This week in summer activities includes Riverboat Birding and The Raconteurs
Mon., Aug. 12 [Stage] 12 Peers Theater presents Everybody, a modern riff on a 15th-century morality play where no two performances are the same. Be sure to see the production of this unique, Pulitzer Prize-nominated play. 8 p.m. Continues through Sun., Aug. 18. Richard E. Rauh Studio Theatre, 4200 Fifth Ave., Oakland. $5. 12peers.org Tue., Aug.…
ScareHouse to haunt the Strip District and Market Square with new attractions
There’s a reason why ScareHouse has been voted Best Haunted Attraction multiple times by Pittsburgh City Paper readers, including this year. And while the Etna-based ScareHouse is undergoing a complete revamp, and is set to reopen at a new location in 2020, that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop. The ScareHouse creators announced the coming of…
Gov. Wolf calls for ICE to cease all arrests that result in child separation in Pa.
Governor Tom Wolf announced Monday that he is calling for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to end all arrests that result in the separation of children from their parents in Pennsylvania. In a letter to Kevin McAleenan, acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Wolf demanded that ICE produce a policy ensuring…
Trump’s visit to Beaver County cracker plant sparks protests
President Donald Trump visited the Shell cracker plant construction project in Beaver County today to show his administration’s support of the plant. The cracker plant will refine natural gas and turn it into plastics and has been supported not only by Trump, but also Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, both…
Phish announces tour with December stop in Pittsburgh
A few weeks prior to Phish’s traditional summer-ending three-night run in Commerce City, Colo., the band has announced seven fall tour dates, one of which is in Pittsburgh. Phish makes a stop at the Petersen Event Center in Oakland on Dec. 4, the same place the band performed the last time they were in Pittsburgh…
Basslines and brews: Jonny Goood pairs up with Full Pint Brewing Company for new beer
Pittsburgh bassist Jonny Goood is branching into the alcoholic beverage world with Bass Hop, a new beer released in partnership with Full Pint Brewing Company. Named after Goood’s 2018 release, Bass Hop, the latest addition to Full Pint’s family is a New England-style IPA with Azacca and Cashmere hops. “Being that I REALLY drink beer,…
Local news stations among Mid-Atlantic Emmy nominees
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced the 2019 Mid-Atlantic Emmy nominees today. There’s no Elisabeth Moss or Game of Thrones, but the awards will highlight and reward the hard work of local news organizations. The extensive list of nominees features 80 categories (some categories are split in two for different market sizes).…
State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe creates his own conspiracy theory about Jeffrey Epstein suicide
On Sat., Aug. 10, multi-millionaire political financier Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide in his jail cell. Epstein was a convicted sexual predator who was set to go on trial for a large-scale sex trafficking case. Conspiracy theories about Epstein’s death have been espoused by just about everyone on the political spectrum, including President Donald Trump. Most…
Heinz can’t stop collaborating with Ed Sheeran
In June, Heinz released an ad featuring singer and movie star Ed Sheeran. The ad, which was supposedly pitched by Sheeran to Heinz’s through Instagram DMs, features the singer dining at a restaurant so fancy and snooty, that the waiter, chef, and other patrons are horrified when Sheeran whips out a bottle of ketchup from…
Filmmaker Chris Ivey commemorates anniversary of Charlottesville with We Are Here: Finding Beauty in the Raw
In August 2017, Pittsburgh-based filmmaker Chris Ivey was on his way to Charlottesville, Va. to document the city’s Confederate Robert E. Lee statue for his video installation, We Are Here. The day before his arrival, however, he saw the Charlottesville riots via a live stream from the nonprofit media collective Unicorn Riot. “That Saturday morning, I woke…
Make Pittsburgh Great Again: Buy back the Log Jammer
The Log Jammer was retired at the end of the 2017 Kennywood Season. And as you would have guessed, Pittsburgh, a city well-known for embracing change, was not having it: And this cogent, relevant argument posted underneath a Facebook announcement of the ride’s closing: And this market-savvy analysis: I’m sure these people all tried to…
Heinz History Center will host a talk on Black media during the Vietnam War
To celebrate its ongoing exhibit about the Vietnam War, the Heinz History Center will host “Black Media and the Vietnam War” on Tue., Aug. 13. The free event will feature lead curator of The Vietnam War: 1945-1975, Samuel W. Black, in conversation with longtime Pittsburgh broadcaster Chris Moore, who is also a Vietnam veteran. The discussion…
Pleasant Hills Vocelli Pizza celebrates its 21st anniversary with 100 pizza giveaway
Today, the Vocelli Pizza in Pleasant Hills celebrates its 21st anniversary with something mouth-watering: the first 100 carryout customers will receive a free large pepperoni or cheese pizza. The event begins at 4 p.m., and if you’re just reading this now, you’re most likely cutting it close to the start time. Here’s how to make it to the Pleasant…
PNC Bank will no longer finance the private-prison industry
According to Forbes magazine, PNC bank announced on Aug. 10 that it will stop financing private prisons that contribute to mass incarceration and participate in immigrant detention. PNC spokesperson Marcey Zwiebel told Forbes that the bank continually reviews its lending standards concerning environmental and social responsibilities, and a recent review led them to cease funds…
Show Playlist: Pittsburgh’s Very Own – Sat., Aug. 10
It’s very rare to find an all femme concert lineup in Pittsburgh. It’s even rarer for that lineup to be all Black femmes. Tonight, INEZ, Leila Rhodes, Sierra Sellers, and Simone Davis will be performing at Mr. Smalls Theatre for Pittsburgh’s Very Own, a quarterly series curated with the city’s top talent in mind. Before heading…
US Rep. Mike Doyle’s climate change town hall omissions draw concerns from environmental advocates
Next Wed., Aug. 14, U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Forest Hills) is holding a town hall to talk about climate change. The event at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall in Oakland will feature two panels of experts to discuss solutions to address climate change. “I will provide an update on action to address climate change at…
Make the most of your Saturday (Aug. 10) with this handy weekend guide to festivals, live music, and more
Sat., Aug. 10 is packed with some big events, including food and drink festivals and live music by the water. To help you get the most out of this incredibly packed Saturday, check out this handy guide with times, locations, and, in some cases, distances. Fresh Fest 2019. 12-9 p.m. Nova Place, 100 S. Commons…
New releases and release shows this weekend from Slugss, Billy Price, and Urns
Not sure what to do this weekend? Well, lucky for us, the local music community has blessed Pittsburgh with an abundance of new releases and accompanying release shows. So whether you’d rather stay in and enjoy some new tunes or go out and experience the music live, there’s no storage of fresh sounds in the…
Best of Pittsburgh 2019 in pictures
Best of Pittsburgh 2019 was held Thu., Aug. 8 at Nova Place on the North Side to celebrate the winners from a variety of categories, as voted by the readers of Pittsburgh City Paper. The event featured aerialists, musicians, and activities for guests to enjoy. Here are some of our favorite moments, captured by CP sales…
Missed the 9th Annual Grateful Dead Meet-Up at the Movies? Here’s your second chance
On Thu., Aug. 1, the birthday of the late Grateful Dead founding member Jerry Garcia, Dead Heads around the world joined in on the 9th Annual Grateful Dead Meet-Up at the Movies. In select theaters, Grateful Dead fans were able to view the previously unreleased complete June 17, 1991 concert from Giants Stadium in New…
Majority of Pennsylvanians want changes to how state funds towns without police departments
In Pennsylvania, about 1,300 communities don’t have a police department, according to the Harrisburg radio station WITF. That is more than half of the municipalities in the state. In lieu of local police, Pennsylvania state troopers take care of these areas’ policing needs. But those communities don’t pay extra for those services in the same way…
Check out the artists and vendors highlighted at the 2019 Art Festival on Walnut Street
Since it first started over 20 years ago, the Art Festival on Walnut Street in Shadyside has grown from a fun street market to a major Pittsburgh art event. This year, guests can expect 150 national and regional artists working in an array of media. Presented by the Florida-based juried art show producer Howard Alan…
Lynn Cullen Live – 8/8/19
Video Archive Sally Wiggin is joining Lynn today. They are covering a lot of topics including the Pittsburgh City Paper’s Best of Pittsburgh, Sally’s retirement, and much more. Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
Beth Macy brings her incisive reporting to the opioid crisis with the harrowing and surprising Dopesick
In 1884, W.G. Rogers, a physician from Richmond, Va., wrote about morphine addiction among Civil War veterans who used the drug to ease the pain of war wounds: “I have heard them with tears in their eyes, saying they wished it had never been prescribed to them.” More than 100 years later, another Virginia physician would…
Pittsburgh Grooveline: Dance parties at Nova Place, Spirit, and more (Aug. 8-14)
Each week, 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.) Thu., Aug. 8 Pittsburgh City Paper Best Of Party at Nova Place. 7 p.m. 100 S. Commons,…
Four acts take over Spirit for LOCAL – Live concert film shoot
When Will Juergens started his futuristic-pop solo project, PM Mirror, he did so hoping to create new music and tell stories. As he and two friends, Alex Grant and Elliot Conway, began working on a virtual reality docu-series following local music in Pittsburgh, they knew a focus would be capturing the many different genres and quirks…
What to expect at Fresh Fest 2019
Fresh Fest Beer Fest, the nation’s first Black brew festival, is back for its second year. And this time, it’s “even #FRESHER.” The festival was created by Mike Potter, founder of online magazine Black Brew Culture, and Day Bracey and Ed Bailey, the faces behind popular podcast Drinking Partners. The trio met by recording an…
Pittsburgh-based author celebrates the often overlooked career of soul legend Joe Tex
The prologue of Hold What You’ve Got, a new biography of the soul singer Joe Tex by Pittsburgh-based author Jason Martinko, starts with James Brown holding two shotguns. It’s 1963 at an Otis Redding show at a club in Macon, Ga., where Tex had earlier mocked James’ caped, onstage antics with a “raggedy blanket with…
CMU forms center to research the influence of online disinformation
As the 2020 election kicks into gear, it more important than ever to call attention to disinformation online. In July, Carnegie Mellon University formed the Center for Informed Democracy and Social Cybersecurity (IDeaS), which will work to research and address false news stories, propaganda from foreign countries, and doctored photos and videos, among other popular forms…
Pittsburgh CLO’s Hello, Dolly! has all the onstage magic, farcical fun, and physical comedy a good production demands
If you’ve never experienced the very specific magic that happens when a Broadway diva in a red dress walks slowly down a staircase during Hello, Dolly’s title number, the production that’s closing out Pittsburgh CLO’s summer season is a great place to start. And if you have seen the show before, you already know the…
Where we’re going, we don’t need phones
Pitcairn is now home to a brand new restaurant-slash-museum with the excellent name of Back to the Foodture. The burger joint offers a wide selection of indulgent fried food in a space filled with pop-culture memorabilia and history lessons. According to owners Angela Randolph and Edward Magwood, it’s a space to reminisce and show their…
Lynn Cullen Live – 8/7/19
Video Archive It’s a busy show today. Ryan Deto is joining Lynn during the first half to talk about news stories that are interesting him. In the second half Moriah Ella Mason will be here to discuss her show Queer, Jewish – Dancing in Diaspora, which is on stage August 8-11, and 15-18 with Off…
Best of Pittsburgh Culture and Nightlife
Best Alt-Folk/Alt-Country Band Smokestack Lightning Search “Smokestack Lightning” on Facebook 2nd: November Blue novemberblueband.com 3rd: The Shiners shinersrock.com Best Bar (Downtown and Vicinity) Condado Tacos 971 Liberty Ave., Downtown and 4300 Butler St., Lawrenceville condadotacos.com 2nd: Olive Or Twist olive-twist.com 3rd: Butcher and the Rye butcherandtherye.com Best Bar (East) Kelly’s Bar & Lounge 6012 Penn…
Best of Pittsburgh Goods and Services
Best Adult Store Adultmart Multiple locations adultmart.com 2nd: Sassy Sensations sassysensations.com 3rd: Naughty Cocktail Parties naughtycocktailparties.com Best Alterations Shop/Seamstress Alterations Express Multiple locations alterations-express.com 2nd: Suz Pisano facebook.com/suz.pisano 3rd: Pitt Tailoring & Alterations pghtailoring.com Best Antique Shop E. N. Miller Antique Mall 614 E. Railroad Ave., Verona Search “EN Miller Antique Mall” on Facebook 2nd:…
Best Happy Hour: Federal Galley
When Federal Galley opened in 2017, the headlines focused entirely on the incubator format. And why wouldn’t they? Pittsburgh now had two restaurants from the Galley Group (Smallman Galley opened in the Strip District in 2015) to provide innovative, casual, delicious dining from a rotating lineup of amazing chefs. It’s a novel concept without feeling…
Best Chef: Matt Christie
All Matt Christie wants to do is cook. The mind and co-owner behind Streets on Carson has never wanted to do anything else. Christie set his sights on being a chef as a teenager, picking up his first shift on a line as soon as he was old enough, and eventually attending the Pennsylvania Culinary…
Best Korean Food: Bae Bae’s Kitchen
When lunch hour strikes Downtown, one thing is certain: There will be a line at Bae Bae’s Kitchen. The Korean-inspired eatery, run by husband and wife team Ashely Bae and Edward Lai, opened in 2017. The tiny restaurant boasted creative Korean fare in a fast-casual setting, something Pittsburgh had never seen before. Now, Bae Bae’s…
Best Vegan/Vegetarian Restaurant: Apteka
When Kate Lasky and her partner Tomasz Skowronksi started a pop-up peddling their Central and Eastern European vegan recipes a few years ago, they quickly started drawing hundreds of customers each night. The feedback was so intense and positive that it wasn’t hard for Lasky and Skowronski to decide to convert their pop-up into Apteka,…
What to consider before visiting a swinger club
I was in the Netherlands the first time I went to a swinger club. Neither my partner at the time nor I had been to Europe, and we had certainly never been to a sex club. Without really knowing what we were getting into, we got dressed up and were excited for an adventure. Our…
Best Pittsburgh Power Couple: Gisele and John Fetterman
If you were to look at Gisele Fetterman’s social media and study her photos with her husband, John, you might think she doesn’t know what she’s doing. John is 6’8” and is constantly getting most of his head cropped out of Gisele’s photos. It looks amateurish, but in reality it is a long running joke,…
Free Will Astrology
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I am overjoyed that you’re not competing for easy rewards or comparing yourself to the mediocre crowd. Some people in your sphere may not be overjoyed, though. To those whose sense of self isn’t strong, you may be like an itchy allergen; they may accuse you of showing off or acting…
Best of Pittsburgh 2019 Readers’ Poll
Come one, come all to the greatest show in town: Pittsburgh City Paper’s Best of Pittsburgh 2019 readers’ poll. You’ll find all the best parts of a show-stopping carnival on the following pages: Amazing Entertainment, Wondrous Goods, Incredible Food, and Extraordinary People. This year, a record-breaking 204,896 votes were cast by 29,507 Pittsburghers. And since…
Best Independent Movie Theater/Best Local Movie Theater: Row House Cinema
One of the biggest downsides of the streaming era has been the decline of movie theaters. It’s so easy to watch movies at home — and so much cheaper, considering how expensive and elaborate chain movie theaters have gotten. While they don’t have glorified La-Z-Boy chairs as seating, locally-owned, independent theaters have a lot to…
Best of Pittsburgh Food and Drink
Best Asian Food Chengdu Gourmet 5840 Forward Ave., Squirrel Hill chengdugourmet.net 2nd: Banh Mi and Ti facebook.com/BanhMiandTi 3rd: Thai Gourmet facebook.com/ThaiGourmetPittsburgh Best Bakery Oakmont Bakery 1 Sweet St., Oakmont oakmontbakery.com 2nd: La Gourmandine lagourmandinebakery.com 3rd: Prantl’s Bakery prantlsbakery.com Best BBQ Smoke Barbeque Taqueria 4115 Butler St., Lawrenceville smokepgh.com 2nd: Pork & Beans porkandbeanspgh.com 3rd: Pittsburgh…
Best Local Hip-Hop Performer/Best Local Legend: Mac Miller
Oftentimes, it is not until death that a person’s talent and contribution to the world is genuinely appreciated. Enter the Dragon, the movie that made martial artist Bruce Lee a household name, hit theaters a month after his death. Emily Dickinson’s acclaimed writing wasn’t acclaimed until after her passing. Latin American singer Selena’s legacy catapulted…
Best of Pittsburgh People and Places
Best Activist Phat Man Dee phatmandeemusic.com 2nd: Jasiri X jasirix.com 3rd: Ciora Thomas sisterspgh.org Best Attorney Phil DiLucente, Phil DiLucente and Associates, LLC getphil.com 2nd: David J. Shrager shragerdefense.com 3rd: Rocco E. Cozza cozzalaw.com Best Bike Lane Montour Trail Runs from Clairton to Coraopolis montourtrail.org 2nd: Penn Avenue Runs from Strip District to Downtown 3rd:…
Best Local Poet/Best Local Visual Artist: Vanessa German
here is a boy who should be dancing./here is a boy who should be up in the morning making his mother laugh, eye shine reflecting the sky, a sigh in his chest leaning into the wind of the day with a sweet ache to own the horizon in his wing span. So begins a poem…
Best of Pittsburgh Staff Picks
Best Local Artist with a Bassnectar Remix Buku bukudatdude.com Buku’s track “Front To Back” was already a standalone hit, but when Bassnectar remixed the song, adding drums and speeding up the tempo, the new mix cemented Buku’s name in the EDM world. And because the Pittsburgh native, born Robert Balotsky, likes to spend much of…
Best Place to Dance/Best Club/Best New Bar (Under Five Years Old): Spirit
Considering the impressive number of events it hosts, as well as its signature menu of original cocktails and fresh food, it’s no surprise that Spirit has dominated three Best Of categories. In the few short years since it took over a former Moose Lodge in Lawrenceville, it’s become a staple of the local arts and entertainment…
Best Medical Marijuana Dispensary: The Healing Center
Western Pennsylvania has only had medical marijuana dispensaries for a bit over a year, but they are as popular as ever. Demand for cannabis medication has been so high that most dispensaries have had trouble keeping products on their shelves. This can mean some impatient patients, and that can lead to chronic headaches for dispensaries.…
Best Nail Salon: LaLa’s Salon and Spa
Less than two years ago, Lauren Long was making house calls to do clients’ nails and running a business out of the back of her car. She built up a customer base and opened LaLa’s Salon and Spa on Penn Avenue in Garfield in July 2018, and this past June, opened a second location in…
Best Sneaker Shop: Threads on Carson
Some sneakers, like the latest pair of Sauconys or those fresh new Asics, won’t be found in a typical department store, and buying online is a pain. Luckily, sneakerheads can browse the latest styles and popular brands in person with a comfortable shopping experience at Threads on Carson. Now in two locations – South Side…
Best Locally Owned Retail Shop: love, Pittsburgh
With two retail stores and an online market, the team behind love, Pittsburgh describe themselves as “champions of local.” Founded by two local makers, Monica Yope and Kelly Sanders, the first love, Pittsburgh store opened in Mount Washington in June 2017, with a second store opening in Downtown in spring 2018. Both locations feature a…
Best New Food Truck; Pita My Shawarama
Some good advice for anybody thinking about opening a food truck: keep it simple. Space is limited and even with the relatively low overhead of a mobile business (at least compared to brick-and-mortar), there’s no need to offer a diner-length menu on four wheels. Figure out what dishes work consistently well and give the people…
