December 3 Issue 2025 - Pittsburgh City Paper

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DECEMBER SUPER ISSUE 2025 // VOL. 34

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EINSIDE THIS ISSUE

veryone’s favorite neighbor, Mister Rogers, once famously said that when the world looks scary, “look for the helpers.” Even when the outlook is bleak, “you will always find people who are helping.”

Well, this year, the world has looked pretty scary — here in Pittsburgh, and beyond. There’s no shortage of bad news. It’s enough to sometimes make you feel like there’s no hope.

Unless you listen to Mister Rogers.

Because even though there’s devastation all around, there are tons of people here at home who are helping in their own way. They’re organizing, innovating, pitching in, growing, fighting, and building. They’re the helpers Fred Rogers told us about, and we can look in any direction to find them. Right here in Pittsburgh, there are union organizers climbing a steep hill, restaurateurs going the extra mile, and progressives beating the odds. There are pioneers expanding access to art, uplifting forgotten voices, and rebuilding communities.

ACTIVISM • RANDALL TAYLOR

VISUAL ART • HARRISON APPLE

FOOD & DRINK • MATT KATASE AND ALAINA WEBBER

LITERATURE • EMMA HONCHARSKI

BUSINESS • CHRISTINA CASSOTIS

LABOR • ARHC UNION WORKERS

POLITICS • ALEX ROSE

In this issue, Pittsburgh City Paper is proud to shine a light on these helpers, all of whom are making our city a better place in a different way, in the world of politics, business, culture, and more. With these folks calling Pittsburgh home, nothing seems quite as scary.

— Ali Trachta, Executive Editor

PERFORMING ARTS • JANIS BURLEY HEALTH • DEBRA BOGEN 04 06 08 10 12 16 18 20 22 24

MUSIC • DANIELLA MASHUDA AND MADDY LAFFERTY

RANDALL TAYLOR ACTIVISM 2025

BY

Pittsburgh, you may have noticed, continues making “most livable” and “most affordable” lists in 2025 for our comparatively cheap housing and high quality of life. In spite of this, average rent ($1,515) and the price of a house ($229,000) have risen fast, while job and wage growth remain slow.

These contradictions aren’t lost on Randall Taylor. “This is the housing Hunger Games here in Pittsburgh,” he tells Pittsburgh City Paper . Over the past decade, Taylor has been one of the loudest voices calling for safeguards on affordability and a multi-pronged approach to housing justice. As Pittsburgh rebounds from decades of population loss, Taylor has continued to remind local leaders not to leave behind the city’s most vulnerable.

“I can’t really say that we’ve stemmed the tide of increasing rents and displacement,” Taylor says. “But I think that we have been successful in climbing affordable housing, [and] housing in general, to the top of the agenda in the city.”

Taylor is modest about his work and credits his collaborators at the Pittsburgh Housing Justice Table, Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance, and Steel City Cooperative Housing Association (SCCHA) with advancing housing justice work locally. He’s been a fixture at demonstrations calling attention to the ongoing vacancy of the Penn Plaza site, has served as a research affiliate at the University of Pittsburgh, and previously spent three terms on the Pittsburgh Board of Education. “The bottom line is, you have to work with people who are really committed to this work and really want to see this change,” he says.

“WE HAVE BEEN

SUCCESSFUL IN CLIMBING AFFORDABLE HOUSING

TO THE TOP OF THE AGENDA IN THE CITY.”

When it comes to affordability, Taylor has continued to fight for the “missing middle,” inclusionary zoning, and an active government role in building housing and keeping it affordable. As president of the SCCHA, Taylor has advanced the idea of cooperative housing to the attention of elected officials. “Housing cooperatives are an excellent solution for those who may not have enough to buy a house,” he says, noting that the cooperative model could also benefit the local student population. “Once we begin to have our first housing cooperative put together, I think a lot of people are going to be demanding of city leaders that we want this form of housing in Pittsburgh.”

Taylor remains hopeful, heading into a new mayoral administration, that Pittsburgh can meet the moment with co-ops, new public housing, and a focus on transit-oriented development. He and others in the housing justice space have big plans for 2026 and beyond.

“Be on the lookout as we begin to talk about public housing in this city. And we don’t think public housing should be just for poor people,” he says. “If you really want to see some of this change, we just can’t sit back and hope … if you want to see a Pittsburgh for all, not a Pittsburgh for some, you’ve got to get involved in some kind of way.” •

VISUAL ART HARRISON APPLE

Queer history has undergone more than its fair share of erasure, including in Pittsburgh. Local bars, clubs, and other spaces that, over the decades, served as safe havens for the city’s LGBTQ populations have been torn down or repurposed. Important ueer figures who, out of necessity, existed in relative obscurity have become lost to time.

For over a decade, Harrison Apple has worked to preserve the city’s ueer past. This year, Apple continued their efforts as co-founder of the Pittsburgh Queer History Project (PQHP), contributing to the When the Lights Come On show at Brew House Arts and creating Calendar Girls at the House of Tilden, an exhibition now on view at elly Strayhorn Theater. The shows demonstrate how the P HP turns a long-overdue spotlight on the drag ueens, club owners, and other figures who once defined the city’s vibrant ueer nightlife.

These art projects, presented as part of P HP’s ongoing S screening series, are especially crucial given the escalating political attacks against LGBTQ individuals. It also comes at a time when the city has failed to preserve queer landmarks, including the former Donny’s Place bar in Polish Hill.

“THESE PARTNERSHIPS HELP THE PUBLIC REALIZE THAT QUEER HISTORY IS NOT SOMETHING APART FROM PITTSBURGH HISTORY”

ut, as Apple explains to Pittsburgh City Paper, the project hardly exists in a vacuum. They cite local T elders, such as drag performer a onna a oore, for providing “never-before or rarely seen archival materials.” Over the years, they have made PQHP’s work more accessible to the public through collaborations with numerous organizations, including the Black Unicorn Library & Archives, Andy Warhol Museum, Heinz History Center, Contemporary Craft, and Carnegie Mellon University, at which Apple serves as associate director of the rank- atchye STU IO for Creative In uiry.

PQHP also recently worked with the public radio station WYEP and Hellbender inyl to release a special-edition record.

“These partnerships help the public realize that queer history is not something apart from Pittsburgh history,” says Apple, adding, “[Every time] we can collaborate, it’s another chance to share history as a collaborative and social activity.”

In the coming year, Apple will work toward creating a “digital readiness toolkit” and funding P HP’s first artist grant by hosting a series of workshops at the Carnegie Library in Oakland. “The plan is to be able to pay more artists in Pittsburgh for engaging with collections, much like they have in creating the prints, tapes, and artworks for the S series,” says Apple. “I’d like to find people who will document their journey into and out of the collections through guides or maps of their own invention.” •

“THIS WILL ALWAYS BE OUR HOME BASE AND OUR SHOWPIECE. THIS IS WHERE OUR HEART IS.”

2025

FOOD & DRINK

MATT KATASE and ALAINA WEBBER, OWNERS OF BRADDOCK PUBLIC HOUSE

How does any business owner make an environment feel welcoming, particularly to a wide swath of community members? There’s an answer so simple that it’s surprisingly easy to miss: you invite them.

Alaina Webber and Matt Katase, who have owned and operated Brew Gentlemen for more than 10 years, opened Braddock Public House inside the former Superior Motors space in September 2024, marking the occasion with a grand parade. It was well attended by enthusiastic neighbors, in large part because Webber and Katase sought them out.

“The entire month before that,” Webber tells Pittsburgh City Paper, “we had text, phone, email invitations to every single person that we felt should feel comfortable in this space, and so many of them had never been in here. Vicki [Vargo], the executive director of the [Braddock Carnegie] Library, had never been in this building when it was a restaurant before. We’re talking about police officers, firefighters, borough managers, borough staff.”

Since opening Braddock Public House, with its Japanese-Hawaiian-inspired menu that “builds a bridge between Pittsburgh and the Pacific,” atase, a Hawaii native, tells City Paper it’s been important to walk the walk of communitybuilding and “share the aloha spirit.”

“There’s a note on my phone,” Webber says, “one day I just wrote, ‘What if this space was about love and connection?’ What would that look like? Because it wasn’t before, and that was a big reason why we took it on; it should be a community gathering space. The community deserves to be in this space.”

Keeping the restaurant welcoming and accessible has been core to its identity. Most dishes on the menu are under $20, some less than $10. Among the variety of pours that come from their brewery, “we always have a $5 beer,” Katase says.

“There was one point where we were so frustrated, like, why does no one from [Edgar Thomson Works] ever come down to [Brew Gentlemen]?” he says, “and it was because we opened at [p.m.], and the mill shift, they get off at 3 [p.m.]. No one’s gonna sit around for two hours to wait for a beer. Now, [Braddock Public House is] down here. We’re closer to the mill. We open at noon. We have people from the mill in here all the time.”

Additionally, almost everyone who works for the restaurant lives within 10 minutes of it, Katase says.

With neighbors filling both the dining room and kitchen, showing up for the community is a natural extension of their work. When a major storm hit in late April, and much of the region lost power, “we had a bunch of bottled water and let people come down here and charge their phones,” Katase says. They provided a keg to the library’s chili cookoff event and distributed meals at Braddock’s Trunk or Treat event. Webber has also held various positions at the library and has served on its board since 2020.

Now, Webber and Katase — who wed this past summer — are thinking about how to expand beyond Braddock while digging deeper into it at the same time. They have concentrated on Downtown, working with the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership on various events, including Oktoberfest, and partnering with Riverlife to create Shore Thing, a oating entertainment complex for which they provided the food and drink. Webber and Katase invested 1% of the proceeds from Shore Thing back into Braddock.

“Downtown and Braddock are very connected,” Webber says, “Braddock is what built Pittsburgh, which built the nation in terms of steel.”

“Downtown is very much now an integral part of how we operate,” Katase adds.

But everything comes back to serving their neighbors.

“I think opening the restaurant in Braddock showed our commitment to Braddock,” Katase says, “We doubled down, and this will always be our anchor. This will always be our home base and our showpiece. This is where our heart is.” •

“I REALLY VALUE THE LABOR THAT GOES INTO BOOKMAKING, WHETHER SOMEONE HAS HAND-BOUND A BOOK, OR HAS SCREEN-PRINTED IT THEMSELVES, OR THEY’VE SPENT TIME WORKING ON A PIECE OF WRITING. THAT CAN’T BE RECREATED BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.”

HONCHARSKI

Emma Honcharski is a classic multihyphenate: an artist, writer, event producer, and self-described “food person” whose time working in the service industry informs all of the above.

But perhaps her most significant descriptor is collaborator. “For me, it’s the only way things can happen,” Honcharski tells Pittsburgh City Paper “I love facilitating other people’s [art and writing] practices, reaching other people. It’s really important and meaningful to me.”

Collaboration is at the center of the Pittsburgh Art Book Fair (PABF), which Honcharski co-directs with artists Mary Tremonte and Jacquelyn Johnson. The free, two-day event at the Carnegie Museum of Art invites art lovers, book enthusiasts, and community members alike to browse all forms of “printed matter,” ranging from eye-catching artist books and risograph prints to zines, photography, and small literary publications. The fair’s vendors (whose materials stay affordably priced at $35 or less) hail from as close by as Craig Street in Oakland and as far away as the Netherlands, Brazil, and South Korea.

Since its inception, the Art Book Fair has grown, and the third annual event in September drew more than 3,000 people, expanding from 65 to 95 exhibitors and into the upper level of CMOA’s Hall of Sculpture. In 2026, PABF will go even bigger and coincide with the 59th Carnegie International, the curators of which aim to broaden its reach and feature more collaborative projects.

“I think it’s really valuable to bring artists from everywhere into the mix in our arts community in Pittsburgh,” Honcharski says. “It gets to be such an upswell of creativity for everyone who’s either participating or attending.”

Honcharski remembers her world opening up after attending Printed Matter’s NY Art Book Fair as a teenager and “avid reader and writer,” traveling to the city from upstate Ossining, N.Y.

“I was like, I’ve never seen anything like this… books don’t have to look a certain way. Publishers don’t have to look or exist in a certain way,” she says. “The world of small presses is so robust and beautiful; all the different ways that people are making publications is so broad.”

In a year dominated by discourse around AI, the success of PABF shows that there is no substitute for handmade art and literature.

“I really value the labor that goes into bookmaking, whether someone has hand-bound a book, or has screen-printed it themselves, or they’ve spent time working on a piece of writing. That can’t be recreated by artificial intelligence,” Honcharski says. “That’s coming from the heart, coming from the mind, coming from the body. And I think it’s so important to really remain in touch with other people about that.”

While perusing the printed materials is meant to be fun and inspiring, art book fairs are also about connection, says Honcharski, bringing people together in a physical space.

“You can literally pick up [a book] and look at it at the fair, and you can talk to the person on the other side of the table who either made it or knows the people who made it,” she says.

Some of Honcharski’s myriad projects arose from connections she made at the Art Book Fair — recently, editing a volume of Queer Earth Food, a spiralbound anthology by Clare Lagomarsino featuring written pieces that “touch all three topics.” Honcharski met Lagomarsino, a publisher and graphic designer, when she exhibited at PABF.

“Being an organizer of the fair … and as artists, as facilitators, writers, photographers, there are all these ripple effects of, we make something, we put it in the world, [which is] very vulnerable oftentimes,” she says. “[But then] it gets to touch so many people and perhaps make them a little bit more open to making something else of their own.” •

BUSINESS CHRISTINA CASSOTIS

While framed as a much-needed rightsizing, the transformation of Pittsburgh International Airport also feels like a coming-ofage project for the airport and the region. The new facility is spacious, studded with public art, and Pittsburgh proud down to its smallest details — something Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO Christina Cassotis says is by design.

“I love things that tie this region’s history to its future,” Cassotis says. Cassotis’ family has deep roots in air travel. Her father was a pilot, and she spent a career in commercial aviation and airport consulting before coming to Pittsburgh in . “I have seen a lot of different business models, different operational models, different commercial models, and I have seen what resonates with certain types of passengers, where frustrations are as a traveler, as a consultant, as somebody representing a leadership team,” she tells Pittsburgh City Paper. “We’re very, very curious and very interested in what works somewhere else that may work here.”

Actually bringing this lifetime of knowledge to bear on the new PIT terminal wasn’t straightforward. “When you’re building super-complex critical infrastructure, it’s always a challenge because you just have a lot of competing interests. And the most basic is [we were] running an airport while we’re building one,” Cassotis says. “I mean, it’s operating on a live patient.” But a holistic approach to bringing the new landside terminal online has kept the new airport progressing smoothly since a COVID-induced delay.

“I LOVE THINGS THAT TIE THIS REGION’S HISTORY TO ITS FUTURE.”

ecause of that, Cassotis says airport staff has had the bandwidth to “sweat the small stuff,” including countless artistic touches and updated wayfinding the garage, for example, combines accessible signage with Pittsburgh lore. “We took a lot of time to work on universal access principles,” Cassotis says. “Each level of the new terminal garage has a color, an icon, a name, and a number. So the fifth oor of the new terminal garage is, of course, black and gold, and it’s called the City of Champions, and the symbol is a trophy.”

This attention to detail shows up everywhere in the new building, even in spaces closed to the public. Cassotis notes, for example, features to ease ight crew travel and conversion of the airport’s old baggage tunnel into part of the airport’s “green spine.” Work on this and other outdoor spaces and airport sustainability (PIT is notably home to solar arrays and an on-site apiary) continues to be a part of Cassotis’ day-to-day following the terminal’s public debut in November. While building the new terminal, the airport also became the first in the world powered by a self-contained electrical microgrid. The airport authority is considering additional ways to bring sustainability to the skies next year and beyond.

“We’ve got our eyes on this sustainable aviation fuel, [which is] an ASTMcertified fuel that the U.S. Air orce has already own with,” Cassotis says. “This is a big deal.” She says work on sustainable fuel will ramp up in the first uarter of . In the interim, she says the airport will be focused on collecting feedback from passengers and seeing how the new terminal’s opening weeks go.

“To me, it’s very much an ending, but it’s a huge beginning, too,” she says. “I love being part of this, so I’m not going anywhere.” •

rooted in community.

“WE’RE ASKING FOR LIVING WAGES AND FAIR WORKING ENVIRONMENTS THAT EVERYONE CAN THRIVE IN.”

ARHC UNION WORKERS

BY RACHEL WILKINSON // RWILKINSON@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Since unionizing in June, workers at the Allegheny Reproductive Health Center (ARHC) have been holding the line. The newlyformed Allegheny Reproductive Justice Union (ARJU), affiliated with the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU), began bargaining for its first contract in August. Employees at the region’s only independent abortion clinic are negotiating for higher pay, healthcare, benefits including parental leave, codified gender inclusivity practices, and other protections.

“We’re really just asking for a fair seat at the table,” Noah Thompson, an observation technician and ARJU bargaining committee member, tells Pittsburgh City Paper

In the three months since the bargaining process began, ARJU members say they’ve faced firings, stonewalling by management, a week-long clinic closure without pay, and a winnowed staff — shrinking their bargaining unit from 15 to eight people, says Thompson. Those fired have included longtime employees like Nikki Terney, who’d been planning ARHC’s 50-year anniversary celebration. (The union has filed Unfair Labor Practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board.)

Contract negotiations remain “slow-going,” and in the wake of unionization, workers have experienced what MA Raffaele, a front lead, intake specialist, and counselor, calls a wholesale “culture shift” at the previously “human-forward” clinic.

“It does feel like the carpet’s been ripped out from under our feet,” Raffaele tells City Paper. “There’s a lot of confusion on what is actually happening, and were those values [that ARHC espoused] even real?”

But the challenges have only hardened the union’s resolve, particularly in a time of restricted abortion access following the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision in 2022. ARHC is the only clinic in western Pennsylvania that provides surgical abortions up to the state legal limit of 23 weeks and six days of pregnancy.

“Pittsburgh is such an important access point,” Thompson says. ARJU believes their recent experiences affirm the need for their union and underscore that improving their workplace conditions is a larger struggle that impacts patient care.

“We’re asking for living wages and fair working environments that everyone can thrive in,” says Monet Murphy, an observation technician, ultrasound assistant, and bargaining committee member. “We’re doing our best to maintain abortion access and still have rights for the employees [who] are doing their damnedest to make sure everybody gets the care that they need.”

As ARJU members await a contract, they’ve been heartened by an outpouring of community support, including from The Auto(nomous) Body Shop.

“We’ve made some really beautiful connections,” Emily Quinn, a counselor who left the clinic in November after five years, tells CP “Even if the clinic is not providing the level of care that it should be, there are people in your community who will help you find that care … I still feel like I am in the abortion community of Pittsburgh, which is a beautiful place to be.”

“What we’re doing is important,” Quinn adds. “Everyone deserves fair, equal wages and support. As much as we relayed [those values] as a clinic to the patients, the people that work there are also part of the community, and it’s fair and normal to want to support that — and to work in a place that supports that.” •

POLITICS ALEX ROSE

BY

Whatever may be happening at the national level, progressives in Pittsburgh are undeterred. The local Democratic Party has shored up and built on its base. Prominent left-leaning candidates now hold office everywhere from the county to Congress. Following November’s blue wave election, high off-year turnout propelled even more local progressives into office.

Among their number is Labor Party candidate Alex Rose. Backed by local Democrats, Rose handily beat Republican County Councilor Mike Embrescia, putting both at-large seats in the hands of progressives for the first time in Allegheny County Council’s -year history.

Rose’s backstory mirrors one playing out nationally. A former Democratic campaign worker, he has shared in the rising national alarm at U.S. President Donald Trump’s chaotic second term. When Republican county councilor Sam DeMarco announced his retirement, Rose waited as no one stepped forward to oppose DeMarco’s appointed replacement, Republican Mike Embrescia — so Rose decided to run himself.

“Two months goes by, no one’s running,” he tells Pittsburgh City Paper. “I’m like, ‘that is really a shame.’ This is an opportunity to really put a marker down on our county’s values and give voters a choice.”

With backing from Democrats, and despite a Republican-led lawsuit to prevent the contested election that went all the way to the Pa. Supreme Court, Rose beat Embrescia handily and will now serve out the remaining two years and one month of e arco’s term. His victory leaves istrict as the lone Republican-held seat on council.

“IT SHOWS THAT THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY ELECTORATE DOES INDEED REALLY STAND BY SOME OF THESE FOUNDATIONAL VALUES.”

“I think it shows that the Allegheny County electorate does indeed really stand by some of these foundational values that we’ve been seeing challenged” by Trump’s administration, Rose says of his win. “I think it shows the American spirit is quite alive and well, even if our [federal] government is not being very responsive to that at the moment.”

Among Rose’s priorities for his abbreviated term is environmental regulation. “As I said a lot on the campaign trail, hundreds of people die in Allegheny County each year linked to pollution,” he says. “These are premature deaths that should not happen when they happen, and that’s terrible. If there was a criminal gang running around killing hundreds of people a year, that would obviously be all of our first priorities.” He supported a recently passed effort to raise air permitting fees for industry as a way to boost revenue and fund further environmental improvements.

Rose credits younger voters in the county with helping him make history this year in addition to being the first at-large progressive, ose, at , is among the youngest electeds at the county level, and he channels Gen Z’s broad determination to push for more equitable politics.

“A lot of people are extremely frustrated — they very much don’t believe our institutions work for them, but, at the same time, they’re not approaching that from a nihilistic point of view; they’re approaching it as a challenge,” Rose says. “Seeing that desire for change, that willingness to tag in and get involved, it’s really encouraging.” •

CULLEN LIVE

MUSIC

DANIELLE MASHUDA AND MADDY LAFFERTY OWNERS

OF CLUB CAFE

In 2024, Pittsburgh nearly lost Club Cafe, a longtime music venue that helped define the South Side’s busy entertainment district and offered a smaller, more intimate alternative to the city’s large arenas and concert halls. Just as local fans and musicians prepared to mourn the beloved space, however, two women stepped in to save it.

anielle ashuda and addy afferty officially reopened Club Cafe in the fall, unveiling a refreshed interior, more food and drinks, and various upgrades, all made possible with help from fellow local industry professionals. The duo boasts a long history with the venue, with afferty’s dating back to her middle school days. She and ashuda rattle off the many shows they saw and relationships they made during their concert-going days at Club Cafe.

“Our goals since reopening have been to protect the history of the building while, at the same time, redefin[ing] what a small venue can offer in terms of hospitality and sound,” afferty tells Pittsburgh City Paper . “It’s also extremely important to us to provide programming that re ects the diversity of our city.”

The changes aim to make Club Cafe both a prime music venue and a gathering place where visitors can grab a coffee during the day, enjoy a seasonal cocktail, or pop in for a more casual karaoke or open mic night.

“IT HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE, THE SOUTH SIDE HAS BEEN SO WELCOMING, AND WE JUST LOVE WHAT WE’RE BUILDING.”

While ashuda and afferty agree that reopening Club Cafe was a big, even terrifying risk, they believe it was worth preserving one of the city’s most active small independent music venues. Using their combined years of experience, including through their all-inclusive arts management group, eystone Artist Connect, ashuda and afferty have worked to ensure that Club Cafe endures as a platform for local, regional, and national talent.

So far, they have received a warm reception from the music scene and the surrounding neighborhood.

“It has been absolutely incredible,” says ashuda. “The South Side has been so welcoming, and we just love what we’re building.”

In the coming year, they foresee continuing to grow Club Cafe, teasing a possible brunch program, as well as a “wider range of genres, more local showcases and community building events, partnerships, and new emerging touring acts.”

“We want to continue to build relationships with venues and artists throughout the city and create a safe and welcoming place for everyone to congregate and enjoy themselves,” says ashuda. “When things get hard, we rely on friends and community, and that’s exactly what we’re trying to build with a Club Cafe.” •

“ALL

OF OUR STORIES MATTER, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROTECTING, PRESERVING, AND AMPLIFYING OUR STORIES.”

JANIS BURLEY PERFORMING ARTS

BY AMANDA WALTZ // AWALTZ@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

When Janis Burley took over as leader of the August Wilson African American Cultural Center (AWAACC) in 2017, she knew what kind of organization she wanted to develop.

“My vision for the center, then and now, is to be a world-class performing arts center recognized for the power of our programming and a leader in African American arts and cultural presentation,” she tells Pittsburgh City Paper

Burley, who had previously served as vice president of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, came in hot, launching programming that highlights Black talent while honoring the legacy of the AWAACC’s playwright namesake. Her efforts as AWAACC’s president, CEO, and artistic director have demonstrated the space’s impact on the region and the need to preserve it.

This year marks AWAACC’s 15th anniversary, a milestone partly achieved through Burley’s leadership and ideas, including the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival, an event she founded and continues to curate. The festival, sponsored by Highmark, has been a platform for local, national, and big-name, award-winning acts in the genre, including Patti Labelle, Eric Benét, Branford Marsalis, and many others.

The festival adds to other regular AWAACC programming, ranging from the permanent August Wilson: The Writer’s Landscape exhibition to the Soul Sessions music series, the Highmark Blues & Heritage Festival, and the TruthSayers speaker series.

Under Burley, AWAACC has served as a voice for Black communities and creatives in Pittsburgh, a city with a notoriously racist history. Burley has sought partnerships to help further the experiences and perspectives of Black artists, including through the Envisioning a Just Pittsburgh initiative, and the B.U.I.L.D. Residency Program sponsored by RK Mellon, which has resulted in projects like the 2024 exhibition, Collections in Black: A Celebration of Black Comic Book Culture

This October saw the launch of the AWAACC Fuel the Future campaign, a $1.5 million fundraising drive focused on empowering Black artists and expanding access to programming. The initiative officially kicked off on Nov. 21, with a gala and award ceremony highlighting AWAACC’s contributions and mission.

“For the August Wilson Center to be sustainable and continue to be a force on the cultural scene, we need financial support,” Burley explains.

Fuel the Future will also back upgrades for the AWAACC building — designed by Allison Williams, a Black woman architect — which Burley describes as “one of the most iconic structures” in Pittsburgh’s Downtown. These upgrades include installing a new HVAC system and lighting, updating security, and doing outside maintenance.

“Our building, it must be preserved and cared for, so we will be focusing on literally cleaning house,” says Burley.

In addition to Fuel the Future, Burley says audiences and artists can support AWAACC by taking advantage of everything it has to offer.

“We have tours, educational materials, and we commission artists to create work inspired by August Wilson’s legacy,” she says. “We also honor the power of storytelling in all that we do: dance, theatre, music, spoken word, literature, and visual arts. All of our stories matter, and we are committed to protecting, preserving, and amplifying our stories.” •

“I REMAIN HOPEFUL BECAUSE I KNOW THE SHAPIRO ADMINISTRATION AND THE TEAM AT [DOH] ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ENSURE A HEALTHY PENNSYLVANIA FOR ALL.”

DR. DEBRA BOGEN HEALTH

BY RACHEL WILKINSON // RWILKINSON@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

This year, public health faced unprecedented obstacles, among them federal funding cuts, threats to food aid programs including SNAP and WIC, and official mistrust in vaccine science leading to restricted access. With state and local agencies left to fill the leadership vacuum, the Pennsylvania epartment of Health OH , helmed by Pittsburgher r. ebra ogen, charted a new course.

In what ogen calls a “particularly proud achievement,” OH worked with ov. osh Shapiro to join the ortheast Public Health Collaborative, a voluntary multi-state coalition of public health agencies, in September. This move, along with issuing new vaccine guidance to counter “mixed signals” coming from the federal level, ogen says, protected Pennsylvanians’ access to “lifesaving, commonsense vaccines,” and ushered in a new phase of public health departments working together.

espite murky federal policy, “I remain hopeful because I know the Shapiro administration and the team at [ OH] are deeply committed to doing everything we can to ensure a healthy Pennsylvania for all,” ogen tells Pittsburgh City Paper.

efore joining OH three years ago, ogen directed the Allegheny County Health epartment taking the reins in arch just as the CO I - pandemic took shape and worked as a pediatrician, professor, and clinical researcher in Pittsburgh for more than years.

“I would not be the public health leader I am today without the invaluable time I spent as a pediatrician and researcher in the Pittsburgh area,” she says. “ very day, patients and their families shared their life stories, their struggles, and their successes.”

ogen’s previous work focused on children and families impacted by social ine uities, with clinical research exploring the impact that substance use and other mental health conditions have on families. That experience translated to her work at OH expanding behavioral health treatments and access to naloxone, a lifesaving drug that can reverse opioid overdose.

With ogen’s guidance, OH brought many firsts to the state this year the first-ever grants for menstrual supplies in schools, expansion of a first-of-its-kind law that cuts the cost of preventive breast and ovarian cancer screenings, and a landmark inaugural Pa. lack aternal Health Week Summit.

“As a clinician and researcher, and now a public health official, I continue to be saddened and frustrated that mothers and infants in the U.S. die at significantly higher rates than in other comparable countries,” ogen says, citing mortality rates that are significantly higher for lack and brown mothers and infants.

“Addressing these rates and disparities remains an important focus of my work,” ogen says. “This aligns with overnor Shapiro’s priorities, and I suspect my commitment to this work was at least one reason I was asked to serve in this role.”

Though public health is commonly associated with vaccines, it’s “important for Pennsylvanians to understand the breadth of the work of public health and how it impacts their lives,” ogen says. “ uch of the work is done uietly behind the scenes.”

OH is currently working to curb infectious diseases including measles, which hasn’t spread widely in Pennsylvania despite recent scares. uring her tenure, ogen also established the ong-Term Care Transformation Office, which distributed . million to improve the uality of the state’s long-term care facilities. or ogen, the smaller-scale initiative demonstrated that “pilot grants can produce significant returns.”

Though she admits to missing rick Park, after three years in state government, “it is a great honor to serve as Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Health,” ogen says. “I could not ask for a more rewarding role.” •

THU., DEC. 18

THU., DEC. 4

Fly into festive fun when the National Aviary presents Jingle Bell Flock, a new immersive show that combines seasonal music with animal encounters. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 700 Arch St., North Side. $5, $4 for members. All ages. aviary.org

Roar into the holidays when the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium presents Wild Illuminations, a nighttime event featuring silk-and-steel lanterns of “beloved holiday characters, traditional Asian icons, and many amazing animals.” 5:30-10 p.m. Continues through Jan. 11, 2026. 7370 Baker St., Highland Park. $22-27. pittsburghzoo.org

Get in the spirit at Spirit when The Moon Baby returns to Pittsburgh with Christmas on the Moon, Baby, a new holiday drag spectacular featuring live music and lots of humor. 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. 242 51st St., Lawrenceville. $20 in advance, $25 at the door. 21 and over. spiritpgh.com

FRI., DEC. 5

HOLIDAY EVENTS IN PITTSBURGH

BY CP STAFF

Don’t shout, cry, or pout when everyone’s favorite disciplinary Christmas demon comes to Pittsburgh. Meet with fellow Krampus fans in the Cultural District for Pittsburgh Krampuslauf, (5:30 p.m. Seventh Avenue and Penn Avenue, Downtown. Free. All ages. Search “Die Heiterkeit Krampus Haus” on Facebook) or at Penn Brewery for Krampus Fest, an annual event featuring the band Sleigher’s heavy metal takes on holiday carols 6 p.m. 800 Vinial St., North Side. Free. All ages. facebook.com/PennBrewery

Be a good neighbor at the Greenfield Holiday Parade, a joyous yearly tradition that celebrates the people and small businesses of Greenfield. 7 p.m. Murray Avenue business district to Lydia Street, Greenfield. Free. All ages. facebook.com/ GCAPGH

The Benedum Center transforms into a magical dream world when the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre presents its latest rendition of The Nutcracker 7 p.m. Continues through Sun., Dec. 28. Seventh Street and Penn Avenue, Downtown. $33.50-199.76. All ages. pbt.org/performances

After a long hiatus, the Bricolage immersive theater company has returned — welcome them back during their Midnight Radio production of Christmas Vacatyinz, a Pittsburgh twist on the beloved National Lampoon comedy. 8 p.m. Continues through Sun., Dec. 21. barebones black box. 1211 Braddock Ave., Braddock. $35-55. bricolagepgh.org

SAT., DEC. 6

Pause your hibernation for WinterTide, a one-day festival at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History full of hands-on activities, experts, treats, and more. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. Free. Registration required. All ages. carnegiemnh.org

THU., DEC. 11

Pittsburgh Irish Festival and YaJago ! bring good cheer to Velum Fermentation with A Celtic Rock Christmas, a spirited celebration of Irish culture that doubles as a fundraiser for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. 6

FRI., DEC. 12

The weather outside is frightful, so warm up at the Carnegie Museum of Art during Winter Heat, an annual dance party led by some of the city’s best DJs. 8 p.m. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. $25-30. Registration required. 21 and over. carnegieart.org

SAT., DEC. 13

The August Wilson African American Cultural Center welcomes everyone to its Holiday Community Day featuring a market with local vendors, live music and dance performances, Kwanzaa activities, and more. 12-4 p.m. 980 Liberty Ave., Downtown. Free. All ages.

spreads cheer during , where shoppers will find over 60 local vendors and artisans at , as well as live music, photos with Santa, and more. 12-6 p.m. 27th Street and Sidney Street, South Side. Free. All ages.

haunts the holidays

A Musical Christmas Carol, a melodic twist on the Charles Dickens tale about greed, ghosts, and giving. 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Continues through Tue., Dec. 23. Byham Theater. 101 Sixth St., Downtown. $59-149. trustarts.org

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SUN., DEC. 14

Get on board for the Wilkinsburg Handmade Holiday Show, a large market featuring over 75 local vendors spread out over two venues, the Wilkinsburg Train Station and WorkshopPGH. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 901 Hay St. and 321 Pennwood Ave., Wilkinsburg. Free. All ages. workshoppgh.com

The South Hills Jewish community takes its Chanukah Festival outdoors with a Menorah lighting, firetruck gelt drop, and other surprises. 5-6:30 p.m. Dormont Pool Parking Lot. 1801 Dormont Ave., Dormont. Free. All ages. jewishpgh.org

MON., DEC. 15

Pittsburgh kicks o Chanukah with a Downtown celebration that includes live music, refreshments of latkes and donuts, and the lighting of a 12-foot Menorah in front of the City-County Building 5 p.m. 414 Grant St., Downtown. Free. All ages. pittsburghpa.gov

WED., DEC. 31

Usher in the New Year during Highmark First Night, a big Downtown bash full of free, familyfriendly entertainment, from a new ice maze to live music, all culminating in a fireworks display and raising of the Future of Pittsburgh ball. Times TBA. Multiple locations, Downtown. Free. All ages. firstnightpgh.trustarts.org

Make your New Year’s Eve celebration extra fabulous when City Winery hosts a special party with Alaska Thunderfuck 5000 of RuPaul’s Drag Race 7:30 p.m. Doors at 6 p.m. 1627 Smallman St., Strip District. $50-95. citywinery.com/pittsburgh

Party like it’s Dec. 31, 1999 when Bottlerocket Social Hall hosts Y2K NYE, a ‘90s-inspired celebration that promises to be all that and a bag of chips. 8 p.m. Doors at 5 p.m. 1226 Arlington Ave., Allentown. $15.28. bottlerocketpgh.com •

THU., DEC. 18

Christmas goes country when Trisha Yearwood Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for a special live music event at Heinz Hall 7:30 p.m. 600 Penn Ave., Downtown. $47-134. pittsburghsymphony.org

SAT., DEC. 20

Deck the halls with a di erent kind of greenery when Monroeville Convention hosts the first-ever Steel City Canna-Christmas, a cannabis-friendly holiday event full of unique gifts and “good vibes.” 10 a.m.-8 p.m. 209 Mall Plaza Blvd., Monroeville. $10-17. 18 and over. visitmonroeville.com

Have a very prog-rock holiday when the Trans-Siberian Orchestra returns to Pittsburgh for another big music spectacle at PPG Paints 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown. Tickets start at $55. trans-siberian.com

WINTER EVENTS IN PITTSBURGH

THU., DEC. 4

THEATER • DOWNTOWN

Playbox presents 1984. 7:30 p.m. Continues through Sun., Dec. 7. Three Stories. 937 Liberty Ave., Downtown. playboxproductions.com

COMEDY • ALLENTOWN

FRI., DEC. 5

Dan Donohue. 8 p.m. Doors at 5 p.m. Bottlerocket Social Hall. 1226 Arlington Ave., Allentown. $24.05. bottlerocketpgh.com

MUSIC • LAWRENCEVILLE

MARKET • DOWNTOWN

Handmade Arcade Holiday Market. Continues through Sat., Dec. 6. David L. Lawrence Convention Center. 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Downtown. $25-30 or pay what you can. handmadearcade.org

MON., DEC. 8

LIT • OAKLAND

The Heavy Heavy with Laney Jones and the Spirits 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. Thunderbird Music Hall. 4053 Butler St., Lawrenceville. $35.32-47.13. thunderbirdmusichall.com

PARTY • OAKLAND

SAT., DEC. 6

Oz Dust Bowl 6:45 p.m. Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum. 4141 Fifth Ave., Oakland. $129.89. instagram.com/ozdust_pgh

Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures presents Beth Macy 7:30 p.m. Carnegie Music Hall. 4440 Forbes Ave., Oakland. $30.94-42.14. pittsburghlectures.culturaldistrict.org

FRI., DEC. 12

ART • DOWNTOWN

Sharmistha Ray: Emergent Realities. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Continues through July 5, 2026. Wood Street Galleries. 601 Wood St., Downtown. Free. trustarts.org/exhibit

MUSIC • MCKEES ROCKS

Pittsburgh Plays Ozzy. 8 p.m. Doors at 6:30 p.m. Roxian Theatre. 425 Chartiers Ave., McKees Rocks. $34-108. roxiantheatre.com/shows

SAT., DEC. 13

THEATER • SOUTH SIDE

Momentum Festival: New Plays at Di erent Stages. Continues through Sun., Dec. 14. City Theatre. 1300 Bingham St., South Side. Free. Registration required. citytheatrecompany.org

SUN., DEC. 14

FESTIVAL • LAWRENCEVILLE

Pittsburgh Record Fest. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Spirit. 242 51st St., Lawrenceville. $5. All ages. spiritpgh.com

SAT., DEC. 27

FILM • HOMESTEAD

New Olds Video Fest. 7:30 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m.

The Glitterbox Theater. 210 W. Eighth Ave., Homestead. theglitterboxtheater.com

FRI., DEC. 19

COMEDY • MILLVALE

Big Laughs End-of-Year Showcase. 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. The Funhouse at Mr. Smalls. 400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale. $20.15. mrsmalls.com

WRESTLING • UPTOWN

WWE Holiday Tour Live. 7:30 p.m. PPG Paints Arena. 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown. Tickets start at $74. ppgpaintsarena.com

SUN., DEC. 28

SAT., JAN. 10

EXHIBITION • OAKLAND

FASHION • NORTH SIDE

The Glamour Gala Vol. 2 Hazlett Theater. Six Allegheny Square East, North Side. $30-55. newhazletttheater.org/events

SAT., DEC. 20

CONVENTION • DOWNTOWN

Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show: Blooming with Love Continues through March 8. Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. One Schenley Dr., Oakland. Included with regular admission. phipps.conservatory.org

MUSIC/FILM • DOWNTOWN

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra presents Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in Concert. 7 p.m. Continues on Sun., Jan. 11. Heinz Hall. 600 Penn Ave., Downtown. $43-141. pittsburghsymphony.org

TUE., DEC. 30

THEATER • DOWNTOWN

PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh presents Clue. 7:30 p.m. Continues through Sun., Jan. 4. Benedum Center. Seventh Street and Penn Avenue. Downtown. $47.50147.80. trustarts.org

AnimeVerse x Wrestleverse Fest 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Continues through Sun., Dec. 21. David L. Lawrence Convention Center. 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Downtown. $12.19-165.62. animeversefest.com/pittsburgh-home-2025

SPORTS • UPTOWN

FRI., DEC. 26

THU., JAN. 8

TALK • HAZELWOOD

The Clemente Museum presents Roberto Clemente Inspiring Change Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh-Hazelwood. 5006 Second Ave., Hazelwood. Free. All ages. carnegielibrary.org

Harlem Globetrotters. 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. PPG Paints Arena. 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown. Tickets start at $46. ppgpaintsarena.com

FRI., JAN. 9

CONVENTION • DOWNTOWN

WED., JAN. 14

THEATER • DOWNTOWN

PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh presents Wicked 7:30 p.m.Continues through Sun., Feb. 15. Benedum Center. Seventh Street and Penn Avenue, Downtown. $58.12-153.70. trustarts.org

THU., JAN. 15

LIT • DOWNTOWN

Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures presents Karl Ove Knausgård. 7 p.m. Carnegie Library Lecture Hall. 4440 Forbes Ave., Oakland. $11.3448.30. pittsburghlectures.culturaldistrict.org

Pittsburgh RV Show. 12-8 p.m. Continues through Sun., Jan. 18. David L. Lawrence Convention Center. 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Downtown. $6-18, free for kids 5 and under. pittrvshow.com

SAT., JAN. 17

THEATER • DOWNTOWN

THU., FEB. 5

ART • SOUTH SIDE

Opening Reception: Prospectus II, Curated by Kemar Anglin. 6-8:30 p.m. Continues through April 4. Brew House Arts. 711 South 21st St., South Side. Free. brewhousearts.org/exhibitions

FRI., FEB. 6

AUTO • UPTOWN

Monster Jam 7 p.m. Continues through Sun., Feb. 8. PPG Paints Arena. 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown. Tickets start at $20. All ages. ppgpaintsarena.com

SAT., FEB. 7

FILM/TALK • MUNHALL

SAT., JAN. 24

FRI., JAN 31

Dinosaur World Live. 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Byham Theater. 101 Sixth St., Downtown. $17.25-51.75. trustarts.org

THEATER • SOUTH SIDE

Malcolm X & Redd Foxx Washing Dishes at Jimmy’s Chicken Shack in Harlem 5:30 p.m. Continues through Sun., Feb. 8. City Theatre. 1300 Bingham St., South Side. $35-64.70. citytheatrecompany.org

Serendipity: A Night of Conversation and Film with John Cusack. 7:30 p.m. Doors at 6:30 p.m. Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall. 510 E. 10th Ave., Munhall. Tickets $63.71-337.50. librarymusichall.com

OPERA • SHADYSIDE

Pittsburgh Opera presents Curlew River 7 p.m. Continues through Sun., Feb. 1. Calvary Episcopal Church. 315 Shady Ave., Shadyside. $65-70. pittsburghopera.org

FRI., JAN. 23

MUSIC • DOWNTOWN

COMEDY • DOWNTOWN

Eddie Gri in. 9 p.m. Byham Theater. 101 Sixth St., Downtown. $63.81-112.90. trustarts.org

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific in Concert. 7:30 p.m. Continues through Sun., Feb 1. Heinz Hall. 600 Penn Ave., Downtown. $32-125. pittsburghsymphony.org

CONVENTION • DOWNTOWN

World of Wheels Custom Car Show. 3-9 p.m. Continues through Sun., Jan. 25. David L. Lawrence Convention Center. 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Downtown. $7-28, free for kids 5 and under. autorama.com/attend/pittsburgh

WED., FEB. 4

DANCE • DOWNTOWN

THEATER • DOWNTOWN

WED., JAN. 28

Martha Graham Dance Company.

7:30 p.m. Byham Theater. 101 Sixth St., Downtown. $23-99.30. trustarts.org

The Chief 7 p.m. Continues through Sun., Feb. 8. Pittsburgh Playhouse. 350 Forbes Ave., Downtown. $53. playhouse.pointpark.edu

THEATER • DOWNTOWN

Pittsburgh Public Theater presents An Enemy of the People 7 p.m. Continues through Sun., Feb. 22. O’Reilly Theater. 621 Penn Ave., Downtown. $41-72-101.08. trustarts.org

THEATER • DOWNTOWN

MON., FEB. 9

LIT • OAKLAND

Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures presents Calvin Duncan with Sophie Cull 7:30 p.m. Carnegie Music Hall. 4440 Forbes Ave., Oakland. $30.9442.14. pittsburghlectures.culturaldistrict.org

THU., FEB. 12

MUSIC • NORTH SHORE

Pittsburgh Musical Theater presents Annie. 7:30 p.m. Continues through Sun., March 1. Byham Theater. 101 Sixth St., Downtown. $38.10-88.50. trustarts.org

FRI., FEB. 20

DANCE • DOWNTOWN

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre presents America

THEATER • OAKLAND

TUE., FEB. 24

THEATER • DOWNTOWN

PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh presents Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. 7:30 p.m. Continues through Sun., March 1. Benedum Center. Seventh Street and Penn Avenue, Downtown. $49.86-150.16. trustarts.org

250 7:30 p.m. Continues through Sun., Feb. 22. Benedum Center. Seventh Street and Penn Avenue, Downtown. $33.50-153.50. trustarts.org

FRI., FEB. 27

Pitt Stages presents The Trees. 7:30 p.m. Continues through Sun., March 1. Richard E. Rauh Studio Theatre. 4200 Fifth Ave., Oakland. $15-25. play.pitt.edu

CONVENTION • GREEN TREE Horror Realm 5-10 p.m. Continues through Sun., March 1. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh-Green Tree. 500 Mansfield Ave., Green Tree. $20-45. horrorrealmcon.com

SAT., FEB. 28

SAT., FEB. 21

Dropkick Murphys: For the People … In the Pit St. Patrick’s Day Tour with The Aggrolites and Haywire. 6 p.m. Stage AE. 400 N. Shore Dr., North Shore. $67-198. promowestlive.com/pittsburgh/stage-ae

OUTDOORS • NORTH SHORE

Cupid’s Undie Run 12-4 p.m. McFadden’s. 211 N. Shore Dr., North Shore. $40 to run. facebook.com/CupidsUndieRun

ART • POINT BREEZE

Lewis Hine Pictures America 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

CONVENTION • DOWNTOWN

World Oddities Expo. Continues through Sun., March 1. David L. Lawrence Convention Center. 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Downtown. Details TBA. worldodditiesexpo.com/events

Continues through May 17. Frick Art Museum. 7227 Reynolds St., Point Breeze. Included with regular admission. thefrickpittsburgh.org

OPERA • STRIP DISTRICT

Pittsburgh Opera presents Time to Act 7 p.m. Continues through Sun., March 8. Bitz Opera Factory. 2425 Liberty Ave., Strip District. $65-70. pittsburghopera.org •

FRI., FEB. 13

CONVENTION • DOWNTOWN

Pittsburgh International Auto Show. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Continues through Mon., Feb. 16. David L. Lawrence Convention Center. 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Downtown. $8-16, free for kids under 6. pittautoshow.com

DANCE • DOWNTOWN

SUN., FEB. 22

DANCE • OAKLAND

Dancing with the Stars Live 7 p.m. Petersen Events Center. 3719 Terrace St., Oakland. Tickets start at $76. peterseneventscenter.com

KIDS • UPTOWN

Step Afrika! 7:30 p.m. Byham Theater. 101 Sixth St., Downtown. $23-93.40. trustarts.org

THU., FEB. 19

Disney on Ice: Road Trip Adventures. 7 p.m. Continues through Sun., Feb. 22. PPG Paints Arena. 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown. Tickets start at $34. ppgpaintsarena.com

THE ULTIMATE PITTSBURGH WINTER SURVIVAL GUIDE

Navigating Pittsburgh winters can frustrate even the most seasoned Pennsylvanian. For transplants, especially those from warmer climates, it can become downright soul-crushing, with its unpredictable temperatures, icy conditions, and snow that goes from idyllic, Victorian Christmas white to bleak grey in a matter of hours.

Pittsburgh City Paper staff compiled a guide to help locals avoid succumbing to winter madness, with a list covering everything from car and home care to skin care.

Health n’Beauty n’at

Lips, unlike the surrounding skin, are unable to produce the oil needed to stay moisturized. Balms help during the day, but at night, the forced air that heats many a Pittsburgh home can wreak havoc on your pout. Luckily, nightly lip treatments are readily available to stave off any chapping. The Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask ($24) comes highly recommended by Allure magazine, but options are numerous and many cost under $10. – Amanda Waltz

If the cold weather and the dry heat make your hands crack like old baseball gloves, you need to get some good hand cream now and prevent the inevitable sore knuckles and bleeding. Personally, I’m a fan of the J.R. Watkins hand cream, but even some Vaseline will do in a pinch. – Stacy Rounds

If you suffer from chronic dry scalp (raises hand), snow won’t be the only flakes you see this winter. Because hair comes in many types, pinning down the ideal scalp treatment can seem impossible. Alternating between your regular shampoo/conditioner and a dandruff shampoo (Selsun Blue Naturals offers a sloughing salicylic acid) can address the problem without overdrying. Ultimately, consulting a dermatologist or even your hairstylist can help point you in the right direction when it comes to this issue. – AW

Humidifiers are your friend. – AW

Winter wear

Avid CP readers know about the so-called “play coat” covered in a 2024 essay. I’m expanding that idea into footwear with the concept of play shoes, those beaten,

but still functional boots or heavy shoes reserved for shoveling walks or working in the yard. One of my best purchases was a heavily discounted pair of fake sherpalined platform clogs I slip on to walk the dogs. This means you can still get some use out of those Uggs or work boots that are well past their prime. – AW

Two words — slipper booties. These cheap, comfy luxuries (sometimes called cozy socks, yoga socks, or hospital socks) come in an endless array of colors and styles, and they are so very versatile; they can be worn daily around the house or as an extra layer of warmth in boots. Search for ones with rubber grips on the bottom, which prevent slippage. – AW

On that note, we need to talk about shoe cleaners and waterproofers. The sidewalk salt and general moisture that come with a Pittsburgh winter can potentially destroy

suede and leather, so giving them a quick spray or rubdown can help keep them from becoming stiff or stained. – AW

If you’ve got delinquent neighbors and it’s slippy out, you could find yourself ass over antlers on the sidewalk or nursing a bruised tailbone. One hack here is strapping cleats to your feet. These rubber grippers with metal studs in them (Yaktrax is one popular brand) can turn even canvas shoes into rugged boots in a jiffy when there’s ice on the ground. – Colin Williams

You know that ugly pair of gloves your mom bought you for Christmas that you can’t bring yourself to throw away? Toss those in your glovebox in case you need to change a tire, fill a tire, or do other messy car stuff on the side of the road. Nothing is worse than going outside with fro en fingers to pump gas or fix a flat. – SR

Winterize that hahs

Ah, gutters — you barely think about them unless they’re not working properly. The absolute best thing you can do as a homeowner is clean these bad boys out annually. Rotting leaves and roof debris can quickly clog your gutters, turning them into ultraheavy ice dams in wintertime that can damage your roof and lead to leaks. Make sure you get up on a ladder each fall or spring (or have someone do it for you). For eco-friendly types, the wet leaf debris also makes an excellent compost for your garden! – CW

The heat is on and working hard, so change your furnace filter. If you don’t, that nasty clogged filter will restrict airflow, forcing the system to work harder. Nobody wants to pay higher energy bills. Plus, a clogged filter can lead to poor heat distribution and reduced indoor air quality that can make you sick. A dirty furnace filter can even cause a fire by causing the system to overheat, leading to components catching fire or a motor failure. In other words, change your dang filter – SR

Frozen pipes can quickly turn your basement into a hockey rink if they burst. The best way to avoid this during cold snaps is by turning on both hot and cold taps to a low, steady drip — the hot water trickling through will help warm up your cold-water line, and the drip-drip-drip in both prevents ice buildup.

This is especially true if you have poor insulation or a sink mounted below a window on an exterior wall, as is the case in many kitchens. Another hack in this case? Wedge your kitchen cabinets open and allow heated air in. Cupboards can get very cold!

If your pipes do freeze, your best bet is to leave your taps open, find a hair dryer, and head straight to the basement. You’ll hear water running again when it’s warm enough to break through. – CW

Shoveling snow, something I didn’t do until my late 20s, is a task that makes me question my life choices every year (you don’t have to live like this), but pre-treating walks and stairs with salt before snow falls makes it a little easier. I’ve done this in vain a few times before big snowstorms, but for a typical Pittsburgh-size dusting of up to a

spared me even more winter home maintenance, might cause less pollution (?), and is friendly to my snow-exploring cat and the neighbors’ pets. To put less salt runoff into the water supply, sweep snow before salting to minimize the amount you use, and even consider sprinkling sand or cat litter for traction instead (then sweeping it up later). – Rachel Wilkinson

Dashing through the snow

(actually, don’t do that)

Don’t drive down steep hills. Trust me on this one — avoid your steepest neighborhood hill after fresh snow. You’d be shocked how quickly your tires can become skis when the roads aren’t plowed. – CW

couple of inches, it seems to help.

couple of inches, it seems to help.

Use green or pet-safe salt or sweep snow and use sand/cat litter (won’t destroy your concrete, better for pets)

Another unfortunate salt revelation I’ve had since becoming a homeowner is that shit eats, cracks, and destroys concrete walks and steps (fun!) while also contaminating surface and groundwater. Switching to a green or pet-safe salt has

If you don’t have the luxury of having an air compressor at home, get out and give those tires a couple of extra pounds of pressure before the temperature drops. It sucks when the “low tire pressure” warning light comes on when it’s a balmy 19 degrees out. – SR

For those who have the option, not driving in cold, snowy weather might seem counterintuitive, but hear me out: taking public transit is actually a luxury. As a Southerner who’s innately scared of driving in the snow, and certainly scared of Pittsburgh’s slippy untreated roads, I say let’s call the whole thing off (winter, too, but that’s another story). I know trudging through snow and scanning TrueTime in freezing temperatures sucks, but the nightmare of skidding into the five-way intersection at Forward Avenue sucks more (and don’t even get me started on the annual snow tire debate raging online). Make it someone else’s job — and if you need to spiritually cleanse and see your life flash before your eyes, catch a bus up to Mount Washington. – RW

Hear that? It’s the sound of tires spinning on a sheet of ice. Keep a bag of rock salt or cat litter in your vehicle to avoid the headache of calling AAA or attempting to

dig yourself out by using your windshield scraper as a mini-shovel (oh yeah, also, buy a windshield scraper). – AW

Prepare for a big freeze

To keep track of winter weather, I’ll once again boost our local ational Weather Service office in Pittsburgh. They do great work year-round, but for winter, if you want detailed maps, graphics, and updates, timed snowfall predictions, and the occasional fun video of them measuring snow accumulation or ice accretion, look no further. – RW

some much-needed leisure. It also helps to stave off the dreaded cabin fever. Make time with the video games you ignored over the summer, the pile of books collecting dust on your shelf, or the Letterboxd watchlist that now features more movies than the Criterion Collection. Revisit an abandoned hobby or try a new one. Regardless, being inside doesn’t mean being bored. – AW

I told my kid we were writing a Pittsburgh Winter Survival uide, and she read through our list of suggested items. Her response was: “That’s all boring adult stuff. What about something fun ” To survive a Pittsburgh winter, according to her, you need a good sled one that can fit in the

Fun fact: it takes only a few minutes more work and a smidge more effort to make a big batch of soup rather than a small one. What do you do with your big batches Freeze them. Then, when someone is sick or it’s -11 degrees outside, you’ll already have some lovely, warm, homemade soup to sip. – SR

Comfort and joy

Readying for winter means that all the time you would’ve spent unfreezing pipes and clearing snow can now be spent enjoying

trunk of your car so when you see a fun hill, you can be prepared. – SR

I’ve said this before, but it’s worth repeating: if you need a tropical infusion during winter, head to the National Aviary. Specifically, go to the Wetlands habitat, where the hot and humid climate supports flamingos roaming amidst tall coastal trees. Phipps Conservatory also has a Tropical Forest area where you can immediately feel the temperature rise 40 degrees, shed your puffy coat, see palms, and even a waterfall. – RW •

LEGAL

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NAME CHANGE

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: NO. GD-25-8833, In re petition of Abigail Sullivan Fish, for change of name to Abigail Sullivan. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 10th day of December, 2025, at 9:30 a.m, as the time and the Motions Room, City-County Building, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as the place for a hearing, when and where all persons may show cause, if any they have, why said name should not be changed as prayed for

ESTATE NOTICE

ESTATE OF BELL, FRED JOSEPH, DECEASED OF PITTSBURGH, PA No. 022506009 of 2025. Rosemary E Borelli Extr. 1807 Orchid Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15207

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