Lab Notes

Pittsburgh's experimental musicians provide more than just background noise

• by Aaron Jentzen

The Hot Button

The issues getting attention this week -- and why you should care.

• by Charlie Deitch

Litter Bugged

Neighbors angry about illegal dump sites

• by Chris Young

Tough Cell

Groups seek to improve conditions for female offenders

• by Lauren Daley

The Park House

• by Bill O'Driscoll

Avenue B

Rich, artfully prepared food is the new star of this Shadyside corner.

• by Angelique Bamberg and Jason Roth

Ambient solo debut from Black Moth drummer The Seven Fields of Aphelion

Periphery is probably equally great in combination with an early-morning walk, yoga/meditation, a planetarium show or some good weed.

• by Aaron Jentzen

Two Pittsburgh labels join a resurgence of interest in the humble cassette

"I never stopped buying tapes even when I got a CD burner -- I must have thousands of them."

• by Manny Theiner

Chicago indie legends Tortoise plays Mr. Small's Theatre this Wednesday

"It was a matter of thinking about what would take someone's expectation about a song and turn it inside out."

• by Manny Theiner

Scary Kids Scaring Kids out for their final hurrah

"We'd just rather end on a friendly, positive note and one that we can dictate."

• by Chris Parker

Mason Bates joins the PSO for his symphonic/electronica work "Liquid Interface"

"Liquid Interface" is a conceptual water-themed "climate narrative," starting with a section called "Glaciers Calving."

• by Aaron Jentzen

Mine

Geralyn Pezanoski's film focuses on one unforeseen and heartbreaking aspect of the disaster: what happened to the pets that residents were forced to leave behind. The post-storm chaos, the hodgepodge of rescue efforts and the eventual distribution of unclaimed animals to shelters nationwide meant that owners -- many of them poor or elderly -- faced tremendous challenges in retrieving their pets. Some pets wound up with new owners, who didn't want to give them back. Pezanoski tries to depict all sides fairly -- from distraught pet owners and frantic rescuers to animal advocates and new owners who felt their own compassion had been betrayed. What emerges is a patchwork of failed good intentions, nearly irresolvable in the massive chaos of Katrina, and the gap between how we feel about pets and what the law says. The film proves quietly provocative, and is quite emotional. Viewers should pack a few hankies. Starts Fri., Feb. 12. Regent Square (Al Hoff) [3 out of 4 stars]

• by Al Hoff

This Just In: February 11 - 18

Highlights from the local TV news: Going With the Snow

• by Frances Sansig Monahan

Her memoir's title says "sorry," but Diana Josephs isn't, really.

What women sweep under the rug -- recklessness, the frustration of motherhood, irresponsible love, dissatisfaction -- Joseph confronts with empathy, understanding and humor.

• by Anna Reilly

Visiting literary commentators Sven Birkerts and Maud Newton ponder the fate of the book.

Birkerts believes digital books will make reading a multimedia experience, while the paper book will become merely "a weird artifact."

• by Anna Reilly

The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre breaks out high-octane modern classics by Twyla Tharp and Paul Taylor.

No wonder the ballet is one of Tharp's best, and one Orr finds so irresistible.

• by Steve Sucato

Scapin

I often think that theater people find these French farces a lot funnier than real people do.

• by Ted Hoover

The Point Park Conservatory's annual dance showcase is as eclectic as ever.

The highly physical work in three sections "is all about the distortion of the human body in provocative ways."

• by Steve Sucato

Short List: Week of February 11 - 18