🧈 Pittsburgh’s best paczki

❄️ Problems for Pgh’s Snow Removal Fleet

Pittsburgh Public Works says that the city should ideally have 123 snow-clearing vehicles, but it only has 103 — and about a third are out of commission. Despite the need for more, the city’s budget for vehicles has shrunk. One city councilor floated the idea of paying surrounding boroughs to help clear snow. [90.5 WESA]

• 🚚 So we’re missing snowplows, but apparently Pittsburgh has more than enough salt! [🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]

🎉 New Festival Coming to Downtown

Market Square is getting a new celebration to mark the transition from winter to spring: The Thaw. The festival will be held three weekends in March and include family-friendly activities, music, and (potentially) a snowman burning. [TribLive]

👎 Steelers Get a Bad Report Card, Again

Pittsburgh ranked 28 out of 32 teams in the annual NFL Players Association union survey. While coach Mike Tomlin got good marks from players, the team’s ownership, training facilities, and nutrition program did not. One plus: the Steelers finally got daycare! [NFLPA / 🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]

🇮🇹 North Side's New Italian Boutique Hotel

The old Parador Inn in Allegheny West is being transformed into The Villagio, with rooms themed after Italian cities, Italian fine dining, and a cigar bar and whiskey lounge. The property on Western Ave. can be rented out for events like weddings and birthday parties. [Northside Chronicle]

It’s that time of year when Pittsburgh is filling up on paczki (pronounced puhnch·kee) — a round, Polish pastry filled with cream, custard, or jelly. If you’re thinking of a jelly doughnut, think again; these traditional treats are much richer and thicker (like brioche), and they’re fried longer.

Paczki are beloved in Pittsburgh and across the Midwest, where a lot of Polish immigrants settled in the late 19th and 20th centuries, but their roots go back to the Middle Ages when pagan and Christian customs merged. Christians served them on Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras), the day before Lenten fasting starts on Ash Wednesday. Fasting was really strict in Medieval times, and baking paczki was a way for families to use up their butter, sugar, lard, and eggs.

Most bakeries sell paczki up until Mardi Gras — so here’s your last minute guide to snagging these scrumptious treats.

Party Cake Shop

📍Brookline

This spot on Brookline Blvd. has been dishing out the same recipe for over 60 years, with fillings like vanilla custard, lemon custard, vanilla and chocolate buttercream, peanut butter buttercream, strawberry buttercream, and raspberry jelly.

S&D Polish Deli

📍Strip District

Paczki are first come, first serve at this deli on Penn Ave. — no preorders! In addition to the classics, dig into unique flavors like rosehip, apricot, and nutella. While you’re there, pick up some hot haluszki, kielbasa, or pierogi for dinner.

Potomac Bakery

📍Dormont & Mt. Lebanon

This bakery has been family-owned and operated since 1927. Swing by for paczki filled with custard, lemon, apple, blueberry, and more. They’re only on the regular menu until Fat Tuesday, but you can put in a special order for them anytime.

Bethel Bakery

📍Bethel Park

If you want to indulge beyond Fat Tuesday, Bethel Bakery is your spot; their paczki season runs until Easter! Try classics like French buttercream and Bavarian cream, or get in on special weekly flavors like caramel latte, Irish cream, and strawberry crunch. Can’t decide? Get the Mardi Gras variety pack.