November 8, 2023 - Pittsburgh City Paper by Pittsburgh City Paper

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2023

Giving Guide

Here's what local Pittsburgh nonprofits actually need this season

IN THIS WEEK’S ISSUE: WEED 04 Smoker’s Section makes exploring

10 GIVING GUIDE

Here’s what local Pittsburgh nonprofits actually need this season

medical cannabis easier with fun journals and more

BY RACHEL WILKINSON

BY AMANDA WALTZ

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PGHCITYPAPER.COM NOV. 8–15, 2023 // VOL. 32 ISSUE 45

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ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT 08 Smaller performances are

a ‘gateway’ to Pittsburgh’s opera offerings BY COLIN WILLIAMS

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

LITERARY ARTS

Undress, the debut chapbook from Kelley Beeson, tackles every edge of grief BY KAYLA WELCH

NEWS 24 Point Park’s

final strategic plan adds details and diversity

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Pittsburgh’s top events this week BY CP STAFF

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CHECK OUT THESE STORIES ONLINE: COMMUNITY PROFILE

Righteous Among the Neighbors: Sister Gemma Del Duca

30 Classifieds and Crossword THEATER

Quantum Theatre paints a real-life romance with The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk BY JORDANA ROSENFELD

BY AMELIA TWYMAN

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9/15/23 3:42 PM 3 PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER NOVEMBER 8 - 15, 2023

WEED

PHOTO COURTESY OF: NICK PREZIOSO

Artist Paul Haggerty (foreground) and Smoker’s Section owner Adrea Sustarsic (background)

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Writ ten e k o m S in

Smoker’s Section makes exploring medical cannabis easier with fun journals and more BY AMANDA WALTZ // AWALTZ@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

hen it comes to treating certain disorders, medical cannabis may not be for everyone. But for Adrea Sustarsic, it provided a better, and, in some ways, safer alternative to how her generalized anxiety disorder and ADHD were being treated. Before discovering the benefits of cannabis, she recounts the extreme symptoms she suffered after being prescribed Valium by a psychiatrist. “I would do my monthly check-ins, and I started out taking it, but it was scaring me; I was blacking out,” she tells Pittsburgh City Paper, adding that the medication — which, according to the National Library of Medicine, can be used for “short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety” — also led to her grinding her teeth “really badly.” Instead of giving her an alternative, the psychiatrist prescribed a higher dose. She decided to not take the Valium and, when anxiety disorders were approved for cannabis treatment in Pennsylvania, set about getting her medical cannabis card.

PHOTO COURTESY OF: NICK PREZIOSO

Smoker’s Section journal

Sustarsic, a Robinson native who now lives in Gibsonia, says she has since found relief through medical cannabis in combination with other treatments but felt overwhelmed by the options and strains available to her, especially when some made her anxiety worse.

“I kept buying strains that didn’t work for me,” she adds. “And then, on top of that, I would forget which ones I had bought, and then rebuy them, or I didn’t understand why a certain strain didn’t work for me. So I would buy something similar again, and I just got so frustrated with the process

and, honestly, how expensive it was.” As a result, Sustarsic, who has a background in marketing, launched Smoker’s Section, a small business that provides tools for medical cannabis patients to document and track every strain they use. At the center of the venture is a handheld journal with specially designed pages for patients to list the details of each strain, including where it was grown and bought, its main properties, and its effects. Journalers can easily mark how the strain came (as flower, oil, resin, etc.) and how it makes them feel, as well as the ratio of THC to CBD. With Smoker’s Section, Sustarsic wanted to create products that made the process of finding the best strains “fun and approachable” and less “stuffy.” She joined forces with local artist Paul Haggerty after seeing his work on Instagram and believed he could bring her “very retro” and “light-hearted” vision to life. She views the journals, which were designed with whimsical colors, fonts, and language (negative side WRITTEN IN SMOKE, CONTINUED ON PG. 6

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER NOVEMBER 8 - 15, 2023

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BEST F ILM I N P I T T F ES T I VA L BURGH

PHOTO COURTESY OF: NICK PREZIOSO

NOVEMBER 8-15 2023 PRESENTED BY

TWO FESTIVALS. ONE CITY. FILMPITTSBURGH.ORG

PRESENTED BY

CO-PRESENTED BY

NOVEMBER 16–19 2023

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both medically and recreationally, effects are listed as “Bummers”), as people, particularly Black Americans, helping patients be “more empoware still incarcerated for possessing ered and knowledgeable” when they and/or selling cannabis. To bring go to the dispensary to shop. attention to this issue, Sustarsic Sustarsic registered Smoker’s donates 10% of every Smoker’s Section as an LLC in February 2022 Section journal purchase to the Last and debuted the journals at the Prisoner Project, a national nonprofit 2022 Pittsburgh Cannabis Festival, dedicated to drug policy reform and where she says they were “really well freeing those held for cannabisreceived.” related offenses. The Smoker’s “And then I just started having Section website also has a link to other ideas from there and kept it donate to the project. going and accidentally built a brand,” “It was important to me that I do she adds. Smoker’s Section has since something, and I’ve been a big supbeen a featured vendor at events like porter of the Last Prisoner Project the Unblurred First Friday gallery for a long time,” says crawl in Garf ield Sustarsic, who views SMOKER’S SECTION. and the Thunderbird smokersection.squarespace.com Smoker’s Section’s Summer Jam at cutesy appeal as a Hartwood Acres. way to draw people into the more difIn addition to the journals, ficult realities around the cannabis Sustarsic now sells other prodindustry. ucts, including branded clothing Over time, Sustarsic wants to and accessories, stickers and totes expand Smoker’s Section offerings, with humorous cannabis puns and and has already looked at working sayings, and colorful vape pen labels. with other local artists to launch Customers can buy Smoker’s Section new products like glassware and items online and at markets like the other cannabis accessories. These upcoming Made and Found pop-up would add to past collaborations, as holiday event on Dec. 17 at Spirit. the local sustainable clothing brand Sustarsic believes that adding PACKPACK already featured Smoker’s levity to an issue that many still conSection designs on their signature sider taboo, and that, in a slow-tofanny packs. adapt state like Pennsylvania, is still “[Founding Smoker’s Section] legally vague, helps alleviate some of has been really, really great,” says the stigma around medical cannabis. Sustarsic. “It was the best decision Under the cheeky jokes, however, ever because I’ve just met so many is the understanding that, despite incredible people.” • progress being made on legalization

Give a Gi at Keeps Giving All Year Long A membership to Pittsburgh Botanic Garden provides four seasons of nature-inspired tranquility, education, and discovery. Choose from Individual, Dual, and Family levels. To purchase, call 412-444-4464 or visit PittsburghBotanicGarden.org/gimembership.

IMAGES: Scott Goldsmith Photography PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER NOVEMBER 8 - 15, 2023

ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT

OPERA ,

BUT MAKE IT

FUN-SIZE

Pittsburgh’s opera companies offer more than just downtown date nights. BY COLIN WILLIAMS // COLIN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM PHOTO COURTESY OF: PGH OPERA

In a Grove

ITTSBURGH HAS A LONG history with opera. Theater has been part of the city’s cultural scene since the Fort Pitt days. Pittsburgh Opera as a formal organization has been around since 1939, and other organizations, including Pittsburgh Festival Opera, have been around for decades. Meanwhile, renovations continue at the National Opera House, once a safe haven for Black artists and celebrities. It hardly needs to be said that opera as an artform isn’t the popculture mainstay it was during the Baroque Era. However, Pittsburgh is surprisingly rich in ways to enjoy the bombastic vocals, theatricality,

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and elevated stagecraft opera offers — and that’s true whether you want a Baroque-style evening out at the Benedum or simply want to enjoy an aria while you sip beer in sweatpants. “Every opera has a right-sized venue,” Pittsburgh Opera’s marketing director Chris Cox tells Pittsburgh City Paper. “Shows that we do in [the Bitz Opera Factory] would feel sparse in a place as huge as the Benedum.” While Pittsburgh Opera has a full slate of large-scale shows, including Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman, which opens Sat., Nov. 11, the company has also been offering smaller and, often, more

experimental productions in other venues, a practice that predates the COVID-19 pandemic. Cox says there’s a wealth of contemporary opera that makes more sense in a smaller space. Pittsburgh Opera’s Bitz Opera Factory is small enough that “even the farthest-back seat is still just mere feet from performers,” Cox says. “It can be very powerful, visceral, and in your face.” Performances in the Bitz also give audiences a close look at the emerging talent of the company’s resident artists. Opera singers face quite a bit of competition when it comes to getting singing roles or even opportunities to practice. Smaller-scale performances

not only give the public an opportunity to experience their talents in a variety of venues; they also provide artists with a space to sing, iterate, practice, and reach new audiences. Aria412 is another organization that has provided space for numerous Pittsburgh-based vocalists to bring their talents to more intimate settings. The company began in 2017 with performances in the Hotel Indigo bar and, following the end of COVID-19 lockdowns, relaunched with monthly performances at Hop Farm Brewing. Aria412 recently received 501(c)(3) tax exemption and plans to stage larger productions in 2024.

“Basically, we do opera, musical theater, and some pop songs, and it’s all based around a theme,” Aria412 co-founder Desiree Soteres tells City Paper. “We always use Pittsburgh-based singers and give them opportunities to perform, try out new repertoire, and be in front of a live audience.” Soteres says their performers run the gamut from recent graduates to seasoned musicians. All are paid for their work. She’s hopeful that Aria412 can serve as an introduction to opera for the uninitiated: “We have people [in our audience] who have never been to see opera. They might be brought by a friend, and the bug bites them, and the next thing you know, they’re going to the Benedum to see a full-scale opera.” In addition to their “gateway” approach, Aria412 gives Soteres and her co-producers the flexibility to plan what they want outside of the constraints of a libretto. The company is responsive to audience feedback, noting which songs are hits and planning nights around themes that allow for variety — the most recent iteration was Tryptophantasia, an autumnal medley loosely centered on Thanksgiving food and travel and named after the soporific chemical in turkey. “We also did a ‘twisted concert,’ where people sang repertoire that’s not in their voice type. The singers were very interested in that,” Soteres says. “We’re always listening to what people want to hear and just going

PHOTO BY LOUISE VAN MOOK

Aria412

wherever it takes us.” Next up for the company is the second edition of a James Bondthemed night called Goldsinger 2, which Soteres says will feature a

tournaments and a theme night centered on astrology. It’s clear the company is having fun, but ultimately, Soteres says their prime directive is keeping things local.

“THEY MIGHT BE BROUGHT BY A FRIEND, AND THE [OPERA] BUG BITES THEM, AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, THEY’RE GOING TO THE BENEDUM.” mix of Bond theme music and songs from areas where Bond films have taken place. Aria412 also has a March Madness event planned to coincide with next year’s NCAA basketball

“Our biggest mission is making opera for ever yone and using local talent,” she says. “It’s about Pittsburgh, by Pittsburgh, and for Pittsburgh.”

For other companies, smallerscale performances are a matter of necessity — Pittsburgh Festival Opera (PFO) has scaled back its plans following anemic attendance during their 2022 season. The company is now “reinventing itself” to focus on a recital series and educational programming while it ramps back up to hiring new staff members. PFO’s next show, a rescheduled concert by Hungarian soprano Csilla Boross, will be a one-off in Carnegie’s renovated library and music hall on Dec. 1. Whether it’s solo performances, exp e ri m e n ta l p ro d u ct i o n s, o r Wagnerian epics, more opera is good opera, Chris Cox tells CP. That’s as true for the singers as it is for set, costume, and lighting designers. He says Pittsburgh Opera has always focused on variety and meeting audiences where they are. “There are plenty of folks who, when they’re at their first opera … are looking forward to a reason to dress up, go out to dinner, and make a whole night out of it,” he says. “Other people prefer something that’s a little more intimate, maybe something that’s a little shorter or more contemporary.” Cox cites upcoming productions of Iphigénie en Tauride, a Greek tragedy staged at the CAPA Theater, and Proving Up, an adaptation of a Karen Russell novel staged at the Bitz, as examples of the latter. “Whatever your personal preference might be,” Cox says, “we offer something for you.” •

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER NOVEMBER 8 - 15, 2023

GIVING GUIDE

What Gives

PHOTO COURTESY OF: ASSEMBLE

Assemble staff and students

Here’s what local Pittsburgh nonprofits actually need this season

BY RACHEL WILKINSON // RWILKINSON@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

HE APPROACHING Pittsburgh winter brings consistently colder temperatures (finally) and holiday get-togethers, and kicks off a season of giving. Perhaps dating back to medieval tradition, studies show people are most inclined to give at the year’s end — something local organizations rely on. From gathering books, food, and winter clothing donations, to a final fundraising push for key projects, to

preparing for the 2024 election season, the region’s nonprofits are hard at work on a range of issues and services. So where should you direct your giving spirit? For our 2023 Giving Guide, Pittsburgh City Paper asked local orga-

nizations what their most urgent needs are now through the holiday season and how readers can best contribute. 10

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PERSAD CENTER persadcenter.org Founded in 1972, Persad Center is a regional behavioral health and human service organization with a mission to improve the well-being of the LGBTQ communities and HIV/ AIDS communities through outreach, prevention, counseling, and training services. With two locations, in Lawrenceville and Washington, Pa., it’s the second oldest organization of its kind in the United States. DONATIONS: Monetary donations are “ a l w ay s h e l p f u l ,” D i r e c t o r o f Communications and Development Christine Bryan tells City Paper, a s they co n t ri b u te directly to mental health services for clients. According to Bryan, more than half of Persad’s clients identify as transgender or gender nonconforming, and the majority use Medical Assistance to access care. Donations can be made online or by mailing a check to Persad Center, 5301 Butler St., Pittsburgh, Pa. 15201.

GREATER PITTSBURGH COMMUNITY FOOD BANK pittsburghfoodbank.org The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank works with a network of partners across 11 Pa. counties to source, warehouse, and distribute food, and confront issues of chronic hunger, poor nutrition, and health. Contribute through: VOLUNTEERING: “Volunteers are the heart of our mission to feed people in need,” the Food Bank tells City Paper, and a range of opportunities are available from sorting food, to building healthy food boxes for seniors, to helping harvest food through farm programs. Volunteers can sign up online or email volunteer@pittsburghfoodbank.org. PARTICIPATING IN YEAR-END FUNDRAISERS: The Food Bank is accepting donations

PHOTO CREDIT: EMMAI ALAQUIVA

1Hood Media

through KDKA-TV’s Turkey Fund through Dec. 31, noting that each dollar “can provide enough food for up to three meals.” Donations of $50 or more made at PNC Bank will be matched up to $75,000. For those wanting to get into the Christmas spirit, the Food Bank will appear at Santa’s House as part of the Peoples Gas Holiday Market from Sat., Nov. 18 (Light Up Night) through Dec. 24. Visitors receive a photo with Santa for a suggested $10 donation. Readers can also give year-round — including vehicle donations — online,

over the phone at (412) 460-3663, and by mail at 1 N. Linden St., Duquesne, Pa. 15110. SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow and engage with the Food Bank’s social media. All handles are @PGHFoodBank.

ABOLITIONIST LAW CENTER abolitionistlawcenter.org The Abolitionist Law Center (ALC) is a Pittsburgh-based public interest law

firm that fights for the human rights of prisoners and organizes against mass incarceration and state violence on a local, state, and national level. They recommend three ways to get involved: DONATIONS: Make a tax-deductible, monetary donation online. VOLUNTEERING: Volunteer with ALC’s Court Watch Program, which observes and documents the Allegheny County justice WHAT GIVES, CONTINUED ON PG. 12

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PHOTO COURTESY OF: ALLEGHENY LAND TRUST

Lowries Run Slopes Expansion project

system for public reporting and packs courtrooms to support defendants at key hearings. SOCIAL MEDIA: Join ALC’s email list and follow and engage with their social media.

HUMANE ANIMAL RESCUE OF PITTSBURGH humaneanimalrescue.org For the holidays, Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh (HARP) — one

of Pennsylvania’s largest animal welfare organizations — tells CP they’re focused on providing supplies to pet owners so that “furry family members can share in the joy of the coming season.” Animal lovers can help out through: MONETARY DONATIONS: HARP encourages making monetary donations online. SUPPLY DONATIONS: The organization also seeks unopened

cat and dog food (wet and dry), treats, non-clumping, unscented cat litter, and pet toys. Readers can give to HARP’s two animal shelters via wish lists on Amazon and Chewy, or to a wishlist for its wildlife rehabilitation center in Verona. A list of items needed can be found online with all three HARP locations accepting supplies. VOLUNTEERING: HARP is “always in need of fosters and volunteers” to work with their

animals, with a particularly urgent need for veterinarians and veterinary technicians. Volunteer information is available online.

1HOOD MEDIA 1hood.org 1Hood Media is a collective of socially conscious artists and activists who use art and culture to shift power, activate communities, and increase civic engagement. The Pittsburgh organization tells CP they’re gearing up for the 2024 election cycle and, WHAT GIVES, CONTINUED ON PG. 14

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER NOVEMBER 8 - 15, 2023

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PHOTO COURTESY OF: JODIE DIPERNA/PINJ

Carnegie Library

“recognizing the lack of information, support, and connection between Black communities and elected officials,” they aim to “bring information to communities through art, music, food, and joy.” Readers can support the organization’s mission through: DONATIONS: Monetary donations support programming such as 1Hood’s People, Politics, and Power voter awareness and activation events, digital canvassing, expanded voter education, and in-person engagement events. VOLUNTEERING: Volunteers are needed for voter outreach, program and event support, general help, and more. SOCIAL MEDIA: Join 1Hood’s “social media squad” by following and boosting posts on Twitter, Instagram, and more.

ALLEGHENY LAND TRUST alleghenylandtrust.org A conservation nonprofit created in 1993, Allegheny Land Trust’s (ALT) Lindsay Dill says CP readers can help save local land this winter by donating to “one or all three” of the organization’s large projects. Donations from individuals are “crucial,” ALT’s website notes, as they provide funds to cover land purchases and matching

dollars to access state grants. “Donations to these projects ensure a more resilient region for residents today and for generations to come,” Dill, ALT’s Senior Director o f Ma rke t i n g a n d Co m m u n i ty Engagement, says, “through conserved clean air and water, wildlife habitat, scenic character, and opportunities for outdoor recreation and environmental education.” Readers can visit ALT’s donation page online, and learn about their current projects such as: LOWRIES RUN SLOPES EXPANSION PROJECT: Donations help ALT acquire and permanently protect 24 acres of woodlands along Lowries Run in Ross Township, expanding an existing ALT conservation area and creating a 67-acre contiguous greenway in a busy corridor.

ASSEMBLE assemblepgh.org Located on Penn Avenue in Garfield, Assemble is a community space for arts and technology education, offering all-ages STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) programming. The growing nonprofit encourages CP readers to become “STEAM advocates” for year’s end and emphasizes three areas of need: WHAT GIVES, CONTINUED ON PG. 16

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Cancer Bridges: A Powerhouse of Support for those Impacted by Cancer Providing hope, healing, and community for all ages.

he emotional, social, and physical impact of a cancer diagnosis is a life-altering experience. That is why Cancer Bridges supports all those who have been impacted by cancer through a comprehensive calendar of nearly 200 FREE programs and services each month. One in two Allegheny County residents will be impacted by cancer in their lifetime, and Cancer Bridges is here to provide a caring community of support. The organization provides a warm and welcoming environment for everyone who has been impacted by cancer. This includes those with a diagnosis, those who have a loved one with cancer, have lost a loved one to cancer, and those in survivorship. Individuals of every age, experiencing any type, stage, or experience with cancer are welcome to join Cancer Bridges and receive the social, emotional, and informational tools they need at no cost. At Cancer Bridges, our goal is to address psychosocial effects of cancer by providing the informational tools and resources individuals, families, and caregivers need to navigate their unique cancer journey. Western Penn-

sylvania residents have access to some of the best hospitals in the United States, and at Cancer Bridges, they also have access to these vital services at no cost: • Short-Term Supportive Counseling • Support Groups • Education and Community Connections • Health and Wellness Classes • Creative Expression • Social Activities • Comprehensive Family & Youth Programming We are the most comprehensive cancer support agency in Western Pennsylvania that provides free services for individuals ages 3 to 97. From diagnosis through treatment and in transition to life beyond cancer, Cancer Bridges helps prevent and manage the adverse effects of the disease. A Cancer Bridges family shared their recent experience: “Thank you again for the work that you do. My family will be forever grateful. Your organization really

helped us get through one of the hardest things we have faced. Knowing my boys had a trusted adult who they could talk to meant so much. All the scary things they didn’t want to say, or ask in front of me, were handled in such a child-friendly and appropriate way. Your Child Life Specialist created an environment where they felt very comfortable sharing as much or as little as they wanted. I also must sing the praises of your whole staff. When I called in, I had been newly diagnosed; I was scared, and I felt very alone. Your team called me the same day to tell me I wasn’t alone, and that Cancer Bridges was here to help be a support system through this journey. She then connected me with a counselor, who was amazing at helping me navigate this time!” Learn more at www.cancerbridges.org.

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER NOVEMBER 8 - 15, 2023

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afsp.org/Pittsburgh

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Casa San Jose

DONATIONS: Gifts support Assemble’s STEAM programs, which “utilize a unique pedagogy that emphasizes process over product and adapts to an individual’s needs.” The nonprofit tells CP that monetary donations “this giving season allow us to provide free and low-cost programming throughout Pittsburgh, helping to keep STEAM education accessible for everyone.” CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP: Sponsors are needed to support annual programming and fundraisers such as Assemble’s STEAM summer camps for a range of grade levels (last year, free to Garfield residents), MakerDate auction fundraiser, and events for adults. VOLUNTEERING: See ways to get involved online.

SISTERS PGH sisterspgh.org SisTers PGH is a Black- and transled nonprofit serving the transgender community in southwestern Pennsylvania. They provide a variety of resources and support services including housing and utility assistance, and operate a drop-in community and resource center for trans and gender nonconforming people. The organization tells CP they’re currently

accepting in-kind donations at their community center in Swissvale. DONATIONS: Readers can donate clothing, canned goods, personal items, toiletries, and gift cards to SisTer PGH’s resource center at 2014 Monongahela Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. 15218. The center is open for donations weekdays (except Wednesdays) from 10 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

PITTSBURGH PRISON BOOK PROJECT pghprisonbookproject.org Since 2000, the Pittsburgh Prison Book Project (PPBP) has been sending free books and educational materials to prisoners across Pennsylvania, who often have no means of obtaining reading material. The project is an all-volunteer effort from the Big Idea Bookstore at the Thomas Merton Center. Support their work through: MONETARY DONATIONS: Both one-time contributions and sustaining donors are needed; give through Thomas Merton Center’s PayPal. BOOK DONATIONS: Books can be purchased through PPBP’s Bookshop.org Wish List, which includes high-demand titles not often donated. Email pghprisonbookproject@gmail.com for other book WHAT GIVES, CONTINUED ON PG. 18

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER NOVEMBER 8 - 15, 2023

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CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Pittsburgh Prison Book Project

donations. Paper bags (for example, from Trader Joe’s) are also needed for wrapping book packages.

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casasanjose.org Casa San Jose connects, supports, and advocates with and for the Latino community, operating a resource center in Pittsburgh. The nonprofit tells CP a central focus right now is their capital campaign to expand operations and renovate a four-story building in Beechview, which will provide a new, centralized space for ESL classes, youth programming, events, and 27 staff. According to Executive Director Monica Ruiz, the population that Casa San Jose services has grown from 400 to 4,000 in only three years, and they hope the new building can serve as a community hub for the entire Beechview neighborhood, which currently has no youth center. CP readers can help by making: MONETARY DONATIONS: Donate online or during Give Big Pittsburgh on Tue., Nov. 28, where Casa San Jose donations will be matched up to $25,000. FOOD AND CLOTHING DONATIONS: Casa San Jose is also preparing to distribute Christmas meals. Check

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their donation page in December for opportunities to contribute ingredients like fresh vegetables and dry goods. In addition, the organization collects toys and accepts new coats and other winter clothing all season long.

CARNEGIE LIBRARY OF PITTSBURGH carnegielibrary.org Supporting literacy and serving as a community anchor across the region, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (CLP) operates 19 neighborhood locations and offers a variety of programs for patrons. The nonprofit tells CP that donations make it possible to keep the library and its resources “free to the people.” How can you contribute? DONATIONS: Give online, and view other ways to advocate and volunteer for CLP on its website. BUY GIFTS AT THE LIBRARY SHOP: Located at CLP’s Main (Oakland) branch at 4400 Forbes Ave., bookworms can visit the library shop, support CLP, and get some holiday shopping done by buying merchandise, including T-shirts, hoodies, scarves, bags, and candles. You can also shop CLP online through Commonwealth Press. •

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER NOVEMBER 8 - 15, 2023

LITERARY ARTS

GOOD MOURNING

PHOTO COURTESY OF: LEFTY BLONDIE PRESS

Undress by Kelley Beeson

Undress, the debut chapbook from Kelley Beeson, tackles every edge of grief BY KAYLA WELCH // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

NDRESS IS A COLLECTION of poems that strip grief to the bone. Catalyzed by a period of intense loss in author Kelley Beeson’s life, they convey pain alongside flashes of joy. The debut chapbook — a typically thin, ‘zine-style paperback — recently won the inaugural Lefty Blondie Press Chapbook Award. Creating space for messy realities is an operating model for Lefty Blondie Press, a Pittsburghbased publisher of women-identifying and nonbinary poets. “Empathy is the way we do things,” co-founder and co-editor Amy Lee Heinlen says. “We’re building a community of writers that invites the whole person. We want poets to

believe in their art and to take risks without apologizing. Wear the prom dress with the leather jacket and biker boots — we can be it all.” Beeson wrote the poems in Undress when her marriage dissolved. “I had just gone through a divorce, and I was entering a grieving process,” she says. “It was scary to stand in that anger, to own it.” Sometimes, her poetry delights in her rage. The chapbook’s opening poem fantasizes, When he comes for his things, I will ask the house to burn him down/I picture her gathering her brawn/I hear his crackling skin, his bilious body set aflame. Another poem reads, I wish for everything/wrenched from everyone. GOOD MOURNING CONTINUED ON PG. 22

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER NOVEMBER 8 - 15, 2023

GOOD MOURNING, CONTINUED FROM PG. 20

Join us for an exclusive culinary experience including crafted cocktails, a plated dinner curated and hosted by Dr. Harris, a signed cookbook, and a talkback in the theater.

PHOTO COURTESY OF: LEFTY BLONDIE PRESS

Kelley Beeson (middle) poses with Amy Lee Heinlen (left) and Marguerite Miller (right) at White Whale Bookstore

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“ The book is cyclical,” says Marguerite Miller, co-founder and co-editor of Lefty Blondie Press. “It moves from grief, loss, and pain to joy, and back again.” But Beeson’s poems also celebrate what grief leaves behind. “When the divorce happened, I missed my mother, who died 15 years ago,” she says. “I found myself in my car listening to her music, crying, and dancing. And I discovered that each loss is connected to every other loss.” In a love letter to the staying power of her mother’s life, Beeson writes, But the funny thing around grief is the electricity it creates: currents and cracks lighting the way around the new long-limbed world/ Joy and grief mingle/They circle and move like a mobile near the ceiling.

to warm themselves by the light of her mourning. In the chapbook’s acknowledgments, Beeson recognizes Anne Sexton as an important literary influence. Sexton’s fingerprints are visible in the poem “Tender Heart Club,” the title of which comes from a letter that Sexton wrote to W.D. Snodgrass in 1968. Like Sexton, Beeson spares nothing: I can tell you 2 things: it won’t be a joyride/and I’m going to write everything down, even the confusing sparks/of electricity and chaos. The result is uncomfortable but revelatory reading. For those who have seen their own lives remade by grief, the poems come in the voice of a friend. Miller and Heinlen have big plans for the future of Lefty Blondie. They

“THE BOOK IS CYCLICAL. IT MOVES FROM GRIEF, LOSS, AND PAIN TO JOY, AND BACK AGAIN.” Submitting her poems to a publishing contest felt like a risk to Beeson. “Poetry is tricky,” she says. “When I wrote these poems, I wasn’t sure if they were just for me or for other people. But I felt a need to share them so others could see themselves in these physical sensations of grief.” If each grief is its own planet, Undress is strictly Beeson’s, but she invites others to sit with her. “I’m talking about loneliness,” she writes. “I’m talking to you now.” The brilliant insight and crackling imagery of her work allow readers

will continue to work with poets from communities underrepresented in publishing — the Lefty Blondie Press Editor’s Choice BROADSIDE Series Contest is currently open until Dec. 15, and submissions for Lefty Blondie’s 2024 Chapbook Award begin on Jan. 1, 2024. Reflecting on the months they spent working closely with Beeson to create each hand-cut, hand-bound, and hand-numbered copy of Undress, Heinlen says, “This is life-changing for us as well. To build a literary community based on trust is exactly what we are trying to do.” •

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER NOVEMBER 8 - 15, 2023

NEWS

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

PHOTO COURTESY OF: POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Chris Brussalis, President of Point Park University

POINT PARK’S PLANNED GLOW-UP

Point Park hopes that if you build it, they will come. BY COLIN WILLIAMS // COLIN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

OINT PARK UNIVERSITY is on the cusp of transition. Reporting from WESA in late September found that the private Downtown college was in the final phase of a study of consolidating operations with other local universities — though two area institutions have since pulled out of that proposed consortium. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh City Paper’s own reporting found some lingering doubts among student leadership about the speed of Chris Brussalis’ appointment as permanent president of Point Park. City Paper was also able to reveal early details of Point Park’s forthcoming strategic plan, which envisions a swift rise in enrollment, new athletic

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programs, and more. That plan, Pioneer Vision 2030, has now been released in full. Long on ambition but shorter on details of implementation, it sets a variety of benchmarks for growth in admissions, institutional giving, and facilities. There are also several notable changes from the draft copy CP originally viewed earlier this fall. So what’s different? While the draft plan set a hard target of a 30% admissions increase in the Conservatory of Performing Arts next fall, the final plan now envisions a softer rise of “up to 30 percent.” Lou Corsaro, the university’s director of public relations, tells CP that Point Park “will not be changing or relaxing admissions standards.”

However, it remains unclear what exactly will change to allow more students to enroll so quickly. There are more details about the First-Year Office, which will “provide support, guidance, and information to [ease] transition into college life.” Another initiative with first-years in mind is a revamping of the university’s UNIV 101 course, which currently focuses on identifying “a social issue, problem, or opportunity” on campus or in Downtown. Point Park is offering and hopes to make permanent a subsidized U-Pass program being “piloted” with Pittsburgh Regional Transit — this would bring the university in line with Carnegie Mellon, Pitt, and other area schools.

As part of “creat[ing] a sense of student belonging,” Point Park plans to expand its intramural sports offerings and create an Office of Intramural and Club Sports. This would be in addition to new varsity programs in men’s and women’s tennis, wrestling, and lacrosse, the latter of which could begin play in Highmark Stadium next year. The university also plans to change its IT ticketing, donor management, and project management systems. Goals for donor engagement are pegged to concrete metrics in the final copy. Perhaps most notably: while the September draft strategic plan contained no mentions of diversity,

equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, the topic is robustly addressed in the final version. The plans for improved or reinforced DEI policies include infusing DEI into the envisioned Institute of Community Engagement, instituting a quota of 10% improvement of faculty and staff diversity and new training programs, and promoting of DEI practices “across all organizational levels.” “We think one of our differentiators is we’re probably one of the most diverse campuses in America,” Brussalis tells CP. “Those are pillars throughout the plan, but we wanted to add a little more accountability in some of those areas of the plan.” (Sites vary on whether Point Park sits among the nation’s most diverse schools. According to its own numbers, a majority of students — 67% — are white. Pittsburgh-based city data site Niche places Point Park below Pitt at 41st in the state for diversity and gives it an A- grade. US News and World Report places it 207th in the nation among Top Performers

on Social Mobility.) The final plan and earlier drafts align on several key items: admissions will go up, some programs could go away, alumni donations will become a bigger deal, and the university will lean into its athletic programming. As part of becoming a linchpin of Downtown success, Point Park still plans to build or renovate

the conservatory’s talents as well as coursework and facilities. The community engagement center would serve these new residents as well as the existing community. “Those additional people living Downtown need amenities,” he says. “Right across the street from that mixed-generational housing, you’ll have access to food courts, state-of-

“WHILE THE SEPTEMBER DRAFT STRATEGIC PLAN CONTAINED NO MENTIONS OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION PROGRAMS, THE TOPIC IS ROBUSTLY ADDRESSED IN THE FINAL VERSION.” athletic, performance, and rehearsal facilities, as well as mixed-generational housing and a community engagement center. Brussalis says mixed-generational housing will benefit both residents and the university. He believes single parents, artists in residence, and retirees can benefit from proximity to

the-art recreational facilities, athletic performance space, artistic performance space.” The strategic plan is in large part a blueprint for improving Downtown. Brussalis says the new Institute of Community Engagement would potentially add urban studies and serve as a “learning lab” for improving

the city — Brussalis envisions Point Park catalyzing development in a work-from-home world by adding more life to the neighborhood. He notes the university’s industry co-op programs and new initiatives such as an on-the-job degree program for future teachers. “We’re here to inspire imagination and creativity in students through experiential learning,” Brussalis says. “I think we walk the talk better than most.” He explains all of these initiatives, which are supposed to be in place by 2030, are about “advanc[ing] society.” What remains to be seen is how smoothly the university can get from here to there. The plan is aspirational, and new facilities, in particular, could be a reach given the expense and difficulty the university had in opening the Pittsburgh Playhouse. Still, if Point Park pulls it off, success could ease concerns about Brussalis’s appointment while providing a boost to the university — and Downtown. •

November 20, 2023 - January 2, 2024

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER NOVEMBER 8 - 15, 2023

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SEVEN DAYS IN PITTSBURGH BY CP STAFF

PODCAST • SHADYSIDE

Rough Cuts: A Live Podcast Event. 7:30 p.m. The Cozy Corner Bookstore. 5879 Ellsworth Ave., Shadyside. Free. instagram.com/ thecozycornerbookstore

MUSIC/THEATER • DOWNTOWN

Cirque Carnival with Troupe Vertigo and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. 8 p.m. Continues through Sun., Nov. 12. Heinz Hall. 600 Penn Ave., Downtown. $25-105. trustarts.org

THEATER • OAKLAND

Pitt Stages presents Corsicana. 8 p.m. Continues through Fri., Nov. 17. Henry Heymann Theatre. 4301 Forbes Ave., Oakland. $15-25. play. pitt.edu

SAT., NOV. 11 WORKSHOP • EAST LIBERTY

Bored with your workout routine? Looking for fun new ways to stay healthy and active? Check out The Beauty Boost’s Pittsburgh Fitness Sampler, a series of 25-minute-long classes by local businesses specializing in yoga, barre, dance, kickboxing, and other activities. Taking place at The Maverick, the day also includes vendors focused on acupuncture, nutrition, crystal healing and reiki, and other wellness techniques, as well as clothing and accessories, jewelry, and more. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 120 S. Whitfield St., East Liberty. $20-30. thebeautyboost.net

MARKET • SOUTH HILLS

SAT.,11 NOV.

Horror Fan Flea Market. 11 a.m. Early bird admission 10 a.m. Crowne Plaza Pittsburgh South. 164 Fort Couch Road, South Hills. $10-15. facebook.com/HorrorRealmCon

KIDS/MUSIC • MOON TOWNSHIP

KIDZ BOP Never Stop Live Tour. 6 p.m. UPMC Events Center. 6001 University Blvd., Moon Township. $39.50-79.50. upmceventscenter.com

FASHION • GARFIELD

PHOTO: COURTESY OF INDIE MUSIC MEDIA

THU., NOV. 9

FRI., NOV. 10

Onna-Bugeisha: Warriors of Light Opening Reception. 7 p.m. Continues through Feb. 25, 2024. August Wilson African American Cultural Center. 980 Liberty Ave., Downtown. Free. Registration required. trustarts.org

MARKET • LAWRENCEVILLE

VISUAL ART • DOWNTOWN

MUSIC • NORTH SIDE

Sound Series: The Ladybug Transistor with special guests Giant Day. 8 p.m. The Andy Warhol Museum. 117 Sandusky St., North Side. $15-20. warhol.org

THEATER • SOUTH SIDE

Kabosh Theatre Company presents Green & Blue. 8 p.m. Continues through Sat., Nov. 11. City Theatre. 1300 Bingham St., South Side. $15-25. citytheatre.culturaldistrict.org

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Get a leg up on your holiday shopping when Contemporary Craft presents a market full of new merchandise and decor, as well as a curated selection of handcrafted mugs and drinkware by over 30 artists from across the country. CRAFTED invites shoppers to check out items by local and national artists, all while enjoying complimentary light bites, refreshments, and festive cocktails. Support independent artists while finding unique gifts for your loved ones. 5:30-8 p.m. 5645 Butler St., Lawrenceville. $15. contemporarycraft.org

VISUAL ART • LAWRENCEVILLE

Associated Artists of Pittsburgh presents 113 x 113 Opening Reception. 6-8 p.m. Continues

Tech N9ne at Stage AE

through Dec. 22. Associated Artists of Pittsburgh Exhibition Space. 100 43rd St., Unit 107, Lawrenceville. Free. aapgh.org

FILM • MCKEES ROCKS

Dicks: The Musical. 7 p.m. Parkway Theatre. 644 Broadway Ave., McKees Rocks. $10.25. filmlounge.square.site

THEATER • DOWNTOWN

Giraffes Can’t Dance. 7 p.m. Byham Theater. 101 Sixth St., Downtown. $30.25-50.25. trustarts.org

THEATER • MIDLAND

Disney’s Freaky Friday: One-Act Edition. 7:30 p.m. Continues through Sun., Nov. 12. Additional performances Fri., Nov. 17-Sun., Nov. 19. Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center. One Lincoln Park, Midland. $18-25. lincolnparkarts.org

Head to the Irma Freeman Center for Imagination for a night of local style. The firstever Rhinestone Steel Queer Fashion Show presents looks by eight LGBTQ designers in Pittsburgh. Hosted by Danielle Attame, the event also includes music by Sister Sludge and a beverage booth by Glitterbox Theater. Don’t miss this new showcase celebrating work by some of the city’s queer creatives. 7-11 p.m. 5006 Penn Ave., Garfield. $10-20. Search “Rhinestone Steel Queer Pittsburgh” on Facebook

MUSIC • NORTH SIDE

Tech N9ne with Hollywood Undead, King Iso, and Jay Villain. 6 p.m. Stage AE. 400 N. Shore Drive, North Side. $42.50-85. promowestlive.com

SUN., NOV. 12 THEATER • DOWNTOWN

Kinky Boots. 1 p.m. Pittsburgh Playhouse GRW Theater. 350 Forbes Ave., Downtown. $15. playhouse.pointpark.edu

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Sound Series: The Ladybug Transistor with special guests Giant Day at The Andy Warhol Museum

MON., NOV. 13 MUSIC • DOWNTOWN

Kronos Quartet. 7:30 p.m. Pittsburgh Playhouse-PNC Theatre. 350 Forbes Ave., Downtown. $35-53. playhouse.pointpark.edu

LIT • OAKLAND

Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures presents Abraham Verghese. 7:30 p.m. Carnegie Library Lecture Hall. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. $18 online tickets. pittsburghlectures.org

TUE., NOV. 14 MUSIC • DOWNTOWN

Norside Organ Trio. 5 p.m. Greer Cabaret Theater. 655 Penn Ave., Downtown. Free. trustarts.org

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WED., NOV. 15 TALK • STRIP DISTRICT

Soil to Foil: Author Talk with Saleem Ali. 6-7:30 p.m. Heinz History Center. 1212 Smallman St., Strip District. $5-10. heinzhistorycenter.org

MUSIC • LAWRENCEVILLE

Vince Herman Band with Airshow. 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. Thunderbird Music Hall 4053 Butler St., Lawrenceville. $25. thunderbirdmusichall.com

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Betty Ann Sarek, deceased, of Pittsburgh, PA. No. 022307221 of 2023. Bonny Sarek, Ext., 1494 Greenmount Ave. 1st Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15216 PUBLIC AUCTION Extra Space Storage, on behalf of itself or its affiliates, Life Storage or Storage Express, will hold a public auction to sell the contents of leased spaces to satisfy Extra Space’s lien at the location indicated: 700 E. Carson St. on 11/15/2023 at 12:15pm. Marvin Coates unit 2009, Annika Rapp unit 3143, and Arlene Profaizer unit 4151. 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.

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IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-23-10729, In re petition of Daniel F. Wyszomierski, parent and legal guardian of Peter John Wyszomierski for change of name to Wynn O. Wyszomierski. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 6th day of December 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.

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PUBLIC AUCTION Public notice is hereby given that property placed in storage by the following persons at the following locations will be sold via public sale to satisfy Guardian Storage liens for unpaid rent and other charges. Bidding for property of persons renting space at the following locations will be held online at www.Storageauctions.com ending on November 21, 2023 at 10:00 am, and day to day thereafter until sold at which time a high bidder will be determined. 350 Old Haymaker Road, Monroeville, Pa 14146: Unit #3701 Gregory Richardson 14200 Route 30, North Huntingdon, Pa 15642: Unit #1002 Torri O’Connell, Unit #1070 Mary Jo Vallus, Unit #1121 Lynn Shields, Unit #2134 Cassandra M Johnson, Unit #3064 James Beard, Unit #3418 Michael Wing 4711 William Penn Highway, Monroeville, PA 15146: Unit #11310 Felenda Zanset. Unit #12211 Renee Ragin-Moton, Unit #12301 Regina Moton, Unit #13108 Krista Brassell, Unit #22309 Amanda Busan, Unit #22507 Kyla Parcell, Unit #22620 Keith Edmonds, Unit #23410 Anthony Tabron ll, Unit #23507 Michele Hunter 4750 William Flynn Hwy, Allison Park, Pa 15101: Unit #41204 Mark Lamping 1028 Ridge Road, Tarentum, Pa 15084: Unit #31704 Gabrael Morris, Unit #32219 Nicole Clark, Unit #32234 Brittany Swartz, Unit #32501 Yuri Grossman, Unit #32708 Shana Coleman, Unit #41514 Pam Rieger, Unit #41524 Holly Bartlett 901 Brinton Road, Pittsburgh, Pa 15221: Unit #10209 Jene Glenn, Unit #10211 Daijah Bavif, Unit #11403 Sequaia Williams, Unit #12401 Eian Kennedy, Unit #3102 Aaron Harris, Unit #3215 David Roberts, Unit #3303 Sakeina Keene. Unit #3304 Jewel Woods, Unit #51082 Aalayah Fife, Unit #7113 Shedayah Tyler. Unit #8205 Armstead Williams, Unit #9401 Nnenna Ezekoye 5873 Centre Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15206: Unit #210 Dora Griffin, Unit #5801 Demetrius Hall, Unit #8207 June Seale 2839 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222: Unit #2907 Kennieta Hatten, Unit #3208 Jamie Pollard, Unit #3803 Vikki Herald, Unit #4016 Angela Cleveland, Unit #4701 Tomas Reyes Walker, Unit #5117 David Mason, Unit #5321 Arleen Profaizer, Unit #5901 Terry Booth, Unit #5913 David Mason, Unit #6005 Caleb Williams, Unit #6502 Jimmese Glenn 750 South Millvale Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213: Unit #5613 Tamera Adjin-Tettey 1002 East Waterfront Drive, Munhall, PA 15120: Unit #1806 Asheenia Johnson, Unit #2118 Ahmed Anthony, Unit #2304 Terry Ceneah, Unit #3014 Heather Mcmahon, Unit #3212 Troy Cole, Unit #3721 Sabrina Scott, Unit #3749 Shakeeka Hopper 1300 Lebanon Church Road, West Mifflin, PA 15236: Unit #14104 Julie Arnold, Unit #32518 Catherine Penn-Ragin, Unit #42206 Guy M Bailey

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change color 53. “Pelléas et Mélisande” composer Claude 57. Whale watch spot 58. Bursting sound 59. Awkward people to find on dating apps 60. Fastmoving bathroom floor finisher? 63. Weapon with a V-shaped groove 64. Like some fails 65. Penske rival 66. Chennai crepe 67. Hit but good 68. ___ Angel (Japanese cherub figurine company)

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1. Music royalties org. 2. It’s a hands-on experience 3. Olympian’s pride 4. Interior designer’s talent 5. Lifeguard’s pride 6. Airport that is the hub for Transavia France 7. Drink served with shortbread 8. Outfit for those en pointe 9. Holes in decorative art 10. Actor Bardem 11. Allowing for some

air to come in 12. Subside 13. Laid off 18. Certain garnish 23. Pueblo Revolt tribe 25. Served well 28. Gently wash against, as the shore 29. “Now And Then” drummer 30. Bones near the fibula 31. Day after day after day ... 32. Brute in bedtime stories 33. Spa covering 34. Reason for boarded-up windows 35. Smart Justice Campaign org. 36. Swerve

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off course 40. Swerve off course 41. Mentor 43. Durability 44. Creature that carried Zeus’ thunderbolts 46. Mal de mer 47. Bleacher feature 50. Related to 55-Down 51. Bo-o-o-ring 52. As is fitting 53. Home page? 54. Event with booths 55. Members of a colony 56. “This can’t be good!” 57. Holy rollers? 61. Rapper ___ Durk 62. It’s a personal question LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS

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Product not available in all states. Contact us to see the coverage and offer available in your state. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation including costs and limitations. This specific offer is not available in CO. Call 1-800-969-4781 or respond for a similar offer. In WV: To find a provider in the network visit us at https://www. physiciansmutual.com/web/dental/find-dentist. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E); Insurance Policy P150; Rider Kinds B438/ B439. In CA, CO, ID, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, MO, NV, NJ, NC, ND, VA: Includes Participating Providers and Preventive Benefits Rider. Certificate C254/B465 (PA: C254PA); Insurance Policy P154/B469 (GA: P154GA; OK: P154OK; TN: P154TN). 6323

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER NOVEMBER 8 - 15, 2023

Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s new Ready2Ride® mobile ticketing app offers a convenient way to purchase transit passes and access other important information so that you’ll be ready to ride. Scan the QR code or call 412.442.2000 for more information.