These restaurants have spent 100 years or more delighting Pittsburgh diners and keeping history alive
BY: RACHEL WILKINSON
JORDAN SNOWDEN
Help support these Local Businesses this Holiday Season.
Miles o ers the reader a birds-eye view of the special public and private spaces in the iconic city of Pittsburgh. Locals will ride along with Chief Jablonsky and Kate Chambers as they cruise familiar streets and rivers to catch the murderer.
Available at your Independent Bookstore, Amazon or Barnes and Noble. www.rebeccaamilesauthor.com
Add the warmth of craft to your home this holiday, while you find handcrafted gifts for everyone on your list! This giving season, shop local and artist-made at The Store at Contemporary Craft.
Contemporary Craft
5645 Butler Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201
www.contemporarycraft.org/store
Wild Illuminations: A Holiday Lantern Experience, presented by UPMC Health Plan, is a fabulously frosty reimagination of the Zoo’s treasured Asian Lantern Festival and Zoo Lights. Guests who have marveled at the handmade silk and steel structures will be amazed by an all-new lineup of sights, sounds, and surprises. More than a million twinkling lights will further enhance our biggest and brightest holiday glow-fest ever! Wintry activities, holiday treats, and a visit by Santa himself will make this your family’s new must-see holiday tradition.
Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium
One Wild Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
www.pittsburghzoo.org/event/wild-illuminations
These restaurants have spent 100 years or more delighting Pittsburgh diners and keeping history alive
BY: RACHEL WILKINSON
The holidays are here again, bringing friends and family to town to share in festivities and food. The season also carries a reverence for tradition, and when it comes to dining out, there’s something to be said for eschewing Pittsburgh’s ever-changing foodie scene and instead heading to tried-and-true institutions where your grandparents gathered around a table. For the holiday
At 154 years old, the Original Oyster House in Market Square claims the title for oldest bar and restaurant in Pittsburgh. One of few city commercial buildings designated as a historic landmark, the site was originally home to Bear Tavern, dating back to 1827. In true Pittsburgh small-town fashion, the late Judy O’Connor — mother of Allegheny County Controller Corey O’Connor — once told Oyster House owner Jen Grippo that her grandfather constructed the three-story building.
The Oyster House moved into the space in 1870, and not much has changed since. The restaurant kept the original black-and-white tile — hexagonal floor tiles were laid by hand, then pounded in using a boxing glove — the
mahogany bar, and tin ceiling. A hand-cranked dumbwaiter still raises and lowers plates.
Lining the walls are panoramic photos from Miss America pageants courtesy of former owner “Silver Dollar Louie” Americus, who used to flick a coin at the contestant he thought should win. Posters and framed images show 154 years of patrons with a cross-section of notable visitors including President Jimmy Carter, Bruce Springsteen, wrestler Bruno Sammartino, and horror legend Tom Savini, who’s apparently still a regular.
Playwright August Wilson also frequented the Oyster House, mentioning it by name in his autobiographical How I Learned What I Learned
Grippo inherited the business in 2017 from her late father, Lou Grippo, part of only five families who have owned the restaurant. In its 154 years, Jen Grippo points out, the Oyster House has seen “the highs and lows of Pittsburgh, [and] in general, the Great Depression, Spanish flu, floods, fires, folks having to leave the city because there weren’t jobs available.”
A relatively recent improvement, she tells City Paper, was adding a women’s bathroom to the bar’s ground floor, since it was originally a men’s-only establishment.
“This is some funny karma,” Grippo says. “Now women own [the bar] … Patience, ladies, patience!”
People often tell her that coming to the Oyster House is like stepping into another time, and even the concept of an oyster house is from a bygone era. In the 19th century, oysters were a cheap and abundant source of protein for Americans, commonly raised and eaten in cities.
Grippo says it’s strange to think of the Oyster House in landlocked Pittsburgh — though at one time, there were nine locations — saying, “We get that a lot, for sure.”
Sticking to its origins, the menu still offers a raw oyster option. But these days, Grippo says, “we are predominantly fried foods.”
Today’s Oyster House is known for its “original” breaded oyster and “Famous” Jumbo Fish sandwich, served traditionally with only salt and pepper, and lettuce, tomato, and cheese available as 21st century add-ons.
Preserving what past generations have done, Grippo believes, is key to the restaurant’s longevity.
“Every year we come up on another anniversary and people [ask], ‘How is it that you’ve done this?’ And it’s because of the tradition,” she says. “It’s because we continue to stay tied to our roots.”
The community bonds are especially evident during the holidays, when out-of-towners return to the Oyster House.
“There’s been a lot of change that has happened in Pittsburgh, and I believe that progress and change [are] good,” Grippo tells CP. “But especially for Pittsburghers who are so ride-or-die for their city, [but] who still want to always honor their traditions and their past, I just hope that the Oyster House is one of those places that really makes them feel like they are back home for real.”
Michalopoulos opened his own business near Pittsburgh’s former Civic Arena in 1906. Jim Mitchell says the legend goes that a sign painter couldn’t fit the name “Michalopoulos Dining Room” above the storefront, so his grandfather chose the surname Mitchell out of a city directory (the precursor to the phonebook).
At 119 years old, Mitchell’s Pub has also seen its fair share of history
Inside the pub, Jim Mitchell, its third-generation owner, maintains a “history wall” chronicling his grandfather’s (Papou’s) immigrant journey to the United States from Vlachokerassia, Greece in 1902. Photos and documents show the boat where Constantinos Michalopoulos made the 25-day crossing to New York City, and the manifest from Ellis Island where he entered the country, Jim Mitchell says, with $12 to his name.
After working at a Station Square restaurant for four years,
Mitchell’s weathered Prohibition by operating as a butcher shop — giving meat away during the Great Depression — saw World War II and the destruction of Court Place (part of redevelopment during Renaissance II), and moved to its current location at Third Ave. and Ross St. in 1977. Jim Mitchell realized his father Jim Mitchell Sr.’s longtime dream of buying the building in 1998, only two months before his death. “I got a picture of my dad holding the deed,” Mitchell tells CP. “So [my father] knew Mitchell’s would never have to move again.”
Today, the pub is billed as “Downtown Pittsburgh’s original
neighborhood bar,” and according to Jim Mitchell, its openhearted philosophy remains unchanged. Mitchell’s holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating family-owned restaurant within city limits. “My dad always taught me, you have good food [and] good service at a reasonable price. You take care of everybody … whether you’re someone working [at] the county, or you’re a judge, an attorney … construction worker, people from all walks of life … we treat everybody the same,” he says. “So it’s a neighborhood bar in the city, and there are not too many left. People feel at home when they come to our place.”
The restaurant is known for its “comfort foods” including the Mitchburgher Burger, scratch-made hot turkey and meatloaf, and tuna and patty melts. Twenty-four draft beers are kept on rotation, and 40-year veteran bartender Joe Bullsak, now 80 years old, was voted Best Bartender in CP’s Best Of PGH Readers’ Poll last year.
Mitchell says you can still catch Bullsak behind the bar on Thursdays and Fridays. For the holidays, they’ve rolled out specialty cocktails and martinis, in addition to reopening for dinner and extending their happy hour in light of a new state law. It’s heartening to see the place bustling again after COVID shutdowns, Mitchell tells CP, which prompted him to retool the bar, add new lighting, and “almost start from scratch.”
“And when COVID was over, we were one of the last places standing,” Mitchell reflects. At 66, he says he still works 70 hour weeks to maintain the bar and its legacy.
“Sometimes you get in the woods, you can’t see the trees,” he says. “And then people say, that’s something [that] you’ve been around that long, and they love seeing the history … Makes it worth the while, you know?”
THE TERRACE ROOM AT THE OMNI WILLIAM PENN HOTEL
530 William Penn Pl., Downtown. omnihotels.com/hotels/pittsburgh-william-penn/ dining/terrace-room
If Henry Clay Frick were to walk into the Omni William Penn on a recent afternoon, the hotel’s notorious owner would’ve found influencers at a Christmas-themed pop-up bar, the annual cleaning of the lobby’s Bohemian crystal chandeliers, and dining at The Terrace Room, nearly unchanged after 108 years.
One of the city’s oldest dining spots, the restaurant originally opened as The Italian Terrace alongside the hotel in 1916. It was immediately a huge draw, says Bob Page, the hotel’s area director of sales and marketing. The name and cuisine were meant to evoke the luxury of the Mediterranean country and highlight the space’s frescoes.
Today, The Terrace Room is billed as offering “an incomparable ambiance,” retaining its original molded plaster ceiling, decorative woodwork with griffins, and mahogany arches. Historic photos also hang in the “bespoke room” showing earlier eras, including when a 1970s trend brought a floor-to-ceiling petrified palm tree. Perhaps the room’s most famous feature is the enormous mural across its back wall, “The Taking of Fort Pitt,” depicting the historic siege at the Point.
“It’s just such a beautiful room, right? … This hotel has been here so long, and it’s a staple in the community,” Page tells CP . “People love the nostalgia of it.”
The feeling is only magnified during the holidays, when diners seek out The Terrace Room, now decorated with Christmas trees and hanging ornaments.
Page says, as much as they make of the hotel’s grandeur, staff still want The Terrace Room to feel approachable for a holiday meal. Once a white-tablecloth establishment, the linens are now gone, showcasing the room’s marble-topped tables.
The Terrace Room hosts The Twelve Days of Tea which started Dec. 3, offering a special afternoon tea service “steeped in the magical flavors of the holiday season.” Guests can also book a reservation for breakfast, lunch, or weekend brunch.
PENN BREWERY
800 Vinial St., North Side. pennbrew.com
With its deep German heritage, no one welcomes the yuletide quite like Penn Brewery. Pittsburgh’s oldest and largest brewery, the North Side institution was originally founded by Germans immigrants, including the Eberhardt and Ober families, in the 19th century. Three breweries dating back to 1848 originally operated on the site with the goal, head brewer Chris Rudolph says, to “bring German traditional beers to America.”
Largely, Rudolph tells CP , that mission remains. He leads a history tour on the third Saturday of every month.
Before refrigeration, brewers kept barrels of beer cool by storing them in caves carved hundreds of feet into the hillside. Inside these “lagering” caves (lager comes from the German word for storage) the simple “geothermals of the Earth” chilled the beer, maintaining a constant 55-degree temperature. Penn Brewery preserves what it describes as “a labyrinth” of the site’s original stone lagering caves and tunnels — among few left in the United States, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can view the caves and other remnants: the original cornerstone building still stands in the brewery’s beer garden; a stone “Eberhardt & Ober Brewing Co.” sign is still visible near today’s Penn Brewery archway; and there are pieces of the cooper department, where barrels were made.
Though the four-story brewing complex is 176 years old, the Penn Brewery that Pittsburghers know was created in 1986. Tom Pastorius and his wife Mary Beth fixed up what was then a decaying building, and insisted on serving German food and making beer the traditional German way. In the brewhouse, Rudolph uses copper kettles, an anachronism, and flips a switchboard with German commands to mash, boil, and pump grain.
Penn Brewery’s owner, Austrian-born Stefan Nitsch, who bought the business in 2021, takes things to a new level for the holidays. This year, the brewery hosts Krampusnacht on Dec. 5, bringing the horned, goat-like legend to its cityview terrace. Nitsch hints that Krampus — who haunted his childhood dreams — might hide in the lagering caves, stalking the wicked amidst a full parade and craft market, complete with a tarot card reader. The same night, the brewery will also tap its Sleigher Krampus Band Black IPA, along with a live performance by the band
For those less keen on spooky Christmas, the brewpub celebrates its seasonal St. Nikolaus Bock Brewer’s Reserve with a firkin-tapping party on Dec. 6. Diners can also brunch with Santa on Dec. 8 over prime rib and an omelet bar.
All month long, Nitsch says, you can still enjoy traditional German fare like pork schnitzel and sausage in the brewery’s main dining room, now decked out for Christmas.
“It’s just a warm, inviting, cozy atmosphere,” Nitsch tells CP . “A lot of families coming together and probably reminiscing … There’s so much history here. People have been coming here for such a long time. There’s a lot of nostalgia. And I think that’s [a] big part of the Christmas spirit, is getting together with your loved ones, [having] a nice, cozy time, and enjoying some good food and beer — always beer.”
537 Suismon St., North Side.
maxsalleghenytavern.com
Another living testament to the North Side’s German roots, Max’s Allegheny Tavern began as a grocery store nearly 175 years ago. CP recently spotlighted it as one of Pittsburgh’s most haunted restaurants — unsurprisingly, there’s a lot of overlap with the city’s oldest — and the storied building was also once home to the Farmers and Drovers Hotel (later the Hotel Rahn in 1903).
Max’s current incarnation opened in 1977, and the traditional tavern has always been family-run and served Old World German food and beer. Hearty, no-frills dishes include sausage and an entire menu section dedicated to “the great schnitzels of Europe” with assorted German sides like spätzle (noodles), potato pancakes, and house-made sauerkraut.
Stepping inside, visitors get a glimpse of centuries past with a hand-carved bar, solid heavy wood furnishings, and Tiffany-style lamps. Two antique five-door wooden ice boxes no longer chill beer, but are still used for storage behind the bar.
Stop by for a cozy happy hour or a wintry holiday meal to get the full charm. •
Locals on both sides of the aisle say Pittsburgh Republicans feel empowered to strike back at those who don’t toe their perceived party line
BY: COLIN WILLIAMS // CWILLIAMS@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
Former President Donald J. Trump promised “retribution” throughout his campaign. With Trump now bound for office again, the promised arrests, deportations, and censorship of the media feel very real.
Locally, both Democrats and Republicans say this has mani fested in threats, retaliation from conservative employers, and hostil ity to journalists.
While Pittsburgh City Paper covered Trump’s Nov. 4 rally at PPG Paints Arena without incident (beyond getting booed and having our snacks confiscated), journalist Dave Shelton was forcibly removed from the rally; this despite Shelton’s Republican bona fides — he ran for office as a self-described “MAGA Republican” in his home state of West Virginia.
“IF IT DOESN’T FIT WITH THEIR AGENDA … THEN THEY’RE GONNA TRY TO SHUT IT DOWN.”
“I had not actually pre-signed up for the press because I wasn’t sure whether I was going to be able to be there,” Shelton tells City Paper . He instead RSVP’d for general admis sion and checked in in person as a member of the media for his home outlet, the WV Central Newspaper Despite showing credentials, Shelton says a young man working security for the campaign called him a “liar” and tried to bar his entry. After being admitted anyway, Shelton says the same man spotted him and got aggressive.
“He said, ‘you’re coming with me,’”
media. Although he describes West Virginia’s state party as friendlier,
he’s also gotten blowback from reporting on, among other things, police corruption.
“These guys feel like we are no longer free press; we’re actually free game for them,” Shelton tells CP. “If it doesn’t fit with their agenda, what you’re writing, then they’re gonna try to shut it down.”
Shelton reached out to multiple state party officials for redress, but got reluctance instead. CP followed up with those he’d contacted via email for additional comment, but did not hear back by press time. He also laments the way this has happened in tandem with the journalism industry’s budget and burnout crises and public loss of trust in media writ large.
“I’ve been around it for a long time and I’ve seen the deterioration [in media],” Shelton says. “But the way that they are treating us is pretty pathetic.”
In other areas, that hostility to MAGA’s perceived enemies has manifested in threats of violence.
CP was scheduled to cover a Democratic party gathering on Election Day and had received prior approval to cover the event. However, party officials became aware of bomb threats via the Pa. Lt. Gov.’s office and called off the gathering, with one party operative telling CP they “needed to make the safety of volunteers a priority.”
Sam Hens-Greco, chair of the Allegheny County Democratic Party, says the election ran smoothly and praises the job poll and party workers did throughout. He notes that Allegheny County saw few issues beyond the threats and that vote totals, and results were similar to 2020, proving that election’s legitimacy. However, when it comes to Trump’s “retribution,” Hens-Greco notes that planned appointments, such as that of MAGA loyalist Kash Patel as FBI Director, means Trump is “following through” on his threats.
“It’s a pretty chilling, concerning point in time as far as how our democracy works,” he tells CP . “There’s a really clear signal coming from the top that they plan to make good on all these purges that they’ve promised.”
Hens-Greco says the county party is looking ahead to Pittsburgh’s important mayoral election and the retention of Democratic-leaning judges on the Pa. Supreme Court.
“Democrats have got to be ready,” he says. “We’re gonna start early in this office.”
Even now, weeks after the election, other areas of local life remain tense. A local woman who wished to remain anonymous due to ongoing workplace problems says she faced a “toxic” work environment in the days after Nov. 5. After responding to comments a male coworker made about Trump’s victory, she found herself sitting opposite Human Resources. The source says she’s considering her
options while the process drags out.
“The world looks different for everybody, right?” she tells CP . “But just saying you can’t catcall women in the workplace doesn’t accomplish anything if we’re not educating people a little more about how the world feels depending on your lived experiences and your identity.”
“I’m being punished for saying how the world looks from where I sit,” the source adds. “That, to me, is problematic for not just women, but for a whole bunch of identity groups who are feeling targeted right now.”
Shelton, meanwhile, has continued to reach out to GOP officials — in addition to calls and emails, he sent
a Facebook message to Lara Trump — in search of answers as to why the party has mistreated its own.
“I compare what the GOP in PA is doing to people who profess to be good Christians yet are some of the most hypocritical, hateful and judgemental people I’ve ever met,” he wrote to CP after a follow-up interview. “They blame everyone else and complain but don’t take any accountability.”
“I ran as a MAGA Republican, and they knew that,” he says. “The fact that I was treated like that, even doubly by this [security] guy … it was a major disrespect to me, especially when I went through the proper channels.” •
Pitt women’s volleyball is the toast of the town. A pro team is the logical next step
BY: COLTON CORESCHI
In a city fully devoted to its professional sports teams, the most remarkable success story in local sports in 2024 might not be the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates, or Riverhounds, but instead the recent domination of the Pitt Panthers women’s volleyball program, whose success and growth — both on the court and off of it — is a trend approaching a different level of craze.
With the Panthers soaring on and off the court, could it be time for a professional olleyball team in the teel ity
ince head coach an isher took o er as the program migrated to the tlantic oast onference from the now-defunct ig ast in , the olleyball program has reached unimaginable highs uring isher s tenure, the Panthers ha e won six championships, made a program-record eight straight tournament appearances, including first-time trips to the lite ight and three consecuti e trips to the inal our
ents enter, it s great e always want to be entertaining, to put on a show I think people really are blown away when they see olleyball in person, how explosi e and athletic it is compared to ith growing crowds and teams full of nation-leading talent, it s natural to wonder hat s next for these players after their collegiate career comes to a close nd what s out there for olleyball fans in Pittsburgh beyond the Panthers program
he uestion is one being asked all across the as olleyball soars in popularity — and se eral organi a-
his year, the Panthers ha e been otherworldly ith a - record as of o , the o seed Panthers aim to make another deep tournament run — but the program s growth hasn t been limited to oncourt dominance
he e er-growing fanbase of the team has generated crowds in historic numbers arlier this season, the team set a new attendance record with , turning up to see a heated ri alry match with Penn tate at the Petersen ents enter nother contest there against contender ouis ille drew , — and most matches at it gerald ield ouse ha e ho ered around the , - , mark all season
he support has been ama ing sometimes it feels e en better than winning the game, Pitt olleyball associate head coach ellen Petrone tells Pittsburgh City Paper e used to ha e these crowds of people ow, to ha e sellouts at the Petersen
tions ha e stepped up with answers In , there will be three separate professional options for olleyball players domestically thletes nlimited, a uni ue fi e-week league with no set teams eague ne olleyball, set to begin play in with an underlying club system and the Pro olleyball ederation, which concluded its inaugural season back in ay
I think that s one of the main reasons why we started this, says P ice President of Public and edia elations ob arolla It was a sport our founders saw that didn t gi e players a place to play here in the nited tates hey had to go to sia or urope, and we wanted to gi e these great olleyball athletes a chance to play near family and friends close to home It was a big selling point for us hile any professional sports expansion is an in ol ed process with many deciding factors, on the surface
the case for Pittsburgh looks obvious.
While some PVF teams are oriented around market-size and geography, the league has a clear focus on cities with large collegiate programs, even in smaller media markets. These include Omaha (Nebraska), Columbus (Ohio State), Orlando (UCF), and Indianapolis (Indiana/Purdue).
“I would say [support] is definitely a part of it, for sure,” Carolla says of the expansion process. “You want to have cities and markets where there’s an interest in the sport. That obviously exists very well in Pittsburgh, and with what’s going on at Pitt — that factors into the interest. Pretty good support for the sport itself, that doesn’t hurt.”
With Pitt’s strong and growing
athletics foundation, and a sportshungry city underlying it all, Pittsburgh would seem to be an obvious fit among these, particularly with several nearby Midwestern trips among the league’s existing clubs.
Another meaningful factor? Talent development. With an increasingly talented program, Pitt has produced several professional players already in the PVF. These include Leketor Member-Meneh (Indy Ignite/Atlanta Vibe), Courtney Buzzerio (Atlanta), Chiamaka Nwokolo (Indy), Kayla Lund (San Diego Mojo), and Layne Van Buskirk (Vegas Thrill). All players excelled during Fisher’s tenure with a long list of accolades and accomplishments between them.
“We talk to [our pro alumni] all the time,” says Petrone. “They come back
here in the summers and help coach our camps. One great thing about the PVF is they can coach at collegiate programs, keep fresh and keep training. We get a lot of them coming back here, we had a bunch at alumni weekend, we talk to them all the time. I think, hopefully, in the upcoming year you’ll see some more Pitt players joining them at the pro level.”
All things considered locally, it’s easy to see Pittsburgh as an appealing expansion prospect. But as mentioned, any expansion is a complicated process, and the key remaining factor in volleyball coming to the city remains a dedicated ownership group who wants it here.
“We’ve had a ton of interest,” says Carolla. “Of course, first and foremost, you want a good ownership
group in place in the market of their interest, and then in conjunction with that whether the market can support it. It’s been exciting because the interest in the league is absolutely there.”
So while Pittsburgh awaits the leaders to make pro volleyball a reality, fans can continue to follow the elite Panthers players at the next level with the hope that maybe one day soon, those players can stay home and represent the Steel City directly. • Pitt women’s volleyball will compete in the NCAA tournament beginning today (Dec. 4).
The Pittsburgh-based author of best-selling adult thrillers appeals to young readers with My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast
BY: JORDAN SNOWDEN // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
The first children’s book from horror author Zoje Stage took nearly seven years to publish.
The problem wasn’t the book’s potential; several industry professionals recognized the charm of My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast . It was that the local writer’s manuscript — bestselling author of the psychological thrillers Baby Teeth, Dear Hanna, and Getaway, and the psychological horror novels Wonderland and Mothered — struggled to fit into the rigid definition of children’s commercial fiction.
My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast, released on Dec. 3, began as a short fiction piece Stage wrote years prior and was incorporated into the adult novel Baby Teeth as little Hanna’s
favorite book.
“So it was never shopped to major publishers,” Stage tells Pittsburgh City Paper. “But so many people who read Baby Teeth asked me if it was a real book — and it was always my intention for it to become one.”
At the story’s heart is Pru, a 9-year-old girl who loves inventing, collecting, and learning new words. She is fascinated by the strange sounds from beneath her bed, suspecting a special creature. When asked to clean her room, a chain of events unfolds, changing her life forever.
To get My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast published, Stage took matters into her own hands and reached out to Doug Murano of Bad Hand Books. He previously published a short story
by Stage in an anthology and “was making his press something of a home for the wayward projects of established authors,” explains Stage.
Upon submitting to Murano, Stage reverted My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast to a more concise version, preserving essential quotes from its inclusion in Baby Teeth.
Or, at least, she tried.
“When I first tried getting the book submission-ready for Big 5 publishers, I expanded the story a bit too far,” says Stage. “I pared it back down so it more aligned with my original concept. One of the challenges while doing revisions was to keep at least some of the wording for the quotes that are included in Baby Teeth , though I think I tweaked almost every sentence while polishing My
UnderSlumberBumbleBeast.”
Stage drew from her own childhood experiences with stuffed animals and nighttime noises.
“I still hear weird sounds — but sometimes it’s just a raccoon in the wall,” she says. “I also remembered being so emotionally attached to my stuffed animals as a child— they felt like real, living creatures to me. So when I created Pru I gave her that kind of compassion, where she sees the heart and potential in everything around her. Pru is an incredibly openminded person, able to accept anyone for their differences, and I think that makes her very special.”
of classics like Alice in Wonderland and Coraline, texts still widely enjoyed by kids and adults. She also took note of conversations with children’s librarians, citing a demand for visually rich literature for grade school readers.
“J.E.’s illustration style was a perfect fit for the feel we all wanted — and he was meticulous in researching toys and unifying the creation of the BumbleBeasts,” Stage says.
One of my favorite illustrations is the one of Springy — she looks exactly how I hoped she would look, with a spring for a body and an eraser with a Viking ship drawn on it for her head.
“I STILL HEAR WEIRD SOUNDS — BUT SOMETIMES IT’S JUST A RACCOON IN THE WALL.”
This nurturing spirit of imagination and acceptance leads Pru to cherish her differences with those around her. The tale delves into the nature of friendship and seeing potential in others.
Adding to this intricate tapestry are illustrations by J.E. Larson, whose art beautifies the pages and enriches the storytelling experience. In collaborating closely with Larson, Stage aimed for a timeless feel reminiscent
I’m seriously thinking of getting this image as a tattoo.”
Transitioning from writing adult thrillers to crafting a children’s book presented its own unique set of hurdles for Stage — for example, the intensity of the themes had to shift — yet her voice remains a thread throughout the work.
“I try to write stories where the characters feel like real people — this reflects the films that most
influenced me as a would-be filmmaker — and human realism was my goal here too,” Stage says. “The one element of writing for children that I struggled with was simplifying my vocabulary. In the end, I decided to make Pru a girl who loves big and unusual words — and then I really leaned into including them.”
The back of the book also features a playful glossary, penned as if by Pru herself, with definitions and pronunciations crafted in a childlike manner. “I’m secretly hoping Pru writes an entire dictionary someday,” says Stage.
My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast follows the 2024 summer release of
Baby Teeth’s sequel, Dear Hanna, continuing an intertwining of creative, insightful protagonists who tackle the complexities of their imaginations. Each character exhibits a sensitivity that serves as a strength and a vulnerability in their respective narratives.
“2024 has been a strange and wonderful year in multiple ways, personal and professional,” says Stage. “The publishing industry is never the smoothest path, and I’m grateful for every year that I can keep doing this! But to publish two books from the same ‘universe’ is really something … I never thought I’d create a ‘universe’!” •
Find the perfect gift for the Pittsburgh football fan in your life when Commonwealth Press hosts a special book event. Sports journalist Jim Wexell will be on hand to sign copies of his new work Pittsburgh Steelers: An Illustrated Timeline, described by publisher Reedy Press as a “richly researched masterpiece that will surprise and inform even the hardest-core of the hardcore Steelers Nation.” The book includes materials from Wexell’s 30-year career covering the team. 12-5 p.m. 415 West Warrington Ave., Allentown. Free. cwpress.com
BY CP STAFF
Polish Hill Tree Toss: Holiday Market and Bake Sale. 6-9 p.m. 3060 Brereton St., Polish Hill. Free. instagram.com/polishhillcivic
Every Christmas Story Ever Told. 7:30 p.m. Continues through Sun., Dec. 8. Brownsville Rd. and Corrigan Dr., South Park. $18. southparktheatre.com
MUSIC
Illiterate Light with Palmyra 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. Club Cafe. 56-58 South 12th St., South Side. $20. ticketweb.com
FILM • DOWNTOWN
Harris Theater appeals to animal lovers with Flow, a new animated film with a poignant environmental message. Described by Janus Films as a “wondrous journey, through realms natural and mystical,” the release follows a cat trying to navigate a world changed by a
Gemini Theater Company presents Sleeping Beauty’s Holiday. 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Continues through Sun., Dec. 22. Ryan Arts and Culture Center. 420 Chartiers Ave., McKees Rocks. $5-15. All ages. geminitheater.org
Kente Arts Alliance presents Winard Harper and Jeli Posse 7:30 p.m. New Hazlett Theater. Six Allegheny Square East, North Side. $40. newhazletttheater.org
PARTY
catastrophic flood. Along the way, he meets other creatures, including a capybara, lemur, bird, and dog, trying to survive “the perils of a newly aquatic planet.” Showtimes vary. Continues through Thu., Dec. 19. Harris Theater. 809 Liberty Ave., Downtown. $9-11. trustarts.org
ART • GARFIELD
Opening Reception: Pittsburgh’s AvantGarde 6-9 p.m. Continues through March 7, 2025. Irma Freeman Center for Imagination. 5006 Penn Ave., Garfield. Free. irmafreeman.org
THEATER • LARIMER
Alumni Theater Company presents Black Sheep 7 p.m. Continues through Sun., Dec. 8. 6601 Hamilton Ave., Larimer. $12-18. alumnitheatercompany.org
MUSIC • STRIP DISTRICT
Mary Fahl: Winter Songs 7:30 p.m. Doors at 6 p.m. City Winery. 1627 Smallman St., Strip District. $30-40. citywinery.com
TWIRL with ROJO, Yamez, and NOCASINO. 9 p.m. Mixtape. 4907 Penn Ave., Garfield. $7 in advance, $10 at the door. mixtapepgh.com
Venture Outdoors presents Pride Outside Hike 10 a.m. Du Park. 4500 School Rd. S., Murrysville. Free or pay what you can $5-10. ventureoutdoors.org
THEATER • BELLEVUE
The Pittsburgh Savoyards present Babes in Toyland. 7:30 p.m. Continues through Sat., Dec. 21. Margaret Partee Performing Arts Center. 523 Lincoln Ave., Bellevue. $22.65. pittsburghsavoyards.org
MUSIC • STRIP DISTRICT
Samora Pinderhughes with Skye Burkett 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. The Original Pittsburgh Winery. 2809 Penn Ave., Strip District. $22.50. druskyentertainment.com
CONVENTION • DOWNTOWN
Brick Fest Live. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Continues through Sun., Dec. 8. David L. Lawrence Convention Center. 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Downtown. $16.99-34.99. brickfestlive.com
• REGENT SQUARE
Holiday Pet Party. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. WorkshopPGH. 321 Pennwood Ave., Regent Square. $55-100, crafting materials included. workshoppgh.com/classes
MARKET • LAWRENCEVILLE
Rise above the usual shopping experience when Belvedere’s Ultra-Dive hosts the Punk Holiday Market. Find jewelry, screenprinted clothing, leather goods, and more by local artisans and small businesses, as well as vinyl from Audacious Madness. There will also be music by DJ Erika Scary and an appearance by the Hot Dogs And Harm Reduction pop-up. 4-8 p.m. Belvedere’s Ultra-Dive. 4016 Butler St., Lawrenceville. Free. instagram.com/aanimall_designs
MUSIC • NORTH SHORE
The Jesus Lizard with Spotlights. 7 p.m. Stage AE. 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. $35 in advance, $40 at the door. promowestlive.com
MUSIC • ALLENTOWN
BASIC: Chris Forsyth, Douglas McCombs, and Mikel Patrick Avery with Pairdown 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. Bottlerocket Social Hall. 1226 Arlington Ave., Allentown. $20 in advance, $22 at the door. bottlerocketpgh.com
DRAG • STRIP DISTRICT
Drag Bingo. 7 p.m. Doors at 6 p.m. Aslin Beer Company. 1801 Smallman St., Strip District. $5-10. instagram.com/ssproductionspgh
MUSIC • DOWNTOWN
Straight No Chaser: Top Shelf Tour 7:30 p.m. Benedum Center. Seventh St. and Penn Ave., Downtown. $64-81.50. trustarts.org
TRIVIA • NORTH SIDE
Not Your Mom and Dad’s Music Trivia. 8 p.m. The Government Center. 715 East St., North Side. Free. Maximum five people per team. thegovernmentcenter.com
FILM • MCKEES
Jump Cut Theater presents Film Kitchen. 7 p.m. Doors at 6 p.m. The Parkway Theater and Film Lounge. 644 Broadway Ave., McKees Rocks. $9.32. jumpcuttheater.org
MUSIC • DOWNTOWN
Kansas 50th Anniversary Tour: Another Fork in the Road 7:30 p.m. Benedum Center. Seventh St. and Penn Ave., Downtown. $66.85-86.25. trustarts.org
DANCE • DOWNTOWN
Conservatory Dance Company presents Contemporary Choreographers. 7:30 p.m. Continues through Sun., Dec. 15. George Rowland White Performance Studio. 313 Boulevard of the Allies, Downtown. $23-55. playhouse.pointpark.edu
Need Help with Family Law? Can’t Afford a $5000 Retainer? Low Cost Legal Services- Pay As You Go- As low as $750-$1500Get Legal Help Now! Call 1-844-821-8249 Mon-Fri 7am to 4pm PCT (AAN CAN) https://www.familycourtdirect. com/?network=1
IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-24-013441, In petition of Melissa Maria Palmieri & Dennis Cercone, parents and legal guardians of Dominico James Palmieri, minor, for change of name to Dominico James Cercone. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 27th day of December 2024, 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.
ESTATE NOTICE
SAVE BIG on HOME INSURANCE! Compare 20 A-rated insurances companies. Get a quote within minutes. Average savings of $444/year! Call 844712-6153! (M-F 8am-8pm Central) (AAN CAN)
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
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)
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
THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION of the SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
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.
“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 12/18/2024 at 11:30 AM. 6108 Jaimelin Garry, 1121 Deborah Tarentino. 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.”
Extra Space Storage, on behalf of 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: 3200 Park Manor Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15205 on December 18, 2024 at 1:00pm. 2008 Gina Marks; 3036 Brian Johnston; 5011 Dana LaQuay; 7017 Dana LaQuay. 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.
1. Alternatives to spondees
6. Doesn’t fade away
11. Sports bar installations
14. Quick as lightning 15. Slightly o 16. “Too funny!”
17. Gleam from a globe?
19. Into composting, for short
20. Name on the check
21. Pore over closely
23. More gray-colored
26. Some tea bags
27. Range in the Rockies
28. Left in a hurry
29. They might be queens for a day
30. Washington Commanders
coach Dan
31. Poem’s title that might begin “To a”
34. Bit of soreness
35. Upbeat
36. Camera part
37. ___ Substance (2024 Demi Moore movie)
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: 1212 Madison Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. December 18th, 2024 at 1:30 PM. Keara Cosby 4048. 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.
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 18, 2024, at 1:15 PM. Jalyn Duenas 3109. The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures.com.
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. December 18, 2024 at 12:15 PM. 2004 Alyssia Mone, 4200 Tanisha Turner, 3087 Kyle Torres. 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.
39. Applesnax rival
40. Lots to purchase
42. Chuck Schumer’s group
43. Gets satisfaction for 45. Salem’s partner
46. Zeroes out
47. “Impression, Sunrise” painter
48. Hot reaction
49. Phrase of full support, and an explanation of this puzzle’s theme
54. Massachusetts cape
55. Intends
56. Flowering heath
57. Escorted
58. Follow
59. Reporter in the line of fire
1. Conditions
2. Peak of an Austrian trip?
3. “I’ve seen better”
4. Certain signal to talk, redundantly
5. Exerts oneself
6. Cutting beam
7. ___ County, North Carolina
8. Tackle moguls
9. ___ nail
(nail that is 7.6
10. Infatuated with 11. “I’m pointing to the spot I think the ink should go”?
12. Quick trip?
13. Vaccinations
22. December 25th VIP
38. “Something to Talk About” singer centimeters long)
18. Hurricane areas
23. March 17th VIP
24. Edge of a fore-and-aft sail
25. “I need to put this by which edge?”
26. Pollute
28. Kinda small 30. Throws in the towel
32. “I agree with that”
33. City on the Ruhr
35. Some insurance agents
36. “Deus Ex” video game company
38. Scott Joplin’s genre
39. Curt of Fox NFL Sunday
41. Hurricane’s dir.
42. Trig function
43. Typeface choice
44. “Around the World in Eighty Days” author
45. In sorrier shape
47. Dinner table?
50. Claims
51. Tease
52. Zamboni’s surface
53. Tiny bit
Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property. PUBLIC
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.
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 Extras Space’s lien at the location indicated: 902 Brinton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15221 on Wednesday December 18, 2024 at 11:30am 3065 Todd Berry, 3083 James Poole and 3154 Austiana Tate.The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagtreasures.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 property.
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: 141 N Braddock Ave, Pittsburgh PA, 15208 on December 18th, 2024 at 11:00 AM. 1130A Andre Stokes, 1171A Jasmine Hinton, 2042 Aditya Rauniyar, 3073 Howard Kemper, 3237A Joy Brice, 3259A Tionda Brooks, 3306A Johnathan Hayes. 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.
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: 111 Hickory Grade Rd. Bridgeville PA 15017, December 18, 2024 at 12:30 PM. Jacob Elias 3168, Elizabeth Buckley 3332. 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 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 December 17, 2024 at 12:00 pm, and day to day thereafter until sold at which time a high bidder will be determined.
350 Old Haymaker Road, Monroeville, Pa 14146: Unit #2209 Mike Madrigal, Unit #3224 Je Morrison, Unit #3314 Ashley Beley
1002 E. Waterfront Dr., Munhall, Pa 15120: Unit #1423 Shelly Bonacci, Unit #1709 Stacey Stanziano, Unit #1923 Tammy Hicks, Unit #2205 Courtney Sloan, Unit #2209 Edward Miller, Unit #3516 Lakeisha Jones, Unit #3735 Aubay Germany, Unit #3818 Gabi DeMartinis 14200 Route 30, North Huntingdon, Pa 15642: Unit #2070 Darnell Richardson, Unit #4001 Ryan Rodgers, Rodgers Scapes, Inc. 4711 William Penn Highway, Monroeville, PA 15146: Unit #11317 Carmen Bell-King
1028 Ridge Road, Tarentum, Pa 15084: Unit #32225 Matthew Martin, Unit #32438 Linda Shkurato , Unit #41512 Sean Brennan
901 Brinton Road, Pittsburgh, Pa 15221: Unit #12409 Sherman Nesbitt, Unit #12416 Daryl Milliner, Dary Milliner Media, Unit #7311 Allysa Eichler
5873 Centre Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15206: Unit #2403 Michelle Williams, Unit #2962 Christopher Lewis
750 South Millvale Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213: Unit #5210 Michelle Priestly, Unit #5504 Patience Beasley
2839 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222: Unit #2507 Jordan Elliot, Unit #4214 Brittani Brown, Unit #5507 Andre Miller, Unit #6404 Pup O’Clock (Brian Manni), Unit #6603 Renee Walker, Unit #6608 Karen Williams, Unit #6907 Renee Walker
1300 Lebanon Church Road, West Mi lin, PA 15236: Unit #12312 Ottis Gibson, Unit #13412 Victoria Uhme, Unit #14306
