AMANDA WALTZ
PHOTO: COURTESY OF MOONSHOT MUSEUM
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
CP PHOTO: AMANDA WALTZ
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Joe Long poses for a portrait at home.
GETTIN’ DAHN GETTIN’ DAHN
BY: KATE OCZYPOK
Joe Long wasn’t born in Pittsburgh, but you’d hardly know it. The newly-minted TikTok star was born in Huntsville, Ala. and moved to Pittsburgh at age 9. He went to Brashear High School and loved watching sketch comedy like Saturday Night Live and Mad TV as a teen. Now, he’s pursuing his own comedic endeavor that involves putting on a delightfully thick Pittsburgh accent — something you may have seen him do on social media.
INTRODUCING DON AND DEB
“I’ve always, ever since the Myspace days, made short videos with my friends, like when YouTube first came out,” Long tells Pittsburgh City Paper. More recently, though, Long is best known for his TikTok channel, @joelongtok, where his characters, Don and Deb, have gone viral in recent weeks.
Many call their back-and-forth soap opera-style story “The Yinz and the Restless.” Don is an unassuming roofer with an undying love for Deb, a woman who loves her “crahn and cokes” when out on the “tahn.” The skits often involve Don trying to get Deb to go “dahn the haus.” If you aren’t sure what that means, take a look at how Long uses the phrase in his videos, and you’ll eventually see why it’s such a big step for Deb.
“I’ve known Dons and Debs throughout my life, and they seem like such Pittsburgh names, so one day I just made a video,” Long says. “The first one was ‘ Pittsburgh relationships be like’ and I didn’t even wear a wig yet.”
Long now wears a wig for his Deb character, but while filming this first Don and Deb video, it was just him with his glasses on for Don and off for Deb.
“I was like, ‘I guess I’ll make this a thing,’” he says. “Now there are people dressing up as Deb for Halloween and carving pumpkins with my sayings on them.”
Don and Deb also frequently talk about heading “dahn the lahnge.”
Long explains that the lounge they’re referring to is a real place: the Boulevard Lounge in Brookline.
“That was my old bar back when I drank,” Long says. “I used to work in the kitchen there 15 years ago.”
Long recently visited the estab lishment, and the manager was grateful for all the newfound pub licity. “She said they had people from Youngstown, Ohio come in for Wednesday Wing Night” — typically Don’s guys night “aht” while Deb laments getting asked to attend.
Long recently did a Primanti Bros. as Don and Deb. currently has 416,000 TikTok follow ers and 23.4 million likes on his posts.
“It was always my dream ever since I was a little kid that I wanted to do something in the entertain ment industry,” he says. “I thought maybe a comedic role in a movie or something like that, but I know it’s a lofty dream—now I’m kind of think ing maybe it’s possible, you know?”
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Joe Long at home
SPEAKING OUT ON MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION STRUGGLES
Long’s road to fame was not an easy one. He has been open on his social media accounts about his struggles with mental health and addiction.
He says he was addicted to everything, “literally most of the drugs that exist.” He was what those in Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous call a “garbage can.”
Some of the first stories he would post on his TikTok were psychosis stories because Long is schizoaffective. “From 26 to 32, pretty much annually I would go into a psychosis,” he says. He was unmedicated and misdiagnosed from age 13 to 30.
“They thought I was just bipolar, but I’m actually schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, so when you don’t address the schizophrenia aspect, you know you’re not taking
“I’VE KNOWN DONS AND DEBS THROUGHOUT MY LIFE, AND THEY SEEM LIKE SUCH PITTSBURGH NAMES, SO ONE DAY I JUST MADE A VIDEO.”
“While I personally may be 100% sober, I’m an advocate for harm reduction and medically-assisted treatment,” he says. “I don’t knock anyone’s path; it’s about quality of life to me.”
the right meds,” he adds. “I needed an anti-psychotic.”
Now 37, Long is coming up on his five-year anniversary without a psychosis.
After getting his schizoaffective
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Joe Long
disorder controlled, Long struggled with agoraphobia. He says it stemmed from fear of backlash from things he said and did while in psychosis. Long was homeless for a period, including walking along the Pacific Coast Highway in California for six months.
“I was just wandering, literally sleeping in bushes and eating out of trash cans,” he says. “It gets really dark, and that’s why I take my meds. Even though I get some bad side effects, I have to take them. I’m not willing to risk it.”
One major side effect Long experiences is dystonia, a neurological disorder that can cause involuntary muscle contractions. “Your tongue twists in your mouth, your eyes roll back in your head, and it kind of looks like a seizure,” he says. “You’re totally
conscious through it and it’s very painful but I only get it in my eyes, so like, I’ll just be blind for an hour.”
Through what Long calls his bad times, he met some of what he nicknamed “Earth angels,” or people who helped him out along the way. He specifically credited House of Hagar in Wheeling, W.Va., saying without them, he would have never received his proper diagnosis.
Long, who now lives with his mother, says that during the height of his struggles with agoraphobia, he only left his house about 20 to 25 times in four-and-a-half years.
“Overcoming my agoraphobia is my proudest accomplishment,” he says. “I couldn’t even step out in front of my house.”
Long used exposure therapy to
work his way up to leaving his house for longer periods of time, visiting his grandmother who he hadn’t seen in 15 years, and then helping one of his sisters move. He was riddled with anxiety for the entire experience, he says, but still did it because it was for her.
“I mean it’s one thing if you want to be a homebody, but I’m a social person, so I was in hell. It wasn’t fun to me,” he says. “I was really struggling, which is why I started making videos.”
CELEBRATING NEWFOUND FAME
Long credits his sister with suggesting he hop on TikTok. Since then, he calls making his videos “therapeutic.” His two sisters are still encouraging him as he navigates his newfound
fame, with one buying him a celebratory 400,000 followers shrimp lo mein with some candles in it, since Long isn’t a big fan of cake.
Despite having what he calls a “lifelong identity crisis” well into his 20s, now that Pittsburgh and TikTok are fully embracing him, Long finally feels like he’s right where he’s meant to be. “For many years, I always felt like the outcast because I’m not originally from here,” he says. “I don’t usually say yinz, I say y’all.”He’s been in Pittsburgh long enough now, though, that he finds himself slipping up and saying “haus” and “dahn” in conversations.
“It made me cry when I realized I was getting so much love, that’s all I ever wanted,” he says. “It’s crazy, I still feel like I’m in a dream.” •
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Joe Long
Fantastic! Love Rebecca’s writing and this book didn’t disappoint. What’s next?
REBECCA A. MILES
Rebecca A. Miles (Stepek) was raised, educated, and established her first career in the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. From her work in Behavioral Medicine in Oncology, she became a recognized expert and presenter on grief, the grieving process, and the psychology of dealing with loss.
Throughout the successful Pittsburgh Murder Mystery trilogy, Ground Truth, Broken Glass, Locked Box, she explores the themes of love and loss, two states that she considers to be universal in human experience. As the series unfolds, her main characters are revealed to be people who are psychologically flawed, literate, funny, and often courageous in their search for the murderer.
Miles portrays deep and lasting friendships as the healing salve for the personal and public losses that are visited on the victims of crime, and especially on amateur sleuth Kate Chambers and Chief Detective Stefan Jablonsky. Her readers close the last page of each novel satisfied that Kate, Johnny, Joan, Jablonsky, Patel, and Antoine DeVille have meted out justice and continue to thrive through their collaboration and friendship.
When not writing, you will find Rebecca knee-deep in research for her next book. She enjoys introducing her readers to the well-known public spaces of Pittsburgh and to the small secret places about which only locals know. Her mystery novels are book club picks; she provides a discussion guide posted on the Torchflame Books site.
Rebecca A. Miles holds a doctorate in psychology from Duquesne University.
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
The Three Rivers Dodgeball Club meets weekly for competitive games.
“A PITTSBURGH KIND OF SPORT”
While just two years old, Three Rivers Dodgeball Club is proudly inclusive and fiercely competitive
BY: ATIYA IRVIN-MITCHELL // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
Some scholars theorize that dodgeball dates back to 19th-century Africa. The Three Rivers Dodgeball Club, however, began in 2022 when a group of enthusiasts decided there just wasn’t enough dodgeball in their lives and launched a year-round league that became a community.
When it comes to Three Rivers Dodgeball, cofounder Bill Urbanic knows that when a lot of people think of dodgeball, their minds conjure images of their elementary school days, where PE teachers allowed the most athletic students to single out their weaker peers. The Three Rivers Dodgeball Club promises a new approach to the game where inclusivity rules and every player, regardless of their skill level, is useful.
“Instead of just having teams sign
up with a captain like in other sports leagues, we work with the captains and make sure that there’s parity on the teams,” Urbanic says. “There are leaders and people that know the rules on teams, and new people on each team so that veteran players can grow as leaders and new players can grow as veterans.”
Urbanic’s love of the sport goes back to childhood, whereas Dale Thomas Vaughn, another cofounder, spent 10 years in Los Angeles helping to build up the City of Angels’ dodgeball community. What sets the sport apart from other team sports, Vaughn says, is that any player can be useful. Additionally, despite the chaos associated with balls flinging around the court, in the absence of referees, players must govern themselves.
“We say this a lot, that the court
CP PHOTOS: MARS JOHNSON
The Three Rivers Dodgeball Club meets weekly for competitive games.
reveals character and the court builds character. And the reason that we say that is because it’s an honor system,” Vaughn says. “So when you get hit by a ball, not everybody can see that you got hit by a ball. You take your own outs.”
part in the sport. There’s a group from the league that travels to take part in tournaments in other cities.
For women-identifying players, there is a monthly ladies’ night. In between the games, there’s a gaggle of community events, such as Market
“THE COURT REVEALS CHARACTER AND THE COURT BUILDS CHARACTER.”
One of the things Urbanic, Vaughn, and Three Rivers Dodgeball Club League Manager Franco Francis felt was important was that the club provide opportunities for meaningful connections outside of the game. When players aren’t on the court, they can participate in activities such as potlucks, going to Penguins games, trips to Kennywood, and even a prom night for players.
“It’s a great way to meet new people and learn new team strategies,” Francis says. “I think we do have a lot of a club aspect to it, too. It’s not just about playing the sport every Wednesday; we all hang out and talk to each other every day. And it’s a great way to make new friends.”
Within the club, there are currently 80 players participating in the game throughout the year. Since there’s no offseason, there are a variety of ways for players to take
Square matches, geared toward convincing Pittsburghers to give the game a shot.
A point of pride for the club is that in July 2024, the team participated in the 10th annual Stonewall Sports National Tournament in Minnesota and placed fifth in the U.S. (Stonewall Sports is a nonprofit sports organization for LGBTQ people and their allies). As a club, the plan is to compete again in 2025.
“I would say more than half of our community are in the LGBTQ community, so that’s an important part of our DNA,” Vaughn says. “We care about making sure that our league is not only inclusive in representation but is inclusive in style so that people have an opportunity to be all kinds of themselves on the court and off the court.”
In the way of inclusivity, Francis and Urbanic add that the club’s
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Jess Botti competes in a dodgeball match at the Rivers Club on Oct. 23, 2024.
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
leadership consciously chose a ball size that allows people with smaller hands to throw them well. Additionally, the leadership designed the play style so that multiple people are involved in every instance of the game, which requires more communication between the players — thus more inclusion in the game altogether.
Some players come to the game out of childhood nostalgia, others due to a referral from a friend, and others are just looking to meet new
people after a move. Whatever brings a player to the court, Francis, Urbanic, and Vaughn agree that the goal of playing dodgeball in the league isn’t simply crushing the other team but having fun and working together collaboratively.
“We have so much fun playing. It’s kind of a silly game, but a fun game, and it’s serious, and it reveals a lot about you,” Vaughn says. “So it’s one of those things where you want more people to play, and it’s a Pittsburgh kind of sport.”
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Brandon Suprynowicz collects dodgeballs before the start of a Three Rivers Dodgeball Club match.
PUCKER UP FOR PICKLEBACKS
We picked a peck of picklebacks being served at various Pittsburgh bars
BY: AMANDA WALTZ // AWALTZ@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
In my experience, a raucously successful night out usually reaches a point where one has to decide whether a shot is in order. This happens after a few beers or a couple of cocktails have made you want to share an experience with the friends you suddenly, effusively love so much, man!
But what to order — a bar menu might offer sweet, suggestively named selections for birthday girls and bachelorette parties, and boilermakers for the no-fuss, shot-and-beer crowd. Purists may order it straight, but where’s the fun in that?
Then there’s the pickleback. In Pittsburgh — a town nationally regarded for its annual brine-infused specialty food festival and signature Heinz pickle pins — the combo of brown liquor and pickle juice just fits. Drinkers wash down the heavy flavor of whiskey, traditionally served as part of this iconic duo, with a pleasantly sour wave of pickle juice, often giving way to a visceral reaction between disgusted and exhilarated.
However, not all picklebacks are the same — one spot might serve a straightforward version, while another might experiment with unexpected flavors. Pittsburgh City Paper took a pickleback tour of the city to see how various local bars approach this off-beat boozy treat.
Belvedere’s Ultra-Dive
4016 Butler St., Lawrenceville. belvederesultradive.com
My first pickleback came from this Lawrenceville mainstay, and I’m glad it did, because otherwise I doubt I would have continued drinking them. While I can’t remember the exact scenario, I imagine it was during a break from dancing at one of many ’80s Nights, after I’d had a few beers and wanted a little something more.
Perhaps this fond memory makes the Belvedere’s pickleback special and, for me, sets the standard for this distinctive shot. It’s a straightforward, unpretentious option combining Jameson with classic, brine-forward, locally-sourced pickle juice that still carries hints of the cucumbers from which it came. Fans of clear liquor will find it also goes well with vodka.
Butterjoint
208 N. Craig St., Oakland. butterjoint.com
Butterjoint boosts its warm, classically-styled bar area with a menu of creative and classic cocktails. Its pickleback pairs Old Grand-Dad Bonded whiskey with housemade pickle juice, providing a signature experience that doesn’t stray from the formula people know and love.
The pickle juice tastes — and I mean this in the best way — like the cellar in which it was created, resulting in an earthier, less brineforward, more nuanced creation. It doesn’t cut through the alcoholic taste of the whiskey as much as it complements it, leaving an aftertaste best described as thick and comforting. It’s not your granddad’s (wink, wink) pickleback, but it does deliver.
Commerce Bar
128 S. Highland Ave., East Liberty. instagram.com/commercebarpgh
This dark, sexy speakeasy, tucked in an alley by the back of a Goodwill, looks more likely to serve only the fanciest, most elegant cocktails in delicate glassware similar to the kind your grandmother only broke out for special occasions. Imagine my surprise when the menu featured not one, but two picklebacks, one with bourbon and one with tequila.
In truth, I expected something elevated, maybe even a smidge pretentious. Instead, I got a chilled shot straight out of the Vlassic jar. This is the camel-colored coat of picklebacks — classic, clean, and goes with everything, the best option for introducing pickleback first-timers to the magical world of liquor and brine. Try it on your next date.
CP PHOTO: AMANDA WALTZ Butterjoint pickleback
CP PHOTO: AMANDA WALTZ Belvedere's Ultra-Dive
Nothing invites pickleback consumption like partying in a former Moose Lodge, especially when the proprietors did their best to retain and incorporate the site’s laid-back, working class social club aesthetic. Spirit adds to this atmosphere with a menu of unfussy, yet innovative cocktails, beer, and various other libations, including a distinctive “quality house bourbon” and “house pickle brine.”
When describing the Spirit pickleback, the term “a lot” comes to mind. It packs a sweet, spicy, garlicky punch of flavor that often leaves me shaking my head like a baby who just tried a lemon for the first time. Even so, it chases the bourbon well, resulting in a surprisingly smooth finish.
While this pickleback may not appeal to me (I’m not crazy about garlic), anyone looking for a bold, zesty option that deviates from the usual jar juice would be remiss to not at least try it.
Tina’s
Tina’s has experienced a bit of an identity crisis in the wake of COVID, and not in a bad way — the cocktail bar has transformed somewhat, adding a bottle shop and tinned fish menu to its usual selection of bar snacks and tasty drinks.
The Tina’s beverage list extends beyond fancier options with an inexpensive tequila pickleback. However, don’t be fooled by the dainty shot glasses in which this is served — this is a spicy boy with attitude, a sassy little baby that will not be ignored. Much like Spirit’s pickleback, some may find the flavor overbearing or unpleasant, making it an acquired taste. Regardless, it matches perfectly with the tequila, and the kick of heat sets it apart from its pickleback peers. •
CP PHOTO: AMANDA WALTZ Commerce Bar pickleback
TO PITTSBURGH AND BEYOND
Few cities are as identifiable for its industry as Pittsburgh. Our reputation as a steel town is reinforced on every black and gold NFL jersey, and to many, the ’Burgh is synonymous with soot. That’s one reason visitors are surprised to find a city uite di erent from that of its gritty past.
Showcasing that dichotomy is the Moonshot Museum, an exhibition of robotics and space exploration completed in 2022. The museum is a testament to Pittsburgh’s evolution — yesterday’s metals and manufacturing parlayed into mission simulations and spaceship construction.
Taking center stage at the museum is Astrobotic, a space robotics company headquartered in Pittsburgh and founded by Carnegie Mellon professor Red Whittaker. Astobotic shares a space with the museum, and one of its labs serves as an exhibit.
The company specializes in land rovers and lunar landers, one of which is currently under construction in the museum. When this project, a lunar lander named riffin, is completed in late , the spacecraft will be the first to land on the moon’s surface since the Apollo program ended years ago. riffin will alight on the moon’s south pole with a mission to locate ice — valuable information for future landings.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF MOONSHOT MUSEUM Moonshot Museum executive director
Dr. Jimyse L. Brown
Dr. Jimyse L. Brown, who recently joined the museum as executive director, says, “This lander will play a crucial role in delivering payloads to the Moon, bolstering both scientific research and commercial ventures. The initiative does more than showcase cutting-edge aerospace technology — it enriches our educational offerings by connecting STEAM concepts with real-world applications, making the science behind space exploration tangible and exciting for all our visitors.”
especially from students and community groups, has been positive, and Brown says many express a newfound excitement for space and science. The museum’s mission is to give visitors a window into the field of space exploration, both literally and figuratively. A giant glass partition puts visitors just steps away from lunar spacecraft like Griffin that are under active assembly.
Museum exhibits also provide hands-on activities meant to engage kids growing up in a space-accessible
“WE’RE NOT ONLY SPARKING INTEREST IN SPACE EXPLORATION, BUT ALSO EDUCATING, EMPOWERING, AND INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION.”
Brown, notably, is the first Black leader of a space museum in Pennsylvania.
Since opening, the museum has seen a steady increase in attendance, says Brown. Feedback,
world. Visitors can manipulate 3D printed test models of the Cube Rover and scale rocket models, make challenging decisions that affect resuls in interactive scenarios, and design a mission patch. Exhibits are geared
toward science, technology, engineering, art, and math, or STEAM as it’s known in education circles.
Brown, who took over the director helm this summer, appreciates the impact the museum is having, especially on student visitors. “By showcasing real-time spacecraft construction and offering handson STEAM learning experiences, we’re not only sparking interest in space exploration, but also educating, empowering, and inspiring the next generation of aerospace professionals,” she says.
The museum’s total transparency in spacecraft technology is a sharp reversal from the 20-year Space Race. That period between the 1970s and the ’90s thrived on secrecy so as not to give Russian competitors the edge. Lunar landers were constructed and tested behind closed doors, making the space industry a mystery to most.
Now, visitors to the Moonshot Museum can watch engineers take
a lunar lander from idea to execution. Space technology has become accessible and relatable — at least to the Pittsburghers and others who walk through the door.
New exhibit additions are on the horizon. Brown says that next up is a limited-time exhibit, VOLT, which delves into innovative electric propulsion technologies used in space exploration. Under the NASA TEAM II Grant, the museum will also host the construction of a mobile planetarium and develop engaging virtual reality games.
Brown says it’s all part of the museum’s growth plan. “These initiatives will not only expand our exhibits but also strengthen our educational programs, allowing us to inspire and prepare more young people for careers in the space industry. These exciting developments will continue to position Moonshot Museum as a leader in space education and public engagement.” •
PHOTO: COURTESY OF MOONSHOT MUSEUM Workers at Astrobotic assemble pieces of a spacecraft.
MUSIC • STRIP
DISTRICT
Calliope House presents Alison Brown 7:30 p.m. Doors at 6:30 p.m. The Original Pittsburgh Winery. 2809 Penn Ave., Strip District. $45. calliopehouse.org
IN PITTSBURGH
THU., NOV. 14
LIT • OAKLAND
Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures presents Lauren Tarshis. 6 p.m. Carnegie Library Lecture Hall. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. Free. Registration required. Livestream available. pittsburghlectures.org
GAMES • SOUTH SIDE
Monthly Pinball Tournaments. 7 p.m. Sly Fox Brewing Co. 46 S. Fourth St., South Side. Free. slyfoxbeer.com/pittsburgh-highline
THEATER • TBA
Vigilance Theater Group presents 4.48 Psychosis 8 p.m. Continues through Sun., Nov. 24. Location revealed to ticket holders upon purchase. $40. vigilancetheater.com/projects
COMEDY •
DOWNTOWN
The career of comedic actress Amy Sedaris ranges from pushing the boundaries of bad taste with her role on Strangers with Candy to mocking wifey lifestyle influencers with her tongue-in-cheek takes on party planning and entertaining. See her work at Byham Theater
during a live moderated show that promises a generous helping of her “razor-sharp humor and unforgettable charm.” 7:30 p.m. 101 Sixth St., Downtown. $45-70, $125 for VIP meet-andgreet. trustarts.org
FRI., NOV. 15
ART • LAWRENCEVILLE
Contemporary Craft 12-hour Weave-a-Thon. Open to the public 12-9 p.m. Contemporary Craft. 5645 Butler St., Lawrenceville. Free. contemporarycraft.org
HOLIDAY • HIGHLAND PARK
Wild Illuminations: A Holiday Lantern Experience 5:30-10 p.m. Continues through Jan. 12, 2025. Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium. One Wild Pl., Highland Park. $21-34, free for kids under 2. pittsburghzoo.org
PARTY • OAKLAND
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens ushers in the holiday season with a gala showcasing its many horticultural wonders. An Enchanted Winter’s Eve invites guests to marvel at
THUR., NOV. 14
the amaryllis, orchids, and poinsettias in the latest Phipps Holiday Magic flower show, and see the unveiling of the newly-restored, illuminated glasshouses. Festivities include live music, ice sculpture carving, champagne, and more. 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. One Schenley Park, Oakland. Tickets start at $125. phipps.conservatory.org
MUSIC • UPTOWN
Dave Matthews Band 7:30 p.m. PPG Paints Arena. 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown. Tickets start at $47. ppgpaintsarena.com
DANCE • LAWRENCEVILLE
Attack Theatre presents Locating Lucidity. 7:30 p.m. Continues through Sun., Nov. 17. Attack Theatre Studios. 212 45th St., Lawrenceville. $25-65. attacktheatre.com
THEATER • MIDLAND
Oliver! Jr. 7:30 p.m. Continues through Sun., Nov. 24. Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center. One Lincoln Park, Midland. All ages. $18-25. lincolnparkarts.org
MUSIC • SOUTH SIDE
Finom and meg elsier 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. Club Cafe. 56-58 South 12th St., South Side. $15. ticketweb.com
DANCE • DOWNTOWN
Texture Choreography Project. 8 p.m. Greer Cabaret Theater. 655 Penn Ave., Downtown. $35.50. trustarts.org
SAT., NOV. 16
FAIR • HAZELWOOD
Holiday Family Portrait Fair 2-4 p.m. Propel School of Hazelwood. 5401 Glenwood Ave., Hazelwood. Free. Registration required. hazelwoodlocal.com
MUSIC • MCKEES ROCKS
Fit for an Autopsy, Bodysnatcher, Distant, and Judiciary. 5:30 p.m. Roxian Theatre. 425 Chartiers Ave., McKees Rocks. Tickets start at $29. roxiantheatre.com/shows
NOV. 15
NOV.FRI.,15
PHOTO: PHIL CARUSO Amy Sedaris at Byham Theater
PHOTO: SANJAY SUCHAK Dave Matthews Band at PPG Paints Arena
MUSIC • DOWNTOWN
PSO Disrupt: Walk on the Wild Side 6:45 p.m. Heinz Hall. 600 Penn Ave., Downtown. $25-50. pittsburghsymphony.org
DANCE • DOWNTOWN
Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan presents 13 Tongues 7:30 p.m. Byham Theater. 101 Sixth St., Downtown. $20-79. trustarts.org
PARTY • ALLENTOWN
Return to the days of corsages and awkward slow dances when Bottlerocket Social Hall hosts its Homecoming Dance. The event honors school dances past, with five decades of music spunby some of Pittsburgh’s best DJs. The night kicks o with 1960s tunes by MB, followed by Dini Daddy hustling into the 1970s, RodeoStarr handling the 1980s, Rojo rocking the 1990s, and MARZ taking the party into the 21st century. Dress in your best formal wear and enjoy a night of throwback fun. 8 p.m. Doors at 5 p.m. 1226 Arlington Ave., Allentown. $10. bottlerocketpgh.com
DANCE/FASHION • POINT BREEZE
Mad Recital and slowdanger present the Mad Recital Spring/Summer 2025 Presentation 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m.
The Space Upstairs. 214 N. Lexington St., Point Breeze. $5-15. thespaceupstairs.org/special-events
SUN., NOV. 17
242 51st St., Lawrenceville. Free. scribblehousepgh.com/litfest
DRAG • LAWRENCEVILLE
Star Crossed Drag Show with Aja of RuPaul’s Drag Race. 9 p.m. Belvederes Ultra-Dive. 4016 Butler St., Lawrenceville. $10. belvederesultradive.com
MON., NOV. 18
CONVENTION • DOWNTOWN
Scenic America Scenic Symposium 9 a.m. Continue through Wed., Nov. 20. Drury Plaza Hotel Pittsburgh. 745 Grant St., Downtown. $99-229. scenic.org
TUE., NOV. 19
THEATER • DOWNTOWN
MJ The Musical 7:30 p.m. Continues through Sun., Dec. 1. Benedum Center. Seventh St. and Penn Ave., Downtown. $49-139. trustarts.org
MUSIC • MUNHALL
Dawes: Oh Brother Tour with Winnetka Bowling League. 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall. 510 East 10th Ave., Munhall. $39.75-69.75. librarymusichall.com
WED.,
NOV. 20
MUSIC • STRIP DISTRICT
Chris Knight with Mic Harrison 7:30 p.m.
Doors at 6 p.m. City Winery. 1627 Smallman St., Strip District. $25-40. citywinery.com
ADVERTISING MANAGER
JOB DESCRIPTION
• The Advertising Manager is responsible for selling advertising to credible advertisers and maximizing the performance of the sales team. This role leads the sales team, gathers and analyzes competitive market conditions, and creatively utilizes inventory to achieve sales growth.
• The Advertising Manager oversees hiring, training, performance management, budgeting, and sales accountability systems for the sales and marketing team.
• In partnership with the Editor in Chief, the Advertising Manager develops, implements, and manages marketing tactics for the City Paper’s print edition, website, and social media platforms.
• The Advertising Manager oversees the creation of the City Paper’s brand tone of voice, increasing brand awareness, generating demand, and increasing customer loyalty.
• The Advertising Manager reports directly to the President of the Pittsburgh City Paper.
• Direct reports include sales representatives, account executives, digital coordinators, and marketing coordinators.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
The Advertising Manager is accountable for:
• Setting annual budgets for the individual sales representatives to exceed department goals.
• Ensuring performance standards for all sales personnel are defined, communicated and met.
• Managing inventory, including setting rates, maintaining rate cards, and packaging promotions.
• Account management, including making joint calls, monitoring key account activity, quarterly account reviews of lists, monthly projection reviews and reading weekly contact management reports.
• Managing the development and execution of City Paper events.
• Updating the City Paper media kit and designing it in a way that is attractive to potential advertisers.
• Managing and designing campaigns to help promote City Paper to current and potential readers, focusing on using City Paper products and trade advertising.
• Encouraging and enforcing employee engagement, leadership skills, and above-average job performance within the department.
• Developing and enforcing departmental practices and procedures as they pertain to sales and marketing.
• Creating and maintaining sales incentive programs such as new business, sales bonuses, contests, team building initiatives, etc.
• Conducting weekly sales meetings.
• Following and enforcing all Company policies and procedures, including the EEO and safety guidelines, at all times.
• Performing any miscellaneous departmental duties as needed.
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration or another related field – required
• 2 years media sales experience in the same or similar medium – required
• Experience managing people - required
JOB TYPE
• Full-time
PHOTO: LIU CHENHS Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan at Byham Theater
ESTATE NOTICE
ESTATE OF CRISANTI, VINCENT, A, DECEASED, OF PITTSBURGH, PA No. 022406591 of 2024. Caren Grau and James Crisanti Extrs. 116 Springbrooke Drive, Venetia, PA, 15367 Or to Caren Grau Attorney 116 Springbrooke Drive, Venetia, PA, 15367
PUBLIC AUCTION
Extra Space Storage, on behalf of itself or its a iliates, Life Storage or Storage Express, will hold a public auction to sell the contents of leased spaces to satisfy Extra Space’s lien at the location indicated: 700 E Carson St, Pittsburgh, PA 15203. November 20, 2024 at 12:15 PM. 2150 Lamar Copeland. The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures.com.
Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction.
Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.
FINANCIAL
MARKET PLACE
Struggling With Your Private Student Loan Payment?
New relief programs can reduce your payments. Learn your options. Good credit not necessary. Call the Helpline 888-670-5631 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm Eastern) (AAN CAN)
STUDY SMOKERS WANTED
The University of Pittsburgh’s Alcohol & Smoking Research Lab is looking for people to participate in a research project. You must:
• Currently smoke cigarettes
• Be 18-49 years old, in good health, and speak fluent English
• Be right handed, willing to not smoke before two sessions, and to fill out questionnaires
Earn up to $260 for participating in this study.
For more information, call (412) 407-5029
Now Hiring
Let Pittsburgh City Paper help you hire! Every month, over 400,000 people visit pghcitypaper.com for news, entertainment, and job listings.
New jobs are posted every Sunday online and in our Tuesday City Pigeon e-newsletter.
Contact T’yanna McIntyre at tmcintyre@pghcitypaper.com to advertise your job listing in City Paper.
APARTMENTS FOR RENT IN PITTSBURGH
For more information on the available properties and locations, please contact us at 412-626-6111.
SIDE CONNECTIONS
ACROSS
1. Dietitian’s creation
5. Girl with a ball
8. 2024 Gary Hustwit documentary about musician Brian
11. Ireland in poetry
12. Band of fighters
14. Genre for Babymetal and Arashi
15. With 17-Across, one’s sweetheart
17. See 15-Across 18. Mexican fritters
19. One with a lot of chops?
21. Abounding
22. Pachinko author Min Jin ___
23. Word with cucumber or biscuit
24. With 27-Across, Markings on some topographical maps signifying electation
27.
See 24-Across
29. Persian Gulf fed.
30. 10-Down by Handel
34. Model Hilary
37. Person without a party: Abbr.
38. “Sylvester and the Magic Pebble” author William
39. Vehicle that goes over sand
41. Genetic inits.
42. With 43-Across, Economist with an
eponymous curve in supply-side economics
43. See 42-Across
46. Big D sch.
49. Oz., gal., or pt.
50. Backyard ultra, e.g.
51. Organic food label
53. “Don’t miss it”
56. Ski resort near Snowbird
57. Secret hookup, or an explanation to this puzzle’s theme
60. Fall on one’s face
61. Every movie has one
62. Depeche ___ (Rock & Roll Hall of Famers)
63. Forwarded address that is used by the answers at 15-, 24- and 42-Across 64. Classic Christmas dinner
65. Website with a “Craft Supplies & Tools” section
DOWN
1. Brooks of comedy
2. Actor McCormack
3. Shortly
4. Without a scratch
5. Platoon star Willem
6. Ice cream name
7. Close male friend
8. Big stories
9. Like some checking accounts
10. Production at La Scala
12. Greek island south of Albania
13. Comic Levy
14. Singer with the 2024 bomb “This Is Me... Now”
16. Small combo
20. TikTok on Facebook
22. Watergate figure G. Gordon ___
24. Poutine part
25. Most populous Hawaiian island
26. Gas in advertising
27. Head of Ukraine?
28. Take a chair
30. 100% correct
31. Big name
in blasters
32. Have supper
33. Gelling agent
35. Mule busting org.
36. The “A” in James A. Garfield
40. Maximum
43. Hanukkah pancake
44. Pained all over
45. “Ya dig?”
46. Big problem
47. Wisdom tooth, e.g.
48. Just before
50. Westeros or Narnia
52. She shed visitor
53. Buggy software build
54. Donnybrook
55. Wraps things up
58. Clinical trials org.
59. Necessity for an opening act?
LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS
Many Americans are fortunate to have dental coverage for their entire working life, throughemployer-provided benefits. When those benefits end with retirement, paying dental bills out-of-pocket can come as a shock, leading people to put off or even go without care.
Simply put — without dental insurance, there may be an important gap in your healthcare coverage.
When you’re comparing plans ...
Look for coverage that helps pay for major services. Some plans may limit the number of procedures — or pay for preventive care only.
Look for coverage with no deductibles. Some plans may require you to pay hundreds out of pocket before benefits are paid.
Shop for coverage with no annual maximum on cash benefits. Some plans have annual maximums of $1,000.
Medicare doesn’t pay for dental care.1
That’s right. As good as Medicare is, it was never meant to cover everything. That means if you want protection, you need to purchase individual insurance.
Early detection can prevent small problems from becoming expensive ones.
The best way to prevent large dental bills is preventive care. The American Dental Association recommends checkups twice a year.
Previous dental work can wear out.
Even if you’ve had quality dental work in the past, you shouldn’t take your dental health for granted. In fact, your odds of having a dental problem only go up as you age.2
Treatment is expensive — especially the services people over 50 often need.
Consider these national average costs of treatment ... $222 for a checkup ... $190 for a filling ... $1,213 for a crown.3 Unexpected bills like this can be a real burden, especially if you’re on a fixed income.
