The Strip District is booming, and it isn't showing signs of slowing down, according to a new report.

Why it matters: Once a neighborhood of warehouses and weekend shoppers, the city's historic market district has attracted robotics companies and a thriving residential population to solidify it as one the region's premier destinations for growth, innovation and entertainment.

By the numbers: An estimated 3,242 residents live in the Strip District, according to the 2025 "State of the Strip" report.

• That's a 319% increase since 2015.
• The neighborhood has added about 1,400 since 2020, which accounts for about 30% of the city's total population growth over that span.

Yes, but: The average rent for a one-bedroom is about $1,900 a month, according to the report.

State of play: It's not just new residents filling the Strip — visitors and office workers have been growing too.

• The neighborhood saw 8.4 million visits in 2024, up from about 7 million in 2022.
• One of the drivers of new visitors is The Terminal retail development on Smallman Street, which saw 1.7 million visits between June 2024 and May 2025, according to data from The Terminal.
• Nearly 10,000 employees work in the Strip, according to the report, led by robotics and tech companies like autonomous truck unicorn Aurora.

The big picture: The urban real estate market is strong in Pittsburgh, and the Strip is one of the biggest contributors, said Keane George, managing director of real estate company Three Rivers Commercial Advisors.

• "The Strip District is pretty amazing in that way," said George.

💭 Ryan's thought bubble: As the Strip District transformed — particularly when The Terminal moved in — there was a lot of chatter forecasting doom for the neighborhood's old-school charm. Essentially none of that has materialized, a sign that new developments don't have to be a bad thing.

What's next: While population growth has stagnated in the last three years due to few new housing developments completed in that time, the Strip has 2,509 more units in the pipeline.

What they're saying

Barrel & Flow returns to Pittsburgh on Saturday, marking its fifth year of celebrating Black creators in craft beer, art and music.

Why it matters: Hailed as one of the nation's top craft beer festivals, Barrel & Flow is about amplifying Black entrepreneurs too often left out of the industry.

The big picture: Created by Pittsburgh comedians Day Bracey and Ed Bailey, the festival has been nationally recognized by USA Today readers for four consecutive years — regularly drawing more than 3,000 people annually.

Zoom in: Visitors can expect 75 breweries and distilleries — some collaborating with artists, small businesses and local leaders to create exclusive, one-off brews — alongside dozens of food vendors.

Zoom out: Barrel & Flow doesn't stop at the main event — the party spills over into an afterparty at Burghers Brewing in Millvale on Saturday night, and a brunch at Kingfly Spirits on Sunday.

If you go: The main event is 5pm-9pm Saturday at The Stacks at 3 Crossings in the Strip District.

Cost: General admission is $75 and includes unlimited tastings and a souvenir glass.

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💊 Billionaire Mark Cuban's drug company has teamed up with Giant Eagle pharmacies to offer lower-cost medications. Customers can save on prescriptions using Cost Plus Drug's Team Cuban Card. (TribLive)

🗳️ PennDOT is investigating an incident at a Butler County DMV where a woman who registered as a Democrat said her paperwork was altered and marked "socialist" instead. (WPXI)

⚖️ The federal government removed Pittsburgh and Allegheny County from its list of so-called sanctuary jurisdictions, which targeted municipalities that didn't cooperate with immigration officials.

• City and county officials said they never changed their policies, nor were they notified about being added to or removed from the list. (WESA)

Friday

Head to one of the nation's largest comic cons, the Steel City Con, Friday-Sunday at the Monroeville Convention Center.

• 📍 209 Mall Plaza Blvd., Monroeville
• ⏰ Times vary
• 💵 Tickets start at $41

Saturday

Soak up the sun at Trax Farms' Sunflower Festival — pick flowers, enjoy live tunes, and snap photos.

• 📍528 Trax Road, Finleyville
• ⏰ 12pm-4pm
• 💵 $13

Celebrate Summerween at the first-ever Steel City Spooky Market with local vendors, food trucks, and flash tattoos at Frankie Pace Park.

• 📍 901 Centre Ave., near PPG Paints Arena
• ⏰ 10am-3pm
• 💵 Free!

Sunday

Join Elation Creative at Jackworth Ginger Beer for the Kickback Cookout, with live music, food, and collaborative painting.

• 📍 6615 Hamilton Ave., Larimer
• ⏰ 3pm-9pm
• 💵 Free!

Justin Timberlake has put a spotlight on Lyme disease after recently revealing his diagnosis.

Why it matters: Especially during the most active tick season (April through October), it's important to be mindful of the tick-borne illness that — if left untreated — can lead to long-term neurological problems.

What he's saying: "Living with this can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically," Timberlake wrote on Instagram.

Zoom in: Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness in Pennsylvania. In 2024, the state reported more than 16,600 lab-confirmed cases.

• Pennsylvania has reported the most Lyme disease cases in the U.S. in 11 of 12 years from 2011 to 2023, CDC data shows.

What's happening: Lyme disease is caused by the bite of a tick (mainly blacklegged, or deer, ticks) that carries a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi.

Zoom in: Lyme disease can present with a rash or flu-like symptoms, but most cases caught early can be treated with antibiotics.

Stay safe: The Pennsylvania Department of Health has tips to prevent tick bites.

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