March 13, 2024 - Pittsburgh City Paper

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Going Ham

Going Ham

Fat Ham at City Theatre puts a Black, queer spin on Shakespeare's Hamlet

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2 WWW.PGHCITYPAPER.COM PGHCITYPAPER PITTSBURGHCITYPAPER 4 Smithfield Street, Suite 1210 Pittsburgh, PA 15222 GOT A NEWS TIP? E-MAIL info@pghcitypaper.com WANT TO PLACE AN AD? EMAIL rachel@pghcitypaper.com MARCH 13-20, 2024 // VOL. 33 ISSUE 11 CELEBRATING 30+ YEARS Editor-in-Chief ALI TRACHTA Director of Advertising RACHEL WINNER Director of Operations KEVIN SHEPHERD A&E Editor AMANDA WALTZ News Editor COLIN WILLIAMS Staff Writer RACHEL WILKINSON Photographer MARS JOHNSON Audience Engagement Specialist STACY ROUNDS Editorial Designer JEFF SCHRECKENGOST Graphic Designer SAM SCHAFFER Sales Representatives SIERRA CLARY, ALEISHA STARKEY, JACOB VILCEK Digital Coordinator MORGAN BIDDLE Marketing Coordinator LEE HOOD Editorial Intern JAMES PAUL Circulation Manager JEFF ENGBARTH Contributors KAHMEELA ADAMS-FRIEDSON, REGE BEHE, LYNN CULLEN, MEG ST-ESPRIT, MATT PETRAS, JORDANA ROSENFELD, JORDAN SNOWDEN National Advertising Representative VMG ADVERTISING 1.888.278.9866 OR 1.212.475.2529 Publisher CARS HOLDING, INC GENERAL POLICIES: Contents copyrighted 2024 by CARS Holding, Inc. 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 CARS Holding, Inc. LETTER POLICY: Letters, or e-mails must be signed and include town and daytime phone number for confirmation. We may edit for length and clarity. DISTRIBUTION: Pittsburgh City Paper is published weekly by CARS Holding, Inc. and is available free of charge at select distribution locations. One copy per reader; copies of past issues may be purchased for $3.00 each, payable in advance to Pittsburgh City Paper FIRST CLASS MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS: Available for $250 per year (52 issues), $150 per half year (26 issues), or $32 per six weeks. For more information, visit pghcitypaper.com and click on the Subscribe tab. PGHCITYPAPER.COM SERVING PITTSBURGH SINCE NOV. 6, 1991 IN THIS WEEK’S ISSUE: 10 16 22 Classifieds and Crossword CHECK OUT THESE STORIES ONLINE: FOOD + DRINK Get a load of Dick at Arcade Comedy Theater BY AMANDA WALTZ LITERARY ARTS Rust Belt Union Blues examines the political shift of organized labor groups BY REGE BEHE SOCIAL JUSTICE Wilkinsburg police shot Todd Robinson in 2017. Has justice finally been served in his case?
04 THEATER Fat Ham at City Theatre puts a Black, queer spin on Shakespeare’s Hamlet BY
COVER PHOTO: COURTESY OF KRISTI JAN HOOVER HEALTH
here,
mitigation is not. Four years on, how is Pittsburgh handling the pandemic?
14 FOOD Tendie Talk: I ate Pittsburgh’s best chicken tenders so you can, too BY
20 EVENTS Pittsburgh’s top events this week BY CP STAFF CP ILLUSTRATION: JEFF SCHRECKENGOST CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON COURTESY OF KRISTI JAN HOOVER PHOTO: COURTESY OF ERNEST HEMMINGS CP ILLUSTRATION: JEFF SCHRECKENGOST
COVID’s still
but
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4 WWW.PGHCITYPAPER.COM HEALTH CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Shanza Toor works at White Whale Bookstore's coffee bar.

COVID TURNS FOUR

The pandemic grinds on, yet most mitigation measures have ended. Still, some Pittsburghers continue to mask and push for health solutions for those impacted longer-term.

This week marks four years since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic on Mar. 11, 2020. Three days after the declaration, Allegheny County held a press conference to announce the first confirmed local cases. Today, the Health Department’s COVID-19 information page states that since that announcement “our lives have been dramatically altered by the global pandemic,” which has claimed the lives of more than 3,000 county residents.

Though the highest levels of mortality have abated with the advent of vaccines, antiviral treatment, and public health strategies, as the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania put it on its website, “COVID-19 isn’t going away.”

Even as WHO ended COVID-19 as a global public health emergency last May, they cautioned that the disease still posed a threat, imploring leaders to consider the long-term management of the virus amid ongoing mutations, transmission, and postCOVID conditions, or “long COVID.”

Most recently, the virus has returned to headlines as some of the last official mitigations were dropped. In the past several weeks, the White House lifted its longstanding testing requirement for those in contact with the president, and, controversially,

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PHOTO: COURTESY OF MASK UP PITTSBURGH Johnny and Lily of Mask Up Pittsburgh. PHOTO: COURTESY OF MASK UP PITTSBURGH

the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shortened their five-day COVID isolation guidance, reducing it to as little as 24 hours in some cases. In Pittsburgh, UPMC ended a masking requirement, reimplemented in December, for most of the facilities in its healthcare system.

For the fourth anniversary of the pandemic, Pittsburgh City Paper highlights people still working locally to mitigate COVID and its ongoing effects. In an increasingly ambiguous post-pandemic landscape, that work encompasses prevention, treatment, and social policy including clean air and healthcare access.

MASKING AND MITIGATING

Lily Wasserman founded Mask Up Pittsburgh, a disabled-led mask distribution and information project, in 2022. The organization of six volunteers distributes high-quality masks and, occasionally, COVID-19 tests based on availability and donations (readers can request masks and tests online). Requests are ongoing, particularly as the government-run program offering free mailed COVID tests was also discontinued on March 8.

Adapting to narrowing resources has been a theme for Wasserman throughout the pandemic, belying the health and safety concerns they, fellow Mask Up members, and friends face in public life.

“Even just going to a doctor’s appointment is now kind of, like, I have to weigh whether or not that’s something I want to risk my life to do,” they

tell City Paper . “And, unfortunately, those are choices that people are still having to make every single day.”

Though Wasserman was diagnosed with dysautonomia, a nervous system disorder, in 2021, making them “very high risk” for COVID-19, it wasn’t until nearly three years into the pandemic, amid shrinking protections, that they felt moved to start their organization. They recall now in Dec. 2021, the previous time when — at the behest of Delta Airlines CEO Ed Bastian — the CDC reduced its COVID isolation guidelines from 10 days to five for vaccinated people.

“I remember just absolutely losing my mind that day and being like, this doesn’t make sense. What are we doing?” Wasserman says. “And I was like, well, maybe I should just do something about it myself.”

Since its founding, Mask Up Pittsburgh (MUP) has partnered to distribute masks with Steel City Food Not Bombs; Repair the World, a nonprofit focused on Jewish service; and the Mr. Roboto Project, a cooperativelyrun event space and gallery that notably still requires masking at its shows.

In a pinned tweet, Roboto says of the policy, “Inclusivity and safety [are] really important to us, and this is one way that we can keep Roboto a place that is welcoming to everyone.”

Similarly, Wasserman tells “For me, I wear a mask to protect myself, but it is also a really easy way to show that I care about my

community. I know that sounds kind of cliché and sappy but … doing this work really helps me feel connected to my community in a way that I didn’t for a lot of the pandemic.” They estimate that Roboto distributes hundreds of masks per week.

Another goal of MUP is to make resources widely accessible and not cost-prohibitive, allowing everyone to take precautions.

more expensive,” Wasserman says. Frequently, the organization gives masks to individuals at or below the poverty line “who just can’t afford to protect themselves.”

MUP is also a public education campaign, aware that sentiment has largely turned away from masking though it is still an effective tool.

“I think we’ve obviously seen a lot of negative press [about masks],”

Wasserman says. They recall former CDC director Rochelle

“PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD COVID HAVE THIS VIRUS THAT STICKS AROUND, LEADS TO INFLAMMATION, LEADS TO A CERTAIN DEGREE OF AUTOIMMUNITY WHERE THE BODY SORT OF FIGHTS ITSELF.”
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COVID TURNS FOUR,

PROFESSIONAL THEATER AROUND THE WORLD!

ren’sTheater Children’sT Children’sTheater

MAY 17-19, 2024

KIDS TEENS OF ALL AGES

DOWNTOWN

7 PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER MARCH 13 - 20 , 2024
TARTS . ORG /CTF
TRUS
PITTSBURGH IN THE CULTURAL DISTRICT &

Walensky’s comments about masks being a “scarlet letter” (a reference to the Nathaniel Hawthorne novel) in Feb. 2022, the same month when most statewide mask mandates ended.

While appearing on a podcast, Walensky said, “I just know people are tired. The scarlet letter of this pandemic is the mask. It may be painless, it may be easy, but it’s inconvenient, it’s annoying, and it reminds us that we’re in the middle of a pandemic.”

Wasserman believes part of the project is a re-normalization of masking. Far from mandates, seeing health officials wearing masks again would go a long way, they believe.

“If we had influencers modeling masks, I think it would actually make a really big difference,” Wasserman says. “I know people who get highquality respirators and add paint and jewels and go all out. It’s obviously not a possibility for everybody. But I think … incorporating it as kind of an accessory [would] mak[e] it less of a big deal.”

Wasserman also asserts there’s room to do more when it comes to larger social policy regarding COVID — for example, paid sick leave.

Though the City of Pittsburgh has a Paid Sick Leave Act , the Office of Equal Protection said in January that many businesses might not be aware of it. They announced efforts toward stricter enforcement, particularly for food industry jobs. Originally passed in 2015, the city ordinance gives employees paid sick leave of up to 40 hours. It faced a state supreme court challenge in 2019, and ultimately went into effect in March 2020.

Pennsylvanians also have varied access to healthcare, and the end of the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency last May ended continuous Medicaid coverage for many.

“I’ve noticed there’s been a lot less discussion of concepts like Medicare for All in the last couple of years… between the start of the virus and now,” Wasserman says. “I think everybody [having] health insurance and getting the care they need

is absolutely essential regardless of whether or not we’re in a pandemic.”

Pittsburgh, already known for its poor air quality, would also benefit from folding clean air efforts into COVID mitigation, says Wasserman, which could also reduce spread of other respiratory viruses.

“Cleaning air in all public spaces would also be huge,” they add, noting MUP has considered air purifier distribution. (The organization’s Linktree website includes a resource on building a Corsi-Rosenthal box, a do-it-yourself air purifier.)

IN FOR THE LONG HAUL

While there’s room for expansion when it c omes to prevention and public health measures, treatment of COVID’s effects, including postCOVID conditions (aka long COVID), continue apace.

At UPMC’s Post-COVID Recovery Clinic, “it’s still a common problem,” co-director Dr. Michael Risbano tells CP. “We still get a number of patients into our clinic.”

A pulmonary hypertension doctor, Risbano speculated in May 2020 that with onset of COVID, they’d begin seeing more cases of blood clots in the lungs or patients with ongoing shortness of breath.

“I think, at the time, people thought I was crazy,” Risbano says, but asked colleagues to refer COVID survivors with these symptoms to him.

A year later, his division established a dedicated post-COVID recovery clinic, treating those with shortness of breath and possible exertional fatigue, and referring to partner clinics for neurological symptoms like brain fog — the most common complaints.

Risbano says the prognosis for long COVID is that “most people get better,” though recovery can take up to 12 months. However, repeat infections can cause patients to “feel like they’ve had a setback,” and there’s also indication that more infections increase risk for long COVID. Risbano said in a 2022 presentation that the

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“I WEAR A MASK TO PROTECT MYSELF, BUT IT IS ALSO A REALLY EASY WAY TO SHOW THAT I CARE ABOUT MY COMMUNITY.”

average long COVID patient is in their 40s, “impact[ing] the job market, people returning to work.”

UPMC’s Post-COVID Recovery Clinic is currently participating in one of the first clinical trials for long COVID treatment, the National Institutes of Health’s RECOVER Initiative. UPMC is part of a double-blind trial to study Paxlovid antiviral pills and how long COVID patients respond to a 25-day course compared to a placebo. (Currently, only a shorter course of Paxlovid is approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat COVID-19 during the initial infection.)

“There’s precedent for this if you think about people who’ve had herpes, Epstein-Barr [virus], Lyme disease,” Risbano says. “A virus and other types of infections can stay in your body and wreak havoc. And the thought is, people who have had COVID have this virus that sticks around, leads to inflammation, leads to a certain degree of autoimmunity

where the body sort of fights itself. And one way to sort of clear this up is to take Paxlovid, get the body to get rid of the remaining bits of virus, and fully get it out of the system.”

While the idea of taking Paxlovid for acute COVID infection seemed to be more widely encouraged, Risbano says, “a lot of infections nowadays, people aren’t testing. They don’t even know if they have COVID … I don’t think there’s such a push with Paxlovid just because there’s maybe not these big surges that are happening that are easily seen.”

Risbano envisions the future of COVID-19 as a combination of “common sense” prevention measures like staying home when sick, effective vaccines, and antiviral treatment.

“I think [with] COVID, [the] sort of modeling we’re going to follow [is] the flu paradigm in terms of treatment and management and prevention,” he says. •

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EXONERATING EVIDENCE

Pittsburgh City Paper first reported on police shooting Todd Robinson in 2023. Has justice finally been served in his case?

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SOCIAL JUSTICE CP ILLUSTRATION: JEFF SCHRECKENGOST

In April 2017, Wilkinsburg police officers shot Todd Robinson in a McDonald’s parking lot on Penn Ave.

After an uneventful encounter with Robinson earlier that morning, Officer Chris Duncan and Sergeant Matthew Morrison sought him out to take him into custody for a technical violation of his parole. They ended up firing their guns into Robinson’s car, seriously wounding him. Robinson attempted to drive away after he was shot, crashed a few blocks to the west, and collapsed in the bushes after trying to flee on foot. The police charged him with a litany of offenses stemming from that incident, arguing that they had been forced to shoot him after he assaulted them by trying to run them over.

Last month, after nearly seven years of pre-trial detention in the Allegheny County Jail, Robinson finally got his day in court — after a week-long trial riddled with allegations of prosecutorial misconduct, on Feb. 23 the jury returned a mix of not guilty and guilty verdicts that acquitted Robinson of the most serious charges against him, including the aggravated assault charges that the prosecution had used to justify the police shooting of Robinson.

Although Robinson feels vindicated by the verdict, he says the entire process involved many violations of his civil rights.

“It starts with me not being able to pick my own jury because I was dressed in prison attire, which is a huge violation of my constitutional rights,” Robinson tells Pittsburgh City Paper. “Perjury was committed,” he continues, referring to discrepancies in the police officers’ accounts of where they were standing in relation to Robinson’s car, which were highlighted at trial.

In the initial report written hours after the shooting, both officers indicate that they were standing on the left side of Robinson’s car. In subsequent iterations of the story,

including interviews with county investigators and testimony at Robinson’s preliminary hearing, their recollection of their positions shifted such that, at trial, both men repeatedly testified to standing directly behind Robinson’s car. However, as Robinson testified on the stand during the trial’s second day, his gunshot wound reflects that a bullet entered his left underarm and traveled to the left side of his chest, where it became lodged, which could not have occurred if the officers had shot him from behind as they claimed.

On several occasions pre-trial, Judge Randall Todd refused to allow Robinson to exercise his right to represent himself, and last month’s trial included charges that were supposed to have been dealt with separately.

After county investigators towed the car Robinson was driving to the crime lab and processed it, they found a gun in a brown paper bag under the passenger-side seat. A previous felony conviction meant Robinson was not legally permitted to possess a gun. In July 2019, the prosecution and defense agreed to sever the gun charges from the rest of the case, creating two different cases, but this was never done.

Furthermore, on the last day of the trial, Robinson says he and his legal team discovered that the prosecution was playing a version of the surveillance footage that had edited out key events, including Duncan running after Robinson’s car and shooting at it a third time.

“There’s video evidence that’s in evidence that captures a totally different thing that wasn’t shown to the jury,” he says.

A spokesperson from district attorney Steven Zappala’s office declined to comment on Robinson’s allegations of misconduct, instead writing in an email to City Paper , “Following several continuances by Robinson, based on all the evidence presented, on February 23, 2024, a jury found the defendant Guilty of 5

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EXONERATING EVIDENCE, CONTINUES ON PG. 12

charges including 3 felonies. The case is pending sentencing.” The three felonies of which Robinson was convicted were fleeing from the police and two charges related to the gun found under the seat. The jury also found him guilty of reckless endangerment of the officer who shot him and reckless driving.

had used the alleged assault to justify the police shooting Robinson, the jury finding that he did not assault the officers “raises a huge question mark of what took place and at this point what happened certainly has to be investigated,” Robinson says.

He is now pushing for an independent investigation by the Attorney

“THERE’S VIDEO EVIDENCE THAT … CAPTURES A TOTALLY DIFFERENT THING THAT WASN’T SHOWN TO THE JURY.”

CP first reported on Robinson’s case in May 2023. At that time, he said he was unable to get access to exonerating evidence. Robinson now says he was granted access to that evidence, including video surveillance footage and the initial reports filed by Wilkinsburg police, after CP’s story. A time stamp on Robinson’s paper copy of the incident report reflects that it was printed out in June 2023, a month after publication.

That evidence, Robinson says, “was necessary for the trial. It helped out a lot.” Because the prosecution

General’s office and urges members of the public concerned about his case to contact the AG and request an investigation. Robinson also wants to see the establishment of a statewide integrity unit to provide oversight over Pennsylvania district attorneys.

“This ain’t just about me,” he tells CP , saying that the civil rights abuses in his case occur “continuously across the nation,” to many other individuals.

Robinson’s attorneys and the Wilkinsburg police did not respond to requests for comment. .

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CP ILLUSTRATION: JEFF SCHRECKENGOST
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LOVE ME TENDER

We tried Pittsburgh’s best chicken tenders. This simple dish comes served with a surprising array of breading, spices, sauces, and sides.

Consider the humble chicken tender. Whether you’re a picky eater or an openminded one — and whether you call them tenders, strips, fingers, or goujons (since that’s apparently a thing) — you’ve almost certainly eaten one at some point. They’re simple, they’re good, and they’re a palate-pleaser for any omnivore. We here at Pittsburgh City Paper love and respect the tendie. When the topic came up during a recent editorial meeting, I jumped at the chance to try the city’s best options, as did City Paper photographer Mars Johnson. Armed with a notebook,

camera, and appetite, the two of us did our best to try every hyperlocal tender platter we could get our mouths on. What we found may surprise you.

not all tendies are created equal. Many of my personal favorite local dives serve tenders, but more than one simply fry up the out-of-the-bag Sysco tendies and call it a day, so none

“ANY TENDER-TASTER WORTH THEIR WEIGHT IN BREADCRUMBS KNOWS THAT NOT ALL TENDIES ARE CREATED EQUAL.”

But first — a word on methodology. Any tender-taster worth their weight in breadcrumbs knows that

of those made the cut. (I’m omitting those establishments’ names here out of respect for their better menu items

and their tender-hearted bartenders.)

I’ve also opted to skip chains in this ranking. Layne’s, Cane’s, Mad Chicken, Chicken Guy, and others probably have their tendie operations dialed in, but I wanted to see what true-blue Pittsburghers could produce in their deep fryers.

And what they came up with was by turns crispy, juicy, saucy, and succulent. Behold: the best golden-fried boneless bites in the ’Burgh. This list, incidentally, is not exhaustive, but I am exhausted — expect my next food ranking to be the city’s healthiest salads.

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FOOD
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Ruggers Pub in the Southside is serving up classic pub grub with rugby playing on TV and rugby memorabilia on the walls.

Known for their rugby focus and throwback prices, Ruggers is one of the South Side’s best bars. Their beer-battered tenders are basically the Platonic ideal of a chicken finger, with crunchy breading, just the right thickness, and nooks and crannies for your dipping sauce of choice. CP’s minor quibbles during this particular visit were that our tendies were a touch overdone, and I could’ve done with a bigger ramekin of their black and gold sauce, but if you’re craving a well-realized basic tender that isn’t straight from the freezer, Ruggers has it, and the $7.99 price tag is eminently reasonable.

THE BOUNTIFUL BASKET: PARK PLACE PUB

5719-5721 BRYANT ST., HIGHLAND PARK

Highland Park’s food scene may be known for more decadent delights from places like Teppanyaki Kyoto and Park Bruges, but the Applewood Smoke Burger Company at Park Place Pub also serves some of the city’s absolute best burgers and pub grub, including their beer-battered tendie basket with fresh-cut fries. Come hungry — this basket is an embarrassment of riches, and I couldn’t quite finish all my fries. Still, the apple-butter barbecue sauce is to die for, and everything came out crisp, hot, and delicious.

PICKLE POWER: MOONLIT BURGERS

1426 POTOMAC AVE., DORMONT • 1023 FORBES AVE., UPTOWN

Moonlit in Dormont and Uptown has a secret weapon when it comes to their tendies: pickle brine. In addition to adding a savory tang, the brining process also leaves their tenders living up to that billing. The breading here wasn’t as crispy as other spots’ tenders, but the flavor made up for that. At three pieces for $7 and five for $10, they’re reasonably priced, and come served with the restaurant’s signature Moon Sauce. We also recommend a side of shoestring fries to share.

128 S. HIGHLAND AVE., EAST LIBERTY, AND OTHER LOCATIONS

Bird on the Run has expanded in recent years, but their no-frills location in East Liberty continues to serve their signature hot chicken dishes, including their hand-breaded hot tendies. The biggest selling point here is that Bird on the Run spices their tendies to order on a scale of “not hot” to “RIP.” I ordered the No. 2 (“extra hot”) and was delighted with the slight kick and overall zestiness. My only complaint was that the sauce was pre-packaged rather than homemade. Also, I got grease all over my tablecloth, but that was very much a me problem as I ate these tendies straight out of the bag.

NASHVILLE NATURALS: CHIKN

3712 FORBES AVE. UNIT 3., OAKLAND • 20018 U.S. HWY 19., CRANBERRY

CHiKN is another place that serves Nashville chicken on a spectrum of spice, and they get extra points for their chicken being hormone- and antibiotic-free. Whether you’re indulging in spiced tenders in Oakland or Cranberry, CHiKN hews fairly close to Nashville orthodoxy, including their Southern Comeback dipping sauce. These tendies are hot and juicy — whether you get their tendies, nugs, or a sandwich, expect to lick your fingers and use multiple napkins.

SIMPLY THE BEST: E-TOWN BAR & GRILLE

304 BUTLER ST., ETNA

Like Ruggers, E-Town in Etna serves relatively unadorned tendies, but my god, are they juicy and delicious. While every tendie on this list is worthy of love, E-Town has figured out how to achieve a perfectly crunchy beer battering on the outside while maintaining the chicken’s succulent, juicy character on the inside. These are the Goldilocks “just right” of Pittsburgh chicken tenders. Though they might not have the nooks-and-crannies texture of mass-produced chicken strips, the slight sweetness of the golden-brown batter and delicious white meat makes for fantastic eating with or without dipping sauce.

E-Town’s fish sandwich is likewise fried to perfection; it won an award from Trib for it. Between the cheap drinks, kind locals, and fantastic food, this is one of the best places in Pittsburgh to snack on fried fingers while watching hockey or shooting the breeze. Plus, if you really like their tendies and want to eat 50 of them, E-Town also caters.

15 PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER MARCH 13 - 20 , 2024 THE TEXTBOOK TENDIE: RUGGERS PUB 40 S. 22ND ST., SOUTH SIDE
Mars Johnson contributed additional, delicious reporting to this story.
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Pickle-brined and hand-breaded chicken tender at Moonlit Burgers.
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PHOTO:
COURTESY OF KRISTI JAN HOOVER Fat Ham at City Theatre

GOING HAM

Fat Ham at City Theatre puts a Black, queer spin on Shakespeare's Hamlet

City Theatre presents the Pittsburgh premiere of Fat Ham , a fresh take on a classic, building something new and incisive around the premise of one of the most-quoted plays in the English language. The Pulitzer Prizewinning show turns Shakespeare’s Hamlet into a meditation on violence, masculinity, and familial obligation set in small-town North Carolina.

Written by James Ijames, Fat Ham follows Juicy (Brandon Foxworth), a young, queer Black man visited by the ghost of his recently deceased father, Pap (Khalil Kain), at a cookout celebrating the marriage of Juicy’s mother, Tedra (Maria BecoatesBey), and his uncle, Rev (also Kain). Pap accuses his brother of masterminding his death and demands that Juicy avenge him by killing his uncle. At the same time, Juicy confronts uncertainty about his future and wrestles with whether his family and community can accept his true self as a gay man.

Fat Ham initially caught director Monteze Freeland’s attention with its successful 2022 run at New York’s Public Theater. Looking closer, Freeland says, as a comedic retelling of a classic tragedy with an all-Black cast, the play turned out to have several compelling elements that contributed to his desire to bring it to Pittsburgh.

Freeland notes that, while City Theatre has a long history of producing plays that highlight Black experiences, Fat Ham pays special attention to the lives of young, queer Black people, which Freeland takes as evidence that the world of live theater is moving toward greater inclusivity.

“It means that the canon of the American Theater is progressing toward truth and is opening the door to all types of people being the lead in an American play,” he tells Pittsburgh City Paper.

admired but never worked with before, he says.

“It took a long time to cast the show,” Freeland recalls, “because it requires people who have a great sense of comedic timing, but who also can ground that comic element of this play in reality, and in truth … I really am grateful that both teams allowed me to take the time that was needed to find the people to bring these characters to life in this production.”

The City Theatre Fat Ham is a co-production with the Fayetteville, Ark.-based TheaterSquared. After the show closes in Pittsburgh, the production will travel to Arkansas for another run.

Freeland says collaborating with another theater company can make mounting a new production more affordable and offer exciting opportunities for artists and designers from both companies to work in close collaboration.

The cast is a carefully assembled mix of Freeland’s long-time collaborators, as well as actors he has GOING

“Co-productions are truly a gift

HAM, CONTINUES ON PG. 18

from the pandemic, which I know is odd to say,” Freeland says, “but it has allowed us to be creative in how we implement and produce plays that we love that we might not be able to produce on our own … We're really excited about taking Pittsburgh artists to another hub so that they can see what we already know here in Pittsburgh, which is that our artists are just phenomenal.”

Fat Ham boasts an entirely BIPOC creative team, about which Freeland is particularly excited. This includes scenic and media design by Sasha Schwartz, costume design by Alexis Chaney, lighting design by John D. Alexander, sound design by Howard Patterson, and dramaturgy by Dexter Singleton.

Freeland hopes Pittsburgh audiences will allow themselves to be touched by the heartfelt play, although some moments might bring discomfort.

“I hope that people will come to this play with an open heart,” Freeland says. “And know that there are going to be elements that are going to be difficult to sit through. But stick with it, because it ends with joy. And if we only just sort of stick with the hardest parts, sometimes we find that joy may just be right around the corner. I hope the audience walks away with that theme and that idea and takes it into their lives.”

Fat Ham

Continues through Sun., March 24. City Theatre

1300 Bingham St., South Side $40-76. citytheatrecompany.org

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PHOTO: COURTESY OF KRISTI JAN HOOVER Fat Ham at City Theatre
19 PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER MARCH 13 - 20 , 2024 pghcitypaper.com Pit ts burgh Cit y Paper is reader-suppor ted, become a member to day!

MAR.THU.,14

THU., MARCH 14

PARTY • NORTH SHORE

The 21-and-over crowd will have its collective mind freaked when the Museum of Illusions presents its first AfterDARK event. The attraction invites adult guests to experience fun, educational, reality-warping exhibits featuring holograms, stereograms, optical illusions, and immersive rooms. The evening also includes music by DJ Femi,

DA

THU., MAR.,14

LIT • OAKLAND

Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures presents Edda Fields-Black 6 p.m. Carnegie Library Lecture Hall. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. Free. Registration required. pittsburghlectures.org

THEATER • ASPINWALL

Riverfront Theater Company presents If/Then 8 p.m. Weekend shows continue

MUSIC • LAWRENCEVILLE

Otoboke Beaver with Drinking Boys and Girls Choir and Dumplings 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. Spirit. 242 51st St., Lawrenceville. $25-30. spiritpgh.com

FRI., MARCH 15

ART • GARFIELD

The Family of Man opened in 1955 at the the Museum of Modern Art, the ambitious exhibition — which compiled 503 images from 68 countries — was both applauded and criticized, mainly for what many viewed as an overly sentimental, narrow approach to art Kelli Connell and Natalie draw on the famous collection with , now on view at Silver Eye Center

. The artists use a variety of techniques to challenge the “male-dominated history of photography” through the lens of the famed MoMA show. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Continues through April 13. 4808 Penn Ave., silvereye.org

MUSIC • SHADYSIDE

Chatham Baroque presents Joy of Bach. 7:30 p.m. Continues on Sat., March 16. Calvary Episcopal Church. 315 Shady Ave., Shadyside. chathambaroque.org

DANCE • SOUTH SIDE

Corningworks presents what did you think you just heard me say?! 8 p.m. Continues through Sun., March 24. City Theatre. 1300 Bingham St., South Side. $35-40. corningworks.org

MUSIC • DOWNTOWN

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra presents Dalia Stasevska and James Ehnes. 8 p.m. Continues through Sun., March 17. Heinz Hall. 600 Penn Ave., Downtown. $25-102. pittsburghsymphony.org

SAT., MARCH 16

PARADE • DOWNTOWN

St. Patrick’s Day Parade 10 a.m. Parade route begins at Liberty Ave. and 11th St. and continues to Commonwealth Pl., Downtown. Free. visitpittsburgh.com

MUSIC • LAWRENCEVILLE

Bastard Bearded Irishfest with Bastard Bearded Irishmen, The Filthy Low Down, Platinum Moon, and Bob & Joel. 4 p.m. Thunderbird Music Hall. 4053 Butler St., Lawrenceville. $19. thunderbirdmusichall.com

PARTY • BELLEVUE

Sew PGH presents Frocktails: Blast from the Past. 6-9 p.m. Pittsburgh Pinball Dojo. Two N. Balph Ave., Bellevue. $35. instagram. com/sewpgh

THEATER • SOUTH SIDE

The Glitterbox presents The 10-Minute Play Fest. 7 p.m. Doors at 6:30 p.m. Iron City Circus Arts. 711 S. 21st St., South Side. $10-20. instagram.com/theglitterboxtheater

FILM • DOWNTOWN

Repo Man. 7:30 p.m. Continues through Thu., March 21. Harris Theater. 809 Liberty Ave., Downtown. $9-11. trustarts.org

MUSIC • EAST LIBERTY

Big wheels keep on turning at Kelly Strayhorn Theater when local musicians convene for Simply the Best: A Tina Turner Tribute Concert. Led by musical director Dwayne Fulton, the show invokes the late music legend’s “magnetic energy and earthshaking talent” with live performances by Chanell C.J. Harris, Julia Flowers, J.R. Jones, Michael Davis, Zuliakha Mason, Krystyn Kirkland, and Gary Davis. Strap in for a night dedicated to a singer whose work transcended genres and decades. 7:30-9:30 p.m. VIP reception 6-7 p.m. 5941 Penn Ave., East Liberty. $25-65. kelly-strayhorn.org

DANCE • MILLVALE

Mad Hatter Tea Party: A Belly Dance Theatre Show. 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. The Funhouse at Mr. Smalls. 400 Lincoln Ave. Millvale. $20 in advance, $25 at the door. mrsmalls.com

NEIGHBORHOOD
PHOTO: MAYUMI HIRATA Otoboke Beaver at Spirit CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON AfterDARK at Museum of Illusions

OPERA • DOWNTOWN

Pittsburgh Opera presents La Traviata. 8 p.m.

Continues through Sun., March 24. Benedum Center. Seventh St. and Penn Ave., Downtown. $7.50-169. pittsburghopera.org

PARTY • ALLENTOWN

Saint Paddy’s Punk Rock Party with Fuck Yeah, Dinosaurs!, Latecomer, and Sunny Daze & The Weathermen 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. Bottlerocket Social Hall. 1226 Arlington Ave., Allentown. $10 in advance, $15 at the door. bottlerocketpgh.com

SUN., MARCH 17

MUSIC • NORTH SHORE

KK’s Priest with L.A. Guns and Burning Witches 7:30 p.m. Doors at 6:30 p.m. Stage AE. 400 N. Shore Dr., North Shore. $35-40. promowestlive.com

MON., MARCH 18

ART • NORTH SIDE

Smorgasbord Vol. 5. 12-8 p.m. Continues through Sat., March 23. Artists Image Resource. 518 Foreland St., North Side. Free. airpgh.org

TUE., MARCH 19

MUSIC • OAKLAND

TobyMac Hits Deep Tour with Cory Asbury, Mac Powell, Tasha Layton, Jon Reddick, and Terrain. 7 p.m. Petersen Events Center. 3719 Terrace St., Oakland. $25. peterseneventscenter.com

WED., MARCH 20

ART • OAKLAND

Opening Event: ART Heals Pittsburgh 4:30 p.m. Continues through May 31. University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health. 130 De Soto St., Oakland. Free. calendar.pitt.edu

MUSIC • GARFIELD

meth. with Kicked in the Head By A Horse, Not Your Friends, and ...by the deed 7 p.m. Mr. Roboto Project. 5106 Penn Ave., Garfield. $10. therobotoproject.com

21 PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER MARCH 13 - 20 , 2024
PHOTO: COURTESY OF SILVER EYE CENTER FOR PHOTOGRAPHY o_ Man! at Silver Eye Center for Photography FRI., MAR.,15 readers are RAVING PICK YOUR PLEASURE On Sale Now For $25 at PGHCITYPAPERSTORE.COM

NAME CHANGE

Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-23-12797

In re petition of Laurel Margaret Shavers for change of name to Laurel Margaret Locke.

To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 20th day of March, 2024, 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 show cause, if any they have, why said name should not be changed as prayed for.

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-24-002004, In re petition of Artem Roots and Emily Thurston, parents and legal guardians of Vivienne Elora Ruts, for change of name to Vivienne Elora Roots.

To all persons interested:

Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 27th day of March 2024, 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 show cause, if any they have, why said name should not be changed as prayed for.

NAME CHANGE

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-24-001005

In re petition of Joella Wadel for change of name to Joella Clove.

To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 27th day of March, 2024, 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 show cause, if any they have, why said name should not be changed as prayed for.

ESTATE NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN that Letters of Administration in the Estate of James T. McElhany, Jr., late of the Township of Collier, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, who died on February 19, 2014, have been granted to Carolyn L. McElhany, Administratrix. All persons indebted to said Estate are requested to make payment and those having claims or demands are requested to present the same without delay to: David E. Schwager, Esquire 183 Market Street Suite 100 Kingston, PA 18704-5444

ESTATE NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN that Letters of Administration in the Estate of Judith L. Brown Ames, late of the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, who died on February 15, 2018, have been granted to Candice Rachelle Scott, Administratrix. All persons indebted to said Estate are requested to make payment and those having claims or demands are requested to present the same without delay to:

David E. Schwager, Esquire 183 Market Street Suite 100 Kingston, PA 187045444

22 WWW.PGHCITYPAPER.COM LEGAL Need Help with Family Law? Can’t Afford a $5000 Retainer? Low Cost Legal Services- Pay As You Go- As low as $750-$1500Get Legal Help Now! Call 1-844-821-8249 Mon-Fri 7am to 4pm PCT (AAN CAN) https://www.familycourtdirect. com/?network=1 ESTATE NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Letters of Administration in the Estate of David J. Monkelis, Sr., late of the Borough of West Mifflin, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, who died on July 25, 2015, have been granted to Diana Lynn Monkelis, Administratrix. All persons indebted to said Estate are requested to make payment and those having claims or demands are requested to present the same without delay to: David E. Schwager, Esquire 183 Market Street Suite 100 Kingston, PA 18704-5444 ESTATE NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Letters of Administration in the Estate of Raymond T. MacNeil, Jr., late of the Borough of Bridgeville, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, who died on March 31, 2003, have been granted to Kathleen A. MacNeil, Administratrix. All persons indebted to said Estate are requested to make payment and those having claims or demands are requested to present the same without delay to: David E. Schwager, Esquire 183 Market Street Suite 100 Kingston, PA 187045444 McKeesport, PA 15135. TO PLACE A CLASSIFIEDS ADVERTISEMENT, CONTACT SIERRA CLARY AT SIERRA@PGHCITYPAPER.COM OR 412-685-9009 EXT. 113 MARKET PLACE ESTATE NOTICE ESTATE OF HRINDA, ARLENE A., DECEASED OF WEST MIFFLIN, PA Arlene A. Hrinda, deceased, of West Mifflin, PA. No. 022304626 of 2023. Tricia A. Hopchak, Ext. 1097 Antler Drive, Clairton, PA 15025. Or to D. Scott Lautner, Attorney. 68 Old Clairton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236. HELP WANTED CHEMICAL MATERIALS DISTRIBUTION SPECIALIST
identify the full portfolio of products we can offer in the industry and identify the market for those products based on our ability to store and distribute the chemical materials. Job based in Pittsburgh, PA. Send Resumes to: lathiainvestments@ hotmail.com Location: 928 Chartiers Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15220.
CHANGE
of
Will
NAME
IN The Court
Common

PITHY PUZZLE

ACROSS

1.  No-___ (breadmaking approach)

6.  Parkinson’s medicine

11.  Bad spell

14.  Flip out

15.  Gemini pictures, e.g.

16.  Quest for Indy

17.  Ability to stifle a belch?

19.  Flair in the wrestling ring 20.  NBA star Brook

21.  Struggled for air 23.  Home for irises 26.  Iraq city on the Shatt al-Arab river

27.  Death personified

28.  Inherited

31.  Secret competitor

32.  Positions in the fashion industry

33.  Morning shower?

34.  “Deal with it”

35.  More fresh

36.  ___ Zuckerberg Initiative (nonprofit started by Facebook’s Mark and his wife)

37.  “Sure is,” poetically

38.  Chopped (down)

39.  “That group over there”

40.  Three-time Cy Young winner Max

42.  Negative Nancy on steroids

43.  Cover-up name

44.  Quidditch players

45.  More goofy

47.  Arrow button function

48.  Brest bud

49.  Foolishness from the brain?

54.  Karate level

55.  Not cool

56.  Mark on a tree

57.  Measurement of work

58.  Menial laborers

59.  Grind together, as teeth

DOWN

1.  Its last chairman was Vadim Bakatin

2.  Camp ___ (El Clásico stadium)

3.  Listening device

4.  American symbol

5.  Faked out

6.  Strike zones?

7.  Airhead

8.  Canoe propeller

9.  Esports star, e.g.

10.  They cover the whole world

11.  Two things important to a domestic angel?

12.  Vowel-heavy lake

13.  Randall Munroe webcomic with a nonsense name

18.  0 letters

22.  Hindu honorific

23.  Political writings

24.  Fearless

25.  Lawman Wyatt convulsing?

26.  Headquartered

28.  Hide in fear

29.  Movie advertisement

30.  Collective bargaining side

32.  Statesman Shimon

35.  Jesus, Mary,

or Joseph, e.g.

36.  Found difficult to accept

38.  Lifted, as a trapdoor

39.  Piggy’s decoration

41.  Yale student

42.  The “D” in “CODA”

44.  Puts in one’s cart

45.  Green mineral

46.  Actor ___ Benson Miller

47.  PR agent’s approach

50.  Campus letter

51.  Campus letter

52.  Mini splits, e.g.: Abbr.

53.  “I’m trying to think here!”

PERSONALS

47 yo morbidly obese man looking for females between the ages of 33-50 for companionship, fun and games. Call 412-287-9886 if interested.

NAMASTE! Find a healthy balance of the mind, body and spirit with one of our massage therapists, yoga, or spa businesses Advertise in City Paper. Call 412.685.9009

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that Lincoln Media Foundation, a foreign nonprofit corporation has applied for a Statement of registration to do business in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania under the provisions of Chapter 4 of the Association Transactions Act. The corporation is incorporated under the laws of the State of California. The address of its principal o ice under the laws of said jurisdiction is 2525 Main St., Ste. 100, Irvine, CA 92614 and subject to section 109 (relating to name of commercial registered o icer provider in lieu of registered address), the address, including street and number, if any, of its proposed registered o ice in Pennsylvania is 9 Fairview Mnr., Pittsburgh, PA 15238. The corporation’s attorney is Myron S. Steeves, Esq., with principal address of 2525 Main St., Ste. 100, Irvine, CA 92614.

SERVICES

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FINANCIAL

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Compare 20 A-rated insurances companies. Get a quote within minutes. Average savings of $444/year! Call 844712-6153! (M-F 8am-8pm Central) (AAN CAN)

SERVICES

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LEGAL NOTICE

DISTRICT COURT CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA

CASE NO.: D-23-678339-D, DEPT: R Diana Kamami, Plaintiff, vs. Ronnie Garrett, Defendant. SUMMONS NOTICE! YOU HAVE BEEN SUED. THE COURT MAY DECIDE AGAINST YOU WITHOUT YOUR BEING HEARD UNLESS YOU RESPOND IN WRITING WITHIN 21 DAYS. READ THE INFORMATION BELOW CAREFULLY.

To the Defendant named above: A civil complaint petition has been filed by the plaintiff against you for the relief as set forth in that document (see the complaint or petition). The object of this action is: Divorce. If you intend to defend this lawsuit, within 21 days after this summons is served on you (not counting the day of service), you must:

1. File with the Clerk of Court, whose address is shown below, a formal written answer to the complaint or petition.

2. Pay the required filing fee to the court, or file an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis and request a waiver of the filing fee.

3. Serve a copy of your answer upon the Plaintiff whose name and address is shown below. If you fail to respond the Plaintiff can request your default. The court can then enter a judgement against you for the relief demanded in the complaint or petition.

STEVEN

OF PITTSBURGH ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

Sealed proposals shall be deposited at the Administration Building, Bellefield Entrance Lobby, 341 South Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15213, on March 19, 2024, until 2:00 P.M., local prevailing time for:

PERRY HIGH SCHOOL

• Replace EM Generator (REBID)

• Electrical Primes

(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.

23 PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER MARCH 13 - 20 , 2024
LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS
Struggling With Your Private Student Loan Payment? New relief programs can reduce your payments. Learn your options. Good credit not necessary.
the Helpline
FINANCIAL
Call
888-670-5631 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm Eastern) (AAN CAN)
D. GRIERSON, CLERK OF COURT,
Amber-Leigh Otero, Deputy Clerk, Date 11/13/2023. Family Courts and Services Center, 601 North Pecos Road, Las Vegas, Nevada 89155, Issued on Behalf or Plaintiff: Diana Kamami, 1290 8236 W. Ocean Terrace Way, Las Vegas, NV 89128, In Proper Person. Published in Pittsburgh City Paper: Feb 14, 21, 28, March 6, 13, 2024. FINANCIAL SAVE YOUR HOME! Are you behind paying your MORTGAGE? Denied a Loan Modification? Is the bank threatening foreclosure? CALL Homeowners Relief Line NOW for Help 1-855-4395853 Mon-Fri 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Sat: 8:00 am to 1:00 pm(all times Pacific) (AAN CAN) M2M Massage by Lee Athletic shape. 24/7 • 412-628-1269 MASSAGE We are an equal rights and opportunity school district. Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on March 04, 2024, at Modern Reproductions
By:
OFFICIAL ADVERTISEMENT THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION of the SCHOOL DISTRICT

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