PennDOT now allows drivers to put an X in place of binary gender on license
UPDATE – 2:30 p.m., July 24, 2020: Pennsylvanians who identify as non-binary can now choose a gender-neutral option on their state identification. They can now mark X in the sex section of a driver’s license or state-issued ID. “Our identity documents are critical to how we navigate the world, and having an affirming and accurate…
You say tomato and I also say tomato, because it’s tomato season
In Pennsylvania, tomato season is at its peak from July to September. August is the perfect month to eat the juicy vegetable (or fruit — where did we land on that?) If you are able, and the season is right, it’s always best to get produce locally, for both environmental and taste reasons. Celebrate the…
Dinosaur Jr.’s Camp Fuzz was more camp than fuzz, and that made it great
From July 30 to Aug. 2, purveyors of sonic squawk Dinosaur Jr. hosted Camp Fuzz at Full Moon Resort in Big Indian, N.Y., featuring “master classes, Q&A sessions, performances, arts and crafts, and more,” according to the website. For those who know me well, most would accurately guess my biggest influences: 1) arts and crafts;…
Sen. Pat Toomey says assault weapons are too popular to ban, but his constituents disagree
Since 2012, Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Pat Toomey has been a rare exception among GOP senators in his views on gun reform. He has been backing legislation with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) that would require background checks for gun show and online purchases, but not transfers and sales between friends and family. And while these views…
Best Local Sports Personality: JuJu Smith-Schuster
We first fell in love with Pittsburgh Steelers Wide Receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster because of his bike. As a rookie in 2017, Smith-Schuster rode his bike to practice in the South Side. His earnestness, his pragmatism, and his dedication to the city were evident. Not to mention all those greenhouse gas emissions he was saving! He…
Talkin’ Snack: Is the Impossible Whopper impossibly good? Or a possible flop?
As a vegetarian, my fast-food options are limited to bean burritos at Taco Bell and sad, pre-packaged salads. That is until Burger King announced plans to launch an Impossible Whopper, a version of its signature menu item made with a plant-based patty. I became an Impossible Burger convert last year when I tried the new…
Concert Announcements: A Day To Remember, Natasha Bedingfield, and more
Stay up-to-date with your favorite artists and musicians coming to Pittsburgh. Each week, Pittsburgh City Paper will bring you the most recent concert announcements so you never miss a show. A Day To Remember. Sat., Nov. 2. Petersen Events Center, Oakland. PITTSBURGH – Saturday, Nov 2nd! https://t.co/SVL6Vw6bDG — Live Nation Pgh (@livenationpgh) August 6, 2019 Natasha…
East End Brewing continues YOU ARE HERE series with Troy Hill and East Liberty beers
Pittsburgh fans of sours and cream ales will welcome the two latest additions to End End Brewing Company’s YOU ARE HERE series. Not long after unveiling the Central North Side beer – a Czech Pilsner – at the Commonplace Coffee Mexican War Streets location with guest, Mayor Bill Peduto, East End Brewing announced the release of…
State Sen. Jay Costa renews push for Pennsylvania gun reform post mass shootings
Critics often say legislators shouldn’t “politicize” mass shootings and should avoid introducing gun-reform bills in the immediate wake of these tragedies. But according to data from the nonprofit Gun Violence Archive (GVA), mass shootings in America are so common that there hasn’t been a time for legislators to write bills that isn’t in the wake of…
Magic City Hippies are having a big 2019
Magic City Hippies is approaching nearly a full year on the road. The Miami-based indie-pop band started with Bay Ledges in November 2018, followed by a run with Future Generations before taking the stage at major music festivals all throughout the summer. After performing at Lollapalooza on Thursday, Magic City Hippies will then head out…
Lynn Cullen Live – 8/6/19
Video Archive An article on white terrorism from the New York Times is the first topic of discussion this morning. In addition to this, Lynn is talking about patterns scholars of terrorism have found in history. Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
Pittsburgh Botanic Garden invites city residents to stop and smell the flowers
A blue dragonfly rests on top of a lotus flower, surrounded by water lilies. I kneel down beside it and capture a picture, hoping not to disturb the serenity of the moment by dropping my cell phone into the pond. The photograph I’ve taken doesn’t do the scene justice. The insect is as blue as…
Bill Peduto ups security detail following increased threats over gun-control bills
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto is used to receiving attacks on social media and other venues, but he recently confirmed to KDKA that he has been receiving a sharp increase in violent threats since signing new laws that restrict gun use in Pittsburgh city limits, and he is taking extra precautions. He said he recently increased…
Former Pa. senator Rick Santorum said a lot of wrong things about gun control this weekend
Tragedy struck twice last weekend, as mass shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio killed more than 30 people and wounded over 50. Coverage of these shootings dominated cable news, which inevitably brought political pundits on to weigh in with their opinions on the events. One such pundit was Rick Santorum. The former Pennsylvania senator and…
Looking for Violeta celebrates the political legacy of Chilean folk artist Violeta Parra
At some point during the 80-minute running time of Quantum Theatre’s Looking for Violeta, the sun sets outside the tent on the Frick Park Lawn Bowling Greens, where the production is being staged. But you almost wouldn’t notice until a moment close to the end, when the lights inside the tent are darkened and you…
Sweetwater Center for the Arts has a cow with animal-focused exhibition by Katie Stone
Artist Katie Stone admits to feeling more connected to animals than to people. “I always joke that I like animals better,” says Stone, a ceramicist who also serves as the studio director at Stray Cat Studio in Beaver Falls. This preference informs much of her work and traces back to her childhood in Ellington, Conn.,…
Three Pittsburgh Jewish congregations issue joint statement in solidarity with El Paso and Dayton after shootings
In response to the shootings over in the weekend in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio, which killed a combined 31 people, three Jewish congregations issued a joint statement expressing their grief. The three congregations, Tree of Life* Or L’Simcha Congregation, New Light Congregation, and Congregation Dor Hadash, all lost members or loved ones in the…
Lynn Cullen Live – 8/5/19
Video Archive The multiple mass shootings that occurred over the weekend is where Lynn is starting off this week. 20 were killed and 26 injured in El Paso, and nine were killed and 27 injured in Dayton. That’s only two of the four shootings that happened. The causes behind them, and how we can possibly…
This week is rife with music happenings, including shows with Black Flag, Violent Femmes, and DJ Samuel Andres
Mon., Aug. 5 Photo: Roger Mastroianni Spamilton [Stage] Ever feel like mocking Lin-Manuel Miranda? No, because you are not a loose cannon like Gerard Alessandrini, the creator of Spamilton. Come see Hamiltonand a host of other musicals get roasted in this musical parody at Greer Cabaret Theater. 7:30 p.m. Continues through Sun., Aug. 25. 655 Penn…
Contemporary Craft closes out final exhibition at Strip District location
After over three decades in the Strip District produce terminal building, Contemporary Craft will soon move on to its new home on Butler Street in Lawrenceville. Before that happens, the Pittsburgh art resource center will close the final show at its current space, Fiberart International 2019, with The Space Between, a conversation with exhibiting artists Jozef Bajus of…
Slippery Rock music and arts festival Resonance announces additional acts
This year’s lineup for Resonance, a music and arts festival taking place in Slippery Rock from Sept. 19-22, was already set to be a righteous one. Stacked with jam-band and EDM power players like Tipper, Tycho, Keller Williams, Black Moth Super Rainbow, CharlesTheFirst, Chon, and more, Resonance has been the talk of the summer, with many buying…
Read this before heading to News N’at at Steel City Improv Theater
Ever have the desire to see stories from local newspapers recreated as an improv skit? No? Well, tonight you have the chance to when News N’at sets up at Steel City Improv Theater. A fast-paced improved show, News N’at uses stories from papers like Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, City Paper, and the Tribune-Review as inspiration for long-form improv.…
Quantum Theatre searches for musical activist Violeta Parra in new “folk opera”
Quantum Theatre has done plenty of shows outside in the elements over the years, but this is the company’s first time putting a barrier between the performers and the sky. It’s not because they’re afraid of the weather, says Karla Boos, the group’s artistic director and director of the world premiere of Looking for Violeta, Quantum’s…
Progressive independent Lisa Middleman kicks off campaign for Allegheny County DA
In June, Allegheny County District Attorney candidate Lisa Middleman told PublicSource she would need to gather about 4,000 signatures in order to challenge current DA Stephen Zappala in the November general election. The 4,000 signatures marked the minimum to get on the ballot, but Middleman was hopeful her campaign would get more. At her campaign…
Luz delivers a satisfyingly nightmarish, hyper-stylized horror thriller
Luz is the kind of film that sends critics back to the director’s statement, trying to figure out what, exactly, its maker had in mind. It’s described as a “sensuous thriller that plays with the sensory perception of the audience” by first-time feature writer/director Tilman Singer, who goes on to call it a “story about…
Celebrate Ice Cream Sandwich day with Leona’s, Klavon’s, and other local sweet treats
Today, the sweet combination of cookies and ice cream is getting the credit it deserves. It’s National Ice Cream Sandwich Day. Ice cream sandwiches are having a moment in Pittsburgh, all thanks to Leona’s Ice Cream Sandwiches; the local, small-batch, lactose-free creamery took ice cream sandwiches from an after-school treat to an artisan dessert. In…
East Liberty to get six new electric vehicle charging stations
Six new electric vehicle charging stations are coming to a public parking lot in East Liberty, paid for from the funding Pennsylvania received from Volkswagen’s $14.7 billion settlement with the federal government. Gov. Tom Wolf announced Thursday that Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection would distribute $8.5 million from the settlement to clean energy projects across…
Kelly Strayhorn Theater announces exit of executive director Janera Solomon
On Aug. 2, the Kelly Strayhorn Theater announced that executive director Janera Solomon will leave her position at the end of the year. The board of directors will conduct a search for a new executive director over the next few months. Solomon will remain at KST through December 2019. In a press release, KST states…
Mija: one bitch’s tale addresses identity, trauma, the word “bitch” as a pronoun
Nicole Gallagher is looking for something. And it’s not just her black skinny jeans, although she does spend the first minute or so of her one-woman show, Mija: one bitch’s tale, in her underwear, hunting for them around the stage. Once she pulls the pants on, though, she sits down in an armchair, addresses the…
Women rockers get ready to shine for Legendary Album Series: Janis Joplin’s Pearl
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Sword of Trust takes a stab at Confederate conspiracy theorists in lighthearted comedy
When a loved one dies, their family often inherits weird objects. Sometimes, the gifts have a richer history than we’d like. In the comedy Sword of Trust, a couple is unsure of what to do with an inherited sword from the Civil War, when they get embroiled in a web of conspiracy theorists. Cynthia (Jillian…
Kirsten Ervin captures the many faces of Penn Avenue for portrait project
For the last three weeks, local artist Kirsten Ervin has been set up outside various locations along Penn Avenue offering free portraits to passersby. So far, she’s completed about 80 “five- minute portraits” of people in East Liberty and Garfield. But out of the many, one stands out as the main reason for why Ervin…
G. Love & Special Sauce playing Roxian Theatre on Aug. 30
Garrett “G.Love” Dutton, Jeffrey “The Houseman” Clemens, and Jimmy “Jazz” Prescott are celebrating their 25th year as touring and recording artists. With more than 15 records released, this pioneering band has been an influence to artists such as Jack White, Jack Johnson, The Avett Brothers, Slightly Stoopid, and many more. With their signature blend of…
Democratic DA Stephen Zappala hates campaigning but is meeting today with Young Republicans
Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala has never been a big fan of campaigning when running for the county’s top law enforcement officer. And for just about all of his tenure, he has never really had to. Until this year, Zappala hadn’t faced an opponent since he first campaigned for the job back in 1999.…
Replay FX and Pittsburgh Knights work to preserve gaming history
For the fifth year in a row, 20,000 gaming fanatics are expected to make their way to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Downtown Pittsburgh for Replay FX (Aug. 1-4), a convention celebrating gaming in all forms. From competitive gaming to pinball and other arcade games, and even board games, Replay FX brings all…
A wedding for under $4k? Pop Up Pittsburgh Wedding Co. can make that happen
Planning a wedding is stressful. There’s a caterer to find, cakes to test, tables to decorate, and at the end, a big bill. Up until recently, alternatives to that approach were limited. Then, in 2014, Trish Derry started the Pop Up Pittsburgh Wedding Co. Derry specializes in stress-free, low-key weddings. Her pop-up nuptials are advertised…
Lynn Cullen Live – 8/1/19
Video Archive Lynn is being joined by Kim Evert, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Western PA today. They will be talking about Title X, defunding, the gag rule, and various other topics related to Planned Parenthood. Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
Pittsburgh Grooveline: Dance parties at Cattivo, Brillobox, and more (Aug. 1-Aug. 7)
Each week, the Pittsburgh City Paper compiles a list of Pittsburgh dance parties for you and your crew to bust loose to the best bangers, EDM, pop hits, and more. (All events are 21 and over unless otherwise stated.) Fri., Aug. 2 Strangeways Birthday Bash, Pt. 1 at Cattivo. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. 146 44th St.,…
Concert photos: Queen + Adam Lambert at PPG Paints Arena
Queen brought The Rhapsody Tour to PPG Paints Arena last night as part of a 23-date arena and stadium tour celebrating the song first made famous by original singer Freddie Mercury in 1975. The legendary band, with original members Brian May and Roger Taylor, teamed up for this tour with American Idol alum Adam Lambert, who has…
Corrine Jasmin shows an unseen side of Black Lives in Beams Of Light
When Black bodies are portrayed in the media, it’s almost always about the struggle. Another Black person shot by the police. Violence in the inner city. Black advocates fighting for basic human rights. With Corrine Jasmin’s Beams Of Light, a multimedia art exhibition, premiering Fri., Aug. 2 at BOOM Concepts during Unblurred, she is showcasing another side…
New teaser trailer and details for season two of the Pittsburgh-shot Netflix series Mindhunter
Get ready to watch out for Pittsburgh landmarks and exclaim every time you see one of your actor friends in a retro getup. A teaser trailer for the second season of the locally-shot Netflix series Mindhunter just dropped, and it promises more of the true-crime procedural creepiness that made its debut such a hit. Streaming…
Pittsburgh CLO’s Once is a sweet, if flimsy, love letter to music
Staging the Tony Award-winning Once at the Benedum Center feels like something of a contradiction in terms. In 2011, the musical successfully completed the delicate balancing act of telling a small, human story while managing to be a Broadway crowd-pleaser. It’s not an uncommon challenge in theater. Unquestionably one of the most intimate art forms,…
Regatta or not, Squonk’s show will go on
After the news of the Three Rivers Regatta cancelation broke yesterday morning, many of the artists, vendors, and would-be visitors scrambled to make new plans. While adjusting on such short notice is a pain for anybody, the challenges for Pittsburgh-based performance group Squonk were a little more extreme. Its new piece, Hand to Hand, involves…
Lynn Cullen Live – 7/31/19
Video Archive The Pittsburgh City Paper’s Ryan Deto will be joining Lynn for the second half of the show today to discuss the Three Rivers Regatta, and other stories interesting him. But first Lynn is giving her opinion on last night’s debate. She thought it was pretty good, and she normally hates debates. Audio Only…
Artist Théo Bignon discusses mesh tank tops and stitching outside of the lines ahead of Indecent Exposure show at Bunker Projects
Who decides what is excessive? This question drives Indecent Exposure, an exhibition at Bunker Projects featuring new work by resident artist Théo Bignon. With this inquiry, Bignon, a French artist who previously studied at the University of Pittsburgh Studio Art Department and now lives in Chicago, Ill., intends to examine how, among other things, “homosexuality…
The Farewell addresses conflicts between Chinese and American culture within a single family dynamic
The morality of lying seems like a pretty black-and-white issue, until you’re an adult and realize that the issue isn’t so clear. People lie all the time for both good and bad reasons, and it can be difficult to separate one from the other. The Farewell, a dramedy directed and written by Lulu Wang, explores…
The simple pleasures and difficulties of life on a houseboat
When Mia Macdonald’s parked car was totaled, she received $5,000 in an insurance payout and used some of it to buy another car, and the remainder to buy herself a home. That might not sound like enough for both, but in this case, Macdonald settled on a 1973 Burns Craft houseboat, named it Seamore, and…
Cinderlands Warehouse shines with simple flavors in inventive forms
In March, Cinderlands Beer Co. was running out of beer. The three and a half barrel brewery, located on Butler Street in Lawrenceville, couldn’t keep up with the demand. Expanding seemed a natural choice. So Cinderlands opened a second location in the Strip District called Cinderlands Warehouse. And with the beer expansion, came some culinary…
Brookline-based author Nick Courage shows effects of hurricanes on young adults — and animals — in new novel
While casting about for an idea for his second young adult novel, author Nick Courage turned to his youth. He didn’t land on a particularly fond memory, but one that caused no small amount of anxiousness when he was growing up in New Orleans: hurricanes. Courage, who lives in Brookline and is a co-founder of…
Internationally acclaimed multilingual jazz band comes to Thunderbird Café and Music Hall for CD release party
With Mirror Butterfly: the Migrant Liberation Movement Suite, the members of Pittsburgh’s Afro Yaqui Music Collective have created something even bigger than themselves. It’s an impressive feat, considering the multilingual jazz band can boast anywhere from a few main members to a 20-plus piece ensemble. What first began as a multicultural jazz, dance, and theater…
Why there are so few riverfront restaurants in Pittsburgh
It’s that time of year when Pittsburghers flock en masse to the three rivers. But beyond summer festivities, there is a loud and growing demand to be able to enjoy the rivers all the time, not just during large festivals and other events. And one of those specific demands is riverfront dining. Stephan Bontrager, the…
The ‘horrifying and comic’ Hand to Hand features steampunks, jam-band prog, and two 600-pound animatronic hands
One day in mid-July, Steve O’Hearn was wondering if his hands were maybe just a little too big. As co-artistic director of the Pittsburgh-based art collective, Squonk, O’Hearn had spent the previous night rehearsing for his group’s new production, which was set to debut in Baltimore 48 hours later. The show, Hand to Hand, involves…
SilentHike helps treat trauma through the outdoors
Murray Hidary has always had an interest in music. In addition to graduating from New York University with a degree in Music and Composition, Hidary has trained in the study of Aikido and the Shakuhachi (a Japanese bamboo flute) and the ancient music tradition of Zen monks. He’ll channel all of this into SilentHike, a…
Free Will Astrology
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Let’s check in with our psychic journalist, LoveMancer, who’s standing by with a live report from inside your imagination. What’s happening, LoveMancer? “Well, Rob, the enchanting creature on whose thoughts I’ve been eavesdropping has slipped into an intriguing frontier. This place seems to be a hot zone where love and healing…
The ever-changing tasks of the production and stage manager of Quantum Theatre
Name: Michelle Engelman, Highland Park Work: Production and stage manager, Quantum Theatre Quantum Theatre performs at unconventional locations all over the city. How is your job different with a site-specific theater than it would be with a traditional space? It focuses on how to make the onsite aspect as much of a theater experience as…
Why going into sex work isn’t as easy as it sounds
As a writer who openly reflects on my own experiences in the sex industry, I often have folks of all genders tell me that they are interested in becoming sex workers. When I ask them why they are considering sex work, their answers overwhelmingly fall into a category of what I would call sexual exploration,…
Nova Place goes pink with first-ever Rosé All Day PGH festival
Grace Miller enjoys a good craft beer, so much so that she and her husband, Marc Turic, created the annual Beers of the Burgh Festival to spotlight the region’s breweries. But her taste also expands to other beverages, specifically wine. “I’m a craft beer drinker, but I do really appreciate a good rosé, especially during…
