Pittsburgh’s “monumental” 48 Hour Film Project is back, and in person
No more than 45 seconds into Benjamin T. Wilson’s short film Past the Worst, there’s a Zoom funeral. The eulogy can’t be read because nobody can figure out how to let someone in off the waiting room. The 2020 winner of Pittsburgh’s 48 Hour Film Project, Past the Worst represented much of the competition last…
A collaborative beer fest, an iced tea takeover, Ace Hotel drama, and more Pittsburgh food news
NEWS Con Alma 5884 Ellsworth Ave., Shadyside. conalmapgh.comIf you still haven’t gone to Con Alma, here’s hoping you can check it out before all the pandemic restrictions lift and the out-of-towners start pouring in. Esquire magazine listed the restaurant and jazz bar as one of its Best Bars in America. “If you want to immediately and…
Spirit and The Vandal throw joint six-year anniversary bash with music, free tattoos, and more
The past year has been tough on a lot of industries, most noticeably restaurants and bars. This might be why two Lawrenceville spots are throwing a joint anniversary bash to not only celebrate six years of being open, but also surviving the pandemic. Spirit, the multi-level bar, pizza place, and performance venue, and laid-back food…
Controversial Sen. Mastriano and other Pa. state lawmakers visit Arizona election audit
Three Pennsylvania state lawmakers visited an ongoing review of the 2020 election in Maricopa County, Ariz., on Wednesday. State Rep. Rob Kauffman (R-Franklin), state Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Franklin), and state Sen. Cris Dush (R-Jefferson) all took the trip west to meet with Arizona state legislators and tour the audit facility, according to a statement from…
Pittsburgh politicians call on DA Stephen Zappala to be removed or resign from office
On Wed., June 2, TribLive reported on an email that Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala sent to his deputy prosecutors forbidding them from offering any plea deals to the clients of a well-known Black lawyer who five days prior criticized Zappala’s office for being “systematically racist.” Almost immediately after the story broke, criticism of…
National group highlights Black-owned Pittsburgh businesses as part of Black Restaurant Week
The pandemic has hit many small businesses hard, but Black-owned businesses have borne the brunt of those losses. According to a study out of the University of California, Santa Cruz, 41% of Black-owned businesses have shuttered in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to 17% of white-owned businesses. As the economy continues to…
Pennsylvania cities could see 15 new train round trips as part of Amtrak proposal
In March, Amtrak announced its 2035 Vision plan which included proposals to expand and improve rail service throughout America, with more than 30 new routes and better service on more than 20 existing routes. Under that plan, Pennsylvania would see three completely new routes serving the eastern part of the state, as well as enhanced…
Stage AE announces 2021 Concerts and Special Events lineup
Stage AE has announced its 2021 summer concert and special events line up. After canceling all shows in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the venue located on Pittsburgh’s North Shore will be back to hosting indoor and outdoor events starting this August. In addition to being the home for concerts including St. Vincent,…
Eight local coffee roasters give unique spins on same coffee in support of community
For some, coffee is a solitary activity — a pour over done on a quiet Sunday morning in their apartment, a table for one in the corner of a coffee shop. But even the most solitary coffee experience connects one to those making their coffee, and eight local coffee roasters have come together to highlight…
RMU cuts men’s, women’s hockey in shocking and confusing move
Robert Morris University Men’s Hockey Coach Derek Schooley’s coaching journey started from the bottom. “I came in day one with a telephone and a desk and they said ‘Go start a program,’” says Schooley. In the 17 years since, both the men’s and women’s programs at Robert Morris University have become a staple in the…
McClinton calls for safeguards against prison gerrymandering in Pa. legislative maps
Potentially upsetting decades of precedent that has aided rural, white Pennsylvanians at the expense of Black, urban residents, House Minority Leader Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia) called for state legislators to change how they count prisoners during redistricting. Under past practice, individuals in prison have been counted as residing in their cell, not at their home, when…
An extensive list of all the times Sean Parnell criticized Donald Trump
After former President Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 election, a cavalcade of Pennsylvania Republicans sprang to Trump’s defense, and even went as far to attempt to delegitimize President Joe Biden’s election victory. Among those were former Congressional candidate and now U.S. Senate candidate Sean Parnell (R-Ohio Township), who joined a failed suit against Gov.…
Duolingo founder, a Pittsburgher and immigrant, works with White House to fight illiteracy in Central America
Luis von Ahn, founder of language learning app Duolingo, grew up in Guatemala in the 1980s and 1990s, a particularly turbulent time for the Central American nation. He emigrated to the U.S. in 2000 to attend college, and later graduate school at Carnegie Mellon University. “My mother spent everything she had on my education, which…
Office of Public Art to address environmental issues with OPA Live! Instagram series
Environmentalism has inspired artists for decades, with songwriters, filmmakers, visual artists, and others using their skills to lament humankind’s neglect of the planet. This summer, the Pittsburgh Office of Public Art will invite a number of guests to take over the organization’s Instagram account for OPA Live!, a new series offering perspectives from artists and…
Pittsburgh set to open some public pools, if they can find enough lifeguards
Attention, attention, this is not a drill! The city of Pittsburgh is set to open eight public pools next month. But, according to a press release, only if they can get enough lifeguards to staff them. If enough lifeguards are hired, there is a possibility of opening more of the city’s public pools. Today, the office…
Song Spotlight: “Do What Now” by Gaadge
“Do What Now” is one of the singles off Gaadge’s album Yeah? released earlier this year from Crafted Sounds. The band formed in Erie and now resides in Pittsburgh with its four members. Yeah? is a great project as a whole, but “Do What Now” definitely stands out as the shoegaze-y, brash song you want…
Pa. plans to lift mask mandate by June 28, or earlier if 70% of adults are fully vaccinated
Pennsylvania is on track to fully vaccinate 70% of adults by the end of June, meaning the most visible reminder of the COVID-19 pandemic — masks — will soon become optional. “We have determined that the commonwealth mask order can safely be lifted on June 28, or when 70% of adults get their second dose,”…
Carnegie Museum of Art’s Alyssa Velazquez brings design into her wardrobe
Name: Alyssa Velazquez Work: Curatorial Assistant of Decorative Arts and Design at Carnegie Museum of Art (4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. cmoa.org) How would you describe your style in a few words? Playful. Experimental. Quirky. Vintage. I think of my style as a mix of Iona and Andie Walsh in Pretty in Pink. A Bomber jacket…
Black-led Community Spotlight: Alicia Tavani of No Limits Martial Arts
People practice martial arts for a variety of reasons, from health and wellness to being able to defend themselves in dangerous or unfamiliar situations. For Alicia Tavani, owner and master instructor at No Limits Martial Arts in the South Hills, martial arts was a path toward self-confidence and focus. On her website, Tavani describes herself…
Rock fantasy-themed Allies Ball highlights continued work to combat HIV/AIDS in Pittsburgh
The annual Allies Ball celebrates and supports the decades of work to fight against HIV/AIDS, and it also serves to highlight how, even with life-saving medical advances and less panic about the virus, HIV/AIDS continues to be a major public health concern in Pittsburgh and throughout the world. This has been the ongoing battle for…
Yang Zhen Lee’s trauma-informed tattooing prioritizes boundaries and trust
Yang Zhen Lee didn’t intend on becoming a tattoo artist. After working as a freelance illustrator for six years, they even decided to give up on being an artist altogether. But when they were offered a front desk position at Gypsy Tattoo Parlor, it marked the beginning of their journey into a new art form.…
Transit-Oriented Development and a potential new path for growth in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is primed for TOD. For the uninformed, which is just about everyone not obsessed with the wonky details of municipal zoning, TOD stands for Transit-Oriented Development. The term means encouraging dense housing and amenities within walking distance of frequent and high-quality transit, like a high-rise apartment building on top of a subway station. Pittsburgh…
Seven Days in Pittsburgh: May 27-June 2
Thu., May 27 ART • VIRTUAL Maksimilijan Vanka, a Croatian-American artist, is best known for his murals in St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church. Join assistant professor of art and art history Dr. Heidi Cook, along with Dr. Barbara McCloskey, for Vanka Murals Table Talk: Vanka’s Our Mothers and the First World War to learn about one…
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY: May 27-June 2
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): A blogger named Valentine Cassius reports, “A tiny old woman came into the deli where I work and ordered a ‘wonderful turkey sandwich.’ When asked what she wanted on the sandwich other than turkey, she said ‘all of your most wonderful toppings.'” Here’s my response to that: The tiny old woman’s…
