Downtown’s Sly Fox is a departure from the original
“At Sly Fox, it’s all about the beer,” reads the eastern Pennsylvania brewing company’s website. I found this perplexing at first, as I grew up enjoying far more than beer at the original Sly Fox in Phoenixville, my hometown. But it made more sense after visiting the newly opened Sly Fox Taphouse at the Point.…
Pittsburgh Grooveline: Dance parties at Scenario, Irma Freeman Center for Imagination, and more (Dec. 12-18)
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.) And this month, Grooveline is making it easier to get funky and festive by highlighting the…
GOP state committees alter five Pa. criminal justice bills causing advocates to drop support
Currently, Pennsylvania spends nearly $330 million a year on people incarcerated for parole or probation violations, and has the second-highest rate of people on probation and/or parole of any state in the U.S. Two concurrent bills, House Bill 1555 and Senate Bill 14, were recently introduced in the state legislature with the intent of restructuring…
Surviving the Holidays with your health goals intact
Ahhh … the holidays, a time when it is so easy to overindulge on the constant barrage of tasty — but not necessarily healthy — foods and drinks that we pack on extra weight and have to resort to New Year’s resolutions to fit in our clothes again. How can you make it through the holiday season without sabotaging…
Find second-hand gifts for your pup at the first-ever Thrifty Paws pop-up store
This holiday season, eco-conscious shoppers are looking for sustainable gifts to give their loved ones while also cutting down on waste. Now the first-ever Thrifty Paws will give local pet owners a place to find reused, second-hand items for their furry friends. The holiday pop-up – taking place at Bakery Square from Dec. 13-15 –…
The Get Up Kids’ Matt Pryor talks hiatus, new album, and Homeless Gospel Choir
The Get Up Kids arrived as fresh-faced teenagers in the mid-90s with unpretentious lyrics and stuck-in-the-head-for-years hooks. The band drew considerable underground buzz with the 1997 debut Four Minute Mile, but broke out into the mainstream with the widely (and justifiably) adored follow-up in 1999, Something To Write Home About. In its review, Rolling Stone…
Grandmothers know best: an illustrated family recipe for shortbread cookies
It wouldn’t be a Pittsburgh wedding without a cookie table. But why keep the tradition exclusive to happy couples? In the spirit of the season, Pittsburgh City Paper is celebrating the holiday cookie table. We’re reviewing bakery favorites, family recipes, and grocery store staples until the table is full. Shortbread Cookies An illustrated family recipe…
A newspaper removed: The story behind this week’s Pittsburgh City Paper cover photo
What is a world without information? A person without a phone? A city without a newspaper? Earlier this year, Removed, a photo series by North Carolina photographer Eric Pickersgill, reemerged online through viral posts, showcasing “life without cell phones.” Before he took each portrait, the photo subject was asked to pose while holding a cell…
Soju exposes unfamiliar eaters to traditional Korean dishes
Soju is not Pittsburgh’s first Korean restaurant, but when it opened two years ago, owner Simon Chough knew he wanted to take a different approach than the traditional, longstanding eateries like Golden Pig and Sushi Kim. With the goal of exposing traditional dishes to unfamiliar eaters, he designed a menu that combined his grandmother’s recipes,…
Scratch Food & Beverage launching pay-what-you-can menu in 2020
In 2020, Scratch Food & Beverage will be one of the first area restaurants to launch a pay-what-you-can dinner menu. The Troy Hill restaurant’s pick-your-own-price meal will go hand-in-hand with its recently launched Q-Time program, an affordable, family-style dinner designed to take the stress of money and preparation off the table. “The ideas came in…
Hazelwood and Greenfield need flood protection and pedestrian infrastructure, not a multi-million dollar driverless shuttle, say residents and advocates
Pittsburgh officials have set aside a considerable amount of money for their proposed project that would ferry passengers from Oakland to Hazelwood with autonomous shuttles. The Mon-Oakland Connector proposes to run small, driverless shuttles from North Oakland to Hazelwood through Junction Hollow. The city has already spent millions of dollars on this proposal and plans…
Weekly Food Truck Schedule: Dec. 11-17
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: Strip. 1400 Penn Ave.,…
Cinnamon Coke? What about cinnamon Coke with Fireball?
Every year around the holidays, there are special edition flavors of regular foods, like gingerbread coffee creamer or peppermint M&M’s. For the first time, Coca-Cola is jumping on the holiday flavor sleigh-wagon (ugh) with cinnamon-flavored Coke. Sure, why not? I had to hunt around for the cinnamon Coke, both because it’s not sold everywhere and…
Lynn Cullen Live – 12/10/19
Video Archive Lynn and Susan are starting off today by talking about the beauty of the murmuration of starlings. They are also discussing the latest piece by Dana Milbank in his Impeachment Diary, and the two articles of impeachment against Trump announced by House Democrats. In revisiting the topic from yesterday, they are also covering…
Pittsburgh Record Label Roundup: MISC Records
Follow along with us (almost) every other weekday, as we will feature a different Pittsburgh-based label … until we run out.
A recipe for mandel bread, a Jewish biscotti that won’t break your teeth
It wouldn’t be a Pittsburgh wedding without a cookie table. But why keep the tradition exclusive to happy couples? In the spirit of the season, Pittsburgh City Paper is celebrating the holiday cookie table. We’re reviewing bakery favorites, family recipes, and grocery store staples until the table is full. Holiday cookies are generally a tradition…
Harris Theater continues film screenings under direction of Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
The Harris Theater has found new life – for now – after the Pittsburgh Center for Arts and Media (PCAM) announced plans to suspend programming at the historic Downtown venue. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has swooped in to keep screenings going on at the Harris after PCAM seemed poised to shutter the theater as part…
Hectic Holidays: Stay calm and enjoy the festivities
The holiday season is here again: a joyous time where inclement weather, extra commitments, and finding those perfect gifts add to our already hectic lives. It is easy to pack our schedules so full of activities that we don’t have time for ourselves. How can you remain jolly and make it to the New Year…
Just me and my sax: a Q&A with comedian and Pittsburgh-native Jon Daly
It’s probably not cool to reduce Pittsburgh native Jon Daly’s career to a single character on a show that ended in 2015, but when it comes to Don, the softhearted uber-yinzer in the Kroll Show sketch “Pawnsylvania,” a certain level of respect from his hometown is in order. The sketch, if you’re unfamiliar, follows the…
I voted for myself and won a seat on my township’s board of commissioners
Voting is fun. There are all kinds of buttons to push. There’s the sad guy standing in front of the precinct entrance in a belted trench raincoat, handing out flyers for a candidate you never heard of and probably aren’t voting for. And there is always the chance that you will write yourself in for…
Listen to the first track from Driving While Black Records’ forthcoming compilation
Driving While Black Records had a good 2019. In addition to a slew of singles and features, the Pittsburgh-based record label dropped five albums from five different artists – just one short of rounding out its roster of six. But the year isn’t over yet. On Tue., Dec. 24, DWB is set to drop its first compilation…
Lynn Cullen Live – 12/9/19
Video Archive Lynn is talking about her difficulty reading and being interested in the news currently. She’s overwhelmed with all the negativity. It is weighing her down as an empathic person. It’s times like this that we need good news, and some uplifting. Not everything going on is horrible, but you wouldn’t know it based…
Cary Elwes is coming to Pittsburgh in April for The Princess Bride screening and Q&A
Cary Elwes had his first film role at the age of 17 — as “Disco Dancer” in an English film called Yesterday’s Hero — and in the four decades since, he’s pretty much done it all. His leading-man looks and cheeky delivery made for a perfect Mel Brooks Robin Hood in Men In Tights; he…
Oreo’s limited-edition holiday treats are back and deserve a spot at this year’s cookie table
It wouldn’t be a Pittsburgh wedding without a cookie table. But why keep the tradition exclusive to happy couples? In the spirit of the season, Pittsburgh City Paper is celebrating the holiday cookie table. We’re reviewing bakery favorites, family recipes, and grocery store staples until the table is full. Oreo cookies aren’t just chocolate and…
Steve Zappala, son of Allegheny County DA, is running for state House District 21
Last year, state Rep. Sara Innamorato (D-Lawrenceville) joined a group of progressive young women who took U.S. Congress and state legislatures by storm. Her win, along with others like U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), was seen as a catalyst for the progressive movement in the Democratic Party. Since then, she has garnered attention for her…
A Pittsburgh holiday treat benefits Childrens Hospital for nearly 50 years
It wouldn’t be a Pittsburgh wedding without a cookie table. But why keep the tradition exclusive to happy couples? In the spirit of the season, Pittsburgh City Paper is celebrating the holiday cookie table. We’re reviewing bakery favorites, family recipes, and grocery store staples until the table is full. If you didn’t grow up in…
Pittsburgh gets its own holiday earworm with ‘Black and Gold Christmas’
WARNING: Do not read this story unless you’re prepared to deal with an earworm this entire holiday season. With Christmas songs returning to set lists and local airwaves — iHeartRadio station 94.5 3WS, which has been playing holiday music 24/7, even brands itself every year as “Pittsburgh’s #1 Christmas Music Station” — there’s bound for…
Celebrate Hot Mass’s seventh anniversary with two nights of music
Hot Mass, Pittsburgh’s inclusive, electronic after-hours club, turns seven this weekend. Celebrate with the venue starting tonight – or early tomorrow morning – with two back-to-back nights of music – a rarity, as Hot Mass is usually only open on Saturday nights. Fri., Dec. 6 – MISC Records: Local Sesh Hot Mass, 1139 Penn Ave.,…
Pittsburgh Improv and Pandora unveil an interactive mural
Pandora, the original internet radio platform, has more to offer than music. In addition to podcasts, Pandora has a solid base of comedy albums available to users — no shuffling needed. That’s why when Stephen Walker, director of strategy for Improv Comedy Clubs, met with someone from Pandora and the topic of a collaboration came…
Bunker Projects artist-in-residence Veda Sun wears her heart on the wall with Lonely and Gorgeous Tears
In a small studio at Bunker Projects, artist-in-residence Veda Sun stands among the new works for her first solo show exhibition, Lonely and Gorgeous Tears. If not for the messy, workshop-like surroundings, they might come off as high concept décor for a girl’s bedroom, with their ruffles, cartoonish imagery, and bright acrylic paint. And you better…
Now Playing: Local Pittsburgh film roundup, Dec. 6-12
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 previous weeks here. Mickey and the Bear In this coming-of-age story, Mickey, a teenager in rural Montana (Camila Morrone) struggles to…
Workers at LGBTQ service center Persad vote to unionize with United Steelworkers
The new wave of unionization in Pittsburgh isn’t mirroring that of Pittsburgh’s labor history. Back then, labor rights were associated with blue-collar jobs in heavy industry. Today, it’s white-collar professions in services and technical fields, including library workers and software engineers. Yesterday, human service workers at the Persad Center in Lawrenceville voted to unionize. The…
An illustrated family holiday cookie recipe, passed down through generations
It wouldn’t be a Pittsburgh wedding without a cookie table. But why keep the tradition exclusive to happy couples? In the spirit of the season, Pittsburgh City Paper is celebrating the holiday cookie table. We’re reviewing bakery favorites, family recipes, and grocery store staples until the table is full. Lebkuchen An illustrated family recipe For…
City Paper Live – 12/6/19
Video Archive CP Live welcomes Jennifer Baron, Director of Marketing and Outreach for the Handmade Arcade craft market, and Val Snyder, Handmade Arcade planning member and proprietor of Simon’s Granddaughter. Hear about new happenings, vendors, and helpful shopping tips for the big event happening Dec. 6-7.. Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5…
Pa. Treasurer Joe Torsella renews calls for Mark Zuckerberg’s ouster as Facebook board chair
It’s no secret that Pennsylvania Treasurer Joe Torsella (D-Philadelphia) isn’t a big fan of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. (Just take a look at the PA Treasury Twitter account to see some tweets gentle mocking the CEO.) In June, Torsella told Pittsburgh City Paper that Zuckerberg should step down as board chair of the social-media giant.…
Pittsburgh Holiday Market Spotlight: Dawn Wallhausen of Dawn Glassworks
The Pittsburgh Winter Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show, Sat., Dec. 7 at the Teamsters Local Union 249 Banquet Hall, will showcase a variety of unique, eclectic local artists and crafters. Launched in 2011 as a series of year-round art and craft events held throughout the Midwest, the Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows also serve to raise money for…
Port Authority might consolidate stops on 88-Penn and 48-Arlington bus routes; riders can weigh in on the plan until Feb. 7, 2020
The Port Authority is planning on consolidating stops on the 88-Penn and 48-Arlington bus routes, and it’s asking for input from riders on which stops they want to keep. It’s part of a larger plan to consolidate stops across Port Authority routes to “reduce the number of stops to improve on-time performance, reliability, and our riders’ overall experience.”…
Christmas has the Horne’s tree, Krampusnacht has the horns
It’s about the time of the year when right-wingers start filling up social media feeds with claims of a “War on Christmas” attacking their Christian beliefs. You know, the extreme right who think liberals are trying to murder their Christian children because we like to say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” You know, and…
Unlimited Lawn Pass option returns to KeyBank Pavilion
For the second year in a row, Live Nation is offering music fans a Lawn Pass option for concerts at 29 Live Nation-owned and operated amphitheaters, one of which is KeyBank Pavilion in Burgettstown. For $199, the pass allows unlimited lawn access to shows during the 2020 season at the venue, including those that are sold-out.…
Pencil it in: Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard, Poison, and Joan Jett coming to PNC Park in 2020
Rock legends Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe are bringing their co-headling stadium tour to PNC Park Sun., Aug. 16. Rocking along with them will is Poison – and its original lineup of Bret Michaels, C.C. DeVille, Bobby Dall, and Rikki Rockett – as well as Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Joan Jett & The Blackhearts.…
Lynn Cullen Live – 12/5/19
Video Archive Internationally renowned photographer George Lange, a Pittsburgh native, is Lynn’s guest today. They are talking about his experiences, the famous individuals he’s photographed, and his return to the area after 40 years away. Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
Lynn Cullen Live – 12/4/19
Video Archive The Judiciary Committee Impeachment Inquiry is beginning as Lynn speaks today. She is talking about what we expect from today. She is also discussing Jennifer Rubin’s piece on Adam Schiff’s Impeachment Report, as well as, what the report includes. In the last half of the show Ryan Deto will once again be joining…
Where do Allegheny County’s elected officials stand on the fight over fracking and cracker plants?
Pittsburgh’s economic path forward has reached a fork in the road, politically speaking. Two factions are wrestling over the future of the natural-gas and petrochemical industries in the region, and whether to support their growth or to transition away. Currently, a petrochemical cracker plant is being built in Beaver County by oil giant Shell. The…
Pittsburgh Holiday Market Spotlight: Chelsea Dunn of Faire Fauna
No two stuffed animals made by Chelsea Dunn of Faire Fauna are the same. Crafted from recycled fabrics and other materials, each one has its own look and personality. Faire Fauna made its local market debut in May at Show and Sell, a spring pop-up by Handmade Arcade. She brings her plush menagerie back to…
Pillow Project stages world premiere of light-infused dance show NOW:PLAYING
For the latest Pillow Project show, NOW:PLAYING, it’s not the dancing that’s choreographed. In this case, it’s the lighting doing the heavy lifting. Lights provide structure to the piece as five dancers are free to move as they please. But while the show continues the company’s post-modern jazz style of “improvography” — a portmanteau combining…
‘Isn’t Hanukkah random?’ and other insights from a journey into holiday TV movies about Judaism
Last year, Pittsburgh City Paper staff watched a holiday movie every day of December, with a large bulk consisting of corny TV movies. As expected, nearly every one of these movies was about Christmas. It made me wonder what a cheesy Hanukkah movie would look like, one I laugh at as much as the Christmas…
Come for the pie, stay for the booze: Homestyle eatery Pie for Breakfast offers some surprises
Pie for Breakfast is the kind of diner that makes you want to be a regular. It has all the trimmings of a cozy A.M. joint: tall booths and a long, stainless-steel bar, friendly servers, who, if you frequent the counter enough, will remember your order down to the smallest detail. There’s also bottomless coffee.…
HughShows Secret Santapalooza returns after a two-year hiatus
Don’t be fooled by the “Santa” in HughShows Secret Santapalooza IV. In fact, Hugh Twyman, owner and creator of local music blog HughShows, is adamant that the 11 Pittsburgh acts featured during the free concert won’t be playing holiday music. “It’s like the anti-Christmas show in a way,” he says. “In past years, no one’s…
Multimedia artist turns 18-minute experimental video into live show at New Hazlett
Gymnastics is a sport that relies on muscle memory, the feeling that the body remembers how to do something even if the brain doesn’t. For many gymnasts, a physical and emotional memory follows them long after they’ve left the sport. Multimedia artist Anna Azizzy practiced competitive gymnastics for nine years, in elementary through high school,…
New series selects local musicians for compilation album ‘Live From 222 Ormsby’
Paul Neil was looking for a way to promote his projects with something unconventional, something that would really capture people’s attention. As the manager of 222 Ormsby, owner and operator of Katzulhu Productions, and a fan of the local punk and metal scene in general, Neil wanted to combine his intersecting passions into a single…
Commerce Bar specializes in Prohibition-era drinks and in-house creations
East Liberty’s Commerce Bar got national attention last week when Forbes magazine published a feature on the new speakeasy. It provoked a strong response locally when social media feeds in Pittsburgh blew up in protest to the article, citing quotes from owners Adam and Diana Kucenic saying that Pittsburgh “didn’t have that many places that…
2019 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction winner joins Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures Ten Evenings series
One of the pleasures of reading Richard Powers’ The Overstory is its vibrant descriptions of Pacific Northwest forests, Midwest farmlands, and, most of all, trees. When an interviewer tells Powers — who appears Dec. 9 as a guest of Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures Ten Evenings series — that the book is filled with arboresque rabbit holes that devour…
Free Will Astrology (12/4-12/11)
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “My greatest asset is that I am constantly changing,” says Sagittarian actress and activist Jane Fonda. This description may not always be applicable to you, but I think it should be during the coming weeks. You’re primed to thrive on a robust commitment to self-transformation. As you proceed in your holy…
Rex bartender Christy Fowler doesn’t have time for muddling
Name: Christy Fowler, Polish Hill Work: Bar Manager / Event Bartender at Rex Theater How is bartending at events different than a bar or restaurant? It’s kind of wonderful. When it’s high volume, it’s not [the] high volume that most people think of – there’s a reason we serve everything in biodegradable plastic. It’s so fast…
Go-go dancer Alicia Lynn is ‘living the Flashdance life!’
Take a moment to imagine a go-go dancer. What comes to mind? Tall boots? Short skirts? A cage? New York? Los Angeles? Las Vegas? This week I got a chance to sit down with Alicia Lynn, a performer who’s making a living as a go-go dancer here in Pittsburgh. Though she started her dancing career…
