Women in Radio: Abby Krizner on The X
While you’re cooped up inside, you can still listen to the radio! In honor of Women’s History Month, City Paper will be highlighting women in Pittsburgh’s airwaves throughout the month. Abby Krizner 105.9 The X (WXDX-FM) M-F 6-10 a.m. and national overnight talent on iHeartMedia Custom Alternative Time in radio: 12 years How did you…
Women in Radio: Ally Bear on 96.1 KISS
While you’re cooped up inside, you can still listen to the radio! In honor of Women’s History Month, City Paper will be highlighting women in Pittsburgh’s airwaves throughout the month. Ally Bear (real name Ally Bair) 96.1 KISS (WKST-FM) Mon.-Thu. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Time in radio: I started when I was in high school with…
Women in Radio: Michele Michaels on WDVE
While you’re cooped up inside, you can still listen to the radio! In honor of Women’s History Month, City Paper will be highlighting women in Pittsburgh’s airwaves throughout the month. Michele Michaels 102.5 DVE (WDVE-FM) M-F 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (Including the 12-1 p.m. longtime deep cut request show the “Electric Lunch”) Time in radio: Been at…
Quarantunes with TyDanzuso
We’re stuck at home. Musicians are stuck at home. We’re looking for entertainment. Musicians are looking to entertain. So City Paper is working with Pittsburgh artists and bands to bring you Quarantunes, a series of at-home performances to bring a little enjoyment to your day. Multi-instrumentalist TyDanzuso, real name Tyler Danzuso, uses a looping machine…
Women in Radio: Liz Felix on WYEP
While you’re cooped up inside, you can still listen to the radio! In honor of Women’s History Month, City Paper will be highlighting women in Pittsburgh’s airwaves throughout the month. Liz Felix 91.3 WYEP (WYEP-FM) Mon-Thurs 6-10 p.m. Time in radio: 17 years How did you know this career was what you wanted to pursue?…
Pittsburgh movie theaters offering online streaming during COVID-19 shutdowns
Updated Thu., March 26: The Parkway Theater in McKees Rocks is offering streaming versions of its new release films, including the currently available Phoenix, Oregon, the Swedish-Georgian drama And Then We Danced (available Fri., March 27), and the upcoming documentary Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band. Half all ticket sales will go directly to supporting Parkway Theater.…
Buy merch from The Rex Theater to help support laid off employees
Updated, 12:30 p.m., Thu., March 26: Two independent companies are hurting right now, The Rex Theater and CommonWealth Press. So they joined forces to create and offer a limited edition REX T-shirt. All of the proceeds will go to each company’s employees. CommonWealth Press has printed T-shirts and hoodies for The Rex Theater and its independent…
Quarantunes with The Telephone Line’s Addi and Joe
We’re stuck at home. Musicians are stuck at home. We’re looking for entertainment. Musicians are looking to entertain. So City Paper is working with Pittsburgh artists and bands to bring you Quarantunes, a series of at-home performances to bring a little enjoyment to your day. Starting out the series is Addi Twigg and Joe Gustafson…
Women in Radio: Debbie Wilde on Q92.9
While you’re cooped up inside, you can still listen to the radio! In honor of Women’s History Month, City Paper will be highlighting women in Pittsburgh’s airwaves throughout the month. Debbie Wilde Q92.9 (WLTJ-FM) M-F 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Time in radio: Nearly 30 years. OMG, does that make me old?! Lol! Let me take off my…
Humane Animal Rescue is asking for donations to help feed pets in families impacted by coronavirus
For some people, the strange effects of the coronavirus have made it a perfect time to adopt a pet or become a foster home for pets not yet ready to be adopted. Those who are suddenly working at home every day and feeling lonely because of social distance might have the urge to fill the…
Garbage collection to resume after workers demonstrate over COVID-19 concerns
This morning, a group of sanitation workers from the Bureau of Environmental Services gathered in the Strip District, refusing to work because of claims that the City of Pittsburgh was putting them at risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus. A Facebook live video posted by sanitation worker Fitzroy Moss captured the scene early this morning…
Sen. Pat Toomey supports coronavirus stimulus bill, but worries it ‘creates incentives not to work’
A multi-trillion dollar stimulus bill could pass through the U.S. Senate today to provide many necessary funds related to the coronavirus closures. If it passes through the Senate, the U.S. House, and gets President Trump’s signature, it will provide billions to businesses, public-transit, airlines, and American taxpayers. The stimulus plan also includes a one-time $1,200…
A free Coronavirus is a Jagoff downloadable poster, plus other alternate cover designs from the pandemic
We’re trying really hard to keep ourselves laughing through these hard times whenever possible, and we figured our readers could use a laugh, too. That’s why we’re sharing this week’s cover design, illustrated by City Paper’s own Abbie Adams, as our gift to you: A downloadable print-at-home Coronavirus Is A Jagoff poster to hang in…
At Home With: Weird Paul Petroskey
Everybody is dealing with the COVID-19 quarantines and restrictions in different ways. While there’s no single right way to cope — social distancing and staying TF home aside — staying connected with friends, family, and neighbors is a good place to start. You can contact your loved ones on your own, but you might also be…
Pittsburgh grocery stores offering dedicated hours for seniors and other shoppers vulnerable to coronavirus
As we all (hopefully) know by now, elderly populations and immunocompromised people are more vulnerable to the coronavirus, and more likely to experience severe effects from it. Many families and communities are rallying to help deliver groceries to those in need, but for those who don’t have that support (or insist on still doing their…
Speedy delivery: Where you can pick up a copy of this week’s Pittsburgh City Paper
We’re not sure we believe it ourselves, but we got another print issue out the door this week. It’s smaller than usual, but we haven’t given up yet. Last week, we launched our Pittsburgh City Paper Membership Campaign, and the support we’ve been getting from the community has been, as I mentioned to Mother Jones,…
Women in Radio: Kristen on Y108
While you’re cooped up inside, you can still listen to the radio! In honor of Women’s History Month, City Paper will be highlighting women in Pittsburgh’s airwaves throughout the month. Kristen Buccigrossi Y108 (WDSY-FM ) M-F 5-10 a.m. and Sat. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on 100.7 Star Time in radio: 10 years promotions, 2 years on-air…
With frozen pizza for catering and neighbors as their guests, a Pittsburgh couple weds on the porch during COVID-19
What does love look like in a time of social distancing? For one Pittsburgh couple, it looked like a simple porch wedding and a frozen pizza. On Monday night, Allison Ruppert and Rob Conroy did what they call a “semi-spontaneous” wedding ceremony on the porch of their North Side home in view of their neighbors.…
Yes, you can still use public parks, but social distancing still applies
Spring has finally arrived, so the urge to get outside is strong. But on Mon., March 23, Governor Tom Wolf issued a stay-at-home order for several counties in Pennsylvania, including Allegheny County. “Don’t leave your home unless someone’s life depends on your leaving,” said Wolf during a remote press conference. In the parameters of the…
Bike Pittsburgh proposes street closures to give people space while enjoying the outdoors
Yesterday, Gov. Tom Wolf issued a stay-at-home order for residents of Allegheny County in the hope of curbing the spread of coronavirus. Wolf said people in Allegheny County should only leave their homes for life-sustaining reasons, and specially mentioned buying food, groceries, and pharmaceuticals. County residents are still allowed to leave for outdoor recreation, as…
Experience Pittsburgh Irish Festival from home
Starting Wed., March 25, you can hear performances from local, regional, national, and international Irish acts without leaving the house. The Pittsburgh Irish Festival and Irish Design Center debut their first-ever Live Stream Irish Music Series. “We hope that this series will bring a smile to the faces of our online community, support bands and…
Nello’s ‘Private Jet Vibes’ gives hope in the unknown
The beginning of North Side rapper Nello’s latest release, “Private Jet Vibes” starts with the reposeful strums of a guitar. His mournful auto-tuned voice kicks in shortly after, with the lyrics, “Keep rolling all these woods that’s how I keep passing by / my n*ggas dead and gone I couldn’t tell them bye.” It sounds…
Pittsburgh-area Republican candidate Sean Parnell inflated fracking job figures by a lot
Republican congressional candidate Sean Parnell is running against U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Mt. Lebanon), and he has made a large part of his campaign about natural-gas drilling, aka fracking. Parnell tweets about fracking frequently, including a steady stream of criticism of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, Lamb, and many others for not supporting fracking enough.…
McGyver yourself a quarantine cosmopolitan with the help from Lawrenceville Distillery’s YouTube tutorials
Bars and restaurants may be closed, but Lawrenceville Distilling still wants Pittsburghers to drink great cocktails. With this in mind, the local distillery launched a series of online cocktail classes, where Greta Harmon, the distillery’s “chief cocktologist” walks viewers through the art of “MacGyvering” cocktails at home. “We get a lot of people at the…
Allegheny County’s second reported death due to COVID-19 wasn’t aware they had disease
According to the Allegheny County Health Department, a second person has died in the county due to COVID-19, the disease that is caused by coronavirus. The deceased was a woman in her late 70s. According to a statement, “This person’s positive status was not known until after the death.” There was no documentation of her…
Nonprofit organization For Good is giving away surprise toys for families in Braddock
Braddock-based nonprofit organization For Good can’t continue many of the programs and services it offers due to coronavirus, but it’s found a new way to help out parents in the community who are struggling to keep kids occupied while out of school. For Good, founded by Kristen Michaels and Gisele Fetterman, is launching a giveaway…
Lynn Cullen Live – 3/24/20
Video Archive Susan is joining Lynn once again today. They are discussing the newest information we have about COVID-19. They are also trying to find some levity, and joy in these stressful times. Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
Photos: Quarantined Rush Hour
Deserted, empty, ghost town. Used together or separately, they all describe the look and feel of Downtown Pittsburgh during rush hour on Monday. Normally overcrowded bus stops along Liberty Avenue merely provided a place to sit for a few on a smoke break. The Gateway T station, typically humming with people moving about, picked up…
Here’s how you can support organizations and efforts helping people affected by the coronavirus outbreak
The novel coronavirus is changing how we live and work in very disruptive ways. These organizations are helping to provide food, money, and other assistance to those impacted by the shutdowns. Here are some ways you can contribute: Food assistance: • Donate to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank as it feeds local families during…
Steel Smiling launches free virtual mental health program during COVID-19 outbreak
Right now, there is an emphasis on physical health and wellness: wash your hands, don’t touch your face, eat healthy. But with the recent stay-at-home order in Allegheny County and the uncertainty of COVID-19, what about your mental health and wellbeing? On Wed., March 25, Steel Smiling, a Pittsburgh-based mental-health advocacy group, will launch a free…
Stay-at-home order issued for Allegheny County due to coronavirus spread
Today, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf issued a stay-at-home order for Allegheny County and six other counties in southeastern Pennsylvania. At the remote press conference, Wolf said the order is applied to counties that are experiencing an outbreak of coronavirus and is meant to help stem its spread. The order goes into effect at 8 p.m…
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh challenges isolated borrowers to Stay In and Read with new online campaign
Public libraries have been a reliable haven for people looking for free information, entertainment, and other resources in troubled times. But as of March 18, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (CLP) suspended all in-person services and closed all 19 locations in its system as a response to concerns over COVID-19. To help ease this transition,…
Port Authority announces reduction in bus service, citing significantly reduced ridership
On Mon., March 23, the Port Authority of Allegheny County announced that it would be reducing its bus and light rail service due to a decrease in ridership as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and subsequent stay-at-home and social distancing orders from the state government. In a press release, Port Authority said there will…
Kevin Garrett soothes in new “Gone Again” music video
On Wednesday, Pittsburgh-native Kevin Garrett released a music video for “Gone Again,” the first track on his Made Up Lost Time EP which dropped Feb. 21 via KG Music. The video features Garrett as he sings in multiple locations inside an abandoned building (practicing social distancing?) before getting close with a dancing woman toward the…
Lynn Cullen Live – 3/23/20
Video Archive The good news for the day is the birth of the two eaglets in the Hays Pittsburgh nest. For some much needed stress relief you can watch the eagle family on the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania’s website. http://aswp.org/pages/hays-nest Lynn is fearing that Dr. Fauci might be sidelined soon. He gave an interview…
Treat yourself like quarantine royalty and binge watch Netflix’s bizarre docuseries Tiger King
I received a text from a friend yesterday, recommending a show on Netflix called Tiger King. I immediately thought it was a kids show by the name of it and figured I’d probably seen enough of those lately with my children at home. But my wife and I turned it on last night with little…
Duquesne University senior shares impact of pandemic on students
Last week, I was worried about the fast-approaching due date for an essay I hadn’t started yet. This week, I’m worried about a global pandemic. Every college kid in the city has a similar story; one minute, everything was business as usual, and the very next, our lives were being uprooted, our friends sent home,…
UPDATE: State Police to begin enforcing all ‘non-life-sustaining’ businesses to close
UPDATE 2 p.m., Sun., March 22: The following state agencies and local officials have been directed by Governor Wolf to enforce the closures of non-life sustaining businesses beginning at 8 a.m. on Monday:- Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board – Department of Health – Department of Agriculture – Pennsylvania State Police – Local officials, using their resources…
Take-out review: Carmi Soul Food
Carmi Soul Food Address: 1825 E. Carson St., South SideDelivery method: Postmates Food ordered: Fish Stew, bowl: $6.59 Carmi Rolls: $6.99 Shrimp & Grits: $14.99 The only good thing to happen during this global pandemic so far — besides the overwhelming community feedback we’ve been receiving during Pittsburgh City Paper’s membership campaign, of course —…
How one vulnerable Pittsburgh worker is struggling to navigate Whole Foods’ COVID-19 paid-time off policy
Like many people in Pittsburgh, Dave English is worried about coronavirus and potentially contracting and spreading COVID-19, the disease it causes. Before all the closures were announced last week, he spoke to his doctor because he was concerned his asthma and recent bout with shingles could make him particularly vulnerable to coronavirus while on shift…
New fundraising campaign to help Pittsburgh’s out-of-work food and service workers
As more and more restaurant and food and drink services are being forced to switch gears to take-out only operations, lay off staff, or hang up their aprons and shutter their businesses completely during the coronavirus pandemic, an emergency fund has been put in place to help those recently out of work. “Service workers of…
Medical marijuana patients can now buy 90-day supply; dispensaries deemed ‘life essential’
Medical marijuana cardholders in Pennsylvania were only allowed to purchase a 30-day supply from a dispensary since the treatment first became legalized in 2016. Now, because of the coronavirus pandemic, Pennsylvania is now temporarily extending the amount to a 90-day supply. “In the midst of COVID-19, we need to ensure medical marijuana patients have access to…
Support local restaurants by playing Takeout Bingo
If you’ve been following the food industry this week, you know that many restaurants have had to shut their dining rooms down in order to mitigate the spread of coronavirus. In lieu of service, they’ve transitioned to takeout. How many times have you supported a local restaurant by ordering take out this week? What cuisines?…
Shudder is giving horror fans a 30-day free trial — here’s what we’d recommend
If you’re a horror fan, you find a strange comfort in watching scary movies as an entertaining way to deal with stressful situations, like, say, a global pandemic. People can psychoanalyze this all they want, but I see it as a visceral release provided by an artificial terror I control. If it gets too gross…
The Quaranzine is an online collective, sharing stories of life and thoughts during COVID-19
My very cool friend Anna Trella Ruth started The Quaranzine this week on Instagram — follow along, it’s great! — because she wrote that she was “super curious about how we’re all spending our time these days and what we’re feeling or thinking as the world is shutting down around us.” The Quaranzine aims to be a collaborative,…
Pittsburgh breweries offering cans, crowlers, and growlers to-go during coronavirus restrictions
When restaurants and bars were called to close in response to the coronavirus pandemic, they turned to take out. The beer industry is no different. In lieu of tap rooms and drafts, many local breweries have started providing to-go can service and growler fills. If you’re running low, visit one of these Pittsburgh breweries for…
Some parenting tips during self-isolation from your favorite unqualified source
Jobs can be stressful in a normal situation. So, what happens when you combine all the demands of your job with a life-threatening pandemic? And by pandemic, I mean two kids [insert Fozzie saying, “Wocka, Wocka!”] I’m currently working at home, like many people, with my wife and two children (ages 6 and 5) whose…
Podcasts to pass quarantine time, including some produced in Pittsburgh
In these trying times, you can do more on the internet than repeatedly refreshing Twitter for the latest updates or hand-washing memes about COVID-19. If you’re going to mindlessly stare at a screen or, I dunno, deep clean your quarantine space, at least you can pop your earbuds in and listen to fun, informative podcasts…
Pittsburgh City Paper launches Business Membership Campaign
By now, you may have noticed that Pittsburgh City Paper has launched a Membership Program in the wake of what has happened in the economy since the coronavirus has started affecting our side of the state. A program we were hoping to launch later this year to help build up the City Paper connection to…
Allegheny County Jail plans to release some medically vulnerable inmates, but advocacy groups say it’s not enough
Allegheny County officials, the Public Defender’s Office, and the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office have announced a collaborative effort to release a significant number of inmates from the Allegheny County Jail. According to a joint statement, 189 inmate releases have been sent to the jail. Not all of them are limited to those with health…
Photos: The first day of Spring in Pittsburgh
It was easy to forget we’re currently experiencing a global pandemic while walking through Schenley Park on Thursday, the first official day of spring. After the rain subsided, a lot of Pittsburghers made it a point to enjoy the warm weather at the Oakland park. There were groups of people playing every sport imaginable including pickleball,…
Hallmark is airing a Christmas movie marathon in March because who even cares anymore
Dedicated Pittsburgh City Paper readers might remember a few holiday seasons ago when we committed to watching a holiday movie every day. Many of them were of the Hallmark or Lifetime variety, and many of them were very very bad. But that’s what makes them so good. Hallmark announced that from March 20-22, it will…
Support Pittsburgh artists by buying their records on Bandcamp
Here at Pittsburgh City Paper, Bandcamp is one of our favorite ways to find and support Pittsburgh musicians. Searching “Pittsburgh” and scrolling for new releases with that tag has led us to some of our favorite discoveries. So it was fitting that one of our favorite platforms would step up to the plate during this…
For Sale With Baggage: Nothing noteworthy
Stuff can be complicated, especially when trying to get rid of it. The process can remind us that our things can have worth that’s hard to put a dollar amount on; they can call to mind other people from our lives; they can bring up memories of what they were (or weren’t) used for. For…
Inside a local South Hills government’s emergency management plan for COVID-19
The national news and federal government are our main sources for information on how citizens and establishments should respond to the coronavirus. But those guidelines are presented on a large scale. So what are local governments and councils in and around Pittsburgh implementing in response to the pandemic? As a commissioner for Baldwin Township, I…
Livestreams and virtual happy hours for Thu., March 19
23rd and Vinyl: Virtual Livestream. 7 p.m. Facebook Listen to Motown, funk, soul, and more from Anthony Susan (For the Record) and Paul Seif (The Vinyl Dept.). During the livestream, 23rd and Vine is offering free delivery or curbside pick-up on all wine bottles. Call to order. Driving While Black Records. 8 p.m. Instagram: @dwbrecords…
Maggie’s Farm Rum to distill its own hand sanitizer
In response to the COVID-19 hand sanitizer shortages, Maggie’s Farm Rum is taking steps to distill its own. Tim Russell, founder and head distiller at Maggie’s, came across the idea as his wife searched for hand sanitizers to stock the distillery. “It was kind of a no-brainer in that the active ingredient in hand sanitizer…
Women in Radio: Stacy on 105.9 The X
While you’re cooped up inside, you can still listen to the radio! In honor of Women’s History Month, City Paper will be highlighting women in Pittsburgh’s airwaves throughout the month. Stacy (Walter) 105.9 The X (WXDX-FM) M-F 6 p.m. – 12 a.m. Time in radio: 15 years this summer How did you know this career was…
Lynn Cullen Live – 3/19/20
Video Archive Spring arrives tonight! That is at least something to be happy about. Lynn is also taking a moment to complain about group texts. We all want to keep in touch with loved ones, but it can quickly get out of hand, and before you know it you’re getting messages from a bunch of…
10 books, 5ish word reviews
Aside from curating the music section, I’m an avid reader, clocking in around 20-30 books a year on top of my full-time job as a staff writer for City Paper. (My 2020 Goodreads Reading Challenge goal is 25 books, but I will probably surpass that thanks to social distancing.) Since many are staying home due…
No news is bad news
Coronavirus is a jagoff. As I’m writing this, COVID-19 has closed all of Pittsburgh’s bars and restaurants. (Even Jack’s is closed, so even conspiracy theorists now know it’s a pandemic.) We’re being advised to avoid events with 10 or more people, and all non-essential businesses have been asked to suspend operations. But know what’s not…
Lynn Cullen Live – 3/18/20
Video Archive Lynn is discussing soap to start things off today. We’ve been hearing a lot about how important it is to wash your hands. It turns out that the shape of the soap molecule is why it’s so effective with dealing with the COVID-19 molecule. The IRS has extended the tax deadline for three…
Staying Creative in the Time of Coronavirus
This is my third attempt at this column. I started with an account of my time in India, when the coronavirus first broke in China and I wasn’t sure if I would make it back to the U.S. (I wonder if I should have just stayed in India, but that’s another column). Then I wrote…
Keep your kids entertained and enriched during quarantine with these free online art and education resources
Pittsburgh schools have shut down in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, leaving already stressed parents scrambling to keep their kids occupied. Luckily, a number of local and national organizations are providing free resources to entertain and educate young minds. After all, there’s only so much Disney+ to stream and Minecraft to play before it’s…
Rachel Kallem Whitman’s Instability in Six Colors: A Bipolar Memoir
After surviving her third suicide attempt, Dr. Rachel Kallem Whitman came to a realization: She had to stop trying to end her life and let others know what it was like to live it with bipolar disorder. “I survived that and had to write about it,” says Whitman, who lives in Morningside. Whitman’s book, Instability…
“What are you into?” It all depends on context.
In my line of work, I get asked a lot of questions about my sexual preferences and history and most of them don’t bother me. Except for one: What are you into? This question isn’t unique to my work; I remember when I did more online dating I got the same question from potential dates…
A Pittsburgh guide to coronavirus
On March 12, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald declared a state of emergency related to coronavirus. On the afternoon of March 13, after initially saying the coronavirus would be contained and downplaying its severity, President Donald Trump finally declared a national emergency. On the evening of March 13, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto declared a state…
The Local 913: Short Fictions
I’d tell you all about Fates Worse Than Death, the new album from Short Fictions, but Pitchfork got there first. The band is one of a few Pittsburgh acts that have recently received positive reviews from the national music tastemaker and although he’s grateful, lead singer Sam Treber seems to be taking the attention in…
Katie O. on the Radio
While you’re cooped up inside, you can still listen to the radio! In honor of Women’s History Month, City Paper will be highlighting women in Pittsburgh’s airwaves throughout the month. Katie Oltmanns really wants to get a dog, preferably a big one. The local music journalist has always been a dog person, but she’s facing…
Free Will Astrology (March 19-25)
We interrupt your regularly scheduled horoscopes to offer insights about the virus-driven turning point that the whole world is now experiencing. As you’ve probably guessed, all of us are being invited to re-evaluate everything we think we know about what it means to be human. I refer to this unprecedented juncture as The Tumultuous Upgrade…
