Dollar Dance: State's stance on same-sex marriage doesn't make social or fiscal sense

"There are plenty of other controversial areas the state isn't afraid to cash in on, like casinos and Marcellus Shale drilling."

• by Lauren Daley

On the Record with Doug Shields: One last debate with city council's most outspoken member

"People often gave me a hard time ... about six-hour council meetings, but I loved them."

• by Charlie Deitch

Your Millage May Vary

Despite the hype, tax reassessment may lower your bills

• by Chris Potter

At Braddock's Street Side, Kevin White extols the virtues of whiskey

"Some people want to talk about it, some people don't."

• by Hal B. Klein

What They Ate

Browsing vintage community recipe books provides a look at how and what folks really ate

• by Al Hoff

Marisqueira

A new restaurant offers the bold flavors and confident preparations of classic Portuguese cuisine

• by Angelique Bamberg and Jason Roth

1,2,3 makes plans for 2012

New Heaven was essentially an album in the works for the better part of a decade, but it doesn't have the feel of an odds-and-ends collection.

• by Patrick Bowman

Kim Phuc issues first full-length on Iron Lung Records

Copsucker was seven years in the making

• by Andy Mulkerin

CD Reviews

New releases from These Three Words, Household Stories, and DT and Some Shakers

Critics' Picks: January 5 - 7

Local shows by Zvoov, Red Wanting Blue and Teeel, plus a release show by Horse or Cycle

• by Andy Mulkerin and Kate Magoc

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

An engrossing thriller, set amid the gloom of the Cold War

• by Harry Kloman

Film Kitchen

A film about homeland and identity is among the selections of short works at the monthly series

• by Bill O'Driscoll

We Were Here

An affecting documentary about how AIDS forged a community in the early 1980s

• by Al Hoff

A local artist's project with a ventriloquist dummy culminates in a public ChatRoulette performance.

"If people can get past the realization that there's a dummy in the screen, then they actually play along and mimic his movements."

• by Amy Kuhre
• Tags: Art Reviews + Features, Video

The PCA's Artist of the Year show both delights and disappoints.

Jon Rubin offers one wonderful video work and two that fail to engage.

• by Robert Isenberg

The Associated Artists' 101^st Annual effectively mixes craft and fine-art work, and blends of the two.

The show ranges from abstract painting to a porcelain tea set.

• by Bill O'Driscoll

Ellsworth Avenue, Shadyside

• Tags: Pieces of Pittsburgh, Shadyside, pavement

Lynn Cullen Live 01/04/12

Audio & Video Archive

Lynn Cullen Live 01/05/12

Audio & Video Archive

Lynn Cullen Live 01/06/12

Audio & Video Archive

Polish Hill

• Tags: Pieces of Pittsburgh, Polish Hill, street art, animal, wall

Lynn Cullen Live 01/09/12

Audio & Video Archive

Lynn Cullen Live 01/10/12

Audio & Video Archive

South Side

• Tags: Pieces of Pittsburgh, South Side, building part

Hector, a Ventriloquist Dummy

Pittsburgh gets a new women-centered book festival.

"If they're writing the books women stay up late reading, we want 'em."

• by Bethany Hensel

Short List: January 5 - 12