🎢 This amusement park expert ranks Kennywood at the top of his list

Plus, a weekend guide for Incline Insiders.

By Francesca Dabecco

Happy Friday, Pittsburgh.

Want to know the latest in iconic Pittsburgh food news? Turner Dairy and Eat ‘n Park are teaming up to bring you Smiley Cookie Milk. You’ll be able to find bottles of this new beverage at Eat ‘n Park restaurants and select Giant Eagle and GetGo locations starting next Friday, July 16. 

What do you think about this collaboration? Let us know if you try it out.

I love a good local business team-up, but to be honest, I’m going to have to pass on this one. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the nostalgia of Eat ’n Park cookies as much as the next person, but — unpopular opinion — I never really understood the hype. We’re also home to the most badass cookie tables, and I can’t, with good conscience, seek out a bland, hard sugar cookie.

There, I said it! You’re entitled to your own cookie opinions, of course … but you know I’m right. 😉 Still, it’s fun to see the classic milk and cookie combo come together with an even more classic Pittsburgh brand duo.

But we’ve got more to cover today than just milk and cookies. Scroll on for the headlines and a weekend guide for our Incline Insiders. Plus, because no one guessed yesterday’s I Spy, I’m sending you into the weekend with another try.

What Pittsburgh is talking about

3 things to know today

📍Should Wilkinsburg become Pittsburgh’s 91st neighborhood? While Wilkinsburg Mayor Marita Garrett and City Controller Michael Lamb support the merger, some borough residents are opposed to the annexation because the community would lose its self governance and be subject to gentrification. Merger supporters believe that there are tax benefits to joining the city and note that Wilkinsburg public services are already run by Pittsburgh city departments. (New Pittsburgh Courier / TribLIVE)

• Related: Pittsburgh City Controller Michael Lamb wants this proposal between the City of Pittsburgh and Wilkinsburg to spark more conversations about consolidating municipalities. Allegheny County has over 100 municipalities, which is more than any large county in America. (Pittsburgh City Paper)
• Quotable: “This isn’t just the city, this is all of our communities. Our suburban communities need to be talking to their neighbors about how they can better serve their constituencies. And the city of Pittsburgh and the borough of Wilkinsburg are having that conversation right now.” — Pittsburgh City Controller Michael Lamb

💉 Pittsburgh’s COVID-19 paid sick leave won’t end until 90% of Pennsylvania is vaccinated, according to a new amendment. The bill passed last year granted 80 hours of paid sick leave to employees who contracted the virus if they worked full-time for an employer with at least 50 workers. Earlier this year, a broader sick-leave requirement went into effect, but officials worried that workers had too small of a window to accumulate time off under the first ordinance, and it would do little to curb the virus. While these continued protections for workers are a good thing, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association said that having piecemeal legislation for a specific issue makes things complicated. (90.5 WESA)

• Quotable: “Sick people need to be staying at home overall, and people with communicable diseases need to get care from their loved ones. We need to have the same provisions for other communicable diseases.” — Faina Linkov, associate professor and chair of Duquesne University's School of Health Administration and Public Health

💰How will Pittsburgh spend the $335 million from the American Rescue Plan? If you want to stay informed or have a say, you can attend one of the public hearings scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday and 6 p.m. on Monday. Both are online and those who want to speak before the council need to call the clerk’s office at 412-255-2138. The hearings will be streamed on the city’s YouTube channel. (TribLIVE)

3 things to make you smile

🎢 Kennywood made this list of top theme parks in America by Paul Ruben, who has been to 333 amusement parks around the globe and ridden 903 roller coasters. But K-wood didn’t just make the list, he said it’s his “favorite traditional amusement park in the United States.” Editor’s note: You don’t have to tell us it’s the greatest, but we won’t fight you on it! (Reader’s Digest)

🌭 Yinz ever had a charred cheese dog? Pittsburgh City Paper reporter Ryan Deto shared the story of this West Mifflin classic from Jim’s Favorite Sauce, a hot dog joint that has been around for nearly 100 years. Jim’s is known for its just-burnt-enough slice of American cheese blanketed over the dog and loads of the spicy, sweet-sour condiment. (Pittsburgh City Paper)

🐕 Meet Pittsburgh Magazine’s Pet of the Week, five-year-old Haddie. She’s an American Bulldog mix, weighs 69 pounds, and has floppy ears that are too cute for words. She’d do best in a home where she is the only dog. If that sounds like a good fit for you, why not give Haddie her fur-ever home? (Pittsburgh Magazine)

🔍 I Spy

Yinz are missing out!

Things to do

Submit your events to our calendar.

Today

🎤 Experience the emerging talent of the Hans and Leslie Fleischner Young Artists Program at Piazza in the Park, the first of their three series outdoor performances (Squirrel Hill)

🖼️Enjoy the Pittsburgh Society of Artists Fifty-Fifth Annual Exhibition through the end of August. The annual event will feature many local artists and exhibits (South Side)

🎵 Listen to multiple local musicians at Music on the Mon (South Side Flats)

🚴 Bike with MoveForwardPGH around the South Side Neighborway to celebrate Pittsburgh's newest piece of street infrastructure (South Side)

Tomorrow

🛍️ Shop local makers, artists, and small businesses while enjoying good eats and drinks at the Lawrenceville Pop Up Market (Lawrenceville)

💛 Join Contemporary Craft and The Conflict Lab for community dialogues exploring issues of identity, conflict, and motherhood at Faces Seen Hearts Unknown (Lawrenceville)

Sunday

🛍️ Enjoy the Taste of Lawrenceville with an afternoon full of food, beverages, and crafts from local Lawrenceville vendors. A minimum of a $5 will be collected as your entry fee and donated to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation (Lawrenceville)

🎨Shop local artisans and hear local musicians at Art Market at The Terminal (Strip District)

🏎️ Take part in the 10-Day automotive Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix festival. The annual event will resume their Race Events this year for all to attend (Squirrel Hill)

💰 Shop all things flea market including so many vendors, artisan, makers, food trucks, and more at the Neighborhood Flea (Strip District)

Monday

🎤 Learn how to use your voice in this 6-week Voice Over Boot Camp with Amy Hartman. Anyone 18-24 can learn numerous voice acting techniques via Zoom (Virtual)

Tuesday

📚 Listen to Rachel Mennies, author of The Naomi Letters, with Kendra DeColo and Geffrey Davis for a live poetry reading and discussion (Virtual)

🎥 Join Jump Cut Theater for their independent film screening series, Film Kitchen. They will stream a selection of short films created by local artists (Virtual)

Thursday

🎨 Join the Kelly Strayhorn Theater and their collaborators for Hotline Ring to raise funds for queer- and Black-led local arts, media, and entertainment groups (Virtual)

🎵 Celebrate Bossa Nova with Kenia & Her Trio at this City of Asylum event (North Side)

🔊 Listen to Dr. Edwin Everhart overview America’s political music and how it is used in social action organizing today at Union & Protest Songs- Their History & How to Use Them Today (Virtual)

One more thing …