June 1, 2022 - Pittsburgh City Paper

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JUNE 1-8 1-8, 8, 2022

PRIDE ISSUE

FIRSTSHOT

BY JARED WICKERHAM

Lucky’s Bar in the Strip District

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS SERVING PITTSBURGH SINCE NOV. 6, 1991

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

JUNE 1-8, 2022 VOLUME 31 + ISSUE 22 2

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Editor-In-Chief LISA CUNNINGHAM Director of Advertising RACHEL WINNER-EBERHARDT Director of Operations KEVIN SHEPHERD A&E Editor AMANDA WALTZ News Reporter JORDANA ROSENFELD Arts & Culture Writer DANI JANAE Photographer/Videographer JARED WICKERHAM Editorial Designer LUCY CHEN Graphic Designer JEFF SCHRECKENGOST Digital Editorial Coordinator HANNAH KINNEY-KOBRE Marketing + Sponsorships Manager ZACK DURKIN Sales Representatives OWEN GABBEY, MARIA STILLITANO

Circulation Manager JEFF ENGBARTH Featured Contributors REGE BEHE, NATALIE BENCIVENGA, MIKE CANTON, LYNN CULLEN, TERENEH IDIA, JORDAN SNOWDENN Interns LADIMIR GARCIA, DONTAE WASHINGTON National Advertising Representative VMG ADVERTISING 1.888.278.9866 OR 1.212.475.2529 Publisher EAGLE MEDIA CORP.

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COVER ILLUSTRATION: LUCY CHEN

This is the time to celebrate the Unafraid, the Unwavering, the 8Qϙ OWHUHGȄ WKH 8QVWRSSDEOH We Unequivocally and Unabashedly honor all those who believe Pride is 8QLYHUVDO :LWK ;ϙ QLW\ LWǺV Pride all year long!

Visit [ϙ QLW\ FRP /*%74 to OHDUQ PRUH

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5/23/22 PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER JUNE 1 - 8, 2022

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SERVICE

QUEERING THE LAWN

BY EMMA HONCHARSKI // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

W

.....HAT IF YOUR YARD was a space for hundreds of 0#* 2'-,1&'.1 #25##, f-5#01 #"' *# .* ,21 3%1 ," birds to unfold? What if your yard was a place where endangered native plant species could thrive, bringing Monarch 322#0f'#1 ," ##1 2- 7-30 ,#'%& -0&--"

"Queerness encompasses everything, from our identities to the work we do and the ways we support each other and the Earth.”

To Jess Runco, landscaping is a form of activism in the face of climate change, and a practice of community care. Touch of Green — their regenerative, sustainable land care company — was started in 2015 with these ideas in mind.

“We are the stewards of mother earth,” Runco says. “I think it’s our responsibility to take that seriously and to respect that. As humans, we have such an ability to cause harm but have just as much power to create a better world. At this point, it’s not just about sustaining, it’s about regenerating.”

Runco is quick to critique the turf grass that makes up so many yards across America, both for grass’ lacking environmental impact and the classist, racist history of manicured lawns, as documented in the New York Times’ “The Great American Lawn: How the Dream Was Manufactured.” They’re just as eager to 1& 0# -32 # 32'$3* #,#ʉ'!' * *2#0, 2'4#1

Where grass does nothing to contribute to biodiversity or soil health, native pollinator plants can grow with less maintenance while fostering expansive ecosystems.

Echinacea, milkweeds, Joe Pye weed, and asters, for example, all attract pollinators and create visually engaging spaces that are full of life.

They came to this work after years in the service industry; at Dinette and Jen’s Juice in Shadyside, Runco valued the principles of sustainability, from product sourcing to fair wages. From here, they laid the groundwork for their own business, with the values of being in service to others, anti-capitalist notions, and desire to work in community.

An opposition to social norms and belief ', ʉ',"',% +-0# #6. ,1'4# !0# 2'4# 5 71 -$ enjoying life is present in their approach to land care. It’s just as connected to their queerness.

CONTINUES ON PG. 6

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TOUCH OF GREEN touch ofgreenpgh.com

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Jess Runco, owner of Touch of Green

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER JUNE 1 - 8, 2022

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QUEERING THE LAWN, CONTINUED FROM PG. 5

The traditional landscaping industry is dominated by cis men, according to Runco, which they say only creates a stronger sense of unity and collaboration among queer people and women working in sustainable land care. Since they’ve established their business across the city, Runco values being able to offer well-paid gig work and provide opportunities for folks with shared values, or those who are willing to learn.

“The queer community, historically, we’re always fighting for what’s right, right?” Runco says. “We’re trying to make these shifts, we’re trying to educate people into thinking alternatively from what they’re used to thinking. We’re trying to save the world with our work, honestly.

The way we operate in our homes, the way we operate in society, and then the way we operate in work, I think it all comes together. Queerness encompasses everything, from our identities to the work we do and the ways we support each other and the Earth.”

For Runco’s clients, the elements of creativity, trust, relationship building, and the potential for collaboration stand out the most. Lauren Spagna, a Swissvale resident and client of Runco’s since 2017,

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CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Jess Runco, owner of Touch of Green

expresses her gratitude for Runco’s openness and knowledge.

“I love that they always let their customers know what they’re learning, what their strategies are,” says Spagna. “It’s extremely important to me to be able to support the food chain and ecosystems in my backyard.”

In the eyes of Jerome D’Angelo, an artist and Touch of Green client, Runco’s work displays their artistic sensibility, and the harmony they can create between natural and built environments.

“The things that you would work with in a piece of art — the idea of texture, form, composition, value, color, and variety — they’re doing that with their knowledge of plantings and using native plants,” D’Angelo says of Runco’s garden redesign at his home in Blackridge.

Runco is accredited with Phipps as a sustainable land care provider and continues to teach through the program.

“I love the opportunity to pass this knowledge on, especially to younger generations, queer kids in particular,” Runco says. “I love being my own boss, I love taking care of my crew that works with me, I love being the one that buys the pizza.” •

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER JUNE 1 - 8, 2022

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CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Hugh Lane Wellness Fondation's Hugh's Kitchen on the North Side

SERVICE

PRIDEFUL PANTRY

BY DONTAE WASHINGTON // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

H

UGH’S KITCHEN FOOD PANTRY is open for pickup and delivery for members of the local LGBTQ and HIV community in need.

The North Side’s Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation, which aims to improve the health of LGBTQ+ and HIV communities, has offered a variety of services and programs to Pittsburghers since launching in 2017.

Hugh’s Kitchen is a service that was born during the pandemic, providing free food, hygiene products, and safer sex kits to LGBTQ folks throughout the region.

“At the beginning of the pandemic, we looked around and said our community is going to need food and resources to get

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through these tough times,” says Sarah Rosso, executive director of the Hugh Wellness Foundation.

HUGH'S KITCHEN FOOD PANTRY 925 Brighton Road, North Side. hughlane.org

Hugh’s Kitchen assists about 85 LGBTQ and HIV-positive members per week, according to Rosso, but they would like to see that number continue to grow.

People in need can sign up online and pick up the items in their Brighton Road office.

“We are here to help any way we can, we try to make it feel like a charity,”

Rosso says. “What we do is work with our communities to provide the needs that they deserve.”

The organization is also currently accepting volunteers to help deliver contactless groceries to LGBTQ+ people who aren’t able to pick up their items in person because they’ve been negatively impacted

by COVID-19.

And when it comes to those products, quality is also important.

“We make sure that we provide access to healthy foods,” Rosso says. “We do our best to try to improve mental health and healthy eating.”

Hugh’s Kitchen is open year-round, especially for holidays because they know

those times can be the toughest.

“Every year, we will send out holiday bags to the people within the LGBTQ and HIV community,” Rosso says, who adds they sent out 325 rainbow bags last year.

“We have both meat and vegan options so that the whole community can be taken care of.”

Hugh’s Kitchen is open to all and they would like the youth to know that their program is not just for adults. Russo says they recently saw a “huge increase” in youth services.

“We have created a space where members of the LGBTQ and HIV community can come and be who they are,” Rosso says. •

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER JUNE 1 - 8, 2022 4/18/22

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CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Meet Me in the Middle therapists Brittany and Meggan Hudspeth in their office

HEALTH

THERAPY WITH LOVE

BY DADE LEMANSKI // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

M

EGGAN HUDSPETH had been working in the community mental health field for 15 years and was feeling frustrated by the limitations of their professional role.

Interested in holistic healing, Meggan says they wanted to find a way to connect with clients more deeply, noting that there are “lots of restrictions” in what they were able to do as a case manager.

Instead, they wanted to incorporate activities they enjoy, like yoga, into the more traditional talk-therapeutic context.

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“I enjoy learning about how we hold emotions in our body,” Meggan adds. “We stay stagnant if we’re not moving.”

Meggan, a certified yoga therapist, is half of Meet Me In the Middle Counseling, which they run with their wife, Brittany Hudspeth, out of Wilkins Township, just east of Pittsburgh. Brittany was a therapist first, and it was she who suggested that Meggan make the switch from case management.

“There aren’t a lot of LGBTQIA therapists in Pittsburgh,” Meggan says, “and I

wanted to do more for the community.”

Meggan was inspired by the work Brittany was doing. “I mean I’m biased, but my wife is the best,” Meggan adds.

“She’s a confident queer person, and it’s easy to be confident in your own skin around her because she’s so accepting.”

This includes Brittany coming out as nonbinary 10 years into their marriage.

Now, Brittany often works with trans adults who are in the midst of transition, or who have been out, while the majority of Meggan’s work is with trans teens.

“Working with a teen is great,” Meggan says, “but putting them back in the environment that is maybe not so supportive as the hour I spend with them is hard.”

Meggan tries to help teens set and keep boundaries with their parents, often doing work to help parents understand what it is to be trans or nonbinary while making sure to “always get permission from the kid” about what to tell the parents.

“With teens, it’s a nice connection” as a nonbinary therapist, Meggan adds.

“They always ask about coming out,” and Meggan says they’re happy to share about their experience growing up in a small town without much queer or trans representation, and of coming out late in life and doing self-work.

“It’s all fluid,” Meggan says. “If it doesn’t fit, or starts to feel uncomfortable or damaging, what else might fit in that space?”

But while Meggan says they try to give clients an hour of freedom and an honest, accepting connection, they are quick to note that structural support is lacking.

placements where, despite not being the only trans therapist on staff, they found “expertise projected onto me once I was visibly trans — white, straight sized, on T,” but that their projected expertise was also routinely dismissed.

“There’s this feeling of salivating, an almost sadistic desire” from cis clinicians “to get to know” about trans clients “that’s totally disconnected from what the human person in front of you needs,” they add. Izzy describes “detransition shit, overstatement of medical regret, and fear of litigation” as reasons they’ve

“It’s all fluid ... If it doesn’t fit, or starts to feel uncomfortable or damaging, what else might fit in that space?”

Many of the teens they work with live in rural Wesmoreland, Fayette, or Butler counties, a far distance from support services, especially for those seeking medical transition. And parents aren’t always on board. Plus, while Meggan says their former field in community mental health “was not always the most accepting” of queer people, they acknowledge those services were affordable and accessible to people insured by Medicare or Medicaid.

As a licensed mental health professional, Meggan notes, they are unable to accept that insurance. Trans adults, however, are more than four times more likely than the cis population to be living below the poverty line, according to a report by the Movement Advancement Project, and Black and Latino trans people are one-and-a-half times as likely to qualify for Medicaid as white trans people.

MEET ME IN THE MIDDLE COUNSELING 300 Penn Center Blvd., Wilkins Twsp. meetmeinthemiddlecounseling.com

Even for trans therapists with a professional degree, things are not always easy. Izzy, 30, who requested their last name be withheld, describes a culture of genteel transphobia and anti-Blackness inside the MSW program from which they recently graduated.

“I’m seen as unprofessional because of how I look, what my life is like,” they say.

Izzy describes the paradox of objectification they experienced in their clinical

witnessed clinicians deny and delay supporting trans clients in seeking medical transition.

But the assessments don’t stop with cis therapists.

“One of the criticisms that’s often levied against someone working in their own community is the critique of overidentification with the patient,” Izzy says.

“It’s hard to access some of the depth of feeling of sameness and difference in transness. ‘Are you my client? Are you my family?’ Even speaking some of those really important beautiful feelings could create a situation with a supervisor that’s inappropriate.”

Izzy describes a particular wariness in working with young people due to living in a culture that often characterizes queer and trans people as predators and violators. And yet, they also describe working with young people who share their identities as a profoundly moving and worthwhile experience, while emphasizing that even the best therapeutic relationship is not the same as material support.

Izzy says they initially went looking for a therapist themself to access a letter for top surgery and then found the therapeutic relationship beneficial enough to stay.

“I think, in the beginning, I was so disconnected from my body and my experience, all I knew was that I needed to get my tits off to make it through the day,” they say. “I was lucky that I was able to have a therapist who could balance, ‘You need this thing and this could be a space for other things but it doesn’t have to be.’” •

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER JUNE 1 - 8, 2022

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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

KING OF PRIDE

BY LADIMIR GARCIA // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

J

OE KING IS DETERMINED to make sure this year’s Pride events return the city to its former glory.

Following a few years of controversy after the dismantling of the Delta Foundation, which formerly hosted the largest Pride event in the city, King says the LGBTQ community and Pride “suf$#0#" %0# 2*7 ," 1-02 -$ $0 !2'-,#" -g Now, the local icon will be helping to bring Pittsburgh Pride Revolution to the local LGBTQ community as its emcee.

From hosting a ’70s style game show, to performing at Kennywood in his earlier years, to being a close friend with the one and only Billy Porter, King’s life has always revolved around Pittsburgh.

“You know, I love Pittsburgh in the fall.

2 1 -,# -$ +7 $ 4-0'2# 1# 1-,1 &# 1 71 “I’ve always called it home and I’ve always, you know, no matter where I’ve been or lived, I’ve always sort of had a special place $-0 2&# !'27 King says he’s watched the local LGBTQ community evolve over the years and holds great hope for the future of Pride within the area. For a city this size, he adds that having so many events this year, including Pride Revolution, People’s Pride, and Pride on the Shore, “shows progress, it shows promise that we can get back to where we once were with shutting "-5, 120##21 ," & 4',% !-,!#021 He says there is nothing stopping him from being Pride Revolutions’ emcee, not even a recent meniscus surgery.

“It’s a huge honor and I’m going to !-+# &#** -0 &'%& 5 2#0 ',% 1 71 5'** be there with my crutches, I will be there with my leg brace, I am going to just feel the love from our community from just #',% 0-3," *')# +',"#" ',"'4'"3 *1 And he’s been feeling that love since &# ʉ'012 ! +# -32 !) 5&#, &# 5 1 young man working at Kennywood.

King says he came out to his family after a breakup with a boyfriend.

“My family was noticing that I was not the same bubbly personality and my mom

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5 1 0# **7 5-00'#" -32 +# &# 1 71 “and both of my parents were working at the time, and they were divorced. And my mom called me from work and said, ‘Your father is bringing me home, and we would *')# 2- & 4# 2 *) 5'2& 7-3 # "#!'"#" 2- !-,ʉ'"# 2- &'1 . 0#,21 that he was gay, but King says he was sure it wasn’t a surprise.

“You know, I’m sure that they all knew #! 31# 5 1 1#5',% &# 1 71 !) 2&#, when the Dazzler was the newest thing, I was dazzling just about everything that I $#*2 *')# 2& 2 5 1 1-02 -$ +7 2&',%

PITTSBURGH PRIDE REVOLUTION Thu., June 2-Sun., June 5. Various locations. lgbtqpittsburgh.com

King’s family in the end was supportive and continued to be there for him.

“For Christmas that year, my mom brought me a music box that played, 'The sun will come out tomorrow' from Annie, it was just the sweetest thing that she had #4#0 "-,# 1 71 ',% ," 2&#7 5#0# 1- *-4',% ," 1- !!#.2',% Years later, King spreads acceptance throughout the city, including with his popular live show, The Match Gayme, which is loosely based on a ’70s game show.

He started the event on his own 14 years ago and he’s kept it going ever since. (One of his most recent shows was based on the popular show Schitt’s Creek.) He’s taken his show to multiple places besides Pittsburgh, and he says it’s continued to evolve.

“So we’ve taken it out of the gay bars, and we’ve presented it for athletes from all over the world at the Gay Games in &'- 1 71 ',% # .0#1#,2#" '2 2 !*-2&ing optional resorts in the summer, there are a couple of gay campgrounds in the 20' 12 2# 0# 2& 2 5# .0#1#,2#" It was there that King says he had &'1 ʉ'012 120# )#0 & 2 1 1-02 -$ *')#

CP PHOTOS: JARED WICKERHAM

Joe King, pictured with Richard Parsakian’s iconic LGBTQ flag

“It’s a huge honor and I’m going to come hell or high water. I will be there with my crutches, I will be there with my leg brace, I am going to just feel the love from our community from just being around like-minded individuals.”

the ultimate badge of honor, to have a 120# )#0 !0-11 7-30 1&-5 &# 1 71 2 didn’t hurt that everybody in the audience 5 1 , )#" 32 2 *# 12 12'** & " 120# ) He’s also had lots of good company.

Over the years, he’s developed a group of dedicated performers for his show, which King says he can always rely on.

“You know, I’ve got some really dedicated performers who, if I say I’ve got a %'% ', #12 '0%',' 4# %-2 %'% ', &'- you know, nine times out of 10, they will come, and if not, we’re almost always able 2- ʉ'," ,-2&#0 *-! * #,2#02 ',#0 ', 2&-1# !'2'#1 1 71 ',% And he’s often been photographed with one of the biggest LGBTQ entertainers in the country, Billy Porter, who is a childhood friend. According to King, they have always been close.

“He’s been my best man at my 5#""',% 4# ##, #12 + , 2 &'1 # 4# been childhood friends since we were 7-3,% % 7 '#1 1 71 ',% + 2&# -,# that would, since I was a little bit more independent in high school and have my own car, I was the one that would sneak &'+ -32 -$ 2&# &-31# Porter was a friend King relied on in his younger years, and someone he still remains close to today.

“You know, we would, as young kids, we would drive the city, sneak into Pegasus when that gay bar was still here in Downtown. You know, we have very similar personalities. And I always say that he is the brother that I never knew that I needed, and a sister that I always 5 ,2#" 1 71 ',% King adds that Porter usually stays with him when he’s back in town, and he accompanies Porter to award shows, including the Tony Awards, The Grammys, and even the Oscars.

“I’m sort of part of his entourage, and I 5-3*", 2 "- 2&'1 ** 2&# 2'+# 1 71 ',% get to be a part of the celebration, without having to have done the work, but still get 2- !#*# 0 2# 5'2& +7 $0'#," s

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER JUNE 1 - 8, 2022

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CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Demolition of Wholey’s Fish Market warehouse behind Lucky’s bar in the Strip District

BUSINESS

LUCKY'S STREAK

BY DADE LEMANSKI // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

T

HE NORTH SIDE of Penn Avenue, between 15th Street and the base of the 16th Street Bridge in the Strip District, is a construction zone, with a chain link fence blocking the sidewalk and yellow caution tape encircling an abandoned shopping cart at the east end of the block. Just past multiple orange traffic cones sits the identity-obscuring, small glass block facade of the Real Luck Cafe, commonly known as Lucky’s.

In the daytime, patrons smoking outside the bar stand next to cranes and bulldozers parked in the concrete rubble of the New Federal Cold Storage Building, better known to locals as the Wholey’s building. The warehouse’s

demolition is actively underway to the tune of a million dollars, granted by the state of Pennsylvania to New York City-based redevelopment company the Acram Group.

But despite the demolition, Lucky’s still stands. And along with The Brewer’s Bar up on Liberty Avenue and Donny’s just across the Herron Bridge in Polish Hill, it’s one of the few remaining venues that once constituted a large network of gay bars and after-hours clubs across the city. It bears the name of Robert “Lucky” Johns, a pivotal figure in Pittsburgh’s gay nightlife scene who bought the building for one dollar in 1991. Lucky, who died in 2014, was the subject of the exhibit “Lucky After Dark: Pittsburgh’s Gay and Lesbian

Social Clubs 1960-1990,” organized by Dr. Harrison Apple of the Pittsburgh Queer History Project.

But despite the demolition, Lucky’s still stands.

Lucky’s is currently still locally owned

by Nancy Pribich, who ran the bar with Lucky prior to purchasing it from him outright in 2004; on the bar’s Google profile, she claims that Lucky’s is “the oldest woman owned gay bar that still

has a dance floor!!,” though Apple says he believes it “may be the oldest queer bar that is woman-owned featuring nude dancers in Pittsburgh, not the greater metro area.”

The narrow brick three-story building shares a wall with the Wholey’s warehouse and this proximity is slowing the process of demolition. Instead of razing every structure, the demo crew carefully works around the bar, whose offerings are advertised on a sandwich board out front: “6-PACKS TO GO / WINE TO GO! <3 / HAPPY HOUR MONDAY-FRIDAY 5:307:30 / DANCERS UPSTAIRS THURSDAY TO SUNDAY 10PM-2AM / MUSIC AND DANCING / FREE MUNCHIES.” CONTINUES ON PG. 16

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER JUNE 1 - 8, 2022

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LUCKY'S STREAK, CONTINUED FROM PG. 14

From the 16th Street Bridge, the Wholey’s warehouse, six or seven stories high, is visible mid-collapse with its interior chambers exposed, looking more like a grand Roman ruin than familiar Rust Belt decay, juxtaposed next to the shocking red exterior of the Real Luck Cafe.

On a Saturday night, an unmarked wood veneer door swings open at the back of the bar, revealing what appears to be a broom closet as a steep set of stairs lead up to the dance floor. There’s enough space in the dark room with mirrored walls for patrons to dance, but, on this night, the only dancers are being paid, and the clothed public stays relatively still, watching. Three nude men dance atop the upstairs bar; one wears an elaborate jock strap and pup mask; another sports a leather harness and armbands that someone on the floor tenderly slides over his head and buckles into place while he continues to grind; the third dances completely bare.

Most patrons are enthusiastic and respectful, clapping loudly and tucking dollar bills into garters, or simply standing back to watch. The only exception is a visibly straight party of four who move rigidly about the room, uncomfortable

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and gawking, careful not to touch anything at all.

But touch and comfort is part of Lucky’s appeal, not only upstairs with the dancers, but also on the first floor, where the dive bar serves generous pours of whiskey for $5.50 and an older married couple banging along to classic rock hits pouring out of the jukebox buys a stranger a drink, expecting nothing but a hello in return. There’s a buffet table out with a crock pot stewing, plus cookies and slices of pizza for the taking; red plastic bowls of popcorn sit on the bar.

REAL LUCK CAFE 1519 Penn Ave., Strip District.

Search “Real Luck Cafe” on Facebook

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Lucky’s bar in the Strip District

Next door, the Acram Group plans to build “four new towers as high as 14 stories with green, plant-covered roofs” on the site of the old Wholey’s building, according to KDKA. From that high up, it’ll likely be difficult to hear the blasting mid-2000s pop music mixes pumping on the dance floor at Lucky’s, to smell the cigarette smoke, to talk to Pam, the bartender who softly calls patrons “babe” as she serves their drinks. •

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“Botox works by temporarily relaxing the tar- • Beware of counterfeit Botox. geted facial muscles, which softens the look of On treatment day, before you start, ask your prowrinkles,” says Debra Thomas, a certified aes- vider to show you the bottle of Botox first. “It’s thetic nurse provider at The Skin Center, which scary to think that there is counterfeit Botox out has six medical spas across the Pittsburgh region. there, but there is. If you see Botox advertised at The company’s newest state-of-the-art clinic just a ridiculously cheap price, double check you are getting the real thing first,” cautions Thomas. opened in Murrysville last month.

“The #1 question I get from first-time Botox • Don’t get it at a Botox party. clients is: Will my face look frozen?” says Thomas. Just because Botox has become as popular as “Think about it this way: Every bottle of Botox is tupperware doesn’t mean you should get it anythe same—it’s a regulated drug. So the critical where else than in a medically supervised, safe factor in getting natural-looking results is all and clean clinic. about the provider who is injecting the Botox,” • Do ask for emergency contact information. explains Thomas, who is also a Botox national A reputable provider will give you instructions on trainer and travels the country teaching injection what to do if you have any questions or concerns outside of business hours. techniques.

You’re in safe hands at The Skin Center. Out of You probably already have several Botox devotees in your friend circle singing its praises. over 30,000 medical spas in the country, The Skin According to Allergan Aesthetics, the makers of Center is recognized as a Top 10 Botox Provider Botox, 2.4 million Botox treatments have already in the Nation by Allergan Aesthetics. The company been administered this year. And don’t think Botox always offers complimentary Botox consultations is only for women: The Skin Center has seen a 67% and don’t miss its first-time patient special: $100 OFF your first treatment. increase in male Botox patients this past year.

B

THE SKIN CENTER Pittsburgh’s leading medical spa, recognized as a Top 10 Botox Provider.

THESKINCENTERMD.COM • 412.429.1151 @theskincentermd PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER JUNE 1 - 8, 2022

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CP ILLUSTRATION: LUCY CHEN

SERVICE

ASKING THE CARDS

BY DANI JANAE // DANIJANAE@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

O

NE OF THE THINGS I have learned as a member of the LGBTQ community is that we love alternative ways of seeing and knowing things.

Whether it’s astrology, personality type quizzes, or tarot, we are often calling on new ways of understanding ourselves. So when my editor suggested I get a reading from local queer tarot reader Aurora Dawning, I jumped at the chance.

Dawning came to tarot almost a decade ago during a crossroads in her life. After renting some books on tarot and astrology to dip her toe into the “woowoo,” she says she sat on the floor and meditated, asking the universe to send her a teacher. A few weeks later, one came, and so began her relationship with her mentor and the art of tarot.

Pittsburghers might recognize Dawning, who has a day job in tech, as the former tarot card reader at Biddle’s Escape in Regent Square. She now operates out of her home office, where

curious seekers can book Dawning to read their cards over Zoom for $50-100, depending on the length of the session.

(Her website says she also offers options for low-income folks.)

AURORA DAWNING auroradawning.com

After logging on to the video chat for my reading, I was immediately met with Dawning’s warm and energetic presence.

I’ve had my cards read before, but it was during a time when things in my life were far more dire and distressing, so I was excited to ask the cards about my new life venture: moving away from Pittsburgh in a few months. After talking with Dawning about my situation as she shuffled the cards and channeled my energy into them, we drew the first card.

The style of reading we did was the Celtic Cross, with a traditional

Rider-Waite deck. According to Dawning, the first card in this spread — the Ace of Swords reversed, in my case — represents the inner realm and what I was experiencing right then in the moment of the reading around my decision to move.

Dawning told me that often reversed cards are read as opposites or even bad omens, but this is not how she interprets the cards. The Ace of Swords is seen as the beginning or inspiration for something, a catalyst for a big change in one’s life.

“Within this context, it seems like when you first get there, there might be this inspiration and understanding that does come but I think that it’s going to have to be something that you either consciously work to allow and accept to surface or it’s going to take a minute for it to pop up,” she says.

The next card pulled, the Ten of Cups, crosses the inner life with the outer circumstances. In conjunction with the Ace of Swords, Dawning says this card

can be read as the inner questioning of circumstances coupled with the outer reality of everything coming together.

She explains that this card is often read as the “Happy Family Card,” which was a good sign for me because I am moving to be closer to family.

On her website, Dawning says her intention as a tarot reader is to “empower the seeker,” explaining that “tarot triggers emotions, which serve as a personal system of guidance: your feelings from the reading allow you to give yourself the best advice available in the moment.”

When Dawning pulls my next card, the reversed Page of Wands, she says is supposed to represent the grounding force, something that will stabilize me and give me structure as I move forward with this life change. Dawning describes it as the “toddler” card.

“The kid that’s, like, really excited and might not do it right,” she says, “but it’s going to try and doesn’t mind failing CONTINUES ON PG. 20

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER JUNE 1 - 8, 2022

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ASKING THE CARDS, CONTINUED FROM PG. 18

PHOTO: AURORA DAWNING

The spread of the cards during the reading

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because of the wonder and the engagement with that energy.”

Because the card is reversed, Dawning says there might be a struggle to grab on to that child-like energy and feel the wonder associated with it; not that feeling that emotion is unreachable, but that it might take some work.

Over the course of the reading, 11 cards were pulled. After the reversed Page of Wands, I got a few more reversed cards, and what I appreciated about Dawning’s reading is that she did not interpret these cards in a negative light. Instead, she made sure that I understood they could represent a struggle but ultimately aren’t something to fear or dread.

On her website, Dawning clarifies that she’s not a doctor or therapist and that a reading “should not be utilized in lieu of medical or therapeutic advice.”

But former clients praise her readings in her reviews, including one who wrote, “So glad to have a Tarot reader who has a queer perspective.”

Two cards that were pulled toward the end of my reading were the reversed The Sun card and the Justice card. These were pulled after I got the reversed Queen of

Cups, which represents my self-perception after moving, and was an overall positive interpretation of the card.

“The Queen is the one that is most intimately connected with their power,” says Dawning.

She adds that the reversed The Sun card represented the advice that I should take moving forward with the move, and that, overall, the card represents a childlike joy, so it was wonderful to see it pop up in my reading. The advice given by the card was to hold on to that joy when things get rocky.

The last card pulled was Justice, which meant a lot to me for personal reasons.

I left the reading feeling even more empowered in my decision to move, and it affirmed things I already knew about myself and made me hopeful for the things to come.

Dawning says that tarot is a huge part of the person she is today.

“It really helped me to unpack a lot of trauma and baggage I used to deal with, but it also helped me reclaim my power,” she says, adding that she believes that tarot has the capability to do this for anyone who engages with it. •

Follow arts & culture writer Dani Janae on Twitter @figwidow

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER JUNE 1 - 8, 2022

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PHOTO: AJ BEE

Glittersty lobby and event area on a normal business day

VENUE

MESSY BUSINESS

BY AMANDA WALTZ // AWALTZ@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

T

HE WORD “STY” usually carries negative connotations, mostly as a way for frustrated parents to describe a kid’s cluttered room. But AJ Bee leans into it as the owner of Glittersty, a new, queer-owned creative space for Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ population. Bee even sells branded T-shirts bearing the silhouette of a pig.

“I wanted a name that was a made-up word so I wouldn’t be challenged for social media handles, emails, websites, etc.,” Bee tells Pittsburgh City Paper over email. “I really wanted ‘glitter’ in the name because it’s a drag staple, and so I was trying to make a portmanteau with glitter. Pigs are my favorite animal and they live in a pigsty. Glitter gets everywhere so you have to keep it contained, so it just made sense to me that a home for drag performers would be a Glittersty! We really are pretty messy.”

Since opening in late winter, the Millvale-based space has hosted a number of events, including workshops, live music shows, art exhibitions, and fundraisers. It also sells supplies for local drag performers.

GLITTERSTY 201 Grant Ave., Millvale. glittersty.com

“We have a wide array of drag basics and other performance supplies,” says Bee, who has been performing drag for 15 years. They cite the rotating list of items available at the store, including a selection of theatrical makeup and adhesives, 301 lashes, pasties, costume jewelry, fake nails, and more.

“The reality is most drag purchasing is happening on Amazon these days and it really is impossible to compete, so I try to

source things I can sell as close to Amazon prices as possible to give a local option for those like myself trying to avoid lining Jeff Bezos’ pockets,” says Bee. “We also sell interesting clothing items, some vintage and some custom, but all suited for a more flamboyant taste, and we strive to have a size-inclusive selection.”

The shop also features Bee’s art in the form of paintings and custom-designed hats and community goods. They also take commissions for custom hats, especially derby-style and sun hats.

While much of the focus remains on drag, Glittersty has quickly established itself as a one-stop-shop resource for LGBTQ people looking for a place to enjoy and participate in the arts. Bee says they offer in-house sewing machine rentals and a green screen space. There’s also a “reference section of queer literature and resource materials so people can work on

projects or just hang out.”

As Bee tells it, opening Glittersty was a major risk for them. They spent the past 10 years in finance, working in a bank’s back office dealing with commercial clients.

“I was very successful in the job, but it was never something I wanted to do.

From the time I started, it was clear that the work didn’t align with my personal desire to help the community I was part of,” says Bee. “When the pandemic hit, the job turned very negative and exploitive and for the sake of my mental health, I had to throw in the towel and move on with my life. “ Bee withdrew their 401K and used it as the budget for starting Glittersty. The move came with some challenges, especially for someone who was “new to the process of starting a business.” Bee says they were lucky enough to connect with CONTINUES ON PG. 24

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER JUNE 1 - 8, 2022

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MESSY BUSINESS, CONTINUED FROM PG. 22

PHOTO: MATTHEW JENKINS

AJ Bee aka Jenny Sais Quoi instructing how to tease and style a wig for Think Outside of the Bag: A Wig Workshop at Glittersty

Danielle Spinola of Abeille Voyante Tea Co., who referred them to the owner of Glittersty’s building. Bee took over the space in December 2021 and spent two months remodeling and building fixtures.

Bee could tell from the beginning that people craved a space like Glittersty.

“Our grand opening was February 3, 2022, which was also the date of the ice storm we had,” they say. “Regardless, it was still a success.”

Glittersty also provides a sober spot for Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ community, for which socializing and performing has been “predominantly relegated to bars and clubs,” says Bee. “I have some complex feelings about the issue because I know that there definitely are sober spaces, but it’s very difficult to get a non-sober crowd to patronize them,” says Bee, adding that, in general, the city lacks queer spaces, and that many were lost to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Having a sober space for performers is an area that I’ve felt the city has neglected. For a community that is disproportionately impacted by substance abuse issues while simultaneously being less likely to have insurance and/or a support system, it can be incredibly damaging and that’s why I wanted to throw my hat in the ring to make that a reality.”

Bee says that while “everyone’s sobriety journey is dif ferent and everyone has a different comfort level with proximity to alcohol,” they would “implore non-sober spaces” like bars and clubs to “offer a wider array of nonalcoholic options.”

“Posting a mocktail menu alone can be a huge step to make a sober person feel comfortable in your space,” says Bee. Bee says that, in the first few months, Glittersty has hosted “a whirlwind of events,” including a wig styling class with local drag queens, a music video premiere, and Hands Off!, a burlesque fundraiser supporting the abortion resource organization WPA Fund for Choice, as well as “a full moon party in conjunction with some of our friends in Millvale.”

Bee says patrons can also partake in sober game nights and happy hours, art classes, and, of course, drag shows.

“I’m hoping to continue the trajectory in the future, and I’m hoping to bring in more local artisans and organizations to do pop-up events, as well as skilled locals to lead classes and workshops on a more regular basis,” says Bee. “I would also love to have more programming specifically designed for LGBTQIA2S+ youth and I believe there will be some exciting announcements about that coming soon!” •

Follow a&e editor Amanda Waltz on Twitter @AWaltzCP

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MUSIC

FINDING HIS RHYTHM Sidney Yaphit finds his rhythm at Swissvale People's Pride

BY JORDANA ROSENFELD JORDANA@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

S

IDNEY YAPHIT has always been a musician.

“I knew that before I knew that I was shorter than everybody else,” he tells Pittsburgh City Paper in a phone interview, “I knew that I wanted to dance and sing and that was always what lit me up.”

This weekend, he’ll light up the stage at Swissvale People’s Pride 2022 along with a roster of other talented artists, including Pittsburgh-based rapper and composer Manny Dibiachi, Pennsylvaniaraised musician and multi-disciplinary artist Corinn Jasmin, and Pittsburghbased DJ Regina Zehner.

SWISSVALE PEOPLE'S PRIDE 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sun., June 5.

1762 S Braddock Ave. and 7301 Schoyer Ave., Swissvale. Free. sisterspgh.org/2022-swissvale-pride

SisTers PGH began organizing People’s Pride in 2017 to “uplift and celebrate Black and Brown trans and queer folks who have, for too long, been ignored and traumatized by the powers-that-be, both in the Pittsburgh region and on the national stage,” executive director Ciora Thomas says in a May 17 press release.

Yaphit, 24, who is also a visual artist, grew up in Homewood with his great aunt.

These days, he says, “I’m trying to build my own platform to address the issues that are most important for queer artists and for BIPOC artists, which I fall right at the intersection of.”

“Making hip hop as an LGBT man in a straight presenting relationship can be hard, and I’ve had my fair share of being looked at funny, or even being looked at by people in my own community who think I’m not bi enough, or I’m not straight enough,” he says in a post on the SisTers Facebook page. “But I’m still here. And I’m standing on 10 toes. I hope to show others that they are their own validation, and can PHOTO: SIDNEY YAPHIT

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415 Mill St. Coraopolis, PA 15108 412-329-8503

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SIDNEY YAPHIT linktr.ee/yaphitism

“Making hip hop as an LGBT man in a straight presenting relationship can be hard.” do anything they want and be anything they want.”

One recent bright spot for him came from a plotline in Netflix’s new comedy series Heartstopper that unexpectedly gave Yaphit the bisexual representation he had always wanted.

“I’ve never seen myself play out on the screen so perfectly,” he says, describing a plot arc where a character musters the courage to Google “am I gay?” only to be overwhelmed by online hatred. The character retreats and later returns to Google to learn more about human sexuality, eventually gathering the words to accurately describe his experience. Yaphit says it took him back to a time before he knew bisexuality existed.

“It mirrored my entire experience,” Yaphit says, particularly “the small increments that you allot yourself to even be curious about yourself, I felt like were hugely important, because I had to put myself in solitude to even feel like I could even type in those words, let alone — it was the biggest thing in the world, even typing those words and pressing send, boldly.”

Yaphit is a proud new father of a baby named Rhythm. “In a lot of ways, she gave my fiancée and I our rhythm back,” he says.

Rhythm’s mom and Yaphit’s fiancée, Na’Chelle Simone, is also his musical collaborator. They met at the Homewood YMCA’s Lighthouse Project, an arts and media program for young people, and now perform together as Simone Yaphit.

They will play at the Three Rivers Arts Festival this year.

Parenthood has been challenging.

He says it’s tough “being musicians and balancing that individuality of being more than parents,” but he’s glad to have Simone as his partner. “I think we’re getting the hang of it.”

In this dangerous and tumultuous time for young queer people, he wants to offer encouragement. “You guys are doing it,” he says to young LGBTQ people in Pittsburgh. “We’re doing it.”

“I always say to my fiancée, what a time to be alive. For me to be able to love her and openly explore myself is really huge,” he says. “Maybe like, 20, 30 years ago, me explaining my relationship to somebody back then, would probably be like, ‘Oh, my goodness, this is what we live for. This is what we’re living for,’ you know, so this is it. We’re doing it. And I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of this community at this time.” •

Follow news reporter Jordana Rosenfeld on Twitter @rosenfeldjb

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SEVEN DAYS IN PITTSBURGH THU., JUNE 2 Sonic the Hedgehog is not the only one with rings. For over 20 years, magician Joshua Messado has been performing the art of linking rings for audiences all over the world, from Hollywood to Canada to Germany, and now Pittsburgh. Come see Messado perform both magic and comedy during his show Ringistry at Liberty Magic. The Pittsburgh Cultural District describes the show as an “hilarious and engaging premier performance,” so prepare to laugh and be amazed.7:30 p.m. Contunes through Sun., June 19. 811 Liberty Ave., Downtown. $40-75. trustarts.org

ART • IRL Carnegie Museum of Art brings back Inside Out, the free outdoor summer event series taking place every Thursday night and Saturday through mid-August.

The series kicks off with a sneak peek of artist Rafael Domenech’s work for the museum’s upcoming 58th Carnegie International. From there, every Thursday will serve as an “after-work destination” showcasing the city’s vibrant nightlife scene with DJs, food trucks, and drinks.

Every Saturday will delight families with live performances and art-making activities. 12-5 p.m. Continues through Aug. 13. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. Free. cmoa.org/inside-out

MORE PRIDE EVENTS ONLINE

COMICS • IRL It is time to dress up as your favorite superhero again. 3 Rivers Comicon is back with two days of family-friendly, pop culture-infused fun at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Nerd out with panels, exhibits, vendors, and more.

Nobody is leaving empty-handed, especially one lucky winner who could pocket $1,000 at this year’s cosplay contest. Don’t forget to bring your Thor Hammer or Lasso of Truth. 10 a.m.

Continues on Sun., June 5. 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Downtown. $4.99-9.99 for kids, $15.99-44.99 for adults.

3riverscomicon.com

FRI., JUNE 3 FEST • IRL

PRIDE • IRL The first time is always memorable, so be there for the first annual Pride on the Shore Festival at Stage AE. This one-

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HYBRID / MIX OF IN REAL LIFE AND ONLINE EVENT

SAT., JUNE 4

Pittsburgh Pride Revolution and AIDS Free Pittsburgh kick off Pride Month with rapper Saucy Santana during Too Hot For July. Taking place outside KLVN Coffee Lab, the street party includes a vogue dance battle, cash prizes, and free HIV and STD testing. The event is meant to honor those living with, lost to, and affected by HIV and to also educate about prevention and treatment.

Concessions will be offered by KLVN, Spirit, Goodlander, Secretos, and Deez Concessions. 5-11 p.m. 6600 Hamilton Ave., Larimer. Free. lgbtqpittsburgh.com

The Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival has moved to a new location, but its mission of showcasing amazing visual art, live music, and other works remains the same. Head to the Downtown Cultural District for 10 days of events, kicking off with performances by Grammy awardwinner Cory Henry and Pittsburgh teen pop sensation Lindsay Liebro, as well as shows at various galleries, works of public art, selections from the Afronaut(a) film series, and more. There will also be tons of unique items to see and buy at the Artist Market and kid-friendly activities in the Giant Eagle Creativity Zone. 12-9 p.m. Continues through Sun., June 12. Various locations, Downtown. Free. traf.trustarts.org

VIRTUAL / STREAMING OR ONLINE-ONLY EVENT

female-run businesses. All proceeds from the show, featuring dancers Meghan Phillips, Kaila Carter, and Julia Erickson, will go towards the Confluence Ballet Co. 7:30 p.m. 5941 Penn Ave., East Liberty. $22-35. kelly-strayhorn.org

MAGIC • IRL

PRIDE • IRL

IRL / IN REAL LIFE EVENT

SUN., JUNE 5 EVENT • IRL PHOTO: COURTESY OF DOLLAR BANK THREE RIVERS ARTS FESTIVAL

^ Cory Henry

night music festival features performances by big-name acts like Jessie J, Monique Heart, Pennywild, and more. There will also be DJs, drag queens, and a can’t-miss main event. If that was not enough entertainment for you, head to the after-party featuring some special guests.

6 p.m. 400 N. Shore Drive, North Side. $64-89. VIP and after-party 21 and over. prideontheshorepgh.com

DANCE • IRL Confluence Ballet Co. presents Versatile Voices at Kelly Strayhorn Theater. The company aims to illustrate the diversity of its woman-run company and celebrate the “expansive and imaginative power of a woman’s voice.” Besides the show, patrons can also purchase art created by the dancers and other products from local

Azure Family Concerts Pittsburgh presents The Fabulous High Flying Guaraldi Brothers at Schenley Plaza. The afternoon show will feature pianist Tom Roberts and drummer Dave Klug playing music composed by Vince Guaraldi for the Charlie Brown and Peanuts television specials. Azure, a nonprofit that works to create interactive concerts for people with autism, describes the event as a “fun, free, and sensory friendly concert” where “all behaviors are welcome.” 2-3 p.m.

4100 Forbes Ave., Oakland. Free. RSVP required. azurepittsburgh.org/events

SAT., JUNE 4

WORKING FROM HOME?

GET CITY PAPER DELIVERED TO YOUR MAILBOX 6 weeks for $32 6 months for $150 1 year for $250 VISIT WWW.PGHCITYPAPERSTORE.COM TO SUBSCRIBE

PHOTO: BRYAN CONLEY

^ Inside Out at Carnegie Museum of Art

PRIDE • IRL Neighborhood Pride events are taking place all over Pittsburgh this month, and Swissvale is no exception. Presented by the trans resource nonprofit SisTers PGH, Swissvale Pride is being touted as “the first Pride event ever held” in the community. The day begins with a parade running from Edgewood Town Center and ending at Dickson Elementary School, where attendees can experience a music festival headlined by singer, songwriter, and trans rights activist Shea Diamond. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. 1763 S. Braddock Ave. and 7301 Schoyer Ave., Swissvale. Free. sisterspgh.org/2022-swissvale-pride

COMEDY • IRL Randy of the hit Canadian series Trailer Park Boys is coming to Pittsburgh and bringing his cheeseburgers with him. Enjoy a night of laughter and food, and possibly become a part of the show when Thunderbird Cafe and Music Hall presents the Randy’s Cheeseburger Picnic Tour. Be sure to come hungry, and relive some of your favorite Trailer Park Boys moments as Randy, AKA actor Patrick Roach presents a combination of stand-up, contests, and more. 8:15 p.m.

Doors open at 7 p.m. 4053 Butler St., Lawrenceville. $25. Meet & greet passes $25. thunderbirdmusichall.com

MON., JUNE 6 EVENT • IRL You have heard the hits of the iconic glam rock band Queen, but have you heard them with lasers? The Carnegie Science Center will present Laser Queen in its newly renovated Buhl Planetarium.

Watch a light spectacle choreographed to

hits like “Under Pressure,” “Another One Bites the Dust,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and “Crazy Little Thing Called Love.”

2 p.m. One Allegheny Ave., North Side. $2-8. carnegiesciencecenter.org

TUE., JUNE 7 LIT • IRL Writers will go hard during the Steel City Grand Slam, described as bringing 13 of the city’s top poets together to “battle it out” for a chance to represent Pittsburgh in a regional tournament.

Taking place at City of Asylum’s Alphabet City venue, and presented by the Pittsburgh Poetry Collective, the event offers the chance to see all the “amazing and diverse performance poets” Pittsburgh has to offer. 7-9 p.m. 40 W. North Ave., North Side. $10. cityofasylum.org

WED., JUNE 8 ART • IRL Cinzia Campolese has made a name for herself on an international level, with exhibitions and other events throughout Canada, Europe, and Asia. Her first United States show is now on display in the Wood Street Galleries, offering interactive installations, optical illusions, and other works described as revolving around “the concepts of presence and perception of space in both digital and physical environments.” The six pieces use a variety of media, including video and lighting, as well as materials like steel and glass, to question modern reality. 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Continues through Sun., June 26. 601 Wood St., Downtown. Free. trustarts.org

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Love is

We stand with the LGBTQ+ community today, tomorrow, always