Why Pittsburgh’s Black beer festival rebranded and what it’s looking forward to next
When Fresh Fest first hit Pittsburgh, it was greeted with open arms and seen as a revelation. America’s first Black craft beer festival was started by locals, and had taken over the city. The extremely popular event led to news coverage that eventually went national. It was something that everyone in Pittsburgh was proud of. It…
Pittsburgh nonprofits receive $70K in grants focused on social equity
A national car rental company has set out to support nonprofits doing important work in their communities, including two such groups in Pittsburgh. Enterprise, a St. Louis-based entity that owns and operates several major vehicle rental and travel brands, announced that it awarded $70,000 in grants to Strong Women Strong Girls Inc. and Sarah Heinz…
Allegheny County officials say county has moved into “substantial” COVID spread, driven by the Delta variant
Allegheny County Health Department director Dr. Debra Bogen said during a press conference on Aug. 4 that the county’s COVID-19 cases have been increasing significantly, and the increase is primarily being driven by the Delta variant. Bogen said that hospitalizations have also climbed, and those are primarily composed of unvaccinated individuals. “The CDC tracks variants…
Pittsburgh design group launches Kickstarter campaign for endangered species card deck
Many of us became aware of endangered species as young kids, and while the issue has waned in importance in the shadow of climate change, it has not gone away. It has even become worse as pollution, habitat loss, and poaching threatens many animals around the world. With this in mind, a new creative collective…
Tyler, the Creator returns to Pittsburgh in 2022 for CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST tour
After a blowout show at Stage AE in 2019, Tyler, the Creator returns to Pittsburgh as a part of the Spring 2022 North American tour for his new album CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST. He will be joined by Vince Staples, Kali Uchis, and Teezo Touchdown during a show at Petersen Events Center in…
Virtual book talk explores the human and environment costs of fracking in Appalachia
Despite the promises of economic boon that the natural gas industry — and the politicians who boost it — made to people in Appalachia, the region has actually trailed the rest of the nation in job growth, personal income, and population. In addition to the economic consequences, those who live on land leased to natural…
Pittsburgh performance company uses Penn Avenue storefronts to stage live shows
Usually, visitors strolling through the art and commercial district of Penn Avenue will find gallery shows, good food, and even a cat cafe. In mid-August, the area will also play host to a different type of theater, where storefronts will become staging areas for various short productions. Big Storm Performance Company will present Portals on Penn…
Two former Steelers test positive for COVID, but only one says he’s vaccinated
Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis and strong safety Troy Polamalu announced via social media that they have recently tested positive for COVID-19. Bettis posted on his social media accounts on Aug. 1 about his COVID diagnosis, and Polamalu posted about his on July 30. Bettis tweeted that his symptoms are “very mild” since…
A new burger joint, vegan doughnuts, and more Pittsburgh food news
98 K Burger 5867 Forbes Ave., Squirrel Hill The blog PennsylvAsia reported that a new burger joint is opening in Squirrel Hill. 98 K shares a name with spots in the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, but it is unclear whether the one opening in Pittsburgh is a part of a chain. Stay…
Two restaurants on Pittsburgh’s North Side requiring proof of vaccination
Starting Aug. 4, two restaurants on Pittsburgh’s North Side will require proof of full vaccination and identification for service. According to a post on social media, both Leo. a public house and Lola Bistro are requiring proof of vaccination and matching identification for service. The post says this policy will start Aug. 4. Both restaurants…
Lynn Cullen Live – 8/3/21
Video Archive “There is a smoking gun, there is the evidence of an attempted coup.” – Lynn on the news that Trump told acting attorney general Jeffrey Rosen to say the election was corrupt. Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
The world’s largest soap bottle is coming to Pittsburgh
Step aside giant rubber duck, there’s another oversized household item coming to Pittsburgh, and it’s reminding people to wash their hands. On Wed., Aug. 4, the world’s biggest soap bottle, made by the Washington, D.C.-based beauty company Soapbox, will appear in the parking lot of the Settler’s Ridge Market District in Robinson for the Soapbox…
Gov. Wolf asks lawmakers to return to Harrisburg to extend opioid declaration
Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf has asked the Republican-controlled Legislature to make an early return to Harrisburg to extend the opioid disaster emergency declaration. In a letter sent Friday to Senate and House leadership, Wolf said he plans to renew the declaration for the 15th time and asked lawmakers to reconvene by Aug. 26 to extend…
Song Spotlight: “Home” by HIGHCLEAR
A bright, cheery love song, “Home” is perfect for summer barbecues and dances on your back porch. Performed by HIGHCLEAR, a band composed of vocalist Jordan Schulz and guitarist Zach Miller, “Home” is a simple arrangement that results in big sound and beautiful harmonies. The song itself is about wanting to be a comfort to the…
House Democrats struggle to extend federal eviction ban through mid-October
WASHINGTON — Congressional Democrats are in a last-minute scramble to possibly extend federal legal protections against eviction that expired on July 31. The end of the eviction moratorium would jeopardize housing security for millions of Americans who are struggling both to pay their rent and to access billions of dollars in slow-moving federal rental assistance…
Lynn Cullen Live – 8/2/21
Video Archive “Killing old people didn’t get them to do the right thing. Killing young people isn’t going to get them to do the right thing either.” – Lynn on Unvaccinated Americans Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
Pennsylvania health officials say no current plans for new mask mandate
In light of climbing rates of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania, state health officials on Thursday urged Pennsylvanians to get vaccinated. Pennsylvania exceeded 1,000 daily COVID-19 cases for the first time since May — the state reported 1,088 new cases of COVID-19 on July 29. The seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases in the commonwealth is 710…
Find vegan beauty products from these four Pittsburgh businesses
Creating a vegan, plant-based beauty routine can be hard — and expensive. Finding deodorants, make-up, and body care in big box stores can prove challenging, but there are smaller boutiques and salons in Pittsburgh that hand-make their own vegan products. It’s not always foolproof, but these smaller brands tend to be more friendly to vegans…
Jack and the Treehouse to bring heartfelt, environmental message to Pittsburgh Independent Film Festival
My best friend growing up had a treehouse. This was in Upstate New York, mind you, where the treehouse was all of 100 feet from his back door. Nevertheless, it was a place where we felt like we were in control, where adults could only do so much to us from the ground, where we…
Pennsylvania among worst states in nation in outdoor economic value, says study
Pennsylvania has more than 300,000 acres of state parks where people can hike, picnic, camp, fish, hunt, and more, but a new study from Outdoorsy shows the Keystone State is one of the lowest performers in terms of how much outdoor recreation contributes to the state’s economy. According to the study, outdoor recreation contributes 1.6% of…
Unionized tech workers at Pittsburgh Google contractor ratify first contract
After voting to join The United Steelworkers union in 2019, tech workers at a Google contractor in Bakery Square ratified their first ever contract with HCL America, Inc. The three-year contract protects about 65 Pittsburgh-based workers. HCL is an independent contractor company that hires tech workers who complete work for Google, who has offices in…
In honor of UPMC CEO Romoff’s retirement, a look back at his loathsome legacy
On July 28, the CEO of health care monolith UPMC, Jeffrey Romoff, announced he is retiring and will spend the next few months helping UPMC transition its leadership. Romoff, who is 75, said in a press release that he is “proud to have led UPMC during a time of exceptional growth” and that the company…
On the Tahn: Dance parties and live music at Spirit, Belvederes Ultra-Dive, and more (July 29-31)
Thu., July 29 Inside Out: Hot Mass + Friends Carnegie Museum of Art 4-8 p.m. This week’s first Inside Out event will feature Hot Mass, the popping after-hours party now brought to you during the daytime. Get ready to jam to disco, funk, and electronic music by “friends” Jwan Allen and Kerem Gokmen. 4400 Forbes Ave.,…
Pittsburgh’s air quality in 2021 on pace to have one of worst years in recent history
Poor conditions regarding air quality in Pittsburgh like pollution from out-of-state wildfires, fireworks, and record-breaking exceedances of certain gases are pushing 2021 to be the worst years in recent memory. Air quality advocates at Group Against Smog and Pollution reported on July 27 that H2S concentrations were so “sky-high” that by mid morning, exceedances of…
Song Spotlight: “Prey To My Grief” by Some Faith
Pittsburgh music act Some Faith recently released “Prey To My Grief,” a sonic, haunting track. Some Faith, composed of Indigo Baloch on vocals and Brian Sikes as producer, stepped onto the music scene in 2020 with their song “The Pain Has A Purpose.” They release an EP in October 2020, and “Prey To My Grief” continues…
Lynn Cullen Live – 7/29/21
Video Archive Lynn is talking with Tribune-Review writer Paula Reed Ward about a Pittsburgh-area woman, Kimberly Andrews, who was assaulted at the Allegheny County Jail, while handcuffed, and was shoved from behind by an officer into an elevator and then tasered. Plus the jails use of a restraint chair that is higher than any other…
Lynn Cullen Live – 7/28/21
Video Archive “It’s almost impossible to watch it and to realize you have an entire political party in this country, that ten’s of millions of our countries men and women vote for with regularity, that is attempting to depict this extraordinary murderous violence as nothing special.” Lynn is talking about the start of testimony by…
Argyle Studio changes up Oakland’s retail scene for the better
Despite being related, Christine and Brigette Bethea are very different. Christine has worked in creative fields, including writing for the fashion, radio, and television industries, before embarking on a multimedia arts career in the 1980s. Her daughter, on the other hand, spent eight years in the United States Army and worked as a project manager…
Black-led Community Spotlight: LaReese Crawford of Prestige Beauty Lounge
LaReese Crawford always knew she wanted a salon of her own one day. While she was working in other boutiques around town, she would admire the women owners who had started their own businesses. Then, this May, at just 23 years old, her dreams came true when she opened Prestige Beauty Lounge in Morningside. “I…
Pabellón shows how Venezuelan food fits right into Pittsburghers’ comfort zones
Some might assume that cuisine from South America is too exotic or adventurous for Pittsburgh palates, but Pabellón, a popular Venezuelan restaurant in Banksville, shows just how comforting and approachable the food can be. Fried yucca are similar to Pittsburgh’s beloved french fries, arepa cakes are like cornbread, and the pabellón criollo should be easily…
Alive Girl Summer
This is supposed to be Our Vaxxed Summer. Yet “Pandemic of the Unvaccinated” is becoming an oft-repeated phrase. It is the kind of phrase that gets stuck in the head of us advertisement-minded Americans. It flows so well, it is easy to remember, and it instills pride in the vaccinated. Only about half of the…
Reports highlight how to repair the Appalachian economy without relying on fracking
In the wake of the Great Recession, natural gas seemed like a viable foundation for economic recovery in Pennsylvania and the greater Appalachia region, which has abundant natural gas reserves. Companies such as Range Resources moved into the region promising job creation, but that broad economic recovery never really came for Appalachia’s large gas-producing areas.…
Seven Days in Pittsburgh: July 29-Aug. 4
Thu., July 29 FILM • IRL The Harlem Cultural Festival took place the same summer as the famed Woodstock festival, but received virtually no coverage, despite featuring names like Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, and Gladys Knight & the Pips. Learn about this incredible event with the documentary Summer of Soul (…Or, When The Revolution Could…
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY: July 29-Aug. 4
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Leo poet Renée Ashley articulates a perspective I recommend you adopt. She writes, “I’m drawn to what flutters nebulously at the edges, at the corner of my eye — just outside my certain sight. I want to share in what I am routinely denied, or only suspect exists. I long for…
Lynn Cullen Live – 7/26/21
Video Archive “Having them (Republicans) on the panel is like having Osama bin Laden on the 9/11 Commission” – Lynn on the U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol Lynn and Susan certainly have a lot to talk about on today’s episode of Lynn Cullen Live. Audio…
Lynn Cullen Live – 7/27/21
Video Archive Lynn is discussing the Delta variant of Covid-19 spreading more and more around the country and people not getting vaccinated are risking all of us. Plus Lynn is discussing local school districts policy on Critical Race Theory and Patriotism in the schools. Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on…
Lynn Cullen Live – 8/3/21
Video Archive “There is a smoking gun, there is the evidence of an attempted coup.” – Lynn on the news that Trump told acting attorney general Jeffrey Rosen to say the election was corrupt. Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
