A note about O’Connor’s position on choice
In a post about campaign contributions I made last week, I noted that Corey O’Connor, who is running for the city council seat once held by his father, had received $500 from Family PAC. As I noted at the time, Family PAC typically supports pro-life causes — a fact that raised flags over at 2politicaljunkies.…
Campaign finance: Burgess’ turn to feel the heat
Well, we all saw this one coming. As first reported here this morning, city councilor Ricky Burgess is characterizing his failure to file a campaign finance report as a gesture of protest. But inevitably, someone was going to ask what he was really hiding. And now one of his rivals in city council, Lucille Prater-Holliday,…
Donating Pittsburgh is Art Day
Starting at midnight tonight, it’s something like a birthday and Election Day combined for some 150 local nonprofit arts and cultural organizations. Or so I’d assume, based on the deluge of Pittsburgh is Art Day appeals from such groups that have been flooding City Paper’s inbox for the past couple weeks. The deal is that…
More campaign-finance fallout (UPDATED — now with more radioactivity!)
Hoo boy. As I noted last week, District 9 city councilor Ricky Burgess did not file a campaign-finance report by last Friday’s deadline. Now Burgess says he is refusing to file the report as an act of protest. He also intends to file legislation to overturn the city’s suddenly controversial campaign-finance reforms, on account of…
MP3 Monday: The Slow Reel
Sunny day got you thinkin’ Southern rock? OK, gotcha covered. Our MP3 Monday this week is supplied by The Slow Reel (nee Small Cities), whose latest, Governor’s Daughter, comes out next month. How special and magical is it that we’re getting a taste of the record ALREADY? Very special and magical. The Southern-bred band is…
Commando Kelly strikes again
I know, I know: Post-Gazette columnist Jack Kelly is a virtual piñata for online commentary. Both 2politicaljunkies and Cognitive Dissonance enjoy taking the piss out of him. In fact, if it weren’t for those guys, I probably wouldn’t pay Kelly any heed at all. But I confess I was actually looking forward to Kelly’s column…
Koch hitting hard on campaign ethics charges (and he’s not alone) — and district 9 news
Well, you heard it here first: Late last week I said District 3 city councilor Bruce Kraus could expect more headaches as a result of his most recent campaign-finance document. And rival Jeff Koch is now applying the pain. Here’s a statement Koch just sent out a short time ago: As expected, Bruce Kraus has…
Fleeting Pages is Launched
I visited Pittsburgh’s pop-up bookstore, housed in the old Borders Eastside, late in the afternoon yesterday, its inaugural day. My first impression: fewer books but more people than when I last visited the former Borders’s second-floor space … when Borders still occupied it. That’s maybe a little unfair. After all, Fleeting Pages is mostly using…
Corningworks’ Are We There Yet?
While its title references the axiomatic child’s question, it’s important to note that in this engaging world-premiere dance work, the question is asked by an adult – one of the five nationally acclaimed over-40 artists in this latest offering from Beth Corning’s Pittsburgh-based Glue Factory Project. The show’s theme concerns how to identify the arrival…
Get your campaign finance updates here! (UPDATED)
All right — this is a partial breakdown of contributions in some of the key races on the ballot this May.The reports aren’t all in yet, but I’m posting this now, because of some interesting developments. (Hint: Pro-choice advocates might want to skip down to city council district 5. And fans of “The Network” should…
Activists protest reinstatement of officers in Miles beating
One day after news broke that three police officers accused of beating a Homewood teen last year would return to duty, roughly 150 angry protesters — some holding signs reading “F*ck the police” — gathered outside the City-County Building today, demanding justice. “Police need to be held accountable for their actions,” said Brandi Fisher, chair…
More on campaign finance brouhaha (UPDATED — now with more confusion!)
I know, I know — like eight people care about this thing I blogged about yesterday, in which certain incumbent city councilors accepted contributions that would seem to be in excess of campaign-finance limits they previously supported. The thing is, those eight people all have blogs too. So I’ll keep this going. Our friends at…
Two benefits tonight
As sometimes happens around here, there were more benefit shows this week than I could possibly fit into the music section and Critics’ Picks. In addition to the Japan fundraiser at Cattivo, which I did get into Critics’ Picks, I wanted to fill you in on a couple of other benefits tonight: At Belvedere’s, check…
Cops in beating case to go back on the beat
City officials announced today that three police officers accused of beating a Homewood teenager last year will be re-instated, now that the US Department of Justice has declined to prosecute them. Officers Michael Saldutte, Richard Ewing and David Sisak will return to active duty after being on administrative leave since the alleged Jan. 12, 2010,…
County parks concert schedule revealed
On this, the springiest day in weeks — okay, the only springy day in weeks — we’ve gotten word from the Allegheny County Special Events Office about the summer county parks concert series. There’s nothing here that excites me quite as much as, say, that super fun Yo La Tengo show or Dawes did last…
Campaign-finance confusion widespread
Our friends at Early Returns have noted that in city council district 3, Jeff Koch has accused incumbent Bruce Kraus of violating campaign-finance laws … laws that Kraus himself advocated, and that certain credulous reporters gave him credit for advancing. As Early Returns notes, in 2010, Kraus reaped more than a half-dozen contributions that might…
2011 Primary Election Guide
Follow the links below to see our head-to-head comparisons of the Democrats running for key offices in the May 17 primary. Cautionary Shale: County exec candidates Flaherty, Fitzgerald say they differ on drilling — but activists say you get fracked either way Allegheny County Controller City Council District 1 City Council District 3 City Council…
Last Word
An illustrated look at the life of a jitney driver, by one of the guys behind the wheel.
Cautionary Shale: Flaherty, Fitzgerald say they differ on drilling — but activists say you get fracked either way
“How am I supposed to get excited over two candidates who want to let drillers onto our county-owned land.”
Short List: Week of May 5 – 12
Thu., May 5 — Stage The star-crossed lovers in Antony & Cleopatra aren’t just irking warring families — they’re messing with geopolitics. The passions of Shakespeare’s Roman ruler and Egyptian queen changed the course of history. Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre opens its season with a production directed by James J. Christy (who helmed PICT’s…
There Be Dragons
Roland Joffé once made big important movies with big important themes (The Killing Fields, The Mission). He still does, but the genre is so dated that it hardly seems worth the effort. And when the subject matter is the Spanish Civil War, in a story that revolves around a Spaniard (Dougray Scott) writing a book…
Prom
In Disney’s fantasy universe, all the kids at Ideal Body Weight High simply can’t wait to go to the prom. As a voiceover reminds us, it’s the “one night that brings us all together.” Having been to high school, I beg to differ, but here we go: Pretty, perky Nova (Aimee Teegarden) and “rebel” Jesse…
Lebanon, PA
After his estranged father dies, Will (Josh Hopkins), a thirtysomething ad man from Philadelphia, heads back Lebanon. There, in his small hometown, he connects with neighbors (sort-of cousins). In particular, he bonds with a teen-age girl (Rachel Kitson), who’s debating what to do with her unplanned pregnancy, and a married, if dissatisfied, schoolteacher (Samantha Mathis).…
Fast Five
All this happens in the just first 15 minutes of Justin Lin’s actioner: A prison bus is jacked; we arrive in Rio de Janiero and have a beer; a pregnancy is announced; three cars are stolen … from a moving train. Then, there are a fist fight and a blow-torch attack, plus a shoot-out that…
Even the Rain
In Icíar Bollaín’s film, set in 2000, a film crew sets up camp in Bolivia, where there is plenty of drama on and off set. The docudrama being filmed is an indictment of Christopher Columbus’ poor treatment of the indigenous Caribbean people, whom he converted to slave labor. But — surprise — the film folk…
American: The Bill Hicks Story
Bill Hicks died in 1994, and in the ensuing decades, fans have frequently wished the acerbic, profane, iconoclastic standup performer were still stalking the stage, yelling at America to wake up. Or that people today could appreciate how transformative his act was then. That’s among the goals of Matt Harlock and Paul Thomas’ documentary, which…
Silk Screen Film Festival
Pittsburgh’s Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival returns for its sixth year. Beginning Fri., May 6, and running for 10 days, the festival will present 23 films, mostly recent features from the Far East and Southeast Asia, as well as the United States and Iran, representing the diversity of Asian and Asian-American experiences. The event…
Film Kitchen unearths first and early films by local artists.
A 1977 TV ad featuring Muhammad Ali is included.
In a Better World
Susanne Bier’s domestic drama asks does violence justify more violence? Are there better solutions for finding justice than revenge? But this languid film won’t bring any new insights or provocative scenarios. It’s a contrived set-up, underwritten and overly simplistic. Its primary story involves two pre-teen boys, who take on bullying with more violence; a subplot…
Waffles, INCaffeinated
Homemade waffles and toppings well worth the drive
Critics’ Picks: May 6 – May 11
Brooke Fraser, White Hills, The Derailers, a Japan earthquake benefit and making noise with Christiane D.
To breathe
A poem by Nina Sabak
CD Reviews
New releases from Gene Stovall, Hungry Lips, Mercury and Meeka In Jail
Dee, meet Dee
Local singer Phat Man Dee recalls joining the circus with Baby Dee
Pawpaw Trees
The native “tropical” plant makes a comeback
Baby Dee is on her best behavior
The Cleveland-based harpist and pianist appears at the Warhol.
Beth Corning’s new dance-theater work asks, “How do you know when you are an adult?”
Are We There Yet? features a cast of distinguished dance pros over age 40.
Always … Patsy Cline
Casting the mellifluous Katie Aiello provides a pleasant, at times uplifting entertainment.
Black men’s voices are foremost in the play Testimony.
Playwright Tameka Cage believes that stories drawn from the community can draw the community to the theater.
Author and historian Nathaniel Philbrick discusses his book The Last Stand, about Custer, Sitting Bull and Little Big Horn.
“We still are living on the mythology of the West, that Custer stuff.”
A conversation with novelist Gary Shteyngart.
The Super Sad True Love Story author talks dystopia, literary influences and dachsunds.
Oram’s Donut Shop
Come for the cinnamon rolls, stay for the donuts
Hola, blanco and sangrita
Celebrating Cinco de Mayo with more authentic libations
Get Hip re-issues Meeting of Important People’s debut
“We re-release stuff from the ’60s a lot, but this record has that sound. This is going to be a classic.”
Savage Love
I was hanging out with a guy who is in a relationship. A while ago, I made the drunken mistake of climbing into the backseat of a car with him. He asked if I was on birth control; I told him yes, because I was, and he penetrated me and came inside me. The next…
My ego boost … my Range Resources
So next week is the 47th annual Golden Quill Awards — during which the Western Pennsylvania Press Club doles out awards for the finest work in local print and broadcast journalism. For one glittering night each year, Pittsburgh journalists put on their clean shirts and treat themselves to a night of self-congratulation. (Usually, we only…
Natural-gas becomes county exec campaign issue
Allegheny County Executive candidate Rich Fitzgerald is turning up the heat on his May 17 primary opponent Mark Patrick Flaherty, accusing his rival of hatching “Republican” plans when it comes to natural-gas drilling. In a new campaign commercial, Fitzgerald questions Flaherty’s “Natural Gas Scheme.” Flaherty wants to use about $2.5 billion in county funds to…
