June’s most anticipated fiction releases: Kevin Kwan, Jean Kyoung Frazier, and more
Pizza Girl by Jean Kyoung Frazier out June 9 via Double Day A pregnant 18-year-old pizza delivery girl in Los Angeles becomes obsessed with one of her customers, a stay-at-home mom named Jenny. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett out June 2 via Riverhead Books Brit Bennett, New York Times bestselling author of The Mothers, is back with…
A short guide to voting in Allegheny County during a global pandemic
Updated: 6:49 p.m., Mon., June 1: On Mon., June 1, the night before the June 2 election, Gov. Tom Wolf (D-York) signed an executive order extending the deadline for mail-in ballots to June 9 at 8 p.m. for six counties: Allegheny, Dauphin, Erie, Montgomery, Delaware, and Philadelphia counties. Until now, voters were told that ballots had to…
Wearing, Making, and Selling Masks Thanks To A Local Business Request
Alterations Express is now a resource for today’s new fashion and safety statement: cloth masks. “Customers and businesses can buy one, two, or 200 masks on the spot,” says Gino Rondinelli, owner of the alterations store. Rondinelli, after closing his locations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, transformed his family-owned clothing care company into a…
Sophia Fang supports small businesses with postcard project, Painting Main
Artist Sophia Fang has become familiar with small businesses in Pittsburgh, both as a patron and as the head of marketing at Honeycomb. It was the latter, a company that provides crowdfunded loans to small businesses, that brought her to the city two years ago. “I’m kind of a West Coast girl,” says Fang, a…
Why Bernie Sanders (and Tulsi Gabbard) are still on the primary election ballot
If you’re filling out your mail-in ballot (due before June 2!), you may have noticed that Joe Biden is not the only candidate listed as the Democratic nominee for president. Though he is the presumed nominee as the only candidate left in the race, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) both appear…
Pittsburgh bartender Manami York wins national cocktail competition with ‘Shades of Tjader’
Pittsburgh bartender Manami York has been named the winner of Chilled Magazine’s first online cocktail competition, A Toast to the Service Industry. The competition, which lasted four weeks, was created to give back to the bartending community as many have been unemployed during coronavirus shutdowns. Bartenders were required to create a drink based on one…
Mikel Jollett chronicles life after a cult in debut memoir Hollywood Park
When talking about cults, often, it’s the details about life inside the group discussed — the rituals, the abuse, the sex. But what about life after a cult, and the longstanding trauma that the person carries with them? In Mikel Jollett’s debut memoir, Hollywood Park, The Airborne Toxic Event lead singer lays bare his explosive upbringing…
At Home With: slowdanger
Everybody is dealing with COVID-19 quarantines and restrictions in different ways. While there’s no single right way to cope — social distancing and staying TF home aside — connecting with friends, family, and neighbors is a good place to start. You can contact your loved ones on your own, but you might also be curious…
How to have a good picnic, because all your favorite summer activities are canceled
After a few cold months of quarantine, we have finally hit spring and summer weather. Since regular summer activities like traveling for vacation or going to the pool or drinking a margarita at an outdoor restaurant are not available, it’s time for the humble picnic to shine. Especially for those of us who don’t have…
With Fifth Season, the ‘nerdiest farmers you’ll ever meet’ want to change how Pittsburghers think of salad
The folks at Fifth Season want to change how Pittsburghers think of salad. The Braddock farm is working to create a “magical salad experience,” where greens become something other than a vehicle for ranch dressing. They’re doing this through a combination of robotics and vertical farming (a technique that utilizes stacks of growing units), which…
What does the ‘green phase’ of Pennsylvania’s reopen plan actually mean?
On Friday, Gov. Tom Wolf announced the most recent round of reopenings around the state, including the first counties to enter the “green phase” on May 29: Bradford, Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Montour, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga, Venango, and Warren. While the term sounds like a return to pre-coronavirus normalcy, green…
New releases from Pk Delay, Good Sport, and more
Pk Delay – Life on Expert Since completing the daunting task of releasing a new song every day for a year, Pk Delay has been quiet. Not a single tweet came from the Pittsburgh-based rapper until yesterday when he posted a link to his latest release, Life on Expert. “Took a minute from these rhymes…
Enhance your mask skincare routine with these expert tips
Skin problems are bad enough without the addition of a face mask possibly contributing to breakouts, irritation, and other issues. As the weather warms, the increase in sweat and oil can make life more difficult for people with skin problems. Even people with well-behaved skin might experience the dreaded “mask-ne” (acne associated with consistent mask-wearing).…
Lynn Cullen Live – 5/26/20
Video Archive After the long Memorial Day weekend Lynn and Susan are easing into the show by talking about the New York Times Sunday Magazine, and the never ending tasks of quarantine such as dishes and other housework. Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
#CPQuestionOfTheWeek: Pick your Pittsburgh quarantine house
Never one to miss a good social media trend, we jumped on the bandwagon last month and created our own “Pick Your Pittsburgh Quarantine House” meme that gave us some good laughs: You can only pick one. Choose wisely. pic.twitter.com/rJRbYwdqYk — Pittsburgh City Paper (@PGHCityPaper) April 13, 2020 But now a month has passed, and…
ELECTION 2020 VIDEO TRAINING: Understanding Vote-By-Mail and Inspiring High School Voter Work, including COVID-19 Challenges
The above video is the second in a three-part webinar training series for Pennsylvania nonprofits, recorded live on Fri., May 22, featuring presentations from Lauren Cristella, Chief Advancement Officer for the Committee of Seventy, and Andaya Sugayan, Program Director for Inspire PA. The series is free to the public and provided by Keystone Progress Education…
Study says Pittsburgh is one of the ‘least house-poor’ cities in US, but housing issues still abound
A lot of things look dire right now, but according to one study, the Pittsburgh housing and rental market isn’t one of them. The Zebra, an insurance comparison website, released a study declaring Pittsburgh as the “least house-poor” city in the Northeast region of the United States. An article on the findings defines “house-poor” as…
The Gateway Clipper Fleet provides daily concerts
Get ready for some dock and roll. Monday through Friday, the popular calliope steam pipe organ aboard the Gateway Clipper’s Three Rivers Queen boat will play a selection of “Riverboat-esque” style songs for 15 to 20 minutes anytime between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sail Yeah!
Student Profile: Dora Allen, ‘your average Joe painter’
In the bio of Dora Allen’s Instagram, she calls herself “your average Joe painter.” There is nothing ordinary, however, about the artwork she creates. From canvases to hydro flasks, Allen expresses exceptional content with the stroke of her paintbrush to animate designs of everything from Rick and Morty and to butterflies. Fortunately, under recent anxieties…
Democratic leaders decry Chris Roland’s mailers spreading falsehoods about Summer Lee
The lines in the Pennsylvania state House District 34 Democratic primary are pretty clear cut. State Rep. Summer Lee (D-Swissvale) is a progressive incumbent who is anti-fracking and supports bold reforms to the state’s criminal justice and policing system. Her challenger, North Braddock borough councilor Chris Roland, has garnered support from pro-fracking politicians and unions,…
This Craigslist seller suggests you outrun the coronavirus with this purchase
Stuff can be complicated, especially when trying to get rid of it. The process can remind us that our things can have worth that’s hard to put a dollar amount on; they can call to mind other people from our lives; they can bring up memories of what they were (or weren’t) used for. For…
Three Rivers Arts Fest goes virtual, but “the art is real”
For the first time in its 61 years, the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival is taking place exclusively online. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announced today that this year’s festival, running from June 5-14, will be all-digital and found its website, using the tagline, “The festival is virtual, and the art is real!” This announcement…
Susan Jaffe to guide Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre as new artistic director
Susan Jaffe believes that in order to understand ballet audiences, you must become one of them. “You don’t know an audience until you’re sitting with them, and I do that all the time,” says Jaffe, a highly accomplished dancer and choreographer who now serves as the dean of dance at the University of North Carolina…
Same’s debut album was five years in the making, and it shows
Just a few weeks before alt-rock band Same was scheduled for studio time at The Bunk in the Poconos, guitarist and backing vocalist Jake Stern broke his wrist skateboarding. Stern, and the rest of the group — Jesse Caggiano (bass guitar, lead vocals), Jamie Gruzinski (drums), and Tom Higgins (guitar) — were headed to their…
Gov. Wolf signs bill allowing cocktails-to-go
Soon, Pittsburghers will be able to order cocktails to-go. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf signed HB 327 on Thursday, which allows restaurants and bars to sell mixed drinks for takeout. The bill permits establishments holding a valid restaurant or hotel liquor license to sell four-to-64 ounce prepared beverages in sealed to-go containers. To qualify, a business…
Lynn Cullen Live – 5/21/20
Video Archive Lynn is covering a bunch of topics on the show including the stock market, Ben Roethlisberger getting a haircut during the pandemic, and the blowing out of proportion Governor Wolf’s response. She is also discussing Mark Cuban offering to help small businesses to secure Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. Audio Only Archive Stream…
Lynn Cullen Live – 5/20/20
Video Archive In the second half of the show Lynn will be joined by Jasmine Hughes from Pittsburgh City Paper. Before she calls in Lynn is talking about the documentary “AKA Jane Roe” which will premiere on Friday. In the documentary Norma McCorvey, Jane Roe in Roe v. Wade, reveals that she was paid to…
U.S. House District 18: Jerry Dickinson vs. Mike Doyle
Pennsylvania’s 18th Congressional District includes all of the city of Pittsburgh, as well as Mount Oliver, Wilkinsburg, Plum, Monroeville, Forest Hills, South Park, Whitehall, Brentwood, Baldwin, Bethel Park, Upper St. Clair, Bridgeville, Pitcairn, West Mifflin, McKeesport, and all of the Upper Mon Valley. Rep. Mike Doyle is the incumbent in this race. Jerry Dickinson Bio…
State Auditor General: H. Scott Conklin, Michael Lamb, Tracie Fountain, Rose “Rosie” Marie Davis, Nina Ahmad, and Christina M. Hartman
The State Auditor General is the chief fiscal watchdog for the commonwealth, using audits to ensure the legal and responsible spending of state taxpayer dollars. There is no incumbent in this race as current Auditor General, Eugene DePasquale, is term-limited. Whoever wins this statewide Democratic primary race will face the Republican nominee in November. H.…
State House District 19: Aerion Abney vs. Jake Wheatley
Pennsylvania’s 19th State House District includes Pittsburgh city neighborhoods of Downtown, Hill District, Uptown, South Oakland, Hazelwood, Allentown, Beltzhoover, and parts of South Side. Also includes North Side neighborhoods Marshall-Shadeland, California-Kirkbride, Perry South, Fineview, Central North Side, Manchester, Chateau, Deutschtown, Allegheny Center, Allegheny West, and North Shore. State Rep. Jake Wheatley is the incumbent in…
State House District 20: Emily Kinkead vs. Adam Ravenstahl
Pennsylvania’s 20th State House District includes Avalon, Bellevue, part of Ross Township, West View, and several Pittsburgh neighborhoods including Brighton Heights, Perry North, Summer Hill, Northview Heights, Spring Hill, Troy Hill, Strip District, Polish Hill, and Lower and Middle Lawrenceville. Adam Ravenstahl is the incumbent in this race. Emily Kinkead Bio – North Side native…
State House District 30: Marco Attisano vs. Lissa Geiger Shulman
Pennsylvania’s 30th State House District includes Fox Chapel, Hampton Township, and parts of Shaler, Richland, and O’Hara townships. State Rep. Lori Mizgorski (R-Shaler) is the incumbent. The winner of this Democratic Primary Election will face Mizgorski in the fall. Marco Attisano Bio – Served in the Navy after high school, then graduated from Allegheny College.…
Free Will Astrology (5/20 – 5/27)
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for,” writes author Barbara Kingsolver. “And the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof.” According to my analysis of…
State House District 36: Jessica Benham, Mark Johnson, Heather Kass, and Ed Moeller
Pennsylvania’s 36th State House District covers many southern Pittsburgh neighborhoods, including South Side Flats, South Side Slopes, Arlington, St. Clair, Bon Air, Carrick, Overbrook, Mount Washington, and Brookline. Also includes Mount Oliver borough, Brentwood, and parts of Baldwin Borough. This race is to replace incumbent state Rep. Harry Readshaw, who is retiring. Jessica Benham Bio…
Takeout review: Chicken Latino
Before sending in my takeout order to Chicken Latino, I wondered if it would be enough. But when my meal arrived — a quarter chicken with rice and beans, a soft chicken burrito, and some crispy yucca, I knew my doubts were unfounded. This was enough food for two people to eat over a number…
Murder for Girls is the dream band for every Gen X’er
It’s been three weeks since Murder for Girls released its fun-as-hell music video for “(The World is Full of Helpful) Goth Girls,” and not a day has gone by that I haven’t been washed in a wave of nostalgia. It’s as if the Pittsburgh-area garage punk band just stepped out of Club Laga. The Electric…
Meet the Heart Advocate
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which is fitting because we are all acutely aware of the effect the pandemic is having on our mental health. It’s hard to stay indoors without seeing other people for two months straight, living in fear of a terrifying virus. While many businesses and services have had to quickly…
