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| What Pittsburgh's Talking About |
| ‘Pinhole’ Gas Leak Found Near Plum Explosion | The Department of Environmental Protection found a pinhole-sized leak in a 4-inch gas gathering line about 350 feet from Rustic Ridge — the site of a house explosion that killed six people, leveled two other homes, and damaged a dozen residences last week. The state shut off the gas line, but we still don’t know where the gas was going or if it played a part in the disaster. [TribLIVE] | | PA Senate Will Return Early | The state Senate has budget business to finish, and it’s getting back to work earlier than previously scheduled — Aug. 30 instead of Sept. 18. Funds still need to be finalized for a home renovation aid program for low and moderate income households, as well as Level Up, a program that funds 100 of the state’s poorest schools. This includes local districts like McKeesport, Sto-Rox, West Mifflin, and Wilkinsburg. [WITF] | | Has the City Missed Your Recycling? | An audit from the city controller’s office found that Pittsburgh’s curbside recycling is often delayed by staffing shortages. The majority of 311 calls in 2020 and 2021 were complaints for missed recycling; all but 20 of the city’s 90 neighborhoods saw an increase in calls. [90.5 WESA] | |
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| Get To Know Upper Lawrenceville |
|  | Shakshuka and a breakfast sandwich at Mediterra Cafe on Butler Street. (Francesca Dabecco / City Cast Pittsburgh) |
| Did you know Lawrenceville is one of Pittsburgh’s oldest and largest neighborhoods? It was founded in 1814, and William B. Foster named it after Captain James Lawrence, who served in the War of 1812. Foster sound familiar? His son is Stephen Foster, the “father of American music.” 🎧 We found out what happened to his racist statue in Oakland on the City Cast Pittsburgh podcast. | | Since Lawrenceville is so large, we’re exploring the upper half today! | | Food & Drink | Coffee and breakfast: I’m still sad about the vegan cafe B52 closing on Butler Street, but I’m glad that Mediterra Cafe moved into their old digs. Sit down for a coffee and breakfast sandwich, and don’t forget a pastry to-go. Also try: Cafe D’Amore or Long Play Cafe. | |  | Katzu noodle bowls and veggie tempura from Oishii Donburi on Butler Street. (Francesca Dabecco / City Cast Pittsburgh) |
| Lunch: Oishii Donburi is all of your favorite Japanese dishes like udon noodles and katsu with Korean influences like kimchi and bibimbap. | | Dinner: There is nothing more serene than enjoying Pad Thai or a curry dish in the tree-shaded courtyard at Pusadee's Garden. Also try: traditional Italian food at LeVia Trattoria. BYOB! | | Drinks: Let a sommelier help you discover your favorite glass at the Allegheny Wine Mixer, buy small-batch spirits at Lawrenceville Distilling Co., find food trucks and pop-up events at Lolev Beer, or get a beer and a burger at Hop Farm Brewing Company. | | Treats: The Butterwood Bake Consortium is open late with cake and pie by the slice, organic and vegan desserts, party cakes, espresso, and tea. I’m here for the Olive Oil Love Cakes! | |  | City Grows on Butler Street. (Francesca Dabecco / City Cast Pittsburgh) |
| Shop Local | Nurture your green thumb with seeds, plants, soils, pots, tools, and more at City Grows. | | Boheme hosts 30 local small businesses selling art, plus handmade and curated vintage items. Got a biz? You can apply to sell with them. | | If you want your space to look like it was pulled from a chic home magazine, shop at Alma Mercantile and Storehouse Neutral. | | Go, See, Do! | Contemporary Craft is a place for admiring, buying, and creating art. It offers innovative exhibitions focused on multicultural diversity and contemporary art, hands-on workshops, and a store. | | The word is out: Pittsburgh could definitely be more fit. Want to try a climb? Iron City Boulders is great for bouldering, has lots of machines, and yoga classes, plus on-site coffee and tea. |
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| Pittsburgh Chatter: Dinner Time! |
| Last week, I shared a new analysis that says Pennsylvanians eat the earliest dinner in America with an average time of 5:37 p.m. | | I wanted to know how this lined up with your supper schedule and why you thought we're such early birds. Here’s what yinz had to say: | |  | A pie chart of when Hey Pittsburgh readers typically eat dinner. (City Cast Pittsburgh) |
| “The weather maybe? Pa. has a lot of gray days. Mix that with early sunsets for a good portion of the year, and people might be feeling like staying in and eating earlier.” - Eric, who eats between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. in Stanton Heights | | “Many work shifts in steel mills, hospitals, schools, and more ending at 3 p.m.” - Ginny, who eats between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. in Crafton. | | “I think the general age range is higher here, but I think restaurants also influence dinner time, too. Restaurants close at 9, I have to eat sooner in order to get seated. So I think they influence each other.” - Michelle, who eats between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. in the West End. | | “Working class traditions. Get home, and you are hungry! I think a lot of people skip lunch, too.” - Laura, who eats between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. in Butler County. | | “Gotta get hungry again for a midnight snack :P” - Gloria, who eats between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. in North Oakland. |
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| | | Get a drink from any Adda Coffee & Tea House location and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Maui Rapid Response. [price & location varies] | | 🧶 | Get your craft on for three days of arts shopping and classes at the DoubleTree Hotel. [free, Greentree] | | ♿ | Celebrate the community’s efforts to make the neighborhood more accessible and welcoming to all. [free, Oakland] | | | Meet Bike Pittsburgh at Allegheny Commons Park to get your own bike light. [free, North Side] |
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| Today on City Cast Pittsburgh |
|  | Chantal’s Cheese Shop sign in Bloomfield. (Francesca Dabecco / City Cast Pittsburgh) |
| | We’re in the final few days of summer, school’s about to start, and traffic in Oakland is about to get a whole lot worse. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t things worth celebrating! The City Cast Pittsburgh team has you covered with the perfect local gifts to refresh, relax, and recharge. | | |
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Be back in your inbox tomorrow! | Francesca Dabecco | | Thanks to City Cast Pittsburgh host Megan Harris for editing this newsletter. |
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