Your Daily Guide

The Best Pittsburgh-Themed Costumes

Need some last-minute inspiration for a Halloween costume? Consider dressing up as something distinctly Pittsburgh: say, a bedazzled Heinz ketchup bottle or the missing Shenderovich “triplet.” We asked you to send in your costume ideas and you didn't disappoint! Check out our favorite submissions on Instagram, and read on for some low-lift options:

• Mr. Yuk Sticker: Grab some bright green poster board, cut out a circle, and draw a disgusted face. The warning label was invented right here in Pittsburgh, so you can honor our role in steering generations of children away from toxic chemicals.
• Eat'n Park Smiley Cookie: Turn that poster board frown upside down. Bonus points if you give out seasonal monster or mummy instead of candy.
• Pittsburgh Pothole: Wear all black and a sign that says "Reported to 311 in 2009." Alt version: put on a traffic cone party hat. This one's especially versatile, since you can also put on a Pirates shirt and "hoist the cone."
• Kennywood's Open: Unzip your fly. (Only advisable in certain settings.)
• Clark Bar: All you need is a red onesie and some puffy paint. While you work on this one, might I suggest listening to our podcast episode about locally-made candy?
• Pittsburgh’s Rainy Day Fund: A little rain gear and an empty piggy bank? Maybe also have your hand out to any nearby foundations.
• Daniel Tiger or Mister Rogers: A nice cardigan. A red hoodie. The iconic sneakers. (Only available to people committed to being good neighbors.)
• Yinzer in Paris: Wear anything black and gold and look oblivious to the world on fire.

If you decide to take us up on one of these ideas — or come up with a great idea of your own — we'd love to see the end result! Email us a photo.

Less Poop Water, Higher Bills

Good news, bad news: ALCOSAN broke ground on a $1 billion tunnel that will capture and redirect sewage that currently flows into the Ohio River. Two more tunnels are planned along the Ohio and the Mon. But the much-needed projects come with a large price tag — our sewer bills will go up by nearly 50% over the next three years to help fund the tunnels. [Public Source]

• The authority is under a federal consent decree to reduce the sewage in our rivers by 7 billion gallons per year. (Which means you probably shouldn’t swim in them 😬) [City Cast Pittsburgh]
• Wanna see a wastewater treatment plant up close — and get a photo opp with Frankie the Fish? ALCOSAN's annual open house is surprisingly fun and festive! [City Paper]

U.S. Steel Invests ~$3B in Mon Valley

The money will go toward a new hot strip mill at Edgar Thompson Works — the steel giant's oldest continuously-operating plant — to replace aging equipment, increase production, and lower overall emission rates. Some local leaders worry it could bring more pollution. [TribLive]

Billy Porter Launches Youth Film Program

The Pittsburgh-born star (who's one award away from EGOT status) wants to train local teens from Homewood and East Liberty. The program targets behind-the-scenes jobs like sound mixer, prop master, and camera operator — roles that account for 95% of film and entertainment jobs, pay above the national average, and are held by Black workers just 5% of the time. [🔒 Post-Gazette]