Meet the Pittsburgh designer creating fursuits for the furry community
Phoebe Brown initially described furries as “cringy” until 2018 when their friend dragged them to Anthrocon, the popular furry convention held in Downtown Pittsburgh. Now in 2021, not only does Brown have their own fursuit, but they’re on track to complete their fifth handmade costume to auction in the furry community. “It’s just such a…
Some Pittsburgh-area parents are giving Nazi salutes and prescribing horse medicine in response to new school mask mandates
With COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Allegheny County on the rise, many school districts around Pittsburgh are implementing mask mandates. And with the renewed mandates, groups of parents and activists are voicing their criticism. The conflict has erupted to such a fever pitch that Gov. Tom Wolf (D-York) has requested that the Republican-run legislature pass…
29 local artists to appear at Pittsburgh Center for Arts and Media’s 10th annual yART Sale
At an average yard sale, you can expect to find old furniture, gadgets, utensils, and clothes — maybe some art or art supplies if the yard sale proprietor had an interest in such things. If you’re just there to browse or are looking for home goods, a yard sale might be enough. But for the…
Song Spotlight: “Highwire” by Honey Prism
With a sexy, resonant beat and an impassioned vocal performance, “Highwire” by Pittsburgh dream-pop band Honey Prism is a song that’s perfect to put on when you’re trying to impress a cutie. The band consists of Jeanean Naqvi (vocals/synth), Mike Hricik (bass/synth), and Chris Rowe (guitar/vocals). With Naqvi on vocals, the mood matches what is…
Pennsylvania redistricting commission votes to end “prison gerrymandering”
When drawing state legislative lines, Pennsylvania will count tens of thousands of people locked up in state prisons not in their cell, but at their previous home address before they were incarcerated. This will effectively mark a small but meaningful shift in population from Pennsylvania countryside to it’s cities, increasing urban representation while reducing rural…
McKeesport native Swin Cash inducted into Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame
Basketball player Swin Cash has had a long career of success, stretching back to her days at McKeesport Area High School and through time in the WNBA and winning two gold medals for Team USA. And on Aug. 21, Cash success was rewarded as she was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in…
Andy Warhol Museum to play out summer with first-ever Sound Series: Block Party
The Isabella Street block of the North Side will soon serve as a stage for a variety of artists for the Andy Warhol Museum’s first-ever outdoor Sound Series: Block Party. Taking place Sat., Sept. 18, the Sound Series: Block Party will present a day full of live music by both new and returning acts. Sound Series started…
Comedy and collectibles are coming to Dad’s Basement in Dormont
From constantly listening to his grandparent’s Steve Martin comedy vinyl record when he was 8, to producing a live sketch comedy show in college, to cracking jokes with Will Ferrell in Los Angeles, 22-year-old Chris Copen returns to his Pittsburgh roots to manage a new Dormont comedy theater, Dad’s Basement. “Pittsburgh has a really cool…
Apple cider floats, gluten free brunch, and more Pittsburgh food news
D’s Six Pack and Dogz 1118 S Braddock Ave., Swissvale. ds6pax.com After closing due to a fire that damaged the building, D’s has announced they will remain closed for “a few more weeks” to continue with repairs. In the meantime, they have set up a GoFundMe for their employees to help them financially through this…
Lynn Cullen Live – 8/24/21
Video Archive “It’s Sus-day. Lynn and Susan are discussing the devastating flash floods in Tennessee this weekend and Condoleeza Rice’s opinion that twenty years was not enough to complete a journey from the 7th-century rule of the Taliban and a 30-year civil war to a stable government.” Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last…
Upper St. Clair native visits “epicenter” of gender-affirming surgeries in Going To Trinidad
About 30 years ago, Martin Smith was at a family reunion when a cousin, by wearing different earrings over a series of days, revealed she was transitioning. His family was divided by the revelation; some of them upset, some supportive. Smith admits he didn’t know what to think or say. At the next family reunion…
Hilltop with the Lid Off returns to Allentown, bringing free music, art, vendors, and more
After having to skip a year due to COVID-19 pandemic, the Hilltop with the Lid Off festival is returning this year with more festivities than before. The event was launched in 2019 and is about celebrating Allentown and the Hilltop, a term given to a coalition of 11 South Pittsburgh neighborhoods and Mt. Oliver borough.…
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy collaborates with TripleAAAnimals for 25th anniversary “All-Stars” wildlife shirts
Whether it’s a Black Rat Snake in Frick Park or a baby alligator crossing the road in West Mifflin, Allegheny County has a variety of animals many people don’t think about — much less encounter — on a typical day. But as part of its 25th-anniversary celebration, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is collaborating with TripleAAAnimals and…
Shuman Juvenile Detention Center to close in September
Allegheny County Manager William McKain announced on Mon., Aug. 23 that the Shuman Juvenile Detention Center will close on Sept. 18. This comes directly after the facility, which opened in 1974 and is located in Pittsburgh’s Lincoln-Lemington neighborhood, had its operating license revoked by Pennsylvania state officials. It was reported in the press before McKain…
Nurses at Pittsburgh’s West Penn Hospital ratify their first union contract
Nurses at West Penn Hospital faced a long battle after unionizing last August while enduring the harsh working circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic. However, a year later, the battle has mostly come to an end with a majority vote to ratify their first union contract. “We were already dealing with a nationwide nurse shortage, and…
Infighting continues as new Pa. GOP lawmakers take on election investigation
The Pennsylvania lawmaker now tasked with leading an investigation into the state’s elections says he’s taking the newfound responsibility “very seriously.” “We should have been having hearings and moving toward a more formalized plan to conduct an investigation weeks ago,” state Sen. Cris Dush (R-Jefferson) said in a statement released late Friday. “My team and…
A ruling against the P-G could further protect reporters against racial discrimination
In 2020, former Pittsburgh Post-Gazette staffer Alexis Johnson sued her former employer over an alleged civil rights violation carried out by the newspaper. Johnson, who is Black and has since landed a job at VICE, was barred by management from covering the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests after she posted a tweet comparing the mess…
Lynn Cullen Live – 8/23/21
Video Archive BREAKING: The FDA has given full approval to the Pfizer COVID vaccine. Lynn also talks about the trend of people going to livestock supply stores to purchase Ivermectin, an animal dewormer, as a way to treat COVID: “The sense that these people that will not allow their bodies to be defiled by a…
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Where: Live! Recruitment Center at the Westmoreland Mall (across from Old Navy) When: Mon., Aug. 30 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 3-6 p.m. Your destiny awaits! Live! Casino Pittsburgh is looking for energetic, hardworking, personable people who want to be part of a great team environment. If you’ve been looking for an opportunity to break into…
Activists call for Rep. Conor Lamb to reestablish $10 billion cut from public transit
Activists and supporters gathered outside Rep. Conor Lamb’s (D-Mt. Lebanon) Penn Hills office on Thu., Aug. 19 to express the need for improvements in the $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill proposed in the U.S. House of Representatives. Organizers of the #SealTheDeal rally stood alongside supporters holding signs that read, “Public Transit! Climate Justice! Green Union Jobs!”…
Pittsburgh Public School students, guardians given free Port Authority passes after bus driver shortage
Pittsburgh Public Schools is facing a shortage of school bus drivers. While school was initially set to start on Wed., Aug. 25, it will now begin Wed., Sept. 8, as the school system was short 426 drivers as of Aug. 10. The shortage translates to a lack of 11,000 seats needed to transport students. One…
Pittsburgh community garden receives major grant to expand its operations
Urban gardens and farms have become a major point of focus throughout the country as a way to utilize vacant plots, provide green space, and combat food insecurity in areas that lack sufficient access to grocery stores. Recently, Pittsburgh went a step further when two nonprofits committed to permanently protect urban gardens and farms with…
Videos show how Little Italy Days has drastically changed since creation in 2000s
Little Italy Days has returned after a 2020 absence caused by the COVID pandemic, and Bloomfield’s street festival is picking up right where it left off. The festival has grown massively over the years, and 2021 continues that trend with booths stretching several blocks on Liberty Avenue. Little Italy Days has become so big that…
Catapult Greater Pittsburgh seeks to help Black first-time homebuyers with new fund
For many, homeownership is a milestone that is desired, but not achievable. Many barriers exist to prevent people from buying their first home, but a new program through Catapult Greater Pittsburgh seeks to help combat those issues, especially financial barriers that have held back Pittsburgh’s Black community. The “Next Steps Fund” was launched to support…
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If you’re looking for a purpose and not just a job, Smoothie King is looking for you. The industry leader since 1973, Smoothie King prides itself on its ability to provide guests with a quality, delicious product, while giving them an experience they want to come back for. In order for the brand to continue…
Pittsburgh Opera will rebroadcast its 2020-21 season livestreams in limited release
While many venues shut down in-person events and productions in 2020 as the pandemic spread, Pittsburgh Opera continued to perform in front of live, indoor audiences. At the time, each performance was livestreamed and made available for two weeks. Now, Pittsburgh Opera is re-releasing the livestreams from its 2020-21 season for two nights each, starting…
Pittsburgh’s Garbage Olympics is growing and is looking for more participants
The 2020 Olympics may have come to an end, but Pittsburgh is hosting their own competitive Olympics, just replacing the sports with collecting trash around the city. “Through the astounding amount of trash picked up with the Garbage Olympics over the course of only 2 hours every year, we’ve been able to make the case…
Song Spotlight: “Bullet” by Chandra Rhyme
This smooth track combines two of my favorite things: great vocals and a tantalizing beat. Chandra Rhyme’s talent has captured the city, especially after her Sunstar Music Festival performance a few months ago. She released “Bullet” in April shortly after that performance, and it’s been in heavy rotation in my apartment since. When I talked…
On the Tahn: Dance parties and live music at The Government Center, Belvedere’s Ultra-Dive, and more (Aug. 19-21)
Many of the venues included on this list have implemented guidelines that require you to be vaccinated for entry or have a negative COVID test. Visit their websites to find out what rules are in place before attending an event or check out the updated Pittsburgh City Paper list of establishments renewing mask mandates and creating…
Lynn Cullen Live – 8/19/21
Video Archive Lynn is remembering professional wrestler Dominic DeNucci who passed away on August 12, 2021. Plus, Lynn is discussing The Butler School Districts mask policy and the Mars School District’s Patriotism policy. Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
Lynn Cullen Live – Jennifer Murtazashvili Interview
Video Archive Jennifer Murtazashvili, University Of Pittsburgh Director of the Center for Governance and Markets, joins Lynn to talk about helping Afghan refugees to flee the country. Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
Lynn Cullen Live – 8/18/21
Video Archive Lynn is talking with Jennifer Murtazashvili, University Of Pittsburgh Director of the Center for Governance and Markets, about helping Afghan refugees to get out of the country. Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
Why some Pittsburgh industries are seeing persistent labor shortages
Everyone has seen the signs. At several restaurants and retailers across Pittsburgh, workers have quit en masse or walked out and announced the establishment is closed with hastily made handwritten posters. Sometimes the workers share an emphatic “We Quit” message, sometimes they walk out without letting anyone know. Whether done out of frustration, organized labor…
Meet the Pittsburgh artist behind Electric Cat fashion designs
Masha Vereshchenko crosses her legs as she sits on the windowsill of Boheme in Lawrenceville with Bat, her tiny, 7-month-old Chihuahua excitedly climbing over her. She’s dressed in black, but her neon yellow modern mullet and red eyeshadow juxtaposes against her dark outfit, much like her own artwork. Vereshchenko has considered herself an artist since…
The Government Center finds a new location and a new vision
After opening its original location on East Ohio Street in January 2019, The Government Center has quickly become a favorite for Pittsburgh record collectors. But it’s not just a place to buy and sell music, the shop also doubles as a venue for local and traveling bands. Now, the record store has moved a few…
Help Wanted: 100+ Job listings from throughout the Pittsburgh region
We know the pandemic has been hard on many Pittsburghers, so we invited area employers to send us their job openings. Whether you’re looking for a new career — or looking for someone to fill a position, stay tuned for our new weekly online feature compiling job listings from across the region. To be considered…
Shall we give up or keep on keepin’ on?
I was in a complete Viola Davis in Fences crying mode. Eyes draining tears, nose leaking, mouth drooling and turned into a frown as I tried to explain my overwhelming sadness to my father over the phone. I talked and talked. Well, I squawked and squawked. After a few minutes, I was actually surprised how…
VegFest returns with an in-person, plant-based festival
After a smaller-scale series of pop-ups in 2020, Pittsburgh VegFest is returning in person for its 2021 festival. Attendees can sample vegan dishes from local restaurants and food vendors, shop at local small businesses, and meet animal-friendly nonprofits — all while listening to live music from local bands and musicians. “The excitement we have seen…
Seven Days in Pittsburgh: Aug. 19-25
Thu., Aug. 19 LIT • IRL If you’re a fan of salacious crime, science-fiction, and horror stories with eye-grabbing art, PulpFest invites you to experience a weekend of all that and more. Head to the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh – Cranberry for a celebration of pulp magazines, a colorful genre that flourished between the…
Four good places to look if you are thinking about changing careers in Pittsburgh
Unemployment rates and layoffs skyrocketed in March 2020 due to the pandemic, but businesses in Pittsburgh have slowly reopened in the last few months and have started hiring employees as vaccinations have become available. Yet as businesses reopen and search for employees, the mindsets of some workers have changed due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns, with…
Soulshowmike’s album picks: A Rex Theater favorite and The Purple One
Confession: I was never really a Prince follower. Fandom isn’t earned by liking or loving 30 songs of a megastar, and it requires knowing things like discography sequence, the “phases,” and credits. Now, this doesn’t mean that Prince is not important to me. I have total respect, but there’s just a personal resonance that doesn’t…
Five Pittsburgh industries that have recovered the most since the pandemic began
After record-breaking unemployment rates occurred when the coronavirus pandemic struck Allegheny County in March 2020, some industries in the Pittsburgh region have now almost fully recovered to their pre-pandemic number of employees, and some have even increased. Pittsburgh City Paper has gathered data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to reveal which five industries have…
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY: Aug. 19-25
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):”If we wait until we are ready, we will be waiting for the rest of our lives,” declared novelist Lemony Snicket. This is good advice for you to heed right now. I really hope you avoid the temptation to wait around for the perfect moment before you begin. In my vision of…
