Our friends at Iron City Circus Arts and the Pittsburgh Circus Arts Collaborative, who will be performing at Pittsburgh City Paper's Best of Pittsburgh party on Thu., Aug. 8 at Nova Place, gave us a little taste of their talents during the Friday Night Market in Downtown's Market Square. Aerialists, jugglers, stilt-walkers, and fire-breathers showed off for a great crowd.

It's impossible to make a bad photo of these performers, but here's my visual interpretation of the evening.

Teams of volunteers from all over Pittsburgh are ready to clean up the streets for the second annual Garbage Olympics.

Garbage Olympics co-organizer Alicia Carberry, describes it as a “friendly competition to get as much litter out of Pittsburgh as possible” and as a way to raise awareness of the fact that neighborhood groups are able to receive cleanup resources from the Department of Public Works.

“It’s a driven effort to complement what the [City of Pittsburgh] already does and is getting better at,” says Carberry, who co-organizes the event with Lena Andrews.

She points out how the city has tried to eliminate litter with the launch of smart receptacles that use sensors to tell when a block needs more trash cans. But more can be done.

On August 9, Pittsburgh City Paper celebrated the Best of PGH 2018 Party. The party was City Paper's highlight event of the year where the best people, places, and trends were celebrated at Nova Place in the North Side.

We're revealing the top 10 nominees for this year's Best of Pittsburgh readers' poll. Below are finalists for Best Card Store. Check back on August 8 to see who takes the top three spots, and click here to get your tickets to this year's Best of Party before it sells out!

Kards Unlimited

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A staple in the Shadyside community for over 40 years.

love, Pittsburgh

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The perfect store for all your quirky Steel City needs.

Papier

Looking for personalized stationary, wedding invitations, or business cards? Papier is perfect for you.

Wildcard

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Lawrenceville's beloved card store, spotlighting local artists.

Top Deck Cards and Games

They have that Yu-Gi-Oh card you've been searching for since 8th grade.

Bebe blu design

Debbie Barbarita hand-illustrates each design, each drawing dedicated to her sister. 

We're revealing the top 10 finalists for this year's Best of Pittsburgh readers' poll. Below are our finalists for Best City Tour. Check back here on August 8 to see who took the top three spots, and click here to get your tickets to this year's Best of Party before it sells out!

Just Ducky Tours

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Ducky Tours prove that the novelty of boat cars never wear off, and they are a special experience for the kids.

Gateway Clipper Fleet

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The Gateway Clipper is immediately recognizable to Pittsburghers, and that is a testament to its success as a river tour.

Burgh Bits and Bites Food Tours

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Eat your way through every neighborhood in Pittsburgh.

Cruisin' Tikis Pittsburgh

They provide the tiki, you provide the booze.

Segway Pittsburgh

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What's more fun than zooming around the city ? Just avoid the potholes.

City Brew Tours Pittsburgh

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Check out Pittsburgh's most underground breweries and learn some history too!

Boat Pittsburgh

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The name says it all. 

We're revealing the top 10 nominees for this year's Best of Pittsburgh readers' poll. are finalists for Best Local Music Venue. Check back on August 8 to see who takes the top three spots, and click here to get your tickets to this year's Best of Party before it sells out!

Moira Kaleida

Moira Kaledia is a lifelong resident of Pittsburgh, and a  director for Pittsburgh Public Schools.

John Fetterman
For 12 years, John Fetterman has been the Mayor of Braddock, working to revive Braddock's thriving community.

Dan Gilman

A former City Councilman, Dan Gilman is now Bill Peduto's Chief of Staff.

Bill Peduto

Elected as Pittsburgh's Mayor in 2013, Bill Peduto works for the Steel City with the mantra, "If it's not for all, it's not for us."

Ed Gainey

Ed Gainey was elected to the House of Representatives in 2013, and advocates for labor rights, working-class families, transportation, education and community development.

Corey O'Connor

O'Connor, now in his second term as a City Councilman, focuses on local development, families and equal rights.

We're revealing the top 10 nominees for this year's Best of Pittsburgh reader's poll. Below are finalists for Best Local Food & Drink Trend. Check back August 8 to see who takes the top three spots, and click here to get your tickets to this year's Best of Party before it sells out!

French Fries on Everything

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Pittsburghers are not known for being health-conscious. Heck, half of our year is spent under overcast, gray skies. We just want a little joy in our lives, and french fries achieve that for us.

Booze With Every Food

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The trend that never stops being a trend. Science can't explain why a quesadilla tastes 500% better when you're tipsy, but it is an undisputed fact.

Rolled Ice Cream

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The viral video sensation has come to Pittsburgh. We're all about that roll life.

We're revealing the top 10 nominees for this year's Best of Pittsburgh readers' poll. Below our finalists for Best Local Music Venue. Check back here on August 8 to see who took the top three spots, and click here to get your tickets to this year's Best of Party before it sells out!

Pittsburgh Dad

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Missing your father? Tune into Pittsburgh Dad and it'll be like you're 12, back at home, listening to your dad's "hilarious" jokes.

Lily Whispers

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If you need help sleeping, Lily Whispers is for you. Lily creates different soothing sounds, lulling her 220,500 subscribers into relaxation.

Weird Paul

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A proclaimed "prehistoric vlogger," Weird Paul entertains the masses with his 80s-style videos and music.

Benstonium

The place for Pittsburgh's viral media.

Leechburgh Lights

Holiday cheer never ends with the Leechburg Lights.

Crap My Dad Makes Me Watch

Movie reviews by a charismatic 11-year-old.

Yeah, you like this

The brainchild of comedians and filmmakers.

Hip-Hop on L.O.C.K.

Teaches students Leadership skills, Organizational skills, Cooperative economics and Knowledge of the music business. 

We're revealing the top 10 nominees for this year's Best of Pittsburgh reader's poll. Below are finalists for Best Milkshake. Check back here on August 8 to see who takes the top three spots, and click here to get your tickets to this year's Best of Party before it sells out!

Burgatory

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Which came first, the burger or the milkshake?

Page Dairy Mart

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2018 marks Page Dairy Mart's 67th year in business—the shakes just keep getting better!

The Milkshake Factory

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55 flavors? How can you choose?

Sarris Candies

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An ice cream parlor straight out of the 50s.

Klavon's Ice Cream Parlor

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Walking into Klavon's is like time-travel. You can still see flood marks from the 1930s!

Sinful Sweets Chocolate Company

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Don't limit yourself to JUST a milkshake. Check out Sinful Sweets' edible cookie dough and gourmet chocolates!

Victory Pointe Arcade and Gaming Cafe

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Who knew an arcade could create such amazing milkshakes?

Fudge Farm

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The Fudge Farm knows: it matters what goes on top of a milkshake.

Millie's Homemade Ice Cream

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Vegans, Millie's even has shakes for you!

Stack'd Burgers & Beer

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Burgers and milkshakes... a replacement for burgers and beer?

We're revealing the top 10 nominees for this year's Best of Pittsburgh reader's poll. Below are finalists for Best Bakery. Check back on August 8 to see who took the top three spots, and click here to get your tickets to this year's Best of Party before it sells out!

Jean-Marc Chatellier's French Bakery

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Since 1992, Chatellier's macarons have been seducing Pittsburghers and Parisians alike.

Oakmont Bakery

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The pastry case at Oakmont is endless, overflowing with cupcakes, doughnuts, bagels, fresh bread, pastries— you name it, they have it.

Prantl's Bakery

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Have you actually been to Pittsburgh if you don't eat Prantl's Burnt Almond Torte?

La Gourmandine

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Find yourself a corner of France in the 'Burgh with one of La Gourmandine's delicious croissants.

Gaby et Jules

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Gaby et Jules takes macarons to the next level with flavors like Mojito, Blue Hawaiian and White Basil Chocolate.

Lincoln Bakery

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Need a specialty cake? Linoln Bakery is the place to go.

The Butterwood Bake Consortium

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Late night cake. LATE NIGHT CAKE.