Spike TV’s Bar Rescue looking for participants in Pittsburgh
Spike TV’s Bar Rescue is scouting Pittsburgh for candidates for its upcoming season
Study shows Pennsylvania’s tax structure benefits wealthy rather than lower-income workers
Republicans have made efforts to keep the wealthy’s taxes low, even as a study from tech-company Trove shows the state’s wealthiest could likely afford a tax hike.
Pittsburgh City Paper announces inaugural Pittsburgher of the Year Award; nominations taken until Dec. 6
City Paper is now accepting nominations for Pittsburgher of the Year.
Lynn Cullen Live – 11/21/17
Video Archive Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
MP3 Monday: Arlo Aldo
Each week we post a song from a local artist online for free. This week, it’s new, unreleased music from the alt-folk ensemble Arlo Aldo. “Stay” has all the heartsick harmonies and smart guitar work you’d expect from this crew, but they take a more intimate and restrained approach here. Look out for this album,…
Pittsburgh Carnegie Science Center opens renovated Rangos Giant Cinema
On Monday, the Carnegie Science Center opened the Rangos Giant Cinema, formerly known as the Rangos Omnimax Theater, after closing in July for renovations. The theater features a new 70-by-38-foot screen, making it the only “Giant Screen” in Pennsylvania, as certified by the Giant Screen Cinema Association (GSCA). In order to qualify as a Giant…
Light Up Night officially kicks off Pittsburgh’s Holiday Season
Photo highlights from Light Up Night in Downtown Pittsburgh
Lynn Cullen Live – 11/20/17
Video Archive Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
Check out all the Democrats running for endorsement for the open 18th Congressional District seat
Pennsylvania’s Democratic Party will decide this weekend whom to back for the March 2018 special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy.
Lynn Cullen Live – 11/17/17
Video Archive Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
Pop-up Nickelodeon begins Downtown on Friday
Short silent films for a nickel starting on Fri., Nov. 17
Affordable-housing advocates challenge Pittsburgh City Council on Housing Opportunity Fund inaction
Last year, Pittsburgh City Council voted to create the Housing Opportunity Fund, but so far they haven’t funded it.
Lynn Cullen Live – 11/16/17
Video Archive Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
Final performances of Quantum’s “The Hard Problem” this weekend
Pittsburgh-premiere production of Tom Stoppard’s latest continues through Sunday
John Fetterman wants to unite the left to defeat the right in his run for Pennsylvania lieutenant governor
The Braddock mayor pushes progressive policies and champions for Democrats of all stripes, and feels it’s necessary to stop a potential GOP takeover.
Are you more mind, body or soul?
Take the quiz to find out! You will be entered to win a free month’s membership at Greater Pittsburgh Wellness – where wellness begins with more than just a gym. This promotion has ended /**/
Lynn Cullen Live – 11/15/17
Video Archive Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
The Drink Issue
Pittsburgh’s craft-beer industry is booming, but can it find its place in the national beer scene? New and upcoming Pittsburgh craft breweries sure to wet your whistle Want to stay up to date on the local beer scene? Here are a few ways to tap into what’s brewin’ Beer by the Numbers Magazine, podcast working…
Annual Contemporary Choreographers program brings fresh works to Pittsburgh
With the departure of Point Park University Department of Dance Chair Rubén Graciani, and the appointment of new chair Garfield Lemonius, one might expect changes in productions by the school’s student dance troupe. While that remains to be seen, one thing that hasn’t changed in decades is that Conservatory Dance Company programs consistently showcase some…
YouTube sensation Randy Rainbow plays a Planned Parenthood benefit
RANDY RAINBOW 7 p.m. Thu., Nov. 16. Katz Theatre, 5738 Darlington Road, Squirrel Hill. $50 (VIP: $150-1,000). ppwp.org YouTube star Randy Rainbow — best known for his song-parody-filled takedowns of the Trump administration — wasn’t born addicted to CNN. In his earliest viral videos, dating to his 2010 breakout, “Randy Rainbow Is Dating Mel Gibson,”…
This week in Pittsburgh Sports History
Nov. 16, 1909 After a vote of the student body, the University of Pittsburgh begins calling its sports teams the Panthers. It’s the first team in any sport to use that moniker. Nov. 16, 1968 An Ecuadorian-born penguin named “Penguin Pete” makes his last appearance as mascot for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Civic Arena.…
The Square
Ruben Ostlund’s previous film, 2014’s Force Majeure, zoomed in on how one institution — the family — fell apart when the dad violated a basic tenet of familial relationships. It was a cringey, meditatively paced dark comedy you either dug or found obtuse and boring. In The Square, Ostlund reaches for a similar theme, but…
You on the Moors Now at Point Park Conservatory Theatre Company
YOU ON THE MOORS NOW continues through Dec. 3. Point Park Conservatory at the Pittsburgh Playhouse, 222 Craft Ave., Oakland. $10-24. 412-392-8000 or get more info here It’s easy to see why Point Park Conservatory Theatre Company selected Jaclyn Backhaus’ new comedy You on the Moors Now as a vehicle for its students; it’s a…
20/20: The Studio Museum in Harlem and Carnegie Museum of Art at the Carnegie Museum of Art
Race is, rightly, America’s inevitable issue, at or near the center of almost any discussion about almost anything. An art exhibit that advances that discussion more than pulls its weight, and so it is with 20/20: The Studio Museum in Harlem and Carnegie Museum of Art. It’s an amazingly rich exhibit, imaginatively co-curated by the…
Pennsylvania’s black and Latino populations are simultaneously growing and underserved. What can be done to ensure they succeed?
Gardening season is over, but it’s a gardening analogy that best describes an inadequacy currently facing Pennsylvania. In the spring, seeds are typically planted inside, to ensure they sprout. But after a few weeks, seedlings must be placed outside so they can grow into big, hearty plants. If the seedlings are kept indoors, their growth…
Jonathan Eig discusses his new biography of Muhammad Ali
Early in his research for his great new biography of Muhammad Ali, author Jonathan Eig interviewed Dick Gregory. The comedian and activist raised the question of Ali’s fearlessness — the unshakable confidence that he’d exhibited since, as 12-year-old Cassius Clay in Jim Crow-era Louisville, Ky., he’d decided he would be world heavyweight champion. “If you’re…
Community activists call on Pittsburgh and Allegheny County officials to address police brutality
On the fifth anniversary of the police shooting of Leon Ford, and on the heels of a strong progressive election showing, community activist Brandi Fisher put forth a challenge to Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala. Facing a crowd of 60 people at a rally in East Liberty on Nov. 11, Fisher promised that Zappala,…
Savage Love
I was honored to appear with Esther Perel at the Orpheum Theater in Vancouver, B.C., a few weeks ago to discuss her new book, The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity. Questions were submitted on cards before the show — some for me, some for Esther, some for both of us — and we got to…
Magazine, podcast working to bring Pittsburgh’s African-American community into the craft-beer scene
In many ways, the U.S. remains a segregated nation. Racism is systematic and it bleeds into every part of the culture. The craft-beer industry, liberal-leaning though it may be, isn’t immune, but there is a movement developing to help broaden the field. “In any other subject there’s always that: the history of the nation. We…
Curfew
From down the block she flashes past on a battered bike she has long outgrown. Face intent, she leans into the dusk, streaks for home, outraces dark. On the cusp, this woman-child has caught the wind in her tangled hair and felt her body sing. – Sally Davis Sally Davis is the author of the…
Lazy dinner for the food-magazine obsessed
Encouraging yourself to cook after a long day can be a little challenging. I came home from a friend’s wedding with a (mostly) empty fridge and not a whole lot of energy. Luckily, I had binged on food-magazine subscriptions, and since they all come with online components, I’m constantly being sent recipes, including lots of…
Tan Izakaya brings Japanese cuisine to Shadyside
Tan Izakaya 815 S. Aiken Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 412-688-0188 website For decades, Japanese restaurants came in two flavors: sushi bars and teppanyaki-style steakhouses, in which knife-wielding chefs mix tabletop grilling with juggling and other aerial stunts involving utensils and ingredients. Both styles of restaurant have their appeal, but have contributed to a narrow, stereotyped American…
Domaine Maestracci Corse Calvi Clos Reginu Rouge 2015
“This Corsican red blend is a little funky. It’s made from a Sangiovese clone. It’s a really fun and different wine that I recommend if you like pinot noir and want to try something else.” Recommended by Vanessa Cominsky, assistant general manager and sommelier at The Twisted Frenchman Domaine Maestracci Corse Calvi Clos Reginu Rouge…
Happy hours for Pittsburgh craft-beer lovers
Happy hour doesn’t necessarily have to be cocktail hour. With lots of great local breweries popping up, and wall upon wall of taps to try, it’s easy to get a hankering for a beer to shake off the stress of the day. But where can craft-beer lovers go in Pittsburgh to crack a cold one…
Pittsburgh City Paper Booze Battles: The Abbey vs. Acorn
Each week, we order the same cocktail at two different bars for a friendly head-to-head battle. Go to the bars, taste both drinks and tell us what you like about each by tagging @pghcitypaper on Twitter or Instagram and using #CPBoozeBattles. If you want to be a part of Booze Battles, send an email to…
Short List: Nov. 16-23
FREE EVENT: Fri., Nov. 17 – Art Generations of students at Pittsburgh’s High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) knew Jo-Anne Bates (pictured) as a teacher and chair of the school’s art department. But Bates is also an accomplished artist, with solo exhibitions at venues from Massachusetts to West Virginia. And this week,…
Critics’ Pick: Lady Gaga at PPG Paints Arena
[POP] + MON., NOV. 20 Even her biggest critics can’t deny that Lady Gaga knows how to put on a damn show. Though her latest album, Joanne, didn’t fully succeed in creating the Americana Cowgirl Popstar persona she wanted, it has vibrant tracks like “John Wayne,” “Sinner’s Prayer” and “Diamond Heart.” Like all of Gaga’s…
Short Fictions releases math-pop journey The Heart Is a Kaleidoscope
Short Fictions writes the kind of music that you air-drum to in your bedroom. And when you have a chance to hear it performed live, you can’t help but sing your heart out and pile on the mic with everyone else at the gig. Its latest release, The Heart Is a Kaleidoscope, available now on…
In Pittsburgh, athlete-owned restaurants are part of the culture as long as the owner is a fit
Future NFL Hall of Famer Hines Ward recently had some trouble in his post-gridiron career as a restaurateur. An employee of his Table 86 Restaurant in Seven Fields, east of Cranberry, allegedly ripped off more than $70,000 in two years from the Super Bowl MVP in a gift-card scam. It’s just another great example why…
New Local Release: Donora’s Sun to Me
Donora Sun to Me Rostrum Records www.donoramusic.com Sun to Me is an album that exudes bliss. Donora’s fourth album, its first in three years, is 11 songs long, each one bursting with starlight and confetti in a celebration of love. In times as distressing and tumultuous as these, albums like this present an alternative to…
Human Flow
This documentary essay, directed by well-known Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, seeks to put a face to the unimaginable scope of refugee populations worldwide. Today, there are more displaced people than at any time since World War II. The film visits a number of ad hoc communities, where refugees have set up encampments in rail yards,…
Critics’ Pick: Pale Waves at Cattivo
[ALT-POP] + FRI., NOV. 17 British alt-pop/rock band Pale Waves can sound different depending on what kind of mood you’re in. The band has the upbeat goth sound of Strawberry Switchblade, the production expertise from members of The 1975, and the throwback-but-modern vibe of Haim. It’s perfect music for when you feel simultaneously angsty and…
Wonder
This will be the feel-good, take-the-whole-family pick of the Thanksgiving holiday, I reckon. It’s a sweet affirming tale that hits all the expected beats, without being too saccharine. Adapted from R.J. Palacio’s novel, this dramedy from director Stephen Chbosky (Perks of Being a Wallflower), follows one year in the life of Auggie (Jacon Tremblay, from…
Critics’ Pick: Lez Zeppelin at Jergel’s
[COVERS] + FRI., NOV. 17 This might be a controversial opinion, but cover bands are underrated. My first-ever concert was a Beatles cover band when I was 12 years old. I was completely out of place in a sea of baby boomers in kitschy apparel, but I had a blast. Tonight at Jergel’s Rhythm Grille,…
A conversation with David Bazan
David Bazan has always written about the hard stuff. With Pedro the Lion, the Seattle-based artist wrote candidly about faith, delving into subjects most people weren’t used to hearing in their Christian rock: doubt, darkness, ethical ambiguity. His moral and spiritual angst hasn’t disappeared, though his more recent releases — this year’s Care and last…
Parade at University of Pittsburgh Stages
PARADE continues through Nov. 19. University of Pittsburgh Stages at the Stephen Foster Memorial, 4301 Forbes Ave., Oakland. $12-25. 412-624-7529 or www.play.pitt.edu Parade is a wonderful play to listen to, but a tough play to watch. This 1998 musical (book by Alfred Uhry; music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown) tells the story of the notorious…
Pittsburgh Crankie Fest brings moving panoramas to the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh on Nov. 18
PITTSBURGH CRANKIE FEST 7:30 p.m. Sat., Nov. 18. First Unitarian Church, 605 Morewood Ave., Oakland. $15. All ages. Tickets On a rainy day, in the cozy air of a quiet living room, the sweet sounds of Ellen Gozian’s singing and the quiet whisper of paper moving through a wooden box fills the air. She’s performing…
Critics’ Pick: Mikey Erg at Mr. Roboto Project
[PUNK] + SAT., NOV. 18 It’s a stacked lineup at Mr. Roboto Project. New Jersey rocker Mikey Erg has toured in half-a-dozen bands, but will play his own pop-punk creations tonight. Also on the bill is the slightly emo/somewhat uplifting Boston punk band Save Ends, along with Pittsburgh’s perfectly noisy two-piece snot-rock group The Lopez.…
Bull River Taco branches into Squirrel Hill
For a little over a year, Bull River Taco has been delighting Pittsburghers at its South Hills location on Route 51. But now, residents on the other side of town in Squirrel Hill can partake, too. “We’re filling a gap that was in the area,” says Jeff Horrell, manager of Bull Rivers’ Squirrel Hill location,…
Pittsburgh’s craft-beer industry is booming, but can it find its place in the national beer scene?
It was the last place I’d expect to find a brewery. On a sunny Thursday afternoon in late October, I found myself staring at the front of a movie theater in McKees Rocks. There was no sweet smell of cooking grain, no truck beds loaded with kegs, no signs at all that there was any…
New and upcoming Pittsburgh craft breweries sure to wet your whistle
Abjuration Brewing Company Abjuration: a repudiation or renouncement of a belief. Familiar with the term thanks to a shared love of Dungeons & Dragons, owners Tom Glover and Dave Hallam thought it a fitting name for their brewery, where they reject traditional beer styles in favor of a more experimental approach. Brewing in the back…
Want to stay up to date on the local beer scene? Here are a few ways to tap into what’s brewin’
Magazines Craft Pittsburgh Launched in 2010, this bi-monthly print mag exclusively covers craft beer in the Pittsburgh area and keeps its finger on the pulse of the city. Hop Culture A Pittsburgh-based online magazine launched in early 2017 by Kenny Gould that he calls a “lifestyle magazine for the newest generation of drinkers.” It focuses…
Beer by the Numbers
1765 The year that British soldiers built a brewery at Fort Pitt, the first brewery in Allegheny County 31 Breweries in Allegheny County today 348 Breweries in Pennsylvania, according to the Brewers Association 4,000 Breweries in the U.S. in 1872, before mergers and Prohibition 5,300 Breweries in the U.S. at the end of 2016 29,000…
