School's Out

State officials say students at Duquesne High School would be better off in West Mifflin. But kids in Duquesne say they know when they're not wanted.

• by Chris Young

Web of Lies

The Seedy, Startling World of Virtual Economies

• by Ron Aiken

Innocence Victim

Point Park University's widely touted Innocence Institute --which has helped free nearly a dozen wrongfully convicted Pennsylvanians from prison --is in jeopardy. And the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette may have signed its death warrant.

• by Charlie Deitch

Standing firm-ish

When the University of Pittsburgh held a symposium on "sustainable high-end outsourcing," state Sen. Sean Logan (D-Monroeville) was clear: American companies should be employing American citizens. But financial records show the Monroeville Democrat has connections to a local law firm recently accused of helping clients do just the opposite.

• by Chris Young

Information Lockdown

When 60 East Liberty residents filed into the Urban League of Pittsburgh Charter School July 12, they hoped for answers to their questions about a proposed halfway house for ex-offenders at 5620 Rippey St. Instead, they got a 20-minute video --and the same vague answers they've been getting for more than a month. None of which did anything to allay local concerns, or suspicions that the halfway house is coming whether the community approves or not.

• by Chris Young

Going through the Motions July 10-11

We attend City Council meetings so you don't have to

• by Charlie Deitch

Thai Tom Yung Kung

The Tiger Cry Beef offered thin, tender strips of deliciously marinated meat and contrasting hot and sweet sauces. The spicy tiger cry sauce brought tears to our eyes, with patties of sticky rice providing the relief for our palates.

• by Angelique Bamberg and Jason Roth

Mr. Small's Theatre teams with Brillobox to host big-ticket afterparties

At least it's not another night of '80s dance or hipster karaoke -- if there's karaoke in heaven, I'll do my damnedest to get to hell.

• by Aaron Jentzen

Chicago post-rockers Brokeback head up Woodlab showcase

"Tortoise had become a much denser band, and I was striving for something that'd be more minimal, kind of spacious with some room in it."

• by Manny Theiner

Paul Luc's The Shelly Street Anthems a stand-out local release

Yes, I said James Blunt, and Luc takes quite a gamble with that unholy association by titling one of his own songs "Beautiful."

• by Aaron Jentzen

Interpol and Calla play the Byham Theater

Interpol retained the indie cred that instant radio whores like The Killers and The Bravery never possessed.

• by Manny Theiner

The Van Allen Belt offers a feast of psych-pop nuggets

Beneath the music's outer-space candy coating, there's a barbed lyrical sensibility.

• by Aaron Jentzen

Country legend Charlie Louvin performs with Lucinda Williams

When it comes to so-called "alt-country," the Louvins practically wrote the book.

• by Justin Hopper

Indie songwriter Laura Veirs performs with Mirah at Diesel

"There's things that other people have thought of, and you turn them into your own, and someone else takes your idea and turns it into theirs."

• by Aaron Jentzen

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

In all, it's grand to visit with Harry and the gang again, embodied by a top-notch cast of actors; to see the boundaries of the magical world stretched beyond Hogwarts; and to settle deeper into the increasingly complicated and portentous story.

• by Al Hoff

Hairspray

Perhaps the best thing one can say about Hairspray, the film version of the Tony-winning stage musical, is that no one in the cast stands out because everyone does.

• by Harry Kloman

Jindabyne

This is excellent, if specialized, dramatic filmmaking: methodical, intelligent, disquieting and carefully acted by its ensemble.

• by Harry Kloman

Angel-A

Beautifully shot in rich black and white, Angel-A looks heavenly, but the story of man-meets-angel is rather earthbound. (Capsule review.)

• by Al Hoff

Golden Door

Emanuele Crialese's beautifully filmed drama about Italian immigrants at the turn of the century draws its power both from its grubby naturalism and its shimmery dreamlike state. (Capsule review.)

• by Al Hoff

You Kill Me

The humor in John Dahl's crime comedy is so deadpan as to be virtually non-existent, and it's matched by ice-cool, emotionless performances throughout. (Capsule review.)

• by Al Hoff

Pittsburgh artists Thad Kellstadt and Michael Koehler take their Bogus Journey.

The result of this withholding is to pique our interest and desire to play detective further. We're not shut off by the secrecy but turned on and drawn in by it.

• by Lissa Brennan

So does this Mark DeSantis guy actually have a chance to be mayor?

DeSantis has one asset: Ravenstahl's haplessness.

• by Chris Potter

A Conversation with Ron Donoughe

"People ask, 'Why are you painting that? What do you see?' Then they see it through my eyes."

• by Al Hoff

Easy Out

McClatchy was a bad owner ... until you think of all the others

• by Jody DiPerna

Public Embarrassment

When did school administrators become the new pep club?

• by John McIntire

This Just In: July 18 - 25

Highlights from the local TV news.

• by Frances Sansig Monahan

Letters to the Editor: July 18 - 25

Feedback from our readers.

Zinester novelist Wred Fright reads

• by Aaron Jentzen

A local author's experimental novella.

Karen's obsession about why people and places have the names they do reflects her own struggle to earn the right to rename herself.

• by Bill O'Driscoll

The Lieutenant of Inishmore

McDonagh's play is about recreating a movie sensibility onstage ... specifically, a "guy" movie sensibility.

• by Ted Hoover

Savage in Limbo

As the barfly April, a waifish Amy Marsalis mixes vulnerability and tragedy with comic insanity.

• by Michelle Pilecki

The Pajama Game

The Theatre Factory's performers are all exceptional, bringing Richard Adler and Jerry Ross' songs to happy life.

• by Robert Isenberg

Comedian Eddie Ifft takes on the world.

"They make fun of the stereotypes about [Americans] being loud and obnoxious and rude, and I go and perpetuate all of them."