A Specter of Himself
In retrospect, there was something a little desperate about the Jan. 11 “Rolling Justice” protest held at the United Steelworkers building Downtown. On hand were activists representing more than 30 organizations opposing the nomination of Samuel Alito Jr. to the U.S. Supreme Court — a testament, of sorts, to Alito’s record as a jurist. Only…
Prevent Gay Marriage
The issue of same-sex marriage is headed back to the state legislature, as opponents prepare to introduce legislation on Jan. 24 for a state constitutional amendment limiting marriage to heterosexual couples. Foes of same-sex marriage, such as Michael Geer, president of the Pennsylvania Family Institute (which is leading the push for the bill), say…
A Conversation with Chris Griswold
Chris Griswold wants you to laugh — at him, at yourself, at your fellow Pittsburghers. For three measly bucks, you can catch the 26-year-old Shadysider at Friday Nite Improvs, the late-night improv-comedy game played in the University of Pittsburgh’s Studio Theatre. He’d be the one hosting Showcase, the featured-performer section of the night…
Minors’ Vote Could Be Major
When state Rep. Rich Grucela proposed to allow 17-year-olds to vote in spring primaries if they’ll turn 18 by the fall’s general election, he wasn’t thinking about the effect his measure would have on Pittsburgh. “The entire thought behind this was to get kids involved in the electoral process,” says Grucela, a Democrat from…
DJ Assassin
DJ Assassin is the best deejay in the city — so says the best deejay in the city, DJ Supa C. One is the best battle deejay, the other the best dance-floor deejay. This particular Assassin ain’t into battlin’, though. For all the clear and present danger his name evokes, in all his…
Rage and Reconciliation
A 42-year-old woman suffers for years because “the doctors at a world-famous cancer center” screwed up. A physician struggles with a colleague’s incompetence. A new mother keeps silent about her post-partum depression, sure no one will understand. The victim of a neurological ailment lives with the twin burdens of his crippling disease and…
What are the requirements for being on Pittsburgh City Council?
Well, for starters, having a stint in the city’s Public Works department on your résumé never hurts. Two current members of council, Dan Deasy and Jim Motznik, have both worked for that department. So has Jeffrey Koch, one of the candidates who hope to win former Council President Gene Ricciardi’s seat in a…
Morningwood
Ever wake up with Morningwood? You know — the rock unit that roused a little excitement while you were sleeping. On its self-titled debut, the band wants to get sexy with every man, woman and hipster in a game of musical grab-ass. Sweaty palm mutes, disco beats and party-girl karaoke fantasy make for…
Tortoise & Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy
Eerie, saturated synth lines start the song, straight off an ’80s horror-flick soundtrack. The band settles into a pulsing, sinister shuffle. You’ve heard these words before, but never with this sense of emptiness and defeat: “Roy Orbison singing for the lonely / Hey that’s me and I want you only / Don’t turn…
We Are Scientists
Let’s be honest: We Are Scientists’ record, With Love and Squalor, is nothing you haven’t heard before from the likes of The Killers or The Bravery. But the group seems aware of its Johnny-come-lately status, masking insecurity with a forced Weird Al-ish good humor. Which somehow makes it seem all the more dorky…
Winter Guide
Winter doesn’t mean you have to hunker down inside for two months. Right here in the Pittsburgh area, there are plenty of activities to take the psychic chill off the season. Hearty sorts can embrace winter full on and take an invigorating walk (and we’ve offered some suggestions), though most events happen indoors. But we…
Match Point
Woody Allen’s Match Point opens with a strain of opera, with a tennis ball moving in slow motion back and forth over a net, and with the voice of Chris — who left the big-money world tennis circuit for lack of drive and talent — telling us that too much of life depends…
The Syrian Bride
While most weddings are fraught with anxiety, Mona’s not-so-happy day is a never-ending hair-puller, a microcosm of all her family’s troubles, as well as a tough lesson in absurd geopolitics. Mona belongs to the Druze community, in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Her family has arranged a marriage to a Syrian man she’s never…
Darwin’s Nightmare
Taken literally, its title might be the least useful thing about the new documentary Darwin’s Nightmare. The author of The Origin of Species likely never conceived of anything like this: the ecological destruction of Africa’s Lake Victoria through the introduction of the Nile perch. Intended to anchor a fishing industry, the voracious breed…
City Politics: Dating for College Students
For activists seeking to improve turnout among young voters, giving college students the right to vote in an upcoming City Council election turned out to be easy. Getting students to actually use that right, however, may not be. Groups like the League of Young Voters were outraged last week, when City Council President Luke…
Kaufman House
Location: 105 S. Main St., Zelienople; 724-452-8900 Hours: Mon.-Thu.: breakfast 7-11 a.m.; lunch 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; and dinner 4-9 p.m. Fri.-Sat.: breakfast 7-11 a.m.; lunch 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; and dinner 4-10 p.m. Sun., open 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Prices: Appetizers $5-8; sandwiches $7-8; entrees, $15-25 Fare: Classic American, with updates Atmosphere: Frank Capra Ate Here Liquor:…
Homelessness: Ranking High — Unfortunately
For the homeless, the streets of Pittsburgh are truly mean, according to a report released last week by the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty. The report singled out the top 20 “meanest cities,” ranking Pittsburgh No. 20 out of 224 cities in America, based on the…
De-Central-ized Programming
Take heart, progressives and all others not hypnotized by Faux News and the other conservative talking-point spin machines. We actually won a minor victory right here in the ‘Burgh! The bad news is that about three dozen staffers at WPGH Fox 53 were shit-canned last week. That means nice, capable people like Alby Oxenreiter and…
Black Neighborhoods: No Need to Stick Fork in Food Store
In a city trying to get any grocery store into certain black neighborhoods, the only black-owned and -operated Giant Eagle in the city is still struggling after four years in the East Hills — so much so that some patrons have recently raised false alarms about its future. Deborah Hickman, owner of the Verona…
Steelers Keep Their Head (Coaches)
Step right up, ladies and gentlemen, and get your ticket for the annual NFL head-coaching carousel. It’s an event which most of us black-and-gold-clad fans are too young to have ever seen close up. What typically happens is this: A team suffers through a terrible season or two, fires its head coach and starts looking…
National Politics: Does Impeachment Grow on a Bush?
State Sen. Jim Ferlo is calling for the censure and impeachment of President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. He’s hoping to spark the ire of Pittsburghers honked off over the continued war in Iraq and administration-authorized domestic snooping with a petition. “The toll taken on life, limb, and precious resources is shocking…
