Tracksploitation Launches Kickstarter to Fund National Tour
Nominated one of the cities best hip-hop acts of 2013, DJ duo Tracksploitation prepares for national tour and SXSW festival showcase.
RuPaul’s Drag Race Episode 1: Alaska Prevails
In a parade of attention-grabbing queens, Pittsburgh’s own Alaska made her grand entrance on RuPaul’s Drag Race wearing a gown made from a plastic tablecloth and a horse-head mask. But thing looked bad in the first challenge — an photo shoot that took place in a dunk tank — with Alaska floundering, before sputtering off…
The Pillow Project’s “Backlit in a Whole New D”
The dance company offered the latest in this fun series this past weekend. Read a review — and learn what’s next for the troupe — in Program Notes.
The Pillow Project’s Backlit in a Whole New D
The dance troupe made a strong showing this past weekend with the latest in its Backlit in a Whole New D performance series. It was meant mostly as just a fun show, and it delivered: Largely improvised, with the dancers working variations off a few set poses and moves, Backlit was fresh, sexy and unpredictable.…
Heads Up: Morning headlines for Jan. 29
The Tribune-Review reports the rumor that everyone is hearing: that if Port Authority head Steve Bland is ousted — a move that does appear to be in the works — he may be replaced by former Pennsylvania Turnpike head Joseph Brimmeier. County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, who just last week told us that he didn’t set…
Lynn Cullen Live 01/29/13
Video Archive Phone guest: Susan; winter tornadoes; most humans have adapted to accept change at a rapid rate; our brains are learning to filter in different ways; Republicans have lost the culture war; unfashionable to be a hater; small Kentucky town made it illegal to discriminate against homosexuals, transgender people; women can hold their own,…
Preview: Ramona Falls At Brillobox 1/29
Preview of Ramona Falls/Nevada Mountains/The Show at Brillobox 1/29 and an interview with Ramona Falls’ Brent Knopf. Topics include Weird Al, other stuff.
Dok Harris enters District 6 race for city council seat
Franco “Dok’ Harris, the 33-year-old son of Pittsburgh Steelers and Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris, says he intends to challenge City Councilor Daniel Lavelle for the District 6 seat in the upcoming municipal elections.
Another Pittsburgher Heads for Drag Super-Stardom
Another Pittsburgh drag queen competes in RuPaul’s Drag Race
Local Author Publishes LARP Novel
A local English teacher’s comic first novel is set amongst Live Action Role Players in Verona (sort of). Read more in Program Notes.
Local Author’s LARP Novel
The seed of Justin Calderone’s first novel was planted when he was driving on Washington Boulevard near Allegheny River Boulevard. He glanced at a little roadside park and saw some folks disporting themselves with replica medieval weaponry — swords, shields, bows and arrows. The sight of Live Action Role Players made Calderone wonder whether, if…
Local Film Blood Brother Big Winner at Sundance
Local film Blood Brother sweeps top documentary awards at Sundance
Heads Up: Morning headlines for Jan. 28
Just how much would it cost to post an armed cop at every public school, like the NRA has suggested? About $15 million in Allegheny County alone. But fear not! For state legislators have found an education program for which they may not mind increasing funding. Also from the Tribune-Review, business leaders swear that when…
Lynn Cullen Live 01/28/13
Video Archive Winter is almost over; when do people acknowledge they aren’t as sharp as they used to be?; Obama & Hillary’s almost-friendship; are parents going to want their kids playing football in the future?; Brazil club fire & why we’re numb to stories like it; sucide & high stress at CMU; Americans define themselves…
Mayoral race begins in earnest at Squirrel Hill forum
Much of this afternoon’s mayoral debate — the first such event of the 2013 season — involved City councilor Bill Peduto attacking Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Ravenstahl attacking Bill Peduto … and City Controller Michael Lamb agreeing with each of them about the other. Eventually, video of the debate, and an ensuing forum for candidates in…
Sunday rally to highlight South Side attack on member of LGBT community
Members of Pittsburgh’s LGBT community are planning to rally at 3 p.m. Sunday near the South Side bar Rizzo’s Margaritaville, at 2200 Carson Street, in response to an attack last week against a woman who identifies as a “stud” — women who present as men.
Handy Metal Tubes For Storing Beer
Happy Birthday, beer can: You’re 78!
Fontana on potential ouster of Port’s Bland: “It’s been something that’s brewing”
Some local lawmakers aren’t happy with the way Port Authority CEO Steve Bland called them out while lobbying for transportation funding in Harrisburg and that could be contributing to county executive Rich Fitzgerald trying to oust Bland as head of the agency. State Senator Wayne Fontana (D-Brookline) says Bland often pointed the finger wrongly at…
Artist Wants Your Dryer Lint
Cheryl Capezzuti, who became locally famous starting in the 1990s for making sculptures out of dryer lint, is back with her first such project in nearly a decade. And she’s seeking donations. Capezzuti’s best known lately for her festive, oversized puppets, of the sort that (with humans inside) marched in the last couple of First…
Port Authority postpones meeting; Bland’s future still uncertain
Discussion of PAT director’s future pushed off a week
Snow Panic Begins
Snow panic begins; street-chair parking underway.
A few more things to do this weekend!
A bunch of shows this weekend that we couldn’t fit into print.
One Hood Media Academy Opening Ceremony
Jasiri X and Paradise Gray host opening ceremony for their One Hood Media Academy, welcome Grammy award winning music artist David Banner for a conversation about the black male image in hip-hop and his career in the music business.
Also Opening Jan. 25: Hyde Park on Hudson
Laura Linney and Bill Murray, in Hyde Park on Hudson The opening of this film was announced after we went to press. Roger Michell’s dramedy depicts the love affair between President Franklin D. Roosevelt (Bill Murray) and his distant cousin Daisy Suckley (Laura Linney). The film focuses specifically on the canoodling that occured one weekend…
Heads Up: Morning headlines for Jan. 25
In today’s “what’s up with the Bureau of Police? news, city councilor Pat Dowd and the FOP are both faulting the Ravenstahl administration for not hiring enough police supervisors. And speaking of missing police supervisors, Chief Nate Harper is off the job for an indeterminate period, in the wake of his mother’s death … and…
Lynn Cullen Live 01/25/13
Video Archive Growing old; filibuster reform & Harry Reid; Republicans’ plan to proportionally allocate the electoral collage votes in states like PA, OH, etc…; local talk radio used to not suck; New Mexican bill requiring pregnant rape victims to carry baby full term or else be convicted of tampering w/ evidence; wanting guns, not wanting…
New vid: Ruckus Roboticus with Spanky Wilson
You might remember last year when our Margaret Welsh profiled soul singer Spanky Wilson, who’s back in Pittsburgh and performing again after so many years. Now, Spanky is featured on a new song by L.A.-via-Ohio artist Ruckus Roboticus, “T.G.I.F. (Thank God It’s Funky).” It’s a right catchy tune, and the video is great, so without…
Catch a Newish Film at CMU
Catch new and classic movies — cheap! — at CMU.
Peduto campaign adds familiar names, serious firepower
For political junkies, the big news today was the announcement of Bill Peduto’s campaign team — specifically the fact that it will be led by Guy Costa, a veritable household name who served as Ravenstahl’s Director of Public Works. Costa, who’d been DPW head for years before Ravenstahl reached the mayor’s office, had a high-profile…
Sam Hens-Greco formally enters District 8 race
As has been long foretold, Squirrel Hill attorney, and 14th Ward Democratic Committee Chair, Sam Hens-Greco announced his candidacy in the District 8 City Council race this morning. And he used the occasion to propose an initiative for deploying rain barrels across the city. The announcement was held along a portion of Ellsworth Avenue that…
Books / Street Life: Bad Graffiti
Scott Hocking’s book Bad Graffiti presents … well, amusingly bad graffiti.
Warhol Admissions Half-off in January
Just learned that for the next week, you can get into The Andy Warhol Museum for half-price. That’s $10 for adults and $5 for students and kids ages 3-18. The reason is that the museum’s busy installing its huge next show, Regarding Warhol: Sixty Artists, Fifty Years, which opens Feb. 3. The touring exhibit will…
Heads Up: Morning headlines for Jan. 24
Wait a minute … you mean charter schools aren’t the answer to our dreams after all? You mean the administrators who run these schools think they deserve a break because their student population has high turnover, and includes many kids from troubled backgrounds? I swear I’ve heard that somewhere before … But of note is…
Lynn Cullen Live 01/24/13
Video Archive Guest: Tom Sokolowski; myopia & age; news of the weird: museum of copulatory organs; Hillary Clinton really proved her leadership yesterday; Rand Paul would never be president; word of the day: supercilious; people thinking Sandy Hook was a hoax; article on the American South in the New Yorker; women in the military, on…
New track from Jasiri X: “Ascension”
Earlier today, Jasiri X, whom you’ve read about in our pages before, dropped the title track from his long-awaited upcoming album, Ascension, now due in late March. Have a listen: Ascension is being issued by Wandering Worx.
TV: Friday Night Lights
Late to the field: Friday Night Lights is a great TV show
Visiting Artist to Speak on “Fictional Photography”
A nationally exhibited photographer who specializes in darkly comic scenarios speaks at Point Park University on Friday. Read more — and see a sample of his work — in Program Notes.
Visiting Artist to Speak on “Fictional Photography”
Point Park University’s lecture series “Speaking Light” continues with Friday’s talk by Andy Bloxham titled “Fictional Photography.” Bloxham, who teaches at West Virginia Wesleyan College and Maine Media Workshops, says his work “centers on fictitious situations and events, told through the slight hint of a smirking camera.” His photos, often featuring himself as a model…
Peddlin Pierogies tasting party
The guys behind South Side’s Peddlin Pierogies are hosting a tasting party later this month. Check it out to sample their take on a Pittsburgh classic and meet the farmers behind the products they use. There’s a sliding admission: For $5, you get a craft beverage sample and 3 gourmet pierogies; $7 gets beverage samples…
New electronics recycling rules start tomorrow
Your old TV may be junk but according to state law it’s no longer trash
Bonnie “Prince” Billy: Three Essential Everly Brothers Records
Will Oldham names is favorite Everly Brothers records.
Heads Up: Morning headlines for Jan. 23
Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald is demanding that non-profits start accounting for themselves — or at least for their non-profit status. Meanwhile, the city is pressing on with its own look at raising more revenue from non-profits. And a spokesman for them wants you to know that non profits already give us so much, and…
Joy Ike puts it on the line with All or Nothing
JOY IKE CD RELEASE with COLONIZING THE COSMOS. 7:30 p.m. Sun., Jan. 27. New Hazlett Theater 6 Allegheny Square East North Side. $12-30. All ages. 412-320-4610 or newhazletttheater.org If nothing else, the title of Joy Ike’s third album should tell you something about where she is as an artist. After the innocuous debut Good Morning…
Les Misérables at Broadway Across America
LES MISÉRABLES continues through Sun., Jan. 27. Benedum Center for the Performing Arts 719 Liberty Ave. Downtown. 412-456-6666 or pgharts.org Vive la révolution! Meet me at the barricade, comrades, and we’ll overthrow the nasty French aristocracy! But first, let’s sing about it for three hours. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of its Broadway premiere, the…
New Public Enemy video stars Pittsburgh
Last week, a new Public Enemy video hit the Internet: an uplifting tune called “Everything,” with a sweet, Motown-style riff behind it and a sing-songy delivery by Chuck D. The video begins with — hey, is that Justin Strong, from Shadow Lounge?! Wait, that second guy … that’s Davon Magwood, the Pittsburgh comedian, isn’t it?…
Critics’ Picks: January 23 – 29
[SINGER-SONGWRITER] + FRI., JAN. 25 It’s that age-old story: The singer-songwriter who moved to another country to play professional basketball and is now returning home to make a living in music. OK, OK, so Mike Medved’s narrative isn’t exactly run-of-the-mill. The 26-year-old went to St. Vincent College and shipped out in 2009 to play for…
New Releases
The Williams Band Calmer Than You Are (Self-released) Even for an EP, Calmer Than You Are is short — the longest of the four songs is under four minutes — but The Williams Band makes every second count. It’s got the big, polished, radio-ready, Southern-rock sound of a band like Kings of Leon, but with…
Fighting Fitzgerald: County exec steamrolls through first year in office
Standing along Smallman Street in the Strip District, County Executive Rich Fitzgerald eyeballs the cars and trucks speeding by. And then, after a moment’s hesitation, dashes across, through the rain — and nearly into the path of an oncoming car. “We call that ‘the Fitzgerald’,” says his spokeswoman, Amie Downes, with a laugh. “When you…
Irregular Guy
Earlier this month, newly elected Western Pennsylvania Congressman Keith Rothfus took his first substantive vote — by opposing $9 billion in flood insurance for victims of Superstorm Sandy. Only a small number of hardline conservatives opposed the bill; even local Republicans Tim Murphy and Mike Kelly supported the aid. Rothfus explained that while his “thoughts…
Savage Love
A friend of mine is a crossdresser considering transitioning. He came out to a female friend he hadn’t seen in awhile, and she told her that she wanted her to come to her house fully dressed for some hot sex. I told her to go for it, saying gender-transgression play is potentially hot. This girl…
Short List: January 23 – 29
Spotlight: Fri., Jan. 25 — Stage What costume shall the poor girl wear? Nico donned many roles, from model and actress to Warhol superstar, Velvet Underground chanteuse and cult-favorite solo artist. The German-born Nico died in 1988, a seeming enigma. But to performance artist Tammy Lang — best known as her evangelical country-singer alter ego…
Cement Beach House
We rent a cottage with huge raku beetles on the screen door. Two beds and a bath. The sound of roaches patrolling the tiles. We sit in the sand, draining wine to the darkness that pours black panic. I hear in the waves. You, complacent tide-watcher, concede to leave. Back inside, I kill the roaches…
Benjamin’s Western Avenue Burger Bar
Benjamin’s Western Avenue Burger Bar 900 Western Ave. North Side. 412-224-2163 Hours: Sun.-Thu 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Prices: Burgers and sandwiches $8.25-14.25; snacks $2.25-10.95 Liquor: Full bar In this trying economy, upscale dining has become harder to sustain, but restaurateurs are a resourceful bunch. Many are making it work by introducing limited…
Big Plans
Becky Rodgers, executive director of Neighbors in the Strip, is full of ideas for the space that will be the Pittsburgh Public Market’s new home. Booths equipped for cooking. A commercial kitchen for prepping. A stage for entertainment. Possibly a restaurant to anchor it. “The market council has been looking for over a year at…
Pittsburgh Happy Hour tours area bars
Thursday evenings are for exploring different places, knocking back a couple of beers or cocktails, and making some new friends. That’s the idea behind the weekly meet-up called Pittsburgh Happy Hour. The group, organized by Lou Kroeck and Krista Bland, has been touring Pittsburgh-area bars and restaurants for the past 18 months. Although the original…
Find The Enchanted Garden just off East Carson Street
“We are a bar on the South Side,” Jackie Day acknowledges, “but we don’t contribute to the trouble” plaguing Pittsburgh’s bar district. If anything, “We help aid in the next day’s recovery.” Day owns The Enchanted Garden, a garden shop and juice bar located just off East Carson Street. “People walk by and don’t know…
At SPACE, a group show seeks to recapture youth.
Romper Room, now showing at SPACE Gallery, is supposed to be about youth. And really, what could be more sophomoric than a skateboard ramp, walls of graffiti and racks of knickknacks? To mature adults (read: sellouts), Romper Room looks less like installation art than a giant roomful of debris — action figures, drawings, an overturned…
Mad Scientists experiment with literature, science and community outreach at Garfield’s LAB.
THE LAB at Assemble 4-6 p.m. Mondays (“Experi-Monday” workshops, free); 3:30-6 p.m. Tuesdays (homework help, free). 5125 Penn Ave. Garfield. 773-425-1531 or literaryartsboom.org Anyone who’s been to an 826 National Chapter knows that they’re something special. The youth writing and tutoring centers operate behind quirky storefronts in eight cities nationwide, including Washington, D.C., Los Angeles…
The Central Park Five
The Central Park Five Directed by: Ken Burns, Sarah Burns and David McMahon Starts: Fri., Jan. 25. Regent Square Every now and then, a not-so-uncommon crime explodes into national consciousness, and becomes the flashpoint for other larger, unresolved societal issues. So it was on April 19, 1989, when a young white female jogger was beaten…
Gia T. Presents offers three new improvisation-based dance works.
GIA T. PRESENTS 8 p.m. Sat., Jan. 26. Wood Street Galleries 601 Wood St., Downtown. $10. Reservations at giatc3@yahoo.com Gia Cacalano says it was the lure of the ocean’s smell and distant sound that beckoned her and her 7-year-old daughter to continue a long hike that led them to an as-yet-unseen Atlantic. The pair’s nature…
Will Oldham takes stock of his 2012
BONNIE “PRINCE” BILLY with TITLE TK (Cory Arcangel, Alan Licht, Howie Chen). 8 p.m. Sat., Jan. 26. Carnegie Lecture Hall 4400 Forbes Ave. Oakland. $15-18. 412-237-8300 or warhol.org On deep matters, such as his appreciation for The Everly Brothers, Will Oldham’s eloquent commentary illuminates. On more mundane topics, he’ll still surprise you. New Year’s resolutions?…
Lynn Cullen Live 01/23/13
Video Archive Guest: Chris Potter; local cop botch-ups; Ka’sandra Wade case; Southside shootings; PG questions to Chief of Police put into press release; inauguration recap; flaming brown cheese debacle in Norway; 3rd gender recognized in Nepal; anniversary of Roe v. Wade; how the anti-abortionists have been successful; Americans in majority support abortion; the Obamas are…
