PR Watch: Tired of all those upbeat Pittsburgh stories?
Just in case you were tired of all the upbeat Pittsburgh coverage from the likes of The New York Times, along comes CBS News tonight with these grim tidings from the Rust Belt: An abandoned steel mill on the outskirts of Braddock, Pa. is all that’s left in a river valley that once hummed with…
CP Remixed: Video!
Here are some clips from last week’s CP Remixed, which was a sold-out success, curated in absentia by Gregg Gillis, aka Girl Talk. The acts: Michael Johnsen Italian Ice Wiz Khalifa All available here CP Remixed returns in April, so keep your eye out for info!
Kyle Abraham at the Kelly-Strayhorn
It’s a treat, even a privilege, to get to see dancer and choreographer Abraham and his Abraham.In.Motion company on a regular basis, even as this Pittsburgh native blips onto the national dance radar. Their performance Sat., Jan. 24 — a result of the Kelly-Strayhorn’s first-ever artist residency — was at least the fourth public performance…
Tony Coghill Enters District 4 Race
It’s official: Anthony Coghill has made his widely-anticipated entrance into the race to replace Jim Motznik in City Council District 4. He joins Natalia Rudiak and Patrick Reilly as a declared candidate in this race, which is wide-open now that Motznik is running for district justice instead. Coghill is likely the most familiar name in…
Jim Quinn: Right-Wing Wuss?
The good folks at 2 political junkies reminded me of this gem of a story in the Post-Gazette this weekend. The piece is about Media Matters for America, the liberal media watchdog group which has labeled local talk-show host Jim Quinn as a “radioactive” media personality. I’ve noted MMFA’s critiques of Quinn a couple of…
Taking Council
Last week, I wrote a post about Pat Dowd’s prospects as a mayoral candidate, and it ended on a somewhat sour note. I have a hard time seeing how anyone beats Ravenstahl without an assist from law enforcement. Hope burns eternal, of course: Supporters are planning a “Pat Dowd for mayor” fundraiser for early February.…
Changing His Toomey
It appears that Pat Toomey won’t be challenging Arlen Specter after all. The Morning Call reports that Toomey “has decided against a repeat run for Senate in 2010, turning instead toward a possible bid for governor as he reaches out to Republicans statewide to assess his potential candidacy next year.” Toomey, a former Congressional rep who heads the conservative…
Standing Pat
Lately, I’ve had city councilor Patrick Dowd on my mind a lot. Largely because I’ve run into a couple true believers who are hoping that Barack Obama’s election signals a moment of change — and that a Dowd mayoral candidacy is perfectly positioned to take advantage of it. I’m not entirely convinced. But if you’re…
Holy Murtha of God!
This just in from the folks at Politico: Federal contractors with close ties to US Rep. Jack Murtha have been raided by the feds: Federal agents on Thursday raided the offices of a Pennsylvania government contractor with close ties to Rep. John P. Murtha, chairman of the powerful Defense panel on the House Appropriations Committee.…
Ice Picks
Our 2009 Winter Guide Offers Some Seasonal Diversions
The life of Pittsburgh-born jazz drummer Joe Harris gets a workout in Kuntu Repertory’s Clean Drums.
Clean Drums finds Harris representing the bop-and-earlier jazz traditions of Armstrong, Gillespie and Parker, even as “young lions” embrace a new style.
LABCO Dance’s Holding Passage tackles some tough topics.
Stephanie Thiel’s “Flip the Script” was inspired by the 2003 rough cut of the film Invisible Children, which chronicled the plight of Northern Ugandan children forced to serve as child soldiers.
With booze, cards and the devil, a lauded play by acclaimed young Irish playwright Conor McPherson makes its Pittsburgh debut.
She quotes one reviewer who described the play as “the thinking man’s It’s a Wonderful Life.”
This Just In: January 22 – 29
Highlights from the local TV news: An attack of the runs at Heinz Field.
Neighborhoods: Neighbors say city is allowing new UPMC facility to skirt around zoning codes
North Point Breezers who opposed a new mental health facility moving into their neighborhood won their zoning appeal in December. But the center is coming anyway. All that’s changed is the reason why — and now, some in the community say that city officials are interpreting the zoning code far too liberally. The city is…
Education: Board members waiting on CEP progress reports
Depending on who you talk to, the North Side’s Clayton Academy could either be the best thing that’s ever happened to Pittsburgh’s most troubled students, or the worst. The problem is that, three semesters after the North Side school opened under private management, school board members still don’t know who to believe. “We need to…
Activist and author Devra Davis talks cancer, cell phones, plastics, Donora and Kennywood.
“There has been an increase in brain cancers in young people, and we don’t know why.”
Letters to the Editor: January 21 – 28
Feedback from our readers.
Ditka’s Restaurant
A quality steakhouse with a sport-bar feel proves a winning combination.
Paul Blart: Mall Cop
Steve Carr’s comedy pretends to care, but it’s just another sophomoric exercise in humiliating the dumb fat guy with the laughable job. Kevin James portrays a mall security guard named Paul Blart (rhymes with “fart”). Blart should be sympathetic, but he’s set up as whiny, needy and dangerous self-deluded. When a crew of bad guys…
Defiance
The socially conscious Edward Zwick (Glory, Blood Diamond) directs Defiance like a pro: This is efficient Hollywood filmmaking at its most lifeless, drained of emotion by over-emotion, and drowning in a soundtrack that cues our fears and tears. In this true story about 1,200 Russian Jews who survived the Holocaust by hiding out for three…
The Wrestler
The life of washed-up but still-performing pro-wrestler Randy The Ram (Mickey Rourke) is far from glamorous, and provides the backdrop for Darren Aronofsky’s indie drama. It’s a small-scale character study of a down-and-outer, filmed with the intimacy and relaxed pace of a documentary, and marked by hand-held cameras and earnest performances, including one by a…
Pittsburgh n’@
From: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/01/15/pittsburgh-mayor-ravenstahl-changes-name-to-steelerstahl/ Pittsburgh Mayor Ravenstahl Changing Name to … Wait for It … Steelerstahl When the playoffs start and Super Bowl season starts heating up, all sorts of crazy bets happen, including many odd wagers by politicians. Some politicos, such as Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, like to gamble on feeding the homeless and…
Worth Showing Up For
Hundreds pack county council for hearing on anti-discrimination bill
The Café at the Frick
It costs a lot to eat the way we did when we were poor.
Hillman Center adds new arts programs under director Sarah Rubin
“I chose to return to Pittsburgh because the scene is collaborative here, not competitive like in Boston or D.C.”
Name of the Game
Something snapped for me last week, when Mayor Luke Ravenstahl announced that, in honor of the AFC Championship against the Balitmore Ravens, he was temporarily changing his name to “Steelerstahl.” It happened when I got the official press release, which even recruited a local German scholar named John Lyon, who noted that, yes, “stahl” in…
Experimental ensemble No Triangle incorporates “inside-piano” techniques
Inside-piano performance tames one of our most convoluted musical machines for the purposes of minimalist percussion, one of our most primal musical methods.
Alia Musica’s chamber concert offers new compositions for two and three instruments
“Our chamber concerts have been successful because it’s a more intimate setting — the audience is closer to the performers.”
Fall head over heels for metal again with The Sword
Debate Metallica’s relevance all you want, but when the band decides to take you on tour, it’s kind of a big deal. The Sword, touring with the aforementioned thrash gods since earlier this month, had already spent the better part of three years under the “big deal” banner. Even so, when Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich…
Knot Feeder draws on strong local pedigree for debut full-length, Light Flares
“I always try to keep in mind a narrative, so it’s not just a collection of riffs. There are still movements, direction; it’s still songwriting.”
Pittsburgh-born dancer and choreographer Kyle Abraham is going places — and performing here this week.
The sense that Abraham is on the verge of a breakthrough looms primarily because his talent is just too big to ignore.
Savage Love
I love the wife I married two years ago, but she absolutely can’t come unless she uses a vibrator on herself. She’s asked me to let her use it during sex or for me to use it on her, but I’ve refused. It’s bad enough knowing I can’t compete with that thing without having to…
