Articles Archive - Pittsburgh Quarterly

The Duquesne Club Ballroom hummed as 300 guests in tuxedos and floor-length gowns –families, friends, and past debutantes, Prince Charmings, and Cinderellas — gathered for the 100th Presentation of the Debutantes of the Cinderella Ball. The venue shimmered with flowers on gold pedestals on each table by Jeff Donati of Pete Donati & Sons, and …

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Arts Nonprofits

World-class Creatives Team up Sept. 18 to Celebrate Pittsburgh’s Future

by PQ Staff

An inaugural weeklong Pittsburgh exhibition including the “StartUP PGH” innovation conference and the first-ever Pittsburgh Homecoming crescendos Sept. 18 with an epic, future-themed event: “Pittsburgh Tomorrow, A City on the Rise,” featuring interactive installations by 20 Pittsburgh creatives including Oscar-winner Brendan Burch, world-renowned experiential artist Johannes DeYoung, Attack Theatre founders and artistic directors Michele de …

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Books

Coming of Age in Sewickley: Boys — Former Point Park Professor Looks at How to be a Man

by Fred Shaw

In his debut novel, City of Clans, University of Pittsburgh master of fine arts grad and former Point Park professor Geoff Peck uses Pittsburgh’s 2009 G-20 summit as a tonal backdrop for a millennial coming-of-age tale. We get the first-person scoop from Jeremy “Big Jerm” Starcevic, a recent Sewickley Academy graduate who moves in with …

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Arts

No One Claps For The Critic

by Stuart Sheppard

I have always felt that the sentence most essential to democracy — and to free expression — is the 1906 quote, often attributed to Voltaire, but actually from the English writer Evelyn Beatrice Hall: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” Only a couple …

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American Spirit People

What Does America Mean to Me? Pt. IV

by PQ Staff

On the eve of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, we asked a group of leading Pittsburghers to consider and answer that question. We thank them for giving their thoughts on this important occasion. Previously in this series: What Does America Mean to Me? Pt. III TIM PARKS, CEO, LIFE’SWORK While …

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Culture Opinion

What Does America Mean to Me? Pt. III

by PQ Staff

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Creative Capital Money Opinion

What’s Ahead in the Second Half for Markets? Pt. III

by PQ Staff

Editor’s note: We asked a group of leading Pittsburgh-area wealth managers to give their answers to this question: “So far, 2026 has been treacherous for investors. What do you expect for the second half and where do you see opportunity?” Previously in this series: What’s Ahead in the Second Half for Markets? Pt. II MATTHEW …

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Arts

Kinetic’s “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd” Has All the Clues

by Stuart Sheppard

We could just as well discuss the historical influence of Agatha Christie’s 1926 novel “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd,” as we could its mechanistic genius as a whodunnit. The British Crime Writer’s Association voted it the best crime novel ever, and it’s been cited by famous writers over the past century for its innovative style; …

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Opinion

In 1918–19 in Zurich, Switzerland, English painter Frank Budgen found himself often drinking wine while enjoying long talks about writing with James Joyce, author of the controversial novel Ulysses. It was during one of those discussions that the self-exiled Irish writer shared his vision on getting the detailed setting of that masterpiece right: “I want …

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Creative Capital Money Opinion

What’s Ahead in the Second Half for Markets?

by PQ Staff

Editor’s note: We asked a group of leading Pittsburgh-area wealth managers to give their answers to this question: “So far, 2026 has been treacherous for investors. What do you expect for the second half and where do you see opportunity?” DAMIAN MCINTYRE, FEDERATED HERMES Investor outlook in 2026 has been shaken repeatedly by conflicts and …

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American Spirit Opinion

What Does America Mean to Me?

by PQ Staff

On the eve of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, we asked a group of leading Pittsburghers to consider and answer that question. We thank them for giving their thoughts on this important occasion. MARK WIEDMAN, PRESIDENT, PNC America represents the promise that where you start doesn’t have to define where …

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Arts Culture

Steel Valley Visions: An American Legacy

by Erica Nuckles & Silvia Filippini-Fantoni

Throughout western Pennsylvania’s big steel era, artists captured a compelling visual record of the industry’s rise and fall: grit and glory, power and peril, beauty and brutality. At its height, the region’s three rivers reflected the brightness of fire and molten metal, and thick smoke filled the air. This was a place where muscle met …

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History Regional News

The Future of Pittsburgh History

by Andy Masich

As the nation marks its 250th anniversary this year, the importance of understanding our shared past has never been clearer. Here in Pittsburgh, that moment of reflection is taking shape in a tangible way, as the Senator John Heinz History Center is set to embark on a major expansion that reflects the organization’s remarkable evolution …

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Arts

Kinetic’s “Henry Johnson” Asks Visceral Questions With No Easy Answers

by Stuart Sheppard

If you remember the scene in David Mamet’s “Glengarry Glen Ross” when Al Pacino’s character bamboozles some poor sap in a bar with a stream of grandiloquent bullshit, and sells him on a worthless real estate investment, then you have a good idea what his new play (presented by Kinetic Theatre, in only its third …

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Nature

Restoring Nature on Historic Grounds

by Thomas Saunders

Just outside the city of Jeannette, in Westmoreland County, about a 45-minute drive east of Pittsburgh, is a new preserve of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy called Oakford Park Nature Reserve. Oakford Park was historically a “trolley park,” where people could enjoy picnicking, swimming and amusement park attractions. It opened in 1896 and operated until 1938, …

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Opinion Travel

A Crowning Achievement

by Betsy Deiseroth

It’s hard to escape Pittsburgh. Everywhere I go it’s always there, in one way or another. The Statue of Liberty is no exception. At the behest of my 7-year-old grandson, Henry, we booked a visit to climb to her crown. Since the bookings must be made six months in advance, due to her popularity, and …

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American Spirit History

Pittsburgh’s Story Is America’s Story

by Beth Marcello

Flag Sojourn: America 250 Will Commemorate Western Pennsylvania’s Role in the American Revolution, Industrial Revolution and Technology Revolution, Marking the Nation’s 250th Birthday Here’s a bold statement to ponder as Americans prepare to celebrate the 250th birthday of the country’s declaration of independence from the British on July 4, 2026: Without Pittsburgh, maybe there’s no …

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PQ Poem

Creekside

by Rikki Santer

Creekside Your sadness is not mine to possess but yesterday afternoon you agreed to walk with me into our nearby metro park. In the sunshine we were fellow adventurers in awe of conventions of gray-headed coneflowers and bees dancing over pink billy buttons. Our back and forth talk mostly light and warm but then twice …

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Sports

That Damn Crazy Pitch: Rip Sewell and the 1946 All-Star Game

by Richard “Pete” Peterson

Just before the beginning of the 1946 All-Star game, played 80 years ago in Boston’s Fenway Park, Ted Williams approached Pirates pitcher Rip Sewell and said, “Hey Rip, you wouldn’t throw that damn crazy pitch in a game like this, would you?” Sewell responded, “I’m gonna throw it to you, Ted, so look out.” That …

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History Travel

Where It All Began

by Barbara Eichenlaub

What better place to celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary than Philadelphia? And, just as Pittsburgh beautified for the NFL Draft, our eastern neighbor did the same to prepare for its influx of visitors. Given all the sites and activities surrounding our country’s founding, weekends are sure to be busy, so consider a midweek visit, including …

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