PHOTO BY BECKY THURNER BRADDOCK

If you happened to attend Shaler Area High School at the same time as Heather Abraham, you unknowingly got a glimpse into KDKA’s future.

The host of “Pittsburgh Today Live” and “Talk Pittsburgh” first sat in front of a camera to deliver the school’s morning announcements, an extracurricular activity that led to a career. After studying broadcast journalism at West Virginia University, Abraham worked as a reporter in Brooklyn, New York, before returning to her hometown in 2010 to join KDKA-TV.

Abraham, who lives in South Fayette with her husband, Frank, and their three children, is also one of the city’s best Instagram personalities, frequently compelling the “Pittsburgh Today Live” crew to join in on TikTok-inspired trends.

We wanted to know: What’s Heather Abraham’s Best of the ’Burgh?

Related: Heather Abraham’s House Is The Talk (of) Pittsburgh

What’s your Pittsburgh “hidden gem,” a place that you love that doesn’t get the attention it deserves?

Emerald View Park in Mount Washington. “It’s actually 10 miles of trails. There are some older cement blocks that are still set up through there … from Olympia Park. We would tell the kids they were old witches’ houses. So it became this spooky-fun haunt of a trail for us.”

If you could only eat one local meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Tie: Primanti Bros.’ Bacon and Cheese (“Hold the tomato!”) and the Mad Mex Gobblerito.

If Pittsburgh had a theme song, what would it be?

“Renegade” by Styx. “That is going to be a very played-out, unoriginal answer, but I’m sticking with it.”

What’s the annual tradition that you wait for every year?

Picklesburgh. “I think that it’s something that’ll be around forever because [the city has] done such a good job.”

Favorite Pittsburgh appearance in a movie or on television?

Abraham names two films she was able to watch as they were filmed: “The Dark Knight Rises” and “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.” “I was an early-morning reporter at the time, and we watched as Emma Watson was filming the [‘Wallflower’] scene [coming out of the tunnel] … to me, that’s just very special because we got to witness it.”

What’s your unpopular Pittsburgh opinion? What is something you think about the city (or a famous aspect of it) that won’t win you any friends?

“We have too much trash and too much litter … not just in the city but in [Allegheny] County. We need to do a better job of keeping our walkable areas free of dirt and litter. I also think that when you’re driving on some of our highways and you see the road-construction debris and trash on the side of the road — as we’re growing as a city and welcoming more out-of-towners, I hate that that’s the first impression that some of them get.”

Where’s the first place you take out-of-town guests?

The Strip District

You get one incline ride with any Pittsburgher, living or dead. Who is it?

“All the famous Pittsburgh women … I need the scoop from Rachel [Carson], from Sophie [Masloff], from Nellie Bly.”

If you could bring back one Pittsburgh place or restaurant that’s no longer there, which would you pick?

Romp n’ Roll roller rink

CHANCELOR HUMPHREY | PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Under his “Keep Pittsburgh Dope” brand, Chancelor Humphrey has been photographing regular Pittsburghers on local streets for a decade. He now has more than 53,000 followers on Instagram. The influencer, who was honored in Pittsburgh Magazine’s 40 Under 40 class of 2021, loves the vibe on Downtown’s Smithfield Street and Liberty Avenue, as well as in Oakland.

“I like Oakland a lot, especially when the students get back. They have a lot of flavor and style,” he says. In recent years, he’s been incorporating more video into his work and often wears a body camera “so people can see the behind-the-scenes of the interactions.”

He’s also building his network as a platform for other creators. “I want to give young people opportunities,” he says. “That’s the goal.” So, we wanted to know: What is Chancelor Humphrey’s Best of the ’Burgh?

What’s your Pittsburgh “hidden gem,” a place that you love that doesn’t get the attention it deserves?

Kaya in the Strip District and 202 Hometown Tacos in Bellevue

If you could only eat one local meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Oxtail from Pauline’s Caribbean Soul Cuisine on the North Side

If Pittsburgh had a theme song, what would it be?

“Glass House” by Wiz Khalifa

What’s the annual tradition that you wait for every year?

Pittsburgh Steelers football

Favorite Pittsburgh appearance in a movie or on television?

“Striking Distance.” (“Jack Reacher” is a close second.)

What’s your unpopular Pittsburgh opinion? What is something you think about the city (or a famous aspect of it) that won’t win you any friends?

“I hate Primanti sandwiches. I think they’re disgusting. Yeah, I’m sorry. But I will say this, they do have a good kielbasa sandwich.”

Where’s the first place you take out-of-town guests?

“Bicycle Heaven. There’s a lot of fun stuff in there. And PNC Park, man — it’s beautiful. You’re just out there enjoying the vibes during the summer, for sure.”

You get one incline ride with any Pittsburgher, living or dead. Who is it?

Charles “Teenie” Harris

If you could bring back one Pittsburgh place or restaurant that’s no longer there, which would you pick?

“The Beehive. When I was younger, I would just come up to the city just to get some work done, and that was the place I would set up my laptop. I just felt so cool in there.”

ROB KING | PHOTO BY TAYLOR OLLASON/PITTSBURGH STEELERS

There are two positions the Pittsburgh Steelers almost never change: head coach and play-by-play announcer.

There have been two of each in the past three decades: Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin on the sidelines, and Bill Hillgrove and Rob King in the booth. King, who replaced Hillgrove in 2024, has been a fixture in Pittsburgh’s stadiums and television studios for 25 years, hosting pre- and post-game shows for the Steelers and Pirates before becoming the official voice of the Steelers.

King, who grew up in Cooperstown, New York, also is an author, spending his time away from the microphone crafting worlds of fantasy; his middle-grade novel “The Door in the Stone” is available now on Amazon and in select local bookstores, with another coming this fall.

We wanted to know: What is Rob King’s Best of the ’Burgh?

What’s your Pittsburgh “hidden gem,” a place that you love that doesn’t get the attention it deserves?

Beaver, Pennsylvania. “It feels to me like an old-fashioned town with great shops and restaurants and a big town square.”

If you could only eat one local meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Tie: Legends Eatery, on the North Side, and Sarafino’s Restaurant, in Crafton.

If Pittsburgh had a theme song, what would it be?

“We Are Family” by Sister Sledge. “Pittsburghers, and Western Pennsylvanians at large, have a great sense of civic pride that brings us all together.”

What’s the annual tradition that you wait for every year?

The holiday season in Downtown Pittsburgh. “Skating at the PPG [Place] rink … the gingerbread houses and Santa Clauses from all over the world, and the Christmas market.”

Favorite Pittsburgh appearance in a movie or on television?

“Mindhunter”

What’s your unpopular Pittsburgh opinion? What is something you think about the city (or a famous aspect of it) that won’t win you any friends?

“I like fireworks. I really love Pittsburgh. I just don’t think I like fireworks as much as the average Pittsburgher.”

Where’s the first place you take out-of-town guests?

An incline ride to Mount Washington

You get one incline ride with any Pittsburgher, living or dead. Who is it?

“Definitely the hardest question. I thought about friends like Stan [Savran], Tunch [Ilkin] and [Craig Wolfley] … As someone who has written and who loves to read, I thought of Michael Chabon and Stewart O’Nan.

But I thought I’d stick to sports … I’m going with Bruno Sammartino. I never met him, I heard he was wonderful and I think his personal story is fascinating.”

If you could bring back one Pittsburgh place or restaurant that’s no longer there, which would you pick?

Mallorca Restaurant

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Sara Innamorato, now in her second year as Allegheny County executive, is the first woman elected to the position that oversees services for the county’s 1.3 million residents.

Born in Ross, she recently added dog walks to her busy schedule after adopting an 8-pound Papillon mix named Lucy. In her free time, she loves visiting farmers markets, cooking (she’s a vegetarian) and checking out books at the library with the hope of actually reading them.

At press time, she was scheduled to close on a Wilkinsburg house in late July, leaving her longtime place in Lawrenceville. So we wanted to know: What is Sara Innamorato’s Best of the ’Burgh?

What’s your Pittsburgh “hidden gem,” a place that you love that doesn’t get the attention it deserves?

Our public outdoor spaces. “I’ll make a plug for our county parks … You have everything: wave pools, a herd of buffalo, a full-operating farm and, you know, mountain bike trails … It’s something that could be elevated and really used as a tourist attraction.”

If you could only eat one local meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Pierogies — because of their versatility.

If Pittsburgh had a theme song, what would it be?

“The River” by Bruce Springsteen. “It references the hills, the valleys, the rivers. There’s references to union cards — dramatic love stories as well.”

What’s the annual tradition that you wait for every year?

The Garden Party at the Mattress Factory. “I aspire every year to be creative and make my own outfit and be really outrageous.”

Favorite Pittsburgh appearance in a movie or on television?

It’s a tie: “The Pitt” and “The Dark Knight Rises.”

What’s your unpopular Pittsburgh opinion? What is something you think about the city (or a famous aspect of it) that won’t win you any friends?

“Oh my gosh, I do not like ketchup. I know it’s an unpopular opinion, but I’d rather get my fries into mayo or vinegar or ranch or really anything else besides ketchup.”

Where’s the first place you take out-of-town guests?

Besides an incline ride to Mount Washington — Apteka. “It’s delicious.”

You get one incline ride with any Pittsburgher, living or dead. Who is it?

Fred Rogers. “When you’re thinking about now, the division that exists across political parties, and they’re trying to strip away funding for public television and public radio … I think Mister Rogers was just able to transcend a lot of that tension in a way that really united people. And I would just ask for his advice right now — how to do the work to remind people that we’re all neighbors.”

If you could bring back one Pittsburgh place or restaurant that’s no longer there, which would you pick?

The Shadow Lounge in East Liberty

1. West Virginia Penitentiary

PHOTO BY HUCK BEARD

For Gothic thrills, grab your camera and visit the West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville, W.V.; it’s a look back at 19th- and 20th-century prison life.

Designed in the castellated Gothic architectural style — adorned with turrets and battlements, like a castle — the penitentiary opened in 1876 and was witness to riots, escapes and fires over the years. Nearly 100 prisoners were executed by hanging or electrocution within its thick walls. It closed in 1995.

The original “Old Sparky” electric chair is still on display.

2. Fort Pitt Block House

PHOTO BY HUCK BEARD

Constructed in 1764 in what is now Point State Park, the Fort Pitt Block House was built to fortify the massive Fort Pitt, a key British defense after the French and Indian War. It was decommissioned in 1772 to become a trading post — but saw action again when the American Revolution sparked in 1775.

Free and open to visitors for more than a century, the Fort Pitt Block House is a popular spot for school field trips. A gift shop inside sells replicas of Revolution-era items.

3. Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village

PHOTO BY HUCK BEARD

Look way back at distant history at the Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village, designated in 2005 as a National Historic Landmark. An ongoing archaeological dig since the early 1970s, the Washington County field school in Avella has unearthed nearly 2 million artifacts — including ancient stone tools and pottery fragments — used 19,000 years ago by prehistoric hunters and gatherers.

You can also visit recreations of a 19th-century village (including a one-room schoolhouse, log church and blacksmith shop), a 16th-century Monongahela Indian Village and a frontier trading post.

This story is part of our 2025 Best of the ‘Burgh staff picks.

1. Hadari the Pygmy Hippo at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium

PHOTO BY PAUL A. SELVAGGIO

Moo Deng, a baby pygmy hippopotamus living at a Thailand zoo, became an internet sensation in 2024, thanks to her playful antics — including adorably biting her keeper’s knee. While Moo Deng took the world by storm only last year, the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium has featured equally adorable miniature hippos for almost a decade.

In 2016, Jahari made his debut in the Jungle Odyssey section of the zoo, delighting visitors with his graceful aquatic antics and big smile. In 2023, Jahari went looking for love; as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan, he was relocated to the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to prepare for future breeding opportunities.

Taking his place was Hadari, a young male pygmy hippo born in Alabama who has a love of interacting with keepers — and a special fondness for green beans, cooked carrots and oranges. Tucked on a hill behind The Islands (home to Visayan warty pigs and clouded leopards) and the busy Safari Plaza, the Jungle Odyssey section could be missed if you don’t know what to look for — but it certainly shouldn’t be skipped.

Besides Hadari, a slew of interesting animals, including fossas, ocelots and giant anteaters, call the Jungle Odyssey home. It opened in 2017. With the unveiling last year of the zoo’s ambitious 20-year master plan to revitalize the Highland Park campus, Hadari and his friends will have opportunities to be further highlighted. As part of the plan’s first phase, construction is already taking place on a new $5.5 million entrance and ticketing area to replace the 30-year-old space to make it more guest-friendly and ADA accessible. The new entrance is expected to open by the end of summer.

Also in the works is an expanded state-of-the-art giraffe barn for $8 million and a $32.5 million upgrade to The Islands, which will host the zoo’s Bornean orangutans (currently housed in an indoor facility), giving them room to swing in a full acre under a netted enclosure.

2. Fun Fore All Family Fun Park

PHOTO BY JESSICA SINICHAK

With more than 70 indoor arcade games, a popular outdoor miniature golf course, go-karts, batting cages and a plethora of kiddie rides, Fun Fore All in Cranberry is a mecca for kids of every age — and it just got a little more fun for adults, too. Near the end of 2024, Zelienople-based brewpub ShuBrew partnered with Fun Fore All to bring its canned beers to the entertainment complex.

Now, every Friday and Saturday, those over age 21 can enjoy a craft brew — recent offerings include Pennies From Heaven Copper Ale, No Woman No Rye Imperial Rye IPA and Gym Selfie Low Calorie Hazy IPA — in the new duckpin bowling area. Speaking of duckpin bowling, Fun Fore All has a private, two-lane duckpin bowling suite that’s a great option for a more intimate celebration. (Yes, you can order a ShuBrew there, too.)

The Fun Fore All menu also includes a heaping of kid-friendly foods such as pizza, wings and nachos (musts when you’re a regional birthday-party destination), which all goes down well with a beer. And hey — if you want to continue the adult fun for all down the road at ShuBrew’s official location along Main Street in Zelienople, you have our approval.

We especially like hitting up the pub (which has a great rooftop deck open in the summer months) during the charming town’s Open Air Markets, which take place from 5-9 p.m. every Thursday from May through September.

3. CMU’s Explore Engineering Expo

PHOTO BY KATIE LASLAVIC

Since she was small, my 9-year-old daughter Scarlett has loved to build intricate habitats around the house using Amazon boxes, toys, figurines and whatever other items she can find — usually pieces of my decor.

I once told her she should be an architect, and the idea stuck. When she asked which Pittsburgh college she should attend for that, I told her Carnegie Mellon University — and that idea also stuck. So imagine how excited we both were when a friend let me know about CMU’s Explore Engineering Expo. Sponsored by the College of Engineering’s outreach program, the free event, which took place in February and April, included sessions for those in grades 3-4 and another for kids in grades 5-8.

The program’s mission is to create a larger community of engineers by providing educational opportunities for all students, including activities and projects where kids can develop age-appropriate critical-thinking, problem-solving and design skills. On a sunny spring Saturday, my friend and I dropped off our daughters (including Scarlett’s big sister Aurelia) at Scaife Hall for the two-hour program, where they were tasked with engineering a civilization for a new planet.

While the girls made slime and built models for their emerging world (including a windmill, an electrical station … and a cat), my friend and I dined at nearby Butterjoint, where I had the excellent Fancy Burger.

After that, we all explored the campus, taking in the historical and contemporary architecture — and confirming Scarlett’s desire to go to CMU. (And yes, I told her she’ll need to study very hard to be accepted.) Besides the Explore Engineer Expo, the school also sponsors a Summer Engineering Experience as well as other on- and off-campus engineering events throughout the year.

This story is part of our 2025 Best of the ‘Burgh staff picks.

1. Primanti Brothers for Pizza

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

I had a pepperoni pizza at Primanti Bros., and it nearly broke my Pittsburgher brain. I’ve been to “The House That Slaw Built” countless times in my life, but I rarely veer from a cap-and-cheese piled high with those “Almost Famous” yinzer fixins.

It doesn’t matter that there’s a whole menu to explore outside of sammiches; the thought of ordering something round, flat and not covered in fries seems … well, wrong. To covertly try a Primanti Bros. pie, I visited one of the chain’s suburban eateries — where, I felt, it’s more acceptable to go rogue when ordering. Could I even get the word “pizza” out of my mouth as my taste buds demanded capicola drenched in Red Devil sauce?

My nervousness faded as soon as the host seated me at a booth with a poster above it proclaiming “In Pizza We Crust.” For $20, I got an 18-inch pie, which is a bit much even for a professional eater. (You can sensibly order a large slice for $1.99 when you dine in.)

I happily gobbled a large portion of my colossal lunch. I enjoyed the zestiness of the sauce and the cupped pepperoni grease traps on a thin crust that was soft and chewy, but buckled under a metric ton of mozzarella. I washed it all down with an I.C. Light draft because I can’t break every tradition.

The to-go box has the words Pizza Bros printed on the top and a Tic Tac Dough board on the back. I’m down for another game of Primanti pizza if anyone wants to play — winner gets the first slice and a cap-and-cheese.

2. Live la Vida Loca at Viva La Vida Mexican Bar & Grill

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

If you like Mexican food with a twist, the color pink and eye-popping murals, visit Viva La Vida Mexican Bar & Grill in O’Hara.

Head chef Gustavo Badillo fuses south-of-the-border fare with other cuisines, including sushi, fries loaded with steak, pico de gallo, avocado, jalapeños, sour cream cheese dip and filet mignon with jalapeño butter. Because why not?

Local artist Ashley Hodder painted murals of famous Mexican entertainers throughout the space. It complements the menu, which is a culinary form of entertainment. Did I mention the margaritas that light up and smoke?

3. Hot Dogs for Breakfast at Grim Wizard Coffee & Nicky’s Hot Dogs

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

It’s 11 a.m., and I’m consuming a hot dog and a Hell Hound iced latte inside of a heavy metal cafe. As a black-clad foodie who loves cookouts but hates the sun, this is a perfect way to celebrate the season.

Over Memorial Day Weekend, Allentown’s Grim Wizard Coffee hosted its first Hot Dog Brunch with Nicky’s Hot Dogs, a roving business that specializes in Chicago-style street food. Like the new Pope, I’m a devotee of the Windy City’s famous frank on a poppy seed bun topped with yellow mustard, neon-green relish, chopped white onion, sliced tomatoes, dill pickle spear, pickled sport peppers and celery salt.

Nicky’s offers brunchier items, too, such as a Polish sausage-and-egg sandwich, pepper-and-potato hash and a bacon-egg croissant, but starting your day with a hot dog is hardcore. And if anyone criticizes you for your nutritional choices, tell them the devil made you do it.

This story is part of our 2025 Best of the ‘Burgh staff picks.

1. Beyond Bedtime Books

PHOTO BY JAMIE GRASSMAN/COURTESY OF BEYOND BEDTIME BOOKS

The best bookstores are ones that require a bit of careful navigation. At Dormont’s Beyond Bedtime Books, shelves and stacks of books twist and turn in a labyrinth of unread stories.

On one wall, mass-market paperbacks of popular authors are piled high; on the other, out-of-print books and rarities beckon serious collectors. Children’s books are tucked in a quiet reading area in the back of the store; books by local authors and those about Pittsburgh face the front window; small shelves in the center of the store collect subgenres from gardening to westerns.

It’s a setup that invites discovery. As you pick your way around each corner and shimmy along the shelves, you’ll find yourself considering authors and styles you’ve never encountered; perhaps you’ll judge an old paperback by its cover or take a chance on a nonfiction title that catches your eye.

Throughout your journey, the inviting smell of old pages fills the air and the sound of customers chatting with staff at the counter provides the soundtrack. While regular shopping hours are mostly limited to the afternoon — 11 a.m.-4 p.m., seven days a week — regular “Booze & Books” evenings, held the last Friday of each month, draw overflowing crowds for complimentary wine, giveaways and discounts.

Being tucked into such a cozy space with strangers is a great way to make a new bibliophile friend — and get some recommendations for great reads around the next corner.

2. Songbird Artistry

PHOTO BY HUCK BEARD

Behind an eye-catching sign on Penn Avenue in Lawrenceville, visitors will encounter a cornucopia of crafts, merchandise and apparel. This array isn’t from one seller; in fact, it’s from dozens.

“We have 52 vendors right now,” explains Jacklyn Orefice, co-owner of Songbird Artistry. “Our youngest is 16; our oldest is 82.”

The shop, which grew out of a collective of vendors originally housed in the bygone Pittsburgh Public Market, celebrated its ninth anniversary in May. Guests who wander into the shop, which is located across the street from the main entrance to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, will find handmade jewelry, Pittsburgh-centric gifts and decor, beauty products, stationery and many more treasures — including a curated selection of vintage finds, Orefice’s specialty.

The spirit of the shop, however, is in its events, classes and connections. Game nights (some with retro board games from the shop’s collections) help customers become friends; classes in crocheting, mosaics and dozens of other subjects turn curious shoppers into crafters. Orefice says those events have made Songbird Artistry a community staple — in fact, strangers and friends alike came together to prevent the shop from foundering during the early days of the pandemic.

“The community — down to our landlord stopping our rent — nobody would let us go,” she says. Orefice, who co-owns the store with her sister, Jennifer, and their mother, Debbie Maier Jacknin, can frequently be found setting up shop at events throughout the region. “It’s mentally good for us … to be out there in weird spaces,” Orefice says. “I feel like a celebrity because people say the nicest things to me.”

3. Sports Card Junction

PHOTO BY HUCK BEARD

If you hadn’t noticed that sports cards are once again big business, Paul Skenes should’ve clued you in. The search for the Pirates phenom’s cards has captivated fans and collectors worldwide; his coveted debut patch card, featuring the insignia he wore in his first appearance alongside his autograph, sold at auction for more than $1.1 million.

You can find it at the Dick’s House of Sport Store in Ross Park Mall. Not far from that valuable piece of memorabilia, you’ll find hundreds of thousands of other cards — and a lot of them are far more affordable.

Sports Card Junction has been selling cards for 30 years, dealing in sports, pop-culture and equally popular Pokémon cards. That’s a long run for any business, let alone one with as much volatility as collectibles and sports cards; founder Chuck Weldon and his son and current co-owner Chad endured a long downturn in the hobby around the time of the Great Recession.

Ever since the mid 2010s, however, business has been picking up. Wander into the shop, and you’ll find kids studying new packs of Pokémon, collectors considering high-value packs of rare sports cards and curious shoppers browsing vintage selections. Vitally, there are cards and packs here at every price point, from “junk wax” sports cards from the early ’90s — many priced at just $1-$2 — all the way to hard-to-find boxes that cost hundreds of dollars. The same is true of individual cards in the shop.

There are rare, autographed items here, but there are also plenty of cards for just a few bucks. Those more affordable options help younger fans start building their collection. Judging by the number of new collectors visiting Sports Card Junction on any given afternoon, they’ll likely keep the place in business for the next 30 years.

This story is part of our 2025 Best of the ‘Burgh staff picks.

1. Sir Anthony Hopkins Mural

PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

Newcomers to Pittsburgh might be puzzled to see a newish mural on the side of Allegheny City Brewing depicting the image of Sir Anthony Hopkins next to a skull.

It’s been nearly 35 years since Western Pennsylvania served as the filming backdrop to the only horror film ever to win an Academy Award for Best Picture — “The Silence of the Lambs.” This mural by Paul Jackson, found at 507 Foreland St. on the North Side, joins other local reminders from the 1991 film about a cannibalistic serial killer, Hannibal Lecter (played by Hopkins), who helps FBI agent Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) solve a string of gruesome murders.

Each Halloween season, Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum in Oakland — where a pivotal scene was filmed — hosts “The Silence of the Lambs” Cage Night, featuring a life-size replica of Hannibal’s cage (you gotta see the movie to learn what that’s all about) and other spooky thrills. And in Perryopolis, you’ll find Buffalo Bill’s House, the 1910 Victorian home featured in the movie as the location of lots of nefarious activities. It’s now a vacation rental packed with film-themed memorabilia and a replica of the famous basement well used by Buffalo Bill to imprison his victims.

2. Josh Gibson Mural

PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

If you’re driving through the 200 block of East Eighth Avenue in Homestead and casually look over at a little day care playground in a side alley, you’ll likely do a double-take — thanks to the huge face of baseball Hall of Famer Josh Gibson looming just behind it.

Muralist Jeremy Raymer in 2021 painted the image of this power-hitter for the Homestead Grays and the Pittsburgh Crawfords on the side of a former Voodoo Brewing location.

Raymer, a former biomechanical and electrical engineer, has painted images of Pittsburgh sports icons and pop art all over Pittsburgh and beyond — former Pittsburgh Steeler Troy Polamalu and Penguins great Sidney Crosby in the Strip District, a giant wasp in Freeport and screen actress Hedy Lamarr in Lawrenceville, to name a few.

Motorists driving into Homestead from the Homestead Grays Bridge can see Gibson’s image peeking over buildings, but it still can be a surprise to see the giant mural rise from behind this alley.

3. Color Park

PHOTO BY HUCK BEARD

Years ago, Pittsburgh artist Baron Batch started tagging a desolate stretch of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail on the South Side with brightly colored graffiti. All was well — until his artwork was reported to the police as vandalism.

But this spurred an idea among leaders of the nonprofit Friends of the Riverfront — why not partner with Batch to create something special along this industrial stretch of the trail? So, in 2017, Batch and the organization invited the community to add their artistic flair to create the Color Park, the city’s first sanctioned graffiti park and an ongoing public art project.

They focused on a section lined with concrete barriers, painting about 20 of them in bright colors. While this area has become a popular spot for yoga sessions and other gatherings, it’s still an unexpected encounter for first-timers on the trail. Over time, the graffiti (unofficially) has expanded far down the asphalt trail.

Friends of the Riverfront holds periodic repainting of the park as a refresh so public artists can start over with blank canvases.

This story is part of our 2025 Best of the ‘Burgh staff picks.

RUSSELL HOWARD | PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Russell Howard fell in love with pickles long before he moved to Pittsburgh in 1978 to attend Carnegie Mellon University.

Growing up in the New York City area, he often visited local delis, where bowls of pickles were set out on every table. So, when he was in charge of special events for the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, he came up with the idea of creating a festival around pickles — showcased by the giant flying pickle balloon, an homage to the Heinz pickle pin.

“It crossed so many different categories,” he says. “It’s creative and whimsical, goofy and funny, but also it’s farm to table.” Picklesburgh celebrates its 10th anniversary July 11-13; last year, it drew 250,000 fans. “It’s become a huge event — and I think, in many ways, a holiday,” he says.

So we wanted to know: What is Russell Howard’s Best of the ’Burgh?

What’s your Pittsburgh “hidden gem,” a place that you love that doesn’t get the attention it deserves?

Moondog’s in Blawnox. “The venue is exceptional and authentic and not nearly as appreciated as it deserves to be.”

If you could only eat one local meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Sunday brunch at the Grand Concourse at Station Square

If Pittsburgh had a theme song, what would it be?

“Takin’ Care of Business” by Bachman-Turner Overdrive

What’s the annual tradition that you wait for every year?

Picklesburgh

Favorite Pittsburgh appearance in a movie or on television?

The Downtown beauty shots during “Monday Night Football”

What’s your unpopular Pittsburgh opinion? What is something you think about the city (or a famous aspect of it) that won’t win you any friends?

“Pittsburgh drivers. I sometimes refer to this as like the Valley of the Dinosaurs  [because] Pittsburgh drivers anywhere else would have evolved or been killed off by now.”

Where’s the first place you take out-of-town guests?

Mount Washington Overlook

You get one incline ride with any Pittsburgher, living or dead. Who is it?

Rachel Carson

If you could bring back one Pittsburgh place or restaurant that’s no longer there, which would you pick?

Liberty Belle Tavern on Friday Nights with Frankie Capri

SIDNEY CROSBY | PHOTO COURTESY PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Best Artist

Feel the Rain Studio, Emily Glass

Best Bartender

Olivia Shields, Off the Rails Barbeque and Drafthouse

Best Comedian

Bill Crawford

Best Drag Performer

Chi Chi de Vivre

Best Improv/Sketch Team

The Latchkey Kids

Best Influencer

Ana Eats Pgh

Best Local Writer

Jill Cullen

Best Meteorologist

Mary Ours

Best Morning Drive Team

The Bubba Show

Best Radio Station

102.5 WDVE

Best Sports Reporter

Bob Pompeani

Best Sports Team

Pittsburgh Penguins

Best TV News Personality

Ken Rice, KDKA-TV

Best TV Newscast

KDKA-TV

Best Podcast

Ya Jagoff Late Night

Best Pro Athlete

Sidney Crosby

SPLASH/NICKLAS SUPPLY | PHOTO COURTESY OF SPLASH

Best Appliance Store

Don’s Appliances

Best Architecture Firm

DRAW Collective

Best Building Products

Allegheny Millwork & Lumber

Best Closets/Custom Closets

Closets by Design

Best Flooring

Splash/Nicklas Supply

Best Furniture Store

Levin Furniture and Mattress

Best General Contractor

Resnick Roofing & Contracting

Best Hardware Store

Rollier Hardware

Best Home Builder

Eddy Homes

Best Home Decor Store

Funcy Decor

Best Interior Designer

Interiors by Seashal

Best Kitchen & Bath Supplier

Splash/Nicklas Supply

Best Lighting Store

Cardello Lighting

Best Real Estate Agent

Dominic Janidas (Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices)

Best Window Company

Allegheny Millwork & Lumber

Best Roofing Contractors

Resnick Roofing & Contracting

HOUSE OF HANDSOME | PHOTO BY JORDAN BECKHAM STUDIO / COURTESY OF HOUSE OF HANDSOME

Best Barber

House of Handsome Barbershop and Boutique

Best CBD

Hippie & French

Best Counseling Center

Jewish Family and Community Services

Best Hair Salon

Just in Kace Salon

Best Health & Beauty Store

Lipstyck Lab

Best Independent Pharmacy

Bloomfield Drug Store

Best Local Fitness Club

Spin City Oakmont

Best Medical Spa

Fillir

Best Nail Salon

Beli Nails

Best Personal Trainer

Rachel Berry, Steel City Fortitude Fitness

Best Piercing Services

Hot Rod Piercing Co.

Best Semi-Permanent Makeup

MAG Makeup & Brows

Best Spa

WAY Wellness Center

Best Tattoo Parlor

Steel-Skins Tattoo Co.

Best Yoga Studio

MOVE Power Yoga

THE FARMER’S DAUGHTER FLOWERS | PHOTO BY PAUL PHILLIPS / COURTESY THE FARMER’S DAUGHTER FLOWERS

Best Butcher

Strip District Meats

Best CSA

Harvie

Best Day Care (Children)

C&M Play Studio

Best Day Care (Pets)

Cozy Inn Pet Resort

Best Florist

The Farmer’s Daughter Flowers

Best Landscaper

TLC Green Landscaping

Best New or Used Auto Dealer

Citywide Auto Sales

Best Pet Services

Pets After Dark

Best Travel Agency

Viaggio Travel Consulting

Best Veterinarian

Pets After Dark

Best Wedding Photographer

Megan McGreevy Photography

Best Wedding Videographer

Penderville Wedding Films

Best Wedding Planner

Here for the Cookie Table

Best Wedding Venue

Grand Hall at the Priory Hotel

MOON & YARN CRAFT ROOM | PHOTO BY CAITLIN GIRDWOOD / COURTESY OF MOON & YARN

Best Artisan/Craft-Made Store

Moon & Yarn Craft Room

Best Antique & Repurposed Store

Wexford General Store Antiques

Best Bike Shop

Pro Bike + Run

Best Bridal Boutique

One White Lane

Best Cards/Stationery Store

Kards Unlimited

Best Children’s Clothing Boutique

Precious + Posh

Best Comic Book Store

Phantom of the Attic

Best Garden Centers

Steel Goat Marketplace

Best Gift Shop

Songbird Artistry

Best Indie Bookstore

White Whale Bookstore

Best Jewelry Store

Henne Jewelers

Best Men’s Clothing Boutique

Moda

Best Record Store

Jerry’s Records

Best Shoe Store

Littles Shoes

Best Thrift/Vintage Shop

Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse

Best T-Shirt Shop

Steel City

Best Toy/Game Store

S.W. Randall Toyes & Giftes

Best Women’s Clothing Boutique

Kiya Tomlin

PICKLESBURGH | PHOTO COURTESY DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH PARTNERSHIP

Best Activity Bar

Pins Mechanical Co.

Best Bed & Breakfast

The Mansions on Fifth

Best Boutique Hotel

The Priory Hotel

Best Camp for Kids

Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium

Best Cigar Shop/Bar

Just the Tip Cigars

Best Cinema

Row House Cinema

Best Dance Troupe

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

Best Dog Park

The Dog Penn

Best Drive-In Theater

Dependable Drive In

Best Film Festival

Three Rivers Film Festival

Best Food Festival

Picklesburgh

Best Golf Course

Oakmont Country Club

Best Haunted Attraction

Hundred Acres Manor

Best Hiking/Biking Trail

Montour Trail

Best Holiday Light Show

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Best Late-Night Spot

Bigham Tavern

Best Live Theater Company

Pittsburgh CLO

Best Live Theater Venue

Benedum Center for the Performing Arts

Best Local Band/Musician

North Pittsburgh Symphonic Band

Best Miniature Golf

Forsythe Miniature Golf

Best Museum

Heinz History Center

Best Pickleball Courts

North Park

Best Place for Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties

Pittsburgh Party Boat Co.

Best Place to Take Kids

Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium

Best Pumpkin Patch

Soergel Orchards

Best Tourist Attraction

Mount Washington

Best Trivia Night

The Crafty Jackalope

MOONLIT BURGERS | PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Best Bakery

Oakmont Bakery

Best Barbeque

Off the Rails Barbeque and Drafthouse

Best Breakfast/Brunch

Pamela’s Diner

Best Burger

Moonlit Burgers

Best Casual Dining

Burgatory

Best Caterer

Bistro to Go Catering

Best Chinese

Sesame Inn

Best Diner

Pamela’s Diner

Best Dog-Friendly Restaurant

Wexford Public

Best Donuts

Oram’s Donut Shop

Best Family-Friend Restaurant

Eat’n Park

Best Farmers Market

Bloomfield Saturday Market

Best Fine Dining

Altius

Best Food Truck

Hibachi Lou

Best Frozen Treat

Page’s

Best Independent Deli

Squirrel Hill Market

Best Indian

Bombay to Burgh

Best Italian

DiAnoia’s Eatery

Best Hot Dogs

D’s Six Pax and Dogz

Best Japanese/Sushi

Little Tokyo

Best Local Farm

Soergel Orchards

Best Mexican

El Campesino

Best Middle Eastern

Aladdin’s Eatery

Best Outdoor Dining

Pusadee’s Garden

Best Pierogies

Pierogies Plus

Best Pizza

Fiori’s

Best Pub Food

Bigham Tavern

Best Romantic Dining

Hyeholde Restaurant

Best Seafood

Off the Hook

Best Soul Food

Con Alma

Best Tacos

Condado

Best Thai

Nicky’s Thai Kitchen

Best Vegan/Veg Friendly

Apteka

Best Wings

Big Shot Bob’s House of Wings

WIGLE WHISKEY | PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Best LGBTQ+ Bar

5801

Best Local Brewery

Grist House Craft Brewery

Best Local Coffee Shop

The Roaming Bean

Best Local Distillery

Wigle Whiskey Distillery

Best Place for Craft Cocktails

The Commoner

Best Place for Mocktails

The Open Road

Best Smoothies

Smoothie King

Best Sports Bar

Bigham Tavern

Best Tea Shop

Dobrá Tea

Best Wine Shop

Narcisi Winery

JOE MANGANIELLO | PHOTO BY MONTY BRINTON/NBC

Playing football for Mt. Lebanon High School, hanging out in Oakland between classes at University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University — Joe Manganiello wasn’t just born here, he’s a true-blue Pittsburgher.

The actor transferred from Pitt to Carnegie Mellon before graduating in 2000 with a degree in drama; acting roles quickly followed, including a breakthrough in the megahit “Spider-Man” and plum parts on TV shows including “One Tree Hill” and “True Blood.”

He’s appeared in more than 30 films and on dozens of programs — including his two seasons as the host of the NBC game show “Deal or No Deal Island” — but he finds plenty of time to visit both his hometown and nearby Uniontown, the childhood home of his girlfriend, actress Caitlin O’Connor.

We wanted to know: What is Joe Manganiello’s Best of the ’Burgh?

What’s your Pittsburgh “hidden gem,” a place that you love that doesn’t get the attention it deserves?

Nicholas Coffee & Tea Co. in Market Square

If you could only eat one local meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

“That’s like ‘Sophie’s Choice.’ How am I supposed to pick between Fiori’s and Primanti’s? I don’t know that I can choose. I’m sorry, I have to get two.”

If Pittsburgh had a theme song, what would it be?

Wiz Khalifa, “Black and Yellow.”

What’s the annual tradition that you wait for every year?

“August weather in Pittsburgh. 85, humid and gray. I just want to live there — when the windows are open and there’s a thunderstorm. It’s the greatest.”

Favorite Pittsburgh appearance in a movie or on television?

“Striking Distance”

What’s your unpopular Pittsburgh opinion? What is something you think about the city (or a famous aspect of it) that won’t win you any friends?

“When I was in high school, I thought Rusted Root was way better than Dave Matthews Band.”

Where’s the first place you take out-of-town guests?

“I took the Big Show — the wrestler, my buddy Paul Wight — I took him to Fiori’s. My trainer was competing in a bodybuilding competition in Pittsburgh, so I sent him to Primanti’s. Those are two good ones. I send people to the Warhol Museum. And Steelers games — on the sideline during the game, it’s just nuts.”

If you could bring back one Pittsburgh place or restaurant that’s no longer there, which would you pick?

The Beehive movie theater in Oakland. “I came up in the ’90s, and that was the era of those independent filmmakers taking over — [Quentin] Tarantino, Danny Boyle, David Fincher, David Lynch. I saw all those movies … ‘Trainspotting,’ ‘Kids,’ ‘Swingers,’ ‘Seven.’ I saw a ‘Reservoir Dogs’ and ‘Pulp Fiction’ double feature. ‘Lost Highway.’ … That was the greatest. You could smoke cigarettes. They had couches in the back. You could bring your own six-pack. So many great memories.”

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

When Andrew McCutchen returned to the Pittsburgh Pirates before the 2023 season, it felt less like a baseball transaction and more like a homecoming.

While the former National League MVP hails from Fort Meade, Florida, he made Pittsburgh his home over eight seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates — literally, as McCutchen kept his house in the North Hills even after he was traded to the San Francisco Giants.

McCutchen spent time with the Giants, Yankees, Phillies and Brewers during five years away from Pittsburgh — but, as he told writer Cristina Rouvalis when Pittsburgh Magazine named him the 2023 Pittsburgher of the Year, Pittsburgh is “where my heart is.”

Now in his 12th overall season in black and gold, we wanted to know: What is Andrew McCutchen’s Best of the ’Burgh?

What’s your Pittsburgh “hidden gem,” a place that you love that doesn’t get the attention it deserves?

Napa Prime Chophouse

If you could only eat one local meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Hotcakes from Pamela’s. “I can crush those — then I have to deal with the after effects.”

If Pittsburgh had a theme song, what would it be?

Wiz Khalifa, “Black and Yellow”

What’s the annual tradition that you wait for every year?

Taking his four children to the “Merry Lights” drive-thru holiday light show. “[Light-Up Night] has become way too packed, now. We went to try to do it two years ago; we were right there in Market Square … I had Steel right here, I had Armani on my shoulder; I couldn’t turn around … I was like, ‘We’re never doing this again.’”

Favorite Pittsburgh appearance in a movie or on television?

“The Dark Knight Rises.” “I was living Downtown when they were filming … I got to see the little BMW trucks with the cameras on them following the Batmobile through the streets.”

What’s your unpopular Pittsburgh opinion? What is something you think about the city (or a famous aspect of it) that won’t win you any friends?

“Pierogies are not good.”

Where’s the first place you take out-of-town guests?

PNC Park — and driving into Downtown through the Fort Pitt Tunnel

You get one incline ride with any Pittsburgher, living or dead. Who is it?

Roberto Clemente

If you could bring back one Pittsburgh place or restaurant that’s no longer there, which would you pick?

The Wexford location of Nakama

SUZANNE LAWRENCE | PHOTO BY LOUIS STEIN

Suzanne Lawrence took a comedy class in 2015 at Arcade Comedy Theater, “kind of on a dare from some friends.” Before even completing the course, she was offered $10 and two beers to perform a 10-minute set at bygone Lawrenceville comedy spot Hambone’s.

“Now, I get slightly more money,” she says. She has since opened for national headliners, including Tig Notaro, Michael Ian Black and Melissa Villaseñor, and taken the stage as far afield as California. (And, she says, nearly London — but “the guy responded when I was already heading for my plane at Heathrow.”) A West Virginia native who returned to the region after spending time in Los Angeles, Lawrence works in research for UPMC by day and continues to perform by night.

We wanted to know: What is Suzanne Lawrence’s Best of the ’Burgh?

What’s your Pittsburgh “hidden gem,” a place that you love that doesn’t get the attention it deserves?

The bar Leo. a public house on the North Side: “It has that neighborhood dive-bar vibe, but they have really incredible custom cocktails.”

If you could only eat one local meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Banana Walnut Hotcakes from The Dor-Stop Restaurant

If Pittsburgh had a theme song, what would it be?

“I’m Still Standing,” Elton John. “Specifically, the version from ‘Sing 2.’ It’s the one … that [my daughter] Molly plays most. We do a lot of retrospective learning about songs.”

What’s the annual tradition that you wait for every year?

Ice skating at PPG Place — and the Peoples Gas Holiday Market

Favorite Pittsburgh appearance in a movie or on television?

“Silence of the Lambs,” particularly the scene filmed at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum

What’s your unpopular Pittsburgh opinion? What is something you think about the city (or a famous aspect of it) that won’t win you any friends?

“I think we need more bike lanes — and better public transportation in general.”

Where’s the first place you take out-of-town guests?

The Strip District: “It feels like the historical heart of Pittsburgh … It has interesting stores, places you can get memorabilia — even if it’s not licensed. There’s basically something for everyone.”

You get one incline ride with any Pittsburgher, living or dead. Who is it?

“The lion at the zoo. Just to see. I just want to see if we could be friends. I think we could.”

If you could bring back one Pittsburgh place or restaurant that’s no longer there, which would you pick?

“In no particular order: Hambone’s, the Shadow Lounge and the fish on the Wholey’s building.”

JON DELANO | PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Jon Delano hung up his microphone on Dec. 1 after spending 30 years interviewing U.S. presidents, Congressional leaders, governors, state lawmakers and more as KDKA-TV’s money and politics editor, as well as its political analyst.

Before that, the trained lawyer was chief of staff for former U.S. Rep. Doug Walgren. At 75, he’s not lollygagging in retirement. In addition to occasional appearances on KDKA, he’s board president of the Denis Theatre Foundation, which is working to restore and reopen the Mt. Lebanon landmark. He’s the typical Pittsburgher who lives just two blocks from the Mt. Lebanon street where he grew up.

So we wanted to know: What is Jon Delano’s Best of the ’Burgh?

What’s your Pittsburgh “hidden gem,” a place that you love that doesn’t get the attention it deserves?

“It’s the Downtown architecture. In Pittsburgh, we don’t look up enough when we’re walking on Downtown streets. We have some of the most incredible buildings — all the sculpture and the cornice work … It’s hidden because we look horizontally, not vertically.”

If you could only eat one local meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Fried zucchini at Primanti’s

If Pittsburgh had a theme song, what would it be?

“We Are Family” by Sister Sledge

What’s the annual tradition that you wait for every year?

Pumpkin Patch Parade in Mt. Lebanon

Favorite Pittsburgh appearance in a movie or on television?

“Flashdance”

What’s your unpopular Pittsburgh opinion? What is something you think about the city (or a famous aspect of it) that won’t win you any friends?

“I think we overdo the black and gold. Everything does not have to be black and gold to be Pittsburgh — please! I mean, even KDKA has gone black and gold.”

Where’s the first place you take out-of-town guests?

“The Strip District — because it has everything.”

You get one Incline ride with any Pittsburgher, living or dead. Who is it?

David L. Lawrence, Pittsburgh’s former four-term mayor (1946-1959) and later Pennsylvania governor (1959-1963). “He was the initiator of the first renaissance. And we could use another renaissance in the city of Pittsburgh. I’d love to hear his thoughts.”

If you could bring back one Pittsburgh place or restaurant that’s no longer there, which would you pick?

The Richest Delicatessen and Restaurant on Sixth Street (“It had lots of pictures of famous people on the wall, it had a jar of pickles on the table and you could get wonderful hot pastrami sandwiches”) and the main dining room at the top of the former Press Club of Pittsburgh building on Wood Street

PHOTO BY ERIC MULL

Few faces in local media have the yinzer bona fides of Daisy Jade. She’s a Pittsburgh native and a University of Pittsburgh grad, and while she’s hosted television shows nationally (including for NASA), she has since 2016 been a regular presence on KDKA-TV, including “Pittsburgh Today Live” and “Talk Pittsburgh.”

Jade is also an actress who has appeared in a number of locally shot films and series, as well as in several documentary series on the Discovery Channel. An avid supporter of local theater as well as the city’s film industry, Jade can often be found at cultural events around town.

With a lifetime spent in the Steel City, we wanted to know: What is Daisy Jade’s Best of the ’Burgh?

What’s your Pittsburgh “hidden gem,” a place that you love that doesn’t get the attention it deserves?

The Frick Fine Arts Building at the University of Pittsburgh. “When there’s nobody around, it’s so peaceful. It’s a nice place to take a break — you can see the artwork and the greenery … it’s beautiful.”

If you could only eat one local meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Steak at Altius. “It’s more about the ambiance.”

If Pittsburgh had a theme song, what would it be?

“Renegade” by Styx

What’s the annual tradition that you wait for every year?

Lights! Glamour! Action!, the annual fundraising gala for the Pittsburgh Film Office

Favorite Pittsburgh appearance in a movie or on television?

“I’ve appeared in quite a few! I was a newscaster in ‘American Rust,’ I was in ‘Banshee’ … but of course, probably “Flashdance.’”

What’s your unpopular Pittsburgh opinion? What is something you think about the city (or a famous aspect of it) that won’t win you any friends?

“Primantis is overrated. But it’s because I’m not a fan of cole slaw — it’s not the regular sandwiches or the meat, it’s just the cole slaw. French fries? Great. No cole slaw.”

Where’s the first place you take out-of-town guests?

Mount Washington

You get one Incline ride with any Pittsburgher, living or dead. Who is it?

Gene Kelly. “He went to my high school, Peabody … I’ve always admired him.”

If you could bring back one Pittsburgh place or restaurant that’s no longer there, which would you pick?

Log Jammer, Kennywood

A STILL FROM “NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD”

The first seeds of the modern zombie took root in the mind of John Russo. The Clarion-born writer, director and actor approached his friend George Romero with an idea: a man defending himself against an imposing pack of ghouls.

From that concept, the 1968 classic “Night of the Living Dead” was born — written by Russo, who would go on to write the story for the ’80s spinoff “Return of the Living Dead” and many more. Frequently found at horror conventions — including the upcoming Sci-Fi Valley Con, scheduled for Nov. 8-10 in Altoona, and December’s edition of Steel City Con — Russo remains an active filmmaker and writer.

We wanted to know: What is John Russo’s Best of the ’Burgh?

What’s your Pittsburgh “hidden gem,” a place that you love that doesn’t get the attention it deserves?

“One of my favorite things about Pittsburgh and its environs is the many saloons and eateries with great environments and excellent, inexpensive food — bar food in particular. The Terrace Garden in Clairton and the WACC Club, also in Clairton, are two of my favorites.”

If you could only eat one local meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Pasta with Hot Sausage from Johnny’s Italian Dining in Wilmerding

If Pittsburgh had a theme song, what would it be?

“Backseat Memories” by Chuck Corby. “It’s a medley of hits by great Pittsburgh bands.”

What’s the annual tradition that you wait for every year?

Clairton Park Oldies Concert

Favorite Pittsburgh appearance in a movie or on television?

“Two of my own: ‘The Mob Boss and the Soul Singer’ and ‘My Uncle John is a Zombie!’”

What’s your unpopular Pittsburgh opinion? What is something you think about the city (or a famous aspect of it) that won’t win you any friends?

“I can’t think of anything. I love being in Pittsburgh — and that’s why I stayed, even though I’ve always had friends and agents in New York and Hollywood. The current crime rate and other problems that most cities are facing nowadays need to be rectified, though.”

Where’s the first place you take out-of-town guests?

Any restaurant on Mount Washington

If you could bring back one Pittsburgh place or restaurant that’s no longer there, which would you pick?

Blue Bird Restaurant in Clairton

You get one Incline ride with any Pittsburgher, living or dead. Who is it?

John McIntire. “I think [he’s] a world-class commentator.”

CHRISTIAN KUNTZ | PHOTO BY KARL ROSER/PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Christian Kuntz was a two-sport star at Chartiers Valley High School and an All-American linebacker at Duquesne University — but it wasn’t until after his college career that he began focusing on long snapping, the special-teams role that he now fills for his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers.

“People take for granted what kickers, punters and long snappers do,” Kuntz says. “It is cool and it is satisfying when you get out there and perform your job and help your team in any way you can.”

It’s particularly satisfying, he adds, to continue his career in the same town where he grew up and attended college. “It’s just crazy being able to play in front of my family, having them come to every home game and see me play.”

Since he’s been a Pittsburgher from birth, we wanted to know: What is Christian Kuntz’s Best of the ’Burgh?

What’s your Pittsburgh “hidden gem,” a place that you love that doesn’t get the attention it deserves?

DiAnoia’s Eatery. “Most people don’t know about it unless you live in the Strip or you’re a real foodie.”

If you could only eat one local meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Pizza from Fiori’s in Brookline

If Pittsburgh had a theme song, what would it be?

“It’s only right for it to be ‘Renegade,’” by Styx. “It shows the grit of the city.”

What’s the annual tradition that you wait for every year?

“Picklesburgh is pretty cool … I love walking around and trying different foods.”

Favorite Pittsburgh appearance in a movie or on television?

“The Dark Knight Rises”

What’s your unpopular Pittsburgh opinion? What is something you think about the city (or a famous aspect of it) that won’t win you any friends?

Mount Washington shouldn’t just be for visitors and tourists — we should go up there as locals, too. “I know people hate traveling up the hill, but just getting up there with all the views, it gives you a perspective on our city as a whole.”

Where’s the first place you take out-of-town guests?

Riding bikes along the Allegheny River on the North Shore

If you could bring back one Pittsburgh place or restaurant that’s no longer there, which would you pick?

“I remember our Dad taking us to Ponderosa [Steakhouse]. That buffet and everything else. I wish Ponderosa was still around.”

You get one Incline ride with any Pittsburgher, living or dead. Who is it?

Roberto Clemente. “He’s my mom’s favorite player … he was unbelievable as a person and as a player.”

ROGER HUMPHRIES | PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

For decades, Pittsburghers have had a sure sign that a jazz performance would be unforgettable: Roger Humphries sitting behind the drum set.

The Pittsburgh native has been drumming since the age of 3; in the intervening 77 years, he’s toured the world and provided rhythm for the likes of Ray Charles, Stanley Turrentine, Dizzy Gillespie, Dwayne Dolphin and dozens of other jazz greats.

In Pittsburgh, he’s a former teacher at Pittsburgh CAPA and has formed ensembles including Roger Humphries & the RH Factor Band and the Roger Humphries Big Band. Now an octogenarian — “It’s crazy when your mind gets young,” he jokes — he still performs regularly.

We wanted to know: What is Roger Humphries’ Best of the ’Burgh?

What’s your Pittsburgh “hidden gem,” a place that you love that doesn’t get the attention it deserves?

Downtown restaurant and jazz club Con Alma

If you could only eat one local meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

“I would say Peppi’s,” on the North Side. “I love the chicken salad.”

If Pittsburgh had a theme song, what would it be?

“Misty” by Erroll Garner

What’s the annual tradition that you wait for every year?

The annual “Jazz on the River” cruise on the Gateway Clipper, which Humphries founded more than 30 years ago

Favorite Pittsburgh appearance in a movie or on television?

“One of the more memorable Pittsburgh filming locations I’ve seen in a movie is the Western Penitentiary standing in for the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane in ‘The Silence of the Lambs.’ I can appreciate how the gritty, imposing architecture of the former prison helped create such a chilling and foreboding atmosphere for that classic thriller.”

Where’s the first place you take out-of-town guests?

PNC Park and the North Side

If you could bring back one Pittsburgh place or restaurant that’s no longer there, which would you pick?

The Crawford Grill, “where I first met Max Roach — and also sat in and played with Art Blakey and his band”

You get one Incline ride with any Pittsburgher, living or dead. Who is it?

His late friend and collaborator, Stanley Turrentine

PHOTO BY HUCK BEARD

Tom Savini has traveled all over the world making on-screen mayhem — but Bloomfield has always been home.

“I’ve been in the same house I was born and raised in for 77 years,” the filmmaker and special-effects master says. “There’s a lot of Pittsburgh in me.”

In addition to his hundreds of credits in the world of special effects, Savini has also appeared in acting roles in such films as “From Dusk Till Dawn,” “Django Unchained” and both versions of “Dawn of the Dead.” His career and achievements are well documented in the 2020 book “Savini: The Biography,” but we wanted to learn about the makeup specialist’s local picks. We asked: What is Tom Savini’s Best of the ’Burgh?

What’s your Pittsburgh “hidden gem,” a place that you love that doesn’t get the attention it deserves?

Eide’s Entertainment. “Eide’s is a like a horror convention in one building.”

If you could only eat one local meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

“That would be the hot meatloaf sandwich at Ritter’s Diner — with mashed potatoes and everything covered in thick, hot gravy.”

If Pittsburgh had a theme song, what would it be?

“Pennies From Heaven” by The Skyliners

What’s the annual tradition that you wait for every year?

“The Halloween Parade here in Bloomfield. The mayor comes through on Halloween! That’s pretty cool.”

Favorite Pittsburgh appearance in a movie or on television?

The 1990 remake of “Night of the Living Dead” (Savini’s feature directing debut)

What’s your unpopular Pittsburgh opinion? What is something you think about the city (or a famous aspect of it) that won’t win you any friends?

“The South Side has changed, almost overnight … I can’t believe what’s happened. Shops are closing; restaurants aren’t doing business anymore.”

Where’s the first place you take out-of-town guests?

The Carnegie Museum of Art. When Quentin Tarantino came to town, however, Savini took him first to Primanti Bros. — and then to Eide’s Entertainment.

If you could bring back one Pittsburgh place or restaurant that’s no longer there, which would you pick?

“That’s easy — Del’s [in Bloomfield] … I grew up going to Del’s. People used to send me on errands to Del’s, picking up their pizzas.”

You get one Incline ride with any Pittsburgher, living or dead. Who is it?

Charles Bronson

For this year’s Best of the ’Burgh, we asked our staff and frequent contributors to tell us about things they’ve recently discovered in our region, whether it’s something new to the area or a longstanding institution they’ve never before experienced first-hand.

From a Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra concert to an invention incubator in O’Hara, here are our 2024 Best of the ’Burgh picks.

Mancini’s Bakery and Pittsburgh Brewing Co. Collaboration

mancinisbakery.com | pittsburghbrewing.com

They say “beer is liquid bread” and, also, “bread is life.” I guess that’s why I’m living for Mancini’s Bakery buns made with Pittsburgh Brewing Co. spent grains.

The two titans of the city’s carbohydrate industry joined forces this spring to give Yinzer Nation the perfect Pittsburgh roll to hold all of that Isaly’s chipped chopped ham BBQ. And, since 85% of brewing waste is spent grain, the partnership reduces food waste. Double yoi! To celebrate the release of the new item, the bakery threw a Monday morning block party at their McKees Rocks headquarters.

The first 100 Burghers who showed up got to sip Iron City samples and eat a free burger on beer bread. I think Mancini’s should do this every Monday to boost regional morale. Of course, I might need to do more “Buns of Steel” workout videos to make up for indulging in Iron buns, but it’s worth every squat. —Kristy Graver

Kaufman Tavern’s Peacock Room

Zelienople: 105 S. Main St. | kaufmantavern.com

I thought I knew everything about the Kaufman Tavern, the landmark former hotel turned restaurant and cocktail bar in Zelienople. So imagine my surprise when my family and I popped in on a busy Saturday night only to be led to the building’s basement speakeasy.

Also called the “Peacock Room,” a nod to golden vases filled with extravagant feathers, the wine cellar resembles something out of a Great Gatsby fantasy with its velvet and brocade seating in jewel-toned colors and dim lighting paired with brick floors. Of course, there’s also a plethora of wine bottles stacked against the stone walls, and patrons can also rent one of the tavern’s many basement wine lockers. —Jessica Sinichak

IronBlast’s Game Zone

Washington: 1500 W. Chestnut St. | ironblastsgamezone.com

Anyone noodling around in the Washington Crown Center mall may stumble upon a large storefront with life-size mannequins of horror and video game characters. Step inside, and you’ll find a smorgasbord of nostalgic, geeky fun at this retro video game and memorabilia shop.

In addition to a wide selection of retro video game consoles and games, the shop offers all sorts of toys and other novelties. But that’s not even the best part: in the back is a $10, all-you-can-play arcade, complete with cabinets for games such as Pac-Man and Donkey Kong, retro and modern pinball machines, Skee-Ball and more. —Matt Petras

Oddmonth Poetry Series

Bloomfield: 5002 Penn Ave. | banthateabar.com

Care to take in a poetry reading in a galaxy far, far away? You’re in luck. Oddmonth Poetry Series has set up shop in Bantha Tea Bar in Bloomfield. While not explicitly “Star Wars”-themed, this cozy spot definitely has a space cantina vibe and feels like the perfect fit for this laid-back and unpretentious reading series.

Started in early 2023 by poets Don Wentworth, Jason Baldinger and Scott Silsbe, Oddmonth convenes the last Saturday of odd-numbered months. The positive audience response to the series has led to the occasional even-numbered event, but odds are this series will keep to its invitingly uneven keel. —Kristofer Collins

Barebones Productions

Braddock: 1211 Braddock Ave. | barebonesproductions.com

Since 2003, Barebones Productions has performed plays in intimate spaces under a bowling alley in Squirrel Hill, on the North Side and now behind a restaurant spot in Braddock. I can’t believe I just discovered this gem of a theater company this past season.

Founded by Patrick Jordan with the mission to produce challenging, entertaining and thought-provoking plays, the experience brings you up close and personal with the actors in the Barebones Black Box theater that seats 70.

Updated from print: After holding pop-up dinners in the former Superior Motors restaurant before the show, Brew Gentlemen is opening the Braddock Public House brew pub and restaurant in the space. The menu includes Pittsburgh classics with a Hawaiian-Japanese influence in a modern pub atmosphere. —Virginia Linn

Juggling Club

zeeppo@steelcityclownbrigade.org

Gracefully throwing balls, clubs, swords and whatever else they can get their hands on, a group of jugglers meets most summer Sundays outside the main branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh in Oakland.

The Masters of Flying Objects at Carnegie Mellon, the Masters of Dropping Objects at the University of Pittsburgh and the Steel City Clown Brigade take turns leading the warm and welcoming group, who usually call out to anyone passing by if they want to learn to juggle, even offering spare juggling balls. Sometimes members of the group are practicing other clowning techniques too, like twisting balloons. —Stacey Federoff

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Downtown: 600 Penn Ave. | pittsburghsymphony.org

Last Christmas my mom and I spent a girls’ day in the city with brunch, a stop at a Christmas pop-up bar and capping off the night with our first performance by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. What did we choose, you might ask? The music of Ravel, Tchaikovsky … Muppets?

Yes, we saw the PSO perform the score to “The Muppet Christmas Carol,” but they were so talented it was easy to forget we went all the way to Heinz Hall to see one of our favorite holiday films on the big screen. We agreed we’ll be back for another performance — sans Michael Caine and Kermit the Frog to distract us. —Jesseca Muslin

Cheeseman Fright Farm

Slippery Rock Township: 147 Kennedy Road | cheesemanfrightfarm.com

You might think you’ve seen the highlight when the flame-spewing runaway tractor careens toward you — but there’s so much more ahead. The Halloween attraction Cheeseman Fright Farm, located on an eerily quiet patch of land outside Portersville in Butler County, begins with a haunted hayride; your vehicle will be pursued and boarded by zombies and more as it winds through the corn.

Then you’ll climb off and wander through disorienting and creepy rooms and fog-soaked outdoor spaces. It’s one of the most remarkable spooky spots around; arrive early to shop Halloween crafts or grab a snack. On a crisp autumn evening, you won’t want to leave — no matter what lurks in the woods. —Sean Collier

Pittsburgh Toy Lending Library

Bloomfield: 5401 Centre Ave. | pghtoys.org

When I first heard of the Pittsburgh Toy Lending Library, I thought it was just that: A place for kids to check out some toys to borrow and take home.

I wasn’t expecting a play space mecca, with entire sections devoted to every type of toy you can think of, from trains and dolls to dinosaurs and dress-up, as well as a space to drive ride-on toys, small playhouses and an entire arts and craft room. Established in 1974, the Pittsburgh Toy Lending Library is a volunteer-run operation, meaning it may operate at odd hours — but that also means if you time it right you can keep your kids occupied in early mornings or evenings when nothing else is open. —Lauren Davidson

The Blue House Bakery

thebluehousebakery.com

Erin Pennington whips up sweets that are scrumptious — and gluten-, grain- and dairy-free, at that. The Blue House Bakery reinvents classics — everything from the “brookie,” comprised of half cookie and half brownie, to the ever-popular cinnamon coffeecake — in a quality-first way, for those seeking paleo-friendly treats.

Pennington’s creations, available by pickup at her South Hills operation or at a farmers market, bear a list of all ingredients on the product labels and have a lightness to them. Marking birthdays and anniversaries with Blue House’s sprinkle-coated cakes boosts the profile of your celebration — and leaves celebrants feeling jovial. —Kristina Martin

Allegheny Portage Railroad Museum

Gallitzin: 110 Federal Park Road | nps.gov/alpo

In the 1800s, rail cars were hoisted up the Allegheny mountains via pulleys — no train engine was strong enough. The Allegheny Portage Railroad Museum tells this tale of ingenuity that fueled development in Pittsburgh for decades.

From 1834 until the opening of Horseshoe Curve in 1854, 10 inclined planes were the only rail passage west in this region. The museum site is interactive and interesting: Dress up in period costumes, watch the massive pulley engines at work, and kick back in the Lemon House saloon like rail travelers once
would have. —Meg St-Esprit

Con Alma on Oh! Jazz

Downtown: 613 Penn Ave. | conalmapgh.com and ohjazz.tv

Pittsburgh’s home for world-class jazz, Con Alma, was already an established hotspot to those in the know. A high-tech partnership let the secret out — and now, jazz aficionados the world over can sit in on Downtown sets.

By partnering with the international jazz streaming service Oh! Jazz, Con Alma can instantly stream its performances around the world, with a high-fidelity system bringing quality sound and video to far-flung fans. The service added Con Alma in early 2024, placing it alongside iconic clubs in Tokyo, Havana and Madrid — a designation that’s well earned by Pittsburgh’s place in jazz history. —Sean Collier

Mayer’s Cup at Red’s Good News

Brookline: 542 Brookline Blvd. | instagram.com/redsgoodnews

I’m a Pittsburgh beer drinker, but every now and then I like to support purveyors of other local liquids. Red’s Good News in Brookline has the Mayer’s Cup, a mix of Lawrenceville Distilling’s Parking Chair Vodka, lemonade, grenadine and Schneider’s Iced Tea that is served in the carton.

It’s a boozier alternative to the other yinzer elixir, IC’d Tea, a marriage of Iron City Beer and Turner’s. Pair your Mayer’s Cup with a basket of dino nuggets and you’ll be “Dippy” in no time, Pittsburgh. —Kristy Graver

North Park Ice Rink

Allison Park: 1101 Pearce Mill Road | alleghenycounty.us

Despite living a 10-minute drive from North Park for the last 15 years, I had never skated at the outdoor ice rink. That changed in December when, on a whim for my daughter’s 10th birthday, we decided to hit the rink with some friends — and what a fun time we had.

There’s something about skating in the fresh air with a group of people that inspires nostalgia. While I had a huge fear of falling and breaking my teeth, my skills returned after a few tentative rounds on the ice. Meanwhile, my daughters grabbed two of the coveted plastic walkers and were soon speeding around the rink.

Once our session finished, we headed to the indoor concession stand for hot chocolate and a slushie — which, although unusual on a cold day, felt refreshing after all of the activity. —Jessica Sinichak

Completely Booked

Murrysville: 201 Blue Spruce Way | completelybookedstore.com

It’s hard to beat a cozy, independent bookstore. Completely Booked, located in an unassuming storefront in a Murrysville plaza, features new releases along with an impressive backlog considering its relatively small square footage.

Like any good indie bookstore, the owners have curated the shelves into interesting and compelling sections and themes, including a Pittsburgh authors section, as well as a selection of puzzles and toys. Readers of literary and genre fiction alike, of all ages, will be able to find something here. —Matt Petras

Classes at Bottlerocket

Allentown: 1226 Arlington Ave. | bottlerocketpgh.com

While all of the usual events at next-gen dive bar Bottlerocket Social Hall in Allentown are a guaranteed good time — from Bad Movie Bingo or “Bario Kart” (playing Mario Kart with a live band) — this winter, the bar hosted a DJ class led by Jellyfish dance party host Formosa.

She created a supportive environment that taught beatmatching and transitions on a beginner’s controller, but she also helped connect the classmates as encouragement to keep at it. A group from class hit Pittsburgh Open Decks for the last session “after-party” and everyone performed a half-hour set at a showcase in April.

The bar has also offered classes in stand-up comedy and puppeteering. —Stacey Federoff

Cameron Barnet

cameronbarnett.net

Sometimes in Pittsburgh we focus so much on the bridges that we miss the rivers. I’m paraphrasing poet Cameron Barnett, whose point was that as a city we can be so enamored of our shared connections (who doesn’t well up with pride any time Sister Sledge’s “We are Family” plays?) that we gloss over the very real impediments preventing too many from experiencing Pittsburgh as a most livable city.

“Easy / to miss all the life you pass by on your commute, / all the history these congested tunnels plunge you through,” he writes in “Swisshelm Park,” from his second book, “murmur,” published earlier this year.

Barnett’s poems trace the historical, personal and political. His poems are generous of spirit and rigorous in their presentation of our complex city. —Kristofer Collins

Art in Parks at Riverview Park

Perry North: Riverview Drive and Mairdale Avenue | engage.pittsburghpa.gov/art-parks 

Stumbling across an Art in Parks installation in one of our Citiparks feels like winning the Powerball — in the middle of the woods. When my family found one in progress — an artist was carving a fallen tree in Riverview Park one sunny summer day last year, we stopped to chat and quickly became enthralled.

That team of artists — Sans façon and Steve Gurysh — are a few of the creatives across the city melding artistic installations and public green spaces.

To find this sculpture, park at the lot on Riverview Drive and take the Wissahickon Trail; the installment is on the left within a few hundred yards. —Meg St-Esprit

Allegheny City Brewery’s Dog Wall

North Side: 510 E. Ohio St. | alleghenycitybrewing.com

Allegheny City Brewing has a new 2,400-square-foot taproom behind its old space on the North Side. The place has already gone to the dogs. Since its inception in 2016, the brewery has invited patrons to hang photos of their pets on a wall of the original headquarters.

On April 14, they held a Dog Wall Migration event so folks could move the pictures to the new site. Even a few cat owners participated. The taproom has seating for 94 patrons inside the main bar area and second-floor mezzanine.

The building is set back from the street, leaving room for an L-shaped patio with picnic tables and fire pits. A wraparound deck on the second story offers views of Downtown and, of course, a dog-friendly beer garden. —Kristy Graver

James Simon’s Uptown Events

simonsculpture.com

Longtime artist James Simon’s home and art space has been the talk of Uptown for a long while, thanks (at first) to its hosting of the former Gist Street Reading Series. In later years, his abode, brimming with creative works and greenery out back, has been an optimal backdrop for other art-centric events.

In warm and cold weather, the creator — well-known for public art installations such as the Liberty Avenue Musicians — opens up his doors to artists from across the nation and globe to share their creations. The happenings educate and entertain audiences; we love the al fresco concerts hosted in the garden.

Recipients of his e-newsletters remain apprised about the functions, requiring digital reservations and payment online or in person. —Kristina Martin

Inventionland

O’Hara: 585 Alpha Drive | inventionland.com

A world of imagination awaits at Inventionland, a 60,000-square-foot immersive work environment and idea incubator where specialized designers, artists, writers and strategists bring creative projects to life.

Tucked away in RIDC business park in O’Hara, the nondescript building turns magical once inside; among the 16 themed areas where the magic happens are a shipwrecked pirate ship, a treehouse, a cupcake kitchen and even a giant castle with turrets and a drawbridge.

There are also three running waterfalls, life-like trees and grass-lined sidewalks that meander throughout the cavernous space. In addition to turning ideas into products (anyone can submit an idea on the Inventionland website), the makerspace hosts tours for roughly 15,000 students, educators, designers, business professionals and inventors each year. —Jessica Sinichak

Mineral Springs Loop at Raccoon Creek State Park

Hookstown: 3000 State Route 18 | dcnr.pa.gov/RaccoonCreekStatePark 

Choosing just one favorite local hike is hard, but the Mineral Springs Loop at Raccoon Creek State Park tops my family’s list. At only 1.2 miles long, even young kids can navigate it. The path winds across streambeds through native forest before arriving at an impressive waterfall.

At the top, hikers can explore the ruins of the Frankfort Mineral Springs Resort — where wealthy Pittsburghers flocked in the 1800s for the reported “healing waters.” There’s nothing medicinal about the water, but a hike along this trail is certainly healing for our souls. —Meg St-Esprit

Sliders Ice Curling Bar

Millvale: 2 Sedgwick St. | slidersbarandgames.com

If you’re generally feeling inspired by the Olympic Games, there are times each year to test out a Winter Games sport in Millvale. Sliders Ice Curling Bar offers a bar-style rink, where friendly curling competition may ensue.

During a 75-minute reservation, you will have lanes for up to 16 players, support from a Sliders staffer and the option to play whatever curling games you’d like — oftentimes with the goal of landing the highest score.

Patrons cannot step onto the ice, so the employee who’s hanging out with you at the other end of the curling lane will push the stone back to the starting line after each turn you take; then you’ll prepare to kneel and launch it back again. Sliders is open from fall through spring (an outdoor ice rink doesn’t mix well with our humid summers) with a full-service bar; the attached Lumberjaxes axe-throwing site is open year-round. —Kristina Martin

Warehouse Wednesdays

Sharpsburg: 126 23rd St. | pittsburgh.dressforsuccess.org 

Dress for Success Pittsburgh serves as a resource for women joining and returning to the workforce, but (even sweeter) the local team also provides an opportunity to give back while making connections … and snacking.

The Sharpsburg location of this international organization is the site of volunteer events, such as the sip-and-sort-style gathering Warehouse Wednesdays. Set on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, the do-gooder engagements fitting for individuals or groups traditionally center around processing recent donations of apparel, accessories, toiletries and more; participants can provide their own refreshments and make a monetary donation to the cause. —Kristina Martin

Butler Little Theatre

Butler: One Howard St. | butlerlittletheatre.com

Butler’s home for community-based productions will next year celebrate its 85th anniversary — but its origin predates its opening date. With beginnings in community groups dating to the 1920s, few regional theaters in Pittsburgh or elsewhere have deeper roots.

That’s a testament to the dedication Butler has for its hometown players, but the onstage product speaks for itself. The 2023-24 season featured staples such as “Arsenic and Old Lace” as well as more challenging, contemporary works like the alternate-reality drama “Constellations.”

The 2024-25 season launches with Neil Simon’s politically charged love triangle, “The Star-Spangled Girl.” —Sean Collier