As 2025 draws to a close, Pittsburgh City Paper‘s editorial staff members select their favorite stories from the year. Relive A&E editor Amanda Waltz’s 2025 highlights below:

A Dublin NFL game T-shirt at a shop in Galway Credit: Amanda Waltz

A week of finding Pittsburgh (and the Steelers) in Ireland // Sept. 29, 2025

I went to Ireland, and all I got was this essay about unintentionally visiting the country the week of the Steelers-Vikings game in Dublin.

Wood sculptures at the at the Bigfoot Camping Adventure in Farmington, Pa. Credit: CP Photo: Amanda Waltz

Overthinking Bigfoot, the most Pennsylvanian cryptid // Sept. 4, 2025

Is Bigfoot Libertarian? Can Bigfoot be swayed with a Snickers? These are the kinds of hard questions I seek to answer as a Very Serious journalist.

Cassie Horrell plays three different characters in her @weddingprocass Instagram Reels Credit: Screenshots: Instagram @weddingprocass

TikToker Cassie Horrell is a one-woman nightmare wedding re-enactor // May 12, 2025

If you like Bridezillas, Say Yes to the Dress, and messy wedding drama in general, this entertaining Pittsburgh influencer is for you.

Ken Ho teaches during a 412 Step line dancing night at Belvedere’s Ultra-Dive on Mar. 26, 2025. Credit: CP Photo: Mars Johnson

Step into Pittsburgh’s growing progressive country music culture // April 9, 2025

412 Step and other groups are reclaiming country music and dance culture, making it more queer-friendly, fun, and, for many, deeply nostalgic.

Still from *The Ratchelor: Rats in the City* Credit: Photo: Courtesy of Algorat

Find rodent love with The Ratchelor dating simulator // Jan. 1, 2025

Take a break from swiping left on the apps and check out this free, highly replayable reality show-inspired dating game created by a team out of Carnegie Mellon University.