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PLOV IN PITTSBURGH
A local boom in Uzbek restaurants reflects the vibrance of this community of recent arrivals
BY: COLIN WILLIAMS
RACHEL WILKINSON
PHOTO: COURTESY OF JEANNE MARIE LASKAS
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
PHOTO: COURTESY OF BURGATORY
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CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Chaykhana is o ering up traditional Uzbek cuisine including samsas, plov and labneh.
PLOV IN PITTSBURGH
A boom in Uzbek restaurants reflects the vibrance of this growing local community
BY: COLIN WILLIAMS // CWILLIAMS@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
Approximately 6,500 miles separate Pittsburgh from Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. The millennia-old Central Asian city is far older and larger than Pittsburgh and sits at the midpoint of the ancient Silk Road. Tashkent’s population has swelled as young Uzbeks leave the countryside searching for opportunities. The economic factors causing this internal change — such as poor working conditions in Uzbekistan’s important cotton industry, environmental degradation of the Aral Sea, and repressive politics — have also seen millions of Uzbeks move abroad for work.
Some 60,000 made their way to the United States, and, according to one estimate, just over 600 Uzbeks now live in Greater Pittsburgh, although the actual number could be as high as 4,000. Locals on Reddit have noticed , praising their Uzbek neighbors and observing that many seemed to work in truck driving and rideshare. Other Uzbek Pittsburghers have found work in the city’s medical industry. At least one community organization, the Uzbek Association of Pittsburgh, has emerged to meet this population’s needs. ( Pittsburgh City Paper reached out to the UAP for more information, but an email went unanswered and a listed phone number appeared to be out of service.)
The community has become much more visible in recent years through the proliferation of Uzbek restaurants. Localwriteups have raised these restaurants’ profiles, as have hilarious social media posts extolling the virtues of Uzbek pilaf (or plov). If the number of Uzbek eateries — City Paper counted at least six — is any indication, Uzbek Pittsburghers are in it for the long haul.
PITTSBURGHA XUSH KELIBSIZ
At many local Uzbek restaurants, TVs play looping promos and documentaries showing Uzbekistan’s rugged countryside, scenes of plov being tossed in gigantic woks, and sweeping views of the country’s World Heritage Sites including Bukhara and Samarkand. Customers vary, from Uzbek families to single men watching Uzbek TV on their smartphones, to Pittsburghers curious to try new food.
Takhmina Umaralieva arrived with family in Pittsburgh over a decade ago. “We were fortunate — our daughter and her husband, who had been living in Pittsburgh for several years, supported us,” she tells CP.
Umaralieva owns Kavsar Restaurant, a Mt. Washington institution that, in 2012, was the first local restaurant to put Uzbek cuisine front and center. “When we arrived in Pittsburgh, we noticed that there were no Uzbek restaurants,” she says. “We had experience in the restaurant business since 1994 in Uzbekistan and brought this expertise with us.”
Umaralieva says adapting to the local language and culture was
“WHAT BEGAN AS A SMALL FAMILY PROJECT HAS GROWN INTO A PLACE WHERE EVERY GUEST CAN FEEL THE WARMTH OF EASTERN HOSPITALITY.”
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Chaykhana
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Chaykhana's samsas, plov and labneh
challenging, but acknowledges the support system that has aided her and others in her community.
“Some cultural centers assist with adaptation and education, and there are groups that help with housing, employment, and language learning,” she says. “The Uzbek community also strives to support each other by hosting events to preserve traditions and help new members settle in.” Kavsar has a private events hall for such occasions.
An overwhelming proportion of the Uzbek population practices Sunni Islam. Meeting the demand for houses of worship locally are mosques such as the Pittsburgh Islamic Center in Oakland and the Attawheed Islamic Center in Carnegie. The latter, a masjid housed in a historic stone church, recently acquired several neighboring buildings to meet growing demand.
More generally, Uzbeks value hospitality and the country has a long history of literary, musical, and scientific innovation. Some helpful phrases should you want to impress your Uzbek neighbors: “salom” is “hello,” “rahmat” is “thank you,” and “Pittsburgha xush kelibsiz” means “welcome to Pittsburgh”).
Uzbek cuisine reflects the country’s Silk Road heritage — the ancient network was plied by Mediterranean, Eastern European, Arab, Persian, Indian, and Chinese tradespeople, pilgrims, warlords, and diplomats, and Uzbek cuisine derives from each of these culinary traditions.
That means hearty pelmeni (dumpling) soups as you’d find in Russia, fragrant meat dishes with Middle Eastern spices, hand-pulled noodles with elements of East Asian cuisine, samsa pasties that combine elements of Indian samosas with flaky white pastry dough, and, of course, Uzbekistan’s traditional plov
rice pilaf dish. Notably, kebab dishes are not indigenous to the country.
“While kebabs are often associated with Uzbek cuisine, they are actually common in many cultures, including Georgian, Turkish, and others,” Umaralieva says. “We focus on authentic Uzbek dishes that reflect true home-cooked traditions.”
In a relatively cold, arid country, it makes sense that much of Uzbek cuisine is served piping hot. This also makes it ideal for Pittsburgh diners braving our long, gray winter.
PIZZA OR PLOV?
Pittsburgh has long absorbed new dishes from immigrant groups. The humble pierogi came here with Polish and other Eastern European migrants, and the ’Burgh has a long pasta tradition through waves of Italian émigrés. More recently, Squirrel Hill has become a mecca for pan-Asian cuisine and made noodles.
Could plov be the next Pittsburgh food phenomenon?
Pilaf initially spread from Central Asia, including what’s now Uzbekistan, throughout much of the ancient world. Local varieties in Spain and India respectively evolved into paella and biryani. In Uzbekistan, plov remains simple in execution — steamed rice, meat, and/or vegeta bles served together — but complex in flavor and tender in texture.
The televisions in Chaykhana and other spots show clips of Uzbeks preparing the dish using mountains of rice and whole sides of meat. In many, the cooks cover the rice in wide metal serving trays to trap steam.
Chaykhana, which took over the Pizza Bella Monte storefront in the West End Village, went modestly viral for an Instagram Reel favorably comparing plov to pizza.
As for other dishes, CP staff
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Caravan on Smithfield St. offers up traditional Uzbek cuisine
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Caravan on Smithfield St. offers up traditional Uzbek cuisine
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Caravan on Smithfield St. downtown Pittsburgh
sampled multiple lagman dishes with hand-pulled noodles, hearty beef juvava soup with tomato flavors, lamb soup, several varieties of spongy bread and samsa, creamy labneh dip, and plov. These menu items appear at most of the city’s Uzbek spots, several of which opened within the past year. (CP’s lone critique of the city’s Uzbek offerings: options for vegetarians were sometimes limited.)
Beyond Chaykhana and Kavsar, the Caravan restaurant near CP’s offices serves many Uzbek mainstays. Piyola in Mt. Lebanon has received rave reviews from diners. House of Shish Kebabs in Spring Garden serves Uzbek and other Middle Eastern fare. Pizza Bari in Downtown features a full Uzbek menu for folks dining in, while
still serving a wide variety of Italian and Mediterranean classics. All reflect a growing demand for the balanced flavors, zesty flavor profile, and hospitable atmosphere these restaurants offer. (CP found Chaykhana busy, and Kavsar has continued to do significant takeout sales.)
“Over time, we realized that this city is open to different cultures and traditions, which inspired us to bring a piece of Uzbekistan here,” Kavsar owner, Takhmina Umaralieva, says.
“What began as a small family project has grown into a place where every guest can feel the warmth of Eastern hospitality … We are proud to be part of Pittsburgh’s diverse cultural landscape, sharing the traditions of our homeland with the local community.” •
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Chaykhana Uzbek cuisine
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Peter Mudge, aka Nice Rec
BEHIND THE BEATS
Peter Mudge, aka Nice Rec, has quietly produced music featured on hip-hop albums, HBO
BY: JORDAN SNOWDEN // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
shows, and major films
Despite Pittsburgh producer Peter Mudge’s preference to remain out of the limelight, his contributions are that of dreams, holding credits on tracks from national acts like Wiz Khalifa, the late Mac Miller, and J.I.D, as well as local talents including Cam Chambers , Mars Jackson, and Pk Delay.
Mudge, who works under the moniker Nice Rec, embodies a hidden yet vital thread in the music industry: an artist whose career has unfolded without much fanfare, yet still echoes through the rhythmic landscapes of acclaimed hip hop and beyond, including in soundtracks for hit films and television series.
His unique musical journey started like that of many adolescents enthralled in the vibrant culture of late ’90s rap, R&B, and East Coast hip hop. Inspired by artists like The Notorious B.I.G. and Nas — “I think the first CD I ever bought was The Chronic,” Mudge tells Pittsburgh City Paper — he obtained and taught himself to use a set of turntables and records.
“I was exploring all the different things in hip hop as I was becoming a teenager,” says Mudge. “I tried out doing graffiti and breakdancing and rapping a little, which I’m sure is embarrassing now, but I settled in on DJing and was like, ‘Oh, yeah. This is my thing.’”
The allure of DJ culture captivated him, leading him to dive headfirst into the scene despite lacking formal training. In his later teens, while attending the University of Pittsburgh, Mudge started experimenting with beat-making. Using a pirated version of FruityLoops, a music mixing software now known as FL Studio, he began crafting beats from sampled materials.
Mudge adopted a hands-on approach, often teaching himself using chord charts and the guidance of friends who had more experience. His collection of vintage keyboards and synthesizers grew as he honed his skills, expanding his capacity to create and manipulate sounds. His
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Peter Mudge, aka Nice Rec
connections in the local music scene also grew, and the relationships he formed during these years significantly evolved his approach to music composition.
Mudge, who, initially, adhered to a “do-it-alone” philosophy, embraced the idea of working with others, a shift that allowed him to explore new opportunities, including the creation of song fragments for other producers rather than constructing an entire song himself. Mudge became known for his ability to craft infectious loops and samples that would provide a springboard for other artists.
“Once I let go of the mentality of, I’m gonna do it all, no help, to being like, you know what? I’m gonna make short song ideas that are a minute long with the whole purpose being
that it’s unfinished to give to other producers to finish them if they like them,” Mudge explains. “That really started to present a lot of the opportunities and songs that are some of the bigger songs that I’ve been a part of.”
album, O.N.I.F.C .
“It ended up being a two-part song, so it was two different beats, and I made an interlude for those two beats,” says Mudge. “I’ve been making music for a long time before that, but that was the first song I had
“I TRIED OUT DOING GRAFFITI AND BREAKDANCING AND RAPPING A LITTLE, WHICH I’M SURE IS EMBARRASSING NOW, BUT I SETTLED IN ON DJING AND WAS LIKE, ‘OH, YEAH. THIS IS THIS IS MY THING.’”
Mudge credits peers like DJ Bonix and Pittsburgh-based producer/engineer E. Dan, the founder of ID Labs in Etna, for helping him land his first credit on “No Limit,” a track on Wiz Khalifa’s fourth studio
on a major label album.”
Since then, Mudge has established relationships with a worldwide network of artists, either through mutual acquaintances like the Pittsburgh-to-Atlanta transplant
producer Christo or through the use of communal studio spaces. The latter is how Mudge came to produce one of his more notable contributions on Mac Miller’s 2018 album Swimming. It was through E. Dan that Miller and Mudge were able to connect. E. Dan knew that the two shared an interest in blending hip hop with more electronic, house-leaning elements like synthesizers and keyboards. So when Miller visited I.D. Labs, where Mudge has a basement studio space, E. Dan suggested the two should meet.
“[Miller] would once in a while work on stuff there, making beats basically,” Mudge explains. “Then, when Swimming was happening, for reasons I don’t really understand or know, [Miller] decided to have me
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Peter Mudge in his Etna studio
more involved. That was super cool and exciting.”
Mudge recalls the satisfaction of adding dynamic synthesizer lines and background vocals to two tracks on Swimming, “Self Care” and “Ladders.”
“I would have never predicted all the stuff that happened around the run of things I had in 2018 to 2021,” Mudge says. “I didn’t think of anything as it was happening, that a couple of
those songs would become people’s favorite songs from those artists.”
“151 Rum,” a J.I.D. track that has been featured in the hit HBO show Euphoria and the 2024 film Monkey Man , is another track that came to fruition during that period. It was created alongside Christo at a house in L.A. that was being rented for J.I.D. and Earth Gang. At the time, while visiting L.A. with hopes of working
with Miller, Mudge accepted an invitation from Christo to come by the Hills rental. “I went to the house, and we just made the beat for [“151 Rum”], in person, on the spot, while J.I.D., Earth Gang, and whoever else were just hanging out,” says Mudge.
Not limited to high-profile artists, Mudge frequently works with independent Pittsburgh musicians, producing entire albums for
emerging talents like Mars Jackson and Cam Chambers.
In 2021, he released the instrumental album Drink the Blue Sky , and his forthcoming project, Eye Presser , promises to deliver an immersive experience inspired by visual imagery.
Looking ahead, Mudge teases upcoming collaborations with Pittsburgh artists like My Favorite Color. He also describes working on a unique folk album with musician Jessica Pratt, showcasing his versatility and willingness to explore beyond an established genre.
But beyond his professional aspirations, Mudge hopes to inspire the next generation of musicians. He encourages young artists to embrace their ideas and resist the urge to compare themselves to others.
As Mudge continues to carve out his niche in the music world, he emphasizes the importance of patience, persistence, and collaboration. For him, every sound contributes to an evolving narrative — one that intertwines creativity, connection, and the wonderfully chaotic essence of making music. It’s not just about creating tracks; it’s about building a community where inspiration can flourish and new ideas can take root.
Mudge represents not only the heart of Pittsburgh’s musical landscape but also the unyielding spirit of artists who dare to push boundaries and share their voices with the world. •
CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON
Peter Mudge, aka Nice Rec, poses for a portrait in Etna.
GOBBLE GOBBLE
The weirdest, most over-the-top Thanksgiving foods Pittsburghers love
BY: RACHEL WILKINSON // RWILKINSON@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
Pittsburgh has no dearth of options when it comes to ordering out for Thanksgiving, from meal kit pre-orders to full-on sit-down holiday feasts. But the region’s love for Thanksgiving cuisine seems to extend beyond the day itself, spawning themed foods that return each November. Maybe it’s the first cold snap or some sort of holiday spirit taking hold, but something inspires Pittsburghers to pile Turkey Day staples onto every entree — calories or higherend dining be damned. These over-the-top dishes manage to incorporate ice cream, hot dogs, and the O.G. burrito, alongside the traditional turkey, gravy, and cranberry. Pittsburgh City Paper compiled the region’s most unique, beloved, and borderline unholy Thanksgiving foods.
GETGO PILGRIM SUB GETGOCAFE.COM
Every November, GetGo’s Pilgrim sub returns to its cafes with fanfare. The “specialty food creation” is far from puritanical, claiming in a press release to “combine all the delicious flavors of Thanksgiving dinner on one sub.” Though not as large as it appears on billboards, the stacked sandwich drips with gravy and features sliced turkey breast and white cheddar cheese piled on a “secret-recipe” stuffing bread (“the stuffing of legends,” jokes GetGo’s website). Customers can order it with cranberry sauce or add tater tots for a “Pilgrim Fully-Loaded experience.”
GetGo touts the Pilgrim as its “most popular and exclusive seasonal item.” We’re inclined to believe them, with Pittsburghers swearing they’ll change their lunch hour or plan their own pilgrimage to get their hands on it.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF BASKIN-ROBBINS Brie My Guest ice cream
PHOTO: COURTESY OF GETGO Pilgrim Sub at GetGo
GOBBLERITO AT MAD MEX MADMEX.COM
The Thanksgiving-themed food craze arguably originated with the Gobblerito, Mad Mex’s seasonal burrito. The decadent burrito — said to have a cult following — attempts to serve an entire Thanksgiving dinner in a tortilla, wrapping up houseroasted turkey, black bean mashed potatoes, stuffing, and corn, then dousing them with gravy and adding a side of cranberry sauce. TribLive reported that this year’s Gobblerito clocks in at about 1,500 calories, and if that’s not enough, you can order a six-pack of them for take-and-bake.
Matt Glick, regional manager for the big Burrito Restaurant Group chain, invented the Gobblerito 18 years ago, and it comes to the region by way of Philly. After a night out drinking in 2006, Glick and friends stopped in a diner and ordered a turkey dinner.
“As I was sitting there,” he recounted in 2018, “I said, ‘This would make a great burrito.’” The Gobblerito debuted at Mad Mex’s now-closed Oakland restaurant, and the chain sells about 50,000 of them each year.
The dish’s maximalism is by design, Glick explained, and part of the beauty of it being a burrito is that “when you fold it up, you get a little bit of everything in each bite.”
CP PHOTO: JOIE KNOUSE
Mad Mex’s Gobblerito
The traditional Thanksgiving menu was reportedly built around foods easily found in the Americas, like domesticated turkeys. But Burgatory asks, what better food to bring the holiday to its final form than a hamburger? The burger bar has been offering an “epic” Thanksgiving Burger since it opened its first location in the Waterworks Mall in 2011. The creation stacks a turkey burger, farmhouse cheddar, mashed potatoes, corn gravy, stuffing bread pudding (made with heavy cream and eggs), and cranberry jam on a brioche bun. Guests can simulate an entire Thanksgiving meal by adding the specialty burger’s longtime companion, a pumpkin pie milkshake, which blends vanilla ice cream, pumpkin pie, and graham crackers, then slathers on whipped cream and caramel sauce. (This year, $1 from each shake sold supports the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.)
Burgatory tells City Paper that the restaurant prides itself on “every component of the Thanksgiving Burger [being] scratch made,” meaning “there just happen to be hundreds of steps to make this specific special.” In 14 years, the burger’s recipe has only been modified once, adding green beans and cornbread stuffing, but the chain “heard [its] fans loud and clear” when they demanded the original back.
“After all, Thanksgiving is all about tradition!” Burgatory says.
D’S FRANKSGIVING
A Thanksgiving burger necessitates a Thanksgiving hot dog, and D’s Six Pax & Dogz has answered the call. The restaurant — recently awarded Best Hot Dog in CP’s Best of PGH Readers’ Poll — brought back the fan-favorite Franksgiving Dog as its special dog of the month. The Franksgiving Dog heaps mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn, and gravy on a turkey hot dog along with an obligatory side of cranberry sauce. It can also be ordered as a veggie dog.
D’s executive chef Corey Flesse told Local Pittsburgh that the restaurant aimed to create “a seasonal dog that encompassed all the feelings of what it’s like to be at grandma’s house on Thanksgiving.”
Apparently, the nostalgic approach worked — the Franksgiving Dog inspired more special dogs of the month and became a number-one seller.
When asked how many calories are in the dog, Fleese replied, “about, a lot,” advising “not to plan on keeping true to your diet” when stopping by D’s. “This is heart attack food at its finest.”
Still, he says, the turkey-based Franksgiving Dog has less fat than D's usual beef dog, and you shouldn’t feel guilty pairing it with a pumpkin beer or a brown ale to get the best of the season.
TURKEY CAKE AND BRIE ICE CREAM
BASKINROBBINS.COM
CP has previously declared our love and unease at one of the weirdest Thanksgiving food creations, the Baskin-Robbins Turkey Cake. For the uninitiated, the Thanksgiving-themed ice cream cake is not a cutesy cartoon turkey, but closer to an AI-generated image of a roasted bird. The uncanny confection is made by covering an ice cream flavor of your choice with a caramel praline glaze, then sticking in sugar cones for turkey legs.
This year, Baskin-Robbins takes things to a new level by unveiling a “cheeseboard-inspired” flavor of the month, Brie My Guest.
“Ice cream lovers won’t brie-lieve that so much deliciousness could fit into each pink spoon ful!” a company press release reads.
Did you know that you needed a brie-and-burrata-flavored ice cream topped with almonds and pistachio pieces to approximate a holiday charcuterie board? Baskin-Robbins did, and they’ve even added apricot swirls to give “a pop of tangy sweetness.” With the addition of a brie ice cream appetizer, those who are dessert-inclined can now create a holiday dinner table made almost entirely of ice cream, transcending even the most hybrid Thanksgiving foods.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF BURGATORY Thanksgiving Burger and Pumpkin Pie Shake at Burgatory
PHOTO: COURTESY OF D'S SIX PACKS AND DOGZ Franksgiving Dog
PHOTO: COURTESY OF BASKIN-ROBBINS Turkey Cake from Baskin-Robbins
Feeling Nostalgic?
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.
DISPATCHES FROM DONORA
A former Donora resident gives his take on Cement City, a lovingly produced podcast about his hometown.
BY: MATT PETRAS // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
As I listened to the Cement City podcast , a documentary-style snapshot of modern life in Donora, I couldn’t help but fantasize about talking to the podcast duo about my experiences growing up in the Mon Valley borough. When I met with Cement City creators Jeanne Marie Laskas and Erin Anderson, I broke the ice by showing them the only Donora artifact I could find in my apartment — a poetry book I made as a fourth grader at Donora Elementary Center.
POEMS I KNOW YOU’LL LOVE! immediately captivated them. Laskas, who began looking at it first, implored Anderson to read the poem “I Do Not Understand,” which includes such lines as “I do not understand why my haircuts are so long” and “I do not understand why brains think different.”
Their reaction points to what makes the recently concluded Cement City podcast so captivating as an earnest look at a year in a town known primarily for its tragic past.
“We fell in love immediately,” Laskas says of Donora.
Laskas, the best-selling author behind To Obama: With Love, Joy, Anger and Hope and Concussion, and Anderson, an audio storyteller whose projects have aired on Serendipity and UnFictional, met while working for the University of Pittsburgh’s English department. The two cowrote Cement City — Laskas hosted, and Anderson produced — and Michael Benoist, the deputy editor for The New York Times podcast The Daily, served as editor. The show was released in 10 roughly one-hour-long episodes from September through November as an Audacy Original.
Their first visit to Donora several years ago came out of pure curiosity and a question: what’s the story behind this town so many people pass but never visit? They also wanted to examine a part of the Rust Belt following the first election of Donald Trump.
PHOTO: JEANNE MARIE LASKAS
A deli in Donora, the subject of the Cement City podcast
They soon learned that Donora, a 1948 smog-related tragedy that killed 20 residents and hospitalized thousands of others, fell into economic despair and had little to offer its fewer than 5,000 residents after the industry that created the environmental catastrophe left.
To get embedded in the community, Laskas did something bold: she bought a house in Donora to serve as the project headquarters. For three years, Laskas and Anderson spent time reporting in the borough. Laskas asked most of the questions as Anderson typically held the microphone. Afterward, Laskas sold the house, which proved difficult. Anderson almost bought a house
“It was hard to imagine leaving,”
The team fits a lot into each episode. Anderson estimates she recorded about 850 hours of audio, and, in the finished product, it’s clear that she meticulously stitched and blended quotes, environmental sound effects, scripted narration from Laskas, and banter between the two of them as they explored
The two do not keep themselves and their perspectives at a distance — instead, they emerge as subjects in the series. They didn’t plan to include themselves as much, but Benoist said they had to after listening to some of their conversations incidentally picked up by the microphone.
“He’s like, ‘This is so good, because this is the real stuff of you being in this place,’” Anderson says. “He didn’t have access to that. For him, that was this amazing window into what it actually was … He’s the one who then said, ‘You two need to be characters
The podcast has many more subjects, however. Segments with longtime church organist Arthur Fronzaglio stick with me the most — listening to him play music brought
me back to the pew, and his beautiful singing voice gave me chills.
The two created physical storyboards to map each subject’s role in the podcast’s overarching story. The podcast often features Mayor Don “Piglet” Pavelko and his wife DeAnne, who stuck with Laskas.
“His commitment to the town was so genuine and profound,” Laskas says. “And then DeAnne, I would always say, if I lived in Donora, I would want to be DeAnne. It’s so opposite from my life. She lives in that house opposite from where she grew up and is just the happiest human being with what she has.”
The description of these characters and the storytelling around them underscores the podcast’s success as a compelling piece of creative nonfiction. When the two meet a woman working at a shop in town, Laskas’ narration describes her as “having this kind of old-time librarian vibe.” She continues: “Her hair is teased up in a bouffant. But what I really notice is her skin. It’s smooth, almost preserved like she spent her whole life indoors behind this counter.” Listeners soon learn this isn’t true: the woman used to be an opera singer who once lived and performed in New York.
It became clear to Laskas and Anderson that the borough appreciated the podcast. Anderson says one Donora historian texted Anderson to say he listened to the first episode twice. The mayor who left such an impression on them sent them messages they’ll never forget.
“Donny’s response was almost the same every time,” Laskas says. “‘I’m weeping!’”
“And he actually left a weepy voicemail,” Anderson adds. •
PHOTO: JEANNE MARIE LASKAS
A street in Donora, the subject of the Cement City podcast
MUSIC • MCKEES ROCKS
THU., NOV. 28
ART
• NORTH SIDE
Eugene Macki REIFICATION. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Ongoing exhibition. Mattress Factory. 509 Jacksonia St., North Side. Included with regular admission. mattress.org
FILM
• DOWNTOWN
La Cocina 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Continues through Thu., Dec. 5. Harris Theater. 809 Liberty Ave., Downtown. $9-11. trustarts.org
SEVEN DAYS IN PITTSBURGH
FRI., NOV. 29
OUTDOORS • WEXFORD
Venture Outdoors presents Green Friday (on the Green Trail) Hike. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. 10301 Walter Rd., Wexford. Free. Registration required. ventureoutdoors.org
FILM • LAWRENCEVILLE
Studio Ghibli Week. Showtimes vary. Continues through Thu., Dec. 5. Row House Cinema. 4115 Butler St., Lawrenceville. $11.50. rowhousecinemas.com
EXHIBITION • OAKDALE
Dazzling Nights. Timed tickets start at 6:45 p.m. Continues through Tue., Dec. 31. Pittsburgh Botanic Garden. 799 Pinkerton Run Rd., Oakdale. $19-22. dazzlingpittsburgh.com
MUSIC • NORTH SHORE
girl in red: I Have to See You Again Tour with Gigi Perez. 7 p.m. Stage AE. 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. $45-99. promowestlive.com
MUSIC • DOWNTOWN
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra presents A Celebration of Strauss 7:30 p.m.
Continues on Sun., Dec. 1. Heinz Hall. 600 Penn Ave., Downtown. $25-104. pittsburghsymphony.org
COMEDY • DOWNTOWN
Select Start FriendsGIVING Improv Show. 9 p.m. Arcade Comedy Theater. 943 Liberty Ave., Downtown. $15. arcadecomedytheater.com
SAT., NOV. 30
FILM • OAKLAND
Carnegie Museum of Art Film Series presents […]. 2 p.m. Carnegie Museum of Art. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. $8-10. carnegieart.org
PARTY • OAKLAND
Post-Thanksgiving festivities kick o Downtown with the first Saturday in the Square of the season. Presented by Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy in Mellon Square, the event includes rides on the Holly Trolley, cocktails at the Après Ski Happy Hour, holiday photo sessions, and more. The event also features the debut of Aurora: Illuminating the Holiday Magic of Mellon Square, an outdoor installation designed by Pittsburghbased artist Joshua Challen Ice and featuring hundreds of diamond-shaped, interactive, color-changing panels. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Sixth Ave., Downtown. Free. pittsburghparks.org
Punchline “Action” 20-Year Anniversary Show with Heading North, Hot Rod Circuit, and Eternal Boy. 6 p.m. Roxian Theatre. 425 Chartiers Ave., McKees Rocks. Tickets start at $17. roxiantheatre.com/shows
COMEDY • DOWNTOWN
Ronny Chieng: The Love To Hate It Tour. 7 p.m. Byham Theater. 101 Sixth St., Downtown. $42.50-52.75. trustarts.org
MUSIC
• EAST LIBERTY
Suite Life: A Celebration of Billy Strayhorn and Gene Kelly 7:30 p.m. VIP at 5:30 p.m. Kelly Strayhorn Theater. 5941 Penn Ave., East Liberty. Pay What Moves You $35-200. kelly-strayhorn.org
SUN., DEC. 1
ART • DOWNTOWN
While an HIV or AIDS diagnosis may no longer mean a death sentence, it still poses a devastating, costly threat. Wood Street Galleries and the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust shed light on the continuing epidemic with Day With(out) Art 2024: Red Reminds Me…, an exhibition of seven newly commissioned films meant to reflect the “emotional spectrum of living with HIV today.” See works by national and international artists during this show created in partnership with the New York-based nonprofit Visual AIDS. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 601 Wood St., Downtown. Free. trustarts.org
MUSIC • MILLVALE
Jess Kerber and Will Orchard with Vireo 7-10 p.m. Poetry Lounge. 313 North Ave., Millvale. $5. poetrymillvale.com
MUSIC
• UPTOWN
Jhené Aiko: The Magic Hour Tour with Jessie Reyez, Shenseea, Umi, Kiana Lede, and SOUNDS BY STARRZA. 7 p.m. PPG Paints Arena. 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown. Tickets start at $19. ppgpaintsarena.com
MUSIC • MILLVALE
Leftöver Crack with Worlds Scariest Police Chases and The Skalarks 7:30 p.m. Doors at 6:30 p.m. The Funhouse at Mr. Smalls. 400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale. $20 in advance, $25 at the door. mrsmalls.com
MON., DEC. 2
DRAG • BLOOMFIELD
Drag BINGO. 7 p.m.
at 6 p.m. Trace Brewing. 4312 Main St., Bloomfield. $20-70. Tip money recommended for performers. tracebloomfield.com
PHOTO: MARCUS RUSSELL PRICE
Ronny Chieng: The Love to Hate It Tour at Byham Theater
PHOTO: COURTESY OF GKIDS
Spirited Away, part of Studio Ghibli Week at Row House Cinema
TUE., DEC. 3
FILM • ALLENTOWN
Happy Holidays in Pittsburgh screening with Rick Sebak
7:30 p.m. Doors at 5 p.m. Bottlerocket Social Hall. 1226 Arlington Ave., Allentown. $5. bottlerocketpgh.com
WED., DEC. 4
LIT • BRADDOCK
What’s old is new again when Braddock Carnegie Library hosts a Holiday Book Swap for K-12 readers. Kids and teens can bring books they no longer read or want to Greater Valley Community Services and exchange them for new, age-appropriate titles donated by other participants. Not able to make it but want to contribute? Donate books ahead of time at the library (526 Braddock Ave., Braddock) through Mon., Dec. 2. 4:30-6:30 p.m. 400 Holland Ave., Braddock. Free. All ages. braddockcarnegielibrary.org/ events-calendar
MAGIC • DOWNTOWN
Luis Carreon in La Bestia 7:30 p.m. Continues through Jan. 5, 2025. Liberty Magic 811 Liberty Ave., Downtown. $43-68. trustarts.org
WED., DEC. 4
PUBLIC AUCTION
Extra Space Storage, on behalf of itself or its a iliates, Life Storage or Storage Express, will hold a public auction to sell the contents of leased spaces to satisfy Extra Space’s lien at the location indicated: 880 Saw Mill Run Blvd Pittsburgh, PA 15226, December 11, 2024, at 1:15 PM. Tracy Marshall 1041, Tracey Marshall 1041, Caitlyn Matteo 2066, Rebecca Schreckengost 2174, Daniel Gonzalez 3140, Ed Gordon 4028. The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures.com.
Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.
PUBLIC AUCTION
Extra Space Storage, 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: 1005 E Entry Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15216 on 12/11/2024 at 11:30 AM. Deborah Tarentino 2132. 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.
MARKET PLACE
OFFICIAL ADVERTISEMENT
THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION of the SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
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
Sealed proposals shall be deposited at the Administration Building, Bellefield Entrance Lobby, 341 South Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15213, on Tuesday, January 07, 2025, until 2:00 P.M., local prevailing time for:
PITTSBURGH CHARTIERS
EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER
• Electrical Service Replacement
• Electrical and General Primes
PITTSBURGH VARIOUS LOCATIONS
• Fire Alarm System Repairs
• Electrical Primes
PITTSBURGH WESTINGHOUSE
HIGH SCHOOL
• Lighting Replacement for Carpentry Shop and Cosmetology
• Electrical Primes
Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, at Modern Reproductions (412-4887700), 127 McKean Street, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15219 between 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. The cost of the Project Manual Documents is non-refundable. Project details and dates are described in each project manual.
We are an equal rights and opportunity school district.
ESTATE NOTICE
ESTATE OF CISLO, NANCY, J, A/K/A IF NECESSARY CISLO, NANCY JEAN DECEASED OF DRAVOSBURG, PA No. 022405348 of 2024. Susan Marie Cislo Extr. Or to Ian Petrulli, Esq Attorneys. 12239 US Route 30, North Huntingdon, PA, 15642
STAY IN YOUR LANE
ACROSS
1. Hypotension, for short 6. Achieve, as goals
10. School dance sponsors: Abbr.
14. Curl one’s lip
15. Away from the wind
16. Car that’s making a comeback?
17. Chest
18. Stratfordupon-___
19. Praiseful works
20. Recep Erdoğan’s country, in a certain lane
23. Stand and Deliver star
24. Ferdinand, e.g.
25. Discuss frankly, in a certain lane
28. Trippy initials
29. No. in a text from Uber
32. Wear the crown
33. Christine ___
(The Phantom of the Opera heroine)
34. ___ Said (2022
Zoe Kazan film)
35. Promise in front of the judge
36. Abrupt cessation, in a certain lane
39. Grabbed a chair
40. It’s just for openers
41. Change for a five
42. Gambling mecca
43. Intention
44. Clear (of)
45. Foolish person, in a certain lane
48. Psyche division
49. Tailoring job
50. Song played in ice cream trucks, in a certain lane
55. Glam band named after a dinosaur
56. Portal
57. Author who coined the phrase “belling the cat”
59. Hand, to Jose 60. Actress Skye
61. Hanukkah dish
62. Blue used in printing
63. Entreated 64. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo author DOWN
1. WWII hybrid vessel
2. ___ around (roughly)
3. Used to be
4. Custom-made
5. The Shipping News author
6. Mylanta rival
7. Oft-impersonated “King”
8. Fair-hiring org.
9. Jazz combo horn
10. Representative
11. Grassroots version of an “ideas worth spreading” talk
12. Summit
13. Desperate call for the drowning
21. Bike designed for tricks
22. DHL competitor
25. Bike designed for toddlers
26. The Age of Anxiety poet
27. Back to the Future costar
28. Loose
29. Connecticut River town
30. Informal appreciation
31. Rehab procedure
33. Driller’s deg.
36. Literally, “dwarf dog” 37. Savory chip enhancer
38. Was in front
42. Weekend at an ashram, say 45. Heckled, as the oppositions
46. Conditions
47. Emergency room info
48. Mobil partner
49. French wine region
50. Like vision that helps one see through walls
51. Princess who throws a chakram
52. Leatherman selection
53. Piedmont city
54. Aware of important issues
55. Paramount+ subsidiary, for short 58. Battleship piece
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.
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Early detection can prevent small problems from becoming expensive ones.
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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.
Only use cash but want the convenience of paying your fare with your smartphone? Readycash turns your cash into an instant mobile ticket valid on all Pittsburgh Regional Transit vehicles. Visit any ConnectCard vending machine or participating PRT retailer displaying the readycash decal to add cash to your Ready2Ride® account. Then, use that cash to purchase your mobile ticket. Scan the QR code for more information.