

5 Questions with Michael Cruz Kayne
Comedian Michael Cruz Kayne talks to Pittsburgh City Paper ahead of his first performance in Pittsburgh. The New York native describes his efforts to unite grief and comedy through his latest tour, Sorry for Your Loss.
Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival to return in-person with new ownership and events for fans of knitting, sewing, and more
If reports are correct, the number of hobbyists has grown during the pandemic. A survey released by LendingTree in April 2021 determined that about 6 in 10 Americans took on a new hobby over the past year to stave off lockdown boredom. Among the top activities explored was knitting or sewing, with people of all…
Pittsburgh announces return of free summer concert series with jazz and classical shows
A sense of normalcy is returning to Pittsburgh, as outdoor concerts are coming back this summer. The city has announced a list of in-person events to partake in over the course of the summer including weekly free concert series featuring classical stylings and jazz performances, as well as various recreational activities. Pittsburgh City Paper has…
Pittsburgh unionized Google contractors met with Kamala Harris and Labor Secretary Walsh
On June 21, Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to Pittsburgh and met with several labor groups at the IBEW Local 5 union hall in the South Side. The roundtable included U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and some well-established labor unions, like the Communication Workers of America, and attendees discussed support for the Protecting the Right…
Song Spotlight: “Everywhere” by Lindsay Dragan
If you’re looking to cruise outside the city to a secluded location and get back to nature, or if you’re hosting a backyard fire pit, this song is one you’ll want to play. Pittsburgh-based garage-folk artist Lindsay Dragan’s new single “Everywhere” doesn’t come out until July 2, but that means it will arrive just in time…
Pitt Cycles is sole provider of Fuell e-bikes in western PA
Pitt Cycles, born in 2018 to offer Pittsburghers the best selection of gasoline powered and electric/human-driven mobility solutions, is now adding an exciting and exclusive product to their array. Flluid is the first product from the innovative Fuell urban mobility brand, and Pitt Cycles is the first authorized US Outlet for the product. Flluid completely…
GOP Senate candidate Jeff Bartos donated to and praised Democrats in past, challenger Sean Parnell responds
The Republican primary contest for Pennsylvania’s open U.S. Senate seat is just a few months old, but it’s already testing candidates on who can be seen as more conservative and who is more aligned with former President Donald Trump. Two candidates — army veteran and author Sean Parnell (R-Ohio Township) and businessman Jeff Bartos (R-Montgomery) — have already traded…
Wigle Whiskey offering a free cocktail for people getting vaccinated at their upcoming clinic
As the number of fully-vaccinated individuals in Allegheny County continues to increase, bar life is making a return. For those who aren’t vaccinated just yet, Wigle Whiskey is hoping to encourage more vaccinations by offering people who get vaccinated a free cocktail or shot from the award-winning distillery. On June 28 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.,…
Pupusas, a special Commonplace Coffee blend, and other Pittsburgh food news
News Allegheny Wine Mixer 5326 Butler St., Lawrenceville. alleghenywinemixer.com This wine bar posted a dimly lit photo to their Instagram with the caption: “We’re ready enough. Open tonight til midnight!” on June 20. So it’s safe to assume they are back in business serving batched cocktails and wine to the Pittsburgh area. Get anything from…
LIKELIKE returns to in-person events at Unblurred Gallery Crawl
One of Pittsburgh’s best attended art nights is back. The Unblurred gallery crawl is on, and next week will see the return of LIKELIKE: a “non-commercial, artist run endeavor” that encompasses a 20x23x12 room in Pittsburgh’s Garfield neighborhood. LIKELIKE also brands itself as a place for independent games and “playable arts.” The collective is all…
Lynn Cullen Live – 6/22/21
Video Archive We had an internet interruption this morning but the show must go on! Lynn is joined today by her sister Susan and her brother Bill. They are discussing Bill’s need for speed. They are also discussing the Supreme Court’s ruling on NCAA, Jeff Bazos going to space. Audio Only Archive Stream or download…
Ayr Wellness, a new medical marijuana dispensary, comes to Pittsburgh’s North Hills
A new medical marijuana dispensary is now open in Gibsonia, in Pittsburgh’s North Hills. Ayr Wellness Inc. opened on June 21 and products are available to purchase for licensed Pennsylvania medical marijuana patients. Medical cannabis products at Ayr come in various forms including flower, concentrates, vapes, tinctures, topicals, and edibles. Ayr Wellness also supplies an…
Police-reform activists call for decrease in Pittsburgh police funding and increase in community investment
The Coalition to Reimagine Public Safety gathered at the steps of the Pittsburgh City County building on June 19 to discuss their goals towards decreasing the Pittsburgh Police budget, and instead funneling those funds to invest in resources for numerous efforts to combat problems stemming from violence, homelessness, drug use, and mental health. The goal…
In Pittsburgh, Vice President Kamala Harris touts child tax credit
Vice President Kamala Harris visited Pittsburgh on a hot and humid June 21 to tout the Biden administration’s child tax credit. It was Harris’ first visit to Pittsburgh since becoming vice president, and she met with children in a summer camp program at a neighborhood rec center in the city’s Brookline neighborhood. “What we know…
Musicians release AG Forever, a compilation album in memory of Alex Gordon
Former Pittsburgh City Paper Managing Editor Alex Gordon took great pleasure in sharing music he loved with his friends. Whether it was music he created himself, music his friends made, or just music he had recently discovered and loved, as soon as he found a song he dug, he threw it in a Slack channel…
Lynn Cullen Live – 6/21/21
Video Archive Lynn is starting the week off talking about a recent vote by Catholic Bishops that could allow them to move forward on a plan to limit communion to President Biden based on his abortion views. Hear this and more on today’s Lynn Cullen Live! Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5…
PHOTOS: Juneteenth & Black Music Festival at Point State Park
Pittsburghers celebrated Juneteenth, the federal holiday commemorating the freedom of enslaved people in the United States, at Point State Park where a three-day Juneteenth and Black Music Festival was held from Fri., June 18-Sun., June 20. I had the opportunity to head to The Point on Saturday evening and capture the event. Outside of the…
Song Spotlight: “Call of the Void” by Disheveled
A recent collaboration between Pittsburgh musical acts Disheveled and Spednar under Thaco Records has yielded a unique project titled Disheveled/Spednar Split. The album consists of four tracks from each artist, and each track is heavy with distortion and sound. The track starts with a woman’s voice asking “do you have any idea what’s outside those…
A Night at the Riverhounds: Soccer, booze, and the Steel Army
I was greeted with hot dogs, cornhole, and a Jell-O shot. So goes the pre-game tailgate from the Steel Army, the fan group of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, the city’s professional soccer team. With COVID-19 restrictions lifted right in time for summer, I headed to Station Square’s Highmark Stadium on a recent gameday to get…
Pittsburgh’s busiest bus stop is temporarily becoming an art exhibit. What you need to know:
The bus stop at the corner of Smithfield Street and Sixth Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh is known as a “super stop,” with its extended curb, modern awning, and location next to the Port Authority Service Center. It’s also the busiest bus stop in all of Western Pennsylvania, as several popular bus routes all converge there…
Eight refreshing Pittsburgh drinks mixing coffee and fruit that are perfect for summer
Summer has officially arrived in Pittsburgh. That means if the sky isn’t scattered in rain clouds, the heat of the sun is aggressively beating down. In response, iced coffees have become a necessity during the summer to combat the heat, and local coffee shops are adding refreshing twists of fruit to your typical cup of…
Infinite Essence: Celestial Liberation spreads empowering Black artwork on billboards throughout Pittsburgh
The first official Juneteenth in Pittsburgh has resulted in some robust programming, with events highlighting Black leaders and creative professionals representing music, literature, and more. For local artist Mikael Owunna, the holiday – which pays tribute to the nationwide end of slavery in the United States – serves as a way to celebrate Black bodies,…
Top Pa. Senate Republican says election audit a “very real possibility” after meeting with activists
The Pennsylvania state Senate committee chair in charge of overseeing elections said a forensic audit was a “very real possibility” Thursday after meeting with activists Wednesday. Senate State Government Committee Chairman Dave Argall (R-Schuylkill) told the Capital-Star that he was considering subpoenas for ballot information, but had not considered which jurisdictions would be subpoenaed yet.…
New study reveals economic benefits of naturalizing Pa.’s undocumented immigrants
A recent study shows that if Pennsylvania’s undocumented immigrants received citizenship, the state budget would benefit from tens of millions of new dollars. The progressive think tank Keystone Research Center released a study in May titled “The Economic Contributions of Pennsylvania’s Immigrants.” The study was written by Muhammed Maisum Murtaza and it quantifies the economic…
Lynn Cullen Live – 6/17/21
Video Archive Lynn returns for her second day back! Lynn is starting the show with the story of Isaac Wright, a US Army Veteran, urban explorer, and photographer who became the subject of a cross-country manhunt over scaling bridges and buildings to take photos. Police have used his service against him, and claimed his time…
Lynn Cullen Live – 6/16/21
Video Archive After a hiatus Lynn Cullen Live Returns! How will Lynn cover the last three weeks of news that she’s missed? She’ll find a way! Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
Pittsburgh City Paper’s Official Pride Playlist
As the city and its surrounding boroughs continue to celebrate Pride Month, one thing we at Pittsburgh City Paper have found essential to a good party is a great playlist. Now, whether that’s a party with a ton of guests or a two-person party (if you catch my drift), music is crucial to creating the…
Ease into your Pittsburgh post-vax summer with these party tips
After one summer of sitting in baby pools or stuck at home bored with the AC on, Pittsburgh partiers are vaccinated and chomping at the bit to mingle. Bars and clubs are ready to accommodate DJ nights, live music, and other activities bringing people returning to their dance floors, stages, and outdoor spaces. But for…
Tsaocaa brings new options and fresh ingredients to the Pittsburgh bubble tea scene
Bubble tea is a drink for any season, but as Pittsburgh stretches into its hottest months, the sweet, colorful beverage is more refreshing than ever. Pittsburgh has a wide array of bubble tea options, some of which are solely bubble tea establishments while others are housed on restaurant menus. Tsaocaa is a recent arrival on…
In search of the perfect summer body
As much as I love the wonderful “pow!” and in-your-face “whoosh!” of seeing Downtown Pittsburgh upon exiting the Liberty Tunnel, my money is on the West End Bridge for the best view of the city. It is the all encompassing magnificence of the entire Golden Triangle, the confluence or Sangama in Sanskrit, framed by the…
Summer Guide Events: Current and Ongoing Events
Through June 27 Controlling the Chaos at Carnegie Museum of Art. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. cmoa.org THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN’ by Penny Mateer at UnSmoke Systems Artspace. 1137 Braddock Ave., Braddock, unsmokeartspace.com Through June 29 Spring Equinox at UnSmoke Systems Artspace. 1137 Braddock Ave., Braddock, unsmokeartspace.com Through July 2 Phantasmagoricals: The Art of Kevin…
Summer Guide Events: June 2021
Thu., June 17 STAGE • VIRTUAL As part of its Classics N’at series, Pittsburgh Public Theater presents Emma Gibson’s When We Fall, the winner of PPT’s inaugural New Play Contest. Streaming through June 20. Donation of at least $10. ppt.org STAGE • IRL For those who dream of finding love on public transit, join South…
Summer Guide Events: July 2021
Fri., July 2 EVENT • IRL Living Dead Museum welcomes horror movies fans to its new location in Monroeville Mall for Living Dead Weekend. The multi-day event includes meet-ups and photo ops with cast members from Return of the Living Dead and Day of the Dead, as well as tours, panels, and more,…
Summer Guide Events: August 2021
Tue., Aug. 3 MUSIC • IRL See two soft rock music legends when James Taylor and Jackson Browne perform at PPG Paints Arena. 7:30 p.m. 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown. Tickets start at $78. ppgpaintsarena.com Wed., Aug. 4 ART • IRL BoxHeart Gallery opens two new exhibitions, GRRL by sculptor Katie Stone and The Divide and…
Summer Guide Events: September 2021
Thu., Sept. 2 STAGE • IRL Fading Broadway actors are commissioned to play the parents of a rich, New York banker in the play Show People, a comedic romp filled with unexpected turns. Staged by the Little Lake Theatre Company. Continues through Sept. 11. 500 Lakeside Drive, Canonsburg. $16-22. littlelake.org/show-people ART • IRL Artist Jacob…
Pittsburgh Summer Guide 2021
Welcome to our annual Summer Guide, featuring a curated list of arts, music, film, dance, lit, stage, festivals, and outdoor events to brighten up your post-vax summer! Summer Guide Events 2021 Current and Ongoing Events June July August September
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY: June 17-23
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “I remember wishing I could be boiled like water and made pure again,” writes poet Jeffrey McDaniel. Judging from the current astrological omens, Gemini, I think you could be made reasonably pure again without having to endure an ordeal like being boiled like water. Do you have ideas about how to…






