For this episode of From Then to Now to When, we meet Aerin Adams, the self-described “Lesbian in Charge” of The Soft Spot, a new sapphic, sober café space in Garfield.
The Soft Spot is a vision for a community space for queer folks to gather, rest, and resist. Born from a mix of frustration and hope, Aerin’s idea came to life after witnessing rising violence against LGBTQ+ people in Pittsburgh. “I kept seeing this escalation, and this lack of safety,” she says. “It was very easy for me to say ‘I’m going to do something different.'”
That “something different” includes soft lighting, strong coffee, arm wrestling tournaments, poetry readings, and a deep commitment to queer safety and connection.
The café may still be in progress, but the future it represents is already in motion. Watch the full “When” episode to see what’s being built, not just with brick and mortar, but with heart.