Zeroville might be a work of genius, or just very, very bad
Zeroville has all the elements of a great film in its favor, including a director with money and notoriety and an A-list cast. It was based off a book by the same name by Steve Erickson, which was named one of the best novels of 2007 by Newsweek, Washington Post BookWorld, and Los Angeles Times…
Black Machine releases its first EP on Berlin electronic label, Ballroom Records
Right now, the Electronic Dance Music (EDM) scene is dominated by white males in every sub-genre: future bass, house, techno, dubstep, drum and bass, etc. House, however, which is often referred to as the start of the electronic movement in America, gained popularity in 1980s Chicago thanks to DJ Frankie Knuckles (the term “house” derived…
Pittsburgh Grooveline: Dance parties at P Town, Tiki Lounge, and more (Sept. 26-Oct. 2)
Each week, the Pittsburgh City Paper compiles a list of Pittsburgh dance parties for you and your crew to bust loose to the best bangers, EDM, pop hits, and more. (All events are 21 and over unless otherwise stated.) Thu., Sept. 26 PGH Zine Fair Fundraiser with Jellyfish and Bubblepop at P Town. 9 p.m.…
Community rallies as Arnold’s Tea in the North Side faces possible closure
Arnold’s Tea, the North Side café considered a neighborhood asset by many, is on the brink of closing. A Change.org petition is circulating to prevent the café from shutting down and to help maintain one of the few area businesses run by a Black owner. The petition claims that Arnold’s Tea will be forcibly shuttered by…
Concert photos: Tyler, the Creator at Stage AE
When Tyler, the Creator dropped his fifth studio album, IGOR, earlier in May, fans and critics were shocked to hear more singing than ever from the well-known rapper. But if Tyler has stayed true to anything, it’s that he’s constantly evolving. His debut into the music world was with “Yonkers,” a dark and bizarre track,…
Andy Grammer’s Don’t Give Up On Me Tour comes to Roxian Theatre 10/25
Since his 2011 self-titled debut, multiplatinum singer and songwriter Andy Grammer has consistently delivered stratosphere-sized smashes buoyed by impressive range, deft musicality, and endless charisma. By 2019, he scored six chart-topping hits — each certified gold or better by the RIAA. The artist’s breakout “Fine By Me” and its follow-up “Keep Your Head Up” are…
Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf now supports recreational marijuana for adult use
In a press conference today, Gov. Tom Wolf (D-York) announced his support for Pennsylvania to legalize the adult use of recreational marijuana. Wolf joins other prominent Pennsylvania politicians, such as Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (D-Braddock), Auditor General Eugene DePaquale (D-York), Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, in their support “We now know the…
Progressive candidate Jessica Benham is challenging Pittsburgh’s most conservative Democrat
Pennsylvania House District 36 encompasses most of Pittsburgh’s southern neighborhoods and also Baldwin and Brentwood boroughs. It’s a liberal district that in 2016 voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton by a 56-39 percentage margin. However, for the last 24 years, it has been held by one of the most conservative Democrats in the state legislature, state…
House leadership begins impeachment inquiry into President Trump
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D- Calif.) announced today plans to call for a formal impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump. This comes after the Trump administration blocked Congress from seeing a whistleblower complaint alleging Trump pressured Ukrainian officials to undermine Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden. BREAKING: Nancy Pelosi says the House…
Thirty years after its premiere, ‘A Few Good Men’ arrives at Pittsburgh Public Theater without updates
Courtroom murder trials are inherently tense, but made even more so when the case involves marines who have sworn to live up to a certain code of ethics and honor. These issues are tackled in Aaron Sorkin’s 1989 play (and 1992 movie) A Few Good Men, which runs at the Pittsburgh Public Theater through Sun.,…
Weekly Food Truck Schedule: Sept. 26-Oct.2
Are you tired of tracking down food trucks? Welcome to the Pittsburgh City Paper food truck roundup, where we do the hard work for you. Each week, we’re compiling a list of city trucks and their schedules. (For the most up-to-date schedule, visit each truck’s website.) AFRICAN Kilimanjaro Flavour @kilimanjaro_flavour Thursday: Duquesne University. 1401 Forbes…
Pittsburgh Google contractors vote to form a union with the United Steelworkers
Today, about 80 Pittsburgh tech employees who perform work for Google voted to join a labor union. The workers are contractors who currently work for HCL Technologies, which provides services and completes projects for Google. According to the New York Times, as of March, there were more contract workers doing work for Google than direct employees.…
Concert Announcements: Rosanne Cash, The White Album played in full, and the inevitable return of Kenny Chesney
Stay up-to-date with your favorite artists and musicians coming to Pittsburgh. Each week, Pittsburgh City Paper will bring you the most recent concert announcements so you never miss a show. Country Kenny Chesney, Florida Georgia Line, Old Dominion. Sat., May 30. Heinz Field, North Side. Rosanne Cash. Wed., Nov. 13. Byham Theater, Downtown. Rock The Black…
Lynn Cullen Live – 9/24/19
Video Archive Susan is joining Lynn in person today. They are discussing many topics including Bill Weld, GOP challenger for the presidential nomination, saying Trump committed treason. The Supreme Court in the UK has ruled that Boris Johnson’s suspension of Parliament is unlawful. On a lighter note they are talking about Randy Rainbow. Audio Only…
What Billy Porter’s historic Emmy win means
Last night, when Billy Porter won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, the program’s announcer said: “They’ll be kicking up their kinky boots in Pittsburgh tonight for a hometown hero.” And he was right, because every time Porter, who grew up in Pittsburgh and graduated from Carnegie Mellon University, shows out…
Rep. Conor Lamb says Trump whistleblower complaint must be sent to Congress by Thursday
In a statement released today, U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Mount Lebanon) urged the Trump administration to turn over the full text of the whistleblower complaint regarding President Donald Trump’s alleged communication with Ukraine. Last week, news leaked about the whistleblower complaint, which alleged that several times during a phone call, Trump asked the Ukraine government to…
Win tickets to see Sum 41: Order In Decline Tour live at the Roxian Theatre
In the late summer of 2018, Sum 41 frontman Deryck Whibley stepped off the tour bus after three years of worldwide touring, turned on the console in his home studio, picked up a guitar, and started writing song after song. Feeling incredibly inspired from 2016’s critically-acclaimed 13 Voices album and tour, Whibley feverishly started putting…
Bricolage takes on the tech industry with the immersive Project Amelia
Anyone who’s ever attended a tech conference has experienced the contrived exuberance for the future of innovation, the glad-handing of potential investors, and the humblebrags from startup heads who see themselves as the next Steve Jobs. Now imagine that behind the Apple store slickness and overly-rehearsed talks are players engaged in a cloak-and-dagger game of…
New music from Tribe Eternal and NVSV, livefromthecity, and more
Tribe Eternal and NVSV – “Local Celebrity” “Local Celebrity” is the first track to be released from Mysterious Shit, a collaborative project by Tribe Eternal (Clara Kent, Bilal Abbey, and Pharaoh Lum) and NVSV, due to arrive on Halloween. The project is said to be a slight nudge to DJ Khaled’s rant against Tyler, The…
Pa. receives “F” from environmental groups on spending of VW settlement money
In 2016, a U.S. judge ordered Volkswagen to pay $14.7 billion in settlement funds after selling nearly 500,000 cars with emissions cheating software across the country. Pennsylvania received $118 million from the settlement — the fifth highest payout in the nation. This settlement is meant to be spent on helping reduce greenhouse gases, and so…
Lynn Cullen Live – 9/23/19
Video Archive There are a lot of major stories to start off the week including possible impeachment, the whistleblower, and Trump admitting he spoke to Ukraine about Biden. Lynn is talking about these and an opinion column by David Leonhardt that was in yesterday’s New York Times. In addition to that she is discussing a…
Stay woke: A training session for white allies, a presidential campaign stop, and more educational and social justice events this week in Pittsburgh
Is your radio always pre-set to talk radio? Always asking how you can make a difference in the world? Are you just hungry for some learning? Peruse our curated list of educational and social-justice events this week in Pittsburgh. Fake News & Information Literacy Workshop 7-8:30 p.m. Tue., Sept. 24. Monroeville Public Library, 4000 Gateway…
VIDEO: North Side gas station owners charged with assault after violent altercation with Black women
In a viral video, a violent altercation is shown between gas station owners, who are men, and two Black women customers at an Exxon gas station in Marshall-Shadeland on Pittsburgh’s North Side. The video, taken on Fri., Sept. 20, shows the women and the gas station owners yelling before exiting the station. A physical altercation follows,…
Now Playing: Weekly Pittsburgh film roundup, Sept. 20-26
There are so many ways to watch things these days, but watching a movie on the big screen is still the best form, so to help keep track of what’s playing, every Friday, Pittsburgh City Paper compiles a round-up of new releases and second-run films playing around the city. This only covers films that are…
“I skipped my bio exam so I could be here right now”: Students lead Global Climate Strike in Pittsburgh
Earlier today, hundreds of protesters, many of them local students who walked out of class, crammed into the block between Forbes and Fourth Avenue for the Pittsburgh climate strike, a local protest that’s part of the Global Climate Strike. Starting with an event at the City-County Building, it culminated in a march led through Downtown.…
We Tried It
Sometimes life gives you lemons, and other times it gives you fried chicken in between two donuts. Pittsburgh was one of three test markets to get the new Kentucky Fried Chicken & Donuts Sandwich. It debuted on Tuesday. The sandwich, which the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported runs for $5.49, combines a crispy chicken fillet with two…
Why we need more sober-friendly spaces in Pittsburgh
I vividly remember the first time in my 20s that I had fun sober. I know there were times in my childhood and teens when I enjoyed life without a drink or a drug, but by the time my 20s rolled around, I was firmly convinced that real fun required heavy intoxication and I held…
Pittsburgh 311 Response Center delivers a shit answer
I have crafted about three possible routes for my walk from the Wood Street T station to the City Paper office. In the past month, each one of my three paths have been graced with horse shit. Literal shit from a horse. Sometimes fresh, sometimes aged, sometimes shapely, sometimes squished. But all poop from a…
UPDATE: Anti-union activity is heating up ahead of Google contractor’s vote to unionize
Last month, more than 66 percent of Google tech contractors signed cards to hold a vote on whether to create a labor union at HCL Technologies, the contracting firm that works with Google’s offices in Pittsburgh. This is a fairly impressive feat considering the tech industry has virtually no labor unions. But with the union…
Mayor Bill Peduto wants to excuse students for today’s Global Climate Strike, but he likely can’t
Today marks the start of a worldwide effort of young people taking to the streets to demand bold action be taken to address climate change. From Sept. 20-27, participants in more than 150 countries will be protesting to demand an end to the age of fossil fuels as part of the Global Climate Strike. Yesterday,…
City Paper Live – 9/20/19
Video Archive City Paper Live’s Music Writer Jordan Snowden welcomes Connor Murray of Crafted Sounds @craftedsounds and Lyn Starr @Stoasta of High Five Productions @HighFive_Prod to talk about their projects and Pittsburgh music. Audio Only Archive Stream or download the last 5 shows on the MP3 downloads page.
RADical Days returns with 25 days of free or discounted admission to Pittsburgh cultural institutions
RADical Days returns with 70 free, all-ages events, performances, and activities at various cultural institutions around town. And to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its driving initiative, the Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD), the event will expand its offerings with discounted tickets and admission, special giveaways, and more. Starting today and running through Sun., Oct.…
Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board orders second vote for Pitt Grad Union
In April, University of Pittsburgh graduate students voted 712 to 675 against unionization — a vote which has now been ruled illegitimate. Now, Pitt grad students have a second chance at forming a labor union. According to a Sept. 18 press release from United Steelworkers (USW), Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board (PLRB) called for a new…
Illenium played guitar for the first time ever on stage last night, and he did it in Pittsburgh
Unintentionally, I saw Illenium twice within a week. First, last Friday in Las Vegas at Hakkasan Nightclub, and then on Wednesday at Stage AE. How different the two shows were wasn’t necessarily surprising — one was a club setting and the other the first stop on his ASCEND tour — but I was shocked at the energy brought to Stage…
Patricia Dobler Poetry Award honors unpublished women over the age of 40
It’s no secret that women become less publicly visible after a certain age. In Hollywood, female actors see their roles decline much more rapidly than men as they get older. When men have gray hair, they’re called a silver fox, but no such term exists for women. The Patricia Dobler Poetry Award at Carlow University…
Seven can’t-miss dishes at Pittsburgh Pierogi Festival
This Sunday, the Pittsburgh Pierogi Festival returns to Kennywood Park for their seventh year of dumpling-themed food fun. The fest, in addition to rides, a marketplace, contests, and celebrity appearances, has added 10 new vendors to their delicious lineup. In the midst of all the pierogi fun, how do you choose which pierogies to actually…
Painting the corner: British artist on mission to live-paint all 30 major league baseball parks lands at PNC Park
PNC Park, Pittsburgh’s baseball stadium on the banks of the Allegheny River on the North Side, has gotten accolades worldwide for its beautiful view of the Downtown skyline just beyond the outfield. On Thursday afternoon, as the Pittsburgh Pirates face off against the Seattle Mariners on a beautiful 73-degree day, artist Andy Brown is putting…
Pitt Gets Alternative: the ins and outs of starting a DIY music festival
This weekend, music blogs The Alternative and The Grey Estates are teaming up with local booking collective Don’t Let The Scene Go Down On Me! for Pitt Gets Alternative, a two-day DIY music festival taking place Friday and Saturday at The Mr. Roboto Project. The festival features local acts like Rave Ami and BBGuns, as well…
Pa. House Speaker Mike Turzai: public schools are a monopoly and teachers are “special interest people”
In a video posted on Twitter today, Pennsylvania House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Marshall) called two apparent public educators “special interest people” and said they “don’t really care about the kids.” The video was posted by advocacy group Pennsylvania Spotlight, a left-leaning nonprofit advocating for statewide issues. The incident occurred outside of a Catholic School in…
Look upon this sexy Mr. Rogers costume and weep, Pittsburgh
Fall is on its way. The leaves are turning, there’s a chill in the air, and the lingerie and Halloween costume company Yandy has unveiled its latest line of dually offensive and confounding get-ups. If you’ve spent time on the internet around October, you probably heard of the company and their classic hits, including sexy…
Lynn Cullen Live – 9/19/19
Video Archive In a follow up to yesterday’s story about the spotted lanternfly, PA has set up a hotline for those who have seen one, or better yet caught one. If you fall into either of those categories you can call 1-888-badfly or email badbug@pa.gov. Netanyahu has lost the Israel election. Now we have to…
Lynn Cullen Live – 9/18/19
Video Archive There are a lot of big stories that Lynn is talking about today. We’re waiting to hear the results of the Israel election. It’s still too close to call. The Pirates relief pitcher, Felipe Vazquez was charged with solicitation of a child, and PA State Senator Mike Folmer was arrested on child pornography…
Pittsburgh dance shines this week at various venues throughout the city
It’s a busy week for dance in Pittsburgh, with three exciting new shows being staged throughout the city. Learn where to find them and what to expect below. Project Dance Pittsburgh 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat., Sept. 21. Market Square, Downtown. Free. projectdance.com On Sat., Sept. 21, Market Square in Downtown will host a free performance…
Vegan restaurant melds Mediterranean and American influences that celebrate health, heritage, and comfort foods
B52 was one of the first Pittsburgh restaurants to have an all-vegan menu. Owner Omar Abuhejleh, a former attorney and founder of Allegro Hearth Bakery in Squirrel Hill, opened the Mediterranean-inspired eatery in January 2016. Since then, other vegan spots like Apteka and Onion Maiden have made names for themselves on the vegan scene. But…
Workshops, lectures, and performances by local and national acts round out Blues and Heritage Festival
When asked to explain the inspiration behind his body of work showing African-American experiences during the 20th century, August Wilson cited the four Bs: painter Romare Bearden, writers Amiri Baraka and Jorge Luis Borges, and lastly and most influential, the blues. “I chose the blues as my aesthetic,” Wilson said in a 1996 Playbill article.…
Reports suggested that Downtown Pittsburgh had a crime wave this summer. But it didn’t. What actually happened?
If local TV was your only news source, you might be under the impression that Downtown Pittsburgh suffered an unprecedented crime wave this summer. Since mid-July, local television stations KDKA, WPXI, and WTAE produced more than 18 stories combined on criminal activity in Downtown and the ensuing drama that played out between Pittsburgh Mayor Bill…
Pittsburgh stagehand brings The Lion King home to the theater where he began his career
As the audience cheers during The Lion King’s famous opening scene, where a breathtaking parade of actors in animal costumes march onto the stage of The Benedum Center for the Performing Arts to the music of Elton John’s “Circle of Life,” stagehand Pat Lohrer listens behind the scenes at stage right. He’s making sure the…
Fashion in Film
Every week, Lawrenceville theater Row House Cinema screens a selection of movies around a specific theme. For the week of Sept. 20-26, Row House has teamed up with nonprofit Style 412 to present films that are about the fashion world or have otherwise influenced it. Clueless Matinee Brunch. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sun., Sept. 22. Clueless…
Why does architecture praise its achievers, but not self-police its laggards, hacks, and profiteers?
What can architecture do for you? That question underlies the new exhibit by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) currently on display in the mall interior portion of Nova Place, where presentation boards illustrate and describe the many projects that member firms have submitted for this year’s Design Pittsburgh Awards. Commercial high-rises, residential blocks, academic…
Free Will Astrology 9/19/19
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In 1959, scandal erupted among Americans who loved to eat peanut butter. Studies revealed that manufacturers had added so much hydrogenated vegetable oil and glycerin to their product that only 75 percent of it could truly be called peanut butter. So began a long legal process to restore high standards. Finally…
Pin-Up Posters Courier Collective owner Dani Kramer on work: ‘It’s 90 percent on bikes’
Name: Dani Kramer, Millvale Work: Pin-Up Posters Courier Collective, owner/operator/courier What do you do? Distribute posters and handbills for nonprofit organizations in Pittsburgh and some surrounding suburbs. We occasionally use the T or bus but primarily bicycle. Does everyone do the same thing? We all pitch in to the best of our abilities, play to…
National Book Award winner to appear at opening of Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures’ Ten Evenings 2019-20 season
Sigrid Nunez’s National Book Award-winning novel, The Friend, is ostensibly about the relationship between a woman and her dog. But the story also includes quotes about writers and writing by John Updike, Joan Didion, and others that are acerbic and caustic. Nunez thinks of some of the comments — such as Didion’s “writers are always selling…
Unsolicited input stresses reader’s exploration of polyamory
Dear Jessie, After being monogamous for many years, my wife Jasmine and I decided to open up our marriage. While she wants to remain monogamous, she has been very supportive of my desire to explore polyamory and of my relationship with my new girlfriend. She is not, however, getting the same amount of support from…
The fascinating history, harvesting, and characteristics of sloe gin
Sloe, a fruit with a taste somewhere between a plum, a cherry, and a currant, has almost no culinary use. It grows in the wild in Europe on bushes covered in thorns. On its own, it’s brutally sour to the point of being inedible. So it’s hard to believe that something called sloe gin exists,…
Two celebrated sculptors ‘steel’ the show at Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and Media
On Sat., Sept. 20, the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and Media (PCAM) will celebrate the opening of sculpture exhibits by the Center’s Artist of the Year, Dee Briggs, and Emerging Artist of the Year, Saige Baxter. As the titles suggest, the yearly awards are given to one established and one up-and-coming local artist. While…
