September 29, 2021 - Pittsburgh City Paper by Pittsburgh City Paper

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SEPT. 29-OCT. 6, 2021

LL O ’P S S ER NER D A N RE WI

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READERS’ POLL

PARTY!

OCTOBER 5, 2021 • 7pm–10pm COOP DE VILLE • 2305 SMALLMAN ST.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW $30 PER PERSON AND INCLUDE: INDOOR EVENTS:

• Free Duck Pin Bowling sponsored by Fifth Season • Cash Bar with a retro-themed signature drink sponsored by Bacardi • Small Bites from Coop De Ville kitchen • Photo-Op Station sponsored by The Healing Center • Free pinball + pool all night

For more information and tickets:

tinyurl.com/BestofPghParty21 Thank you to our sponsors!

OUTDOOR EVENTS:

• Stage with Live Music all night (Performances TBA) • Satellite Bar presented by IC Light and White Claw • Free Axe Throwing from Lumberjaxes Pittsburgh • Sampling stations, on-site booths and more!

Interested in a sponsorship or booth? Contact jhughes@pghcitypaper.com

• This event is 21+ • Covid-19 policies can be found online at the event page website

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 6, 2021

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

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SEPT. 29-OCT. 6, 2021 VOLUME 30 + ISSUE 39 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 Editorial Designer LUCY CHEN 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 Interns TIA BAILEY, ISABELLA DIAZ, JASON PHOX National Advertising Representative VMG ADVERTISING 1.888.278.9866 OR 1.212.475.2529 Publisher EAGLE MEDIA CORP.

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 PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM COVER DESIGN: LUCY CHEN

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BY LISA CUNNINGHAM // LCUNNING@PGHCITYPAPER.COM Remember that pure joy of finally seeing your name as the high score on an arcade screen? Hours, sometimes even days of pumping fistfuls of quarters into your favorite video game in the local arcade to get to the top ... Pittsburgh City Paper’s Best of Pittsburgh readers’ poll recreates that feeling for hundreds of winners across the region who anxiously await the results for months, first competing in a readers-submitted nomination round, and then battling it out in the final voting round between the top 10 finalists. And this year’s competition was fierce, with over 610,000 votes cast. You’ll see lots of multi-time winners among the

Best of Pittsburgh winners’ list this year, like beloved TV personality Rick Sebak, Pittsburgh Dad, and, yes, Primanti Bros. But you’ll also see new winners too, and we’ve highlighted some of our favorite readers’ choices with short stories placed throughout this issue. And this year, we’re also celebrating the winners at an in-person party next week at Coop de Ville, the venue readers chose as Best New Bar and Best Bar to Play Games. Join us next Tue., Oct. 5 at Coop de Ville, and let’s get your name on one of their arcade games! For more info, visit tinyurl.com/ BestofPghParty21. (Vaccination cards or a negative COVID test is required to attend.)

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 6, 2021

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 6, 2021

BEST OF CULTURE & NIGHTLIFE

BEST ALT-FOLK/ ALT-COUNTRY BAND OR PERFORMER

buffalorosemusic.com

2ND: ROCKET LOVES BLUE rocketlovesblues.com

3RD: THE SHINERS shinersrock.com BEST AUTHOR

damonjyoung.com

2ND: BRIAN BUTKO brianbutko.com

3RD: BRIAN BROOME brianbroome.com BEST BAR (DOWNTOWN + STRIP DISTRICT)

2305 Smallman St., Strip District coopdevillepgh.com CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

2ND: THE WARREN BAR & BURROW

Jack, Jonah, and Maggie Paice play pool at Coop de Ville in the Strip District.

BEST OF PITTSBURGH

thewarrenpgh.com

3RD: MAGGIE’S FARM RUM DISTILLERY maggiesfarmrum.com

BEST BAR TO PLAY GAMES

BEST BAR (EAST)

242 51st St., Lawrenceville spiritpgh.com

2ND: D’S SIX PAX & DOGZ ds6pax.com

3RD: HIDDEN HARBOR hiddenharborpgh.com BEST BAR (NORTH)

200 Children’s Way, North Side federalgalley.org

2ND: MAX’S ALLEGHENY TAVERN maxsalleghenytavern.com

3RD: NORTH PARK LOUNGE northparklounge.com

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BY JASON PHOX // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

OOP DE VILLE became a popular place

as soon as it opened, with the combination Southern restaurant, cafe, bar, and arcade seeing constant lines out its doors on any given weekend. Sometimes the lines even stretch down the block and across the street. Once inside the Strip District joint, customers can enjoy a wide variety of activities, drinks, and food. In addition to Southern-style fried chicken, an extensive craft beer list, and an inventive coffee bar, Coop de Ville includes fun activities like duckpin bowling, more than 30 classic arcade games, pinball, pool, and console games for Xbox and Nintendo. Coop de Ville’s atmosphere provides plenty of seating and a lounge for people to play their games alone or with friends. It’s no wonder why readers chose

Coop de Ville as this year’s Best Bar to Play Games, along with a number of other wins, including Best New Bar and Best Place to Celebrate Being Vaccinated. Opening in 2020, chef and partner James Ciminillo brought new cooking techniques to the Strip District establishment with a focus on reinventing classic comfort food. Coop de Ville’s menu includes various fried chicken recipes and a wide range of beer, wine, cocktails, and coffee drinks. 2305 Smallman St., Strip District. coopdevillepgh.com

Before the building was designed for Coop de Ville, the previous space was home to Marty’s Market’s grocery store, so the venue had a lot of room to work with. The dining room is the center point of Coop

de Ville and is surrounded by picnic tables and cozy cafe seating. Coop de Ville owner, Richard DeShantz, runs several popular restaurants and bars in Pittsburgh, and Coop de Ville is another hit on his impressive resume. It’s easy to chat with friends over a local craft beer at the bar (Coop de Ville has several on tap) and then head over to play over 35 classic arcade games like Asteroids or Donkey Kong or even shoot some pool. A dinner of fried chicken, creative sandwiches, or healthy bowls is then ready at the picnic tables, booths, or the outdoor sidewalk cafe. Coop de Ville’s variety, whether that’s food, drinks, or a rousing game of bubble hockey, clearly has struck Pittsburghers in all the right places, and it keeps them coming back for more.

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BEST BAR (SOUTH)

BEST BARTENDER

1805 E. Carson St., South Side fatheads.com

2ND: MINDFUL BREWING COMPANY mindfulbrewing.com

3RD: THE SMILING MOOSE smiling-moose.com BEST BAR (WEST)

215 E. Main St., Carnegie e rileyspourhouse.com

2ND: INDUSTRY PUBLIC HOUSE WEST industrypgh.com

3RD: HELICON BREWING heliconbrewing.com BEST BAR TO DAY DRINK

1708 Shady Ave., Squirrel Hill hiddenharborpgh.com

2ND: ANDREW HENDERSON AT BLUE MOON bluemoononbutler.com

3RD: MICHAEL MAYBERRY AT P TOWN BAR facebook.com/ptownbar BEST BLUES BAND OR PERFORMER

billyprice.com

2ND: NORMAN NARDINI normannardini.com

3RD: MISS FREDDYE missfreddye.com 10 E. Sherman St., Millvale gristhouse.com

BEST CARTOONIST

2ND: ARSENAL CIDER HOUSE arsenalciderhouse.com

3RD: OVER THE BAR BICYCLE CAFE otbbicyclecafe.com BEST BAR TO PLAY GAMES

robrogers.com

2ND: MARCEL LAMONT WALKER marcelwalker.com

3RD: EMILY MCGAUGHEY shopemilym.com

2305 Smallman St., Strip District coopdevillepgh.com

2ND: DEE’S CAFE facebook.com/deescafe

3RD: SPIRIT spiritpgh.com BEST BAR TO PREGAME

BEST CLUB

242 51st St., Lawrenceville spiritpgh.com

It is with much gratitude that all of us at Bridal Beginning thank you for your support in nominating us for the Best Pittsburgh Bridal Boutique.

2ND: BELVEDERE’S ULTRA-DIVE belvederesultradive.com

3RD: CON ALMA conalmapgh.com BEST CLUB DJ 316 N. Shore Drive, North Side facebook.com/stbcbeerpgh selecta720.com

2ND: MIKE’S BEER BAR mikesbeerbar.com

2ND: DJ NUGGET djnugget.com

3RD: REDBEARD’S BAR AND GRILL redbeardspgh.com

3RD: HUNY soundcloud.com/hunyrocks

450 Cochran Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15228 @bridalbeginning

CONTINUES ON PG. 10

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 6, 2021

CULTURE & NIGHTLIFE, CONTINUED FROM PG. 9

BEST COMEDIAN

twitter.com/dveBillCrawford

2ND: MISSY MORENO missymoreno.com

3RD: JIM KRENN jimkrenn.com BEST COMEDY TROUPE

943 Liberty Ave., Downtown arcadecomedytheater.com/knights

2ND: THE LATCHKEY KIDS arcadecomedytheater.com

3RD: THE BROAD SQUAD BEST COUNTRY BAND OR PERFORMER

gabbybarrett.com

2ND: MOLLY ALPHABET mollyalphabet.com

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

The Bill Hevnry Band: Larry Hutch, Randy Williams, Bill Henry, Jerome Kirkland, Philip Price

3RD: SLIM FORSYTHE

BEST OF PITTSBURGH

facebook.com/slim.forsythe BEST COVER BAND OR PERFORMER

BEST R&B BAND BY DANI JANAE // DANIJANAE@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

dancingqueen911.com

2ND: TOTALLY 80S totes80s.com

3RD: BON JOURNEY bonjourney.com BEST DANCE COMPANY

2900 Liberty Ave., Strip District pbt.org

2ND: THE TAMBURITZANS thetamburitzans.org g

3RD: ATTACK THEATRE TRE attacktheatre.com CONTINUES ON PG. 12

WWW.PGHCITYPAPER.COM

N 2019, THE BILL HENRY BAND released

their album Ride. With songs like “Slow Down” and “All Night,” the album showcases Henry’s crisp, smooth vocals reminiscent of R&B acts like Jon B, conjuring a feeling of the genre in a different era. A focus on love songs and romantic ballads transport listeners back to the golden age of R&B. Formed in 2016, The Bill Henry Band consists of Bill Henry on vocals and guitar, Randy Williams on drums, Larry Hutch on R keyboards, and Philip Price on bass and ke synth bass. This May, the band added their syn fifth member, musician Jerome Kirkland, officially making the band a quintet. The offic band is clearly held in high regard by the city’s R&B fans who crowned them the Best R&B Band in this year’s Best of

Pittsburgh readers’ poll. The Bill Henry Band has opened for acts like Boney James, Tom Browne, Avant, Lakeside, and ZAPP, to name a few. But they aren’t just an opening act, they also serve as the main attraction for Pittsburghers and fans across the state. billhenryband.com

Seamlessly blending R&B, soul, funk, and hip hop, the band is a mainstay at Savoy and Rivers Casino. They’ve also done a WQED session where they performed and discussed the history of their music. Discovered at the Young Brothers Bar on the North Side, Williams says it was “love at ﬁrst sight” when he performed for the ﬁrst time with Henry.

The band is the epitome of cool, with the members having a great rapport that translates well into their musical relationship. During their WQED session, they performed their hit song “Ride,” perfect for a cookout or block party. A year ago, the band produced a docushort of their fans and performances, featuring a couple who came from Fort Wayne Ind. just to see them, as well as interviews with fans who said they’ve seen the men perform “too many times to count.” The short also included live performances, and showed the band talking about how their music spans generational divides, and how powerful it is to be a part of that history. This isn’t the ﬁrst Best Of win for The Bill Henry Band, and we predict it won’t be the last.

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 6, 2021

DENTAL

CULTURE & NIGHTLIFE, CONTINUED FROM PG. 10

BEST DANCE STUDIO

BEST JAZZ BAND OR PERFORMER

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.

phatmandeemusic.com

2ND: KENNY BLAKE 5530 Penn Ave., Friendship kelly-strayhorn.org

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.

2ND: LEVEL UP STUDIOS

• See any dentist you want, but save more with one in our network

3RD: TEXTURE BALLET SCHOOL

• No deductible, no annual maximum • Immediate coverage for preventive care

Call to get your FREE Information Kit

textureballet.org BEST ELECTRONIC BAND OR PERFORMER

3RD: METACARA metacara.com BEST ESCAPE ROOM 1

Veteran founded and owned.

BEST LEGACY BAND OR PERFORMER

donnieiris.com

anti-flag.com instagram.com/buscrates

kyvoss.com

6255

boilermakerjazzband.com

2ND: ANTI-FLAG

2ND: KY VÖSS

“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).

3RD: BOILERMAKER JAZZ BAND

leveluppgh.com

1-855-385-3879 dental50plus.com/citypaper

facebook.com/kenny.blake.37

3RD: JOE GRUSHECKY AND THE HOUSEROCKERS A joegrushecky.com BEST LGBTQ BAR

5115 Butler St., Lawrenceville bluemoononbutler.com

2ND: 5801 VIDEO LOUNGE & CAFE 569 Greenfield Ave., Greenfield and 145 E. Eighth Ave., Homestead escaperoompgh.com

2ND: ENTER THE IMAGINARIUM entertheimaginariumpgh.com

5801videolounge.com

3RD: P TOWN BAR facebook.com/ptownbar BEST METAL BAND OR PERFORMER

3RD: ZONE 28

Serving Shadyside, Squirrel Hill and other city locations.

zone28.com BEST GALLERY FOR LOCAL ARTISTS

facebook.com/everyonehateseverything

2ND: GREYWALKER greywalker.net 500 Sampsonia Way, North Side mattress.org

2ND: BOOM CONCEPTS boomuniverse.co

3RD: ARCANE HAVEN arcanehaven.bigcartel.com BEST MUSIC COLLABORATION

3RD: REDFISHBOWL redfishbowl.com BEST INDEPENDENT MOVIE THEATER tinyurl.com/CPJigglyJello

Thank yoaundto eomurplogyreeesat! customers OWLCLEANERS.COM 12

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4115 Butler St., Lawrenceville rowhousecinema.com

2ND: SOCIAL JUSTICE DISCO WITH LIZ BERLIN & PHAT MAN DEE

2ND: THE MANOR THEATRE

socialjusticedisco.com

manorpgh.com

3RD: BUFFALO ROSE & INEZ: “I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW”

3RD: HOLLYWOOD THEATER hollywoodtheaterpgh.org

tinyurl.com/CPICanSee

BEST INDEPENDENT MOVIE THEATER

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Row House Cinema

BEST MUSIC VENUE

BEST PLACE FOR A DATE NIGHT

400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale mrsmalls.com

2ND: STAGE AE stageae.com

3RD: THE REX THEATER (permanently closed September 2020) BEST NEW BAR

One Schenley Drive, Oakland phipps.conservatory.org

2ND: PITTSBURGH PENGUINS GAME nhl.com/penguins

3RD: CON ALMA 2305 Smallman St., Strip District coopdevillepgh.com

2ND: TRACE BREWING tracebloomfield.com

conalmapgh.com BEST PLACE FOR A FUN NIGHT OUT

3RD: WHISPER NEST whispernestpgh.com BEST PHOTOGRAPHER

400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale mrsmalls.com

Turn your do into done.

2ND: SPIRIT 120 Fifth Ave., Downtown davedicello.com

2ND: MARA RAGO mararago.com

3RD: MARIAH TREIBER mariahtreiberphotography.com

spiritpgh.com

3RD: CARNEGIE SCIENCE CENTER carnegiesciencecenter.org BEST PLACE TO CELEBRATE YOUR BIRTHDAY

Dollar.Bank

BEST PICK-UP BAR

4016 Butler St., Lawrenceville belvederesultradive.com

2ND: HEMINGWAY’S CAFE hemingwayspgh.com

3RD: 5801 VIDEO LOUNGE & CAFE 5801videolounge.com

2549 Penn Ave., Strip District dianoiaseatery.com

2ND: SPIRIT spiritpgh.com

3RD: ALTIUS altiuspgh.com

CONTINUES ON PG. 14

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 6, 2021

CULTURE & NIGHTLIFE, CONTINUED FROM PG. 13

BEST PLACE TO CELEBRATE YOUR DIVORCE

Multiple Locations axethrowingpgh.com

2ND: CHEERLEADERS GENTLEMEN’S CLUB cheerleaderspittsburgh.com

3RD: BLUE MOON bluemoononbutler.com BEST PLACE TO DANCE

4016 Butler St., Lawrenceville belvederesultradive.com

2ND: SPIRIT spiritpgh.com

3RD: JERGEL’S RHYTHM GRILLE jergels.com BEST PLACE TO KARAOKE CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Gia Fagnelli

BEST OF PITTSBURGH 178 Pearl St., Bloomfield nicosbloomfield.com

BEST STRIPPER

2ND: BOB’S GARAGE instagram.com/ pghbobsgarage

3RD: P TOWN BAR facebook.com/ptownbar BEST PLACE TO SEE A LOCAL BAND

400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale thefunhouseatmrsmalls.com

2ND: JERGEL’S RHYTHM GRILLE jergels.com

3RD: SPIRIT spiritpgh.com CONTINUES ON PG. 16

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BY AMANDA WALTZ // AWALTZ@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

OR GIA FAGNELLI, stripping allows

them a chance to become someone different. “My specialty is in my feature performance numbers,” says Fagnelli, a selfdescribed “third generation yinzer” who has performed as a stripper for the past seven years. Their alter-egos tend to lean toward science ﬁction, including cosplays of the campy space heroine Barbarella, Leeloo from Fifth Element, and Mystique of the X-Men movie franchise, as well as a “few extraterrestrial characters” of their own creation. Transporting fans to other worlds might be why they won Best Stripper in this year’s Best of Pittsburgh readers’ poll, but it’s not the only thing the local artist and performer focuses on. Their website describes them as a “multi-media multimedium creator” bridging drag, pole, prose,

video art, soundscapes, installation art, and “many forms of movement.” This year, they completed the Kelly Strayhorn Theater Freshworks digital residency program, working with local dance duo slowdanger and artist and performer Jordan Harris. giafagnelli.com

While based in Pittsburgh, Fagnelli’s work has garnered wider attention, including being proﬁled in a 2018 Vice story about life as a queer-identifying stripper. In it, Fagnelli details how stripping provided a community for them, pointing out how, while strip clubs are viewed as spaces catering to the desires of cis, straight men, “at least a third of the dancers I’ve worked with in clubs across the country are LGBTQ.” “It adds a level of camaraderie the same way any other marginalized identity ﬁnds

comfort in ﬁnding each other,” Fanelli told Vice. “I’ve had the joy of working with queer customers, and most of those experiences have been powerfully subversive in a (seemingly) heteronormative space.” Fagnelli says that, before the pandemic, they performed at venues and strip clubs in Pittsburgh and beyond, as well as at private parties, birthday and bachelorette events, and kink nights at gay clubs. Since getting vaccinated and emerging from quarantine, they have been primarily accepting bookings for events at outdoor venues and online showcases. Fagnelli says they are “heading west for the winter,” but locals should keep an eye out for shows coming back to Pittsburgh in the spring. You can also follow them at their social media accounts and website where they post video art, and document their travels.

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 6, 2021

CULTURE & NIGHTLIFE, CONTINUED FROM PG. 14

BEST SPORTS BAR

BEST PLACE TO TAKE A FIRST DATE

Multiple locations northparklounge.com

BEST RAP/HIP-HOP BAND OR PERFORMER mwcdc.org

2ND: PHIPPS CONSERVATORY AND BOTANICAL GARDENS

2ND: REDBEARD’S

BEST UNSIGNED MUSIC ARTIST

redbeardspgh.com

3RD: RUGGERS PUB

phipps.conservatory.org

ruggerspub.com

3RD: ARSENAL BOWL

BEST STREET ARTIST

arsenalbowl.com BEST PLACE TO TAKE OUT-OF-TOWNERS

baronbatch.com

2ND: JEREMY RAYMER jmraymer.com stripdistrictneighbors.org

3RD: DANNY DEVINE (1982-2021)

2ND: GRANDVIEW OVERLOOK mwcdc.org

Brittney Chantele

3RD: DUQUESNE INCLINE duquesneincline.org BEST POET

BEST R&B BAND OR PERFORMER

2ND: VANESSA GERMAN instagram.com/vanessalgerman

3RD: THE DIRTY POET tinyurl.com/DirtyPoet

2ND: CHANTAL JOSEPH chantaljmusic.com

BEST STREET FESTIVAL

BEST RADIO STATION

billhenryband.com facebook.com/Rachel.Ann.Bovier

instagram.com/dannyinzer

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

MORE ON P. 1 0

3RD: THE NIED’S HOTEL BAND niedshotelband.com BEST RADIO DJ

BEST POP BAND OR PERFORMER

wyep.org

Point State Park and Cultural District, Downtown traf.trustarts.org

2ND: 102.5 WDVE dve.iheart.com

2ND: PITTSBURGH PRIDE MONTH EVENTS

3RD: 90.5 WESA wesa.fm

3RD: MILLVALE DAYS

BEST RAP/HIP-HOP BAND OR PERFORMER

facebook.com/MillvaleDays BEST STRIP CLUB

facebook.com/mikeybigbob

2ND: KELLY ON 100.7 STAR

facebook.com/brittneychantele

weirdpaul.com

facebook.com/kelonair

2ND: BRITTNEY CHANTELE

3RD: JOEY SPEHAR ON 91.3FM WYEP

2ND: LEXA TERRESTRIAL

facebook.com/brittneychantele

3RD: NICK BARILLA facebook.com/NickBarillaLive

twitter.com/morningjoey BEST RADIO SHOW

anti-flag.com

2ND: FUCK YEAH, DINOSAURS! dinopunks.com

3RD: BASTARD BEARDED IRISHMEN bastardbeardedirishmen.com

2ND: CLUB EROTICA

3RD: BENJI.

cluberoticapittsburgh.com

smileyourealive.com BEST ROCK BAND OR PERFORMER

BEST PUNK BAND OR PERFORMER

3100 Liberty Ave., Strip District cheerleaderspittsburgh.com

lexaterrestrial.com

3RD: TENNYSON LODGE facebook.com/TheTennysonLodge BEST STRIPPER

facebook.com/mikeybigbob clarksonline.com

E MOR 4 .1 P N O

giafagnelli.com

2ND: RANDY BAUMANN & THE DVE MORNING SHOW ON 102.5 WDVE

2ND: WEIRD PAUL ROCK BAND

twitter.com/DVERandy

weirdpaul.com

facebook.com/layla666paige

3RD: THE BUBBA SHOW STAR ON 100.7 STAR

3RD: GENE THE WEREWOLF

facebook.com/BubbaShow1007

genethewerewolf.com

3RD: GINGER CLUB EROTICA

2ND: LAYLA PAIGE RICK’S CABARET

cluberoticapittsburgh.com CONTINUES ON PG. 18

WWW.PGHCITYPAPER.COM

With nine convenient locations in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, see why we are the best adult store for lingerie, erotic toys, and DVD!

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 6, 2021

CULTURE & NIGHTLIFE, CONTINUED FROM PG. 16

BEST VIRTUAL STAGE PRODUCTION

BEST THEATER COMPANY

pittsburghclo.org

2ND: PITTSBURGH PUBLIC THEATER ppt.org

BEST AUTHOR

3RD: CITY THEATRE COMPANY

BEST WRITER

6 Allegheny Square East, North Side newhazletttheater.org

citytheatrecompany.org

2ND: PICT CLASSIC THEATRE’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL

BEST TRIVIA NIGHT

picttheatre.org

3RD: PITTSBURGH OPERA’S SEMELE

321 Bigham St., Mount Washington bighamtavern.com

pittsburghopera.org

2ND: RADICAL TRIVIA

BEST VISUAL ARTIST

radicaltrivia.com

3RD: 5801 VIDEO LOUNGE AND CAFE 5801videolounge.com BEST UNSIGNED MUSIC ARTIST

bfreyerart.com facebook.com/brittneychantele CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

2ND: GOD HATES UNICORNS godhatesunicorns.com

3RD: KATIE SIMONE

Damon Young

BEST VIRTUAL FUNDRAISER

BEST VIRTUAL LITERARY SERIES

BEST VENUE FOR DIVERSE MUSICAL ACTS

clubcafelive.com

3RD: SPIRIT spiritpgh.com BEST VENUE WITH THE BEST DRINKS

1708 Shady Ave., Squirrel Hill hiddenharborpgh.com

2ND: SPIRIT

2ND: HUMANE ANIMAL RESCUE’S A VERY BURGH PAWS PARTY GALA humaneanimalrescue.org

3RD: WOMEN’S CENTER & SHELTER OF GREATER PITTSBURGH’S CELEBRATING SURVIVORS

cityofasylum.org

3RD: PITTSBURGH ARTS & LECTURES pittsburghlectures.org BEST VIRTUAL MUSIC EVENT

artallnight.org

2ND: HANDMADE ARCADE VIRTUAL MARKETPLACE

3RD: CON ALMA

3RD: SANCTUARY PITTSBURGH 3R sanctuarypittsburgh.com

rustedroot.com

2ND: THE TAMBURITZANS thetamburitzans.org

3RD: PHAT MAN DEE phatmandeemusic.com BEST WRITER

damonjyoung.com

BEST VIRTUAL GALLERY

spiritpgh.com

WWW.PGHCITYPAPER.COM

2ND: CITY OF ASYLUM

wcspittsburgh.org

handmadearcade.org

conalmapgh.com

3RD: VANESSA GERMAN instagram.com/vanessalgerman

4754 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield whitewhalebookstore.com thinkingoutsidethecage.org

2ND: CLUB CAFE

zacharyrutterart.com

BEST WORLD MUSIC BAND OR PERFORMER

instagram.com/thekatiesimone

400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale mrsmalls.com

2ND: ZACHARY RUTTER

2ND: GENE COLLIER pittsburghjazzfest.org

genecollier.com

2ND: SAVE MOONDOGS VIRTUAL BENEFIT CONCERT

twitter.com/tonynormanpg

facebook.com/SaveMoondogs

3RD: CON ALMA LIVESTREAM conalmapgh.com/live-stream

3RD: TONY NORMAN

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 6, 2021

WWW.PGHCITYPAPER.COM

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 6, 2021

BEST OF GOODS & SERVICES

BEST ADULT STORE

Multiple Locations adultmart.com

2ND: SASSY SENSATIONS sassysensations.com

3RD: OUTER SKIN FOR THE INNER YOU tinyurl.com/CPOuterSkin BEST ALTERATIONS SHOP/SEAMSTRESS

Multiple Locations alterations-express.com

2ND: ALTERATIONS BY RINA facebook.com/alterationsbyrina

3RD: TOPAZ THIMBLE topazthimble.com BEST ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE SHOP CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Byron Dovales at East End Fitness

BEST OF PITTSBURGH 1020 Castle Shannon Blvd., Castle Shannon moonhaven.com

BEST PERSONAL TRAINER

2ND: MURRAY AVENUE APOTHECARY

BY AMANDA WALTZ // AWALTZ@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

maapgh.com

3RD: WELLNESS PITTSBURGH wellnesspittsburgh.com BEST ANTIQUE SHOP

150 Church Road, Wexford wexfordantiques.com

2ND: EMMA JEAN’S RELICS emmajeansrelics.com

3RD: KENSINGTON COURT ANTIQUES https://tinyurl.com/ KensingtonCourtAntiques

WWW.PGHCITYPAPER.COM

HEN IT COMES to personal train-

ing, Byron Dovales says his philosophy is simple — Improve Quality of Life. “I do that by finding what my clients need to help improve themselves and finding out which way suits them best,” says Dovales, who typically works at East End Fitness in Bakery Square. “Every single person I’ve come across is different, they’re motivated in different ways, have different lifestyles, and are all at a different space in their fitness lives, so they need to be accommodated to their own personal needs.” Those needs, he says, range anywhere from weight loss, to improving range of motion, to gaining muscle mass. And sometimes they take the former college and arena football player and long-time fitness professional out of his comfort zone. “I promise my clients I’ll find a way to help

them in the way that suits them even if that means going out and researching and learning how to teach a different style of training than I’m accustomed to,” says Dovales. East End Fitness, 6401 Penn Ave., Larimer. instagram.com/7Twice

Since he was 12 years old, Dovales, a native of Reading, Pa., has focused on sports and ﬁtness. He started playing sports at a young age, eventually landing a football scholarship at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He completed a master’s degree in Sport Science, then went on to play arena football for the Erie Explosion. He believes his sports career and educational background, as well as being a Certiﬁed Strength and Conditioning Specialist, has given him a wide range of expertise.

His passion for football has also continued, as he now coaches young players at Pittsburgh’s Central Catholic High School. While he’s usually at East End Fitness, Dovales says he also does private sessions for clients. He also started providing training over Zoom because of COVID-19, adding that the option has become “more popular than I ever could have expected.” Dovales says that, besides the birth of his first son in May, having Best of Pittsburgh readers crown him as this year’s Best Personal Trainer is “definitely the highlight of my year.” “It’s such a great honor after almost 10 years professionally in the field,” says Dovales. “It feels amazing that so many people appreciate what I do or did for them, their family members, and their children.”

•

BEST ATTORNEY

BEST BICYCLE REPAIR SHOP

Multiple Locations edgarsnyder.com

5003 Penn Ave., Garfield kraynicksbikeshop.weebly.com

2ND (TIE): LAW OFFICE OF GIUSEPPE G.C. ROSSELLI

2ND: THICK BIKES

rossellilawpgh.com

thickbikes.com

3RD: IRON CITY BIKES ironcitybikes.com

2ND (TIE): SHAREK LAW OFFICE, LLC

BEST BICYCLE RETAIL STORE

shareklaw.com BEST AUTOMOTIVE SHOP

62 S. 15th St., South Side thickbikes.com

2ND: IRON CITY BIKES 5775 Baum Blvd., East Liberty yelp.com/biz/ walters-automotive-pittsburgh

2ND: MCNEILLY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP mcneillyautomotive.com

ironcitybikes.com

3RD: BICYCLE HEAVEN bicycleheaven.org BEST BLACK-OWNED BARBER SHOP

3RD: PINE HOLLOW SERVICE pinehollowservice.com BEST BARBER SHOP

2681 Monroeville Blvd., Monroeville tinyurl.com/StyleGraceBarbershop

Socially distancing herself but still broadcasting LIVE every Monday thru Thursday at 10 a.m. at lynncullen.pghcitypaper.com

2ND: LOC’ N LOADED facebook.com/LocNLoaded412

3RD: JP’S BARBERSHOP facebook.com/jpsbarbershop 2906 W. Liberty Ave., Dormont houseofhandsome.com

2ND: MISTER GROOMING & GOODS mistergroomingandgoods.com

3RD: GRAHAM’S BARBERSHOP grahamsbarbershoppgh.com BEST BEER DISTRIBUTOR

BEST BLACK-OWNED HAIR SALON

MORE 8 1901 Centre Ave., Hill District ON P. 2 salonxopgh.com

2ND: CHELSEA RAE SALON chelsearaesalon.net

3RD: THE CULTURAL’S ELITE theculturalselite.com BEST BODY-PIERCING SHOP

294 Curry Hollow Road, Pleasant Hills duffysbeer.com

95 S. 16th St.,, South Side hotrodpiercingcompany.com

2ND: LIBERTY BEER

2ND: PITTSBURGH TATTOO COMPANY

facebook.com/4133libertybeer

tattoo-pittsburgh.com

3RD: BELLEVUE BEER

3RD: SOUTH SIDE TATTOO & BODY PIERCING

bellevuebeer.com

southsidetattooshop.com CONTINUES ON PG. 24

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 6, 2021

GOODS & SERVICES, CONTINUED FROM PG. 23

BEST BOOKSTORE

4754 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield whitewhalebookstore.com

2ND: MYSTERY LOVERS BOOKSHOP mysterylovers.com

3RD: CITY OF ASYLUM BOOKSTORE @ ALPHABET CITY cityofasylumbooks.org BEST BRIDAL SHOP

450 Cochran Road, Mt. Lebanon bridalbeginning.com

2ND: THE WHITE ORCHID

BEST BUTCHER SHOP

BEST CHILDREN’S STORE

3639 California Ave., Brighton Heights tomfridaysmarket.com

Multiple Locations swrandalltoys.com

2ND: STRIP DISTRICT MEATS

2ND: CASTLE TOYS AND GAMES

stripdistrictmeats.com

castletoysandgames.com

3RD: WEISS MEATS

3RD: SHADYSIDE VARIETY STORE

weissmeats.com

shadyside-variety-store.business.site

BEST CAR DEALER - NEW

BEST CIGAR SHOP/BAR

Multiple Locations leafandbean.com

2ND: SHULTS FORD

2ND: PUFFS ‘N’ STUFF

shultsford.com

puffs-n-stuff.com

3RD: ROHRICH AUTOMOTIVE

3RD: DIRTY DOG CIGAR SHOPPE

rohrich.com

dirtydogcigarshoppe.com

BEST CAR DEALER - USED

BEST CITY TOUR

Multiple Locations cochran.com

350 W. Station Square Drive, South Side gatewayclipper.com

3RD: BLANC DE BLANC BRIDAL BOUTIQUE

2ND: ROHRICH AUTOMOTIVE

2ND: DOORS OPEN PITTSBURGH

rohrich.com

doorsopenpgh.org

3RD: POWER OF BOWSER

3RD: CRUISIN’ TIKIS PITTSBURGH

BEST BUSINESS MAKEOVER

powerofbowser.com BEST CBD SHOP

5319 Butler St., Lawrenceville pusadeesgarden.com

2ND: THE BLACK CAT MARKET blackcatmarketpgh.com

3RD: KARDS UNLIMITED kardsunlimited.com

6425 Living Place, Larimer spacesworks.com/pittsburgh/ bakery-square

2ND: ASCENDER ascenderpgh.com

3RD: FULTON COMMONS fultonpgh.com BEST DAY SPA

Multiple Locations cochran.com

thewhiteorchid.com

blancdeblancbridal.com

BEST COWORKING SPACE

5122 Butler St., Lawrenceville hippieandfrench.com

2ND: PENN’S CHOICE pennschoice.com

3RD: CURATED FLAME curatedflamepgh.com

337 Beaver St., Sewickley sewickleyspa.com

2ND: EVOLVE WELLNESS SPA evolvewellnessspa.com

3RD: SUGAR SPA AND BEAUTY BAR sugarspapgh.com BEST DESIGN AGENCY

cruisintikispittsburgh.com

595 Butler St., Etna pghprintship.com

BEST CLOTHING STORE

2ND: SARALYNN CRÉATIF saralynncreatif.com

625 Smithfield St., Downtown shopsteelcity.com

2ND: VINTAGE GRACE BOUTIQUE vintagegraceboutique.com

3RD: NO. 14 no14boutique.com

3RD: (TIE) FARGO DESIGN CO. fargodesign.co

3RD: (TIE) JERONIMO CREATIVE jeronimocreative.com CONTINUES ON PG. 26

WWW.PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Best of Live TV & On Demand

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Stream Friends exclusively on HBO Max. Our Exclusive Streaming Device sold separately.

CHOICE ™ Package

99 mo + Tax.

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The price you see is the price you pay. No hidden fees. NOW get unlimited hours of Cloud DVR recordings for $10/mo.1 Stream on 20 devices at once in your home—including your TVs, tablets, smartphones and other connected devices.2

1 Data connection req’d. Recordings expire after 90 days. In a series recording, max 30 episodes stored (oldest deleted first which may be in less than 90 days). Restr’s apply. 2AT&T recommends a minimum Internet speed of 8Mbps per stream for optimal viewing. All 20 AT&T streams must be on the same home network and a compatible router is required. Certain channels are excluded. Limit 3 concurrent out-of-home AT&T streams. Restrictions apply. See att.com/20streams for details.

Get HBO Max™ included for one year with CHOICE™ or above. Subject to change. With CHOICE or ULTIMATE Package (min. $84.99/mo.). HBO Max auto-renews after 12 months at then prevailing rate (currently $14.99/mo.), unless you change or cancel. Req’s you to select offer. Access HBO Max only through HBO Max app or hbomax.com. HBO Max also includes HBO channels and HBO On Demand on AT&T TV. Data rates may apply for app download/usage. New approved residential customers only, excluding DIRECTV and U-verse TV customers. Add’l fees and restr’s apply.

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(877) 350-1003 AT&T TV requires high-speed Internet. AT&T recommends a minimum Internet speed of 8Mbps per stream for optimal viewing. AT&T TV: Compatible device req’d. Residential U.S. customers only (excludes Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands). Your AT&T TV service renews monthly at the prevailing rate, charged to your payment method on file unless you cancel. Once you’ve canceled, you can access AT&T TV through the remaining monthly period. New customers who cancel service in the first 14 days will receive a full refund. Otherwise, no refunds or credits for any partial-month periods or unwatched content. AT&T TV Device: AT&T TV device for well-qualified customers $5/mo. each for 24 mos. on 0% APR installment agreement; otherwise $120 each. Non-qualified customers must purchase devices up front. Purchased devices may be returned within 14 days for a full refund. Devices purchased on installment agreement subject to additional terms and conditions. See cancellation policy at att.com/help/cancellation-policy-att-tv.html for more details. Limits: Offers may not be available through all channels and in select areas. Programming subject to blackout restrictions. Subject to AT&T TV terms and conditions (see att.com/legal/att-tv.html). Pricing, channels, features, and terms are subject to change & may be modified or discontinued at any time without notice. See att.com/tv for details. HBO Max: Access HBO Max through HBO Max app or hbomax.com with your AT&T log-in credentials. Compatible device or browser required. Use of HBO Max is subject to its own terms and conditions, see hbomax.com/terms-of-use for details. Programming and content subj. to change. Upon cancellation of your video service you may lose access to HBO Max. Limits: Access to one HBO Max account per AT&T account holder. May not be stackable w/other offers, credits or discounts. To learn more, visit att.com/hbomax. HBO Max is only accessible in the U.S. and certain U.S. territories where a high-speed broadband connection is available. Minimum 3G connection is required for viewing on mobile devices. HBO MAX is used under license. ©2021 AT&T Intellectual Property. All Rights Reserved. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other AT&T marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. 086739

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 6, 2021

GOODS & SERVICES, CONTINUED FROM PG. 24

BEST DRY CLEANER

Multiple locations owlcleaners.com

2ND: RUBY’S CLEANERS

BEST FLORIST

502 E. Ohio St., North Side thefarmersdaughterflowers.com

drycleanerpittsburgh.com

2ND: DORMONT FLORIST

3RD: ZOOM DRY CLEANING

dormontflorist.com

zoomdrycleaningpittsburgh.com

3RD: ARMFUL OF FLOWERS

BEST ESTHETICIAN STUDIO

armfulofflowers.com BEST FURNITURE STORE

BEST HAND SANITIZER MADE LOCALLY

Multiple Locations wiglewhiskey.com

2ND: MAGGIE’S FARM RUM DISTILLERY maggiesfarmrum.com

2ND: HOT HAUTE HOT hothautehot.com 2921 W. Liberty Ave., Brookline nailsonpointpgh.com

2ND: KIKI BEAUTY BAR kikibeautybar.com

3RD: KÜRE

3RD: PITTSBURGH FURNITURE COMPANY pittsburghfurniturecompany.com

hippieandfrench.com

2ND: CURATED FLAME curatedflamepgh.com

3RD: KEEPIN’ IT GLASSY keepinitglassy.com BEST HEALTH ADVOCACY GROUP

3RD: TRINITY JEWELERS BEST LGBTQ-OWNED BUSINESS

Multiple Locations leonaspgh.com

2ND: SQUARE CAFE square-cafe.com

3RD: PIGEON BAGELS pigeonbagels.com BEST LOCAL SUBSCRIPTION BOX

700 River Ave., North Side harvie.farm 2573 Brandt School Road, Wexford soergels.com

127 Anderson St., North Side centraloutreach.com

2ND: LOVE, PITTSBURGH

2ND: BRENCKLES GREENHOUSES

2ND: ALLIES FOR HEALTH + WELLBEING

3RD: SALTY PORK BITS

brenckles.com

3RD: SHADYSIDE NURSERY theshadysidenursery.com BEST GIFT SHOP

bethelparkfarmersmarket.com

3RD: MARKET SQUARE FARMERS MARKET

4209 Butler St., Lawrenceville wildcardpgh.com

downtownpittsburgh.com/marketsquare-farmers-market

2ND: GIFTED HANDS giftedhandsgifts.com

BEST FITNESS CENTER

sabika-jewelry.com

BEST GARDEN SHOP/NURSERY

BEST FARMERS MARKET

2ND: BETHEL PARK FARMERS MARKET

2ND: SABIKA JEWELRY

BEST HEAD SHOP

kurepgh.com

5050 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield facebook.com/bloomfieldmarket

5501 Walnut St., Shadyside hennejewelers.com

trinityjewelers.com

3RD: HIPPIE & FRENCH

5122 Butler St., Lawrenceville hippieandfrench.com Multiple locations levinfurniture.com

BEST JEWELRY STORE

3RD: KARDS UNLIMITED kardsunlimited.com

alliespgh.org

3RD: PREVENTION POINT PITTSBURGH

lovepittsburghshop.com

saltyporkbits.com BEST LOCAL T-SHIRT COMPANY

pppgh.org BEST INTERNATIONAL GROCERY STORE

625 Smithfield St., Downtown shopsteelcity.com

2ND: 2N ND COMMONWEALTH PRESS cwpress.com

2010-2012 Penn Ave., Strip District penn pennmac.com

3RD: SHOP412 sshopfouronetwo.com BEST LOCALLY OWNED RETAIL

BEST HAIR SALON 2141 Mary St., South Side ascendclimbing.com

2ND: SWEAT PGH sweatpgh.com

3RD: F45 TRAINING PITTSBURGH f45training.com/ pittsburghstripdistrict/home

625 Smithfield St., Downtown shopsteelcity.com

4225 Murray Ave., Greenfield facebook.com/studioesalonpgh

2ND: NO FILTER BEAUTY vagaro.com/nofilterbeauty1

3RD: UNCOMMON LOFT uncommonloft.glossgenius.com

2ND: LAS PALMAS ALM yelp.com/biz/las-palmas-pittsburgh

2ND: KARDS UNLIMITED kardsunlimited.com

3RD: PITALAND

3RD: ATTIC RECORD STORE

pitaland.com

atticrecordstoreinc.com CONTINUES ON PG. 28

WWW.PGHCITYPAPER.COM

No Wait List • Same Day Appointments

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 6, 2021

GOODS & SERVICES, CONTINUED FROM PG. 26

BEST MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY

Multiple Locations thehealingcenterusa.com

2ND: MAITRI MEDICINALS maitrimedicinals.com

3RD: SOLEVO WELLNESS solevowellness.com BEST MEDICAL MARIJUANA STRAIN

2ND: BLUE DREAM 3RD: SLAP N TICKLE CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

BEST MOTORCYCLE SHOP

Monica Smith, founder of Salon XO

BEST OF PITTSBURGH

BEST BLACK-OWNED HAIR SALON

139 E. Sixth Ave., Tarentum gattoharley-davidson.com

BY DANI JANAE // DANIJANAE@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

2ND: HOT METAL HARLEY-DAVIDSON hotmetalharley.com

3RD: THREE RIVERS HARLEY-DAVIDSON threeriversharley.com BEST MUSIC STUDIO

922 W. North Ave., North Side mrsmallsrecording.com

2ND: FIRE K STUDIOS firekstudios.com

3RD: ID LABS idlabsmusic.com

WWW.PGHCITYPAPER.COM

ONICA SMITH, founder of Salon XO in the Hill District, says her passion for styling hair led her to open her own spot in 2016. Voted by Pittsburgh City Paper readers as this year’s Best Black-Owned Hair Salon, Smith’s shop specializes in styling natural hair, but also provides services for relaxed and ﬁne or thin hair, eyelash and brow extensions, waxing, makeup, and more. Described as the “ultimate hair salon experience,” Salon XO’s mission is to focus on basic, healthy hair care ﬁrst, and then adding creative styling afterwards. The salon keeps up with hair trends, using high-end products that puts the health of customers’ hair before anything else. “My favorite part about what I do is that I can combine my dreams, personal, and professional goals. I’ve always wanted

to own a salon, run multiple businesses, and help people, but not necessarily be a stylist. That part found me and it never let me go,” says Smith. “Simply by being in the business day in and day out running it, I found a passion I didn’t know I had. From the beginning of my stylist career, it’s always been about more than just hair for me. I love educating, serving, and making people feel wonderful.” 1901 Centre Ave., Hill District. salonxopgh.com

In a 2020 WTAE story, Smith said she considers herself part of the Hill District’s revitalization, and believes the neighborhood should have the same amenities as communities like Squirrel Hill, Lawrenceville, and Mt. Lebanon. Smith says it’s important that every

customer who walks through the door feels special and like a queen. The salon boasts specials, a loyalty program, and a VIP membership that comes with two natural hair services a month, protein and moisture treatments, and 10% off of all retail products. “I love the relationships that are built,” says Smith, adding that, no matter what, there are a few common goals for every customer coming to Salon XO: getting their hair to a healthier state, providing education and, sometimes, emotional adjustments on better hair care and health tips, and “encouraging sisterhood, and for them to look and feel their best.” “I see it as you are literally shaping how someone will feel for weeks or even months,” says Smith. “It’s inspiring to me from the inside out.”

•

BEST NAIL SALON

5341 Penn Ave., Bloomfield and 222 Center Road, Monroeville lalassalonspa.com

2ND: OBSIDIAN NAIL STUDIO obsidiannailstudio.com

3RD: NAILS ON POINT nailsonpointpgh.com

BEST PET DAYCARE

Multiple Locations thedogstop.com

2ND: CAMP BOW WOW campbowwow.com

3RD: PITTSBURGH PAWS PET RESORT pghpaws.com BEST PET STORE

BEST NEIGHBORHOOD GROCER 5880 Ellsworth Ave., Shadyside petagogy.com

2ND: HEALTHY PET PRODUCTS Multiple Locations labriolaitalianmarkets.com

2ND: EAST END FOOD CO-OP eastendfood.coop

3RD: PITALAND

healthypetproducts.net

3RD: ELMER’S AQUARIUM & PET CENTER elmersaquarium.com BEST PLACE FOR KID’S BIRTHDAY PARTY

pitaland.com BEST NEW PRODUCT LAUNCH

soergels.com/soergels-essentials

2ND: HIPPIE & FRENCH’S SLEEP ANGELS tinyurl.com/SleepAngels

3RD: BLOOMS POP-UP FLOWER BOUTIQUE TRAILER bloomspgh.com/services BEST PERSONAL TRAINER

One Allegheny Ave., North Side carnegiesciencecenter.org

2ND: KENNYWOOD PARK kennywood.com

3RD: ZONE 28 zone28.com BEST PLACE TO ADOPT A PET

MORE 2 ON P. 2 6401 Penn Ave., Larimer instagram.com/7Twice

562 Camp Horne Road, Ohio Township thinkingoutsidethecage.org

2ND: MOLLIE BLACK, HELLTH WITCH

2ND: HUMANE ANIMAL RESCUE OF PITTSBURGH

mollieblack.com

3RD: JUSTIN SHAL, PURE EDGE pureedgetraining.com/about

humaneanimalrescue.org

3RD: PAWS ACROSS PITTSBURGH pawsacrosspittsburgh.com CONTINUES ON PG. 30

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 6, 2021

GOODS & SERVICES, CONTINUED FROM PG. 29

BEST PLACE TO BUY COMICS

1121 Penn Ave., Downtown eides.com

2ND: PHANTOM OF THE ATTIC - OAKLAND pota-oakland.com

3RD: NEW DIMENSION COMICS ndcomics.com BEST RECORD STORE

BEST PLACE TO BUY LOCALLY MADE CRAFTS

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

imadeitmarket.com

2ND: HANDMADE ARCADE handmadearcade.org

Jerry’s Records

BEST PLACE TO TAKE THE KIDS FOR THE AFTERNOON

BEST RECORD STORE

3RD: WILDCARD wildcardpgh.com BEST PLACE TO BUY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

468 Freeport Road, Blawnox nstuffmusic.com

2ND: BRIGHTON MUSIC CENTER brightonmusic.com

3RD: PITTSBURGH GUITARS pittsburghguitars.com BEST PLACE TO BUY YOURSELF HAPPINESS

One Sweet St., Oakmont oakmontbakery.com

2ND: THE BLACK CAT MARKET blackcatmarketpgh.com

3RD: MAITRI MEDICINALS maitrimedicinals.com BEST PLACE TO SHOP VINTAGE

neighborhoodflea.com

2ND: THREE RIVERS VINTAGE instagram.com/threeriversvintage

3RD: EONS FASHION ANTIQUE tinyurl.com/EonsFashionAntique

WWW.PGHCITYPAPER.COM

7370 Baker St., Highland Park pittsburghzoo.org

2ND: CARNEGIE SCIENCE CENTER carnegiesciencecenter.org

2136 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill jerrysrecords.com

3RD: CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF PITTSBURGH

2ND: ATTIC RECORD STORE

pittsburghkids.org

3RD: EIDE’S ENTERTAINMENT

BEST POC-OWNED BUSINESS

atticrecordstoreinc.com

eides.com BEST REGIONAL BANK/ CREDIT UNION

460 Melwood Ave., Oakland 1hood.org

2ND: WALTER’S BBQ SOUTHERN KITCHEN

Multiple Locations pnc.com

walterspgh.com

2ND: CLEARVIEW FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

3RD: FUDGE FARM goodyhouse.com BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT

clearviewfcu.org

3RD: DOLLAR BANK dollar.bank BEST SHOE STORE

facebook.com/CoreyKellyRealtor

5850 Forbes Ave., Squirrel Hill littlesshoes.com

2ND: JENNIFER WATERS, HOWARD HANNA

2ND: WAGNER SHOES

northofpittsburghhomesforsale.com

3RD: BRIAN CAROTHERS, RE/MAX facebook.com/pghrealestate

wagnershoes.com

3RD: NORTHWAY SHOES AND REPAIR northwayshoes.com

BEST SKATE SHOP

BEST ST WEDDING VE VENUE

7518 Dickson St., Swissvale switchandsignalskatepark.com

2ND: ONEUP SKATE SHOP oneupskateshop.com

3RD: NEVILLE ROLLERDROME SKATE SHOP nevillerollerdrome.com BEST SNEAKER SHOP

1 Schenley Drive, Oakland phipps.conservatory.org

2ND: PITTSBURGH BOTANIC GARDEN pittsburghbotanicgarden.org

3RD: PRIORY GRAND HALL 1751 N. Highland Road, Bethel Park fleetfeet.com/s/pittsburgh

2ND: ZEDS shopzeds.com

pittsburghsgrandhall.com BEST WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS

24/7 Admissions | Masters-Level Clinicians Evidence-Based Treatment

3RD: ANTHONY’S LOCKER anthonyslckr.com BEST TATTOO PARLOR

2327 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill pittsburghhoney.square.site

2ND: SONGBIRD ARTISTRY 1700 E. Carson St., South Side inspirebody.art

2ND: LADY MOON TATTOO ladymoontattoo.com

songbirdartistry.com

3RD: NAILS ON POINT nailsonpointpgh.com BEST YOGA STUDIO

3RD: INKA DINKA DOO inkadinkadoo.net BEST THRIFT SHOP

730 Copeland St., Shadyside amazingyoga.net

2ND: SCHOOLHOUSE YOGA 125 51st St., Lawrenceville facebook.com/thriftiquepgh

2ND: CLOTHES MINDED clothesmindedpgh.com

3RD: ANIMAL LIFELINE PITTSBURGH THRIFT STORE animallifelinepgh.org/thrift-store BEST VAPE SHOP

Drug & Alcohol Addiction Treatment

schoolhouseyoga.com

3RD (TIE) SOUTH HILLS POWER YOGA

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.

southhillspoweryoga.com

3RD (TIE): YOGA INNOVATIONS yogainnovations.com

Residential Inpatient & Outpatient Services including Teletherapy

BEST ATHLETE

NOW OPEN & SERVING THE GREATER PITTSBURGH AREA

Multiple Locations coolvapes.com

nhl.com/penguins

2ND: STEEL CITY VAPORS

2ND: T.J. WATT

steelcityvapors.com

twitter.com/_TJWatt

3RD: GLASS GONE WOW/GLASS GALLERY & WELLNESS

3RD: JUJU SMITH-SCHUSTER

glassgonewow.com

twitter.com/TeamJuJu

Call today: 844-939-3317 recoverycentersofamerica.com

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 6, 2021

WWW.PGHCITYPAPER.COM

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 6, 2021

BEST OF FOOD & DRINK

BEST BAKED GOODS

1 Sweet St., Oakmont oakmontbakery.com

2ND: LA GOURMANDINE lagourmandinebakery.com

3RD: JEAN-MARC CHATELLIER’S FRENCH BAKERY jeanmarcchatellier.com BEST BAKERY

1 Sweet St., Oakmont oakmontbakery.com

2ND: LA GOURMANDINE lagourmandinebakery.com

3RD: JEAN-MARC CHATELLIER’S FRENCH BAKERY jeanmarcchatellier.com BEST BBQ

4501 Butler St., Lawrenceville walterspgh.com

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Barista Mark Phillips makes a coffee at Carnegie Coffee Company

2ND: SMOKE BEST OF PITTSBURGH

smokepgh.com

3RD: SOUTH SIDE BBQ COMPANY southsidebbqcompany.com

BEST COFFEE SHOP FOR REMOTE WORKING

BEST BREAD

BY RYAN DETO // RYANDETO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM 1717 Penn Ave., Strip District and 601 Woodward Ave., McKees Rocks mancinisbakery.com

2ND: BREADWORKS BAKERY breadworkspgh.com

3RD: MEDITERRA BAKEHOUSE mediterrabakehouse.com BEST BREWERY

10 E. Sherman St., Millvale gristhouse.com

2ND: HITCHHIKER BREWING hitchhiker.beer

3RD: EAST END BREWING COMPANY eastendbrewing.com

WWW.PGHCITYPAPER.COM

INCE THE START of the pandemic last

year, many ofﬁces have been shut down and continue to be. Remote work has become the new normal for many Pittsburghers. After many workers were conﬁned to their houses for months, it became understandable that many were looking for a reprieve to do remote work out of their domiciles. Luckily, some coffee shops opened up after restrictions were lifted, becoming oases for remote workers, and, according to Pittsburgh City Paper readers, none more so than Carnegie Coffee Company. The two-story shop in Carnegie Borough won Best Coffee Shop for Remote Working in this year’s Best of Pittsburgh readers’ poll, and it’s easy to see why. The coffee shop — which occupies the

borough’s old post ofﬁce building — has a variety of comfortable workspaces, including couches, high chairs near a shelf overlooking Main Street, a reading nook, tables up on the second-ﬂoor loft, an outdoor grassy section, and cushy chairs and ottomans next to an in-house library. Plus, all of it comes with some historic, Rust Belt charm. 132 E. Main St., Carnegie. carnegiecoffeecompany.com

With all the great spaces to pull up a laptop and get some work done, it’s easy to forget that Carnegie Coffee Company is also a stellar cafe. Cappuccinos, cortados, lattes, and cold brew all keep remote workers caffeinated. Carnegie uses Italiansourced Lavazza beans for its coffee drinks,

which add rich flavor to patrons’ remote working experience. The cafe’s full breakfast and lunch menu includes breakfast sandwiches, pastries, soups, and salads, making it easy to transition from morning work to afternoon assignments. The building that houses Carnegie Coffee Company also contains a pharmacy, so it’s really easy to find all the amenities of home. On top of that, the cafe is located in the heart of Carnegie’s business district, and close to dozens of other shops and services. A parking lot is located right across the street from Carnegie Coffee Company, and for those without a car, the cafe is just half a mile from Carnegie’s busway station. Carnegie Coffee Company is an easily accessible, and fully functional, remote option away from home offices.

•

BEST BRUNCH

BEST CARIBBEAN RESTAURANT

Multiple Locations pamelasdiner.com

2000 Smallman St., Strip District kaya.menu

2ND: GRAND CONCOURSE

2ND: 2 SISTERS 2 SONS

grandconcourserestaurant.com

2sisters2sons.com

3RD: SQUARE CAFE

3RD: CON ALMA

square-cafe.com

conalmapgh.com

BEST BRUNCH COCKTAIL

Multiple Locations theyardpgh.com

2ND: MEAT & POTATOES meatandpotatoespgh.com

3RD: BAR MARCO barmarcopgh.com BEST BURGER

BEST CHEF

2549 Penn Ave., Strip District dianoiaseatery.com

2ND: JAMILKA BORGES — WILD CHILD wildchild.restaurant

3RD: MATT STOVER — IL PIZZAIOLO ilpizzaiolo.com

Multiple Locations burgatorybar.com

BEST CHINESE/TAIWANESE RESTAURANT

2ND: TESSARO’S tessaros.com

3RD: OVER THE BAR BICYCLE CAFE otbbicyclecafe.com BEST CANDY STORE

Multiple Locations sesameinn.com

2ND: EVERYDAY NOODLES everydaynoodles.net

chengdugourmetpittsburgh.com Multiple Locations sarriscandies.com

2ND: GRANDPA JOE’S CANDY SHOP grandpajoescandyshop.com om

BEST COCKTAIL LIST

1708 Shady Ave., Squirrel Hill hiddenharborpgh.com

3RD: THE MILKSHAKE KE FACTORY

2ND: DIVE BAR & GRILLE 2

themilkshakefactory

3RD: BRIDGES & BOURBON 3R

BEST CANNED/BOTTLED ED COCKTAIL

divebarandgrille.com

bridgesandbourbonpgh.com

Multiple Locations commonplacecoffee.com

2ND: ARSENAL CIDER HOUSE

2ND: BLACK FORGE COFFEE HOUSE

3RD: MAGGIE’S FARM RUM DISTILLERY maggiesfarmrum.com

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

BEST COFFEE SHOP

2401 Smallman St., Strip District and 1000 Ross Park Mall Drive, Ross wiglewhiskey.com

arsenalciderhouse.com

Explore cannabis as a support for what ails you.

3RD: CHENGDU GOURMET

blackforgecoffee.com

3RD: CARNEGIE COFFEE COMPANY carnegiecoffeecompany.com

CONTINUES ON PG. 36

www.herbalcarerx.com • 215-554-4044 • HELP@HERBALCARERX.COM PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 6, 2021

FOOD & DRINK, CONTINUED FROM PG. 35

BEST COFFEE SHOP FOR REMOTE WORKING

MORE ON P. 3 4 132 E. Main St., Carnegie carnegiecoffeecompany.com

2ND: THE COFFEE TREE ROASTERS coffeetree.store

3RD: BIG DOG COFFEE bigdogcoffeeshop.com ogcoffeeshop.c

BEST CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN RESTAURANT

Multiple Locations northparklounge.com

2ND: BUTCHER AND THE RYE

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

butcherandtherye.com

Owner Juan Grimaldo and Gabriel Fuerte, manager of operations, pose for a portrait with the Tocayo Food Truck

3RD: ELEVEN

BEST OF PITTSBURGH

elevenck.com BEST DINER

BEST NEW FOOD TRUCK Multiple Locations pamelasdiner.com

BY RYAN DETO // RYANDETO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

2ND: RITTER’S DINER rittersdinerpittsburgh.com

3RD: KELLY O’S DINER IN THE STRIP kellyos.com BEST DISTILLERY

2401 Smallman St., Strip District and 1000 Ross Park Mall Drive, Ross wiglewhiskey.com

2ND: MAGGIE’S FARM RUM DISTILLERY maggiesfarmrum.com

3RD: KINGFLY SPIRITS kingflyspirits.com

CONTINUES ON PG. 38

WWW.PGHCITYPAPER.COM

HEN PITTSBURGHERS think of

tacos, they might not be on the same page as what Mexicans think of tacos. For decades, most of the tacos found in the Steel City were the Mexican-American classic crunchy shell ﬁlled with seasoned ground beef, shredded lettuce, and yellow cheddar cheese. Those are undoubtedly satisfying, but they don’t really resemble the tacos of Mexico, where the dish originated. Luckily for Pittsburghers, the taco scene is evolving as cooks and chefs familiar with authentic Mexican tacos make Southwestern Pennsylvania their home and start new food businesses. One new taco joint is the Tocayo Food Truck, and it has become so popular that readers voted it as this year’s Best New Food Truck. The team behind Tocayo Food Truck, Gabriel and Jenna Fuerte, is very focused

on showcasing authentic Mexican ﬂavors and delivering them to Pittsburghers. And so far, Gabriel says customers have been extremely pleased. instagram.com/tocayofoodtruck

“I remember in the beginning, people wanted the safe option, ground beef and chicken,” says Gabriel, a native of Mexico City. “But now people know about barbacoa and al pastor, and it’s great.” Gabriel says that pastor tacos — pork shoulder cooked with spices and pineapple — has become Tocayo’s most popular item. It can go on tacos, nachos, quesadillas, and burritos. Tocayo’s tacos come Mexican style, on grilled soft corn tortillas, with a choice of meat, and topped with chopped red onions, cilantro, and habanero salsa.

Jenna says that new this year are Tocayo’s vegetarian options, which have exploded in popularity, giving diners options outside of rice and beans. Gabriel, who has 20 years of restaurant experience from busboy to manager, handles the food and service side of the truck, and Jenna handles the business side. The truck is part of the ownership team behind restaurants Tocayo Taqueria & Tequila and Totopo Mexican Kitchen, where Gabriel also has manager shifts, and which won Best Mexican Restaurant in this year’s Best of Pittsburgh readers’ poll. Gabriel says the goal of the truck is to bring authentic Mexican ﬂavors to more Pittsburghers and to ensure that everyone is satisﬁed with their experience. “I want to see them happy, that is my point,” says Gabriel.

•

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 6, 2021

FOOD & DRINK, CONTINUED FROM PG. 36

BEST DOG-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

10 Sherman St., Millvale gristhouse.com

BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT

7795 McKnight Road, Ross tajmahalinc.com

BEST BAKED GOODS BEST BAKERY BEST DONUTS

2ND: PEOPLE’S INDIAN RESTAURANT

2ND: DOUBLE WIDE GRILL

peoplesindianpgh.com

doublewidegrill.com

3RD: TASTE OF INDIA

3RD: SOUTHERN TIER BREWING PITTSBURGH

tasteofindiapittsburgh.com BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT

facebook.com/stbcbeerpgh BEST DONUTS

2549 Penn Ave., Strip District dianoiaseatery.com

1 Sweet St., Oakmont oakmontbakery.com

2ND: ORAM’S DONUT SHOP orams.com

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Oakmont Bakery

BEST GLUTEN-FREE MENU

3RD: PASTA TOO

3RD: BETTER-MAID DONUT COMPANY facebook.com/thepinkdonutshop BEST DOWNTOWN LUNCH SPOT

pasta-too.com Multiple Locations aladdins.com

2ND: FAT HEAD’S SALOON fatheads.com

971 Liberty Ave., Downtown condadotacos.com

2ND: GAUCHO PARRILLA ARGENTINA eatgaucho.com

2ND: ALLA FAMIGLIA allafamiglia.com

BEST HOAGIES

3RD: MANDY’S PIZZA mandyspizza.com BEST GYRO

2122 Monongahela Ave., Swissvale trianglebarswissvale.com

2ND: PEPPI’S peppisubs.com

MORE ON P. 5 2

3RD: AMOXIE VILLAIN instagram.com/amoxie_villain BEST TIKTOK ACCOUNT

tiktok.com/@oakmontbakery

2ND: WEIRD PAUL PETROSKEY tiktok.com/@weirdpaulp

3RD: ZENSPIRE DESIGNS tiktok.com/@zenspiredesigns BEST TV PERSONALITY

facebook.com/ricksebak

2ND: HEATHER ABRAHAM facebook.com/heather.chtwo

3RD: BOB POMPEANI facebook.com/bob.pompeani BEST TWITTER ACCOUNT

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Maria Montaño

BEST OF PITTSBURGH twitter.com/joeybagovdonuts

2ND: BENSTONIUM

BEST THIRST TRAP

twitter.com/benstonium

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

3RD: MIKEY twitter.com/fsmikey BEST YINZER

pghdad.com

2ND: RICK SEBAK twitter.com/rickaroundhere

3RD: JIM KRENN twitter.com/JimKrenn BEST YOUTUBE ACCOUNT

youtube.com/user/pittsburghdad

2ND: WEIRD PAUL PETROSKEY youtube.com/user/weirdpaulp

3RD: DEAN BOG youtube.com/c/DeanBog

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CROLLING THROUGH Maria

Montaño’s Twitter feed yields posts about supporting unions, the cat who has claimed visiting rights to her porch, trans activism, her wife and their newly adopted dog, and loving pickles. The broad assortment of topics paints a well-rounded portrait of this year’s Best of Pittsburgh readers’ choice for Best Thirst Trap. Montaño has posted a variety of photos that fall into the category of “thirst trap,” which, to her, means a photo posted with the intent to entice or draw someone in, although it is also a way to play with and celebrate her sexuality. Some of her most notable thirst traps came from a photo session she began posting in June 2021, a gift to herself to honor her body and celebrate her journey. “I think there is a fair amount of playfulness in the photos or videos I share

— and offers a glimpse into my life and how I see myself,” Montaño says. “At the end of the day, I think people are drawn to them because they are such an honest reﬂection of who I am.” @TheMariaMontano

Montaño has continued to share images from that photoshoot, which feature her in lacy black, teal, and pink ﬂoral lingerie; her lips, a vivid red that complement her sizable double strand pearl necklace; and, an assortment of stiletto high heels, including a pair in leopard print. While this year’s nomination and voting periods were open, Montaño campaigned heavily for the title across multiple social media platforms, as did many others in Pittsburgh.

Ownership of her sexuality and body is particularly important for Montaño because “[b]y owning my own self, my full self — including my sexuality, sensuality, femininity, I am taking back my power from the way capitalism abuses trans women like me.” Montaño is a vocal socialist and activist for transgender people and sex workers, and works as a campaign communications specialist for Service Employees International Union. Montaño is also vocal about her love of pickles, which, in addition to being delicious, is a reference to being trans, since hormone replacement therapy can make people crave salty food. Between the salt from the pickles she loves, and the enticing photos she posts, Montaño has mastered the art of thirst.

•

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING LOCAL JOURNALISM

Thank you to the following readers who have signed up for Pittsburgh City Paper’s new membership campaign Aaron Aupperlee Aaron Jentzen Abbey Farkas Abby Cook Abby Kuftic Abigail Gardner Abigail Hunter Abigail Noyce Adam Hart Adam Knoerzer Adam Schweigert Addi Twigg Adeline Lord Al Hoff Alaina Cauchie Alan Cox Alan Sisco Alan Steinberg Albert Presto Alec Magnani Alex Blackman Alex Dryden Alex Friedman Alex LaFroscia Alex McCann Alex Walsh Alexandra Hiniker Alexandria Rizzo Alexis Johnson Alison Marchioni Allen Ellis Allison Rowland Amanda Komar Amanda McAllen Amy Bayer Amy Bilkey Amy Hartman Amy Klodowski Amy Loveridge Amy Montgomery Amy Scanlon Amy Walker AmyJo Sanders Andrea Boykowycz Andrea Loew Andrea Lynn Andrew Bloomgarden Andrew Brown Andrew Conte Andrew Davis Andrew Hayhurst Andrew Mulkerin Andrew Seymour Andy Collins Andy Faulhaber Andy Mowrey Andy Terrick Anita Napoli Anna Reilly Anna Samuels Anni Riwen Sweetser Anthony Roscoe April Gilmore April McCann Ariel Zych Arlan Hess Armin Samii Arvind Suresh Ashleigh Bartges Ashley Kenawell Ashley Olinger Barbara Johnson Barbara Valaw Barbara Weaver Ben Wilson Bennett Aikin Beth Boroumand Beth Newman Beth Nolle Beth Wickerham

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Daniel Scullin Daniel Tasse Danielle Wenner Danika Lagorio David & Catherine Bomstein David Andersen David Boevers David Eckhardt David Eichelberger David Findley David Hartman David Lampe David Newman David Oakley David Pratt Deanna Bucci Debbie Breckenridge Denis Newman-Griffis Denise Agliori Denise Seiffer Deno De Ciantis Diane Walter Divyansh Kaushik Dominic Campbell Don Pellegrino Donna Harrison Doreen Krut Dorothy Falk Dwight Chambers Eamon Geary Earl Laamanen Ed Ehrlich Ed Giles Ed Wrenn Edward Venator Eileen French Eliana Beigel Elaine Miller Elisabeth McCoy Elise Lavallee Elise Lu Elizabeth Archibald Elizabeth Butler Elizabeth Collura Elizabeth Engelhardt Elizabeth Silver Ellen Cicconi Ellen Doherty Ellen Philips Emiko MacKillop Emilie Yonan Emily Cleath Emily Forney Emily Kiernan Emily Skopov Emily Wolfe Emma Neely Emma Rehm Erica Warnitsky Erin Kelly Erin Larkin Eva Schlinger Evan DiBiase Evelyn Meinert Filomena Manns Finnian Carstens G Ronald Ripper Gabriel Ackman Geo Maroon Geoffrey Hutchison Georgann Jenkins George Kanakis Georgia Crowther Geral Schatten Gillian Kratzer Gina Vensel Gordon Core Greg Carey Greg Kellerman

Greg Kochanski Greg Seaman Gregory Johnstone Gregory Scott Gretchen Swecker Hal B Klein Hannah Diehl Harley Nester Harold Smoliar Heather Slack Heidi Bartholomew Helen Gerhardt Henry Doherty Hobart Webster Holly Eve Howard Seltman Ian Oman Ian Riggins Jacob Bacharach James Heinrich James Kiley James Morgan James Saal James Santelli Jamie Piotrowski Janet Lunde Janine Shaw Jared Pollock Jasiri X Jason Meer Jay Aronson Jay Walker Jean McClung Jeanne Cobetto Jeff Betten Jeffrey Benzing Jeffrey Brooks Jeffrey Bigham Jeffrey Zahren Jenni Easton Jennie Sweet-Cushman Jennifer Handke Jennifer Reigler Jenny Ladd Jeremy Kimmel Jess Williams Jessica Benham Jessica Bevan Jessica Manack Jessica Priselac Jessica Prom Jessica Prucnal Jill Bodnar Jill Harmon JoAnn Zindren Joanne Gilligan Jocelyn Codner Jodi Hirsh Joe D’Alessandro Joe Pasqualetti Joe Wagner John Bechtold John Berry John Meyer John Oliver John Riggs John Ryan John Wise John Yackovich Jonathan Salmans Jordan Bender Joseph Corrigan Joseph Morrison Josephine Ulrich Josh Nygaard Joshua Axelrod Joshua Kiley Joshua Pinter Joshua Pirl Joshua Smith

Jude Vachon Judith Hartung Judith Lenz Juli Wright Julia Lee Julia Posteraro Julia Scanlon Julian Routh Julie & Nick Futules Justin Dandoy Justin Krane Justin Matase Justin Nodes Justin Pekular Justin Romano Justin Rossini Kai Gutschow Kara Holsopple Karen Brown Karen Hodes Karen Shepherd Karen Van Dusen Kate Jones Kate Roberts Katharine Kelleman Katherine Kennedy Katherine Oltmanns Kathleen Heuer Kathryn Feeney Kathy Dax Kathy Woll Katie Damico Katie Markowski Katie Urich Katy Greulich Kay Brink Kayla Cline Keegan Gibson Keith Bare Keith Recker Kelly Burgess Kelly Hiser Kendra Ross Kenneth Levin Kenneth Mostern Kenneth Zenkevich Kevin Gallagher Kevin Marpoe Kevin Vickey Khris & Tom McGarity Kim Lyons Kimberly Ressler Kimberly Taylor Krista Wright Kristin Ebert-Wagner Kristin Komazec Kristopher Olson Kyle Cunningham Kyle Gracey Kyle Zboran Lady MacBonald Lara Putnam Larry Lynn Laura Adams Laura Dickey Laura Drogowski Laura Everhart Laura Heberton-Shlomchik Laura Hershel Laura Hubele Laura Myers Lauren Banka Lauren Lief Lazar Palnick Leah Hoechstetter Leo Hsu Lesley Carlin Lesley Rains Leslie Cooley Leslie Harman

Levon Ritter Liam Lowe Linda Schott Lindsay Forman Lindsay Hagerty Lindsay Wright Lisa Saks Lisa Steinfeld Liz Dewar Liz Hrenda Liz Reid Lois Apple Loretta Deto Lori Delale-O’Connor Lori Flynn Lorie Milich Lucas Miller Luke Rifugiato Lynn Cullen Lynne Cherepko Lynne Frank Lynne Hughes Lyudmila Sanina Mackenzie Moylan Madelyn Glymour Madison Stubblefield Magda Gangwar Mahita Gajanan Mandy Kivowitz-Delfaver Margaret Buckley Margaret Krauss Margaret Prescott Marjorie Waters Maria Sensi Sellner Marianne Donley Marilyn McCarty Marina Fang Mark Goodman Mark Solomon Mark Westbrook Mark Winer Marlee Brown Mary Briles Mary Guzzetta Mary Russell Maryellen Lammel Matt Adams Matt Malarich Matt Moret Matthew Buchholz Matthew Cartier Matthew Demers Matthew Griffin Matthew Kroen Matthew Lamberti Maureen Byko Max Garber Max Moclock Megan Brady Megan Fair Melissa Kohr Melissa Melewsky Micaela Corn Michael Colaresi Michael Donovan Michael Lamb Michael McKinney Michael Wasson Mike Beattie Mike Kutilek Mike Weis Mimi Forester MJ Holmes Moira Egler Molly Kasperek Molly Toth Morgan Jenkins Nan Alexander Nancy Dubensky Nancy Latimer

Nate Good Nathan Thompson-Amato Neil Bhaerman Neil Owen Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh Nicholas Gliozzi Nicole Connor Nikki Walton Noah Theriault Norine Minion Norma Bronder Office of Public Art Olie Bennett Guarino Olivia Tucker Olivia Zane Ollie Gratzinger Paolo Pedercini Patricia DeMarco Patricia Oliver Patrick Conneely Patrick Kelley Patty Delaney Paul Hertneky Paul McGowan Paula Majersky Peter McKay Peter Mudge Peter Reichl Rachael Hopkins Rachel Belloma Bonnet Rachel Busch Rachel Dalton Rachel Tiche Rachelle Haynik Rainy Sinclair Randall Baumann Randy Gowat Randy Sargent Raymond Kozlowski Raymond Leech Raymond Martin Rebecca Boyer Rebecca Ciez Rebecca Seibel Regina Connolly Regina Yankie Rich Lord Richard Kress Richelle Meer Rick D’Loss Rob Rossi Robert & Erin Blussick Robert Baird Robert Davis Robert Jauquet Robert Lang Robert McKnight Robert Nishikawa Robert Raczka Robert Sage Robin Bolea Ron Vodenichar Rosemary Mendel Rossilynne Culgan Ruth Craig Ryan Rydzewski Ryan Warsing Samantha Mudrinich Samantha Ritzer Samantha Wire Sam Barrett Samuel Boswell Sara Innamorato Sara Simon Sara Zullo Francart Sarah Birmingham Sarah Cassella Sarah Flaherty Sarah Paul

Sarah Pearman Sarah Peterson Sarah Sewall Sarah Sprague Sarah Vernau Sarah Wiggin Scott Bricker Sean Bailey Sean Collier Sean Mahan Sean ODonnell Selene Wartell Seth Peasley Shanna Carrick Shannon Kelly Sharee Stout Shawn Cooke Shawn Melvin Sherri Suppa Shirlie Mae Choe Siena Kane Slava Starikov Smitha Prasadh Stacey Campbell Stacey Federoff Stephanie Sedor Stephanie Wein Stephen Riccardi Stephen Wagner Steve Felix Steve Holz Steven Haines Steven Thomas Stuart Strickland Sue D’Nihm Susan Caplan Susan Hawkins Susan Jackson Susan Rogers Susan Smith Susan Speicher Suzanne Kafantaris Sylvain Goyette Taia Pandolfi Tammy Schuey Tara Spence Tara Zeigler Ted Schroeder Tereneh Idia Terry Bicehouse Terry Peters Thomas Bartnik Timons Esaias Tina Shackleford Todd Derr Tom Samuel Toni Haraldsen Tracy Certo Tracy Travaglio Travis Hefner Trenton Tabor Trevor Baumel Trey Mason Tyler Bickford Tyler Gellasch Uwe Stender Valerie Moore Vicki Cunningham Virginia Alvino Young Will Bernstein Will Halim Will Simmons William Doran William Fulmer William J Schoy IV William Lovas William Maruca William O’Driscoll Yonatan Bisk Zack Tanner

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BRAG BY BRENDAN EMMETT QUIGLEY // BRENDANEMMETTQUIGLEY.COM

ACROSS 1. Big name in trucks 6. Enzyme in dairy products 13. Turn state’s witness against 14. More raw, like the cold 15. Beverly Hills Cop theme song 16. Bit of willful isolation 17. Golden Crinkles maker 19. Clay-like mineral 20. Anticipates uncertainly 25. Botheration 26. They hold all the power 27. Deaf as ___ 29. High school adjunct 30. Tenor Bocelli 33. It has numerators and denominators in its numerator or denominator 40. With all one’s marbles 41. Stuff you get when you have your pick 42. A+, to Giuseppe 44. PR agent’s creations 47. Credit card application enc. 48. Glenn Close’s Fatal Attraction role 52. Video doorbell company 54. Hams it up 55. With 58-Across, “That’s ... strange

WWW.PGHCITYPAPER.COM

and yet ... I kind of approve,” (and this puzzle’s theme) 58. See 55-Across 62. Actress who played the principal in the movie Grease 63. Avoid capture 64. Bright colored oxide used in some paint pigments 65. Actress Sagal of The Conners

DOWN 1. Fidelity offering, for short 2. See 21-Down 3. Sport ___ 4. Anti-depressant drug 5. Trapped 6. Pale purple color 7. Agcy. that regulates explosives 8. Degenerative disease caused by head trauma 9. Droid message 10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce 11. Persuasively make (a case) 12. Standing upright 14. Ecclesiastical History of the English People author 16. Small taste 18. ___ & Oh’s (2015 top 10 hit by Elle King) 20. Infection of the liver, for short 21. With 2-Down,

Ornette Coleman instrument 22. Actor Cunningham of Game of Thrones 23. Butler’s quarters? 24. Freelancers may work on it 28. Ingredient brewed in some stout beers 30. Chop up 31. Bears play in it, briefly 32. Like deadpan humor 34. Bicycle tube abbr. 35. Asian priest 36. Chemical compound 37. Californian Gold Rush city nicknamed “Bed-Bug” 38. Table scraps 39. Place for those looking

to branch out? 42. Jewish dietary indication 43. Leaned (on) 44. One spirited away? 45. He had all the answers 46. The Little Mermaid sea witch 47. One going against the grain? 49. Sought a moray on the sea 50. Rogue group 51. Bushy-tailed animal 53. Spoken out 56. G-funk popularizer, briefly 57. Vaccine approver 59. “Think again!” 60. Poem detailing military accomplishments 61. Cryptanalyst’s goal LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS

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NAME CHANGE

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-21-009985, In re petition of Kelly Marie Jackson parents and legal guardian of Zachery Ryan D’Angelo for change of name to Zachery Ryan Jackson. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the ﬁling of said petition and ﬁxed the 26th day of October 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-21-10705 In re petition of Carly Ann Cordaro for change of name to Carly Cordaro Nogay. 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 November, 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-21-010290 In re petition of Dominic Allen Zilinski for change of name to Dominic Allen Chiarelli. 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 November, 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-21-009319, In re petition of Lina Bologna and Ronald Zombeck parents and legal guardian of Nathan Josef Bologna-Zombeck for change of name to Nathan Josef Bologna. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 3rd day of November 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. Kathryn J. Rosinski Esq. Attorney for Petitioner Address 535 Smithfield St., Suite 630, Pittsburgh PA 15222 Phone (412)471-9900

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 6, 2021