"Omg I can't wait to read that" is a thing I say frequently in editorial meetings. That's because — and this is simply a fact — here at Pittsburgh City Paper, I work with the coolest people in town who routinely find ways to tell the most fascinating, impactful, sometimes hilarious stories around. What a blast it was for me to look back at 2024 and pick out some of my favorite pieces of the year written by this badass team:

Amanda often mentions something casually and then I make her write about it. I'm sure she finds this annoying but she continues to tolerate me — thanks, Amanda! Case in point, an offhand comment about the brilliance that is Uncle Sam's "cheese cosmo" turned into this story, bringing with it the fearless line, "Let me make this clear — I like a wet sub."
Colin is a dogged newshound (pun intended) and seasoned reporter, but he's also not afraid to give his opinion, and I love when he does. In this case, you know we were all thinking it. He was just the one to say it out loud, and we should thank him.
This year, Rachel took up the spooky beat, telling tales of Pittsburgh's old haunts (literally) such as in a roundup of haunted restaurants, and in a peek at the ghosts roaming the National Aviary. This one, though, was probably my favorite specter story. With betrayal, passion, and a jail break, what's not to love?

Stacy, who already does, I don't know, everything around here, took it upon herself this year to start a delightful series in which she resurrects OG yinzer recipes and shares her journey making them with the masses. There are so many good examples of this, but my favorite is this boozetastic eggnog that she brought in for us to try. I took some to a holiday part and it lit up everyone's night. Just imbibe with caution!
Kennywood is holding a worm-eating contest? Tell me less, I thought. I didn't need any more details, I simply knew I had to contact Mars right away to make sure they moved mountains to be there and photograph it. From that excursion came this incredible image that somehow captures fear, disgust, and determination all in one, as only Mars could.
How do you turn a good cover boy into a great cover boy? By giving him the Jeff treatment. TikTok sensation Joe Long had a real moment in 2024, with his face becoming one of the most recognizable in "tahn" almost overnight. For our profile on the local content creator, Jeff whipped up this awesome portrait that was almost as beautiful as Joe's face tattoo. 

As 2024 draws to a close, Pittsburgh City Paper's editorial staff members select their favorites from the year. Relive editorial designer Jeff Schreckengost’s 2024 highlights below:

After a heinous 1906 murder, two Pittsburghers found themselves in the Trial of the Century
The crime of the century! Featuring Stanford White, Harry Thaw and Evelyn Nesbit in an obsessive and deathly love triangle. Money, sex & power — you can’t have it all, but you can try (just don’t kill anyone in the process.).

Cover for the 2024 Cannabis Issue
This cover illustration was based on Herbal Essence shampoo ads from the 70’s. She is so groovy.

Transit Talk: Merry-go-roundabout
Roundabouts! Some love them, and some don’t (I don’t!), but they can be an effective way of slowing traffic in congested areas. My hometown boasts five roundabouts, but that many on a 1.5 mile street is just bonkers. I love maps of all kinds-always a fun thing to draw! I’ve included a few other maps without any text, just because they look cool.

Pitt’s new chiropractic school is joining the war on back pain this fall — but is it safe?
Snap, crackle, pop! I’ve always loved the vintage ROC look over the modern remake, and “getting adjusted” always seemed weird to me, and not an exact science at all. I had a neighbor who was a chiropractor that would hand out complimentary adjustments like they were candy, some were great and some were not.

Fright Nights at Phipps Conservatory was a low-tech, high-impact, scary-as-hell gem
I love Halloween, and always thought of it as the most magical time of the year. If I grew up in Pittsburgh, Phipps Fright Nights and Le Cahot at Kennywood would have been my favorite childhood haunts.

Pittsburgh's last public theater organ is backstage at a South Hills high school, and it's so much fun // July 9, 2024

As a lover of history and anachronism, the particulars of this story were a dream: there’s one pipe organ from the silent movie era left in Pittsburgh; it’s backstage at a Mt. Lebanon high school; and it’s been maintained by a club of devotees for nearly 50 years. When I met Dale Abraham, outgoing president of the Pittsburgh Area Theatre Organ Society, who described the organ as “a contraption” and explained that it’s painted pink, I knew I was in for something special. I was lucky enough to see the theater organ in all its glory for a showing of Wings (1927), and you can too during a handful of Organ Society events that transport viewers back to Pittsburgh's movie palaces of yesteryear.

Whatever the weather, NWS Pittsburgh is watching // July 3, 2024

The fact that I wrote a good chunk of this feature about Pittsburgh’s National Weather Service during a tornado warning and power outage only underscored the weather forecast office’s importance. This year, Pittsburgh saw the first tornado within city limits since 1998 (and I’m still not over seeing images of the last one on Mt. Washington), raising question about our future climate. So, it was a delight to talk with the meteorologists at NWS Pittsburgh, who have been on the ground in Moon Township for more than 40 years, collecting climate data, looking out for the region, and keeping us safe. They even get to launch a weather balloon every day.
Pittsburgh has a thriving barbershop chorus that's shirking straw hat stereotypes in favor of inclusivity // June 11, 2024

You can’t really call Vocal Confluence unsung, since Pittsburgh’s only all-voice barbershop a cappella chorus keeps growing in popularity and esteem. But I was so struck by the group’s thoughtful work to bring barbershop — a music genre normally associated “singing at Grandpap’s or a joke on The Simpsons,” as one singer put it — into the 21st century, including studying the troubled parts of its history, adapting A-ha’s “Take On Me,” and even opening for Foreigner. The theme of Vocal Confluence’s programming this year was resilience — to which I say now more than ever.

Boldly going to the Duquesne Club and Rivers Club, where few but rich white men had once gone before // Sept. 4, 2024

One of the joys of reporting is getting a backstage pass to go somewhere you might not otherwise, and I may have taken it to a new level this year walking through the doors of the Duquesne Club. Visiting Pittsburgh’s oldest and most exclusive membership club was stunning to say the least, and gave me new context for understanding how the city was shaped by a small group of men. For City Paper's special Clubs issue, I also visited Rivers Club, a product of another era of Pittsburgh development a century later, and was impressed by the two clubs’ contrasts, except, apparently, for the primacy of the gym.
Pittsburgh loved its disco days, and Thomas Jayson packed the clubs // April 10, 2024
As the Station Square news gets grimmer, I’m re-upping this story about Pittsburgh nightclub magnate and disco king Thomas Jayson. At one time, Jayson had a financial stake in the city’s most iconic clubs, including Touch, Chauncy’s, Rock Jungle, Donzi’s, and Cruiser’s, to name a few. Talking with Jayson and his former wife Maggie let me experience a golden era that apparently resonated with CP readers of all generations. I’m staying tuned to see if we can bring it back.

As 2024 draws to a close, Pittsburgh City Paper's editorial staff members select their favorite stories from the year. Relive A&E editor Amanda Waltz's 2024 highlights below: Frownie Brownie is the Pittsburgh icon we need and deserve // Aug. 14, 2024

Smiley Cookies fear him, other brownies want to be him. Paid tribute to a Pittsburgh icon with a story about the Kings Family Restaurant Frownie Brownie. The response was heartwarming, with readers sharing their Frownie memories in social media comments.
What the hell is happening with the 2024 Regatta and why is a guy named Giuseppe involved? // July 25, 2024

What started as an investigation into two dubious-looking Three Rivers Regatta websites resulted in learning that the popular event, which hasn't happened since 2018, would return. Still no word about Giuseppe, though. Some mysteries were never meant to be solved.
Under mounting allegations of sexual misconduct, Pittsburgh's Anti-Flag has become a disappearing act // March 29, 2024

In July 2023, music fans and the Pittsburgh punk community were shocked when Anti-Flag suddenly broke up and all but vanished (from the internet, at least) over sexual misconduct allegations related to member Justin "Sane" Geever. Cut to nearly a year later, and we have a damning amended lawsuit, dozens of accusers, and Geever allegedly fleeing the country.
How do you fence a truckload of Jaromír Jágr bobbleheads? We asked the FBI // March 18, 2024

I called the FBI about bobbleheads and all I got was a bunch of interesting facts about cargo theft.
Pittsburgh says goodbye to the Penn Avenue "butthole window" // Feb. 29, 2024

Pour one out and blast Sarah McLachlan's "I Will Remember You," because Pittsburgh lost a real one. Farewell, butthole window, we hardly knew ye. May flights of bidets sing thee to thy rest.

As 2024 draws to a close, Pittsburgh City Paper's editorial staff members select their favorite stories from the year. Relive news editor Colin Williams' 2024 highlights below:

What's up with the West End? // Feb. 14, 2024

In an accidental Valentine's Day card to my former stomping grounds, I did a deep dive into the current state of the greater West End, which is arguably the least-well-known of Pittsburgh's four loosely defined neighborhood clusters. It was fun to revisit the area and hear how it's changed — with source and longtime City Councilor Theresa Kail-Smith retiring and the Uzbek community arriving, more changes are afoot in the community heading into 2025.

How a union push, a 9-1-1 call, and “Barbenheimer” fermented into scandal at the Mattress Factory // March 6, 2024

It's a poorly kept secret that Pittsburgh's arts scene has its issues, including marginalization and subpar labor conditions. This story lifted the hood on how, specifically, these issues can manifest, and the response planted the seeds for further reporting.

Transit Talk: I am once again asking for a T extension along Railroad St. // March 19, 2024

With help from Pittsburgh City Paper editorial designer Jeff Schreckengost, I was finally able to voice my long-held belief that Railroad St. is tailor-made for a trolley line! Readers' positive response also primed the pump for me to rant about transit on a monthly basis. Hope yinz are ready for more of that in the new year because I'm just getting started.

Opinion: Enough with the yinzer ragebait. Our city isn't your theme park // May 17, 2024

The title says it all. To the person who called me “Epic Colin” for dunking on Colin Dunlap and others' wretched opinions, I remain at your service.

UPMC executives gave themselves raises and flew in a private jet while slashing jobs and raising fees // Aug. 14, 2024

Pittsburgh's Best Jagoff of 2024 (you'll have to wait till next year, John Fetterman) pissed off locals ranging from patients to professionals when it came to light that they were palling around with McKinsey while flying across the globe. We're watching this space and sitting on further details — if you've got more dirt on the city's most notorious nonprofit, my inbox is always open.

As 2024 draws to a close, Pittsburgh City Paper's editorial staff members select their favorite stories from the year. Relive our Audience Engagement Specialist, Stacy Rounds' 2024 highlights below:

This can't-miss breakfast sandwich is hidden away at a Dormont coffeehouse // May 21, 2024

Isn’t it lovely when a rough morning transforms into a beautiful day? This May, that magic was delivered between toasted bagel halves at the Potomac Station Coffeehouse. As a person who loves breakfast foods but hardly ever eats before noon, indulging in a breakfast sandwich of this caliber was a rare and wonderful experience for me. I think I moaned. Get your butts down there and try Best in the Burgh sandwich.

Dumping X for Bluesky: A guide for Pittsburgh users // Nov. 26, 2024

As a person who is Very Online™ for a living, my social media teflon is fairly impenetrable. But post-election, X (formerly Twitter, formerly good) is just the absolute worst. The pro-fascist ads, plus its algorithm's love for all the trolls, bots, misinformation, and overall toxicity make me want to avoid this platform like polio — which is apparently making a comeback.

Bluesky was originally slow to build (we had a whole 184 followers before the surge). Over the past several weeks, its become a light in the darkness of the social media sludge, and I couldn’t be happier. Our now 6K fans are really engaged with our content, and we’ve been able to make some cool connections.

However, mass-blocking yucky people has been the best part. Does that mean we’re in an echo chamber? No, because we still get to engage with plenty of differing opinions and ideas from the academic, political (independent et al., progressive, non-MAGA conservative, and democratic) journalistic, and scientific communities without some uneducated hate-mongering bumpkin chiming in about how trans people are the devil or whatever.

Who is behind the ‘Trump Dumps’ that keep appearing Downtown? // Aug. 29, 2024

Speaking of dumping…

One sunny morning, I was walking from our office to Le Gourmandine to grab a prosciutto and pickle sandwich when I stumbled upon some poop on the sidewalk. But this wasn’t just any poop. This pile of fecal matter was decorated with edible patriotic sprinkles and labeled with cupcake flags: “Trump Dump” and “Trumpin’ n’ Dumpin.’”

Who is this label-maker carrying turd tagger? We don’t know. But what we DO know is that they stopped by our Best of PGH celebration on Sept. 20, apparently incognito.

Where to find the most eclectic vending machines in Pittsburgh // June 28, 2024

This was the most fun I’ve ever had doing research for work. My family and I made a day of it: grabbing international snacks and drinks at Vendor Bender and then heading over to Ross Park Mall to purchase a Sanrio toy bubble from the Gashapon vending machine.

Dating outside the apps in Pittsburgh doesn't have to suck // Feb. 7, 2024

Dating apps are on the decline. This isn't simply word of mouth or conjecture, it’s a fact that the big, publicly traded apps have had to publish. No matter. There are dozens of other ways to meet singles in the Steel City. And in 2025, one local paper may be bringing back personal ads and may be hosting some single and mingle events. Nothing concrete yet, but stay tuned…

2023 was a transitional year in many ways for City Paper, which includes the makeup of our staff. We welcomed a lot of new faces to the editorial team this year (including mine!), and believe me when I say I'm damn lucky to have this team. Look, I'm biased, but this group is incredibly badass, and I squeal with delight pretty much every day knowing I have the privilege of working with this brilliant, hard-working, hilarious bunch. To celebrate, I wanted to share with you some of their stories that made me most proud and delighted to be the editor of City Paper, right here, right now, with this crew.

This year I learned the term “offbeat reporting” — reporting that, rather than focusing on an established specialty or beat, looks broadly, and includes original stories that might otherwise be overlooked or covered in less depth. These are my favorite stories to read in Pittsburgh City Paper and those I was most excited to write when I joined as a staff writer! Naturally, Pittsburgh has no shortage of mysteries (our regards to Michael Chabon), hidden history, colorful characters, and people doing unsung work. Here are my 2023 highlights:

Pittsburgh’s @pgh_scanner Twitter account is no joke // Jul. 26, 2023

Before Pittsburgh Scanner (@pgh_scanner) was a viral sensation or City Paper’s Best Twitter Account of 2023, the person behind it was a mystery — and obviously deserving of a profile. I was surprised to find that no one had interviewed Nick yet (a CP exclusive!) and was even more surprised to meet a steelworker and dad of two whose modest ambition when starting the account was 500 followers. (Three years later, it has about 44,000, plus its own logo and merch.)

Nick Offerman promises to be "generally redolent of condiments" when he returns to Pittsburgh // Sept. 29, 2023

The opportunity to interview Parks and Rec star Nick Offerman came about because of the SAG-AFTRA strike, which put him on an impromptu comedy tour stopping in Pittsburgh. Not expecting more than a few minutes to talk, Offerman spoke with me for more than an hour, candidly discussing his career, Hollywood labor conditions, and general thoughts on art, woodworking, and life, which I was so excited to render into a full profile. There were a few things I wish I could’ve included at greater length — mostly that he knows Pittsburgh loves him and the feeling is mutual. He described the city as “avuncular.”

“Pittsburgh… collectively, as a cultural center, it’s a group of people who know how to use hand tools,” Offerman told me. “And I think [you] can smell that coming off of me as well, so I don't have to go far to reach my audience.”

The Ghost Bomber of the Monongahela blends conspiracy, truth, and tragedy // Oct. 4, 2023

It will soon be 70 years since a B-25 Mitchell bomber landed in the Monongahela River, sank, and was never seen again — a story that’s haunted me since covering it. (Who wants to join my letter writing campaign to James Cameron?) Despite living in Pittsburgh for more than a decade, I hadn’t heard of the missing B-25 until working on an article for CP’s 2023 Fall Guide about Pittsburgh’s most famous urban legends, discovering that the “Ghost Bomber” even has its own archival collection at Heinz History Center. I was also delighted to find that Heinz History President and CEO Andy Masich is a master storyteller, and so the story ends where Masich ended it: “And then, it’s all gone. What happened?"

Greenfield's Holiday Parade celebrates 30 years of fireworks, floats, and festivities // Nov. 22, 2023

As a Greenfield resident, I was proud to represent my neighborhood in this story, taking it on after mentioning the Holiday Parade offhandedly at our weekly editorial meeting. But I soon discovered the Parade was celebrating its 30th anniversary and CP was the only publication to cover it. Also, no comprehensive reporting existed about this beloved neighborhood tradition — though it’s pulled in local celebrities and politicians — so I had the honor of reporting it as a (mostly) original history. Also check out the wonderful Greenfield Holiday Parade slideshow by photographer Mars Johnson.

Big screen, little lies: Pittsburgh is being gaslit about IMAX theaters // Nov. 29, 2023

Pittsburgh’s lack of an IMAX theater has been a mystery and personal bone of contention for years, but I originally thought this would be a short, niche story with some quick answers for fellow film fans. Instead, it took me down a reporting rabbit hole (which at one point involved a Deep Throat-esque source) and evolved into a larger exploration about the film industry’s transition in the wake of COVID. As a bonus, soon after this story ran, Row House Cinema announced the debut of a new 70mm film projector and “oversized screen” at the Hollywood Theater next fall.

2023 is almost in the books, and with it, so is my first year at Pittsburgh City Paper! My favorite articles to work on were ones where I got to better know the people driving change in Pittsburgh's politics, arts, and cultural spaces, and ones where I dug into the ways our city has grown and changed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.


Fiasco founders Noelle and Ben Tolman hope to be part of Observatory Hill’s renaissance // Aug. 2, 2023

Fiasco feels like a product of a bygone era, when Pittsburgh artists had cheap access to repurposed spaces and played a key role in stabilizing neighborhoods. Though the Tolmans are still in the process of navigating Pittsburgh's bureaucratic "quirks," Fiasco has the potential to blossom into a sustainable institution serving Observatory Hill and beyond. On a purely aesthetic level, it's also an explosion of color and creativity that playfully inverts the building's history as a Catholic school.


After tragedy, Garfield leaders say they need housing resources // Sept. 15, 2023

The late August shooting that rocked Garfield was audible from my house. It shook up our peaceful corner of the East End, which, in spite of rising housing costs, remains a racially mixed and socioeconomically diverse part of the city. Local leaders were clear about what was needed in the aftermath of the gun battle: resources for stable housing. Among the key takeaways for me were the complexity of public-private partnerships, the pernicious effects of house-flipping, and — most critically — the importance of leaving a will to ensure your property passes to the people, family or otherwise, that you want it to.


Bhutanese refugees bring a "Himalayan Highway" of unique food and culture to the Route 51 corridor // Oct. 18, 2023

Pittsburgh has long been a city of ethnic enclaves. Historically, most immigrants hailed from European countries, but recent years have brought residents from other parts of the world, including a vibrant community of Nepali-speaking Bhutanese refugees seeking safe harbor after years of oppression and ethnic cleansing. These Pittsburghers have since settled in and brought unique cuisine and cultural traditions to the Route 51 corridor. It was rewarding to learn and share so much about their community history while getting to sample a variety of momo dumplings, which are one of the Lhotshampa community's mainstay dishes. Everyone benefits from an appetite for different cultures in the ’Burgh.


What happened to Pittsburgh’s nightclub scene? It's complicated // Nov. 15, 2023

I was frankly surprised by the response to this story, which clearly evoked fond memories for many readers and sparked strong reactions to Pittsburgh's changing nightlife. It was also clear from talking to sources that COVID effectively ended the Golden Age of clubs in the city for good or for ill. I spoke to numerous sources who corroborated this shift, including photographers, club owners, and former club staff. One of the biggest takeaways for me as a writer was that social habits around drinking and partying are shifting quickly — the closure of nightclubs has also had a disproportionate impact on Black partygoers, who told me the demise of club-centric districts came bundled with more limited hours, stricter dress codes, and fewer options for live hip-hop. This is another story that, in my view, underscores the way change can exacerbate inequity if it happens too quickly.


Meet the diverse Pittsburghers calling for peace in Gaza // Dec. 6, 2023

The war in Gaza has combined humanitarian disaster with sectarian tensions for many around the world. In Pittsburgh, it's freighted with additional implications as the city heals from the worst antisemitic attack on U.S. soil and subsequent trial. I wrote an op-ed calling for a ceasefire that (in addition to some hate mail) drew strong agreement from members of the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities, as well as student activists, whose voices I was grateful to amplify alongside area politicians including U.S. Rep. Summer Lee. As the conflict wears on and global sentiment coalesces behind peace, it's heartening to see an inclusive coalition of people calling for a durable ceasefire, especially when doing so can present personal and professional challenges.

As 2023 draws to a close, Pittsburgh City Paper's editorial staff members select their favorite stories from the year. Relive A&E editor Amanda Waltz's 2023 highlights below:

A tribute to the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust adult sippy cup // Dec. 13. 2023

Squeaking in under the wire is this ode to the spill-safe, alcoholic beverage cups used by local theater patrons. Readers seemed to like this one.

Polyamorous Pittsburghers discuss being out in “the most nebby town in the universe” // Nov. 1, 2023

The Instagram trolls came out of the woodwork for this one. People engaging in multiple, healthy romantic relationships that emphasize open communication and mutual respect? How awful. Stay mad, haters. 

Penn Forest Natural Burial Park blends death and “natural causes” in a whole new way // May 17, 2023

No one likes to think about death, but Penn Forest Natural Burial Park strives to make the process easier and, frankly, more beautiful. Visiting the Verona-based green cemetery, where many are buried in ecologically friendly ways, brought a sense of peace.

From lard chips to sweet bologna, here’s a primer on the eastern Pa. foods now available in Pittsburgh // April 12, 2023

Love to share my lard-fried culture with my adopted city. If I hadn't become vegetarian, I'd still be shoveling sweet Lebanon bologna into my mouth on the reg. 

Dancers warned against performing at new club taking over former Cricket Lounge // March 07, 2023

This story serves as a testament to people in the sex work community watching out for one another and helping to ensure the safety of strippers.