An ongoing tally of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths in Allegheny County
Allegheny County COVID-19 information as of March 25 Number of new positive cases in Allegheny County: Number of new positive cases in Allegheny County: 64 Number of today’s new coronavirus deaths in Allegheny County: 2 Total number of positive cases in Allegheny County: 262,805 Total number of hospitalized cases in Allegheny County: 13,144 Total number of confirmed deaths…
Update: Gov. Wolf extends moratorium on evictions and foreclosure until July 10
Update: 1:26 p.m., Thu., May 7: On Thu., May 7, Gov. Tom Wolf (D-York) announced he was signing an executive order preventing evictions and foreclosures until July 10, in wake of continued pandemic restrictions. While landlords and mortgage companies can’t take action during this time, renters and homeowners could still face penalties after the moratorium…
UPDATE: Port Authority issues temporary social distancing policies for bus and light rail
UPDATE, 6:00 p.m., Fri., April 10: Starting on Monday, April 13, the Port Authority of Allegheny County will be limiting how many people are permitted on buses and light rail vehicles, as a way to ensure proper social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. The limits are: 10 riders per 35-foot bus 15 riders per 40-foot…
Women in Radio: Tall Cathy on 96.1 Kiss
While you’re cooped up inside, you can still listen to the radio! In honor of Women’s History Month, City Paper will be highlighting women in Pittsburgh’s airwaves throughout the month. Tall Cathy 96.1 Kiss (WKST-FM) M-F 2-9 p.m. Time in radio: 14 years on-air How did you know this career was what you wanted to…
Women in Radio: Melanie Taylor on 100.7 Star
While you’re cooped up inside, you can still listen to the radio! In honor of Women’s History Month, City Paper will be highlighting women in Pittsburgh’s airwaves throughout the month. Melanie Taylor 100.7 Star (WBZZ-FM) M-F 5-10 a.m. Bubba Show co-host Time in radio: I just started my 24th year in broadcasting! How did you…
Women in Radio: Sheri Van Dyke on 94.5 3WS
While you’re cooped up inside, you can still listen to the radio! In honor of Women’s History Month, City Paper will be highlighting women in Pittsburgh’s airwaves throughout the month. Sheri Van Dyke 94.5 3WS (WWSW-FM) M-F 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Time in radio: 36 years (30 years here at 3WS) How did you know this…
Five places to buy wine and spirits now that state stores are closed
When the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board announced the closing of all Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores earlier this week, people panicked. Lines at state stores racked up long wait times as Pittsburghers rushed to buy their last bottles before the shutdown on Tuesday evening. Missed the cut-off? Don’t fret. Several local distilleries and wineries have…
Pittsburgh transit advocates creating graphic novels to display an ideal public transit future
Public transit in Pittsburgh, while relatively good compared to many U.S. cities, still leaves a lot to be desired. Coverage outside to commute times can be sparse. Getting to destinations not connected to Downtown can be difficult. Late-night service isn’t widely available. But the local transit advocacy group Pittsburghers for Public Transit believes doesn’t have…
Postponed or canceled concerts: What to do with your tickets
Read this before calling or emailing the venue
Pittsburgh Public Theater goes online to bring classic plays to homebound theater lovers
As the COVID-19 virus outbreak grows, state leaders have called for all nonessential businesses across Pennsylvania to temporarily shut down. This includes theaters, which means many plays and other live stage productions will never get to see an audience. To stay active and bring the stage to fans, the Pittsburgh Public Theater will present Playtime,…
A list of mutual aid funds and volunteer groups to help Pittsburghers in need
There are so many workers in Pittsburgh whose jobs have been cut back or shut down completely due to the coronavirus. There may or may not be eventual government assistance, but in the meantime, communities are coming together to collect funds for their peers who suddenly have no income, but still have rent and bills…
More streaming recs: 5 Netflix shows to pass your time in isolation
It’s hard not to get down during a time where you are likely stuck inside, shut out from friends and family, or stuck together with too much family. And that’s exactly the reason God created Netflix. Here’s a brief list of streaming suggestions to get you through your isolation. I remember an old therapist of…
Greater Pittsburgh Arts council pivots its existing emergency funds to coronavirus relief
The Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council (GPAC) has an Emergency Fund for Artists in place, but it wasn’t built with a world-halting pandemic in mind. It is meant to provide relief for artists experiencing personal emergencies, like stolen instruments or a house fire. But now, GPAC is expanding its focus, and fundraising to increase the amount…
PGH Artists Emergency Fund to provide financial relief to anyone in arts community in need because of coronavirus
For many, the severity of the coronavirus didn’t begin to take hold until concerts, plays, DJ sets, and other arts events began canceling. Many performers and venue employees rely heavily, or primarily, on those events for income, and losing it can be devastating, especially since there’s no telling when this type of work might resume. …
Don’t let self-quarantine get you down with these virtual museum tours, online photography collections, and more
Have the coronavirus cancellations caused you to miss out on that new gallery opening, big exhibition, or speaker series? Staying home doesn’t mean you have to completely unplug from all arts and culture. Right now, there are virtual tours of local and international museums, curator talks, and more to stop your senses from getting dull…
Pittsburgh foundations set up $10 million Emergency Action Fund to provide relief to those most affected by COVID-19
As the COVID-19 virus pandemic no sign of letting up anytime soon, the region’s largest foundations are stepping in to support those hardest hit. The Pittsburgh Foundation is heading up the Emergency Action Fund to “lessen the damaging effects of the COVID-19 virus on residents, especially the most vulnerable.” Created in partnership with the United…
The Show Must Go On: Pittsburgh artists and bands switch to live streaming performances
We might not be able to gather in person right now to attend a concert, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy live music. Starting today, 25 Carrick Ave and HEAR Corp are launching Live at 25 Pandemic Series. Over the next few weeks, 25 performances from Pittsburgh artists and bands will be live-streamed Tuesday…
Music videos to uplift your mood
Times are hard. News is bleak. We’re stuck in our homes. Distract yourself with these pleasurable music videos. LSD (Labrinth, Sia, Diplo) – “No New Friends” Pretty accurate since, you know, quarantine. Flight Facilities ft. Aloe Blacc – “Better Than Ever” *Warning* this video might make you feel weird because there is a lot of…
A former freelancer on staying sane when COVID-19 has you working from home
For over two years, I chose the life of a remote employee, first as a tech specialist for a global corporation, then as a freelance writer. Now, with the outbreak of COVID-19, many companies and businesses are telling staff to stay home to help stop the spreading of the virus. For some, this might be…
Pittsburgh restaurants donating food and discounts amid coronavirus outbreak
In wake of recent restrictions put on restaurants and bars due to coronavirus, the food industry has put out a call for support from the city via carry-out orders, bottle sales, and more. But this doesn’t mean they’re turning their backs on their communities. Several restaurants and online eateries have launched initiatives to support those…
University of Pittsburgh libraries are still open during the coronavirus closures, for some reason
Update: Sat., March 21: All University of Pittsburgh libraries closed for in-person business on March 18. Access to the physical collection will be restricted to items that can be scanned by Pitt’s on-site staff. Yesterday, Gov. Tom Wolf announced that all non-essential businesses must close for at least two weeks to help stop the spread…
Local tunes to listen to while quarantined
Live-streams, mixes, playlists, and more DJ Samuel Andres – The House That Disco Built Episode 3 on MSYH.FM Don’t Let The Scene Go Down On Me! Collective – Now Playing Playlist Chris Maze – Chris Maze for Daze 006 (Mix) Same – “It’s Lonely in Doggy Hell” Code Orange – Album release show at Roxian…
Lynn Cullen Live – 3/17/20
Video Archive <iframe width="560" height="315" Lynn and Susan are starting off by talking about some things that made them smile, and a bit of good news. They are also discussing how governors and local government officials have been the ones making decisions with little guidance from the federal government. Locally the Pennsylvania liquor stores are…
Relaxing movies, TV shows, and YouTube channels to soothe your panicked brain
So you’re working from home, or quarantined, or are otherwise scared to leave the house. Now what? It can be extremely difficult, especially when cooped up indoors, to avoid falling into a rabbit hole of reading/watching/listening to the news, endlessly scrolling through social media, and turning into a ball of anxiety and despair. It’s even…
Pittsburgh Virtual Tip Jar launches to help service workers during coronavirus closures
The flood of cancellations and postponements due to coronavirus over the past couple of weeks has and will continue to burden workers in industries across the city and state, but service workers who depend on tips are being hit particularly hard. The Pittsburgh Virtual Tip Jar — a new independent project hosted on Carnegie Mellon University’s Center for…
Out of liquor? Better stock up soon. State liquor stores to close this week
All Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores in Pennsylvania will close at 9 p.m. this Tuesday until further notice, according to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, and all online sales at finewineandgoodspirits.com will end at 5 p.m. today. The closing is the latest effort to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus. “This was a…
Home workouts for the socially distant
As a personal trainer, the hardest part of social distancing is staying away from the gym. Exercise is great for stress relief and sleep, both needed now more than ever. It also helps prevent the shoulder, back, and neck pain that comes from slumping on the couch and quarantine-binging Succession. And then there’s the number…
Ways you can support local musicians without leaving home
At this point, there are essentially no areas of daily life that haven’t been affected by the spread of COVID-19. But with Sunday’s announcement that all bars and restaurants in Allegheny County close their dine-in facilities for two weeks, many local artists and musicians are under increased financial stress. With concerts and venues closing, many…
Staying in treatment for substance abuse in Pittsburgh during coronavirus
In light of the city and state precautions in response to coronavirus, many meetings for Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous face considerable hurdles: meetings often require participants to be in close-quarters that don’t permit a six-foot distance, and a number of its practices require hugging, holding hands, or sharing food. As of Mon., March 16,…
My family survived Disney World amid a global pandemic
Last Wednesday my family left for Disney World, and there were a lot of unknowns. Would the food be good? Will my family survive four nights of sleeping in the same room, sharing two beds? And, of course, will the real world around us end from an unprecedented virus, as I’m blissfully floating through It’s…
Lynn Cullen Live – 3/16/20
Video Archive Since Lynn was last on a lot has happened in regards to COVID-19. Here in the Pittsburgh area all bars, and restaurants have been closed. Non-essential businesses have been asked to close as well, and gatherings over 50 people have been barred. Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on…
Gov. Wolf says bars and restaurants in Allegheny County to close after midnight Sunday due to coronavirus
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has ordered all bars and restaurants in Allegheny County to close their dine-in facilities for the next 14 days to help stop the spread of coronavirus. Businesses that offer carry-out, delivery, and drive-through food and beverage service may continue to operate those parts of the businesses, but eating and drinking inside…
Meet the chef: David Bulman from Seasons
When creating a menu for Seasons, a modern American restaurant located in the charming Pittsburgh neighborhood of Etna just east of Downtown, Chef David Bulman takes inspiration from Southwestern Pennsylvania. “Our menu is always inspired by the time and place,” says Bulman, who has created an eight-course meal for his Taste 30 menu, which he says was…
Pittsburgh Councilor Deb Gross calls for moratorium on evictions and utility shut-offs during coronavirus outbreak
In wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Pittsburgh City Councilor Deb Gross (D-Highland Park) has introduced a Will of Council calling for temporary moratoriums on evictions, foreclosures, and utility shut-offs within Allegheny County. The proclamation calls on the state courts and county sheriffs to suspend any evictions and foreclosures. Gross posted a draft of her Will…
Crowdfunding campaigns started for two popular Westmoreland County restaurants
The Pickled Chef and Mama P’s Pizza are institutions in Westmoreland County. Mama P’s recently changed ownership, but the pizza joint has been slinging popular pies in Delmont for the last few years, hoping to carry on a decades-long tradition. And The Pickled Chef is sold at farmers markets all throughout Western Pennsylvania and even…
NHL season suspended due to coronavirus, starting with Pittsburgh Penguins game tonight
According to the National Hockey League, the current season has been paused indefinitely due to the novel coronavirus, aka COVID-19. This means that all upcoming Pittsburgh Penguins games have been canceled, starting tonight. “In light of ongoing developments resulting from the coronavirus, and after consulting with medical experts and convening a conference call of the…
Glass meets technology at Silica Valley
Glasswork is an artform generally associated with analog tools, but Silica Valley, a new show at the Pittsburgh Glass Center, showcases glass artists who incorporate technology, from 3D printing to waterjet cutting, into their work. Featuring a collection of artists from around the country and the world, the pieces push the limit for what is…
Women’s History Month: 3 women in Pittsburgh music you should be watching
Rhyme Rapper/Singer. soundcloud.com/tharealrhyme With velvety vocals and lyrical flow that could rival Lisa “Left Eye” Lopez, Lil’ Kim and Nicki Minaj — paired with varying tempoed beats and instruments — Rhyme constantly keeps listeners on their toes. Alex Neal Roxian Live General Manager. roxianlive.com It’s very rare you’ll see Alex Neal for more than a…
This week in Pittsburgh: Seven Days of Arts and Entertainment
Editor’s note: At press time, all of these events were still scheduled, but we recommend checking websites before heading out, in light of events canceling or being postponed because of concerns over the coronavirus. If you are aware of any cancellations, please email info@pghcitypaper.com and we will continue to update this throughout the week. Thu.,…
Lynn Cullen Live – 3/12/20
Video Archive The president’s address to the nation yesterday, and the clarifications which came after about the European travel ban is the first thing Lynn is covering today. Many Americans in Europe panicked after hearing the address, and European officials are condemning the decision. Locally Governor Tom Wolf is going to give an update of…
Lynn Cullen Live – 3/11/20
Video Archive Lynn is trying out doing the show remotely today since she is included in the high at risk category for CORVID-19. That means no live video, but the show will go on. Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
PLAY REVIEW: 10 takeaways from PNC Broadway’s The Band’s Visit
Last night, Pittsburgh music fans witnessed one of the best concerts so far this year as a traveling Egyptian band visited the Benedum Center. Oh yeah, there was a story that went along with the show too, and a really funny, charming one to boot. But even if the PNC Broadway tour stop of The…
Being unapologetic about one’s body in a fat-shaming society
Last week, Pittsburgh-based artist and poet Christina Springer was a guest speaker in the class I’m teaching on sex work and sex workers. She read from her collection of poems, The Splooge Factory, which draws on her time as the receptionist at an erotic massage parlor/dungeon in the early 2000s. In discussing these experiences, she…
Code Orange follows up Grammy-nominated Forever with the captivating, innovative, and defiant Underneath
Update: Code Orange has announced that their show on Sat., March 14 will be rescheduled. Read the band’s statement here. There will be a live stream instead. — Following up a celebrated record has never been easy, particularly when that record is the Grammy Award-nominated Forever from Pittsburgh hardcore trailblazers Code Orange. And yet, with…
PHOTO ESSAY: Celebrating Women’s History Month through images of Pittsburgh immigrants
I moved from Kenya to Pittsburgh for school in 2004. It’s changed a lot since then, particularly in its treatment of new immigrants, evolving to be a more welcoming place to people from other parts of the world. While there is room for growth, no doubt, it wouldn’t be right not to acknowledge the changes…
How Pittsburgh’s Colcom Foundation is ‘greenwashing’ its anti-immigrant message
Last week, a coalition of activists rallied Downtown to condemn the Pittsburgh-based Colcom Foundation for its massive donations to anti-immigrant groups — around $150 million since 2005. In 2017, the foundation gave more than $34 million to anti-immigrant groups, which was more than 80 percent of their total giving that year. But Colcom has also…
Travel the world drink by drink at Bar Botanico
Spend one night at Bar Botanico and you can travel the world (figuratively speaking). Kelsie Sinagra, co-owner of the Lawrenceville bar, is one of the many Pittsburgh bartenders and bar owners who have turned to global spirits in recent years. The bar’s shelves feature everything from Italian amaro and Irish gins, to Haitian rums and…
The Local 913: Bindley Hardware Co.
“The songs are all kind of introspective, and they’re very much based on self-analysis, looking inward for better or worse.” Jon Bindley is talking about three songs he just released with his band Bindley Hardware Co. on the appropriately named Solitaire EP. He says he let the songs marinate for a couple of years before…
Free Will Astrology (March 11-18)
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): I suspect your fantasy life will be especially potent in the coming weeks. Your imagination will have an enhanced power to generate visions that could eventually manifest as actual events and situations. On the one hand, that could be dicey, because you can’t afford to over-indulge in fearful speculations and worried…
Poet Kristofer Collins works best at bars with an aesthetically pleasing beer in front of him
Writers can be particular about where they work. Some carve out corners in their homes with no distractions. Others work best in libraries or coffee shops. Poet Kristofer Collins goes out of his way to write in bars — “the natural habitat of poems,” he says — with a beer in front of him. “It’s…
Dominican and Cuban flavors round out the menu of Zorros restaurant in Mt. Lebanon
The first Dominican food Samantha Fox made for her husband Jesse was the braised chicken dish pollos guisado. It was a fitting introduction to her cultural heritage and cuisine: a simple entree heavy on flavor and spices but built from a small but reliable roster of ingredients. These days, pollo guisado is one of the…
Reel Women of Pittsburgh: Remembering notable female filmmakers to celebrate Women’s History Month
In honor of Women’s History Month, we thought it would be a good time to look back at some of the actresses and filmmakers that came out of Pittsburgh during the earliest days of the film industry. Lois Weber It wasn’t until last year that director Lois Weber received official and permanent recognition in Pittsburgh,…
Carnegie Museum of Natural History unveils long-hidden gem with first public Alcohol House tours
Walking into the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, visitors are met with towering replicas of historical sites, dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures, and posed taxidermy. But behind all the bones and dramatic dioramas is the Alcohol House. Hidden for over a century deep in the museum, the massive collection of preserved reptiles and amphibians is…
How leaving Pittsburgh helped Merce Lemon discover her musical independence
Merce Lemon has been immersed in Pittsburgh’s DIY music scene for as long as she can remember. As a child, she attended concerts and house shows with big, noise-canceling headphones; her father was in a band called The Working Poor and her mother was in Bad Daughters, among others. Lemon played in bands herself from…
Corningworks’ The Tipping Point asks ‘What might it be like if we had to seek refuge?’
“They’re fuckin’ armchair liberals,” Beth Corning cries out angrily while discussing her newest production, The Tipping Point, an artistic collaboration between her Corningworks company and the international medical organization Doctors Without Borders. It’s an older term coined in the ’60s that references “people who were really liberal but couldn’t get out of their damn seats,”…
War is hell and so much more in CMOA’s On Contested Terrain, the first-ever survey of work by Vietnamese American photographer An-My Lê
Photographer An-My Lê and her family fled their home country of Vietnam in 1975 at the end of the war, and the experience stuck with her throughout her life and career. This is abundantly clear in On Contested Terrain at the Carnegie Museum of Art, the first-ever comprehensive survey of her work. On view from…
Cub Scouts introduced me to the game Good Citizen/Bad Citizen
My son just started Boy Scouts. And it is a whirlwind. There are taco lunches, meetings every Sunday, and a lot of hand signals, salutes, and creeds that must be memorized. It’s good that I have been able to get practice with the Pledge of Allegiance at my twice-monthly commissioners’ meeting. Otherwise, I would have…
