BY: AMANDA WALTZ
AMANDA WALTZ
WILKINSON
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
CP PHOTO: AMANDA WALTZ
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
THE PERKS OF BEING AN IN-LAW
The best date in town might just be some Boomer parents
BY: AMANDA WALTZ // AWALTZ@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
My in-laws love to eat. Anytime they make the five-plus hour drive to Pittsburgh from Virginia for a weekend visit, my husband plans every meal with them, down to the last brunch before they head back. We make reservations at the city’s fanciest or newest spots, places we always wanted to try but had trouble justifying dropping a huge chunk of change on one feast.
Luckily, my husband’s parents are delighted to foot the bill, meaning there are no limits on what we can order.
Recently, we embarked with them on a veritable food tour at various local restaurants. The stops, ranging from popular to newer establishments, provided opportunities galore to try places and cuisine I’d otherwise forego for cost reasons.
CP PHOTO: AMANDA WALTZ Eggs Benedict at Balvanera
3473 Butler St., Lawrenceville sentirestaurant.com
It's a busy, but not hectic Friday night at this modern Lawrenceville Italian restaurant and wine bar. For years, I’ve driven past this place without stopping in. My motto for eating out has always been to avoid anything I could easily make at home — this especially applies to Italian cuisine, as I, perhaps stupidly, assume that anyone can whip up a decent red sauce (I always make my own) and pasta.
Senti showed me how very wrong I was in this belief. Every dish, from apps to entrees, was a hit. I started with the Bruschetta con Funghi, toasts topped with cold, well-seasoned mushrooms and microgreens. Then came the Insalata di Barbabietola, a burrata dish that edged on refreshing (an odd way to characterize cheese but accurate in this case) with its voluptuous, milky bulb, delicately marinated beets, and sprinkling of pistachios. Rarely have I finished starters that left my appetite whetted without taking up valuable entree space.
So focused was I on eating that I completely forgot to write down the name of the filled pasta special that came as my main dish — I wanna say it was cappelletti? Either way, it proved a savory, indulgent, truffle-infused dream. I would gladly order it again were it a regular menu item.
As for the rest of my party, my husband seemed especially fond of the Carciofi Fritti, a fried artichoke dish that looked inviting even to me, who finds the thistly delicacy overrated.
When the restaurant opened in 2015, a Pittsburgh City Paper review from the time “found the food worthy of its posh surroundings,” a sentiment with which I agree. The decor, with its spotless white walls and table cloths, plush chairs, and vaguely Mid-Century Modern touches, may seem dated (I called it “rich divorced dad contemporary”), but I welcome anything that deviates from the cold, industrial echo chamber every restaurateur is so fond of now. At least here, I’m not shifting uncomfortably on a metal stool and hearing conversations from three tables away.
Balvanera
1660 Smallman St., Strip District balvanerarestaurants.com
Saturdays are for the Strip District, and this visit included brunch at Balvanera. The Argentinian-inspired restaurant near the Heinz History Center opened in 2023, succeeding a New York City location.
This is not the frittata and fresh fruit kind of brunch to which I’m accustomed. The Arancini de Coliflor, a plate of cauliflower and rice croquettes with quince purée, made for a bright, crispy starter, followed by the Empanadas de Humita, hot, delicious, pleasantly sweet pockets of sweet corn, roasted red pepper, provolone, and aji amarillo.
Since COVID, I have relaxed a bit on my devotion to vegetarianism, meaning I try a little meat here and there if the mood strikes. In this case, I sampled one of my father-in-law’s Boquerones, fresh, unsalted, delectable white anchovies with pan con tomate.
If you’re wondering how Balvanera deals with brunch staples, I was served a solid eggs Benedict with perfectly poached eggs, cooked spinach, and creamy hollandaise, meaning that less adventurous diners will find something here to enjoy.
THE PERKS OF BEING AN IN-LAW, CONTINUES ON PG. 5
CP PHOTO: AMANDA WALTZ Insalata di Barbabietola at Senti
CP PHOTO: AMANDA WALTZ Arancini de Coliflor and Empanadas de Humita at Balvanera
The Parlor Dim Sum
4401 Butler St., Lawrenceville theparlordimsum.com
We spend Saturday night at The Parlor Dim Sum, a Lawrenceville spot serving Cantonese cuisine alongside its dumpling namesake. Opened in 2019, the venture from Chef Roger Li, the restaurateur behind Umami, Ki Ramen, and Ki Pollo, welcomes diners with an ambiance defined by warm, red neon light and speakeasy vibes.
The most laid-back portion of my culinary journey featured a menu of everything from accessible spring rolls and noodles to chicken feet. My pre vious experience sampling spicy, jellied chicken feet made me curious about what Parlor had in store; after two rich meals, however, I decided to give my stomach a break with something more familiar.
I ordered the Ma Po Tofu with wheat glutton, doubanjang, and pickled radish. The dish was a welcome comfort on the brutally cold Pittsburgh night — the steamed tofu held up well against the hot broth, and the wheat glutton was a sufficient vegetarian substitute for the minced pork that traditionally comes with ma po.
One thing that stands out about Parlor, compared to our previous stops, is the portions. I had plenty of leftovers, and the table was quick to "ooh" and "ahh" when my father-in-law's whole branzino came out, its dramatically curled body barely contained by the plate. Even with the more expensive dishes, you're getting your money's worth, and then some.
CP PHOTO: AMANDA WALTZ
The Parlor Dim Sum
After a night of digesting our plentiful Cantonese food, we returned to the Strip District for brunch at Eleven. I felt underdressed as I walked into this giant, multi-floor restaurant that screams "fancy birthday dinner for your grandma."
The inviting ambiance includes comfy, U-shaped booths, exposed brick, and largesse defined by its sheer size and decorative touches, namely the towering wall of wines looming over the foyer. It's the kind of place you could imagine holding court over a table of your peers, pouring wine, and laughing over stories you've told 100 times, followed by everyone good-naturedly arguing over who gets the check. The bar area below our second-floor table looked stylish and welcoming with its padded cafe table chairs and dark colors.
The brunch didn't wow me as much as the previous entries had. The small quiche I ordered as a starter came out lukewarm and left me wanting, and the eggs Benedict (yes, I ordered it again — sue me) were best described as fine. Looking back, I wish I had ordered the omelet.
Still, the restaurant left an impression on me, and I plan on visiting again, though it will likely be a night of cocktails and apps in the bar area. •
CP PHOTO: AMANDA WALTZ Eleven
A MOSAIC OF EXPERIENCES
Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ elders find strength in community — and soon, dedicated housing
BY: RACHEL WINDSOR //
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
The Persad Owls, an LGBTQ senior group, discuss the current political climate on Feb. 6, 2025.
LGBTQ older adults navigate life with multiple marginalized identities and unique challenges. Compared to their cisgender and heterosexual peers, LGBTQ elders are twice as likely to live alone, four times less likely to have children, and more likely to experience poverty, homelessness, and poor physical and mental health, according to SAGE, a national advocacy group for LGBTQ elders. Community resources are vital for populations at higher risk for loneliness, isolation, and other challenges.
One new resource coming to Pittsburgh’s queer elder community this year is Mosaic Apartments, an LGBTQ friendly senior living center, set to open in October. All 48 units are dedicated to income-eligible seniors.
to re-closet, where we feel accepted.’ And that’s hopefully the environment that we’ll be able to create there,” Pieffer says.
Mosaic Apartments hopes to serve as a national model for LGBTQ senior communities, with culturally competent, specially trained staff, wellness and education programming, and other services to meet community needs. Pieffer anticipates that most residents will either be a member of the LGBTQ community or an ally.
Applications for Mosaic Apartments will open six months prior to occupancy, likely in April or May. More than 120 prospective residents have already expressed interest via an inquiry form.
While Mosaic Apartments will be a novel resource for LGTBQ seniors in Pittsburgh, other established, longstanding services exist. The Persad Center, for
“OUR SENIORS HAVE BEEN THROUGH A GREAT DEAL OF THINGS … THEY’RE ABLE TO SHED LIGHT ON THE HOPE NEEDED TO GET THROUGH THIS CURRENT TIME.”
The Oakland-based senior living community is the first of its kind in Western Pennsylvania and second in the state. Jim Pieffer, President and CEO of Presbyterian SeniorCare Network, says focus groups with LGBTQ older adults were crucial during the planning phase.
“What we heard from the focus group was: ‘We want a place where we feel welcome, where we don’t feel like we have
example, serves LGBTQ people of all ages in the region, with dedicated senior programs, as well as mental health services.
“As the second-oldest LGBTQ+ mental health counseling center in the U.S., we’ve been here for the community for 53 years for anyone who needs someone to talk to,” Persad Center CEO Marty Healey tells Pittsburgh City Paper . More than 450 people receive weekly outpatient
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
The construction site of the Presbyterian Senior Care Network's LGBTQ-friendly apartments
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
The construction site of the Presbyterian Senior Care Network's LGBTQ-friendly apartments
counseling at the Persad Center, many of whom are seniors.
Every Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon, LGBTQ adults age 50 and up are invited to attend o ee and onversations held by OWLS, the senior support group at Persad.
“We try to o er a welcoming, inclusive environment for our seniors to gather, to share things that are important to them, and hear other perspectives from other seniors who are part of the community,” says Healey.
Healey, an LGBTQ older adult himself, says isolation, loneliness, and acceptance are the biggest challenges faced by the community.
“In running the agency for the past four years, [I] know that during the darkest hours of our community, our senior programming stayed vibrant and did nothing but grow,” says Healey.
Additionally, the Persad Center hosts three social support groups for the transgender community, a community food pantry, and, soon, an LGBTQspecific grief group.
Many older adults, queer or not, struggle after the death of a partner. Yet, “in a world where our community members sometimes — or a lot of times — feel isolated and alone, that griev ing becomes all the more accentuated and problematic for them,” explains Healey. In traditional grief support groups, LGBTQ adults may feel othered or misunderstood.
“Some of the nuances of being a member of the LGBTQ+ community are di erent The grieving may feel a bit di erent. And it’s okay if it does,” Healey says. “It’s healthy to find an alternative, and we want to provide that alternative.”
For some, dealing with these
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
The Persad Owls, an LGBTQ senior group, discuss the current political climate on Feb. 6, 2025.
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Persad Center CEO Martin Healy attends an Owls LGBTQ 50 and up meeting on Feb. 6, 2025.
challenges has become more trying in their later years.
“With the trans community being so thoroughly vilified by the Republican Party in this last election cycle, all trans people, no matter their age, are at risk like never before,” says Kelly McElhattan, a 68-year-old trans woman living in Shaler Township. “I can’t believe I’m alone in feeling more vulnerable and under threat,” she adds.
“I’m too old to spend the rest of my life fighting the hate this country is drowning in,” McElhattan says. McElhattan is retired, her partner recently passed away, and she faces harassment — all of which have led her to consider moving out of the U.S.
Healey acknowledged the struggles LGBTQ older adults continue to face.
“Interestingly enough we’ve had a lot of requests from some of our younger community members to talk to our senior community members,” says Healey. “The younger folks want to talk to the older folks, especially during the tough times right now, hear their experiences and understand what they’ve been through.”
He adds, “Our seniors have been through a great deal of things throughout their lives. And I think right now especially, they’re able to shed light on the hope needed to get through this current time and move forward.” •
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
Persad Center CEO Martin Healy poses for a portrait on Feb. 6, 2025.
“IF YOU JUST PULLED THE SEX SCENES OUT OF MY BOOK, THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF PLOT DEVELOPMENT MISSING.”
ROMANCING THE ’BURGH
In the pre-digital publishing era, paperback romance novels lured readers with the same kind of titillating cover art: a woman in period clothing swooning in the arms of a bare-chested hunk — perhaps a lusty pirate, brooding noble, or mighty warrior — his hair flowing, his muscles rippling. For better or worse, the genre has, in recent years, adopted cover art with less explicit illustrations of fully clothed figures with featureless faces, achieving a look that’s more cute than alluring.
BY: AMANDA WALTZ // AWALTZ@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
While this new trend plays it safe, meaning that books can be displayed openly without fear of upsetting conservative shoppers or parents of young kids, it leaves Pittsburgh romance author Lainey Davis wanting.
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Lainey Davis poses with her novels at the Millvale Community Library on Feb. 5, 2025.
“It’s a great nipple purge,” she tells Pittsburgh City Paper, relaying how there “wasn’t a single male nipple” at a bookstore she visited in New York City. She explains that large chains like Barnes & Noble have justified the choice by saying they have “issues with getting in covers that have models.”
Thankfully, Davis, who releases her books independently, can have her male nipples and publish, too.
“I love a man-chest cover, but I also am in this to earn money,” she explains, adding that the ebook version of her soccer-themed Forging series features male shirtlessness while the “paperbacks are just going to have soccer balls and flowers on them.”
Davis represents one of many local authors cashing in on romance fiction’s mainstream growth following the success of Fifty Shades of Grey and so-called “romantasy” series like A Court of Thorns and Roses. The boom has allowed her and others to make a career or, at least, a side hustle out of producing what fans affectionately call smut (the authors City Paper interviewed would rather not use that term). In many cases, their steamy stories are also set against the backdrop of Pittsburgh.
Besides being able to make money while being fulfilled creatively, Davis and others are showing that the romance genre serves a larger purpose than turning on readers — by honestly depicting the full spectrum of the human sexual experience, centering the voices of women and the LGBTQ community, and challenging the growing, conservative-leaning censorship that, as the “great nipple purge” demonstrates, has taken hold of media.
In the beginning, though, penning romance was a necessity for Davis.
“I have always worked as a writer,” says Davis, who earned an MFA in creative nonfiction from the University of Pittsburgh and previously held a communications job. “I don’t have any other marketable skills … And I came home one day [in 2017] and it was raining in my children’s bedroom … So we needed more money to replace the roof. I was whining about this and my friend said, ‘You should publish erotica and sell it on Amazon.’ And I said, ‘Oh, I can’t do that.’ And he said, ‘Why?’ And I didn’t have a good answer, so I did.”
in two decades. The latest in the author’s Empyrean series, described as being set at a “military academy for dragon riders,” sold 2.7 million copies in its first week of release.
What started as self-publishing to cover repair costs took off as Davis saw a desire for her stories, particularly the Pittsburgh-set Stag Brothers series.
“People, I think, were hungry for feel-good fiction, and I was able to leave my day job in June of 2021,” she says. Since then, she has put out around four books, each totaling approximately 220 pages, per year.
The choice, however, went against everything Davis learned in school, as genre fiction — an umbrella term under which romance, horror, and sciencefiction fall — was “largely frowned upon” by her MFA peers.
“I had one guy from the program who was doing well in genre fiction after graduating and … I felt people judging him,” she says. “I had carried those attitudes too about it.”
Her views changed after her mother died in 2015, a loss that left Davis unable to enjoy reading.
“I just couldn’t access that concentration area of my brain,” she explains. “And she was a huge romance reader, and I started reading some of her old novels. I was burning through these novels and I loved how, even though I knew everything was going to work out in the end, it was also very gripping. And I just loved that experience. I needed that at that time in my life and I continue to inhale a lot of romance.”
She agrees that the “bad rap” romance gets from academia could be attributed to sexism, as women writers dominate the genre.
Still, rejection by the serious literary community has not impeded the genre’s popularity or success. On Jan. 30, the New York Times reported that Onyx Storm, a romantasy work by Rebecca Yarros, became the fastest-selling adult novel
As the article points out, Onyx Storm highlights the ever-increasing appetite for romantasy, a subgenre that “blends spicy sex scenes and romance tropes with supernatural elements” — by NYT’s number, romantasy accounted for an estimated 30 million print sales in 2024, a rise of 50% over the previous year.
Local author Anna Zabo is a self-described writer of “contemporary and paranormal romance for all colors of the rainbow.” Zabo tells CP they “kind of fell into writing romance sideways” while attending Seton Hill Univerrsity’s Writing Popular Fiction Masters of Fine Arts program.
“I went into the program with the notion of writing fantasy and science fiction, which was what I grew up reading, and, while the program had us reading in our own genre, it also wanted everyone to have a broader understanding of popular fiction, so we read outside our specific genre, too,” they explain. Zabo decided to write a paranormal romance because they “wanted to write something different and fun.”
“And I never stopped writing romance after that,” says Zabo. “I love writing relationships and characters and having people interact with each other, and romance has a ton of that.”
Zabo says their writing focuses mainly on “found family” or “discovering your people, essentially, especially through falling in love.”
“While all of my novels focus on a developing relationship, they’re not in isolation to the friends and community around them, whether it’s in an office setting, or a rock band, or a hockey team. Or even fae or shapeshifters. Sometimes people are isolated, but they’re drawn into communities.”
Like Zabo, other local authors are doing their part to center LGBTQ voices
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
Lainey Davis
in a genre once reserved for heterosexual desire and relationships. Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick, a Pittsburgh-based married couple who occasionally co-write novels, have found success producing young LGBTQ love stories. These include Pride and Prejudice and Pittsburgh , the NYT bestseller The Lucky List , and Five Feet Apart , adapted into a 2019 film. She and Derrick also co-authored She Gets the Girl , described in a CP review as a “bouncy young adult romantic comedy” about two teenage girls attending the University of Pittsburgh.
“I LIKE TO WRITE WHAT I CALL GREEN FLAG HEROES … THE HEROES IN MY BOOK ARE HAVING EXPLICITLY CONSENSUAL INTERCOURSE.”
Zabo says authors not having to rely on traditional publishing means readers can “now find romances for just about everyone in the LGBTQIA spectrum,” including “aromantic characters that are structured similarly to romances that explore queer platonic relationships.”
“I think the shift came partially from being able to self-publish easily, that self-publishing is accepted as a legitimate avenue for success in the book industry, and from the advent of online places to share fanfiction,” they explain.
Zabo says that, while they have been published by “small presses and imprints of large publishers,” most of their books are now self-published.
Even in the relatively small Pittsburgh literary community, writers have shown that romance has grown to represent a broader, more inclusive array of identities and desires, meaning that readers can find the offbeat, wholesome, or erotic.
In terms of the latter, Davis believes focusing on sex does not have to come at the expense of character-building or plot. This especially applies to “opendoor romance,” or romance containing detailed sex scenes.
“I feel like I don’t have time to read a book that’s not going to display the full spectrum of the human experience, and I like to feel like the sex scenes are integral to the character development,” she says. “If you just pulled the sex scenes out of my book, there would be a lot of plot development missing.”
Davis believes depicting sex honestly avoids some of the pitfalls that negatively stereotype the romance genre — she never uses euphemisms such as calling a penis a “member.” She learned that this approach better serves the reader — last year, she appeared on a podcast that also featured a sexual wellness expert who revealed that, with the state of sex education in schools, a lot of teenagers are “turning to romance novels as their only source of sex education.”
“And that really stuck with me,” says Davis. She adds that, while she is “not qualified in any way to provide sex education,” she finds it important to have consent and “discussions of contraceptives” on the page. “And that’s been a fun challenge to make those conversations sexy. And I like to write what I call green flag heroes … The heroes in my book are having explicitly consensual intercourse.”
Like Davis, Zabo says their work is “very much open-door,” and that some of their books “delve into kink/BDSM.”
“I think sex can be powerful emotionally, and I like to show that,” they add. “No shade on closed-door books. There’s absolutely a place and need for them, too.”
Even so, Davis says readers still find aspects of her books to appreciate beyond the sexual content.
“I had a reader early on write to me and say the sexiest part of my book was when my heroine spoke up at a meeting and everybody listened to her,” she says. “And that really stuck with me because I try in my books for the female characters to be successful in their career aspirations and in their interpersonal relationships, as well as their romantic pursuits.”
However, as the romance industry grows, so do the pearl-clutching tactics of publishers and booksellers to impede the voices of writers in the genre.
“I think there’s a lot of censorship that targets pornography and obscene things, which, fuck that,” says Davis. She says online retailers like Amazon, for example, asks authors to click on a box indicating if there is “inappropriate" or mature content in a book. “And I never check it because who the hell are you to decide what is inappropriate? And as long as it’s phrased that way, I’ll never check it.”
Davis believes aspiring romance authors should connect with those already working in the genre. Local storytellers can do this by attending events like Talking Flirty: Romance Authors Tell All, a panel featuring Davis and fellow authors Christina Bunner, Beck Grey, Kimberly Miller, Liz Milliron, and Linda Rettstatt, taking place on Sat., Feb. 15 at the Northland Public Library.
Zabo believes there is no wrong way for developing romance authors to
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Lainey Davis poses with her novels
PHOTO: COURTESY OF ANNA ZABO Anna Zabo
Dates f days
Love is in the air and on the calendar with these Valentine’s Day events for couples, singles, and everyone in between
BY: RACHEL WILKINSON // RWILKINSON@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
They Love Me – Events for Lovers
Space Bar
22 MARKET SQ., DOWNTOWN SPACEBARPITTSBURGH.COM
If your love is written in the stars, join Space Bar, Pittsburgh’s cosmic cocktail lounge, for a Starry-Eyed Valentine in Space event. From Thu., Feb. 13 to Sat., Feb. 15, the bar serves “stellar vibes” for lovebirds and “intergalactic squads” with a prix-fixe flight of three spacecraft-themed cocktails (with an option to add a cheese platter). Space Bar promises the “stellar soirée” is perfect for pre- or post-dinner plans and “cosmic vibes.” Reserve tickets ($50) through Eventbrite.
Hazelwood Brew House
5007 LYTLE ST., HAZELWOOD INSTAGRAM.COM/HAZELWOODBREWHOUSE
Valentine’s Day used to be all about romance, a lovey-dovey holiday for the coupled-up. While there’s still plenty of that to go around, thankfully, Valentine’s in Pittsburgh has expanded beyond the traditional and heteronormative to celebrate Galentine’s, friendship, family, and singles.
Pittsburgh City Paper compiled a list of Valentine’s events for lovers, friends, gal pals, squads, those flying solo, and people who just want to dance to ’90s music. From beer dinners and discos to wellness workshops and craft classes, Pittsburgh offers plenty of ways to love or hate love — whichever you prefer. (Please note: All events are 21 and over unless otherwise stated.)
They had us at “mac and cheese course.” Hazelwood Brew House invites you to ditch the pricey steakhouse for their first-ever Valentine’s Day Beer Pairing Dinner. On Fri., Feb. 14, Abstract Realm and New France Brewing partner with Comfort and Spice to serve a “delectable” four-course meal featuring a beet and goat cheese salad, a full course of mac and cheese, Korean pork belly, and bread pudding for dessert (a vegetarian option is available upon request). Each course is paired with an eight-ounce beer from the Brew House. Tickets cost $75 per couple or $40 for a single reservation and can be booked online.
Spirit
242 51ST ST., LAWRENCEVILLE SPIRITPGH.COM
Italy is for lovers, especially at a disco. Spirit invites Pittsburghers to “imagine if Olive Garden and Studio 54 had a child” at the Valentine’s Day Spaghetti Disco On Fri., Feb. 14 at 9:30 p.m., embark on a musical journey through “the Boot” with music by DJ Hoagie Dreams and Buscrates. Free house-made pasta and meatballs will be served at midnight. Tickets cost $7 at the door before 10 p.m. and $10 after. Snag early-bird tickets online through Eventbrite.
Nemacolin
1001 LAFAYETTE DR., FARMINGTON NEMACOLIN.COM
For those who want a romantic getaway, Nemacolin hosts a Marie Antoinette-inspired high tea in its opulent Bleu Room. Bisou Bisou by Starn will take place at the Laurel Highlands resort from Fri., Feb. 14 to Sun., Feb. 16, treating guests to a “multi-course affair” presented in collaboration with world-renowned pastry artist Paris Starn. Enjoy a “parade of sweet and savory creations” complemented with a selection of teas, champagne, and specialty cocktails. Guests leave with a “parting gift” after the 90-minute afternoon tea service. Tickets ($275 per guest, plus tax and gratuity) can be reserved by calling 866-344-6957 and can be added to an overnight reservation.
PHOTO: JORDAN MILLINGTON LIQUORICE
The Bleu Room at Nemacolin for Bisou Bisou by Paris Starn
They Love Me Not / I Love Me – Events for Haters
Women’s Energy Network / The Sweet Escape Events
2817 PENN AVE., STRIP DISTRICT WOMENSENERGYNETWORK.ORG/GREATERPITTSBURGH
Self-love and friendship reign at a Wellness Galentine’s Day Soiree at The Franklin on Penn. Bring your besties on Thu., Feb. 13 from 5-8 p.m. for a “day of self-care and empowerment” including wellness activities, “pampering sessions,” and female empowerment speakers. The event includes light apps, a cash bar, and opportunities to “unwind, connect, and celebrate the power of friendship.” Tickets cost $30 and are available online.
Two Frays Brewing / Leona’s Ice Cream
5113 PENN AVE., GARFIELD TWOFRAYSBREWERY.COM
It’s Gay Galentine’s Day at Two Frays. On Thu., Feb. 13 from 7-10 p.m., the brewery celebrates by pairing Leona’s Ice Cream bonbons with beer for a “relaxing, happy mood.” Sample four pairs of bonbons and beers, including a special Leona’s collaboration beer, Hey, Honey. Two Frays promises the English pale ale will bring “dreamy notes of tea biscuits, lavender, blackcurrant jam, and, of course, honey.” Tickets cost $35 per person plus an added $7 gratuity. Reserve a spot through Two Frays’ online store.
The Industrialist Hotel
405 WOOD ST., DOWNTOWN MARRIOTT.COM/EN-US/HOTELS/PITAD-THE-INDUSTRIALIST-HOTELPITTSBURGH-AUTOGRAPH-COLLECTION
New Sun Rising
112 E. SHERMAN ST., MILLVALE INSTAGRAM.COM/NEWSUNRISINGPGH
The Industrialist Hotel invites the lovelorn to a pop-up celebrating “lost love, moving on, and everything in between.” The Broken Hearts Club takes over the hotel’s second-floor lounge from Thu., Feb 13 to Sat., Feb. 15 starting at 5 p.m. Guests will indulge in themed craft cocktails paired with small bites like “Girl Dinner” and “You’re the Wurst.” A Wall of Bad Romance lets lonely hearts create and share their own valentines (including self-love letters). Guests can also enter to win a self-care gift basket with goodies for the “perfect date night for one.”
Beat the Valentine’s Day doldrums with a family-friendly night of dumplings and blues. The Millvale Food + Energy Hub will, on Fri., Feb. 14 at 6 p.m., host a Beats ’N Bites Valentine’s Day Special Edition: Blues + Dumplingz event for singles, couples, and families. Celebrate love with blues rock by Radiation, food from Pittsburgh Dumplingz, and drinks including cocktails and mocktails from Abeille Voyante Tea Co., Lemontree, and Harold’s Haunt. Special menus with chicken shishito, dumplings, and street noodles offer options for singles and couples. Tickets cost $15 and can be purchased online, with a limited number available at the door.
Voodoo Brewery / Sweet Alchemy Bake Shop
956 FIFTH AVE., NEW KENSINGTON VOODOOATTHERITZ.COM
Voodoo Brewery and Sweet Alchemy declare “I love me” and rage against pink hearts with a ’90s-themed Anti-Valentine’s Day Party. Head to the New Ken brewery on Fri., Feb. 14 from 7-10 p.m. to dance to ’90s band High Fidelity and nosh on vegan treats from a special “Love is Messy” pop-up menu. Sweet Alchemy stays anti-Valentine’s all weekend and hosts a Galentine’s Sweet Horror brunch at Voodoo on Sun., Feb. 16 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Trace Brewing
4312 MAIN ST., BLOOMFIELD TRACEBLOOMFIELD.COM
Be queen for a day with a Galentine’s Day flower crown class at Trace Brewing. Get crafty at the brewery on Sat., Feb. 15 from 7-9 p.m. All materials will be supplied, with gals and pals welcome to grab a drink at the bar beforehand. Tickets cost $40. •
THU., FEB. 13
PARTY • HOMEWOOD
Theme Club presents Hear Me Out PowerPoint Party 5:30-8 p.m. Carnegie Library of Homewood. 7101 Hamilton Ave., Homewood. Free. instagram.com/thats_sew_kelsy
MUSIC • NORTH SIDE
SAT., FEB. 15
THEATER • DOWNTOWN
IN PITTSBURGH
MUSIC • LAWRENCEVILLE
Flackside with Gina Gory, Liquid Images, Purple Berries, and Edgar Um 8 p.m. Brillobox. 4104 Penn Ave., Bloomfield. $10. brilloboxpgh.com
FRI., FEB. 14
CONVENTION • DOWNTOWN
Pittsburgh Tattoo Expo. 1-10:30 p.m.
TUE., FEB. 18
BIG TRUCKS • UPTOWN
Monster Jam 7 p.m. Continues through Sun., Feb. 16. PPG Paints Arena. 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown. Tickets start at $18. ppgpaintsarena.com
DANCE • DOWNTOWN
Thursday Night Jazz: A Love Supreme with Yoko Suzuki. 7-8:30 p.m. Alphabet City at City of Asylum. 40 W. North Ave., North Side. Free. registration required. Livestream available. cityofasylum.org
A New Horizon Theater play promises to deliver a “haunting and emotionally charged story” that sheds light on a shameful moment in American medical history. Set in 1932, Feed the Beast dramatizes a real-life public health study that secretly infected Black men in Tuskegee, Ala. with syphilis. The show follows five unknowing participants over 40 years, until the study was discontinued. See Feed the Beast when it stages at the O’Reilly Theater. 7:30 p.m. Continues through Sun., Feb. 23. 621 Penn Ave., Downtown. $25-40. newhorizontheater.org
Continues through Sun., Feb. 16. Wyndham Grand. 600 Commonwealth Pl., Downtown. $30-60. pittsburghtattooexpo.com
PARTY • NORTH SIDE
Not feeling very romantic this Valentine’s Day? Do the usual festivities veer too heteronormative for your taste? Feel the love when QMNTY Center hosts Heart Werk Weekend. The festivities begin with arts and crafts, karaoke, a drag show, a craft fair, and more. The multi-day, LGBTQ-friendly party concludes with a brunch and art show, ensuring there’s more than enough to feed multiple appetites. 6-10 p.m. Continues through Sun., Feb. 16. 525 E. Ohio St., North Side. Free. instagram.com/qmntycenterpgh
PARTY • NORTH SIDE
21+ Night: Seductive Science 6-10 p.m. Carnegie Science Center. One Allegheny Ave., North Side. $20-25. carnegiesciencecenter.org
PARTY • LAWRENCEVILLE
Community Day with BOOM Concepts 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Contemporary Craft. 5645 Butler St., Lawrenceville. Free. All ages. contemporarycraft.org
ART • DOWNTOWN
The End That Never Was: Carnegie Mellon University 1st and 2nd Year MFA Exhibition. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Continues through April 27. SPACE Gallery. 812 Liberty Ave., Downtown. Free. trustarts.org
OUTDOORS • NORTH SHORE
Cupid’s Undie Run. 12-4 p.m. McFadden’s. 211 N. Shore Dr., North Shore. Free. Registration required for race participants. my.cupids.org
ART • REGENT SQUARE
Opening Reception: Forbes Field and Other Remembered Places 1-4 p.m. Continues through March 29. Concept Art Gallery. 1031 South Braddock Ave., Regent Square. Free. conceptgallery.com
MUSIC • MILLVALE
Phat Man Dee’s 50th Birthday Bashtravaganza. 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. The Funhouse at Mr. Smalls. 400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale. $15-40. 18 and over. mrsmalls.com
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre presents Romeo and Juliet with the PBT Orchestra 7:30 p.m. Continues through Sun., Feb. 16. Benedum Center. 237 Seventh St., Downtown. $28-135. pbt.org
THEATER • OAKLAND
Morning Reckoning. 8 p.m. Continues through Sun., Feb. 23. University of PittsburghRichard E. Rauh Studio Theatre. 4200 Fifth Ave., Oakland. $15-25. play.pitt.edu
MUSIC • DOWNTOWN
Katie Simone sings Burt Bacharach. 9 p.m. and 10:45 p.m. Con Alma. 613 Penn Ave., Downtown. Reservations available. conalmapgh.com
PARTY • MCKEES ROCKS
Shrek Rave 9 p.m. Roxian Theatre. 425 Chartiers Ave., McKees Rocks. $23-45. 18 and over. roxiantheatre.com/shows
FEB. 14
PHOTO: COURTESY OF SYNKRONIZED DISTRIBUTION
The Vortex at the Lindsay Theater and Cultural Center
PHOTO: MICHAEL HENNINGER Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre presents Romeo and Juliet at the Benedum Center
WED., FEB.
SUN., FEB. 16
WORKSHOP • GARFIELD
Roboto Crafternoon Zine Workshop 1-4 p.m.
Mr. Roboto Project. 5106 Penn Ave., Garfield. Free. Face masks required. instagram.com/mrrobotoproject
MUSIC • HILL DISTRICT
Pittsburgh Festival Opera presents Then Sings My Soul: A Celebration of African American Voices. 3 p.m. First Church of God in Christ. 2502 Centre Ave., Hill District. Free. pittsburghfestivalopera.org
OPEN MIC • MILLVALE
The Cauldron of Creativity Open Stage 7-11 p.m. Poetry Lounge. 313 North Ave., Millvale. Free. poetrymillvale.com
MUSIC • ALLENTOWN
Steel City Super Jam 8 p.m. Doors at 5 p.m. Bottlerocket Social Hall. 1226 Arlington Ave., Allentown. $20. bottlerocketpgh.com
MON., FEB. 17
TRIVIA • LAWRENCEVILLE
Audio/Visual Trivia with Brian Siewiorek
7-9 p.m. Spirit. 242 51st St., Lawrenceville. Free. spiritpgh.com
MUSIC • STRIP DISTRICT
ZO! and Tall Black Guy with Debórah Bond
7:30 p.m. Doors at 6 p.m. City Winery Pittsburgh. 1627 Smallman St., Strip District. $22-32. citywinery.com/pittsburgh
TUE., FEB. 18
FILM • SEWICKLEY
The Vortex 5:15 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. Continues through Thu., Feb. 20. The Lindsay Theater and Cultural Center. 418 Walnut St., Sewickley. $8.75-11. thelindsaytheater.org
MUSIC • MOON TOWNSHIP
Wallows with Deb Never. 7:30 p.m. UPMC Events Center. 6001 University Blvd., Moon Township. Tickets start at $38. upmceventscenter.com
WED., FEB. 19
MUSIC • MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
Explore the possibilities of sound when the Beyond: Microtonal Music Festival comes to venues throughout Pittsburgh. Presented by Music on the Edge, the event showcases jazz artists, ensembles, and other acts who use tuning systems to expand their work beyond the standard 12-note form familiar to Western classical and popular music. Performances include an immersive installation at WQED, pieces by local composers, and more at University of Pittsburgh and City of Asylum. Showtimes vary. Multiple locations. $45-60. music.pitt.edu/mote
DANCE • DOWNTOWN
Winter Dance Concert. 7:30 p.m. Continues through Sun., Feb. 23. Pittsburgh Playhouse. 350 Forbes Ave., Downtown. $23-55. playhouse.pointpark.edu
LYNN CULLEN LIVE LIVE PODCAST
PHOTO: MARIE JECEL
Beyond: Microtonal Music Festival at WQED, University of Pittsburgh, and City of Asylum
19
HELP WANTED ASST DIRECTOR-STUDENT RECRUITMENT
Pittsburgh, PA. Telecommuting permissible. Coordinate & participate in activities involved in recruitment & selection of student applicants for admission. Implement recruiting & admission plans/programs. Prep reports/analyses setting forth progress, adverse trends, & appropriate recommendations or conclusions. Apply online w/University of Pittsburgh at www.join.pitt.edu/
MARKET PLACE
STUDY SMOKERS WANTED
FINANCIAL
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LEGAL
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• Currently smoke cigarettes
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• Be right handed, willing to not smoke before two sessions, and to fill out questionnaires
Earn up to $260 for participating in this study.
For more information, call (412) 407-5029
OFFICIAL ADVERTISEMENT
THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION of the SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
NAME CHANGE
IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-24-014701
OPEN WAITING LIST FOR
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In re petition of Alexis Dawn Palleschi for change of name to Alexis Dawn Greene. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 5th day of March 2025, at 9:30 a.m., as the time and the Motions Room, City-County Building, Pittsburgh, PA, as the place for a hearing, when and where all persons may showcase, if any they have, why said name should not be changed as prayed for.
NAME CHANGE
IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-24-014703
In re petition of Nicole Renee Marrs for change of name to Nicole Renee Greene. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 5th day of March 2025, at 9:30 a.m., as the time and the Motions Room, City-County Building, Pittsburgh, PA, as the place for a hearing, when and where all persons may showcase, if any they have, why said name should not be changed as prayed for.
Sealed proposals shall be deposited at the Administration Building, Bellefield Entrance Lobby, 341 South Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15213, on February 25, 2025, until 2:00 P.M., local prevailing time for:
ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
• Water Cooler Replacement
• Plumbing and Electrical Primes
PITTSBURGH BROOKLINE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
• Air Conditioning
• Mechanical and Electrical Primes
PITTSBURGH ROOSEVELT EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER
• Finish Floor Replacement and Miscellaneous Work
• Abatement, General, and Plumbing Primes
PITTSBURGH WESTINGHOUSE ACADEMY 6-12
• Stair Tread Replacement
• General Prime
Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on Monday February 3, 2025, at Modern Reproductions (412-488-7700), 127 McKean Street, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15219 between 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. The cost of the Project Manual Documents is non-refundable. Project details and dates are described in each project manual.
LOVE LETTERS
ACROSS
1. Org. that monitors production
5. “You’re almost near the scratch”
10. Biscotti place
14. M*A*S*H man
15. Sign of good cooking?
16. Plow pullers
17. Purchase of paper
18. Going a bit crazy
19. Throw out
20. Jill Stein without scruples?
23. Talk of action?
24. Orchestra section
28. Errand runners
31. Tank gunk
34. “A ___ cannot live” (MLK Jr.)
35. Jewelry exec ___ de Ramon
36. Hit up a gastropub, say
38. Negative word?
39. Agitating in an unchanging way?
42. Carry, with e ort
43. Vast amounts
44. Wojcicki who co-founded 23andMe
45. Minor bill
46. Heads up?
47. Siouan tribespeople
48. Joe who appeared in four Scorsese movies
50. Real bad
52. Hayley Williams’ band is upset?
59. ___ Fresh (Tex-Mex restaurant)
62. Protection in space?
63. Babymetal, e.g.
64. Babymetal’s genre
65. Where the severed employees work on Severance
66. Star in Lyra
67. Parts of a tennis score
68. Lift up
69. “I’m shocked!”
DOWN
1. Weapon in Ridley
2. Court reading
3. Cheese plate cheese
4. Hunter’s covering 5. Halftime entertainer at Super Bowl LIX
6. GUM rival
7. Stand-up Ali
8. Middle East dignitary
9. Speed test?
10. Wayne of The Flaming Lips
11. Fire
12. Cost for joining
13. Tree-being of Middle-Earth
21. Legal matter
22. Muse of crosswords
25. Weather phenomenon
26. Singer Warwick
27. Twilled fabrics
28. Low quality content generated on ChatGPT, e.g.
29. Harmonious
30. Cuts some lines from a movie?
31. World book?
32. Bank o ering
33. Gingivitis irritates them
36. “___ homo”
37. Did a perfect jon on
40. Ephesus’s region
41. Like Bluey or Peppa Pig
47. Picked out rock
49. Machines that help you breathe easier at night
50. “Unh-uh”
51. Woman’s name that means “peace”
53. Series part
54. Blue, in Barcelona
55. Home of Frida
Kahlo’s “Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair”
56. Nabisco classic
57. Dome pieces?
58. Ham’s dad
59. Sam’s Club rival
60. Copy
61. Scribble in the margins
LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS
Many Americans are fortunate to have dental coverage for their entire working life, throughemployer-provided benefits. When those benefits end with retirement, paying dental bills out-of-pocket can come as a shock, leading people to put off or even go without care.
Simply put — without dental insurance, there may be an important gap in your healthcare coverage.
When you’re comparing plans ...
Look for coverage that helps pay for major services. Some plans may limit the number of procedures — or pay for preventive care only.
Look for coverage with no deductibles. Some plans may require you to pay hundreds out of pocket before benefits are paid.
Shop for coverage with no annual maximum on cash benefits. Some plans have annual maximums of $1,000.
Medicare doesn’t pay for dental care.1
That’s right. As good as Medicare is, it was never meant to cover everything. That means if you want protection, you need to purchase individual insurance.
Early detection can prevent small problems from becoming expensive ones.
The best way to prevent large dental bills is preventive care. The American Dental Association recommends checkups twice a year.
Previous dental work can wear out.
Even if you’ve had quality dental work in the past, you shouldn’t take your dental health for granted. In fact, your odds of having a dental problem only go up as you age.2
Treatment is expensive — especially the services people over 50 often need.
Consider these national average costs of treatment ... $222 for a checkup ... $190 for a filling ... $1,213 for a crown.3 Unexpected bills like this can be a real burden, especially if you’re on a fixed income.
“Absolutely
