learn how to pronounce Monongahela.

•

PHOTO BY JARED WICKERHAM

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

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BEST PLACE FOR A DATE NIGHT

BEST ROOFTOP BAR

PHIPPS CONSERVATORY AND BOTANICAL GARDENS

IL TETTO

942 Penn Ave., Downtown siennamercato.com

1 Schenley Dr., Shadyside

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Biergarten 620 William Penn Place, Downtown thecommonerpgh.com/ pittsburgh-biergarten • • • • • • • •

3rd: Sky Bar 1603 E. Carson St., South Side skybarpgh.com

phipps.conservatory.org

BEST HOT DOG

• • • • • • • •

FRANKTUARY

2nd: Row House Cinema

franktuary.com

4115 Butler St., Lawrenceville rowhousecinema.com

Multiple locations • • • • • • • •

2nd: D’s Six Pax and Dogz

• • • • • • • •

3rd: Sienna Mercato

1118 S. Braddock Ave., Swissvale ds6pax.com

942 Penn Ave., Downtown siennamercato.com

• • • • • • • •

3rd: The Original Hot Dog Shop 3901 Forbes Ave., Downtown theoriginalhotdogshop.com

BEST LOCAL TACO

TAKO

214 6th St., Downtown takopgh.com

ARSENAL CIDER HOUSE & WINE CELLAR BEST PITTSBURGH TERM THAT IS NOT YINZ OR JAGOFF?

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Las Palmas

“NEBBY” • • • • • • • •

Multiple Locations laspalmaspittsburgh.com

2nd: “Dippy eggs”

• • • • • • • •

3rd: “N’at”

3rd: Condado Tacos 971 Liberty Ave., Downtown www.condadotacos.com

5326 Butler Street • Upper Lawrenceville

alleghenywinemixer.com

46

BEST LOCAL BEER/CIDER

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

• • • • • • • •

Multiple Locations

arsenalciderhouse.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Grist House Craft Brewery 10 E. Sherman St., Millvale gristhouse.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: East End Brewing Company Multiple Locations eastendbrewing.com

BEST STEAKHOUSE

THE CAPITAL GRILLE 301 Fifth Ave., Downtown thecapitalgrille.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Ruth’s Chris Steak House 6 PPG Place, Downtown ruthschris.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse 247 North Shore Drive, North Side hydeparkrestaurants.com

BEST CRAFT COCKTAIL

HIDDEN HARBOR

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

2nd: APTEKA 4606 Penn Ave., Bloomfield aptekapgh.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Smallman Galley 54 21st St., Strip District smallmangalley.org

BEST LOCAL JEWELRY STORE

HENNE JEWELERS 5501 Walnut St., Shadyside

hennejewelers.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Orr’s Jewelers Multiple locations orrsjewelers.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Urbanowicz Jewelers Multiple locations pittsburghdiamonds.com

BEST JAZZ/ BLUES BAND OR PERFORMER

PHAT MAN DEE

youtube.com/user/ phatmandee • • • • • • • •

2nd: Roger Humphries rogerhumphriesband.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: The Uptown Woods theuptownwoods.com

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

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THIS IS THE CITY THEATRE 2018 – 19 SEASON. Subscriptions Start at $150 / Single Tickets On Sale Now

1300 BINGHAM ST. / SOUTH SIDE

48

PH#

412.431.CITY (2489)

WEB

CITYTHEATRECOMPANY.ORG

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

THE REVOLUTIONISTS

PIPELINE

BY DOMINIQUE MORISSEAU OCTOBER 27 – NOVEMBER 18, 2018

BY LAUREN GUNDERSON

A mother’s dreams for her son dim in this powerful chronicle of injustice that exposes the cracks in our education system.

SEPTEMBER 8 – 30, 2018

Liberté, égalité… sororité!

A radical new comedy about four badass women out to change the world without losing their heads. Literally.

WHERE DID WE SIT ON THE BUS?

THE ROOMMATE

JANUARY 19 – FEBRUARY 24, 2019

MARCH 2 – 24, 2019

This hip-hop autobiography tracks a Latinx experience in a black and white world.

“An explosion of energy, raw emotion, and storytelling.”

– Chicago Sun Times.

An unlikely friendship and a touch of lawbreaking take a retiree on a ride in a laughout-loud play that celebrates new beginnings.

BY BRIAN QUIJADA

WORLD PREMIERE

THE BURDENS

BY MATT SCHATZ

APRIL 6 – MAY 12, 2019

Siblings struggle with their centenarian grandfather in this outrageous and dark comedy for the digital age that dissects pop culture, connection, and the value of actual face time.

BY JEN SILVERMAN

WORLD PREMIERE

WE ARE AMONG US

BY STEPHEN BELBER MAY 11 – JUNE 2, 2019

When details about a coveredup military operation resurface a decade later, the consequences ripple across two generations of survivors in this investigation into the personal cost of war.

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

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BEST GALLERY FOR LOCAL ARTISTS

BLACK FORGE COFFEE HOUSE

1206 Arlington Ave., Allentown blackforgecoffee.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: BOOM Concepts 5139 Penn Ave., Garfield • • • • • • • •

3rd: Pittsburgh Center For The Arts 6300 Fifth Ave., Point Breeze center.pfpca.org

BEST PLACE TO TAKE OUT-OF-TOWNERS

STRIP DISTRICT

stripdistrictneighbors.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Duquesne Incline 1197 W. Carson St., Strip District duquesneincline.org • • • • • • • •

3rd: Randyland 1501 Arch St., North Side randy.land

BEST RESTAURANT (NORTHEAST)

NOODLEHEAD 242 S. Highland Ave., Shadyside noodleheadpgh.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: APTEKA 4606 Penn Ave., Bloomfield aptekapgh.com • • • • • • • •

PETAGOGY Shop with natural supplies is Best Pet Store again.

You’ve probably heard that it’s best to eat organic and support small businesses, but you might not have thought to apply this practice to your pets. Petagogy, located in Shadyside and Greensburg, specializes in providing the best in food, toys, and grooming for your furry friends BEST OF PITTSBURGH: (or hairless!)

The care and knowledge the team puts into the store is part of the reason it’s been voted Best Pet Store several years in a row.

“It’s definitely given us recognition in the community as a reliable place for healthy, natural, and unique pet supplies,” says Heather Blum, Petagogy co-owner.

Even the website is full of helpful posts, such as how to feed felines and how to get your pets ready for winter.

“We are so glad to be located in a city with so many dog and cat lovers,” says Blum.

spotlight

3rd: Smoke Barbeque Taqueria

CP PHOTO BY ANNIE BREWER

Petagogy

4115 Butler St., Lawrenceville smokepgh.com

BEST PITTSBURGHER TO HAVE A BEER WITH

RICK SEBAK • • • • • • • •

2nd: Sidney Crosby • • • • • • • •

3rd: Randy of Randyland 50

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

BEST LOCAL TWITTER FOLLOW

@DAVEDICELLO • • • • • • • •

2nd: @penguins • • • • • • • •

3rd: @billpeduto

BEST RESTAURANT DESSERTS

PARIS 66 BISTRO

6018 Centre Ave., East Liberty paris66bistro.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Superior Motors 15211 Braddock Ave., Braddock superiormotors15104.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Altius 1230 Grandview Ave., Mount Washington altiusrestaurantpittsburgh.com

BEST STREET FESTIVAL

PITTSBURGH PRIDE Downtown

pittsburghpride.org • • • • • • • •

2nd: Little Italy Days Bloomfield littleitalydays.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: OpenStreetsPGH Lawrenceville openstreetspgh.org

ENJOY DRINKS, FOOD & LIVE MUSIC! Join us on these saturdays along walnut Street in shadyside: August 18 : Lucky Me + Byron Nash and PlanB September 22 : Good Guys Band + No Bad JuJu October 20 : Brighton Boys + The Delaneys mane Hu

Animal

All proceeds benefit the animals at Humane Animal Rescue!

Re s u e c

www.humaneanimalrescue.org

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

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BEST OF PITTSBURGH:

LEGACY BURGATORY

BY MAGGIE WEAVER // MWEAVER@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

P

ITTSBURGHERS HAVE been flocking to Burgatory’s eight locations for adventurous, non-traditional burgers since 2011, whether it’s a custom-build or a chef-designed combination from the menu.

The extensive, beyond-beef menu offers house-created burgers or the option to build-your-own — from a checklist that can result in over 5 million different combinations. Pair your burger with a shake spun with house-made ice cream. This is iconic American food done right, which is the reason City Paper’s readers needed to bestow Best Burger upon Burgatory for a sixth straight year.

So, what makes Burgatory stand out? It’s the commitment to creativity.

Each week, executive chef Vince Piconi and sous chef JC Eaves conceive two featured burgers. “It’s our opportunity to have some fun, try something new, and feature whatever local or seasonal products are inspiring us,” Piconi says.

The burger combinations cover a lot of ground. One day, it might be two Sichuan beef patties topped with pork belly and a fried egg. Another, it could be a beef patty bookended with two buttermilk pancakes.

The featured shakes are also a deeply collaborative process. The results are inventive flavors, such as Strawberry Funnel Cake and Teddy Graham “Dunkaroo.” And, yes, spiked shakes

with vodka and bourbon are options.

Burgatory also allows guests their own creative freedom, which can get interesting.

“It may have been on a dare, but we had a gentleman order seven burger patties with seven different cheeses,” Piconi says. “We could barely keep it upright trying to take it to the table.

Even crazier, he ate every single bite!”

The option to create 5 million burger combos might have been too much for that guy. A more common (and less extreme) combination is to “Surf and Turf” the burger, adding a crab patty to the classic beef.

Six times at the top is rare.

No matter how you like a patty cooked, Burgatory has won Best Burger as often as the Steelers have the Super Bowl.

When Piconi’s stomach starts to grumble, he grabs a Fiddy-Fiddy burger (half-beef, half-bacon) rubbed with salt, pepper, and garlic. He tops it with smoked gouda, chimichurri aioli, grilled onions, and arugula, all smashed between a brioche bun. It’s matched with a Salted Nutella Crunch shake and finished with an added scoop of pretzels.

That’s the chef’s choice at the reigning, defending, undisputed burger choice of Pittsburghers.

•

PHOTO BY JARED WICKERHAM

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

53

BEST VEGAN/ VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT

BEST YOGA

BEST TATTOO SHOP

WYLD CHYLD TATTOO

YOGA FLOW

724 Brookline Blvd., Brookline

Multiple Locations

wyldchyldpittsburgh.com

yogaflowpittsburgh.com

• • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Artisan Pittsburgh

2nd: Sterling Yoga and Wellness

APTEKA

4606 Penn Ave., Bloomfield aptekapgh.com

5001 Penn Ave., Garfield artisanpittsburgh.com

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Double Wide Grill

• • • • • • • •

Multiple Locations doublewidegrill.com

3rd: Pittsburgh Tattoo Company

3rd: Schoolhouse Yoga

103 Smithfield St., Downtown tattoo-pittsburgh.com

Multiple Locations schoolhouseyoga.com

• • • • • • • •

3rd: Onion Maiden 639 E. Warrington Ave., Allentown onionmaiden.com

393 Vanadium Road, Scott Township sterlingyoga.com • • • • • • • •

BEST INDEPENDENT MOVIE THEATER

ROW HOUSE CINEMA 4115 Butler St., Lawrenceville

rowhousecinema.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: The Manor Theatre 1729 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill manorpgh.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Hollywood Theater 1449 Potomac Ave., Dormont hollywoodtheaterpgh.org

BEST DOG-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

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

2nd: Double Wide Grill Multiple locations doublewidegrill.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Square Cafe 1137 S. Braddock Ave., Regent Square square-cafe.com

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PGHCITYPAPER.COM

PHAT MAN DEE A woman with a name as unforgettable as her voice is readers’ pick for Best Jazz/Blues Band or Performer in 2018.

She needs no introduction. Still, being chosen as Best Jazz/Blues Band or Performer two of the past three years by City Paper readers is a boost for Phat Man Dee. “In my current side project, Social Justice Disco … with Liz Berlin, it’s kind of hard to compete with the phrase ‘triple-platinum awardwinning artist’ that goes after her name,” Man Dee says. “So, BEST OF PITTSBURGH: having the Best of Pittsburgh [title] has allowed me to not look like ‘Liz’s friend, employee, and former video intern.’”

A first-time finalist in 2010, Man Dee says she “had gotten very fond of cheering ‘I’m No. 2’ or ‘I’m No. 3.’ She was happy to “be included.” Then came 2016, a year Pittsburghers paraded with the Stanley Cup and finally crowned Man Dee. “I called my husband [Tommy Amoeba] and fake cried: ‘I hope you will still love me, because I’m not No. 2 or No. 3 … I’m No. 1!’” she says. “A great chortle was had by all.”

spotlight

CP PHOTO BY HEATHER MULL

Tommy Amoeba and Phat Man Dee

RUSTIC ITALIAN FAIRE

www.piccolo-forno.com

412-622-0111 / Reservations / BYOB Follow us:

@piccoloforno

@piccolofornopgh

3801 BUTLER STREET • LAWRENCEVILLE Serving North Indian, South Indian and other authentic regional Indian Cuisine

INDIAN RESTAURANT

VOTED VOTED

EST INDIA NDIAN RE REST STAU AURAN RANT BEST FOR O VER S IX Y EARS! FOR OVER SIX YEARS!

7795 McKnight Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15237 412-364-1760 tajmahalinc.com

BELVEDERES

Open 7 Days 11am-10pm

MONDAY’S 8PM SILENT DISCO YOGA

TUESDAY’S 9:30PM KARAOKE W T$

WEDNESDAY’S THE HUMP

FREE FRONT BAR CHILL DJ CURATED BY DJ A AD D MC MC

THURSDAY’S

COVEN DARK DANCE 9:30PM $1 PBR + $3 FIREBALL TIL 11:30PM 4016 BUTLER STREET PITTSBURGH, PA 15201 412-687-2555 WWW.BELVEDERESULTRADIVE.COM

FRI + SAT

THAT DANCE LIFE

SUNDAYS (ALL DAY) BEING SUNDAY

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BEST OF PITTSBURGH:

LEGACY THE PITTSBURGH JUICE COMPANY

BY ALEX MCCANN // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

I

T WASN’T UNTIL she moved away from home and spent time in Seattle, New Orleans, and Peru, that Naomi Homison began to appreciate being raised a vegetarian.

She returned to the Pittsburgh area in 2012, and opened a business with her husband, Zeb, two years later. Conveniently, Zeb’s Yoga Factory Pittsburgh is next door to The Pittsburgh Juice Company, which has annually been selected as Best Juice/Smoothie Bar by City Paper readers since 2014.

Now, some of the Mars Area High School classmates who considered Naomi and Zeb’s plant-based diets bizarre are regular consumers of organic, coldpressed juice churned at The Pittsburgh Juice Company.

“It’s pretty commonly noted that Pittsburgh is about 10 years behind on any trends that might exist in New York City or California,” Naomi says. “And I think that’s changing a bit with the current climate.”

Juice bars having been gaining steady popularity across the country over the past decade, but many that popped up prior to The Pittsburgh Juice Company fizzled out.

Part of what Naomi credits The Pittsburgh Juice Company’s success to is its production process. A hydraulic presslike juicer (located at a production facility in the Strip District) puts immense pressure on previously pulped fresh fruit and vegetables. Sounding similar to a steam engine, this juicer squeezes every drop, which is bottled in glass and

sent to Lawrenceville.

Rinse and repeat — every day for the past four years.

Since its inception, The Pittsburgh Juice Company has expanded from seven juice flavors to a rotating selection of more than 70 products that also include nut milks, smoothies, shots, vegan foods, and made-to-order smoothie bowls. Juices vary from green-heavy, nutrient-packed to the Drink Me, a blue-tinged concoction that tastes like a vanilla milkshake.

How beloved is The Pittsburgh Juice Company? City Paper readers have voted it Best Juice/Smoothie Bar every year since 2014, and a new Downtown store is set to open.

Most popular is Witch’s Brew, a juice developed for the cast and crew of The Last Witch Hunter, which was filmed in Pittsburgh in late 2014. This juice’s balance of sweetness and nutrition places it between a somewhat sweet Starter Green and Super Green. That latter is “for people who don’t want their healthy stuff to taste too good,” Homison says.

Witch’s Brew quickly transitioned from secret-menu item to a drink discussed by regulars.

“We are humbled by the support of our customer base,” Naomi says, also noting first-time juicers. “It’s because of our customer base that we are able to grow and provide fresh products.”

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PHOTO BY JARED WICKERHAM

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

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BEST LOCAL COMIC BOOK STORE

BEST HAIR SALON

CLASSIC HAIR AND MAKEUP

PHANTOM OF THE ATTIC COMICS

BEST WINGS

84 S. 24th St., South Side

BIGHAM TAVERN

classicpgh.com

321 Bigham St., Mount Washington

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Adore Hair Studio

Multiple locations Oakland pota-oakland.com

bighamtavern.com

542 Millers Run Road, Morgan theadorehairstudio.com

• • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Fat Head’s Saloon

3rd: Denham & Co. Salon

1805 E. Carson St., South Side fatheads.com

100 Fifth Ave., Downtown facebook.com/ denhamandcompany

3rd: Spak Brothers

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Eide’s Entertainment 1121 Penn Ave., Strip District eides.com

• • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • •

3rd: New Dimension Comics

5107 Penn Ave., Garfield spakbrothers.com

Multiple locations ndcomics.com

BEST PLACE TO BUY YOURSELF HAPPINESS BEST LOCAL MUSIC VENUE

MR. SMALLS THEATRE

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

2nd: Stage AE 400 North Shore Drive, North Side promowestlive.com

I MADE IT! MARKET Squirrel Hill

imadeitmarket.com/events • • • • • • • •

2nd: Gaby et Jules Multiple Locations gabyetjules.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: City Grows 5208 Butler St., Lawrenceville citygrowspgh.com

3rd: Club Cafe

Your pet’s home away from home and Pittsburgh’s all inclusive, play-all-day pet resort!

Offering Dog and Cat Overnight Boarding, Doggy Daycare, and InHome Visits!

NOW WITH 2 LOCATIONS: 9 Ohio River Blvd.

Sewickley, PA 15143

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Multiple locations leafandbean.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Dirty Dog Cigar Shoppe 4601 Walnut St., Shadyside dirtydogcigarshoppe.com • • • • • • • •

Multiple locations puffs-n-stuff.com

56 S. 12th St., South Side clubcafelive.com

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LEAF & BEAN CO.

3rd: Puffs-n-Stuff Cigar Store and Pub

• • • • • • • •

• 724-888-PAWS • www.pghpaws.com

BEST CIGAR SHOP

3234 Burtner Rd. Natrona Heights, PA 15065

At Classic we want everyone to achieve their hair goals, while having an amazing experience at our beautiful salon. We believe looking your best makes you feel your best, and that starts the moment you walk thru our doors!

------------------------------------------ www.classicpgh.com

84 S 24TH ST. PGH, PA 15203 // 412-251-0494

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BEST STRIP CLUB

CHEERLEADERS GENTLEMAN’S CLUB 3100 Liberty Ave., Strip District cheerleaderspittsburgh.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Blush Gentlemen’s Club & Sports Bar 135 9th St., Downtown blushexotic.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Spearmint Rhino Gentlemen’s Club Pittsburgh 1620 Pennsylvania Ave., North Side spearmintrhino.com

BEST FOOD-RELATED EVENT OR FESTIVAL

ST. NICHOLAS GREEK FOOD FESTIVAL

419 S. Dithridge St., Oakland stnickspgh.org/food-festival • • • • • • • •

2nd: Food Truck Roundup Millvale pittsburghfoodpark.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Picklesburgh Downtown picklesburgh.com

BEST LOCAL COMEDY TROUPE

KNIGHTS OF THE ARCADE

arcadecomedytheater.com/knights • • • • • • • •

2nd: The Harvey Wallbangers Facebook.com/ TheHarveyWallbangers • • • • • • • •

3rd: Frankly Scarlett trustarts.org/event/3592/ the-frankly-scarlett-comedy-hour

CLUB CYCLE A gym with convenient bike classes is Best Fitness Center for second year in a row.

There may be a day in the future when bike lanes Downtown aren’t controversial. For now, the street-biking averse can head down to Club Cycle for indoor cycling. It’s just as good a workout, and there’s a significantly lower chance of getting hit by an aggressive Port Authority bus driver.

BEST OF PITTSBURGH: Those are just two of the good reasons why City Paper readers have voted Club Cycle the Best Fitness Center two years in a row.

With classes scheduled to fit into the working person’s schedule — weekday classes are regularly held at 6 a.m., noon, 4:45 p.m. and 6 p.m. — Club Cycle is the prime Downtown fitness spot.

CP PHOTO BY JOHN COLOMBO

spotlight

Club Cycle

BEST PLACE TO BUY A MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

VOLKWEIN’S MUSIC 138 Industry Drive, Coraopolis volkweinsmusic.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Main Street Music & Sound

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

LILY WHISPERS ASMR • • • • • • • •

327 Main St., Irwin mainstmusic.com

2nd: Pittsburgh Dad

• • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • •

3rd: Pittsburgh Guitars

3rd: Weird Paul

1305 E. Carson St., South Side pittsburghguitars.com

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BEST LOCAL YOUTUBE CHANNEL

BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT

BEST BAR

PICCOLO FORNO

(SOUTH)

FAT HEAD’S SALOON

3801 Butler St., Lawrenceville piccolo-forno.com • • • • • • • •

1805 E Carson St., South Side

2nd: DiAnoia’s Eatery

fatheads.com

2549 Penn Ave., Strip District dianoiaseatery.com

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Smiling Moose 1306 E Carson St., South Side smiling-moose.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Tiki Lounge 2003 E Carson St., South Side tikiloungepgh.com

BEST PLACES TO VOLUNTEER

HUMANE ANIMAL RESCUE Multiple Locations

humaneanimalrescue.org • • • • • • • •

BEST HILL

POLISH HILL • • • • • • • •

2nd: Rialto Street • • • • • • • •

3rd: Observatory Hill

2nd: Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania 933 Liberty Ave., Downtown plannedparenthood.org/plannedparenthood-western-pennsylvania • • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • •

3rd: Alla Famiglia 804 E. Warrington Ave., Allentown allafamiglia.com

BEST OPEN MIC NIGHT (COMEDY)

HAMBONE’S

4207 Butler St., Lawrenceville hambonespittsburgh.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Blue Moon

3rd: 412 Food Rescue

5115 Butler St., Lawrenceville

6022 Broad St., East Liberty 412foodrescue.org

3rd: The Parkway Theater

• • • • • • • •

644 Broadway Ave., McKees Rocks communityreelartscenter.org

PITTSBURGH’S PREMIER VAPE SHOP NOW WITH 3 LOCATIONS!

CASTLE SHANNON 4136 Library Road 412.343.3500

MONROEVILLE 4-23 Wm. Penn 412.373.3244

SQUIRREL HILL 2208 Murray Avenue 412.421.0602 WWW.STEELCITYVAPORS.COM PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

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BEST OF PITTSBURGH:

LEGACY WIGLE WHISKEY

BY HANNAH LYNN // HLYNN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

W

IGLE WHISKEY began making barrel-aged spirits in 2011, inspired by a longstanding history of whiskey in the Pittsburgh region.

In fact, some would say the distillery is now making some history of its own.

To even begin distilling at its home base in the Strip District, Wigle had to lobby the state Senate to allow on-site craft distilling. Since then, its team has continued to lobby for changes to the state’s liquor laws, including one that allows distillers to sell products online.

Pennsylvania’s alcohol laws are notoriously strict, partly stemming from the history of Prohibition. Most liquor carriers in the state are run by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, which brings in so much money for the government that it’s hard to part with it.

Even with Pennsylvania’s stingy liquor laws, Wigle co-owner Meredith Meyer Grelli notes privatization in other states isn’t necessarily good for businesses. “What we’ve seen in some states that are completely private is that there’s such a consolidation at the distributer level and at the retailer level,” says Grelli. “You almost end up functioning with a nearmonopoly anyhow.”

Wigle would rather forge a new Pennsylvania model for distilling and selling booze.

Before the Prohibition era, Grelli notes that at its peak, Pittsburgh would’ve had a distillery for every 9,500 people. “I like to show this graph of American distilleries

before Prohibition and then after Prohibition,” says Grelli. “You see this very precipitous decline where Prohibition hits and we lose thousands of distilleries across the country that existed, and we’ve really never rebounded as a nation since.”

Wigle has been “hellbent” on distilling whiskey to get people to think about whiskey the way they did before prohibition. It’s led the distillery to make complex whiskey.

Inspired by Western Pennsylvania whiskey traditions, Wigle is making history with four consecutive Best of wins.

“With whiskey, there’s just so much character in the bottle that comes from the compounds in the distillate itself, as well as the years in barrels we spend making it,” says Grelli. “The patience required and the long-term perspective that it requires is pretty unique.”

Whiskey remains the distillery’s mainstay, with rye, ginger, wheat, and other varieties, but Wigle has also ventured into making other spirits. Rum, gin, vodka, absinthe, and flavored liqueurs and bitters are also available, and they’re always exploring more. “We have a structure of innovation that allows us to flex our creative muscles as much as we want,” Grelli says.

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PHOTO BY JARED WICKERHAM

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BEST CAR DEALER

#1 COCHRAN AUTOMOTIVE

FUEL AND FUDDLE

Multiple locations

212 Oakland Ave., Oakland

cochran.com

fuelandfuddle.com

• • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Kenny Ross Auto Group

2nd: Umami

Multiple Locations kennyross.com • • • • • • • •

BEST LATE-NIGHT MENU

BEST LOCAL BLOGGER

PAIGE MITCHELL frontpaigeme.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Yinz Can’t Park yinzcantpark.tumblr.com

202 38th St., Lawrenceville umamipgh.com

• • • • • • • •

3rd: Carlton Falconer Jr.

• • • • • • • •

3rd: Cambod-Ican Kitchen Restaurant

3rd: Baierl Automotive Multiple locations baierl.com

carltonspeaks.com

1701 E. Carson St., South Side cambod-icankitchen.com

BEST LOCAL ANNUAL CONVENTION

ANTHROCON

1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Downtown anthrocon.org • • • • • • • •

2nd: World Medical Cannabis Conference and Expo 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Downtown compassionatecertificationcenters.com/ 2018-world-medical-cannabisconference-expo • • • • • • • •

3rd: Handmade Arcade 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Downtown handmadearcade.org

BEST THAI RESTAURANT

NICKY’S THAI KITCHEN Multiple Locations

nickysthaikitchen.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Noodlehead 242 S. Highland Ave., Shadyside noodleheadpgh.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Thai Me Up 118 S. 23rd St., South Side thaimeuppittsburgh.com

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FELLA’S BARBERSHOP A suburban stylist is readers’ pick for Best Barber in 2018 A proper fade isn’t an easy thing to accomplish. But Adam Stoffella at Fella’s Barbershop in McDonald (fellasbarbershoppgh.com) has perfected the art. His barbershop prowess has garnered him a Best Barber win this year, and he couldn’t be more excited. “It’s BEST OF PITTSBURGH: absolutely an honor,” Stoffella says. “We have so many great businesses in our city, not to mention talented people. I am truly honored to win this award.”

Stoffella says seeing the expression on his wife and kids’ faces was the greatest feeling. His wife even took a picture of his young son celebrating and shared it with Stoffella’s parents.

And as any true yinzer should, Stoffella said it’s not a real celebration without a Pittsburgh war cry. “We can’t leave out a ‘HERE WE GO STEELERS’ and a ‘LET’S GO PENS!’”

spotlight

CP PHOTO BY JOHN COLOMBO

Fella’s owner Adam Stoffella and barber Hunter Dorazio at work on a client

1978

GRAND CONCOURSE

40th ANNIVERSARY 2018

40th ANNIVERSARY Extravaganza Wednesday, August 15th • 6:30 – 8:30 STROLLING DINNER

I

3 DRINK TICKETS

L I V E E N T E R TA I N M E N T P R I Z E D R AW I N G F O R A F A B U L O U S T W O N I G H T S T AY A T T H E G O L D E N N U G G E T L A S V E G A S A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT THE P I T T S B U R G H H I S T O R Y & L A N D M A R K S F O U N D AT I O N

$79 per person ( I N C L U D E S TA X , G R AT U I T Y & VA L E T PA R K I N G )

100 West Station Square Drive • Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Call 412.261.1717 or 412.391.3474 for Tickets & Additional Information

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

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BEST LGBT BAR (TIE)

BLUE MOON

5115 Butler St., Lawrenceville

5801 VIDEO LOUNGE AND CAFE 5801 Ellsworth Ave., Shadyside 5801videolounge.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Mixtape 4907 Penn Ave., Bloomfield mixtapepgh.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Cruze 1600 Smallman St., Strip District cruzebar.com

BEST MEXICAN/ LATIN AMERICAN RESTAURANT

MAD MEX

PHANTOM OF THE ATTIC

Multiple Locations madmex.menu

An Oakland stalwart is readers’ pick for Best Local Comic Book Store in 2018

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Emiliano’s Multiple Locations emilianos.net • • • • • • • •

3rd: Round Corner Cantina 3720 Butler St., Lawrenceville roundcornercantina.com

BEST LOCAL VISUAL ARTIST

VANESSA GERMAN

Phantom of the Attic’s owner is admittedly “terrible at self-promotion.” Upon hearing City Paper readers voted Phantom as the first Best Local Comic Book Store winner in several years, Jeff Yandora turned to his readers for hype help. “Our customers are the best, and the reason BEST OF PITTSBURGH: we’re successful,” he says.

“Honored” by this latest designation for a business that has called Oakland home since 1983, Yandora doesn’t expect being among Pittsburgh’s “best” will become the business equivalent of Peter Parker being bit by a radioactive spider. At this point, Pittsburghers already think of Phantom of the Attic (pota-oakland.com) when they think about comics.

“Comics are a weird business, and every store finds a niche for what they do and the fan base they serve,” Yandora says. “Pittsburgh has always been a good city for comics in general, with a lot of options for customers.” But …

“It’s gratifying for [our] history to be recognized and rewarded.”

spotlight

CP PHOTO BY ANNIE BREWER

conceptgallery.com/artists/ german-vanessa

Phantom of the Attic

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Durty Art durtyart.bigcartel.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Zach Sierocki zachsierockiart.com

BEST LOCAL FLORIST

FARMER’S DAUGHTER FLOWERS 431 E. Ohio St., North Side

thefarmersdaughterflowers.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Mt. Lebanon Floral Shop 725 Washington Road, Mount Lebanon mtlebanonfloral.net • • • • • • • •

3rd: Hepatica 1119 S. Braddock Ave., Regent Square hepaticapgh.com

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BEST FUNDRAISING GALA

WOMAN AND WHISKEY • • • • • • • •

2nd: Empty Bowls, Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank 1 North Linden St., Duquesne justharvest.org/event/emptybowls2018 • • • • • • • •

3rd: Lovers Not Fighters, Hello Bully 6 PPG Place, Wintergarden, Downtown hellobully.com/hello-bully-gala

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BEST OF PITTSBURGH:

LEGACY TAJ MAHAL

BY LAUREN ORTEGO // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

W

HEN YOU THINK of South-

western Pennsylvania, authentic Indian food probably doesn’t come to mind. But when Pittsburghers think of Indian food, they clearly have a preference.

City Paper readers have voted Taj Mahal, with its menu of original dishes and modernized traditional recipes, as Best Indian Restaurant the last six years.

“We’ve always been known for experimenting with food,” says Usha Sethi, main chef. “I do a lot of research on what customers are liking, and [what’s happening with] modern trends.”

Located along McKnight Road in Ross, Taj Mahal’s buffet includes a sixsection spread of vegan and vegetarian options. Wraps and other bread-based dishes have gluten-free options as well.

While cognizant of vegetarian trends popularized by newer restaurants, Taj Mahal’s goal has always been to provide meals with broad appeal — especially to customers who favor homemade-style dishes.

“We don’t want to experiment with the food so much that it doesn’t look Indian,” says Sethi. “It really feels like something a mother would make, it feels like home.”

Staying close to tradition has always been the model at Taj Mahal. The

menu features classics like chicken Tikka Masala, lamb curry, and samosas. Sethi does change the menu, but only to prevent customers from becoming bored.

For example, Taj Mahal has begun experimenting with other Asian flavors. Sethi has added Chinese food to the menu, classifying those dishes as Indo-Chinese specialties. Examples include Gobhi Manchurian, a crispy cauliflower dish, and chili Paneer, an Indian cheese soaked in a spicy broth of bell peppers and onions.

The McKnight Road traffic is worth it when the road leads to Pittsburgh’s Best Indian Restaurant.

With a lone restaurant in the North Hills, Taj Mahal has spent about 25 years establishing its reputation. It’s Best Of Pittsburgh designations confirms what you often hear in these parts about Indian food: go to Taj Mahal.

“People travel some distance to see us because they can trust the quality of the food,” Sethi says. “And that gives us a lot to brag about.”

•

PHOTO BY JARED WICKERHAM

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

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WE BUY RECORDS & CDS

TOP PRICES PAID FOR QUALITY COLLECTIONS TI

SINCE 1980 MON-FRI 9AM-6PM SAT 10AM-5PM 513 GRANT AVENUE • MILLVALE Questions? Call Us 412-821-8484

ATTICRECORDS@VERIZON.NET

DAVE DICELLO A collection of pretty pictures, behind-the-scenes shots, and Penguins gossip: Dave DiCello is 2018’s Best Twitter Account in Pittsburgh.

Judging from his photographs, you’d think Dave DiCello has the power to conjure lightning at will, slow the burst of fireworks mid-air, and tell the sun how and where to set and rise. As far as we know, though, he’s just a patient guy who’s really good at photographing Pittsburgh.

BEST OF PITTSBURGH: DiCello’s Twitter account – 2018’s best, according to our readers – is a great place to see not only his fantastic photos, but behind-the-scenes peeks at his process, Penguins gossip, and a string of posts defending the merits of eating apples whole, core and all (seriously). Don’t forget plenty of lightning, yellow bridges, and iridescent skylines. It’s an assortment of the best Pittsburgh has to offer. Give him a follow if you haven’t already.

spotlight

CP PHOTO BY ANNIE BREWER

Dave DiCello

BEST NEW FOOD TRUCK

COUSINS MAINE LOBSTER FOOD TRUCK Multiple Locations

cousinsmainelobster.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Dad’s Pub & Grub 4320 Northern Pike, Monroeville dadspub.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Two Brothers Bar-B-Q 5228 Thoms Run Road, Presto 2brosbbq.com

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BEST HIP-HOP PERFORMER

KEVIN “WALKMAN” REILLY

facebook.com/ItsWalkman • • • • • • • •

2nd: BBGuns bbguns.bandcamp.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: SIKES therealsikes.com

BEST HAPPY HOUR

MAD MEX Multiple locations

BEST SEAFOOD

PENN AVENUE FISH COMPANY

madmex.menu

Multiple Locations

• • • • • • • •

pennavefishcompany.com

2nd: Federal Galley

• • • • • • • •

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

3rd: Emporio: A Meatball Joint Multiple locations emporioameatballjoint.com

W E ’ R E D O N AT I N G OF OUR

15%

2nd: Monterey Bay Fish Grotto 1511 Grandview Ave., Mount Washington montereybayfishgrotto.com

RECEIPTS

TO

• • • • • • • •

3rd Luke Wholey’s Wild Alaskan Grille 2106 Penn Ave., Strip District lukewholey.com

The Pennies from Heaven Fund gives financial assistance to the families of children who are undergoing treatment at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

BEST LOCAL BOOKSTORE

HALF PRICED BOOKS

EVERY W EEKDAY DU RI NG LUNCH FROM 12PM-2PM

piazzatalarico.com 3832 Penn Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15201

Multiple locations hpb.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Kards Unlimited 5522 Walnut St., Shadyside kardsunlimited.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Amazing Books and Records Multiple locations amazingbooks andrecords.com

BEST HOTEL BAR

BEST PLACE TO EXERCISE FOR FREE

ANY PITTSBURGH STAIRS Multiple Locations • • • • • • • •

2nd: Frick Park 1981 Beechwood Blvd., Squirrel Hill pittsburghparks.org/frick-park • • • • • • • •

3rd: Athletic Trauma Unit Multiple Locations athletictraumaunit.org

WHITFIELD AT THE ACE HOTEL

120 S. Whitfield St., East Liberty acehotel.com/pittsburgh • • • • • • • •

2nd: The Commoner at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco 458 Strawberry Way, Downtown thecommonerpgh.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: or, The Whale at the Distrikt Hotel 463 Blvd. of the Allies, Downtown orthewhalepgh.com

STEEL CITY MUSICIANS IN NON-TRADITIONAL VENUES AT PAY-WHAT-YOU-WISH PRICES. 2018-19 concerts to be announced soon!

412-624-4129 chambermusicpittsburgh.org PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

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BEST PLACE TO CELEBRATE YOUR BIRTHDAY

ARSENAL BOWL 4310 Butler St., Lawrenceville arsenalbowl.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Lumberjaxes Axe Throwing Pittsburgh 2 Sedgwick St., Millvale axethrowingpgh.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Grist House Craft Brewery 10 E. Sherman St., Millvale gristhouse.com

BEST VAPE SHOP (TIE)

STEEL CITY VAPORS Multiple Locations steelcityvapors.com

VAPOR SHARK

1017 Lebanon Road, West Mifflin vaporshark.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Vape Inn On Carson 2336 E. Carson St., South Side • • • • • • • •

3rd: Keystone Vapors Multiple Locations keystone-vapors-dormont.business.site

BEST PLACE TO DANCE

MILLIE’S HOMEMADE ICE CREAM Readers are sweet, sweeter and sweetest on a dual-spot shop that has won Best Frozen Treats/Ice Cream since 2016 Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream might be what Pittsburgh wants and needs. But why has Millie’s put the freeze on its competition for Best Frozen Treats/Ice Cream? With in-house pasteurization and a pleasing pastel theme, Millie’s (millieshomemade.com) offers nostalgic joys for BEST OF PITTSBURGH: the senses.

As a small business in Pittsburgh, Millie’s makes the most of its Best of Pittsburgh recognition by posting to Instagram — the fastest way to reach its 12,000 followers of local folks excited to try any new foods. Great ice cream is nothing new, though. And it never falls into flavor-of-the-month category.

Millie’s ice cream comes from small stores in Shadyside and Market Square. But it’s a big deal.

spotlight

SPIRIT

CP PHOTO BY JOHN COLOMBO

Millie’s in Shadyside

241 51st St., Lawrenceville spiritpgh.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Belvedere’s Ultra-Dive 4016 Butler St., Lawrenceville belvederesultradive.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Tequila Cowboy Bar & Grill 380 North Shore Drive, North Side tequilacowboy.com/ pittsburgh

BEST WINE LIST

ALLEGHENY WINE MIXER 5326 Butler St., Lawrenceville

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

(WEST)

ALTIUS

alleghenywinemixer.com

1230 Grandview Ave., Mount Washington

• • • • • • • •

altiusrestaurantpittsburgh.com

2nd: Bar Marco 2216 Penn Ave., Strip District barmarcopgh.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: La Casa Narcisi Winery 4578 Gibsonia Road, Gibsonia narcisiwinery.com

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BEST RESTAURANT

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Monterey Bay Fish Grotto 1411 Grandview Ave., Mount Washington montereybayfishgrotto.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Sarafino’s 40 E. Crafton Ave., Crafton sarafinos.com

We are Pennsylvania’s first commerciallyavailable rum since Prohibition and one of America’s most awarded distilleries including:

Thank you City Paper readers for voting us the Best Chinese Restaurant in Pittsburgh

China Palace Shadyside

• 3X NY Intl. Spirits Competition Pennsylvania-Distillery-ofthe-Year

Featuring cuisine in the style of

Peking, Hunan, Szechuan and Mandarin

• 3X USA Today “10 Best” Craft Distillers

100 VEGETARIAN

• 3X Best-in-Category Spiced Rum • 4X Best-in-Category/Class Liqueur

DISHES!

• 2X Best-in-Class Rum

Delivery Hours

All from Prestigious American Craft and International Spirits Competitions

• Best-in-Show Spirit

11:30 - 2 pm and 5-10pm

5440 Walnut Street, Shadyside 412-687-RICE www.chinapalace-shadyside.com

Squirrel Hill

FULL SERVICE BAR NOW OPEN 2128 Murray Ave.

521-9864 521-2053

Available in all “Premium Collection” LCB liquor stores and directly from our distillery. • 3212A Smallman St. Pgh, PA 15201 •

MaggiesFarmRum.com/Awards

Mt. Lebanon 713A Washington Rd.

344-9467 344-9468

VOTED BEST PIZZA IN PITTSBURGH FOR OVER 40 YEARS PASTAS • PIZZA • HOAGIES • PARTY TRAYS & MORE

SUN-THUR 11:00 AM - 1:00 AM & FRI-SAT 11:00 AM - 2:00 AM

We FedEx Pizzas anywhere in the U.S. www.mineospizza.com PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

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BEST OF PITTSBURGH:

LEGACY GRAND CONCOURSE

BY ALEX GORDON // ALEXGORDON@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

W

ALK INTO the historic Grand Concourse restaurant on any given Sunday and it becomes obvious pretty quickly brunch is taken a little more seriously here than at your average Pittsburgh haunt. There are the expected staples: omelets, bagels and lox, fruit, pancakes, waffles, bacon and sausage, Bloody Marys and mimosas. But as you move down the buffet line, the enduring appeal of Grand Concourse is revealed.

A staffer at the carving station cuts slices of ham, turkey or prime rib on demand. The seafood section offers salmon pâte and tilapia étouffée. There’s hot and cold pasta, cheese dishes, and a “kids” table of chicken tenders and mac and cheese (don’t worry, it’s not heavily monitored, grab a chicken finger). Finally, you can top off things with freshly made donuts and whipped cream, sticky buns or bananas Foster.

If tilapia étoufée for brunch sounds like a stuffy or ostentatious affair, you should know it doesn’t feel like it. This Station Square staple delivers pomp without pretention, quality without snobbery.

Chalk up the high-class atmosphere to the building’s old-school architecture and the restaurant’s commitment to keeping the traditional interior decoration intact. It was built as the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad Station in 1901 (the letters P&LRR still sit on top) with a palpable 19th-century architec-

tural influence: high arches, wood paneling, ornate columns, warm lighting provided by throwback street lights and chandeliers. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic places in 1974 and even though the space was renovated in the late 1970s by restaurateur Chuck Muer, he kept the early 1900s train station personality alive, and not just in the name. Walking down the stairs into the main dining room, it kind of feels like walking onto the Titanic, except, you know, with a happier ending.

A mix of Pittsburgh history, friendly service, high-quality food, and riverfront dining.

What’s not to love about a sixtime Best Brunch winner?

The staff may be in black ties and the ceilings may be high, but the vibe is warm, welcoming, and accessible.

Not exactly a demographic known for white-glove opulence — the travel blogs call Pittsburghers “down to earth” — it’s pretty telling that City Paper readers have voted Grand Concourse Best Brunch for six consecutive years.

But it shouldn’t really be all that surprising. The Grand Concourse mixes Pittsburgh history friendly service, high-quality food, and riverfront dining.

What’s not to love?

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PHOTO BY JARED WICKERHAM

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BEST LOCAL POP/ROCK BAND

BASTARD BEARDED IRISHMEN bastardbeardedirishmen.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Punchline punchlion.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: The Commonheart thecommonheart.com

2018

BEST LOCAL WEDDING VENUE

EVENT SPONSORS:

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

2nd: Mattress Factory Museum 500 Sampsonia Way, North Side mattress.org • • • • • • • •

3rd: Kimpton Hotel Monaco 620 William Penn Place, Downtown monaco-pittsburgh.com

BEST NEW BAR

TINA’S

4114 Main St., Bloomfield facebook.com/tinaspgh • • • • • • • •

2nd: Bierport 4115 Butler St., Lawrenceville bierport.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Cake Pittsburgh 1900 Smallman St., Strip District cakepgh.squarespace.com

BEST NEIGHBORHOOD MARKET

BLOOMFIELD SATURDAY MARKET 5050 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield

bloomfieldnow.org/bloomfield-saturday-market • • • • • • • •

TOMORROW!

THURSDAY, AUGUST 9TH 7-10 PM

NOVA PLACE, NORTH SIDE 76

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

2nd: Market Square Farmers Market Downtown downtownpittsburgh.com/market-square-farmers-market • • • • • • • •

3rd: I Made it! Market Squirrel Hill imadeitmarket.com/events

BEST LOCAL MARTINI

OLIVE OR TWIST 140 6th St., Downtown olive-twist.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Maggie’s Farm Rum Distillery 3212 Smallman St., Strip District maggiesfarmrum.com • • • • • • • •

BEST LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER

2018

DAVE DICELLO

3rd: Acacia South Side (Closed June 2018) acaciacocktails.com

davedicello.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: JP Diroll jpdirollphotography.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Frank Zouloufos

LIVE MUSIC & DJ

The Uptown Woods, Phat Man Dee featuring Liz Berlin and DJ Selecta

BEST RESTAURANT (SOUTHEAST)

SUPERIOR MOTORS

15211 Braddock Ave., Braddock superiormotors15104.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Independent Brewing Company 1704 Shady Ave., Squirrel Hill independentpgh.com

FOOD SAMPLING

Round Corner Cantina . Southside Barbecue Co. . Driftwood Oven . Taj Mahal Franktuary . or, The Whale . Umami PGH . Merchant Oyster Co. Double Wide Grill . Nicky’s Thai Kitchen

• • • • • • • •

3rd: Spice Island Tea House 253 Atwood St., Oakland spiceislandteahouse.com

BEST LOCAL THEATRE COMPANY

PITTSBURGH PUBLIC THEATER

THE BIG COCKTAIL SHAKE-OFF The Big Cocktail Shake-Off pits local bartenders head-to-head and drink-to-drink. Oh, and we’ve thrown in a secret ingredient to spice things up. Proceeds for this event go to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh.

621 Penn Ave., Downtown ppt.org • • • • • • • •

2nd: City Theatre Company 1300 Bingham St., South Side citytheatrecompany.org • • • • • • • •

3rd: Pittsburgh Musical Theater 327 S. Main St., West End pittsburghmusicals.com

TOMORROW!

THURSDAY, AUGUST 9TH 7-10 PM

NOVA PLACE, NORTH SIDE PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

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BEST GARDEN SHOP/NURSERY

SOERGEL ORCHARDS

2573 Brandt School Road, Franklin Park soergels.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Trax Farms Market 528 Trax Road, Finleyville traxfarms.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Cavacini Garden Center 100 50th St., Lawrenceville cavacinigardencenter.com

BEST SANDWICH

PRIMANTI BROTHERS Multiple Locations primantibros.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Gaucho Parrilla Argentina 1601 Penn Ave., Downtown eat-gaucho.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Fat Head’s Saloon 1805 E. Carson St., South Side fatheads.com

BEST NEW RESTAURANT

DRIFTWOOD OVEN

FRONT PAIGE ME The Best Blogger will remember 2018 as a year that popped.

Some people scream or cry when they hear good news. When Front Paige Me blogger Paige Mitchell learned she was selected Best Blogger by City Paper readers, she put on “Pop That” by French Montana and danced around the house with her dog.

As someone who started writing at a young age, Mitchell feels validated by the support. “When I first got the news, I took a moment to reflect all the way back to when I used to write stories in my BEST OF PITTSBURGH: diary, to where I am today,” she says.

Front Paige Me (frontpaigeme.com) covers the entertainment scene in and around Pittsburgh, like a hip-hop conference at CalU or the 1Nation Sneakerball. But Mitchell also covers and reviews events in New York City, Chicago, and Tampa.

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Mitchell’s personal life and business are rooted in the city. “It’s the place where I lived in my first apartment, had my first kiss, started my own business.” Mitchell says. “… I will always love Pittsburgh.”

spotlight

CP PHOTO BY ANNIE BREWER

Paige Mitchell

3615 Butler St., Lawrenceville driftwoodoven.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: or, The Whale 463 Blvd. of the Allies, Downtown orthewhalepgh.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Merchant Oyster Co. 4219 Butler St., Lawrenceville merchantpgh.com

5115 Butler Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201 412-781-1119 78

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

BEST LOCAL TV PERSONALITY

RICK SEBAK, WQED wqed.org/rick-sebak • • • • • • • •

2nd: Kelly Frey, WTAE wtae.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Sally Wiggin, WTAE wtae.com

BEST MUSIC FESTIVAL

DEUTSCHTOWN MUSICAL FESTIVAL North Side

deutschtownmusicfestival.com

BEST NAIL SALON

DALLAS BEAUTY LOUNGE

• • • • • • • •

2nd: WYEP Summer Music Festival Schenley Park wyep.org/smf18

609 Washington Pike #13, Bridgeville

• • • • • • • •

3rd: Millvale Music Festival

dallasbeautylounge.com

Specializing in SourDough Pizza and Bread since 2015 Locally Sourced and Naturally Levened

www.driftwoodoven.com 412-251-0253 3615 Butler Street Lawrenceville Pittsburgh, Pa 15201

• • • • • • • •

2nd: The Gloss Society

Millvale millvalemusic.org

Multiple Locations glosssociety.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Metamorphosis Salon & Day Spa 5112 Butler St., Lawrenceville spapgh.com

BEST OUTDOOR DINING

PUSADEE’S GARDEN 5321 Butler St., Lawrenceville

(Closed for renovations) pusadeesgarden.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: The Porch Multiple Locations dineattheporch.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Double Wide Grill Multiple Locations doublewidegrill.com

BEST RESTAURANT BEER LIST

SHARP EDGE Multiple Locations

sharpedgebeer.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: The Urban Tap Multiple Locations theurbantap.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Independent Brewing Company 1704 Shady Ave., Squirrel Hill independentpgh.com

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BEST OF PITTSBURGH:

LEGACY PICCOLO FORNO

BY ALEX GORDON // ALEXGORDON@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

W

HEN YOU WALK by Piccolo Forno, it’s not uncommon to see a truck at the corner of 38th and Butler unloading cords of wood into the restaurant’s basement. It may seem just another delivery, like for linens or produce, but every detail at this perennial Pittsburgh favorite matters, particularly the wood.

The Italian restaurant uses a kilndried hardwood comprised of oak, cherry, and maple, says owner Domenic Branduzzi. OK, unless you’re in the wood-fired pizza business, that probably doesn’t mean much. But Branduzzi says those details play a significant role in the restaurant’s ability to consistently produce a trademark Tuscan pizza crust. “[Kiln-drying] is extremely important for pizza making, in my opinion,” Branduzzi says. “The wood burns more efficiently and with a larger flame, so you end up using less to maintain a consistent temperature.” The result is a pizza crust with a perfect balance of breadiness and crispness.

Since landing in its Lawrenceville location in 2005, Branduzzi and crew have been churning out a winning mix of traditional, adventurous, and accessible Italian fare. The pizza grabs the most headlines – Branduzzi studied under Neapolitanstyle expert Roberto Caporuscio – but the menu boasts a strong assortment of pasta and seafood as well.

A couple of the most popular nonpizza favorites include cozze (steamed mussels), fegato con crostini (chicken liver

pâté with crostini), and the cappelletti di gorgonzola pasta (a rich, cheesy pasta dish with a cream sauce). Rounding the menu out is the panini section, all served on homemade focaccia bread, which is fitting since the restaurant was born out of Branduzzi’s father’s Italian bakery in the Strip District, Il Piccolo Forno, which closed in 2008.

Attention to detail and a lack of pretension make this Tuscan eatery a six-time Best Italian Restaurant winner.

But what keeps Pittsburghers coming back to Piccolo Forno, and voting – it’s a six-time Best Of Pittsburgh winner – is the warm atmosphere. Some Italian restaurants go overboard on the whole “recreating the piazza” vibe and it feels forced and tacky. Not here. The interior is welcoming and open, offering a firsthand view of the wood-fire oven and the cooks at work; a few outdoor tables on the sidewalk are perfect for warm-weather dining (and help advertise the delicious sights and smells to passersby).

That mix of attention to detail and lack of pretension breeds Piccolo Forno’s success. It works because the people behind it are passionate about their food, and it shows. They try to keep Antonio’s favorite phrase in mind: “Fare tutto con amore.” Make everything with love.

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PHOTO BY JARED WICKERHAM

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

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BEST SECONDHAND CLOTHING SHOP

AVALON EXCHANGE

5858 Forbes Ave., Squirrel Hill avalonexchange.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Buffalo Exchange

BEST LOCAL POET

BEST PUBLIC SERVANT

JOHN FETTERMAN 2nd: Bill Peduto

RACHEL NARDOZZI facebook.com/billie.nardozzi • • • • • • • •

2nd: Ron Gavalik pittsburghwriter.net • • • • • • • •

3rd: Yona Harvey yonaharvey.com

1214 E. Carson St., South Side clothesmindedpgh.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Buffalo Exchange 4740 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield clothesmindedpgh.com

BEST MIDDLEEASTERN RESTAURANT

SALEM’S MARKET & GRILL 2923 Penn Ave., Strip District

salemsmarketgrill.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Ali Baba Restaurant 404 S. Craig St., Oakland • • • • • • • •

3rd: Amel’s Restaurant 435 McNeilly Road, Baldwin amelsrestaurantpgh.com

MILDRED THE LUNCH LADY BEST PLACE TO GET A TATTOO REMOVED

DISAPPEARING INK 3603 Butler St., Lawrenceville disappearinginkltr.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Invisible Ink Tattoo Removers 1130 Park Manor Blvd., Robinson invisibleinktattooremovers.com

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A drag queen at Blue Moon in Lawrenceville is the Best Bartender in 2018.

The alter ego of drag queen Alistair McQueen was picked by City Paper readers as Best Bartender for this year.

McQueen had a plan to celebrate as Mildred the Lunch Lady during an announcement party. Guests were to bite into a winning chocolate or losing coconut cake.

BEST OF PITTSBURGH: It was lucky for the guests that Mildred claimed the crown.

Since earning multiple “Best Of” designations, Blue Moon (5115 Butler St., Lawrenceville) has been booming, and Mildred has had no shortage of hungry and thirsty new visitors. McQueen credits Pittsburgh’s loving and welcoming nature for allowing Mildred to blossom into the bartender she has become.

Mildred hopes to continue serving drinks and meals to everyone who arrives. Gone are the days of lunch ladies being stuck in the kitchen.

spotlight

CP PHOTO BY JOHN COLOMBO

Millie’s in Shadyside

BEST PLACE FOR A GUYS NIGHT OUT

LUMBERJAXES AXE THROWING PITTSBURGH 2 Sedgwick St., Millvale axethrowingpgh.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Rivers Casino 777 Casino Dr., North Side riverscasino.com/pittsburgh • • • • • • • •

3rd: Grist House Craft Brewery 10 E. Sherman St., Millvale gristhouse.com

BEST PLACE FOR A KIDS BIRTHDAY PARTY

Skip the gym.

Ride a bike.

SING SING SING! 3611 Bakerstown Road, Bakerstown singsingsingusa.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Carnegie Science Center 1 Allegheny Ave., North Side carnegiesciencecenter.org • • • • • • • •

3rd: Fun Fore All Family Fun Park 8 Progress Ave., Cranberry funforeall.com

HealthyRidePGH.com

BEST RESTAURANT (SOUTH)

ONION MAIDEN

639 E. Warrington Ave., Allentown onionmaiden.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Il Pizzaiolo Multiple Locations ilpizzaiolo.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Alla Famiglia 804 E. Warrington Ave., Allentown allafamiglia.com

BEST PLACE TO SEE A LOCAL BAND

MR. SMALLS THEATRE

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

2nd: Spirit 241 51st St., Lawrenceville spiritpgh.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Club Cafe 56 S. 12th St., South Side clubcafelive.com *One coupon, per visit per person. Offer does not include any other offers, discounts or to purchase gift certificates.

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

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BEST RESTAURANT

BEST LOCAL STORE TO BUY MUSIC

(NORTH)

NICKY’S THAI KITCHEN

JERRY’S RECORDS

Multiple Locations

2136 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill

nickysthaikitchen.com

jerrysrecords.com

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Max’s Allegheny Tavern 537 Suismon St., North Side maxsalleghenytavern.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Scratch Food & Beverage 1720 Lowrie St., Troy Hill scratchfoodbev.com

• • • • • • • •

BEST LOCAL WRITER

BRIAN BUTKO

brianbutko.wordpress.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Ronald Gavalik pittsburghwriter.net • • • • • • • •

2nd: The Exchange Multiple Locations theexchange.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Dave’s Music Mine 1210 E. Carson St., South Side davesmusicmine.com

3rd: Gene Collier genecollier.com

BEST SUNDAY BRUNCH

GRAND CONCOURSE

100 W. Station Square Drive, Station Square grandconcourserestaurant.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Meat & Potatoes 649 Penn Ave., Downtown meatandpotatoespgh.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Spirit 241 51st St., Lawrenceville spiritpgh.com

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BEST PLACE FOR FREE ENTERTAINMENT

BLUE MOON

BEST FRENCH RESTAURANT

PARIS 66 BISTRO

5115 Butler St., Lawrenceville

6018 Centre Ave., East Liberty

• • • • • • • •

paris66bistro.com

2nd: Randyland 1501 Arch St., North Side randy.land • • • • • • • •

3rd: Market Square Downtown marketsquarepgh.com

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Poulet Bleu 3519 Butler St., Lawrenceville pouletbleupgh.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: The Twisted Frenchman 5925 Baum Blvd., East Liberty thetwistedfrenchman.com

BEST PUB-GRUB

PIPER’S PUB

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

2nd: Bigham Tavern 321 Bigham St., Mount Washington bighamtavern.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: Dad’s Pub & Grub 4320 Northern Pike, Monroeville dadspub.com

BEST LOCAL FOOD OR DRINK TREND

FRENCH FRIES ON EVERYTHING! • • • • • • • •

2nd: Booze with EVERY food!

• • • • • • • •

3rd: Rolled Ice Cream

BEST KARAOKE NIGHT

BEST PLACE TO ADOPT A PET

HUMANE ANIMAL RESCUE

BLUE MOON

humaneanimalrescue.org

2nd: Nico’s Recovery Room

5115 Butler St., Lawrenceville

Multiple Locations

• • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • •

2nd: Animal Friends

178 Pearl St., Bloomfield

562 Camp Horne Road, Ohio Twp. thinkingoutsidethecage.org

• • • • • • • •

3rd: Jekyl & Hyde 140 S. 18th St., South Side jekylandhydebar.com

• • • • • • • •

3rd: Biggies Bullies biggiesbullies.com

BEST RESTAURANT

(DOWNTOWN AND VICINITY)

GAUCHO PARRILLA ARGENTINA 1601 Penn Ave., Strip District eat-gaucho.com • • • • • • • •

2nd: Meat & Potatoes 649 Penn Ave., Downtown meatandpotatoespgh.com • • • • • • • •

3rd: DiAnoia’s Eatery 2549 Penn Ave., Strip District dianoiaseatery.com

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BEST OF PITTSBURGH:

LEGACY CHEERLEADERS GENTLEMEN’S CLUB

BY ROB ROSSI // ROBROSSI@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

C

HEERLEADERS Gentlemen’s Club is a five-time winner of City Paper’s annual Best Of readers’ poll, but as you’ll see on its homepage, calling it a “strip club doesn’t even come close to defining [it.]”

This Strip District restaurant/ gentlemen’s club has established itself as a premier spot for Pittsburghers to party. The Christmas bash, annually in the second week of December, is as much a part of the local holiday scene as Light Up Night. With up to four major parties throughout a calendar year, Cheerleaders seems to always have something big going on; if not a themed celebration, the attraction might be, say, Busta Rhymes.

“Him, T.I., Ja Rule — we’ve brought in some major recording acts,” general manager Richie Owens says. “We do things on a grand scale.”

Cheerleaders doesn’t operate like other strip clubs, which is probably why Pittsburghers don’t always think of it as one. First-time visitors are as likely to find a patron watching a UFC event or a Pirates game — or swapping stories with friends over a round of cocktails or dinner (try the North Atlantic salmon) — as they are seeing somebody solely focused on women taking off clothes. The place is as much a sports bar or a night club as it is

a strip club.

In fact, Cheerleaders is designed not to push customers toward feeling as though they must be near the stages.

“We want people to engage the entertainers. We want them to tip the entertainers,” Owens says. “But it’s a big thing for us to have people know they can sit back, have a meal, and enjoy themselves.”

Makes sense. People don’t hit up strip joints to have a bad time.

Female entertainers are an attraction. But this Strip District staple has won Best Strip Club as many times as the Penguins have the Stanley Cup. Still, shouldn’t the Cheerleaders experience be a lot about the girls, even if the wings are great, the parties are awesome, and the occasional hip-hop star is working the room?

“The girls?” Owens says, laughing.

“One of the biggest compliments I get is … we get a lot of out-of-towners, and they say, ‘You guys have the hottest girls.’ Always!”

So, yeah, it’s the girls. It’s just that there is a lot more to Cheerleaders, too.

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PHOTO BY JARED WICKERHAM

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DINING OUT

SPONSORED LISTINGS FROM CITY PAPER ’S FINE ADVERTISERS

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

LET ’S GET

S CIAL

LEGENDS EATERY

BAR LOUIE

330 N. SHORE DRIVE, NORTH SIDE (412-500-7530) AND 244 W BRIDGE ST., HOMESTEAD (412-462-6400) / BARLOUIE.COM We’re your neighborhood bar, where you can kick back and be the real you, with the help of an amazing staff, great music, handcrafted martinis and cocktails, local and regional drafts, incredible wines and a huge selection of bar bites, snacks, burgers, flatbreads and sandwiches.

Come in after work, before the game, late night at night, or any time you need a quick bite or a night out with friends.

Bar Louie. Less obligations. More libations.

)ROORZ XV WR ƓQG RXW ZKDWōV KDSSHQLQJ @PGHCITYPAPER Ř FACEBOOK.COM/PITTSBURGHCITYPAPER

BROAD STREET BISTRO

1025 BROAD ST., NORTH VERSAILLES 412-829-2911 / BROADSTBISTRO.COM Broad Street Bistro is a neighborhood restaurant offering daily specials. ALL food is prepared fresh and made to order. It is family friendly with a special kids’ menu.

COLONY CAFE

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

FULL PINT WILD SIDE TAP ROOM 5310 BUTLER ST., LAWRENCEVILLE 412-408-3083 / FULLPINTBREWING.COM Full Pint Wild Side Taproom is Full Pint Brewing company’s Lawrenceville location and features a full service bar, huge sandwiches and half-priced happy hour.

Open 4 p.m.-midnight, Mon.-Fri., and noon–midnight on Saturday.

Check us out on Facebook for upcoming shows and events.

JAMBO GRILL

SHOP LOCAL. SHOP Co-op.

We love local! Hundreds of local brands in every aisle of the store.

7516 Meade Street . Pgh, PA 15208 www.eastendfood.coop . 412.242.3598

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ONE WILD PLACE, PITTSBURGH ZOO 412-365-6016 / SSANUTRITIONPITTSBURGHZOO.COM/ CATEGORY/JAMBO-GRILL Made-to-order wraps, pizza, salads, soups, fresh juices and smoothies prepared from organic, local and gluten-free ingredients and freshly baked items.

500 EAST NORTH AVE., NORTH SIDE 412-321-8000 / LEGENDSEATERY.US Legends Eatery is a family owned, BYOB Italian restaurant located in the heart of Pittsburgh’s North Side. Get your family and friends together and make reservations today!

LEONA’S ICE CREAM

412-709-5275 LEONASPGH.COM Small batch ice cream sandwiches and pints made with local dairy and ingredients whenever possible. Available at 60 retail, restaurant and brewery locations.

MERCURIO’S ARTISAN GELATO AND NEAPOLITAN PIZZA 5523 WALNUT ST., SHADYSIDE 412-621-6220 / MERCURIOSGELATOPIZZA.COM Authentic Neapolitan pizza, artisan gelato, and an inviting atmosphere are just a small part of what helps create your experience at Mercurio’s Gelato and Pizza in Pittsburgh. It’s not your standard pizza shop; in fact, this isn’t a “pizza shop” at all.

NINE ON NINE

900 PENN AVE., DOWNTOWN 412-338-6463 / NINEONNINEPGH.COM Nine on Nine has been a popular dining venue known for serving some of the finest culinary dishes in the city since opening in 2006.

PIAZZA TALARICO

3832 PENN AVE., LAWRENCEVILLE 412-652-9426 / PIAZZATALARICO.COM Piazza Talarico and Papa Joe’s Wine Cellar is a small, family-owned restaurant and winery in Western Pennsylvania serving authentic Italian peasant food. Enjoy the fresh food on site or take out. Specializes in “Baked Maccheron”, an al forno dish of rigatoni, Grandma’s sauce, cheese, pepperoni and boiled eggs.

SAGA HIBACHI

201 SOUTH HILLS VILLAGE MALL, BETHEL PARK 412-835-8888 / SAGAHIBACHI.COM Saga in the South Hills is now under new

management. Stop in for exciting table-side preparations and the famous shrimp sauce. Or sit in the sushi-bar area for the freshest sushi experience, with both traditional preparations and contemporary variations.

SENTI RESTAURANT & WINE BAR 3473 BUTLER ST, LAWRENCEVILLE 412-586-4347 / SENTIRESTAURANT.COM Senti is a modern Italian Restaurant combining the tradition of Italian home cooking with European fine-dining.

Taste different fine wines from the selfserve wine dispenser.

SUNNY BRIDGE NATURAL FOODS 30 GALLERY DRIVE, MCMURRAY 724-942-5800 / SUNNYBRIDGENATURALFOODS.COM Our café creates made-to-order wraps, pizza, salads, soups, fresh juices and smoothies prepared from organic, local and gluten-free ingredients and freshly baked items from our glutenfree bakery.

SUPERIOR MOTORS 1211 BRADDOCK AVE., BRADDOCK 412-271-1022 / SUPERIORMOTORS15104.COM Thoughtfully prepared food, drawing inspiration from Braddock, its people, its history and its perseverance. The cuisine best represents the eclectic style which has become a trademark of Chef Kevin Sousa. Fine dining in an old Chevy dealership with an eclectic, farm-to-table menu and a community focus.

YUZU KITCHEN 409 WOOD ST., DOWNTOWN 412-288-9900 / YUZUKITCHENPGH.COM Yuzu kitchen is a contemporary East Asian kitchen pulling on Chinese, Japanese, and Korean flavors. Focusing primarily on Ramen, stir fries, sake, and Japanese Whisky.

Look for this symbol for Sustainable Pittsburgh Restaurants, committed to building vibrant communities and supporting environmentally responsible practices. Love Pittsburgh. Eat Sustainably. www.EatSustainably.org

Sponsored by

EARLY WARNINGS SPONSORED UPCOMING EVENTS FROM CITY PAPER’S FINE ADVERTISERS

WED., AUGUST 22 DISNEY’S ALADDIN 7:30 P.M. BENEDUM CENTER DOWNTOWN. $35-109. 412-456-6666 or trustarts.org.

WED., AUGUST 22 MARTY STUART & LEE ANN WOMACK 7:30 P.M. THE PALACE THEATRE GREENSBURG. $38-98. 724-836-8000 or thepalacetheatre.org

THU., AUGUST 23 FRANKIE VALLI & THE FOUR SEASONS 7:30 P.M. HEINZ HALL DOWNTOWN. $49-189. 412-392-4900 or pittsburgh symphony.org.

FRI., AUGUST 24 AGENT ORANGE SUN., AUGUST 26 DEE SNIDER

8 P.M. MR. SMALLS FUNHOUSE MILLVALE. Over-18 event. $15-17.

412-421-4447 or mrsmalls.com.

FRI., AUGUST 24 JASON ALDEAN 7:30 P.M. KEYBANK PAVILION BURGETTSTOWN. $48-108. 724-947-7400 or livenation.com. With special guests Luke Combs & Lauren Alaina.

FRI., AUGUST 24 SHAWN MULLINS 7:30 P.M. SOUTH PARK AMPHITHEATER SOUTH PARK. Free event. 412-835-5710 or alleghenycounty.us/special-events.

FRI., AUGUST 24 GETBACK! BEATLEMANIA 8 P.M. JERGEL’S RHYTHM GRILLE WARRENDALE. $25-40. 724-799-8333 or ticketfly.com.

SAT., AUGUST 25 KATZULHU FEST 6:30 P.M. MR. SMALLS FUNHOUSE MILLVALE. ALL-AGES EVENT. $12.

412-421-4447 or mrsmalls.com.

SAT., AUGUST 25 ROCK REGGAE & RELIEF FESTIVAL

JERGEL’S RHYTHM GRILLE 12 P.M. FORBES AVENUE DOWNTOWN. All-ages event. $10-150. Showclix.com.

SAT., AUGUST 25 LYNYRD SKYNYRD 6 P.M. KEYBANK PAVILION BURGETTSTOWN. $39-224.

724-947-7400 or livenation.com.

With special guests Hank Williams Jr., 38 Special & The Marshall Tucker Band.

SUN., AUGUST 26 EFRIM MANUEL MENUCK 8 P.M. CLUB CAFÉ SOUTH SIDE. Over-21 event. $15. 412-431-4950 or ticketweb.com/opusone. With special guests Cloning and Autumn Pool.

7 P.M. REX THEATER SOUTH SIDE. All-ages event. $18.50-20. 412-381-1681 or greyareaprod.com.

SUN., AUGUST 26 DEE SNIDER 7:30 P.M. JERGEL’S RHYTHM GRILLE WARRENDALE. $55.75-$79.75.

724-799-8333 or ticketfly.com.

MON., AUGUST 27 A WILHELM SCREAM 8 P.M. CATTIVO LAWRENCEVILLE. Over-21 event. $15-17. 412-687-2157 or ticketfly.com.

MON., AUGUST 27 THE MOMS

SUN., AUGUST 26 SINKANE

6:30 P.M. SMILING MOOSE SOUTH SIDE. 412-431-4668. All-ages event. $10-12.

Tickets: ticketfly.com or 1-877-4-FLY-TIX.

7:30 P.M. HARTWOOD ACRES PARK AMPHITHEATER HARTWOOD ACRES. Free event. 412-350-4636 or allegheny county.us/special-events.

TUE., AUGUST 28 GODSMACK & SHINEDOWN

SUN., AUGUST 26 STRUNG OUT

7 P.M. KEYBANK PAVILION BURGETTSTOWN. $18-99. 724-947-7400 or livenation.com. With special guest Red Sun Rising.

FOR UPCOMING ALLEGHENY COUNTY PARKS EVENTS, LOG ONTO WWW.ALLEGHENYCOUNTY.US PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER

CLASSIFIEDS FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIEDS ADVERTISEMENT, CALL 412-316-3342 EXT. 189 HELP WANTED

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starting @ $150/mo.

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EMPLOYMENT Application Analyst II The United States Steel Corporation is seeking an Application Analyst II to work in Pittsburgh, PA, to design & dvlpmnt Java/ J2EE/SOA (BPEL)/Oracle programs to implement complex enhancement & maintenance processes for areas incl Outside Processing Suite (Work Order, Valuation, Processor Payment, Inventory & ERP Integration) & Advanced Shipping Notices (ASNs), & will test & debug programming changes & prepare necessary documentation for implementation, following the Business Service Center procedures for change control.

Apply at www.ussteel. com/uss/portal/home/ careers/jobopportunities #9240BR

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OFFICIAL ADVERTISEMENT THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH

Sealed bids will be received in the Office Of The Chief Operations Officer, Room 251, Administration Building, 341 South Bellefield Avenue until 11:00 A.M. prevailing time August 14, 2018 and will be opened at the same hour for the purchase of the following equipment and supplies:

Securitas Security Services Inc., is lookŝŶŐ ƚŽ ŚŝƌĞ ǀĞŶƚ ^ƚĂī ĂŶĚŝĚĂƚĞƐ͘ dŚĞ ŝĚĞĂ ĐĂŶĚŝĚĂƚĞ ŵƵƐƚ ŚĂǀĞ Ă ŵŝůŝƚĂƌLJ͕ ůĂǁ ĞŶĨŽƌĐĞŵĞŶƚ Žƌ ƐĞĐƵƌŝƚLJ ďĂĐŬŐƌŽƵŶĚ͘ dŚŝƐ ƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ ŝƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĚŽǁŶƚŽǁŶ WŝƩƐďƵƌŐŚ ĂƌĞĂ͕ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ƉĂLJ ƌĂƚĞ ŽĨ Ψϭϯͬ,Z͘ ƐƐĞŶƟĂů ĨƵŶĐƟŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ ƌĞƐƉŽŶƐŝďŝůŝƟĞƐ͗

• ROCK SALT AND ICE MELT General Information regarding bids may be obtained at the Office of the Purchasing Agent, Service Center, 1305 Muriel Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203. The bid documents are available on the School District’s Purchasing web site at: http://www.pghboe.net/pps/site/ default.asp Click on Bid Opportunities under Quick Links.

The Board of Public Education reserves the right to reject any and all bids, or select a single item from any bid.

• /ŶƚĞƌĂĐƚƐ ǁŝƚŚ ŐƵĞƐƚƐ͕ ĂŶƐǁĞƌ ƋƵĞƐƟŽŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ĂĐƚƐ ĂƐ ĂŵďĂƐƐĂĚŽƌ ĨŽƌ ^ĞĐƵƌŝƚĂƐ ĂŶĚ ŽƵƌ ůŝĞŶƚ͘ • WĂƚƌŽůƐ ĂŶĚ ŵŽŶŝƚŽƌƐ ŝŶƚĞƌŝŽƌ ĂŶĚ exterior of facility to ensure safety of ƚĞĂŵ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ͕ ŐƵĞƐƚƐ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽƉĞƌƚLJ͘ • /ŶƐƉĞĐƚƐ ŐƵĞƐƚƐ ďĂŐƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƐĐƌĞĞŶƐ Ăůů ŐƵĞƐƚƐ ĞŶƚĞƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĨĂĐŝůŝƚLJ͕ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ĨŽĐƵƐ ŽŶ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ͘ /ŶƚĞƌĞƐƚĞĚ ĐĂŶĚŝĚĂƚĞƐ ĐĂŶ ŐŽ ŽŶůŝŶĞ ƚŽ ǁǁǁ͘ƐĞĐƵƌŝƚĂƐũŽďƐ͘ĐŽŵ ƚŽ ĂƉƉůLJ͘ KŶĐĞ LJŽƵ ĂƉƉůLJ ƉůĞĂƐĞ ĐĂůů ƚŚĞ ŽĸĐĞ Ăƚ ϰϭϮͲ ϵϮϮͲϮϯϯϭ ƐŽ ŝŶƚĞƌǀŝĞǁƐ ĐĂŶ ďĞ ƐĞƚ ƵƉ͘

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

91

CHILL OUT

BY BRENDAN EMMETT QUIGLEY // WWW.BRENDANEMMETTQUIGLEY.COM

ACROSS

1. Thing that goes through loops 5. Positive terminal 10. Comfy shoes 14. Juan’s yesterday 15. Stud horses 16. Motorcycle brand named after a Russian mountain range 17. Do followers 18. One who always takes things the wrong way 20. Cold War threat 22. “But let’s consider,” initially 23. Sweet spread 24. Nutty Thanksgiving side dish 27. Flat pancake 29. Party hack 30. Mumbai-toKolkata dir.

31. Left the harbor 32. Make the switch?

34. “Lips ___ Movin” (Meghan Trainor song) 36. Brian who said “It’s not the destination that matters. It’s the change of scene.”

37. Boxes that stick out of certain frames in the summer, and a hint to this puzzle 41. Smell from a diaper genie 42. Go kaput 43. Barbecue skewer 46. Tar’s back

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49. Gentle touch 51. It’s home to roughly 16% of the Earth’s population: Abbr.

52. “Don’t Pass Me By” singer 53. Beat author who came up with the tiles for “Howl” and “Naked Lunch” 56. Jrs. and srs.

57. Device you can use with an Apple Pencil 59. Performance with recitative 60. Almost as good as the best 64. “Smack That” rapper 65. Eye feature 66. Epically awful 67. Penny 68. Messy sandwich 69. Follows closely 70. Ship ropes

DOWN

1. Drinks all over town 2. Part that gets penciled 3. Used protection?

4. Makes a few edits 5. Throw out there 6. Soccer shutout 7. Cookies that come in lemon and birthday cake flavors 8. Pool measurement 9. ___ perpetua 10. Silent 11. Gum relief brand

12. Classic filled hors d’oeuvre 13. Covered with ooze 19. “Let me!,” melodramatically 21. Hwy. that goes

by Dumbo 25. Rice bowl option 26. Flying start 28. Scenes of unrest 31. “Where The Wild Things Are” author 33. Pied ___ (“Silicon Valley” startup) 35. Fleeced mama 38. Tough guy Chuck 39. Liable to offend 40. Opener for a guest 44. “Personally speaking,...”

45. And they’re off 46. Safe haven 47. Made an effort 48. Mortarboard dangler 50. Game show hosted by Kevin Hart 53. Biblical guy with a ladder 54. Document Cloud company 55. Number of days that a solar year differs from a lunar year 58. Colombian green 61. Dinner invitation?

62. Turning down word 63. Deg. for a calculus expert LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS

Treatment for Opiate Addiction Methadone/Suboxone

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

NO WAIT LIST Accepts all major insurances and medical assistance

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THERE ARE MANY PATHS TO RECOVERY

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409 DINWIDDIE STREET PGH., PA 15219 • WWW.RECOVERYUNITEDPITTSBURGH.COM PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 8-15, 2018

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

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

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

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

CALL NOW: 412-224-2812 We Accept:

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