BY: RACHEL WILKINSON
PITTSBURGH’S ALTERNATIVE FOR NEWS, ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT SINCE 1991
MATTHEW MONROY
PHOTO: COURTESY OF MIA, AGE 12
PHOTO: COURTESY OF SAEED BOLDEN
Nailing It Nailing It
Not Your Mom's makes the nail salon fun for adults and kids
BY: RACHEL WILKINSON // RWILKINSON@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
Even from the road, Not Your Mom’s Nail Studio stands out. Facing Monroeville’s William Penn Highway, the studio’s sign is bright yellow with tropical monstera leaves, a nod to owner Alex Zimmerman’s Cuban heritage.
“I went with that look because that’s how my grandmother and mother decorated their houses,” Zimmerman tells Pittsburgh City Paper
The logo is in keeping with the studio’s concept of “not your mom, but [still] Mom,” she explains, and every element of its design “has significance.”
Opened over Mother’s Day weekend, Zimmerman launched Not Your Mom’s Nail Studio with a clear mission: to provide quality nail services in a safe and inclusive environment.
“That means that you are cared for regardless of your age, your gender, your race, everything,” she says. “This is a space that you want to be in.”
For Zimmerman, who has worked as a nail artist and natural nail specialist for six years, that also meant upending some nail salon conventions, starting with creating a space that supports parents and caretakers as much as their children.
“When I think about your mom’s anything growing up, it was always ‘sit down, wait for me,’” Zimmerman
says. “And it really wasn’t welcoming for everyone. It was welcoming for your mom, because your mom was getting something done, but that’s where it ended.”
coming for your mom, because your mom was getting something
“art room” where they can choose
doughnut sculptures, and giant plastic
The entryway at Not Your Mom’s immediately sets a different tone — guests are greeted by bright yellow walls and balloon art, leading to an “art room” where they can choose their nail polish colors from iridescent floating shelves. The entire room is “treat-themed” with colorful gummy bear and popsicle pop art, framed doughnut sculptures, and giant plastic Ring Pops lining the walls.
“I just wanted it to be that childhood feeling of being a kid in a candy store,” Zimmerman says. “You’re coming into the art room and picking your supplies.”
hood feeling of being a kid in a candy
After moving into the space in January, Zimmerman worked over nearly five months to make each room at Not Your Mom’s a “rainbow of colors.”
“As an artist myself, I love being surrounded by all of the colors,” she says. “I love to decorate. It’s a passion of mine. And so to bring it into this space and share it with everyone is like an art form in and of itself.”
A kid’s lounge and waiting room — observable on baby monitors
PHOTO: CHRIS ZIMMERMAN Disney-themed nails featuring Ursela from The Little Mermaid by Not Your Mom's Nail Studio
throughout the studio — invites caretakers to bring their children with them while getting their nails done. Kids are treated to educational toys, a Barbie dollhouse, and a wall of classic Disney VHS tapes to watch, still in their original plastic boxes.
The room’s whimsical decor is inspired by Zimmerman’s own childhood visit to Cinderella’s Castle at Disney World. For its 25th anniversary in 1996, the castle was transformed into a giant pink birthday cake with faux icing, lollipops, and gumdrops, which inspired the studio lounge’s wall art and foam cake slice pillows.
“It just brings you happy,” Zimmerman says. “You can’t be in a bad mood in here.”
Zimmerman advocates for natural nail health and enjoys educating clients, while also being sought after for her elaborate nail art. Not Your Mom’s also specializes in dry manicures and pedicures — both done without soaking — which are safer for diabetic clients.
Nail services at Not Your Mom’s take place across three larger-thanlife themed rooms: a Harry Potter private pedicure space with butterscotch candy on hand; a “Queen Room” with a bejeweled wall and gold-framed portraits; and a Barbie Dreamhouse-styled nail suite with walls of collectibles including Star Trek Barbie and Ken and vintage pink lunch boxes.
“I JUST WANTED IT TO BE THAT CHILDHOOD FEELING OF BEING A KID IN A CANDY STORE.”
The studio’s services range from a classic manicure to glitter art and accents to custom pet portraits. Recent nail art shared on the studio’s Instagram includes tiger-striped nails with a tiger shark and an intricate design featuring Disney’s Maleficent.
“All nails are worthy of nail art!” Zimmerman writes on the studio’s scheduling page. “Short, long. Fingers, toes. Women, men. Nails are mini canvases and an amazing
“It’s really important to put family first,” Zimmerman says, and she credits her family’s support with enabling her to open Not Your Mom’s.terscotch candy on hand; a “Queen Room” with a bejeweled wall and gold-framed portraits; and a Barbie Dreamhouse-styled nail suite with Star Barbie and Ken and vintage pink
A nook with a coat rack and green canopy — nicknamed “the Family Tree” — displays Zimmerman’s own family photos. Her blended family of seven gets together annually for a group Halloween portrait, with a theme assigned by her 12-year-old daughter, Mia. (One portrait with a The Nightmare Before Christmas theme has Zimmerman dressed as Oogie Boogie.)
PHOTO: CHRIS ZIMMERMAN
Brightly painted entrace way at Not Your Mom's
PHOTO: CHRIS ZIMMERMAN Pedicure area at Not Your Mom's
“We are a whole unit, so it’s important to share our family with families coming in.”
The family-friendliness even extends to the nail studio’s bathroom, which includes a collapsible changing table.
“As a mom, I’ve gone into places where I’ve had to change my kid on the floor, and that sucks,” Zimmerman says.
In contrast, she “affectionately” calls Not Your Mom’s bathroom “the crappiest bathroom,” and it includes a wall of pop culture icons pictured using the toilet: Ross from Friends, cartoon characters Bluey and SpongeBob, and the infamous bathroom scene from Bridesmaids
“There’s references for every age and whatnot. I tried to think of everything, so to speak,” Zimmerman says with a laugh.
Though the nail studio is meant to be a lighthearted and fun place, Zimmerman takes its mission seriously, understanding clients’ complex relationships with mothering and care.
A member of the LGBTQ
community, Zimmerman says,
“I’m accepted by my mother, [but] I know so many who are not. And so I want you to feel safe when you come in here. As a mom, I want to care for you.”
good, warm feelings that you think
“Maybe you don’t have a mom, or maybe maybe your relationship is difficult. Or maybe you have a stepmom that looks like Mom,” she reflects. “I just want to invoke those good, warm feelings that you think of when you hear ‘Mom,’ whether it’s something you wish you had or you do have … At Not Your Mom’s, I’m not yours, but I am Mom. In this space, I will care for you as a mother should.”
Zimmerman emphasizes that Not Your Mom’s is “not just a nail salon.”
“It’s more than that,” she says. “We want to make a difference in the community.” Since opening, Not Your Mom’s has undertaken fundraising and charity work, and launched a Support Your Local Artist program.
community.” Since opening, Not Your Mom’s has undertaken fundraising and charity work, and launched a Support Your Local Artist program.
A dedicated space in the studio allows artists and craftspeople to showcase their work for free. The program has highlighted homemade
A dedicated space in the studio
PHOTO: CHRIS ZIMMERMAN
Large faux monstera leaves fill the hallway at Not Your Mom's
PHOTO: CHRIS ZIMMERMAN The Disney VHS viewing area
PHOTO: CHRIS ZIMMERMAN
Flamingos and lawn mowing scene on the restroom ceiling at Not Your Mom's
candles and taxidermy-style art from Adrienne Keller, with an upcoming artist slated to hang handmade rugs. Zimmerman says the studio is the realization of a longtime dream, one she didn’t always envision for herself. “Life just hits you, and it hits you over
and over and over. And sometimes you don’t get to that place,” she says.
“I just love what I do … and I found a new purpose in life. And now to show my kids this and to share it with my community is just amazing. It is the best feeling.” •
PHOTO: MIA, AGE 12
Alex Zimmerman at Not Your Mom's Nail Studio
THE LEGAL EAGLE
How a local football player and amateur wrestler left Pittsburgh and law school for the WWE
BY: ANTONIO ROSSETTI // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
PHOTO: COURTESY OF WWE Luca Crusifino in the ring
Luca Crusifino, real name Roman Macek, was approaching one of the busiest times of his life in 2022 with both oral arguments for law school at Duquesne and practices for the Duquesne spring football scrimmage on his calendar. These plans changed quickly when he received a message from World Wrestling Entertainment.
“They said ‘this is so and so with the WWE. We want you to try out for us soon,’” Crusifino tells Pittsburgh City Paper. “He said that there was a tryout in Dallas for Wrestlemania, and I was like, ‘OK, that’s something I definitely want to do.’ It’s been my dream my entire life. Then he told me the dates, and the dates lined up with my spring football game, and it lined up with my oral arguments for law school.”
Crusifino has always been a fan of WWE, and he knew that an opportunity like a WWE tryout wouldn’t come around every day. Still, he asked if there were tryouts later in the year.
“They said there were probably going to be some in the future, but they don’t know when they are,” Crusifino says. “I was like, ‘OK, so I have to try out.’ … I felt like I had to do it, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”
To his surprise, almost every single person in his life that he asked wanted him to follow his dream. Crusifino talked to the Duquesne football captains, and they gave him the thumbs up. The dean of his law school even told him to go and try out.
Crusifino knew that watching WWE and his amateur wrestling background would help tremendously, but he decided to get himself even more prepared.
Crusifino wrestled and played football for Montour High School. Cole Macek, his brother, got him connected with local Pittsburgh wrestler The Savage Gentleman Victor Benjamin (Shane Chojnacki).
He trained with Benjamin before his tryout. After he was hired by the company, Benjamin introduced him to Chris LeRusso who also showed him the ropes.
“Those are probably the two biggest influences and who helped me get ready for the tryout and just learn the basics, so I had a little bit of an edge at the tryout and [knew] what to do properly,” Crusifino says. “You don’t want to go to the tryout unproven.”
The tryout took place right before Wrestlemania 38. Crusfino arrived home in time to play in his spring football game after all, and patiently waited for the call. Eventually, it
arrived: the WWE offered him a contract.
After the call, he told his friends and family and couldn’t hold back the tears.
Crusfino says that his preparation and working with independent wrestlers is what took him above and beyond. His amateur wrestling background was a huge help, especially when it came to knowing how to land and throw wrestlers properly.
Fast-forward two years, and he is now on television weekly with “the Family,” comprised of leader “the Don of NXT” Tony D’Angelo, his tag team partner Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo, and Adriana Rizzo (NXT is a popular
THE LEGAL EAGLE, CONTINUES ON PG. 12
PHOTO: COURTESY OF WWE Luca Crusifino, aka the Legal Eagle
“WHEN YOU’RE THE DON AND YOU’RE RUNNING A GOOD FAMILY BUSINESS, YOU JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE A SMART ATTORNEY WITH YOU.”
sub-brand of WWE).
“After my match with Dijak, I guess Tony D’Angelo took notice of me as a new consigliere: Someone to help strategize for him, so he didn’t have to,” Crusifino says. “When you’re the Don and you’re running a good family business, you just have to make sure that you have a smart attorney with you, and everything that he’s doing is perfectly legal.”
Crusifino had his time as the heel, or villian, in many house shows. He fought the new face of NXT, Trick Williams, and Carmelo Hayes in backto-back weeks. In the ring, Crusifino insulted Dunkin’ doughnuts, which are the doughnuts usually served at
Alan Jay Arena in Sebring. Hayes then defeated him and shoved a doughnut in his mouth.
The heel work in both matches was well done. Crusifino said that the crowd enjoyed Hayes defeating him in Sebring, and that he was the most hated man in Fort Pierce when he fought Trick Williams the following week.
NXT took notice, putting him in one of the most dominant factions in 2024, the Family.
“You have people like the underboss, Stacks,” Crusifino says. “Stacks is awesome. My tag team partner, oh, I’ll put him over any day. He’s a great guy. He cares. He does anything for
the family. Same with Adrianna Rizzo. She’s awesome.”
His joining of the Family has come at a price — Crusifino has bought a new suit for every episode. The amount he’s spent is enough to where he won’t share the total.
Nevertheless, he is glad that what he went to law school — it’s become part of his gimmick as “the legal Eagle.”
Crusfino is thankful for all his coaches at the performance center, including Matt Bloom (A-Train), Robbie Brookside, and Oney Lorcan. He says that all were incredible to work with and that they are the nicest people he’s ever met.
He adds that his current coaches, Fit Finlay and Terry Taylor have had an extraordinary influence on his career thus far.
“Finlay, he’s the man, dude,” Crusifino tells City Paper . “He just teaches aggression and to be as real as possible. That’s what I like about it because when I’m wrestling, I don’t want someone to miss me. I want them to hit me in the face … When I was in the ring with Dijak, everything hurt, but it made me have real fire and emotion, and it brought it out of me.”
He also said that Sara Amato, also known as Sara Del Rey, and Johnny Moss are outstanding coaches as
PHOTO: COURTESY OF WWE
Luca Crusifino, second from right, with The Family, a popular NXT stable
Feeling Nostalgic?
well. Crusifino adds that top producer Terry Taylor, who was the infamous Red Rooster, is someone he is most impressed with in terms of wrestling.
“He has a great mind, and everything he does makes sense, and he teaches the in-between,” Crusifino says. “If you punch me in the face, I don’t just punch you right back. I have to register and know what just happened, and that you just did this to me. Show that emotion on my face, and then bring it back so it’s not as rushed. He’s so smart.”
Growing up, Crusifino was always a fan of the D-Generation X stable of
wrestlers. He now works with legends such as Shawn Michaels every day.
He recalls that, growing up, he and his brother were the tag team champions against stuffed animals.
Now, one of his goals is to become the NXT tag team champions with Stacks.
“How many people can say that they’re living their dream of everything that everyone could do as a kid?” Crusifino wonders.
“Sometimes during the week, I sit back and just say ‘I made it,’ because I don’t want it to end. I want it to go as long as possible.” •
PHOTO: COURTESY OF WWE
Luca Crusifino, right, with The Family, a popular NXT stable
ADJUSTING TO CHIROPRACTIC
In spite of the discipline’s dubious history, doctors say Pitt’s new chiropractic school is a key alternative to pills and surgery
BY: COLIN WILLIAMS // CWILLIAMS@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
The University of Pittsburgh announced earlier this spring that it would begin conferring Doctor of Chiropractic degrees through its School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. Pitt faculty have framed the move as a way to holistically address a common ailment that can be lifealtering: back pain.
“Our Doctor of Chiropractic curriculum will be congruent with the basic and clinical science curricula of other health care degrees offered
at Pitt,” Michael Schneider, the program’s director, tells Pittsburgh City Paper via email. “Course content will be based upon the best established and emerging evidence found in peer-reviewed orthopedic, physical therapy, chiropractic and other musculoskeletal scientific journals.”
Chiropractic has an interesting history — founded by Canadian American D.D. Palmer at the end of the 1800s, the discipline allegedly originated from a séance and
was originally bound up with other alternative healing practices such as magnetic therapy. Palmer was also vehemently opposed to vaccines and thought spinal adjustments could cure a wide variety of ailments beyond musculoskeletal issues.
Schneider says most of Palmer’s beliefs and practices have been consigned to the dustbin of history.
“There have been significant advances over the past 125 years,” Schneider says. “The chiropractic profession has improved the
level of its education, has produced a substantial body of clinical research, and has moved from being ‘alternative’ to ‘integrative.’”
The latter difference is more than semantic: 10 years ago, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) renamed the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health in a formal acknowledgment that traditional and alternative medicine can complement more
mainstream (or “allopathic”) care. In the case of chiropractic, the NIH sees room for the integration of chiropractic alongside orthopedic medicine and physical therapy.
Richard McGough, a Pitt professor and chief of the university’s Division of Musculoskeletal Oncology, says this is because back pain remains a stubborn problem that affects most people at some point in their lives.
“Much of what we do causes harm (surgery for back pain alone is wretched, we all remember the oxycontin epidemic…) or simply does not work,” McGough tells City Paper via email. (Other requests for comment to local orthopedists went unanswered.) “We are left with having patients stretch their backs, strengthen their core muscles, or go to PT (which is VERY expensive).”
individual practitioners and their specializations. Chiropractic adjustments can range from gentle manipulation of specific sites to power-assisted adjustment of the full spinal column on specialized “drop tables.”
Schneider says itt’s program will emphasize safety and patient outcomes. “Our curriculum will include an emphasis on public health, patient safety, and the importance of weighing the benefits and risks of all interventions, both chiropractic and medical,” he says. “There will be very few differences between the chiropractic and medical approaches to the clinical management of spine and musculoskeletal conditions, as they will be presented in our curriculum,” he says.
In spite of the historical differences between allopathic medi-
“WHEN WE IN MEDICINE HAVE ESSENTIALLY NOTHING THAT WORKS, TRYING ANYTHING SAFE MAY BE OF BENEFIT.”
McGough says though he’s not personally aware of data bearing out the efficacy of chiropractic treatment, he supports patients incorporating it into their healthcare regimen if desired. “When we in medicine have essentially nothing that works, trying anything safe may be of benefit. So for patients with back pain, I’m fine with chiropractic adjustments if patients want them,” he says. He adds that yoga and pilates can also be beneficial for back-pain sufferers.
Schneider says that chiropractic isn’t a “silver bullet” but notes the way treatment of back pain has shifted. The American College of Physicians, for example, “recommends nonpharmacological interventions as the first line management approach” for spinal issues.
While studies have found that spinal manipulation can cause adverse effects, some of this may be down to
cine and chiropractic, Schneider says the program has broad buy-in from Pitt medical faculty — “ several department chairs from the School of Medicine provided written letters of support” — and likewise has the backing of the Veterans Administration Pittsburgh Healthcare System HS . HS, like other health systems, has seen steady growth in demand for chiropractic and needs more providers to meet demand.
As the industry expands, Schneider is keen to emphasi e that chiropractic offers an alternative and complement to problematic pills and invasive operations.
“More serious adverse events [from chiropractic adjustments] are extremely rare,” he tells CP. “Many patients with non-serious low back and musculoskeletal pain choose chiropractic care because the benefits outweigh the risks.” •
LYNN CULLEN LIVE
10 A.M. MONDAY THRU THURSDAY AT
A LITTLE BIT ROCK ’N ROLL
How Benji. went from Pittsburgh rap phenom to rocking out in L.A.
BY: MATTHEW MONROY // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
Raised in a family of Sunday-morning gospel vocalists, Pittsburgh-raised rapper Benji. was always known as the non-singer of the pack. Much to their surprise — and his own — his latest EP, Love Gun 2, features more of his singing voice than ever before.
“It was almost a known thing, like, ‘Oh, Ian is not a singer,’” Benji., whose real name is Ian Benjamin Welsh, tells Pittsburgh City Paper . “‘He’s not the singer in the family, which is OK, because he’s a great musician, but he’s not going to be a singer.’ So it kind of caught everybody by surprise.”
On Love Gun 2, Benji.’s soulful voice bridges confessional rap lyrics with light, summery melodies. On “Radio,” the album’s lead single, he sings of wooing someone from outside their window, spinning this tried-and-true love story with old-school sultry passion.
A follow-up to last year’s Love Gun , Benji. wanted Love Gun 2 to explore the flip side of its predecessor’s lovestruck themes, evident in his anguished lyrics about an unhealthy relationship on “Keep Coming Back.”
PHOTO: COURTESY OF SAEED BOLDEN Benji.
“I felt duty - bound to present both sides, because so long as you love someone, that’s what’s going to happen,” Benji. says. “It either starts beautiful and gets ugly and returns to beautiful, or starts ugly, gets beautiful, and returns to ugly.”
It’d be easy to place Love Gun 2 in the same R&B-adjacent category as its counterpart, but songs such as “Message” and “Better” reveal Benji. to be equally interested in a kind of surfside alternative rock, packaged in polished rap production.
It’s a bold brew of sounds, with songs like “Radio” — the album’s most straightforward R&B track — leading into the Foo Fighters-influenced “Keep Coming Back.” Benji. traces the album’s range of genres to growing up in Homewood as the youngest in a family of musicians and singers.
production of artists such as Lupe Fiasco and Kid Cudi, Benji. started trying his hand at making his own beats, academics be damned.
“In between classes — and when I skipped classes — I would just stay in the cafeteria … I would sit there and learn how to make beats on YouTube, and I just fell in love with it,” Benji. recalls.
With the help of his older brother John, who would go on to produce music under the name Christo for rapper JID as well as on Love Gun 2, Benji. continued honing his skills.
After college, he officially decided to pursue a music career, releasing his ambitious first album, S mile, You’re Alive!, in 2018.
Benji.’s career took
“[GENE SIMMONS] HAD AN AXE BASS, AND I WAS LIKE, ‘THAT LOOKS REALLY COOL. I WANT A BASS GUITAR,’ AND THEN I GOT ONE AND HAVEN’T PUT IT DOWN SINCE.”
“We used to have this gigantic CD booklet,” Benji. says. “Pages, pages, and pages full of CDs from every genre — jazz, you know, to R&B to gospel to funk to soul. Everything you could probably think of.”
When asked about the artists from those CDs that stuck with him, Benji. name drops a laundry list of funk and soul legends, from Sly and the Family Stone to Luther Vandross, along with some unexpected rock bands such as Green Day and Kiss, the latter of which sparked his interest in bass guitar.
“[Gene Simmons] had an axe bass, and I was like, ‘That looks really cool. I want a bass guitar,’” he says, “and then I got one and haven’t put it down since.”
It wasn’t until Benji. started college at Duquesne University that hip-hop entered his life. Taken by the
a major step up when, in March 2020, his brother invited him to Atlanta to work with Spillage Village, a rap collective that includes JID and EarthGang members Olu and WowGr8.
When the pandemic hit a few days into the trip, the visit turned into an extended stay. The result? Benji. became a major contributor to Spillage Village’s quarantine-fueled album, Spilligion , and an official member of the group.
“I wasn’t going down there thinking, ‘I’m going to join Spillage Village.’ They were already a thing for years,” Benji. says. “I was just hoping to get some production credits or something, maybe a feature here and there. And then after we had pretty much wrapped up the project, I remember
seeing a tweet saying ‘Benji. is the newest member of Spillage Village.’”
Up until that point Benji. had still been living in Pittsburgh, but the Spillage Village news was the kick he needed to move out, he says.
“Pittsburgh was all I knew,” Benji. says. “It’s one of those leaps of faith that you take in this kind of journey. And at that point, I just felt like it was time, but also necessary if I do want to make it.”
Since then, he’s stayed busy. More
collaborations with Spillage Village, re-releases of his first album, even providing an earworm of a chorus on the EarthGang hit “Bobby Boucher.”
Now based out of Los Angeles, Benji. says he’s felt his priorities mature as his career grows — as long as his music continues to resonate, he’s happy.
“That means the world to me, because now, for me, music is like, as long as it’s there, it’ll find somebody,” Benji. says. “And that’s what’s most important to me.” •
DANCE • NORTH SIDE
FRI., JULY26
Dance Africa Pittsburgh: Heart to Heart 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Continues through Sun., July 28. New Hazlett Theater. Six Allegheny Square East, North Side. $29-39. newhazletttheater.org
FESTIVAL • HAZELWOOD
SSEVEN DAYS IN PITTSBURGH
Alternate Histories Greenfield Happy Hour Series. 3-7 p.m. Hazel Grove Brewing. 4609 Irvine St., Hazelwood. Free. RSVP required. alternatehistories.com
ART • SHARPSBURG
Artist Reception: Dark Mode by John Burt Sanders 5-8 p.m. Continues through Sept. 7. ZYNKA Gallery. 904 Main St., Sharpsburg. Free. zynkagallery.com
MUSIC • MILLVALE
BY CP STAFF
THU., JULY 25
FESTIVAL • NORTH SIDE
Head down the rabbit hole when the Children’s Museum presents a magical edition of their BLOOM Summer Arts Festival. The family-friendly event takes inspiration from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland for what’s described as a day of “whimsical art, music and flowers,” with themed activities ranging from a tea party to hat decorating. Guests can also expect yoga, family portrait sessions, and a jump rope performance by the Double Dutch Swing Squad. Floral outfits and accessories are encouraged. 6-8 p.m. 10 Children’s Way, North Side. $5. pittsburghkids.org
MUSIC • NORTH SHORE
Lyle Lovett and his Large Band. 6:30 p.m. Stage AE. 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. $39.50-89.50. promowestlive.com
MAGIC • OAKMONT
Smokus Pocus 8-9:30 p.m. The Oaks Theater. 310 Allegheny River Blvd., Oakmont. $35-150. theoakstheater.com
FRI., JULY 26
PARTY • OAKLAND
Make no bones about it, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History is celebrating 125 years of Dippy, its most famous dinosaur specimen. Pay tribute to the fossilized Diplodocus during After Dark: Dippy’s Rockstar Bash, a 21-and-over party featuring live music by local acts and various interactive activities, including a scavenger hunt and a talk by the museum’s senior dinosaur curator. Have fun while learning about dinos during this adult-oriented event. 6-10 p.m. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. $24, $19 for members. 21 and over. carnegiemnh.org
PARTY • NORTH SIDE
Night in the Tropics: Island Oasis. 7-10 p.m. VIP admission 5 p.m. National Aviary. 700 Arch St., North Side. $105-165. aviary.org
SPORTS • NORTH SHORE
Liverpool FC vs. Real Betis Balompié. 7:30 p.m. Acrisure Stadium. 100 Art Rooney Ave., North Shore. Tickets start at $75. acrisurestadium.com
SAT., JULY 27
OUTDOORS • EAST END
OpenStreetsPGH: Homewood and East End. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Multiple locations. East Liberty Blvd. at Liberty Green Park, Larimer Ave. to Broad St., Frankstown Ave. to Homewood Ave., Thomas Blvd. to Braddock Ave. Free. openstreetspgh.org
MARKET • LAWRENCEVILLE
Lawrenceville Vintage Market 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Lawrenceville Market House. 4112 Butler St., Lawrenceville. Free. instagram.com/lvmarkethouse
FILM • OAKLAND
Carnegie Museum of Art Film Series presents Power Plays 2-5 p.m. Carnegie Museum of Art. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. $8-10. carnegieart.org
OpenStreetsPGH:
Beings. 7:30 p.m. Sprezzatura. 112 E. Sherman St., Millvale. $20 in advance, $25 at the door. sprezzaturapgh.com/events
SUN., JULY 28
FESTIVAL • NORTH SIDE
Community Fest: The Archives 1-8 p.m. Mattress Factory. 509 Jacksonia St., North Side. Free. mattress.org
MUSIC • HAZELWOOD
Summer Sounds with Weather Permitting presents Los Gaiteros De San Jacinto. 5-10 p.m. Mill 19. 4501 Lytle St., Hazelwood. Free. RSVP required. hazelwoodlocal.com
JULYSAT.,27
PHOTO: JOSHUA FRANZOS/TREEHOUSE MEDIA
Dippy’s Rockstar Bash After Dark at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History
PHOTO: MURPHY LEE MOSCHETTA
Homewood and East End
MUSIC • MILLVALE
Sleater-Kinney hits Mr. Smalls during a tour to promote their latest album Little Rope. The 11th release from the feminist rock duo explores the grief member Carrie Brownstein felt after the tragic deaths of her mother and stepfather, delivering tracks that also touch on the many crises women now face. See these riot grrrl legends along with guest Die Spitz. 8 p.m Doors at 7 p.m. 400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale. $45. mrsmalls.com
MON., JULY 29
LIT • BLOOMFIELD
Mark Morton presents Desolation: A Heavy Metal Memoir 7-9 p.m. White Whale Bookstore. 4754 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield. $32. whitewhalebookstore.com/events
FILM • STRIP DISTRICT
The Junior Chamber of Commerce Players
Present Mamma Mia! 7:30 p.m. Doors at 6 p.m. City Winery. 1627 Smallman St., Strip District. $15-20. citywinery.com
TUE., JULY 30
THEATER • DOWNTOWN
Pittsburgh CLO presents Seussical 7 p.m. Continues through Aug. 4. Byham Theater. 101 Sixth St., Downtown. $45-83. pittsburghclo.org
COMEDY • MCKEES ROCKS
Comedy Bang! Bang! Live 7:30 p.m. Doors at 6:30 p.m. Roxian Theatre. 425 Chartiers Ave., McKees Rocks. Tickets start at $64. roxiantheatre.com
WED., JULY 31
MUSIC • ALLENTOWN
The Felice Brothers with Dead Gowns 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. Bottlerocket Social Hall. 1226 Arlington Ave., Allentown. $25 in advance, $30 at the door. bottlerocketpgh.com
PHOTO: KYLE CHRISTY/IFC Comedy Bang! Bang! Live at Roxian Theatre
PHOTO: ELLIOT CRAMER PHOTOGRAPHY Night in the Tropics: Island Oasis at the National Aviary
MARKET PLACE
HELP WANTED MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS
(MULTIPLE OPENINGS)
Canonsburg General Hospital seeks Medical Technologists (Multiple Openings) to work in Canonsburg, PA, and to independently perform routine and highly complex laboratory analyses on clinical specimens in one or more sections in the laboratory. Apply at: ahn.org/careers Job Code: J247800.
ESTATE NOTICE
ESTATE OF MOORE, HOWARD. DECEASED OF PITTSBURGH, PA
Howard Moore, deceased, of Pittsburgh, PA. No. 04720 of 2024.
Darryl Moore, 1855 Jamestown Ln.
#7305, West Melbourne, FL, 32904.
ESTATE NOTICE ESTATE OF STUART, RICHARD S., DECEASED OF PITTSBURGH, PA
Richard S. Stuart, deceased, of Pittsburgh, PA. No. 04349 of 2023.
William F. Ceroni, Extr., 211 S. Hitchman St., Mt Pleasant, PA 15666. Or to Roy J. Roscoe, Attorney. 400 Manordale Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15241.
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: 141 N Braddock Ave, Pittsburgh PA, 15208 on August 7th, 2024 at 11:00 AM. 1100A Aron Gutman, 1168A Tenika Chavis, 2018 Leroy Currie Jr, 2229A Frenchie Ske ery, 2250A Tyann Wolford, 3271A Brian Dallas, 6033 Loraine Orange, M014 Bernardius Sr Ryce. 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.
PUBLIC AUCTION
Extra Space Storage, on behalf of 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: 3200 Park Manor Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15205 on August 7, 2024 at 1:00pm. 3156 Greene Electrical Technical Services; 3205 Carrie Scheller; 7011 Nicole Verner. 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.
For
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: 1212 Madison Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. August 7, 2024 at 1:30 PM. Dontea Posey 1007, Shyvonne Hall 1052, Alissa Myers 3019, Terryn Smith 4071, Justin Day 6050. 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.
PUBLIC AUCTION
Extra Space Storage, on behalf of itself or its a iliate’s Life Storage or Storage Express, will hold a public auction to sell the contents of leased spaces to satisfy Extras Space’s lien at the location indicated: 902 Brinton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15221 on Aug 7, 2024 at 11:30am. Warren Wilson 1241. 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 property.
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: 6400 Hamilton Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 on August 8th, 2024 at 1:45 PM; 1025 Sadie Moore 5050 Shekena Thompson. 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.
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: 1005 E Entry Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15216 on 08/07/2024 at 11:30 AM. Stephen Buzza 3123, Justin Bush 5103, Charlene Goodnight 9107. 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.
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: 700 E Carson St, Pittsburgh, PA 15203. August 7, 2024 at 12:15 PM. Stacey Lynn Jones 162, Camal Wagner 2208, Freda Jenkins 3029, Aniya Tyre 3180, and Jenna Marin 4023. 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.
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, August 7, 2024, at 1:15 PM. Tracey Malley 1129, Taneika Gri in 3112, Randy Coleman 4113. 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.
NAME CHANGE
IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-24-002005, In re petition of Meagan Rucker, parent and legal guardian of Leiana Camille Rucker, minor, for change of name to Leiana Camille Rucker Raglin. 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 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.
STUDY SMOKERS WANTED
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
THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION of the SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS PGH.
Sealed proposals shall be deposited at the Administration Building, Bellefield Entrance Lobby, 341 South Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15213, on July 30, 2024, until 2:00 P.M., local prevailing time for:
6-12
HIGH SCHOOL) (*REBID*) • Bleacher Demolition and UST Removal • General Primes
Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on June 30, 2024, at Modern Reproductions (412-488-7700), 127 McKean Street, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15219 between 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. The cost of the Project Manual Documents is non-refundable. Project details and dates are described in each project manual.
We are an equal rights and opportunity school district.
CUEBALLS
ACROSS
1.
Trips up and down the pool
5. Stream when no hits are coming
10.
Score marking
14.
Last story
15. Eagle’s home
16. Hawaiian seaport
17.
What has all your answers about toy mogul Frederick?
19. “Assuming that’s true ...”
20. Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication coll.
21. Stew server
22. Words from the devout
23. “Just Like Heaven” band
25. Protection around a castle
26. Figure things out while excluding people from a game?
31. Friend of Seinfeld and Costanza
34.
Where it’s at
35.
Leave an imperfection
36. Black-and-white cookie
37. Subj. for those studying Skinner
39.
“Genesis does what Nintendon’t” sloganeer
40. “___, this is an Arby’s!”
41. Bank holding
42. Sheldon’s
twin sister in The Big Bang Theory
43. Vol. measurement of a lot of HäagenDazs?
47. Ram’s noise?
48. Finish next to
52. Gender reveal party invitation image
54. “Let’s keep in touch on socials!”
56. Tokyo’s old name
57. Art colony of New Mexico
58. Ground zero of where things are thrown?
60. Fair where 61-Acrosses are shown
61. See 60-Across 62. Felipe, Jesús, or Matty of baseball
63. Swing and a ___
64. 23-Across leader Robert
65. Singer Peniston
DOWN
1. Suitable for losers
2. Put to shame
3. State of vexation
4. Paved ways: Abbr.
5. Desert so big it can be seen from space
6. More blue
7. ___ Mountains (Europe/Asia border)
8. Filth
9. Skull candy?
10. 2015 Spike Lee movie
11. Eternities, so to speak
12. “Or ___ what?”
13. What’s for dinner?
18. You’re looking at ‘em
22. Scratch output
24. Nile queen, for short
25. “Vaccines contain microchips,” e.g.
27. “Tearin’ Up My Heart” boy band
28. Pen name
29. Bothers nonstop
30. Battleship color
31. Final villain in a level
32. Actor La Salle
33. Indoor b-ball game
37. Tool for shredding
38. “Ya got me?”
39. ___ Liu (ShangChi and the Legend of
the Ten Rings actor)
41. Sausage serving
42. Movie character whose full name is Mabel Earlene Simmons
44. Chests
45. En fuego
46. Intertwine
49. Jordan who runs Monkeypaw Productions
50. Like some exploratory committees
51. Covering in the kitchen
52. Flute part
53. Ride provider in a RideGuru search
54. “Excuse me”
55. Half: Pref.
58. Bombs delivered by a Jet
59. Roomba’s cuz
LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS
ADVERTISING SALES
This role requires a sales and marketing-minded individual who desires an exciting opportunity to earn uncapped commissions and focus on connecting the local Pittsburgh business owners and organizations with marketing strategies including print, digital, events, sponsorships and social media advertising. This person desires to work with a supportive team base and the passion to build the brand within the community. This position includes a current client base to manage, foster and grow while also focusing on acquisition of new clients to hit monthly goals set forth by the company.
This position needs an individual with in-depth knowledge and understanding of the local market and understands the competitive landscapes that many SMBs face today. The ideal candidate is motivated and focused on revenue growth across all platforms with the intention of meeting and exceeding revenue goals.