Q&A: a chat with Slingshot Dakota’s Carly Comando
Slingshot Dakota’s Carly Comando on manifestation, cute dogs and how to genuinely support diversity in your own music community.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Paul Mango doesn’t seem to understand the economics of immigration
The Republican from Allegheny County wants to see the state grow, but fails to mention how immigrants are driving Pennsylvania’s population growth
Listen Up! Dec. 13 Issue
Choice nugs from the artists featured in the music section of tomorrow’s issue
The Barr Brothers switch up its sound on tour for new album Queens of the Breakers
Staff writer Celine Roberts reviews the Barr Brothers performance at the Rex Theater on Dec. 5
An interview with Eric Kimmel, author of Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins
“One of the reasons it was successful is because it was aimed at kids and what kids like, and not aimed at grownups to make them feel good.”
Lynn Cullen Live – 12/12/17
Video Archive Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
MP3 Monday: Bindley Hardware Co.
One of Pittsburgh’s finest alt-country rock outfits has a new album and CP is sharing one of its highlights to stream or download for free.
Pittsburgh Public Theater’s new artistic director, Marya Sea Kaminski
New artistic director at Public to emphasize equity and inclusion
Kennywood sparkles for the season with Holiday Lights
Photo highlights from Kennywood Amusement Park’s Holiday Lights show
Lynn Cullen Live – 12/11/17
Video Archive Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
The Healing Center breaks ground on medical-cannabis dispensary that will bring relief to ailing Pennsylvanians
The Healing Center recently broke ground on two medical-marijuana dispensaries.
State rep. candidate Emily Skopov wants Daryl Metcalfe out of committee chair seat
Daryl Metcalfe heads state House committee in charge of civil-rights bills, but expressed blatantly homophobia during a Dec. 5 meeting
Pittsburgh City Paper exclusive: state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe does touch other men
Please enjoy these photos of state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe touching other men.
Holiday Magic! brings lights and festive flora to Oakland
Photos from Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens’ Holiday Magic! Winter Flower Show and Light Garden
Lynn Cullen Live – 12/8/17
Video Archive Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
Final weekend for “The Humans” at the Public
Comedic drama has four more performances through Sunday
Kevin Acklin, chief of staff to Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, to resign in January
Earlier today, Kevin Acklin, chief of staff to Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, announced his resignation.
Lynn Cullen Live – 12/7/17
Video Archive Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
Lynn Cullen Live – 12/6/17
Video Archive Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
Stobi Vranec 2015
“Macedonian wines are popular right now. I like the red and the white from this producer. The red drinks really well, and gives you red fruit and plum on the nose. The twist top is nice, too — no dealing with a cork.” Recommended by John Dailey, bartender at Caselulla @ Alphabet City Stobi Vranec…
Leave the red and green at home and wear something sparkly this holiday season
During the decades Richard Parsakian has been in the vintage-fashion business, he’s seen many similar stories play out. But there’s one that really irks him. “A lot of the times, people come in, they try something on, and it looks incredible on them and they say ‘I have no place to wear this,’” says Parsakian,…
Holiday Guide 2017
As the holiday season rapidly approaches, we’re sure you have a plethora of things to accomplish before the big days come. Your head is probably being slammed with thoughts about food, drink, gifts, fashion and what you should wear for your holiday card photo shoot. Luckily for you City Paper has produced the ultimate holiday…
Film Kitchen screens new work on Tue., Dec. 12
FILM KITCHEN. The monthly series for local and independent artists spotlights new shorts, most of them documentaries, by Holly Hey, Ivette Spradlin and Adrienne Wagner. Series curator Matthew R. Day’s featured work is Hey’s “Crossing Water,” a close look at one volunteer group’s efforts to deal with the water crisis in Flint, Mich. The 25-minute…
Cameron Barnett’s debut poetry collection, The Drowning Boy’s Guide to Water
As one of the four classical elements, water represents life, and symbolizes purification of the soul. In Pittsburgh-based poet Cameron Barnett’s anticipated debut collection, The Drowning Boy’s Guide to Water (Autumn House Press), water serves as a complex and versatile metaphor. In “Letter to Sandy,” Barnett writes, “Water can be so difficult sometimes /… but…
Sarika Goulatia’s interactive art project Prosecuterix aims to break the silence around sexual assault
PROSECUTERIX continues through Jan. 31. Carlow University Commons, 3333 Fifth Ave., Oakland. carlow.edu/gallery In the U.S., “prosecuterix” is a little-used term for a female prosecutor. In India, a prosecuterix is a woman who alleges someone has raped her. Prosecuterix is also artist Sarika Goulatia’s project highlighting stories of sexual assault and exploring the taboo surrounding…
Louis Hayes takes New Hazlett Theater on Sat., Dec. 9, and Nels Cline performs at Spirit Dec. 11
LOUIS HAYES QUINTET 8 p.m. Sat., Dec. 9. New Hazlett Theater, 6 Allegheny Square East, North Side. $30. 412-320-4610 NELS CLINE, GERALD CLEAVER, LARRY OCHS7:30 p.m. Mon., Dec. 11. Spirit, 242 51st St., Lawrenceville. $20-25. 412-682-0591 Despite everything else that’s happened this year, 2017 was a good year for seeing national jazz acts in Pittsburgh.…
Love, Love, Love at Kinetic Theatre Co.
In what must be classified as a most brazen bit of holiday-season counterprogramming, Kinetic Theatre Co. presents the regional premiere of Mike Bartlett’s corrosive 2011 comedy Love, Love, Love. Believe me, there aren’t coal mountains in West Virginia big enough to produce the lumps so richly deserved by the characters in this play. In 1967,…
Point Park’s Winter Dance Concert
POINT PARK UNIVERSITY CONSERVATORY DANCE COMPANY WINTER DANCE CONCERT continues through Sun., Dec. 10. Pittsburgh Playhouse, 222 Craft Ave., Oakland. $10-24. 412-392-8000 or pittsburghplayhouse.com As in 2016, with Alexandra Damiani’s “Portrait De Femmes,” Point Park University’s Conservatory Dance Company ends this year with one of the season’s very best works, Adam Hougland’s “Cold Virtues.” Part of the company’s stylistically…
Black Marble performs at Spirit, Wed., Dec. 13
Black Marble 9:30 p.m. Wed., Dec. 13. Sprit, 242 51st St., Lawrenceville. $10-12. spiritpgh.com In coverage of Black Marble’s second full-length record — It’s Immaterial, released last October — much was made of founder Chris Stewart’s move from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. More than a geographical shift, the move would also bring a shift in…
In Homestead, Eighth & Hays provides dining between swank and casual
Eighth & Hays 130 W. Eighth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 412-326-0009 website Let’s not beat around the bush: Dinner at Eighth & Hays was the best meal we’ve had in Homestead. And if that sounds like faint praise, consider that we’ve yet to be disappointed in a restaurant in the former steel capital of the world…
The Disaster Artist
THE DISASTER ARTIST Directed by James Franco Starring James Franco, Dave Franco, Seth Rogen Starts Fri., Dec. 8 After its release in 2003, Tommy Wiseau’s film The Room, was heralded by some as “the worst film ever made.” Assigning a definitive ranking in this category would take years, but let’s just stipulate that The Room…
Homemade French Cries
Last week I made homemade French fries and then videotaped myself crying while eating them and uploaded it to Instagram (@zecatsmeow). The weeping had nothing to do with the level of spice, nor appreciation for my ability to make a decent potato. It was the kind of crying that comes after spending many meals alone…
Explore the region’s business districts to shop small.
For the past several years, credit-card giant American Express has sponsored Small Business Saturday, which is a promotion for the Saturday after Thanksgiving to encourage shoppers to support small businesses. While a great idea on paper, the event has been criticized as merely a public-relations ploy. Regardless of who’s sending the message, it’s still an…
Critics’ Pick: Pigeons Playing Ping Pong at Smalls
[FUNK] + SAT., DEC. 9 Pigeons Playing Ping Pong gets its name from an experiment by psychologist B.F. Skinner, who famously taught pigeons to play, well, ping pong. But it’s much more fun to imagine the Baltimore funk/jam band as a bunch of birds bopping around on stage, and its energetic, fun sound as the…
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18 local gift ideas from our Holiday Guide magazine
Looking for a way to step up your holiday gift game? The answer is closer than you think. There are a ton of local shops and boutiques right around the corner that can take your gift-giving to the next level. You can skip those lines at big retailers, keep your money in the community and…
Off With Their Heads performs at Howlers Sun., Dec. 10
Off With Their Heads 7 p.m. Sun., Dec. 10. Howlers, 4509 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield. $12. 412-682-0320 or howlerspittsburgh.com Off With Their Heads makes music that is honest and raw. The Minneapolis-based band’s high-octane punk has catchy riffs and gritting vocals that rip open old wounds, while sharing stories of constant battles in self-improvement and survival. …
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra marks another year of Holiday Pops
The holidays just wouldn’t be the same without a festive soundtrack to put you in the spirit of the season. And when you’re sick of hearing the same tired renditions of the same 10 songs on all of your favorite radio stations once they’ve made the holiday switch, there’s really only one thing that can…
Bill Nye: Science Guy
On first thought, it would seem to be simple for a guy nicknamed “Science Guy” to make a mid-life transition from TV personality to accepted scientific expert. But Bill Nye: Science Guy, a new profile directed by David Alvarado and Jason Sussberg, says: Not so fast. Everybody under 40 knows Bill Nye from his eponymous…
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5 local creative businesses for the DIY enthusiast
This year, City Paper challenges you to branch out of your normal gift-buying routine. DIY gifts are a great choice for anyone on your holiday-shopping list. Not only will you save a few cents, but by getting crafty you also show the special people in your life that your love for them is priceless ……
Holiday Greetings from Pittsburgh
Monsters have been appearing in Matthew Buchholz’s artwork since he first inserted one in an historic Pittsburgh landscape back in 2010. Buchholz tells CP that Rebecca Morris, the owner of local gift shop Wildcard in Lawrenceville, liked the idea so much that she gave him his own show and Alternate Histories was born. Since then,…
Chris Brokaw celebrates vinyl release at Black Forge Coffee on Dec. 9
CHRIS BROKAW LP RELEASE with Expires 9 p.m. Sat., Dec. 9. Black Forge Coffee House, 1206 Arlington Ave., Allentown. $6. 412-291-8994 Chris Brokaw originally released Canaris as a CD on his own Capitan Records in 2008. Among the six tracks of solo acoustic guitar music, the title track offers more than 17 minutes of controlled…
Supporting the small businesses that support non-Christmas holidays
As the holiday season approaches, there is bound to be endless talk about Christmas gifts. However, it’s important to remember that Christmas isn’t the only show in town and that non-Christmas celebrants are also on the lookout for that perfect gift or decoration and those things can often be hard to find. Here’s a list…
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5 festive food and drink recipes from Pittsburgh’s top spots
There’s no better time than the holidays to treat yourself to new, delicious creations that come from your favorite bars and restaurants around the city. Dine out, or be bold and try to create them on your own at home. Food brings people together during the holidays, so eat, drink and be merry! Apple Cider…
New technology at a South Hills driving range helps winter golfers simulate the real golf-course experience.
The coming of winter means many good things: holidays, gifts, deliciously spiced alcoholic beverages. But for golfers in the Pittsburgh area, winter sucks. It’s cold and wet, and sunlight is limited, so hitting up the links is hardly attractive. But the folks at Cool Springs Sports Complex, in Bethel Park, have winter golfers covered. Their…
Spice up your holiday gift giving with a Dirty Santa Party
Raise your hand if you’ve ever been personally victimized by a white-elephant gift exchange. You too? Figures. If you’ve ever been involved, then chances are you’ve likely gotten the shaft — but that’s part of the fun. For those of you who don’t know the term, you may know this holiday tradition by other names,…
Critics’ Pick: Twisted Pine at Club Cafe
[FOLK] + WED., DEC. 13 String band Twisted Pine met and formed at Berklee College of Music, in Boston, a reliable breeding crowd for folk and its adjacent genres. The group bears a name fitting of its sound. Its jazzy-tinged bluegrass twists and turns, jumping from melancholy mandolin-picking to fervent violin, accompanied by rich vocals…
For those looking to raise a pint of holiday beer this season, the choices are nearly endless
While most people might imagine Black Friday shoppers waiting outside a big-box store for ridiculous price cuts on big-screen TVs and new sneakers, Theo Ackerson, the general manager of Bierport, instead gets a yearly crowd of eager beer-heads. The Lawrenceville beer shop, which shares its building with the Row House Theater, is a yearly recipient…
Problems at Pittsburgh’s Shuman Juvenile Detention Center reflect larger issues in the integrity of the juvenile-justice system.
One morning in October 2016, longtime youth-care worker DeWayne Collins was on duty at the Shuman Juvenile Detention Center in Pittsburgh. That day, Collins was watching over one resident when a supervisor dropped a second resident at his unit. That resident was later found unresponsive, with a cord wrapped around her neck. According to a…
This week in Pittsburgh Sports History
Dec. 7, 2006 Pittsburgh Steelers running back “Fast” Willie Parker sets the team record for most rushing yards in a single game when he totals 223 yards against Cleveland. Dec. 8, 1952 In the 1930s, “Two-Ton” Tony Galento was a heavyweight boxer. He was the first man ever to knock down Joe Louis. By 1952,…
Critics’ Pick: Soda Club at Smiling Moose
[INDIE ROCK] + FRI., DEC. 8 The breakdown of the five bands playing Smiling Moose tonight is 60 percent Pennsylvania and 40 percent Jersey, in case you have strong feelings about it one way or the other. First up from the Garden State is the fuzzy, guitar-driven indie rock of Ragged Lines, and the almost-pop-punk…
Bang a gong: A look at Pittsburgh-centric holiday traditions
My parents really dig classical Christmas music. Neither of them are religious people or classical musicians, but every Christmas season, they go out for performances of Handel’s “Messiah” or Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio.” Those are the heavy hitters, but I think they just enjoy the general atmosphere: the people, the churches, the history, the cider. And…
Nothing says holiday cheer like a pot of mulled wine
If you ever have an employer who says, “We will pay you to make mulled wine,” definitely take that opportunity. I’ve never made or even tasted mulled wine, so naturally I’m the perfect candidate for this assignment. The warm, alcoholic drink was invented by Romans in the second century to help keep warm in the…
Critics’ Pick: Wax Fang at Brillobox
[PSYCH ROCK] + SAT., DEC. 9 Louisville band Wax Fang started out solidly in the world of indie rock. But on its last few releases, the group started working in more psychedelic and electronic sounds, producing tracks filled with its traditional lively guitar riffs, plus some dreamy synth beats. In October, Wax Fang released its…
Culinary traditions are a big part of holiday celebrations
In every subset of every religion, food is an important and essential component, especially around the holidays. It brings people together and helps them find common ground. Food creates a sense memory that can last a lifetime, bringing a person back to their roots anytime a scent wafts through the kitchen, whether it be their…
The Duquesne women’s basketball program is looking to take a big step toward the big time
The college-basketball world is saturated with sleazy recruiters and corrupt coaches. Not all of them, just many. An estimated .11 percent of college-hoops fans were surprised at the revelations that Louisville’s Rick Pitino and several other top-level coaches were implicated in a scandal in which top recruits were persuaded to go to a certain school…
Ultimate Holiday Playlist by Pittsburgh Artists
For people who love holiday music, there’s something about a particular version of a particular song that you look forward to each year, regardless of your religious affiliation. Lou Christie “O Holy Night” Christmas Doo Wop & Pop, Vol. 2 Sean Jones “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” Christmas on Mack Avenue Tai Chirovsky “Don’t…
Merante Bros. Italian-American Market is open again in Uptown
The Merante Bros. Italian-American Market, in Uptown, has reopened after decades of inactivity. And other than some new floors, a new façade, some upgraded appliances and fresh paint, not much has changed; the owners are intent on trying to maintain as many of the old market’s traditions as they can. Members of the family that…
Short List: Dec. 7 – 14
Nathan James moved to New York City in 2012. Today, the Pittsburgh-native actor and Pitt grad is getting roles like that of Billy Crystal’s drinking buddy in the in-production comedy film We Are Unsatisfied. James is also teaching — screenwriting at HBO, acting at Princeton University — and writing: his monologue “Superiority Fantasy” recently made…
Film Festivus: Readers and Pittsburgh City Paper staffers give a shout out to their favorite holiday flicks
Although some people claim to hate holiday music, most everyone has a favorite holiday movie. We asked City Paper readers for their favorite holiday flicks and the overwhelming favorite was A Christmas Story, a tale of a little boy and his quest for an “official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle, with…
Farhad Moshiri: Go West, at The Andy Warhol Museum
Farhad Moshiri has been producing exhilarating, waggish, deft and joyous art over decades and across continents, from his youth in his birthplace of Shiraz, Iran; to his education at Valencia’s California Institute of the Arts; to the present, when he divides his time between Tehran and Paris. Despite his considerable body of work, he’s never…
Pittsburgh bartenders share their favorite holiday cocktails
There’s no disputing that alcohol brings people together, maybe even more so during the holidays. No matter your faith or celebration, a simple cocktail, punch or even mulled wine can help put the finishing touches on your snowy gatherings. City Paper asked two local bartenders to share their favorite holiday drink recipes with you. Kimmie…
Pittsburgh City Paper Booze Battles: Tinseltown vs. Miracle on Market
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…
Culinary delights for the vegetarians around your holiday table
When the holiday season rolls around, everyone looks forward to their favorite foods. Gathering around the table to share dishes is one of the things that makes these days special, and vegans shouldn’t have to miss out. We gathered a few recipes from local chefs to help make your holidays fun and free from animal…
The most thoughtful holiday gifts are the ones you make yourself.
The holidays can be a stressful time for anybody. It can be especially taxing on those who want to give a special gift but who are working with a small budget. The pressure to purchase nice gifts sometimes overshadows the fact that this time of year is meant for expressing gratitude and showing your love…
Savage Love
I used to be a fan of your column, Dan, but something happened to you. Maybe it’s stress, the current political climate, or some other issue — I don’t know. I used to look forward to your columns because they were fun, smart, and helpful — but I don’t enjoy what I’m seeing now. If…
Belgians, barleywines and barrels
I love the cartoonishly drunk Santa at the beginning of Miracle on 34th Street. Slouching and slurring, he offers up a simple explanation for why he’s tanked the morning of the big Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: “Well, it’s cold. A man’s got to do something to keep warm.” It’s a quote I think of often…
Want the perfect holiday card? Lose those Steelers jerseys and dial back the creepy
In a time before Facebook, annual holiday cards served as a way to communicate with loved ones living far away. A card with a family photo gave friends and family a peek into the sender’s life, serving as a yearly chronicle of how a family has grown and changed. Today more than two billion holiday…
The only way to stop normalized sexual harassment and assault is to call it out quickly
If you grew up in Wellsville, Ohio, in the mid- to late 1970s and were looking for a kickball game, chances are you ended up in my yard at some point. I lived there until age 9 and the game attracted boys, girls, kids, tweens, teens and even the occasional parent. I think I was…
Explore different holidays and customs at your holiday dessert table
The only thing better than a warm, filling meal surrounded by loved ones on a cold winter’s night are the sweet treats that follow it. But there’s more to the upcoming holiday season than just cookies shaped like Santa and Blitzen. If you want a nice hearty dessert, Amargie Davis says a slice of sweet-potato…
Lynn Cullen Live – 12/1/17
Video Archive Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
