Pittsburgh City Paper

National Speakers Apprise Arts Group of "New America"

Bill O'Driscoll — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:28:00 -0400

President Obama's 2012 campaign manager, Jim Messina, and demographer Manuel Pastor gave provocative keynote addresses at last week's Americans For The Arts national convention, held in Pittsburgh. A recap in Program Notes.…

National Speakers Apprise Arts Group of "New America"

Bill O'Driscoll — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:24:00 -0400

Nonprofit arts groups, perennially pressed for funding, also know they must adapt to a world of rapidly changing technology and, for many, aging audiences. While two keynote speakers at last week’s Americans For The Arts national convention, held in Pittsburgh, didn’t provide any reassurances on those counts, they did point the way to the future.…

Surprise Marriage Proposal Onstage at PrideFest

Bill O'Driscoll — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:00:40 -0400

Watching Maddy Landi on Sunday, as he surprise-proposed to Matt Bartko on stage in front of hundreds of PrideFest attendees on Liberty Avenue, you’d have thought Landi had his mind made up long ago. But while the couple has been together for six years, Landi (pictured above, on one knee) says that it’s only in the past few months that he actually decided he wanted to get married.…

Ceoffe "seriously considering" run to replace Dowd in District 7

Charlie Deitch — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:06:00 -0400

Lawrenceville resident Tony Ceoffe tells City Paper that he is “seriously considering a run” to fill the District 7 city council seat set that will be vacated by Patrick Dowd next month.

Dowd announced Monday morning that he would be resigning from council in July to head up a new non-profit focused on children's issues.…

Gov. Corbett signs anti-choice bill

Lauren Daley — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:55:00 -0400

As was expected, Gov. Tom Corbett today signed House Bill 818.

As we've noted in previous coverage, the bill prohibits health insurers from offering coverage for abortions for anything other then rape, incest or the life of the mother, on state-run healthcare insurance exchanges.…

MP3 Monday: Jack Wilson

Kira Scammell — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:09:20 -0400

Happy MP3 Monday! This week we have a track from Jack Wilson (a.k.a. D.J. Brewer)'s latest EP called "Breakdown to Breakthru" available for stream and download.…

Democrats' birthday gift ideas for Gov. Tom Corbett

Lauren Daley — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:34:00 -0400

The state Democratic party has noted today is Gov. Tom Corbett's birthday (he'll be 64) — and used the opportunity to take a shot at him on their blog.

In the post, it says, "Happy Birthday Governor Corbett.…

Dowd leaving council to pilot "start-up nonprofit" focused on children's issues

Chris Potter — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:05:00 -0400

City Councilor Patrick Dowd will be leaving his elected post to lead a newly established children's advocacy group, Allies for Children, this summer.

"This is just a new form of public service," Dowd said at a press conference held this morning at Downtown's CAPA arts school.…

2013 Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival

Lindsey Guard — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 04:00:00 -0400

Pittsburgh City Paper was on-site at the 2013 Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival from June 7 - June 16. Three Rivers Arts Festival quickly grew from the “little outdoor art show” to what is today the region’s largest multidisciplinary showcase of visual art and performing arts.…

Tomorrow at Small's — Second Empire CD release

Andy Mulkerin — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 14:38:54 -0400

If you like your metal with a healthy dose of symphonic bombast, the event for you this weekend is the release show for a new EP from locals Second Empire.

The four-piece, which has been around since 2011, is releasing a five-song EP that mixes shredding guitars, strong and sincere vocals and some strings and tuneful percussion and the like.…

Road closures for Pride this weekend

Lauren Daley — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 14:29:00 -0400

Venturing downtown this weekend? Remember, it's Pride weekend and the Three Rivers Arts Fest.…

I <3 My Bike program recovers stolen bike

Lauren Daley — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 11:57:00 -0400

Cycling advocacy group BikePGH launched the I <3 My Bike program with the hopes of making it easier to find stolen bikes by taking photos of owners with their rides, as well as the bike's identifying information and serial numbers for a private database.

And so far, it's working.…

TRAF Wraps up with Variety

Kira Scammell — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 09:59:00 -0400

The Three Rivers Arts Festival covers a contrasting trio of genres as it comes to a close this weekend. Friday is World Music Day with two performances by Jontre (at noon and 6:30 p.m.); world music group Red Baraat will perform at 7:30 p.m.…

City installs more recycling bins

Lauren Daley — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 14:49:10 -0400

Blue recycling bins have been popping up in city business districts for a while now, and Mayor Luke Ravenstahl today announced more are on the way.

An additional 80 recycling containers will be installed in Lawrenceville, Oakland, Shadyside, the Strip District and Squirrel Hill in the coming weeks, with the ultimate goal to eventually have them in every business district.…

Lunch-hour dance party launched

Olivia Lammel — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:00:00 -0400

Putting a new spin on the lunch break, the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater yesterday introduced Friendship to the midday dance party. On Wednesday, the artsy work crowd from the East End neighborhoods descended on Penn Avenue’s Quiet Storm restaurant for Beats n Eats Volume I.

DJ Nate da Phat Barber manned the turntables in the vegan/vegetarian restaurant’s lounge, playing mostly hip hop and house music.…

Port Authority announces detours for Pride

Lauren Daley — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:26:50 -0400

If you plan to ride the bus this weekend, take note: Pride events take place Downtown AND the Port Authority is implementing routine service changes to 70 routes.

For Pride, Port Authority has announced several detours and temporary stop changes.…

Film about civil-rights activist Angela Davis screening

Al Hoff — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 16:39:00 -0400

A new documentary, Free Angela and All the Politcal Prisoners, directed by Shola Lynch screens in Pittsburgh on Thu., June 13.

"Angela" is, of course, Angela Davis, an iconic crusader for civil rights in the late 1960s and early '70s, particularly for politcal prisoners.…

Arts Fest Juried Visual-Art Show

Bill O'Driscoll — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:59:00 -0400

We take a look at the Arts Fest's Juried Visual Arts Exhibition. See Program Notes.…

Arts Fest Juried Visual-Art Show

Bill O'Driscoll — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:56:00 -0400

As usual, it’s a few blocks from the mains arts-fest action. But the Juried Visual Art Exhibition (and neighboring Flight School exhibit) are worth the short detour up Liberty Avenue.…

Port Authority service changes take effect this weekend

Lauren Daley — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:42:00 -0400

As part of the agency's regular four-time yearly schedule adjustments, more than 70 Port Authority bus routes will see changes on Sunday.

Approximately 45 bus routes will be adjusted.…

Joint Pain

Chris Potter — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 04:00:00 -0400

Stupid pot laws a chronic malady by Chris Potter The first step in addressing a substance-abuse problem, they say, is admitting you have one. But when it comes to our archaic pot laws, that isn't enough.…

Japandroids put off quitting and produce a critically lauded full-length

John Lavanga — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 04:00:00 -0400

"The idea of now giving it up and going back to our old jobs seemed insane." by John Lavanga In 2008, Vancouver two-piece Japandroids had a plan all laid out. After several years of playing to small crowds and failing in their attempts to get some buzz going, guitarist Brian King and drummer David Prowse were going to bring their musical project to a dignified end and move on with their lives.…

The Public's Other Desert Cities

Ted Hoover — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 04:00:00 -0400

Borrowing from an all-time great can't help but invite unflattering comparisons. by Ted Hoover Had you been seated near me at Pittsburgh Public Theater's production of Other Desert Cities, you'd have noticed a puzzled look on my face. Here's why: Edward Albee won the 1967 Pulitzer for A Delicate Balance, a brittle comedy/drama about a meticulous suburban husband and wife — and her alcoholic sister houseguest — whose angry, divorced daughter comes home for a visit.…

Skinny Pete's Kitchen in Avalon wants to be part of the community

Lauren Daley — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 04:00:00 -0400

Serving fresh and locally sourced food is part of the plan by Lauren Daley Over the past two weeks, Danielle Mashuda has spent hours visiting and researching local farms. That's because as an owner, with Tina Grindeland, of Skinny Pete's Kitchen in Avalon, she wants the food to be as locally sourced as possible.…

Health Barrier: From insurance coverage to simply finding a doctor, health care presents challenges for the transgender community

Lauren Daley — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 04:00:00 -0400

Transgender patients “have to go through things that others don't for basic health care." by Lauren Daley Three hours before Michael David Battle starts his day, he begins thinking about binding his breasts, and the questions he might face. What shirt will best conceal his chest?…