In Pittsburgh, Comedy And Food Make The Perfect Combo

It’s risky business penning astir drama and food.

When I sat down to a repast pinch stand-up comic Chrissy Costa, who was voted apical comedian successful our 2024 Best of nan ’Burgh Readers’ Poll, I laughed truthful difficult I astir inhaled a burrito into my lungs alternatively of my belly. Thankfully, 20 years of nutrient penning has made maine an master astatine “interchewing” — asking questions while simultaneously eating, drinking and ordering different information of chips and queso.

Costa and I met for Sunday brunch astatine TacOcat, a Taqueria Acosta pop-up that fires up nan North Side’s erstwhile Fat Cat room each Thursday done Sunday. Chef Chris Acosta — nary narration to Chrissy Costa — can’t hold to spot drama acts return to nan building’s second-floor capacity space.

Over tequila cocktails and huevos rancheros, Costa slayed maine pinch not-suitable-for-print stories from her caller gig astatine a nudist colony. I was hardly breathing erstwhile she pointed retired a typo connected nan paper that advertised “boobon” alternatively of “bourbon.” Of course 2 lesbian smart alecks sewage a footwear outta that one!

My sides were adjacent to splitting from New Mexican nutrient intake and guffaws erstwhile nan East Liberty autochthonal mentioned her quality connected “Chews Me,” a blind-dating bid that throws 3 azygous contestants successful a room together to spot which amateur cook tin triumph nan bosom (and whet nan appetite) of a imaginable love.

Season 2 is disposable for free on nan Roku Channel. I scheme to bid takeout from a section Italian associated and watch Costa’s episode, “A Tale of Two Pastas,” unsocial connected my couch. If there’s a Season 3, I’m definite my to-die-for Buffalo chickenhearted dip could woo anyone.

In summation to performing astatine bars, clubs, nan occasional Elks Lodge and connected reality TV, Costa co-hosts road hilarity pinch chap comedian Samantha Bentley connected The Burgh Bus. Billed arsenic Pittsburgh’s “Transportainment” authority, nan converted schoolhouse autobus offers sightseeing excursions, shuttle services, themed rides and a shape for section performers who want to show soiled jokes successful Downtown traffic.

Nick and Kat Walker — owners of The Burgh Bus and its new, somewhat smaller sibling-on-wheels — scheme to connection Pittsburgh pizzeria tours successful 2025. If I tin negociate to “interchew” yinzers connected nan Parkway West during evening unreserved hr while eating a portion of Rockaway, I conscionable mightiness triumph a Pulitzer!

After I had safely consumed my burrito, Costa and I discussed Butler Street Derby, a newer capacity abstraction pinch aged bones.

Hambone’s, to beryllium exact.

The beloved pub occupied nan Lawrenceville storefront for 3 decades. It’s wherever Costa and legions of different section comedians gain their chops. Hambone’s closed successful 2020, soon aft nan decease of Owner Jeff Holt.

There hasn’t been overmuch laughter successful nan building since.

That changed connected Jan. 31, erstwhile Butler Street Derby hosted nan first successful a bid of drama showcases. During nan inaugural event, held successful business pinch WDVE, Mike Zydel, Joey Welsh, Jeff Konkle and Bill Crawford yukked it up pinch a sell-out crowd of astir 130 yinzers for 2 hours.

After specified a prolonged and sad silence, it was a beautiful sound to hear.

The Derby opened successful October 2024 aft 2 years of renovations. Several apartments were removed to create a capacity abstraction pinch cathedral ceilings and a full-service barroom supra nan main level eating room, wherever customers tin pig retired connected pub fare earlier watching stand-up comedy. Out back, there’s a walled-in patio pinch its ain full-service bar. Let’s springiness a extremity of nan chapeau to Derby’s designers for their dedication to liquid refreshment.

Last summer, erstwhile Co-owner Jack Welsh gave maine a sneak peek of nan place, I noticed a dusty pig statue successful nan area of nan basement. It’s nan only relic from nan Hambone’s era — unless, of course, you count nan laughter.