Anti-Asian hate crimes don’t begin with physical violence
Pittsburgh’s Chinatown was something I only heard about when talking to other young Asian Americans in the city. It was folkloric, despite being a part of Pittsburgh’s history and, by virtue of being Asian American in Pittsburgh, our history. When I was Downtown, I sometimes caught a glimpse of the facade of what I would…
Pennsylvania senators reveal bipartisan plan to legalize marijuana and expunge records
As Pennsylvania faces a potential multi-billion dollar budget hole, a Republican and Democratic state senator are introducing a bipartisan proposal to legalize and tax recreational cannabis. The sponsors, Sens. Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) and Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) cited shifting public attitudes, as well as the potential gain from a new crop for farmers, a fresh start…
Tenant advocacy group rallies in support of an eviction moratorium for Pittsburgh
On Feb. 24, a small group of advocates demonstrated in front of the City County Building in Downtown Pittsburgh, calling for an effective and more encompassing eviction moratorium in the city and Allegheny County. The group, the Pittsburgh chapter of the United Neighborhood Defense Movement, held up banners and chanted about the need for more…
Roots Run Deep showcases Black hair in Pittsburgh
Black hair has been the subject of discrimination and bias for centuries. Whether it is in its natural state or styled with extensions, Black people’s hair has been deemed unprofessional and unruly by many who have hiring power in today’s work industry, resulting in legislation like the CROWN “Creating a Respectful and Open Workplace for…
Pittsburgh invests $800,000 in public art, seeks proposals for 18 projects
The pandemic has highlighted the importance of public art, as the format gives artists and patrons a way to show and view work in safer spaces that allow for social distancing. Now Pittsburgh will embark on an ambitious new initiative to fund and execute a number of public art projects across the city. Today, the Pittsburgh…
Health care workers tout Gainey’s fight against UPMC in their mayoral endorsement
The Pittsburgh mayoral race is well underway, and state Rep. Ed Gainey (D-Lincoln-Lemington) is setting up battle lines around the region’s preeminent medical powerhouse: UPMC. In a virtual event on Feb. 23, Gainey spoke about his plans to fight for health care workers. This pledge came as SEIU Healthcare, the largest union of health care…
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Central Outreach Makes Big Impact in Western Pa. in 2020
In a year made so tough for so many reasons, people in Western Pennsylvania needed to trust their medical care more than ever before. Central Outreach Wellness Center is proud to say that they were not only able to continue providing culturally competent and inclusive care, but were able to grow, expand, and adapt to…
Pittsburgh Democratic mayoral candidate has Twitter feed filled with Trump praise
Tony Moreno, a retired cop from Brighton Heights in the North Side, was the first candidate to announce he would be running against Bill Peduto in Pittsburgh’s 2021 mayoral race. In September 2019, Moreno said he was running as a Democrat for the city’s top position and told TribLive, “I don’t have a social agenda.…
One of Lawrenceville’s favorite cafes reopens, a new taproom comes to the North Hills, and more Pittsburgh food news
Openings and re-openings Cinderlands Taproom Cinderlands Beer Co. recently announced the opening of their new taproom in Wexford on Wed., Feb. 24. This marks the brewery’s third location, following its locations in the Strip District and Lawrenceville. The new North Hills location will feature to-go cans and bottles, plus 12 taps and a small food…
Lamb, Pa. Democrats push for $15 minimum wage bill as part of COVID stimulus
Democrats aren’t always united on issues, especially in swing states like Pennsylvania. Keystone State Democrats have disagreements over natural gas, health care, and marijuana. U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Mt. Lebanon) sits in a swing district in a swing state, and has been the center over some of those disagreements, breaking away from some liberal priorities.…
Lynn Cullen Live – 2/23/21
Video Archive Directions on how to walk safely on snow and ice from the New York Times is where Lynn and Susan are starting the show. Also from the science section, they are talking about monogamous cockroaches who eat each other’s wings, and India’s National Cow Commission “cow science” exam. Audio Only Archive Stream or…
Spruce up your home office with unique items from Pittsburgh stores
The pandemic has shifted the office to the home for many people. Some Pittsburghers have home offices already, while others have a single space in their apartments or homes that they’ve designated as the workspace. Whichever situation sounds like you, it’s important to make the workspace a center of comfort and productivity. Whether your personal…
New Pittsburgh-produced podcast looks at life as a Jonah Hill double
Actors aren’t always looking for that big breakout role, many are just hoping for steady work. For Steven Sims, dreams of pursuing an acting career around 2007 quickly hit an unexpected obstacle — he looked exactly like Jonah Hill. By “exactly,” we mean he was mistaken for Hill by paparazzi who snapped and published photos of…
Western Pennsylvania GOP taps ‘Trump House’ creator Rossi for state House run
A Westmoreland County woman best known for decorating an abandoned home to celebrate former President Donald Trump has been tapped by Republican Party officials to run in a special election for the Pennsylvania House. Leslie Baum Rossi, 50, was picked to replace former Rep. Mike Reese (R-Westmoreland), the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported Sunday. A popular lawmaker…
Get slippy with free lube from Pa.’s Department of Health
The Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Division of HIV invites Pennsylvanians to get slippy with free personal lubricants. The Division of HIV usually focuses resources, like educational presentations, condoms, dental dams, and referrals to medical providers, on people at high risk for HIV/STD infection and people living with HIV. During the pandemic, however, the department was…
Lynn Cullen Live – 2/22/21
Video Archive Lynn is starting off the week by talking about some of the little stories that caught her eye. The local high school sports coverage keeps showing photos of players not properly wearing masks. It’s making her question the enforcement of these mask regulations. She is also talking about a Metropolitan Diary submission about…
Pa. state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta announces 2022 run for U.S. Senate
State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D-Philadelphia), is running for Pennsylvania’s open U.S. Senate seat in 2022. The second term lawmaker announced on Thursday that he was jumping into the race to fulfill “America’s promise” for all. “There is nothing written on a tablet somewhere that America has to succeed” Kenyatta told MSNBC host Joy Reid. He…
Donations pour in for vanessa german after fire damages Homewood ArtHouse
On Mon., Feb. 16, local artist vanessa german took a major hit when ArtHouse, the creative community center she runs in Homewood, was damaged by a fire. Now, just days later, a GoFundMe campaign has raised over $55,000 to help repair the space. Trib Live reported that a fire investigation unit found that a blaze started…
Six outside-of-the-box lattes for adventurous Pittsburgh coffee lovers
Pittsburgh has become a great place to get a cup of coffee, and with tons of coffee shops in multiple neighborhoods, it’s often hard to choose a spot to go to. Before the pandemic, I was much more adventurous, always seeking out a place to hide away with my laptop or a book. Now, that…
Lynn Cullen Live – 2/18/21
Video Archive Texas is still suffering, but it looks like Ted Cruz has gone to Cancun. Lynn is talking about the latest from the storm. Officials in the state have begun blaming wind turbines on the failure of Texas power grids, despite wind power only being a very small fraction of the power supply. Beta…
Lynn Cullen Live – 2/17/21
Video Archive Lynn’s heart goes out to those who are suffering the extreme weather with no heat in Texas, and other locations. This is a human issue, but it also a governmental issue. It turns out that Texas power companies are not required to have a supply buffer which the majority of others do across…
How the pandemic has shifted Pittsburgh’s housing market
The coronavirus pandemic has done some unusual things to housing markets across the country. In high-rent cities like San Francisco and New York, rental prices have dropped significantly, seemingly caused by wealthy renters decamping from the city to live in or purchase homes in more remote locations, since they are now working remotely. At the…
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY: Feb. 18-24
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873–1943) ultimately became one of the 20th century’s most renowned composers. But his career had a rough start. Symphony No. 1, his first major work, was panned by critics, sending him into a four-year depression. Eventually he recovered. His next major composition, Piano Concerto No. 2, was well-received. I…
Misremembering a summer of protest: Comparing the Capitol riot to the racial justice movement cements a false history
Ever since an insurrectionary mob stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, the racial justice protests of summer 2020 are again a hot topic of discussion — primarily among those seeking to downplay the seriousness of Jan. 6 by asserting, as a supposedly self-evident comparison, that protest violence this summer was worse. We heard this…
Seven Days in Pittsburgh: Feb. 18-24
Thu., Feb. 18 THEATER • VIRTUAL Wherefore art thou Romeo? He’s online, along with his star-crossed lover, Juliet, as part of the Pittsburgh Public Theater Playtime series Classics N’at, a selection of digital programming that makes old plays new again. PPT resident director Justin Emeka presents Romeo N Juliet, a reimagined Shakespeare adaptation that focuses…
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra celebrates 125 years
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has weathered through economic depressions, wars, and previous pandemics, and it’s not going to let COVID-19 prevent it from celebrating its 125th anniversary. “It’s still proving to be a very generous gala event,” says Pittsburgh Symphony CEO and president Melia Tourangeau. “We’re really pleased about that. People are really sticking with…
Black-led Community Spotlight: Tal & Bert’s stunning planters bring Pittsburgh business monumental success
Having green space in your home is a great way to improve one’s mental health year-round, especially in a city like Pittsburgh where gray skies can hit extra hard. And when filling your home with wares from local Black-owned business Tal & Bert, the planters can do just as much boosting to your spirits as…
Quantum Theatre’s newest production Far Away is a hybrid between film and theater
Nearly a year into the pandemic and many people are getting tired of the digital and virtual versions of the art they used to see in person. Luckily for theater fans, Quantum Theatre understands this exhaustion, and created a play-film hybrid performance that, while still an online experience, is not your typical Zoom performance. For…
Irma Freeman Center for Imagination weathers pandemic with shops, shrines, and support
For a winter Friday night during the pandemic, there are a surprising number of people in the Irma Freeman Center for Imagination for the opening reception of Shrines. The new installation is displayed in all its shiny glory in the back gallery, its name spelled out in large, gold letter balloons. Before the pandemic, this…
When is Black Futures Month?
How Long ’Til Black Futures Month? is the title of a brilliant collection of short stories by literary genius N.K. Jemisin. Like her longer form works, it contains speculative fiction challenging notions of time, space, and place. Her work also challenges the notion of past, present, and future. What is past? What is present? What…
