August 23, 2023 - Pittsburgh City Paper

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23-30, 2023

VOL. 32 ISSUE 34

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COVER PHOTO: COURTESY OF NICHE

BY JORDANA ROSENFELD

PHOTO: COURTESY OF BAREBONES PRODUCTIONS barebones productions presents The Sound Inside

PHOTO: ED ANDERSON

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

PHOTO: MURPHY MOSCHETTA/ COURTESY OF BIKE PGH

A Tony Award-winning play about a Yale writing professor and her student makes its Pittsburgh premiere through barebones productions.

TAKE A PICTURE, IT’LL LAST LONGER.

Scale a mountain for the perfect shot or design a robot bound for Mars. There’s nothing typical about how you’ll earn a degree from West Virginia University.

Come for a personalized tour, ask about our scholarships for out-of-state students and apply for free.

go.wvu.edu/visit-24

WVU graduates have

A NICHE IN PITTSBURGH

Niche is changing the way families search for schools, and is changing Pittsburgh's tech landscape along the way

BY MEG ST-ESPRIT // CPCONTRIBUTORS@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

IN A CITY working hard to shed its sooty roots and rebrand itself as a technology hub, new startups appear — and disappear — somewhat frequently in Pittsburgh. But some do stay the course and revolutionize their sector of the market, like locally-founded language-learning app Duolingo.

One frontrunner to potentially rise to Duolingo's level of success is Niche, which is headquartered where Polish Hill meets the Strip District. Niche is making waves and changing the way families choose schools, neighborhoods, and even places to work.

Initially founded in 2002 by CEO Luke Skurman, the company began as a series of print guidebooks on United States colleges. It has since grown into a large online resource that provides pertinent data about colleges, K-12 schools, neighborhoods, and companies.

“As a high school student I was fascinated with researching colleges

and I dug through every resource I could find,” Skurman tells Pittsburgh City Paper, “but I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was nothing out there that could help me understand what it was really like to attend each school.”

Skurman eventually did land at Carnegie Mellon University, where he studied entrepreneurship. Shortly after graduating, he founded the company that eventually became Niche, called College Prowler. The guidebooks College Prowler produced shared first-hand reviews and insights from actual students at each college, which was unique at the time.

“Choosing a college is an incredibly important decision — it is often one of the most expensive decisions of a person’s lifetime and it leads to lifelong friends and careers — it felt like there needed to be a better way to provide greater confidence in the overall process.” They were one of the first, Skurman says, to embrace user-generated content.

“AS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT I WAS FASCINATED WITH RESEARCHING COLLEGES AND I DUG THROUGH EVERY RESOURCE I COULD FIND ... BUT I COULDN’T SHAKE THE FEELING THAT THERE WAS NOTHING OUT THERE THAT COULD HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT IT WAS REALLY LIKE TO ATTEND EACH SCHOOL."

—

Luke Skurman, CEO

PHOTO: COURTESY OF NICHE Luke Skurman

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON College students play volleyball on the University of Pittsburgh's campus.

How Niche Works

Essentially, Niche incorporates data about schools, colleges, companies, and neighborhoods that comes directly from the entities themselves, as well as from publicly-available sources, such as the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Education. That data is combined with actual user reviews to create a profile page for each school or entity, with information that spans from financial stats to a details on culture. Niche also provides comparison tools so users can see how various schools or places they’re interested in stack up against one another. Today, their website receives 70 million views per year and has over 140 million user reviews and ratings.

Niche is also known for its extensive rankings system. Colleges are ranked yearly not only for academic rigor, but by value, social attributes such as “best Greek life” or “top party schools,” for having the best athletic programs, professors, and even campus food. Users can also search for the top colleges for the area of study they aim to pursue.

Similarly, K-12 schools and neighborhoods have unique, annually-updated rankings that aim to help users find best fits based on factors that are most important to them.

In the neighborhoods section of the site, users can look at clearly laidout data on school districts, diversity, amenities, and more when seeking a place to call home. They can see what actual residents have to say about the area they are considering moving to, or the school they might send their kids to, which has made Niche a popular tool for real estate agents, as well.

SCREENSHOTS OF NICHE.COM

Beyond the numbers

Though Niche provides tools for K-12, job, and neighborhood seekers, the college search process is Niche’s bread and butter, and at this point, half of college-bound individuals have a Niche profile or an account that allows them to peruse schools, build a list of those they’re interested in, and be guided through the application process.

Niche has leaned into social media, too. “Many of our high school users learn about the platform from their

friends or on a recommendation from a school counselor,” Skurman tells City Paper. “We meet students where they are, so we engage a ton of our Gen Z users on social media like TikTok and Discord [@nichesocial on both platforms].” He adds that many families first learn about Niche from their real estate agents when they are relocating and seeking a community or school that meets their needs.

For this school year, Niche has

announced a bold new change. Students can now be accepted to colleges directly via the platform itself through a program called Niche Direct Admissions, essentially cutting out the middleman. It allows participating colleges to offer admission, and even scholarships, to high school students directly via their Niche profile, without them ever having to fill out any application materials. “High school students who register on our platform

today will get real-time notifications of college acceptance and scholarship offers, without ever needing to apply,” says Skurman. At this point, more than 30 higher education institutions offer Niche Direct Admissions, with more joining every week, Skurman says.

“Students can spend less time worrying if they’ll get in — and how they’ll pay for it — and can instead embrace the excitement of going to a college they trust is the best fit for them.”

A NICHE IN PITTSBURGH, CONTINUES ON PG. 8

Maximize Your Financial Aid & College Options: 5 Secrets from a Seasoned Counselor

It’s getting harder to get into college. In the last 20 years, the number of college applications submitted have increased by 150 percent, even though the size of high school graduating classes have remained relatively steady.

Here’s the thing: The competition doesn’t have to deter you or your child from landing a ticket to a dream school. As the founder and director of College Confident, an innovative national college access program that has served over 60 high schools and over 60,000 families since 2012, I know a few tricks of the trade to help maximize acceptances and financial aid options.

The good news? If you’re reading this, you’re not too late. But it’s definitely time to get started. Below, I’ll share a few tips to gain control and confidence over the situation—and a leg-up on the competition.

Apply to 20 colleges. (It’s easier than you think.)

When I tell this to my students, they often respond, “That sounds hard, and crazy. My counselor told me to apply to a few local colleges.”

This is an example of letting the institutions control your future. Let’s say you apply to three colleges and receive one acceptance with a financial aid package. Your path has been decided for you, because you have no choice but to accept your one option.

I say, do the math and gain control: With CommonApp.org, you can apply to 20 colleges using one application. The more colleges you apply to, the more you boost your odds of multiple acceptances—and financial

By Emilia Wiles

aid packages—to compare and choose from. You’re back in the driver’s seat, navigating your future.

Negotiate a better offer.

There’s another (big) reason it can literally pay to receive multiple acceptances. Let’s say you gain 10 college acceptances, each with a unique financial aid package. If you have one particular school you want to go to but its financial package isn’t as strong as another offered to you, you can approach the financial aid office with the better offer. In my 11 years of experience, financial aid offices have often come close to matching another (better) offer once you present it to them. Without the better offer from other colleges, you don’t have a bargaining chip.

Submit your apps by October 15th

When it comes to financial aid, first come, first serve. At the beginning of the application season, there are piles of money in the pot; however, as acceptances go out the door, so does the funding. After all, the financial aid office has to be prepared to resource every student accepted, and who gets the best packages? The early applicants.

Mark October 15th to November 15th on your calendar, and apply to the college that is the hardest to get into via Early Decision, which is a binding decision*. Apply to the rest of your 20 colleges via Early Action, which is not binding but early enough to get almost as much consideration as Early Decision, and even more funding. If you aim to submit your applications by October 15th, you could receive an acceptance as early as Thanksgiving.

On the other hand, let’s paint a picture of what happens when you procrastinate and apply at the lastminute in January: Amid the stressful rush to complete all the application elements at the height of the holidays, your family will spend precious time off arguing.

Your high school counselor as well as the teachers you asked for recommendations will be totally swamped and deliver subpar letters—if you’re lucky to get them at all. Then, you’ll be at the mercy of getting leftover college spots that others already declined.

So, do your family a favor and get your apps done early in the season.

Apply for financial aid early (notice the theme).

It’s imperative that you complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form as soon as possible — ideally by November 1st. Note that you can only list 10 schools on your FAFSA form. However, two weeks after you submit the form, you must switch out the 10 schools listed with the remaining schools on your list to ensure all 20 colleges on your list receive your FAFSA.

Plus, apply to your state’s financial aid as well. Note that the process is different in each state — Pennsylvania has the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) application while New York State offers the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) application.

Finally, private colleges offer another financial aid form called The CSS Profile.

Create a family email address.

Here’s the thing: Students do not read their emails,

and they may miss notifications from colleges about important paperwork needed, forms they have to submit, or dates for admissions interviews. Parents need to be reading these emails to stay on top of the process.

One of the first things we do in my College Application Bootcamps is create a new email address that both parents and students have access to. You’ll use this email in the CommonApp and other admissions-related communications.

Need more support with the process?

In my virtual College Application Bootcamp, families will receive step-by-step guidance as they begin and complete their college applications — from start to finish! The program features four sessions that take place live online. The program begins Monday, September 18. Payment plans are available. Plus, I’m offering a FREE workshop on Monday, September 11 where you can learn more and ask questions. For more info, visit CollegeConfident.org/bootcamp or email me at emilia@collegeconfident.org

About our expert:

Emilia Wiles has a passion for college access and community development. As the founding CEO of one of New York City’s most successful college prep programs servicing over 60,000 public high school youth across New York City boroughs, Emilia has used her educational expertise and community development abilities to teach and promote college confidence and student leadership throughout the college process.

What does Niche bring to Pittsburgh?

With over 300 employees and growing, Niche is poised to play a large role in the edtech scene. As for the comparisons to Duolingo, another Carnegie Mellon brainchild, Skurman is happy to hear them. “It’s cool that Duolingo and Niche are both headquartered in Pittsburgh and neither is traditional ‘Edtech,’ but both are in the education space. I think it’s fantastic that Duolingo is having the success that they’re having.”

Lawrenceville resident Linda Cheung is a senior software

development project manager for Niche, and while she is local, she sees strength in the talent pool Niche is able to draw through a remote-first mentality. “This has benefitted us with a richer diversity of backgrounds, skills, and perspectives in our workforce. Our Pittsburgh headquarters serves as a great home base for our geographically diverse teams to come together and collaborate during various on-sites.”

Niche is also bringing new talent to the city. “I personally came to Pittsburgh to work in tech,” says

Nate Bridi, who lives in Highland Park and is the vice president of design at the company. “Niche has been an incredible growth opportunity I don’t think I would have found anywhere else.”

“We love that our platform supports people through many stages of their lives,” says Skurman. “From helping them decide where to go to college to researching where to live once they get their first job and, ultimately, supporting them in their school search once they have families of their own.” •

“THE FACT THAT NICHE WAS HOMEGROWN AND FOUNDED IN PITTSBURGH IS VERY SPECIAL FOR THE CITY. NICHE HAS BUILT SOMETHING AMAZING, AND IT SHOWS WITH THE TOP TECH TALENT THAT WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE AS A PART OF OUR TEAM. I TAKE TREMENDOUS PRIDE IN BEING A PART OF NICHE, AS SOMEONE BORN AND RAISED IN PITTSBURGH.”

—

Matt Dolan, Strategic Partnerships Executive, Higher Education

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON College students cross the street on the University of Pittsburgh's campus..

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COMMUNITY PROFILE

PEDAL POWER

BY AUGUST STEPHENS // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

OVER THE LAST three decades, PedalPGH has raised awareness about making city streets safer and more bikeable for everyone. This year, BikePGH celebrates the 30-year milestone of the celebration with what events director Kéya Joseph calls “ a joyful journey through the city’s hidden gems, iconic landmarks, and breathtaking views.”

Taking place on Sun., Aug. 27, PedalPGH will take participants from the North Side’s grassy getaway, Allegheny Commons Park, over several different routes, and back again. Bicyclists can choose from the seven-mile BikePGH River Loop, the 25-mile Steel City Media Local Tour, the 40-mile Outside and Grand Tour, or the 62-mile U.S. Steel Epic Endurance Challenge. Both footpowered and electric-assisted bikes are welcome.

Along the way, riders will find reststops and first aid stations sponsored by UPMC Health Plan, the event’s main sponsor.

“UPMC Health Plan is honored to once again be the title sponsor of PedalPGH,” says Dr. James Schuster, UPMC Health Plan’s chief medical officer, in a press release. “The event is a great way to get outdoors, enjoy a healthy activity, and experience the region’s best new in-city bike infrastructure.”

The ride will conclude with The Finish Line Festival in Allegheny Commons which will feature free lunch, beer and refreshments, bikepowered cooling misters, entertainment by Shorty’s Pins x Pints, and music from DJ Willionaire.

A maximum of 3,000 riders can register for PedalPGH, which will also serve as a fundraiser for the organization. Currently, less than 800 spots are left. A total sellout would result in $250,000 raised through the ride.

BikePGH claims that, since 2012, PedalPGH has raised over $1.5 million for “bicycle and pedestrian advocacy in Pittsburgh.”

Registration fees for PedalPGH will support BikePGH advocacy and education outreach programs, as well as initiatives that provide resources, traffic calming, and classes for cyclists of all levels.

“You can see the tangible impact of BikePGH’s work on our streets everywhere you go, from bike racks to new infrastructure across the city,” says Joseph. She adds that, in

partnership with the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure, BikePGH has installed over 400 bike racks across the city “in the past two years alone.”

She also highlights the continuing expansions of bike lanes and projects in various neighborhoods, including Morningside, Squirrel Hill, and Downtown, where, in 2022, the organization pushed for upgrades that would help prevent cars from parking illegally in bike lanes.

One accomplishment Joseph points out is the $3.2M project to convert the Allegheny Circle in the North Side from a four-lane, one-way ring road into a two-way street that includes bike-friendly alterations. As previously reported by Pittsburgh City Paper, the project

was the brainchild of BikePGH board member Bruce Chan, who wanted to use his skills as an urban designer to “undo some of the urban planning and car-centric mistakes of Pittsburgh’s past.”

Much like with the Allegheny Circle, the PedalPGH route, Joseph says, was designed and executed by experienced riders close to BikePGH.

“BikePGH staff creates all the routes using our on-the-ground knowledge of the best bike routes and connections through the city, while making sure to showcase bike infrastructure new and old,” says Joseph. “A dedicated team of volunteers then helps us test the routes all summer to make tweaks or changes for construction so that every rider experiences a fantastic route on event day.” •

PHOTO: MURPHY MOSCHETTA/ COURTESY OF BIKE PGH

EATING ITALY

BY REGE BEHE // CPCONTRIBUTORS@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

THE FIRST TIME Katie Parla visited Italy, she knew it was her destiny.

It was 1996, she was still in high school, and everything, especially the cuisine, beckoned her.

She wasn’t sure how she was going to accomplish her goal — Parla wasn’t even sure what she wanted to do, save live in Italy and explore Italian cuisine. But there was no question where she wanted to be.

“I studied Italian history and culture and art,” Parla tells Pittsburgh City Paper. “And then a few years after landing in Italy, I did my master’s in Italian gastronomic culture because I felt like if I was going to tell anyone about Italian food, which is this vast, national set of cuisines, I should have the academic chops to back it up.”

Parla, who lives and works in Rome, will appear on Sat., Aug. 26 at Bar Marco in the Strip District to promote her latest cookbook, Food of the Italian Islands: Recipes from the Sunbaked Beaches, Coastal Villages, and Rolling Hillsides of Sicily, Sardinia, and Beyond. The event will feature an aperitivo spread of island-inspired items including arancini, panelle, braised lamb, fregula with clams, and much more. (Unsurprisingly, the appetizing event has already sold out.)

The recipes from Food of the Italian Island s range from cernia alla Lampedusa (grouper with capers, olives, and tomatoes) to pane carasau (crispy Sardinian flatbread). The featured recipes are light years removed from what most Americans consider

to be Italian food and reflect the country’s regional and sub-regional cuisines.

FOOD OF THE ITALIAN ISLANDS RECIPES FROM THE SUNBAKED BEACHES, COASTAL VILLAGES, AND ROLLING HILLSIDES OF SICILY, SARDINIA, AND BEYOND by Katie Parla. katieparla.com

While the country boasts a long, storied, and respected food history, Parla points out that the dishes featured in her book are not a reflection of what Italians have eaten for millennia.

“What we eat in Rome has changed dramatically in the past 50 years,” she says. “It’s not as though we’re eating the things that peasants and

popes and shepherds did in the Renaissance.”

She adds, “The cuisines that we enjoy, whether in Rome or certainly in Sicily, they’re all reflective of a very modern culture, 20th and 21st centuries. And yet, they’re still incredibly distinct and tell us about ingredients and seasonality and agriculture and migration and conquest, and really define the identity of a place.”

Certain dishes are tied to a place, and variations tend to be viewed as unorthodox choices. If a diner from the Sicilian city of Palermo is looking to be adventurous, they’ll have braciole alla messinesi, meat rolls popular on the other side of the island.

“When you’re really trying to shake things up and change the way that you

PHOTO: ED ANDERSON Katie Parla

are eating, you’ll look at something that’s from outside of your space, but usually on your island or the mainland,” Parla says.

Because of their geography and positioning of trade routes, Italian islands were influenced by a range of dialects, subcultures, and cuisines. Arab, Spanish, French and Mediterranean ingredients all were used to flavor dishes.

And those dishes aren’t always the expected. For instance, Sardinia,

despite being an island, heavily tilts toward meat dishes, not fish.

Parla explains that, when on holiday in Sardinia, or any European coastal region, “what you’re eating is a variety of food that was unsafe to gather until pretty recently, with large-scale fishing replacing smaller vessels, which were often at-risk during storms.”

A lack of refrigeration and ice also influenced how island residents dined and cooked.

“If you were a Sardinian person anywhere on the island, the odds are you’re going to have a little bit of distance from the coast so you could see invaders or pirates coming, and so that you could protect your food if you came under some sort of attack,” she explains. “And that you would have a mastery of the land which would produce food in a much more diverse way with more potential for nutrition than just fish could offer.”

While there’s a long tradition

of dried fish or tinning tuna, other dishes tend to be more popular. Thus, the book includes Sardinian recipes for pane frattau (flatbread with tomato, eggs, and pecorino) and zuppa di fagioli e pancetta, a simple pork-and-beans soup.

“When people say I want to get your book, but I don’t like fish, I tell them don’t worry about it,” Parla says with a laugh. “There’s not that much fish. There’s some, but it’s a lot of other stuff.” •

PHOTOS: ED ANDERSON

COMMUNITY PROFILE

SELLING SEX POSITIVITY

Boulevard Adult Boutique straddles the old and new worlds of adult entertainment

BY SARAH HAMM // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

WHAT’S OLD IS NEW AGAIN on the Boulevard of the Allies. Standing out against a faded brick building is the rainbow awning and cheerful sign of Boulevard Adult Boutique, affectionately nicknamed “Bou Bou,” which now occupies a space downtown that’s been devoted to adult entertainment in one form or another since 1972.

Up a steep purple staircase reminiscent of Prince’s color palette is a two-room space that owner Michael Krieger emphasizes is still very much “a work in progress” since its opening as Boulevard Adult Boutique in October 2022. Among the many aesthetic changes Krieger has made, what was once a porn theater in the second room now displays lingerie and handmade costumes for exotic

dancers. When I ask if the former shops have ever hosted live performances, Krieger blithely opens a door to reveal the heavily mirrored employee bathroom, most likely a one-time dancer’s booth.

Krieger himself has been affiliated with the adult entertainment industry in some capacity for 20 years. Originally attracted to the field simply because he needed a change from his graphic design career, the industry has allowed him freedom of expression. “I started, stayed around, and now own stores because [they are] a place that I can be the most me… the place that I am able to dress how I want and be accepted with little judgment,” he tells Pittsburgh City Paper

On the day I visit, Krieger's appearance is muted (his words), but he

assures me there is a “more fabulous” version too. In some ways, he’s who you might imagine would work at an adult store — a white man in his 50s, ponytail, with painted black nails that hinted at his latent fabulosity. His voice can fill up the space with an anecdote or joke; it can also drop low, but clear when discussing the more personal side of the business, conscious of customers’ needs for both privacy and communication.

Though many products offered at Boulevard Adult Boutique can be found online, Krieger points out that brick-and-mortar stores have something that online doesn’t: instant gratification. Being able to see and feel a product before buying is another plus to the in-person shopping experience, as well as the

opportunity to ask for advice. Krieger advises newcomers to the adult shopping experience: “Don’t be afraid to ask questions truthfully, no matter how embarrassing … Not everybody knows where they’re headed and there’s kind of a trial period of all things; you’re kind of feeling yourself out, especially in the beginning, and what a good establishment will give you is the ability to try and help you feel your way out and through your own sexuality.”

Boulevard Boutique aims to address a multitude of customer desires. Boxes of porn DVDs that seem almost quaint in a world of OnlyFans share the same space as gender and identity-affirming care products. Lauded vibrator brands mingle with puppy play fetish gear. Pride flags

CP PHOTOS: SARAH HAMM Inside Boulevard Adult Boutique

and drag fans adorn the walls, while novelty breast-shaped lollipops sit on the counter. It’s a whisper of Spencer’s Gifts, a shade of Fifty Shades of Grey, all cheerfully collected in one space. This inclusivity is by design. Because the space was previously occupied by another adult store, there is a ready group of established customers who can still expect to find pornography and products like vibrators and dildos. “It behooved me to have that same clientele,” says Krieger, “as opposed to going completely crazy and offering completely different stuff.”

breast forms, and Krieger is keen to add more. His passion for this line of stock comes from a personal place.

“Me and my partner both have gay parents,” Krieger says, “We wanted to give back to the community itself, which is why the trans [affirming products], why I carry a lot of Pride stuff.” Later in the year, he hopes to provide talks and educational opportunities around using these items, as well as demonstrations for basic bondage safety, and more.

After our initial interview, Krieger reached out with another reflection on how spaces like Boulevard Adult

What would he do if he could go completely crazy? The seeds of that passion are already dispersed around the store, particularly in the second room, which now caters to the underserved needs of exotic dancers, offering hand-made dancing wear, lightup platforms, and a wall of Pleaser heels shoes. There’s a nod to size inclusivity with some plus-size lingerie, and a broader shoe size range to accommodate the needs of AMAB (assigned male at birdth) customers. Boulevard Adult Boutique also sells gender and identity-affirming products like chest binders and

Boutique provide something unique, and how attitudes around acceptance of sexuality have changed— or not. “Twenty-plus years ago there were more gay/queer clubs, and now they have become scarce,” he points out, because “20 years ago, two men dancing together and kissing on the dance floor of most clubs would be scandalous. It is sad to see that safe spaces are once again needed as attacks on the community are on the rise, with trans and non-binary individuals made the focus of baseless prejudice. I hope that this will always be a safe place for everyone.” •

“I HOPE THAT THIS WILL ALWAYS BE A SAFE PLACE FOR EVERYONE.”

SEVEN DAYS IN PITTSBURGH

BY CP STAFF

THU., AUG 24

MUSIC • STRIP DISTRICT

Pittsburgh Opera’s 16th Annual Piano Sale. By appointment only. Continues through Sun., Aug. 27. Bitz Opera Factory. 2425 Liberty Ave., Srip District. pittsburghoperapiano.com

PARTY • NORTH SIDE

Sloth Birthday Party 10 a.m.-3 p.m. National Aviary. 700 Arch St., North Side. Included with regular admission. aviary.org

FESTIVAL • GREEN TREE

Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival 12-7 p.m. Continues through Sun., Aug. 27. DoubleTree by Hilton, Green Tree. $10-20. pghknitandcrochet.com

FILM • POINT BREEZE

Shakespeare on Screen: Much Ado About Nothing. 6:30 p.m. The Frick Art Museum. 7227 Reynolds St., Point Breeze. $5-15. thefrickpittsburgh.org

LIT • SHADYSIDE

Celeste Ng went from growing up in Pittsburgh to becoming one of the most successful fiction authors working today. The mind behind Little Fires Everywhere returns to her hometown for a reading of

FESTIVAL • SHADYSIDE

26th Annual Shadyside… The Art Festival on Walnut Street. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Continues through Sun., Aug. 27. 739 Bellefonte St., Shadyside. artfestival.com

FESTIVAL • OAKLAND

Disability Pride Weekend. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Continues through Sat., Aug. 26. Schenley Plaza. 4100 Forbes Ave., Oakland. Free. disabilitypridepa.org/dppittsburgh

FILM • DOWNTOWN

See one of the year’s most controversial films when Passages comes to the Harris Theater

The latest work from writer/director Ira Sachs earned an NC-17 rating for its depiction of a love triangle that spins into what NPR describes as a “torrid whirlwind of a story.” Sachs and MUBI, the film’s distributor, both protested the NC-17 rating — might as well

see what all the fuss is about. 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Continues through Thu., Aug. 31. Harris Theater. 809 Liberty Ave., Downtown. $11. trustarts.org

ART • HOMESTEAD

Heroes/Villains. 6-10 p.m. KSD & the Radio Room. 101 E. Eighth Ave., Homestead. Free. instagram.com/ksd.412

FILM • MCKEES ROCKS

Oldboy 20th Anniversary Screening 7 p.m. Continues through Sept. 2. Parkway Theater and Film Lounge. 644 Broadway Ave., McKees Rocks. Tickets at the door. communityreelartscenter.org

COMEDY • HOMESTEAD

Ali Siddiq. 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Continues through Sun., Aug. 27. Pittsburgh Improv. 166 E. Bridge St, Homestead. $35-95. improv.com/pittsburgh

MUSIC • MUNHALL

Nights of Grief & Mystery 2023 Tour 7:30-9:30 p.m. This is RED. 605 E. Ninth Ave., Munhall. $25-35. orphanwisdom.com

MUSIC • NORTH SIDE

Zastava, Ex Pilots, and Zilched 8 p.m. The Government Center. 715 East St., North Side. $10. thegovernmentcenter.com

SAT., AUG. 26

YARD SALE • FRIENDSHIP

Friendship Yard Sale. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Rain date Sun., Aug. 27. Multiple locations, Friendship. Free. friendship-pgh.org

YARD SALE/PARTY • GREENFIELD

Find great deals, music, handmade items, and more when the Greenfield Yard Sale, Greenfield Community Association, and Alternate Histories join forces for the Greenfield Yard Sale and Block Party. Scope out the neighborhood for second-hand goods, or visit the block party on Coleman Street, where activities, treats, and vendors await. After the yard sale ends at 2 p.m., stick around for music by DJ Formosa of Jellyfish, and food and drinks by La Palapa, Junk Castle Goods, and Coven Brewing, as well as more shopping. 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Coleman St., Greenfield. Free. greenfieldyardsale.com and alternatehistories.com

ART • SHADYSIDE

yART Sale. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Pittsburgh Center for Arts & Media. 1047 Shady Ave., Shadyside. Free. pghartsmedia.org

FESTIVAL • MILLVALE

Enjoy the last few bits of hot weather when

PHOTO: COURTESY OF MUBI Passages at Harris Theater

THU., AUG 24

Grist House presents its first-ever Saucy Summer Jam. Join your friends and their pooches at this popular dog-friendly brewery for a celebration full of food trucks, specialty cocktails, live music, and more. Be sure to try one of Grist House’s many craft beers that range from sours to hoppy IPAs. 12 p.m. 10 Sherman St., Millvale. Free. gristhouse.com

ART • SOUTH SIDE

Mind Blown: Pittsburgh Art Exhibition & Expo. 5-9 p.m. Opya Studios. 2402 Sidney St., South Side. $25-500. instagram.com/ mindblownartpgh

COMEDY • ALLENTOWN

Chloé Hilliard. 8 p.m. Bottlerocket Social Hall. 1226 Arlington Ave., Allentown. $15. bottlerocketpgh.com

SUN., AUG. 27

MUSIC • HAZELWOOD

Summer Sounds with Weather Permitting presents Ramon Chicharrón. 5 p.m. Hazelwood Green Plaza. Lytle Street and Eliza Street, Hazelwood. Free. hazelwoodlocal.com

MON., AUG. 28

LIT • NORTH SIDE

Untangling the Roots of the Model Minority Myth with Prachi Gupta 7-8:30 p.m. Alphabet City. 40 W. North Ave., North Side. Free. Registration required. Livestream available. cityofasylum.org

TUE., AUG. 29

MUSIC • DOWNTOWN

Jazzlive presents Paul Cosentino’s Boilermaker Jazz Band 5-7 p.m. Agnes R. Katz Plaza. Corner of Penn Avenue and Seventh Street, Downtown. Free. trustarts.org

TALK • GARFIELD

Astronomy on Tap. 7 p.m. Two Frays. 5113 Penn Ave., Garfield. Free. instagram.com/aot.pgh

WED., AUG. 30

MUSIC • NORTH SIDE

Morgan Wallen: One Night at a Time World Tour 5:30 p.m. Gates at 4 p.m. Continues through Thu., Aug. 31. PNC Park. 115 Federal St., North Side. Tickets start at $89. mlb.com

OUTDOORS • ALLISON PARK

Full Moon Paddle. 7:30-9:30 p.m. Kayak Pittsburgh – North Park. 10301 Pearce Mill Road, Allison Park. $48. ventureoutdoors.org

MUSIC • MUNHALL

Wayne Newton, Up Close And Personal 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall. 510 E. 10th St., Munhall. $59.75-149.75. librarymusichall.com

PHOTO: KIERAN KESNER Celeste Ng

IMAGE: Scott Goldsmith Photography

NAME CHANGE

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-23-8165

In re petition of Elliot Angelo Davis for change of name to Silvan Elliot Maxwell. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 11th day of September, 2023, 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.

MARKET PLACE

ESTATE NOTICE ESTATE OF SWEENEY, DANIEL, DECEASED OF PITTSBURGH, PA Daniel Sweeney, deceased of Pittsburgh, PA No. 022304966 of 2023. Patricia Sweeney, Ext. 1616 El Paso Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15206.

NAME CHANGE IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-23-007886,

In re petition of Jessica Harrison, parent and legal guardian of Sarah Anne Harrison, for change of name to Wren Rune Harrison.

To all persons interested:

Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 13th day of September 2023, 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-23-9757, In re petition of Angielique Robinson, parent and legal guardian of Amir Lamont Robinson and Mason Anthony Robinson for change of names to Amir Demetrius Williams and Mason Anthony Williams.

To all persons interested: Notice is herebygiven that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 20th day of September 2023, at 9:45 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.

Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell the contents of leased spaces to satisfy Extra Space’s lien at 110 Kisow Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15205 on September 6th 2023 at 11:15 am. Evan Treadwell 352. The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures.com. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.

PUBLIC AUCTION

Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell the contents of leased spaces to satisfy Extra Space’s lien at the location indicated: 700 E Carson St, Pittsburgh PA 15203 on September 6, 2023 at 12:15 PM. Unit 2188 Jackson Bird, Unit 3075 Violet Ellsworth-Stallsworth, Unit 4143 Navarre Archie, Unit 4152 Donyisha Wooley, and Unit 4200 Tanisha Turner. The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures.com. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.

PUBLIC AUCTION

Extra Space Storage 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 September 6, 2023, at 1:15 PM. 1127 Amy Vicario, 2083 Paris Wright, 2184 Jessica Peconi, 2184 Jessica Peconi-Cook, 2192 Rae Terry, 3085 Breanna Venable, 4039 Angala Jepsen, 4059 Shawn Dudrick, 4153 Brian DeSimone. The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures.com. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.

PUBLIC AUCTION

Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell the contents of the leased space to satisfy the Extra Space Lien at 3200 Park Manor Blvd, Pittsburgh, Pa 15205 on 09/06/2023 at 1:00pm.

1197 Kathy Edwards and 3245 Michael Miller. 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 up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.

PUBLIC AUCTION

Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell the contents of leased spaces to satisfy Extra Space’s lien at the location indicated: 111 Hickory Grade Rd. Bridgeville, PA 15017. September 6, 2023 at 12:30 PM. Steven Pennell 1032, Kristy Lammert 2015, Michael Selester 2102, Erica Clipper 2235, Hannah Rieger 3385. The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures.com. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.

PUBLIC AUCTION

Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell the contents of leased spaces to satisfy Extra Space’s lien at the location indicated: 141 N Braddock Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15208, September 6, 2023, 11:00AM 6013 Ricardo Hill, 5043 Maria Jarret, 5013 Lloyd Nesby, 4022 Frederick Couzzens, 5010 Raneesha Goode-Bailey and 3028 Prakash Das. The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures.com.

Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.

PUBLIC AUCTION

Extra Space Storage 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 September 6, 2023 at 1:45 PM. 1036 Lewis McCullough, 2048 Lisa Anderson-Reed, 2053 Robert Smith, 3066 Brittany Wilson, 4012 Shante Wilcox, 4027 Bryce Flowers, 5031 Roberta Hart, L013 Taylor Earle . The auction will be listed and advertised on www. storagetreasures.com. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.

PUBLIC AUCTION

Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell the contents of leased spaces to satisfy Extra Space’s lien at the location indicated: 1005 E Entry Drive Pittsburgh PA 15216, September 6, 2023 at 11:30 AM. Kyla Gonder 6110. 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.

ESTATE NOTICE

ESTATE OF BARTH, THURL B., DECEASED OF PITTSBURGH, PA

Thurl B. Barth, deceased of Pittsburgh, PA No. 022305291 of 2023. Lorraine C. Barth, Ext. 435 Abbeyville Road, Apartment 4, Pittsburgh, PA 15228. Or to Jacob M. Landau of Robert Peirce & Associates, P.C. 707 Grant Street, Suite 125, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

PUBLIC AUCTION

Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell the contents of leased spaces to satisfy Extra Space’s lien at the location indicated: 902 Brinton Rd Pittsburgh, Pa 15221. September 6th, 2023, at 11:30am. Dorian Moore 2305, Marlisa Wallace 2014. 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

LOOK BOTH WAYS

BY BRENDAN EMMETT QUIGLEY // BRENDANEMMETTQUIGLEY.COM

ACROSS

1.  Stories with extreme weather, for short

6.  Metric foot

10.  Dirty things up

14.  Cheeseburger

topping

15.  Archaic pronoun

16.  Thick mud

17.  Cowboys’ gear

18.  “Wish I could offer you more than just lettuce, but ...”

20.  Talks and talks and talks

22.  Tank tops?

23.  Mistake while eating a sundae?

27.  Peut-___ (perhaps)

28.  Fish and chips fish

29.  Fashion

YouTuber Umanzor

30.  Spot for singles?

31.  Ransom in the Automotive Hall of Fame

33.  “Man!” (eye roll)

34.  Malcolm X or Marlon Brando, by birth

38.  In ___ of

39.  Place for plates

41.  Tiny insect

42.  Singer’s warm up syllables

44.  Peach, alternative

45.  Playwright who said “Silence is the most perfect expression of scorn”

46.  Point of interest?

47. Mack (Disney Channel drama)

49.  Public hangings?

50.  Vomit out

52.  Get atop Spunkmeyer’s lap?

54.  Plato’s school

56.  Hard to pin down

57.  More irritated mythical archer?

59.  Egg-headed?

63.  Ballet student’s purchase

64.  Features of the Rolling Stone’s logo 65.  City with slots 66.  Camera part

67.  Cruncher’s material

68.  Give a once-over DOWN

1. Fire Country channel

2.  Track number?

3.  Post-op stop

4.  Omit

5.  One fry short of a Happy Meal

6.  “That’s SUCH a great outfit!”

7.  Word said while snapping one’s fingers

8.

sandwiches

9.  Mr. Hot Stuff

10.  Brainy NFL team

11.  Ship carrying energy

12.  Mad as hell

13.  Subtracting

19.  Undercover story?

21.  Big drag from a chamber

23.  Yell at

24.  FDR had it

25.  More peculiar

26.  Spicy noodle dish

30.  Anonymous man

32.  Jupiter or Saturn made of leather?

35.  Disco drummers ride it

36.  Video game company with the

LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS

Calling all disco queens, hippies, and glam rockers: prepare to transport yourself back to the 70s and celebrate the best in Pittsburgh!

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

TICKETS AT PGHCITYPAPER.COM

LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN LET'S BOOGIE DOWN