LAW(N) BREAKERS
BY: DANI LAMORT
DANI LAMORTE
WILKINSON
AMANDA WALTZ
PHOTO: COURTESY OF RENEE RABENOLD / VIGILANCETHEATER GROUP
JOHNSON
LAW(N)BREAKERS
BY: DANI LAMORT
These gardeners are cutting it close to violating city property codes
In D.S. Vale’s Troy Hill garden, each plant — ideally — does something for pollinating bees or migrating birds; old soil or new fungi; passing commuters or stuck-in neighbors. Part of an expanding number of gardeners who are interested in sustainability, ecology, and native plants, Vale talks about gardening in terms of living alongside, rather than having control over, other living things.
Despite these good intentions, Vale received a letter from the City of Pittsburgh in 2021 informing him that his gardens violated city property maintenance code 302.4, which states:
Code 302.4 is a product of the International Code Council, a private organization that develops and publishes model building, electrical, plumbing, and property maintenance codes. State and local governments adopt ICC codes as readymade standards for keeping residential and commercial environments safe. Pittsburgh adopted the ICC’s International Property Management Code, with revisions, in 2004. ICC codes, which the organization says impact nearly 2 billion people, are developed by committees, then voted on by a general membership that includes local officials, industry representatives, and consumer advocates.
While high-profile code changes
“PART OF GROWING SOMETHING OTHER THAN A LAWN IS SHOWING OTHERS WHAT ELSE IS POSSIBLE .”
“Premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of ten inches. Noxious weeds shall be prohibited.”
The code goes on to exempt cultivated plants and stipulate that, should an owner fail to abide by this code, the city has the right to mow the owner’s lawn and stick them with the bill. Vale’s plants were placed intentionally — were cultivated — but the neighbor who called 311 didn’t know that. Neither did the code enforcement officer who visited several times. Despite seeming like a minor bit of legal structure, codes like these are causing friction in an era of changing ideas about the grass-centric American lawn and the purely ornamental garden.
get national news coverage, other codes quietly go unrevised for years, if not decades. The ICC hasn’t significantly updated IPMC code 302.4 on weeds in the past 20 years. In 2003, the ICC made a minor change, making the maximum grass height a variable value set by city officials, rather than a default of 10 inches. The present code does not directly exempt tall native plants, especially “volunteers” (e.g. not planted intentionally by the resident), from the height restriction. When asked to provide background on code 302.4 for this article, Beth Tubbs, vice president of codes for ICC, provided a distorted screenshot summarizing the development of the IPMC as a whole. Tubbs’ response fits Vale’s experience
of receiving a citation from the city.
“The letter didn’t tell me which plants were a problem, or how to correct things. The lack of clarity around specific problems was surprising to me,” Vale recalls.
Although the City of Pittsburgh Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections suggests that most tall grass/weeds violations are related to abandoned property, stories like Vale’s complicate this picture. Beyond property abandonment, there are several reasons why a yard or garden might violate code 302.4. In 2023, Angela Staeryla of Mt. Washington received several citations from the city for overgrown plants in her alleyway. Staeryla, whose disability prevents her from weeding the property herself, had relied on the City Cuts program to keep things up to code. In an interview with WPXI, Staeryla reported that City Cuts did not visit her property in 2023, leading to the overgrowth for which she was cited. As a result, Staeryla was facing fines and legal fees of up to $1,000 per day.
the environment and our community through this practice.”
In an ideal world, projects like the International Property Maintenance Code ensure a certain amount of safety across residential and commercial properties. In reality, however, they may be like America’s ubiquitous grass lawns: a universal ideal that we’d be better off replacing with local solutions.
Ashley Mielcarek also received a citation last year after a neighbor filed a 311 complaint about Mielcarek’s Pittsburgh garden — which is certified by the Audubon Society as a wildlife habitat. The complaint devastated Mielcarek who felt she was being asked to give up her passion.
“We bought the house with the express intention to build a permaculture food forest in an urban setting,” Mielcarek says. "We’ve fed ourselves delicious nutrient-rich food, and we’ve become more connected with
The lawn, that green safety blanket of suburban comforts, is described by entomologist Douglas Tallamy as an “ecological dead space,” a monoculture that contributes to habitat loss, stormwater runoff, and over-application of pesticides. Molly Glick at Sierra magazine writes that the American lawn originated with wealthy colonial settlers who planted expensive turf grasses to recreate idealized English grounds. These early lawns were often managed by enslaved Africans, linking the lawn’s uniformity to the brutal violence of the transatlantic slave trade. Post-Emancipation, the lawn has persisted as a symbol of personal financial success and domination over nature.
For several decades, environmental advocates have proposed alternatives to the lawn, including urban farming, pollinator gardening, and “rewilding,” the practice of populating cultivated land with native species found in neighboring wild patches. These approaches often have aesthetic results that can be mistaken for overgrowth or neglect — like dead plant stems (ideal insect lodging), fallen leaves (natural
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
A curated prairie lawn in Troy Hill
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
Chris Kosin walks through a neighbor's front lawn he helped transform.
weed suppressant), and dried wildower seedheads critical winter food supply for wildlife s of une , , the ity of ittsburgh’s revised version of code also mandates the removal of these types of plantrelated debris
n merica, any discussion of aesthetics often transitions to a conversation about property value n , real estate agent lex ul as ed the ndiana ourt of ppeals to recogni e his unmowed lawn as a protected expression, though neighbors worried the tall, native plants might tan resale values ul, who had been fined repeatedly for tall grasses by the ity of loomington, argued that, modern day lawns have no reason to exist besides their perceived beauty,’ the price of which is a tremendous burden on the environment and our society ul saw his lawn as a statement of ecological conscience The ity of loomington and, eventually, ndiana ourt of ppeals sided with
the neighbors, and ul was re uired to trim his lawn e did so using scissors and a ruler ac ui ierce found herself in a similar position when, in the summer of , the city of omersworth, notified her that her lawn was out of compliance with local code fter seeing bees fre uenting wild owers among the grass, ierce left an unmowed patch in support of the pollinators lthough ierce didn’t pursue matters into the courts, and eventually trimmed her lawn once the owers died bac , news of her citation spar ed discussion of revising omerworth’s property codes or e and anet rouch of olumbia, d , the road to change was much longer and much more expensive ver several years, the rouches turned their property into an eco-friendly landscape that supported native ora and fauna Then, a neighbor complained to the local homeowner’s association that the rouches’ gardens were out of
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
Chris Kosin poses for a portrait in front of the side lawn he helped plant.
compliance with code. The couple refused to mow down their garden, and spent over $60,000 across three years, to fight the HOA in court. In the end, their case resulted in Maryland House Bill 322, which prevents HOAs from disallowing “low-impact landscaping” outside of common spaces. In Maine, state statute 1424 offers condominium owners similar protections. Some municipalities, like Royal Oak, Mich . and Brookfield, Ill. have revised their local property codes to specifically protect native plant gardens.
Property values, often used to argue for a “manicured” lawn, increase or decrease depending on current opinions and knowledge. Opinions and knowledge might shift as a result of conversation. That’s the hope of Chris Kosin of GaiaScape LLC, a Pittsburgh landscaping company “focusing on native and edible landscapes.” Kosin says he’s often approached on-the-job by curious passersby.
“In one case, someone came by to ask why I was removing her favorite lawn in the neighborhood,” Kosin recalls.
In these moments, Kosin takes the opportunity to explain why his client might want something other than a photosynthetic carpet. Kosin’s most successful talking point is a truth many Americans are afraid to admit: lawn care can be miserable. Paul Robbins, in an interview for The New Republic, puts it bluntly: “People don’t like lawns. That’s the irony; more and more people don’t want them, but nothing has changed.” Lawns require constant labor and can be pricey to
keep verdant. So, who wants all these lawns kept in place? According to Robbins, it’s the corporations mar keting fertilizers, pesticides, and lawn care gizmos who are invested in maintaining the status quo.
By contrast, Kosin says he hopes clients won’t have to call him for ongoing maintenance. His goal is to install landscaping that, with some thoughtful tending by the owner, sustains itself.
Jess Runco, who operates Touch of Green Landscaping in Pittsburgh’s East End, suggests that garden signs — identifying native plant gardens or certified pollinator gardens — can go a long way in educating neighbors. Design is key, too.
“I think being mindful about your garden design is smart. Using some flowers in your design will sway people into seeing your space as a garden,” rather than as a blighted property, Runco says. Still, plants like goldenrod and asters may be mis taken for weeds by Zillow-tracking neighbors.
Runco and Kosin both point out that garden design isn’t just about what you plant, but also where.
“Having spacial awareness around your plantings is important,” Runco explains. “You don’t want to plant something tall or shrubby in a hell strip [the strip of grass between the street and sidewalk] or on a corner where it could be a visual obstacle for people or cars.”
Kosin adds that mindful design choices ensure sidewalks are clear for wheelchair users and mail car riers. That thoughtfulness points
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
A curated prairie lawn in Troy Hill
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
A curated prairie lawn in Troy Hill
to what city property codes might do: avoid placing unfair burdens on others, especially those who might already have limited access to space and resources.
Although the city’s code violation letters can be menacing, with threats of compounding fines and legal fees, Ashley Mielcarek says enforcement officials were amenable to her permaculture goals.
“The city dropped the complaint pretty quickly,” she says. “I sent one email explaining that we intentionally plant native species that serve
a specific purpose, no matter how weedy they look, and the investigator seemed pretty happy to let it go.”
The unnamed party in most of these stories is the complainant — the person who calls 311. Code 302.4 is built for an old city of property values protected through anonymous complaints, identically-gardened plots, and one-size-fits-all norms. That’s not the city many of today’s Pittsburghers want, especially in their own gardens. Dan Brown, constituent relations director for the City’s 5th District, suggests even some
city leaders are ready for changes.
“We’re certainly sympathetic to anything that might mitigate stormwater runoff, improve habitat connectivity, and greenify Pittsburgh,” he says.
Vale’s neighbor probably called 311 to get their way but, if anything, the call clarified to Vale the principles he’s trying to grow.
“My garden is a reflection of my interests, not an external sign of success. Part of growing something other than a lawn is showing others what else is possible.” •
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
A curated prairie lawn in Troy Hill
CP PHOTO: GRACE DELALLO
The slag heap in Swisshelm Park that will become a solar energy farm
FROM SLAG TO SOLAR
Decarbonizing from slag may be a start, but experts say the commonwealth needs legislation to make smaller-scale solar energy more accessible
BY: GRACE DELALLO // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
The Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA) is giving a slag heap in Swisshelm Park a solar makeover.
With help from a recently received federal grant, the URA is undertaking a 70-acre land remediation and 15-acre solar development project that’ll turn one of Pittsburgh’s many brownfields into a so-called brightfield.
“A brightfield is a brownfield that has gone to solar,” says Lilly Freedman, manager of development projects at the URA. “I just think Pittsburgh, as well as other cities in upper Appalachia and the former Rust Belt, are kind of uniquely situated to really explore these brightfield opportunities.”
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 450,000 brownfields exist across the United States, with around 1,300 in Pennsylvania and just under 300 in Allegheny County.
After 20-plus years of clean up, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection touts the rehabilitation of 6,000 brownfields locally, including Bakery Square, SouthSide Works and other local sites.
The abundance of brownfields gives the Commonwealth a chance to get ahead in the race to increase solar capacity. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, Pennsylvania ranks 21st for total installed solar capacity at last count in this year’s first quarter, generating a mere 2,200 megawatts.
Freedman says this new vision for Swisshelm Park had been in the works since 2019. Originally, the agency was set on a housing development, but cost was a major factor in its pivot.
“Any brownfield remediation is going to be costly, but brownfield to solar is going to be less costly than other types of development,” Freedman tells Pittsburgh City Paper. Land remediation alone will cost approximately $6.5 million, with $2 million originating from the EPA’s Brownfield Cleanup Grant, $4 million from the American Rescue Plan Act funding and local tax increment financing helping with the rest. Redevelopment costs remain unknown as the agency prepares to solicit bids from solar developers.
Installations like the planned Swisshelm Park solar farm, while a step toward decarbonization, can only make a miniscule impact on the grid, by law. Pennsylvania limits the amount of solar energy that can be generated, but there’s a bill making its way through the Pa. House of Representatives that would unleash even more solar growth throughout the state.
The Community Solar Act, introduced by Rep. Peter Schweyer (D) and passed by the House in March, would allow for community solar organizations and administrators to develop, build, own, or operate community solar facilities. Community solar programs would also be able to provide access to the benefits of Pennsylvania community solar energy generation, regardless of the physical attributes of their home or business, including roof space,
shading or ownership status.
“I represent a lot of blue collar and working-class families. Folks in those communities, no matter where in the commonwealth, they like the idea of owning their own [power] generation,” Schweyer tells City Paper.
And that’s what this bill aims to accomplish. It opens up the possibility of solar energy to people across the state, no matter where they live or whether they own a home.
“There are a whole lot of people who can’t do it because of their circumstances, and that’s not fair,” Schweyer says. “That’s where community solar comes in.”
As current restrictions stand, third parties can only opt into a net-metered system, or system that rewards people with a credit on their electric bill for the energy their panels generated, if not directed to a single source.
While this sounds like it helps incentivize solar, the limits on the amount of megawatts that individuals can generate makes any energy decarbonization limited, and ultimately stagnates the state’s overall solar growth, especially in urban landscapes.
Companies will be able to compete for a long-term lease with the URA until the final quarter of this year and is open to bidders from across state lines. Construction for the solar farm will break ground in June 2026.
“If you look at the slag heaps, nature has come back on its own. And then what happens when people start using it?” says Ron Baraff, the director of historical resources and facilities at Rivers of Steel. “They create mountain biking trails, hiking trails and
“FOLKS IN WORKING-CLASS COMMUNITIES LIKE THE IDEA OF OWNING THEIR OWN [POWER] GENERATION.”
start making use of it. So really, this is an opportunity for the city to really embrace that and to build upon that.”
And the city is embracing its industrial history with greener prospects. The URA has undertaken many brownfield remediation projects, especially when steelmaking plummeted in the 1980s and ’90s.
While the URA has tackled projects like SouthSide Works and Hazelwood Green, this project marks a new era of redevelopment and remediation. The URA just held a community meeting about the solar project at the Swisshelm Park Community Center.
“It’s just a really important thing for this region to be focusing on, in terms of the future of land reuse and recycling,” Freedman says. “We are hopeful that this will really be on the forefront of what could be lots more solar development in the City of Pittsburgh.” •
Who Has 8 GIANT Legs and is Inviting You to a Festival?
Mr. Long Legs, that's who!
This Saturday, August 3 , Pittsburgh Botanic Garden is hosting the Mr. Long Legs' Neighborhood Festival at their spectacular 65 acres of cultivated gardens and woodland.
So, what does a larger-than-life spider have to do with this party? This summer the Garden is hosting David Rogers’ Big Bugs + Pollinators, an art installation of 10 large-scale sculptures of beneficial insects and pollinators. Boasting up to 20 feet wide and 18 feet long, the sculptures are hand-crafted using natural materials, highlighting the fascinating anatomy of each species. What a fantastic reason to throw a party!!
By Leigh Frank Spider Sculpture
courtesy of: Scott Goldsmith
• Information will also be available about plants with an ecological association with the sculptures.
"Insects and pollinators work in harmony with native plants to sustain and grow healthy environments where humans and wildlife alike can thrive."
said Keith S. Kaiser,” Executive Director Pittsburgh Botanic Garden. "Big Bugs + Pollinators gives our guests the opportunity to discover these essential creatures on a grand scale, we hope you will join us for this fun, educational celebration!"
Be sure to visit PghCityPaper.com for a longer version of this article with more details.
What to expect?
From 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM visitors can expect hands-on activities, pollinator trivia, visit beehives, an opportunity to ask an entomologist all your burning questions about insects, food, drinks, and more!
• Ask the Entomologist with a Guest Entomologist from Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
• Ask questions and learn with naturalist and environmental educator Verna McGinley.
• Meet some of the awesome local organizations doing great work in the community.
• Check out a real beehive!
• Mr. Long Legs & Friends: Fascinating Facts & Trivia
• Crafts and educational activities!
• Dee Jay's BBQ Ribs & Grille will be serving barbecue and will have kid-friendly food options available! Canopy Cafe will also have a drink pop-up serving beer and other alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. Best of all? The Neighborhood Festival is included in the price of regular admission to the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden!
About David Rogers’ Big Bugs + Pollinators
Sculptor and Creator of Big Bugs + Pollinators, David Rogers has always been drawn to nature, where his affinity for woodwork began. This is the first time his work will be featured at Pittsburgh Botanic Garden. "I appreciate the role botanic gardens play in trying to educate their community about the sanctity of conservation…after all, good planets are hard to find," said Rogers.
How to Visit Big Bugs & The Botanic Garden
The great news is that if you can't make Saturday's celebration, you still have a few weeks to visit David Rogers' Big Bugs + Pollinators. The exhibition includes the cost of daily admission to Pittsburgh Botanic Garden and ends September 15, 2024.
Pittsburgh Botanic Garden is located at 799 Pinkerton Run Road, Pittsburgh 15071. To purchase tickets and get full festival details, visit PittsburghBotanicGarden.org or call 412-444-4464.
Photo
HIDE IN HIGHLAND PARK
In Vigilance Theater Group’s latest production, the audience is immersed in family secrets
BY:RACHEL WILKINSON // RWILKINSON@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
Vigilance Theater Group has always brought an air of spookiness to its productions. Since its founding in 2018, the immersive theater company has taken audiences to the archetypal house from a slasher film, through a spirit-filled volcano world, and on a Shirley Jackson-inspired ghost hunt.
Vigilance’s latest production, Hide, opened July 26, is no different, says director Brooke Echnat, but offers fun for mystery fans and even the horror-averse. This time, the action centers around a family’s annual summer party, inviting participants to uncover dark secrets , “from fraying marriages to supernatural intrigue.” Audiences, capped at 15 people per show, interact directly with performers at the gathering to try to stay ahead of the intrigue, and are ultimately guided toward a “very important choice that will impact the way the rest
PHOTO: COURTESY OF RENEE RABENOLD / VIGILANCETHEATER GROUP Allie Lampman-Sims appears through a window in Hide.
of the evening is going to go,” Echnat tells Pittsburgh City Paper
“By the end,” a production synopsis reads, “vengeful creatures will emerge.”
To add to the family reunion quality, the show also takes place at a private house in Highland Park, the location of which is disclosed only to ticket buyers.
Kendrick, Sarah Dugan, and Allie Lampman-Sims. Tickets cost $60 and are available through Humanitix and Vigilance’s website.
What sets Hide apart, Echnat says, is how developed its characters are.
Over weeks of rehearsal, the eightperson cast dedicated itself to creating shared history and character dynamics that would reflect the depth
“WHEN IT COMES TO IMMERSIVE THEATER, THESE ACTORS NEED TO KNOW THEIR CHARACTERS INSIDE AND OUT, SO MUCH OF THEIR CHARACTER WORK WAS REALLY BUILDING ALL OF THE INNER WORKINGS OF THIS FAMILY.”
Hide stages Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through Aug. 11, including an accessible performance on Sat., Aug. 4, and stars Marisa Postava, Maddie Kocur, Tamara Siegert, John Feightner, Bradleigh Bell, Tyler Ray
of real-life family relationships.
“When it comes to immersive theater, these actors need to know their characters inside and out,” Echnat says. “So much of their character work was really building all of
the inner workings of this family.”
Throughout the process, “every night” actors were “making new discoveries and there [were] new moments,” Echnat says. “I’m like, I don’t know how they’re coming up with all this, but I think it’s because they’re so grounded in their characters and relationships to each other, which is the best thing in the world.”
Echnat also credits the complex dynamics to the play’s writing by Vigilance creative director Sean Collier. Over six years of Vigilance productions, Collier’s characters have been known to recur, and according to Echnat, Hide audience members can expect some “Easter eggs” from past storylines.
Creating Hide also required extensive improvisation work, though not in the comedic sense.
“It’s been a lot of having [the cast] improv little mini scenes and vignettes and just build their
PHOTO: COURTESY OF RENEE RABENOLD / VIGILANCETHEATER GROUP Maddie Kocur (left), Bradleigh Bell (center) and Marisa Postava (right) in a scene from Hide
comfortability with each other,” Echnat says.
All this character work translates to the audience, she believes, and allows theatergoers to feel like they’re immersed in the show and engaged in genuine conversations.
During Hide , audiences “will be able to interact with the characters and build some meaningful connections throughout and get the chance to explore,” Echnat says. “For me, it’s really just giving an audience an opportunity to play.”
This is Echnat’s first time directing a Vigilance project, after acting in the company’s outdoor production of The Crucible and serving as assistant
director for last fall’s Campfire Stories — both part of Vigilance’s Season of Fire, which also includes Hide
The Pittsburgh native shares that she’s the only person involved with the theater group who’s not a fan of horror or haunted houses. Echnat instead drew inspiration from the Happiest Place On Earth — working on the team that opened Disney’s much-discussed Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel. Offering a twonight immersive experience that simulated an outer space voyage, the Galactic Starcruiser was described by then-CEO Bob Chapek as Disney’s “most experiential concept ever.”
Though it was ultimately
discontinued after 18 months, the experience led Echnat to “really [fall] in love with immersive theater and the interactive theater world” and what it could offer.
“[I saw] the way audience members fully connected with the world and fully got to create their own characters and have their own sense of play,” Echnat says. “Whether they were 50 years old, in their 30s, or they were 10 years old, they got to just allow themselves to play.”
After coming back from pandemic shutdowns, Vigilance has also considered the future of immersive theater.
“I just truly hope the popularity of immersive theater continues to grow,” Echnat says, “because I think it can create such interesting, intimate, and transformative experiences for audience members they might not be able to get in a traditional theater setting.”
“It’s stepping into a world that maybe you’ve dreamed about going into, but then to be able to create your own identity within that world … or be able to impact other characters or make changes and feel like you have a role or responsibility within that setting I think is so cool,” Echnat says. “And I think that’s what audience members are really wanting to cling on to.” •
PHOTO: COURTESY OF RENEE RABENOLD / VIGILANCETHEATER GROUP John Feightner and Tamara Siegert in Hide
STADIUM SOUNDS
BY: AMANDA WALTZ // AWALTZ
Once upon a time, I saw Meat Loaf pass out in Station Square. I also saw The Pixies, Ben Folds, Rufus Wainwright, and Guster, though they all managed to remain conscious. This was when the riverfront entertainment district had an outdoor music venue that, through the years, went by many names, including I.C. Light Amphitheatre, Chevrolet Amphitheatre, and, during my concert-going days around 2011, Trib Total Media Amphitheatre.
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Highmark Stadium
Since then, the location has undergone a major overhaul, transforming into Highmark Stadium, a sports arena where, since 2013, soccer fans have cheered on the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. But music will soon return to the site on a more regular basis, with a standalone concert taking place on Sat., Aug. 3, the first since the pandemic put a hold on large events.
The concert, a country music showcase featuring Grammy Award nominee David Nail, marks the latest step to re-establish Highmark Stadium as an outdoor concert venue that, according to one description, “fills the gap, sizewise” between other area outdoor concert venues like Stage AE and Pittsburgh’s stadiums.
Jeff Garner, who has served as the Riverhounds’ president for two years, tells Pittsburgh City Paper he was not present for the stadium’s live music glory days, but he knows it attracted plenty of fans looking to see big name acts.
“I’ve heard all kinds of stories of like, ‘I saw Aerosmith here, I saw so and so here,’ whatever band they remember,” says Garner. “But it was such a well-known music venue at that time … And so, usually, when we start to talk about, hey, we’d like to do more concerts, they get very excited about the possibility of being able to come back down here.”
While the stadium has recently played host to local music events, including the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival and the Highmark Blues and Heritage Festival, Garner says they have a new vision that starts with providing affordable, accessible, allages entertainment.
“It’s something though that is much more of a focus for us as we move forward, to bring other events besides just the Riverhounds into this venue,” Garner explains, adding that,
for now, they are “looking for artists that can play to the whole family.”
On Sept. 22, the stadium will also host the Family Beats & Bounce Festival, an event featuring live local and regional cover bands and a kidfriendly “inflatable village” full of bounce houses, obstacle courses, games, and more.
Ideally, if all goes well, Garner says they foresee hosting four to six concerts in 2025 and eight to 10 concerts a year moving forward. While the upcoming concerts will have a more intimate feel, welcoming crowds numbering up to 5,000, Garner says they plan on fully utilizing the venue’s 10,000-person capacity for future music events.
He says they are also working on expanding the stadium’s capacity to 15,000 seats, which would translate to 20,000-25,000 guests for concerts.
The focus on music also allows Garner and his team to make use of the stadium during the 348 days when it’s not hosting a Riverhounds home game. The focus on music, however, does not mean that soccer will be neglected, as, according to Garner, Highmark Stadium will welcome women’s soccer matches beginning in May 2025. He predicts that, over the next 10 years, which will see the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup, local and national interest in soccer will continue to grow.
Even as the love for soccer has, according to Garner, “exploded” in the U.S., especially among a younger demographic, he observes that Highmark Stadium soccer crowds are often there for more than the matches.
“For the diehard soccer fans, there’s a really great soccer product here,” says Garner. “But probably 80% of our crowd, I don’t think they know the score when they leave the stadium. And they clap when they’re
supposed to clap and they yell and get excited when we score a goal. But they’re not necessarily here just for the game. They’re here for a fun night out with family or friends.”
Garner chalks this up to the many assets that Highmark Stadium provides, including low ticket prices, access to ample event parking, walkability from Downtown, on-site food and beverage options, and scenic views of the Monongahela River and city skyline.
“It’s just a beautiful place to spend a summer or fall evening and have a few beverages with your friends and listen to some live music,” says Garner. He believes that Highmark Stadium could also take the hassle and high costs out of seeing notable touring musicians, as well as local acts, in Pittsburgh.
“Now you’re going to have an alternative for similar types of acts in a setting like this with much more accessibility, and [we’re] trying to make sure prices remain affordable,” says Garner. “We feel like we have a pretty good shot at doing something special here.” •
Country in the City Concert
with David Nail, Michael Christopher, & Justin Fabus
SAT., AUG. 3
SEVEN DAYS IN PITTSBURGH
PITTS
THU., AUG. 1
LIT • MARS
FRI., AUG.2
Indulge in the adventure, romance, and fantasy of a bygone art form when PulpFest returns. The annual convention welcomes fans of pulp magazines produced throughout the early 20th century, when the exploits of Buck Rogers, Conan the Barbarian, Hopalong Cassidy, Zorro, and many other characters delighted readers. The 2024 event — taking place at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh-Cranberry — will pay tribute to hardboiled detective and spy stories, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and sex-tinged works. 9 a.m. Continues through Sun., Aug. 4. 910 Sheraton Dr., Mars. $25-50. pulpfest.com
ART • BLOOMFIELD
Opening Reception: Tracing an Outline Around a Man’s Shadow 6-8 p.m. Continues through Sept. 13. The Tomayko Foundation. 5173 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield. Free. tomayko. foundation
FILM • DOWNTOWN
Film Pittsburgh presents Patrol. 7:30 p.m. Harris Theater. 809 Liberty Ave., Downtown. $18. filmpittsburgh.org
FRI., AUG. 2
FILM • PENN HILLS
Grossfest. 4-10 p.m. Continues through Sat., Aug. 3. Comfort Inn Conference Center. 699 Rodi Rd., Penn Hills. $10-15. grossfest.com
ART • BLOOMFIELD
Living Canvas. 5-10 p.m. Continues through Sun., Aug. 25. Studio 4. 4609 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield. Free. campaints.com/livingcanvas
KIDS • OAKLAND
Under the Sea Family Adventure Night 5:30-7:30 p.m. Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. One Schenley Park, Oakland. $13.95-21.95. phipps.conservatory.org
MUSIC • WILKINSBURG
Daniel Bennett and the New York Jazz Trio. 7-9 p.m. Eastridge Cultural Center. 1900 Graham Blvd., Wilkinsburg. Pay What You Can. wilkinsburgpa.gov
THEATER • VERONA
Experience a new take on celebrated playwright Eugene O’Neill’s final work when Quantum Theatre presents A Moon for the Misbegotten. Quantum describes the awardwinning show, first produced in 1957, as telling the story of “a doomed man’s guilt and a woman who tries desperately to love him,” and as an “exploration of family and the sacrifices we make for the ones we love.”
See Quantum’s season opener under the stars at Longue Vue Club
8 p.m. Continues through Sun., Aug. 25. 400 Longue Vue Dr., Verona. $20-70 quantumtheatre.com/moon
FRI., AUG. 2
FESTIVAL • OAKDALE
Mr. Long Legs Neighborhood Festival. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Pittsburgh Botanic Garden. 799 Pinkerton Run Rd., Oakdale. Included with regular admission. pittsburghbotanicgarden.org
FESTIVAL • NORTH SIDE
In 2020, various organizations and community leaders, including local artist Janel Young, set out to renovate a neglected historic basketball court dubbed “The Jungle” in Allegheny Commons Park. Be among the first to see the newly updated court when it’s o icially revealed during the The Jungle Celebration, described as a full day of “community, music, play, and more.” 12-6 p.m. Arch St., North Side. Free. instagram.com/thejunglepgh
ART • LAWRENCEVILLE
Lawrenceville Art Crawl 1-9 p.m.
Multiple locations on Butler St., Lawrenceville. Free. facebook.com/redfishbowl
BURLESQUE • SOUTH SIDE
Slasher Basher Burlesque Benefit Show 2:30 p.m. Doors at 2 p.m. Club Cafe. 56-58 S. 12th St., South Side. $15. 21 and over. opusoneproductions.com
MUSIC • DOWNTOWN
Celebrating Eddie Je erson: An Evening of Jazz Vocalese with George V. Johnson Jr. and Phat Man Dee. 9 p.m. Con Alma. 613 Penn Ave., Downtown. $10. conalmapgh.com/jazz
PHOTO: ALEXA DREW
Daniel Bennett and the New York Jazz Trio at Eastridge Cultural Center
PHOTO: JASON SNYDER
Quantum Theatre presents A Moon for the Misbegotten at Longue Vue Club
FRI., JULY26
SUN., AUG. 4
FESTIVAL • POINT BREEZE
Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse presents Reuse Reunion 12-4 p.m. Westinghouse Park. 7051 Thomas Blvd., Point Breeze. Free. pccr.org/events
OCCULT • STRIP DISTRICT
New Moon Tarot Readings with Rebecca Bloom 4:30-6:30 p.m. Kingfly Spirits. 2613 Smallman St., Strip District. $40. kingflyspirits.com/events
MUSIC • NORTH SIDE
WPTS Radio presents Joyer, Villagerrr, and Find My Friends. 8 p.m. The Government Center. 715 East St., North Side. $12 in advance, $15 at the door. thegovernmentcenter.com
MON., AUG. 5
MUSIC • NORTH SHORE
Chevelle with Tigercub 6:30 p.m. Stage AE. 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. $35-85. promowestlive.com
DRAG • STRIP DISTRICT
Boozy Bingo With Kat De Lac. 7 p.m. Doors at 5:30 p.m. City Winery. 1627 Smallman St., Strip District. $20. citywinery.com
TUE., AUG. 6
MUSIC • DOWNTOWN
JazzLive presents Victor Provost 5 p.m. Agnes Katz Plaza. 667 Penn Ave., Downtown. Free. trustarts.org
WED., AUG. 7
MAGIC • DOWNTOWN
Henok Negash in Meant to Be 7:30 p.m. Continues through Sept. 1. Liberty Magic. 811 Liberty Ave., Downtown. $40-65. trustarts.org
SAT., AUG. 3
Photo: Scott Goldsmith Photography Mr. Long Legs Neighborhood Festival at Pittsburgh Botanic Garden
PHOTO: COURTESY OF REDFISHBOWL Lawrenceville Art Crawl
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.
MARKET PLACE
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.
NAME CHANGE
IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-24-007920
In re petition of Brittany Kryzosiak, parent and legal guardian of Andrew Allen Kryzosiak, minor, for change of name to Andrew Mathieu Kryzosiak. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 28th day of 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.
NAME CHANGE
IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-24-005931. In re petition of Stephen Gallo and Theodore Constantine Gallo for change of names to Stephen Demitrios Atsidis and Theodore Constantine Atsidis. 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 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.
MISCELLANEOUS
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)
NAME CHANGE
IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-24-006888
In re petition of Amrita Natasha Singh for change of name to Maya Amrita Singh. 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.
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Department of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on the 31st day of July 2024 with respect to a proposed nonprofit corporation, A-mazing-ing Monarchs. 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: A-maze-ing Monarchs is a social enterprise dedicated to raising awareness about the declining population of monarch butterflies and their critical role in our ecosystem.
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 14th, 2024, at 1:15 PM. Caitlyn Matteo 2066, Terra Lynn Bennett 3262. The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures.com. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.
FINANCIAL
Struggling With Your Private Student Loan Payment? New relief programs can reduce your payments. Learn your options. Good credit not necessary. Call the Helpline 888-670-5631 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm Eastern) (AAN CAN)
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 7th, 2024 at 1:45 PM; 5050 Shekena Thompson, 1025 Sadie Moore. 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.
TAKING HOURS
ACROSS
1.
Picked things up 6. “___ thing over there”
10.
Prepare potatoes
14. Yeti rival
15.
Individually
16. Biography’s opener?
17. Crazy cold
18.
Doing nothing
19. Posse members
20.
Trilled while saying “dagnabbit”?
23. In the style of 26. Invitee to a quinceañera, maybe
27. Sam Altman’s role at OpenAI
28. Psychiatrist cooking dinner?
33. Bit of dental work
34. Have on 35. Word in some English pub names
38. USWNT member
39. Able to solve Brendan Emmett Quigley puzzles, likely
41.
Rye spread
42. Moron
43.
Doing nothing
44.
Talking heads?
45. Things chucked in a game of ddakji?
49. Green-minded
50. Beer with the saying “Established in Milwaukee 1844” on its label
51. Had a tender shoulder?
52. Time of the year to hack the telephone system?
58. Driving position
59. Device with an Apple Pencil
60. Holy See heads
64. Leave a trail of slime
65. Org. that collaborates with SpaceX
66. Tennis star Naomi
67. Went like greased lightning
68. ___ Poupon mustard
69. Lab glassware
DOWN
1. Up on all the latest trends
2. Id’s counterpart
3. The whole enchilada
4. Scream from the fans
5. Ruby slippers wearer
6. Cookware coating
7. Tortoise’s rival
8. Did gangbusters on
9. The Ayatollah, e.g.
10. President Emmanuel
11. Charismatic glow
12. “Don’t ever change,” in proofs
13. “___ by you?”
21. It might be big, little, or white
22. One getting what’s coming to them
23. Japanese dog breed
24. They often come out of the bathroom
25. “Finally”
29. Cellphone gizmo
30. Super Bowl X MVP Lynn
31. “If I Could Tell ___” (“Dear Evan Hansen” song)
32. Māori greeting 36. MetLife Stadium player
37. Hubbub
39. Halloween activity
40. Tabby’s cry
41. Sport in an octagon
43. Killer seen on some whale watches
44. Dua Lipa’s genre
46. Followed closely 47. Outing that might involve cupping and shellacking
48. Deliverers of “Hail Marys”
52. For men?
53. Earring type
54. Knock to the ground
55. Go at it
56. Simplicity
57. Getting in other’s business
61. Course average 62. Scrape (by) 63. Kamasi Washington plays it
LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS
