Pittsburgh writers on how COVID-19 is affecting their work
Every important historical event inevitably changes how writers view the world. Stephen Crane’s The Red Badge of Courage and Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn were created in the aftermath of the Civil War. Irwin Shaw’s The Young Lions, Catch-22 by Joseph Heller, and The Naked and the Dead by Norman Mailer reflected life in the post-World…
Black Pittsburgh authors you should know
You Don’t Have to Go to Mars for Love by Yona Harvey Yona Harvey’s list of writing achievements is lengthy: she is one of the first Black women to write for Marvel Comics, and her works of poetry have won numerous awards, including the Kate Tufts Discovery Award for her first poetry collection, Hemming the…
Give to these local organizations to help with bail funds, therapy costs, legal support, and more
You might feel like things are spiraling out of control and that there is nothing you can do about it, but there is always something. If you find yourself watching the protests on TV and scrolling helplessly through shocking Tweets, try donating to one of these local organizations. It’s fast, it’s easy, and it makes…
UPDATE: Residents who filmed East Liberty skirmish charged with allegedly throwing water bottles at Pittsburgh Police, both deny accusations
UPDATE, 7 p.m. June 5: After being visited by Pittsburgh Police the day after police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters, two women have been charged by police with allegedly throwing water bottles at police. Abigail Rubio, and her friend Natalie Lewis, were charged on June 4 with felony riot, as well as…
Photos: Protest & vigil held at East Liberty Presbyterian Church
On Wednesday afternoon, the East Liberty Presbyterian Church hosted a silent, peaceful vigil for George Floyd and other victims of fatal police brutality. Over 200 people gathered outside the church, which takes up a city block, wrapping around all sides of the building. As the sidewalk around the church filled up, attendees spilled over onto…
Photo Hunt
How many differences can you find in these photos? Click to page two for answer key.
March through Downtown and South Side marks fourth day of Black Lives Matter protests in Pittsburgh
Today, a group of about 300 protesters marched from Downtown to the Allegheny County Jail and then on to South Side in a peaceful march that ended without incident. The march was led by the group Pittsburgh I Can’t Breathe, a grassroots organization that was recently created in response to the death of George Floyd,…
Scare off COVID-19 with horror masks by Tom Savini and Jason Baker
The public response to COVID-19 has given people plenty of creative mask options to prevent contracting and spreading the virus. Now horror fans can stay safe and show off their love of the genre with masks by Pittsburgh-based special effects artists Tom Savini and Jason Baker. Savini, the artist and actor famous for his work…
Port Authority operators will not be used to transport police on buses, says union
In many cities across the country, bus drivers have shown solidarity with protesters by refusing to transport police or protesters being arrested or detained. In Minneapolis, multiple bus drivers refused to drive buses that were transporting police and arrested protesters. John Costa, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), issued a statement saying that bus drivers…
Lynn Cullen Live – 6/2/20
Video Archive Susan is joining Lynn to discuss the ongoing protests, tear gas being fired at peaceful protesters in front of the White House so that Trump could do a photo op, and much more. Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
Police used rubber bullets, smoke, and chemical munitions against protesters during a march in East Liberty in honor of George Floyd
At around 7 p.m. on Monday night, about 100 protesters were met by police officers in East Liberty. After being told multiple times that they were part of an unlawful assembly, police fired rubber bullets or bean bags and then smoke and chemical munitions at the crowd, at which most of the protesters dispersed. All…
Parades might be postponed, but it’s still Pride month. Here are some ways to get involved
The spread of COVID-19 has canceled many cultural events, including the annual Pride parades meant to celebrate the history of LGBTQ rights in America. While June is officially Pride month, Pittsburgh Pride 2020 has been postponed to early fall with a date to be announced. People’s Pride weekend was postponed to early October, and Pittsburgh Black…
Lynn Cullen Live – 6/1/20
Video Archive A lot has happened since last Thursday’s show. Protests took place all over the country, and they are Lynn’s first topic of discussion. She is also talking about an opinion piece in the LA Times by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
Takeout review: Bigham Tavern
I’ve heard many rave reviews of Bigham Tavern, Mount Washington’s neighborhood pub that serves classics “with a twist.” Its name is often brought up during conversations about the “best wings in Pittsburgh,” and so I decided to put its reputation to the test. Bigham Tavern has over 30 wing sauces and for my first go-round, I…
After George Floyd protests, Pittsburgh church leaders call for action during prayer vigil for racial justice and reconciliation
On Sunday evening, a few hundred people gathered behind Eastminster Presbyterian Church during a community prayer vigil for racial justice and reconciliation. The event took place in the wake of protests in Pittsburgh and other U.S. cities incited by the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man in Minnesota, in the custody of white…
Protest honoring George Floyd brings thousands to Downtown Pittsburgh; ends in destruction not supported by protest organizers
Today, thousands gathered and marched in Downtown Pittsburgh, joining demonstrations being held across the country in protest against the death of George Floyd, a Black man killed earlier this week by a Minneapolis Police officer. More than 3,000 people — a crowd so large that it filled a space larger than a city block —…
Pittsburghers to protest in response to Minneapolis Police killing of George Floyd
A protest is scheduled Downtown on Sat., May 30 in response to the death of George Floyd, a Black man who was killed earlier this week by a Minneapolis Police officer. The protest is part of growing anger and increased protests across the country demanding an end to racist police brutality. The Pittsburgh protest was…
CMU president among those in meeting that included a request for federal protections against COVID-19 lawsuits
On May 13, Vice President Mike Pence took an official call with 13 higher education leaders from colleges and universities across the country — including Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) president Dr. Farnam Jahanian — to address reopening campuses shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, reports have surfaced alleging that some of the leaders asked about federal protection…
County Office Building lobby open for mail-in ballot drop-off
Election day is approaching. For a mail-in or absentee ballot to be counted, it must be received by the Elections Division no later than 8 p.m. on June 2 — a postmark is not sufficient. Voted ballots may not be taken to polling places on Election Day. In order to accommodate voters who are concerned whether their ballot…
Gov. Wolf says Allegheny County will move into green phase on June 5
Today, during an online press conference addressing the COVID-19 response, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D-York) announced that 16 counties throughout the state — including Allegheny County — will officially move from the yellow phase into the green phase. The move will take place at 12:01 a.m. on Fri., June 5. In addition, counties currently in the…
Pittsburghers have been driving less during the pandemic. Why isn’t air pollution going down?
Air pollution has dogged Pittsburgh for decades. The city has a history of steel and coal plant emissions, and a ranking of 8th-worst in the country for year-round particle pollution and 16th for short-term particle pollution in this year’s American Lung Association’s State of the Air report. Allegheny County received an F-rating overall from the…
Song Review: Kahone Concept’s ‘Maybe’
Ben Orrvick, aka Kahone Concept, started out the year with a bang. His first single of 2020, “Attention Addict,” was streamed over 100,000 times on Spotify, and garnered the attention local music outlets WYEP and 105.9 The X, among others. So expectations were high for the newest release from the artist. “Maybe,” which dropped today,…
Two Pittsburgh restaurants announce new locations in Robinson
Two Pittsburgh restaurants, Pizzeria Davide and Choolaah, will open locations in Robinson this June. Popular Strip District eatery Pizzeria Davide plans to open a second location on June 16. In accordance with Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 restrictions, the pizzeria will operate as takeout-only with contactless pickup and delivery. When restrictions are lifted, Pittsburghers will be able to…
At Home With: Jasmine M. Cho
Everybody is dealing with COVID-19 quarantines and restrictions in different ways. While there’s no single right way to cope — social distancing and staying TF home aside — connecting with friends, family, and neighbors is a good place to start. You can contact your loved ones on your own, but you might also be curious…
Artists Image Resource takes to Instagram for ‘stellar’ online art auction
Pittsburgh arts educator, printmaker, and installation artist Jo-Anne Bates’ social and politically themed artwork is so impressive, it earned her the title of Pittsburgh Filmmakers/Pittsburgh Center for the Arts Artist of the Year in 2017. Last week, one of Bates’ framed prints — a beautiful feministic collage of shredded paper with “REAL POWER IS WOMAN…
To be frank, there’s nothing kosher about Sheetz’s Hop Dog beer
I appreciate weird stuff. Friends, family, and coworkers know this. In some cases that works in my favor — like being selected as Pittsburgh City Paper’s off-track betting beat reporter; and sometimes said characteristic turns me into a Jackass-like court jester, who turns out to be a willingly abused talk show sidekick. Today, was the…
Pittsburgh Women’s Music Festival, Clinton Clegg, and more livestreams happening in Pittsburgh this weekend
Fri., May 29 Clinton Clegg. 5 p.m. Primanti Brothers on Facebook The Commonheart’s lead singer Clinton Clegg is livestreaming in partnership with Primanti Brothers and 102.5 WDVE to raise money for women’s health research. Proceeds will benefit Pittsburgh’s Magee-Womens Research Institute, the first and largest research institute dedicated to women’s health and reproductive biology. May…
After 17 years in Lawrenceville, Coca Cafe is for sale
After 17 years on Butler St., Coca Cafe has been put up for sale. Carrie Rudolph, part of the team behind the popular Lawrenceville brunch spot, has been contemplating moving on from the cafe for about a year. When COVID-19 came into the picture, it “felt like the universe’s way of telling me I had…
Dems call on Mike Turzai and other GOP leaders to resign after failing to disclose a state rep’s COVID-19 diagnosis
Several Democratic state representatives are calling for the resignation of Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Marshall), who did not inform their Democratic colleagues that Rep. Andrew Lewis (R-Dauphin) tested positive for COVID-19. Though Lewis has been quarantining at home since May 18, he was last on the House floor on May 14, not…
Accessible write-in ballots for voters with disabilities now available in Pennsylvania
An email request should be submitted by 8 p.m. Fri., May 29.
Lynn Cullen Live – 5/28/20
Video Archive Lynn is discussing breathing, and the science behind it. We do it automatically, but focusing on our breath is a major part of so much that we do, such as calming down, meditating, and can help overall health. She is also covering the protests going on in Minneapolis, and much more. Audio Only…
For Sale With Baggage: Another beach wedding ruined
Stuff can be complicated, especially when trying to get rid of it. The process can remind us that our things can have worth that’s hard to put a dollar amount on; they can call to mind other people from our lives; they can bring up memories of what they were (or weren’t) used for. For…
Lynn Cullen Live – 5/27/20
Video Archive The firing of four police officers in Minneapolis after the death of a black man who had an officer kneeling on his neck is the first topic of the show. Lynn is also discussing a Bloomberg article on how to safely reach your yacht, and a recent Wall Street Journal editorial. Audio Only…
KDKA Radio’s ‘combative’ editorial strategy has employees and listeners worried about the historic station’s legacy
Pittsburgh’s KDKA Radio is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, making it the oldest commercial radio station in the U.S. Its first broadcast on Nov. 2, 1920 announced the election results between presidential candidates Warren G. Harding and James M. Cox. KDKA Radio quite literally set the standard for radio media in America. But recent…
Reopening Reimagined: A photo essay of Pittsburgh slowly starting to reopen during the pandemic
For the past two months, I have been photographing Pittsburgh and documenting the way COVID-19 changed life as we knew it. In March, one of our first Pittsburgh City Paper issues printed during the pandemic featured a cover with my photograph of an eerily quiet Butler Street, with “We will get through this Pittsburgh” displayed…
An all-too-brief recollection of working at Fine Wine and Good Spirits
Before there was curbside pickup, online ordering, and anything resembling a palatable bourbon available, Fine Wine and Good Spirits – or the “state store,” as my parents called it – took their chances on hiring a young alcohol sales upstart who was yearning to stock their bottom shelves with handles of Burnett’s vodka. In the…
Carnegie Museum of Art launches digital exhibit series with video piece Lake Valley
The Carnegie Museum of Art is physically closed (for now), but the institution is still accessible virtually. They are using the opportunity not only to connect with patrons who miss access to art, but to expand the museum’s digital presence, beyond the necessity during the pandemic. On Wed., May 20, CMOA launched its first in…
Takeout review: Driftwood Oven
There were a number of places I had been eagerly waiting to visit as Allegheny County moved to the yellow phase and restaurants, many closed since March, began to reopen. Driftwood Oven was at the top of my list. The Lawrenceville pizzeria is known for its sourdough crust, a sharp turn from the doughier, thick…
How to grow your happiness with indoor foliage
From waking up late and going to bed even later, I’ve noticed quite a few of my habits have changed during the quarantine (and maybe not for the better). But plants have been my saving grace. My plant-mom status has evolved into a plant smother. I find myself checking in on my plants every day:…
