Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

It is that time again – the reader voted Best of Pittsburgh project of the City Paper.

Nominate until 07/26/2025 @ 11:59 PM Eastern

Vote starting 08/01/2025 @ 12:00 AM Eastern

Go nominate your heart out for all of your favorites through Saturday night. Then the CP staff tally the top nominees in each category to create a ballot. Starting a week later on August 1, you vote.

There are six general categories. I’ve listed my suggested nominees beneath.

• Music & Nightlife
  • Best Music Venue, Suburbs – The Parking Pad. (These fox held our first pet food drive for the pet food pantry and we are discussing a parking pad concert in Manchester. Support the people who support our people. )
  • Best Radio Personality/Duo/Best Radio Station – This is where supporting NPR manifests. A huge win for WESA 90.5 FM is a huge win for democracy.
• Food & Drink
  • Best Caterer – Bistro to Go Delicious, top shelf service, works with every budget, and pours profits back into the community, especially serving the nonprofit and arts community.
  • Best Chef – Chef Nikki Heckman at Bistro-go-Go. In addition to creating this fantastic flooder over 16 years, she pays a really wage for her employees, cultivates an affirming and respectful culture, and develops East Ohio Street, residents and businesses.
  • Best Coffee – YINZ Coffee. Rebuilding after corporate shenanigans, YINZ brings good coffee and good service. I patronize the Federal St location on the Northside. The staff are great, especially with how the interact with kids and unhoused neighbors. Those things are noticed by more than me.
  • Best Food Relief Effort – Tripoli Community Center Food Pantry on the Northside. Dignified, great volunteers, lots of produce. Good job reaching out weekly via social media to encourage new visitors.
  • Best Thai Food –Nicky’s Thai Food. A mainstay of LGBTQ owned and managed businesses with great good and gorgeous gardens/patios.
  • Best Sushi – I adore Royal Myanmar in West View. Owned by two women who immigrated to the US, the food is really good and the service is excellent.
• Business & Services
  • Best Alterations/Tailor – Suz Pisano at Sparkle Studio can do anything. She is very affirming and respectful working with queer and trans clients.
  • Best Nonprofit – Pittsburgh LGBTQ Charities home of the Dr. John P. Ruffing VMD Pet Food Pantry
  • Best Social Justice Org – Pittsburgh LGBTQ Charities. Our pet food pantry is about the people taking care of the pets.
  • Best Veterinary Clinic – Avalon Vet on McKnight Road. We’ve been going for years. They have been very helpful with the pet food pantry.
• People & Places
  • Best Blog – Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents. This is our 20th year blogging. We need a win.
  • Best Influencer – Sue Kerr/Pghlesbian. This past year, my following across all social media soared, especially on Instagram. I’m a content curator, amplifying voices not just creating my own videos.
  • Best Instagram Account – @Pghlesbian. See above. I have nearly 70k followers. What?
  • Best Threads Account – @Pghlesbian
  • Best Bluesky Account – @Pghlesbian
  • Best Creative Photographer Editorial. Steve Mellon, on strike from the Post-Gazette (curious if City Paper will accept this nomine since the PG is their parent company)
  • Best Cartoonist – Joe Wos. Joe is a long time friend. He is donating a logo of Gertie to the Dr. John P. Ruffing VMD Pet Food Pantry.
• Arts & Culture
  • Best Fundraiser – Dr. John P. Ruffing VMD Pet Food Drive
  • Best Theater -I cannot choose just one. I just can’t.
  • Best Theater Production Adult – I’m going with Witch at Carnegie Stage
  • Best Writer – Sue Kerr. I always self-nominate, never make it to the finals (or win) BUT I go like to hang out online with local literary luminaries.
• Shopping
  • Best Place to Donate Gently Used Pet Items – Pittsburgh LGBTQ Charities

It is intriguing how my world view has changed now that I’m without a car and much less income. I don’t visits many restaurants or shops. I’ve had to downsize everything – still searching for an affordable hair salon. Beyond local theater, I haven’t been to many events or new spaces at all. Maybe this will motivate me to make some changes?

So you can nominate every day through Jully 26. The folx with the most nominations will be on the ballot. You can only vote once on the final ballot.

In this economy, these local contests matter a lot especially for small restaurants and nightlife. So go nominate and remember to return each day -there’s a little reminder toggle button at the top of the ballot.