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The Slaw is recording fresh episodes, but last year, we interviewed some members of the Groundhog Day Inner Circle and met Punxsutawney Phil. Listen to learn about the history of the event, how Phil has managed to continue predicting the weather for over 135 years, and meet some of his team — they keep the festivities going year after year. Plus, we highlight Quantum Theatre’s NearBuy project and the opening of Sklep, a Polish market in Polish Hill. 

The Slaw is currently recording fresh interviews. In the meantime, please enjoy this interview from the archives with restaurateur Ben Wong of Banh Mi & Ti in Lawrenceville and Two Sisters in East Liberty. While the interview first aired approximately a year ago, we think it is as important as ever to support local restaurants right now. Press play for some cozy food content. Plus, what’s one thing you shouldn’t miss this week? It’s actually two things: Piper’s Pub now has online ordering. And for those of you looking to plan your MLK Day, check out Repair The World’s schedule of events and service opportunities.

In this week’s episode, we meet Tony Theil of Attic Records. Just how much does Theil love buying, selling and playing records? He quit multiple jobs and moved to Millvale from Ohio when owner Fred Bohn Jr. offered him a job at the store. Learn about the history of Attic Records (spoiler alert: it wasn’t just records at the start) and about the “Pittsburgh sound.” Theil gives some advice for those just starting to collect vinyl and shouts out some local bands whose albums he thinks you should own. (It’s a non-comprehensive list.) Since Theil lives right above the shop, we also ask him to share some of his favorite Millvale spots. Plus, a little year-end review and some highlights from this year on The Slaw.   Links in this episode:   Attic Records Website Attic Records Instagram What is the Pittsburgh sound?

It’s the final week of Maker Month, and in this episode, we meet Jamal Etienne-Harrigan of Uncle Jammy’s sauces and seasonings. Learn more about his early cooking experiences and what inspires him. Of his creative process, Etienne-Harrigan explains, “I'll come up with a name and then I will backtrack towards making the recipe fit the name. And for a lot of people, that's not the way it goes.” Not just for barbecued meats, he offers some alternate applications for Uncle Jammy’s seasonings. He even has a non-dairy ranch rub. Etienne-Harrigan shares how a (non-romantic) meet-cute with his neighbor Dennis Guy of First Sip Brew Box led to some beer-related product expansion and his two Fresh Fest Beer Fest collaborations with Recon Brewing. When asked how COVID-19 affected his business, his narrative of the fear and uncertainty that surrounded the first shutdown weekend in March is sure to resonate, but his attitude is inspiring. He asked himself the question: “Am I going to come out of this pandemic better off than I was or worse?” During this time, his business has expanded to additional Giant Eagle and Whole Foods stores.    Links in this episode:   Uncle Jammy’s Sauces and Seasonings

It’s week three of Maker Month, our series on local folks who make things for a living. In homage to Pittsburgh’s steelworking past, in this episode we chat with local artist Oreen Cohen, whose work includes large public sculptures. From listening to a community’s stories to scouring the streets for materials, Cohen explains how she gets inspiration from a particular place. She shares her love of the Carrie Furnaces in Rankin and how it influenced her choice to come to Pittsburgh. She speaks in detail about her most recent installation at Wightman Park -- three sculptures designed in collaboration with her business partner Allison Zapata and the local Squirrel Hill community. Listen and learn how her family’s history with stained glass has come full circle in her present pandemic projects.    Plus, what’s the one thing you need to know this week? It’s the dates of the last two Pittsburgh Sandwich Society food truck appearances for the year -- Holiday Hot Chicken Night on Dec. 11 and A Very Food Truck Christmas on Dec. 18.   Links in this episode:   Oreen Cohen Website Oreen Cohen Instagram Carrie Blast Furnaces Historic Landmark

It’s week two of Maker Month, and this week’s episode features local woodworker Darren Myers. A degree in art, followed by a home purchase that required a lot of work, led Myers to travel to Vermont to learn more about woodworking. He believes that the physical aspect of working with his hands is what makes him so passionate about the craft, and the fact that he is “able to harness an old-school skill set in the modern day, where it's not as not as prevalent as it used to be.” Learn about what influences him, his process, and his dream projects.    When asked if Pittsburgh helps or hinders his work as an artist, Myers explains:   “I’ve struggled with location in my life, where I’m supposed to be or what I’m drawn to. I'm not very far away from the woods. Even in my neighborhood, I can go and grab a trunk of a tree that’s across the street.  You can't really do that in a lot of other cities. So the geological aspect of it is crucial. I think Pittsburgh is part of the reason why I'm able to do what I do.”    Similar to last week’s guest, graphic designer Paul Haggerty, Myers also made some “pandemic projects,” including some dice cups that were a result of playing a baseball simulation game with his friends over Zoom earlier this year.    Links in this episode:   From These Woods Etsy From These Woods Instagram

Meet graphic designer Paul Haggerty. His moody aesthetic and vintage vibe can be seen locally on T-shirts, stickers and pins. “I try to imagine what that would be like if the 70s never ended,”  Haggerty explains. You might have recently seen his “we’ll make it together” designs for sale at Workshop PGH. When asked what it is like seeing his work out in the world, Haggerty admits to being overly excited and even sometimes snapping a secret photo. “It’s cool that it resonated with somebody enough to buy it. It’s a big deal for somebody to spend money on your stuff.” Growing up, Haggerty watched his parents handle merch and posters for his dad’s band. From there, a notable career day field trip to an ad agency helped him realize that he wanted to be a graphic designer -- even if no one around him quite understood what that meant. In this episode, Haggerty shares some of his many “pandemic projects,” what inspires him and his dream project. Plus, what’s the one thing you should know this week? It’s the much-anticipated opening of the Tal and Bert Mercantile in Dormont.    Links in this episode:   Paul Haggerty on Instagram Paul Haggerty on Threadless Paul Haggerty Designs   Tal & Bert housewares

Kimberly Refosco grew up loving the outdoors. Now, as the leader of Pittsburgh’s Outdoor Afro community, she helps others explore nature by organizing group hikes, kayaking, camping, fishing outings around Western Pennsylvania. Each month, Outdoor Afro hosts several events that are focused on providing opportunities for participants to get outdoors. From hikes in Pittsburgh parks to camping, Outdoor Afro creates opportunities to help participants enjoy the great outdoors.    In this episode, we talk about how to get outdoors with Outdoor Afro Pittsburgh and some of the favorite spots to visit in the city and around Western Pennsylvania. Plus, a preview of some of the outings that Outdoor Afro has planned for this winter.    Links in this episode:   Outdoor Afro Pittsburgh MeetUp page Outdoor Afro Pittsburgh Facebook group

The Slaw is all about what makes Pittsburgh, well, Pittsburgh. For the past year, we have been profiling Pittsburgh places and Pittsburgh people. In honor of our one-year anniversary, we have a very special guest: documentary filmmaker Rick Sebak. In some ways, Sebak is as much a part of our city as bridges and Primanti sandwiches. While he makes both national and local programs for public television, he explains, “I know that no one can love the national programs as much as Pittsburghers love the Pittsburgh shows.” While this episode is a bit longer than a regular episode, according to Sebak, “if you look at something long enough, it becomes interesting.” From pro tips to surprising history to inherently Pittsburgh traits to rules for road tripping to favorite takeout spots and recipes, we think there’s something here for everyone. And if that wasn’t enough, we’ve got a bonus playlist from DJ Arie Cole and a best-of bridges segment.

When David Hood was younger, he stumbled across the 1931 version of “Frankenstein” on television, which led to a lifelong interest in horror films. In 2013, he started Hooptober, a horror movie viewing project that asks participants to watch 31 films in 31 days. The project is named for “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” director Tobe Hooper, because as Hood likes to joke, “You can’t spell October without t-o-b-e.” While they change each year, this year’s rules include watching “three disease-based films, a film with a movie theater in it, and two films with a Black director or a predominantly Black cast or lead,” Hooptober is about seeing the genre as something that is beyond just blood and gore. The project is meant to incite conversation and recommendations between participants and to use the guidelines as an opportunity to view some films you might not have otherwise heard of or seen. Hood believes that by expanding the idea of what is considered “horror,” that there really is a horror film for everyone. “You're not going to like every style of beer; you're not going to like every type of film. But just because you don't like a stout doesn't mean that there's not a stout out there that you would like, and just because you think you don't like horror films doesn't mean that there's not something out there that would speak to you.” The Hooptober online community continues to grow, with almost 1,000 participants from 19 different countries this year. Hood gives some movie recommendations for #spookyszn and highlights some of Pittsburgh’s notable horror film history -- from George A. Romero and Tom Savini to the lesser-known “Blood Sucking Pharaohs in Pittsburgh” (shot in Lawrenceville in the ‘80s). Links in this episode:    Hooptober 2020 on Letterboxd   The George A. Romero Foundation

JaQuay Edward Carter’s mother used to call him “old soul, young buck.” And now, years later, that passion for the past led to the founding of the Greater Hazelwood Historical Society of Pittsburgh. The organization's early stages were closely tied to his interest in learning his own family’s history in Hazelwood; one interview with a grandparent would lead to another with a neighbor. “You would think that [the historical society] would just be about the past and protecting the history of the neighborhood,” he explains. “But it is also about the future and being able to plan in order to develop and design things in the community.” In this episode, Carter shares some surprising Hazelwood fun facts. Listen to learn more about Hazelwood’s history and Carter’s hopes for future preservation efforts.   Links in this episode:   Greater Hazelwood Historical Society of Pittsburgh

“When we moved here, I went around and introduced myself to everyone.” The body piercer at Three Rivers Tattoo, Jenny Mendak reflects on parallels between her own small town upbringing and what she loves about living and working in Millvale. A little over a year ago, she decided to throw a dance for the kids in town, which led to more dances, talent shows, a trip on the Gateway Clipper, and the title of Director of Family and Youth Development for the Millvale Community Development Corporation. In 2019, residents celebrated “Millvale Loves Jenny Day” to recognize her tireless commitment to the community. While COVID put a stop to larger gatherings, Mendak still figures out ways to help, including basketball competitions and hikes. She wants the kids in town to have positive experiences that will help guide them into adulthood. When asked for one word to describe Millvale, she responds, “charming. You can get a record, go get homemade candy or a milkshake, and still rent a movie all on the same block,” as such we ask her to share her favorite spots.    Links in this episode:   Millvale Youth Dance Three Rivers Tattoo

In this episode we chat with Mike Carney, who, along with his partner, Erin Andrzejewski, owns Pittsburgh Sandwich Society. Learn how he got his start in kitchens and why they started the business with a food truck instead of a restaurant. Who’s a member of this sandwich society? We all are -- customers, social media followers, and the people who offer critiques and motivation to keep them going. As such, Carney explains how he is wrestling with the reality that “the core of [their] industry is bringing people together and their purpose is to have a line at the truck,” so he questions if it is “right or socially responsible to serve people at this time,” while noting their social distance sandwich slide invention and modified order and payment systems. Listen to learn his cooking motto and some tips for your own kitchen adventures. At our request, he designs the most Pittsburgh of Pittsburgh sandwiches (spoiler alert, Rick Sebak is an integral part of the process). For folks who recall our Sunny Side Up Brunch series, we learn who and what was the inspiration for the unique sandwiches on the menu each month, and Carney reveals the one brunch sandwich he promises to make in the future when it is safe to gather again.    Links in this episode: PSS website Instagram Facebook

Pittsburgh’s Reel Q film festival celebrates 35 years this October. In this episode, executive director TJ Murphy highlights some of the organization’s history. Reel Q is the longest running LGBTQ+ film festival in the region (and the sixth longest running in the world), and Murphy shares some memorable moments. For him, the festival is about community, coming together, and the conversations that take place with each film. He explains how he stumbled across a flyer at (now-defunct) Pittsburgh Filmmakers and began his tenure with the organization as a volunteer. Learn about what changes are in store for this year’s virtual programming, including Murphy’s can’t-miss suggestions and details on their drive-in movie event on Oct. 17.

A city planner with a passion for environmental justice, Ariam Ford-Graver is the executive director of Grounded Strategies, a local nonprofit that uses land as a medium for community change. In this episode, she talks about the work that Grounded does to help people reclaim and revitalize vacant lots and abandoned spaces in neighborhoods throughout Allegheny County. Learn why equitable access to high quality green space is important and how city planning decisions can have an effect on a neighborhood’s value (or consequent devaluing over time). “Land is the one thing you can’t make more of,” she explains. Ford-Graver believes that “you cannot achieve racial equity without addressing spatial inequity.” While we address this idea in this episode, Grounded’s “Black Neighborhoods Matter” website post digs deeper into what this means in the city of Pittsburgh.    Links in this episode:   Grounded  Black Neighborhoods Matter

Karla Lamb is a poet, the senior programming director at City of Asylum, and the founder of Latinx & Proud! -- a literary series whose mission is to “incite conversation, empower, and amplify the Latinx community in Pittsburgh. In this episode, Lamb speaks about identity and she shares the story of her own experiences as a self-labeled Chicana and Latinx poet. She explains the “All Pittsburghers are Poets” initiative recently launched by City of Asylum and Aadam learns what a poet laureate is. October 27 celebrates one year of the Latinx & Proud! reading series; in anticipation of that anniversary event, Lamb shares what has made her most proud so far and what she hopes to accomplish. Plus: a new socially distant, pop-up beer garden opens in the South Side. Lagerlands is a four-way collaboration between Hop Culture magazine, Cinderlands Beer Co., Burgh’ers Brewing, and De Fer Coffee & Tea.    Links in this episode:   City of Asylum Latinx & Proud! Lagerlands

This is back-to-school week at Very Local PGH. Each day’s content is themed around a familiar subject. And since this episode goes live for home ec. day, we made sure our guest fits the theme: Meet Julie Zaichuk-Ryan, owner of South Atlantic Stitching Company. She is a sewist whose work is a modern take on traditional needlecraft. In addition to selling her work via her Etsy store, taking custom orders and repairs, and doing pattern editing for other quilters and crafters, Zaichuk-Ryan teaches classes at Cut & Sew Studio in Morningside. In this episode we talk about the importance of hand stitching as a means of slowing down, about “women’s work” and what that means to her, and what inspires her. Her advice for beginning sewists is similar to that of some previous guests: Just do it and do not be afraid of making mistakes. “There’s no fear in sewing.” Zaichuk-Ryan encourages folks to tackle a project they are interested in, even if it is above their current skill level, in order to stay excited throughout the project.     Links in this episode:    South Atlantic Stitching Company South Atlantic Stitching Company on Etsy Cut & Sew Studio Virtual Classes

Artist Camerin “Camo” Nesbit got his start painting sneakers, but nowadays, he’s working on much larger canvases. Nesbit was instrumental in the revisioning of the Black Lives Matter mural downtown this past June, spearheading the effort to organize (and pay) 25 Black artists to make the finished piece more inclusive. He also managed this year’s mural project at Spirit in Lawrenceville, choosing local artists to create a unified piece that utilized all of their personal styles in a cohesive image. In this episode we ask him about his experiences as a Black artist in Pittsburgh and what changes he would like to see. He shouts out some of his mural locations so you can take a socially distant mural tour and check them out, and he talks about his new project -- the Homewood Experience Artwalk.    Links in this episode:   Camo Customz Website Camo Customz on Instagram

Danielle Spinola has been serving her specialty tea blends to Pittsburghers since 2007. In 2016, she expanded Tupelo Honey Teas and opened a plant-based cafe in Millvale, returning to her hometown and working to build community with an emphasis on sustainability and collaboration. In this episode, she gives an excellent tea explainer and discusses the health benefits of the beverage. We learn her views about plants as medicine and the level of care she and her team take when blending and selling tea to customers. Is tea, well, not your cup of tea? Spinola takes a “thinking outside the box” approach to tea and her business, which means that her blends are often used in collaborations with local breweries and distilleries for some harder-edged drinks. The episode concludes with her latest collaboration project: She is foraging in Girty’s Woods each week to create a tea used to raise money for the Allegheny Land Trust’s purchase of the 155 acres that span Millvale, Shaler, and Reserve in order to preserve it as green space. Plus: What goes great with tea? Cookies. This week, we dug through our archives to find a previously unreleased clip. Very Local freelancer/cookie enthusiast Boaz Frankel recommends his favorite chocolate chip cookies around town.   Links in this episode: Tupelo Honey Teas Allegheny Land Trust Girty’s Woods Initiative

Veda Sankaran combines her Indian heritage and her Western Pennsylvanian upbringing to tell her personal story via her cooking. Jalsa by Veda is one part recipe website, one part cooking classes and popup dinners, and one part specialty spice blend. In this episode, we learn how Sankaran came to love cooking, the recipe that started her eponymous spice blend, and where she loves to shop for ingredients. She shares her takes on some very Pittsburgh foods and we talk about why she thinks cooking is important to so many people right now. Plus, we shoutout Synthesis, a plant shop that specializes in cacti, succulents, and other sculptural plants.   Links in this episode:   Jalsa By Veda Synthesis