🟦 Blue is the new greige

Blue Is the New Greige

Pittsburgh Paints Company crowned “Artifact” as 2027’s color of the year. The midtone blue is meant to evoke the restorative, meditative qualities of water and help people unwind at home after a long day. The annual celebration of the various shades of the rainbow — which some (i.e. no one except me) call the “Oscars of Colors” — goes back to 2014, when a pale yellow called “Turning Oakleaf” won the inaugural prize. [WESA / KBB]

• Is blue the new gray? After the (tyrannical?) era of the seemingly omnipresent, all-encompassing “millenial gray” that younger TikTokers have mercilessly mocked, Pittsburgh Paints says Artifact's smoky blue is meant to move away from neutral tones and instead highlight shades with more vibrancy and character. But for all you gray-heads all there, check out “Pittsburgh Gray” — inspired by our perpetually overcast skies. [Real Simple / Pittsburgh Magazine / PPG]
• Choosing a favorite color is serious business. Pittsburgh Paints’ color team of over two dozen people gather for multiple days every year to create mood boards and debate what color to celebrate, as well as predict what color palettes will dominate the coming months. [Architectural Digest]
• But perhaps orange is the defining color of our current era, as argued in this searching, lyrical piece of political analysis and art criticism from my favorite lit mag. [n+1]

Pennsylvania ACA Plans Get More Expensive (Again)

Pennsylvanians buying healthcare from Pennie, the state’s Affordable Care Act marketplace, will see another jump in cost this year. Premiums for individual plans will increase by an average of 16%. More than 200,000 people dropped Pennie coverage last year when prices went up after pandemic-era tax credits expired. Open enrollment runs from Nov. 1 to Jan. 15. [TribLive / WHYY / PHLP]

No Large Data Centers on County Property

Allegheny County Council unanimously voted to ban data centers that use 25 megawatts or more of electricity on county-owned property. The new rule doesn’t affect data centers on private property, such as the proposed 565,000 square foot Dynamo DC project in Springdale that has faced opposition from some local residents. [TribLive / 🔒 Business Times / Public Source]

Extras Wanted for 'The Pitt'

The hit medical drama that brings the city together (I had a delightful time at a viewing party with my wife’s friends for the season finale) is seeking background actors in the Pittsburgh region, with filming scheduled from Oct. 27-29. The casting call seeks non-union actors who can portray medical staff, pedestrians, drivers, and other roles. [Movie Casting PGH]

• Real-life nurses appear as characters in the show and help to ensure on-screen medical accuracy. [Nurse.com]
• We summed up our thoughts on Season 2 (good to see some Anthrocon representation) on the pod. [City Cast Pittsburgh]