Located at Smallman Galley.
Free and open to the public; Registration required.
Come early to enjoy our brunch fare, have a drink and learn more about the space. The featured speaker will begin at 2pm.
“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?”
Justin Strong and Dawn Weleski will co-moderate a panel, which asks: Who is being given a seat at the table as we construct the narrative of Pittsburgh’s current foodscape, and how can we provide access to opportunity for Pittsburghers from all walks of life to have ownership in our city’s culinary story?
Featured Panelists:
Michael David Battle is a radical resistance artist, thinker, father and lover committed to manifesting spaces of healing and making art that centers self-reflection and celebrates Self. Michael will touch upon the medium of food as a healing tool and familial binder, including the story of his grandmother, Irene Battle, who co-wrote the Pittsburgh cookbook “From Collard Greens to Haluski” with former Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy.
Steve LaRosa has worked in the restaurant industry and non-profit world for most of his adult life and, with Hanging Gardens Pittsburgh, hopes to bring his experience to root in Homewood via a food truck commissary, aquaponic farm and commercial training kitchen for adults.
Cheyanne Bronzell was born in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, grew up in Garfield, and is chef / owner of PhatgirlzAcookin’ LLC. Her dream and goal is to transform her home-based catering business into a food truck which would service the homeless and hungry.
Moderators:
Justin Strong is a local business owner widely known as the founder and co-owner of the Shadow Lounge and AVA Lounge. Through the Shadow Lounge and AVA, Justin created and managed one of the most memorable and unique local entertainment venues for thirteen years in the city. As such, he is often described as one of the pioneers of the “New East Liberty”. In November of 2014, Strong assumed ownership over and is currently leading operations of his family’s fourth-generation dry cleaning and laundry company, founded in 1930 with stores currently located in Homewood and Downtown.
Dawn Weleski artistic practice administers a political stress test, antagonizing routine cultural behavior by re-purposing underground brawls, revolutionary protests, and political offices as transformative social stages. Recent projects include The Black Draft (with Justin Strong), a live mock sports draft during which ten Black former Pittsburghers, from all professions, are drafted to return home and Conflict Kitchen (with Jon Rubin), a take out restaurant that serves cuisine from countries with which the U.S. government is in conflict.