#bikewalkvote — cyclists/pedestrians petition mayoral candidates
Bicycle, pedestrian and safe streets advocates are calling on mayoral candidates to support programs and infrastructure to make the streets and neighborhoods safer and more accessible. The petition, according to Bike Pittsburgh’s website, is to “tell the candidates you want to put an end to dangerous driving, that you want to make it safe for…
Heads Up: Morning headlines for March 26
Remember Bradley Walker, the detective who attacked an unsuspecting motorist in 2010 during an apparent road rage incident? Remember how the city was getting sued for not removing Walker from the force prior to that point, when he had numerous complaints lodged against him? Remember how I said it would be “ironic” if the city…
Marriage equality rally Wednesday
Tomorrow, the Supreme Court of the United States begins hearing arguments in the first of two cases regarding same-sex marriage. Tomorrow’s case is on the constitutionality of California’s Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment to prohibit same-sex marriages. On Wednesday, the justices will hear arguments in another case challenging a section of the federal Defense of…
Film on future of energy screens here
“Switch” searches the planet for energy answers
Zany Umbrella Circus at Market Square
There’s a free show at Market Square, Downtown, three times daily this weekend. (Yes, it’s outdoors, and a wee bit chilly.) More on the clowning, juggling, trapeze-swinging Zanies in Program Notes.
Zany Umbrella Circus at Market Square
“Cake” continues through Sunday
More groups question “Sustainable Shale” initiative
Center for Sustainable Shale slammed as cover for fracking
Port Authority raises interim CEO’s salary, not rushing CEO search
The Port Authority board of directors today voted to temporarily increase the salary of interim CEO Ellen McLean. McLean’s salary will increase from $138,000 to $167,500, and remain until a permanent agency chief is in place. Authority board chair Jeff Letwin proposed the raise because McLean is balancing her job as CFO and interim CEO…
DEP Head Krancer to step down
Mike Krancer, secretary of the state Department of Environmental Protection, will step down April 15. “His guidance on a variety of issues related to the environment has been vital,” Gov. Tom Corbett said in a press release announcing the move. “DEP has been in good hands under his leadership.” Krancer, a former assistant general counsel…
PCTV to Broadcast Mayoral Debate
PCTV will Broadcast City Mayoral Debate
Heads Up: Morning headlines for March 22
The court battle over UPMC’s tax-exempt status — challenged by Mayor Luke Ravenstahl — is a long way off. But in the meantime, here’s a primer on some of the legal questions, and a discussion of how a Supreme Court decision last year really helps the city’s cause. Meanwhile, plans to basically nullify that decision…
Lynn Cullen Live 03/22/13
Video Archive Guest: David Bear, former travel editor at the PG & organizer for Highpoint Pittsburgh; Steel / UPMC Tower is the largest, highest flat surface roof at 841 feet; how to go about constructing the park; what would draw people to go there; design ideas; what YOU can do to help make it happen;…
Films at CMU: Hitchcock
It’s Hitchcock time at CMU film series
Seeking interns, summer and fall 2013!
We’re looking for a few good interns. Well. Two good interns.
Initiative offers environmental certification of shale gas
Industry, environmental groups and philanthropies join to create code
Heads Up: Morning headlines for March 21
The big news yesterday, obviously, was Mayor Luke Ravenstahl’s plan to challenge the tax-exempt status of UPMC. Plenty of coverage out there of course; a decent primer is here, with some discussion of the long-term political implications here. Stay tuned for plenty more. For now, I’ll just observe that in the past week, the mayor…
Lynn Cullen Live 03/21/13
Video Archive Guest: Tom Sokolowski; crickets in NYC; Luke vs. UPMC; UPMC is Ayn Rand’s wet dream; what this has to do w/ the Pittsburgh Promise & why Pittsburgh Public Schools are freaked; the year 1968: it was the best of times, it was the worst of times; future of technology, scary as it may…
Ravenstahl challenges UPMC’s tax-exempt status
Let no one accuse Mayor Luke Ravenstahl of going out with a whimper: In the waning months of his administration, he has launched a lawsuit challenging the tax-exempt status of UPMC, the region’s largest employer. “After a thorough and exhaustive review,” Ravenstahl told reporters this morning, “It’s very clear to me that the University of…
Heads Up: Morning headlines for March 20
In today’s installment of copwatch … a couple stories touch on the police bureau’s “reckoning period” policy, in which prior disciplinary issues have a sort of statute of limitations, after which they can no longer be considered when setting punishment for later infractions. It may complicate the city’s attempt to address concerns about Detective Frank…
Books with baseball themes are out in time for Opening Day.
With Opening Day approaching, locally sourced baseball books are doing what baseball books seem to do best: looking back. The most colorful of the current lot is a kids’ book. You Never Heard of Willie Mays?! (Schwartz & Wade Books) is the follow-up to You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?!, also written by Pittsburgh-based children’s…
Lola Bistro
Lola Bistro 1100 Galveston Ave. Allegheny West. 412-322-1106 Hours: Tue.-Sat. 5-10 p.m. Prices: Starters $8-10; charcuterie and entrees $18-24 Liquor: BYOB It’s the holy grail of dining: the neighborhood bistro with an atmosphere you’d like to experience every night, and food good enough to do the same. Lola Bistro, in a sweet little space at…
Barbara
Barbara Directed by: Christian Petzold Starring: Nina Hoss and Ronald Zehrfeld In German, with subtitles. Starts Fri., March 22. Harris “Nobody can be happy here." So says Barbara, a doctor, referring to life in East Germany in 1980. She’s particularly bitter; in a disciplinary action, she’s been transferred from a prestigious hospital in East Berlin…
Some farmers offering new twists on traditional CSA options
Elliott Lengel, one of three partners in the Mercer-area Lengel Brothers Farm and Market, is trying something different this year in his Community Supported Agriculture program (CSA): offering the option of pre-ordering bushels of vegetables for canning and freezing. “Once people sign up, we’ll make up a schedule with them," he says, explaining that as…
Admission
In today’s fraught academic environment, a film such as Admission seems a sure bet. Paul Weitz’s light comedy is adapted from Jean Hanff Korelitz’s novel, which told the behind-the-scenes tale of how the admissions department at Princeton picks the oh-so-very-few students from the zillions who apply. The tale, related by one admissions officer, seemed to…
Local firm offers drink-list app
There seems to be an app for everything these days: Find where your friends are hanging out with FourSquare, summon a cab with TaxiMagic, even arrange to vacation in a stranger’s apartment with Airbnb. The crowdsourcing of food reviews is one of the most successful app applications; tools like Yelp and Urbanspoon offer heaps of…
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone
Burt Wonderstone, written by John Francis Daley of Horrible Bosses fame, follows a best-friend duo of Las Vegas magicians and their misadventures as they try to remain relevant in a viral-video age of magic. The eponymous Mr. Wonderstone — played by Steve Carell — is a predictably arrogant and unlikable character who relies so heavily…
Coffee Buddha offers a path to enlightenment — right on Perry Highway
Coffee Buddha 964 Perry Highway North Hills. 412-837-2595 or thecoffeebuddha.com Michael Witherel carefully pours boiling water over Burundi coffee beans, nestled in a filter above a Mason jar. The base of the jar turns a rich brown color. And voila, you have single-pour coffee. “This way provides a cleaner-tasting coffee," he says. Witherel, the owner…
The long journey of Paleface
PALEFACE with THE ARMADILLOS, MODERN NATURE. 9 p.m. Sat., March 23. Thunderbird Café 4023 Butler St. Lawrenceville. $8. 412-682-0177 or thunderbirdcafe.net There was a small controversy in the Charlotte, N.C., music scene when The Avett Brothers, the biggest band to emerge from the city since … well, ever … tapped singer/songwriter Paleface to tour with…
Lynn Cullen Live 03/20/13
Video Archive Guest: Chris Potter; Pittsburgh cops behaving badly; favoritism to white police candidates; Ravenstahl news conference today about challenging UPMC’s tax exempt status; Ferlo dropped out of the mayoral race; does a fish really rot from the head down?; Lawrence Welk, molester; Wisconsin Death Trip & the true story that prompted ‘Psycho;’ Stubenville case…
Thurston Moore returns with Chelsea Light Moving
CHELSEA LIGHT MOVING 8 p.m. Tue., April 2. Mr. Small’s Theatre 400 Lincoln Ave. Millvale. $16-18. 412-821-4447 ormrsmalls.com Thurston Moore’s new band, Chelsea Light Moving, delivers everything one would expect from the guitarist, post-Sonic Youth. Moore is no stranger to sideline endeavors: In addition to his solo albums, he has collaborated with everyone from Yoko…
Mac Miller’s New REMember Music label highlights Pittsburgh acts
Since moving to Los Angeles in 2012, Pittsburgh musician Mac Miller has continued to develop himself and his Most Dope brand. Along with business partner Quentin Cuff, he landed a MTV2 television series that’s currently at mid-season, and they recently launched their own record label, REMember Music. Although it wasn’t something they initially considered or…
Rock Camp for Girls looks to do more than just teach young women to play
There’s one thing organizer Hannah Shaw wants to make clear about Girls Rock Pittsburgh’s Rock Camp for Girls: It’s not your average summer camp. “What’s unique about it is that it’s women mentoring girls," Shaw explains. “All of the staff that will be at camp are seasoned musicians and activists and community leaders, showing girls…
Altar TV brings national and local musicians to an Internet audience
There are a few requisite stops for touring musicians coming through Pittsburgh. Many go to Jerry’s for record-shopping, and plenty stop at Primanti’s or Pamela’s to get some of the notable local cuisine. But lately there’s a new side trip that’s gotten popular, albeit by invite only: the Altar TV studios on the North Side. …
Critics’ Picks: March 20 – 26
[NEW MUSIC] + THU., MARCH 21 Last fall, Mason Bates began his term as the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s composer-in-residence. Tonight, he continues his reign in a performance with the local new-music ensemble IonSound. The night’s programming will range from the electronic beats Bates is known for to a composition by Martin Matalon that scores Luis…
The Pittsburgh Moment: It’s happened before
Sometime around 1995, Bill Deasy, along with his then-band The Gathering Field, stumbled upon a little fame in the traditional way: by writing a song that a lot of people really liked. Deasy wrote “Lost in America" one morning, rather quickly, and it became the hit at their regular Thursday-night gig at Nick’s Fat City.…
New Releases
Shockwave Riderz 12" (Self-released) One-sided vinyl EP from the trio featuring two Modey Lemon vets. Lots of synthetic sounds and psyche-y effects swirl around this one, on which Phil Boyd provides drums and combines with synth player Sara McElhaney on vocals. (Paul Quattrone is responsible for processed electronic sounds, not drums, which is a move…
Music Guide 2013
With the recent global success of several Pittsburgh-based musical talents — mashup artist Girl Talk, rappers Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller — there’s a feeling in Pittsburgh that this might be an important moment, the time for the world to recognize Pittsburgh’s contributions to music. Of course, Pittsburgh has popped up many times on the…
Political beat: Candidates for city office reflect on the shows they’ve seen
Voters use all kinds of criteria when deciding whom to vote for. Some use party affiliation or endorsements. Others might even want to know where a particular candidate stands on the issues. But what about their musical tastes? Could we not have avoided a lot of heartache if we’d known that Mayor Luke Ravenstahl was…
The path to nationwide success
We all know that it’s hard out there for the independent musician, but Josh Verbanets, guitarist and songwriter of upbeat local rock band Meeting of Important People, has managed to find a way to make things work. Thanks to MTV shows like Teen Mom and The Real World, he was able to give up his…
They’re Off: Large field of mayoral hopefuls meet in first debate
By deciding not to seek re-election amid a swirl of controversy, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl has settled some questions about the city’s future. But he also raised a new one: “Who are all these people?" Ravenstahl’s original challengers — City Controller Michael Lamb and City Councilor Bill Peduto — have now been joined by four other…
On the Record with Sam Hunt of the Windish Agency
Sam Hunt has been a booking agent with the Chicago-based Windish Agency since shortly after the agency began in 2004. He’s represented acts including Girl Talk, Diplo, Animal Collective and Black Moth Super Rainbow. He talked with us about what goes into routing a tour, and why your favorite band hit Pittsburgh last year — or…
Just Plain Crap
As Pittsburgh knows too well, pollution can be relative. For instance, Pittsburgh’s air remains among the dirtiest in the nation — but remember how bad it used to be? Likewise, Pittsburgh has few environmental stories prouder than the restoration of Nine Mile Run. Decades ago, most of this stream was buried ‘neath our eastern neighborhoods…
Group show Feminist and … strives for diversity but succumbs to obfuscation.
FEMINIST AND … continues through May 26. Mattress Factory 500 Sampsonia Way North Side. 412-231-3169 or mattress.org Given the misogynistic rhetoric of the most recent election cycle, it is clear that feminism still has a crucial role to play in American politics. Last November, women voted in record numbers, and more women than ever were…
Off the Charts
It’s a rainy Tuesday night at the Backstage Bar, Penn Avenue, Downtown. With the rhythm section laying down some phat beats, the tenor plays slow, smooth, soulful. The jazz standard “Body and Soul" ends with an extended, Coltrane-like series of trills and turns. Saxophonist Tony Campbell — a small, dapper man, dressed in a brown…
Jeremy Boyle and Mark Franchino’s installation is roughly the sum of its parts.
UNTITLED 1: JEREMY BOYLE AND MARK FRANCHINO continues through April 7. Pittsburgh Center for the Arts 6300 Fifth Ave. Shadyside. 412-361-0873 or pittsburgharts.org Collaboration can foster an exchange of ideas and alternative art practices that are not always possible when an artist works in isolation. Untitled I is the first collaboration between Jeremy Boyle and…
Savage Love
DEAR READERS: I’m off this week. To tide all of your hot and/or kinky and/or sore asses over, here’s a column I wrote 15 years ago. Some newer readers might’ve missed this column when it originally appeared — those who were still in grade school, diapers or amniotic sacs back in 1998 — so I’m…
Breath & Imagination at City Theatre
BREATH & IMAGINATION continues through March 31. City Theatre 1300 Bingham St. South Side. $15-55. 412-431-2489 or citytheatrecompany.org Would Breath & Imagination be such engaging musical theater without the massive talents of its three cast members? Jubilant Sykes, Kecia Lewis and Tom Frey fill the City Theatre mainstage with playwright Daniel Beaty’s images and imaginings…
Short List: March 20 – 26
Free Event: Fri., March 22 — Circus It’s been out of town for a bit, but Zany Umbrella Circus is back with its new show “Cake." This live-storybook-style show about a kid’s birthday gone awry incorporates clowning, juggling, aerial work and more: It will be performed outdoors in Market Square, three times daily Friday through…
Thurgood at Pittsburgh Public Theater
THURGOOD continues through April 7. Pittsburgh Public Theater 621 Penn Ave. Downtown. $15.75-55. 412-316-1600 orppt.org Tony Kushner opens the second half of Angels in America with a character named The World’s Oldest Bolshevik ridiculing modern socialists as “pygmy children of a gigantic race." It’s hard not to think of that watching Thurgood, about the late…
Navigating Pittsburgh
Today’s quick trip down to the Strip, miraculous parking space in front of Pennsylvania Macaroni, cheese from all over the world, fresh bread, olives shimmering in buckets of oil, handmade pasta. Odd turns take you by surprise — across a river you hadn’t meant to cross, streets that don’t run parallel, but a street that…
