Pittsburgh Grooveline: Dance parties at True T Studios and more (Feb. 6-12)
Each week, the Pittsburgh City Paper compiles a list of Pittsburgh dance parties for you and your crew to bust loose to the best bangers, EDM, pop hits, and more. (All events are 21 and over unless otherwise stated.) Fri., Feb. 7 First Fridays: A Night on Bourbon Street at True T Studios. 9 p.m.…
Bill potentially allocating billions in subsidies to future petrochemical facilities clears Pa. legislature
After a highly publicized disagreement between Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald over the future of the petrochemical industry in the region, many elected officials in Allegheny County stayed silent. Peduto argued against new petrochemical facilities, aka cracker plants, coming to the Pittsburgh region. He supported winding down fracking in the area…
Weekly Food Truck Schedule: Feb. 5-11
Are you tired of tracking down food trucks? Welcome to the Pittsburgh City Paper food truck roundup, where we do the hard work for you. Each week, we’re compiling a list of city trucks and their schedules. (For the most up-to-date schedule, visit each truck’s website.) AFRICAN Kilimanjaro Flavour @kilimanjaro_flavour Wednesday: 700 Technology Drive, Oakland…
Bloomfield in mourning: Pittsburghers react to Howlers leaving neighborhood
While Howlers’ recent relocation news was a relief for the Pittsburgh music scene as a whole — the fundamental music venue is moving, not permanently closing — it wasn’t a welcome announcement for all. In the past few years, Bloomfield has lost music venues and stores including The Shop, Bloomfield Bridge Tavern (BBT), and Juke Records,…
Casa Brasil sets sights on new bar program championing Brazilian cocktails
When Keyla Nogueira Cook and Tim Guthrie opened Casa Brasil in 2018, they brought with them “the best flavors of Brazilian home cooking.” Now, they’re looking to expand these traditional flavors to the bar. And to get there, they’re asking for Pittsburgh’s help. Cook and Guthrie have launched a Honeycomb Credit campaign — a crowdfunding platform…
Gov. Wolf renews calls for stricter gun control, including red flag laws and background checks
This morning, Gov. Tom Wolf (D-York) delivered his annual budget address to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, touching on several subjects, from minimum wage to education funding. But he put a special emphasis on gun control legislation and funding for prevention programs. In his address, Wolf urged the legislature to pass stronger gun control laws, including…
Advocacy groups call for transit fare changes and eventual elimination of fares in Allegheny County
More than 50 people held a rally today near the busway station in Wilkinsburg and laid out a plan for fare change proposals for Port Authority of Allegheny County public transit service. They chanted in front of a colorful mural of Martin Luther King and other civil rights icons who used public transit advocacy as…
“Inspiration is always there”: A conversation with Liquid Stranger
After a prolific 2019 marked by a new album (INFINITY) and tour, a summer spent on the festival circuit, and the launching of the first-ever Wakaan Music Festival — dubbed after the record label of the same name — Liquid Stranger is gearing up for another jammed packed year. On Wed., Feb. 5, the Swedish electronic…
For Sale With Baggage: Those in g̶l̶a̶s̶s̶ ‘nickle’ houses
Stuff can be complicated, especially when trying to get rid of it. The process can remind us that our things can have worth that’s hard to put a dollar amount on; they can call to mind other people from our lives; they can bring up memories of what they were (or weren’t) used for. For…
The Frick Pittsburgh finds love in a Gilded place with My Dearest tour
The upcoming Valentine’s Day serves as, among other things, a reminder of what it takes to fall in love in the 21st century. It’s a journey that could involve an endless array of dating apps, fears of catfishing, and bad first encounters. When you do find The One, there’s the wedding, and all the costs,…
Howlers lease in Bloomfield won’t be renewed; venue to relocate to East Liberty
The Pittsburgh music scene was in shock this morning when a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article announced that Bloomfield staple, Howlers, would be closing its doors in August. But as it turns out, the venue is relocating to a new spot in East Liberty. “For them to say Howlers is closing, that could adversely affect my business,”…
Review: A first-timer’s take on Little Shop of Horrors
Warning: This is a millennial’s take on Little Shop of Horrors, playing now through Sun., Feb. 23 at Pittsburgh Public Theater. Until seeing Little Shop of Horrors at Pittsburgh Public Theater, I only had one memory connected to the 1960s film-turned-musical comedy: It’s summer, and I’m lying on the floor in my cousin’s sunroom pretending…
Lynn Cullen Live – 2/4/20
Video Archive Susan is joining Lynn on the show today. First up they are talking about the Iowa caucus, the chaos that has occurred, and when we might expect the results. They are also talking about Packers Hall of Fame safety Willie Wood, who died at the age of 83. On the Nextdoor app there…
Amazon stops selling an anti-immigrant sticker following criticism from Pa. Second Lady Gisele Fetterman
Pennsylvania’s Second Lady Gisele Fetterman lives in Braddock, but grew up in Brazil. She came to America and was an undocumented immigrant for some time, but gained U.S. citizenship later in life. She is married to Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (D-Braddock). On Feb. 1, she spotted a large window sticker on a pick-up truck in…
UPMC partners with the city to provide emergency training to bystanders
During last night’s Super Bowl, UPMC aired an ad for Minutes Matter, a new partnership between the medical center and the City of Pittsburgh to provide emergency response information to the public. The initiative includes a website with basic information about emergency events including bleeding, heart attacks, and overdoses, as well as an events calendar…
Submissions for Don’t Let the Zine Go Down on Me! are now open
Don’t the Let Scene Go Down On Me! is expanding into print media. On Friday, Brett Shumaker, the founder of the DIY booking collective, announced on Facebook that his group launched a new zine titled Don’t Let the Zine Go Down on Me! and is currently taking submissions. “I’ve always loved the idea of zines in the…
City-County Building exhibit celebrates Pittsburgh’s dominant Negro League Baseball teams during Black History Month
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Negro League Baseball, the City-County Building will feature an exhibit beginning Feb. 3 and continuing through Feb. 28 that highlights the notable players, owners, and managers of both the Pittsburgh Crawfords and Homestead Grays through photos, artifacts, and memorabilia. Pittsburgh was a hotbed of Negro League Baseball talent. The…
New program at Brashear High School is aiming to help Latino youth thrive
The growth of the Latino community in Beechview and throughout Pittsburgh has been small, but significant. And with this growth, especially in the student population, has come a corresponding need for services, according to Monica Ruiz, director of Latino service group Casa San Jose. And a new program is hoping to fill that gap. Casita…
Drusky Entertainment partners with new venue
There is now another place to see Drusky Entertainment shows in the Pittsburgh area. Today, in addition to a slew of concert announcements, the Pittsburgh-based concert promoter revealed it will now be booking shows at Wild Things Park (Consol Energy Park) in Washington, Pa. Other Drusky Entertainment locations include The Rex, The Smiling Moose, and…
Freedom Seekers: Underground Railroad Tour shows Pittsburgh’s role in helping to end slavery
On the surface, Chatham Hall is just one property in the picturesque Chatham Village on Mt. Washington. But as the Freedom Seekers: Underground Railroad Tour will reveal, the house was one of a few local stops that welcomed escaping African-American slaves heading North in the years leading up to the Civil War. Tickets just went…
Lynn Cullen Live – 2/3/20
Video Archive Lynn is sharing her thoughts on the different parts of the Superbowl; the game, the half-time show, and the commercials. She is also talking about the official decision to not have witnesses at the Impeachment trial, and whether or not she is planning to watch tomorrow night’s State of Union address. Lynn is…
All you need for these delicious ‘big game’ dips are common ingredients and a super bowl
The match between the professional football clubs of San Francisco and Kansas City is this Sunday on network television. While there are sure to be highlight-reel plays, jaw-dropping performances, and side-splitting commercials, the only game that truly matters is your dip game. If you serve these mouthwatering mixtures, odds are that no matter who your…
Bloomfield community meets to discuss potential changes to Little Italy Days festival
The annual Little Italy Days festival in Bloomfield has become a goliath, with hundreds of thousands of visitors crowding Liberty Avenue for four days each summer. Its popularity is welcomed by some local businesses, shunned by others, and the community at large has complicated feelings about its future. On Thu., Jan. 30, a group of…
New Music Friday: Baseball Dad, Glam Hand, and more
Baseball Dad – January In three short songs, Baseball Dad’s lastest EP, January, dives into the heavy topics of mental illness and relationships (“Flowers + Tea”), self-love (“January”), and growing beyond restrictions created by others (“Undone”). They’re each wrapped in a heartfelt, pop package, and driven by lead vocalist and ukelele player, Hal McDonough. Join Baseball…
Pennsylvania receives lowest rating from national LGBTQ-rights group, again
On Jan. 30, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) released its fifth annual State Equality Index (SEI) for 2019, and it’s not good news for Pennsylvania. The SEI details statewide laws and policies that affect LGBTQ people and their families, and assesses how well states are protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination. Pennsylvania falls into the lowest-rated…
Now Playing: The Rhythm Section, Spirited Away, and ’80s commercials
Every Friday, Pittsburgh City Paper compiles a round-up of new releases and second-run films playing around the city. This only covers films that are new to theaters this week; check out what movies opened previously here. The Rhythm Section A woman (Blake Lively in a black wig) is on a vengeance mission after she learns…
City Paper Live – 1/31/20
Video Archive Amanda and Ryan talk about NASCAR, the Teenie Harris exhibit at CMOA, online dating. Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh breaks record with nearly two million digital book checkouts
There’s no denying the allure of a physical book – that distinct smell of the pages, which changes depending on a title’s age, the sound of a new spine cracking, the satisfying feel of flipping a page. But even those most resistant to digital media can’t dismiss the convenience and accessibility of eBooks and audiobooks,…
Pa. poll shows support for a fracking ban, but also some support for natural-gas drilling in state
Pennsylvania is the second-leading state in natural-gas production, and fracking has garnered wide political support since drillers started extracting gas here about 10 years ago. Earlier this week, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (D-Braddock) declared to the New York Times that Democratic presidential candidates like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren who…
Justin Bieber, Dave Matthews Band, Bon Iver, and more Pittsburgh concert announcements
Stay up-to-date with your favorite artists and musicians coming to Pittsburgh. Each week, Pittsburgh City Paper will bring you the most recent concert announcements so you never miss a show. Pop Justin Bieber. Tue., Aug. 4. PPG Paints Arena, Uptown. Gary Lewis and the Playboys. Wed., Oct. 28. The Palace Theatre, Greensburg. Alternative/Indie City and…
Help longtime Elks Lodge bartender George Martin celebrate 92nd birthday by buying a drink, or two
On Friday, Jan. 31, longtime bartender George Martin is celebrating his 92nd birthday by pouring 92 drinks at the Allegheny Elks Lodge #339. Martin is believed to be the oldest regularly scheduled bartender in the U.S. Currently, he’s a regular weekend bartender at the Elks Lodge on the North Side, where he has been a…
Lynn Cullen Live – 1/30/20
Video Archive On the show today Lynn has special guest Natalia Zukerman. She’s talking about her one woman show ‘ The Women Who Rode Away’, which is at Off The Wall Productions today through Saturday. Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
Hey, Twitter. Don’t stan the brands
As alpha consumers, Americans love to buy pointless trinkets and disgusting convenience foods; we celebrate it as our defining characteristic. When the amount of marketing is inversely proportional to the value of the product, we’re all in. And our corporate puppet-masters know this. They also know that everybody on Twitter is an idiot, myself included,…
Weekly Food Truck Schedule: Jan. 29-Feb. 4
Are you tired of tracking down food trucks? Welcome to the Pittsburgh City Paper food truck roundup, where we do the hard work for you. Each week, we’re compiling a list of city trucks and their schedules. (For the most up-to-date schedule, visit each truck’s website.) AFRICAN Kilimanjaro Flavour @kilimanjaro_flavour Thursday: Duquesne. 1401 Forbes Ave.,…
Lynn Cullen Live – 1/29/20
Video Archive The Impeachment trial is still going on, and while Lynn isn’t going to be talking about it, she is recommending you watch today. This afternoon John Roberts will be asking questions from senators. She is also letting everyone know that an author she really likes will be at the August Wilson Center this…
Pittsburgh City Paper’s 2020 Winter Guide
50 must-see plays, parties, films, arts, concerts, and events this season Winter Arts Winter Music Winter Food and Drink Winter Stage Winter Readings and Lectures Winter Comedy Winter Dance Winter Film Winter Parties and Events + Pro tips on how to chill out or stay warm while you’re waiting for spring Five fun indoor spots…
Don’t call Rave Ami a ‘live band’
When it comes to Pittsburgh band Rave Ami, fans and critics seem to agree on one thing: this is a group you need to see live. Whether it’s because the trio have been together since high school, because they all lived together after college, or simply because they have been playing and performing together for…
Winter Guide: Music
MUSIC Phat Man Dee’s Roaring 2020s The “Roaring Twenties” are best left in the past; we’re all about the Roaring 2020s now. With jazz musician extraordinaire Phat Man Dee at the helm with her band The Cultural District, this party is guaranteed to be swingin’! The 18+ night also features dancers, themed cocktails, and a…
Winter Guide: Pittsburgh Ice Skating Rinks
MassMutual Pittsburgh Ice Rink at PPG Place 100 Three PPG Place, Downtown. ppgplace.com/directory/the-rink $9-10, plus $4 for skate rental. (Monthly packages and group rates available). Open through March 1. Schenley Park Ice Rink 10341 Overlook Drive (near tennis courts), Oakland. pittsburghpa.gov/schenley/rink $3.30-5.50, plus $3.30 for skate rental. Opens Fri., Jan. 31. South Park and North…
The Local 913: Meeting of Important People
“We just try to give people a mix between the timeless rock ’n’ roll stuff that they like, and little melody hooks that they can hang onto, you know?” Josh Verbanets is describing a typical show with Meeting of Important People. In the last few years, though, things have started to become more than just…
The anonymous members of Deathwhite rail against ignorance with melancholic metal-inspired Grave Image
As wildfires ravaged Australia, Pittsburgh thermostats reached 70 degrees in January, and climate change denial remains endemic to people in power around the globe, the members of the mysterious Pittsburgh melodic metal band Deathwhite were channeling their rage into a new album. Grave Image, Deathwhite’s second album for esteemed French label Season of Mist, is an…
Architect Lina Bo Bardi’s practice spread way beyond architecture
You could be forgiven for thinking that the most important thing that architect Lina Bo Bardi ever did was construct remarkable buildings. The native Italian practiced largely in Brazil in the post-World War II era until her passing in 1992. (Bo is her family surname. Bardi is her married surname.) While her output was fewer…
Winter Guide: Food and Drink
DRINKS Pittsburgh’s Bloody Mary Festival Legend has it that French bartender Fernand Petiot was the first to spice up a common vodka-and-tomato juice cocktail with cayenne, salt, pepper, lemon, and Worcestershire sauce, thus creating the Bloody Mary. If only he knew the monster he’d created: These days, toppings range from whole lobster claws to pepperoni…
Winter Guide: Three must-have winter cocktails
Spirits & Tales The Oaklander Hotel, 5130 Bigelow Blvd., Oakland. theoaklanderhotel.com Must-have cocktail: Puppets & Neighbors Rye whiskey and bourbon infused with bananas, walnuts, cinnamon sticks, and bitters; served with a garnish of Chef Jessica Lewis’ banana bread The Commoner Kimpton Hotel Monaco, 620 William Penn Plaza, Downtown. thecommonerpgh.com Must-have cocktail: Turducken – not vegan…
Winter Guide: Readings and Lectures
LIT The Queerpunk Slamjunk Use your bus pass, shake your ass. Don’t stay home, read a poem. Hell, do whatever you like at the Queerpunk Slamjunk open mic. (But no, rhymes aren’t required at this “queer-youth-focused open mic for anyone between 12-25 brave and proud enough to step up.”) 7 p.m. Fri., Jan. 31. The…
Winter Guide: Day trips for hitting the ski slopes
Boyce Park 35 minutes from Downtown Pittsburgh 675 Old Frankstown Road, Plum. alleghenycounty.us/parks Boyce Park offers the only downhill skiing and snow tubing hills in Allegheny County. Open through mid-March (weather and conditions permitting). $6-20, plus fees for rental equipment. Hidden Valley Resort An hour and 10 minutes from Downtown Pittsburgh 1 Craighead Road, Hidden…
Winter Guide: Comedy
COMEDY Todd Glass If you like absurdist comedy about puddles of melted suits and ties, then Todd Glass is the perfect comedian for you. Glass’ material often skewers stand-up as a form, breaking the fourth wall and leaving you wondering if he has any idea what he’s doing. But he’s performed on The Sarah Silverman…
Winter Guide: 10 Hot soups for cold days
Labor-Inducing Vegetarian Chili at Harris Grill Multiple locations. harrisgrill.com Inferno Ramen at Ki Ramen 4401 Butler St., Lawrenceville. kiramenpgh.com Chicken Noodle Soup at Hello Bistro Mulitple locations. hellobistro.com Tom Yum at Nicky’s Thai Kitchen Multiple locations. nickysthaikitchen.com New England Clam Chowder at Merchant Oyster Co. 4129 Butler St., Lawrenceville merchantpgh.com Caldo Verde Soup at Azorean…
Search 60,000 images by Charles “Teenie” Harris at In Sharp Focus, a new permanent gallery and interactive installation at Carnegie Museum of Art
In Sharp Focus, the new Charles “Teenie” Harris gallery at the Carnegie Museum of Art (CMOA), is not the first time the iconic photographer’s work has been shown in Pittsburgh, but it’s likely the most comprehensive. Thanks to an interactive touchscreen installation designed in partnership with faculty and students at the Frank-Ratchye STUDIO for Creative…
How do performers pack for the ‘week-long porn camp’ that is the Adult Video Network convention?
I’m writing this week from the Adult Video Network convention in Las Vegas. The annual convention hosts both the largest porn awards show of the year and also the Adult Entertainment Expo, where fans can meet their favorite porn stars, attend seminars about the state of the industry, and shop for the newest sex-tech gadgets…
Winter Guide: Dance
DANCE Unveiled The Bodiography contemporary ballet company takes the stage at Byham Theater for its latest production, Unveiled. The show includes guest artists from Buglisi Dance Theatre, as well as guest choreographers Virginie Mécène and Ze’eva Cohen. 8 p.m. Fri., Feb. 7 and 8 p.m. Sat., Feb. 8. 101 Sixth St., Downtown. $21.25-61.25. bodiographycbc.com DANCE…
Winter Guide: Take a hike with these guided local tours
Venture Outdoors ventureoutdoors.org The local member-supported nonprofit offers winter hikes, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing at various Southwestern Pennsylvania locations. Event of note: Winter Tree ID Walk Local ecologist Henry Schumacher leads a walk, helping identify trees in winter. Frick Park. $10-15. Pittsburgh Parks Conservatory pittsburghparks.org The local nonprofit offers both educational and fitness hikes at…
Winter Guide: Film
FILM Raiders of the Lost Ark Before the good name of Indiana Jones was sullied by inane plotlines about UFOs and intergalactic portals, the man was a just a simple Nazi-hunting archaeologist with excellent bone structure and a healthy fear of snakes. Relive the glory years when Heinz Hall screens the 1981 original Raiders of…
Winter Guide: Indoor sports activities for adults
Axe Throwing LumberjAxes Locations in Cranberry, Millvale, Monroeville and Mt. Lebanon. axethrowingpgh.com Ace Axe Throwing Pittsburgh 145 E. Eighth Ave., Homestead. aceaxethrowing.com Throw Axe Throwing Locations in North Hills, South Hills, Waterfront, and Southpointe. throwaxes.com Competitive Bar-Style Ice Curling Sliders Ice Curling 2 Sedgwick St., Millvale. slidersbarandgames.com Pickleball Cool Springs 1530 Hamilton Road, Bethel Park.…
The history of influential Black women in Pittsburgh is deep and still being written
The textbooks of my childhood were not inclusive of the women artists, activists, and authors that positively impacted Brown and Black people like me. As a young adult, Black History Month was recognized by only a few states, had no presence in my Massachusetts high school or Pennsylvania undergraduate college. My attention to this missing…
Free Will Astrology (1/29 – 2/5)
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Please don’t imitate or repeat yourself in the coming weeks. Refrain from relying on formulas that have worked for you before. Resolve to either ignore or rebel against your past as you dream up fresh gambits and adventures. Treat your whole life like an improvisatory game that has just one purpose:…
Winter Guide: Parties and Events
PARTY Darkness is Spreading x In The Weeds Anniversary Last January, the event series Darkness is Spreading started a DJing residency with In The Weeds at Ace Hotel, marking the first time that sarah huny young, founder of DiS, DJ’d an event. In the years since, huny has expanded her DJ career and been consistently…
Verona’s first brewery finds its groove with ‘hidden talents, tastes, and turntable tunes’
The name Inner Groove Brewing has nothing to do with beer. The Verona brewery was founded by two couples — Kelly and Tim Melle, and Kevin and Jennifer Walzer — who have a deep appreciation for old vinyl records and relied on them to soundtrack their meetings as they built the company. The four were…
A primer on this year’s Oscar-nominated documentary short films
The 2020 Oscar nominations have drawn criticism for being even less diverse than previous years, which was already a comically low bar. But the shorts categories, which include animated, documentary, and live-action films timed at 40 minutes or less, offer a more interesting and complex slate. The shorts will screen at the Harris Theater, with…
Edgewood resident’s debut novel is being heralded as one of the most promising books of 2020
After finishing The Illness Lesson, readers might think it’s a new edition of a late 19th-century novel. The style, language, dialect, and images evoke the feeling of an elite girls school, circa 1871, that takes a horrendous turn after a promising start. But the author, Clare Beams, is decidedly au courant. “With historical fiction, what…
Winter Guide: Stage
STAGE Terminer Part of New Hazlett Theater’s CSA series for emerging artists, Terminer is a play by Philip Wesley Gates about a “cyborg coven” that calls upon the spirit of the Salem Witch Trials to address issues of power and justice in contemporary life. Featuring an all-queer cast, the play combines movement, algorithms, and found…
Frick Park Tavern’s warm, inviting, and familial atmosphere has been greeted with love
In June 2018, Jimmy Brown and Lyndsey Shumate, the duo behind Ease: Modern Comfort Cuisine, knew it was time for a change. The upscale joint, which had replaced Dunning’s Grill after its 30-year run in Regent Square, was struggling to win over the neighborhood. They had a choice: leave the area and their dream behind…
Winter Guide: Five fun indoor spots to take kids
Highmark SportsWorks HIGHLIGHTS: Sports challenge, ropes course, and rock wall Carnegie Science Center, 1 Allegheny Ave., North Side. carnegiesciencecenter.org SkyZone HIGHLIGHTS: Trampolines, trapeze, and zip line 160 Levin Way, Monroeville. skyzone.com/monroeville Flight Fit N Fun HIGHLIGHTS: Trampolines, dodgeball, and laser race 1041 Washington Pike, Suite 200, Bridgeville. flightfitnfun.com/locations/pittsburgh Fun Slides Carpet Skatepark and Party Center…
Winter Guide: Arts
ART Vanishing Black Bars & Lounges/I came by Boat so Meet me at the BeachThe August Wilson African American Cultural Center presents two exhibitions highlighting the Black experience; I came by Boat so Meet me at the Beach includes collaborative works by New York-based performance artist Ayana M. Evans and Tsedaye Makonnen, a multidisciplinary artist…
