ILLUSTRATION BY HUCK BEARD

Comedian Aaron Kleiber doesn’t have to find inspiration, he lives with it. His wife and three children fuel his stand-up act, which you can regularly catch at the Pittsburgh Improv in Homestead or at Downtown’s Arcade Comedy Theater. On stage and off, the Steel Valley native pontificates on his heritage, hockey, the Homestead Grays and how this quirky city is fertile ground for folks who want to make a living being funny. So, we wanted to know:

What is Aaron Kleiber’s Best of the ’Burgh?

What’s your Pittsburgh “hidden gem,” a place that you love that doesn’t get the attention it deserves?
“Dragon Chinese in Munhall. I’ve had Chinese food all over the country and this is the best I’ve ever eaten.”

If you could only eat one local meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
“Honestly, I could probably eat a Primanti sandwich, fries and a pizza once a day. And maybe Pamela’s for breakfast every day, too.”

If Pittsburgh had a theme song, what would it be?
Mister Rogers’ “Won’t You Be My Neighbor”

What’s the annual tradition that you wait for every year?
“Christmas with my kids. Since 2020, we’ve decorated our house as silly and obnoxiously as we can.”

Favorite Pittsburgh appearance in a movie or on television?
“Night of the Living Dead”

What’s your unpopular Pittsburgh opinion? What is something you think about the city (or a famous aspect of it) that won’t win you any friends?
“I’m over black and gold 365 days a year. I gave up on the NFL years ago.”

Where’s the first place you take out-of-town guests?
“I love showing people PNC Park and the Forbes Field wall and taking them to Pamela’s for breakfast. I took Bob Saget to The Warhol years ago.”

If you could bring back one Pittsburgh place or restaurant that’s no longer there, which would you pick?
“I think it would be really cool if we still had Forbes Field.”

You get one Incline ride with any Pittsburgher, living or dead. Who is it?
Mario Lemieux