🧀 Charcuterie lessons from Pittsburgh’s Cheese Queen

Turnpike Toll Will Rise Next Year

Starting on Jan. 7, travelers on the Pennsylvania Turnpike will see a 5% hike in cost; turnpike rates have increased annually for the past 15 years. E-ZPass customers will pay $1.90, a dime more than the current $1.80. [TribLIVE]

State Rep. Innamorato Resigns

The State House is back to a 101-101 tie as Innamorato (D-Allegheny County) has resigned to pursue her campaign for Allegheny County executive. The election vote will happen on Sept. 19, a week before the House returns to its voting session. [SpotlightPA]

Goodbye for Good, Century III Mall

West Mifflin Council unanimously voted to condemn the 1.3-million-square-foot mall, which originally opened in 1979 on an old slag dump. Moonbeam Capital, the Las Vegas-based company who owns the site, previously promised to revitalize it, but the mall has instead sat structurally unsound since it closed in 2019. Moonbeam has been fined $240,000 for violating borough ordinances; the company has 30 days to appeal. [WTAE]

Hollywood Forces Closure of Back to the Foodture

The pop culture museum and “Back to the Future”-themed restaurant is closing its South Side and Uptown locations after Universal Studios threatened to sue if it didn’t change its name. Hurry up and get your burgers, wings, and fries at the 1014 Fifth Ave. location before it fades to black on Aug. 16. And stay tuned for the release of their potato chip line, Barnzy’s, in October. [Pittsburgh Magazine]

👛 Barbie Girls 21+ | Thursday | 9 p.m.

Celebrate the opening night of the new “Barbie” movie with a dance party and drag performances at Belvedere's Ultra-Dive. [$5, Lawrenceville]

🪩 JellyFest | Friday-Saturday | Various Times

Kickoff Pittsburgh’s queer disco at Trace Brewing on Friday, then walk Main Street on Saturday to find live music, drag performances, dance workshops, and more. [$30-40, Bloomfield]

🥒 Picklesburgh | Friday-Sunday | 12 p.m.

Relish the moment and celebrate all things pickled with local restaurants, vendors, and activities on the Boulevard of the Allies. [free, Downtown]

🍺 Pennsylvania Homebrew Invitational | Saturday | 12-3 p.m.

Sample craft beer from 30+ homebrewers and vote to crown the best in the state. [$35, Ross]

Charcuterie Lessons From Pittsburgh’s Cheese Queen

Building a charcuterie board is like creating a work of art with cheese, meats, fruits, and other colorful fixings. But where do you start? The City Cast Pittsburgh team took a field trip to The Cheese Queen’s brick-and-mortar in Mt. Oliver to learn the secrets to plating and pairing. Megan McGinnis, of the former local grocery family The McGinnis Sisters, shares what made her become a cheese enthusiast and how she shares that love with Pittsburgh.