Last Week for Heads at Point Park
Five performances left of harrowing hostage drama
Crowdfunding to help an ex-Pittsburgh musician
DJ and producer Buscrates was hit by a car on his bike and is facing big medical bills.
New “Pittsburgh A&E Book” Out
Catalogue is sixth edition of James Richards’ compendium of local talent and resources
Lynn Cullen Live 02/11/14
Video Archive Phone guest: Susan; obit: Shirley Temple, 85; Repubs leaving their party; sorry, Bible, there were no camels in Israel during the time of Abraham; debate between creationist & Bill Nye; head of Denmark zoo getting death threats after giraffe incident; 95 year old woman track star; Woody Allen a creep, but not a…
Pitt receives grant to study disproportionate HIV rates among black gay men
The public health community has long known that black gay men are more likely to be infected with HIV than their white peers. And the conventional wisdom over the past 30 years has been largely the same: Black men just engage in riskier behavior. But that conventional wisdom is wrong and the University of Pittsburgh…
“Small Press Roulette” and a Call for Entries
A local online bookseller is offering indie-publisher surprises, while a fledgling literary journal issues a call for submissions. Read all about it in Program Notes.
Local Small Press News
“Small Press Roulette” and a start-up’s call for submissions
Lynn Cullen Live 02/10/14
Video Archive Guests: Anna Hollis & Kayla Boyer, Amachi Pittsburgh; Wendy Bell’s anti-Obamacare propaganda tweeted out by John Boehner, Keith Rothfus; does the Trib want Obama impeached?; Michael Sam comes out as gay, potentially the 1st NFL player to openly announce sexual preference; Woody Allen’s side of the story in the NYT; Copenhagen Zoo shoots…
Lynn Cullen Live 02/7/14
Video Archive Guest: Chris Potter; death of TX man w/ slit throat ruled “accidental overdose;” Emily Rosing on the sides of our buses, who is she?; Pittsburgese + Wisconsinese; KDKA live streaming Rocco’s funeral procession; military dogs given higher rankings than their handlers; Taliban captured Brit military dog, released video; are dogs better than humans?;…
Lynn Cullen Live 02/6/14
Video Archive Over this weather; many letters to the editor lately tearing apart local news; remembering old news anchors; people still coming to terms w/ Philip Seymour Hoffman’s death; Russell Brand’s article on addiction; plead vs. pleaded; Doc Ellis never pitched a game sober; news reporting pet peeves; 21 states are against cleaning up the…
On council, questions about hiring process for Public Safety Director
As Bill Peduto assembles his leadership team, he’s taken flak from City Council both for hiring people and for not hiring them. Last week, the residency status of his pick for city solicitor, Lourdes Sanchez-Ridge, came under fire. That got resolved in council chambers yesterday, when council approved her appointment after getting a green light…
Toonseum Marks Animation Milestone on Saturday
Downtown’s museum of cartoon art marks the centennial of Winsor McKay’s landmark “Gertie the Dinosaur” animation. Angela Suico draws out Toonseum’s Joe Wos on the matter in Program Notes.
Toonseum Marks Animation Milestone on Saturday
Museum celebrates “Gertie the Dinosaur”
State Rep. Adam Ravenstahl draws challenger: Tom Michalow
State Rep. Adam Ravenstahl, the brother to Pittsburgh’s former mayor who announced his own re-election bid last week, has drawn a challenger from beyond the city limits: Avalon public school teacher Tom Michalow. This is not Michalow’s first bid for public office. He ran unsuccessfully for county council in 2009 against Matt Drozd, and previously…
The 2014 Oscar-nominated Documentary short film screen
Oscar-nominated Documentary Shorts Feb. 7-9 and Feb. 14-16 Melwood Screening Room A common thread does run through the five short films nominated for Best Short Documentary at the 2014 Academy Awards. Each tells of individuals who have persevered, driven by an internal compass that assures them their pursuit is righteous. A remarkable example of carrying…
Lynn Cullen Live 02/5/14
Video Archive T not working this AM, buses slow moving; being recognized in public; CBO report on Affordable Care Act; Baby Boomers draining the economy; remembering Doug Hoerth & Yvonne Zanos; CVS going to stop selling tobacco products; Tango Macbeth screening in the South Side; Rocco & the criminalization of the mentally ill; “safe” to…
The Monuments Men
Art is often among the casualties of war, whether the destruction is willful or collateral. And so it was during World War II, when much of Europe — with its vast repositories of public and private art — was a battlefield. Then there were the Nazis, who valued classical art enough to loot it on…
Labor Day
A depressed, lonely divorcee (Kate Winslet) allows an escaped convict (Josh Brolin) to spend a long weekend with her and her 13-year-old son (Gattlin Griffith) in Jason Reitman’s drama, adapted from Joyce Maynard’s novel. Well, that sure sounds like a bad idea, but the “bad guy” turns out to be a dream date — bonding…
The Rocket
To make way for a new hydro-electric dam, a family in Laos is forced to seek a new home in a gorgeous but harsh mountain region. Finding arable land is tough, and the countryside still harbors damage from the war, both physical (unexploded bombs) and psychic (traumatized survivors, and perhaps even ghosts). Things go increasingly…
That Awkward Moment
While I’m happy Hollywood is making rom-coms featuring ditzy adorable guys instead of ditzy adorable girls, Tom Gormican’s attempt falls short of success. In the plus column, we get three good-looking and engaging actors in Michael B. Jordan, Miles Teller and Zac Efron, and some drool-worthy Manhattan real estate. But the plot is choppy —…
Property Control: Neighborhood groups wary of land-bank bill
A land-bank bill that would change the way tens of thousands of parcels across the city could be redeveloped is drawing criticism from community groups, who argue the legislation doesn’t do enough to include them. “The community approval process is not clear at all,” says Carl Redwood, chairman of the Hill District Consensus Group. “And…
Film Kitchen
The series for local and independent film showcases diverse short work by three artists. Author and filmmaker Hannah Dobbz’s “Squat or Rot: A Squatter’s Highlight Reel” combines sequences from three documentaries about New York City squatters, dating from the 1980s and ’90s. The videos (one narrated by Ed Asner) are sympathetic to squatters, and ask…
Culture Shock
Say this for the August Wilson Center for African American Culture: Its plight proves why Pittsburgh is the perfect setting for so much of Wilson’s work. Unfortunately. This is, after all, the city that spent millions to keep the Civic Arena running for half a century — despite years of resentment from Hill District neighbors,…
Yuna goes from Malaysian law school to American pop studios
YUNA with JOEY VEGA, CAIT CUNEO. 7 p.m. Wed., Feb. 12. Altar Bar, 1620 Penn Ave., Strip District. $18-20. All ages. 412-206-9719 or thealtarbar.com Yuna is a Malaysian pop singer-songwriter who released her first full album in the United States, Nocturnal, last year on Verve. She took time out of her current American tour to…
Savage Love
What is the best way to sanitize a latex dildo? At least I think it’s a latex dildo. I actually don’t know. I had a yeast infection a few months ago, and before I knew what was up, I used my toy. Now I’m afraid to touch it until I know it won’t reinfect me!…
Former Come frontwoman Thalia Zedek returns with two new records
THALIA ZEDEK with EMILY RODGERS, KEVIN FINN. 9 p.m. Thu., Feb. 6. Thunderbird Cafe, 4023 Butler St., Lawrenceville. $8-10. All ages. 412-682-0177 or thunderbirdcafe.net Thalia Zedek solo albums have been an irregular occurrence of late: Liars and Prayers, released in 2008, wasn’t followed up until 2013’s Via — but, right on the heels of that…
Short List: February 5 – 12
To many locals, Bob Qualters is the quintessential Pittsburgh painter: Though the Clairton High grad traveled in his younger days, he’s been ensconced here since 1968, and his widely seen paintings, murals and installations often depict regional icons, from steel mills to Kennywood. But Vicky A. Clark says that the new Qualters retrospective she’s curated…
New dance night at Cruze is A-OK
A-OK feat. RICK WILHITE, PITTSBURGH TRACK AUTHORITY. 9 p.m. Sat., Feb. 8. Cruze Bar, 1600 Smallman St., Strip District. 412-471-1400 or cruzebar.com New York has the subway; Chicago has the El; D.C. has the Metro; and all three have Uber, the quick, private car service. This makes partying into the wee hours a breeze. Pittsburgh,…
Bob’s Diner
Bob’s Diner 211 Mansfield Blvd., Carnegie. 412-429-7400 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 6 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat. 7 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun. 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Prices: $5-15 Liquor: None People like chain restaurants because they always know what to expect. Interestingly, though most diners are family-owned establishments, they offer a similarly comforting predictability — each an independent variation on a…
Critics’ Picks: February 5 – 11
[POP] + FRI., FEB. 7 Last week, the talk was all about Pharrell’s hat; if Cris Cab gets lucky, some of that hat’s luck will rub off on him. Or, more likely, some of Pharrell Williams’ knack for success will filter through to Cab, who worked with Williams on a new single, “Liar Liar.” Cab,…
Nationally rising talent Alan Obuzor debuts a new dance work
The Kelly-Strayhorn Theater presents FRESH WORKS: ALAN OBUZOR WITH ANQWENIQUE WINGFIELD 8 p.m. Fri., Feb. 7. The Alloy Studios, 5530 Penn Ave., Friendship. $10. 412-363-3000 or kelly-strayhorn.org Ever since Alan Obuzor was young, his mother, Marjorie Liese, encouraged her children to try different things. Having enrolled Alan and his three sisters in gymnastics at Gymkhana, in…
New Releases
Full Color Illustrations Full Color Illustrations (Enamel Records) Back in the mid-2000s, Full Color — T.J. Fennell’s project — was a regular contributor to the local rock scene. Fennell is in Massachusetts now, but Full Color Illustrations is his duo with the still-local Mike Layton. This full-length is the first in some time from Enamel…
Hilary Robinson offers a smartphone-photo love letter to Pittsburgh.
PITTSBURGH JE T’AIME continues through Feb. 21. (Closing reception: 5:30 p.m. Mon., Feb. 17.) Filmmakers Galleries, 477 Melwood Ave., Oakland. 412-681-5449 or pittsburgharts.org Pittsburgh je t’aime, at Pittsburgh Filmmakers Gallery, is a collection of more than 100 small photographic prints by London-based art theorist and former Carnegie Mellon College of Fine Arts Dean Hilary Robinson.…
Bumpy Road Ahead?: At least one ride-share company plans to launch here this week, but how long it will be allowed to operate is another story
Its service may not yet be approved by state regulators, but ride-share company Lyft, with its pink-mustachioed fleet of cars, is apparently launching in the Steel City on Friday anyway. It is, in some ways, a jackrabbit start for the company. Lyft and a competitor, Uber, have launched massive social-media campaigns and placed ads seeking…
Quantum Theatre’s Madagascar
MADAGASCAR continues through Feb. 16. Quantum Theatre at the Carlyle, Fourth Avenue and Wood Street, Downtown. $36-46. 888-718-4253 or quantumtheatre.com Sex. Death. Classical mythology. What’s not to love about Quantum Theatre’s production of J.T. Rogers’ Madagascar? It’s a deliciously malicious romp through the layers of tragedy and mystery in a family both Sophocles and Tennessee…
Saving August Wilson: Despite liquidation order, community still hopeful arts center can survive
While a judge has ruled that the liquidation of the August Wilson Center for African American Culture can move forward, many in the city’s black community and arts community say they’re working to save the ailing arts institution. The $42 million August Wilson Center opened in 2009 with the help of funding from tax dollars,…
The REP’s Heads
HEADS continues through Feb. 16. Pittsburgh Playhouse Studio Theater, 222 Craft Ave, Oakland. $24-27. 412-392-8000 or pittsburghplayhouse.com E.M. Lewis’ Heads, now at The REP, seeks to capture the experience of being held prisoner in a basement by strangers you can’t even look at, set in the first year of the U.S. occupation of Iraq. The…
Local chef Richard DeShantz shares a seasonal favorite: pot-roast
In both of his Downtown hotspots — Meat & Potatoes and the “cocktail-driven” Butcher and the Rye — seasonality plays a huge role in chef Richard DeShantz’s comfort-style cooking. “There are so many culinary opportunities in what the seasons bring us,” DeShantz says. So DeShantz, a self-described “supporter of going back to the classics,” is…
Company at Pittsburgh Public Theater
COMPANY continues through Feb. 23. Pittsburgh Public Theater, 621 Penn Ave., Downtown. $29-60. 412-316-1600 or ppt.org Several decades ago, an actor named George Furth wrote 11 one-acts for actress Kim Stanley. Anthony Perkins, who was thinking about directing them, asked Stephen Sondheim for his opinion. Sondheim asked director Hal Prince what he thought … and…
Embury returns — in pop-up form — to Butcher and the Rye
In 2008, finding a fancy cocktail in Pittsburgh was a challenge. Then Spencer Warren opened Embury, the precursor to the current wave of upscale cocktail bars, downstairs in the Strip’s Firehouse Lounge. Warren was a bit ahead of his time. “Most people didn’t realize we were there until 2010,” he says. By then it was…
Bill Shannon’s cubism for the 21st century.
MAKE MOVES continues through Fri., Feb. 7, closing reception. Irma Freeman Center, 5006 Penn Ave., Bloomfield. irmafreeman.org A hundred years after Picasso and Braque introduced cubism, challenging the idea that painters should describe their subjects from a single point of perception, Bill Shannon has extended cubist principles by using 21st-century technologies. Pittsburgh-based Shannon is internationally…
Market Square’s Bluebird Kitchen opens a second location on Stanwix Street
In 2006, Liz Moore was living in New York and not particularly enjoying her corporate job. A Penn State grad with a degree in psychology — and no formal culinary training — she began laying the groundwork for what would become Bluebird Kitchen, a popular lunch spot just off Market Square. And earlier this month,…
