Fun a Day Pittsburgh: 31 Days of Upcycled Newspapers
If one of your resolutions is to become more creative this year, join Pittsburgh City Paper in kicking off 2020 by making something new every day this month. We’ve signed up for Fun A Day Pittsburgh where participants spend every day in January working on a project for the month — some make something new for 31 days,…
Update: Code Orange drop first single/video from forthcoming album, Underneath
On Thu., Dec. 19, Code Orange posted a URL — whatisreallyunderneath.com — to its Facebook page. The Pittsburgh hardcore punk band then followed up with daily updates of cryptic words and images on Facebook and Twitter accounts: abstract visuals in black and metallic dark blue, black and white photos of individual band members posted with numbers counting…
Concerts Announcements with local highlights: Pittsburgh’s Very Own, Lynsanity, and Chip & The Charge Ups
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. Hip Hop/Rap PVO ft. Cam Chambers, Jrouz3, and more. Fri., March 6. Mr. Smalls Theatre, Millvale. Lynsanity ft. Lyn Starr, Deejay Aesthetics, and more. Fri., Feb.…
Allegheny County Jail population down 7% in 2019, according to new county report
Problems at the Allegheny County Jail have been ongoing for years. Reports of overcrowding, suicides, health-care problems, and criticism of Warden Orlando Harper have been persistent over the past decade. To address these issues, Allegheny County received $2 million funding last year from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The goal was to…
Pittsburgh Grooveline: Dance parties at COBRA Lounge, Cattivo, and more (Jan. 9-15)
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., Jan. 10 Raver Things 3: The Snowball at Cattivo. 7 p.m.-2 a.m. 146 44th St.,…
For Sale With Baggage: Don’t mess with mom
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…
Cirque du Soleil OVO adds a seventh performance to its PPG Paints Arena tour stop
Cirque du Soleil, now in its 36th year, never ceases to amaze a crowd. It’s lively, colorful, freaky (how do they bend that way?), and fun for all ages. So it’s no surprise that PPG Paints Arena announced today that a seventh performance of Cirque du Soleil OVO, a bug-themed show touching down at the venue from…
Weekly Food Truck Schedule: Jan. 8-15
Are you tired of tracking down food trucks? Welcome to the Pittsburgh City Paper food truck roundup, where we do the hard work for you. Each week, we’re compiling a list of city trucks and their schedules. (For the most up-to-date schedule, visit each truck’s website.) AFRICAN Kilimanjaro Flavour @kilimanjaro_flavour Wednesday: Burns White. 48 26th…
State House candidate Dan Smith is gearing up for a rematch with Daryl Metcalfe
In 2018, state House candidate Dan Smith (D-Adams) made a splash by challenging Pennsylvania’s most conservative lawmaker, state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Cranberry). Metcalfe is well known for spreading homophobia, and Smith is openly gay. Ultimately, his race attracted a lot of buzz, and though Metcalfe prevailed by more than 16 points, this was his closest…
Pittsburgh state House Rep. Harry Readshaw is retiring at end of year
State Rep. Harry Readshaw (D-Carrick) has represented Pittsburgh’s southern neighborhoods in Harrisburg for more than 25 years. Today, he announced his intention to retire at the end of this year. Readshaw is 78 years old. “For 13 terms — that translates into 25 years — I have been blessed and humbled by being elected Pennsylvania state representative…
Are you a recent college grad? Apply to drive the Wienermobile as one of Oscar Mayer’s next Hotdoggers
You just graduated from college. Your entire life lies ahead of you, so bright, shiny, and full of possibilities. Will you use your newly acquired education to become a groundbreaking tech genius, a miracle-working doctor, an artist whose work inspires people all over the world? Or will you pilot a giant hot dog? The Pittsburgh-based…
On his first day, new Westmoreland County sheriff finds his office littered with dirty clothes and a DVD of Paul Blart: Mall Cop
A mysterious mess appeared in Westmoreland County yesterday. TribLive reported that newly instated Westmoreland County Sheriff James Albert walked into the office to find it “trashed” on his first day. When Albert arrived at his new digs, he was greeted with boxes of old arrest warrants blocking the door, trash strewn about, and a pile…
As KeyBank Pavilion undergoes another name change, City Paper staff recalls their most memorable concerts at the venue
Thirty years in, the Burgettstown venue KeyBank Pavilion is undergoing its fifth name change. As of this weekend, the amphitheater officially transitioned to S&T Bank Music Park. Opened in June of 1990 and originally called Coca-Cola Star Lake Amphitheater (Star Lake is how many Pittsburghers still fondly refer to it), the venue takes on a new name every…
Lynn Cullen Live – 1/7/20
Video Archive Susan is joining Lynn for the first time this year. First up they are discussing the Illinois legalization of recreational marijuana. The demand has been so large that the state has already run out. They are also talking about the PBS documentary American Experience on Joseph McCarthy which aired last night. Audio Only…
Don’t get it twisted, Sierra Sellers is ‘Grown’
Don’t let the soft blonde curls fool you, Sierra Sellers is a grown-ass woman. And she’s reminding listeners of such in her latest single, “Grown.” Clocking in at just under three minutes, Sellers’ sings about adult love, which comes which has a different set of boundaries than a juvenile relationship, things like knowing and admitting…
Dear Edward took me on a healing journey I didn’t know I needed
At the opening of Ann Napolitano’s third novel, Dear Edward, the title character Eddie Adler, a 12-year-old from New York City, is traveling on a flight from Newark to Los Angeles with his parents and older brother. Eddie’s mother, a former Law & Order writer, has a new gig working as a writer for a…
Rep. Conor Lamb endorses Joe Biden for President, as expected
On Sunday afternoon, Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Mt. Lebanon) announced his endorsement of Joe Biden for president, following years as political allies. In a statement, Lamb cited Biden’s support of the working class and his ability to unite the country as reasons for his endorsement. “I have seen firsthand that Joe Biden knows the people of…
High-profile white supremacist forced out of anti-war rally by Pittsburgh protesters
On Saturday, more than 200 people rallied in Schenley Plaza to oppose any escalated war efforts in the Middle East following the U.S. ordered killing of a high-ranking Iranian official. The Pittsburgh rally was organized by the ANSWER Coalition, an anti-war and civil rights group. Across the street, a second smaller group of only five…
More than 200 gather in Oakland to protest potential escalated war in the Middle East
On Thu., Jan. 2, the Trump administration announced it had carried out the killing of Qasem Soleimani, an Iranian general considered one of the most powerful people in Iran. Following the killing, there have been several reports of the large possibility of an escalated war with Iran. The Pentagon announced yesterday that about 3,500 additional…
Adam Fitz introduces himself to Pittsburgh with two acoustic singles
Originally from Chicago, singer/songwriter Adam Fitz recently relocated to Pittsburgh and is kicking off his new year and new city with two new singles. On Jan. 1, he dropped singles “Can’t Pardon Me” and “Long Time Losing You.” In “Can’t Pardon Me,” over a somber acoustic melody, Fitz sings of regret (“Wedding band / moving boxes / they…
Now Playing: a documentary about Mexican ambulances, a remake of The Grudge, and more
Every Friday, Pittsburgh City Paper compiles a round-up of new releases and second-run films playing around the city. This only covers films that are new to theaters this week; check out what movies opened previously here. Midnight Family If you think the American ambulance system is dysfunctional, then take a look at what’s going on…
For Sale With Baggage: A not-so-perfect gift comes out of the closet
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 Sale…
Pittsburgh received 50+ inches of precipitation for first time ever in consecutive years
Last year was the third wettest year on record in Pittsburgh history. More than 52 inches of precipitation fell over Southwestern Pennsylvania. This was only the fourth time in recorded history, in well over 100 years, that Pittsburgh received that much rain and snow. One of the other times was last year, which was the…
City Paper Live – 1/3/20
Video Archive Senior Writers Ryan Deto and Amanda Waltz discuss City Paper’s Pittsburgh’s People of the Year issue, as well as Cheez Whiz and resolutions the city of Pittsburgh could make. Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
A week after a particularly bad stretch of air pollution, Allegheny County Health Dept. announces plans for handling next one
Following a temperature inversion that caused heavy smog during the week of Christmas, the Allegheny County Health Department announced steps to reduce pollution when future inversions occur. In a press release, the ACHD acknowledged that temperature inversions will increase in frequency and intensity with climate change. During an inversion, the behavior of the atmosphere reverses…
Pittsburgh’s fracking industry cut more than 400 jobs in 2019, with more cuts likely on the way
Last year, Pittsburgh’s fracking industry cut hundreds of jobs, and the outlook for 2020 could be even worse for the natural gas extraction field. Local natural gas players like EQT, Range Resources, and CNX have cut a combined total of more than 400 jobs since January 2019. EQT, which is headquartered in Pittsburgh, led the…
Preserving Hardcore is now Preserving Underground
That’s not a typo on Facebook. The New Kensington hardcore/metal record store/museum Preserving Hardcore is starting 2020 with a new name: Preserving Underground. “Preserving Hardcore is a brand I had built up on total accident over the years of just collecting, archiving, sharing, and distributing friends’ bands and music I enjoyed growing up,” says A.J. Rassau, owner of…
Celebrate 2020 by eating like it’s 1920 at Klavon’s Ice Cream Parlor
Klavon’s Ice Cream Parlor is ringing in the new year by taking prices back to the Jazz Age. From Jan. 2-3, the 1920s-era Strip District parlor is turning the clock back a century, selling ice cream cones for a penny, sundaes for a nickel, and banana splits for a dime. The parlor is calling this…
A new you for 2020: Digitize your New Year’s Resolutions.
It happens every year: you make a New Year’s resolution to get healthy and this is finally the year you stick with it — you swear. But you wake up on Jan. 1 and reality sets in: The resolutions can wait until next Monday to start (because Mondays are the optimal time to start new…
A IS FOR ANTHROPOCENE: Living in the Age of Humanity
Sponsored Content The Science of Henry David Thoreau Dec 10, 2019 · 47 minutes Eric and Sloan discuss the enduring inspiration of Walden Pond, ecotourism, and a potential new biofuel. Mason Heberling, the museum’s curator of botany, shares his recent work and what Thoreau’s journals reveal about the effects of climate change on wildflowers.
Steely McBeam is immortalized in a creamy butter sculpture
It finally happened. After years of working the mills, covered in grime, and then forced to cheer on his namesake football team every Sunday, Steely McBeam has finally received the recognition he deserves. At the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg this year, the Pittsburgh Steelers mascot has been immortalized in a butter sculpture. His chiseled…
Pittsburgh Grooveline: Dance parties at Roboto Project, Ace Hotel, and more (Jan. 2-8)
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.) Sat., Jan. 4 SisTers PGH Benefit at The Mr. Roboto Project. 8-11 p.m. Doors at 7…
Focus on Healthy Habits and Realistic Goals to Lose Weight in the New Year
Slim down. Drop a few pounds. Make my scale happy. Reverse my clothes shrinkage. However it’s worded, weight loss is one of the most common New Year’s Resolutions. Not surprisingly, a lot of these resolutions fail: Unrealistic goals and trendy weight programs lead to frustration and burnout with a return to original behaviors (and the…
Free Will Astrology (1/2-1/8)
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I’m going to speculate that sometime in the next six months, you will experience events that years from now you’ll look back on as having been the beginning of a fresh universe for you. What should you call this launch? I suggest you consider elegant terms like “Destiny Rebirth” or “Fate…
Sen. Pat Toomey criticized for blocking paid family leave for 100K federal employees
As part of the recently passed National Defense Authorization Act for the 2020 fiscal year, more than 2 million federal workers will soon qualify for 12 weeks of paid parental leave. The inclusion of paid family leave was praised by Democrats, who have been attempting to pass legislation for years that would require paid time…
YouTube series highlights Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods, big and small
There are about 90 neighborhoods in Pittsburgh, give or take depending on what you count as a neighborhood. Everyone knows the neighborhood in which they live, and a handful of others. But nobody knows all of them well, even YouTuber Dean Bog, who’s been highlighting all the corners of Pittsburgh in his Neighborhoods of Pittsburgh series.…
Rachel Ann Bovier returns to Pittsburgh landscape in new billboard campaign
The city lost an eye-catching landmark when Pittsburgh’s self-proclaimed “poetess” Rachel Ann Bovier could no longer run her delightful, self-funded billboards along Bigelow Boulevard. Now drivers along Route 28 can see Bovier again thanks to new billboards from local advertising and marketing agency, BOOM Creative. BOOM sponsored the special holiday board — which features Bovier…
CP Year in Review: Looking back on editorial designer Abbie Adams’ favorite covers of 2019
Editor’s note: As 2019 comes to an end, I’ve asked Pittsburgh City Paper’s editorial staff to select their five favorite stories from this year. Relive editorial designer Abbie Adams’ 2019 highlights below. — Lisa Cunningham Summer Guide // May 22, 2019 One of my favorite parts of my job is working with local artists and…
Pittsburgh Record Label Roundup: Crafted Sounds
No matter how ingrained you are in the Pittsburgh music scene, you still might not know just how many record labels are operating locally. Many of them fly under the radar, but they’re definitely worth knowing. So, Pittsburgh City Paper decided to create a Pittsburgh Record Label Roundup, featuring larger labels like the North Side’s…
Weekly Food Truck Schedule: Dec. 31 – Jan. 7
Are you tired of tracking down food trucks? Welcome to the Pittsburgh City Paper food truck roundup, where we do the hard work for you. Each week, we’re compiling a list of city trucks and their schedules. (For the most up-to-date schedule, visit each truck’s website.) AFRICAN Kilimanjaro Flavour @kilimanjaro_flavour Sunday: Grist House Craft Brewery.…
Keep it off the curb: Here’s where you can sustainably recycle your Christmas tree in Pittsburgh
For anyone who celebrates Christmas, or at least enjoys filling their house with the overwhelming scent of pine, each year brings the dreaded post-holiday tradition of taking down the tree. But instead of trashing the Douglas fir currently taking up space in your living room, try recycling it instead. The City of Pittsburgh, in collaboration with…
What is a temperature inversion and how does it affect air quality?
For most of last week, Pittsburgh has been experiencing heavy fog paired with unhealthy air quality warnings and warmer temperatures. These environmental conditions were all related to a temperature inversion, which reverses the usual behavior of the atmosphere. Instead of the air getting cooler with increased altitude, as is normally the case, the air gets…
North Side state Rep. candidate Emily Kinkead gets boost from progressive elected officials Bethany Hallam and Liv Bennett
Over the past couple of years, progressive Democrats have had significant success in defeating incumbent Democrats in Allegheny County. In 2018, two progressive state House candidates took down incumbents who had a combined 30 years in elected office. Earlier this year, two incumbent Democrats lost their seats on Allegheny County Council to progressive candidates. Now,…
SisTers PGH throws a benefit show; Buscrates, C. Scott, and pvkvsv get together; and more Pittsburgh concert announcements for 2020
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. Electronic Buscrates, C. Scott, pvkvsv. Fri., Jan. 17. Thunderbird Café & Music Hall, Lawrenceville. Pop-punkPunchline Delightfully Pleased anniversary show and The Composure reunion. Fri., Jan. 3. Rex…
CP Year in Review: Looking back on photographer Jared Wickerham’s favorite assignments of 2019
Editor’s note: As 2019 comes to an end, I’ve asked Pittsburgh City Paper’s editorial staff to select their five favorite stories from this year. Relive photographer Jared Wickerham’s 2019 highlights below. — Lisa Cunningham Benji. returns to Pittsburgh on EarthGang tour // Oct. 23, 2019 As a photojournalist, I get to step into the lives…
10 of our favorite films that make us feel proud to be Pittsburghers
Over the last several years, Pittsburgh has gained a lot of traction as a location to film movies and television series. Big blockbusters like The Dark Knight Rises and The Avengers have used the Steel City has a backdrop for urban scenes, big explosions, and nonstop action. Shows like Mindhunter have found Pittsburgh and its…
Pittsburgh’s People of the Year: Visual Arts
Winner: Njaimeh Njie njaimehnjie.com Njaimeh Njie has been an active and compelling voice in the Pittsburgh arts scene over the past several years, even being named the 2018 Emerging Artist of the Year by the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and Media. But 2019 was an especially fruitful year for the photographer, filmmaker, and multimedia producer…
New Year’s resolutions for better local architecture
For a coming year that’s synonymous with perfect vision, too many of us have a suitably ironic blindness to architecture for the present and future. Now is no time to declare a style for the decade in the practice of trendspotting or old timey art history. There has been plenty of lamentation in national press…
Shark Tank hangover cure Cheers tested
People have been looking for successful hangover cures for about as long as we’ve been drinking — in ancient Mesopotamia, for instance, a soup of licorice, beans, and toxic plants was in vogue. These days, popular remedies include activated charcoal, an IV, room temperature Pepsi, and cheeseburgers. (The worst suggestion I’ve ever received is to…
Pittsburgh’s People of the Year: Labor
Winner: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette staffers pghguild.com Pittsburgh had a number of notable labor success stories this year. Workers at Carnegie Library and Google organized. Pitt faculty and grad students got a second chance at forming a union. And organized labor was key in getting local politicians elected. But among those successes was a high-profile struggle we…
Pittsburgh’s People of the Year: Business
Winner: Ed Stack dickssportinggoods.com Normally, we’d be averse to congratulating a billionaire on anything, as most of their advocacy and actions make the world harder for working people of all creeds. But this year we made an exception for Ed Stack, Sewickley resident and the CEO of Dick’s Sporting Goods. After the Parkland Shooting in…
Pittsburgh’s People of the Year
In a town that’s still too often celebrated for its athletes more than its academics, and in a year when political tensions were high and news headlines — like September’s report from the city’s Gender Equity Commission on “Pittsburgh’s Inequality Across Gender and Race” — revealed disparities in our region, one might mistakenly think we’re…
Free Will Astrology (12/25-1/1)
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Fifteenth-century Italian metalworker Lorenzo Ghiberti worked for 28 years to turn the Doors of the Florence Baptistry into a massive work of art. He used bronze to create numerous scenes from the Bible. His fellow artist Michelangelo was so impressed that he said Ghiberti’s doors could have served as “The Gates…
Thai Me Up: ‘The nam tok was so good it rendered my dining partner speechless’
In 17 years of business, Thai Me Up has changed locations, tightened up service, and opened a grocery store in conjunction with their eatery. But one thing has remained the same: a light reference to bondage. It’s no coincidence the restaurant has tied down the South Side’s love with their sassy slogan, “We will spice…
True freedom is learning to love yourself
It is Best of the Year list time: best music, films, and concerts. The top fashion collections, celebrity looks and sneaker releases. The Best books, the Best of the Best. This being the end of the decade, we are also treated — or subjected, depending on your point of view — to the Best of…
Meet the senior producer of Kelly Strayhorn Theater
What does a senior producer do? I work between the institution and artists to realize what happens on the stage and support artists through programs that are not necessarily performance-oriented, working with artists in all capacities throughout the institution. We do all sorts of performances, both in our 350-seat theater and in the Dance Alloy…
The standout local literary figures of the last decade
The changes in Pittsburgh’s literary scene over the last decade have been both subtle and notable. On the surface, there’s consistency: Many writers published memorable works. Longtime reading series such as Hemingway’s Poetry Series, the Pittsburgh Community Writers Series, and Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures are thriving. Digging deeper finds new writers telling new stories, and…
It’s New Year’s Eve in Pittsburgh, do you know where your party is?
The pressure to party your hardest on New Year’s Eve can really take the fun out of celebrating, especially when it comes to finding the perfect event to hang your (probably bedazzled) hat. And if it becomes a night to forget, all the money spent on new outfits, ride-shares, booze, food, and tickets will seem…
Does a sex worker’s ‘sexual circuitry’ get sunk by seas of sexual content?
I read a story years ago about the 1998 AVN awards and there was a bit about how the judges who had to watch hours and hours of film found their sexual circuitry kind of burnt out by the end. Many people can’t imagine being in that headspace for a living. Obviously, you could ask…
Lynn Cullen Live – 1/6/20
Video Archive Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
Pittsburgh’s People of the Year: Environment
Winner: Leandra Mira fridaysforfuturepgh.org Since May, 18-year-old Leandra Mira has spent every Friday afternoon sitting outside the City-County building advocating for action against climate change. Mira is part of the global youth-led movement, made famous by Greta Thunberg, who understand that climate change is no longer a theoretical or distant problem. Though she started alone,…
Pittsburgh’s People of the Year: Food & Drink
Winner: Donny Donovan and Carolyn Hilliard of Empath empathpittsburgh.com It’s no secret that Pittsburgh is a drinking town, which can make social situations difficult for people who avoid alcohol. Carolyn Hilliard and Donny Donovan are working to change that with Empath, a sober pop-up bar that, for nearly two years, has been serving virgin drinks…
Pittsburgh’s People of the Year: Health
Winner: Timothy Wong ihealth.clinic Having health insurance is not a given in America, and even those who have it dread untangling the web of paperwork, co-pays, deductibles, etc. At the iHealth Clinic in East Liberty, Dr. Timothy Wong is circumventing the insurance system all together. Wong’s clinic, where he is the only employee, doesn’t take…
Pittsburgh’s People of the Year: Literature
Winner: Damon Young damonjyoung.com Damon Young has been putting Pittsburgh on the map for years with his smart prose and hot takes on Black culture on Very Smart Brothas, the online magazine he co-founded with Washington, D.C. writer Panama Jackson. Their site is now hosted on The Root, one of the nation’s largest Black media…
Pittsburgh’s People of the Year: Music
Winner: Clara Kent facebook.com/iamclarakent For those tuned into the Pittsburgh music scene, it’s almost impossible to have not come across Clara Kent’s name at one point or another. In 2019 alone, Kent collaborated with Butler Brew Works to create a beer inspired by her 2018 album, Aura; she performed at Club Cafe, Stage AE, Hartwood…
Pittsburgh’s People of the Year: Theater
Winner: janera solomon janerasolomon.com The outgoing executive director of the Kelly Strayhorn Theater, janera solomon, changed the Pittsburgh arts scene. In 2016, she implemented KST’s “pay-what-makes-you-happy” pricing system, letting attendees decide how much they can or want to pay for a show. Earlier this year, KST announced that solomon would be leaving her position of…
Pittsburgh’s People of the Year: Politics
Winner: Bethany Hallam bethanyhallam.com Bethany Hallam showed that progressives can win all across Allegheny County. Her win of the County Council at-large seat in May’s Primary Election was a shock to many. Hallam took down County Councilor John DeFazio, a longtime incumbent with name recognition and support of big players like Allegheny County Executive Rich…
