New Local Releases: Decaffeinated Grapefruit
Decaffeinated Grapefruit Drift Self-releasedwww.decaffeinatedgrapefruit.bandcamp.com Decaffeinated Grapefruit plays with genres on Drift, seven songs that range from 1990s-drenched grunge to psychedelic experimentation with a prog-rock underbelly. From the audio samples to the rocking guitar solos, DG have a way of making the songs sound big, while pushing against narrow genre expectations, particularly on tracks like the…
Listen Up! Aug. 30 Issue
Music from Hoops, Protomartyr, Laetitia Sadler, Murder for Girls and more
Squonk Opera in China: The Final Week
No defective smoke machine can keep Squonk Opera down.
Lynn Cullen Live – 8/29/17
Video Archive Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
Free Wi-Fi now available at several Port Authority light-rail stations in Pittsburgh
Port Authority has partnered with Comcast Xfinity to provide complimentary Wi-Fi at stations in Downtown, South Side, and the North Side.
Five Minutes in Food History: Tiki Culture
Why does tiki culture focus so much on history?
MP3 Monday: Gravelarks
Each week, we post a song from a local artist online for free. This week, we’re hearing from an inventive and melancholic indie-rock three-piece called Gravelarks. Its debut Sublimation, released earlier this month, tips its hat to a handful of styles and influences, but smart harmonies and pleasantly unusual riff work run throughout the nine…
Lynn Cullen Live – 8/28/17
Video Archive Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
Pops and Botches Aug. 24: The Best and Worst from WWE TV this week
The Best and Worst from WWE TV
Penn Plaza residents and advocates pressure Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto to enact broad affordable-housing legislation
Advocates say Peduto and city council have had strong affordable-housing rhetoric, but low-income residents need to see action.
CP Podcast: The College Issue
What advice would you give your freshman self?
Point Park faculty give university President Paul Hennigan a no-confidence vote as union contract is finally reached
Despite progress in union-contract negotiations, Point Park University faculty issued a vote of no confidence for President Paul Hennigan this week
Lynn Cullen Live – 8/25/17
Video Archive Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
Humane Animal Rescue pairs yoga with owls
Photos from Y-OWL-ga at the Humane Animal Rescue’s Wildlife Center in Verona
Local environmentalist John Stolz throws hat into 12th District race against Rep. Keith Rothfus
Duquesne University professor Stolz says green-energy industry can provide manufacturing jobs in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Lynn Cullen Live – 8/24/17
Video Archive Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
Pittsburgh-area activists demand Pennsylvania Gov. Wolf keep campaign promise to protect water and air quality
At a rally in Downtown Pittsburgh earlier today, activists called on Pennsylvania Gov. Wolf to keep campaign promise to protect water and air quality.
Keeping it Fresh with the East End Fruit Cart
How can mentorship help Pittsburgh students prepare for life after high school?
A day at Pittsburgh Steelers camp 2017
City Paper’s Steelers Preview is out Aug. 30.
Lynn Cullen Live – 8/23/17
Video Archive Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
College Guide
Something happens right around the time you turn 18 — every adult you meet starts talking to you about one thing and one thing only: college. Whether they’re asking you what school you’ve chosen or what path of study you’ve picked, whether they’re giving you antiquated advice or telling you their glory-days stories, it all…
Short List: Aug. 24-31
SPOTLIGHT: Sat., Aug. 26 – Stage Even in late August, Pittsburgh these days is full of arts happenings. But few this summer will be as cutting-edge as the annual Performance Art Festival. For its fourth season, PAF moves to Oakland’s Melwood Avenue, where it takes over three venues — Pittsburgh Filmmakers, Glitter Box and Babyland…
According to a new report, Pennsylvanians graduate with highest student-loan debt
Last week, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced a proposed settlement that would provide $6.7 million in debt relief for 1,200 Pennsylvanians who attended for-profit colleges. The proposal is part of a broader settlement worth $192 million in debt relief for former Corinthian Colleges students across the country. The now-defunct Corinthian Colleges operated Everest Institute…
Whelmed is the new release for Pittsburgh project Ompha
Whelmed is a near half-hour of dreamy, reverb-drenched indie pop. The entire project was written, arranged and recorded by John Lora, whose airy tenor vocals join with catchy synths and danceable grooves to make for a unique sound. The EP is an introspective journey through places and people in Lora’s life. Each song scoops you…
Menashe
Joshua Weinstein directs this gentle dramedy set in Borough Park, Brooklyn, within an insular Hasidic community. Menashe (Menashe Lustig), whose wife died a year ago, plods through his life, somewhat unsatisfied. He has a tiresome job as a supermarket cashier, suffers the contempt of his in-laws, and is resisting various matchmaking efforts. Worst of all,…
Tequila: a crash course in an underappreciated spirit
Poor, misunderstood tequila. To many, it’s the stuff of late nights and bad decisions, with little use outside the shot glass or the slushie machine. From rumors of hallucinogenic properties (untrue) to that damn worm in the bottle (a marketing gimmick), myths and misconceptions swirl around Mexico’s best-known spirit. In truth, tequila is actually quite…
Critics’ Pick: Kaki King at August Wilson Center
[INSTRUMENTAL] + FRI., AUG. 25 It would be unfair to call Kaki King simply a musician or a guitarist. Her current project, The Neck Is a Bridge to the Body, is a sonic and visual performance, as well suited for an art museum as it is a concert venue. King’s custom white guitar, which also…
Korean cyclists bike across U.S. to raise awareness about ‘comfort women’
Jo Yong Jo and Ha Joo Young are students from South Korea on a mission: to bike across the U.S. and spread awareness about victims of sexual enslavement. During World War II, the Japanese army abducted women in Korea and throughout the Far East, and forced them into sex work with Japanese soldiers. In 2015,…
Oberon Ale, Bell’s Brewery
“Oberon has become my iconic beer of summer. This wheat ale is bright with citrus notes and a fruity character. Its cloudiness makes it a smooth beer for drinking on a hot day, but it has a few spicy notes to mix it up.” Recommended by Celine Roberts, CP staff writer Oberon Ale is available…
Critics’ Pick: Billy Porter at Hartwood Acres
[BROADWAY/R&B] + SUN., AUG. 27 Hometown hero Billy Porter, star of Kinky Boots on Broadway, will return to his Pittsburgh roots with a free show tonight at Hartwood Acres as part of Allegheny County’s Summer Concert Series. Porter’s love of musicals extends to his solo work. His latest album, The Soul of Richard Rodgers, honors…
Pittsburgh loves its NFL players, but its NFL coaches are pretty good, too
Pittsburgh football fans have always loved the local players who made it to the big time. But we’ve also had our share of good coaches. Granted, the list isn’t as spectacular as the player list, but it does include two head coaches who are in the top 10 of all time in wins, and three…
Pittsburgh City Paper Booze Battles: Altius vs. Meat & Potatoes
Each week, we order the same cocktail at two different bars for a friendly head-to-head battle. Go to the bars, taste both drinks and tell us what you like about each by tagging @pghcitypaper on Twitter or Instagram and using #CPBoozeBattles. If you want to be a part of Booze Battles, send an email to…
Critics’ Pick: Lilly Hiatt at Club Cafe
[COUNTRY ROCK] + MON., AUG. 28 The music video for “The Night David Bowie Died” features Lilly Hiatt at a laundromat, driving and browsing the aisles of a dollar store, all while sporting Bowie’s signature lightning bolt across her face. It’s a reminder of how weird it feels to learn of a hero’s death while…
Wheelfish, in the North Hills, promises “blues, bourbon and BBQ”
“Blues. Bourbon. BBQ.” is the motto of Wheelfish in Ross Township. Many have pursued the smoky pleasures of this alliterative trio in locales far more hardscrabble than Pittsburgh’s near North Hills, but we’re open to finding magic in unexpected places. So it was with big appetites and open minds that we drove past tidy suburban…
10 ways to make money in college
1. Be a dog-walker 2. Participate in a medical or research study 3. Drive for a ride-hailing company or delivery service 4. Sell your own artwork 5. Sell your class notes 6. Sign up for a work study at your school 7. Find a paid internship 8. Sell your clothes or electronics 9. Donate plasma…
Critics’ Pick: Wilsen at Mr. Smalls
[FOLK] + TUE., AUG. 29 New York-based Wilsen comes to Mr. Smalls today with its dreamy songs that are basically lullabies for adults. This is not music for dancing, or even for walking down the street. This is music for pensively looking out your window at dawn when it’s just you and the birds. The…
Carrot Pierogi
I love this dish because it utilizes the vegetable waste from my juicing habit. It’s simple and delicious and you can also substitute beets or other root veggies for the carrots. Food waste is the hot topic this year. Every conference and chef is talking about it, with reason. Forty percent of the food grown…
Students are finding ways to reduce textbook costs
A look at my Amazon order history shows that when I was an incoming freshman at Point Park University, in 2014, my family and I spent $254.84 on textbooks. I distinctly remember how proud I was, at the time, of how low I was able to get the price. Not long into my first semester,…
Five things to do in Pittsburgh if you’re under 21
1. Visit Cruze Club on Thursdays 2. Listen to live music at the Mr. Roboto Project 3. Catch a movie on Bargain Mondays at SouthSideWorks Cinema 4. See a free show or movie in your local parks 5. Volunteer for a charity
It’s high time to conclude a long-unresolved debate over Oakland’s Stephen Foster statue
Even for a sculpture that has been the subject of scorn and accusations of racism for decades, Giuseppe Moretti’s statue of Stephen Foster, on Forbes Avenue in Schenley Plaza next to Dippy the Dinosaur, has had a busy and controversial couple of weeks. The Pittsburgh-native 19th-century composer is consistently praised in the United States and…
Critics of trigger warnings on college campuses often miss the point
Picture yourself in a college classroom. While laying out assignments for the week ahead, the professor mentions that an assigned reading contains descriptions of sexual assault. Then a student who has experienced sexual assault expresses gratitude for the heads-up. This is an example of a trigger warning, and while it might seem simple enough, this…
15 useful apps for college students
1. EasyBib Generate citations in multiple styles by scanning the barcode of a book. This app cuts down on the time it takes to type out full citations. 2. Transit Need help finding your way around? This app gives you real-time transit options in more than 125 cities. 3. Top Hat This is an interactive…
Big Fish at Front Porch Theatricals
BIG FISH continues through Sun., Aug. 27. New Hazlett Theater, 6 Allegheny Square East, North Side. $24-30. frontporchpgh.com Big Fish, based on the eponymous book and film, is a musical about the power folklore can have over a family. Will Bloom (Matt Calvert) is desperate to understand the truth about his ailing father, Edward Bloom, after…
Funky Turns 40 at the August Wilson Center
FUNKY TURNS 40: BLACK CHARACTER REVOLUTION continues through Sept. 8. August Wilson Center, 980 Liberty Ave., Downtown. trustarts.org Pamela Thompson and Loreen Williamson have examined their collections of more than 300 items connected to cartoons presenting positive depictions of black people and selected several dozen for Funky Turns 40: Black Character Revolution. This touring exhibition…
10 tips for managing stress
1. Relax College can be overwhelming. Recognize this, but don’t let it bring you down. Take a deep breath and get ready to tackle all of your tasks. Try meditating. 2. Prioritize Address what tasks are most important and need to be handled ASAP. But don’t let this give you an excuse to procrastinate on…
The vegan pop-up Relish Co. provides Pittsburghers with donuts and more
On a Sunday, a small crowd gathers around a tent set up outside Cafè d’Amore, in Lawrenceville. The smell of waffles and chocolate, alongside the savory smell of freshly toasted “everything” bagels, wafts down the block. It’s a magnet for hungry passersby. This is a typical pop-up for Relish Co., an all-vegan enterprise owned and…
Five perks you can get with your student ID
1. Tickets for students are just $11.95 at the Carnegie Museum of Art, or free if you go to selected colleges, including Chatham University or Carlow University. 2. Visit the Mattress Factory art museum for just $10, or for free if you go to Point Park University or Carnegie Mellon University. 3. Stay informed using…
Our Wives
We meet in the smoke room before we start the day. We speak of how we will improve our lives. These conversations — about our wives. Cindy, Gary, Dawn, the smoking crew. Had a strange set of wives many never knew. Cindy’s wife was Tony, he never paid a bill. Gary’s wife was Michael; he…
Kamila Shamsie on bigotry, ISIS recruitment and being Muslim in England
KAMILA SHAMSIE 4:30 p.m. Sat., Aug. 26. City of Asylum @ Alphabet City, 40 W. North Ave., North Side. Free. Reservations at cityofasylumpittsburgh.org Acclaimed Pakistan-born author Kamila Shamsie has lived in England for a decade, and in 2013 became a British citizen. But when she started researching her new novel, Home Fire, she got nervous.…
The Only Living Boy in New York
As we know from countless other films, novels and even memoirs, meaningful life for sensitive young men who yearn for creative fulfillment is truly difficult, especially if they come from New York City’s affluent corners. There’s so much to fret about: Is my girlfriend arty enough? Is she even my girlfriend? Will anyone get my…
Why your adjunct professors are unionizing and what it means for you
It’s not news to anyone that college tuition continues to increase locally and across the nation. But are those dollars actually making their way into the classroom? Between the years 2001 and 2011, the cost of tuition at public four-year colleges increased by 73 percent, while the compensation of faculty increased by only 6 percent,…
Our student travel guide and recommendations on walking, biking, driving, and using public transit and ride-hailing apps
Getting around Pittsburgh can be intimidating. Many streets have small road signs, or none at all, and some intersections resemble deformed starfish, instead of modern infrastructure. (And the hills, the never-ending hills.) This can lead college students to avoid venturing beyond their college neighborhoods. Pittsburgh City Paper says, “Screw that”; break out of the bro…
Downtown Boys making honest, vulnerable music in a world of tumult
Downtown Boys 7 p.m. Tue., Aug. 29. Mr. Roboto Project, 5106 Penn Ave., Bloomfield. All ages. $12. Tickets Downtown Boys make music that is fully alive. Each chorus of gang vocals, each bright saxophone melody, each catchy bass riff has its own heartbeat. It forms an army of sound that encourages resistance and unapologetic living. …
Pittsburgh Left: There’s a difference between remembering history and honoring it
Without a doubt, one of the most unforgettable moments in contemporary American history is the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas. If you go to Dealey Plaza, where the crime occurred, there are a lot of memorials marking that horrible occasion. You can even visit the Sixth Floor Museum in the former…
Savage Love
A few years ago, my dad was busted by the cops for using an online forum to solicit escorts. The arrest and infidelity destroyed his marriage to my mom. My brother and I were in our mid-teens at the time and were angry enough with him that we asked him to not seek custody. He…
Become self-sufficient by learning how to do these things ASAP
Grocery shopping Don’t buy a bunch of junk, but make sure you’re buying stuff you’ll actually have time to make. Grab-and-go snacks are OK, but go for healthier options. Cooking Thanks to short cooking videos on the internet, it’s easier than ever to learn. If you’re living in a dorm, you likely have access only…
Students must weigh all residential options in and around campus to determine what will work best for them
Moving away from home for the first time can be an overwhelming experience for many college students. During freshmen year, many consider living on campus; some are required to do so by the university. But your first residential environment will likely influence where you decide to live for the rest of your college experience. Take…
Exhalations Dance presents its annual showcase
EXHALATIONS DANCE THEATRE presents THE CHOREOGRAPHY PROJECT 2017 8 p.m. Sat., Aug. 26, and 3 p.m. Sun. Aug. 27. Kelly-Strayhorn Theater, 5941 Penn Ave., East Liberty. $18. 412-568-3382 or exhalations.org If you are even mildly familiar with Pittsburgh’s professional dance scene, you’ve heard of established companies like Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Attack Theatre. But as…
Stay Engaged
Register to vote in Pittsburgh. Know your representatives and local leaders, and vote in every single election. And yes, you can register to vote at your dorm address. Read local papers. While it’s important to keep up with the national news, it’s equally, if not more important, to keep up with the city you’re living…
The Audience at Little Lake Theater
THE AUDIENCE continues through Sat., Aug. 26. Little Lake Theatre, 500 Lakeside Drive South, Canonsburg. $13.75-21.75. 724-745-6300 or littlelaketheatre.org God save the Queen! Coming from a fervid anti-monarchist like me, such sentiments might mean that our idiot president has once again said something so hateful it makes democracy seem like a ridiculous way to name…
Dawson City: Frozen Time
Dawson City: Frozen Time Directed by Bill Morrison Starts Fri., Aug. 25. Hollywood Dawson City: Frozen Time may be one of the more remarkable and transfixing films I’ve seen in a while. Bill Morrison’s documentary is ostensibly about the discovery of some long-lost silent films. But it is easily a dozen films in one, effortlessly…
What your parents tell you about college vs. what is actually true
What your parents tell you: 1. You don’t have to go to class. 2. Don’t worry — everyone will want to be your friend. (Or, don’t worry — making friends is easy.) 3. The subject you major in will be the field that you make a career in. 4. Your freshman roommate will be your…
The Hitman’s Bodyguard
Nothing says summer like a fun and stupid action movie with beautiful people and even more beautiful explosions. Patrick Hughes’ comedic actioner is not that movie, though it wants to be. It stars Ryan Reynolds, who has the charisma of a peanut-butter sandwich, as a bodyguard trying to restore his career, and Samuel L. Jackson,…
Woman on Fire
Being a firefighter is tough. Being a trans firefighter seems tougher still, unless you’re Brooke Guinan and are undaunted by the challenge of becoming a pioneer for equal rights and respect. Guinan is the subject of Woman on Fire, the engaging new feature-length documentary from Pittsburgh-based filmmaker Julie Sokolow (Aspie Seeks Love). It makes its…
Pittsburgh’s Soda Club develops different flavors of pop
It starts with the muted, chikka-chikka strum of a Fender Telecaster electric guitar and the clacking metronome of drumsticks, while riffing on a slight, but healthy case of secret identity. “I show up to your Halloween party / without a costume on,” singer/guitarist Shay Park coos, her voice caressing the syllables of each word. “Everyone…
Logan Lucky
Steven Soderbergh directs this heist comedy about three West Virginia siblings who try to pull off a heist during a NASCAR race. Ever-hopeful Jimmie (Channing Tatum) wants something more, and an unceremonious lay-off from a job at the Charlotte Motor Speedway pushes him toward Plan B: liberating some of the cash that speedway takes in…
Standup paddleboarding is growing more popular on Pittsburgh’s rivers
SUP 3 Rivers Get more info If you’ve looked out onto Pittsburgh’s three rivers lately, you might’ve noticed something a little different. In addition to the barges, tailgating boaters and jet skis, a new community of paddleboarders has emerged on the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers. Pittsburgh native Matthew Rumbaugh, 48, is one of them.…
A soundtrack to help crush fascism
If you haven’t been living under the great rock of privilege, you are well aware of the fact that the KKK and neo-Nazis are in the streets, inflicting violence on people of color, Jews, queer folks and pretty much anyone they can get their mayonnaise-coated hands on, all in the name of defending “white culture,”…
