July 16, 2025 - Pittsburgh City Paper

“AS VIOLENT AS POSSIBLE”

Pittsburgh hardcore is burgeoning, boosted by young talent, a new South Hills home, and harder moshing than ever

BY: ELI ENIS

HOPE AT BOTH ENDS OF THE LEASH

Animal Friends and inmates at State Correctional Institution Fayette work together to give rescue dogs a second chance

BY: RACHEL WINDSOR // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Block E at State Correctional Institution Fayette is home to 220 men. They live in 77-square foot cells, equipped with two twin bunk beds, a sink and toilet in the doorway, one window (about the width of a forearm), some personal items like books or small TVs, and, for a select few, a dog crate.

SCI Fayette was one of the last prisons in Pennsylvania to employ a dog program in 2017 — now, six dogs reside there alongside their trainer companions. Through these programs, inmates train puppies to become service animals or help shelter dogs prepare for adoption. D.A.W.G. (Developing Animals with Goals), SCI Fayette’s program, is the latter.

Katie Vecchi, Chief Shelter Operations Officer at Animal Friends, tells Pittsburgh City Paper that handlers go through a sixweek behavioral training program, monthly seminars, and one-on-one coaching. Some matchmaking is involved, as shelter staff gets to know the handlers and their personalities better.

James K., 47, is often matched with dogs that need extra attention and training (City Paper is withholding inmates’ full names out of respect for their privacy). He entered the program in 2018, shortly after arriving at SCI Fayette on various drug-related convictions.

“The dog program has been life-altering for me,” he tells CP. “It’s a shot at redemption. My way of making up for what I’ve done.”

After a pause during the COVID-19 pandemic, D.A.W.G. returned in 2022 in collaboration with Animal Friends, a no-kill shelter in Ohio Township, located 57 miles from the prison. This was Animal Friends’ first inmate program, but not the last — in June they sent 2-year-old Ethel, a 38-pound mixed breed, for a pilot program with Allegheny County Jail.

dogs, including tougher cases like Rubicon, who, he says, was extremely stressed in the shelter environment. Rubicon was on humane investigations (HI) hold when he arrived at SCI Fayette. HI cases can take years to resolve if defendants don’t settle, placing HI dogs in limbo.

Knowing Rubicon’s needs, Vecchi placed him with James K. Within a few weeks, he was like a new dog. After many months, Rubicon was eventually adopted by an SCI Fayette staff member.

“IT HELPED ME MORE THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD. WHAT’S MORE HUMANE THAN BEING AROUND ANIMALS?”

At SCI Fayette, Animal Friends places up to six dogs at a time. Some dogs have behavioral or health issues that need attention, such as separation anxiety or special diets, but, to be selected, they all need to be tolerant of other dogs, strangers, and noises.

Inmates must meet the following requirements to join D.A.W.G.: no offenses related to animal abuse, child abuse and/ or sexual abuse; no misconduct on record in the past year; and a history of positive interactions on the block.

While in prison, James K. has cared for 17

When James K. is released in his late 50s, he wants to become a professional dog trainer and use his experience with challenging dogs.

“Seeing the complete 180 is the best part,” James K. says. “It’s more about them than about me.”

James B. tells CP that prison “shows you how selfish you can be,” and working with dogs helped him become more self-aware. “Before, it’s all about me, me, me. But it’s not all about you,” because now, it’s about taking care of a dog in need, he says.

in this environment.”

The dog program gives them goals and fosters a sense of pride. However, she believes “lifers — ” inmates serving life sentences for murder — stand to benefit the most from D.A.W.G. “This could be the most important thing to these guys.”

Brian, a reserved, soft-spoken man, was reluctant to talk to CP about himself or his case. He did, however, want to talk about his dogs. He’s new to the dog program, six months in. It was six months ago that he petted a dog for the first time in more than 30 years. He perked up describing Hoppin’

when he follows the “leave” command successfully. It’s very different, he says, “to have the responsibility to take care of something other than yourself.”

Brian says Hoppin’ John is active, rambunctious, and loving. He helps Brian deal with the stress of impris onment, which can be overwhelm ing at times. But when Hoppin’ John curls in his lap, it soothes many dif ficult emotions.

Dorian, 47, another lifer in D.A.W.G., has spent two-thirds of his life in prison after being sentenced at 16. He describes prison as “inhumane, in general,” and says, “as time goes on, you get hard.”

Dorian tells CP his early prison life was filled with aggression and violence, which led to a two-year stint in solitary confinement in the late ’90s. The hole, as he calls it, “changes you as a person.”

While in solitary confinement, he was permitted one hour a day outside in the “dog cage,” a fenced space for each individual solitary confinement cell. He passed the time reading books on psychology, law, politics, and history, waiting for the day he’d be allowed back in the general prison population. When that day came, Dorian was nervous, going from virtually no human contact to hundreds of people at once.

He describes the reintroduction to dogs in a similar vein.

Like Brian, Dorian hadn’t petted a dog in more than three decades. He was apprehensive at first but

eventually wanted his own dog. He got his first match, Noel, in 2021, and quickly learned he has a soft spot for little dogs.

“It helped me more than I thought it would,” he says. “What’s more humane than being around animals?”

Dorian will go before the parole board for the first time in 2028. If his release day ever comes, he says he needs to be prepared for the “real world.” Reacclimating to animals is one way he’s preparing for life on the outside. But more importantly, he says the dogs provide relief from the realities of prison.

“In a place like this, you need something to give you peace of mind.” •

562 Camp Horne Rd., Pittsburgh, Pa. 15237

Kennel License #1042

“AS VIOLENT AS POSSIBLE”

Pittsburgh hardcore is burgeoning, boosted by young talent, a new South Hills home, and harder moshing than ever

BY: ELI ENIS // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Moments are, by definition, ephemeral. And the widely documented “moment” that hardcore experienced in the immediate aftermath of COVID-19 lockdown is now relegated to history.

That’s not to say the energy infusion that reshaped the genre earlier in the decade has entirely dissipated. Turnstile, Knocked Loose, Sunami, and many other contemporary bigwigs still draw large crowds worldwide, and hardcore is more visible online than ever before. But it’s the middle of 2025, and a new moment has taken its place.

For Pittsburgh hardcore, this one’s even better than the last.

While the post-lockdown surge has tapered off in other hardcore scenes around the country, things have only ramped up in Pittsburgh. Within the last six

months, a whole new wave of local bands have spawned from within the city’s spinkick incubation chambers: Lake Verity, Vague, Madman, Reduced to Dust, Savage Primal Impulse, and the short-lived Didact. These bands have all swarmed local lineups throughout 2025, and they’re made up of many of the youngest, proudest, hardestmoshing kids in the city’s subculture.

Between those groups and the previous micro-generation of Pittsburgh bands who’ve now attained local institution status — Princess, Pain Clinic, Power of Fear, Arc of Violence — the Pittsburgh hardcore scene has a more robust stable of talent in the 2020s than it possibly ever has. And it’s not going underappreciated — over the last year-and-a-half, crowds at local shows and touring bills alike have gotten bigger, younger, and more active, making

enthusiasm level at each show higher.

“It’s definitely the best now it’s ever been,” says . . Rassau, owner of ittsburgh’s main hardcore venue, Preserving Underground in New ensington. Rassau has been playing in bands and booking shows regionally since 1 . “ ttendance-wise and diversity-wise, I would say now is the best it’s been for sure.”

race raig, the 2 -year-old frontwoman of Lake erity, began going to hardcore shows in ittsburgh in the late 2010s. “ ost of the people there had been into it since the 2000s,” she says. “It was all the old heads, mostly. Not a lot of people my age.”

ven when things opened up after ID lockdown, and reserving became the region’s new hardcore hub, attendance at shows was pitiful compared to today’s consistent turnout.

“I remember the first show after ID was Death Before Dishonor at reserving,” raig recalls. “ here were maybe 1 people there.”

s more touring bands came through the city in 2022 and 202 , newer faces appeared, and sold-out rooms at reserving became more common. However, even then, there were only a small handful of homegrown bands repping the scene, and the community’s social makeup was far more homogenous than it is now.

“Whenever I used to go to shows, it was me, maybe three other girls, and a room full of old guys,” says dy Lewis, a 20-year-old tattoo artist who says ittsburgh hardcore defines her social life. “It’s a relief having more people in the scene, more girls in the scene, more kids. It’s more fun.”

ittsburgh has a decades-old reputation for violent dance oors and a penchant for beatdown a specific sub-style of slow, mercilessly heavy hardcore that’s been a fi ture of the 12 since No Retreat and Built pon rustration came to regional prominence at the turn of the century. or this new wave of fans and local bands, maintaining ittsburgh’s uniquely heavy atmosphere doesn’t come

at the expense of fostering musical and social diversity.

“We try to keep it as violent as possible,” says 26-year-old Mateo Smith, the frontperson of Vague and the founder of A Knife Bouquet, a new DIY booking cooperative that aims to make Pittsburgh a go-to touring destination for hardcoreadjacent touring acts. “I see half these kids moshing harder than me, and I’m like, damn,” Smith enthuses.

Smith’s partner in A Knife Bouquet is Craig, another danceoor regular who, when she’s not shrieking in Lake erity, can be spotted in the pit swinging toward the ceiling like she’s pulling angels out of the sky. That the most hyped people in the crowd are the ones filling out these new bands is a crucial factor in the scene’s renaissance: by the kids, for the kids.

“It’s awesome seeing Lake erity with a trans frontperson,” says mith, who identifies as non-binary. “ ust seeing the shine they’re getting and the genre they’re doing and the support that they’re getting — they’re putting Pittsburgh on their backs. It’s really shaping the scene right now.”

“THERE’S A LOT OF WEIRDOS, A LOT OF SCARY GUYS, A LOT OF COOL PEOPLE. IT’S NICE THAT THEY CAN COME TOGETHER.”

While Lake erity certainly summons a classically Pittsburgh pit reaction every time they play, musically and aesthetically, they’re not rehashing the city’s well-worn beatdown tropes. In sound and vibe, Lake erity is modeled after the newer metalcore bands on Ephyra Recordings (Balmora, Azshara, Holder), and they’re inspired by the DIY movement that the Connecticut-based Ephyra is leading in the Northeast. After trekking out to witness the notoriously batshit Ephyra showcase back in ay 202 , the future members of Lake erity returned knowing they had to start a metalcore band of their own, one that would ideally inspire the same degree of moshpit mayhem back home in Pittsburgh.

“We saw the scene up there, and it’s really similar to how it is here now,” Craig says. “Where every single band, the local bands and everyone outside of it … [the moshing] was nonstop. The energy never dulled for a moment.”

Smith’s own band, Vague, are also inspired by the brooding metalcore of the Ephyra movement, as well as late ’90s metallic

hardcore and 2000s deathcore — eras of music that are practically vintage to the band’s Gen-Z lineup. Vague’s state of deterioration demo is macabre and shrieky, replete with piercing panic chords and bruising mosh parts designed for stalking menacingly across a low-lit dance oor.

Lake Verity’s demo landed in fall 2024, but every other band in this wave of ittsburgh hardcore debuted their first recordings in 2025. The fruits are plentiful. Madman features three former members of Pittsburgh metallic hardcore beasts Hazing Over, but they’re going for a rawer, more traditional hardcore sound with this band, as heard on the apoplectic, exacting The Demo. Reduced to Dust’s Vulgar Acts of Faith EP fuses groovy beatdown hardcore with ogre-slaying grunts of brutal death metal. Savage Primal Impulse, fronted by Power of Fear guitarist Patrick Phelps and featuring two members of Vague, capture the bracing ferocity of their namesake on their face-mangling April demo. And although Didact unceremoniously broke up after just two shows, their self-titled EP — convulsive, lumbering, psychotic — is a highlight worth hanging onto.

“We have a pretty diverse scene,” Lewis says. “There’s a lot of weirdos, a lot of scary guys, a lot of cool people. It’s nice that they can come together and everyone has an outlet.”

On July 18, the scene celebrates. A Knife Bouquet teamed with Taste of Broken Glass — the photography/videography duo of Princess’ Zach Bird and Noah Sommers — for a local showcase that encapsulates Pittsburgh hardcore’s eclectic upswing. The nine-band bill — Princess, Lake Verity, Vague, Madman, Arc of Violence, and several interstate friends of the scene — will be congregating for a show at the newly-opened New Low venue in Mt. Oliver, which has become a second home for 412 hardcore outside of Preserving. The DIY mini-fest will also boast a barbecue, tattoos by Lewis’ company Art by Ady, DJ sets, and, surely, plenty of spin kicks.

“It’s really cool to see that we can do that,” Lewis says proudly. “And we’re just a bunch of kids.” •

RITE AID APOCALYPSE

The chain is closing most Pittsburgh stores, leaving pharmacy deserts and long lines

BY: COLIN WILLIAMS // CWILLIAMS@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

It’s 2 p.m. on a Friday, and the line for the Waterworks Market District pharmacy is beginning to resemble a Kennywood queue. While customers grumble or greet acquaintances, a Giant Eagle staff member hands out snacks and bottles of water. All this because prescriptions usually filled at Rite Aid have been sent here following the announcement that the Philadelphia-based pharmacy chain would be closing all its stores after a second round of bankruptcy proceedings.

iant agle is ust one of the chains taking over the ob of filling prescriptions for thousands of reater ittsburgh residents now without a local Rite id. er conversations with those in line, the Waterworks arket District has taken over duties from Rite ids that have already, or will soon, close in orningside, haler, ’Hara, and akmont. Rite ids closing in the outh Hills and West nd will soon leave swathes of ittsburgh without a nearby pharmacy.

he Rite id bankruptcy saga is hardly new. Its growth fueled largely by acquisitions older ittsburghers will remember the company’s takeover of ckerd pharmacies in the mid-2000s the company struggled with anemic stock prices and the threat of bankruptcy as early as the 1 0s. ven after becoming a uggernaut following the ckerd deal, Rite id struggled with too much real estate and not enough profit, finally withdrawing from some markets and irting with a Walgreens merger before a changing market and pricey opioid lawsuit settlements forced the company to file for hapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 202 .

It wasn’t enough. In ay, Rite id announced it would be “pursuing a strategic and value-ma imi ing sale process for substantially all of its assets.” Its main focus, the company said, would be “facilitating smooth transfer of customer prescriptions.”

“While we have continued to face financial challenges, intensified by the rapidly evolving retail and healthcare landscapes in which we operate, we are encouraged by meaningful interest from a number of potential national and regional strategic acquirors,” Rite id att chroeder stated in the announcement. “ s we move forward, our key priorities are ensuring uninterrupted pharmacy services for our customers and preserving obs for as many associates as possible.”

Rite Aid customers are now seeing the closure of more than 700 stores nationwide Pennsylvania had 494 Rite Aids in 2022. The first wave of closures in 2024 saw 80 stores shutter, and July saw more across the commonwealth, bringing the total at press time to 275.

That includes most stores in Pittsburgh. Closures in Lawrenceville and Manchester have sent locals scrambling. “I am really bummed

that they are closing,” one Reddit user wrote. “I don’t drive, and this is my pharmacy.”

“I AM REALLY BUMMED THAT THEY ARE CLOSING. I DON’T DRIVE, AND THIS IS MY PHARMACY.”

One Facebook user in Manchester noted a further wrinkle: “For those of us with UPMC insurance, remember that CVS isn’t in network,” a problem that may likewise apply to Walgreens. However, in a recent press release concerning the Rite Aid closures, UPMC listed CVS, including locations inside Target stores, as in-network, as well as Costco, Giant Eagle, and Walmart, but not Walgreens. Locally owned pharmacies also vary in which insurance coverage, if any, they accept.

Meanwhile, others online noted that, in Lawrenceville, at least, this is potentially the second time their pharmacy has relocated in as many years following the closure of the neighborhoods Shop ’n Save pharmacy in 2024.

All of this is taking place in the county with the second-largest population of senior citizens in the country. According to AARP, nine in 10 senior citizens in the U.S. rely on prescription medication, and, as one recently released FDA study notes, they’re taking more medications than ever

The closures leave pharmacy deserts that disproportionately impact seniors and lower-income residents, and not everybody has the internet access often required for mailorder prescription services, which often come with their own set of issues, including substandard product.

In short, Rite Aid’s pharmacy services themselves may be uninterrupted per se, but the chain’s bankruptcy has certainly interrupted locals’ lives.

Rite Aid did not respond to email requests for comment.

Back at the Waterworks pharmacy, by 2:20 p.m., the line is nearly twice as long. Store associates bring up another case of bottled water while those waiting talk about where they went to high school or check their watches. It’s going to be another long day for the pharmacists and their customers. •

Free Your Mind

Transitional Characters takes a liberating approach to therapy that can include sound baths, meditation — and even ketamine

In literature, a transitional character is someone who bravely disrupts harmful patterns to rewrite the story for future generations. In Pittsburgh’s Shadyside neighborhood, the group therapy practice Transitional Characters brings that concept to life, offering mental health care rooted in liberation, justice, and community.

TC founder and clinical director Liana Maneese tells Pittsburgh City Paper “Most Western therapy/therapists skip that or opt for a one-size-fits-all [approach] for those ‘othered’ from normative society. Differences may be acknowledged but not understood through experience or education. We dive in.”

The group practice offers a variety of services, including in-person individual, couples, and family therapy in Pittsburgh, virtual therapy for Pennsylvania residents, and integration work such as reiki, sound baths, yoga, and meditation. Therapists are trained in a range of evidence-based and ancestral therapeutic interventions such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), somatic healing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), liberation psychology, and more.

TC believes this culturally expansive and anti-oppressive practice goes beyond the norm in mental healthcare. The TC website touts this approach as being trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and unapologetically inclusive — especially for BIPOC, LGBTQ individuals, artists, activists, and others who’ve felt unseen in traditional therapy spaces.

“WE’VE INTENTIONALLY CREATED A SPACE THAT FEELS WARM, ARTFUL, LAYERED WITH MEANING.”

Despite hundreds of local therapy options — ranging from large systems like UPMC, AHN, and Pittsburgh Mercy to virtual platforms like Talkspace and BetterHelp —Transitional Characters (TC) stands out for its deeply intentional, culturally responsive, and communitygrounded approach to care.

“We help folks understand how race, gender, culture, and family histories shape their internal narratives,”

In addition to these services, TC offers Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) in partnership with Journey Clinical. The treatment combines the safe use of ketamine — a legal, fast-acting medication known for its psychedelic effects — with guided psychotherapy. KAP is designed to help individuals process trauma and facilitates powerful breakthroughs in depression, anxiety, and other conditions. According to TC’s website, ketamine creates an altered state of consciousness and enhances neuroplasticity, helping the brain form new, healthier connections. This approach, per TC, supports deeper emotional breakthroughs.

Transitional Characters strives

sometimes can’t. They can help people reconnect to their bodies, their ancestors, and possibilities beyond survival. To feel free, even if for a moment,” says Maneese. “We’re committed to guiding this work in a way that’s culturally rooted and trauma-informed, so it’s not just another extraction or trend, but a profound tool for liberation that was

Maneese says TC is a proudly Black-owned, queer-led safe and sacred space for BIPOC and other marginalized communities. As the owner of TC, Maneese is a transracial adoptee identifying as an AfroBrazilian, cis-queer Black American. Raised in Pittsburgh, she became a community activist at an early age. She earned a master’s degree in clinical mental health and applied psychology from Antioch University New England and is a Licensed Professional Counselor and National Certified Counselor. Maneese is also an artist, antiracist educator, and expert on interracial relationships.

Going beyond traditional therapies, TC recognizes how oppressive systems impact an individual’s sense of self. These clinicians work to meet

clients not only emotionally, but spir-

“One thing people notice the second they walk into our offices is how beautiful they are. We’ve intentionally created a space that feels warm, artful, layered with meaning — not cold and clinical. The walls carry vibrant colors, books and textiles that reflect many cultures, artwork that speaks to liberation and identity,” Maneese says.

Transitional Characters holds two separate offices on Ellsworth Avenue — the main office and TC Annex, a dedicated community space for Reiki, music therapy, massage, group therapy, and more.

“We want people to walk in and feel like they’ve entered somewhere sacred, somewhere that honors their full humanity. Because therapy isn’t just about conversations — it’s about what your nervous system feels in a space,” Maneese says.

Beauty, intention, and art can be healing in themselves. We’ve made sure TC feels like a living piece of art, where people can breathe deeper the moment they arrive.”

“Oh, and don’t forget to take your shoes off,” she adds. •

MUSIC • WARRENDALE

IN PITTSBURGH

JULYFRI.,18

THU., JULY 17

CONVENTION • DOWNTOWN

Tekko. 12 p.m. Continues through Sun., July 20.

David L. Lawrence Convention Center. 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Downtown. $70. Registration required. tekko.us

FILM • SEWICKLEY

The Filmworks of Max Cianci. 7 p.m. The Lindsay Theater and Cultural Center. 418 Walnut St., Sewickley. Free. Reservation required. thelindsaytheater.org

GAME SHOW • OAKMONT

Crossover Colosseum 7-8 p.m. Doors at 6:30 p.m. The Oaks Theater. 310 Allegheny River Blvd., Oakmont. $26.50. theoakstheater.com

THEATER • CARNEGIE

Throughline Theatre presents Living News Fest ‘25. 7:30 p.m. Continues through Sun., July 20. Carnegie Stage. 25 West Main St., Carnegie. $21.57. throughlinetheatre.org

THEATER • EAST LIBERTY

New Horizon Theater presents Sistas: The Musical 7:30 p.m. Continues through Sun., July 27. Kelly Strayhorn Theater. 5941 Penn Ave., East Liberty. $40. kelly-strayhorn.org

DRAG • MILLVALE

Ghost will bring its theatrical metal antics to PPG Paints Arena, giving local drag acts a reason to break out the face paint and get spooky. Ghost: The Drag Show at Harold’s Haunt invites gueststo be “satanized with an evening of hits” from the Grammy Awardwinning Swedish band, spotlighting drag and burlesque entertainers Land Shark, Ramona Ryder, Venus Doom, Portia Sparks, and Jami Starling. Cosplay is encouraged. 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. 142 Grant Ave., Millvale. $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Tip money recommended for performers. queerwitches.com

THEATER • DOWNTOWN

Stage 62 presents The Prom. 8 p.m. Continues through Sun., July 27. Greer Cabaret Theater. 655 Penn Ave., Downtown. $33.93. stage62.org

FRI., JULY 18

FESTIVAL • NORTH SIDE

Summer means free live music in Pittsburgh, and one event is more than ready to deliver. The Northside Music Festival returns with a lineup of over 75 local and national acts across multiple stages, representing genres ranging from indie rock to gospel. Navigate the many bands, food vendors, and more on

your own, or plan ahead by downloading the o icial Northside Music Festival app. 5 p.m. Continues through Sun., July 20. Multiple locations, North Side. Free. All ages. northsidemusicfestival.com

SPORTS • NORTH SHORE

Pittsburgh Pirates present Yinzerpalooza Weekend. 5 p.m. pregame. Continues through Sun., July 20. PNC Park. 115 Federal St., North Shore. Ticket prices vary. mlb.com/pirates/ballpark

PARTY • OAKLAND

After Dark: Camp Carnegie (21+). 6-10 p.m. Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. $25-30. 21 and over. carnegiemnh.org

MUSIC • SOUTH PARK TOWNSHIP

Chuck Prophet and His Cumbia Shoes with Amythyst Kiah 7:30 p.m. South Park Amphitheater. 100 Farmshow Dr., South Park Township. Free. All ages. alleghenycounty.us

THEATER • DOWNTOWN

Pittsburgh CLO presents Disney’s Frozen. 7:30 p.m. Continues through Sun., July 27. Benedum Center. Seventh Street and Penn Avenue, Downtown. $66.64-133.84. pittsburghclo.culturaldistrict.org

Ace Frehley with Wicked and Ringleader. 8 p.m. Doors at 6 p.m. Jergel’s Rhythm Grille. 103 Slade Ln., Warrendale. $72.65-89.15. jergels.com

MUSIC • LAWRENCEVILLE

Light Asylum with Heavy Halo 9 p.m. Spirit. 242 51st St., Lawrenceville. $15 in advance, $20 at the door. 21 and over. spiritpgh.com

SAT., JULY 19

AUTO • SQUIRREL HILL

The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Schenley Park Race Weekend. 9:30 a.m. Continues through Sun., July 20. Schenley Drive and Darlington Road, Squirrel Hill. $10 suggested donation. pvgp.org

PARTY • OAKLAND

MICHIYAYA presents Baby Bops and Family Jams at Inside Out 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Carnegie Museum of Art. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. Free. All ages. carnegieart.org

DRAG • LAWRENCEVILLE

The Cher Show with Catty Wampus. 11 p.m. Blue Moon Bar. 5115 Butler St., Lawrenceville. Free. Tip money recommended for performers. facebook.com/TheBlueMoonBar

SUN., JULY 20

MUSIC • POINT BREEZE

Chamber Music Pittsburgh presents Bach, Beethoven, and Brunch: A Summer Serenade. 10:30 a.m. Mellon Park. Fifth Avenue and Shady Avenue, Point Breeze. Free. All ages. chambermusicpittsburgh.org

MARKET • ALLENTOWN

I Love Trash Flea Market. 3-8 p.m. The Shred Shed. 732 E. Warrington Ave., Allentown. Free. All ages. instagram.com/shred_shed_pgh

MON., JULY 21

ART • FRIENDSHIP

Lauren Kalman: To Hold… 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Continues through Aug. 3. Pittsburgh Glass Center. 5472 Penn Ave., Friendship. Free. pittsburghglasscenter.org

MUSIC • NORTH SIDE

Mopar Stars, The Zells, and Silver and Gold 8 p.m. The Government Center. 715 East St., North Side. $10. thegovernmentcenter.com

TUE., JULY 22

FILM • MILLVALE

Funhouse Film Club: Beach Bummers

Mystery Double Feature. 7 p.m. Doors at 6:30 p.m. The Funhouse at Mr. Smalls. 400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale. Free. Registration required. mrsmalls.com

MUSIC • UPTOWN

Shinedown: Dance, Kid, Dance Tour with Bush and Morgan Wade 7 p.m. PPG Paints Arena. 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown. Tickets start at $38. ppgpaintsarena.com

MUSIC

• ALLENTOWN

MSPAINT with Lip Critic, Pat and the Pissers, and Positive Thinking. 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. Bottlerocket Social Hall. 1226 Arlington Ave., Allentown. $16 in advance, $18 at the door. bottlerocketpgh.com

WED., JULY 23

LIT • BLOOMFIELD

Hike to White Whale Bookstore to see author and Chatham University alum Laura Jackson present her essay collection Deep and Wild: On Mountains, Opossums and Finding Your Way in West Virginia in conversation with Lori Jakiela. Deep and Wild captures the creatures, rugged trails, and other aspects of Jackson’s homestate, all to see “beyond all-too-common Appalachian

stories of hardship and poverty.” 7-8 p.m. 4754 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield. Free. Registration required. Livestream available. whitewhalebookstore.com/events

FILM • DOWNTOWN

Roger Waters This Is Not A Drill: Live From Prague 7:30 p.m. Harris Theater. 809 Liberty Ave., Downtown. $17. trustarts.org

MUSIC • OAKLAND

Flowers For The Dead, Velvet Overkill, and Headfooter 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. Haven. 401 Atwood St., Oakland. $13.74. havenvenue.com

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HELP WANTED HOSPITALISTS

Allegheny Clinic seeks Hospitalists (Multiple Openings) to work in and around Monroeville, PA, and provide direct patient care for his client population. Send CV, cover letter, and salary requirements to Dianna Deweese at Dianna.Deweese@ahn.org with “Hospitalists Opportunity” in subject line.

ESTATE NOTICE

ESTATE OF WENNERSTEN, DONALD, A, DECEASED OF PITTSBURGH, PA No. 022403207 of 2024. Lisa Wennersten Extr. 406 Caruthers Lane, N. Huntingdon, PA 15642 or to Panza Legal Services (Atty. Kari Panza). 454 Perry Highway, Pittsburgh, PA, 15229

ESTATE NOTICE

ESTATE OF TORLIDAS, THEODORE A/K/A TORLIDAS, THEODORE ANGELO, DECEASED OF PITTSBURGH, PA No. 022504277 of 2025.

Iphigenia Torlidas and Maria Reina Extr. 5821 Ellsworth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232.

SERVICES

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NAME CHANGE

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: NO. GD-25-003536, In re petition of Aneesah Allen, parents and Legal guardians of Amari Jamar Wilkes for Change of name to Amari Jalen Allen. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 30th day of July, 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

LEGAL

$750-$1500Get Legal Help Now! Call 1-844-821-8249 Mon-Fri 7am to 4pm PCT (AAN CAN) https://www.familycourtdirect. com/?network=1

NAME CHANGE

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: NO. GD-25-006420, In re petition of Edward Luke Rattay, change of name to Edward Luke Boniface Rattay. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 13th day of August, 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

OFFICIAL ADVERTISEMENT

THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION of the SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

Submit sealed proposals to the Facilities Department, Pittsburgh Public Schools Service Center, 1305 Muriel Street, Pittsburgh PA 15203 until 2:00 p.m. D/EST on 15 August 2025 for:

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) FOR ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR 2026-2027 A/E ON-CALL SERVICES

RFQ/P is available at the Pittsburgh Public Schools website, https://www.pghschools.org/community/ business-opportunities/rfps or by email request to LFornataro1@pghschools.org, at no charge.

We are an equal rights and opportunity school district.

THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION of the SCHOOL DISTRICT

Many Americans are fortunate to have dental coverage for their entire working life, throughemployer-provided benefits. When those benefits end with retirement, paying dental bills out-of-pocket can come as a shock, leading people to put off or even go without care.

Simply put — without dental insurance, there may be an important gap in your healthcare coverage.

When you’re comparing plans ...

 Look for coverage that helps pay for major services. Some plans may limit the number of procedures — or pay for preventive care only.

 Look for coverage with no deductibles. Some plans may require you to pay hundreds out of pocket before benefits are paid.

 Shop for coverage with no annual maximum on cash benefits. Some plans have annual maximums of $1,000.

Medicare doesn’t pay for dental care.1

That’s right. As good as Medicare is, it was never meant to cover everything. That means if you want protection, you need to purchase individual insurance.

Early detection can prevent small problems from becoming expensive ones.

The best way to prevent large dental bills is preventive care. The American Dental Association recommends checkups twice a year.

Previous dental work can wear out.

Even if you’ve had quality dental work in the past, you shouldn’t take your dental health for granted. In fact, your odds of having a dental problem only go up as you age.2

Treatment is expensive — especially the services people over 50 often need.

Consider these national average costs of treatment ... $222 for a checkup ... $190 for a filling ... $1,213 for a crown.3 Unexpected bills like this can be a real burden, especially if you’re on a fixed income.

Premier Plan pays 70% for basic and major services*  Helps pay for over 400 procedures  No

“WHATEVER, MAN”

ACROSS

1.  Tamago sushi ingredient

4.  Like those who might think things are cap or cheugy

8.  Find a permanent home

14.  “Too funny”

15.  Emmy-winner Falco

16.  Redneck’s chuckle

17.  Solidly hit balls, usually directly at a fielder, in baseball

19.  Claim sans proof

20.  Let on 21.  Pilots of 23-Acrosses

23.  See 21-Across 24.  Three Gorges ___

26.  Scottish dish made with sheep innards

29.  Ondine playwright

34.  The skinny

35.  Home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame

36.  NASDAQ debut

39.  Some ride share rides

41.  They’re worn by those who go undercover

42.  German city on the Ruhr

44.  ___ chi chuan

45.  Jamaican dialect

48.  Benny’s home

49.  Virginia area whose county seat is Leesburg

52.  Ancient Greek poet

53.  Neither rep. nor dem.

54.  Thing baked in a Dutch oven

55.  Lieut’s inferior

58.  Smallest nontrivial cube

62.  One in a 43Down

65.  “Whatever suits!” ... and a phonetic hint to this puzzles’ theme

67.  Capture, via fishing

68.  Painter Bonheur

69.  Unwieldy group

70.  Express forcefully

71.  No great shakes

72.  Lines on a map: Abbr.

DOWN

1.  Boo’d Up singer

___ Mai

2.  Satisfactory

3.  Moody

4.  Encode with metadata, as a digital photo

5.  Part of Bradley’s address

6.  Time in some ads

7.  Spiciness

8.  Doo-wop syllable

9.  Fish in the River Thames

10.  Language spoken in India

11.  “They’re onto us!”

12.  Nigerian capital

13.  Bleating females

18.  Childish denial

22.  Encloses

25.  TikToker’s prop

27.  Commotion

28.  O the shelf?

29.  Leave at the altar

30.  “A Day Without Rain” singer

31.  Business branches

32.  2019 NBA champs

33.  Pear type

37.  Hit hard, as with water balloons

38.  Without siblings

40.  Tater

43.  Location of many busts?

46.  Toothpaste tube letters

47.  Poli ___

50.  Kept for reference

51.  At some point

52.  Minute openings

54.  Eric Trump’s wife

56.  Sandwich with tzatziki

57.  Grabbed

59.  Places where some rooms are spinning

60.  Total riot

61.  Washing up spots

63.  Title given to Ridley Scott

64.  Detonating letters

66.  Nat. with the most Nobel laureates