August 4, 2021 - Pittsburgh City Paper

INSIDE: GROUP LAUNCHES TO TAKE OVER ALLEGHENY COUNTY’S DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE FROM THE INSIDE

PITTSBURGH’S ALTERNATIVE FOR NEWS, ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT SINCE 1991

PGHCITYPAPER.COM PGHCITYPAPER PGHCITYPAPER PITTSBURGHCITYPAPER

AUG. 4-11, 2021

Lawrenceville residents and community advocates are worried a proposed Amazon center will bring more than anyone ordered

4 Smithfield Street, Suite 1210 Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412.685.9009 E-MAIL info@pghcitypaper.com

pghcitypaper.com PGHCITYPAPER PITTSBURGHCITYPAPER

AUG. 4-11, 2021 VOLUME 30 + ISSUE 31

FIRSTSHOT

BY KAYCEE ORWIG

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.

People ride the new Spin Scooters around Pittsburgh on Sun., Aug. 1.

GENERAL POLICIES: Contents copyrighted 2021

by Eagle Media Corp. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in Pittsburgh City Paper are those of the author and not necessarily of Eagle Media Corp. LETTER POLICY: Letters, or e-mails must be signed and include town and daytime phone number for confirmation. We may edit for length and clarity. DISTRIBUTION: Pittsburgh City Paper is published weekly by Eagle Media Corp. and is available free of charge at select distribution locations. One copy per reader; copies of past issues may be purchased for $3.00 each, payable in advance to Pittsburgh City Paper.

FIRST CLASS MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS: Available for $250 per year (52 issues), $150 per half year (26 issues), or $32 per six weeks. For more information, visit pghcitypaper.com and click on the Subscribe tab.

COVER DESIGN: LISA CUNNINGHAM READ THE STORY ON PAGE 4

2

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

76

79

279

19

BYP

8

19

28

76

65

376 30

79 51

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUGUST 4-11, 2021

3

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Justin Rossini walks by the proposed Amazon warehouse near his home in Lawrenceville.

THE BIG STORY

OPPOSING AMAZON

BY KIMBERLY ROONEY 냖㵸蔻 // KIMROONEY@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

4

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

A

S LAWRENCEVILLE’S business district has grown and the neighborhood has gentrified, it has faced issues with housing, traffic, and pedestrian and bike safety, especially along Butler Street. Residents and community groups are trying to address these challenges and have created projects for the future, but many are worried that online retail giant Amazon has different plans for Lawrenceville.

Amazon announced in December 2020 its intention to develop the old Sears outlet warehouse on 51st Street into a last-mile distribution center in Lawrenceville, part of an attempt to speed up deliveries by opening stations closer to their final destinations. In April, PennLive reported that Amazon planned to open eight new last-mile facilities in Pennsylvania in 2021.

Community groups have worked for years to develop and implement improvement plans for the neighborhood, but Amazon’s proposal could add more than a dozen long-haul trucks, scores of delivery vans, and

hundreds of employees likely driving in and out of the neighborhood.

These plans could disrupt the vision that community stakeholders have been working on for years.

Community groups already have plans

to attract more pedestrians to the business district near where Amazon wants to bring scores of delivery vehicles, which could compound their goals of lowering the number of cars into the neighborhood and making it safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

On top of that, advocates say Amazon has provided little communication or transparency about its potential effects on traffic, labor, housing, and pollution in the neighborhood, despite residents and community groups citing those as primary concerns. It’s unclear exactly when, and if, Amazon will move forward with the proposal, but community members hope for some say in the process, and many worry about the precedent this center could set for Amazon’s

community relationships in other mixed residential, commercial, and industrial areas.

“We’re not viewing this as kind of a NIMBY issue or, like, ‘We don’t want it in Lawrenceville, it can go somewhere else,’” says Lawrenceville Corporation executive director Lauren Connelly, citing the acronym for ‘not in my backyard.’ “It’s really bigger than that. And there are some significant concerns around the impact as compared to any part of our city.”

The proposed Amazon delivery center would stretch between 51st Street and McCandless Avenue, near the Allegheny River in Upper Lawrenceville. While Amazon initially expressed interest in 130,000 square feet of the former Sears warehouse, which would have been half of the CONTINUES ON PG. 6

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUGUST 4-11, 2021

5

OPPOSING AMAZON, CONTINUED FROM PG. 5

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Lawrenceville resident Colin William

space, in December 2020 the company confirmed it would be looking at taking all 260,000 square feet. The company has also expressed interest in adjacent land parcels for surface parking.

According to Lawrenceville Corporation, initial proposals for the Amazon facility include 100-300 full-time jobs and 200-450 part-time jobs, and plans to utilize 12-20 long-haul trucks between 10 p.m.-6 a.m., as well as 75-150 delivery vans between 10 a.m.-8 p.m. that would deliver items to customers within a 40-minute radius of the site.

Most new development can require several permits and applications before construction, but Amazon claims the location’s prior use as a warehouse gives

the company by-right use of the space under Pittsburgh’s zoning codes, meaning they don’t need to seek a zoning variance.

This also makes it more difficult for groups such as Lawrenceville United and the Lawrenceville Corporation to know what Amazon is planning.

“We don’t know if there’s a new property owner in the mix. We also don’t know what the lease terms are that Amazon has, we don’t know how long their lease is for, or what any of those terms are,” says Connelly. “We’ve asked those questions.”

Although the company has not shared specific details about its exact plans, some believe that Amazon’s usage plans could require permits or zoning approvals,

which in turn would require public hearings where community members would be able to voice their opinions.

But for now, Lawrenceville Corporation says that Amazon has stalled plans to develop the distribution center.

However, Lawrenceville United and Lawrenceville Corporation sent a letter to Amazon this June addressing community concerns and Amazon reiterated that it still has interest in the site and facility. While their exact timeline remains unclear, Connelly believes it now extends into 2022, and Amazon has yet to commit to collaborating with local residents and organizations.

“I don’t think they’re looking at

what a neighborhood needs,” says Lawrenceville resident Colin Williams.

“I think they’re looking at what their bottom line needs and what their bottom line needs is more people to buy Prime and more people to get their packages really fast.”

Lawrenceville Corporation has identified the intersections where 51st Street and McCandless Avenue meet Butler Street as some of the most travelled intersections in its 2013 Upper Lawrenceville Plan. The Lawrenceville Corporation plans to invest in infrastructure to improve the McCandless intersection, as well as develop areas near McCandless to make it safer for pedestrians while CONTINUES ON PG. 8

6

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Live by your own rules. :LWK ;ϙ QLW\ 0RELOH \RX PDNH WKH UXOHV (QMR\ WKH EHVW FRYHUDJH PRUH ϗ H[LEOH GDWD DQG DZHVRPH VDYLQJV $OO RQ WKH PRVW UHOLDEOH QHWZRUN DQG VDYH KXQGUHGV RQ \RXU ZLUHOHVV ELOO 3OXV ;ϙ QLW\ [)L JLYHV \RX WKH VSHHG FRYHUDJH VHFXULW\ DQG FRQWURO \RX QHHG IRU WKH XOWLPDWH LQ KRPH :L)L 1RZ WKDWǺV simple, easy, awesome.

&DOO [ϙ QLW\ JR WR [ϙ QLW\ FRP RU YLVLW \RXU ORFDO ;ϙ QLW\ 6WRUH WRGD\ Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. Mobile: Ŝ +&16 , &)" /".2&/"0 /"0&!"+1& ) -,01W- 6 Ŝ +&16 +1"/+"1C &+" )&*&1 1&,+0 3 /6C ,/ Ŝ +&16 , &)" /, ! +! &0 ),02/"0D 3&0&1 5Ŝ +&16C ,*c*, &)"c-,)& &"0c /, ! +!W!&0 ),02/"0C Ŝ +&16 , &)" 21&)&7"0 1%" %&$%"01 / +("! +"14,/( #/,* ,,1 "1/& 0k ; ;9;9 /"-,/1C & & +"14,/(0 +,1 1"01"!C "02)10 * 6 3 /6C 4 /! &0 +,1 "+!,/0"*"+1C Internet: 12 ) 0-""!0 3 /6 +! /" +,1 $2 / +1""!C ,/ # 1,/0 Ş " 1&+$ 0-""! 3&0&1 5Ŝ +&16C ,*c +"14,/(* + $"*"+1C Ŝ +&16 5 & &0 3 &) )" 1, Ŝ +&16 +1"/+"1 0"/3& " 201,*"/0 4&1% ,*- 1& )" Ŝ +&16 1"4 6C )) #,/ /"01/& 1&,+0 +! ,*-)"1" !"1 &)0C g ;9;: ,* 01C )) /&$%10 /"0"/3"!C +!&3&!2 ) -/,$/ *0 +! * /(0 /" -/,-"/16 ,# 1%"&/ /"0-" 1&3" ,4+"/0C ;<<<?9W999> < 4+ 2)"0 /&+1 A

140793_NPA233360-0005 Own Rules ad 9.25x9.75 V8.indd 1

7/2/21 PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUGUST 4-11, 2021

5:13 PM

7

OPPOSING AMAZON, CONTINUED FROM PG. 6

Kensington Court Antiques

18 years in business 2x Winner of Best Antique Store

“A sort of Andy Warhol meets the Queen of England” • 10,000 sq. ft of space • 25 dealers OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 3464 Babcock Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15237

Explore cannabis as a support for what ails you.

Become a medical cannabis patient. We provide low-cost certifications and expert assistance, over the phone. $125 - New Cannabis Card Certification $75 - Card Recertification $75 - New Certification for Veterans/SSI/Disability

www.herbalcarerx.com • 215-554-4044 • HELP@HERBALCARERX.COM

8

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

also driving foot traffic from Central Lawrenceville into Upper Lawrenceville.

The former Sears site is currently owned by Spear Street Capital, a California-based property management company. Lawrenceville United and the Lawrenceville Corporation previously worked with Spear Street Capital, which initially purchased the warehouse with the intention of redeveloping it into office space, and to establish commitments to mitigate their impact and benefit the community. Both groups say Amazon, other than committing to a waterfront trail, has not collaborated with the Lawrenceville Corporation or Lawrenceville United to ensure that their plans can still come to fruition.

“The community has expressed huge concerns about Amazon’s treatment of its workers and its local hiring commitments, the disregard for community plans, the impact on traffic, air quality, our small business community, and the environment, and Amazon’s apparent lack of willingness to date to consider mitigation strategies and community benefits,” says Lawrenceville United executive director Dave Breingan, who encourages residents to reach out to Lawrenceville United, a nonprofit community organization.

“It can be really difficult to cross a lot of intersections, especially at Butler Street, especially if they don’t have pedestrian signals on them. People often don’t yield, trucks have trouble seeing pedestrians,” says BikePGH advocacy director and Lawrenceville resident Eric Boerer. “So we just need to do whatever we can to make sure that the intersections that are going to see increased truck traffic, especially, are going to be as safe as possible with pedestrians in mind.”

For Lawrenceville resident Justin Rossini, the stretch along McCandless is of particular concern. Rossini lives on Harrison Street between 52nd Street and McCandless Avenue, the latter of which Amazon plans for its vans and trucks to use going to and from Butler Street. McCandless, however, is a wider street, which Rossini says many people treat “like a drag strip,” and he worries such behavior may be exacerbated by an increased amount of vehicular traffic from Amazon. “[Amazon] kept beating home the point that like, ‘Oh, this stuff is only going to happen, you know, between rush hours, between the morning rush and the evening rush.’ And I’m here during the day. ... It’s not like Lawrenceville is a dead zone, anyway, during the day,”

“I DON’T THINK THEY’RE LOOKING AT WHAT A NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS.” Lawrenceville United and the Lawrenceville Corporation have held meetings to hear community feedback and concerns, and the Lawrenceville Corporation distributed a survey in January 2021 that has now received about 350 responses. Their community meetings and organizing, however, have been primary sources of information for many Lawrenceville residents about Amazon’s plans.

After a community meeting on June 1, Lawrenceville United and the Lawrenceville Corporation sent Amazon the previously mentioned follow-up letter listing community concerns and questions. The letter included requests for an environmental impact study and a traffic impact study, as increased road usage from delivery vans throughout the day and long-haul freight trucks at night creates concerns about safety for pedestrians and bicyclists in the area. The organizations have yet to receive answers to their questions, and Amazon declined to comment to Pittsburgh City Paper.

Rossini says. “There’s a lot of traffic during the majority of the day and adding an armada of Amazon delivery vehicles coming in and out at all times, it’s gonna make it a lot worse.”

Rossini also worries about side streets, like the one he lives on, becoming an unofficial part of Amazon drivers’ routes or parking lots — or, as traffic from Amazon vehicles increases, other drivers using side streets as a way of avoiding Amazon’s traffic.

The Lawrenceville Neighborway, a collaboration between BikePGH and the city, also utilizes side streets to create a safer alternative for cyclists and pedestrians. Bike Pittsburgh promises that those who use the neighborway will face less vehicular traffic than they would encounter on Butler Street, but if Amazon’s approval comes to fruition, that may change. Construction on the Hatfield Connector, which extends the trail from 50th Street to 51st Street, finished in July 2021, and now overlaps with where Amazon’s proposed vehicle

FEATURED ON INK MASTER :ANGELS

PYRAMID

TATTOO & Body Piercing

thank you to this year’s premier Celebrating Survivors sponsors for their generosity and leadership.

Presenting Ambassador of Hope

Children’s Ambassador

CP PHOTO: KAYCEE ORWIG

The former Sears outlet and site of the proposed Amazon warehouse

traffic would have some of its highest volumes exiting and entering the distribution center.

“We just know that an increase of employees down there is going to increase a lot of bad driving habits. So we just don’t want to see it negatively affect a lot of the work we put into the neighborhood,” says Boerer.

Traffic is also a major concern for those living farther away from the delivery center. Williams lives up the hill many blocks away from Butler Street, but he uses Stanton Avenue to reach the rest of Lawrenceville, which would also see increases in traffic from Amazon vehicles.

He says the street already faces issues with traffic congestion, and additional vehicles have the potential to lengthen commute times even further.

“If there’s one crash on Route 28, everybody drives through Lawrenceville. … As soon as that’s backed up, all that overflow comes to us, and makes it near impossible for anybody to get through, to be quite honest,” says Boerer.

Residents are also concerned about other established Amazon practices, such as poor treatment of its workers in distribution centers and on delivery routes, where workers have been pressured to pee in bottles and defecate in bags to meet quotas and continue to work despite injury on the job.

“I definitely think there should be good jobs for folks who don’t have college degrees. And I suppose Amazon is going

to argue that they’re going to provide those but … their labor practices are really bad,” Williams says. “Even if they’re hiring folks who don’t have college degrees, or whatever, I just don’t think that’s going to be a good job for people.”

It’s also unclear whether Amazon intends to hire locally within the neighborhood or if it will hire people who commute. If there isy e no commitment to hiring locally, as well as a lack of incentives to walk, bike, or bus to work, there could be even more traffic in the area from people driving to and from work.

Lawrenceville United has already done extensive work in getting zoning laws changed to lower parking requirements for many new homes as a means to discourage as many people using cars in the already crowded neighborhood.

With Lawrenceville’s increasingly gentrified and expensive housing market, however, people seeking jobs at the distribution center may not be able to afford to live in the neighborhood.

This would increase the likelihood of commuters coming from outside of Lawrenceville. Currently the median annual salary at Amazon is $29,000, according to NBC News, while the average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Upper Lawrenceville is $1,175, up 31% from 2020, according to apartment listing site Zumper.

“I cannot imagine a scenario where it’s good for the neighborhood,” says Williams.

•

Follow staff writer Kimberly Rooney 냖㵸蔻 on Twitter @kimlypso

PYRAMIDTATTOO.COM

Empowerment Ambassadors

BRIDGEVILLE, PA

DENTAL Insurance

Get the dental care you deserve.

Medicare does not cover dental care1. That means if you need dental work done, it can cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars out of your own pocket.

Get Dental Insurance from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. It helps cover over 350 procedures — from cleanings and fillings to crowns and dentures. Call today to get help paying big dental bills.

You mkakpoesosiubrle. wo r

• See any dentist you want, but save more with one in our network • No deductible, no annual maximum • Immediate coverage for preventive care

Call to get your FREE Information Kit

1-855-385-3879

Hotline

dental50plus.com/citypaper

Text Online Chat

412-687-8005 (24/ 7) 412-744-8445 9am – 9pm daily

SurvivorJourney.org 9am – 9pm daily

1

“Medicare & You,” Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2020 Includes the Participating (in GA: Designated) Providers and Preventive Benefits Rider.

Product not available in all states. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/ certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO, LA, NY; call 1-800-969-4781 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN); Rider kinds B438/B439 (GA: B439B).

6255

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUGUST 4-11, 2021

9

CP PHOTOS: KAYCEE ORWIG

Terri Minor Spencer at the launch of the Allegheny County Independent Democratic Committee

.NEWS.

BREAK THE MACHINE

BY RYAN DETO // RYANDETO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

O

VER THE last year, the Allegheny County Democratic Committee has seen a series of embarrassments, and a new group of committee members and political-minded residents say they are sick of it.

In the spring of 2020, the ACDC — which functions as the Democratic party’s local arm in Pennsylvania’s second largest county — endorsed a candidate for state house that had previously supported Republican former President Donald Trump, despite the fact that this news had been revealed a month before.

The ACDC also failed to endorse state Rep. Summer Lee (D-Swissvale) — who is Western Pennsylvania’s first Black woman to serve in Harrisburg — which

10

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

broke a long-standing tradition of the committee supporting incumbents.

Pittsburgh City Paper revealed last year that the committee contained multiple Trump supporters, despite it being against the committee’s bylaws to support candidates of opposing parties.

In the 2020 general election, Allegheny County Democrats lost a state house and a state senate seat to Republicans in an election where President Joe Biden performed better in the county than any Democratic presidential candidate in more than 50 years.

“Last November was a fucking bloodbath. It was unacceptable,” said Ross Tedder, who has worked on Lee’s campaign and other progressive initiatives

in Allegheny County, while outside the ACDC headquarters on July 29.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE bit.ly/idcjoin

Some active committee members believe the events were somewhat expected. To them, the ACDC had already lost its cachet as a group that actually wanted to elect and support Democratic officials, and was more used as a social club for longtime members.

But now, those committee members

say they are done accepting that status quo, and are starting their own initiative to “break the machine.”

About 50 people gathered outside of the ACDC headquarters in Pittsburgh’s West End on July 29 to rally for a new initiative called the Allegheny County Independent Democratic Committee, with the goal of building support to take over the ACDC from within and “break the machine,” as advertised on the event’s Facebook page.

Allegheny County Councilor atlarge and committee member Bethany Hallam explained to the crowd, which contained at least a dozen current committee members, that the goal was to get as many new committee members

on ACDC, and ones that share the same core Democratic and progressive values of “fighting for health care for everyone, a true living wage, infrastructure, equal access to education, LGBTQ and racial justice, and to fight for organized labor for every worker.” Hallam said many current ACDC members are out of touch with those values, and the ACIDC is about taking over the ACDC seat-by-seat.

“For those of you who want to make the world a better place, that is what we are building here,” said Hallam.

She told the crowd to contact at least four other people in their municipality or ward, tell them about ACIDC’s plans, and try to recruit them to run for committee members.

ACIDC is not about creating a separate political apparatus, it’s about building a new coalition within the existing structure of the ACDC, according to Hallam who said the “current structure could be used for so much more.”

ACDC members are either elected or appointed, and there are 1,322 voting districts, each of which elects two members. Hallam recognizes that some are already filled by good committee

Allegheny County Councilor at-large and committee member Bethany Hallam

members who help local Democrats, but she is hopeful to find as many candidates as possible to run and fill those seats.

The next ACDC election is in May 2022, and members are elected on the same ballot as other officials, like governor.

Hallam mentioned her effort last year to try to get ACDC to hold a committeewide meeting after the scandals, but she was unsuccessful. She said ACDC needs

more active and engagement committee members to thrive.

One of those members is Terri Minor Spencer. She serves as an ACDC committee member and has worked on progressive initiatives in the West End and throughout the county. She mentioned that there has been some success in getting new people elected to the committee — including nine Black women in 2018 — but there is

a lot of work ahead.

“Most of the community doesn’t even know what this building stands for,” said Spencer, pointing at the ACDC headquarters.

Lee, a Democratic state house Rep. from Swissvale, has never been endorsed

by ACDC, and told the crowd she was initially skeptical of attempts to take over ACDC from within. Lee started UNITE PAC in 2019, which backs progressive candidates who are usually ignored by more established political groups.

But eventually she grew to embrace the idea of ACIDC and told the crowd she sees an opportunity to make a difference.

“I also knew that if we are not taking power head on, then we are ceding it,” said Lee. “Until we dismantle the system, you have to work within the system.”

This September, ACIDC is hosting a convention to assess how much progress the group has made, and to launch a turnout campaign for the general election in November. ACIDC has also started a political action committee in hopes of raising funds for its efforts. Interested parties can fill out a form at bit.ly/idcjoin to learn more.

•

Follow managing editor Ryan Deto on Twitter @RyanDeto

YOUR NEXT ADRENALINE FIX

10

% OFF

PER PERSON*

Are you itching to get outside?

Grab your squad, rehearse that Tarzan yell and get to unwinding in our trees. Go Ape is an exhilarating journey through the forest canopy as you take on epic ziplines and suspended obstacles - all with an incredible view.

BOOK AT GOAPE.COM CODE: OUTSIDE10

Expires 12/31/21. Code applies to weekdays only. Discount code must be entered at time of booking. Only valid for Pittsburgh, PA location. See our website for course info and participation details.

NORTH PARK | 991 Tennis Court Road, Allison Park, PA 15101

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUGUST 4-11, 2021

11

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Co-owner Heather LaPaglia serves a customer during the grand opening of SIPS Mobile Bar in Dormont on Fri., July 23.

.DRINK.

BOOZE ON THE MOVE

BY LAURYN NANIA // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

R

ATHER THAN HEADING to the bar,

what if the bar came to you? Two local women had the idea for a mobile bar on wheels to serve cocktails and beer anywhere in the city.

After meeting at a local Pride event, Heather LaPaglia and Katie Sirianni decided to combine their creative drive and launch their traveling drink business, Sips Mobile Bar. LaPaglia says Sips Mobile Bar is a woman, Asian, LGBTQ, and veteranowned enterprise. It offers bar services in stylish, refurbished horse trailers at events ranging from weddings to block parties.

“We love that we bring diversity,” says LaPaglia. “I think that that’s going to resonate a lot with the community.”

Sips offers four different packages for rental services ranging from $700 to $2,000 based on the number of trailers needed, number of guests, number of bartenders, location, etc. There is also an “A La Cart” package for those interested

12

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

in a more personalized experience with customized trailer decor, additional bartenders, and special drinkware. Sips generally works within a 45-mile radius of Pittsburgh, but Sirianni and LaPaglia say they are willing to travel farther if needed.

“The sky’s the limit,” says Sirianni.

“And I think that’s what makes it so awesome about it being a mobile bar, we can go anywhere with it.”

Sips Mobile Bar does not supply alcohol for events, but Sirianni and LaPaglia say they will pick up the alcohol for the customer and then bartend inside the trailers at the event.

LaPaglia originally had an online art business where she sold her artwork “For Violet,” but says it wasn’t receiving the attention she wanted. She then had the idea for a mobile storefront to travel to customers at pop-up locations.

With the help of her husband, she transformed an old 1970s horse trailer into “Daisey” — a refurbished, white

rustic mobile shop dressed in hanging flowers and citrus wreaths to sell her work and plants.

Sips Mobile Bar includes another refurbished vehicle — a 1989 horse trailer — in their fleet. This trailer differentiates from the other as it is painted black, with darker wood panels in the front accented with pop-out windows.

SIPS MOBILE BAR sipsmobilebarco.com

Sirianni first met LaPaglia in June when Sirianni’s pop-up T-shirt shop was located next to LaPaglia’s trailer at a Pride event in the Strip District.

They hit it off there, and then Sirianni traveled to LaPaglia’s home in Beaver County, and the idea for Sips Mobile Bar came to fruition.

“I was staring at this trailer and I’m like ‘Oh, my God. This is a genius idea.

Storefront on wheels,’” says Sirianni.

After a few failed storefronts for her T-shirts, Sirianni felt her inspiration reignite after talking with LaPaglia about operating a business on wheels.

Within a week of meeting her future business partner, Sirianni traveled with her father to Philadelphia to purchase “Maggie,” the second trailer for Sips Mobile Bar. LaPaglia and Sirianni held Sips Mobile Bar’s grand opening celebration on July 24 in collaboration with Bunker Labs, a nonprofit organization supporting small businesses for veterans, at the VFW Hall in Dormont. The event featured both trailers alongside a live DJ, catering, donations of craft beer from local breweries, and a ribbon cutting from Dormont Mayor Jason Walsh.

LaPaglia and Sirianni hope to expand Sips in the future with more refurbished trailers added to their current fleet of two, and more staff.

“We didn’t expect for it to get so exciting so quickly,” says Sirianni.

•

Let Cuba Live!!

Pittsburgh-Matanzas Sister Cities Partnership P.O.Box 9003 • Pittsburgh, PA 15224 • Hon. Jim Ferlo, Pres.: 412-363-8683 • Lisa Valanti, V-Pres.: 412-303-1247

UR ORGANIZATION and thousands of U. S. citizens have worked tirelessly over many years to change the official policies of our government that have created obstacles in Cuba’s ability to thrive and build a successful economy. Our own country has engaged in illegal and aggressive measures aimed at destabilizing the ability of Cuba to build a society that succeeds in meeting the needs and priorities of the Cuban people. This reality has been documented and supported most recently by a vote of 187-2 nations all around the globe who voted on June 23, 2021 in the United Nations condemning the illegal, immoral and counterproductive blockade imposed on Cuba by the government of the United States.

O

We heralded the actions of former President Barack Obama who created a historic change in U.S. policy by restoring the path of diplomacy and a more open relationship with Cuba. However, President Trump and now the Biden-Harris administration have undermined that initiative by imposing even harsher economic and political terror on the aspirations of the Cuban people to build their economy and respond to the needs of their citizens. Not unlike the realities facing our own country and nations around the globe the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the budgetary constraints of the Cuban economy with an 11 percent reduction in Cuba’s gross national product (GNP).

U.S. economic, monetary and political measures have undermined and placed even more strain on Cuba’s ability to provide pandemic relief, build its burgeoning private sector, generate wealth from its enviable tourist business, and work through its efforts toward a more traditional market economy based on a one currency system.

We respect the right of citizens to peacefully protest to redress legitimate grievances but we can also appreciate and understand that the accurate basis of citizen protests should be directed at the aggressive laws and policies of our own government that spends hundreds of millions of our tax dollars in nefarious and aggressive actions seeking to undermine the positive and quality of life aspects of the Cuban Revolution in numerous measurable world standards.

We call on our elected Congressional officials to enact the numerous pieces of legislation that have been introduced that would lift the economic blockade and travel ban imposed on Cuba. We demand that the Biden-Harris administration restore diplomatic communication with the government of Cuba on the basis of mutual respect for sovereignty. We condemn the outrageous demands of the Mayor of Miami and others who call for U.S. military intervention in Cuba!

for Membership or Donations

visit: CubaSiPgh.org PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUGUST 4-11, 2021

13

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Liz Felix inside WYEP’s studios on the South Side

.MUSIC.

FRESH AIR WAVES

BY AMANDA WALTZ // AWALTZ@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

L

IKE MANY radio professionals, Liz Felix started out at her college station, in this case at the University of Illinois. She has bounced around different music stations in different cities throughout her career, but no position was like BirdNote.

“It was really fun,” laughs Felix as she explains BirdNote, a public radio program based out of Seattle that is quite literally about birds. “It was a

14

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

completely different thing from what I’d been doing.”

Felix has since left bird radio behind, and is now the newly promoted program manager at Pittsburgh’s listener-supported adult alternative station 91.3 WYEP. Her new role marks a sort-of refresh for WYEP and its sister Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting Corporation station, 90.5 WESA, both of which saw changes with station manager Mike

Sauter recently taking over as vice president of broadcasting.

“I would say it’s a new chapter, but maybe not for the reasons you would think,” says Felix, who came to Pittsburgh in 2019 to serve as a radio host at WYEP. “I think it’s a new chapter because we’re coming out of a really strange period of time. I don’t think any of us could have foreseen the way that things were gonna go last year.”

“IT’S NOT STUFFY PUBLIC RADIO, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW THAT.” Despite being over the airwaves as opposed to in-person, WYEP and WESA still suffered through the pandemic like anyone else. Felix says that, since late summer 2020, most of the employees have been working from home, with some on-air staff coming into the stations’ South Side offices.

Felix says they are now focusing on getting people into the building and transitioning back to producing shows on-site. Prior to the pandemic, around 60 people worked at the Community Broadcast Center during the week, with a varying number of volunteer DJs and hosts coming in over the weekend.

“We’ve really been working remotely for the last year and a half,” says Felix.

Generally, though, Felix says she wants to build excitement again for WYEP, a station with a 47-year history.

91.3FM WYEP wyep.org

“It’s a heritage radio station,” says Felix. “It’s been here for a long time. But I think there’s still so much left for us to do.

And there are people in Pittsburgh who don’t know WYEP yet and I want to make sure that they find out about us.”

Sauter, like Felix, worked his way up at WYEP, starting as a program director in 2004 before becoming the station manager in 2019. He believes Felix will be instrumental in ushering WYEP into a new era.

“It’s very exciting to have someone as knowledgeable and talented as Liz to take over programming for WYEP,” says Sauter in a press release. “Although we are navigating a historically challenging time for media organizations, I am confident that Liz will be able to guide the station toward greater success in our efforts to serve music fans in Southwestern Pennsylvania with music discovery and to help make the Pittsburgh region’s music ecosystem stronger and more vibrant.”

While public radio often suffers from a reputation of being stuffy, with its soft-spoken hosts and preference for genres like smooth jazz or classical, Felix says that working at WYEP has been the opposite of that stereotype, instead playing a lot of independent and progressive music.

“It’s not stuffy public radio, and I want to make sure people know that,” says Felix. “We’re here to have fun. And we want our listeners to have fun, too.”

She adds that the station foresees a “really exciting period of time” now that live concerts are returning to the city. She looks forward to acts like the electronic duo Sylvan Esso, art rock group The Flaming Lips, and indie rocker Waxahatchee, all of which are scheduled to play at various Pittsburgh venues in the coming months.

“Musically, it’s really been just like the floodgates opening in terms of new music, because so many artists held off on releasing albums, either because they weren’t completely finished with them, or they just didn’t want to put them out because they couldn’t tour,” says Felix. “So now we’re getting all of this stuff that we didn’t get in 2020. So it’s pretty exciting.”

While national acts are back, Felix says local music may need more time to recover from the professional setbacks dealt by COVID-19.

Despite hosting locally focused shows like the Pittsburgh Music Hour, Felix says she never really got to know the scene as much as she would have liked, since the pandemic shut things down not long after she moved to the city. Even so, she’s impressed with the city’s hip-hop and R&B scene, which she hopes to spotlight more on the station.

“I think one of the cool things about the music scene here is that people do seem to really like to collaborate with each other, and that’s something that was missing over the last year,” says Felix. “But I’m excited for that to come back and see what people come up with.”

•

Follow a&e editor Amanda Waltz on Twitter @AWaltzCP PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUGUST 4-11, 2021

15

PHOTO: COURTESY OF ROADKILL GALLERY

Art displayed in Roadkill Gallery’s cube-like structure

.ART.

RAMBLING ROADKILL

BY DANI JANAE // DANIJANAE@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

P

ITTSBURGH ARTIST and curator Chelsea Schilling has a passion for the strange. It comes across in her mobile gallery — Roadkill. It evokes a certain, almost abrasive image, one that is also very commonplace if you drive anywhere.

“I wanted something a little weird and funky, something that would capture attention but also kind of pull towards the idea that it is a mobile gallery,” says Schilling, who owns and

directs Roadkill Gallery in partnership with multidisciplinary and installation artist Ally Wolf. “I didn’t want it to be very stale and stagnant either. It’s a strange concept. It’s weird. And I’m a ’90s grunge baby. So Roadkill all the way.”

As a mobile art gallery, being accessible is an important tenet of Roadkill Gallery’s stated mission of providing “local artists the opportunity to reach new audiences in a unique platform for exhibition, collaboration,

ROADKILL GALLERY AT MILLVALE MUSIC FESTIVAL 12 p.m. Sat., Aug. 7. Sedgwick St., Millvale. Free. roadkillgallery.org

16

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

and performance” as well as “engage nearby communities in cultural enrichment through art education, events, and exhibitions.” The concept started out in the back of a rented U-Haul truck, but has since adopted a cube-like structure as a way to be more “COVID cautious,” according to its website.

Beyond that, the gallery also seeks to give a voice to artists who may not have had the traditional route to art-making.

“My main goal for Roadkill Gallery was to be able to represent underrepresented artists who didn’t really

have either an exhibition before, or who just haven’t had much traction on their social media, or if they didn’t really have much of a following,” says Schilling.

Roadkill accepts submissions and welcomes all styles, so artists don’t have to adhere to any particular practice. They display art in a salon style, instead of a more curated style, because of the space they inhabit.

The concept celebrated its grand opening in July 2019, and has since traveled to many different areas throughout the region. In 2021 alone, Roadkill Gallery has shown at CONTINUES ON PG. 18

ADVERTISEMENT

Socially-distancing herself but still broadcasting LIVE Every Monday thru Thursday at 10 a.m.

Listen in at lynncullen.pghcitypaper.com

Photo courtesy of Sheila E

Women Who Rock Honors the Legendary Sheila E. at This Year’s Benefit Concert By: Women Who Rock he Women Who Rock Benefit Concert is one of Pittsburgh’s most unique and empowering events of the year. Held this year on October 16th, 2021 at Stage AE and Presented by Gibson Gives, the event features a star-studded all-female music lineup, and highlights all the amazing women making an impact on the community and the world. The Concert culminates with the Women Who Rock Impact Award, given to a trailblazer or wavemaker who have made an impact in the world.

Women who are paving the way for more women to follow and this year, that is Sheila E. Sheila E. has been making music and making waves her entire life. She first picked up the drumsticks at the age of 3, and hasn’t looked back since. She’s established herself as one of the best drummers in the world, with decades worth of work with many of the greatest artists of all time, as well as massive success on her own. According to Pitchfork “Women make up only 19 percent of the average music festival lineup”, making Sheila E.’s success in the male dominated music industry even more impactful.

After Prince was particularly wowed by her, she went on to contribute to many of Prince’s biggest works, including Purple Rain. She found solo success with songs like “The Glamorous Life” and “Love Bizarre”, played at the “We are the World” session, racked up nominations from all the major awards, sold out shows, and played the Oscars, in a memorable performance with Placido Domingo.

Few people have ever had the trailblazing, era-spanning career that Sheila E. has. Outside of Prince, her list of collaborators includes, George Duke, Herbie Hancock, Billy Cobham, Con Funk Shun, Marvin Gaye (on his final world tour), Diana Ross, Lionel Richie, Gloria Estefan, Patti LaBelle, and Steve Nicks among others. And that doesn’t even come close to the end of the list of her other accomplishments, which have stretched from being television’s first female musical director (for Magic Johnson’s “The Magic Hour”), to being nominated for an Emmy for her leadership as musical director for President Obama’s Performance at The White House: Fiesta Latina.

And Sheila E. hasn’t slowed down. She continues

T

to produce and perform music, has published her memoir, The Beat of my Own Drum, and hosts her show Sheila E. TV. Sheila E.’s success highlights the importance of Women Who Rock having a 100% female-fronted music lineup, and the need to spread awareness of gender inequality in the music industry.

When asked about what it means to receive the Women Who Rock Impact Award for 2021, Sheila E. said: I am honored and humbled to be recognized for the Impact Award. Thank you to Women Who Rock and Magee-Womens Research Institute for the incredible and life changing work you do. When I think of impact, I think of all of the women—mentors, my mother, my grandmother, sisters, colleagues, new and lifelong friends—who have lifted me up throughout the years and continually inspired me to pay it forward. My career in the music industry has been shaped by a drive to change the narrative of what it means to be a female musician. While it’s been beyond rewarding to see the change happen— and have acknowledged the changes that still need to be made—another gift has been a lesson. That the greatest strength comes from our ability to connect, grow with, lift up and celebrate each other, all paired with the inner courage to say “I can.”

This year’s Women Who Rock Impact Award is sponsored by Peoples, an essential utilities company.

A one-of-a-kind experience for performers and guests alike, the Women Who Rock Benefit Concert will truly be a celebration of all the women who make a lasting impact on the world. This year’s line up is guest starring Rita Wilson, Lauren Monroe with special guest Rick Allen of Def Leppard, Women Who Rock Impact Award Recipient Sheila E., The Vindys, DJ Femi, with more special guests to be announced. Emceed

by Michele Michaels of 102.5 FM WDVE. With various experiences like The Beauty Bar, Silent Auction, VIP Lounge, and Photo Booth in addition to the live music there’s something for everyone. And with all the proceeds going to the Magee-Womens Research Institute, the largest research institute in the U.S. focused solely on the health of women and infants, you won’t want to miss out on this very special night.

WORKING FROM HOME? GET CITY PAPER DELIVER TO YOUR MAILBOX

6 weeks for $32 VISIT WWW.PGHCITYPAPERSTORE.COM

Women Who Rock Benefit Concert takes place Saturday, October 16, 2021 at Stage AE Pittsburgh.

Tickets go on sale July 30th.

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUGUST 4-11, 2021

17

SHOP LOCAL WITH US FOR SIZZLING HOT SUMMER SPECIALS!

RAMBLING ROADKILL, CONTINUED FROM PG. 16

• All annual flower packs and 4 inch flowers are Buy one get one free.

• Hanging baskets $10 + tax (excluding houseplants).

• All tropicals 50% off (excluding houseplants).

• Buy any 2 shrubs, trees, perennials or houseplants and receive 25% off.

MONDAY - SATURDAY 10AM - 6PM SUNDAYS 10AM - 4PM CAVACINIGARDENCENTER.COM

100 50TH ST. • LAWRENCEVILLE • 412-687-2010 CAVACINIGARDENCENTER

Off Butler Street. Enter on 51st St.

CAVACINIGARDEN

PHOTO: COURTESY OF ROADKILL GALLERY

Art displayed inside Roadkill Gallery’s mobile gallery

Researchers at UPMC are recruiƟng for a research study that focuses on funcƟonal brain imaging of individuals with mood disorders.

To find out more informaƟon visit: www.ace.piƩ.edu/research-studies

Contemporary Craft in Lawrenceville, Kingfly Spirits in the Strip District, and at a Doors Open event in Homestead.

Past stops include the Dancing Gnome Brewery in Sharpsburg, and spots in Braddock and Allentown.

The next destination for Roadkill Gallery is at the Millvale Music Festival on Sat., Aug. 7, where they plan to display works by 15 artists. They are also currently accepting submissions for another pop-up at Kingfly Spirits taking place Aug. 28. Submissions are due by Aug. 15 and the fee to enter is $10.

Schilling grew up in Pittsburgh, but moved away to attend art school at Temple University in Philadelphia.

She says after seeing the Carnegie International at the Carnegie Museum of Art in 2008, she fell in love with art and decided to go to art school the following year. After Philadelphia, she traveled abroad for a number of years, but returned to Pittsburgh in 2016.

After moving back to Pittsburgh, she started .5 Gallery in Etna with James Olson.

“We were trying to figure out a way to try to pull more people to our gallery and just to cross a bridge and come to that. I had this idea of looking at a mobile space and trying to figure out what the best sort of platform would be,” she says. “So we thought about shipping containers, even just having a little buggie that I can pull with my truck or whatever. Then, I just thought about renting U-Hauls out. And I really loved the idea of being able to create a space that can move around to

different neighborhoods.”

After leaving .5 Gallery in December 2018, Schilling started building Roadkill Gallery. She received a grant from Awesome Pittsburgh for $1,000 that covered her start-up costs, and by summer 2019, Roadkill was up and running.

Roadkill’s first event was a success, and Schilling says it spurred her to want to continue with this unique and unconventional mode of accessing art.

Schilling herself is an artist who works primarily in sculpture. She currently does lifecasting, a practice that involves making three-dimensional copies of living human bodies.

She got the idea of adding scents to her sculptures in art school after being introduced to the art of American sculptor Robert Gober, who also works in lifecasting. Schilling wanted to do something a little weird that would go beyond just looking at something odd, so she sculpted armpits, sewed hair into them, and added pleasant scents to each sculpture.

“I am currently making pieces that are scented and pulling that in with my sculptural material,” she says. “So it can be a little bit more personal, I’m trying to touch base on what a specific scent reminds you of.”

Schilling is in the process of purchasing a Winnebago, so that Roadkill Gallery can inhabit an even more stable space in the Pittsburgh art scene. It will also have a lift gate, so that the art showcased can be accessible to disabled people and those in wheelchairs.

Follow staff writer Dani Janae on Twitter @figwidow

18

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

•

ADVERTISEMENT

Inflammation…LabNaturals CBD to the rescue!

By Susan Merenstein, Pharmacist/Owner LabNaturalsCBD Hi, Everyone, I just came across a Substituting Cannabidiol for Opioids and Pain Medications Among Individuals With Fibromyalgia: A Large Online Survey - The Journal of Pain (jpain.org) (that found that 70 percent of people with fibromyalgia have used cannabidiol (CBD) to effectively manage the pain associated with their condition. In the majority of these patients, CBD enabled them to either completely stop or reduce opioids and other addictive and harmful pain-relieving medications.

This is hugely important in a time when opioid addiction is still raging in the U.S. and around the world. CBD is safe, effective, not addictive, and readily available in all 50 U.S. states. And, unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD is not psychoactive and doesn’t produce the “high” that is typically associated with cannabis products.

We use LabNaturalsCBD extensively in our Pharmacy practice at Murray Avenue Apothecary (4227 Murray Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15217). I take it myself, and so do many of my family members including our furry family too! It helps with anxiety and pain and inflammation as well as with the itchiness and skin allergies.

3 Things to Check Before Buying CBD EXTRACTION METHODS: CO2 Extraction is safer than Ammonia or Ethanol which can leave chemical residues. LabNaturals CBD uses CO2 Extraction.

SOURCE OF THE CBD: CBD derived from Marijuana may contain THC. Hemp is the better choice. Our CBD is derived from Hemp organically farmed in the USA. Imported Hemp has potential contaminates like pesticides, heavy metals, and solvents. LabNaturals CBD products have NO detectable THC, pesticides, heavy metals, or solvents.

INDEPENDENT LAB TESTING: Without independent lab testing to ensure quality, potency, purity, and consistency there is no way to be sure that a product is correctly labeled and does not contain toxic chemicals and residues.

We have multiple levels of testing to ensure quality, potency, purity and consistency. Our supplier, Folium Biosciences, tests their base oil product both internally and through third party testing. We create a liquid from the base oil which is tested by Confidence Analytics for potency. Our finished products are also sent to Confidence Analytics where they are tested to ensure no detectable THC and accurate concentration labeling.

All of our certificates of analysis are available here.

If you have any chronic pain or inflammation, and you haven’t tried CBD yet, it’s definitely worth a try at LabNaturalsCBD.com.

LabNaturals CBD Client Testimonial!

“First tried CBD oil (25mg) last fall for pain and inflammation in the muscles of my back. After taking for several weeks, the pain lessened tremendously.

After several months on the CBD oil, I wondered if it was responsible for the lessening of pain. I weaned myself off, or tried to and immediately realized how much it had been helping me. I will continue taking faithfully because it’s helping so much. Thankful it is available.”

- A.

Drug & Alcohol Addiction Treatment 24/7 Admissions | Masters-Level Clinicians Evidence-Based Treatment The expert, caring team at Recovery Centers of America (RCA) at Monroeville is dedicated to helping all adults achieve sobriety and recovery through best-in-class, evidence-based treatment.

This includes a specialized program for first responders and military personnel. For individuals who have experienced relapse we offer a program designed to inspire, help, and reconnect patients to the road to recovery.

Residential Inpatient & Outpatient Services including Teletherapy

Yours in health, Susan Merenstein, Pharmacist/Owner www.LabNaturalsCBD.com (412) 586-4678 P.S. There are many CBD products on the market making claims. There are a lot of bogus and ineffective CBD products on the market because it has become such a big industry. Make sure the product you choose has third party independent testing to verify potency, efficacy and trust.

My favorite CBD is LabNaturals CBD for People and Pets. It’s available in water-soluble capsules, highly bioavailable hemp oil, gum, and all products are third party tested.

NOW OPEN & SERVING THE GREATER PITTSBURGH AREA Call today: 844-939-3317 recoverycentersofamerica.com

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUGUST 4-11, 2021

19

SEVEN DAYS IN PITTSBURGH

)2, = IN REAL LIFE EVENT 6)245!, = STREAMING OR ONLINE-ONLY EVENT (9"2)$ = MIX OF IN REAL LIFE AND ONLINE EVENT

PHOTO: JOEY KENNEDY

^ Handmade Arcade

THU., AUG. 5 %6%.4Ú Ĕ)2,

Spirit hosts Nerd Night for those who love to ramble about their nerdy passions.

The evening is filled with numerous speakers discussing topics including science, technology, pop culture, history, and everything in between. Before speakers come to the stage, a networking game will be held for those interested in getting to know one another. And, of course, drinks and wood-fired pizza will be available to order throughout the night. Lectures begin at 7:15 p.m. 242 51st St., Lawrenceville. $5. spiritpgh.com/events

+)$3Ú Ĕ)2,

Cryptids like Big Foot are notoriously difficult to spot, but for Cryptid Crawl at the Children’s Museum, children and their caregivers will get the chance to explore one of the most famous creatures through an artifact she left behind. Nessie might

20

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

reside in a lake in Scotland, but youngsters in Pittsburgh will learn about her through her neck cover, hear her story, make meditation chains, read stories, and participate in power yoga in the Children’s Museum Garden. 11 a.m.12 p.m. 10 Children’s Way, North Side. Free, but does not include museum admission. pittsburghkids.org

FRI., AUG. 6 30/243Ú Ĕ)2,

If you love tennis, ping pong, and badminton, pickleball is just the activity for you, as it contains elements of all three sports. Gamma Sports presents The Pickleball Classic at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center for a weekend filled with fun competition. Beginner or expert, child or adult, everyone is welcome to join. Continues through Sun., Aug. 8.

1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Downtown. $65. pittsburghcc.com

-53)#Ú Ĕ)2,Ú

After being postponed, the Millvale Music Festival is back and certainly isn’t lacking in size. The schedule is jam packed with performances by bands like Murder for Girls, the Aris Paul Band, KELS, Sierra Sellers, Lady Beast, The Quiet Loud, and many more.

Visual artists include the Roadkill Gallery Art Cube, Allegheny Artisan, By Hart Designs, and others. Stages will be located at Mr. Smalls Funhouse, Double L, Grist House Brewery, and the Millvale Community Library. Continues through Sat., Aug. 7.

Various locations. Free. millvalemusic.org

SAT., AUG. 7 -!2+%4Ú Ĕ)2,Ú

Shopping at local pop-up markets around the city is a summer must, so don’t miss the Handmade Arcade Show and Sell Market at Construction Junction. The pop-up market features over 20 vendors selling unique crafts and art. Stock up

on hand-made jewelry, scented soaps, artwork, ceramics, and so much more.

There will also be food trucks on site and chances to stroll through the Construction Junction warehouse for second-hand goods and building materials. 9 a.m.4 p.m. 214 Lexington St., Point Breeze.

Free. handmadearcade.org/marketplaces

!24Ú Ĕ)2,

Preparing food can be just as important as cooking it, and Prepping Pittsburgh: Art Sustaining Community seeks to honor that importance. In collaboration with Community Kitchen Pittsburgh, ceramic artist George Bowes and 13 nationally recognized artists have created 263 distinctive prep bowls used for combining ingredients when cooking. Prepping Pittsburgh is part of Contemporary Craft’s Food Justice: Growing a Healthier Community through Art project and is being shown at a satellite gallery in BNY Mellon Center. Continues through Nov. 29. 500 Grant St., Downtown. exploremindfulart.com/george-bowes

PHOTO: DEVON ALBEIT PHOTOGRAPHY

^ Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures presents Maggie Smith

SUN., AUG. 8 -53)#Ú Ĕ)2,Ú

Reservoir of Jazz presents Lilly Abreu and the Brazilian Jazz Quartet for an all-ages performance at Highland Park. Abreu is a renowned soloist and recitalist who has performed in France, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, and Brazil. She performs traditional Brazilian songs, as well as Broadway and jazz standards. Enjoy a warm afternoon in the park surrounded by great music. 5-7 p.m. Highland Avenue at Reservoir Drive, Highland Park. Free. pittsburghpa.gov/events/reservoir-jazz

34!'%Ú Ĕ)2,Ú

Join the ballroom dancing brothers Maksim and Valentin Chmerkovskiy from ABC’s Dancing with the Stars for an unforgettable comedic and dance performance at the Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall. The Maks and Val: Stripped Down Tour promises an “intimate evening packed with breathtaking dancing, deeply personal storytelling, and world-class showmanship,” as well as some disrobing.

6-9 p.m. 510 E. 10th Ave., Munhall. $39.5059.50. druskyentertainment.com/event

MON., AUG. 9 $!.#%Ú Ĕ)2,

Get moving when Attack Theatre presents Movement Makers with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania. The camp gives participants ages 5-15 a chance to explore a variety of art forms, from the art of dance movement, to pottery making and gesture drawing. Campers will also have the chance to participate in kinetic painting, printing with their bodies, and

video and photo techniques to document their work throughout the week.

Continues through Fri., Aug. 13.

212 45th St., Lawrenceville. $100.

Registration required. attacktheatre.com/ movement-makers

TUE., AUG. 10 -53)#Ú Ĕ(9"2)$Ú

327999_4.75_x_4.75.indd 1

7/27/21 10:31

Go from “oom-pah” to “oh, wow!” when River City Brass travels to Sampsonia Way for their Tuba and Euphonium Extravaganza. The musical group is known for its avant-garde flare of playing heavy metal with instruments like tubas and euphoniums. However, the group also plays classical and mellow melodies for those interested in lighter tunes. If you can’t make it to the event, it will also be live-streamed online by City of Asylum.

7-8:15 p.m. 318 Sampsonia Way, North Side. Free. alphabetcity.org/events

WED., AUG. 11 ,)4Ú Ĕ6)245!,

See the poet who inspired celebrities when Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures presents an evening with Maggie Smith.

Smith garnered attention in recent years when her daily Twitter notes went viral with the help of Lin-Manuel Miranda and Katie Couric. Her poem “Good Bones” was also named the Official Poem of 2016 by BBC/Public Radio International.

Smith, whose recently released poetry collection, Goldenrod, is available for purchase through White Whale Bookstore, will be joined in conversation with poet and essayist Tiana Clark.

7 p.m. Free. Registration required. pittsburghlectures.org U PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUGUST 4-11, 2021

21

Pittsburgh’s Cutest Pet Photo Contest PRESENTS

EAT FIGURES

BY BRENDAN EMMETT QUIGLEY // BRENDANEMMETTQUIGLEY.COM

Pittsburghers love their pets - fur, scales, and beaks alike!

ENTER YOUR FAVORITE PET PHOTO AT

pghcitypaper.com

PHOTO BM SU ISSION: NOW THRU AUGUST 8

VOTING PERIOD: AUGUST 11 THRU AUGUST 25

WINNERS ANNOUNCED: SEPTEMBER 1

ACROSS 1. Got the red out?

5. Prayer’s beginning 10. Chain that sells Shivers 14. Seep slowly 15. Stock descriptor 16. College whose radio station is WYBC 17. ___ and the Lost City of Gold 18. Pseudonymous Italian author Ferrante 19. Thing in a play 20. Grain that glitters?

23. Gist 24. Yacht’s milieu 25. Title holder standing next to a purplish salad fruit?

32. Bite (down) 33. Sweater material 34. Letters on a 7” 35. Arm bone 36. Yank away with force 38. Place where missions are planned out 39. Patch of earth 40. God with a hammer 41. Kept from going public 42. Toast Dwayne Johnson’s derrière?

46. Soap opera actor Ramsey 47. Unfit for grazing

22

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

48. Reason one can’t stop thinking of linens?

55. Split the scene 56. Its president is Ariel Henry 57. Org. that busts many brackets 58. Nevado del ___ (Colombian volcano) 59. Apportion 60. Change jar change 61. Beast alongside a princess 62. Jobs to do 63. Calculations in the Lyft app: Abbr.

DOWN 1. Physiques 2. Circular path 3. High priest who reintroduced the Torah in Jerusalem 4. 1995 2Pac single about Afeni Shakur 5. Big lead at the Indianapolis 500 6. Book whose narrator describes the title character as “light of my life, fire of my loins” 7. Ready for business 8. Called up 9. Billiards stroke where the cue returns after striking the object ball 10. Universal

recipient designation 11. Beloved, in Bologna 12. Inky mark 13. “Darn right, pal” 21. Georgia governor Brian 22. Bad guy in the wrestling ring 25. Daphnis’s love 26. CRV maker 27. Bring the ruckus to your tuchus 28. Cowboy’s calls, for short 29. Muse for bards 30. ___ salts 31. Bootlegnabbing feds 32. Undemanding, as a job 36. “Don’t know the guy” 37. Bird of fable

38. 1989 #1 hit

by Prince 40. Your family’s all over it 41. Mix things up 43. Pluck out, as eyebrows 44. Duke Bluebeard’s Castle composer 45. Circles in space 48. Slimy garden creature 49. Person next in line 50. Roosevelt’s Scottie 51. Some museum pieces 52. Rapper who won a 2021 Best Metal Performance Grammy 53. Pop-pop’s spouse 54. Exams for tomorrow’s coll. freshmen 55. Frizzy do, for short LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS

MASSAGE M2M Massage by Lee 24/7 • 412-628-1269

PERSONALS Female Companion wanted 30-40 y.o.

Waist length hair and/or cornrows a PLUS PLUS! Permanent Position 724-223-0939 Wash. Co Male to Male by Dallas. Same Day Appt. 412-494-8170

MARKETPLACE FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIEDS ADVERTISEMENT, CALL 412-685-9009 ext. 106 HELP WANTED

REHEARSAL

SERVICES

MISCELLANEOUS

FINANCIAL

WANTED! 36 PEOPLE

Rehearsal Space

DISH Network. $59.99 for 190 Channels! Blazing Fast Internet, $19.99/mo. (where available.) Switch & Get a FREE $100 Visa Gift Card. FREE Voice Remote.

FREE HD DVR. FREE Streaming on ALL Devices.

Call today!

1-877-857-5995

Guaranteed Life Insurance!

(Ages 50 to 80). No medical exam. Affordable premiums never increase. Benefits never decrease. Policy will only be cancelled for non-payment. HOURS: M-F 9a-10p & Sat 11a-2p EST 1-888-386-0113 (Void NY) (AAN CAN)

SAVE BIG on HOME INSURANCE!

to Lose Weight. 30-day money back guarantee.

Herbal Program. Also opportunity to earn up to $1,000 monthly. 1-800-492-4437 www.myherbalife.com

starting @ $150/mo.

Many sizes available, no sec deposit, play @ the original and largest practice facility, 24/7 access.

412-403-6069

Compare 20 A-rated insurances companies.

Get a quote within minutes.

Average savings of $444/ year! Call 844-712-6153!

(M-F 8am-8pm Central) (AAN CAN)

Advertise your Business in City Paper.

Call 412.685.9009

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Department of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on the 2nd day of July 2021 with respect to a proposed nonprofit corporation, Purple Eagle Charitable Fund which has been incorporated under the Nonprofit Corporation Law 1988. A brief Summary of the purpose or purposes for which said corporation is organized is: Providing youth an education in entrepreneurship.

NAME CHANGE

NAME CHANGE

NAME CHANGE

NAME CHANGE

NAME CHANGE

LEGAL NOTICE

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-19-17830.

In re petition of Sean Francis Gibat for change of name to Sean Francis Aucremanne. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 31st 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-21-7613.

In re petition of Cody Randall Harmon for change of name to Beau Filoh Sloane. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 7th day of September, 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-21-6377.

In re petition of Breanna Leigh Scholze for change of name to Breanna Nicole Ley. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 2nd day of September, 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-21-782, In re petition of Nandu Ranapaily parent and legal guardian of Aditya Darjee for change of name to Aditya Ranapaily. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 1st day of September 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-21-6487.

In re petition of Millicent Warren for change of name to Millicent Simmonds. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 1st day of September, 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

NOTICE is hereby given pursuant to the provisions of the Fictitious Names Act of Pennsylvania that an application for registration of a fictitious name was filed in the office of the Department of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for the conduct of a business under the fictitious name of The Pittsburgh Chiropractor with its principal office or place of business at 55 Alpha Drive West, Suite 6. Pittsburgh PA, 15238. The names and addresses, including street and number, if any, of all persons who are parties to the registration are: Tauberg Chiropractic Rehabilitation LLC, Alex Tauberg (member) 55 Alpha Drive West, Suite 6.

Pittsburgh PA, 15238.

OFFICIAL ADVERTISEMENT THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Sealed proposals shall be deposited at the Administration Building, Bellefield Entrance Lobby, 341 South Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15213, on September 7, 2021, until 2:00 P.M., local prevailing time for:

PITTSBURGH GRANDVIEW PREK-5 • Window/Curtainwall Replacement and Masonry Restoration • General, Mechanical, Electrical, and Asbestos Abatement Primes Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on August 2, 2021 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.

Free confidential testing HIV • stD • hep c

Dr. Stacy Lane, D.O. • 412-515-0000

HELP HEal all WITH NO JUDGEMENT

your body & soul

are welcome

• ALL INSURANCES ACCEPTED • WALK INS WELCOME • tRANSPORATION PROGRAM • NO INSURANCE? WE CAN HELP North Shore - 127 Anderson Street - Suite 101 Timber Court Building, PIttsburgh, PA 15212 Phone: (412) 322-4151 washington, pa - 95 Leonard Avenue Suite 203, Washington PA 15301 Phone: (724) 249-2517 beaver county - 2360 hospital drive Suite 1, aliquippa, pa 15001 Phone: (724)707-1155 Erie - 3104 State Street, Erie, PA 16508 PHONE: (814) 619-4009

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUGUST 4-11, 2021

23

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

VOTING NOW OPEN! Help your favorites win the whole game.

Voting closes August 31 PGHCITYPAPER.COM/BESTOFPGH2021