Code Orange Kids robbed in New Orleans
Here’s some seriously depressing news from local hardcore band Code Orange Kids, who are currently on a national tour. As they posted earlier today on their Facebook page, the band — who released their first full-length record on Deathwish last month — was robbed early this morning after a show in New Orleans, losing more…
County hearing on UPMC property tax exemption set for 5 p.m. Wednesday
About 70 people have signed up to speak Wednesday at an Allegheny Council hearing regarding UPMC’s tax-exempt status.
Heads Up: Morning headlines for Dec. 4
At least one Republican is seeking to renew a proposal to divide up Pennsylvania’s electoral votes proportionally, replacing the winner-take-all system used here and in most other states. So while polling guru Nate Silver may think Pennsylvania is ripe for Republican conquest, it seems that some Pennsylvania Republicans may not be so sure. And once…
Lynn Cullen Live 12/04/12
Video Archive Guest: Susan. CIA. Rupert Murdock iPad publication “The Daily” lasted only 2 years, Millions in loses. Passionate love in marriage only lasts about 2 years? Rekindled after 15-20 years. “Companionable stage.” The term “red line.” Dates back to Napoleon and further. Bill of Rights amazes, Good legal writing. Callers: Daylee, unknown. Audio Only…
Puppet-Making Happy Hour
Make big puppet for the big First Night parade
Heads Up: Morning headlines for Dec. 3
Pennsylvania now has its first openly gay state legislator … and it’s probably not who you think. (Trigger warning: Some of the comments on this story are, well, disappointing.) Mike Fleck is a conservative Christian from a rural district where “there’s no conceivable political upside to the announcement.” Next month, Fleck will be joined by…
Lynn Cullen Live 12/03/12
Video Archive Warm weather for December; fiscal cliff vs. the environmental cliff; ocean becoming more acidic; permafrost is disappearing; climate change doubters; pyramid of life; conservative think tank joining with American Legislative Exchange Council; Heartland Institute comparing climate change believers to the Unibomber; 2 openly gay members of PA state legislature; Repubs go to Boston…
Animal Rescue League wins national contest; celebration set for 6 p.m.
Public support helped secure $30,000 for Animal Rescue League
Two last shows for local bands, plus a benefit and more this weekend
Just a quick heads-up on some shows that we couldn’t fit into print this week but that deserve a mention: — Tonight’s late show at Club Cafe is the last one for local jazz-jam outfit Black Coffee, whose Cait Cuneo is going on to pursue a solo career. I suspect we’ll hear more from others…
Stream This Ish: November 28 issue
Stream some tunes from the bands we wrote about in this week’s City Paper!
“Good People” at the Public
Quick thoughts on Pulitzer-winner David Lindsay-Abaire’s comedic drama, entering its final week at the Public. See Program Notes.
“Good People” at the Public
It’s a rare theatrical take on America’s working poor
Heads Up: Morning headlines for Nov. 30
Gov. Tom Corbett held a series of interviews with reporters in the Capitol press corps. Yeah, we weren’t there either. But Corbett held forth on a number of issues: Among them are pensions (look out!), taxes (he’s sticking to that idiotic pledge), and healthcare exchanges (?!? actually, still not real clear where he’s at on…
Dan Gilman is running for council — one block at a time
All politics is local, goes the famous adage. Dan Gilman is counting on it. Earlier this week, Gilman announced his candidacy to replace his boss, Bill Peduto, as the city councilor representing District 8, which includes the city’s more prosperous East End neighborhoods. At age 30, Gilman is the youngest of three candidates to have…
Re-scheduled Bayard Rustin Festival begins tonight
The festival celebrating the centennial of the civil-rights icon, postponed in October because of Hurricane Sandy-related travel issues, opens tonight with a World AIDS Day Program at Heinz Chapel, on the Pitt campus. The program begins at 8 p.m. and is sponsored by the Pitt Mens’ Study. Rustin, a mentor of Dr. Martin Luther King,…
Spadafora goes for 47th win Saturday
Spadafora comeback tour makes Saturday stop at West Va. casino
Town Hall to bring together parents, teachers and administrators to address schools’ funding challenges
The Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers and the Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network are holding a town hall tonight, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. to brainstorm solutions to the achievement gap in the public schools. It is being held at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, 616 North Highland Ave, Pittsburgh PA 15206. “Recently parents, teachers and administrators…
Heads Up: Morning headlines for Nov. 29
Shopping for a conservative loved one this holiday season? Why not give the gift that keeps on giving: a firearm! Apparently, plenty of Pennsylvanians have doing just that in the wake of the presidential election … reprising the run on guns-and-ammo that took place after Barack Obama was first reelected. I’m tempted to launch into…
Lynn Cullen Live 11/29/12
Video Archive Guest: Tom Sokolowski; NYC perfume exhibit; sense of smell / sound; Obit: Zig Ziglar, motivational speaker; Lincoln movie — what’s real & what isn’t; Matthew Brady, Civil War photographer; deaths on Mt. Everest; no man is an island; new church at Heinz History Center & their swanky advertising; Hammacher Schlemmer catalog is what’s…
Gov candidate slams Corbett on gas drilling
As the Post-Gazette reported yesterday, Democrat John Hanger, former head of the state’s Department of Environmental Protection, is running for Governor in 2014. He officially announced his campaign today. He’ll also host a launch event at CAPA High School Downtown tomorrow at 11 a.m. In a phone call with reporters this afternoon, Hanger slammed Gov.…
Group urges extension of federal wind-energy incentives
Wind advocates seek to save tax credit
Local film gets mention in zombie movie reference guide
Everyone knows Pittsburgh’s important place in zombie movie history. This little-known film helped revive it.
Heads Up: Morning headlines for Nov. 28
Looks like Lamar Advertising is going to need a lot more billboards: City council voted unanimously in favor of a billboard tax whose co-sponsors, Natalia Rudiak and Darlene Harris, have been punished with a series of attack billboards put up by the outdoor-advertising giant. As you might expect, Lamar is promising a court fight, and…
“Iron Bartender” event tests the creativity of local bartenders
Iron Bartender Pittsburgh, loosely modeled after the famed TV show Iron Chef, featured smoke machines, good vibes and displays of creativity. At one point, it also featured a brief visit from city firefighters responding to a fire alarm, though the party continued unabated. All of which is only fitting: Computer programmer Andrew Tepper organized the…
Zombie Movies: The Ultimate Guide
Zombies are the new pop-culture darlings, but they’ve got a long, colorful and disgusting history at the movie theater. And for a definitive handbook to the theatrical undead, check out Glenn Kay’s comprehensive Zombie Movies: The Ultimate Guide (Chicago Review Press, $24.95), now out in a second edition. In its more than 400 pages are…
Keep your greens coming into winter, with a little work
In Novembers past, following custom, my wife and I would put our garden to bed and give up on harvesting anything more. This year, though, we have a new house with bigger grounds on the North Side. And we’ve been reading about four-season gardening, the practice of keeping plots productive year-round. Short of building a…
PSO Composer of the Year Mason Bates melds electronic music with the symphony
PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WITH MASON BATES: “MOTHERSHIP.” (Also performing works by Mozart and Tchaikovsky.) 8 p.m. Fri., Nov. 30. (Also 2:30 p.m., Sun., Dec. 2.) Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Ave. Downtown. $20-93. 412-392-4900 or pittsburgh symphony.org DJs spinning electronically composed music from decks at the helm of a club space seem ubiquitous these days. They’ve…
Author Sharon Flake connects with kids through diverse characters and tough issues.
The imagination knows no carbon footprint. Young-adult author Sharon Flake has been living and writing in Pittsburgh since 1973 while her work has traveled worldwide. When I meet her in the Hill District’s Carnegie Library, she describes a girl who bought her debut novel in London and translated it into Japanese for her dissertation: “She…
Where to find Mason Bates
As Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s Composer of the Year, Mason Bates will have three of his compositions performed by PSO, in addition to one world premiere. There will also be two residency concerts and a special nightclub performance. “Mothership” will be performed Fri., Nov. 30, at 8 p.m. and again Sun., Dec. 2, at 2:30 p.m.…
A Pittsburgh-raised painter returns from Norway with impressive new work.
DYLAN CRITCHFIELD-SALES: SMALL WORKS FROM NORWAY continues through Dec. 31. Gallery on 43rd Street 187 43rd St. Lawrenceville. 412-683-6488 or galleryon43rdstreet.com Is success a matter of talent, serendipity or just fate? Dylan Critchfield-Sales, a 26-year-old artist whose work is on display at the 43rd Street Gallery, believes his success is about simply taking advantage of…
Bocktown singer-songwriter night brings good tunes to the ‘burbs
SINGER-SONGWRITER NIGHT AT BOCKTOWN BEER AND GRILL. Tuesdays, 9 p.m. 690 Chauvet Drive Robinson. 412-788-2333 or bocktown.com Bocktown Beer and Grill in Robinson is somewhat of an anomaly. The uninitiated might not expect to find any type of culture there, let alone good beer — it is, after all, located in Robinson Towne Centre, planted…
Pittsburgh CLO Cabaret’s A Grand Night for Singing
A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING continues through Jan. 20. The Cabaret at Theater Square 655 Penn Ave. Downtown. $34.75-44.75. 412-325-6766 or clocabaret.com I guess you can’t blame Rodgers & Hammerstein for being the most successful creators of musical theater in history. They were just writing what they wrote; it’s not their fault a vast majority…
CD Reviews
PITTSBURGH SONGWRITERS CIRCLE RELEASE SHOWS. 7 p.m. Fri., Nov. 30, and 7 p.m. Fri., Dec. 7. (Different artists for each show.) The Roots Cellar Pittsburgh Center for the Arts 6300 Fifth Ave. Shadyside. $7 for each show. All ages. 412-361-1915 or calliopehouse.org Each year, the Pittsburgh Songwriters Circle, a subsidiary of the folk-music society, Calliope,…
Contemporary Choreographers program is a triumph
Conservatory Dance Company’s CONTEMPORARY CHOREOGRAPHERS continues Fri., Nov. 30- Sun., Dec. 2. George Rowland White Performance Studio 201 Wood St. Downtown $18-20. 412-392-8000 or pittsburghplayhouse.com. A clap of thunder and the sound of howling winds hailed the four dancers who appeared out of darkness, emerging into the spotlight upstage at Point Park University’s George Rowland…
Critics’ Picks: November 28 – December 4
[ROCK] + THU., NOV. 29 For a band that lists Chipotle, beer and butt-rock as a few of its interests, Conditions isn’t to be taken lightly. The four-piece has been refining its pop-infused, solid-rock sound since 2006, showcasing soaring vocals and refreshingly optimistic lyrics. Since dropping a self-titled EP last year, Conditions has been busy…
Lynn Cullen Live 11/28/12
Video Archive Guest: Chris Potter; Black Friday Walmart protest; quotes to strengthen your mind; that time we wanted to nuke the moon to scare Russia; local TV reporters’ names; Chinese newspaper believes & reprints Onion story; Santorum’s comments on the UN disability treaty; PA could be the Ohio of 2016; network news softer than local…
Election Day results the latest win for same-sex marriage
When my wife and I decided to have a wedding, my only hang-up lay with the venue we chose for the festivities. The site itself was beautiful — a lawn overlooking New York’s Canandaigua Lake — but it was also in full view of the lodge’s restaurant. I imagined that, as my fiancée and I…
Anna Karenina
Anna Karenina Directed by: Joe Wright Starring: Keira Knightley, Jude Law, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Domhnall Gleeson Starts Fri., Nov. 30 Good things about Joe Wright’s cinematic adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina: It’s easier than reading the novel; the costumes, however anachronistic, are lovely; and the film kept a lot of craftsmen at work building elaborate…
Ring Bearers
Women are more than twice as likely as men to contract HIV/AIDS through heterosexual contact. And according to the Pittsburgh-based Microbicide Trials Network, between 70 and 90 percent of all HIV infections in women are due to unprotected sex. The Microbicide Trials Network (MTN), based at the University of Pittsburgh and Magee-Women’s Research Institute, is…
The return of local silent shorts with live music.
SYNC’D 5 8 p.m. Fri., Nov. 30. College Inn Project (above Bar Marco) 2216 Penn Ave. Strip District. $5 Sync’d should appeal to fans of both experimental film and live music. And the fifth annual Sync’d even has a nice self-referential twist. Organizer Michael Maraden asks filmmakers for silent works each three to 15 minutes…
The Good Fight
Martial-arts tournaments are noisy events. At mid-November’s Pennsylvania State Karate Championship, every 10-year-old in a gi screams from the diaphragm. A dozen mats lie on the floor, and judges sit in chairs, watching their young pupils spin bo-staffs, whip nunchucks and chop the air with bare hands. Yet here in a high school gymnasium in…
Seasons Bleatings
Reporters have much to be thankful for. Some of us still have jobs, which is nice. Many of us can someday hope for larger obituaries than we’d otherwise deserve. And when the holidays come around, there’s one thing we can all be grateful for: people who camp outside of stores overnight in advance of Black…
Savage Love
I’m a straight man at that age where the general public still considers me young. I have no interest in marrying or even being in a relationship. I never have. I’m not asexual. I’ve had and enjoyed sex. I just don’t feel the need to be with anyone. As long as I’ve got music and…
Uptown, Pittsburgh
On 5th Ave. suddenly you see the blue arch of the Birmingham Bridge blue-green, touched in places with rust and across, South Side houses on hills, the big orange clock on the far bank of the Monongahela telling Uptown what time it is — where was once a condemned bldg. now cold, an empty space…
Short List: November 28 – December 4
Fri., Nov. 30 — Variety “The variety show is the opposite of monotony,” says artist and Carnegie Mellon University School of Art faculty member Suzie Silver. This semester, with graduate student Scott Andrew, Silver taught an undergraduate course called Trans-Q Television. Their students, along with many artists and writers, produced an online TV variety series…
Miss Saigon 88
Miss Saigon 88 256 N. Craig St. Oakland. 412-802-6388 Hours: Sun.-Thu. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Prices: Appetizers $3-12; entrees $11-25 Liquor: BYOB We’ve all heard the old saw, “If at first you don’t succeed …” The trouble is that, in the restaurant business, so many places don’t succeed that it can be…
For Rent: 3 BDRM, 2 Bath, pregnant goats incl.
When Stephen Cleghorn and Lucinda Hart-Gonzalez fell in love late in life, they both had established careers: he as a director of a nonprofit providing services to the homeless, and she as an academic director studying sociolinguistics. The two city dwellers decided to follow Hart-Gonzalez’ life-long dream: giving up all they knew to move to…
