Pittsburgh Opportunity Fund steers mission to “advance racial justice”
Before the COVID-19 pandemic began, the Opportunity Fund, a Pittsburgh-based private foundation, awarded grants to small and mid-sized arts organizations or those geared to social and economic justice. Grants have supported people working in the performing or visual arts, and to organizations that fight for civil liberties, civil rights, human rights, reproductive freedom, and safety net…
Whose Line Is It Anyway? cast members bring stellar improv comedy to Pittsburgh
Over the past two decades, Colin Mochrie has performed all over the country, bringing professional improv comedy to live audiences with fellow Whose Line Is It Anyway? cast member Brad Sherwood. When trying to recall some of the stranger moments in his travels, Mochrie has trouble at first, then suddenly remembers the audience member who…
Five Pittsburgh-filmed shows worth binging this winter
Between the weather and the Omicron surge, people will be spending a lot more time indoors this winter. What better way to spend that time than indulging your streaming habit? Here’s our list of binge-worthy TV shows made in Pittsburgh. Archive 81 (Netflix) Fans of analog horror should check out this new Netflix series, which…
Planning Commission votes for continuance on controversial East Liberty development
At a Jan. 25 meeting, the city of Pittsburgh’s City Planning Commission has voted for a continuance on McKnight Realty Partners’ application to build a six-story, mixed-use building with two retail units and 38 residential units on the 5900 block of Penn Avenue in East Liberty. A continuance is not an approval or rejection, but…
New menus, astrological brews, and more Pittsburgh food news
Old Thunder Brewing 340 Freeport Road, Blawnox. oldthunderbrewing.com Old Thunder Brewing presents A Celebration of Pennsylvania Lager on Wed., Feb. 9 from 3-10 p.m. at their Blawnox location. Featuring food trucks and breweries like Brew Gentlemen, Necromancer, and Trace, you’ll find the perfect brew for you at this event. More details coming soon. Farmer x…
Republican-penned amendment declaring no constitutional right to abortion advances to full Senate
A Republican-authored amendment declaring that there is no constitutional right to abortion or public funding for the procedure cleared a key state Senate committee on Jan. 25, as the GOP moved to head off a potential state Supreme Court ruling that could expand access. The Senate Health and Human Services Committee voted 7-4 along party…
Lynn Cullen Live – 01/25/22
Lynn and Susan are discussing many things today, including a alpha female monkey, Prince Andrews teddy bear collection, Pope Benedict XVI lying about being at a meeting for action against four abusive priests when he was archbishop of Munich, mask mandates in school and more today on Lynn Cullen Live. Audio Only Archive Stream or…
Pittsburgh Foundation names three artists for inaugural Exposure Artist Fellowship
Each year, Pittsburgh is named one of America’s Most Livable Cities, and each year, that designation garners criticism from those who rightfully scoff at the idea that the term “livable” applies to all of its residents. This is evident in oft-cited studies showing how many, particularly Black Pittsburghers, face disparities that affect their overall quality…
Courts likely to pick Pa. congressional map after Wolf, Legislature fall short
Despite some last-minute intrigue, the Republican-controlled Pennsylvania Senate passed a new congressional redistricting plan along party lines, 29-20, sending it to Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf’s desk on Jan. 24. But Wolf has already expressed his opposition, calling the map “highly skewed” in a December letter to the General Assembly, which means it likely will fall…
Pittsburgh filmmakers capture spirit of struggling historic town with Moundsville
When Pittsburgh-based journalist John Miller found himself in West Virginia covering coal mining, he discovered a deep history and a community struggling with change. Miller, who formerly worked at the Wall Street Journal, is the co-director of Moundsville, a film about the city of the same name in West Virginia. He became intrigued while traveling…
Song Spotlight: New tracks by fig, Grizz, String Machine, and more
fig – “Soft Animal” “Soft Animal” by fig is a testament and an ode to the body. With catchy lyrics about healing and loving the self, fig creates an affirmation in the form of a song. The new single is a great teaser for an album that will hopefully hold more of the same. Grizz…
Steelers player honored by Museum of the Courageous for standing up to antisemitism
Steelers offensive tackle Zach Banner is one of seven honorees in the Museum of the Courageous’ newest Courageous Class, which spotlights individuals and groups who “take a stand against hate.” “Standing up against hate is natural for me so it feels good to be rewarded for being myself,” Banner tells Pittsburgh City Paper. Banner is…
Lynn Cullen Live – 01/24/22
“How many of the coaches are Black? Anyone living here should know this: ONE. ONE. It’s 2022. ONE. Mike Tomlin, and there’s always a lot of people around here calling for his head. Where if he was a white guy, they would not because his record is Hall of Fame caliber.” — Lynn on the…
Now Hiring: Finance Administrator, Photographer, and more job openings this week in Pittsburgh
We searched the web to find some of Pittsburgh’s best job openings this week. If your company is hiring, send info on your job opening for consideration to jobs@pghcitypaper.com. Nonprofit Marketing and Communications Manager. Two Pittsburgh nonprofits are teaming up to hire a full-time Marketing and Communications Manager. Grounded Strategies, “working to improve community health through…
The Tipping Point — part immersive, part theatrical — is an intense look at life as a refugee
Going to see a theatrical show usually means a time to sit back and relax. For those attending Corningworks’ The Tipping Point, now showing at 25 Carrick through Sun., Jan. 30, audiences should expect to be put through intense moments of confusion, anxiety, and discomfort. And it’s brilliant. Part-theatrical performance and part-immersive experience, The Tipping…
Pittsburgh hip-hop artist Sean Ski pays tribute to The Sopranos with “Juiced Up”
When Pittsburgh-based hip-hop artist Sean Ski began to rewatch one of his favorite shows, The Sopranos, during the pandemic, he was surprised at how many others were revisiting the HBO hit, which ended in 2007. “It’s always had such a huge following, but it definitely made a comeback worldwide during the pandemic,” Ski says. “Nowadays,…
In Our Own Write shines a light on LGBTQ elders in Pittsburgh
In the LGBTQ community, there is a perpetual focus on youth, leaving older members of the community out of conversations about culture, what equality looks like, and more. This is an unfortunate reality, as many of our LGBTQ elders have a wealth of knowledge about life to share with us. In Our Own Write (IOOW), a…
Best Pittsburgh beers to try in 2022, as chosen by brewers and influencers
There’s been nothing if not a surplus of great beer coming out of Pittsburgh these past few years, and 2021 was no different. As the industry continues to surge, and more places experiment, refine, and define what makes a great beer, just about everywhere you turned, a brewery was pouring something killer. With that in…
5 Questions with Squirrel Flower
Musician Ella Williams performs under the name Squirrel Flower, making emotionally charged music about life’s big questions, from the problems everyone faces as they grow up to climate change. William’s voice is smoky and powerful. As a multi-instrumentalist and a songwriter, the experience of listening to her music is intimate and intense. Squirrel Flower is…
Pittsburgh’s Enjoy Wrestling brings “Gay Wrestlemania” to the ring
“Wrestling is for Everyone” — that’s the credo Enjoy Wrestling lives by. That means delivering all the bombast, theatrics, and physicality for which the popular sport is known, all while representing what they describe as “a wide variety of races, genders, and sexual orientations.” The Pittsburgh-based independent wrestling promotion company will continue this mission on…
On the Tahn: Dance parties and live music at Greer Cabaret Theater, Belvedere’s, and more (Jan. 21-23)
Notice: Because of the rise in cases and the surge of Omicron in the county, many of these venues hosting events now require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test for entry. If you attend any of these events, please note this and give yourself time to get a test in the required time…
Lynn Cullen Live – 01/20/22
Lynn is joined today by Historian Jared N. Day. They are discussing the current political landscape, the supreme court, the justice department, Trump’s republican party and more. Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
Coffee Tree workers accuse management of union busting
On Jan. 18, the Coffee Tree Union Twitter account announced they have filed four new Unfair Labor Practice charges against their employer. An unfair labor practice is an action by an employer that violates the National Labor Relations Act, which protects one’s right to join, organize, or help a union. Workers at Coffee Tree Roasters…
Pennsylvania creeps closer to map deadline without final lines in place
Uncertainty around the once-a-decade redrawing of Pennsylvania’s political topography continued this week, amid a last-minute effort from Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf to offer his own compromise plan and continued court proceedings. As of Jan. 19, lawmakers had yet to give final approval to new congressional and legislative district maps. But votes on either could come…
After Hours: Natalie Bencivenga interviews La’Tasha Mayes
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pittsburgh City Paper (@pghcitypaper) Longtime organizer La’Tasha D. Mayes, founder of New Voices for Reproductive justice, talks to After Hours host Natalie Benivenga about her candidacy for Mayor Ed Gainey’s former state House seat in District 24. Mayes shares her reason for running, her top three…
Pittsburgh City Paper quiz: Which Notorious Pittsburgh Intersection Are You?!
Pittsburgh is often the brunt of many a joke about bad drivers and Pittsburgh lefts, but the reality is our streets, our roads, are just built different. Walking around the city as a pedestrian or being driven around as a passenger, you see a lot of totally wild structural choices. But those choices are a…
Lynn Cullen Live – 01/19/22
Lynn is talking about a series of 8 films on Turner Classic Movies played on Martin Luther King Jr. day. The films were sparked by the conflicts of the 1968 Democratic Convention and looked at civil rights issues of that period. Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads…
ACLU report says Pa. judges are breaking state law by overusing cash bail
Jails across Pennsylvania, unlike prisons, are meant to hold people charged with crimes before they stand trial for their charges. People in jail are not convicted, and are merely awaiting their day in court. Pennsylvanians might think, then, that jails — with people incarcerated before they are proven guilty — are only for people charged…
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY: Jan. 20-26
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Self-help teachers and New Age gurus are fond of using metaphors about opening doors. They provide a lot of advice that encourages us to knock on doors, scout around for doors that are open just a crack, find keys to unlock doors, and even kick down doors. I will not be…
Mac Star McCusker helps to reshape ceramics at Pittsburgh’s Union Project
A longtime Southerner, ceramic artist and sculptor Mac Star McCusker was set on moving north. That opportunity came calling in the form of the Union Project, a multi-use community space based in a former church on Negley Avenue. After relocating from Asheville, N.C. in September 2021, McCusker has settled into his role as the Union…
Longtime local organizer La’Tasha Mayes announces bid for Gainey’s House seat
The campaign to fill Mayor Ed Gainey’s state House seat in District 24 for the remainder of this year’s legislative term is well underway. La’Tasha Mayes, a nationally recognized leader in the field of reproductive justice and founder, president, and CEO of New Voices for Reproductive Justice, is the latest candidate to enter the race.…
10 can’t-miss tracks from Soulshowmike
Welcome to the first 2022 installation of Soulshowmike’s Album Picks. I normally focus on full releases in this column, then wrap the year with a December compilation of the year’s best. This time, I thought you might also enjoy a bonus listing of my favorite 2021 tracks. Here they are, along with assorted thoughts: •…
The top events in Pittsburgh for Jan. 20-26
Thu., Jan. 20 COMEDY • IRL Comedian Hasan Minhaj brings his one-man show The King’s Jester to the Benedum Center. Minhaj is best known for his work on The Daily Show, and for Patriot Act, an award-winning weekly show he used to educate his audience on the pressing issues of the world, including the election…
