Photo by Nick Walker.

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Mac Miller Fund supports local artists

A new arts initiative created by The Pittsburgh Foundation’s Mac Miller Fund will award 75 $1,000 micro-grants to Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) artists. Applications are open through July 23.

Grants will be unrestricted so recipients have the freedom to use the money on whatever they choose. The program is open to artists who live in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Mercer, Lawrence, Somerset, Venango, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

The fund was established in 2018 by the family of the late Malcolm McCormick, a Pittsburgh native, rapper and producer known professionally as Mac Miller.

“The BIPOC Artist Micro-Grant program is a way for the Foundation to carry forward Mac Miller’s creative and artistic legacy and his family’s vision for helping artists, particularly younger artists, recognize their full potential,” says Kelly Uranker, vice president of The Pittsburgh Foundation’s Center for Philanthropy.

New nonstop flight to Florida

Pittsburghers headed to Florida will have a new option this fall.

Allegiant Air announced new nonstop service to and from Pittsburgh International Airport and Melbourne Orlando International Airport. The twice-weekly flights will begin operating on Nov. 11. Allegiant is offering introductory one-way fares as low as $49.

Allegiant Air started nonstop flights to Key West, Florida, on June 3.

Mellon Square reopens

Feel like you’re running in circles? Relax in Mellon Square. The area, which was closed throughout much of the pandemic, will reopen June 30 at noon with free games, music and events. Summer at the Square also will feature an alfresco café. Monthly happy hours will be held to support Downtown bars and restaurants.

Get your gluten-free meal kits

Gluten Free Goat, a preorder-only bakery that doesn’t use gluten, soy or peanuts, is now offering meal kits. Dubbed Grub by Goat, the new meal kit service was designed in partnership with local restaurants Scratch & Co., ShadoBeni and Wild Child to offer ready-made meals prepared by chef Selina Progar.

The two-person meals include roasted whole snapper or vegetarian summer stew with flan for dessert from Wild Child, vegan pelau from ShadoBeni and roasted cauliflower from Scratch & Co. The meals only require light preparation.

Customers can order the meal kits online and pick them up on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Adda Bazaar (4905 Penn Ave. in Garfield), the coffee shop located in front of Gluten Free Goat’s production space. Orders must be placed by Tuesday at 11:59 p.m.

Glass recycling on the go

Pennsylvania Resources Council’s (PRC) free Traveling Glass Recycling Bin Program rotates throughout a variety of locations in western PA. This innovative project ensures that glass deposited into the bin meets the highest standards and can be fully recycled.

From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., people can drop off unsorted glass bottles, jars and jugs of all colors. Containers should be empty and rinsed, with lids and labels still on. Bags and boxes used to deliver glass must be discarded off-site.

Last year, the program enabled more than 15,000 households to drop of 540,000 pounds of bottles, jars and jugs for recycling.

PRC will stop in these communities in July:

July 3-8, Bethel Park Community Center, 5151 Park Ave., Bethel Park
July 17-22, Hartwood Acres Park, 4100 Middle Road, Allison Park
July 24-29, Collier Township Municipal Building, 2418 Hilltop Rd., Presto
July 31 – Aug. 5, Quaker Valley High School, Lower Lot, 625 Beaver Street, Leetsdale

Kristy Locklin is a North Hills-based writer. When she's not busy reporting, she enjoys watching horror movies and exploring Pittsburgh's craft beer scene.