Vol. 25, No. 52
A video blurs explores the blurry line between life and death, between the real and the staged
The central characters in this mythic tale are death and music
By Nadine Wasserman
Krishna and costumed school children are the subjects for Nandini Valli Muthiah
Indian photographer’s show at Wood Street captivates
By Lissa Brennan
Museum researchers like the Carnegie’s José Padial work to protect biodiversity
Discoveries in the field can be used to protect biologically rich but threatened areas.
By Bill O'Driscoll
Letters to Pittsburgh Santa
What are locals asking for this year? Here’s what we think
By CP Staff
Teens arrested outside Wood Street T Station say they were just trying to get home
“There were many other people standing right there. Why couldn’t they tell them that they were trespassing?”
By Ryan Deto
The story behind Smallman Galley’s a broad and quirky beverage program
The drinks are “philosophically inspired” by each chef
By Drew Cranisky
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto
A re-vamped Mount Washington favorite keeps the view and the well-prepared fresh fish
By Angelique Bamberg and Jason Roth
Local company Send Me No Flowers offers “bouquets” of cookies
“People are just looking for something different to send besides flowers.”
By Ashley Murray
Historian takes a fresh read on a key colonial battle in the Mon Valley
David Preston revisits Braddock’s defeat
By Kim Lyons
Poet Ellen Smith’s first full-length collection explores both yoga and alcoholism
The writing remains both muscular and sensitive
By Fred Shaw
The year in music: Pittsburgh and beyond
Hits and misses of 2015, as compiled by our music writers
Hip hop’s Nerdboy finds inspiration in the Steel City
“I’m all about beats that it doesn’t matter what era you listen to them in”
By Alex Gordon
Critics’ Picks, Dec. 24-30
Performances by Balloon Ride Fantasy and RATM2, plus a gathering of local producers and a holiday-themed dance night
By Andrew Woehrel
New Releases
By Margaret Welsh
Concussion
This docudrama about the discovery of football-related brain trauma offers a mix of hard hits and softer solutions
By Al Hoff
The Big Short
Adam McKay’s biting, infuriating comedy takes on the 2008 mortgage and finds entertainment gold
Daddy’s Home
Just in time for the holidays, a comedy about child custody!
The Danish Girl
The work is respectful about a transgender pioneer, but winds up being rather dull
Sisters
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler take on the classic “Let’s Throw a Big Party, Smash Things, and When Dawn Breaks, Grow Up a Bit”
Youth
Every actor in the ensemble is terrific, but their stories sink under the weight of the humorless, self-serious script.
Wysocki: An experienced coach should right the ship at Cal U
To start with, Vulcans is a pretty cool name.
By Mike Wysocki
Savage Love
“If the balls go blue or cold, take the cock cage off!”
By Dan Savage
Stuff We Like: Holiday Edition
This Just In: A look at local news online and on the tube
The problem with lists
By Frances Sansig Rupp
Lynn Cullen 12/22/15
Audio & Video Archive
Lynn Cullen 12/23/15
Pittsburgh Dad reads letters to Santa
CP Weekend Podcast - Dec. 24-27, 2015
By Celine Roberts, Aaron Warnick and Ashley Murray
Short List: December 23 - 31
Citizen Kane and Casablanca at Filmmakers; Holiday Family Free Day at the Children’s Museum; Darth Vader and Friends at the ToonSeum; and Cirque Dreams Holidaze at the Benedum
By Mars Johnson
Pittsburgh’s street trees are free upon request. So why do they often go to the city’s wealthiest residents?
By James Paul
The mayor and the tenor: when Masloff met Pavarotti
By David S. Rotenstein
The cassette-tape comeback has reached Pittsburgh's record stores
By Ethan Beck
Pittsburgh’s Dawn Hartman is bringing a new lens to her LGBTQ-centered Intimacy Project
By Jessie Sage