BY: JESSIE SAGE
JESSIE SAGE
COLIN WILLIAMS
QUEERINGDORMONT
BY: JESSIE SAGE // INFO
Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower has been consistently targeted by parents and school boards for its emotionally honest depiction of teen life, mental health, addiction, and LGBTQ themes. Recently, it has been added to several banned books lists.
For young queer folks in Pittsburgh – where the book is set – this must
feel like a particularly harsh blow. Accurate queer representation is hard to come by, and particularly so when it is as specific and close as the local theater where characters in the book (not to mention its author and many other people who grew up in Pittsburgh) found joy in queer community as they gathered there for the Rocky Horror Picture Show. While Dormont’s historic
Hollywood Theater was recently bought by Row House Cinema, its central role in the iconic novel points to the presence of queer culture in Dormont. Fortunately, many of the new establishments that are popping up in Dormont’s business district are embracing and expanding upon some of this legacy.
If you’ve driven through Dormont recently, you may have noticed a
tangible marker of this on W Liberty Ave.: a rainbow mural painted on the side of the building that houses the new medical spa, Inclusive Aesthetics. Inclusive Aesthetics is true to its name, providing makeup, skincare, and beauty services to all folks, but especially to queer and gender-nonconforming ones. Indeed, they go out of their way to ensure that those who’ve been traditionally
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T.M. Rodwell poses for a portrait at Inclusive Aesthetics medical spa.
“DORMONT REALLY SEEMS LIKE IT’S ABOUT TO HAVE A MOMENT.”
excluded from the beauty industry feel welcome.
Shana Lohr, make-up artist, esthetician, and owner of Inclusive Aesthetics, says that when she opened the spa, her main interest was in creating a space where queer folks could learn and access the services that wo ld a e the eel a fi ed in their identities. “I’ve always had a desire to have something of my own, so I was motivated,” she tells Pittsburgh City Paper . “But what really pushed me to open Inclusive Aesthetics was the lack of access and the fact that, historically, the beauty industry hasn’t been inclusive; it hasn’t accepted everyone.”
Inclusive Aesthetic’s patient coordinator Brogan McGowan, who has worked closely with Lohr to build Inclusive Aesthetics into what it is, says, “We don’t really do anything di e ent than an othe licensed o ce tified ed spa he e a e tons o people doing what we do.”
It’s not the services they provide that a e the di e ent it s who they prioritize and how they talk a o t it he e a en t a lot o people saying, ‘Hey, this is a place for transende people his is a place o se wo e s his is a place o all od types,’” they comment. “I think what makes our team magical is that we
understand how important it is to be seen and validated.”
For McGowan and Lohr, this is about doing more than just walking the walk; they also have to talk the talk. “How do you turn steaming and extraction into something gay?” McGown asks. “Well, you say it’s gay. It’s not gay until you say that it is!”
he powe o thei a etin including the rainbow that decorates their building, is that it directly signals who the business is for. “We elie e in the a enc o the people of marginalized communities. We know they’re valid, and we know
that they also want to take care of themselves,” McGowan says. “How are we attracting these people? Simply by telling them we want to see them.”
One thing that Lohr didn’t expect is that many folks who are straightidentifying have chosen to take their business to Inclusive Aesthetics because of its commitment to queer folks. “I’ve had several people tell me that they have chosen to get their facials here because of queer family e e s he will sa ha e a t ans niece, and I know it’s hard for her, so I wanted to support your business,’”
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Inclusive Aesthetics medical spa in Dormont
she says. “I wouldn’t say this is surprising, but it’s refreshing.”
It was by accident that Lohr opened her business in Dormont. She was looking for something close to the city and on a main road, and the building she found on W Liberty happened to e a o e docto s o fice so it worked for her business. “When I fi st decided to open the shop she sa s “I wasn’t sure how supportive Dormont would be, but it’s been overwhelmingly so. It’s been awesome!”
Not only visually, but also because of the people.” They recognize that Dormont may not be on most people’s radar as a queer haven, but that this is a mistake. “Dormont is not known for it, but the vibe is palpable to queer people,” they say.
Conner McGee, a current college student who grew up in Dormont and works at The Government Center (the North Side record store that recently opened a second location in Dormont on Potomac), has noticed a more
“WE ARE HERE, AND WE’RE QUEERING THE NEIGHBORHOOD.”
Certainly, queer community is always enhanced by a little woo, since it tends to attract alternative thinkers, and Dormont has that too. Down the street from Inclusive Aesthetics on Potomac is The Crow’s Nest, a metaph sical shop that o e s a a iet o products and services including tarot readings, reiki sessions, and glamour magic classes. T.M. Rodwell, an intersex psycho-spiritual life coach, has found a home at The Crow’s Nest and in Dormont, where they provide readings and teach classes. “First and foremost, I’m a reader,” they say. “I use Oracle cards, but those are just tools for me. I can look at a bunch of cereal boxes in your kitchen and tell you about yourself.”
They noticed early in their life that they could pick up on things in people that others didn’t notice. At fi st it was o e whel in eca se they didn’t know what to do with the information, but now that they have come to understand their power, and have learned to use it in helpful ways. “I got into what I’m doing now because I realized that my purpose here is to guide people to a higher way of living, a better way of life,” they say. “I help the to find that within the sel es
Rodwell believes their work makes sense in Dormont, a small corner of Pittsburgh with its own unique charm. “There’s a lot of people in Dormont that have a very special thing about them,” they say. “Dormont is beautiful.
explicit queer energy and vibe with a lot of the new businesses coming in. “I feel like people aren’t too mad about it,” he comments. “When I was in middle and high school, a group of my friends came into themselves here and found that they were gay or trans, and there was a lot of good community around that here.”
Josh Cozby, owner of The Government Center, comments: “Dormont really seems like it’s about to have a moment. A lot of interesting small businesses have been opening up, and it seems like a lot of younger folks have been moving here.” In terms of the queer trajectory of this, he says, “What I’ve noticed is that there seems to be a new generation coming in, and it makes sense that queer businesses would be a part of that.” And, for good reason. “There are fewer hurdles to opening a business in Dormont than in the City of Pittsburgh. And it seems to be a population that is trending younger, which I’m guessing would be in line with a clientele of businesses catering to the queer community.”
Though Rodwell is not from Dormont originally, they say that it’s where they are planting themselves and their business, both with The Crow’s Nest and through private bookings. “Right now what I’m doing is setting up a safe space for people to come, a healing place, a place to relax and rejuvenate.”
And while Lohr wasn’t looking to set up her business in Dormont, she is glad she did. “Dormont found us, and it’s been overwhelmingly supportive.”
The small businesses of a town’s commercial district have the power to shape the feel of a community, and McGowan says that they are proud to be a part of this. “We are here, and we’re queering the neighborhood.”
Cozby points out that businesses, however, don’t exist without the communities that support them. He reminds everyone who is excited about this shift to support it with dollars. “I think it’s important that people support businesses they care about by spending money at those places,” he says. “I think a lot of the time people think supporting means following on social media, stopping in to say hi, or something of that nature. But if people don’t actually spend money regularly at small independent businesses, they won’t be around.” •
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Shana Lohr, Esthetician, Phlebotomist and Laser Technician, poses for a portait inside Inclusive Aesthetics medical spa.
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T.M. Rodwell poses for a portrait at Inclusive Aesthetics medical spa in Dormont on June 20, 2024.
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Dependable Drive In o ers three screens and two snack bars in Moon Township.
DRIVE-IN DEVOTION
Why Pittsburgh’s undying love for drive-ins has moviegoers headed for the outdoors
BY: AMANDA WALTZ // AWALTZ@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
Anyone fortunate enough to grow up with a drivein theater nearby has at least one cherished memory of watching a movie under the stars. For me, it was a double feature in 1990 that saw then 8-yearold and s e th o h No Holds Barred — a nauseating, testosteronefueled Hulk Hogan vehicle — to see Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It was one of the few times my unregulated childhood sleep schedule worked to my favor, as other patrons started their engines and left, taking home kids too tired to endure any more of Hogan’s “acting.” For a young TMNT fan, it was a magical night that not even a pro wrestler with misguided movie career dreams could ruin.
Pittsburgh has its fair share of venues for outdoor screenings, with multiple working drive-ins within a short distance of the city. That some
remain is nothing short of a miracle given that the drive-in theater peaked in popularity in the 1950s and, since the 1980s, has seen a steady decline as audiences have turned to airconditioned multiplexes for their s e loc ste fi
According to a 2023 article by the New York Film Academy, just 300 drive-ins are still in operation throughout the United States, with Pennsylvania boasting the most, along with neighboring states Ohio and New York.
However, the drive-in concept saw a temporary boost over the pandemic as a way for movie lovers to enjoy fil s on the i sc een in the sa et of their cars. Row House Cinema and Hazelwood Local both took advantage of this, hosting screenings at The Terminal in the Strip District and at Hazelwood Green, respectively.
While southwestern Pa. has, in recent years, lost a few of its
outdoor movie-watching staples (RIP Twin Hi-Way Drive-In in McKees Rocks), others remain to entertain film fans looking for a more dynamic experience.
during Riverside’s Drive-In Super Monster-Rama, a twice-yearly event that features the retro horror films
Dietels and his cohosts discuss on their podcast, Neon Brainiacs
“I LOVE SEEING THE COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO COME OUT EVERY YEAR TO CELEBRATE MOVIES THEY COULD EASILY WATCH AT HOME.”
Ben Dietels has a special relationship with the Riverside Drive In Theatre, a two-screen operation located about 45 minutes outside of Pittsburgh in Vandergrift. In 2023, he and his bandmates filmed a music video at Riverside for their band, Pummelled. He also records live there
While Riverside regularly screens newly-released films, Super Monster-Rama gives audiences a chance to experience 35mm prints of classic, cult, and underground horror movies from decades past — previous theme nights range from retrospectives on director Roger Corman and
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Dependable Drive-In entrance in Moon Township
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Jamar Ellis poses for a portrait at Dependable Drive In in Moon Township.
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Steve Sirota poses for a portrait with his grandchildren, Izzy and Kennedy, at Dependable Drive In.
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Dependable Drive in offers three screens and two snack bars.
actor Christopher Lee to zombies, vampires, slashers, or space monsters. Patrons can even camp overnight for a small additional fee.
“The Monster-Rama event is right up our alley,” says Dietels. “It celebrates underseen cinema and independent film. A lot of the films we cover on [Neon Brainiacs] have been screened there. So it makes sense to do our program live during the event.”
Another local drive-in option takes summer moviegoers to Moon Township. Opened in 1950, Dependable Drive In has, over the decades, expanded from a singlescreen operation to now boasting four screens (one is currently out of commission, so visitors will have to settle for three this season). Touted as Allegheny County’s last remaining drive-in, the business gives patrons an authentically throwback experience, with the option of using speakers that hook onto your car (a feature leftover from the good ol’ days of the drive-in) or tuning into what the website describes as “Dolby Surround FM Radio Sound.”
Like Allegheny, other counties in southwestern Pa., it seems, still lay claim to at least one drive-in — this includes Evergreen Drive-in in Westmoreland and Starlight Drive-In in Butler. Fayette County boasts two theaters, the Brownsville Drive-in, and the Comet Drive-In Theatre and Flea Market.
A TribLive article from 2019 estimated that, at one time, the ninecounty southwestern Pa. region had over 40 outdoor theaters, seven of which remain. Several factors ranging from large pieces of stripped land becoming available for development, to the need for affordable entertainment in the blue-collar area, made Pittsburgh “the city of drive-ins,” according to a Heinz History Center
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Brooke Milburn kicks a soccer ball before the 9 p.m. showing of Inside Out 2.
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Alex Papst works the snack bar at Dependable Drive In.
representative quoted in the story.
Dietels says he grew up around drive-in theaters as a native of Moon Township.
“For my family, it was a summer tradition to try and at least go a couple times every year,” he says. “It was cheap and you got to see two movies! And the snack bar was always way beyond what you could get at the regular theater.”
It was the music video for Pummelled’s song “Poppie” that saw Dietels and his bandmates playing workers at the Riverside concession stand, an atmosphere he feels fit with what he describes as “basically a ‘60s pop song with some fuzzed-out guitars.”
“It made sense to shoot it at a snack bar that looks like it’s been virtually untouched since that era,”
says Dietels. “It fit the vibe perfectly.”
Besides being low-cost, drive-ins act as venues for interaction — those arriving early for the best spots will see children enjoying pre-movie playtime in the wide-open parking lot, people chatting as they relax in lawn chairs they brought from home, or couples sneaking in a romantic walk as dusk turns to night. It’s as
much a venue for people-watching as it is movie-watching, especially in a time when streaming services would keep us glued to the couch.
“I love seeing the community of people who come out every year to celebrate movies they could easily watch at home,” says Dietels. “It’s just way more fun to watch them outside with like-minded individuals.” •
by: John Altdorfer
Bans Off Our Bodies Bash
A Benefit for Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania
By Leigh Frank
On Saturday, July 15, Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania (PPWP) held a genuinely dazzling, memorable fundraiser at Rodef Shalom in Oakland. The Bans Off Our Bodies Gala is a night that will be difficult to forget – for all the very best reasons.
Of course, the food was great, the silent auction was incredible (featuring donations of stunning art, items from our local sports teams, travel opportunities, dining and drink, and so much more), and the entertainment was delightful. But what made that night incredible was the power of the speakers.
A s a woman concerned about access to women’s health care and bodily autonomy, these have certainly been dark, difficult, and challenging times. However, listening to the incredible women who run the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and PPWP, the eternally dedicated volunteers, passionate storytellers, and generous supporters of the organization, I left the event with a renewed sense of hope and a reignited passion for doing everything I can for women and girls and any individual seeking healthcare –and I wasn’t alone, the excitement in the air was palpable.
Please visit pghcitypaper.com for an in-depth version of this story.
Hope Is an Act of Resistance
Alexis McGill Johnson, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, made a memorable trip to Pittsburgh to support the Western Pennsylvania affiliate and serve as the evening’s keynote speaker. It would not be an understatement to characterize her comments as fiery.
Alexis described her job as a “hope dealer,” spreading hope to all, particularly patients cared for by Planned Parenthood, “allowing them to choose hope overall.” She continued, “We are not just out here building an infrastructure of hope; we are also out here building an infrastructure of resistance, and hope is an act of resistance. We are building this infrastructure of hope through every service provided, choosing to invest in hope so that others can choose hope, too.”
W hen discussing the priorities and plans of Planned Parenthood, she believes that “We need to secure a durable, expansive national right to reproductive freedom. One that no politician, no lawyer, no court can take away from us. That means we need to get back into the Constitution.”
Alexis wrapped up her speech by reminding us that “We want abortion to be undeniable, unquestionable, and we want our bodies to be ungovernable! Planned Parenthood is that Champion who is out there fighting for you!” She was met with an emphatic standing
experiences at his local restaurants, Ritual House and Shorty’s Pints and Pins.
Another poignant highlight of the evening was hearing from Pittsburgher Kelsey Leigh, a Planned Parenthood’s National Storytellers Board member. Kelsey shared her personal abortion experience, describing it as “a choice that was wholly mine.”
Volunteers Recognized for Decades of Service
Laura Horowitz began volunteering with Pittsburgh Pro-Choice Escorts in early 1991 and continues to escort clients at Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania and Allegheny Reproductive Health Clinic.
Paula Harris was also recognized as a clinic escort who provided more than 28 years of volunteer service to PPWP and women in the region.
Phenomenal Fundraising
While the evening was about so much more than money, the funds raised will allow Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania to continue providing services to everyone seeking healthcare from our region and throughout the country. What’s incredible is that when Planned Parenthood says everyone, they mean that: women, men, trans people, nonbinary, and people with any gender identity and expression. It’s hard to imagine a more inclusive approach to health care.
ovation and cheers.
Alexis also endorsed PPWP President and CEO Sydney Etheredge’s leadership: “I think she’s an incredible, brilliant, and joyful soldier in the fight for freedom.”
During Sydney’s remarks to the crowd, she shared PPWP’s successes in meeting the significant increase in the request for services. She also expressed her hope for the future “where reproductive freedom reigns supreme. For far too long, we have lived under the weight of bans that stifle our potential and limit our progress.” These restrictions have confined us to paths that do not reflect what we can achieve when we have the opportunity and come together.”
Supporters Give More Than Money
Throughout the evening, we heard from passionate and dedicated allies of PPWP.
Event co-chairs Lisa and Herky Pollock provided thoughtful, welcoming remarks. However, it was Herky’s emotional and heartfelt comments toward the end of the evening that resonated with so many, “I apologize for men who look an awful lot like me, making women like you feel unequal and unimportant. I’m very, very sorry on behalf of men across the country that you have to go through this because you don’t deserve one darn piece of it.”
Following this, Herky lived up to his word and hosted a live auction for phenomenal
The event raised a phenomenal total of more than $300,000 to date.
None of the evening would have been possible without the unwavering support of sponsors, vendors, and volunteers. Their contributions were the backbone of the event’s success,
and PPWPA’s gratitude to them is boundless. They helped craft an evening that was not just memorable but transformative for the shared community. The “Bans Off Our Bodies Bash” was, most importantly, a celebration of commitment to reproductive rights.
Supporting PPWP
If you are interested in volunteering, providing financial support, or interested in receiving services, visit: https://www.plannedparenthood. org/planned-parenthood-western-pennsylvania
Photo
Herky Pollock, Sydney Etheredge and Lisa Pollock
Auction items benefitting Planned Parenthood
PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE ARTIST
Donal Levi Donovan, second from left, with Levi
VOCAL SHIFT
BY: JORDAN SNOWDEN // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
Those familiar with Pittsburgh bands Hearken or Dinosoul may recognize the last name “Donovan” as the singer of levi, a new project that released an EP earlier this year and performed at events like the Millvale Music Festival. It’s the same person, for sure, but, as listeners will ic l find o t the oice is di e ent
therapy in July 2021.
“Three months in, I already noticed a little it o a di e ence in my physical changes],” Donovan tells Pittsburgh City Paper. “But six months in, I was mute to singing. I couldn’t e en fi e o t wh so nded the way I did. You would sing a note and o wo ld eel it in o th oat di eently than you did before, and it was
“I LIKE THE WAY MY NEW VOICE SOUNDS. BUT I DO MISS BEING ABLE TO SING HIGHER, AND I’M TRYING TO LEARN FALSETTO, BUT IT WAS
At the end of March, Donovan, who now goes by Donal Levi Donovan — they legally changed their name in d opped thei fi st solo release under the moniker levi, after their new middle name. The three-track EP it is what it is, which was released in March, has another fi st it s ono an s de t p o ect after starting hormone replacement
not the right note.”
In Dinosoul’s music, Donovan sang the high soprano notes. In Hearken, they screamed and belted notes that now, they can’t even reach. It was frustrating, to say the least — or, to say the most, as Donovan put it,
“it was just like a whole mind fuck.”
“I like the way my new voice sounds,” says Donovan. “But I do miss
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Consider these national average costs of treatment ... $222 for a checkup ... $190 for a filling ... $1,213 for a crown.3 Unexpected bills like this can be a real burden, especially if you’re on a fixed income.
being able to sing higher, and I’m trying to learn falsetto, but it was like I was going through puberty again.”
The name levi comes from their mother’s last name, Levine, and the first letter of their dead middle name. It means unity or joined in harmony, and hopefully, with levi — for which Donovan performs as a singer, guitarist, and keyboardist, as well as songwriter — all of their true selves have combined into one essence.
The rest of levi includes Aiden Angle on drums and Evan Leet on bass, with support from Gina Winstead and Matt Schor.
Dinosoul, a dark wave indie pop project, ended in 2021 after Donovan and their bandmate broke up. Donovan then turned their full attention to Hearken, a grungy pop-rock group founded with Greg Brunner, and whose debut EP dropped in early 2017.
“But that was hard to kind of keep together ... the sound [had changed] and was just so different that it didn’t make sense to call it Hearken [anymore], explains Donovan. “Which kind of evolved to becoming levi.”
Much like with Dinosoul, they also play with their partner in levi.
“I have a new partner, and she’s in the project too,” laughs Donovan. “So, hopefully, I’m not setting myself up for starting another band after this.”
The people who helped record it is what it is performed as the new Hearken for a short while. But once Donovan started writing new songs, and a new drummer joined the band, they realized that the music wasn’t for Hearken. And, Donovan just couldn’t sing that way anymore.
“I was like, no matter what, whoever’s in this band with me or not, I’m just
gonna continue writing songs and put them out there,” they say. “Some songs are gonna be harder and heavier. Some might sound more like indie pop, like Dinosoul. My next couple of songs are gonna be a little folkier.
Donovan adds, “I just wanted it to be a part of who I am and not be confined. Even if it’s a song that’s never performed live with a violinist or something like that, at least it was something digitally that people can listen to and enjoy.” it is what it is begins with “home,” a synthy, jaunty rock anthem reflecting on the feeling of never having a physical home. Toward the end of the track, Donovan repeats, “I’ll be your home,” progressively getting louder and louder.
“I’ve moved a lot in general and I have been in positions where I wanted to buy a house and then couldn’t or didn’t,” Donovan explains. “With rent prices going up, it’s just not having equity but also having a safe space that feels like your own sanctuary, that I feel like I haven’t really found yet.”
The moody second track, “sail,” finds Donovan searching for love in their new authentic self. The final track, “time,” focuses on resentment, those feelings of being there for someone who doesn’t appreciate you, and learning to not be so codependent.
“It’s just so painful sometimes when you recognize that, ‘This really isn’t for me,’” says Donovan. “But I kind of enjoyed the time with you
or doing this thing. But also, was it a waste of my time?”
For Donovan, it is what it is, a multigenre romp that explores belonging, resentment, and independence, is a rebirth. Beyond the changes that came along with hormone replacement therapy, Donovan believes levi allows them to create and perform on their terms.
“Even if my band isn’t a permanent situation, I can still write songs,” explains Donovan, whose past projects, Hearken and Dinosoul, ended up being duos after members fluttered in and out. “I’ve always been in such a space where this is the band, and we can’t play the show because we need this part or this person. •
MERRY- GOROUNDABOUT
To drive in Pittsburgh is to take your life into your own hands. Part of that is due to aggressive — and, in some cases, illegal — maneuvers such as the Pittsburgh left and widespread local treatment of red lights as “orange.” But part of the city’s touch-and-go driving is due to our severe topography and outdated infrastructure, as seen in our many confusing intersections that require oddly-timed red lights, quick merges that throw off unfamiliar motorists, and wide crossings that have contributed to a rise in pedestrian fatalities.
As European metropolises figured out some time ago, it doesn’t have to be like this. Enter the roundabout (or traffic circle).
The Federal Highway Administration says roundabouts can be “an effective option for managing speed and transitioning traffic from high-speed to low-speed environments.” The neckdowns required to channel traffic into the roundabout also offer pedestrians islands of refuge. Instead of a sea of asphalt and tangles of traffic lights, roundabouts can additionally serve as bicycle-friendly points of connection or venues for public art.
Moreover, roundabouts can turn a gnarly five- or six-way intersection that backs up at rush hour into a constantly moving junction that keeps traffic flowing at slower speeds.
Pittsburgh is littered with complicated intersections that hold drivers and cyclists at red lights for long periods of time. One such intersection, the Herron-Paulowna-Bigelow intersection in Polish Hill, recently lost both a pedestrian tunnel and a nearby overhead bridge, forcing walkers and rollers across four lanes of pothole-pocked roadway notorious o lead ooted d i e s i in fi e di e ent een li hts pl s t n lanes requires a complicated dance that can result in drivers waiting more than 15 minutes for a green light. A roundabout here would slow down Bigelow speeders while lowering wait time for drivers headed uphill or down.
“AS
lanes converge at the “Welcome to Little Italy” sign (which has needed several restorations after vehicle collisions in just the past decade).
Rather than hold up drivers, walkers, cyclists, and rollers at a series of weirdly-timed lights, and force pedestrians across eight lanes o i patient loo field t a fic a roundabout would provide spots of refuge that could be planted with shade-giving trees. It would also slow cars down as they leave the bridge and enter the narrow residential st eets o loo field he ittle tal sign could even take a place of pride in the central island.
A carefully-planned roundabout co ld li el fit within the inte sec-
THE CITY CONSIDERS MORE ROAD DIETS, TRAFFIC-CALMING MEASURES, AND MULTIMODAL INFRASTRUCTURE,
There are numerous other intersections like this. The West End Bridge could end in several miniroundabouts instead of a hard-tonavigate series of lights. The critical meeting of Penn and Fifth Aves. wo ld ow ch o e s oothl with a roundabout. Adding one would also markedly improve the ridiculous Saw Mill Run-Glenbury-Ivy Glen-Hill mishmash in Overbrook. All of these intersections back up quickly and are o e tl hostile to non ca t a fic I’m in no way advocating for the return of the abominations that were the Allegheny and Penn Circles. Both we e desi ned not to a e t a fic slower and safer but to speed suburbanites around poorly conceived urban renewal initiatives. But as the city considers more road diets, t a fic cal in eas es and ltimodal infrastructure, roundabouts should absolutely factor in.
Consider the car-centric wasteland that is the loo field id e intersection, where Main St., Liberty Ave., Howley St. and several bike
tion’s existing footprint and make it far safer for area residents to walk to get groceries or head across Liberty for Italian ice or beer. It would likewise improve the streetscape ahead of the long-delayed ShurSave development.
Pittsburgh wasn’t built as a car city, and inte sections li e the loo field
Bridge are a relic of an age when retofittin o ca s e e thin else e damned, was the going wisdom. But we’ve evolved. Vision Zero, speed humps, and public art are in; six-way intersections with faded crosswalks are out.
To bring Pittsburgh fully into a future where cars share the road rather than dominating it, it’s time to untangle the Gordian knots that are our scariest intersections and replace them with roundabouts. We need infrastructure that isn’t built solely for motorists, and roundabouts are an indispensable tool for making our streets safer for everyone. Perhaps, one day, maybe sooner than I dared hope, there will even be parts of the city that aren’t for motorists at all…•
Free haircuts, food trucks, Kona Ice, Trace Brewing, Moonlight Burgers and more!
SEVEN DAYS IN PITTSBURGH
THU., JUNE 27
THEATER • SOUTH PARK
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels: The Musical. 7:30 p.m. Continues through Sat., July 13. South Park Theatre. Brownsville Rd. and Corrigan Dr., South Park Township. $20. southparktheatre.com
MUSIC • LAWRENCEVILLE
Trousdale: Still Out of My Mind Tour with John Robert. 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. Thunderbird Music Hall. 4053 Butler St., Lawrenceville. $20. thunderbirdmusichall.com
FRI., JUNE 28
DRAG • DOWNTOWN
Dance Along with Dixie Surewood’s Drag Disco Party 5:30 p.m. Doors at 4:30 p.m. Pittsburgh Playhouse. 350 Forbes Ave., Downtown. $25. playhouse.pointpark.edu
PARTY • OAKLAND
Phipps After Dark: Pittsburgh Pride Night. 7-10 p.m. Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. One Schenley Park, Oakland. Included with regular admission. phipps.conservatory.org
THEATER • DOWNTOWN
Pittsburgh CLO presents The Color Purple: The Musical 7:30 p.m. Continues through
Sun., June 30. Benedum Center. Seventh St. and Penn Ave., Downtown. $35-98. pittsburghclo.org
FILM • HOMESTEAD
Pittsburgh Sound + Image closes out Pride Month with a program of queer women filmmakers at The Glitterbox Theater.16mm Subversion will highlight experimental short films made in the 1970s by Barbara Hammer and Coni Beeson. See four selections by Hammer, described as a prolific “pioneer of lesbian filmmaking” whose works “toe the line between art and pornography,” and Beeson,
who, like Hammer, focused on celebrating female sexuality. 8-9:30 p.m. 210 W 8th Ave., Homestead. $10. pghsoundandimage.com
OPERA • OAKLAND
Resonance Works presents Rossini’s La donna del lago 8 p.m. Continues on Sun., June 30. University of Pittsburgh-Charity Randall Theatre. 4301 Forbes Ave., Oakland. $15-60. resonanceworks.org
SAT., JUNE 29
KIDS • DOWNTOWN
Unicorn World. 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Continues through Sun., June 30. David L. Lawrence Convention Center. 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Downtown. $29.95, free for kids under 2. All ages. Timed ticketing. theunicornworld.com
OUTDOORS • DOWNTOWN/HILL DISTRICT/NORTH SIDE
BikePGH presents OpenStreetsPGH 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Multiple locations across Downtown, Hill District, and North Side. Free. openstreetspgh.org/schedule
FESTIVAL • SOUTH SIDE
Reimagine Jobs envisions a more environmentally sustainable Pittsburgh during SolarPunk Future 2024 at Velum Fermentation. See live performance by Timbeleza and KRUNK Movement, hear guest
speakers, and participate in family-friendly activities hosted by various local organizations. There will also be an art show by BOOM Concepts and a job fair. 1-5 p.m. 2120 Jane St., South Side. Free. Registration required. reimaginejobs.org
MUSIC • UPTOWN
CommUnity Concert with 4YAADI, Kanti Kasa, and DJ Femi 1-5 p.m. Van Braam St. and Fifth Ave., Uptown. Free. instagram.com/citiparks
FILM • OAKLAND
Carnegie Museum of Art Film Series: Vibe Check. 2-5 p.m. Carnegie Museum of Art. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. $8-10. carnegieart.org
THEATER • MILLVALE
Be Gay [Do Crime] presents The End of Pride Spectacular: A New Play 9 p.m. Doors at 8 p.m. Mr. Smalls Theatre. 400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale. $20. mrsmalls.com
SUN., JUNE 30
DRAG • EAST LIBERTY
Kat De Lac presents Drag King Brunch with Tyson Checkin, Mars, Kenny Would, Max Starvania, Jami Starling, and Micah Sanova 12 p.m. Doors at 11 a.m. Blue Sky Kitchen + Bar. 211 N. Whitfield St., East Liberty. $10. instagram.com/katdelac
COMEDY • SOUTH SIDE
Pittsburgh Dad at Pins 1-3 p.m. Pins Mechanical. 407 Cinema Dr., South Side. Free. pinsbar.com
MARKET • BLOOMFIELD
Pride Pop-Up Market. 4-8 p.m. Trace Brewing. 4312 Main St., Bloomfield. Free. tracebloomfield.com
MUSIC • NORTH SIDE
World Music: Bassel & The Supernaturals. 6-7:30 p.m. Alphabet City at City of Asylum. 40 W North Ave., North Side. Free. Registration required. Livestream available. cityofasylum.org
MON., JULY 1
ART • LAWRENCEVILLE
Head to Contemporary Craft for a little summertime sadness. Hereafter presents an exploration of mourning through craft, with 13 local, state, and national artists whose works
PHOTO: COURTESY OF REAGAN WEST-WHITMAN Hereafter at Contemporary Craft
PHOTO: COURTESY OF PITTSBURGH SOUND + IMAGE
Pittsburgh Sound + Image presents 16mm Subversion: Barbara Hammer and Coni Beeson
o er multicultural views of the grieving process. The group exhibition marks the first in Contemporary Craft’s triennial regional exhibition series, created to “showcase the incredibly talented artists in our region.” 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Continues through Aug. 24. 5645 Butler St., Lawrenceville. Free. contemporarycraft.org
MUSIC • SOUTH
SIDE
Spose with Rigometrics and Melodiq 6:30 p.m. Doors at 6 p.m. Smiling Moose. 1306 E. Carson St., South Side. $15-18. druskyentertainment.com
MUSIC
• STRIP DISTRICT
International Reggae Day Celebration featuring Ras Prophet. 7:30 p.m. Doors at 6 p.m. City Winery. 1627 Smallman St., Strip District. $20-30. citywinery.com
TUE. JULY 2
OPERA • LAWRENCEVILLE
Aria412 presents American Pie: A Tribute to George Gershwin. 7 p.m. Hop Farm Brewing. 5601 Butler St., Lawrenceville. Free. aria412pgh.com
MUSIC • GARFIELD
godfuck with Morning Dew, Leonardo Decapitated, and More Than Adequate. 7-11 p.m. Mr. Roboto Project. 5106 Penn Ave., Garfield. $10. therobotoproject.com
WED. JULY 3
ART • DOWNTOWN
Furry Friends: Juried Visual Art Exhibition 2024. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Continues through Aug. 25. SPACE Gallery. 812 Liberty Ave., Downtown. Free. trustarts.org
LYNN CULLEN LIVE
BUSINESS OR CONSUMER STORY - SECOND PLACE
Float tanks, Pittsburghers find pain relief, relaxation, and cosmic visions By Rachel Wilkinson FEATURE STORY - SECOND PLACE
Polyamorous Pittsburghers discuss being out in ‘the most nebby town in the universe’ By Amanda Waltz
After decades without a grocer, Millvale Market has the neighborhood buzzing
PHOTO: COURTESY OF CAITY KRONE Trousdale at Thunderbird Music Hall
PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE ARTIST World Music: Bassel & The Supernaturals at City of Asylum
MARKET PLACE
Eric 412-712-5803
ESTATE NOTICE
ESTATE OF DONALD L. FILLMORE, LATE OF SHALER TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA, (DIED: FEBRUARY 28, 2024) Notice is hereby given that Letters Administration on the above Estate have been granted to Janeen Walker, Administrator. All persons indebted to the said Estate are required to make payment and those having claims to present the same without delay to the Administrator named herein, or to Lawrence A. Durkin, Esquire, Durkin MacDonald, LLC, Attorney for this Estate, 536 East Drinker Street, Dunmore, Pennsylvania 18512.
STUDY SMOKERS WANTED
HELP WANTED ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT NEEDED
Full or P/time position open for an Administrative Assistant to help track and prepare proposals for projects. Excellent organization and communication skills as well as experience with editing in Microsoft Word and Excel needed. Hours are flexible (M-F only) but must fit within our daily shop schedule. Starting pay is $25 or higher, depending on experience. Email resume to applyandresumes@gmail.com or text (213) 935-0504.
ESTATE NOTICE
ESTATE OF MILLER, JEAN E. DECEASED OF WHITE OAK, PA
Jean E. Miller, deceased, of White Oak, PA. No. 022402928 of 2024. Thomas Miller, Jr., Adm. P.O. Box 53, McKeesport, PA 15135.
PUBLIC AUCTION
Extra Space Storage, on behalf of itself or its a iliates, Life Storage or Storage Express, will hold a public auction to sell the contents of leased spaces to satisfy Extra Space’s lien at the location indicated: 880 Saw Mill Run Blvd Pittsburgh, PA 15226, July 10, 2024, at 1:15 PM. Steven Sieckowski 2009, Samantha Rust 3008, Taylor Murray 4052. The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures.com. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.
FINANCIAL
SAVE BIG on HOME INSURANCE!
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)
DENTAL INSURANCE
DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 400 plus procedures. Real dental insuranceNOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-855-385-3879 www.dental50plus.com/ citypaper #6258
For more information on the available properties and locations, please contact us at 412-626-6111.
PUBLIC NOTICE
The University of Pittsburgh’s Alcohol & Smoking Research Lab is looking for people to participate in a research project. You must:
• Currently smoke cigarettes
• Be 18-49 years old, in good health, and speak fluent English
• Be right handed, willing to not smoke before two sessions, and to fill out questionnaires
Earn up to $260 for participating in this study.
For more information, call (412) 407-5029
NOTICE OF PROPOSED SETTLEMENT AND RIGHT TO OPT-OUT
A Court authorized this Notice. This is not a solicitation from a lawyer.
The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in the actions titled Christopher Grabovski, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated v. Realty Income Corporation; CoGo’s Co.; and Brian Haenze d/b/a Auto Gallery & Accessories and as Tag Towing and Collision, GD-18012294 and Christopher Zimmerman, Corey Mizell, Stephanie Dawson, and Mike Lewis individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated v. Sonya Lazarevic, Zoran Lazarevic, Sylvia Duda, CoGo’s Co., and Brian Haenze d/b/a Auto Gallery & Accessories and as Tag Towing and Collision, GD-18-012068, has preliminarily approved a class action settlement. You are a Settlement Class Member if you were non-consensually towed from the parking lots located at 1709 Saw Mill Run Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA 15210; 925 East Carson Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203; 2401 East Carson Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203; 20 Bailey Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15211; 304 Virginia Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15211; and/or 3439 W Run Road, Homestead, PA 15210 between September 2012 and December 27, 2015 and were charged in excess of $110 total for the return of the towed vehicle or between December 28, 2015 and the date of Final Approval and Judgment (estimated to be October 7, 2024) and were charged in excess of $135 total for return of the towed vehicle. Vehicles subject to these amounts include passenger cars, light trucks, motorcycles and scooters.
This notice is a summary of your legal rights. You should visit: www.CoGosTagTowingSettlement.com for full details. If you qualify as a Settlement Class Member you have the following choices which you must select by the deadlines below:
OPTIONDEADLINE
SUBMIT A CLAIM FORM August 19, 2024
DESCRIPTION
If you timely file a valid claim form, you are eligible to receive a pro rata cash payment of the Settlement benefits. See www.CoGosTagTowingSettlement.com for details and claim form.
DO NOTHING N/A If you do nothing, you will remain in the class and be bound by the Court’s orders but will not receive a cash payment.
EXCLUDE YOURSELF August 19, 2024
OBJECT (AND YOU MAY ATTEND HEARING) August 19, 2024
You may exclude yourself from the Settlement Class. You will not receive a cash payment. You will not be bound by the Court’s orders. You will retain any claims you may have. You must deliver timely notice to exclude yourself as described at www.CoGosTagTowingSettlement.com.
You may object and explain to the Court why you think the class action settlement should not be approved. You must file and serve objections to the Settlement as described at www.CoGosTagTowingSettlement.com.
1. Tennis player’s tools
8. Government by violent gangs 15. “Dropping truth here”
16. List of priors
17. Headscarf
18. Vehicle that moves gunpowder
19. Periodical that inexplicably ranked
R.E.M.’s Out of Time (#2) and Teenage Fanclub’s Bandwagonesque (#1) higher than Nirvana’s Nevermind (#3) on their Best Albums of 1991 list
21. Computer key in the corner
22. Head down?
23. Inbox clogger
27. “Hey, sailor”
30. “Let me get back to you on that one,” initially
32.
Take for granted
34. Lithium___ battery
35. Opinions
37. Lends a hand
38. Laugh without being able to stop
41. Some French cheeses
42. Slim,
FINANCIAL
graceful woman
43. Earlier, in poetry
44. French city where Jules Verne was born
46. Mid-day rest
47. Caustic soaps
48. O -weeks during the playo s
49. “Yoo-__! Over here!”
51. That, in Tijuana
53. Finish
59. Fancy wardrobe
62. Big name in hair care
63. Meeting
64. “Thank you for coming to my ____”
65. Lists of favorites
66. Income for radio stations
DOWN
1. Messy barbecue
2. “Urgent job” letters
3. “Will you let me?”
4. Classic pool shape
5. Some French cheeses
6. Athlete’s foot medication
7. Just for the guys
8. Seder staple
9. Frozen french fry brand
10. High fibrous grain
11. Play times
at school
12. Christian Pulisic’s soccer team, for short
13. Wordle square: Abbr. 14. Superlative ending 20. “I mean, okay, sure!”
24. One of the simple machines
25. Unit of current 26. Predicaments
27. Website with “Treehouses” and “Castles” sections
28. Verbal fist pump
29. Connected, say 31. “All ___ are o ” 33. ___-Tzu
35. Shop holder
36. Emmy winner Ward
39. “Game on!”
40. Was attractive (to)
45. Margot’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood role
47. 1955 Vladimir Nabokov novel
50. Track legend Jesse
52. Loads and loads
54. Get to one’s feet
55. Eight: pref.
56. Spoken aloud
57. Unmatched
58. Mason’s rivals
59. Supermodel Carol
60. Christ The Redeemer overlooks it, for short
61. Drawing of streets
NAME CHANGE
IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-24-005240
In re petition of Christine Metcalf for change of name to Christine Faith Metcalf. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 24th day of July, 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
NAME CHANGE
IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-24-005820
In re petition of Taylor Ann Labby for change of name to Taylor Ann Petrone. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 17th day of July, 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
NAME CHANGE
IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-24-006109
In re petition of Jordan Emily Lutz for change of name to Emmy Lutz Winslow. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 24th day of July, 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.
Shannon D. Sacca, Attorney for Petitioner.
NAME CHANGE
IN The Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles: Glendale Courthouse, 600 East Broadway, Glendale, CA 91206 No. 24NNCP00199
In re petition of Ebby Carin Anderson for change of name to Erika Carin Anderson. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 17th day of July, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted.
