July 14, 2021 - Pittsburgh City Paper by Pittsburgh City Paper

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JULY 14-21, 2021

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JULY 14-21, 2021 VOLUME 30 + ISSUE 28 Editor-In-Chief LISA CUNNINGHAM Director of Advertising JASMINE HUGHES Director of Operations KEVIN SHEPHERD Managing Editor RYAN DETO A&E Editor AMANDA WALTZ Staff Writers DANI JANAE, KIMBERLY ROONEY 냖㵸蔻 Photographer/Videographer JARED WICKERHAM Graphic Designer JEFF SCHRECKENGOST Digital Marketing Coordinator DARYA KHARABI Sales Representatives ZACK DURKIN, OWEN GABBEY, HANNAH MORAN-FUNWELA Circulation Manager JEFF ENGBARTH Featured Contributors REGE BEHE, MIKE CANTON, LYNN CULLEN, TERENEH IDIA, CHARLES ROSENBLUM Interns LAURYN NANIA, KAYCEE ORWIG National Advertising Representative VMG ADVERTISING 1.888.278.9866 OR 1.212.475.2529 Publisher EAGLE MEDIA CORP.

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5/10/21 PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER JULY 14-21, 2021

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Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala

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THE BIG STORY

DIM SPOTLIGHT Why Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala continues to avoid scrutiny BY RYAN DETO // RYANDETO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

LLEGHENY COUNTY District Attorney Stephen Zappala is not immune to controversy. Over his more than 20 year tenure as the county’s top prosecutor, Zappala has been embroiled in his fair share of scandals. Public battles have also been fairly regular between Zappala, a moderate Democrat, and Democratic Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto over gun-control policies over the years. In 2019, Zappala’s ofﬁce received criticism for its role in expanding the use of certain surveillance cameras, which have been criticized by the Department of Defense as being highly susceptible to hacks.

Instead, progressive DAs in places like Philadelphia and San Francisco are being put under a microscope, and blamed for upticks in crime rates. Some criminal justice experts say that DAs have little effect on crime rates, but these district attorneys are getting the blame from the media and political opponents nonetheless. And even though homicides and violent crime rates have risen in Allegheny County too, Zappala’s name hasn’t been mentioned in the county’s crime discussion at all. It all begs the questions: Why has Zappala avoided so much condemnation over the years? Criminal justice advocates are no ally to Zappala, and some believe he garners less

According to a recent poll from Ipsos/USA Today, 57% of Americans say there is more violent crime now in the U.S. compared to 30 years ago, while just 12% of Americans say there is less violent crime. Perceptions, of course, don’t equate to reality. Violent crime rates across the country are actually much lower than 30 years ago when crime rates were historically high. Homicides and other violent crime rates across dozens of big cities, including Pittsburgh, have increased in the ﬁrst half of 2021 compared to last year and some previous years, but they are still well below the high crime rate years of the 1980s and 1990s. Something is driving this discrepancy

DISTRICT ATTORNEYS LIKE ZAPPALA WHO ARE MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THE STATUS QUO AND AREN’T VOCAL ABOUT REFORMS AREN’T BEING CALLED OUT AT ALL. This year, Zappala made national headlines for banning plea deals with a Black attorney who called his ofﬁce “systemically racist.” He rescinded that policy after widespread criticism of violating First Amendment rights, but advocates have regularly pointed out how racial disparities in the county’s criminal justice system have persisted under Zappala’s tenure. With all these controversies, one might think Zappala would be one of the most infamous district attorneys in the country, but it’s quite the opposite. Zappala seems to shake off these scandals relatively easily and aside from a few local headlines, remains out of the spotlight.

attention compared to more progressive district attorneys because of the status quo inherent in our criminal justice system, and because of how the media approaches crime reporting. But they don’t think those realities should let Zappala and DAs like him off the hook. The American Civil Liberties Union wants Zappala to be more transparent and follow through on campaign promises, like lowering cash bail usage in Allegheny County. But it’s unclear if Zappala has any incentive to heed those requests, as forces appear to be keeping his ofﬁce, and its powerful role, out of the limelight.

between facts and reality, and national criminal justice advocate David Menschel thinks the media is playing an outsized role, especially in certain cities. In Philadelphia, San Francisco, and New York City, upticks in crime are being ampliﬁed ad nauseum, and Menschel says district attorneys who have advocated for criminal justice reforms are being unfairly maligned. In Philadelphia, an entire political campaign was raged against District Attorney Larry Krasner that casted blame on the progressive prosecutor for a rise in shootings. While that campaign garnered a lot of attention CONTINUES ON PG. 6

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER JULY 14-21, 2021

DIM SPOTLIGHT, CONTINUED FROM PG. 5

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Online news headlines on district attorneys from San Francisco and Philadelphia

from local and national media, Krasner won re-election in a landslide. San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin is currently facing a recall effort in the city, and has been the subject of several sensationalized reports blaming him for rising crime rates and, sometimes, even individual instances of crime. All the coverage led Washington Post opinion writer Radley Balko to call out some of the San Francisco reporting, which then led Balko, who has covered policing and criminal justice for about two decades, to receive vitriol on social media. “Don’t recall ever getting this fanatical a response over a local politician,” tweeted Balko on June 21. Menschel acknowledges progressive DAs, or district attorneys who institute criminal justice reforms, are shouldering more of the blame for rising crime, adding that it is “complete bullshit.” “Homicides went up in New York City, but they are still lower than the rates from years ago,” says Menschel. “In San Francisco, murders were basically even.

In Baltimore, murders went down, even though the DA there decriminalized 10 different things recently.” Meanwhile, DAs like Zappala who are more comfortable with the status quo and aren’t vocal about reforms aren’t being called out at all.

“IT WAS HARD TO GET PEOPLE TO WRITE ABOUT PROSECUTORS DOING BAD THINGS.” Homicides in Allegheny County are up, and are actually the highest they have been 14 years. According to the Allegheny County Ofﬁce of the Medical Examiner, 51 homicides have been

reported in the first five months of 2021. When comparing January through May reporting of previous years, only 2007 saw more homicides in Allegheny County. That year, 52 were reported in the first five months of the year. Even so, there are no calls for Zappala to tackle Pittsburgh’s rising violent crime trends. Allegheny County’s District Attorney also hasn’t been present at recent public safety events announcing efforts to combat the rise in Pittsburgh gun violence. Zappala did take heat recently after TribLive published an email he sent to prosecutors in his office calling on them to halt plea deals with Milton Raiford, a well-known Black lawyer who called Zappala’s office “systematically racist.” A handful of local leaders called on Zappala to resign, and about a dozen asked Zappala to apologize, open his office to investigation, and rescind the policy. Zappala did rescind the plea deal ban, but didn’t apologize and no investigation into his office has been announced. CONTINUES ON PG. 8

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER JULY 14-21, 2021

DIM SPOTLIGHT, CONTINUED FROM PG. 6

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Online news headlines after Stephen Zappala halted, then rescinded, plea deals with well-known Black lawyer Milton Raiford

This controversy generated headlines and stories for about a week in Pittsburgh, and a few national news stories, but nothing compared to the ongoing crime reporting of cities like Philadelphia, San Francisco, or New York City. Even commenters on social media have strayed from tying Zappala to crime rates. This leads to an ecosystem where criticisms of DAs like Krasner or Boudin get rewarded with press coverage, while those who avoid blaming DAs for crime contribute to helping DAs like Zappala avoid the spotlight. When asked about the gun violence rates in Pittsburgh and if DA Zappala has been helpful, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto’s office avoided taking any swipes at Zappala. “Our focus is on creating safe and vibrant neighborhoods. We work closely with our Office of Community Services and Violence Prevention, Group Violence Intervention outreach teams, Office of Community Health and Safety and Pittsburgh Bureau of Police to provide comprehensive approaches to addressing violence in the City,” says Peduto spokesperson Molly Onufer in a statement to Pittsburgh City Paper. “We welcome all partners public and private and at all levels of government to this critical work.” In June, Peduto did call for Zappala’s office to be investigated following the

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plea ban scandal, but stories on Zappala quickly faded. Menschel says this is because of the legacy of bad crime reporting in the United States. Menschel, who is based in Portland, Ore., started his advocacy efforts on criminal justice reform by trying to get newspapers to cover illegal and unethical activity carried out by prosecutors. But he says he regularly ran into uninterested reporters. He acknowledges that the media is beginning to be more responsive to criminal justice advocacy, but adds that the country still has a long way to go. He says there could be a carry-over effect where stories about DAs behaving badly just don’t get ampliﬁed as much as headlines and sensationalized stories about rising crime. Menschel called national crime reporting a “crisis” and blamed the country’s slow progress and lowering mass incarceration rates on politicians and the press. He noted that, historically, more liberal politicians and prosecutors tend to get blamed for crime over conservatives. “It was hard to get people to write about prosecutors doing bad things,” says Menschel, who helped start a foundation that led to the creation of criminal justice news site The Appeal. “The ideology of carcerality … really what [the media and politicians] are doing are just echoing

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Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala

those tropes, the tropes that crimes are caused by namby-pamby liberals.” In 2019, Zappala fended off a more progressive challenger in his re-election bid, in part by openly campaigning for Republican and conservative votes. This was during the same period that Peduto took blame in Pittsburgh media for instances of violent crime in Downtown Pittsburgh, with some calling on him to increase police patrols, despite data showing overall crime was down compared to previous years. But just because Zappala garners less attention than some believe he deserves, doesn’t mean change in Allegheny County’s criminal justice system is impossible. Menschel notes the recently successful ballot initiatives banning no-knock warrants in the city of Pittsburgh and limiting the use of solitary conﬁnement in the Allegheny County Jail. He says that Allegheny County voters clearly have an appetite for criminal justice reforms. Tierra Bradford, the Criminal Justice Policy Advocate for ACLU of Pennsylvania, says she believes many Pittsburghers have gotten comfortable with how Zappala’s ofﬁce has operated over the decades, and even though Pittsburgh is hungry for criminal justice reforms, she says “people maybe don’t realize

that that change needs to come from the district attorney.” Bradford says Zappala’s office hasn’t been transparent in providing data about lowering uses of cash bail, despite campaign promises supporting efforts to reduce the practice. She also notes Allegheny County’s problems with probation practices, and how people have had their probation extended simply because they can’t afford fees. The ACLU is calling on Zappala to make more information public so advocates and leaders know what needs to be addressed, what can be fixed, and what is being done correctly. But lack of transparency could be an intentional strategy on Zappala’s part. In 2016, he didn’t participate in a countywide criminal justice task force, and he has balked at requests from advocates to be more vocal about reforms for years. DA Zappala’s office did not respond to a request for comment for this story. Bradford says she can’t assume what Zappala’s mindset is, but notes his office can have a powerful role to improve things in the region, if it wanted to. “I can’t speak to what Zappala is thinking,” says Bradford, “but we elect our officials to make our city better, and staying with the status quo is not going to make Pittsburgh better.”

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BOUNTIFUL BOOKS M BY KIMBERLY ROONEY 냖㵸蔻 // KIMROONEY@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

OST PEOPLE STORE their books on a bookshelf, maybe a couple of

bookcases if they’re particularly bibliophilic. Livy Ciotoli used to store her books in a warehouse. Eventually, she moved her books to her business, the Black Cat Market, a cat cafe that recently moved from Lawrenceville to Garfield. Now, Ciotoli is relaunching Livy’s Library, a program she created to help distribute those books to children ages 16 and younger through a free monthly book subscription service, with pickups available at the cafe. And kids get to keep the books they get. “Literacy for children, especially at a young age, is so crucial to the rest of their lives,” Ciotoli says. “So kind of just trying to bridge that gap a little bit. You know, obviously the public libraries are an option, but not everybody can get to them. It’s just also nice to have your own book to keep forever.” While this incarnation of Livy’s Library is new, with the Twitter page first sharing the link to sign up on May 1, this isn’t the first time Ciotoli has organized a literature accessibility project for kids. Her first iteration started in 2017 and was inspired by Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which provides children with free, new books until their fifth birthdays.

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Livy Ciotoli and Livy’s Library inside Black Cat Market

“LITERACY FOR CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY AT A YOUNG AGE, IS SO CRUCIAL TO THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.” At the time, Imagination Library didn’t have a partnership in Pittsburgh, so Ciotoli took matters into her own hands “to kind of fill the gap.” She primarily sourced gently used books from thrift stores, and she mailed them out to local kids. At the height of the program, she was shipping about 200 books per month, a process that relied on monetary donations and, eventually, Ciotoli’s own money. “If you go to a thrift store, they’re just filled with gently used books. People are always trying to find places for them because kids grow out of them really quick,” says Ciotoli. “I almost was like a recycling program for people’s used books.” After about two years, Ciotoli ended the program. She cites costs of shipping as well as the time and energy required to open the Black Cat Market, which took away from her focus on distributing books. Also, when people were uncertain how COVID-19 spread, Ciotoli didn’t want to make anyone feel unsafe with her monthly book deliveries. Now, Livy’s Library lives again. “It just kind of felt like it was time for it,” says Ciotoli. This time around, she’s sourcing many of her books from individual donations as well as libraries. She’s posted in Facebook groups and on Twitter, encouraging people to drop off book donations at the Black Cat Market. “I think people during COVID are kind of, like, getting a little stir crazy,” Ciotoli says. “So they were going through their stuff and trying to maybe downsize their book collection.” Ciotoli currently has about 20 people signed up for this round of Livy’s Library. She hopes to work with local schools to distribute books as she did several years ago when she worked with Young Scholars of McKeesport Charter School, since it will allow her to provide books for more children and teens through the use of schools as distribution centers. “There’s almost a little bit of shame

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in asking for help sometimes, or guilt. And I think, with everything happening with the pandemic, it’s kind of blown that apart,” Ciotoli says. “There’s absolutely no shame in asking for things that you need. And there’s so many people willing to help.” While she only distributes books to children 16 years old and younger, she encourages people to bring any kind of book by the shop, since she donates any books that aren’t a ﬁt for the library to Book’Em, a program providing books to incarcerated people. She also maintains a free “take a book, leave a book” bookshelf at the Black Cat Market, which doesn’t have an age limit for use.

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For the books that fit the library’s age range, Ciotoli separates them based roughly on reading level, from board books, picture books, and early level readers for children through age 9, to first chapter books, middle-grade books, and young adult novels for older children and teens. Ciotoli tends to receive more young adult book donations than the other categories. In the past, she received so many young adult donations that she would occasionally send out two books to teens per month. She often struggles, however, to acquire books for younger readers, despite those age categories receiving the highest demand. “Board books are so difficult because babies, you know, they chew on them, they like to beat them up really bad,” Ciotoli says. “So typically, people just end up throwing those away.” People can donate by dropping off gently used books to the store, filling out a form on the library’s website for a home pick-up, or buying a book off of the library’s Amazon wish list. All books on the wish list are $10 or less to help keep donations affordable.

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Follow staff writer Kimberly Rooney 냖㵸蔻 on Twitter @kimlypso

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER JULY 14-21, 2021

.MUSIC.

SOULSHOWMIKE’S ALBUM PICKS BY MIKE CANTON CPCONTRIBUTORS@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

I discovered local jazz band Kinetic when they opened for Troy Roberts at the now-closed, fabled James Street Gastropub & Speakeasy in the North Side. The outfit included two musicians from Joy Ike’s group, rising vocalist Anqwenique, and bandleader Joe Sheehan. They were solid, and I made a point of attending Kinetic’s gigs after that. It was the early 2010s. The band’s first album, World of Wonder, became a regular play on The Soul Show. Next, I had the opportunity to witness the sophomore project’s recording and mixing. Songs of Lake Volta resulted from Sheehan’s visit to Ghana to study music and culture. His subsequent blending of the nation’s folk music with original compositions KINETIC earned a spot joesheehanmusic. on my 2018 Top com/kinetic Ten Albums list. Dances of Lake Volta, releasing Aug. 13, is the 2021 follow-up to Songs. Kinetic veterans like PJ Roduta and Samuel Boateng are in the mix, while Anita Brown Levels and Mariko Reid contribute as vocalists. The credits also include Reggie Watkins, Claude Flowers, Anthony Ambroso, James Johnson III, Roger Romero, and Maya Brown-Boateng. The band has evolved into a collective. When I looked at Dances’ song list, it was clear that the album includes many reinterpretations of Songs’ tracks. Ambroso’s guitar licks are nicely front and center on the new album, and the horns emerge with punch and texture. One of the brand new pieces, “Another Day,” is a favorite. You will dance. • Mike Canton is the longtime host and producer of The Soul Show on WYEP 91.3FM.

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Benji. works on his music inside ID Labs on Sat., Jan. 23, 2021.

.MUSIC.

THE RISE OF BENJI. BY DANI JANAE // DANIJANAE@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

OR MANY musicians, ﬁnding main-

stream success beyond their hometown is a dream that takes years to achieve. But Pittsburgh has seen some musicians, especially those in hip hop, rise to national and international fame. One of those musicians is Benji. With his most popular song at over 1 million streams and over 30,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, Benji.’s numbers speak for themselves. On Mon., June 28, Benji. — real name Ian Benjamin Welch — released his ﬁrst new solo music in years, “On God.” Pittsburgh City Paper reviewed the track and spoke with the artist about the upcoming re-release of his popular album Smile, You’re Alive! He shared how his early experiences shaped his musical path from a teen to an adult. “My parents, when I was around 3 years old, would let me sit with the

drummers in church to watch and learn, then occasionally play after service until they bought me my own white Pearl drum kit for the house, and the rest was history,” he says. Benji. wrote his first song when he was 17 and his first beat at 18 during his freshman year at Duquesne University. By the time he dropped out of college in 2015, Benji. says he could play seven instruments. “As far as training goes, there is no better teacher/coach than life itself. My purpose has always been to contribute to the relatable circumstances of our existence through my truth and mine alone, so that others can either learn or find the courage to be comfortable telling their truth as well,” he says. “With that said, finding the formula musically to properly conduct that flow has been a real challenge over the years and will continue to be for

years to come, as is the challenge for all artists of all mediums, but it’s been fun and a hell of a rollercoaster to say the least.” Benji’s quest to find that flow can clearly be seen in his catalogue, but especially in “On God.” It’s a track that sounds like the culmination of years of honing skills and passion. The song is full of bravado and brashness. From the second the beat kicks in, thumping against your ears, it’s in your face and bold. The lyrics only add to that vibe: “I run the show / I run the clock out / Your time is up now / Ride the wave, you’ll find the lighthouse, when all the lights out / I made a way / I made it happen / I’m fuckin wasted / A celebration for the payout, for all my patience / Take the homies to the steakhouse, we say our graces” “On God” is aware of Benji.’s success,

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“On God” cover

and is an homage to how far he’s come in the notoriously ruthless and unforgiving music industry. He has also had to overcome personal hardships, including ﬁnding out that a child he had with his girlfriend was not really his, and losing a friend to suicide. Both of these experiences inform Smile, You’re Alive!, the candid album that originally came out in 2018, and one which he’s been rerecording for an anticipated rerelease his Facebook page says is “ON THE WAY!” As someone who is seeing success beyond the Pittsburgh music scene, Benji. knows that the city has, in some ways, been integral in forming his talent and musical know-how. “I’ll always consider myself a Pittsburgh musician, and I’m proud of that. People need to know where someone like me comes from so they know that anything is possible from anywhere,” he says. “I have dreams and goals beyond this city, and to acquire such a wider audience in the manner that I did means a lot at this moment in time, especially for not having dropped any piece of solo music officially in over two years.” Benji. says that collaboration was the key to success. He mentions the many places he performed and the musicians he stood alongside. He played basement jams and speakeasies for years in places like The Bushnell

and James Street Gastropub. He worked with other local musicians like Clara Kent and Livefromthecity through Flow Lounge, an Oakland space he says allowed artists to showcase themselves. He also gives a shout out to BOOM Concepts, the Garﬁeld-based collective that often hosts artists and musicians.

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BENJI. soundcloud.com/avatarbenji

“On God” makes note of the importance of collaboration in its final moments with “I think I might need a prayer or two / Hail mary full of jungle juice / If you with it Ima thug with you / If you ain’t ’bout it, I don’t fuck with you.” The song is full of moments that both make note of Benji’s progress while also nodding to collaborators and others who have supported him through the years. “The journey has had its ups and downs just like any journey,” he says. “You find out a lot about yourself, good and bad. If you commit, ultimately those ups and downs shape you into the person capable of handling the next set of ups and downs as you go along, and so on and so forth. When you look back and realize the floor you’re standing on was once a ceiling above your head, it makes it all worth it to keep going.”

•

Follow staff writer Dani Janae on Twitter @figwidow PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER JULY 14-21, 2021

CP PHOTO: AMANDA WALTZ

Motorcycle and cycling outfits at Sporting Fashion: Outdoor Girls 1800 to 1960

.ART.

SHE’S GOT THE LOOK BY AMANDA WALTZ // AWALTZ@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

EFORE EVEN entering the gallery for Sporting Fashion: Outdoor Girls 1800 to 1960, the latest exhibition at the Frick Art Museum, I’m met with possibly the most badass looking mannequin I’ve ever seen. Posed confidently next to a vintage HarleyDavidson motorcycle, the model cuts quite a figure in tall black leather boots and jodhpurs, flared-cuff gloves, and a striking red fuzzy sweater cinched by a wide belt. “Take me away, leather biker mommy,” I thought as I gazed longingly. The sight of a Mad Max-esque female

motorcyclist in the Frick’s staid, marbled lobby becomes all the more surprising considering that this daring ensemble comes from the 1930s, a placard describing how women created their own stylish protective gear to partake in the maledominated pastime. The display, which includes the juxtaposition of a more traditionally feminine ﬂoral bicycling uniform, sets the tone for the sartorial delights to come. On view through Sept. 26, Sporting Fashion features often fabulous, sometimes outrageous moments spanning

160 years of women’s recreational attire. Described as uniting “fashion, feminism, and the history of female athletes,” the show covers everything from team and winter sports and rugged pursuits like skiing and ranching to garments designed for travel and more laid-back activities like picnicking. Still, while women dared to venture out of the home and onto the ﬁeld, they made it fashionable, shown in delicately embroidered ﬁngerless gloves, tooled leather skate blade covers, voluminous mutton-chop sleeves, and numerous

other eye-catching artifacts. The effort to combine style and function varies from the practical to for-show only, such as a velvet, rhinestone covered swimsuit ill-suited for water. With each impeccably attired mannequin, guests are offered a glimpse at how women either deﬁed societal conventions or made compromises with them in order to participate in the fun freely enjoyed by men at the time. Learning that women wore restrictive dresses while scaling a rock wall, or had lead weights sewn into their riding CONTINUES ON PG. 16

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SHE’S GOT THE LOOK, CONTINUED FROM PG. 14

CP PHOTO: AMANDA WALTZ

Women’s boxing jacket at Sporting Fashion: Outdoor Girls 1800 to 1960

skirts to keep their petticoats and legs concealed is sure to elicit some halfamused eye rolls. This also led to some hilariously absurd inventions like the show’s “bathing machine,” a cumbersome, barrel-like contraption women strapped on so they could change in and out of complicated 1800s bathing suits. Even into the 20th century, as women began to wear more revealing clothing, the policing of their bodies persisted, illustrated with items like archival photos showing beach patrols measuring the length of swimsuits in the 1920s. The museum makes a concerted effort to show that “outdoor girls” were not exclusive to white middle to upper class women, with photos and Ebony magazine covers showing Black women on beaches, boats, and riding bicycles. Even so, the exhibition clearly grapples with the cultural appropriation and harmful practices that comes with each fashion era, especially the “Safari” bits. The museum confronts this issue with a

gentle — some might say too gentle — touch (an old Pendleton blanket has an “Indigenous pattern,” the Native American imagery on a cowgirl’s shirt are “romanticized and cliched motifs”) in an effort to be diplomatic as possible without shying away from the obvious.

SPORTING FASHION: OUTDOOR GIRLS 1800 TO 1960 Continues through Sept. 26. Frick Art Museum. 7227 Reynolds St., Point Breeze. $8-15, free for members and children 5 and under. thefrickpittsburgh.org

Among these dated or backwards details are hints of familiarity. Anyone who assumed doggie dress-up started with Paris Hilton would be surprised to see a canine mannequin wearing a smart little coat complementing the couture dress of their human companion. While roller derby has grown in popularity over

the past decade, it dates as far back as the 1940s, evidenced by a bright green uniform and gold helmet worn by a derby girl from Reading, Pa. What struck me most about Sporting Fashion, however, was how deeply it engaged visitors, regardless of their age. As I walked around, two little girls gasped and pointed out various things to their parents, and a 20-something couple wandered the gallery, quietly taking in each display. I was particularly charmed by two women who looked to be in their 70s reminiscing over pieces they recognized. “I had a Bermuda bag,” said one, pointing to a mannequin, followed later by a chat about how the bright, bold plaids they observed are still seen today. These interactions — which I have craved over the course of the pandemic — served as a reminder that, while we have (mostly) moved on from the sexist conﬁnes of past women’s sportswear, it still carries a timeless quality with the power to inform and inspire.

Follow a&e editor Amanda Waltz on Twitter @AWaltzCP

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

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LOVE COLORING? Love supporting local artists?

CP PHOTO: OWEN GABBEY

Voodoo Brewery’s αphotic

.DRINK.

BEER OF THE WEEK BY OWEN GABBEY //OGABBEY@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

BEER OF THE WEEK: Voodoo Brewery’s αphotic BREWERY: Voodoo Brewery (voodoobrewery.com)

OMETIMES, YOU ZERO IN on a beer for its consistency, its everyday availability. Then, there are beers you have every once in a while for their opulence, to savor every note. This is how to appreciate Voodoo Brewery’s αphotic. It has a deep flavor profile, rich in chocolate, with notes of dark fruit, and the roasty and smoky tastes of a big stout by a campfire. The barrel-aged American Imperial Stout clocks in at a whopping 12.3% ABV, so sip slowly. Barrel-aged stouts can often overwhelm, as strong and boozy as they tend to be. And this one certainly is boozy, with a pour that resembles something like motor oil and a smell that is strong. But Voodoo is excellent at finding the nuance in these beers, and letting the other notes present in the beer come out to play as well. Voodoo has been one of the staples of Western Pennsylvania’s craft beer scene, since before when microbreweries were on every street corner. Employeeowned and now with 10 different locations from Homestead to Las Vegas, Voodoo has churned out high quality, readily available beer to the masses. However, once every two weeks, they

release a special brew from their Barrel Room Collection. Obtained through a Google Form that enters you into a rafﬂe for a chance to buy from their older brews, Voodoo’s barrel room beers are difﬁcult to get and valued by the beer community. Voodoo’s αphotic is the perfect example of why people seek them out. Everything about the beer, from the 12ounce bottle dipped in all black wax to the process of making the beer screams excess. But under the thoughtful touch of Voodoo’s brewers, it becomes a real treat. The brewery describes αphotic as a stout aged in “what we can only describe as truly unique and one-of-a-kind barrels.” In this case, those barrels are French Oak XO Cognac casks that were hand-picked by Kentucky-based Woodford Reserve’s Master Distiller for three full seasons of cognac, and then aged 27 months. That is … a lot to process, and it makes a complex beer. I can’t advocate for these as your everyday beers. It’s heavy, it’s decadent, and it ain’t cheap. But the care and extra mile that goes into the beer pays off in the end, and is worth the hype.

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Purchasing this coloring book supports Pittsburgh City Paper journalism and 50% of the proceeds are split among the 35 Pittsburgh artists who have illustrated for this coloring book: • • • • • • • • • • • •

Howard Bender Berry Meat Jeff Brunner Jerome “Chu” Charles D.J. Coffman Cathy Connor David Coulson Vince Dorse Lucy Engelman Kirsten Ervin Trenita Finney Kim Fox / workerbird

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Amy Garbark / garbella Brian Gonnella Nils Hanczar John Hinderliter Natiq Jalil Xiola Jensen Christina Lee Pat Lewis Nathan Mazur Emily McGaughey Maggie Lynn Negrete Angela Oddling

• • • • • • • • • • •

Ashley Olinger Sophia Marie Pappas Jayla Patton David Pohl Harley Skibicki strawberryluna Joyce Swope Emily Traynor Marcel Walker Wayno Joe Wos

Visit pghcitypaperstore.com to get your copy today! PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER JULY 14-21, 2021

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CP PHOTOS: TERENEH IDIA

Mia Marshall in front of Wavy Wednesday’s mural in Wilkinsburg

Name: Mia Marshall Pronouns: She/her Title: Owner of Luxurae Hair Instagram: @miarashawnmarshall and @Luxurae_Hair

.FASHION.

CLOTHES MAKE ...

MIA MARSHALL BY TERENEH IDIA // CPCONTRIBUTORS@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Clothes Make featured guests get to select where they are photographed. What made you pick this location? [In front of Pittsburgh artist Wavy Wednesday’s “Ardmore Goddess” mural, at the corner of Franklin Avenue and Ardmore Boulevard in Wilkinsburg.] It’s a stand out piece to me, and I just love how vibrant and noticeable she is when you drive by the building she’s on. I couldn’t think of a more beautiful place to shoot. How would you define your style? Over the years, my style has evolved. Currently, I love a stand-out piece or two, whether it’s with my hair, jewelry, my shoes, etc., something is going to catch your eye. However, at my core, comfort is the most important thing for me. No matter the occasion, I have to feel comfortable in it! I’m also trying not to overthink my outfits, and I just try to remember to let it flow. That’s when I feel my best.

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Mia Marshall’s Nike Air Max

Who are your style inspirations? Everyday people, whether it’s online or in person. I have no problem asking somebody where they got a certain piece or just giving a compliment. I’ll remember a certain look. Do you dress differently for your various roles, and if so, in what way? Since I work for myself and the majority of the time from my home, I have the freedom to dress however I would like. So sometimes it can be a challenge for me to transition from my home to outdoors. But I think that challenge helps me to get creative and not lose my sense of style. Do you have any gifts from someone that you wear often or every day? I got a Brandon Blackwood bag for my birthday from my friends, and I instantly loved it. It’s a bookbag-style bag and when I got it, I wore it for two months straight. I have a habit of, when I love something, I wear it into the ground. I love your braids, I was embarrassed to show up today with my DIY twists. I had to wear a hat to cover up the beginnings since you are such a professional. When I think of summer, I think of braids and twists. What is summer like for you as a hair braider, and what style trends are you seeing? And do you have appointments available? ;) So summer is always busy for me, which I’m very grateful for. I have been booked almost every day this year and right now,

I’m booked until August! Lol. Since starting almost two years ago, Luxurae has definitely grown and I’ve done many different styles. I’ve found the most popular braiding style that I come across are Knotless Box Braids in all sizes, lengths, and colors. My clients always comment on how lightweight and long lasting that style is for them. I think longevity is the key with that style.

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“AT MY CORE, COMFORT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR ME.” I love the tonal neutral look of this outfit and then the pop of color from the gold in the hair, to the gold on your ears, fingers, wrists. Then, the amazing nails and Nikes and, of course, the Hot Pink Telfar! Please tell me everything about what you’re wearing. So hair by me, the oversized button up is from ASOS, black shirt and shirts from Forever 21, Air Max from Nike, and Small Azalea Telfar. I can’t remember where I got my accessories from, but this outfit is a versatile look for me. I can wear it in the house, out to eat/shop, and if I would like to go out after, I can do that too. To be honest, I had a completely different outfit in mind, but it wasn’t fitting my mood. I’m glad I went with this look! •

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Follow featured contributor Tereneh Idia on Twitter @Tereneh152XX PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER JULY 14-21, 2021

SEVEN DAYS IN PITTSBURGH

PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE MALL AT ROBINSON

^ Christmas in July at The Mall at Robinson

THU., JULY 15 EVENT • VIRTUAL Hotline Ring returns for its second year to support arts and entertainment programs in Pittsburgh. In the virtual world again this year, you’ll be able to enjoy live performances from your home and support organizations like 1Hood Media, BOOM Concepts, Braddock Carnegie Library Association, Dreams of Hope, The Legacy Arts Project, and PearlArts. This year’s program is also offering snack boxes from Casa Brasil, and a Sugar Fix Box from Everyday’s a Sunday. Donations are encouraged and can be given online now. 6-10 p.m. Streaming on YouTube. Free. kelly-strayhorn.org/hotlinering

FRI., JULY 16 FESTIVAL • IRL Dozens of the most delicious food trucks in the area are meeting at the Meadows

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Racetrack & Casino for a weekend at the 2021 Greater Pittsburgh Food Truck Festival. The food trucks will be joined by live entertainment, craft beer and wine, regional artisans and vendors. Family Fun Night on Friday also brings kids’ activities and wiener dog races. 5-9 p.m. Continues through Sun., July 18. 210 Racetrack Road, Washington. Free. pghfoodtruckfest.com

OUTDOOR • IRL Fox Chapel Parks Conservancy invites you to discover clusters of Pittsburgh Opera singers and Attack Theatre dancers in Hardie Valley Park during the Summer Candlelit Field Wander. The candlelit fields will create what the conservancy calls a “reverent, diaphanous experience.” To maintain that atmosphere, they ask that people speak in hushed voices and mute their cell phones. Appropriate walking footwear is also recommended. Guests park at the Fairview Elementary School and board shuttles going to the fields every 15 minutes. 9-10 p.m. 738 Dorseyville Road,

Fox Chapel. Free. Registration required. foxchapelparksconservancy.org

SAT., JULY 17 COMEDY • IRL Showcasing her talents on CONAN, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show, comedian Angelina Spicer is ready to take on Pittsburgh at the Tull Family Theater. The Postpartum Revolution Road Trip chronicles Spicer’s journey into motherhood and her struggle with postpartum depression. At the event, she’ll screen her comedy special, then open the floor for discussion with other survivors and local experts, connecting moms to the care they need when struggling with PPD. 7-9:30 p.m. 418 Walnut St., Sewickley. $19.50. thetullfamilytheater.org

EVENT • IRL Pittsburgh might be surfing through successive heat waves, but The Mall at Robinson is giving people a taste of winter with the Nutcracker Crawl.

This Christmas in July event features 50 nutcrackers from The Steubenville Nutcracker Village, as well as “elfie” photo stations, specialty drinks such as the Grinch Frappucino, and rides on the Robinson Express. Events with Mrs. Claus will also occur throughout the month, including cookie decorating, cupcake decorating, and storytime. Continues through July 31. 100 Robinson Centre Drive, Robinson. Free. shoprobinsonmall.com/event

SUN., JULY 18 ART • IRL The Pittsburgh Drawing Meetup Group is hosting a “drink and draw” event at the Irma Freeman Center For Imagination. The venue is right next door to Bantha Tea Bar which offers a variety of unique tea flavors. Grab a drink and gather your favorite art supplies for a day of blended creativity. The Pittsburgh Drawing Meetup Group welcomes all ages to participate in the

PHOTO: MATTHEW LITTLE

^ 2019 Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Tune-Up

event. 2:30-4:30 p.m. 5006 Penn Ave., Bloomfield. Pay what you can. meetup. com/pittsburgh-drawing-meetup-group

WED., JULY 21

MON., JULY 19

Calling all car lovers! SouthSide Works is hosting the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Tune-Up, an automotive showcase featuring hundreds of different cars. No matter what era or style of car you prefer, Tune-Up will have it, including race cars, exotics, antiques, and show 327999_4.75_x_4.75.indd cars. The festival will also have a live performance from acoustic trio The Bricks in the plaza beside Hofbräuhaus. 6-9 p.m. 424 South 27th St., South Side. $20-40. southsideworks.com/featured-events •

MUSIC • VIRTUAL Let Pinchas Zukerman’s virtuosity on the violin and viola wash over you during Bow and Baton, an evening with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Zuckerman presents centuries of music, from Georg Philipp Telemann’s “Concerto in G major” to Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Concerto No. 1 in A minor for Violin and Orchestra, BWV 1041” to Benjamin jamin Britten’s “Six Metamorphoses afterr Ovid, Opus 49.” Principal oboe Cynthia nthia Koledo DeAlmeida will also feature re on the solo “Interlude.” 7:30 p.m. Available ailable through 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 1. $15. 5. pittsburghsymphony.org/calendar

EVENT • IRL

7/6/21 12:26

TUE., JULY 20 MUSIC • IRL If you love classic jazz, and especially ally the music of Louis Armstrong, you u won’t want to miss The Hot Club at Alphabet City. This deep dive into the work of Armstrong will take ake place in person at the Sampsonia Way Tent. Hot Club leader Tom Roberts will be there to help d listeners unpack the incredible and complicated life of Armstrong, with th rare and recently discovered images es gs. and restorations of early recordings. 8-9:15 p.m., 318 Sampsonia Way, North Side. Free. Reservation required. alphabetcity.org

IRL = IN REAL LIFE EVENT VIRTUAL = STREAMING OR ONLINE-ONLY EVENT

PHOTO: COURTESY OF POSITIVE JAM PR

Angelina Spicer >

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER JULY 14-21, 2021

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IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-21-6051. In re petition of Dennis Ray Williams for change of name to Dennis Ray Clinkscale. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the ﬁling of said petition and ﬁxed the 26th day of July, 2021, at 9:30 a.m., as the time and the Motions Room, City-County Building, Pittsburgh, PA, as the place for a hearing, when and where all persons may show cause, if any they have, why said name should not be changed as prayed for

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-21-005112. In re petition of Joseph Dennis Wierderhold and Ashley Maureen Lewis for change of name to Joseph Dennis Fischer and Ashley Lewis Fischer. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the ﬁling of said petition and ﬁxed the 28th day of July, 2021, at 9:30 a.m., as the time and the Motions Room, City-County Building, Pittsburgh, PA, as the place for a hearing, when and where all persons may show cause, if any they have, why said name should not be changed as prayed for

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-21-6768. In re petition of Nicole Lee Laird for change of name to Nicole Lee Akoni. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the ﬁling of said petition and ﬁxed the 21st day of August, 2021, at 9:30 a.m., as the time and the Motions Room, City-County Building, Pittsburgh, PA, as the place for a hearing, when and where all persons may show cause, if any they have, why said name should not be changed as prayed for

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-20-13139. In re petition of Edward Lee Butler II for change of name to Noble Ominira. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the ﬁling of said petition and ﬁxed the 13th day of August, 2021, 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

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