Powder Witch & Company

So I bused in to see what was happening on the second week of the arts festival. I haven't been able to do this in a couple years, and I was hopeful that a couple of my favorite artists that had been missing from last week.

Instead, what I found first was a farmer's market that had taken up Market Square. There was food, books, spices, soaps, and probably other things that I didn't notice. Because I was headed over to the festival space, I didn't get anything while I was walking through and they'd packed up before I returned. Despite that, I got a sample of some of the best fudge I'd ever had from a booth called "Fudge Bar." It was a blueberry vanilla swirl, and easily the creamiest fudge I've ever tasted.

The festival itself had shrunk dramatically since my last visit. I'd forgotten that on weekdays they pull half the booths so that the roads can reopen, but there were significantly fewer people about besides. If I have the energy I'll be there Saturday to double check.

[Edit: I went back Saturday, and yes. The road was closed to cars, the second row of tents and vendors was back, and there was a sizable crowd. There was also a world market happening in Market Square, where I had some of the best fried fish I've had in a while from a vendor there, named Juba Market. And also the city mayor was there.

Come to Pittsburgh, the city where most of our politicians show up to events in Plain clothes. We have really good food.]

I had lunch at the festival again before opting to run some errands while I was out. This time from a food truck parked to the side of the main festival space.

Franktuary sells natural casing hot dogs and fresh cut fries, for around the same cost as fries from the festival food court. Classic 'just stumbled out of a bar' food, but well made and delicious.

My errands were thankfully minor, and easily taken care of. Speaking of, did anyone else in town know that Allegheny Coffee & Tea Exchange sells Torani Syrups in 750ml glass bottles, for $10 even, because I didn't. And afterwards, I figured it was time for dessert.

After Burgatory I wanted to find other places in town that sold vegan milkshakes, just to see what was available. It was surprisingly difficult, partly because Google seems to be filtering out search grammar, and partly because some store's websites don't list a complete menu until you start going through their online ordering process.

As was the case for Millie's Homemade Ice Cream. I'd actually initially given up on a milkshake from them, because their main website only lists their flavors. But then I started going through their order online system to try and find the price of a single scoop and there it was.

The storefront by Market square is a little smaller that it looks in images, but given the location that's not unsurprising. It's got a soft industrial feel to it, crossed with a candy aesthetic. Things were fairly quiet when I arrived, but it was chillier than expected that day.

Millie's shakes comes in a compostable cup with a biodegradable spoon and straw, and piled up so high that I was glad I hadn't asked for whipped cream or some other topper. It wouldn't have fit.

The shake is fantastic, not just because I can eat it without dying, but because they have a selection of dairy free (and gluten free) ice cream that you get to pick from for a milkshake. I picked mint chocolate chip, objectively the best flavor (unless you don't like mint I guess).

It was a surprisingly delicate mint flavor, at least at first, before getting closer to the intense mint I prefer towards the end. And the chocholate chips suspended in it were wonderfully rich. My only regret is that is was a cool day to be having a milkshake.

I went over to PPG plaza because the sky had been threatening rain for the last hour and they'd finally set up the umbrellas over the tables. I didn't end up staying very long though, when I checked my bus tracking app it showed it coming in barely enough time for me to run to the stop. I wasn't sure if it would be the but I needed or the one that stopped early, but I headed over anyway.

It's technically against the rules to have an open drink on the bus, so I tried to drink as much of my shake as I could before it arrived. I didn't get very far, since the bus that came was actually the one I needed. The driver didn't say anything about the drink.

Normally that would be the end of it, I went home and got on with life. But this time I figured, since I had a straw and I had to hold my shake to keep it from tipping over, why not drink some on the way?

For whatever reason, buses don't make me motion sick the way cars do, but I have found the exception to that. And the stomach ache that I endured for the rest of the evening is one I will remember for a while to come.

Still worth every sip, but maybe next time I'll try chocolate or peanut butter.