Banff Mountain Film Festival Tickets On Sale
Tickets to the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour’s Pittsburgh stop — brought to you locally by Venture Outdoors — are on sale early at a discount. From the film: Last of the Great Unknown The festival will be held on Sat., April 6, and Sun., April 7, at the Byham Theater, 101 Sixth St.,…
RuPaul’s Drag Race: Episode 3
Alaska gets a scolding on RuPaul’s Drag Race, but remains in the pink
Driver gets more than two years in prison for death of cyclist
Man gets prison in hit-and-run death of cyclist
Heads Up: Morning headlines for Feb. 12
New retail! Apartments! A transit center! It’s all coming to East Liberty! And the Empires may rise and fall, mountains may crumble into the sea … but local TV news will always be there to report on allegedly excessive spending on the local inmate population. I’ve been sort of bemused at how much attention state…
Lynn Cullen Live 02/12/13
Video Archive Phone guest: Susan; Fat Tuesday; more on the Pope / his resignation; the next Pope should come from Africa or South America; American Catholics are more culturally American than culturally Catholic; America is becoming more secular; the washing machine & the liberation of women; State of the Union speech tonight; State of the…
Last hours left for Awesome Books online fundraiser for heaters
An online fundraiser to raise money for space heaters for Downtown’s independent Awesome Books ends tonight on IndieGoGo. Awesome Books opened in Garfield in 2010 and Downtown in January last year. After a successful year, the store has decided to stay “although the space we are renting has no HVAC system,” according to its Indiegogo…
The Danger Bees
Stuff We Like: The Danger Bees
Debate on Mandatory Ultrasounds
Presuming that women don’t know what’s best for them has long been a favored tactic of political reactionaries. Lately it’s manifested in, among many other things, new laws requiring that ultrasounds be performed prior to any abortion. Ten states already have such laws; in Pennsylvania, a proposed ultrasound law was shelved last year, but is…
Heads Up; Morning headlines for Feb. 11
In light of yet more questions about Nate Harper’s Bureau of Police, the Post-Gazette calls for the police chief to resign — or for Mayor Luke Ravenstahl to oust him. I’ve sort of suspected that, barring an actual indictment, Harper’s job was probably safe until at least one day after the May primary … but…
Lynn Cullen Live 02/11/13
Video Archive Pope has resigned — the first time a German has left Rome willingly ( zing! ); Vatican has had 3 black Popes; Grammy Awards re-cap; Adele & Lena’s fashion faux pas; as we age, we become stuck on the music of our youth, tangled in those memories; Duke study on a bird’s wing-flapping…
Build your Own Bus event Saturday
Pittsburghers for Public Transit will host a Build Your Own Bus art event Saturday in preparation for their bus tour to Harrisburg next week to advocate for mass transit funding. The event Saturday will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at Assemble, 5125 Penn Ave., Garfield. Those interested should bring a poster board and/or…
Plays Wanted for Annual Festival
The Pittsburgh New Works Festival seeks one-acts. More in Program Notes.
Plays Wanted for Annual Festival
The venerable Pittsburgh New Works Festival has issued its annual call for one-acts. The scripts must be previously unproduced. The playwrights can be from anywhere. Twelve plays will be selected for mainstage productions in September, when the festival mounts its 23rd season at Off the Wall Theater Company’s well-regarded new venue, in Carnegie. The scripts…
AG Kane fulfills campaign gun-control promises, closes “Florida loophole”
So far, state Attorney General Kathleen Kane has been getting press coverage mostly for her fledgling investigation of how Gov. Tom Corbett handled the Jerry Sandusky child-abuse scandal. But Kane, a Democrat, may already have notched up a more lasting accomplishment: making it harder for gun owners to skirt Pennsylvania’s “concealed-carry” license requirements. Late this…
Stream This Ish: February 5 Issue
This week in CP: —Aaron Jentzen examines the comic mythology of Coheed and Cambria, as well as Caleb Pogyor’s Terra EP. Coheed and Cambria Caleb PogyorTime to Kill by Caleb Pogyor —An interview with Reid Paley of Paley and Francis. Reid PaleyEverything Is Going Wrong (& That's Alright) by REID PALEY TRIO —Of course, our…
Molchany to host transportation funding hearing
State Rep. to hold Feb. 20 transportation hearing
Heads Up: Morning headlines for Feb. 8
As predicted here last week, UPMC has settled scores of complaints that it violated labor-law in seeking to discourage a unionization effort. UPMC administrators will have to undergo training, and discharged workers will get 80 percent of the backpay they would have earned if they were still on the job. And yet does UPMC sound…
Lynn Cullen Live 02/08/13
Video Archive Guest: Tom Sokolowski; strange children’s songs; unwed mothers in Ireland; Irish church cut ties with the Vatican; Bush family email hacked; George W. Bush’s self portraits; no one likes a whistleblower; drilling deals & the Amish beard cutter; war is getting cleaner, easier to get into; Newtown Lutheran pastor in trouble for worshiping…
Two options for tonight:
Just a quickie to let you know about two things of interest going on in town tonight: 1. At Garfield Artworks, Sound Without, the ambient project of Buffalo-based percussionist Liz Holland. It’s heavy stuff, intellectually if not always sonically; here’s an example: That show is at 8 p.m.; Brother Ong and Dean Cercone open. 2.…
Local Photographer Speaks About His Work in Mali
Joseph Edgar gives an artist’s talk today at the Squirrel Hill Carnegie Library to accompany his exhibition on life in Mali. More in Program Notes.
Get Warhol D.I.Y. Pop app for free
Brillo and Warhol Museum team up for free Warhol D.I.Y. Pop app, through March
Local Photographer Speaks About His Work in Mali
Talk today accompanies exhibit at Squirrel Hill Library
Realtors launch website to fight against Lawrenceville BID
The Realtors Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh announced this morning the launch of a website intended to help their campaign against an effort to create a Lawrenceville business district.
Lynn Cullen Live 02/07/13
Video Archive Newtown kids being exploited; Americans & the media love emotional pornography; regular Saturday drone attacks will be discontinued; an eyeball falls out in court in Philadelphia; Mt. Lebanon library asks photographer to remove a piece on display because it shows a breast, he tapes a bra over it; censorship in the US; op-ed…
Pixar Films at CMU
This week’s CMU films are animated Pixar features.
Kelly-Strayhorn Hosts Emerging Choreographers
Rising dance talent showcases works-in-progress this Saturday. Quick preview in Program Notes.
Kelly-Strayhorn Hosts Emerging Choreographers
The Kelly-Strayhorn Theater’s successful Next Stage Residency for choreographers holds its annual works-in-progress showing this Saturday. The featured artists presenting the results of the week-long residency are T. Lang, who heads Atlanta’s T. Lang Dance Ensembel, and Philadelphia-based choreographer Megan Mazarick. Lang (pictured) and five dancers will perform excerpts from Mother/Mutha, her new work exploring…
EPLC notes pros/cons of Corbett’s Ed Budget
By now, many have had a chance to review Gov. Tom Corbett’s budget and offer their opinions. Here’s some insight to the education portion of the budget from The Education Policy and Leadership Center, which held a conference call on the matter this morning, led by EPLC president Ronald Cowell. On education funding overall and…
Paul Gertner’s “Braindrops” at Grey Box Theatre
Magician Paul Gertner’s fine new stage show, Braindrops, has three more performances through Saturday. Read a review in Program Notes.
Reid Paley interview over at FFW>>
Just a quick heads-up to let you folks know that, if you’re not hooked into our FFW>> music blog, you can head over there now to check out an extended version of the Q&A with rocker and ex-Pittsburgh Reid Paley, which ran in this week’s paper. Enjoy! You don’t want to know what he used…
Paul Gertner’s “Braindrops” at Grey Box Theatre
A dazzling magic show with a message
Extended interview: Reid Paley
Reid Paley chats about songwriting, recording and the booths at the Squirrel Cage.
Heads Up: Morning headlines for Feb. 6
Story of the day: Tom Corbett released his proposed 2013-14 budget yesterday — a strictly by-the-numbers look is here, and reactions from around the state are bundled together here. We’ll have our own look at some of the key provisions, but for now, suffice it to say that you shouldn’t be fooled by headlines talking…
Quantum Theatre’s John Gabriel Borkman
JOHN GABRIEL BORKMAN continues through Feb. 24. Quantum Theatre at the Hart Building 6022 Broad St. East Liberty. $18-48. 888-718-4253 or quantumtheatre.com Henrik Ibsen rarely conjures a chucklefest, but Quantum Theatre’s ambitious production of the Norwegian giant’s late play John Gabriel Borkman pulls dark humor from the drama of familial angst. Credit director Martin Giles’…
Short List: February 7-14
Spotlight: Thu., Feb. 14 — Festival If cold-weather camping — and bundled-up performers spinning fireballs before a 15-foot-tall sculpture of a snowman — is your bag, check out Frostburn. Western Pennsylvania’s five-day wintertime answer to the famed Burning Man festival is all about art, music, pyro, parties, antics and sharing stuff, Fahrenheit be damned. The…
Becky’s New Car, at The REP
BECKY’S NEW CAR continues through Feb. 17. Pittsburgh Playhouse 222 Craft Ave. Oakland. $24-27. 412-392-8000 or pittsburghplayhouse.com. Stable, boring marriages and mid-life crises have probably sold more cars than every car salesman in history. The REP’s production of Becky’s New Car isn’t subtle about this message. Shoes, flower vases, cups, books and a toilet seat…
Space Bugs
My boyfriend said: I gotta show you this video. They think there are things living in space. We watch footage of the space station. A tether falls away from the main ship & is greeted by some things as big as dinner plates. Caption: The objects pulse at a steady rate of 37 beats per…
Attack Theatre surprises with a poignant Soap Opera
Attack Theatre’s SOAP OPERA continues through Feb. 10. George R. White Opera Studio 2425 Liberty Ave. Strip District. $20-35. 888-718-4253 or attacktheatre.com Because Attack Theatre is best known for its clever, lighthearted fare, it would be easy to assume that the troupe’s latest program would fall into that category — especially when it’s titled Soap…
Fukuda
Fukuda 4770 Liberty Ave. Bloomfield. 412-567-5050 Hours: Wed.-Sun. lunch 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Wed.-Sat. dinner 6-11 p.m., Sun. 5-10 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. late night 11 p.m.-2 a.m. Prices: Small plates $3-10.50, specials $21-26 Liquor: BYOB Beneath a simple awning embellished with kanji, the restaurant window glows with the lights of tableside lamps, while a sushi chef works…
Oscar-Nominated Short Documentary Films
Oscar Documentary Shorts Screens over two weekends: Feb. 8-10 and Feb. 15-17 412-682-4111 or pghfilmmakers.org for schedule Starts Fri., Feb. 8. Melwood For this year’s program of Oscar-nominated short documentaries, you’ll get your money’s worth. Each of the five films is 40 minutes long (there will be an intermission). And you may want to pack…
Cooking School: Classes allow the city’s food community to share its knowledge
They require a bit of a hunt, but a growing number of free to low-cost classes taught by Pittsburgh’s food and drink specialists are popping up around the city. You can, for example, learn how to butcher duck, rabbit or lamb at Beechview’s Crested Duck Charcuterie; how to build a home bar or properly taste…
Side Effects
Side Effects Starts Fri., Feb. 8. Steven Soderbergh’s latest (and, he says, last) film, Side Effects, is a throwback to those twisty-turny, sex-and-murder-and-business melodramas of the late 1980s. It begins with a bloody crime scene at a New York apartment, and flashes back to show its residents — emotionally fragile Emily (Rooney Mara) and her…
Spoon’s newly arrived sommelier, John Wabeck, has big ambitions
There are currently only 129 certified Master Sommeliers in the United States. If John Wabeck has his way, he’ll be joining their ranks this year. And luckily for local wine enthusiasts, he’ll be preparing for the rigorous final exam in Pittsburgh. Wabeck is the new wine director at Spoon, the East Liberty restaurant where he’ll…
The House I Live In
The term “war on drugs” was coined by Richard Nixon more than four decades ago, and Eugene Jarecki’s searing documentary-slash-essay takes a clear-eyed look at the economic and social costs of this so-called war. Jarecki weaves personal stories together with numbers and interviews with offenders, jailers, judges, cops, academics and families caught up in the…
Custom-made pies are the specialty of Pittsburgh Pie Guy
For the record, there are two guys behind Pittsburgh Pie Guy: Wren McGalliard and Louis Butler. Since last year, the two Greenfield residents have been peddling their pies around town, mostly at pop-up markets and through custom orders. Their pies can also be found at Zeke’s Coffee, in East Liberty, delivered fresh on Tuesdays and…
The Waiting Room
Peter Nicks’ new documentary depicts a day at the emergency room of a public hospital in Oakland, Calif., exposing the hard work and frustration that make up one of health care’s thinly stretched safety nets. The film unfolds with no narration, stitching together scenes from the waiting room, triage desk and examination rooms. Despite this…
Lynn Cullen Live 02/06/13
Video Archive Guest: Chris Potter; want vs. wont; improper English; possible life in prison for Sam Mullet, the “mastermind” behind the rogue Amish beard cutting; Allegheny Co. rapist representing himself in court, cross examining his victims; Corbett’s new budget seems more generous, but only if legislature does what he wants; Corbett’s competition in 2 years;…
Coheed and Cambria sets a soundtrack to comic mythology
COHEED AND CAMBRIA — SOLD OUT with BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME, RUSSIAN CIRCLES. 6:30 p.m. Thu., Feb. 7. Stage AE 400 North Shore Drive North Side. Sold out as of Feb. 6. All ages. 412-229-5483 or stageae.com Every hero needs an adversary — and in this story, it’s Ryan. Or rather, Supreme Tri-Mage Wilhelm…
Caleb Pogyor’s Terra EP gets help from a local comic artist
When Caleb Pogyor finished the rough mixes for his new EP, he immediately sent them to Nate McDonough, a comic artist and illustrator. Newly released, Terra comprises seven songs and a booklet of McDonough’s illustrations. Unlike Coheed and Cambria’s sprawling epic (see main feature, “Coheed and Cambria sets a soundtrack to comic mythology”), no single…
Local musicians pull together ¡Three Amigos! rock adaptation
¡AMIGOS LIVE! with GUARACHA, MIGUEL’S MARIACHI FIESTA. 6 p.m. Sat., Feb. 9. New Hazlett Theater 6 Allegheny Square East North Side. $20-30. 412-320-4610 or newhazletttheater.org Composers Elmer Bernstein and Randy Newman aside, few will ever know the score to the movie ¡Three Amigos! as well as Orion Czarnecki. This week, Czarnecki and an impressive collection…
Critics’ Picks: February 6 – 12
[INDIE FOLK] + THU., FEB. 7 In an era rife with contrived “folk” acts from Brooklyn, hearing a group like Frontier Ruckus can feel like a godsend. The Michigan folk-rock four-piece dishes out soft-spoken stories about life in its home state, with an earnestness seldom found in a scene with its share of homogenous groups.…
On the Record with Reid Paley
In the 1980s, Reid Paley led the Pittsburgh-based band The Five; the group later moved to Boston. He’s now on a short tour with Black Francis, of The Pixies, with whom he’s collaborated in the past as Paley and Francis. A longer version of this interview appears on FFW>>, our music blog. Did you meet…
Run Out on a Rail: PAT CEO’s ouster shows who’s in charge of county’s authorities
For once, the turmoil at the Port Authority wasn’t over massive transit cuts and layoffs. Only one person was set to lose his job on Feb. 1: CEO Steve Bland. Ultimately, five board members voted, at the behest of Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, to terminate Bland “without cause.” That designation means Bland exits with…
With temporal-spatial sleight-of-hand, he manages to be both a realist and a surrealist.
DOUGLAS COOPER: THE EYE’S JOURNEY continues through March 3. Concept Art Gallery 1031 S. Braddock Ave. Edgewood. 412-242-9200 or conceptgallery.com Douglas Cooper makes big drawings for a good reason: namely, that there’s a lot he wants to cram in. Cooper’s celebration of Pittsburgh’s natural and built environment, with past and present co-mingled in a kind…
Domestic Spying: Tracking your loved one’s cell may give you peace of mind, but what are you giving up in the process?
Jeanne Rose felt something was not right about the way her husband was acting. She feared he was lying about his whereabouts, and had a suspicion that he was falling back into addiction. In the past she would have had to take off work and physically follow him around town, or hire a private investigator…
Poet Aaron Smith whets his Appetite
When I teach freshman literature, I focus on promoting empathy. And if the better angels of poetry keep alive the possibility of a walk in another’s shoes, then Aaron Smith’s new collection Appetite will leave you feeling like you’ve stepped around the block, laced into the life of a gay speaker looking both inward and…
Donor Bases
Long before anyone casts a vote, politicians must compete in a race for campaign contributions. And the need for hard cash means that while everybody gets a vote on Election Day, people in affluent communities can play a much larger role in determining who wins. So it is with Pittsburgh’s 2013 mayoral race, in which…
The Public’s 1776
1776 continues through Feb. 24. Pittsburgh Public Theater 621 Penn Ave. Downtown. $15-60. 412-316-1600 or ppt.org You gotta love musical theater. A couple of weeks ago, I reviewed Les Miz, which is about one of the French Revolutions. Now it’s Pittsburgh Public Theater’s production of 1776, the Sherman Edwards (music and lyrics) and Peter Stone…
Hitting the Bottle
Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised. Gov. Tom Corbett’s popularity, never high, now sunk to new lows. Less than 50 percent of Republicans think he should be re-elected, according to a recent Quinnipiac University poll. Women especially despise him. So maybe it’s no wonder he’s turned to alcohol to solve his problems. Yes, with his re-election…
