The Art of Technology
Most of the roomful of works in this Three Rivers Arts Festival exhibit were playful-looking, helping fill the big, half-raw third-floor space of at the Trust Arts Education Center. I stopped for a few minutes, for instance, at Solomon Bisker’s “Recursive Photo Booth,” which uses a camera, screen and digital sleight-of-hand to let you take…
Wagner retains committee chair, while dispute breaks out in schoolyard
In the end, it wasn’t even close: At an organizational meeting of the 19th Ward tonight, longtime chair Pete Wagner trounced challenger Anthony Coghill, 44 to 30. Turnout was heavy: All but two eligible commiteepeople were on hand to vote. “Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated,” Wagner told me after the vote. “And…
It’s official: T.J. Rooney stepping down
As noted here previously, there’s been talk for awhile now that T.J. Rooney would be stepping down from his post as state Democratic Committee chair. But Rooney hasn’t responded to reporter’s calls on the subject — from me, the Allentown Morning Call or the Post-Gazette. But it’s now official: Rooney is indeed vacating the post.…
Shale, shale the gang’s all here … whether it wants to be or not
As you might expect, the fact that there have been two gas-drilling mishaps in the past week are raising concerns about how wise it is to allow such drilling in more populated areas. Like, say, Lawrenceville or Lincoln Place … where, believe it or not, people are signing leases allowing gas companies to drill. In…
The board is set, the pieces are moving …
The 19th Ward holds its organizational meeting tomorrow night, where Anthony Coghill’s efforts to unseat Pete Wagner will come to a head. And guess who’ll be on hand? A couple representatives from the Allegheny County Democratic Committee … including chair Jim Burn. At tomorrow night’s meeting, returning and newly elected members of the Democratic Party’s…
Bricolage’s Midnight Radio
Because relatively few of us under 50 grew up listening to radio serials, let alone live radio theater, there’s plenty of people who don’t quite grasp Bricolage’s concept with this series. The concept, however, is moot once you see the actual show: All you need to know is that it’s funny, talented people doing funny,…
Water Conference All Wet
When I interviewed organizers of the “Water Matters!” conference for a preview CP article, my chief concern was that the panel discussions were too heavily weighted with corporate interests. But both organizers — Court Gould, of Sustainable Pittsburgh, and Carnegie Mellon professor David Dzombak — assured me that the panels’ moderators would be asking controversial…
County HRC endorses domestic partner benefits
In only its second meeting, the fledgling Allegheny County Human Relations Commission has recommended that county government begin offering domestic-partner benefits to employees. The statement — unanmiously approved by the five members attending this morning’s meeting — reads as follows: Whereas the City of Pittsburgh has made domestic partner health benefits available to its employees…
Short List: Week of June 3 – 10
In the theatrical franchise known as Celebrity Autobiography, actors — and sometimes actual celebrities — read aloud excerpts from the often painfully narcissistic memoirs of movie idols, rock stars and professional athletes. Audiences come to laugh. But Eugene Pack, a TV writer and producer who’s watched his concept become an award-winning stage phenomenon, insists Celebrity…
Failure of Imagination
Are city schools ignoring a visionary charter school, or is Imagine just a mirage?
Splice
“I just wish things could go back to the way they were.” Man, how many times when you’re done creating a new life form — part human, part something else, and now on the attack — have you said that? It takes a while in Vincenzo Natali’s moody thriller for the pair of biochemists-slash-lovers to…
Sex and the City 2
New York City’s fashionable four are back, guzzling cosmos and talking about boys, babies and bosses in this predictably plotted chick flick from Michael Patrick King. After two years of marriage, Carrie and Big take out more than they go out; Charlotte’s got a baby who won’t stop screaming, and a big-breasted, bra-less baby sitter…
Mid-August Lunch
This 75-minute light comedy isn’t much longer than a decent meal, but it’s a real charmer. There’s not much plot: Middle-aged, still-single Gianni (Gianni Di Gregorio, who also co-wrote and directs) still lives with his mother in an old-fashioned Rome apartment. As a favor to some creditors, he agrees to take in three more elderly…
Get Him to the Greek
In 2008’s Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Russell Brand portrayed Aldous Snow, the British libertine rock star who swept up the nice guy’s ex-girlfriend. Now Snow’s back, in this semi-sequel from Sarah director Nicholas Stoller. In it, a record-company flunky (Jonah Hill, another Sarah vet), at the behest of his boss (an unfunny Sean Combs), must escort…
Prince of Persia
How can you take a film based on a video game seriously? Prince of Persia, starring the newly hunky Gyllenhaal, is sort of OK. It’s breathless with action, and every now and then, they stop to explain why X just did Y to Z. I like the fact that you have to listen to get…
Recipes Remembered
A cozy restaurant where the dishes have the easy-to-eat, easy-to-like qualities of good old-fashioned comfort food
Twisted Monologues
While Shoberg usually emphasizes humor and horror, he can also hit the gut.
Moonlight and Magnolias
At times, the characters’ antics resemble nothing so much as a Marx Brothers movie.
A Confluence of Dreaming
If boring losers must have their stage time, the REP gives them their due.
A Conversation with …Cleve Jones
Cleve Jones has long been on the frontlines of LGBT activism. He was mentored by the late activist and politician Harvey Milk in San Francisco’s gay bastion, the Castro District. Their story was recently re-told in the 2008 movie Milk. In 1983, Jones co-founded the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, and later came up with the…
Two Sides of Pride
City’s LGBT celebration has grown, but not everyone is happy
Alto
728 Copeland St., Shadyside 412-682-1074 or www.altolounge.com Wed.-Sun. 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Date Visited: Thu., May 27, 2010 Years in Business: Three Crowd: The crowd varies considerably, according to Emily, a friendly bartender who’s been with Alto from the beginning: There’s usually a middle-age crowd until about 9 p.m., who might stop for a glass…
This Just In: June 3 – 10
Highlights from the local TV news: D’oh! A Deer
Dampening Debate
Should water hogs like Coke dominate discussions on conserving water?
The Battle for the 19th Ward Rages On
Yesterday’s rains have passed, but in the city’s 19th Ward, there’s still a good chance of thunder in the days ahead. An effort is underway to remove a member of the Democratic Committee from her post … but even if the challenge is successful, it may be too late to make a difference. I’ve been…
Forsaking Hollywood, a screenwriter gets medieval with his first novel.
Kaplan’s real challenge was getting inside the minds of these historically and culturally distant characters.
Bonedog Records celebrates Gus Collins’ Soul Social with a revue-style show
Collins grew up on Pittsburgh’s North Side, and sang in a number of touring R&B groups until the late ’70s.
Singer-songwriter Joseph Arthur performs at the quarterly Liquid Sundays event
While he’s best known for spiritual ballads like “In the Sun” and his one-man looping shows, Arthur’s ouvre extends to widescreen driving rock.
YAP is a secret haven for teen music-lovers and musicians in the East End
“It was a good social outlet and fostered a creative spirit. YAP was definitely one of the things that made me want to be an artist.”
Lo-fi garage-punk pioneers MOTO visit Gooski’s Saturday
“I’ve been around a while and I have gray hair. I guess that’s what happens when you stick around and you don’t die or break up.”
Savage Love
I’m a straight male college student in a relationship, which had been going great. The only incongruity was that, for a religious reason, I don’t want to have vaginal sex before marriage. I’m up for anything else — I would eat her out, piss on her, whatever else — but not vaginal sex. I made…
The Three Rivers Arts Festival returns, with Guster and art about fish.
“It’s a really positive affirmation of the number of working artists in this region and really underscores the importance of Pittsburgh … as an ideal place for artists to live and work.”
