UPDATE: GOP House Speaker Mike Turzai has announced his resignation
Mike Turzai has announced his resignation. On Wednesday afternoon, during a Pennsylvania House of Representatives session in Harrisburg, Mike Turzai (R-Marshall) said his last day as House Speaker will be June 15, and he said he plans to go into the private sector. “This generation of new leaders is ready to take the torch,” Turzai…
All Along You Were Blooming is a collection of Morgan Harper Nichols’ Instagram poetry, without the color
Since the emergence of R.M. Drake, an Instagram poet-turned-best selling author who popularized posting snippets of work on social media, there has been an influx of writers who build a following online before segueing into print media. Morgan Harper Nichols is the latest poet to join the ranks with her collection of poetry, All Along You Were…
Pittsburgh Grooveline: Dance parties at Spirit, Ace Hotel, and more (Jan. 23-29)
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. 25In Bed By Ten with Nisha Blackwell at Spirit. 6-9 p.m. 242 51st St.,…
Get a peek into the Pittsburgh belly dance scene this weekend at The Rex
Unbeknownst to most, Pittsburgh has a vibrant belly dancing community. But this Saturday, those who are unfamiliar can immerse themselves in the fun with Luna Noche at the Rex Theater, a show featuring prominent belly dancer Zoe Jakes and belly dancers and performers from in and around Pittsburgh. “If you’re not a part of the…
Color Out of Space offers plenty for Lovecraft fans, and not much else
In the 1990s, Richard Stanley was primed to become Hollywood’s next big director. The South African filmmaker caught some attention for his 1990 cyberpunk film Hardware – years before the sci-fi sub-genre went mainstream – and his low-budget supernatural film Dust Devil. Success, it seemed, was in the cards. Then The Island of Doctor Moreau…
Weekly Food Truck Schedule: Jan. 22-28
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: Pittsburgh Career Institute. 620…
A handy guide to all the Pittsburgh restaurants opening, closing, and ‘coming soon’ in 2020
Can’t keep up with Pittsburgh’s fast-changing food scene? Don’t panic. We’ve broken down the latest food news for you, from restaurant openings and closings to the hot spots you should be keeping an eye on. OPENING: Creative Coffee & Supply Look to this Downtown coffee shop for more than just lattes and house-roasted beans. According…
A story in partnership with PublicSource: Teen Screen educates local students on global struggles through film
It was a rainy Tuesday afternoon in December, so close to the holiday break that coaxing a productive discussion out of students would be a herculean task. There’s the old cliché of teachers showing a movie to fill gaps like this, but the film screening planned for this day would be different. On Dec. 17,…
A Pittsburgh church raised $5,000 for a gun buyback program and ran out of money within an hour
To honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., the Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross in Homewood hosted a gun buyback event on Mon., Jan. 20. The event was slated to last from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., but after less than an hour, the church’s fundraised budget of $5,000 had been given away.…
New releases from Glo Phase, James Wolff, Wiz Khalifa, and more
Glo Phase – Mezzotint After taking a departure from instrumental tracks last June with Fall Deep, an R&B album featuring the dreamy vocals of singer Jocelyn Rent, Glo Phase’s downtempo electronic tunes are back in his latest release, Mezzotint. Written, mixed, and mastered by Glo Phase himself, aka Joseph Rusnak, Mezzotint takes listeners on a dreary, house…
Soon you’ll be able to pay Port Authority bus fare on your phone
In Port Authority of Allegheny County’s current ConnectCard system, fare money can be added to the card in person at an associated retailer or ConnectCard station, or online, but with several days of delay between when payment is submitted and when it appears on the card. That’s about to change, as Port Authority gets ready…
Kelly Strayhorn Theater taps Joseph Hall as new executive director
Last year, Janera Solomon decided to step down from her role as executive director of the Kelly Strayhorn Theater (KST). After serving in the role for more than 10 years, leading the East Liberty venue through years of vibrant arts programming and community events, the Pittsburgh arts community wondered who would succeed her. Yesterday, they got their…
Lynn Cullen Live – 1/21/20
Video Archive Today is the first day of the Senate Impeachment trial. Lynn and Susan are discussing what to expect, and whether or not they are planning to watch. They are also talking about how 98.6 is no longer believed to be the normal body temperature. Modern studies show that 97.5 is a closer average.…
Posts from Democratic state House candidate Heather Kass reveal Trump support and opposition to Obamacare
After longtime state Rep. Harry Readshaw (D-Carrick) announced he would not be seeking re-election, the Democratic primary for state House District 36 has become a two-person race between progressive Jessica Benham (D-South Side) and candidate Heather Kass (D-Carrick), who has ties to Readshaw. And according to WESA, both are seeking the endorsement from the Allegheny…
Psoriasis is bad. Psoriasis commercials are amazing
For the past two years, I’ve noticed an increase in advertising for psoriasis medications, from virtually non-existent to at least one per commercial break. As a hypochondriac, my first conclusion was that I have psoriasis — maybe moderate but probably severe, because I don’t half-ass anything. Or maybe everybody else has it, and I don’t,…
Another One: Pittsburgh is a most livable city, for divorced people
Pittsburgh is the best city for a lot of things, according to random studies published constantly so that news outlets will write about them, thus advertising for the company that does the study. Most recently, LendingTree, an “online loan marketplace,” published a study titled “Best Places to Recover from Divorce,” in which Pittsburgh tied for…
ProjectArt and Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh invite kids and teens to free, afterschool art classes
As bitter cold takes over the Pittsburgh region, kids need a place where they can beat the winter blues and learn a few skills while they’re at it. ProjectArt, an arts education nonprofit that has operated in Pittsburgh since 2017, has a free, arts-focused after-school program for youth ages 4-18. Founded in 2011 by Adarsh…
Downstairs is a story of broken tools and broken people in a dank, unfinished basement
The titular basement in Theresa Rebeck’s Downstairs is unfinished, but the amenities are decent. There’s a couch with a couple of blankets, a Mr. Coffee, a sink, a little fridge, a shower and a Pittsburgh toilet, and an old PC. This is more than enough for Teddy (Martin Giles), who subsists mostly on corn flakes…
Two Allegheny County councilors call for charges on West Mifflin police following alleged assault of teenage girl
Last month, West Mifflin Police responded to an alleged altercation between two students on a school bus leaving West Mifflin High School. On Dec. 18, two West Mifflin officers entered the bus and apprehended one of the teenage girls, and then charged one of the girls, but have not released details on the charge. According…
2020 Country Megaticket goes on sale this week
For the 14th year, Country Megaticket is back for Western Pennsylvania country music fans. Tickets go on sale Fri., Jan. 24 at 10 a.m. at megaticket.com. Purchase of a Megaticket gives the holder access to each of the nine country acts playing at S&T Bank Music Park this summer. Performances include Thomas Rhett, Rascal Flatts, Lady Antebellum,…
Lynn Cullen Live – 1/20/20
Video Archive Lynn is covering a bunch of stories to start out this week. First she is discussing the unveiling of the Space Force uniforms. She is also talking about the National Archives admitting and apologizing for altering images they put on display. On Friday Russia Adviser, Andrew Peek, was escorted out of the White…
Concert announcements for late winter and early spring in Pittsburgh
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. Alternative/Indie The Undercover Dream Lovers. Fri., April 24. Thunderbird Café & Music Hall, Lawrenceville. beabadoobee. Mon., March 30. Thunderbird Café & Music Hall, Lawrenceville. Cherry Pools.…
More than 200 take to Pittsburgh streets for fourth annual Women’s March
Not even freezing rain could keep Pittsburghers indoors on Saturday morning. A crowd of more than 200 people began to gather in the portico of the City-County Building on Sat., Jan. 18 at around 10:30 a.m., awaiting the start of the fourth annual Pittsburgh Women’s March. The first Women’s March was held the day after…
Allegheny County issues another fine to US Steel for air pollution violation
The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) has announced that U.S. Steel will be issued fines for Article XXI Air Pollution Control violations and permit violations. According to ACHD, U.S. Steel had more than 400 air pollution violations between April and September of 2019. Last year at Clairton Coke Works, a series of fires damaged multiple…
Put your art skills to good use for the Planned Parenthood Stiff Competition condom design contest
Have you ever Sharpie’d a penis on your sleeping drunk friend’s face, one so masterful it would make angels weep? Consider contributing to Stiff Competition: Hindsight is 2020, a condom design contest presented by Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates (PPPA). The sexual and reproductive health advocacy organization is calling on designers, artists, and crafters to create…
Discarded by Cheryl Capezzuti takes lint out of the dryer and into the art gallery
If you’re fortunate enough to have a washer and dryer in your home, you also have something else — a weird little bucket full of dryer lint. What does one do with the perfectly intact sheets of fabric bits, pet hair, and flecks of destroyed receipts? If you’re Pittsburgh artist and puppeteer Cheryl Capezzuti, you…
Now Playing: A sound design documentary, Dolittle reboot, Selma, 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. Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound Behind every movie is a collective of underappreciated people who helped make…
For Sale With Baggage: “My loss is your gain!”
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…
Premiere: Members of 1,2,3 form new band, Animal Scream, and release first single
Six years ago, the Pittsburgh band 1,2,3 released a mammoth double album called Big Weather, a sprawling concept record about storms, climate change, and apocalyptic dread wrapped in catchy, nihilistic alt-country, garage rock, and psychedelic pop. It marked an arrival for a band that had been drawing in local and national audiences for years and…
City Paper Live – 1/17/20
Video Archive Ryan Deto and Amanda Waltz talk about beer, Lawrenceville displacement, and City Paper’s Cocktail Shake-off. Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
Know the score: legendary composer John Williams (Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter) coming to Pittsburgh
For one night only, on Sat., June 13, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will be joined by legendary composer John Williams and violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter. Williams is known for creating some of the most recognizable film scores of all time for the Harry Potter and Star Wars films, as well as E.T., Indiana Jones, Jaws, and…
Petition asks Central Catholic to reverse hair-ban that a student says is ‘outdated’ and unfairly targets Black students
This week, JD Younger called out his high school for a rule in its handbook that bans braids, locks, and twists at Pittsburgh’s Central Catholic High School. He told WPXI that the rule is “outdated” and unfairly targets Black students. Since making the story public, Younger has started a petition on Change.org and has received…
Lynn Cullen Live – 1/16/20
Video Archive Magician Derek Hughes is here with Lynn today for what is sure to be an entertaining show. Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
Lynn Cullen Live – 1/15/20
Video Archive Ryan Deto, Pittsburgh City Paper Senior Writer, will join Lynn in the second half of the show. Before he gets here Lynn is talking about last night’s Democratic debate, Ken Jennings winning the Jeopardy Championship, and Nancy Pelosi announcing the impeachment managers. Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on…
The displacement of Anthony Hardison from his Lawrenceville apartment is a microcosm of a neighborhood epidemic
Anthony Hardison has lived in his Lawrenceville apartment for more than 10 years. He’s had his ups and downs, but 1 St. Johns Place, Apt. No. 2 has been the home that has provided him some much needed stability. But at the end of this month, his housing situation is going to be a lot…
Open-format monthly dance party Junction ‘is an enigma of sounds’
Going out dancing in Pittsburgh can be predictable. There’s the club that plays all trap; spots that play sing-along hits from the early aughts; and don’t forget about the ones that stick strictly to radio tunes from the past five years. David Shoemaker and Tresa Murphy-Green, who go by DJ Shoe and Deejay Aesthetics, respectively,…
I am open to the concept of never watching HGTV again
Early in our relationship, like a great first date, HGTV and I were fast friends. Having not yet owned a house, it was fun to watch House Hunters to see what kind of prices, locations, and styles might be available to my wife and me. Sure, the hunters were mostly entitled 25-year-old dipshits with $750,000…
Free Will Astrology (1/15 – 1/22)
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “I love to be surprised by something I have never thought of,” declares Capricorn actor Ralph Fiennes. According to my analysis of the astrological aspects, you’ll be wise to make that one of your top mottoes in 2020. Why? First, life is likely to bring to your attention a steady stream…
‘You’re damned if you don’t look a certain way, and damned if you try to’
Recently I posted a photo of myself on social media, commenting on how I like the gray streaks in my hair and choose not to conceal them with dye. While I was certainly fishing for responses about the aesthetics of my choice, what I didn’t expect were comments on the ethics of my choice. And…
Dry January happy hour pop-up bar features alternative spirits and non-alcoholic craft beers
The Open Road Bar Dry January Pop-Up. Through Fri., Jan. 31. Creative Coffee & Supply. 309 Smithfield St., Downtown. Search “Dry January Happy Hour” on Facebook. Pittsburgh’s newest pop-up offers all the trimmings of your favorite bar, minus the booze. Starting Wed., Jan. 15, Creative Coffee & Supply in Downtown Pittsburgh will be home to…
Girls Beware: Are You People? at Arcade Comedy Theater finds humor in sexist advertising
Let’s go back to the so-called good old days, when hot dogs cost a nickel, and ads pressured women to smoke during pregnancy and give their infants Coca-Cola. The latter will get a healthy dose of spoofing during Girls Beware: Are You People?, an all-female improv show at Arcade Comedy Theater on Sat., Jan. 18.…
A dearth of flavor and underwhelming menu leaves little to recommend from newest Big Burrito concept
Alta Via was one of the most anticipated restaurant openings of 2019. It marked the first new concept from the big Burrito Restaurant Group — owners of Pennsylvania’s Mad Mex fleet, plus Eleven, Casbah, Kaya, Soba, and Umi — in 15 years. The Fox Chapel eatery explored new territory for the prodigious restaurant group, one…
Shadyside-based writer Chip Walter explores the science behind immortality
What if there was a way, if not to wipe out death completely, to at least delay the inevitable? To not only make possible lives that extend beyond the current U.S. lifespan of almost 79 years, but to make those lives worth living? In his new book, Immortality, Inc.: Renegade Science, Silicon Valley Billions, and…
Commonplace Coffee highlights disturbing Native American epidemic with Spirit Of Our Sisters art show
Local artist Kara Bialecki says she has always been interested in Native American culture, but it wasn’t until last spring that she learned a shocking statistic. While attending an event at the Westmoreland Museum of American Art, she met a Native American performer who informed her that one in four indigenous women and girls in…
Resolutions for racial equity
Racial equity is only possible when you apply justice to a system that is out of balance. Recall for a moment the racial trajectory of our nation. Families were separated, kidnapped, and trafficked from their homes to populate the system of slavery, a billion-dollar U.S. industry that created generational wealth for some and generational trauma…
Literary magazine Everything in Aspic alludes to the kitsch of Jell-O to straddle the serious and the ridiculous
Gelatin is a decidedly unmodern food, due to its artificial ingredients, odd texture, and lack of any real flavor or taste. Its contemporary uses are as an alcohol vessel, a hospital food, or a relic from mid-century cookbooks to be mocked. But two local writers found inspiration in the substance for their new online literary…
