JEREMY WALDRUP | PHOTO BY ELAN MIZRAHI

Jeremy Waldrup has done some outlandish things to entice people back Downtown.

Like the time he bought a $25,000 Heinz pickle balloon, which turned out to be a great idea. Or the time he rented a curling mat and set it up outside an art gallery crawl, which, it turned out, was not such a great idea. (No one wanted to play the niche winter Olympic sport in a gravel parking lot.)

The president and CEO of Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership likes to experiment. He doesn’t mind if people sometimes question his sanity, as they did when he asked his PDP board to not only foot the bill for the ginormous Picklesburgh balloon — but also to insure it. The balloon, known for floating over city streets, has become the emblem of the wildly successful July street fair for 10 years.

PHOTO BY ELAN MIZRAHI

His suggestion to erect a 60-foot Ferris wheel atop the Roberto Clemente Bridge drew some funny looks. It was a fun idea, being that inventor George Ferris was a Pittsburgh guy, but county officials wondered if the bridge would collapse. Some $20,000 in engineering reports later, Waldrup became one of the first people to ride the Ferris wheel, now a popular attraction during the annual Oktoberfest, which kicked off two years ago.

You might call that a high point — literally — of Waldrup’s 14-year career in town. The low point was the 2020 pandemic shutdown, when the Golden Triangle ground to a halt, the hum of office workers and traffic suddenly silent, leaving behind people experiencing homelessness, who were camped out in doorways.

More than a decade into his job, Waldrup is working harder than ever to revitalize Downtown, combating complaints that it’s still not safe and that there are too many empty storefronts. PDP is overseeing the renovation of Market Square, doubling the outdoor dining area and adding an open-air steel anchor pavilion and 33 more trees. Waldrup also played a role — along with government leaders, foundations and organizations — in securing $600 million in state-led investment in Downtown. The funding will include modernizing Point State Park and creating the Arts Landing public space in the Cultural District as well as adding hundreds of new housing units to the Golden Triangle.

For his leadership, creative thinking and vision, Pittsburgh Magazine has selected Jeremy Waldrup as its 2025 Pittsburgher of the Year.

“There is no one who is more critical to the success of Pittsburgh than Jeremy Waldrup,” says Herky Pollock, the real estate developer, broker and entrepreneur who moved from the East End to Downtown during the pandemic. “He has been the fabric and glue that has kept Downtown together.”

“I never met a person who didn’t like Jeremy,” he says. “He’s very easygoing and kind of ‘aw shucks,’ but he’s very smart and very shrewd and gets everything done.”

Related: Celebrating our Previous Pittsburghers of the Year

PHOTO BY ELAN MIZRAHI

A Beacon for Downtown

On a sunny day in early November, backhoes dig into the concrete of Market Square while office workers maneuver around the obstacle course of orange fencing.

Some passersby look confused, but Waldrup seems at home. He chats up merchants, grabs his regular coffee order at the 106-year-old Nicholas Coffee & Tea Co., and greets the mail carrier. When he walks by The Original Oyster House, co-owner Renee Grippo, known as Mama G, yells out “Jeremy!” She hugs him and he compliments her on the winter cutouts in the window. Her daughter and co-owner, Jennifer Grippo, comes out to greet him. They talk about him making a point to come to their 155th anniversary party fresh from Oktoberfest in his lederhosen.

Waldrup, 50, has pale blue eyes that peer out of Kent Clark-style glasses, a thick wave of gray hair sweeping across his forehead.

He stops to get updates from the construction crew that’s busy working on a new Market Square in time for the NFL Draft, scheduled for April 23-25 and likely drawing some 700,000 visitors to the city. “It will be like a European plaza, pedestrian-first,” he says.

Though PDP is a nonprofit community-development organization created to enhance Downtown, this is the first time the group has overseen a construction project — and it’s a big one, at $15 million. Waldrup has learned the intricacies of the permitting process and the logistics of supporting the operations of local businesses, from accommodating food delivery drivers and customer access to delivering hundreds of pounds of ingredients to restaurants, all with barricades all around them.

He talks to Mike Schoeneman, superintendent at Mascaro Construction Co., about shifting traffic patterns from the south part of the square near PPG to the now completed north side of the square. They discuss the route pedestrians will take for the Block Party that was planned later in the month to mark the halfway point of the revitalization project.

“It will be ready, right?” Waldrup asks playfully.

Schoeneman nods. The Saturday night Block Party was a reminder that dozens of Market Square businesses are still there amid the chaos of construction that has depressed sales during the all-important holiday shopping season. The PDP planned weekly family-friendly events, dubbed the Yinzer Wonderland, in Market Square during the holiday season. Waldrup’s team also coordinated November Light Up Night, when thousands converged on the Golden Triangle to watch the tree lighting.

Making his way to the eastern corner of Market Square, Waldrup passes a haggard-looking man sitting on the sidewalk, wrapped in a plaid blanket. A young woman hands him a sandwich.

Scenes like this have become more visible after the COVID-19 shutdown.

“What makes Downtown feel safer is people. If they are not in here, you are in a cavernous place and you feel like, ‘If I yell, [there is no one to help.]’”

Waldrup says 65% to 75% of workers have returned to Downtown’s offices. But the pandemic showed that the city was overdependent on office space and had too little residential space — something he hopes to change.

Downtown crime became a hot topic and generated headlines, particularly after some highly publicized attacks on bystanders, including an 18-year-old intern who was assaulted by a stranger in the summer of 2024 and a 65-year-old man who was stabbed on the street in 2025. Some merchants left town as safety concerns grew. Robert Fragasso, chairman of the board of Fragasso Financial Advisors Inc., had been working Downtown for 50 years before leaving in 2023. He says his building on the corner of Smithfield Street and Sixth Avenue was at the epicenter of crime, a few doors down from a no-barrier homeless shelter that has since closed.

“We had drug dealers parked in front of our building, dealing. Police were prevented from policing that activity. Drug dealers were preying on the poor homeless people. Our building custodian was cleaning up feces and squirting urine off our sidewalk every morning. We had shootings, fights, overdoses all the time. Our clients told us, ‘We are not coming down.’ … It was like wading through a crime scene of a movie every day. It was untenable.”

He says he was frustrated when he called former Mayor Ed Gainey’s office about the lack of enforcement and social services for those in need. “There was a complete absence of participation. The police expressed frustration to me,” he says.

For all his complaints about the outgoing mayor, Fragasso praised Waldrup for doing all he could through his nonprofit. “Jeremy is a beacon,” he says.

Fragasso also says police began making arrests, and Downtown has improved — but not as much as it should. Merchants say a new police substation that opened on Wood Street two years ago has helped combat crime.

Gainey calls claims that he directed police not to make arrests Downtown categorically untrue, adding that data shows crime in the city decreased under his administration. He noted he thanked officers, PDP, PNC and other partners for their work in improving the city’s “living room” during a press conference held at the Downtown Police Substation in 2025.

“Specifically for Downtown, we held quarterly meetings with corporate leaders, business owners and other stakeholder organizations over the course of two years to provide a forum for open and honest dialogue about the challenges and opportunities for partnership to address those same challenges,” Gainey said in a statement. “While those were difficult conversations, no one was ignored. These discussions were critical in informing the work that ultimately led to the $600 million comprehensive reinvestment plan for Downtown.”

For all the publicity about unsafe streets, Waldrup says, “crimes against people who don’t know each other are very uncommon Downtown.”

PDP also stepped up its efforts to clean up and connect with people. In their bright gold uniforms, the On-Street Services Team picks up trash, removes graffiti and power-washes sidewalks and alleys. The outreach team interacts with the homeless and panhandlers in a nonjudgmental way and connects them with social services.

“I don’t think anybody really wants to sleep on the street. So we have this day in, day out engagement, to get this person into stable housing,” Waldrup says.

Pollock, the real estate developer, refutes the narrative that Downtown is dangerous. “The people who are most critical of Downtown Pittsburgh are the people who live in the suburbs and never come Downtown,” he says.

Service of Others

The guy who is now known for revitalizing cities grew up in tiny Fletcher, North Carolina, population 8,320, on the outskirts of Asheville. An only child, Waldrup worked one summer at age 14 at the local trail riding stable in exchange for a horse.

His father, Chuck, was a police officer turned Pentecostal preacher, and his mother, Libby, led the prayer worship team at the church. The two had met in a Southern gospel touring band — he played drums and she sang — and appeared on the “PTL Club,” Jim and Tammy Faye Baker’s Christian TV show.

As a teenager, Waldrup helped with the children’s ministry at their church. He inherited his mother’s singing voice, crooning the national anthem at high school football and basketball games and performing a solo at his graduation. Though no longer active in the Pentecostal church, he says, “I grew up in the service of others, and I do feel like this job is similar. You are sharing people’s happiness when things are good and you are there for the not-so-great issues with construction or public safety.”

Even as a kid playing Little League, he had a way of defusing conflict among players if things got tense, Chuck Waldrup says. “In the South, we call it unruffling feathers. He would be a jokester and get everyone laughing and calm things down.”

Yearning to attend college in a city, he chose to get his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Many of his classmates went into banking, but he knew that wasn’t for him. Intrigued by a city development organization called Charlotte Center City Partners, the 21-year-old walked in and asked if he could volunteer.

“They looked at me like I had three heads,” he recalls. No one had ever asked to volunteer before.

He was sent out into the streets with a push cart to hand out pamphlets and field questions about local attractions.

Rob Walsh, then the CEO of the organization, knew immediately that “he was someone special. He had this knack with people.” That summer gig led to a full-time job in economic development. After Waldrup received a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Colorado, Walsh, his old boss — who had become NYC Commissioner of Small Business Services under Mayor Mike Bloomberg — offered him a big opportunity. Waldrup was hired by the South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corp.

At first, New Yorkers rolled their eyes at the young hire. “They counted his niceness against him. They underestimated him,” Walsh says.

Waldrup then became assistant commissioner of district development for the Department of Small Business Services, overseeing 64 Business Improvement Districts.

As he moved up the ladder, the kid who could calm down his Little League teammates proved that he could work with the heads of Business Improvement Districts. “They had egos the size of Arkansas,” Walsh says “They thought, ‘Who was this kid who didn’t grow up in New York telling us what the rules are going to be? How dare you?’ But he managed to do it all with grace and professionalism.”

He was only 35 when he was recruited to PDP, moving to Pittsburgh with his wife, Wesley, a counselor, and their three kids — the youngest just an infant. Waldrup figured since he was heading up the Downtown group, he would live Downtown. Then the couple found out there were hardly any young kids around, and the closest playground was on the North Side. The family moved to Shadyside and then bought a house in Friendship; they managed with one car until the pandemic, relying often on public transit, Wesley says. Weather permitting, Waldrup commutes via ride-share bike Downtown.

The nonprofit has garnered national attention for Picklesburgh. Waldrup had seen another group, Riverlife, unveil Pierogi Fest, and wished he had thought of the idea based on the energy it created around something so authentically Pittsburgh. He told his staff at a meeting 11 years ago that he wanted to come up with something similar. Russell Howard, the PDP’s former vice president of special events and development, suggested an event centered on the lowly pickle. The marketing director christened it Picklesburgh.

“I knew it was a good idea,” Waldrup says. “I didn’t know it was a great idea.” That became apparent when they ran out of T-shirts the first night of the 2015 festival and had to ask the printer to do an overnight rush order. Four times, USA Today has named it the No. 1 Specialty Food Festival in the country, including in 2025.

Waldrup himself judges the pickle-juice slurping contest. “It can get contentious. You have several thousand people who also watch it with you and have very strong opinions. So thank God for video playback.”

While festivals like Picklesburgh, Oktoberfest and the Holiday Market have given PDP the most attention, Waldrup is proudest of how he reacted to the dire needs of restaurants during the pandemic shutdown. His organization paid for restaurants to create nourishing meals and provide them to people in need.

Now he is looking ahead to rebuilding the city after the trauma of the pandemic, including bringing in more shops and services. “We want to double the residential population in the next 10 years,” he says, which would bring the current 7,300 residents to about 15,000.

To do that, he says, he wants the next young couple considering a move Downtown to find other young families and parks and playgrounds. He’s excited that the 4-acre Arts Landing will include the city’s first children’s playground Downtown.

He adds the NFL Draft is a catalyst and a deadline to improve public spaces.

“We are getting ready to welcome several hundreds of thousands people, and millions will watch this on TV. We want that B-roll shot of Downtown Pittsburgh to show the vibrancy and beautiful architecture and amazing public spaces. But our real focus is on what’s happening beyond the draft.”

THE ATRIUM AREA BETWEEN THE CENTER CORE AND MEET-AND-GREET WELCOME POINT WITH BAGGAGE CLAIM. | RENDERING COURTESY OF PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

It all began with a scribble on the back of a receipt.

When Pittsburgh International Airport CEO Christina Cassotis was discussing with other aviation leaders her dilemma about what to do about Pittsburgh’s way-too-big-and-outdated airport, Jeff Fegan, former CEO of Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, had an idea.

He made the bold suggestion of moving the landside terminal building over to the airside terminal — making it one complex. Why do you need two buildings, connected by a half-mile tram? He illustrated his idea on the back of a restaurant receipt dated April 2, 2015.

THE SCRIBBLE ON THE RECEIPT THAT SERVED AS A STARTING POINT FOR THE NEW DESIGN. | COURTESY PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

“I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s a great idea,’” Cassotis recalled at the time. The scribble evolved into a rough blueprint for the $1.7 billion terminal that is on track to open this fall.

City and regional leaders see the new terminal as a way of reintroducing Pittsburgh to the world — and the city will get that opportunity in a big way next April, when the NFL Draft is expected to draw 700,000 to the Steel City.

“For us, from a travel perspective, the airport is oftentimes the very first impression and the very last impression that a lot of travel consumers have of the destination,” says Jared Bachar, president and CEO of VisitPittsburgh. “Travel is a $6.8 billion sector in Allegheny County alone, supporting 40,000 jobs. So having an airport that is world class, that is cutting edge, is absolutely critical to everything that we’re trying to do to continue to move in a direction of being hyper-competitive as a travel destination across the board.”

The design is quintessentially Pittsburgh. Signs are in black and gold. A pedestrian bridge and tunnel — patterned after the Fort Pitt Tunnel and Bridge — connects landside operations with the airside terminal. The undulating roof mirrors the region’s rolling hills. A larger and more comfortable meet-and-greet area at baggage claim acknowledges the charming habits of Pittsburghers who come inside to pick up their loved ones, friends and colleagues — a practice that Cassotis says is “rare” these days at airports. The restaurant and retail corridor is packed with local brands.

A RENDERING OF THE MEET-AND-GREET AREA. | COURTESY OF PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

When the current terminal opened in 1992, The New York Times called it the “airport of the future.” It served as a model for other airports around the world. It also was built to be the largest connecting hub for US Airways; it was a place where 80% of travelers simply changed planes.

At its peak in the mid-’90s, the airport served 21 million passengers per year. But in 2004, as US Airways struggled through two bankruptcies, it abruptly canceled its lease for the hub.

That led to the loss of two-thirds of its passengers. And with that action, PIT became an origin-destination airport, meaning travelers flew out of Pittsburgh and returned to Pittsburgh. Now, about 10 million are using the airport each year; only 2% are switching planes.

The new 811,000-square-foot terminal, which broke ground in October 2021, is “right-sizing” and modernizing the airport for Pittsburgh’s future, airport officials say. By eliminating the half-mile tram that links the two terminals, passengers will be able to go from curb to gate in half the time it takes them now. And the airport will save $25 million a year in operating and maintenance costs, says Paul Hoback, chief development officer and executive vice president of the Allegheny County Airport Authority.

“The whole point was to redefine what it means to be an airport, and what it means to its community and to a global industry,” Cassotis told a group of international aviation leaders meeting at the new terminal in May.

The design of the new terminal, developed by Gensler + HDR in association with Luis Vidal + Architects, follows trends across the aviation industry: New terminals or airport spaces are bringing in more natural light and greenery and adding outdoor spaces. They’re creating sustainability, enhancing comfort and wellness and tailoring design, artwork and amenities to the specific city.

In a major preparation for the new terminal, a dress rehearsal of sorts will be held on Sept. 20 in which 2,000-2,500 volunteers will be testing all aspects of the airport. PIT hired Daniel Bryan, an industry consultant who has overseen similar tests at airports around the world, to lead the tests here. When PIT put out the call for volunteers in late June, it expected 3,000 to 4,000 people to respond; instead, 18,000 signed up. Bryan will be helping to select the volunteers who will best represent all types of travelers — families, those with disabilities, those who don’t have smartphones or aren’t technologically savvy, business folks and the leisure traveler.

The airport also has scheduled a Community Open House for the public from noon to 7 p.m. on Oct. 11 for people to explore at their own pace all aspects of the new terminal.

When opening day arrives, the switchover will occur during the few hours in the middle of the night between when the last flights of the previous day depart and arrive, at about 11 p.m,, or later, to when the first flights depart on opening day before dawn. The roads to the new terminal are finished, and new directional signs are up. Just a single strip of Jersey barriers needs to be moved to open up the new roadway to the new terminal.

Cassotis is confident the new terminal will be well-received.

“It’s going to work for the passengers,” she says. “It’s going to work for the people who work here. It’s going to work for the people who pick up and drop off. And it’s going to work for our partners.”

The Design

A RENDERING OF ONE OF THE OUTDOOR TERRACES. | COURTESY PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

When PIT officials embarked on the terminal project, they brought in architectural teams with the aim of finding and building collaboration first before considering design.

“We wanted to find a firm that was going to be very collaborative — but also disruptive a little bit, and not avoid conflict because we believe conflict was something that could help elevate the design,” Hoback has said.

They selected a pair of global firms – Gensler + HDR and Luis Vidal + Architects.

The next step was getting them acquainted with the Steel City — to show them what made Pittsburgh Pittsburgh. Bill Flanagan, senior advisor for the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, took them on a bus ride around the city. They looked at the city skyline from Mount Washington; they walked through Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens; they toured the universities; they drove through neighborhoods.

The firms came up with a design theme based on their observations: Nature, Technology, Community — or NaTeCo.

You see nature in the steel columns shaped like trees that stretch to the ceiling in the departure area. You see it in the tall windows and wavy, wood-like ceiling (the panels are actually made of metal to look like wood; developers learned that the wood could warp) that bring in natural light, cutting down on the use of electricity. You see it in the constellation lighting. And you see it in other greenery and the four outside terraces.

Each of the terraces — two before the security checkpoint and two post-security — will be filled with native plants, walkways and benches. Rainwater will be collected and recirculated to water the landscaping, says Chad Willis, the authority’s vice president of planning, environmental and sustainability at PIT.

“The use of nature — natural light, ventilation, color, vegetation, outdoor activity — all those things are very rare in an airport, and this will be one of the very first airports in the world to take advantage of all these possibilities,” architect Luis Vidal said in an airport video.

Another aim of the design is to reduce travel stress. “We’re trying to reduce stressors and stimuli as much as possible,” Siri Betts-Sonstegard, senior vice president of experience and design for the airport authority, said on a recent tour of the new terminal.

“We can’t be a completely quiet airport, but we’re trying to reduce, [for example,] sound coming out of speakers — we put that into our concession agreements … We’re really creating a sense of calm, because we know [that] travel can be difficult.”

PM Managing Editor Sean Collier contributed to this report.

Ticketing & Security

The airline ticket counters are in the main lobby, where passengers enter the airport for departures. Each airline counter will have a lower section accessible to wheelchairs. Improved signage, lighting and design aim to help more quickly guide travelers through this area.

From there, travelers will follow signs or the constellation lighting in the ceiling to the security checkpoint. The distance between the individual lights in the ceiling narrows as they progress toward the checkpoint — serving as a decorative wayfinding tool.

There are 12 public Transportation Security Administration lanes (double the number of what’s in the main security area now), including lanes for TSA PreCheck, CLEAR and Priority boarding. The number of lanes dedicated to each will vary according to demand; there’s also an additional line exclusively for staff and airline employees.

With state-of-the-art scanning equipment, travelers no longer will have to remove phones, tablets, laptops or liquids, Hoback says. And, because of a change recently made by the TSA, they don’t have to remove their shoes, either.

Peak waiting times to get through the new TSA lanes have been estimated to be no more than 30 minutes, he says.

Once through security, passengers will walk 160 feet across a bridge and through a tunnel — which emulates the entrance to Downtown through the Fort Pitt tunnel — to get to the airside terminal, with its shops, restaurants and gates. A wall of video screens on each side of the bridge will present wayfinding information and more. Once passengers get through the tunnel, they’ll take escalators or elevators down to the center core of the airside terminal to the gates.

Checked baggage will be handled on the terminal’s ground floor, where robots will be assisting TSA agents in their inspections of suspicious bags and those that trigger alarms. Currently, the agents have to pick up a suspicious 50-pound bag, take it to another belt, open it, inspect it and then manually return it to another belt.

“We will have 41 robots in this airport that do all of that,” Hoback says. “The TSA agent will never have to lift up that bag, which is certainly a safety issue” and can cause back injuries for the agents. He added that PIT will be one of a handful of airports using robots in this way.

Getting There

COURTESY OF PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Visitors to the new terminal at Pittsburgh International Airport will take the same exit off of Interstate 376 that they do now. They will enter the airport property on a similar horseshoe-shaped roadway as they do now — it will just go deeper into the property. And they’ll use the same exit out of the airport property as they do now.

In fact, passengers may not even notice much change as they use the new airport roadways —- and airport officials say that is by design.

Passengers will be directed by overhead signs to parking options (including a new garage, with more than 3,200 spaces for public parking — tripling the number of covered parking spaces currently at the airport), or to a double-decker bridge on the front of the terminal that will separate traffic into three levels. The top is for departures, like it is now. The middle is for arrivals, dedicating space to passenger pickup. The bottom level will be for all rideshares, taxies, vans and buses.

Gone will be the current confusion at the baggage-claim level, in which passenger pickup is on one side of the building and public transportation, rideshares and taxis are on the other.

Regarding parking, there now is a designated cell-phone lot where drivers can park at no cost while waiting to pick up arriving passengers. It will be near the entrance to the airport property and will be called the Free Wait Lot, where motorists can wait, for free, for up to an hour.

There are 2,800 spaces in the Terminal Lot, a surface lot next to the terminal, plus those in the new Terminal Garage. The garage will offer a “smart parking system” that will assist drivers in finding open spaces on the four floors of public parking. Travelers would walk to the terminal from these two areas. More parking will be available in the airport’s Shuttle lots, currently known as the long-term, extended and economy lots. From here, travelers must take shuttles (with new, bigger buses) to the terminal. The bus shelters will be heated, and buses have been upgraded to better accommodate those with disabilities.

Shopping & Dining

Over the last year, new stores have opened or expanded in the airside terminal. More are yet to come — in a combination of local businesses and national chains.

Many of the 15 new stores and restaurants being added were requested by local travelers and visitors. “We’ve listened to what our travelers wanted — a balance between showcasing not only our local brands, but also having the availability of unique and respected national and international brands,” says Travis McNichols, chief operations officer for the Allegheny County Airport Authority.

“We know many different types of travelers go through our airport every day, and we want to ensure that our offerings meet the needs of everyone that we serve.”

Even before the switch to the new terminal, these new retail and dining options opened their doors.

Hammer Made — A men’s clothing retailer founded in Minneapolis, Hammer Made has about 10 locations in malls and airports around the country. This location, the first in the Pittsburgh area, opened in July in Concourse B.

Duquesne Supply Co. — This Pittsburgh-centric gift shop carries such items as: locally made Tabbara Chocolates, Sarris candies, Pittsburgh Popcorn Co. products, Una Biologicals and Spectrum Fudge; mugs, shot glasses, keychains and more bearing “Pittsburghese” terms including “nebby” and “yinz”; hot sauces, OMG Pretzels and more.

Sambazon Acai Bowls — Found in many airports and universities around the country, this Brazilian-influenced chain offers acai bowls, smoothies and other healthy options.

Champion City Sports — This shop offers Steelers, Penguins and Pirates gear and memorabilia, an interactive sports simulator and all sorts of gifts. It also has collaborations with Build-A-Bear and Vera Bradley franchises.

MAC Cosmetics — A national cosmetic company, MAC also has counters at area Macy’s, Nordstrom and Ulta locations.

Jimmy John’s — A national sandwich-shop chain.

More stores and restaurants are due to open before the new terminal debuts, including the region’s second location of Shake Shack, a fast-casual restaurant based in New York. It is slated to open in the former McDonald’s spot in the center core in September.

Mineo’s Pizza, a Squirrel Hill institution, also will be in the center core. Two locally owned coffee chains are planned: Convive Coffee, which will be opening in Concourse A, and two locations of Wexford-based Cafe Conmigo, in the center core across from Sarris candies (opening in early September) and in the meet-and-greet area. Also in the center core will be Mi Casa Cantina, at the entrance of Concourse B; Bad Egg Breakfast Bar, a breakfast spot found in other airports; and Stack + Press Delicatessen.

The Gates

Seating in most areas has been upgraded to be more comfortable and to include in-seat device chargers. Original artwork also has been added to the gate areas.

Bathrooms along the concourses have been modernized or are undergoing improvements. In particular, stall doors are being changed to open out rather than in — to allow ample space inside for carry-on luggage. Each concourse will include a nursing room, as well as a bathroom with an adult changing table.

Presley’s Place, a 1,500-square-foot room that provides a quiet, peaceful spot for people with sensory sensibilities and their families, will remain near Gate A9. It opened in 2019 after a PIT heavy equipment operator dropped a comment in the CEO suggestion box asking the airport to provide a quiet place for children like his son, Presley, who has autism. The room is now serving as a model for other airports around the world.

Kidsport, a 2,100-square-foot aviation-themed play area for children, is being revamped in collaboration with the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh and will reopen in Concourse C.

Baggage Claim & Meeting Spaces

One of the major changes in the upgraded baggage system involves the distance the checked luggage will now travel from plane to baggage carousel — it’s being reduced from 8 miles to 3, Hoback says. The carousels also are larger.

Does that mean that the bags will be waiting for passengers as soon as they arrive at baggage claim? Not necessarily, Hoback says. Passengers will have a much shorter distance to walk from plane arrival to baggage claim — absent the tram ride — so they’ll get there in less time.

But there will be a circular bar, two outdoor terraces and other amenities at baggage claim to help pass the time. It’s part of the expanded meet-and-greet area, named Welcome Point, which addresses the “Community” part of the NaTeCo theme. Pittsburghers like to park their cars and go inside to wait for loved ones or friends rather than just picking them up at the curb, Hoback says.

“We want a place for families [or] business partners to be able to wait,” Cassotis says, “so they would have access to the landside terraces, free security, great views of the airfield.” She calls the practice of face-to-face meetings “lovely.”

From baggage claim, those seeking rental cars will head to the Customer Service Building out front. They’ll then walk through a covered pedestrian walkway to the parking garage, where the rental cars are parked to be picked up.

Art & Amenities

Pittsburghers will be pleased to see the return of the Alexander Calder mobile called “Pittsburgh,” which is now hanging in the atrium of the departures area. It had hung in the airside terminal since 1992 — and since 1959, at the older airport in Moon.

The piece, designed with paddle-like forms suspended on metal rods that rotate with air currents, won first place in the 1958 Pittsburgh International Exhibition of Contemporary Paintings and Sculpture (now known as the Carnegie International) at the Carnegie Museum of Art. After the exhibition, it was purchased by G. David Thompson, who donated it to Allegheny County; at times it traveled to exhibitions around the world, including to Guggenheim Bilbao in Spain. Calder, who was born outside of Harrisburg, died in 1976 at age 78 in New York City.

Three statues now greet travelers at the entrance of the landside terminal: George Washington, 19th-century investigative journalist and world traveler Nellie Bly and Pittsburgh Steelers legend Franco Harris. Harris definitely will be placed in the new terminal; at press time, officials were trying to figure out places for the other two. Still up in the air is whether there will be places for the replica of the Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton (provided by the Carnegie Museum of Natural History) or Miss Pittsburgh, the restored Waco 9 airplane that made the first airmail flight from Pittsburgh to Cleveland.

The Hotel

The 11-story, 338-room Hyatt Regency is the only hotel on airport property, and it has been connected to the landside terminal via a peoplemover since it opened in 2000. It loses that connection once the new terminal opens.

A system of shuttles will run between the hotel and the new terminal. These are being paid for through a settlement reached on June 27 between the Allegheny County Airport Authority and owners of the Hyatt Regency. That settlement includes a payment of $152,000 to Hyatt Regency owners MCSW Penn Hospitality LLC the first year and increases in subsequent years to cover the costs.

Floor Plans

These are the floor plans of the departures and arrivals levels of the new landside terminal.

Future Growth at the Airport

Beyond the new terminal project, Pittsburgh International Airport has its sights on several other innovations.

It’s the first airport in the world to be solely powered by its own 23-megawatt microgrid with an on-site natural gas plant and a solar panel field that is being doubled in size. By 2027, it hopes to have more than 20,000 solar panels stretched over 20 acres of landfill property that can’t be used for any other purpose. When expanded, the solar field will produce 7.7 megawatts of power; 4.3 megawatts of that will supply energy to the regional electric grid, giving the community additional renewable energy.

In June, the Allegheny County Airport Authority, which owns and runs the airport, announced it is partnering with New Jersey-based Avina Synthetic Aviation Fuel to develop the first on-airport sustainable aviation fuel production facility in the nation. Once built, the facility is expected to produce more than 100 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel each year to meet local and regional commercial and cargo needs at PIT and for other entities.

According to Avina’s press release, the plant — which will employ hundreds of full-time workers when it opens — will have a carbon intensity that is at least 65% lower than that of conventional jet fuel. It will use KBR’s PureSAF alcohol-to-jet technology — developed and owned by Swedish Biofuels AB and licensed globally by KBR, which is headquartered in Houston.

Since 2019, the authority also has been developing Neighborhood 91, a 195-acre advanced manufacturing campus on the western end of the airport’s 8,800 acres. The Regional Industrial Development Corp. is handling property management and business attraction for the site.

Among the businesses opening on airport property near Neighborhood 91 (named to represent an extension of Pittsburgh’s 90 neighborhoods) is Mainspring Energy, a Menlo Park, California-based company that plans to produce 1,000 low-emissions linear power generators per year. Its 292,000-square-foot facility — slated to open in 2027 — is expected to employ 600 people.

At press time, airport officials had made no decision about what would happen to the current landside terminal — whether it would be reused for other purposes or torn down.

The airport also sees expansion in its cargo operations; the manufacturing companies at Neighborhood 91, for example, can benefit from their close proximity to cargo operations that can ship their products around the world, says Sara Innamorato, Allegheny County executive.

“They’ve been incredibly creative and innovative,” she says about the authority’s vision. “They have pushed the bounds of what that authority can do, and now it’s time for Allegheny County economic development to bring the right partners around the table to make sure that we can continue to build on that success and build out that campus to really put us on the map.

“There’s a lot of opportunity that is adjacent to the new terminal that is very exciting for the growth of our entire region.”

THE 2026 NFL DRAFT COUNTDOWN CLOCK WAS INSTALLED ON THE NORTH SHORE IN MAY TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW HOW SOON THE BIG EVENT WILL BE IN PITTSBURGH. | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

With the NFL Draft now 314 days away, the Steelers are moving ahead on two important improvements at Acrisure Stadium to get ready for all the festivities coming April 23-25, 2026.

They plan to replace 10,000 to 12,000 square feet of lawn outside of the stadium at the corner of North Shore Drive and Rooney Avenue with artificial turf for youth activities. The Steelers started promoting that grassy area last season as the Steel Yard, bringing in DJs and offering lawn games, a photo booth and more before and after the game. The new turf is expected to be completed before the fall season but aims to support fan activities long after the draft is held, according to PSSI Stadium LLC, an affiliate of the Steelers that holds the lease on the stadium.

The Steelers also will be installing a much larger LED sign near Gate A on an exterior ramp tower. The new 1,117 square- foot-sign will be more than seven times the size of the current 154-square-foot sign, which has reached the end of its life. That work should be completed by next April. The electronic screen will be used to present information and announcements about the draft and to support an enhanced fan experience at the stadium and on the North Shore, according to PSSI.

PART OF THE SOUTH LAWN IN FRONT OF ACRISURE STADIUM. A PORTION OF THE LAWN WILL BE REPLACED THIS SUMMER WITH ARTIFICIAL TURF FOR YOUTH ACTIVITIES PLANNED DURING THE NFL DRAFT COMING IN APRIL 2026. | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

The Pittsburgh Sports and Exhibition Authority, which owns the stadium, this past week approved the team’s plans, according to a story in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Between 500,000 and 700,000 fans are projected to descend upon Pittsburgh for draft activities that will be taking place both on the North Shore outside of Acrisure Stadium and across the Allegheny River in Point State Park. About $3.4 million of work is underway in Point State Park to improve the lighting, walkways and more. Major Downtown renovations also are underway in Market Square, the Allegheny Riverfront Park and on what is called Arts Landing in the 8th Street Block area of the Cultural District — all aimed at spiffing up the city for the big occasion and beyond.

HYEHOLDE | PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

It’s an inspiring time to be covering Pittsburgh’s restaurant industry. There’s an undercurrent of electricity to dining in the city right now, driven by chefs who are growing into themselves and spaces that feel more self-assured than ever. We’ve never been a city that’s been focused too much on buzzy gimmicks and fleeting trends.

What’s happening here is deeper than that. Our chefs are digging into their identities and building menus that reflect who they are — and who they want to be. And it’s making me excited to see what’s next.

The 26 restaurants in this list exemplify the best of what’s out there, with dishes that stopped me in my tracks and experiences that lingered long after the last bite.

The Best Restaurants in Pittsburgh

• Alta Via
• Altius
• Apteka
• Balvanera
• Bar Marco
• Casbah
• Chengdu Gourmet
• DiAnoia’s Eatery
• Dish Osteria and Bar
• Driftwood Oven
• Duo’s Taqueria
• Eleven Contemporary Kitchen
• EYV
• Fet-Fisk
• Gi-Jin
• Hyeholde
• Lilith
• Morcilla
• One by Spork
• Otaru
• Pusadee’s Garden
• Siempre Algo
• Soju
• The Speckled Egg
• The Vandal
• Wise County Cafe

Alta Via

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Inspired by the flavors of Northern California and Italy, Alta Via (both at its original O’Hara location and its newer outpost in Market Square) takes a fresh, contemporary approach to Italian cuisine, steering clear of clichés like checkered tablecloths and oversized plates of red sauce.

Instead, under the guidance of big Burrito partner Bill Fuller, Alta Via leans into the refined simplicity of house-made pastas and vegetable-heavy dishes, like a plate of baby artichokes served with fresh mint-salsa crudo.

Fuller has spent years fine-tuning Alta Via’s concept, drawing inspiration both from his time living in the Bay Area and his travels through Europe. The result is a menu that’s anchored by delicate handmade egg noodles and extruded pasta, crafted daily in a dedicated pasta and bread-making room in the Market Square location. And while Alta Via initially avoided East Coast Italian staples (“We didn’t want to be too classic Italian,” Fuller says), one pandemic pivot led to the creation of the now wildly popular chicken Parmesan.

The dish is made with chicken breast brined in a blend of whole milk, garlic and Calabrian chiles before being sauteed and topped with, yes, their house red sauce. It may be a classic, but it’s perfectly their own.

O’Hara: 46 Fox Chapel Road
412-408-3816

Downtown: 2 pPPG Place, Market Square
412-981-5155

Altius

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

It would be a mistake to think of Altius as merely a special-occasion restaurant. Yes, the views are breathtaking; perched atop Mount Washington, it offers one of the most spectacular vantage points of Pittsburgh’s skyline. And yes, the service is impeccable, led by proprietor B DeFrancis and a front-of-house team that ensures every detail is flawless.

But beyond the elegance, Altius is a place where fine dining feels both luxurious and incredibly welcoming. When Chef and Owner Jessica Bauer opened the restaurant more than a decade ago, she aimed to create a space that was uniquely Pittsburgh. “We always strive to not be something that Pittsburgh is not,” Bauer says. “We do certain things that are unique to us, like the amuse-bouche, the takeaway treat, the whole experience. But at our core, we’re still a big, center-of-the-plate, meat-and-potatoes place.”

Signature dishes like the Heron Point Crab Toast (a truly special starter, with wild-caught crab and grilled artichoke cream cheese on a house-made baguette) highlight Bauer’s thoughtful approach to flavor. The Chilean sea bass, paired with seasonal accompaniments, and the flawlessly executed filet mignon (it’s a splurge, but the melt-in-your-mouth steak is worth it) are showstoppers.

Altius is a restaurant designed to impress, but it’s just as suited for a spontaneous Monday-night indulgence.

Mount Washington: 1230 Grandview Ave.
412-904-4442

Apteka

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Even after nine years in business, Bloomfield’s Apteka is still one of Pittsburgh’s most effortlessly cool dining experiences. Owners Kate Lasky and Tomasz Skowronski, perennial James Beard nominees, have built something remarkable: a restaurant that defies convention, from its counter-service model to its all-vegan, Eastern European-inspired (and deeply labor-intensive) menu.

Apteka’s menu is a reflection of meticulous preparation and seasonal inspiration. “Everything is from scratch,” Lasky explains. “Some base ingredients take 72 hours. We’re soaking nuts, making milk, culturing it, fermenting it. But we love that. This is what we work for.”

And you can taste that effort in their food. Definitely order the pierogies; they’re time-tested and worth all of the hype. But you also must lean into the experience, and order something that surprises you, such as a rosehip soup with marfax beans, or Kluski Leniwe, a funky potato and sunflower-seed dumpling with sunchoke sauce (creamy and made of sunchokes, also known as Jerusalem artichokes).

The menu changes regularly, depending on what’s seasonally available. Lasky and Skowronski also dig into their own culinary archives for inspiration and make endless adjustments until they’re perfect. “There’s a very simple salad with nice Napa cabbage and herbs that Tomasz’s grandfather used to make growing up,” Lasky says. “But the thing that was really crucial for this dish is cottage cheese. So we ended up experimenting with culturing pumpkin seeds and we got this product that’s kind of waxy in texture and has a chew like a fresh cheese. All of a sudden, we’ve opened this door, and we can have this new thing to work with.”

It’s proof that even after nearly a decade, Apteka is still discovering new ways to surprise and delight.

Bloomfield: 4606 Penn Ave.
412-251-0189

Balvanera

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Sometimes, what you’re really craving isn’t just a great meal — it’s a little bit of fun. Balvanera gives you both.

The sprawling, 4,400-square-foot Strip District steakhouse doesn’t do quiet. It brings serious energy to your evening out. It’s loud, lively and offers a creative take on South American cuisine, with a menu that’s centered around grass-fed beef from Pampas of Argentina. The Ancho (the Argentine ribeye) was my favorite, deeply marbled and perfectly prepared. House-made sausages, like the pork and guanciale version laced with piquillo and guindilla peppers offer a strong showing, while the morcilla, a blood sausage with an unexpected bite, keeps things interesting.

But it’s the surprising touches that make Balvanera stand out. A seemingly simple cheese plate with Goat Rodeo Farm’s Bamboozle flavor is taken to another level when paired with poached quince (and had us asking for seconds), and a crème brûlée-style Basque cheesecake was impossible to resist, even after a delightfully heavy meal.

Add in a deep bench of South American wines and a clever take on classic cocktails and you have a restaurant that’s as much about the experience as it is about food. This isn’t just dinner; it’s a night out. Balvenera makes sure it’s a good one.

Strip District: 1660 Smallman St.
412-586-5617

Bar Marco

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

What does it take for a restaurant to be considered a classic? After more than a decade in the Strip District, Bar Marco has earned that title while still managing to feel as fresh as it did on the day it opened.

Now under the sole ownership of Justin Steel — one of the four original founders — the restaurant continues to evolve while staying true to itself. Bar Marco and its now-closed sibling, The Livermore, were the first no-tip establishments in Pittsburgh; Bar Marco continues that practice.

It brings an Italian sensibility to its menu, but not in the way you might think. “Italian restaurants in Italy aren’t ‘Italian restaurants,’” Steel explains. “They just use the best local products. So we take that philosophy and use as much local produce and meats that we can then supplement with really nice products from Italy.”

The menu, Steel says, shifts with the seasons, offering lighter, coastal influences in the summer and heartier northern Italian flavors in winter, like the hand-cut pappardelle dish I was fortunate enough to try in December. Made with braised duck, green peppercorns, duck brodo, cabbage and a cured egg yolk, it was a dish that lingered in my memory long well after I enjoyed it.

The evolution continues. Bar Marco recently expanded its offerings and introduced a more traditional menu format. We’re ready.

Strip District: 2216 Penn Ave.
412-471-1900

Casbah

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

In every city, restaurants come and go. The great ones leave a mark. But the legends endure. Casbah, celebrating its 30th year, is the definition of a legend.

A cornerstone of big Burrito Restaurant Group’s empire, it’s a restaurant that has grown with Pittsburgh, changing and evolving but never losing sight of what makes it special. You can taste it in the food, in dishes that have been fine-tuned to near perfection over decades.

The Long Island duck, for example, has been braised, rendered and fussed over with an obsessive attention to detail to the point where you’d be a fool to bet against it. Same story with the double-cut pork chop, a Casbah standard. Three decades in, it’s as sublime as it ever was.

The Mediterranean influences shine here, with North African and Middle Eastern flavors woven seamlessly into the menu. Start with the Mediterranean spread (house-made hummus, baba ghanoush and red pepper muhammara) before moving to the ever-popular arugula salad, a mix of pancetta, mushrooms and goat cheese with a pancetta vinaigrette that has been my personal Pittsburgh comfort food for years.

Then there’s my all-time favorite: the saffron pappardelle with lobster, a luxuriously creamy dish complemented with buttery bites of lobster. I’ve drifted from it at times, but I always come back. Just like I always come back to Casbah.

Shadyside: 229 S. Highland Ave.
412-661-5656

Chengdu Gourmet

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Pittsburgh is lucky to have Chengdu Gourmet. Not just because it’s good — though it is incredibly good — but because it’s the kind of place that rewards curiosity.

When James Beard-nominated chef Wei Zhu opened his Squirrel Hill location in 2014, it took time to catch on. But under his careful leadership, the kitchen started turning out magic, with deeply flavorful, beautifully balanced Sichuan cooking that made Chengdu Gourmet a destination.

There are two menus here: one full of the Chinese-American staples you know, the other a deep dive into Sichuan flavors. The sheer volume of items on the menus shouldn’t scare you, but allow yourself enough room to try just one more thing … and then maybe just one more. If you order General Tso’s, you won’t regret it, but the real thrill is in leaning into something a little unexpected, like the spicy dry hot pot. Add in everything from lotus root and winter melon to quail eggs and lamb.

Choose your spice level carefully (medium tests my limits) and allow yourself to revel in the numbing heat, while appreciating all of the textures of the individual components. Go with a group, order recklessly and share everything. I’ve also had some great experiences sneaking in for an early dinner on my own, over-ordering and taking the time to notice how every dish is built to work together. Either way, you’re in for something remarkable.

Squirrel Hill: 5840 Forward Ave.
412-521-2088, chengdugourmetfood.com

Ross: 4768 McKnight Road
412-579-0999

DiAnoia’s Eatery

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Dave Anoia and Aimee DiAndrea are building their own Italian empire in Pittsburgh. At the center of that empire stands DiAnoia’s Eatery, a restaurant that still manages to surprise in a city obsessed with red sauce and tradition.

If you’ve ever tried to grab a last-minute reservation, you know the deal: DiAnoia’s is one of the hottest tickets in town, and is packed every night with a crowd that defies easy categorization. “We don’t have a standard demographic,” says Anoia. “We get everyone.” They come for a reason.

The greens and beans – an untraditional take on the classic thickened to something more like a garlicky, sausage-laced stew with escarole and white wine – will ruin you for all others. The whole-roasted branzino, flaky and rich, is not to be missed. Then there’s the sleeper hit: their bistecca Fiorentina — a perfect cut of porterhouse, sliced thick, seared hard in a cast-iron pan, cooked medium-rare and drizzled with good olive oil and dusted with salt.

Nothing more, nothing less and absolutely nothing better. What truly makes DiAnoia’s special is the pasta. All of it is house-made. Some dishes, like the heirloom tomato tripoline, are fleeting — here for a moment, gone before you know it. It’s just a bucketload of tomatoes, some garlic, butter, basil and parm, but when the season is right, it tastes like pure summer.

Strip District: 2549 Penn Ave.
412-918-1875

Dish Osteria and Bar

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Dish Osteria and Bar is the restaurant that Pittsburgh chefs go to on their night off. What Michele and Cindy Savoia have been creating in their cozy South Side restaurant since 2000 is nothing short of magical.

“People loved it, even from the beginning,” Michele says. Dish started as a wine bar, offering little appetizers — a carpaccio here, a prosciutto-and-brie sandwich there. Then, as Michele tells it, one thing led to another. A little pasta made its way onto the menu. Then a little more. “Then one more thing, then one more thing, then … here we are.”

Almost 25 years later (aside from a two-year break between 2017-2019), “here we are” continues to be one of the best restaurants in Pittsburgh. The menu is the definition of seasonal. A recent radicchio salad with grilled baby artichokes in a fig dressing nearly brought me to tears. It’s not that Dish is unlike anything else in Pittsburgh; it’s that Dish is simply better. A culinary gem. A Pittsburgh institution. A place so good, so enduring, that it should be a national treasure. It’s where you send your out-of-town friends when they ask what Pittsburgh is all about.

The most beloved dish? The Rigatoni alla Scamorza Affumicata, with smoked scamorza cheese, prosciutto, peas, and roasted pistachios in a cream sauce. It’s dreamy. If no one at your table orders it, order it for the table.

Reservations are tough to come by, unless you’re looking to eat at 10 p.m.; Dish remains one of the few restaurants in the city that serves well after dark. But if you can go, you must. The small kitchen limits how many dishes can be on the menu at any given time, but it never feels limited. It feels revelatory.

South Side: 28 S. 17th St.
412-390-2012

Driftwood Oven

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Driftwood Oven is more than just a pizza spot; it’s a neighborhood staple. What began as a mobile pizza kitchen nearly a decade ago has grown into one of Pittsburgh’s most beloved pizzerias, where naturally leavened sourdough crusts and thoughtfully sourced ingredients set the standard.

Owner and baker Neil Blazin has a deep respect for fermentation, and you can taste it in every bite. His wood-fired pizzas strike the perfect balance: crispy on the outside, chewy in the middle and offering just the right amount of tang. The classic 16-inch pies and thicker Roman-style slabs are topped with everything from shiitake mushrooms and morita chili oil to herbed ricotta and a white-shallot cream sauce.

The sandwiches are just as impressive. The Italian, with mortadella, capicola, pepperoni, provolone and spicy pickled peppers on house-baked sourdough focaccia, is easily one of the best in the city. There is a cost that comes with sourcing top-level ingredients, using organic flour, Caputo Brothers cheese and produce from local farms.

“I know that our product cost is definitely higher because we’re using really quality ingredients,” Blazin says. “But I think our prices are fair.” Big changes are coming to the space in the coming months, including additional seating. But the things that make Driftwood special — the crust, the care and their underrated ginger molasses cookie — aren’t changing anytime soon.

Lawrenceville: 3615 Butler St.
412-251-0253

Duo’s Taqueria

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

How can it be that one of Pittsburgh’s best Mexican restaurants is run by a technology startup? Believe it, baby. The wildly inventive culinary arm of Duolingo started as a takeout window experiment and has since transformed into a full-fledged restaurant led by Chef Marcella Ogrodnik that takes its Mexico City-inspired menu as seriously as it takes language learning.

Duo’s Taqueria is an unexpected concept, sure, but this is no marketing gimmick. It is the real deal. The guacamole is classic, creamy and even better when topped with crunchy chicharrones. The crispy white fish taco, dressed with purple cabbage and smoky chipotle mayo, is a must. And the Suadero tacos are a nearly perfect bite, packed with tender Jubilee Hilltop Ranch brisket and a punchy salsa arbol.

Whatever you do, don’t skip the daily agua fresca, a refreshing accompaniment to anything on the menu. For dessert, I insist that you order the Tamal de Cacao, a chocolate tamale with corn mousse, cajeta (a thickened caramel) and pecans. It’s incredibly unexpected in the best way. Kind of like a restaurant from a tech company.

East Liberty: 5906 Penn Ave.
412-789-3852

Eleven Contemporary Kitchen

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Eleven Contemporary Kitchen has been standing tall in the Strip District for more than two decades, a rare feat in Pittsburgh’s ever-shifting dining scene. It was designed to be the fine-dining flagship of big Burrito Restaurant Group; in a city where elevated dining too often skews either outdated or overthought, Eleven still threads the needle.

It’s polished but not pretentious, refined but never fussy. “We wanted it to be the best of what we do,” says big Burrito Owner Bill Fuller. “But it still had to be Pittsburgh.” The dining room remains one of the city’s most effortlessly elegant spaces, modern, warm and open.

The menu leans classic American with a chef’s precision, thanks to Executive Chef Eli Wahl, who has spent years perfecting dishes that feel both familiar and exceptional. There’s swordfish over rock shrimp risotto, pastas that take the shape of the season they’re in and a short rib that all but dissolves on the fork. It’s the Gerber Farms chicken dish that tells the real story. “The chicken dish has stayed fundamentally the same, but it’s gone through multiple interactions to make it better than it ever was,” explains Fuller.

With a crisp-skinned breast and a risotto enriched by braised leg meat, every step has been honed over the years to deliver something excellent. Also excellent is Eleven’s pastry program, run by Selina Pragor. With sweets like a Brown Butter Creme Brulee — a layered delicacy with griddled marble cake, kettle-corn panna cotta, chocolate cremeux, caramel popcorn and caramel sauce — it could be almost too much. But like Eleven itself, it’s always just right.

Strip District: 1150 Smallman St.
412-201-5656

EYV

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

At EYV, it’s not about hiding your vegetables — it’s about highlighting your vegetables. Here, they take center stage, boldly and unapologetically.

Michael Godlewski, the chef behind this North Side vegetarian restaurant, isn’t out to make you forget about meat. “I love a good burger, and I love a good steak,” he says. “But I like the challenge of vegetables. The freedom to manipulate them in different ways, to highlight their essence.”

The menu at EYV is always changing, two or three dishes at a time — depending on the season and what’s coming in from local farms. Which is how you end up with a Farmers Salad that changes from week to week but sticks with you for months. The version I had was a perfect balance of textures and flavors: fresh greens, rotating vegetables, a crisp potato tater tot (because it’s Pittsburgh), balsamic vinaigrette, a creamy ranch mousse and a dusting of dried, pulverized vegetables and pistachios, made to look “like those little rocks you find when you were a kid digging around in the dirt,” Godlewski says.

Godlewski’s food is smart and fun. Cabbage pastrami? It doesn’t taste exactly like pastrami, but the essence is there (and maybe better). It’s all deeply thoughtful, endlessly creative and ridiculously delicious.

North Side: 424 E. Ohio st.
412-742-4386

Fet-Fisk

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

There’s a lot to love about Fet-Fisk — just ask, well, anyone. With accolades coming in from national outlets like The New York Times, Eater and the James Beard Foundation (which named it a Best Restaurant finalist earlier this year), Fet-Fisk is well on its way to becoming the crown jewel in Pittsburgh’s culinary dining scene.

And they absolutely deserve it. In just over a year, Nik Forsberg and Sarah LaPonte have turned their Nordic-meets Appalachian seafood fever dream into one of the spots with the hardest tables to snag in Pittsburgh. They offer a menu that reads like a dare, and eats like a revelation. Raw oysters? Obviously. But then comes the smoked sturgeon pâté, folded in with farmers cheese, served with house-seeded crackers and a just-right hit of caper and shallot.

The pickled mackerel? I certainly didn’t expect to love it, but here we are. And then — then — there’s the roast chicken, a dish that I didn’t stop talking about for days after I had it for the first time. Perfectly roasted chicken, lacquered with lingonberry sauce and paired with farmer’s cheese, so absurdly beautiful, it should be framed and not eaten. (But you should absolutely eat it.)

Fet-Fisk is swaggering, effortlessly hip, and (frankly) cooler than me. But that won’t stop me from squeezing in at the bar, nursing an aquavit cocktail and pretending I belong. You should do the same.

Bloomfield: 4786 Liberty Ave.

Gi-Jin

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

There was a time when Gi-Jin was the buzziest new restaurant in town. The sort of place you namedrop in conversations, where reservations were flexes and the low light (and high design) made every night feel like an event. After more than four years, it has settled into something better: a restaurant that knows exactly what it’s doing and does it exceptionally well.

From Richard DeShantz Restaurant Group, Gi-Jin is small, dark and intimate, the kind of spot where you lean in close to talk to a stranger at the bar and end up sharing your life story over too much sake. It’s sleek without being stiff, cool without trying too hard. And the sushi is still some of the best in the city.

The hamachi crudo is a bright, balanced bite — yellowtail kissed with ponzu, ginger oil and daikon. The nigiri is pristine; the chef’s selection is an exercise in trust rewarded with King Salmon, Kanpachi or a delicate Madai, each crowned with something like shaved marinated peppers or a dollop of wasabi, and just the right flourish. The dynamite crab is a must. It’s a burst of texture and heat and comes together in a deliciously, sneakingly spicy way.

For dessert, the silk chocolate torte with a soy caramel compote, complete with a surprising touch of umami, can’t be beat. Gi-Jin isn’t the new kid anymore. It’s better than that. It’s a sure thing.

Downtown: 208 Sixth St.
412-332-6939

Hyeholde

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Dining at Hyeholde isn’t just about a meal. It’s an experience. Pull into the winding driveway to meet the valet and the tone is set for an evening steeped in old-school elegance. Step inside, and you’re transported back to a time when dining out was an event.

There’s real history here. The restaurant first began serving meals in 1938 (yes, really), making Hyeholde a Moon institution for more than 85 years — and a rare holdout of refined, white-tablecloth dining. The service is attentive, the cocktail list is classic and the food is more exceptional than you might expect. The sherry bisque is legendary — rich, velvety and a bestseller for decades.

There’s a seasonal component to the menu, but some staples remain: fork-tender braised short ribs, Elysian Fields lamb rack and, if you’re lucky, a cassoulet worth savoring. For generations, Pittsburghers have celebrated life’s milestones at Hyeholde. Anniversaries, engagements, birthdays.

Some traditions are worth keeping. This is one of them.

Moon: 1516 Coraopolis Heights Road
412-264-3116

Lilith

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

You know when a new restaurant opens, and your first visit is that perfect, electric, can’t-wait-to-tell-everyone meal? Then you go back … and it starts to fade? You still love it, but maybe not with the same intensity? Lilith is not that restaurant.

Every time I’ve been to Lilith (and it’s been quite a few times) it has been better than before. Pittsburgh restaurant vets Jamilka Borges and Dianne DeStefano took over the storied Café Zinho space and turned it into something deeply personal. Borges cooks the kind of food that makes you want to stay all night — sipping cocktails, talking too loud, forgetting the time. Her steak is one of the best in the city, totally rich, indulgent and effortless.

There’s a monkfish dish with a brothy stock, heavy on the culantro, studded with lemongrass and tamari that’s worth its weight in gold. And DeStefano’s desserts? Pure alchemy. I had a baked Alaska that made me question why we don’t eat them every single day.

“If I had it my way, I’d change the menu every day,” Borges says. But part of being a great chef, she’s learned, is consistency. Some dishes have become signatures, the kind of comforting, dependable things that make a restaurant feel like home. “I don’t have anything to prove anymore,” Borges says. “I just want to make good food.”

Lilith is better than good. It’s magical.

Shadyside: 238 Spahr St.
412-744-9290

Morcilla

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Morcilla is the kind of place that never gets old. Almost a decade in, this Lawrenceville staple is still one of the most exciting restaurants in Pittsburgh, and still pulling off a trick that very few can: the art of reinvention without losing the essence of what made it great in the first place.

This is a restaurant where you go when you need to impress someone, but also where you go when you just want to eat well. Chef and partner Nate Hobart keeps the place running like a well-oiled machine while making sure no detail is overlooked. And it shows.

“It doesn’t feel like 10 years. It still feels like a new restaurant, which is a really good thing for us,” Hobart says. “We have a great system in place, but we don’t want to be complacent. We don’t want to miss those small details. We just want to keep pushing forward.”

The Spanish-influenced menu is consistent, but never static. Costillas de la Matanza — baby-back ribs swimming in harissa honey and balanced with za’atar and labneh — is a must. The braised oxtail is legendary. And when spring rolls in, a conical cabbage dish with lobster beurre fondue and trout roe steals the show. Mussels en Escabeche is sourced from Bangs Island in Maine, transformed by the season, with ramps in spring, Verona’s Coldco Farm’s best in summer.

Ten years in, Morcilla is still pushing forward and still essential.

Lawrenceville: 3519 Butler St.
412-652-9924

One by Spork

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Spork was one of those restaurants that made Pittsburgh feel like it was playing in the big leagues. When Chris Frangiadis shut it down last year, it felt like a gut punch. But he had a plan. One by Spork is that plan in action.

It’s a distillation of everything Frangiadis loved about Spork, boiled down into a prix fixe, seven-course tasting menu where every plate, every bite, is deliberate.

It’s a chef narrowing his focus, stripping away the distractions, chasing perfection. “Every single item is really well thought-out, researched and, hopefully, executed,” Frangiadis says. “We’re able to put more focus on each individual dish, and so I’m confident that when we make it, we know that it’s something that is really special.”

The experience starts in the lounge with welcome bites, maybe a smoked bass charcoal tartelette, maybe a BBQ turkey taco. Then guests take their seats at a 16-person circular table, where Frangiadis and his team finish dishes tableside. There’s tratoli pasta with semolina, gnudi with yakitori mushrooms and an Australian Wagyu steak with a Roquefort-collard green soufflé.

Or maybe not. Every week, one dish swaps out, keeping the menu in constant motion. Over at the bar, Cecil Usher shines at creating accompanying cocktails and wine for pairings. He’s a talent, and it’s great to see him have so much fun behind the bar.

It’s intimate and ambitious and a bet on Pittsburgh’s dining future (and at $275 per person, not including tax and gratuity, it’s also one of the most expensive individual experiences in town). If Frangiadis has his way, it’s going to be one hell of a ride.

Bloomfield: 5430 Penn Ave.
412-441-1700

Otaru

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Prepare to be impressed by Otaru. The Japanese restaurant, high on Mount Washington, offers stunning views of the city and an elevated date-night experience in the stylish, polished dining room.

If you’re feeling bold, take the “Otaru Experience,” a nine-course journey that flexes the kitchen team’s skills. Tosazu Shrimp, sharp and bright with vinegar, is a must-order whether you’re going all in or picking other dishes à la carte. Chawanmushi, a delicate, savory egg custard, melts away on the tongue.

Sushi is an art form here, but if nothing else, get the Bluefin toro. It’s fatty, luxurious, with a bite that lingers. Then there’s the honey- and lemon-marinated tomato, a dessert that shouldn’t work, but somehow captures the taste of summer in a single bite. I mainly ordered it on a whim, only because I was intrigued by its description, not because I really thought that it would be especially good.

I’ve never been so glad to be proven wrong. And those sights. They’re the kind that turn any night into something worth remembering.

Mount Washington: 1200 Grandview Ave.
412-586-5485

Pusadee’s Garden

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

The best way to enjoy Pusadee’s Garden is with someone who understands the unspoken agreement: Everything is for sharing. You don’t come here for just one dish. You come for the experience, for the layers of flavors stacked like a culinary Jenga tower, for the quiet luxury of a meal where every bite is a discovery.

For more than a decade (minus a years-long renovation detour), Pusadee’s Garden has been one of Pittsburgh’s most popular restaurants. Owners Watcharee Tongdee, Bootsaba Tongdee and Michael Johnson have built something rare and created a sophisticated space that still feels fresh, and still surprises.

On the menu, the Khao Yum, a 17-ingredient salad topped tableside in a tamarind dressing, is as bright as ever. The sweet potato roti, paired with a mild curry that somehow explodes with flavor, is one of those dishes that makes you happy just to know that it exists in the universe. Then there’s the pork belly. Succulent, caramelized, bathed in a sweet chili garlic sauce that defies reason. It’s the sauce I’ve been chasing for years — the kind that makes you want to bottle it up and smuggle it home.

For dessert, don’t miss the sticky rice and custard. It’s the perfect way to end your evening with a sweet grand finale.

Lawrenceville: 5319 Butler St.
412-252-2683

Siempre Algo

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Every dinner at Siempre Algo feels like the best yet. Brian Hammond’s North Side gem has been quietly turning out some of Pittsburgh’s most thoughtful New American cuisine since 2018, without a lot of noise, without much press. It’s the kind of place that doesn’t need hype — because the food speaks for itself.

There’s a warmth to the space, thanks in part to the kind of hospitality that starts you off with a complimentary sip of something bubbly, one of the nicest little touches in town. A New American menu that changes with the season but is always executed to perfection. A recent meal started with yellowfin tuna tartare, layered with Hackleback caviar, toasted benne, fermented chili aioli, avocado-lime puree, tempura crisp and black sesame tuile.

It sounds like a lot, but it lands perfectly, with every flavor being intentionally chosen. There’s a stinging-nettle soup that sings. A house salad that eats like an Italian hoagie in disguise (with pickled beet, Amish swiss, hot soppressata, Jimmy Nardelo peppers, a compressed cucumber and an herb vinaigrette). A porchetta dish, made with Ibérico pork tenderloin wrapped in house-made sausage, sits over braised navy beans and grilled escarole.

Your parents will love it here. So will you. Before long, it will be the place you recommend anytime someone asks you where to go for a meal that feels both special and effortless.

North Side: 414 E. Ohio St.
412-652-9968

Soju

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Soju, the tiny, beloved Korean spot in Garfield, shouldn’t be here right now. A burst pipe in January almost ruined everything inside. But Chef/Owner Simon Chough isn’t the kind of guy who quits. A few short months later, Soju returned. And, somehow, it’s better.

The menu is tight, without any room for fluff or missteps. I’m not, by nature, a fan of tofu, but Killer Tofu is an exception. It lives up to its name, and I order it every time, and enjoy crispy, golden pieces, drenched in a pineapple soy glaze that probably should be illegal. Then there are the kimchi nachos, which have a full-blown cult following at this point. The dish features fried wontons stacked with pickles, mushrooms, kimchi and cheese sauce, a messy, funky explosion of flavors.

Larger plates, like the Dwaejibulgogi (thinly sliced grilled pork in a spicy Korean marinade) and Bibimbap (a mixed rice dish) are sure bets, but you really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu.

It’s a small place. There might be a wait. But you’ll be fine because Soju is worth it. It’s always been worth it.

Garfield: 4923 Penn Ave.
412-450-8968

The Speckled Egg

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

It’s hard not to make this entire entry about the homefries at The Speckled Egg. Really. I could write a love letter to those crispy, golden-brown breakfast potatoes, grilled with sweet peppers and onions until they taste like every perfect Sunday morning you’ve ever had.

But The Speckled Egg is more than its potatoes. It’s the kind of breakfast spot that makes you rethink breakfast. The kind of place where buttermilk poppyseed pancakes arrive impossibly fluffy, where avocado toast is an art form, where the breakfast sandwich (a deceptively simple thing) becomes essential. Two eggs (broke yolks, obviously), melty cheese, crisp lettuce, all stacked onto one of their onion-poppy buns.

Go ahead, add the bacon. You won’t regret it. It’s also the kind of place that, despite the weekend crowds, runs without a hitch. Brunch service is a warzone everywhere, but at The Speckled Egg, the servers move like pros, ferrying stacks of French toast and bringing fresh coffee before you even realize you need it.

Now with two locations — seating mostly in the ornate lobby of the Union Trust building, Downtown, and a sprawling South Side Works outpost — owners Jacqueline and Nate Schoedel have built something special. And those potatoes? They’re just one reason why I’ll keep coming back.

Downtown: 501 Grant St.
412-251-5248

South Side: 428 S. 27th St.
412-206-7793

The Vandal

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

It might seem unlikely that ordering a mushroom tartine (just mushrooms on grilled sourdough) could be life-changing. But that’s the kind of restaurant The Vandal is. The kind that takes something simple and makes it unforgettable.

This year marks a decade for the Lawrenceville mainstay, a place that started as a casual counter-service burger joint and evolved into one of Pittsburgh’s most compelling dinner spots. Owner Joey Hilty credits that shift to a love of what they were doing. “We’ve just slowly evolved — anybody who comes in can kind of see it, and understand it, that this experience is better than the last time they were here,” he says.

The menu leans toward the refined yet welcoming, where a smoked-trout pâté gets a jolt of brightness from herby salsa verde and a beet salad finds unexpected harmony with shaved fennel and roasted pistachios. The bar program is a dream for natural-wine lovers, always skimming the edge of what’s next. “We want stuff you can’t get in the state store, something unique to us,” says Hilty.

Dishes like Atlantic cod with mussels, vadouvan (a curry spice blend), coconut and fennel push the menu forward, evolving with the restaurant itself. After 10 years, The Vandal is just getting started.

Lawrenceville: 4306 Butler St.
412-251-0465

Wise County Cafe

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Wise County Cafe isn’t just a biscuit shop. It’s a community — a place that Lena Laskaris and James Wolfe built in 2024 after years of selling their homemade biscuits at farmers markets. Now, on the North Side, they’ve created something more: a cozy cafe where regulars sip coffee, community groups gather and couples linger over breakfast.

“What we wanted was a neighborhood feel,” Laskaris says. “We wanted to be somewhere, sort of like a soft cushion for people to fall. They don’t necessarily have to overthink things when they come through.”

Wolfe’s biscuits, adapted from his Applachian grandmother’s recipe, are the foundation of the restaurant. “We had to tweak them a bit,” Wolfe says. “My grandma’s biscuits were amazing, but they’d never hold up to a sandwich.” His are layered, structured and built for things like sausage and eggs, pimento cheese or soup beans with country ham. But Wise County isn’t just about biscuits. “We wanted it to feel like home,” says Laskaris.

So they make a burger, one that’s thick, juicy and slathered in “the sauce” on a house-made potato roll. They make soups that taste like someone’s been tending to them all day. They make coffee that keeps you sitting just a little longer. And the wait? Don’t worry. “We’ve gotten really good at convincing people to trust the process,” Wolfe says. “You’ll get a table when you need it.”

That’s Wise County. A place where, if you let it, breakfast can feel like coming home.

North Side: 911 Galveston Ave.
412-330-1389

Emily Catalano has been writing about Pittsburgh’s restaurant industry for more than a decade. She is the founder and editor of Good Food Pittsburgh and owns Highly Social Media, a creative content agency. She visited more than 70 restaurants while writing this piece, and loved them all in their own way. 

ALBERTA’S PIZZERIA | PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

I‘m not one to keep track of everything that I eat. It’s a monumental task that would require an Excel spreadsheet and a team of non-judgmental interns. (Besides, seeing that seemingly endless list in black and white would make me feel more gluttonous than I already do.) But the Best New Restaurants issue gives me a chance to shine a spotlight on places where I had my most memorable dining experiences of the prior year.

Over the past 12 months, I’ve spent a lot of time in Bloomfield and Upper St. Clair, each home to two eateries on this list. I’ve also devoured gourmet food disguised as fast-casual grub, celebrated some of my favorite food trucks becoming brick-and-mortars, dined at a distillery and inhaled pierogies with Beetlejuice. You should, too.

Related: Here Are the 26 Best Restaurants in Pittsburgh

Fet-Fisk

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Fet-Fisk has reeled in some big compliments since opening last spring, including a shoutout from The New York Times. The publication included the Bloomfield business on a list of its 50 favorite eateries in America for 2024, calling the Scandinavian spot “the restaurant equivalent of a cozy sweater.”

In Swedish, the name means “greasy fish.” If the only aquatic eats you’ve ever had are popcorn shrimp and Lenten fish sandwiches, it’s time to cast your nets wider.

Owned by Chef Nik Forsberg, who was a James Beard Award Semi-Finalist for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic in 2023, Fet-Fisk launched in 2019 as a pop-up concept featuring classic European-style cooking with Nordic- and Western Pennsylvania-inspired twists.

Last spring, the crew dropped anchor on a brick-and-mortar at 4786 Liberty Ave. Fet-Fisk has gone from serving 160 people every two weeks to feeding that many in a single night.

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

“In hindsight, we were smart to do things the way we did and grow the business and the clientele slowly over a few years, workshopping dishes and menus,” says Forsberg, who started the concept with Creative Director Sarah LaPonte. “We had all this time to plan. Even when we got into the restaurant space and started working on it, it would be construction during the day, then wine tastings, menu previews and logistics at night. I don’t think we could’ve opened one day earlier than we did.”

The former Lombardozzi’s Restaurant, an Italian institution that closed in 2020 after nearly 50 years, received a nautical makeover with a menu to match.

Forsberg has many of his Swedish grandmother’s old recipe cards … but can’t read her handwriting. Offerings of sea-trout caviar and mussels are childhood memories turned into menu items. Jansson’s Temptation, an anchovy and potato gratin, has graced many Fet-Fisk pop-up menus in the past and will enter Little Italy’s dining scene this winter, along with other cold-weather comfort food and Glögg, a Swedish mulled wine.

My favorite main dish was a whole grilled Branzino with dulse butter, celery and breadcrumbs. Branzino by itself is a light meal, so I ordered scallop crudo and sourdough spaetzle on the side and a slice of chocolate mousse cake with lingonberries and creme for dessert.Then I settled my stomach by sipping house-made marigold schnapps and aquavit.

If you’re more of a landlubber when it comes to dining out, the Fet-Fisk menu features meals for meat lovers, too. During my second visit, my girlfriend and I enjoyed a 16-ounce strip steak with lobster-butter hollandaise and a roasted half chicken.

For people who might be averse to the idea of a “greasy” fish, Forsberg says that, while the cuisine is loosely Nordic and Nordic-inspired, at its core, Fet-Fisk is driven by locally grown ingredients, including those from Coldco Farm in Verona.

The decor is moody maritime rather than touristy crab shack. In 2023, when Forsberg closed on the landmark Bloomfield building, he told me he wanted to keep Lombardozzi’s retro vibe that, conceptually, would be like an old-fashioned steakhouse or seafood parlor.

The interior is dark with wood paneling and red lighting, and there are subtle nods to the sea throughout the dining room and bar area, including ocean-inspired oil paintings and a ship’s wheel surrounded by retro cookbooks.

Forsberg plans to host more celebratory nights at the restaurant. It’s when the sun goes down that the dimly lit restaurant really shines.

Bloomfield
4786 Liberty Ave.
fetfisk.net

Nothingman

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

When the world went into lockdown-mode in 2020, chefs Troy Beck and Katie Peric found freedom in making Nashville-style chicken sandwiches at home. They parlayed their pandemic pastime into Given To Fly, one of four kitchen concepts at Federal Galley on the North Side.

Nothingman, their full-scale but no-frills eatery, landed in Bloomfield in the space that had been long occupied by Station. They hope to bring back some of what the neighborhood lost when Donatelli’s Italian Food Center closed in 2022 after 90 years in business.

Nothingman’s small, flavorful menu includes shareable starters you’ll want to devour solo: deviled eggs and homemade chips and dip. There are ever-changing specials made with locally sourced ingredients and mainstays such as steak frites and vodka rigatoni served with a slice of pillowy focaccia bread. Order a loaf and take a nap.

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Wednesday wing nights are wild, with customers clamoring for limited quantities of deep-fried poultry covered in Calabrian chiles, garlic, chives, Parmesan and extra virgin olive oil — a nod to the last tenant’s much-loved appetizer.

My favorite things about Nothingman (aside from the owners) are the deli sandwiches, the drinks and the desserts.

The Bill Swerski — named after a character from a recurring “Saturday Night Live” sketch about Chicago Bears superfans — features medium-rare roast beef, Jarlsberg Swiss, hot giardiniera and garlic mayo on a brioche bun. It’s a big, messy, delicious masterpiece. Pair it with a Root Beer Old-Fashioned and you’ve got yourself a Mike Ditka-approved meal.

If, like Coach Ditka, yinz guys grew up near Pittsburgh, you’ve probably gorged yourself on strawberry-pretzel salad and pistachio fluff. Peric, a West Virginia native, excels at creating these mouth-watering, nostalgia-inducing delicacies.

Beck, whose family ran a tavern in Altoona, is nostalgic for ’90s-era rock and shot-and-a-beer bars that cater to a blue-collar crowd. Nothingman is the name of a Pearl Jam song, but it’s also a reference to the unskilled laborers who provided muscle for turn-of-the-20th-century steel mills.

This neighborhood joint appeals to working-class heroes as well as trend-following foodies. In other words, Nothingman has everything.

Bloomfield
4744 liberty ave.
instagram.com/nothingmanpgh

Cold Friends Kitchen

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Eating Cold Friends’ food is like getting a warm hug from your grandma — and that’s what a lot of folks crave these days. A Black Miso Wrap with bok choy, purple yam, broccoli-tip greens, kimchi, black mulberry-plum miso glaze, edamame and Thai basil isn’t something that’s typically available at 3 a.m. At Cold Friends, though, they believe service-industry workers and night owls deserve more than day-old wings and microwaved burritos.

“I like big, comforting flavors,” says Gabriel Knecht, who co-owns the business with Thomas Bango. “I like messy and greasy, but also the technical, more refined stuff. I thought it would be nice to marry those two things on a menu. I wanted to wrap something high-end in a casual blanket and feed more people good food.”

Last April, they began operating a food truck that’s parked outside of Velum Fermentation, a 35,000-square-foot brewery on the South Side. In addition to selling gourmet appetizers, sandwiches, bowls, pork belly, smash burgers and vegan-friendly fodder into the wee hours, they have a pay-it-forward option that allows patrons to buy a hot meal for someone who is less fortunate.

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

At the end of the night, fresh donation meals are prepared. Knecht and Bango make deliveries as they head back to their prep kitchen. They uplift people through elevated fare because they know how it feels to be down and out. The entire Cold Friends staff is in recovery in some way; they work together on life skills such as financial literacy as well as creating unique menu items to give away.

“If we can show them the only kindness they’ve seen that day, that month or that year, then that’s reason enough to do it,” says Knecht, who says he was homeless for a time.

Their community spirit has spurred fast growth. As of press time, they were set to take over the kitchen space at New Amsterdam in Lawrenceville on Feb. 5. Owner John Pergal, who also owns the nearby Thunderbird Cafe & Music Hall and Roxian Theatre in McKees Rocks, says he’s excited to serve Cold Friends’ food and support their humanitarian mission.

The Velum trailer will soon be replaced by a 40-foot bus to increase production. Knecht says they’re eyeing a third spot in the East End. One day, they hope to have a fleet of food trucks and a brick-and-mortar building that functions as a restaurant, homeless shelter and workforce-training facility.

Cold Friends is on fire!

“It’s not about money — it’s about what good you can do for another person,” Knecht says. “I’m doing this because I’ve been on both sides of it. The work is gratifying and moves the needle for the whole community. That is what Cold Friends is; we are competitive, but we are competing against stereotypes in the food industry.”

South Side & Lawrenceville 
2120 Jane St. | New Amsterdam, 4421 Butler st.
coldfriends.com

Yaba’s Middle Eastern Street Food

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Located on the second floor of a narrow storefront in Uptown, Yaba’s Middle Eastern Street Food is easy to miss. But once you climb the stairs, it’s hard to forget. There’s a colorful mural on the wall of the fast-casual eatery depicting a bustling marketplace. Appetizing scents waft from the kitchen where Abe and Hanan Daud whip up family recipes. They’ve raised 10 kids and spent two decades in the dining industry. They’re experts in the art of pleasing palates.

The Daud siblings are helping their parents to transition into retirement mode; that’s a hard task because their folks are so passionate about feeding people.

Yaba’s exterior is deceptive. It’s spacious inside and seats about 60. After eight months of building renovations, it quietly debuted in March across from PPG Paints Arena.

The Dauds ran popular full-service restaurants in Cleveland, including Pyramid. Locals called it “the lentil restaurant” because its signature lentil soup was so good.

Yaba’s, which means “dad” in Arabic, has the same lentil soup. It’s something mama’s been making for years. Next to her children, it’s Hanan’s pride and joy. After slurping down the stuff I can attest — Yaba’s is Pittsburgh’s “lentil restaurant.”

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

The menu is simple, healthy and flavorful. You can build your own bowl, wrap or salad. My go-to is a bowl with rice, a mix of halal chicken and lamb shawarma, pickled cucumber, purple cabbage, Arabic chopped salad, chickpea salad, sumac onion, lettuce and tomato with both a spicy red and cooling white sauce on top. I also recommend ordering the baba ghanoush with fresh pita bread.

During my first visit, I spent two hours chowing down and chatting with Abe and Hanan and their son, Adam.

Before I finished my marathon munching session, I ordered takeout for my daughter, the pickiest of all picky eaters. Thankfully, Yaba’s offers a kids’ menu that, in addition to shawarma meals, includes chicken nuggets and fries. The restaurant also serves halal smash burgers (with double or triple patties) and chicken wings. Adam put a lot of time and research into these items and plans to add more in 2025.

“All of these recipes are things my mom made when I was growing up,” Adam says. “She is the mastermind behind all the recipes. She’s always on her feet, meticulously cleaning and prepping. Everything is as fresh as possible. It’s stuff we’ve fed to family and friends over the years. We thought the broader Pittsburgh market would enjoy it as well.”

Uptown
1022 Fifth Ave.
yabas412.com

Main Street Diner & Kickback Cafe

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Brian Mendelssohn gazes up at the Sandworm hanging above his head. He flips a switch and the tubular monster’s eyes glow red.

The devil’s in the details at Main Street Diner & Kickback Cafe, a Lawrenceville haunt that brings “Beetlejuice” – the 1988 film starring Pittsburgh native Michael Keaton — to life.

After what seemed like an eternity of planning and construction, the bar, restaurant and pinball arcade debuted in July, just in time for the release of a long-anticipated “Beetlejuice” sequel.

This isn’t a Halloween pop-up; like death, it’s permanent.

In order to enter the eatery located below Lawrenceville Market House, customers must walk through a cemetery and wait in the reception area until their number is called. As a diehard “Beetlejuice” fan, I was the first person to draw a door when Main Street opened for business. My brooding teenage daughter, Sarah, accompanied me.

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

She got a burger, fries and a chocolate milkshake; I opted for a Strange & Unusual whiskey cocktail and a Polish platter consisting of pierogies, kielbasa and potato pancakes. Mendelssohn’s Polish mother-in-law taught the staff how to make the Eastern European specialties.

Although there are no face-grabbing shrimp dishes on the menu, guests will find American favorites. Mendelssohn, who also runs Row House Cinema and Bierport across the street, is an expert when it comes to indulgent, delicious food and beverage. Simply Burgers & Fries and Oliver’s Donuts also operate out of Lawrenceville Market House. Laugh in the face of a Bio-Exorcist as you devour a burger topped with smoked bacon and cheese on a glazed doughnut.

The Pittsburgh salad isn’t necessarily healthier with all the fries and cheese on top, but I guarantee you’ll dig it. There’s also an array of chicken sandwiches and a kids’ menu with G-rated offerings. The windowless space is basically one … big … dark … room, so you can indulge in an order of Smash Fries — two smash burger patties, spuds and cheddar cheese — without judgment. If you need something sweet to nosh, grab a Zagnut, a candy bar originally produced by Pittsburgh’s D.L. Clark Co.

Kickback Pinball Cafe, a recently deceased Lawrenceville arcade, found an afterlife in Main Street’s otherworldly dining room. It holds 14 movie-themed pinball machines, a wedding scene photo-op spot and more than 80 souls.

Mendelssohn and his team of artists, including Ryder Henry and Bree Berry, spent years capturing the “Beetlejuice” vibe. With shades of mauve and veridian on the walls, they recreated everything from the movie’s furniture, abstract sculptures and signage to a funky fireplace and the Sandworm.

There’s even a nice [expletive] model of a quaint little town. Jump in the line now.

Lawrenceville
4112 Butler St.
mainstreetpgh.com

Golden Gai Izakaya

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Inspired by Tokyo’s Shinjuku Golden Gai, a network of narrow alleyways densely packed with more than 200 eateries, Richard DeShantz Restaurant Group opened a narrow eatery densely packed with Japanese flavors.

Golden Gai Izakaya is a sister restaurant to Gi-Jin, the high-end sushi spot that opened in 2021 Downtown.

Located in Bakery Square, Golden Gai has more of a laid-back vibe and allows the company to expand its Japanese offerings to include dishes that require grills and woks, something its culinary sibling doesn’t have.

Now, in addition to Nigiri and Sashimi, Chef and co-owner Michael Taylor is making Yakisoba, Gyoza and, my favorite, Yaki Wagyu Satsumaimo, a filling mix of fried fingerling potato, fried Okinawan sweet potato, Parmesan-dashi fondue, black-garlic tare, shiitake bacon and chives. Pair it with a Daruma Doll cocktail made with Haku vodka, pear sake, pomegranate, lime, honey and sesame oil.

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Be sure to make a reservation, as this hotspot only has 30 seats; most of them are at the bar that stretches the length of the 1,000-square-foot space and faces the open kitchen. The massive chandelier above the bar, designed to resemble a fish spine, completes the modern Japanese aesthetic.

Golden Gai opened for dine-in service in October, but it reeled in loyal customers over the summer with a takeout window, where they could pick up beautifully packaged sushi. It was a big hit with the East End lunch crowd, who ordered online or via the walk-up touchscreen. There is no specific timeline for when the lunchtime service will resume, but the company anticipates it will be in the first half of 2025.

I can’t wait to go fish again.

Larimer
116 Bakery Square Blvd.
goldengaipgh.com

Alberta’s Pizzeria

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

It’s a Monday afternoon and Beau Mitall is sore from the weekend launch of Alberta’s Pizzeria, a popular food truck that now has a permanent home on the North Side.

Instead of occupying his usual station in front of the enormous cherry-wood-fired oven, the self-confessed “quality-control freak” let his kitchen staff take the pizza-making reins while he ran food, bussed tables and mingled with guests.

The Western Avenue spot was packed on that Saturday night in July. My friend and I managed to snag two seats at the bar, which is a long slab of white marble adorned with small bouquets of flowers every few feet. Soft, warm lighting makes the room glow.

This isn’t a takeout pizza joint; it’s elegantly chill.

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

To start, we nibbled on Cuban-style tostones (fried plantains) and highly addictive edamame seasoned with spiced salt. After much discussion about what type of pizza to order (I’m a longtime Alberta’s fan and think all of their varieties are pretty darn amazing), we went with the spicy Hot Sopp. It had a thin and foldable crust that was sturdy enough to sustain the weight of tomato sauce, house-made mozzarella, hot soppressata, pecorino chili oil and chili flakes. We sucked it down faster than the soybeans.

On the road since 2016, Chef-owner Mitall’s food truck was basically a one-man operation, guaranteeing that each pizza sold met his high standards. The food doesn’t just have to taste good, it has to look a certain way.

Now he’s assembled a team of employees, including his daughter, Nandi Mitall, who are just as passionate about food and brand that’s named after his late-grandmother. The truck will still be out and about, but will mostly be used for catering jobs.

In addition to Neapolitan-inspired pizza (Alberta’s bake is a bit longer than the traditional 60 to 90 seconds), there are salads, seafood such as oysters on the half-shell and small plates that can stand on their own but won’t fill you up if your meal plan also includes pizza and dessert.

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

“The menu has to reflect me and my experiences,” says Mitall, an Edgewood native who’s lived in New York City and South Africa, and has a deep love for Caribbean fare. “I don’t have a food philosophy other than less is more.”

Mitall, who says he was deprived of good pizza while living abroad, developed a deeper appreciation for New York-style pies and taught himself how to make them, right down to the hand-mixed, unrefrigerated dough.

Alberta’s is located next door to Four Points Brewing Co. The brewery, which is named after the four-pointed stars on the American Iron and Steel Institute’s logo, is based in Charleroi. In 2021, the company opened a taproom in the former Shamrock Inn on the North Side.

The businesses share more than a wall. Four Points brews Olde Pitz, a crisp, refreshing Italian pilsner, exclusively for the pizzeria.

“Beau is a really good friend of ours and I think he makes the best pizza in the city,” brewery owner Dave Barbe says. “I think we did a really good job with the first batch, so we’ll keep it on tap over there.”

North Side
917 Western Ave.
albertaspizzapgh.com

The Brinery

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

I think Joe Bardakos and Madi Donaldson — and their adorable children — are trying to kill me, both through their side-splitting antics and their gut-busting menu.

And I absolutely love them for it.

The family makes food that I cannot resist. When you visit The Brinery in Sharpsburg, yinz guys better leave your diet at the door.

The black-and-gold dining room includes a pillow-back bench, which is a nice touch because you’ll want to take a snooze after indulging in their brand of greasy, big-as-your-head, scratch-made sandwiches, including one of my all-time favorites, The Graceland. Elvis Presley would have appreciated the pickle-brined-and-fried chicken thigh, chili peanut sauce, napa cabbage, pickles and banana ketchup, thankyouverymuch.

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

You can also enjoy single-, double-or triple-patty smash burgers, shoestring fries, pickled tots and weekend breakfast options that are actually worth getting out of bed for. A Pancake Smash, a beef smash burger topped with bacon, a fried egg, hash browns, buttermilk flapjacks and maple syrup, is the cornerstone of any nutritious breakfast. Thanks to local partnerships, you can get boozy morning beverages such as Bloody Marys from neighboring Love Katie, Distilling and hot drinks from Coffee with Cait, a Pittsburgh pop-up that sources its Jagshead-brand beans from a friend’s family farm in El Salvador.

Fear not, herbivores! There are salads on the menu, including the Danny Zuko – a mix of spinach, cherry tomatoes, red onions and cucumbers doused in red-wine vinegar, olive oil and oregano – named after John Travolta’s character in “Grease.”

See? There’s a type of grease for everybody at The Brinery!

Joe grew up in a large Greek-Italian family in Shaler Township, where his mother would shoo him out of the kitchen for sampling the grub before it was ready. He says his banishment from the room piqued his culinary curiosity. For his seventh birthday, he received a waffle maker. Now his expertise is in fried chicken, the waffle’s southern sidekick. The former Piccolo Forno chef helped to launch the Bridge City Brinery and Bridge City Smashery food trucks with his former business partner, Mark Mammone.

Madi, a native of York, Pennsylvania, picked up culinary skills from her grandmother, who made everything from scratch (right down to the jam on her freshly baked bread) as well as celebrity chef Rachael Ray. Someday, the small-town girl hopes to raise her own vegetables and livestock for a farm-to-table restaurant. Until then, she’s happy teaching her toddlers Presley and Charlotte the basics. When I visited the sisters’ “food truck,” a play-vehicle parked in the living room of their Shaler home, they served me an imaginary smash burger and fries.

It was the best meal I’ve never had.

Sharpsburg
914 Main St.
brinery412.com

Wild Rosemary Bistro

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Chef Raymond Mikesell is happy when he’s feeding people.

But his passion for the dining scene was dulled by the pandemic, so he decided to sell Café Raymond, the bustling Strip District eatery he opened in 2008, and move to Middle-of-Nowhere, Montana, for some much-needed R&R.

He didn’t hang up his apron for long.

The North Side native came back to the ’Burgh to create a new concept from an old favorite. He purchased Wild Rosemary Bistro – a BYOB restaurant in Upper St. Clair – known for its Mediterranean cuisine, cozy aesthetic and months-long waitlist – shortly after it closed in late 2023.

It’s still BYOB, but that’s about the only similarity it has to its predecessor.

The renovated space re-launched in August with ever-changing menus that are more reflective of Mikesell’s Irish-Italian heritage and world travels. The family-style feasts at Wild Rosemary harken back to the sell-out, 125-seat Sunday Suppers he hosted at Café Raymond — just on a smaller scale.

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

I visited twice in the same week. On day 1, I devoured everything from red wine-braised short ribs and some of the best meatballs in the city to an unexpectedly delightful appetizer of pickled lima beans with parmigiano  reggiano cheese. Mikesell really leans into leveraging the legumes.

Day 2 consisted of a belly-busting brunch of fluffy, lemon-blueberry pancakes crowned by a dollop of mascarpone cream and a heaping side of breakfast potatoes doused in Mikesell’s signature “F— Yeah!” sauce. Since I’m a glutton for spicy foodstuffs, I also got a sandwich containing fried mortadella, hot banana peppers, wild-fire aioli and provolone on house-made ciabatta bread.

It was worth the heartburn.

Mikesell considers the restaurant an extension of his home, complete with family photographs hanging on the wall. He often steps out of the kitchen to share stories before dinner and to encourage patrons to get to know the folks sitting next to them. The space seats fewer than 30 people, which is still more than the original spot. If you’re rubbing elbows with a stranger, you might as well make them a friend.

Wild Rosemary is a triumphant return-to-form for the chef, who recently experienced an unfathomable loss. In November, just a few days before Thanksgiving, Mikesell’s son, namesake and sous chef died.

After a brief hiatus, Wild Rosemary reopened on Dec. 12. For now, the business has suspended breakfast and lunch, but it continues to offer catering, private event rentals and Supper Club, family-style meals held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings by reservation only.

December’s menu – priced at $80 per person — consisted of broccoli rabe and sausage soup, Pasta Amatriciana, espresso-rubbed braised beef and snickerdoodle tiramisu.

I hope Wild Rosemary brings back its breakfast and lunch. I hope Supper Club gains new members. But, mostly, I hope that, through feeding people, Mikesell continues to find happiness.

Upper St. Clair
1469 bower hill road
wildrosemarybistro.com

Maggie’s Farm Rum

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Maggie’s Farm Rum makes some of the best spirits in the country. Now it has a Best New Restaurant, too.

Late last December, the Strip District-based distillery debuted its new production facility in Upper St. Clair. The suburban site houses an 800-gallon still that’s three times the size of the original, a retail area and a full-service eatery that seats more than 100 people.

I love a dark bar. This one’s got olive drab walls, black tabletops and seats and a rick filled with rum barrels. Some employees wear Hawaiian shirts, but the colors are muted pastels not bright, in-your-face hues. I call the vibe “Goth Tiki.”

Chef Abbi Klobusnik helms the kitchen. With places such as South Side favorites Carmella’s Plates & Pints and Piper’s Pub (not to mention her grandma’s kitchen) listed on her resume, it’s no wonder the menu is jam-packed with hearty comfort dishes that often include a splash of rum or other house-made libations. During the Lenten fish-fry season, for instance, Klobusnik used the company’s lemon-flavored Personal Day Hard Seltzer in the batter.

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

The wild-mushroom soup is a must. If your only exposure to mushroom soup is the condensed kind that comes in a can, this will blow your mind faster than a Zombie cocktail. It’s hearty and flavorful, and I enjoyed every drop.

Once you’ve slurped your way to happiness, order the short rib to keep the tastebud party going. The meat is slow-braised in Maggie’s Farm Spiced Rum and served with jus over mashed sweet potatoes, pickled red onion, red pepper and mustard seed.

Last March, I wrote a story about the 32 best burgers in Pittsburgh. The Farm Burger flew under my radar at the time, but that Angus steak patty topped with white cheddar, spiced rum bacon jam, pickled shallots, arugula and dill aioli is the honorary No. 33.

I have yet to try the Breakfast Burger — offered only during Sunday brunch — but it’s calling my name, as is the French toast, which is topped with whip made from the company’s 50/50 Dark Rum and Coffee Liqueur. In 2025, Klobusnik plans to offer more seasonal dishes using herbs and other ingredients grown on the property.

Owner Tim Russell launched the company in 2012, producing Pennsylvania’s first commercially available craft rum since Prohibition. He named the flagship beverage after a Bob Dylan song.

The South Hills facility is off the beaten path, but it’s become a popular spot with locals and road-warrior foodies. It’s a 22,000-square-foot hidden gem.

Make like a rolling stone, and get aht there!

Upper St. Clair
1387 McLaughlin Run Road
maggiesfarmrum.com

CHRISTINA CASSOTIS, CEO OF THE ALLEGHENY AIRPORT AUTHORITY. | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

With the new $1.57 billion terminal now 80% complete, Pittsburgh International Airport officials are looking to open in early fall.

Airport officials will announce the date six months before the official opening.

“We’ll open when the time is right, and when we’re ready,” said Paul Hoback, chief development officer and executive vice president of the Allegheny County Airport Authority. He noted it won’t be during the busy summer travel months or as we get close to Thanksgiving.

PAUL HOBACK, CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER AND EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY, IN THE FRONT OF THE DEPARTURES AREA. | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

He led a media tour with other airport officials to provide updates on Thursday, when 1,200 workers were onsite. Although the interior of the landside terminal was filled with scaffolding and equipment, visitors could see details taking shape.

Among the most impressive was the constellation lighting embedded in the wooden ceiling of the departures area. Not only is the lighting decorative, it will serve as a wayfinding tool to guide travelers to the airside terminal.

THE CONSTELLATION LIGHTING ON THE CEILING OF THE DEPARTURES AREA. | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

The 140-foot bridge and tunnel that connects the landside and airside terminals – which is designed to mirror the Fort Pitt Tunnel and its entrance to the Golden Triangle — also is coming along. The entrance from the departures area to the airside terminal will be surrounded by a “wall of technology” — huge video screens that will provide announcements, wayfinding or just beautiful videos.

THE ENTRANCE TO THE TUNNEL. WHEN FINISHED IT WILL BE SURROUNDED BY A “WALL OF TECHNOLOGY” WITH VIDEO SCREENS. | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

The new — but much smaller — terminal will replace the outdated current landside terminal, which was designed to be a hub for US Airways when it opened in 1992. That was when only 20% of travelers originated and came back to Pittsburgh rather than connecting to other cities. Now, 95% of travelers are origin-destination passengers and 5% are connecting, he said.

“We’re right-sizing and modernizing,” Hoback said, adding that the current terminal was built before cell phones, so the new space will be filled with charging areas to accommodate modern living.

In addition there will be 12 high-tech Transportation Security Administration checkpoints (you won’t need to remove your laptops or Zip-loc bags of liquids any more) that will eliminate the long lines that sometimes stretch all the way back to the Hyatt Regency hotel entrance, Hoback said.

Not only will the new terminal better accommodate travelers, it also will be more work-friendly for employees. For example, they plan to have 41 robots that will take bags that have been flagged because of suspicious contents and place them on a platform for TSA agents so they don’t have to lift sometimes 50-pound bags.

Christina Cassotis, CEO of authority, who joined part of the tour, also highlighted the large meet-and-greet area being developed at the arrivals area for friends and relatives.

“It represents sort of the community,” she said. “Pittsburgh is a place where people pick up and drop off their loved ones, which I find lovely.”

Hoback said construction is on schedule and that officials expect this new terminal will last 30 to 40 years. The current one is 32 years old.

Among some of the tidbits of information revealed on the tour:

• All wayfinding signs throughout the airport will be in black and gold.
• There will be a designated cell phone lot, eliminating the current complicated parking system for those waiting to pick up passengers.
• Three months before the opening, the airport will be recruiting 1,000 members of the public to test all aspects of the new terminal and technology to make sure it all works and is traveler-friendly.
• The baggage track will be reduced from 8 miles to 3 miles, dramatically cutting the time bags arrive at baggage claim carousels.
• All the airside restrooms are being renovated and will include adult changing tables, family room and nursing rooms.

JON COLBURN, CONGREGATION PRESIDENT AT SMITHFIELD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, EMBRACES A FELLOW PARISHIONER DURING A SERVICE IN JUNE 2023. | PHOTO BY STEPHANIE STRASBURG/PUBLICSOURCE

The leadership at a century-old Downtown church is working with a local architect to find partners to help keep the congregation in the building amid rising costs.

Smithfield United Church of Christ’s congregation is facing decades of deferred repairs, estimated to cost over $10 million, without the budget to afford it.

Rob Pfaffmann, a Pittsburgh architect who often works in preservation, offered to work pro bono for the church to devise plans to pull in community partners who can use their own resources to repair and modernize the church, which has many empty spaces unused by the congregation.

It’s not easy to find partners, and Pfaffmann recognizes it’s a hard sell.

“If I’m a developer, if I’m the city … you name it, why should I care and why should I get involved in a building that has huge, millions and millions of dollars, of liabilities? Why would I want to take that on?” he said. “But somebody’s got to take it on, right? So, the church has to find partners and find solutions that get people feeling comfortable with it.”

Related: What’s the Future for Pittsburgh’s Smithfield Street?

In October, Pfaffmann and church leadership pitched hypothetical plans to a dozen possible community partners, including real estate companies and nonprofits.

The church has briefed both the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Economic & Industrial Development Corporation on the congregation’s desire to preserve the building.

“At this time, the URA and PEIDC do not have a formal role,” said Dana Bohince, URA communications manager. “Our staff plan to continue to engage with the church to identify if and how we can serve a role in a potential development effort.”

Potential solutions extend beyond the church itself: Heirs of William Penn — the English Quaker who founded the province of Pennsylvania — gave the congregation a land lease in 1787 that stretches from Smithfield Street to Montour Way and Strawberry Way to Sixth Avenue.

Smithfield Street cuts through the heart of Downtown and used to be a prominent shopping district. In December, PublicSource and Pittsburgh Magazine examined local efforts underway to revitalize the corridor.

The church’s leadership is hoping to be part of a larger effort to reinvigorate the street.

The property not used by the church, also known as the Smithfield Building, is leased, providing about half of the congregation’s $400,000 annual budget. As a part of the lease terms, McKnight Realty Partners owns the building until the end of its lease with the church in 2068.

The building, which once housed the iconic F.W. Woolworth Co. and Stouffer’s Restaurant, now leases space to the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Downtown branch and a Brooks Brothers clothing store. McKnight also has two stories of office space above the Brooks Brothers.

THE SMITHFIELD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, LEFT, ALSO OWNS THE BUILDING TO THE RIGHT THAT HOUSES THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY OF PITTSBURGH DOWNTOWN BRANCH, BROOKS BROTHERS AND OFFICES. | PHOTO BY KALLIYAN WINDER

The Carnegie Library recently invested funds to expand its branch.

“Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh remains committed to the successful future of the Smithfield Street corridor,” manager of communications Suzanne Thinnes said in an email. “Our recent $5.3 million investment added 68% more space to our Downtown branch, ensuring that the space is accessible, comfortable and meets the needs of the community. The church has been a valued neighbor and a key community asset.

“We’re enthusiastically open to working together with all of our neighbors for a sustainably healthy future.”

One plan Pfaffmann and the congregation pitched included the design for five additional stories on the Smithfield Building — as opposed to the church itself — to create residential space, a solar array and a rooftop community space.

Using any of the land lease space outside of the church requires getting those occupying the space on board with potential plans, and using empty space inside the church building would require repairing the building.

An estimated $12 million is required to repair the church’s exterior, install life safety features like sprinklers and make the building accessible, according to numbers Pfaffmann provided in the October meeting.

That meeting was to gauge reactions, and Pfaffmann did not expect to solidify partnerships immediately.

Izzy Rudolph, president and CEO of McKnight Realty, declined to comment specifically on the potential of a partnership.

“I wish them well in this endeavor. We’re obviously always happy to keep this conversation going with them,” Rudolph said.

Pfaffmann is pitching holistic solutions. With Downtown revitalization making headlines, he’s arguing that the church could play a vital role in its Downtown. As a part of his work developing potential plans for the church, he mapped out nearby areas in Downtown to better understand what is missing that the church could provide.

He argues that third spaces — locations outside work and home that people can go to — are needed in any healthy neighborhood.

For example, teens who spend time Downtown after school may need a place to wait like a teen center, something that could be set up in the empty spaces within the church.

A boys and girls club was one of many suggestions Pfaffmann made to potential community partners in the October meeting for ways to use empty space in the church building. Other suggestions included social services to continue the church’s mission of giving back to the community Downtown.

There’s no set timeline for when any of these plans could come to fruition, but Pfaffmann estimates it could take five to 10 years. An ideal 2025 would mean funding for stabilizing the building and having a series of workshops to develop ideas, he said.

For John Axtell, co-chair of the church’s building committee, the challenge of deferred repairs opens the doors to something greater.

“This is an enormous issue, an enormous burden for the church, and the church has dealt with it by avoiding addressing it for decades,” he said. “But it’s an enormous opportunity too, and it’s an opportunity for more than just the church. It’s an opportunity for all of Downtown to have this resource available for some new and innovative use.”

Abigail Hakas is a reporter at Next Generation Newsroom, part of the Center for Media Innovation at Point Park University. Reach her at abigail.hakas@pointpark.edu. NGN is a regional news service that focuses on government and enterprise reporting in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Kalliyan Winder, an intern for Next Generation Newsroom, Kalliyan is a third-year student at Point Park University. Reach her at krwinde@pointpark.edu.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TITLE 9

Sherree Goldstein is going to bat for women.

The Square Cafe owner is opening Pittsburgh’s first women’s sports watch bar this February in East Liberty, adjacent to her beloved eatery.

Title 9, a reference to a federal law that gives women athletes the right to equal opportunity in sports in educational institutions that receive federal funds, will serve food and drink and will exclusively air women’s sports.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TITLE 9

“I am passionate about women’s sports, and it’s been so amazing over the past few years to see these incredible athletes finally getting the viewership they deserve,” says Goldstein, who came up with the concept with a close group of friends. “We want to do what we can to grow here in our hometown and also support and connect with our collegiate and professional players in Pittsburgh. The goal is to make this not only a place to watch women’s sports, but to convene and grow the community.”

Located at 5997 Centre Ave., the space has a full bar, eight televisions, a rooftop bar area and garage windows that open to the street. Visitors can expect some Square Cafe crossovers on the menu (TOTS!), as well as fun twists on bar food, vegan and vegetarian options and cocktails, mocktails and local brews.

Sports fans can keep tabs on Title 9 pop-ups on the bar’s Instagram page.

NOAH WYLE (LEFT) AND SHAWN HATOSY IN “THE PITT.” | PHOTO BY MAX/WARRICK PAGE

Pittsburgh is known for its world-renowned health care. Now it’s the setting for its own TV medical drama.

“The Pitt,” which stars Noah Wyle of NBC’s “ER” fame, takes viewers inside the emergency department at the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center. The show uses Allegheny General Hospital for exterior shots but was filmed primarily in Burbank, California.

“The Pitt” is produced by Warner Bros. and John Wells Productions, which brought us shows like “ER” and “The West Wing.” Wells is a Carnegie Mellon University graduate. Does that help make it authentic to Pittsburgh?

Here are all the local references we noticed.

More on “The Pitt”

• Which ‘The Pitt’ Character Are You?
• What We Know About ‘The Pitt’ Season 2
• Quiz: What Will Happen in Season 2 of ‘The Pitt’?

1. Beers of the ‘Burgh

The 11th Annual Beers of the Burgh will take place this year on June 7 at Carrie Blast Furnaces. Which year, we wonder, did one character get his Beers of the ‘Burgh zip-up hoodie?

Where to look: All season

2. Fine Wine & Good Spirits

One patient is brought to the ER after having been found outside the local liquor store. No exact location is given.

Where to look: Episode 8

3. Freedom House Ambulance Service

Doctors keep busy schedules, but one piece of information stops Dr. Michael Robinavitch — played by Noah Wyle — in his tracks. He learns that one of his patients was a medic for the Freedom House Ambulance Service.

The Freedom House Ambulance Service was the first emergency medical service in the United States. It was established in the Hill District in 1967 by Dr. Peter Safar, a University of Pittsburgh professor known as the “Father of CPR.” Staffed by all-Black paramedics, the program was the entryway for the 9-1-1 system used today.

“The city saw how successful it was and took over the program, trained new medics,” the patient’s son says.

“All white,” the patient adds.

Where to look: Episode 8

4. Frick Park (and Bike & Beer Tours)

When the pandemic kept everyone inside, parks and public areas became a much-needed safe zone to get fresh air but stay socially distanced.

Some characters in “The Pitt” used Pittsburgh’s public parks for a peaceful escape, too.

“We started riding [bikes] to Frick Park during the pandemic. Just something to do to get out of the house,” one patient says.

The patient also mentions the “Gears & Beers” club, the show’s take on real biking and beer tours like Pittsburgh’s Bikes & Brews Tour. (Although, Gears & Beers is a real tour in Detroit.)

Where to look: Episode 5

5. Giant Eagle

A Giant Eagle employee is asleep in the overpacked ER waiting room. Good thing he has his Giant Eagle uniform hat to cover his eyes. The employee also rocks a Giant Eagle shirt.

Where to look: Episode 4

6. Homeless Encampments

One patient says he’s living “in an encampment on Liberty Avenue.” He later specifies the location, saying it’s in an alley near the Benedum.

Where to look: Episode 9

7. Mill Village, PA

Mill Village. Population: 386. And yet, showrunners found this little borough in Erie County and worked it into the script. Nice!

Where to look: Episode 8

8. Moravian Way

The street sign for Moravian Way, between Cedar Avenue and James Street on the North Side, can be seen as someone storms out of the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center.

Where to look: Episode 1

9. Mister Rogers

You can’t set a show in Pittsburgh without mentioning Mister Rogers. One patient in the show was said to have worked with Jack Guest, the real-life art director on “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”

The studio location gets a shout-out, too — WQED on Fifth Avenue in Oakland.

Where to look: Episode 4

10. Monroeville

Hello, Monroeville! You are mentioned in the show for all the wrong reasons. When a stolen ambulance chase leads hospital staff to bet on who’s behind the wheel, we find out that the ambulance is heading toward Monroeville.

Where to look: Episode 4

11. “Pitt Fest”

We’re not sure what this is referring to, but the annual concert event seems to be a fictionalized blending of various events for the sake of the show.

Where to look: Episode 5

12. Philadelphia

Our companion (or rival) to the east gets a shout-out — one they probably won’t like. When a fight breaks out in the waiting room, one hospital employee shouts, “Where do you people think you are? This ain’t Philly!”

Where to look: Episode 9

13. Primanti Bros.

Who’s hungry? The iconic sandwich shop gets a mention when someone orders a surprise lunch for hospital staff.

Where to look: Episode 6

14. Shadyside

One patient uses a fraudulent Shadyside address so her children can go to a “decent school.”

No specific school is mentioned.

Where to look: Episode 5

15. The T

A woman makes her way into the ER after falling onto the tracks. A good samaritan who saved her suffered a head wound.

Where to look: Episode 1

16. Wholey’s Market

In the mood for salmon? You’re not alone. Even emergency room doctors look forward to ordering dinner from Wholey’s.

Where to look: Episode 9

17. Youngstown, Ohio

Oh, yes. Ohio gets a shout-out, too. Don’t worry. It’s derogatory.

What’s a possible form of punishment for one doctor’s actions? “Worst case you’ll have to take a job in Youngstown.”

Where to look: Episode 5

PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK

Allegheny County and seven other counties in Pennsylvania were outliers in favoring Vice President Kamala Harris over former President Donald Trump for president in the state’s 67 counties.

Here’s the Pennsylvania Election Unofficial Results by the numbers as of Wednesday morning. For updates, monitor the Pennsylvania election returns website.

Related: How to Recycle Political Yard Signs in Pittsburgh

Statewide

President

Kamala Harris (Dem) 48.32% (Votes: 3,270,842)

Donald Trump (Rep) 50.72% (Votes: 3,432,938)

Presidential results in 8 counties where Harris won:

Allegheny 

Kamala Harris (Dem) 59.43% (Votes: 419,051)

Donald Trump (Rep) 39.61% (Votes: 279,292)

Chester 

Kamala Harris (Dem) 56.24% (Votes: 175,686)

Donald Trump (Rep) 42.74% (Votes: 133,497)

Dauphin

Kamala Harris (Dem) 52.21% (Votes: 76,899)

Donald Trump (Rep) 46.64% (Votes: 68,706)

Delaware

Kamala Harris (Dem) 61.16% (Votes: 197,225)

Donald Trump (Rep) 37.81% (Votes: 121,941)

Lackawanna 

Kamala Harris (Dem) 51.04% (Votes: 58,956)

Donald Trump (Rep) 48.26% (Votes: 55,744)

Lehigh

Kamala Harris (Dem) 50.62% (Votes: 94,235)

Donald Trump (Rep) 48.18% (Votes: 89,704)

Montgomery

Kamala Harris (Dem) 60.80% (Votes: 308,264)

Donald Trump (Rep) 38.15% (Votes: 193,400)

Philadelphia

Kamala Harris (Dem) 78.53% (Votes: 526,083)

Donald Trump (Rep) 20.31% (Votes: 136,088)

Statewide, Continued

U.S. Senate

Robert P. Casey (Dem) 48.29% (Votes: 3,235,972)

Dave McCormick (Rep) 49.16% (Votes: 3,294,580)

Attorney General

Eugene DePasquale (Dem) 45.95% (Votes: 3,050,149)

Dave Sunday (Rep) 51.08% (Votes: 3,390,162)

Auditor General

Malcolm Kenyatta (Dem) 45.67% (Votes: 3,006,675)

Tim DeFoor (Rep) 51.40% (Votes: 3,384,490)

State Treasurer

Erin McClelland (Dem) 45.37% (Votes: 2,987,008)

Stacy Garrity (Rep) 52.20% (Votes: 3,436,238)

Other Stats for Allegheny County 

Registered Voters: 952,539

Votes Cast: 710,552

Voter turnout: 74.60%

By the morning of Tuesday, Nov. 5:

258,010 mail-in ballots had been sent, 227,486 had been returned (88%)

3,788 overseas ballots had been sent and 2,165 had been returned; 521 military were sent and 268 returned. Both overseas and military have until next week to get them returned to be counted. 

On Wednesday morning, Nov. 6, Allegheny County election staff will be processing military, overseas and provisional ballots. According to county spokesperson Abigail Gardner, the county will likely not know how many provisional ballots were cast here until Friday, Nov. 8. 

MODEL AND ACTOR MATTHEW NOSZKA IS RETURNING TO HIS PITTSBURGH ROOTS TO REMODEL A HIGHLAND PARK HOME. | PHOTO BY LUKE SIMONE

He may live on the West Coast now, but successful model and actor — and burgeoning entrepreneur — Matthew Noszka still refers to Pittsburgh as home.

“It’ll always be home. I miss it for sure,” he says.

A 2011 graduate of Chartiers Valley High School, Noszka spent his teen years working in construction alongside his father, Dan Noszka, who owned more than a dozen rental properties across Pittsburgh’s East End.

“I grew up going to all of his properties and renovating them,” Noszka says. “I did cement work, brick pointing — landscaping was a big thing for me.”

PHOTO BY LUKE SIMONE

It was actually while doing manual labor in the summer of 2014 that Noszka got his big break. Then a member of Point Park University’s basketball team who was majoring in sports, arts and entertainment management, the college junior posted a shirtless photo of himself on Instagram after a long day of building a poolside deck with a buddy.

“Built my first deck today,” he captioned the photo, not knowing it was about to go viral.

Within days, international agency Wilhelmina Models made Noszka a contract offer. In the months that followed, Noszka, now 31, appeared in a Nike photo shoot and modeled apparel for high-end brands, including Calvin Klein and Hugo Boss, at New York Fashion Week.

His fame accelerated after appearing on NBC’s “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” where he humbly explained his overnight success as a model was thanks to social media — and gamely showed off his celebrated abs for the audience.

In the decade since, Noszka — who had never been out of the U.S. before being discovered — has done runway work for Moschino and Balmain, among many other luxury brands, and faced campaigns for Dolce & Gabbana, Ralph Lauren and Alo alongside celebrities such as Miley Cyrus and supermodels GiGi and Bella Hadid.

He also appeared in the 2019 Netflix holiday movie “Let it Snow” and made out with Jennifer Lawrence as the “hot guy” in the 2023 flick “No Hard Feelings.” Over the fall, he began shooting for Ryan Murphy’s new legal drama “All’s Fair,” in a lead role as Kim Kardashian’s love interest.

Four years ago, he became a father to his daughter, Nova, with his partner, Canadian actress Inanna Sarkis. Although the couple, who are in the midst of planning a Nevada-based Airbnb business called Adventure Homes, reside in Los Angeles, he continues to spend time in Pittsburgh — with a new project brewing.

PHOTO BY LUKE SIMONE

In 2019, he returned to the area to be with his father, whom Noszka called the rock of his family; his father died from pancreatic cancer at age 61. He also began helping to advise his mother, Maureen, as she took over her husband’s portfolio of rental properties, most of which Noszka says his parents bought for a song back in the 1990s.

“He was buying homes for like $5,000 in Stanton Heights, Highland Park and Lawrenceville and rented them out over my lifetime,” Noszka says. “And then those areas just boomed.”

The properties are worth significantly more than they were 30 years ago, and none more so than a classic American Foursquare along Wellesley Avenue in Highland Park.

Noszka says they discussed remodeling and selling the home before his father’s death, so Noszka decided to do just that.

“I was like, ‘All right, mom, I’m gonna buy one of these homes off of you and I’m gonna make it my passion project,’” he says.

PHOTO BY LUKE SIMONE

It was easier said than done. Built in 1911, the house had fallen into significant disrepair over the years. It strangely had both an upstairs and a downstairs kitchen, and Noszka says the plumbing lines were clogged and rotted. Holding up the century-old home’s foundation was a carved tree.

For oversight and construction on the building, which included a new roof and new HVAC system, Noszka partnered with his childhood friend Alex Farah, founder of the Pittsburgh-based construction and real estate firm Build412.

“We stayed in touch over the years, and it was just one of those things where it just clicked,” Noszka says. “I liked his style.”

A dedicated wellness advocate who launched his own fitness app, Noszka says his plan is to bring his West Coast, health-conscious style to the home.

“I wanted to bring what I had in California, and what I had experienced, back to Pittsburgh,” he says. “I made my home my sanctuary where I can get up in the morning, I can meditate, I can take care of my body and I can have longevity for my family.”

His vision includes installing a steam shower and sauna, along with a cold-plunge pool and a reverse osmosis water system. Although the front of the home’s structure remains basically the same, Noszka ripped off the rotting front porch and replaced it.

PHOTO BY LUKE SIMONE

Near the back of the home, he removed a crumbling fireplace and installed 8-foot-tall sliding glass doors that lead out to the patio.

“I wanted it to feel like this open floor plan where you walk in, have everything opened up, and it flows into the back,” he says.

Keeping a tree his father always liked was another challenge due to the tiny backyard, closely surrounded on all sides by neighboring houses.

“I’m going to put a privacy wall up and I’m going to cover the privacy wall with hedges so that you kind of just look out and it looks like it’s a backyard full of greenery,” he says.

For the luxurious chef’s kitchen, Noszka installed high-end cabinetry from the Spanish brand DOCA, as well as stone Neolith-brand countertops and ZLINE kitchen appliances. LED lighting under the cabinetry adds a warm glow to the space.

PHOTO BY LUKE SIMONE

Upstairs, Noszka, who has found a passion for using the construction skills he learned in his youth (“At the time, I absolutely hated it, but now I can really appreciate the work ethic and everything that instilled in me,” he says), carved out a laundry room from one of the bedrooms and added a flexible loft space to the third floor.

“For this house in particular, I wanted to bring that essence of a spa but keep it rustic enough to where you still have that Pittsburgh feel,” he says. “It’s not industrial, but it still has the hearty roots of Highland Park.”

His hope is to have the home completely renovated and ready to sell by the end of the year, and when he does, he’s going to host a celebration for his local family and friends — who just may see more of him in the future. Noszka says he has dreams of opening a health and wellness facility in the Pittsburgh area.

“The point of this project wasn’t to flip it and make money,” he adds. “It was more honoring my father and showing my mom that I have the capability to come in and take over where he left off and make it into this empire of real estate, because that’s really what I love and what I’ve come to love over these past couple years.”

PHOTOS BY JESSE RIESMEYER/DESIGN BY INTERIORS BY SEASHAL

Raise your hand if you got out of the house more in 2023.

Yes? That’s what we thought.

After several years of hunkering down at home because of the pandemic, people are traveling again, meeting up with friends or family members they haven’t seen in awhile — or just heading back to the office.

The shift is also having an effect on home trends. If last year was the year of the home office, then 2024 is all about creating specialized niches that speak to you.

“We want the meditation room, we want the home gym, we want those intentional spaces and less of that flex space,” says interior designer Juliane Mazzarella, owner of Avenue Interiors in Sewickley. “Now that we’re moving beyond COVID, what has stuck in your life? If you turned your guest bedroom into an office and went back to work, what is it now?”

Other trends to look out for in the new year include an emphasis on sustainable products, a warm neutral color palette (brown, which hasn’t been popular since the 1970s, is huge for 2024) and a focus on luxe, textured materials such as velvet and bouclé.

If you’re looking to update your home, here’s what else local design experts have to say about the trends coming down the pike for 2024 — and how to implement them in your home.

PHOTOS BY NORA BEST PHOTOGRAPHY/DESIGN BY INTERIORS BY SEASHAL

The New Neutrals

Design experts have been heralding the end of gray (now called “Millennial Gray” because of its association with a certain generation) as the go-to neutral for years now, but 2024 might really be its death knell. Instead, beige has been dominating the market.

“You’re seeing virtually no grays — it’s truly out now,” Mazzarella says. “Everything is definitely beige. Stark white is also out.”

Taking its place are cozy, warmer neutrals such as creamy off-whites, taupes and rich browns. Mazzarella says cognac-toned leather also is becoming a popular material choice.

PHOTO BY JESSE RIESMEYER/DESIGN BY INTERIORS BY SEASHAL

“As we continue our shift to warmer palettes, we’re seeing a lot of organic hues, including terra cotta, mustard yellow and greens,” adds interior designer Jennifer Janeway, owner of Jennifer Janeway Designs in Cranberry. “These colors create soft, cozy and welcoming environments.”

Janeway says she recently created a serene primary bedroom by combining sage green and turmeric yellow with warm woods. For a living room project, she added an avocado-hued velvet sofa accented by playful patterned pillows in gold and green.

Seashal Belldina, owner of Pittsburgh-based Interiors by Seashal, says during her fall journey to High Point Market — the influential biannual furnishing industry trade show held in High Point, North Carolina — she noted muted tones and bolder colors mixed with warmer undertones, clean lines and organic shapes, as well as vintage accents and natural materials.

“Some showrooms combined that warm neutral backdrop with a pop of bold color in shades of blue, green and orange,” she says.

PHOTO BY DAVE BRYCE PHOTOGRAPHY/DESIGN BY JENNIFER JANEWAY

In the Kitchen

While a white kitchen will always be classic, Janeway says many of her clients are experimenting with color, including a project she completed with deep green cabinetry complemented by butcher block countertops and brass hardware.

“Taking a chance on a colorful kitchen lets homeowners express their personality and fill each day with joy,” she says.

According to home renovation and design platform Houzz, appliance garages are also having a moment. The pull-down kitchen door conceals countertop appliances such as blenders, coffee makers and toasters while keeping them easily accessible (and organized).

In its 2024 Kitchen Trends report, the National Kitchen & Bath Association also cited walk-in, butler and built-in pantries as must-haves, along with floor-to-ceiling cabinetry and deep lower cabinets to help maximize storage; there’s also a desire for built-in charging stations.

Mazzarella says an easy way to zhuzh up the kitchen is to add dramatic, substantial hardware to cabinets or to create a dedicated beverage station for coffees or teas.

“Islands have also gotten a bit smaller, and homeowners are starting to want workstation sinks instead of traditional sinks,” she adds of upcoming kitchen trends.

Blues, Natural Materials and Textures

Feeling blue doesn’t have to be a bummer. According to 2024 Color of the Year predictions, blue is the standout color for the home.

Keep in mind this isn’t a deep or primary blue; Mazzarella says the accessible hue is all about softness. Indeed, the Sherwin-Williams Color of the Year is Upward, a pale, dreamy blue with soothing gray undertones.

Mazzarella also sees blues with a hint of green growing in popularity; the pretty peacock shade is a versatile way to add color to your home.

“That teal color plays nicely against foundation and flooring,” she says.

Nubby bouclé and other nature-inspired textures have been trending for the last few years, and Janeway predicts they will continue to be in demand for 2024, including on window blinds.

PHOTO BY DAVE BRYCE PHOTOGRAPHY/DESIGN BY JENNIFER JANEWAY

“Our clients are loving the warmth and texture that natural shades bring to their homes,” she says. “Made of materials like bamboo, jute, sisal, these window treatments provide a gorgeous light-filtering glow that adds layers of texture to the sitting area.”

Belldina says case goods, such as dressers and shelves, are taking on warmer tones, textures and organic shapes; materials such as spalted maple, alabaster, metals and natural stone also can enhance a piece’s connection to nature.

In the bedroom, Belldina says “livable luxury,” including washable velvets and sustainable materials with boho accents such as unrefined fringe trim, are on trend.

Thanks to the 2023 blockbuster “Barbie,” the upbeat Barbiecore trend also is transitioning into 2024, albeit in a more toned-down way. Instead of bright pinks, Mazzarella says there’s a push toward dusty rose, mauves and aubergine hues.

Squishy, bubble-shaped “marshmallow” pieces that Barbie would love to sit on are another fun way to update your own dreamhouse, as are striking Murano glass chandeliers and curvier furniture.

“It’s not that in-your-face pink, but there’s definitely a feminineness that’s coming in,” Mazzarella says.

PHOTOS COURTESY SHERWIN WILLIAMS

Thanks, Gwyneth

The expensive-looking, label-free fashions that actress and Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow wore during her heavily covered 2023 civil trial involving a ski collision (which she won) introduced everyone to the term “quiet luxury” — and the theme has carried over to the home realm.

Also called “stealth wealth,” this seemingly effortless style relies on simple design principles aided by high-quality materials, usually in muted tones. Mazzarella adds that “disposable” furniture trends (similar to fast fashion) typically bought online are coming to an end, with homeowners gravitating toward sustainable, custom-made pieces that can last a lifetime.

“I can give you exactly what you want and you’re going to have it for the next 20 years,” she says of ordering bespoke pieces. “Clients are starting to have sustainability first in mind, and then where and how [the pieces] are made and what the materials are.”

Janeway agrees there’s a movement toward more sustainable fabrics created from recycled materials in design.

FLAT LAY BY JENNIFER JANEWAY DESIGNS

“At Highpoint Market this fall, we discovered these Thibaut fabrics from their Ethos collection and had some fun putting together a colorful flat lay with them,” she says. “This fabric collection is made in large part from recycled polyester or recycled plastic bottles (depending on the specific fabric) and combines surprisingly tough performance with sustainability.”

If overhauling the entire house — which can be both expensive and time-consuming — is out of reach, Mazzarella suggests adding little luxuries to your everyday life such as scented candles, high-quality sheets, an upgraded mattress or a cashmere throw on the sofa.

Throw in a properly framed piece of art or a few handcrafted items you picked up on your recommenced vacations and you’ve got yourself a Gwyneth-approved, luxury look.

“Just in general with all the trends, the volume got turned down,” Mazzarella says. “Things are just getting more personal again; your home shouldn’t look like a staged home.”

PHOTOS BY CARL S. MILLER WEDDINGS

When Meredith Cain and Patrick Reeves wed in September at The Frick Pittsburgh, they dreamed of an elegant and enchanting garden party.

They enlisted the event planners at Hello Productions, who worked with The Farmer’s Daughter Flowers to create a grand entrance piece for the reception tent, as well as arrangements on the king’s table and surrounding accent areas repurposed from the ceremony.

Alyson Huth, event coordinator/social media manager at Hello Productions, says they embraced The Frick’s natural beauty for their creation.

“Meredith and Patrick’s wedding was one of my favorites,” she says. “We put together a design with an array of blooms and greens that gave a reminiscence of the summer coming to a close with the welcoming of a beautiful fall afternoon.

“The inspiration was whimsical, yet elegant to capture the formal affair.”

When it comes to wedding florals, showstopping statements are only getting bigger and better.

The ‘Wow’ Factor

At The Pennsylvanian Downtown for their June 2022 wedding, Heather Dean and Carmen Connolly danced under a floral canopy with flowers from The Farmer’s Daughter Flowers, lighting and truss by EF Lighting, linens by Mosaic and rentals by All Occasions Party Rental and Marbella Event Furniture & Decor Rental — all put together with a vision by wedding planner Soiree by Souleret.

Company owner Shayne Souleret says dance floor installations are becoming more popular, in part because it’s a focal point for the celebration during a couple’s first dance or parent dances.

“People are always trying to do something different, and centerpieces are at every single wedding, but I think people are trying to bring one ‘wow’ or statement area,” she says.

She also notes couples can reuse the statement areas throughout the night; a flower wall might be used to hang escort cards and later be transformed into a selfie station or photo booth backdrop.

“You’re doubling your impact,” she says.

Another place she likes to recommend couples focus their flowers is an elaborate bridal table.

“It’s kind of the biggest bang for your buck there, and the reason I say that is because everyone is looking at the head table most of the evening,” she says. “I always like to draw everyone’s attention to that part of the space.”

Jorge Ramon, a lead on the design team at florist May Chester Design, crafted a floral installation that served as a grand backdrop for the bride and groom’s king table at Gina Borelli and Ulysses Ator’s June 3 reception at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Oakland. The couple posed on a vintage tufted sofa from Vintage Alley Rentals for portrait photos in front of the flowers, and the area was heavily photographed during the reception speeches.

Ramon says floral installations are becoming more of an immersive experience, whether with a floating wisteria ceiling above a king’s table or a bar completely wrapped in hydrangea.

“The statement pieces are bigger while creating a breathtaking floral experience for the guest that is tactile and close up,” he says.

Mary Beth McConahey, who owns Mary Beth McConahey Floral Design, says more couples are using the art and architecture of their venues, whether it’s fountains, chandeliers, staircases or arches, and building on them for statement pieces guests are sure to remember.

“It’s only getting bigger and more extravagant in terms of installations,” she says.

AT THEIR JUNE 2022 WEDDING, HEATHER DEAN AND CARMEN CONNOLLY DANCED THE NIGHT AWAY UNDER A FLORAL CANOPY CONSTRUCTED IN THE PENNSYLVANIAN FOR THEIR CELEBRATION.

Pretty and Petite

If there’s one area where couples are keeping things small, it’s in the bridal bouquet. McConahey says she’s getting a lot of requests for “mini bouquets,” which have a royal connection.

“It’s a throwback to that kind of timeless style of the 1950s and ‘60s,” she says, referencing Princess Grace’s famously simple bouquet of posies for her wedding to Prince Rainier of Monaco in 1956. The Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton and her sister, Pippa Middleton, also had small bouquets for their weddings, McConahey notes.

“It’s so simple, so chic — it’s elegance at its finest,” she says. “And Pittsburgh brides are going for it this year.”

Of course, for every trend in the wedding world, there are those couples who want the opposite. McConahey has also been tasked with a few large, cascading bridal bouquets akin to what Princess Diana carried at her wedding in 1981.

With the small bouquets, McConahey has noticed an increased interest in sustainability. Some couples ask for foam-free storage for their flowers or they want flowers grown locally, which is an easy request for her to fulfill as she grows most of her flowers in her Greensburg backyard.

For tabletops, she’s noticing couples are asking for a more meadow-like aesthetic, with flowers arranged in moss or greenery rather than compotes and vases that hold a few colorful blossoms.

She’s also noticed Pittsburgh couples opting for no flowers, instead requesting all greenery on their day.

“There is something new under the sun in bouquets,” she says. Brides are asking for “oversized, wild, mixed greens, really textured. It’s chic; it’s cool. I’ve not seen that before … To see a bride with just greens in her hand is very shocking, very beautiful.”

A Singular Focus

Ramon says he’s also seeing strong style statements with all-white wedding florals.

“The floral element here is luxe — white roses and orchids steal the show and create a formality without being fussy,” he says. “Single buds vases with a single flower, white blooms and lush, textured arrangements make a modern statement while reinterpreting a very classic and timeless look.”

At Community Flower Shop in Overbrook, wedding and events director Miranda Wilder says it’s common for couples to focus on a single type of flower, often roses, perhaps decorating with white-rose bud vases throughout their wedding. Others are keeping their focus on a single color, perhaps all-white flowers with a lot of baby’s breath, a huge trend right now.

“You have some people who are really into that and some people who have really leaned into a lot of color,” she says.

Many people are having a smaller wedding, and when the guest list is smaller, there may be more room in the budget for flowers, she says.

According to The Knot, couples spent an average of $2,400 on a wedding florist in 2022. Wilder says couples should have some idea of how much they’d like to spend before meeting with a florist; she also recommends booking your florist about a year ahead of your wedding.

“I always tell people to reach out sooner rather than later, and that really works for all vendors just to make sure you get the people you want,” she says.

If a couple has a date set, their venue booked and some sort of color scheme chosen, the florist can get started, she says. From there, the options are limitless.

“If someone comes to us with an idea we can find a way to make it happen,” she says.

Before he became the returning hero of the Pittsburgh Pirates, before he was named the National League MVP and even before the baseball world dubbed him “Cutch,” Andrew McCutchen was simply a 15-year-old Florida kid playing far from home.

And he was homesick. Horribly so.

His parents, who were 17 when he was born in tiny Fort Meade, Florida, had to work multiple jobs. They couldn’t afford to pay for travel ball — let alone for an elite league that sent him across the state to live and play for the whole summer. But they knew their son had a special gift — and he had a coach who was so impressed by that talent that he covered the teenager’s expenses for the elite league.

After two months of living in Panama City, more than 6 hours away from home, in Florida’s panhandle, McCutchen called his father, Lorenzo, and begged. “I don’t want to be here. I want to come home.”

Lorenzo replied gently, “Just stick with it. You’ll be all right.”

Fast forward 17 years to 2018. Andrew McCutchen is homesick again, but the man and the circumstances are very different.

He is standing in the batter’s box at PNC Park in his Giants uniform as a 90-second standing ovation washes over him. He had circled May 11 on the calendar, dreading his first appearance in Pittsburgh since being traded to San Francisco. He’s still stinging from the trade. He had wanted to be a permanent fixture for the Pirates, the way Derek Jeter was for the Yankees. But the gods of baseball had other plans.

Fast forward to the present: McCutchen is no longer homesick.

The all-star center fielder who led the Pirates to playoff runs in 2013, 2014 and 2015 is home again. After bouncing to San Francisco, New York, Philadelphia and Milwaukee across five seasons, he boomeranged back to Pittsburgh for the 2023 season. Now 37 and in the second year of his return, he has just inked a $5 million, one-year contract for 2024 as a designated hitter/outfielder.

McCutchen is happy to be back in Pittsburgh, a city he fell in love with when he was in his 20s. It’s why he kept his house in the North Hills even after he was traded. To him, Pittsburgh is like a perfectly fitted outfielder’s glove.

“Pittsburgh has been my second home. It’s where my heart is.”

For his devotion to the city, for his athletic feats on the field, for his philanthropic deeds and for reigniting excitement for the Pirates among fans and players upon his return, Andrew McCutchen has been named Pittsburgher of the Year for 2023.

2023 SEASON PHOTOS BY HARRISON BARDEN AND ALYSA RUBIN | PITTSBURGH PIRATES

Play Ball!

The rookie outfielder who would soon propel the Pirates to their first winning season in 21 years arrived in Pittsburgh with dreadlocks, a dazzling smile, a soft-spoken coolness, a hot bat and the lightning speed of a sprinter.

At an early age, McCutchen showed he was blessed with many athletic talents. As a ninth-grader, he won a state title as part of a 4×100 relay team; he was also a top football recruiting prospect. In high school, he was the baseball team’s star, hitting .709 his senior year.

In 2005, the Pirates made him their first draft pick. When the teenager walked into the press conference after the announcement, he had a rare confidence and presence, recalls veteran Pirates play-by-play man Greg Brown. “He just had this aura.”

McCutchen quickly lived up to his billing as a future star and became an instant fan favorite. He finished his rookie season with a .286 batting average, 12 home runs, 54 RBIs and 22 stolen bases.

He hit for power and average. He protected PNC Park’s center field like he owned it. He stole bases. He went on to make five All-Star teams — and, in 2013, win the National League’s MVP award behind a .317 batting average, 21 home runs and 84 RBIs.

But McCutchen’s value to the Pirates organization was far greater than his impressive stats.

To the city’s long-suffering baseball fans, the 22-year-old was a jolt of energy and hope. “After 20 losing seasons, Pirates fans hid their faces,” says Brown. “Andrew made it cool to be a Pirates fan again.”

Sacrifice Play

McCutchen could never have made the journey from his economically depressed town in Central Florida into Major League Baseball and the hearts of Pittsburghers without a pair of strong parents.

Petrina and Lorenzo grew up in the rural citrus town of Fort Meade, population about 5,200. After Andrew was born, they went off to separate colleges — her to community college, him to play football at Carson-Newman University in Tennessee.

McCutchen says his mother gave his father a choice: “Keep doing what you are doing or come home and help raise your son.” So they both put off their college dreams and got married, vowing to do it right with help from extended family.

To save money, the young couple lived in a two-bedroom trailer in the nearby town of Bartow for eight years so they could save up for a house in Fort Meade. Getting Andrew to school in Fort Meade involved handoffs worthy of an Olympic relay team. Petrina would drive him to the nearby hospital, where he would wait in an office for her cousin to finish an overnight nursing shift and drive him to school. Then, after school, Andrew would walk to his grandmother’s house until his mother would pick him up. “It took a village,” he says.

Petrina often worked double shifts at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, where she was an office worker, crime prevention specialist and HR person. Lorenzo juggled being a youth pastor with gigs in landscaping and the local anthracite mines.

Early on, Andrew saw the sacrifices his mother and father were making. When he was about 8, he asked for a PlayStation for Christmas. His parents scrimped to buy him one, but on Christmas morning he insisted they take it back because he knew they couldn’t afford it.

“I was just shocked,” his mother says. “We thought we were doing a really good job of keeping certain things away from him.”

McCutchen remains close to his parents and shares their deep faith. Three years ago, Petrina and Lorenzo opened their own church in Fort Meade, a town where a welcome banner proudly proclaims, “Home of Andrew McCutchen — Pittsburgh Pirate All-Star,” leaving no doubt that Cutch is the local hero. And the baseball field at Fort Meade High School, where he caught the eyes of scouts, has been dedicated to him.

Petrina always wanted to set up a local Boys & Girls Club. To make that happen, Andrew enlisted his major-league friends to donate signed jerseys and hats; an auction raised $50,000. In Pittsburgh, he has done charity work with UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Light of Life Mission, Habitat for Humanity and other nonprofits.

Today, he’s still in awe of the sacrifices his parents made for him at an age when they were trying to figure out their own lives. He’s grateful that they always saw a vision for him beyond their small town. “I always tell them, ‘I don’t know how you guys did it.’”

Related:
Celebrating our Previous Pittsburghers of the Year

Love and Baseball

McCutchen not only fell in love with PNC Park, he fell in love there. Maria Hanslovan, of DuBois, was a member of the Bucco Brigade, the exuberant squad that launches T-shirts and hotdogs into the stands with air guns. One fateful summer day in 2009, she was assigned to assist at a baseball camp held at the ball field. A kid overthrew a ball behind McCutchen, and Hanslovan was there to retrieve it. Wow, he thought when she threw it back. Nice throw. He was smitten.

McCutchen would see her outside the stadium, and he eventually got the guts to ask her out. She said no. “I was persistent,” he says with a laugh. Now they’re married with three kids — and a fourth on the way. The oldest boy is named Steel.

McCutchen is a soft-spoken, thoughtful small-town guy, but he’s not afraid to go a little Hollywood once in a while — like the time he proposed to Maria on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” on NBC. For a recent interview, he was comfortable wearing ripped flared gray denim pants with the Louis Vuitton pattern running down the legs. Most of us couldn’t pull it off, but on him, with a faded denim jacket and a bejeweled cross, it just works.

No matter how he’s dressed, though, the Major League Baseball star is just as comfortable hanging with his friends from Fort Meade who call him Drew or taking his kids to the Ross Park Mall play area, where he spent an hour the other day. “It was packed. No one even came up to me.”

He likes how Pittsburgh embraces him without ever smothering him. “It’s a hard-working, blue-collar city and people are very respectful of your time,” he says.

Michael McKenry, the former Pirates catcher and current broadcaster, says when he would go out to dinner with McCutchen in other cities like Cincinnati and Denver fans tended to mob his friend, especially in his dread-headed days. “People just bombard him at times. It didn’t matter if he was mid-bite. There was really no line they wouldn’t cross. He would handle it well. But that never happened in Pittsburgh.”

The Ultimate Home Run

When McCutchen returned to PNC Park in a Pirates uniform again in 2023, his mother came with him — not just as a spectator. A talented singer, Petrina had performed at various Pirate games, including the 2013 Wild Card playoff game against Cincinnati.

On April 7, 2023, before the home opener against the Chicago White Sox, she belted out the National Anthem. In her son’s first at-bat, after the umpire had to suspend the new speed-up-the-game rules for the long ovation, McCutchen fought back tears — but still managed a single to right field.

That emotional moment might have never happened for McCutchen if Maria had not nudged him to take a meeting with the Pirates’ front office after his 2022 season in Milwaukee.

He was a free agent and was in talks with a playoff contender. He was ready to sign a contract, but he had previously set up a coffee date with Pirates GM Ben Cherington to talk about possibly playing for the Pirates again.

Though McCutchen’s feelings had been deeply hurt when he was traded to the Giants, he never expressed anger or burned any bridges with Pirates management. He knew it was business.

He told Maria things were moving fast with the other team and it was too late to meet with the Pirates. “Just have a cup of coffee first,” Maria told him. The phrase has become a running joke in their marriage: “Just have a cup of coffee.”

For McCutchen fans like Logan Skarupa, an 18-year-old baseball player from Canonsburg, the return of his hero has been thrilling. Milling around PiratesFest at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in January, Skarupa was double-Cutched up, wearing a black McCutchen jersey under a yellow McCutchen jacket. When he heard McCutchen was coming back to town, “I screamed. I cried.”

In the clubhouse, McCutchen is known for being chill and his sense of humor. “Everybody was pretty much jealous of Andrew on a daily basis, but his humility was through the roof and he made everyone laugh,” says Neil Walker, former teammate and current Pirates broadcaster.

He’s known for dead-on imitations of other players, movie stars, even Mickey Mouse. “Welcome to Disney World,” he says in a perfect cartoon-rodent impression.

He also stands out for asking to come back to the Pirates. “In this day and age of sports, loyalty is dead,” says play-by-play man Brown. “And yet here you find it.”

McCutchen, who notched his 2,000th career hit before a home crowd in June and almost reached the 300 home run milestone before an Achilles tear cut his last season short, has more to prove.

Of course, people ask him how much longer he will play. He refuses to put an expiration date on his career, saying he will play as long as he is healthy or as long as he plays well — or as long the Pirates still want him.

He has no interest in joining the Pirates coaching staff — “too stressful” — or putting on a tie and becoming an announcer. He wants to be present for his kids and be around for their T-ball games and other activities he always missed on the road. Who knows? Maybe he will become their youth coach.

Of one thing, he’s sure.

“When I’m done, I’m not going anywhere else. This is it.”

Andrew McCutchen
Designated Hitter/Outfielder
5′ 10″      190 pounds
Right-handed

Career baseball stats

7,425
At Bats

1,173
Runs

2,048
Hits

299
Home Runs

1,045
Runs Batted In

216
Stolen Bases

.276
Batting Average

.369
On Base Percentage

Source: MLB.com

Every Christmas, Kaufmann’s Department store in Century III Mall tasked Paula Biggs with leading the store’s decorating. She particularly enjoyed creating little villages, which required using risers to display layers of the town. Cotton served as snow, wires lit the houses and miniature people and cars populated the display.

“The whole shop looked like a fantasy land when it was done,” she says.

Biggs recalls bringing in her own Christmas CDs and playing Christmas music from September until January.

“It was just happy. People would come in, they’d be grumpy, they’d come into that department, and … it would make them happy, you know? They’d leave happy.”

Even off the clock, Biggs, who worked in several Kaufmann’s departments while living in West Mifflin, loved spending time at the mall, shopping for “everything” — clothes, toys, shoes, houseware items, holiday cards and more. “The mall itself was just such a nice mall,” she says. “There was so much there to do, so many restaurants and things to do, with all the mall walkers. You could spend a day there and do everything you needed to do.”

She stopped working at the mall in 2006 and has since moved to Duquesne, but she’s followed the mall’s steady and steep decline as it has become a site of disrepair, vandalism and devastating injuries. Much of the trouble has been tracked through news reports and a popular, community-run Facebook page dedicated to the mall.

“It’s sad that they let it get to that point,” she says. “I know malls are kinda going out in places, but there’s still some that are thriving.”

Residents and West Mifflin borough officials now generally view the long-closed mall as a public nuisance that should be demolished. But there’s a longing and a nostalgic fondness for what the three-story behemoth once provided to the Pittsburgh area.

WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION PHOTOGRAPHS, MSP #424, DETRE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES, SENATOR JOHN HEINZ HISTORY CENTER

Center of Everything

The first enclosed shopping malls emerged in the U.S. in the mid-1950s. When Century III Mall opened in 1979, it was the third-largest mall in America, spanning 63 acres; its name comes from being created near the start of the country’s third century. Built on a portion of an unsightly slag heap used by U.S. Steel Corp., the new mall was an attempt to repurpose local land for a postindustrial future.

At its height, Century III had more than 200 stores, anchored by Kaufmann’s, Montgomery Ward, Gimbels, Sears and JCPenney. Sears, once the world’s largest retailer, has just a few locations left; JCPenney is trying for a revival. The other department store chains are long gone.

Century III’s decline follows national trends for malls, spurred by the rise of online shopping. Terms such as “dead malls” and “zombie malls” have become commonplace as many malls have become abandoned. In Frazer Township, a scheduled sheriff’s sale of the Galleria of Pittsburgh Mills was halted at the 11th hour in late September when its owner, Namdar Realty Group, paid all of the delinquent taxes on the 1.1 million-square-foot shopping center. Many of the mall’s storefronts remain empty, although it has become the seasonal home of ScareHouse.

In other parts of the region, South Hills Village, Monroeville Mall and Ross Park Mall are still doing well, despite having less prominence than in years past, when malls had a commanding grip on American commerce and pop culture. They were popular settings for such films as 1995’s “Mallrats” and 2009’s “Paul Blart: Mall Cop.”

Today, television series and movies such as Netflix’s “Stranger Things” sometimes use scenes shot in reproduced, bustling malls to tug at viewers’ heartstrings. HBO’s 2023 series “The Last of Us” shot scenes in 2022 in the closed Northland Village Mall in Calgary, Alberta, which is being turned into an open-air shopping area.

Hope For Revitalization

Moonbeam Capital Investments, a management and leasing company based in Las Vegas, bought Century III in 2013, pledging to revitalize the site. But it’s been heavily criticized by the borough and local residents for what has happened to the shopping center.

In 2018, images of a person dressed-up as the Easter Bunny sitting on a throne, waiting for children amid closed stores at Century III Mall, went viral under the title: “Lonely Easter Bunny in a Dead Mall.”

The mall closed for good in 2019.

Negative news about the mall hit a climax this past spring and summer. In April, a fire raged through the former food court. In June, a teenager sustained critical injuries after falling through the mall’s roof. That same month, West Mifflin Council hosted a condemnation hearing for the mall that drew a standing-room crowd of 100 people.

The borough presented evidence of the mall’s sad state: water damage, graffiti, mold, vandalism and more. During its slideshow, some attendees gasped at the mall images. Police and fire department officials detailed frequent 911 calls about people breaking into the mall and expressed concern about sending officers inside the mall with potentially hazardous air.

Then a Moonbeam representative defended the mall at the meeting, the audience loudly groaned and heckled. A month later, council voted unanimously to condemn the mall, but at press time an appeal by Moonbeam and its failure to pay code enforcement fines had set up what could be a long court battle on the path to demolition.

At the condemnation hearing, Moonbeam President and Chief Operating Officer Shawl Pryor said that Moonbeam still believes the mall can be salvaged and the company intended to sell.

“Currently, we are working with a potential buyer for the property, and they have to make a determination if they are going to utilize that existing structure for their facility in use, or if they are going to look at some type of partial demolition of the property, so that will determine whether or not we go in and do the cosmetic damage and address the cosmetic issues,” Pryor said.

The Nostalgia Factor

For thousands of Pittsburghers, the mall still evokes warm memories. About a decade ago, a man now living in North Huntingdon began co-running the “Century III Mall Memories” Facebook page. There, he frequently posts old photographs, news stories and other information about the mall for its 24,000 followers. A regular administrator of the page, which often publishes negative documentation and opinions about Moonbeam, he asked not to be identified for fear of retribution.

The individual, who worked in sales and marketing for the mall about 10 years ago, says the popularity of the page doesn’t surprise him. He looks back on the mall’s heydays as positively as many others.

“Nostalgia is a weird thing,” he says. “Everyone has their own recollections of things they remember, things they experienced. It’s not just malls. For me, that’s what I remember from growing up. Other people might remember the old Civic Arena or Three Rivers Stadium. I think everyone connects to places in their own way. To me, it’s human nature.”

He recalls getting his childhood dog at a pet store in the mall and a time he lost his keys and never found them. Maybe they’re still there.

Walter Samosky, 52, who lives in Beaver County, uses the Facebook page to follow the mall from afar. He says he started going to the mall soon after it opened, before he moved out of the area. His parents took him to nearby Sears and JCPenney stores for clothes shopping, but when the family noticed the mall being constructed, his mother explained that they wouldn’t need to go to those stores anymore, as there would be something called a “mall” that had everything.

When he was little, Samosky loved the toy stores. As a teenager, he got into playing arcade games and would go out with a girlfriend who liked shopping at jewelry stores and Victoria’s Secret.

“I cannot remember a week, once I was driving myself, that I wasn’t at the mall at least once a week, just either to kill some time in the arcade or to actually go and get something, buy something,” Samosky says. “Most of my Christmas shopping over the years, once I had money, would be done at the mall.”

Another of the page’s most active members, Sue La Barbera, 79, of South Park, spent a lot of time shopping at the mall with friends and family. She and other parents would drop off their teenage children to hang out at the mall, frequenting shops such as the mainstay novelty store Spencer Gifts. For her own part, she spent a lot of time at Kaufmann’s, Sears and JCPenney. Once, when picking up her daughter and a friend, she learned that they had purposely turned back the time on their watches to spend more time at the mall and insisted her watch must have the wrong time.

In the mall’s latter years, she and her husband would walk it for fun.

“We just really, really liked it. I was just so sad when it started to deteriorate,” she says. “And when [my husband] and I were walking, we could see, in some of the stores that were empty, the ceilings had fallen down from water damage. And at that point, you could even smell the mustiness.”

Even when talking to people who passionately love the mall for what it used to be, it’s difficult to find anyone saying it shouldn’t be demolished. The Facebook page administrator says he believes the mall needs to be demolished, despite all of his own nostalgia and that of the page’s followers.

Demolition of the mall wouldn’t make him or anyone else lose their precious memories of the mall, even though demolition might mean those old keys of his would be lost for good.

Matt Petras is a freelance reporter and professor based in the Pittsburgh area.

ILLUSTRATION BY HUCK BEARD

Pittsburgh has been called the Steel City, the Smoky City and the Most Livable City. It’s been called Iron City, Sixburgh and the Paris of Appalachia.

Throughout its history, Pittsburgh has inspired a number of nicknames — and even more opinions. They range from the vulgar (we’re looking at you, Sienna Miller) to the poetic (Willie Stargell said coming through the Fort Pitt Tunnels was the “most grandest exhibition of how a city can open its arms to any one individual”) to the famous (“hell with the lid taken off”).

Many of these words that have been said about Pittsburgh inspire a sense of pride, some are just amusing and some expose the hard truth. But all have been used at one time in our history, whether in truth or in fiction, to describe the place we call home.

Here are 25 of the most notable quotes about Pittsburgh.

PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK

“Pittsburgh entered the core of my heart when I was a boy and cannot be torn out.” – Industrialist Andrew Carnegie

“The town lies low, as at the bottom of an excavation, just visible through the mingled smoke and mist, and every object in it is black. Smoke, smoke, smoke — everywhere smoke.” … It was like “looking over into hell with the lid taken off.” – James Parton, writing for The Atlantic Monthly in 1868

“Pittsburgh was even more vital, more creative, more hungry for culture than New York. Pittsburgh was the birthplace of my writing.” – Author Willa Cather

“It would be cheaper to abandon [the city of Pittsburgh] and build a real one. This is a disappearing city: nothing comes out of it. The ancients would have swooned at the mere mention of the money it cost to build this jumble of buildings.” – Architect Frank Lloyd Wright, 1935

“Pittsburgh is the cockeyedest city in the United States. Physically it is absolutely irrational. It must have been laid out by a mountain goat.” – Journalist Ernie Pyle, 1937

In the 1958 film “Auntie Mame,” nephew Patrick asks his society-dame aunt about her English lady friend, to which Mame replies, “She’s not English, darling; she’s from Pittsburgh”

“She sounded English,” Patrick says.

“Well, when you’re from Pittsburgh,” Mame replies, “you have to do something.”

“All I do is cough and choke From the iron filings and the sulphur smoke In Pittsburgh, Lord God, Pittsburgh” – “Pittsburgh Town” written by Woody Guthrie in 1941, sung by Pete Seeger

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CLEMENTE MUSEUM

“In a way, I was born twice. I was born in 1934 and again in 1955 when I came to Pittsburgh. I am thankful to say that I lived two lives.” – Baseball great Roberto Clemente

Calvin: “I wonder where we go when we die.”

Hobbes: “Pittsburgh?”

Calvin: “You mean if we’re good or if we’re bad?”

– Calvin and Hobbes comic by Bill Watterson, 1985

“For all the insularity of the old guard, Pittsburgh was always an open and democratic town.” – Author Annie Dillard in her 1987 book “An American Childhood”

“My greatest honor was the moment that I arrived in Pittsburgh and put in what I thought was the most grandest exhibition of how a city can open its arms to any one individual. I came in through the Fort Pitt Tunnels, and it was the most beautiful thing that I’d ever observed … [Pittsburgh] wasn’t a fancy place because the people are real.” – Willie Stargell when inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988

“Like most people, I have this sort of love-hate relationship with Pittsburgh. This is my home and at times I miss it and find it tremendously exciting, and other times I want to catch the first thing out that has wheels.” – Playwright August Wilson in a 1994 interview

“I thought I smelled an early hint of the mysterious bittersweet gas that fills Pittsburgh in the summertime, a smell at once industrial and aboriginal, river water and sulfur dioxide, burning tires and the coat of a fox.” – Author Michael Chabon in his 1995 book “Wonder Boys”

“All the networks dumped us. One of them said we made going to the moon about as exciting as taking a trip to Pittsburgh.” – Henry Hurt (Xander Berkeley) in the 1995 film “Apollo 13”

“Sh*tsburgh.” – Actress Sienna Miller, while filming “The Mysteries of Pittsburgh” in 2006

“I docked at Ellis Island in the city of light and spires / I wandered to the valley of red-hot steel and fire / We made the steel that built the cities with the sweat of our two hands / And we made our home in the American Land.” – Bruce Springsteen,
“American Land” (2006)

“I just feel like when I’m in Pittsburgh, every little square inch of it and every person that I meet just matters to me.” – Actor David Conrad in the 2008 documentary: “My Tale of Two Cities”

“I would like to just take a moment to say how much I absolutely love that town, not just because you don’t hear that very often. I truly love it, and I think our movie is many things and I think one of the things it is is kind of a love letter to Pittsburgh, because it looks beautiful in our movie, because it is an actual beautiful city.” – Actor Jay Baruchel during an interview about the Pittsburgh-set and filmed 2010 movie, “She’s Out of My League”

“Pittsburgh, let me show the world just where my city at / On the map, illest city out, I guess that’s just a fact.” – Mac Miller, “Smile Back” (2011)

“I always try to incorporate Pittsburgh and where I’m from and know what I’ve learned just about the grind and hustle from being there. I incorporate that in my music and really put it out there … I never get tired of my hometown vibe. I love my city.” – Wiz Khalifa in a 2012 interview

“In Pittsburgh, you are tough or you are not. You write or you don’t write. You start hearts or allow hearts to wind down like old clocks. I almost never think about what Pittsburgh means because I know it.” – Author Dave Newman in his 2012 book, “Raymond Carver Will Not Raise Our Children”

“I think it’s probably one of the friendliest cities I have ever spent time in in America. I really enjoy being here. Maybe it’s just because I’m an outsider, and I see things a little clearer, but nobody ever talks about the beauty of the architecture in Pittsburgh … It’s just gorgeous.” — Actor Russell Crowe speaking to Sally Wiggin while in town to film the 2015 movie “Fathers and Daughters”

“… Pittsburgh, for my money, is one of the best-looking cities in the country and we love to just walk around. We love rivers and bridges, so Pittsburgh is like our Disneyland. … And the charming location of Pittsburgh on the three rivers just seems like something out of a superhero story to me. I’m crazy about it.” – Actor Nick Offerman in a 2017 interview

“A visitor will know that Pittsburgh is a great city because Pittsburgh has been greatly tested, and in those trials in your days of struggle, Pittsburgh has set an example of what can come next and what can come next is good.”– Actor Tom Hanks, days after the synagogue massacre in 2018

“[Pittsburgh] has risen from the ashes like a phoenix. Other countries want to learn: What was it that Pittsburgh did that made it successful?” – U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, on a visit here in 2022

PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK

Shortly after returning home from his first combat engineer deployment to Iraq in 2007, Ben Weakley woke up in the middle of the night. Before he was fully conscious, he realized he was throwing objects around his bedroom, hunting for a rifle.

That was followed by evenings when he would wake up with night terrors, soaked in sweat and “screaming so loud that I scared the children and drove my wife from our bed.”

In the military, 40-70% of service members have insomnia, and more than 70% say they get less than seven hours of sleep a night. And the problem often doesn’t go away after people retire from the armed forces.

The stress of serving in war zones obviously plays a part in those numbers. But Anne Germain, a world-renowned sleep expert who runs a new sleep health company in Pittsburgh called Noctem Health, says military sleep deficits go beyond that.

Germain says she thinks the military might actually have an unconscious bias toward recruiting and promoting people who can function with less sleep than normal.

Dr. Vincent Mysliwiec, a leading sleep researcher in San Antonio, Texas who retired as an Army colonel in 2019, says a 24/7 mindset also contributes.

“Most jobs are 8 or 10 or 12 hours, but military commanders typically have around-the-clock on-call jobs, overseeing from 40 to 300 service members until they give up those positions,” he says. On top of that, there is the “inherent stress of your position, because when you make a mistake when you’re serving in the military, it’s a little different than, ‘I mismanaged the accounting.’”

Germain says that stress doesn’t stop after retirement. “Being hypervigilant and not sleeping that much might be good for survival. But I’ve talked to hundreds of soldiers who say, ‘I’ve been back for years and I sleep at home the same way I slept in the field.’”

To help service members and others who experience insomnia and other sleep issues, Germain has developed a comprehensive digital platform that allows health care providers and their patients to get the latest evidence-based advice on solving sleep problems.

For the 15% of service members who suffer post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD, sleep problems are even worse, as Weakley, who retired from the Army in 2019, and Jonathan Simmonds can attest.

Simmonds, of Pinehurst, North Carolina, retired from the Air Force Special Operations Command as a master sergeant in 2021. When he joined the Air Force in 2009, “I could hit the pillow and fall asleep immediately. Toward the end of my career I was so anxious that I would sleep only intermittently. I couldn’t fall asleep at night. I wouldn’t sleep for three or four days and then I would crash for a night.”

If I get three or four days of less than four hours of sleep a night, I’m in trouble. I will get paranoid …my ability to regulate my nervous system is shot.

—Ben Weakley

She Admired Their Courage

Germain first got involved in sleep analysis nearly 30 years ago, when she was an undergrad in Montreal, looking for research experience. The director of a dream research lab gave her a chance to work there, and “I totally fell in love with it,” she says. “We were studying dreams and working with people who suffered from nightmares related to traumatic experiences, and these people were so strong and resilient, despite all their difficulties.

“What they kept asking was, ‘If only I could have one good night of sleep,’ and I thought, I can do that. I can give people one good night of sleep.”

Eventually, she landed at the University of Pittsburgh, where she developed an international reputation, especially in working with military veterans and others suffering from PTSD. She took a leave from Pitt in 2019 to found Noctem Health.

Patients with Noctem’s COAST app — which stands for Clinician-Operated Assistive Sleep Technology — can track their sleep quality and quantity, keep a daily log and get personalized advice on making adjustments. The COAST algorithm offers possible solutions to individuals’ sleep problems, based on cognitive behavioral therapy principles and the patient’s individual experience, but leaves the final decision in the hands of the patients and their doctors.

Germain says one motivation for developing the app is that there is a shortage of sleep specialists around the nation, and COAST can help overcome that gap. Most people fail to stick with self-tracking sleep apps on their own, she says, so involving patients’ doctors in the COAST app is crucial.

“It’s the principle that you’re accountable to other human beings,” she says. To date, COAST is being used by more than 600 patients in 19 clinics and 12 military treatment facilities around the nation, and Noctem Health recently signed an agreement to expand into Canada.

The app is designed for anyone to use — studies show that about a third of the civilian population suffer from insomnia or insufficient sleep — but it still has a strong focus on the military, in part because the company has received $4.8 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Defense, its largest single source of financial support.

COAST Was a Lifeline

Simmonds, the former Air Force officer, worked for Noctem Health when he left the military last year, so he got to see it as a patient using the app and an employee helping to develop it for use by the Veterans Health Administration and other groups.

In November 2022, he made the decision to stay at home to take care of his daughters, a 7-year-old and a 9-month-old who gurgled happily on his lap during a recent Zoom interview. Simmonds tried several treatments for his sleep problems before his medical retirement, but the COAST app was the first technique that gave him any lasting relief.

At first, though, it actually made his sleep worse, a not uncommon experience when doctors are trying to get people on a regular sleep schedule.

“When I had insomnia,” he says, “I actually had more flexibility on when I could go to sleep,” but Germain, who served as his sleep doctor, wanted him to stick to a regular time for going to bed and rising. In fact, she and other experts say that one of the most important practices for someone with insomnia is getting up at the same time each day, regardless of how poor their sleep was the night before.

Eventually, “I actually started to normalize my sleep, and it was nice to be able to talk with Anne when I needed to. It wasn’t just a standard [therapy] process, because it was tailored to my needs.”

His combat experience gave him a lot to overcome. Many people don’t realize that the Air Force has special operations officers who work with Green Berets, SEALS and other special units to call in air support. When he wasn’t communicating with air traffic controllers, Simmonds functioned like any other soldier. He frequently hoisted a shoulder-mounted recoilless rifle whose noise and vibrations gave him small traumatic brain injuries. “There were many times I fired that shoulder-mounted weapon more than the recommended number of times a day and by the end of the day I was nauseated and throwing up, which are the typical signs of having a TBI.”

Simmonds, who deployed to Africa, Yemen, Iraq and Afghanistan, also was nearby when several improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, and door breaching explosions went off, which also sent shock waves through his brain.

After 13 years, “I started thinking, why is my cognition so much worse than it used to be? Why can’t I remember where I put my keys?” While he still receives treatment for his PTSD, Simmonds holds no bitterness over his military service. “I absolutely loved my job and loved serving. It was unfortunate I had to stop, honestly speaking.”

Weakley, the Army veteran who lives in Kingsport, Tennessee, knows full well how the sleep patterns of the war zone follow you home.

“When you’re in an environment where you’re sleep-deprived and going to sleep at the wrong time can be life threatening,” he says, “sometimes going to sleep at home began to feel kind of dangerous. My body would shut down but I’d jerk myself awake. My wife would talk about my whole body shuddering.”

While he hasn’t received any specific treatment for his sleep difficulties, Weakley says he knows how important good sleep is in mitigating his PTSD. “My lived experience is that when my sleep gets worse — if I get three or four days of less than four hours of sleep a night, I’m in trouble. I will get paranoid. I get very, very anxious, the hypervigilance goes through the roof, and my ability to regulate my nervous system is shot.”

Weakley is director of development at Community Building Art Works in Bethesda, Maryland, which builds bridges between veterans and civilian life through writing and art. He has published one book of poetry, “HEAT + PRESSURE,” and is working on a memoir about his military service. He says writing has been a major form of therapy and self-discovery for him.

To find out more about Noctem Health, go to noctemhealth.com/about

Overcoming Nightmares

One major issue Weakley and many other veterans have faced is bad dreams.

Matthew Walker, a well-known sleep specialist at the University of California at Berkeley, says we all experience such dreams, but normally, our brain lets us process these experiences without the surge of fight-or-flight hormones that would be present if we were awake.

When our dream state functions normally, he says, it allows us to deal with what bothers or frightens us so that we don’t experience the same rush of emotions the next time we encounter those situations.

People with PTSD often can’t handle dreams normally, though. In extreme cases, they will act out their negative dreams. More often, they will awaken violently, drenched in the emotions they originally experienced.

Germain agrees with Walker’s hypothesis and says there is an effective way to deal with this problem, a technique called image rehearsal therapy. With the help of doctors, patients can learn to rehearse their bad dreams and change the endings — and there is solid evidence that it actually works.

The image rehearsal therapy information is included in the COAST app, she says.

In her constant effort to find ways to make sleep healthier and more satisfying for veterans, there has been one major helpful development.

“The attitude in the military used to be, ‘You’ll sleep when you die.’ But now the belief is that sleep is key to maintaining the ability of warfighters. Monitoring and managing sleep as a means to optimize soldiers’ readiness has taken on a lot of weight.”

Mark Roth is a freelance writer and the former science editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

PHOTO BY HUCK BEARD

When the editors of Pittsburgh Magazine launched the 40 Under 40 recognition program in 1999, some on staff doubted they would find enough worthy young leaders here to qualify. How wrong they were.

The list from the inaugural year includes several names still familiar in Pittsburgh. Some folks are doing what they were doing 25 years ago — but of course with greater authority and success.

Some have advanced to higher positions — such as David Wecht, who went from Allegheny County Register of Wills at age 36 to a seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Others have moved out of the area altogether. Kevin McClatchy was on the list at age 36 as the youngest owner in Major League Baseball when he led a team of investors to purchase the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1996. He sold his last shares of the team in 2009, and is now co-chairman of amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Dawn Keezer was just 34 when she was tapped for the honor in her fourth year as director of the Pittsburgh Film Office. She still leads that agency, which has helped bring in more than 200 feature films and TV productions to southwestern Pennsylvania, generating nearly $2 billion in economic impact; 5,000 people in the region are employed in the film industry. She will celebrate her 30th year at the film office in September.

Bill Fuller, then 31, was corporate chef of the big Burrito Restaurant Group, where he was responsible for overseeing menu and kitchen development at the six trendy restaurants in the region under the group’s umbrella. Now he’s president of big Burrito, which operates 17 restaurants and a catering service and is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

By the time Melissa Hart was selected for the first class of 40 Under 40 at age 37, she had already made history. She was the first Republican woman to be elected to a full term in the Pennsylvania Senate, at age 28. From 2001-2007, she was the first Republican woman to represent Pennsylvania in the U.S. House of Representatives — making history again. After her time in Congress, she resumed her law practice and later threw her hat in the ring for the Pennsylvania gubernatorial race in 2022 but pulled out days before the state Republican primary.

Dan Onorato, then 38, went from Pittsburgh City Councilman to eight years as the Allegheny County Executive. During that time, he launched an unsuccessful bid for governor, losing to Tom Corbett. Since 2012, he’s been executive vice president, chief corporate affairs officer for Highmark Health.

One of the most influential honorees on the list was Linda Dickerson, who at age 38 had been a magazine publisher, business consultant and prominent advocate of people with disabilities. She spent most of her life in a wheelchair after being diagnosed with Werdnig-Hoffmann, a rare genetic neuromuscular disease. The condition did not stop her from lobbying for the Americans With Disabilities Act to become federal law in 1990 and to serve on multiple boards in the region, including as a trustee for Carnegie Mellon University. She died at age 59 in September 2020.

Mark Madden was a sports talk show host in 1999 at age 38, and he is still a sports talk show host at 62. He was on Sportsradio 1250 at that time and wrote a weekly sports column for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He now hosts an afternoon talk show on 105.9 The X and writes a part-time column for the Tribune-Review.

Founder and former producing director of Quantum Theatre, Karla Boos recently drew accolades for her production of “Hamlet,” which was staged in August at the Carrie Blast Furnaces in Swissvale. Quantum, which she describes as a laboratory or “incubator of the amazing,” is in its 33rd year. Her title is now artistic director.

Two other creatives who are still doing what they were honored for in 1999 are Peter Kope and Michele de la Reza, founders and artistic directors of Attack Theatre. Their company, founded in 1994, is known for its innovative dance performances. They are in their 29th season.

Burton Morris, who was honored at age 35 with his now ex-wife and fellow artist, Julie Morris, already had gained an international reputation with his bright “New Pop” designs. NBC’s sitcom “Friends” showcased his paintings on the set of the Central Perk coffee shop for more than 10 seasons, and he was the official artist of the World Cup ’98 and 2002 Winter Olympics. Collectors of his work include Oprah Winfrey, Barack Obama and Ralph Lauren.

On the medical side, Dr. Patrick J. DeMeo was director of the Division of Sports Medicine at Allegheny General Hospital at age 39 in 1999. The health system has grown substantially since then and his current title is chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Allegheny Health Network. He has been medical director of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 2000.

Steve D. Irwin was a lawyer and chairman of the board of the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition when he was tapped for this honor at age 39. He ran unsuccessfully in the Democratic primary in the 12th Congressional District in 2022, losing to Summer Lee. Earlier this year he was elected to a three-year term as the chair of the Anti-Defamation League of the Cleveland region, which serves Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania.

Minette Seate, former producer, writer and researcher who worked on “Black Horizons” on WQED, is now supervising producer at the public TV station, where she has hosted and produced the weekly film series “Filmmakers Corner.” She produced the 2020 documentary, “Childhood Lost: The Adultification of African American Girls,” which shed light on the practice and perception that Black girls are less innocent than their white counterparts.

Esquire Magazine in 1997 named The Steelhead Grill — helmed by executive chef Greg Alauzen — the best new restaurant in Pittsburgh and it quickly shot to the “A” list of best dining rooms in the ‘Burgh. The Bridgeville native in 2003 moved on to open Eleven Contemporary Kitchen in the Strip District and later ran Cioppino, also in the Strip. In 2019, he opened his own Italian restaurant, LeoGreta, in Carnegie — named after his parents, Leon and Greta.

Rob Rogers was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize in the editorial cartoon category in 1999, the year he was a 40 Under 40 honoree at age 39. Nineteen years later, editors at his paper, the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, fired him after they rejected a number of cartoons deemed anti-Trump. The firing made national news. Now a syndicated freelance editorial cartoonist, Rogers in 2019 — the year after his firing — once again was a Pulitzer Prize finalist.

1999 Class of Honorees

Greg Alauzen

Jim Antaki

Karla Boos

Charles R. Burke Jr.

David Celento

Rosemary Crawford

Patrick J. DeMeo

Linda Dickerson

Ezra C. Escudero

Carolyn Falk

Bill Fuller

Brian Garman

David Geller

Robert H. Getzenberg

Melissa Hart

Ted Hoover

Steven D. Irwin

Marie Milie Jones

Dawn Keezer

Peter Kope & Michele de la Reza

Brian Lang

Sean Logan

Mark Madden

Kevin McClatchy

Sean McDonald

Leslie Ann McIlroy

Mickey McManus

Glen Meakem

Burton & Julie Morris

Andy Newman

Dan Onorato

Rob Rogers

Rhonda Schuldt

Mike Seate

Minette Seate

Donald F. Smith

John Stephen

Michael & Candace Uricchio

Witold “Vic” Walczak

David Wecht

A morning last March had three things going against it: it was a Monday, the clocks had sprung forward the day before and the sky was gray with snow flurries.

But inside Provident Charter School in Troy Hill, the morning was bright and busy.

Deon L. Butler, a former receiver with the Seattle Seahawks who is now an advocate for raising awareness about dyslexia, was speaking to sixth-graders. A small group of second-graders were sitting around a table, tapping their index fingers and thumbs together as they said each letter’s sound in the word “job” before spelling it. A third-grade class was practicing listening and note-taking skills. And in the special education office, two small dogs were waiting for students who had earned a visit with them.

Upstairs in the school’s taekwondo dojo, Team Storm members were previewing a black-belt-level fan pattern they planned to debut at the Pittsburgh Zoo’s Asian Lantern Festival this fall, followed by a board-breaking demonstration.

This is life at Provident Charter School, Pennsylvania’s first public school designed for students who have dyslexia and other language-based disabilities. It opened in August 2016 and serves more than 330 students, grades 2 through 8. It has been such a success that Provident Charter School West opened in Ambridge this school year to serve students in the Beaver County area.

For Jaden Hefflin, who graduated from eighth grade last June, school had been challenging before he attended Provident. Reading “didn’t click for me, and they didn’t give me the attention I needed,” he said. In early elementary school, he was diagnosed with dyslexia in addition to ADHD (a common condition with dyslexia); both interfered with his learning.

Dyslexia, the most common learning disability, is an inherited neurological condition that impacts a person’s ability to learn to read, spell and write. It can also affect social skills, listening comprehension and time management. Dyslexia affects 1 in 5 people.

Provident “was just a lifesaver,” says Jaden’s mom, Denene. Jaden began Provident as a fourth-grader. There, “I didn’t feel like a weirdo or an outcast,” he said.

How It Started

Curtis Kossman, the founder of Provident and president of its board, says, “Kids come to us humiliated.”

He knows from personal experience. When he was in the third grade, his teacher told him and his parents that he was “either slow, stupid, dumb or lazy, or [he] thought education was a joke.”

That day is “forever imprinted in my brain. It was one of the worst days of my life.”

Subsequent testing revealed Kossman had dyslexia. For the next five years, he received intensive remediation that he estimates cost his parents upward of $300,000 (in 1977-1982 dollars). “I sit here today because of that,” he says.

When Kossman’s two children were young, he saw in them his boyhood experiences. Every day was a challenge and, he says, “the family was in crisis.”

As kids get older, he says, “they have more and more self-reflection and the realization they can’t do what their friends do.” Their self-esteem craters and that manifests in arguments about homework and school as well as behavioral challenges.

In 2010, he attended a conference of the International Dyslexia Association where he learned there were 13 private schools dedicated to children with dyslexia in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. He realized that a private school with an average tuition of $35,000 would not be viable in a city such as Pittsburgh, where the median income was then approximately $44,000. Charter schools, however, are mostly publicly funded from the school districts where students reside.

Although Pittsburgh Public School officials originally denied the school’s charter application, saying they didn’t believe the proposed school would do anything different from what was available in the city schools, the state Commonwealth Court later cleared the way for the school to open.

Kossman says Provident uses the best aspects from dyslexia-centered private schools and different kinds of charter schools with added holistic components that address “mind, body and soul.”

Resha Conroy, founder and executive director of the Dyslexia Alliance for Black Children, a national nonprofit based in New York, says most schools, public and private, don’t have professionals who are trained to adequately assess for and/or remediate dyslexia. Some schools are also reluctant, she says, to classify students as dyslexic in order to circumvent appropriate accommodations as required under federal law.

An additional underlying issue is in general educational curricula, Conroy explains. “We are failing so many students because we’re not practicing evidence-based reading instruction in most classrooms.” For instance, in 2022, only 52% of third-graders in Pennsylvania were proficient in reading at grade level. If 48% of students aren’t reading at their grade level, “it becomes even more difficult to differentiate who has dyslexia and who doesn’t,” meaning that the root issue remains unaddressed.

Private neuropsychological testing can cost thousands of dollars. “So,” Conroy says, “dyslexia becomes a diagnosis of privilege.”

Conroy says that Black students are two times more likely than other students to have their issue classified as an emotional disturbance rather than a learning disability.

Impact on Students

At Provident, students are admitted by lottery. If they have not had formal testing, the school can administer nationally recognized reading assessments.

Testing for dyslexia traditionally isn’t given until second grade, but Mimi Perez spotted the condition in her son, Andrew, by the time he was 4. Mimi works in special education and dyslexia runs on her husband’s side of the family. “It was very obvious,” Mimi says. “He had this steel-trap memory [and couldn’t] recognize letters and words at all.”

As Andrew’s peers began to read in first grade, he became angry and anxious about school. He was going into third grade when Provident opened. “It was like the stars aligned,” Mimi says. By the sixth grade, Andrew was fully remediated.

“When you talk to parents for the first time, they think that this is just their child” who is going through such a difficult time, says Julie Ewing, director of enrollment.

Jen Kundick was one such parent.

When her daughter, Anna, was initially diagnosed with ADHD, she was considered too young to be tested for dyslexia. Anna, now a fifth-grader, struggled with paying attention, saying, “That would happen a lot. And it was really tough.”

In fall 2020, Jen learned the extent to which Anna’s school was unwilling to provide appropriate accommodations. She says they insisted that Anna’s struggles were a result of being undermedicated for her ADHD. Anna’s pediatrician and Jen both felt differently; Anna was exhibiting signs — academically and emotionally — of dyslexia, which further neuropsychological testing confirmed was a reading disability similar to dyslexia. Her school continued to resist meeting her needs.

“I left that meeting [after Anna’s diagnosis] very disheartened and quite angry,” Jen says, her voice breaking at the memory.

At the recommendation of Anna’s pediatrician, Jen reached out to Ewing. “To watch somebody kind of give up on your kid is a really tough thing to wrap your head around,” Jen says. “And when [Ewing] said to me, ‘No one here will give up on your kid,’ I was completely blown away by that statement because it was nothing that we had experienced.”

Anna began Provident as a third-grader and says, “Instead of switching schools, you just switched to a whole world. It feels like there’s gonna be a fresh start for you.” Jen noticed an immediate change for the better in her daughter.

“Dyslexia is completely independent of intelligence,” says Conroy of the Dyslexia Alliance. “Very often we equate someone being a non-reader with their intelligence, and so we placed limitations on them, but when you have dyslexia you are capable of doing and performing as well as your non-dyslexic peers.”

In Jaden’s experience, he says his friends and teachers at Provident were “supportive and they make you feel like you’re doing something — like you’re actually completing work, accomplishing things, meeting your goals, meeting the standards.”

To help students get to that place, the school has a full-time psychologist, two counselors and a behavioral specialist. Each classroom has two co-teachers for 12 students per classroom with instruction in reading and writing happening in groups of six. They have the same teachers for two years in a row, so there is less time spent starting over each school year.

Ordering the Mind

For remediation, Provident uses the popular evidence-based Wilson Reading System. This intensive method combines visual, auditory and tactile elements — as demonstrated by the students who were vocalizing each word’s sounds and tapping their fingers together at the same time. Teachers at Provident are certified practitioners in the 12-step system.

Multisensory and experiential learning is a pillar of Provident. “When you experience something, you understand it better,” says Kossman. Each academic subject includes maker moments, and the building has a dedicated makerspace that includes a 3D design studio, clay wheels/kilns and textiles, among others. The makerspace “has become an integral part of critical thinking [and] problem solving.”

Provident also is the first public school in the country to offer a comprehensive martial-arts program, according to Kossman. It’s written into the school’s charter.

The physical movement, Kossman says, “helps order the mind,” and the sport offers long-lasting benefits including peer-to-peer support, respect for others and reinforcement of self-respect. For instance, says Kossman, “the ability to have the self-confidence to walk away from a high-peer-pressure event in high school is extremely important.”

Grand Master Robert Zang, a ninth-degree black belt, says, “Our kids are very, very talented.” This year, one student will qualify to become the school’s first black belt.

To test for their initial uniform and subsequent belts, students not only have to master what they’ve learned from Zang, but also show they are “respectful, responsible and ready to learn” in the classroom and have been “an exemplary member of Provident’s student body” as determined by their teacher and principal. This speaks to Provident’s oft-cited motto of “perseverance, compassion and self-control.”

The 52 students who further demonstrate these concepts comprise Team Storm (a special team of role models). “They’re here to set an example to their classmates,” Ewing says.

The school’s distinctive elements aim to give students “a toolbox of skills, not just the fundamental ability to read and write.” Dyslexia, Kossman says, doesn’t have an off switch when school is over. These skills can be as small as harnessing the speech-to-text function on phones or as big as self-advocacy and determination when they need to try again.

Life Beyond Provident

When eighth-grade graduation nears, Provident hosts a high school fair to assist families in finding the best fit for their teenager.

Jaden headed to City Charter High School, Downtown, this fall. Earlier this year, he said he was “feeling pretty good, confident going into my first year.” He credits Provident’s class sizes and Wilson instruction for that confidence. “It’s gonna be different going to high school, though. Like I might be the only one there with dyslexia.”

Last school year, Andrew’s transition to Central Catholic High School was a bit of a struggle at first. It was larger than Provident and was made up entirely of new faces. By the second quarter, however, he had gotten comfortable enough to ask and answer questions, which helped improve his grades. This year, he is a member of the inaugural class of Central Catholic’s Engineering Institute program that will prepare students for future careers in engineering. He found an interest in engineering at Provident while using the makerspace.

For Andrew and his family, Mimi said, the whole Provident experience “was one lucky thing after the next.”

Amy Whipple is a part-time writer, part-time church secretary and full-time awesome. In addition to Pittsburgh Magazine, her work can be found in PublicSource, PINJ and Imprint.

ILLUSTRATION BY HUCK BEARD

VisitPittsburgh currently lists 55 famous Pittsburghers on its website. Most of these have passed on — Fred Rogers, Johnny Unitas, Henry Mancini, Billy Eckstine, Jimmy Stewart, David McCullough and August Wilson, to name a few. Some are no longer very active in the fields that made them famous in the first place — Shirley Jones, Joe Montana, Sharon Stone, Christina Aguilera and Rusted Root. Only a few listed are still making their mark — Rob Marshall, Jeff Goldblum, and Michael Keaton. Surprisingly, there’s no Billy Porter, Joe Manganiello, Mac Miller, Wiz Khalifa, Mark Cuban, Billy Gardell, four-time Oscar winner Frances McDormand or five-time Oscar winner Joe Letteri — on that list and we felt some serious updating was in order.

Also, we want to know who you would put on this list. Share your suggestions here.

Heather Abraham

PHOTO BY HUCK BEARD

Upbeat and relatable are just two of the words frequently used to describe KDKA-TV host Heather Abraham. She shows up in our living rooms twice a day as co-host of “Pittsburgh Today Live” and her new talk show, “Talk Pittsburgh.” As you may have guessed, conversation drives Abraham — and that’s what she aims to bring to the latter show, which debuted in March.

Abraham often takes to Instagram, asking her more than 28,000 followers to weigh in on hot topics and conversation pieces. She also uses her social media to give folks a peek behind the curtain of her life, sharing family adventures and backstage shenanigans.

After making the morning announcements while attending Shaler Area High School, Abraham was convinced that journalism was the path for her. The Shaler native joined KDKA in 2010 when she returned to Pittsburgh from a stint as a news reporter in New York City.

It’s always been important for Abraham to be involved in her community, joining causes such as Special Olympics of Pennsylvania, Hair Peace Charities, Animal Friends and the KDKA Turkey Fund. The very active mom of three also keeps an eye out for her neighbors. In 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic, Abraham helped organize a neighborhood-safe Light Up Night.

And speaking of her children, they helped her structure “Talk Pittsburgh.” The recurring segment “KD Kid’s Club” was inspired by her daughters, who like to be like mommy and play “the news.” The segment is devoted to spotlighting kids who are doing amazing things.

Sidney Crosby

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

Since becoming a Pittsburgh Penguin in 2005, Sidney Crosby has been making history left and right. At 19, he became the youngest team captain in NHL history. “Sid the Kid” made history again in 2009, at age 21, as the youngest NHL captain to take home the Stanley Cup.

When he moved to Pittsburgh from Canada, Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux invited Crosby to live with him for his first five seasons on the team. Since Lemieux retired during Crosby’s rookie year, the pair shared an address longer than they shared time on the ice.

Crosby began playing hockey at age 2, shooting pucks in his family’s basement and then learning to skate the following year. Perhaps as a way to honor his very young start, Crosby started the “Little Penguins Learn to Play Hockey” program in 2008, providing free equipment and lessons to children ages 5 to 9 in the Pittsburgh area. His commitment to children doesn’t stop there, as the Sidney Crosby Foundation was started in 2009 to help charities that improve the lives of disadvantaged children.

With all of his achievements, Crosby does have a couple of peculiarities. He is a somewhat superstitious guy known to have several specific routines that he must follow. For example, his hockey sticks must be cut to a specific length and taped in a specific way, and no one is allowed to touch them after they have been taped.

Sid the Kid makes sure to keep things interesting.

Gisele Barreto Fetterman

PHOTO BY BECKY THURNER BRADDOCK

Gisele Barreto Fetterman is all about making a change. Born in Brazil, she came to the U.S. at age 7. After moving to Pittsburgh and becoming an American citizen in 2009, she devoted her life to revitalizing her Pittsburgh community.

Fetterman is very vocal about her advocacy for marginalized groups, especially the immigrant community. Focusing on nutrition, basic needs and food equity, Fetterman opened The Free Store in Braddock, which distributes household goods, baby items and other necessities to those in need, in 2012. She also co-founded 412 Food Rescue, which collects surplus food from retailers and food events and gets it into the hands of those in need.

It hasn’t been without its challenges. Campaigning with her husband, John Fetterman, who won a U.S. Senate seat for Pennsylvania, kept the family busy enough, but while on the road, her husband suffered a stroke. Shortly after starting his term in January, he checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to receive treatment for clinical depression.

During this time, Gisele Fetterman received hateful comments blaming her for John’s health concerns. She speaks candidly about the cruelty she endured in an op-ed for Elle magazine —  and about how she feels when people tell her to toughen up.

“I like my big feelings; the ability to feel so deeply is beautiful,” she wrote in Elle. “My empathy drives my career and provides me with purpose and hope.”

Jeff Goldblum

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

His glance is intoxicating. He oohs and aahs his way through dialogue giving the impression that everything he’s experiencing is wonderous. Jeff Goldblum has been many things on screen — a 6-foot-4-inch fly, a specialist in chaos theory and an ageless elder of the universe, just to name a few.

Most recently, he’s taken to being himself.

The “Independence Day” star, born in West Homestead, calls himself a lifelong jazz aficionado and calls Pittsburgh jazz legend Erroll Garner his first musical idol. After years of playing jazz piano for lucky patrons at random bars, he released his debut album, “Capitol Studio Sessions,” in 2018. Recorded with his longtime band, the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, the album went to No. 1 on the Billboard charts. He now tours with his band and has released another album, as well as a new single, “Plays Well With Others,” featuring Kelly Clarkson.

July 13 is a day of celebration here in Pittsburgh — officially “Jeff Goldblum Day.” During the 2019 celebration, the man (the myth, the legend) made a surprise appearance. Fans were overjoyed as he took selfies and assisted in giving tattoos. The hoopla was captured for an episode of his Disney+ show, “The World According to Jeff Goldblum.” On the show, he investigates (with wonder) the history and appeal of everything from sneakers to ice cream to dogs.

The man is a Pittsburgh treasure.

Michael Keaton

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

Michael Keaton is definitely a Pittsburgh favorite, whether he’s Beetlejuice, Mr. Mom or your preferred Batman. Born Michael John Douglas in the Robinson area, the actor reminisced fondly about growing up in Western Pennsylvania when he accepted his Emmy for the Hulu series “Dopesick.” When he was a child, his father won a small black-and-white TV set in a raffle, and that was all Keaton needed to get bitten by the acting bug.

When he moved to Los Angeles, he had to come up with a stage name to avoid being confused with the already established Michael Douglas. So, Michael opened a phone book randomly to the Ks, and Michael Keaton was born.

Never far from his roots, he returned to Pittsburgh shortly after the synagogue shooting in Squirrel Hill in 2018 and joined the stage with Tom Hanks, Joanne Rogers, Franco Harris and others at a peace rally in Point State Park. “If you want to see a city that’s tolerant, accepting, inclusive and compassionate, you should go to Pittsburgh,” he told the crowd.

The talented actor still has Hollywood calling him up for roles, but he is expanding his repertoire. In 2021, Keaton invested in transforming a former Pittsburgh steel mill into a sustainability based manufacturing plant, partnering with Nexii Building Solutions Inc., a Canada-based green construction technology company; the plant is projected to create about 300 green jobs in the area. During a “60 Minutes” interview, Keaton stated, “You can’t just have an opinion about climate change anymore.” He wants to do something about it.

Michael Keaton will always be Pittsburgh’s Batman.

Wiz Khalifa

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

In 2010, rapper Wiz Khalifa released the song “Black and Yellow,” which was mostly about his yellow Dodge Challenger — but it turned into an unofficial Pittsburgh anthem. With all three of our major league sports teams donning black and yellow, how could it not? None of the song lyrics actually mention sports or even Pittsburgh, but the black and yellow city is very much the star of the music video — the yellow bridges, U.S. Steel Tower and the 12 smokestacks at the Waterfront in Homestead are all very recognizable.

The Pittsburgh Allderdice High School alum was born in North Dakota. His military parents moved the family around a lot, eventually settling in Steeler Nation in the 1990s. That’s when Wiz, born Cameron Jibril Thomaz, began writing and performing his own lyrics. Because he was so good at everything, friends and family would call him “young Wiz.” Khalifa, Arabic for “successor or leader,” was suggested by his Muslim grandfather.

His 2006 debut studio album “Show and Prove” was followed by six more. With his unique style and lyricism, it’s evident that he loves the art of making music. Recently featured on the cover of Men’s Health magazine celebrating 50 years of hip-hop, Wiz said during the interview, “I love to create, so just the act of doing something new inspires me.”

Music isn’t his only passion. An entrepreneur, he introduced Khalifa Kush, his premium marijuana products, in the U.S. in 2015. The 6-foot-4 rapper is also dedicated to his health and fitness, which have helped him to be more focused and patient; Wiz is an 8th-degree red and black belt in the martial art Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Maybe we can look forward to a “Black and Red” track?

Summer Lee

PHOTO BY BECKY THURNER BRADDOCK

When reports of violence from local police and school administrators against students began taking up the news cycle, Summer Lee led a fight to transform her local school board. As a proud alum of the Woodland Hills School District, Lee felt it was her duty to advocate for improvement. Since then, the attorney and passionate activist has been working continually to make change happen in our community.

Running for public office wasn’t in her original life plan. She studied journalism at Penn State with dreams of becoming the next Oprah Winfrey. After earning her law degree from Howard University, she worked as an organizer for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. That job gave her the ambition to organize her own community, which turned around and helped get her organized.

It was Lee’s North Braddock community that urged her to run for State House in 2018. Thanks to grassroots campaigning, she was able to defeat the 20-year incumbent, Paul Costa — becoming the first Black woman from Western Pennsylvania to take a seat in the state Legislature.

As the voice for working families, it’s refreshing to find a politician so relatable and down to earth. The activist focuses on immediate needs such as worker’s rights, police accountability, reproductive rights and gender and racial equity.

In 2022, the Democrat made history again by getting elected as the first Black woman to represent Pennsylvania in Congress, for the 12th District. Not one to back down from a fight, Lee is the homegrown hero that many of us want fighting for our human rights.

Kenny Pickett

PHOTO: KARL ROSER | PITTSBURGH STEELERS

New Jersey-born Kenny Pickett initially had his college sights set on Temple University. But when it came down to it, he decided to take his talents to the University of Pittsburgh. While he was playing for the Panthers, the Steelers were able to keep a close eye on his progress. A college player rarely chooses to stay in the same city, but Pickett chose Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh chose him back. In 2022, the Steelers used their first-round draft pick on the quarterback, hoping he could one day lead them to the Super Bowl.

In his still-new NFL career, Pickett is already making heads turn. Recently, ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky praised the Heisman trophy finalist for being an intelligent player who knows what he’s doing. In every game, Pickett shows improvement and growth, giving fans hope for a tremendous season. And he started the latest season with a little spring in his step, having just gotten married to Amy Paternoster in June.

There is one question that fans have for Pickett. Why two gloves? Apparently, this football player has smaller than average hands for an NFL quarterback, at 8½ inches, and chooses to glove them both. It’s not unusual for a quarterback to put a glove on his throwing hand, but most signal callers leave it at that. In an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” he explained, “I tried it once in my sophomore year, but I really stuck with it after the game versus North Carolina. I’ve been wearing them ever since. I just feel more at ease with it.”

Hey, do what you have to do to get the Steelers back to the Super Bowl.

Billy Porter

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

Barrier-breaking Billy Porter has taken on stage and screens both big and small. He is an award-winning actor, singer, director, composer and playwright. Who has the time? While growing up in Homewood, he graduated from Allderdice and Pittsburgh CAPA high schools and Carnegie Mellon University. If you visited Kennywood during the summers of 1985 to 1987, you might have been treated to the “Kinky Boots” star performing with entertainment groups “Spirit” and “Flash.”

The massive talent took home an Emmy for his role as Pray Tell, grandfather to the ballroom children, in the FX hit series “Pose.” The critically acclaimed show, centered around ballroom culture and the gay and trans community during the ’80s and ’90s, ran for three seasons. “Pose” wasn’t just about voguing, it also tackled heavy topics such as the AIDS crisis. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2017, Billy opened up about living with HIV since 2007. His role as Pray Tell helped him “walk through the shame.”

As a way of giving back to Pittsburgh, Porter recently partnered with local real estate developers and celebrity chef Rachael Ray to explore purchasing the Greater Pittsburgh Coliseum in Homewood, currently owned by the city’s Urban Redevelopment Authority. The goal is to create a community space that would include arts education, a roller rink and a culinary arts and jobs program.

Porter’s iconic gender-fluid fashion sense has made him the highlight of red carpets and magazine covers, such as Essence and Allure. His commitment to being fierce made him the obvious choice to play the Fabulous Godmother in Amazon Prime’s “Cinderella” remake.

Keep an eye out for more to come — he is only an Oscar win away from being an EGOT.

Sally Wiggin

PHOTO COURTESY WTAE

Sally Wiggin came to Pittsburgh in 1980 from Birmingham, Alabama, where she worked in television and radio. During her time at WTAE, she was a news anchor on weekends and later, weeknights; from 1993 until 2017 she also was host of the Pittsburgh Steelers pre-game shows. Perfect placement for the avid sports fan.

After nearly four decades dedicated to covering stories in and around the Pittsburgh area, Wiggin earned a well-deserved retirement from WTAE in 2018. She still lends her distinctive and recognizable voice to moderating and emceeing local events, but she does not miss reporting the news. (Although she could probably be persuaded to return for some of those Kennywood corn dogs, her favorite Pittsburgh treats.)

She helped elevate awareness of women and heart health after she shared her personal journey with coronary heart disease in the early 2000s. Both of her parents died at relatively young ages of heart attacks, and she got the diagnosis before age 50. She served as spokesperson for the Jewish Healthcare Foundation’s Working Hearts initiative.

Since retiring, she’s had more time to dedicate to advocacy for wildlife and community needs. The award-winning journalist has been on the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium board since 1995 and enjoys helping to feed the penguins. She remembers having a special place in her heart for animals since she was 3, and that simple love for furry creatures turned into advocacy after a visit to Africa in 1989. She also serves on the board of directors for the Urban League of Pittsburgh, southwestern Pennsylvania’s largest social service/civil rights organization.

She no longer really watches the news, but she keeps up with her beloved sports teams by having ESPN on the TV from morning to night.

Kahmeela Adams-Friedson is a photographer, producer, podcaster, writer and overall cinephile who enjoys sharing her opinions. Kahmeela has designed a career that allows her to create in multiple areas of media and still keep up with her shows.

PHOTO COURTESY NATIONAL AVIARY

Admit it:  You’ve been a little stressed. It’s been a heck of a couple of years, and we’re betting some big parts of your routine have changed (and changed again).  The holiday season is right around the corner.  And you were busy enough to begin with! It’s time to take it easy. You need to relax — and we don’t just mean falling asleep on the couch.  We sent our staff in pursuit of calming activities, leisurely pursuits and soothing outings.  These aren’t indulgences; they’re the necessary rejuvenation you need to keep doing all the things you do.

Read on for some great ways to unwind.

Take In Nature By Night with L.L. Bean Outdoor Adventures

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

As the sun lazily sinks into the treeline, a group of novice paddleboarders tentatively inch to their feet. Moments ago, these aspiring adventurers were standing nervously on a riverbank; now, they’re walking on water, placidly listening to the sounds of the forest as night approaches.

An hour later, a full moon will shine over North Park Lake, as experienced instructors guide the increasingly confident cadre around the lake’s surface. The stand-up paddleboarding session is one of three full-moon outings presented monthly by clothing line L.L. Bean, which coordinates a number of excursions from its Ross Park Mall store.

“To see a full moon in the middle of the lake is a very unique perspective,” says Shawn McClintock, one of the instructors with L.L. Bean.

And what’s the mood like in the park after night falls?

“It’s peaceful,” says fellow instructor Cheryl Palmer. “Very serene.” The instructors report that, while only their groups are allowed on the water after dark, there are plenty of animals joining in the fun. “We had beavers with us,” Palmer says. “They were with us pretty much the whole tour, just kind of swimming next to us.”

Those who might be wary of the potential splash that comes along with stand-up paddleboarding — or who prefer a less strenuous workout — can opt for a kayaking tour, usually held the night before the paddleboard option. Stand-up paddleboarding involves a continuous core workout to maintain balance, so those looking for the sweat might prefer it; kayaking is more serenity with a side of exercise.

Availability of activities varies by season. Most activities are held in and around North Park Lake. For more information, go to llbeanoutdoors.com

Landlovers can take a hike under the moon, as well.

All are designed for beginners; before the paddleboarding tour commences, instructors will offer patient, step-by-step guidance on everything from balance and motion to where to hold a paddle.

Seeking serenity without the starlight? There are afternoon and sunrise options for paddleboarding trips, as well as more intensive instruction sessions for those who’d like to develop their skills. There’s even “SUP with Your Pup,” special instruction for how to take your dog on a paddleboarding excursion. (It’s more common than you’d think — and yes, your dog will wear a tiny life vest.)

For those truly looking to disconnect and unwind, however, the nighttime is the right time. “People will thank us and say this was so much fun,” says instructor Steve Benson. “We do get a lot of return customers.”

As the last light of the day fades, more than enough moonlight remains to illuminate the lake. The fleet of newly minted paddleboarders surveys the life of the park around them, relishing the chance to see the world from a new angle. As the moon rises higher into the sky, they point their paddleboards back toward land — and head home tired and content.
— Sean Collier

Get Pampered with the Pittsburgh Center for Complementary Health and Healing

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

The word “relax” isn’t in my vocabulary.

If you happen to still own a dictionary, you may find my picture next to words such as “high-strung,” “anxious” or “worrywart.” So, I have recently been working on my well-being in hopes of alleviating some of my stress and overbearing obsession with perfection.

Infrared saunas have become a new passion of mine because they are great for reducing inflammation — yet I still find it hard to completely relax in the booth. When the opportunity arose to get a massage and write about my experience, I was excited; this was my first in about 15 years.

I booked my appointment with Katrina at the Pittsburgh Center for Complementary Health and Healing on South Braddock Avenue in Regent Square. Upon arrival (late, thanks to typical I-376 rush-hour gridlock), I was pleased with the calming atmosphere and professional, friendly staff.

Katrina asked questions to determine the best treatment for me, and I opted for a 30-minute scalp, neck and shoulder massage.

As she worked patiently with me to (wait for it) actually relax my muscles with lavender, I just kept thinking: “Why have I never done this before!?”

All of my stress sits in my neck and shoulders, and, thanks to Katrina, I learned it also sits in my cheeks, jaw, scalp, arms and hands — muscles and joints I constantly clench. She says the tightness in my neck and shoulders is typical for someone who sits at a desk all day.

Regent Square:
1124 S. Braddock Ave., Suite B.
Schedule an appointment at 412-242-4220 or pghhealthandhealing.com

For those who find it difficult to relax, like myself, she recommends imagining your body is Jell-O and practicing to relax every joint in your body, from your toes to your head, as you lie in bed at night — preferably in a cool, dark room with no distractions, such as a cell phone.

The Pittsburgh Center for Complementary Health and Healing offers an array of massage therapy services customized for each client’s needs.

Whether you prefer deep tissue, aromatherapy, hot stones, mineral foot soaks, deep heat treatment, cupping or a head-to-toe rejuvenation, their educated staff has what your body needs to relieve pain and stress, get support for chronic illness, nourish your skin, improve circulation or improve your mood.

“I believe that all spa services, even those that are pampering in nature, are rooted in therapeutic healing inviting you to relax, restore and renew,” the center’s founder, Nikki Remic Bannon, writes on their website.

Book an appointment today because a massage is just what this uptight reporter ordered. For sanity’s sake, be sure to leave with enough time to beat tunnel traffic … or add “Avoid Highways” to your GPS.
— Denise Bonura

Relax and Get a Buzz at Three Cozy Cafes

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

When life gets a little too hectic at work and at home (which, for many people these days, are one and the same), it’s nice to know there are local coffee shops offering free Wi-Fi and respite from the daily grind. Everyone talks about comfort food, but comfort mood is just as important to the customer experience. If you work remotely, your coffee cup will runneth over with good vibes at these makeshift office spaces.

If you find comfort in coffee and the Great Outdoors, make a beeline for Brookline. 802 Bean Company has one of the nicest covered patios in town. Unwind with a Palm Coast Cold Brew or a Summer Breeze Lotus, a plant-based energy drink, amid a veritable rainforest of greenery.

If you’re off the clock or just playing hooky, grab a novel from the Living Books Rescue shelf or peruse the locally made merchandise on sale inside the shop, which is large with a high ceiling that’s painted gold. You’ll find everything from decorative garden stakes and greeting cards to mugs and jewelry. Breakfast sandwiches are available until noon and there are a rotating variety of pastries to purchase, including gluten- and dairy-free options.

Whether you pull up a chair on the patio, inside the shop or at a cafe table out front, you might not ever want to leave.

Meanwhile, in Friendship, lifelong residents and siblings Nick and JoAnn Redondo are the epitome of the neighborhood. They grew up across the street from the former five-and-dime on South Pacific Avenue that is now their quaint coffee shop, Perk & Brew. The unassuming spot just so happens to serve some of the tastiest homemade comfort food in town.

802 Bean Company: 802 Brookline Blvd., facebook.com/802beancompany

Perk & Brew: 300 S. Pacific Ave. perkandbrew.net

Grim Wizard: 1206 Arlington Ave. grimwizard.com

Nestled among large Victorian homes, Perk & Brew has become a community hub since opening five years ago. There’s a fireplace, cozy lounge areas and a spacious dining room for remote workers who want to feel like they’re at home away from home.

In addition to serving coffee, tea, espresso drinks and canned beer, the small business has a full breakfast and lunch menu so you can essentially stay all day and barely move anything except your mandibles. Even on a hot day you’ll find folks slurping up the wedding soup.

And don’t let the name of Grim Wizard fool you; it’s a happy place with a heavy metal heart.

The rebranded Black Forge Coffee in Allentown is now operated by Kelly Braden, co-owner of The Weeping Glass, an oddities shop in the neighborhood. Fear not, mortals; Grim Wizard still brings the thunder when it comes to killer caffeinated beverages. Yeah, the walls are painted black and you’re bound to see a skeleton or two, but the staff is friendly and the colorful lights from the pinball machines gives the small space an otherworldly ambiance.

Fans of the original business can still get signature $6.66 specialties such as the Hell Hound, an espresso latte with dark chocolate, chili and cinnamon served shaken with ice and cream. They say music soothes the savage beast, so stop in on Tuesdays for Heavy Hour from 4 to 6 p.m. for downright bewitching tunes and beverage specials followed by yoga hosted by Death Comes Lifting.

No matter what time you show up, Grim will keep the hellfires burnin’ for you.
— Kristy Locklin

Flow By the River with Yoga Flow

PHOTO BY JESSICA SINICHAK

Here’s a little biographical fact about me: I grew up just a few miles outside the city limits, in one of the small communities that dot the Allegheny River. Despite crossing the water on a near daily basis and being able to see it from the windows of my high school, I never really felt connected to the river.

On a hot, sunny morning in July, I felt connected.

I was at the Allegheny RiverTrail Park in Aspinwall for Yoga Flow’s outdoor yoga series, which take place on Saturdays and Sunday mornings in May through October.

I’ll admit as I pulled off Freeport Road, yoga mat in tow, I was in a funky mood. It was early on Sunday and I had wanted to sleep in. But as I took in the beauty of the park, I felt some of my bad mood dissipate. By the time I walked onto the dock and unrolled my mat alongside the dozens of other people in attendance, I was serene as Buddha.

Class began in the traditional child’s pose. Our instructor, Margaret, encouraged us to gently roll our third eye (that would be the invisible spot on your forehead between your two actual eyes) from side to side on the mat as a way to release tension. Did you know you carry a lot of stress in the face?

She also led us in some square breathing. As the name implies, square breathing is four sided. You inhale for four seconds, hold that breath for four seconds, exhale for four seconds and then pause at the bottom of the breath for four seconds. (I bet you’re trying it now; it feels good, doesn’t it?)

Beyond traditional yoga classes, Yoga Flow (with locations in Shadyside, Castle Shannon, Murrysville, Irwin and Aspinwall) also hosts meditation and movement classes, sound baths and retreats throughout the year. 

From there, we opened into our ujjayi breathing — a technique that allows you to calm your mind by focusing on your inhales and exhales — and completed a series of slow, intentional sun salutations: bending forward, raising our arms to the sky, coming down to our bellies, rising up to cobra or upward facing dog, then back to downward dog.

Throughout the practice, the dock swayed softly below us, particularly as a passing boat or jet ski sent waves in our direction. Gulls screamed overhead as the sun beat down on us. I could hear a train whistle in the distance. Rather than distract from the experience, it enhanced it. Being on the river felt very Pittsburgh.

It felt like home.

Our practice ended with soothing music and a few words from Margaret about the importance of letting go of the things that don’t matter. As we all lay in savasana, or final resting pose, my body felt relaxed; my mind refreshed.

After class, I — and most of the class — hustled up to Farmer x Baker, which is within view of the dock. I ordered myself a handcrafted breakfast bagel and a cold brew coffee, and I thought about how very glad I was that I had gotten up early that morning after all.

Namaste indeed.
— Jessica Sinichak

Go Birding, from Your Backyard to Distant Peaks, with the National Aviary

PHOTO COURTESY NATIONAL AVIARY

What’s that — off in the distance? A robin? A cardinal? Or something more exotic — perhaps a bird just stopping for a rest as it migrates south for the winter?

With help from the National Aviary (and, ideally, a good pair of binoculars), you can go from novice to passionate birder in a matter of hours. The first thing you’ll discover: It’s a soothing, refreshing activity that takes your attention away from your phone and into the natural world.

“Birding is just a calming experience,” says Robert S. Mulvihill, the Aviary’s resident ornithologist and the leader of many of their birding excursions. He’s found that, even for novices, the practice “plugs them into calm almost instantaneously.”

The hobby boomed during the early days of the pandemic, Mulvihill says, as people sought hobbies that could be completed outside and at a distance — or from the comfort of their own backyards.

“It’s the kind of thing that I think people never really thought about as a pastime, but it’s become so much in the public eye that I think there are folks who say, ‘Yeah, what is this all about?’”

On an Aviary excursion, Mulvihill or another expert will start with the basics — how to scan the environment for an interesting flash of color or bit of movement, how to transition from spotting a bird with the naked eye to studying it with binoculars — and then get specific, pointing out habits and migration patterns. Programs are offered year-round and can vary from brief, nearby excursions to trips in other parts of the state.

Programs are held year-round at a variety of locations; advance registration is required. Find a full list of upcoming programs at aviary.org

Coming up, the Aviary will on Oct. 22 host a trip to Allegheny Front Hawk Watch in Bedford County to observe hawks and other raptors as they migrate south. “It’s common at Allegheny Front for the hawks to be very close, very low,” Mulvihill says. “People get some really memorable looks.”

The Aviary also partners with L.L. Bean (see “Nature by Night” on page 30 for more) to offer programs from North Park Lake, combining kayaking and birding. From the surface of the lake, Mulvihill will point our birds roosting in trees; usually, a heron will swoop low over the lake, searching for a meal.

While Mulvihill recommends taking an excursion with the Aviary to learn the basics — or joining the nonprofit Three Rivers Birding Club (3rbc.org), which also hosts year-round events — he stresses that birding can begin without leaving the house.

“Walk out your door … look at everything. Whether it’s the cardinal on your feeder, the robin taking a bath in your birdbath or the crow up in the tree … look at the cardinal. Look at the robin. Watch the behavior.

“Most people are likely to become enchanted by that.”
— Sean Collier

Find Your Place in the Universe with the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

When your worries and stresses seem larger than life, it’s easy to lose sight of your place in the cosmos. In those moments, the key to relaxing can be simply staring up at the stars and welcoming the wonder and humility that come with knowing there is a vast universe around you.

Tom Reiland, director of the Wagman Observatory, says that after 50 years of helping others learn about astronomy, his favorite part of his job is watching the joy that spreads across guests’ faces when they look through a telescope for the first time.

“It makes people start to think about the universe and our place in it — how small we are in comparison, yet how we are intelligent enough to try to learn more about it,” he says.

But Reiland says you don’t need a telescope to start stargazing this fall, because many constellations and meteor showers can be seen with the naked eye. And with a good pair of binoculars on a clear night, you can even see craters on the moon and the galaxy M31 in the Andromeda constellation.

Reiland says beginners will face challenges, whether they struggle to understand star charts or miss a meteor shower by setting up their telescope one minute too late.

I have had my own share of annoyances in my journey to better understand the night sky — my primary complaint being the clouds’ uncanny ability to cover whatever I am searching for. But those frustrating moments have given me time to take a deep breath and change my perspective — there is peace in knowing that success is simply doing the best you can with what the universe sends your way. And autumn seems a perfect time to stargaze on a crisp night, letting the comforting darkness swaddle you like your favorite flannel.

Community events hosted by groups such as the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh, Reiland says, can provide a solid introduction. The organization, with more than 300 members, runs both the Wagman Observatory in Deer Lakes Park in Tarentum and the Mingo Creek Park Observatory in Finleyville.

Become a member of the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh and find details about upcoming events at 3ap.org

The association hosts “star parties” throughout the year — with upcoming dates on Oct. 14, Oct. 21, Nov. 11 and Nov. 18 — in which members give guests a tour of the night sky and help them use telescopes. Reiland says members are always available to answer questions, which makes the amateur astronomer community strong.

“We’re happy to help people who are just starting out, like all of us were at one point or another,” he says.

If your schedule doesn’t leave much time for trips outside of the city, you can start your stargazing journey at multiple locations closer to Downtown. There are tours, lectures or other educational opportunities at the Allegheny Observatory in Riverview Park and the Buhl Planetarium and Observatory in the Carnegie Science Center throughout the fall. Reiland says there is often an association member at the top of Mount Washington on the weekends too, ready to show locals how to use telescopes and identify markers in the night sky.

While studying the cosmos, enjoyment comes with practice and patience as you learn just how small, yet immeasurably valuable, you are. On the days when life feels off-track, it’s grounding to know that if you can identify the stars and planets that have looked over you every night, you can never be truly lost. And you might just feel one step closer to understanding your place in the universe, too.
— Emma Malinak

ILLUSTRATIONS: SHUTTERSTOCK

If you had asked Pittsburgh professors a year ago to picture a robot that can answer any question and complete any written task, most would have envisioned a scene from a science fiction blockbuster, gears whirring and steam blowing from an android’s seams.

When asked the same question today, professors picture ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence tools — all easily accessible by cell phone and computer — that now have the potential of upending the pillars of academia.

Since ChatGPT’s release in November, professors have questioned whether the new technologies should be feared or embraced.

Aside from Carnegie Mellon University, which has no plans to change its academic integrity policy because the unauthorized use of AI falls into its category of “unauthorized assistance,” other local schools at the time of this reporting are scrambling to incorporate rules for the new tech into existing academic frameworks.

The University of Pittsburgh recognizes that AI is a “powerful tool and can be used for good or evil” and has been providing resources for professors since November, according to a statement, but is taking a “deep dive” look at the new tech in a provost-commissioned committee before any official policy is established.

At Chatham University, officials say they are trying to address AI in current academic policies instead of creating new policies that may quickly become outdated for the rapidly advancing technology. Duquesne University is similarly considering a policy that is “flexible enough to grow with the technology,” according to a statement, and is “encouraging thoughtful experimentation” with the new tools.

Point Park University is organizing a committee of students and faculty members to make recommendations on how to best approach policy changes, and the Community College of Allegheny County is hosting common hours for faculty to discuss the new technology and its impacts on their programs.

Despite these varying approaches, Pittsburgh schools agree on two points: AI is here to stay, and students, professors and administrators must adapt now. Aarti Singh, a professor in the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon, says the window to reform higher education will not stay open forever.

“The technology is out there, and people will use it regardless,” Singh said in an interview. “So if we don’t account for it, then it will be used to spread misinformation. It will be used in ways that we may not be prepared for.”

Understanding the New Technology

AI tools such as ChatGPT are called large language models, or LLMs, which are artificial neural networks that learn skills by analyzing data in the form of digital text. By pinpointing patterns in that text, LLMs learn to generate their own text, which can range from blog posts to poems to real-time conversations.

ChatGPT exploded in popularity at the end of 2022 and had 100 million monthly users within two months of its debut — for comparison, it took TikTok nine months to reach that many users, and Instagram took two-and-a-half years.

Concern grew among tech experts as ChatGPT entered the mainstream, and many warned that if AI continued to advance without strict regulation, it could eventually replace human thought and jobs. Fears quickly spread into higher education as well; by December, articles with headlines such as “The College Essay Is Dead” questioned how writing samples could be used to grade undergraduate students, and even grant Ph.D.s to graduate students, when writing processes could now be significantly automated.

Now, as institutions are still grappling with how to address the technology in official university policies, professors are left to make their own rules — ones that they deem best for the given topics, levels and requirements of their courses — and adopt new strategies to
incorporate, or deliberately avoid, AI use in their classrooms.

Mark DiMauro, assistant professor of English literature and multimedia and digital culture at the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown, says there is no need to start this school year with the anxieties that initially surrounded AI technologies.

“When we invented the calculator, people didn’t stop doing math. When we invented color photography, people didn’t stop creating art,” he said in an interview. “AI is just another tool, and as long as we demystify it and contextualize it, there should be zero problem with applying it effectively and ethically.”

ILLUSTRATION: SHUTTERSTOCK

Responding to the Challenges

Professors now face new challenges in creating their syllabi and conducting their courses; the first of which is deciding how much, if any, AI use is allowed.

Singh says that because current AI tools can only complete “mundane, regular, low-complexity tasks,” they can help students in higher-level classes be more efficient and aid, not harm, their learning of difficult topics. However, in introductory classes that focus on simpler thought processes and don’t involve much critical thinking, Singh says AI tools are dangerous to student learning because they could replace nearly all student work.

DiMauro says that he prohibits AI use in his lower-level classes for that very reason — he doesn’t want students to become dependent on AI for foundational skills such as researching and writing. To ensure students are doing their own work, he gives assignments that AI cannot complete. His go-to strategies are including current events in his assignments and asking students about their personal experiences with class material, as AI tools are not trained with data that can answer either type of question.

Related: Real or Robot? Can You Tell Which Passage Was Written by ChatGPT?

Grading assignments also proves to be a challenge, as students now have a tool that can gather information, condense that information into concise summaries, find alternative phrasings to improve clarity and more. So when professors grade papers, DiMauro says, they may not be able to tell what was written by students and what was written by AI.

DiMauro says tools such as ZeroGPT that claim to detect AI-generated text within students’ writing are unreliable, and he recommends instead that professors shift to grading students’ thinking process in addition to their final written product. Professors can designate grading checkpoints throughout an assignment and ask students how they organized their research, made improvements to their rough drafts, came to their final conclusions and other questions to ensure that no unauthorized shortcuts were taken with AI.

John Slattery, director of the Carl G. Grefenstette Center for Ethics in Science, Technology and Law at Duquesne University, says when he is suspicious of a student using AI on assignments without his permission, he asks that student to explain class concepts to him in an oral exam to assess their true understanding.

But Slattery says that professors’ focus shouldn’t be on catching students who misuse AI but rather on teaching students how to ethically engage with the technology in any situation. He teaches a class devoted to the ethics of technology and says he plans to start his fall class by introducing students to ChatGPT, asking it questions and dissecting the answers to those questions to look for elements of bias, accuracy and other ethical concerns.

Embracing New Opportunities

Despite the looming challenges, Pittsburgh professors are finding ways to not only address the changes that AI has brought to higher education but also use AI to improve the learning experience.

“AI is going to enhance student creativity, student efficiency and student effectiveness,” says DiMauro, “and ultimately, in the long run, that’s what we as educators are here to do.”

The technology can act as an assistant to students in higher-level classes — a brainstorming assistant for generating prompts, a research assistant for gathering facts, or even a marketing assistant for creating taglines and logos, he says. Using AI as a helper doesn’t destroy human creativity but rather makes students more efficient and gives them more time to discover connections between ideas and critically analyze their work.

For example, DiMauro says it could take a student three weeks to brainstorm and develop a concept for a fictional short story on their own. Another student could develop a story idea in a few hours with the help of AI by asking ChatGPT to generate prompts, find patterns in previously written stories or simply respond to ideas. The student that uses AI then has more time to write the story and refine and improve their ideas — all of which are higher-level thinking skills that the student will benefit from practicing.

Inara Scott, an associate dean at Oregon State University’s College of Business and a leading voice for adapting higher education to AI, says the technology encourages creativity by forcing students to be unique and original if they want to stand out.

“You have to ask yourself, ‘What am I bringing to the world? Can a computer do this just as well as me?’ And if the answer is ‘yes,’ we’ve got a problem,” she says.

Stepping Into the Future of Higher Education

Some Pittsburgh professors are already looking ahead to how AI will continue to shape higher education and society beyond this academic year.

CMU is home to one of seven new National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes and received $20 million from the U.S. National Science Foundation to begin work on June 1. The institute, directed by Singh, will first analyze how emergency responders, health officials and others who operate in time-sensitive environments make decisions. Researchers will then decide where AI can be incorporated in the processes and create AI tools that will ethically aid the officials’ needs.

Singh says members of the institute are also creating a curriculum about AI’s place in society that will be shared with 40 public schools and 30 community colleges nationwide. She has been working closely with teachers from the Winchester Thurston School in Shadyside to design the curriculum and contemplate how AI can be taught to future elementary, middle and high school students.

CMU has also received one of 14 “Future of Work” grants from the National Science Foundation. The university is teaming up with CCAC to investigate how components of that school’s information technology courses can be aligned with AI tools to enhance and accelerate learning.

Michael Rinsem and Justin Starr, endowed professors of technical curriculum at CCAC, say the grant has already allowed for impressive developments, such as the creation of AI tutors that can help students identify their mistakes in real time. Starr says CCAC is committed to incorporating AI in all of its offerings, as made evident by the new $40 million, three-story Center for Education, Innovation and Technology on its North Side campus.

“A broad philosophy we’ve been talking about at CCAC is that AI is one of the new skilled trades and one of the new things that we need to integrate into our [general education] programs. If we want to prepare students for careers with AI, we need to not just integrate it into the computer science classes,” he says.

Some job descriptions are already listing ChatGPT experience as a preferred job skill, DiMauro says. Slattery says that for this reason, universities would be doing students a disservice by not including AI in future courses.

“How can we serve these students to make sure that they’re not blindsighted when coming out of college and that they actually have the skills to go into the workforce and say they know how to ethically work with AI?” Slattery says.

Oregon State Leads the Way in AI Use Standards

Inara Scott, an associate dean at Oregon State University, in April issued a clarion call to academics across the nation.

“I thought we could create personalized discussion questions, meaningful and engaged essay assignments and quizzes that were sufficiently individualized to course materials that they would be AI-proof.

“Turns out, I was incorrect.”

ChatGPT is creating a “crisis” in the classroom, and university officials and professors need to take action, she says, saying that efforts to create course materials that can “outwit” AI have already proven unsuccessful. She and her colleagues at Oregon State are among those taking the lead in developing policies and guidelines that send a clear message to students about what is acceptable and not acceptable with AI use.

Oregon State in February established a university-wide policy, which trickles down into different rules and guidelines for each school and individual course.

“The policy was intended to encourage faculty not to just reflexively block AI but to think about how it could be used and how to structure assignments in light of it,” says Scott.

An example is Oregon State’s School of Business AI policy, stating that a student’s use of AI without proper citation will be penalized the same as any other case of plagiarism. A citation format is included for students to cite AI as a source, allowing students the freedom to reference AI in projects.

Scott and OSU are working behind the scenes to ensure that specific, detailed guidance is available to every student. The university’s top priority is to prevent blurred lines and academic integrity issues and to advance with the technology.

“The worst possible situation would be for students to not have any guidance at all,” says Scott. “The way that I would approach it in a law class versus the way somebody approaches it in a data analytics class is going to be different. We just need students to understand what the expectations are for the class they’re in.”

As part of the new policies, Scott is working to develop a list of icons that faculty can include in their syllabi that represent a multitude of AI tasks such as generating ideas, rephrasing text, adjusting grammar and spelling, generating outlines or first drafts, analyzing data and more.

The icons provide each professor freedom to choose which tasks they are comfortable with their students using AI for, and will
be a universal way to set
expectations without confusion or unexpected loopholes.

“Someone will realize that higher education is focused on the wrong things — the wrong outcomes, the wrong content —
and make something better, a higher education for critical thinking, ethics, empathy, human dynamics and problem-solving, perhaps, skills students really need.”

— Abby Yoder

Emma Malinak is a rising junior at Washington and Lee University, where she is majoring in journalism and English and seeking a minor in Africana Studies. Abby Yoder is a rising senior at Point Park University, where she is studying multimedia.

PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK

Situated between vast expanses of protected land and recreation areas, Pittsburgh is a prime location for outdoor lovers.

From the Laurel Highlands region of the Appalachian mountains to the dozens of state parks and national forest land in Pennsylvania to the nation’s newest national park in West Virginia, it’s no surprise that many Pittsburgers cut their teeth on a mountain pie and have been camping ever since.

Even for those who did not grow up camping, interest in the activity is on the rise. In a recent report by Dyrt, a popular camping app, campgrounds reported it was five times more difficult to book a campsite in 2022 than in previous years. They also found that 15 million Americans camped for the first time ever over the last two years.

The surge in camping was initially believed to be a brief trend during the pandemic, but the outdoor recreation industry continues to boom. This can mean popular campgrounds book quickly — making last-minute camping trips nearly impossible during the summer months.

Campers and the camper-curious shouldn’t discount the fall season for camping adventures. There’s more lodging available, fewer crowds and just as much value to be found in the outdoor experience. While it may be too chilly in Western Pennsylvania for a dip in a lake or campground pool, the fall months offer so much for outdoor adventurers — including some of the best fall foliage in the United States; in 2022, the Laurel Highlands region was ranked 7th in the country for viewing fall foliage by USA Today.

In this region, fall camping means a chance to observe changes to flora and fauna first-hand. At state and national parks, rangers run free programs every day to educate visitors on the natural world.

Monarch butterflies that hatched over summer months prepare to migrate to Mexico each fall; education programs at local state parks allow visitors to catch and tag butterflies alongside the park rangers. Even the youngest children can carefully place a numbered sticker on the fragile wings with a bit of help. Campers receive an update if their butterfly survives the journey south.

Fall is also a great time to observe bird migrations in this region. Several species of hawks begin their migration in late August and can be seen soaring along ridgelines throughout the fall months. Their impressive wingspan over bright fall foliage is an unforgettable sight. Other birds of prey also begin to migrate in the fall, including kestrels, peregrine falcons and merlins. Smaller songbirds are on the move in the fall as well, and waterfowl flock back to Pennsylvania lakes and streams to spend the winter. Apps from Audubon and other organizations help campers identify the species they spot.

Cooler temps bring mating season for deer and elk, meaning animals are more active — and therefore more visible. While the only remaining elk herds in Pennsylvania reside in and around the Allegheny National Forest to the northeast, white-tail deer are common in all natural areas in this region.

Bears are also active in the fall as they fill their bellies for winter hibernation. During September and October, bears eat and drink nonstop — campers are more likely to see a bear during the fall than at any other time of year. Remember to observe animals, even small ones, from a distance. Not only can human interference upset the ecosystem, some animals become aggressive when disturbed.

Related:

Some of Our Favorite Camping Spots Near Pittsburgh When the Leaves Change

Camping Events This Fall That Are Worth The Drive

How To Camp Like A Pro In the Fall

Tent camping is one of the most affordable travel options and can be an enjoyable experience — with the right gear. Tent sites in Pennsylvania’s state parks begin at just $16 per night, although investing in the right camping gear for cold weather can make it a pricier venture than in summer months.

Camping does not have to involve a tent, though. Even the most enthusiastic tent camper might choose a cabin, yurt or RV. There are many options around Pittsburgh that provide solitude in the woods with the comfort of running water and an indoor bathroom. Rustic campsites are often also not ADA accessible and can be difficult for travelers with disabilities to navigate, but government-owned and privately owned campgrounds are required to provide some accessible cabins.

Camping is also all about the food. Even for lodging with a full kitchen, lean into the simple and hearty meals that camping memories are made of. Hot dogs and kielbasa over the fire, mountain pies bursting with apple filling and s’mores are essential. Foil packet meals full of vegetables and freshly caught fish can be baked over the coals of a campfire for a truly authentic backwoods meal. Rural communities also often have local eateries that provide home cooking to rival any city restaurant. A tiny diner in a one-stoplight town with a packed parking lot? Stop there for lunch.

The main feature that makes a trip a “camping trip” is the proximity to nature, not the type of roof overhead. A quiet cabin in a state park or a treehouse overhanging a creek provide much of the same benefits as tent camping — fewer people around, fewer distractions and more space to unplug and unwind.

Information for this article was provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Go Laurel Highlands and West Virginia Tourism. For more information on camping and fall activities in these regions, please reach out directly. 

(This article was originally published in December of 2018)

When innocent people are murdered because of their beliefs, it’s hard not to lose our faith — in mankind, our community and maybe even our religion.

In the wake of the anti-Semitic attack on Oct. 27 on worshippers at Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill that left 11 people dead and six injured, Pittsburghers were shaken. The most profound impact was on the targeted Jewish community. But people of all faiths and even those who don’t follow a particular religion were stricken by what happened.

While this was an attack on people practicing their religious faith, it went further and assaulted the foundation of our community.

In response, we asked a diverse group of people from different religious practices to address this crisis of faith with the hope that their words will help heal and restore not only communities of believers but everyone. Because what keeps Pittsburgh surviving and thriving is our faith in each other.
Embed from Getty Images

Hillel Academy Pittsburgh
Rabbi Sam Weinberg, Principal and Education Director

I don’t think I’ve properly contextualized it for myself yet. I have not been able to really grieve, to think about and to put into context since we heard the news. It’s been, essentially, non-stop work. My number one priority is to make sure the students at Hillel Academy have the support that they need.

A lot of that is, probably, pretending like I’m handling this better than I am. I personally talked to all the students in the school the first day and I’m going to do that again tomorrow (five days after the massacre). Kids need routine. Kids need structure. And it depends on their age. The goal of crisis intervention is to get people to rely on their natural supports, and, thank G-d, we have those supports here.

What moving on means is difficult. It’s a process, and it comes in waves. With younger kids, well, they’re kids. You sit down and talk to a second grader about it and they’re sad and they’re distraught, and three minutes later they’re playing dodgeball. That’s normal.

As for faith, it’s meeting everyone on their level. This is hard for the kids. My 5-year-old son asked me on Sunday night, “Why did G-d put the bad man into the shul?” That’s a hard one. So how does faith help? The way I was raised and the way I’m raising my children is that faith guides everything that we do. There’s a sense of Jewish pride that we’re trying to instill. It’s hard for kids to understand why people would hate us just because we are Jewish. All the support we’ve gotten from the community, not just Jews, is that people love us because we’re Jewish, too.

I teach a Jewish history class. It’s very easy — you look at a lot of standard Jewish history and you read about 3,000 years of persecution of the Jews. I like to reframe it as 3,000 years of perseverance. 3,000 years of moving forward. 3,000 years of overcoming challenges and obstacles. That’s something that we’ve been discussing with our students. Thank G-d this is, for most of us, the first anti-Semitic experience we’ve had. Definitely the most horrific.

In terms of faith, every kid is going to connect to this differently. The classic Jewish response is prayer for the deceased, for the family of the deceased and for us. It gives us comfort and it gives us hope. We took the kids over to Tree of Life for a service, and we prayed outside. That was the first time it really hit me. It felt, standing there praying and singing, it was helpful for me and for a lot of the students. We’re a small school, and we’re close with all the kids. I was talking with some [mental health] professionals right after the attack, and they said, ‘The first thing you do on Monday is you gauge the climate with the students.’ I knew we didn’t need to wait until Monday because by Sunday everyone was texting.

Song and prayer. In the Torah, people sing in moments of pure emotion. And that raw emotion is what prayer is modeled after. It’s cathartic. It’s healing. It gives you a chance to think and reflect.
Embed from Getty Images

The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
The Very Rev. Father Philip N. Farrell

For me, it’s about hope. We can’t get stuck. We have to keep moving forward. We have to recognize the sadness that happens, we have to recognize the evil that happens. But we can’t allow the sadness, and especially the evil, to stop us from having hope. That’s exactly what evil, in particular, is: It’s out to destroy hope.

I think if we recognize the fact that God has given us something to look forward to, God has given us a reason to live, God has given us the reality of His presence in our lives, that we’ve got that to look forward to, and nothing, nothing, not the worst evil, can take that away from us.

But what that means also is we have to be there to help each other, to be there for each other to see that hope, because sometimes it’s hard to see.

We’re there to support each other, to help each other, even when we don’t have words. The reality is that we are in solidarity with other folks just to see above and beyond, to keep moving forward. To recognize the struggles, the evil that has occurred, but also to say: we will not be stuck because of that. We will work to overcome things but also look to something that is far, far better. Otherwise, we’re lost.

From a Christian perspective, obviously, you look at Jesus. On the night before he died, he says, “Father, would that this cup might pass away, but not my will but yours be done. I know there’s something bigger than the evil I’m about to face. I know you’re with us.” When he’s dying on the cross, what does he say? “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” We have hope, and that’s what gets us through this thing.

For people who struggle with faith or lost it somewhere, this seems to be the most ludicrous thing in the world: How can you deal with something like this? But you look at all the folks who came to the vigils in Pittsburgh or anywhere else, who basically said, ‘We’re here,’ as a sign of strength, a sign of support, because there’s something more. And that something more is not just strength in numbers, there’s something deeper in our hearts. And however you wish to express that, ultimately it’s God. When you have that relationship with the Lord as the foundation of your life, you can give folks a reason to keep moving forward and not allow ourselves to be stuck in the tragedies of the past.

In a time like this, you don’t have words, you have faith. You want to do everything, but there’s not a lot you can do except support. You can’t go in with blind ambition or expect you’re going to save the world single-handedly, but you do something by supporting, by participating, by saying, ‘We’re in this together.’ Regardless of what differences you might have, we’re all in this together. And when you recognize the fact we’re in this together you realize — I keep going back to this — that there’s hope. That we can overcome.

Embed from Getty Images

Islamic Center of Pittsburgh
Wasi Mohamed, Executive Director

I think one of the most beautiful things about the response to all this has been unity and solidarity. And I think that people can’t understand how important that is. And that’s what can’t be wasted — the sacrifice of these individuals.

It doesn’t mean we’re unified as a city, but it means we can take some steps toward it. Unfortunately it took a tragedy for us to be given the opportunity, but we can really take advantage of it and build more bridges and stronger bridges and move toward a more equitable Pittsburgh. If we don’t do that, we’ve really failed the people, their memory. Keep in mind we can mourn, but before the last tear drops, we have to have a plan of building that solidarity.

A lot of people have tragedies occur in the world or their own lives, and they question the existence of God, or they think if God exists He’s a cruel one. I always really remember that these horrible things happen no matter what. They just exist, and they’re horrible and terrible, and to take away all meaning from it and drag that from a person is really cruel in and of itself. If you do not look for the meaning or why something happened, that’s just senseless tragedy. Nothing comes from it. It’s just random. I cannot understand how people handle that. The reality is tragedies happen all the time, whether or not God exists, and I believe God exists out of necessity — that the loss of human life and tragedy have some meaning to it as opposed to no meaning.

There are lots of reasons that disaster and tragedy happen, from teaching lessons to helping communities. For example, what if the sacrifice these individuals made was God’s way of bringing us all together and making the city more unified in solidarity and a model for the rest of the country and the world? I think a lot of people didn’t think the headlines would be about that moving forward. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the darkness in this tragedy being completely blotted out by the beacons of light of people bonding, and the stories of the victims are beautiful, and that’s what I want to hear. It’s not filling the world with more negative and hateful news; it’s bringing hope to the people of the world.

The concept of hope in a dark time is what we keep coming back to. You could take this and take it into a dark place: “Hey, none of us are safe anywhere. We’re not safe in our sanctuary, where can we be safe? The minorities are not welcome, the marginalized communities will stay that way, and we are as divided as ever.” But that is not the common reaction.

We’re going to make it through this together; we’re stronger together — that’s a much more powerful narrative. That’s a much more godly narrative, in my opinion. And it’s really heartening to see Pittsburgh come together in a very authentic way and a very natural way. It’s not just platitudes from politicians — this is the way people on the ground are actually reacting.

It’s a moment, and in order to keep this momentum going in loving memory of all these people who passed, it’s going to take a lot of work and we have meetings planned. We have political leaders and lay leaders and educators just continue to react to this. Everybody needs to be in a room to see how to maintain and build upon this work. It’s needed in order for us to actually honor the memory of all of these victims.
Embed from Getty Images

Temple Sinai
Rabbi Keren Gorban

The synagogue has been a safe space and now it has been violated. In particular, it’s a safe space where we Jews can go in a society that doesn’t always have a lot of room for Judaism to flourish. It’s not to say that Jews are “just tolerated,” but Judaism doesn’t permeate American culture except as part of TV shows, bagels and stuff like that.

Jews, for the most part, pass as white, but there are ways in which we’re outside of mainstream American culture. And the synagogue is the place where we’re not outsiders. And that’s a hard thing to wrap our heads around, that in a society where we get integrated, to some extent there’s this barrier.

This act of violence against Jews in Jewish space requires Jews, regardless of how they engage with Judaism, to think about what it means to identify as Jewish and whether they want Judaism to fade into their identity or come out more strongly. There were people who showed up to services on the following Friday night who hadn’t been to services in decades. But an attack on Jews — and not just on Jews but Jews in a synagogue as they were preparing to pray or praying — made them want to identify more strongly.

It’s a question that we’ve all been asking, how to make the synagogue feel safe. I don’t have specific answers. In Europe, it’s standard practice to have armed guards outside a Jewish institution. And people are just used to that. I don’t know what the internal reaction is among European Jews, but at this point, it’s just the way it is. Kids are growing up with an expectation that a guard will be outside. And it’s mostly preventative, but you want to make sure it’s safe. For better or worse, things are different in the United States; anti-Semitism has not been as big a deal. Yet, at most major [Jewish] institutions, you can’t just walk into a building without being buzzed in or showing identification. But there’s been the thought that on Shabbat, you don’t need that. I think that’s where there might be a significant change.

Part of moving forward is making reasonable changes. A more significant part of it is not living life in fear. Terrorism, hate crimes, they’re all meant to disrupt life and create anxiety and fear where they haven’t existed before. It’s an act of defiance to say, “Actually, you don’t get to change my life so drastically. You don’t get to change my community so drastically. We’re going to keep living.”

Jewish ritual is helpful in this regard. This Shabbat (the Friday following the massacre) was a big deal because it was about coming together and saying that our sanctuaries will continue to be sanctuaries, safe havens. And look at all these people who came out to affirm that the sanctuary of a synagogue should be a safe place. Now, that our dead have been buried, we’re entering shiva, the first week of actual mourning — not just trying to put one foot in front of the other, but reflecting on the significant trauma of what just happened. Next Shabbat will be a conclusion to that intense grief. Thirty days from now, we’ll have to have something to mark the fact that it’s been a month. That period of shloshim (30 days of mourning) will start us moving from the intense grief of shiva to less intense grief of the rest of life. In a year, there will be something to mark the yahrzeit, which will bring up the grief and trauma again, but also give us perspective about how we as a community and we as individuals have grown from the trauma. And we’ll do something annually for many years because we can’t forget this.

Music also helps because it hits a different part of us. You can’t intellectualize it as much as you can with words, especially songs that are connected to memory. There’s this idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and there’s some sort of spirit that infuses a group of people doing something together. Music, especially singing together, pulls out the spirit within us and connects our spirits with those around us.

There’s one more piece that is really important. The attack was not just anti-Semitic but also anti-immigrant. This person — and I refuse to use his name because I do not want him to gain fame from his horrific actions — had a well-documented social media history of spewing hatred against immigrants and refugees in general and against HIAS in particular. As a community, we will have to find ways to heal from the reality that this person attacked a synagogue on Shabbat, but as a nation, we will have to reckon with our closed-mindedness and fear regarding people who look different, speak different languages and come from different places.

Embed from Getty Images

Pittsburgh Buddhist Center
Bhante Pemaratana, Chief Abbot

What happened in Squirrel Hill is only the result of a long process. What we would like to pay attention to is not the result but rather the process that brings a person to such a state. What are the causes and conditions that make somebody’s mind so violent and aggressive? What ideas feed a person’s fear and, consequently, anger?

We consider anger and violent behavior a kind of cover-up for our own internal struggle; when we have fear or any other kind of disappointment, if you do not know the tools to handle it, you will use your anger as a cover-up. Anger is an expression of weakness; aggressive people may feel powerful on the outside, but the inside is very weak.

We have a responsibility as religious teachers, and anyone who has some mastery of human emotions, to teach these tools. Ultimately, it’s an individual task; societally, however, organizations — particularly religious organizations — have a responsibility to teach people tools and techniques to deal with their emotions and deal with the views that we construct. We should offer help to people who are misguided, people who have a confused mind. People who are suffering from their own fear. All of us are misguided on some scale; it is easily possible for our mind to go to extremes if we don’t take care of it. We have a great responsibility to take care of ourselves and help our neighbors.

There’s beauty in Pittsburgh; I came to Pittsburgh from Sri Lanka 10 years ago, and what kept me here was this openness. This interconnectedness among different communities; that is the beauty of Pittsburgh. We have such a strong sense of welcoming and openness and embracing. I have no problem going anywhere in my robes; I have never experienced (or encountered) any negativity in my 10 years here. That’s what kept me here.

Incidents like these can bring negative feelings. At the same time, we should also pay attention to how much support and coming together of communities has happened afterward. There was an outpouring of help; everyone is coming together. What we have in Pittsburgh is solidarity, openness, this amazing attitude; we should not lose our sight of that. This horrible incident happened. But we also have seen so many good things. We should not lose our hope.

One way that we can help someone to mourn and go through the pain is to be for that person; let that person know that we are behind you, we are ready to share your burden. When people who have suffered know that other people understand what they are going through and are ready to give a shoulder, give an ear, it’s much easier to go through the mourning process. I think, as a community — as a very friendly, connected community in Pittsburgh — we should keep our arms open and eyes open. If you can, physically be there; at synagogue meetings, if they allow, go and sit with them, show them. The best way to help them to mourn and go through the grieving process — because it takes time — is to be available to them. Listen to them. Be with them.
Embed from Getty Images

First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh
Rev. David Herndon

Here at the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh, we send our deepest sympathy to our neighbors at the Tree of Life synagogue and the entire Jewish community of Pittsburgh. We mourn with the families of those who died in this horrific and hateful incident, and we hope for a speedy recovery for all who have sustained injuries, including the officers serving in the Pittsburgh police force.

Two starkly contrasting visions struggle against one another nowadays in the United States. In one of these visions, straight, white male supremacy dominates the center, while other people — women, people of color, the LGBT community, immigrants, Jews, Muslims, and other non-Christian religious groups, people with disabilities, and so on — are regarded as less important and even as threats to the entrenched tradition of straight, white male power. This is the vision that insisted on putting yet another straight, white man on the Supreme Court, despite serious questions about his fitness for the position. This is the vision that created the disturbances in Charlottesville in August 2017. And in a more extreme form, this is the vision that led to the deaths of 11 members of the Tree of Life synagogue here in Pittsburgh.

The other vision promotes a more inclusive society, with many different kinds of people in positions of influence and authority, with many different kinds of people enjoying respect and admiration and opportunity, and with many different kinds of people contributing their narratives and their cultural truths to the fabric of our society. This is an inclusive vision, where differences in personal characteristics such as race, religion, gender, sexual orientation and family background do not lead to open hostility, or attempts by one group to dominate other groups, or judgments about who is acceptable and who is not. Instead, in response to personal differences, this inclusive vision invites mutual appreciation and a willingness to listen and learn.

Which of these two visions will our country choose — the vision that perpetuates straight, white male supremacy, or the vision that points toward a more egalitarian and inclusive society? The Unitarian Universalist faith tradition that I serve envisions a world that truly recognizes all humanity as one united community where all are accepted and loved for who they are, and none are subject to hate, bigotry, oppression, injustice or exclusion.

Embed from Getty Images

East Liberty Presbyterian Church
The Rev. Patrice L. Fowler-Searcy

In some ways, this started as a typical Saturday for me, and in some ways not. Believe it or not, throughout the year, we’ve had a number of programs at our church on facing systematic racism. We were scheduled to have our fifth anti-racism session, on white privilege, that evening. I was at church to prepare for that as well as to write a sermon I was going to deliver, not at my church, but at Judah Fellowship Christian Church.

The Judah Fellowship congregation is made up of LGBTQ individuals who typically have been ostracized by organized religion. Saturday’s events changed the sermon I had been preparing. Instead, I preached from the Fourth Chapter of Genesis about Cain killing Abel.

The very first murder was a brother who killed a brother. As human beings (I won’t even say as people of God, but as human beings), crimes are often committed against those who are closest to us. Crime is very often one of proximity and familiarity. But any time we take the life of an individual, we have taken the life of a brother, or a sister or a sibling — because we are all a part of the human race.

The person who went into the synagogue killed people he saw as “The Other.” In actuality, he was killing his siblings in the sight of God.

The Other is typically anyone who is denigrated or looked upon as lesser, or someone who we are unfamiliar with. I don’t like to use that terminology. I believe we’re all a part of the human race, and so we’re all in this together. I prefer to say “Another.”

I ended the sermon talking about how we are a people who will never allow darkness to put out the light or have fear overcome our hope.

We are also required, not only to pray for the people whose lives were taken and for their family and friends and our city, but also to faithfully pray for the person who perpetuated this crime upon all of us. Because God tells us to pray even for our enemies. Even though that’s difficult, that’s what is required of us as people of God.

My hope for the future is that somehow, in God’s time, we will realize that we are all in this together. There are no “Others” in this country or, really, in the world. We’re all created in the image of God.

I have hope that we will have leadership in the presidency and across the country that will espouse that love for your brother, your sister, your sibling, no matter who they might be, their country of origin, their ethnicity, their gender or their sexual orientation.

As are the majority of our city residents, I am heartbroken and angry. Heartbroken that our Abrahamic brothers and sisters were violated and gunned down in their place of worship, a sacred place and sanctuary, and angry about the current state of our country and the total disregard, devaluation and disposability of people considered by some as “The Other.”

I am still processing and praying about where we go from here. However, as a person of faith, I realize that the only place we can go is to God in prayer. I am praying God will heal the hurt and devastation suffered by the Tree of Life families and community. I am praying that God will heal the residents of the City of Pittsburgh, the nation, Israel and the world. I am praying for God to heal the souls of those who have reduced the lives of those they consider “The Other” as being valueless, disposable and to be feared.

And I have faith that darkness will never overcome light, that hate will never overcome love, and that divisive and hateful rhetoric will never overcome the truth that we are all created in the image of and loved by God.
Embed from Getty Images

Sri Venkateswara Temple
Vijay Shekher Reddy, Secretary of the Board of Directors

Hate crimes are common phenomena, with the frequency of such crimes increasing significantly in the past few years. One should not be complacent about this matter; one must take needed precautions to avoid exposure to such acts.

After Saturday’s incident, we have all faced the reality that hate crimes can impact us. We are determined to show support to our fellow citizens and community — to create a cooperative spirit without worrying about the differences we may have, but instead focus on the similarities we all have as human beings.

First, one has to realize that we are living in a society where values have changed and differences among us are magnified. With this in mind, one has to curtail the freedom we used to enjoy in the past, without any second thought. A human-made disaster could strike at any place without any [clear] cause. [We must] not take anything for granted and prepare to face this new reality while taking all the precautionary measures that we can control.

These types of incidents also unite those of different backgrounds and religious faiths to work together for the greater good of society. During these times, one has to be empathetic to others and extend our arms to bridge any gaps in society and the community. Take part in activities organized by other communities and show solidarity to each other, irrespective of religion, race and sexual orientation. Open, heart-to-heart discussions will help heal the wounds caused in communities by the cruel acts of a few individuals.

Embed from Getty Images

SRI VENKATESWARA TEMPLE
Krishna K. Kasi, Chairman of the Board of Directors

This has been a great country because it is a country of immigrants, with people coming from different cultures. People have to be open minded and be respectful of each other — not focusing on cultural differences.

We need to focus on our common goal in our cultures: to benefit our society and our country.

Unfortunately, the current political climate is causing division in people. The media, especially, is fueling the division, leading to the radicalization of people with deranged and weak minds. The media can tone down the criticism and focus on good news, showing good deeds by people for people.

The perpetrator of the recent incident was mentally unstable; it would have been a different outcome if he had received professional help. He is still alive; he may face the death penalty. Instead, if we spare him from that punishment, get him medical and mental help, [we can have] him communicate to the people — admit his evil actions and show his remorse. If, over a period of time, the media can show he can be transformed, there is a chance to prevent others from being radicalized. People have to see positive thoughts and actions in the news.

Mutual respect and appreciation will go a long way.
Embed from Getty Images

Dor Hadash​
Donna Coufal is president-elect. Dor Hadash was one of the three congregations worshiping in Tree of Life synagogue at the time of the massacre.

Dor Hadash is over 50 years old. We’re a lay-led, do-it-yourself congregation, and we’re a strong congregation. It’s been a horrible process, and all three congregations suffered together through the tragedy of the shooting. We do think it’s important to make it clear that while we respect Rabbi Myers (Rabbi Hazzan of Tree of Life congregation), he didn’t speak for the whole community when he was speaking to the national media.

Dor Hadash has a strong social action component at its core. We are a member of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS); as a congregation, we are very concerned with the refugee situation and helping refugees as much as we can. HIAS was established in 1881. This is not a radical organization. This is an organization that has helped settle Jewish refugees, Vietnamese refugees and others for well over 100 years now. So it feels horrific, it feels scary, to be a target for something that you believe in.

I don’t want to make generalizations about Jews, but it seems when the morality of a culture is in question, Jews are often part of the target. I can’t say I know exactly how this works, but when there has been unrest in countries, Jews are often targeted. I think we’ve underestimated that [in the United States] because we couldn’t believe it would happen here.

It’s not just us. On the same weekend as the shooting in Pittsburgh, there were two black people, Maurice Stallard and Vickie Lee Jones, killed in Kentucky. That shooter was trying to get into a church but couldn’t. The following week, two people were killed in a yoga studio. The problems of guns, and the accessibility of hate through the internet, is enormous. Clearly, the leadership of the country has been promoting hateful language, and that’s a problem. Anti-Semitism has been on the rise, and there have been shootings at other organizations, as well as desecration of cemeteries. This shooter believed Jews were responsible for bringing in refugees. In this context, refugees are not seen as people who are suffering but as carrying diseases or as dangerous criminals.

The response to this has been unbelievable. So many communities have stepped up to help us. The money raised by the Muslim community, the food cooked, the letters sent to us is overwhelming. There are so many good people in the world. [In the wake of the massacre,] people are talking to each other and finding out how connected they are. It’s been so interesting how people we never thought knew each other are connected. It heightens the sense that we’re not so isolated as we think. The mayor really stepped up. Pittsburgh is culturally rich, but it’s a small city of neighborhoods.

The founder of the Reconstructionist movement, Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan, talked about Judaism as a civilization, not a religion. Not identifying with religion is important for some people — there are members at Dor Hadash who are agnostic and there are some who are very observant — and I can understand that. Reconstructionist Judaism is steeped in history; it’s not watered down. We are egalitarian Jews. We had the first Bat Mitzvahs as far back as the 1920s. We do not consider ourselves the “chosen people.” So we take a lot of the historical material and think about it in the context of the ethics of the world today.

And so in terms of how we go forward, we’re more committed than ever as an organization to what we stand for. I think you have to keep going. Language creates reality. It’s important for people in power to understand that the language they use is extremely potent. So vote for people who speak about the positive aspects of human beings rather than those who are separating groups and creating fear and hate.

I think that people who have suffered in any way grow themselves to recognize the suffering of others. What happened to us is so horrible, but if we didn’t name other people killed that weekend or if we didn’t talk about wars around the world where people are traumatized every day, if we only have self-involvement, then you don’t feel. You can’t just care about yourself. These issues are central to Dor Hadash, and that was why I joined this congregation. We are all responsible.

PHOTO BY DAVE DICELLO

When explaining Pittsburgh to a visitor, there is a lot of ground to cover. The city offers many things to many people. What do you prioritize in your plans? Where do you begin? Our advice: Start with the city’s wonders — long-standing, striking landmarks — that will engage you into a better understanding of our past and present.

Here is our lineup of the 7 Wonders of Pittsburgh. Each location is within 15 miles of the city center, has a wide appeal and has been around for decades. Many are cultural attractions that have, by this point, become community pillars. And each can be enjoyed at multiple times of year (all but one are year-round operations, in fact), so you can enjoy them whenever you visit the
Steel City — or simply decide it’s time to get out of the house.

1. Monongahela & Duquesne Inclines

Slow and steady wins the race. Our inclines are not fast-moving, operating at an average rate of 6 mph, but they’re consistent. And one holds the title of the nation’s oldest operating funicular railway (a bragging right to break out at your next get-together).

Debuting in 1870, the Monongahela is the longest-running incline in the United States; it was renovated in 2022 to modernize controls and electrical components. The Duquesne joined it seven years later and has run alongside it consistently (minus a brief period in the 1960s, when it was being repaired). The inclines effectively book-end Grandview Avenue and operate often (Monongahela runs approximately every 15 minutes, whereas Duquesne is based on demand); with low fares, they’re inexpensive and safe transportation options for a night out or a daytime jaunt.

“On foggy mornings, you can also witness an interesting sight as the buildings emerge from the cloud cover,” says a spokesperson with Pittsburgh Regional Transit, which owns both (although the Society for the Preservation of the Duquesne Heights Incline operates the Duquesne).

Whether you ride the Mon or the Duquesne, the view from the car is unbeatable; it’s surely why the inclines are buzzed-about attractions among locals and out-of-towners alike. And the sights from the summit of Mount Washington are unmatched. There are multiple overlooks to check out the city, take photos and maybe even catch a life event in action: Given the breathtaking setting, wedding parties, soon-to-be-engaged couples and other celebratory groups make their way to the overlooks for photo ops.

Sweetening the deal is Emerald View Park, which runs through Mount Washington — but more importantly, its paved walkway lines Grandview’s outer edge, so you can get in your steps and sights at the same time. Follow the trail to either incline station and the neighboring business districts; the bustling Shiloh Street is near the Mon’s upper station, while Grandview eateries, such as the upscale Altius, surround the Duquesne’s upper stop.

South Shore: East Carson Street
rideprt.org; duquesneincline.org

{BY THE NUMBERS}

MON INCLINE
635
track length (feet)

367.39
elevation gain (feet)

35
grade (degrees)

DUQUESNE INCLINE
794
track length (feet)

400
elevation gain (feet)

30.5
grade (degrees)

Know Before You Go:
To pay, you’ll need exact cash (you can withdraw some at the onsite ATM) or a Pittsburgh Regional Transit fare card.

2. Kennywood

PHOTO COURTESY KENNYWOOD PARK

Anticipation builds as you’re sitting next to your friend with the lap bar closed. The bell sounds, and your car begins rolling down the flat track and then whips around the corner as you travel in line with 15 other cars. You can’t help but smile, and your pal’s face lights up too each time you quickly zip around the bend. After experiencing a little more than 2 minutes of unabashed joy, your car stops. Time to get off The Whip.

Kennywood’s oldest flat ride was restored for the 2023 season, just in time for the park to celebrate its 125th year in business. The amusement park’s story remains one of “blending classic and innovation,” says Tasha Pokrzywa, communications manager. Within the park, there are wooden coasters, such as the fan-favorite Jack Rabbit, alongside the thrill-seeker’s coasters such as the Steel Curtain and Phantom’s Revenge.

“In the most general sense, our goal is to create a fun but quirky atmosphere,” says Pokrzywa.

About the quirk: The alien-themed Spinvasion ride was added for the 2023 season (a year that also began with heightened security, such as physical upgrades and more lighting). Another masterpiece returned for its 50th season: the Potato Patch and their delectable fries.

Patron feedback is seriously considered as the park is updated, as evidenced by the return of the Kangaroo ride a few years ago. Pokrzywa says the team was met with a wave of dissenting feedback regarding the ride’s retirement, ultimately resulting in a full restoration of the classic attraction.

For decades, locals have turned to the park for entertainment — from school and work picnic days to food festivals and special events added in more recent years. Kennywood’s season extends well into the fall and winter annually, with Phantom Fall Fest and Holiday Lights themed festivities taking place in cooler months (and granting access to select attractions, too).

Kennywood’s Old Mill — its longest-running ride — has, over the decades, gone through multiple theme and structural revisions and embodies what Pokrzywa called one of Kennywood’s strengths: “[It’s] a park that can provide fun experiences with things that have been around for a long time.”

West Mifflin: 4800 Kennywood Blvd.
kennywood.com

{BY THE NUMBERS}

8
number of roller coasters

125
years of operation

197
tallest inversion (feet) on the Steel Curtain coaster (a World Record)

Know Before You Go:
The Racer, Jack Rabbit and Thunderbolt are American Coaster Enthusiasts Roller Coaster Landmark rides. (The group reserves this recognition for “rides of historic significance.”)

3. Cathedral of Learning

Inspirational” is an apt word to describe the world’s second-tallest educational building, better known as the Cathedral of Learning. The 42-story structure — whose construction in Oakland was completed in 1936 — may be on the University of Pittsburgh campus, but it’s a treasure for all to enjoy. Lovingly nicknamed “Cathy” by Pitt students, the cathedral is open to the public for lunch breaks, study periods or enlightening excursions; certain floors and aspects, like the gift shop, are fair game, whereas others, like the Nationality Rooms, require advance planning.

“Its presence is a testament to the university’s longstanding history in the region and is one of our earliest examples of how Pitt welcomes community collaboration,” says university spokesperson Nick France.

The Nationality Rooms pay respect to the ethnic groups of Pittsburgh and were built in stages: On the first floor, you’ll find the first 19, crafted by 1957; of the remaining 12, created since 1987, some are on the third floor. Each year, the Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs welcomes 10,000 visitors; paid guided tours are available in person and online.

“The 31 Nationality Rooms themselves are never altered from their original designs,” says France. “Each room was designed and constructed based on a respective ethnic group before 1787 — the year of the University of Pittsburgh’s founding, excluding the French room, which was styled after post-18th-century Empire style.”

Over time, the 535-foot, gothic-style structure naturally has required maintenance, such as foundation waterproofing, but stands strong as a “tower of learning,” in line with the vision of former Pitt chancellor John Bowman, who led the university during the cathedral’s construction. Its routine use by the community also was part of his wish, for it to be accessible to all.

“The cathedral is a symbol, literally and figuratively, of Pitt’s progress and success,” says France, “but also the progress and success of our neighbors.”

Oakland: 4200 Fifth Ave.
pitt.edu, nationalityrooms.pitt.edu

{POINTS OF INTEREST}

36
For a high-end aerial view of the city, take the elevator to the Honors College on the 36th floor, and head to a window to check out the sights.

22,000
Square feet — a half acre — of space in the four-story, Gothic Commons Room.

Souvenir tip:
If you visit the Nationality Rooms and are inspired by the cultures, pick up a copy of the recipe book in the cathedral’s gift shop. For a little more than $10, you’ll boost your ideas for the next time you need to whip up dinner, an appetizer or fudge.

4. Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens

For the past 130 years, Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens has delivered on its aim to provide a connection to nature — and has educated locals while doing so. But equally impressive is that the conservatory has continually presented seasonal flower shows; it’s actually one of few conservatories in the nation to do so, says senior director of communications Joe Reed.

Its origin story involves philanthropist Henry W. Phipps, who bestowed the conservatory to Pittsburgh. The attraction, stretching across 15 acres, now encompasses 14 glasshouse rooms, some of which house permanent collections — such as Palm Court, part of its original nine-room offering — plus a total of 23 gardens.

To draw its annual visitor count of 500,000, Phipps likes to keep it fresh. For the Spring Flower Show alone, the team uses thousands of plants, and it’s important that they promote responsible plants that are not high-maintenance, says Reed.

The conservatory plays a pivotal role in the community, as it partners with area schools and businesses. A newer offering is the professional landscaping training for locals (learners receive a certificate showing they’ve mastered the essentials of sustainable landscaping, upping their odds of becoming neighborhood lawn heroes). There’s even a complimentary “Ask Dr. Phipps” service, allowing novice growers to seek advice from the conservatory’s Master Gardeners.

Phipps also maintains a commitment to sustainability and has been “going green” for years. Three decades ago, it transferred ownership from the city to nonprofit management and doubled down on sustainability, as “human and environmental health go hand in hand,” says Reed.

Over time, its campus has grown to include production greenhouses and the Center for Sustainable Landscapes. A few of its buildings, such as the center, generate their own energy and have garnered attention for their excellence by earning recognition such as LEED Platinum status.

Phipps may be a gorgeous cultural institution and (let’s be honest) an Instagram-worthy photo backdrop on any given outing; however, it has stuck around and remained relevant because of the effort made to honor its roots while embracing the future.

Oakland: One Schenley Park
phipps.conservatory.org

{PRO TIP}
As Phipps closes at 10 on Friday nights, it’s an ideal date-night spot. Head there in time to watch the sun set — perhaps on the Tropical Forest Patio — and complete your tour through the rest of the campus.

Know Before You Go:
There are many ways to enjoy this spot, from private events to brunches and checking out the latest exhibits. But don’t forget about the top-tier gift shop and cafe.

5. Frick Park

Imagine having a place within city limits where you could take your pup to a massive off-leash area — then play tennis, go birding in dense woods and have a picnic. Perhaps coolest of all, you could walk into a living green building, at no cost, any day of the week to learn about the environment.

Good news: This place exists. It’s Frick Park. The original 151-acre plot was granted to the city by Henry Clay Frick in 1919 and opened in 1927; the park has grown to 644 acres and touches Point Breeze, Squirrel Hill, Swisshelm Park and Regent Square.

That green building is the LEED Platinum-certified environmental center, a joint project between the city and Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy; even on a casual pass through, you’ll learn new things (like how to create a worm bin) but definitely consider attending a class or two.

After visiting the center, you’ve got choices for where to turn next. If you’re up for birding, head toward Clayton Hill, recommended by Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s team because it provides optimal views of avian wildlife migrating in the spring and fall.

Alana Wenk, the conservancy’s director of advancement, says the bottom segment of Clayton is prime for exploratory outdoor activities, such as mountain-biking.

Where Clayton shows the wild side, Blue Slide Park is whimsical.

“It’s always fun — I love seeing tagged photos on social media,” of Blue Slide Park, says Wenk. That’s one Frick element that’s widely known, due at least in part to pop culture; “Blue Slide Park” also is the title of the debut album from late rapper and area native Mac Miller.

As the city’s largest historical park, Frick draws quite a crowd, especially in warmer months. In 2022, it was the site of 4,000 get-togethers, from after-school programs to Earth Month happenings. The conservancy team often works with the community; construction will begin in late 2023 on an outdoor sensory classroom near the environmental center that’ll be created in partnership with local groups to validate its features.

Speaking of features: We tend to be boastful about our scenic views. If you’re looking for a spot to catch the sunrise or sunset, check out Riverview Trail; you won’t be disappointed.

Squirrel Hill: Frick Environmental Center,
2005 Beechwood Blvd.
pittsburghparks.org

{FINDING YOUR WAY}

You don’t have to wing it on your visit; there’s a detailed map on the website and at select trail entrances (pittsburghparks.org).

{POINTS OF INTEREST}

40°25’35.3” N,
79°54’19.5” W

Search the lower part of the park to find a tranquil boardwalk along Nine Mile Run. Prefer technology to going wandering? Point your GPS to these coordinates.

6. The Andy Warhol Museum

It’s fitting that the museum dedicated to the late Andy Warhol, an influential Pop-Art king, is ever-changing.

For starters, The Andy Warhol Museum (one of four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh) is home to more than 10,000 works of art by the native son. What’s more, although he’s well known for his Pop-Art creations of muses such as Marilyn Monroe, he worked in various artforms throughout his multi-decade career — film, TV, painting and drawing are but a few examples.

Born and raised locally, Andrew Warhola was drawn to art at an early age; he graduated with a pictorial design degree from what’s now Carnegie Mellon University before he zipped off to New York City. The museum’s material naturally covers his claims to fame but also his background — the tale of his parents immigrating to the States, his Catholic faith and so on.

“We really try to tell the full Warhol story in a deeper way,” says Patrick Moore, director of The Warhol.

The seven-floor art gallery, which welcomes 150,000 visitors annually, provides exclusive experiences. For example, at press time, there’s an acoustically treated space set up to listen to recently digitized Velvet Underground master tapes while admiring cover album art by Warhol. Families with kids in tow can have fun, too, by making artworks in The Factory, whose name pays tribute to Warhol’s NYC studio.

The single-artist museum, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2024, largely pays homage to the namesake artist’s works, but it also features special exhibitions a few times per year.

In 2022, The Warhol team established The Pop District, a multifaceted initiative involving multiple blocks of public art, workforce development offerings and various events and performances. Final Fridays, for example, are held from May through September in the nearby Silver Street event space and are effectively outdoor parties set to the beats of guest DJs.

“We want to attract, invite, [inspire people to] take selfies,” says Moore, “and make it an experience, hang around.”

North Shore: 117 Sandusky St.
warhol.org

Know Before You Go:
Block off at least 2-3 hours for the full museum experience, and more if you like to read every plaque.

{PHOTO OP}

Snag a selfie on the signature red couch located in the entrance space. (Like Andy, whose portrait is displayed above the couch, you, too, may want to throw on a pair of shades while striking a pose.)

{SOUVENIR TIP}

The gift shop stocks enviable knickknacks and prints of Warhol’s works.

7. Point State Park

It’s difficult to envision a city-skyline postcard or sporting-event live shot that doesn’t include the Point State Park Fountain. Heck, even a decade ago, when a giant rubber duck dropped anchor nearby, the roughly 150-foot fountain was not upstaged by the likes of the sizable, temporary art installation.

The fountain sits at, you guessed it, the point of our three rivers, where the Monongahela and Allegheny meet to form the Ohio. It debuted in 1974 and largely has remained a constant ever since; it required a full renovation in 2009 and shuttered before returning in 2013, when the park also received a facelift.

The 36-acre park space has quite the history, dating to its involvement in the French and Indian War. The Fort Pitt Museum has a wealth of info on that occurrence but also others, including the city’s founding; the Fort Pitt Block House, originally created in 1764 as a military redoubt, serves as a living relic. Point State Park’s green space was formalized due to the Pittsburgh Renaissance; after a 1950s urban renewal project wrapped, it was dedicated in 1974.

The park celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2024, and has been a gathering spot for everyday life and special occasions. Its green lawn is just the place to sit after the Pittsburgh Marathon or when celebrating July Fourth with tunes, food and pyrotechnics. On an average day, you’ll see families walking along the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, colleagues enjoying lunch and couples admiring the reflecting pool. Bikes are omnipresent here, as this is an access point for the Great Allegheny Passage, a 150-mile trail connecting Cumberland, Maryland, to the Steel City.

Back to the fountain: We’ll boldly say that catching a sunset there is a must. Everything surrounding the experience is slow-paced — people are conversing, picnicking, hanging out, relishing moments — and simple. On your first fountain experience at nightfall, you may feel as if you’ve been trusted with a sweet secret; you begin to understand some of the pride Pittsburghers have for the city and why our scenery gets such high praise.

Downtown: 601 Commonwealth Place
dcnr.pa.gov/stateparks

Know Before You Go:
The park is open year-round. The fountain is open May through October, weather permitting.

{POINT OF INTEREST}
You can spot the Duquesne Incline from the park, too!

PHOTO BY HUCK BEARD

Five years after trading in their Lawrenceville rowhouse for a condo in the Carlyle, a former bank skyscraper at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Wood Street, Ashley and Adam Brandolph have no regrets.

They love being close to Downtown restaurants and amenities. Going car-free — Adam walks to his job in public relations and Ashley takes a 15-minute bus ride to Oakland for work — has saved money they use for travel.

There is considerably more space for them and their two dogs now in the two-bedroom unit, eight stories above the thoroughfare once known as the “Wall Street of Pittsburgh.” And that history has its own appeal.

“Sometimes I’ll see groups of visitors and tourists walking down our street, looking up at the tops of the buildings and marveling at the architecture,” says Ashley, who manages volunteer and internship programs for the Carnegie Museums. “It’s so cool to hear them say ‘Wow!’ I’m like, ‘yeah, I live here.’”

VINTAGE PHOTOS COURTESY THE DETROIT PUBLISHING COMPANY; SOURCE: LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

When their building, with its distinctive rounded granite front, opened in 1907 as the Union National Bank, it was one of two dozen financial institutions on a two-block stretch of Fourth Avenue. That small section also included the Pittsburgh Stock Exchange, then one of the nation’s busiest regional securities markets.

Now the former banking and stock trading nexus is a popular place to live — so much so that noise from major construction projects nearby is becoming something of a drawback. Since the Brandolphs moved in, they have witnessed the conversion of the Commonwealth Building next door into 150 apartments, the Bank Tower across Fourth Avenue into renovated office space, and the Arrott Building (cater-cornered to them) into a boutique Marriott hotel called the Industrialist.

For now, the couple is enjoying a brief respite from the dust and clangor. That will last until construction starts on City Club Apartments, a 24-story skyscraper with 300 residential units at the former YWCA across Wood Street. The project, approved last year by city planners, is nearing completion of its design phase, though a construction start date has not been announced.

JEREMY WALDRUP, PITTSBURGH DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP | PHOTO BY HUCK BEARD

“I think that residential density is more important now than it ever has been as we think about the continued evolution and revitalization of Downtown,” says Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.

The organization took new offices in 2021 in the Bank Tower, the former Peoples Savings Bank of 1902, at the same busy intersection of Fourth and Wood.

“It’s changing the street life in this neighborhood by bringing new users on nights and weekends, supporting new restaurants, and really breathing new life into these historic buildings,” Waldrup says.

His favorite feature of the second-floor space is an enormous arched window that admits streams of sunlight into the organization’s 5,800 square feet of mostly open floor, which boasts original interior columns and handsome wood paneling. The building also has a dizzying 16-story marble staircase, wrapped in an elaborate exterior of carved stonework and richly textured red brick and terracotta.

Across Wood Street, the Arrott, also from 1902, is even more over the top, with striped walls, false balconies and a cornice 18 stories up with howling faces seemingly overwhelmed by vertigo. The building, which also retains its extravagant marble and bronze lobby, once housed a bank, an insurance company and the corporate headquarters of bathtub manufacturing mogul James Arrott.

Both are among the very first skyscrapers erected in Pittsburgh. Between 1900 and 1910, when skyscrapers radically transformed the city’s skyline, Fourth Avenue boasted more of the new steel-framed structures than any other section of the city.

Not coincidentally, the bank-crammed thoroughfare also was the site of the city stock market. In 1900, when regional exchanges handled trades for stocks and bonds of local companies, Pittsburgh’s annual volume of 3 million shares trailed only New York, Boston, Chicago and Philadelphia.

The Pittsburgh Stock Exchange evolved from an older exchange for petroleum, formed after the world’s first successful oil well was drilled in 1859 in northwestern Pennsylvania. At first pumped straight into open barges, then somewhat more carefully into barrels, the oil was shipped down the Allegheny River to Pittsburgh, where seven refineries sprang up within the first year to turn the crude into lubricants or kerosene for lamp fuel. Traders organized a market to set spot prices, options and futures contracts on the hot commodity.

John D. Rockefeller and his Standard Oil usurped Pittsburgh’s early refinery edge. But the city remained a busy trading hub for petroleum, and its market grew to encompass other commodities, plus stocks and bonds for the area’s numerous industrial concerns, investment banks and trust companies.

The exchange’s longtime home was demolished in 1963, and a reduced operation closed the following decade as regional markets were shuttered and trading centralized in Manhattan.

Like many Pittsburghers, Bill Benter was unaware of the former stock market. That was until the philanthropist and entrepreneur, who made his fortune designing software algorithms to handicap horse races, became an owner in the condominium next door.

“I had no idea, and in fact no real appreciation, that this had been the Wall Street of Pittsburgh,” says Benter, who owns six floors of the Benedum-Trees Building, including the top three for his Benter Foundation and other businesses. “There’s so much rich history here that we don’t know about … When I learned what was next door, it really helped me to understand this building.”

Besides extensively remodeling his floors, Benter has spent more than $800,000 on restoration of the Benedum-Trees Building’s original lobby of marble, brass and gold leaf. Last year he also funded a public art project to highlight the Fourth Avenue story. Artists Karen Krieger and David Montgomery created a mural-sized banner showing the old stock exchange; it now hangs above the spot where that building once stood.

The Benedum-Trees was originally built and named for Caroline Jones Machesney, the first woman in Pittsburgh to commission a skyscraper. It started out as private offices for stockbrokers and financial firms, until local oil tycoons Mike Benedum and Joe Trees bought it from her and turned it into their company headquarters.

Benter first learned about the stock exchange from Rob Pfaffmann, who has his architectural practice in the Benedum-Trees. So he asked the architect to direct the public art project, which they would like to see extend farther up Fourth Avenue with more art, history and creative street lighting.

“I think it’s the most underappreciated street in the city,” Pfaffmann says. “It’s still mostly intact, obviously with a few missing teeth.”

Pfaffmann has worked on Fourth Avenue since he came to the city 40 years ago, when the narrow urban canyon still had a functioning trolley line. Back then, concerned that the Fourth Avenue corridor might be torn down for an urban shopping mall, Pfaffmann and other preservationists gave walking tours to raise awareness of the street’s special history. The area is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, though Pfaffmann is quick to point out that the designation does not ban owners from demolishing a building.

The oldest bank still standing on Fourth Avenue, Dollar Bank, dates from 1870. A venerable brownstone guarded by two carved lions, it has been in operation ever since, with tellers and customers transacting over the same polished marble countertop for more than 150 years. Photography is not permitted, but any visitor can step in and appreciate the soaring interior, which somehow seems twice as big as the sidewalk view suggests is possible.

Besides being a functioning financial institution, the bank is an excellent small history museum. One display includes pictures and biographies of early working-class depositors, including many Black people, immigrants and women.

Nearby, two tall offices feature rugged stone facades inspired by the then-new Allegheny County Courthouse and Jail. One of them, the 1889 Fidelity Trust Building, is where board members convening to plan Andrew Carnegie’s great library in Oakland received a $1 million check from the tycoon to fund its construction.

An imitation Greek temple next door, despite its deceptively small stature, once housed one of the biggest financial institutions in the country. The Union Trust Company, founded by Andrew Mellon, had $16 million in surplus funds according to a 1903 survey of local banks, equal to the combined total of all 38 national banks in Philadelphia.

The building opened in 1898 and was designed by Daniel Burnham, the celebrated Chicago architect and chief planner of the world’s fair there in 1893. While the Flatiron Building in Manhattan is Burnham’s most famous skyscraper, he designed more in Pittsburgh than New York, or indeed any other city outside Chicago. His local works include the Frick and Oliver buildings and the railroad terminal on Grant Street known as the Pennsylvanian.

The Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania purchased the former Union Trust in 1987 and uses it for meetings and other functions. The interior still makes quite an impression on members, says Tammi Halapin, president of the society.

“The very first time I stepped in the building was probably 20 years ago, when one of my former coworkers took us to lunch there,” she recalls. “I was like, ‘wow, what is this place?’”

The gigantic, armor-plated safe is used as a private dining room for member luncheons. That’s one challenge with old bank buildings: Their safes are far too massive to remove.

So creativity is called for. At the Bank Tower, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership hit upon an inspired reuse strategy: the large safe there is now a locker room for its cleanup and outreach volunteers to stash their valuables before heading out into the neighborhood.

More Resources
Explore the history and important people of Pittsburgh’s Wall Street, including images of the stock exchange trading floor, through Go Fourth Pittsburgh. The website was created by Mark Houser and Philadelphia artist Chris Hytha with support from the Benter Foundation. Find it at: GoFourthPittsburgh.org

Mark Houser is a writer, professional speaker and skyscraper tour guide focusing on landmark buildings in Pittsburgh and across the country. He is the author of “MultiStories: 55 Antique Skyscrapers & the Business Tycoons Who Built Them,” available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and select bookstores. Houser’s current project with Philadelphia artist Chris Hytha, showcasing great Art Deco skyscrapers across America through stories and unique drone photo compositions, can be seen now at HighrisesCollection.com and will be released this fall as a coffee table book. His website is: HouserTalks.com