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EVENTS 8.28 – 3pm DANDY ANDY: WARHOL’S QUEER HISTORY TOUR Free with museum admission
9.12 - 8PM SOUND SERIES: WAXAHATCHEE, WITH SPECIAL GUEST, ANNA ST. LOUIS AND NIGHT SHOP The Warhol entrance space Co-presented with Mr. Smalls Presents and WYEP Tickets $18/$15 members and students
9.14 – 8PM TQ LIVE The Warhol theater TQ Live! presents a queer evening of dazzling performance, dance, poetry, comedy, resplendent fantasies, music, and more. Tickets $12/$8 members and students
Andy knew olor how to makee cpage jump off thur lips. and onto yo
9.20 – 7PM ROB MAZUIREK’S FARNSWORTH SCORES ADMAN: WARHOL BEFORE POP Carnegie Museum of Art theater (Oakland) Co-presented by The Heinz Architectural Center at Carnegie Museum of Art Tickets $15/$12 members and students
9.22 – 8PM HENRY ROLLINS “SLIDE SHOW” Carnegie Lecture Hall (Oakland) Tickets $25/$20 members and students, $150 VIP/$145 members
: April 27 - September 2 This exhibition was developed collaboratively by The Andy Warhol Museum and the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney.
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The Andy Warhol Museum receives state arts funding support through a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency and The Heinz Endowments. Further support is provided by the Allegheny Regional Asset District.
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EDITORIAL
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Editor ROB ROSSI Managing Editor LISA CUNNINGHAM Associate Editor ALEX GORDON Senior Writer RYAN DETO Arts Writer HANNAH LYNN Photographer/Videographer JARED WICKERHAM Interactive Media Manager JOSH OSWALD Featured Contributors REGE BEHE, GAB BONESSO, ADAM CROWLEY, LYNN CULLEN, TERENEH IDIA, LAUREN ORTEGO, STEVE SUCATO Interns ANNIE BREWER, ALEX MCCANN, ALEX POPICHAK
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MAIN FEATURES Why haven’t Pittsburgh’s Indian celebrations reached critical mass? 6 ••• North Side bookstore is the place to find international, translated literature 24 ••• Pittsburgh-based rapper, producer, and singer returns with his most thoughtful, charismatic, mature record to date 28
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Dancers during the India Day celebration in Oakland on Aug. 12 CP PHOTOS BY JARED WICKERHAM
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EMBRACING INDIA Why aren’t Pittsburgh’s Indian celebrations reaching critical mass? BY RYAN DETO // RYANDETO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
I
MMIGRANT-INSPIRED festivals
are nothing new to Pittsburgh. Little Italy Days is currently shutting down Liberty Avenue in Bloomfield with thousands of attendees. The Greek Food Festival in May filled Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Oakland every night for several days. But unlike Pittsburgh’s European immigrant festivals, which tend to attract everyone, not just immigrants, Indiancultural festivals are not achieving the same broad success. Celebrations of Pittsburgh’s South Asian heritage draw little media attention, and are overwhelmingly attended by only Indians and Indian-Americans. So why aren’t the region’s Indian festivals embraced by non-Indians? There are about 17,000 Indians and Indian-Americans in the Pittsburgh region, making them the area’s largest single immigrant group, outnumbering Greeks and Greek-Americans. Indian community leaders aren’t exactly sure why their celebrations haven’t attracted more attention. Some think a large-scale, multi-day festival would attract more attention, but that has been difficult to achieve given the absence of a centralized Indian neighborhood and the diversity of the region’s Indian immigrants. Some say race and religion are a factor. No matter, the Indian community believes Pittsburghers will soon fully ^ Krishna Sharma
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embrace these groups and their celebrations. Indian immigrants first came to Pittsburgh in the 1950s in relatively small numbers. Krishna Sharma and her family immigrated to Pittsburgh in late 1970s. At that time, there were only about 500 Indian families living in the area. Sharma, of Sewickley, says Indians’ immigration story is unique compared to Pittsburgh’s European immigrants. Mostly low-skilled European immigrants flocked to Pittsburgh to work manufacturing, glass and steel jobs during the Industrial Revolution, typically clustering in urban neighborhoods. But the first Indian populations to move to Pittsburgh were mostly highlyskilled, working in the region’s growing medical and engineering fields. Indian immigrants’ higher skills garnered better salaries, and they were not confined to any one neighborhood. In the 1970s, Indian immigrants established Sri Venkateswara Temple, one of the nation’s oldest Hindu temples, which is easily accessible to people all over the region with a location off the Parkway East in Penn Hills. Some areas have higher concentrations of Indians than others (Scott Township is 11-percent Indian, according to 2010 figures), but Sharma said Indians are pretty evenly scattered throughout. Small concentrations exist in Monroeville, Sewickley, Green Tree, and Fox Chapel. After several decades of running a successful industrial supply company CONTINUES ON PG. 8
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EMBRACING INDIA, CONTINUED FROM PG. 7
for steel mills with her husband, Sharma established the Indian Community Center in 2012. In the heart of Carnegie, the center caters to an Indian community spread out across the region. “That is the purpose of the community center, to organize and bring people together,” says Sharma. She says the lack of a centralized Indian neighborhood could also be hindering the attention paid to Indian festivals. Several India-related festivals are held throughout the year. There are Holi color festivals in Oakland and Carnegie in April. August marks India Day celebration. And October throws Diwali festivals in Downtown and Monroeville. Rashmi Koka organizes the India Day held in Oakland, which has drawn up to 1,000 attendees some years. She thinks a centralized, combined event may be necessary to match festivals like Little Italy Days. “We should really go all out,” she says. Koka says Pittsburgh’s diversity of Indians could be hindering the cohesion necessary to start a giant festival. India has 29 different states, and most have different languages and distinct cultures. Pittsburgh has attracted Indians hailing from many different states, including Gujarat in the west, Punjab in the north,
Marchers during the India Day parade in Oakland
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and Tamil Nadu in the south. Aside from differences within the Indian community, the larger problem is getting non-Indians to embrace Indian festivals. Sharma and her daughter Mona Mattson held a color festival in April, where participants throw colored powder everywhere to celebrate the arrival of spring. Mattson says it drew fewer people than they expected. “We advertised it everywhere, Facebook, a billboard, we did it everywhere, but people didn’t come,” says Mattson. “Maybe if we called it a ‘color run,’ everyone would’ve shown up. But call it an international color festival and not that many people come.” Koka has faced similar hurdles. Though thankful Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald both officially recognized
India Day, Koka says it’s been harder to get her non-Indian neighbors to attend the celebrations. “I have felt it too, the lack of recognition,” says Koka. She feels many non-Indians still might be intimidated by Indian culture and cuisine. Race can’t be ignored when considering the disparate success of different immigrant groups’ festivals. Wasi Mohamed is the head of the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh. His parents were born in India and he grew up in Harrisburg. Mohamed has lived in Pittsburgh since 2011, watching the Indian community grow. Since 2000, the Indian population has almost doubled in Allegheny County. But Mohamed says Indians still don’t occupy enough power circles. “Race and religion is always related,” says Mohamed. “Whenever communities of color do things that aren’t Christian,
^ Mona Mattson
CONTINUES ON PG. 10
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Indians are the largest immigrant group in the Pittsburgh region
you tend not to have people in the room who represent those communities. There are lots of festivals in Pittsburgh, but how many Indians on big planning committees.” Mohamed is currently planning a Muslim food festival, and says it took years for him to figure out all the intricacies of planning. He doesn’t believe Indians have been intentionally locked out, just that the system has historically been run without minority representation. With Pittsburgh’s Welcoming Initiative and other efforts, Mohamed sees that changing. All of these factors combined could be contributing to Indian-based festivals drawing smaller attendance and attention compared to other immigrant festivals. But the Indian community wants it to change. On Aug. 12, about a hundred people paraded through Oakland streets, dancing to Indian music and shouting the Indian battle cry “Jai Hind.” Marchers exuded passion and joy while celebrating their native and ancestral land. After the parade, participants joined hundreds more inside the Cathedral of Learning, where
booths hawked Indian goods, food, and services. It was Pittsburgh’s 17th India Day celebration, held on a weekend close to India’s Independence Day on Aug. 15. But this year’s India Day celebration mostly captivated Indian and IndianAmerican attendees. Koka says she invites all of her Mount Lebanon neighbors to India Day, but few usually show up. She says that won’t stop her from continuing to try. “We do want to open it everyone,” says Koka. Krisnha Sharma and Mona Mattson have also been proactive in bridging the gap between Pittsburgh’s Indians and non-Indians. Their India Community Center stages Indian and non-Indian events, including a popular Jazz Festival in September, traditional Indian events, and classic dance classes. Sharma seems ready for more recognition with a bigger more popular festival. When City Paper asked her why a broadly attended India festival hasn’t coalesced, her mind appeared to churn, like a mathematician on the brink of solving a complex equation. “It will happen,” she says.
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.BLOOMFIELD.
ITALIAN PERSEVERANCE BY ALEX MCCANN // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
T
HE SIGN IS impossible to miss as
you cross the Bloomfield Bridge and turn onto Liberty Avenue: “Pittsburgh’s Little Italy.” Even though the sign was only dedicated in 1993, Bloomfield has been the city’s Italian enclave for decades. That legacy will remain, but the neighborhood is transforming. Bloomfield is home to new ethnic restaurants, including Thai, Mexican and even Azorean (an Atlantic island chain) cuisines. Students and millennials fill rowhouses, sharing space with the older Italian-American residents.
LITTLE ITALY DAYS
Begins 6 p.m., Thu., Aug. 16 and continues through Sun., Aug. 19. Full event schedule available online. Liberty Avenue, Bloomfield. Free. littleitalydays.com
But a walk down Liberty still showcases some old Italian treasures. Donatelli’s Italian Food Center begets with a large red, white, and green awning. Step inside and shop for crisp and sweet pizzelles, homemade pasta, and sausage made from the same 80-yearold recipe. That’s Frank Donatelli’s recipe. The son of Italian immigrants, he founded this store in 1932. When he retired in 1975, his son, Paul, took over. Now, Paul’s
sons, Russell and Paul Jr., run the show. In the time working at his grandfather’s grocery store, Russell has seen Bloomfield change. It’s still Little Italy, but he’s noticed how the neighborhood is different than the one from his childhood. “Most of the people came from Italy,” he says. “... They worked here, shopped here, and lived here.” Now, with commuting rates up and Bloomfield’s population half of what it was in 1960, it’s not quite the same. “A lot of the people have been passing away, and things change,” Russell says. “Different types of people are coming into the area, which is good. Younger crowd.” Prior to the 1960s, Bloomfield was where most Italian Americans in Pittsburgh lived. An article from the Pittsburg Leader dated Jan. 21, 1906 — back then, the city’s federally recognized name was spelled sans “h” — reveals the early wave of Italians making their way to Bloomfield. “Of late years hordes of Italians have made their home in the Sixteenth,” referring to Pittsburgh’s 16th Ward. When those “hordes” reached Bloomfield, they settled and opened shop. At only 9 years old, Dan Cercone came over with his mother, Rachel; his father, Panfilo, had been working in the area and finally raised enough money to
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ITALIAN, CONTINUED FROM PG. 11
send for his wife and son. Dan would later open a barber shop on Liberty Avenue. It’s still there today, though its founder and namesake died in 1992, and is now run by his grandson, Dennis Scullion. The Dan Cercone Barber Shop and Donatelli’s are two of the last bastions of Bloomfield’s Little Italy. Donatelli’s is the last surviving traditional Italian market. Its nearby competitor, Groceria Italiana, announced its closing last month. The storefront, once nicknamed “the Stink Shop” by neighborhood kids, is still open, but Groceria Italiana has sold every last ounce of its remaining food products. All that remain are assorted glassware and knick-knacks, for purchase by cash only. And once all glassware and knickknacks sell, the old Little Italy will be all but gone. The remaining Italian businesses — including Donatelli’s, Dan Cercone Barber Shop, restaurants like the Pleasure Bar and Sausalido — are more like tributes to their predecessors. That’s not to say they’re not all great. The Pleasure Bar, for instance, serves simple, authentic Italian food (try the three cheese tortellini), while Merante’s Gifts is one-part Italian gift shop, one-part Mama’s kitchen. Time your visit right and you might be lucky enough to chat with Maria Merante while she bakes chocolate crinkle cookies or tomato pies in the back of the store. She’s been in Bloomfield since 1995. The old Little Italy, Merante says, was based around immigrants who came over at similar times. The modern Little
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Italy is based on its history. That convergence of history and progress will come together at the annual Little Italy Days this weekend. With out-of-town vendors, the festival will cater in part to Bloomfield’s younger, hipper, less Italian populace. But for old-timers, lifelong residents, children and grandchildren of immigrants, and those who want to head back in time, Little Italy Days will still offer a chance to relive old Little Italy — and to look forward to Bloomfield’s future.
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I
’M THE KIND of person to whom strangers love to give unsolicited advice.
The other day, I was taking a walk around my suburban plan, and there was this old man sitting on his porch waving me over to his house. I walked over, not worried he was a serial killer because I knew I could take him. He wanted to tell me that I walk wrong. In fact, those were his exact words: “I wanted to tell you that you walk wrong.” Dumfounded, I asked “what?” He repeated his previous statement. Chuckling, I replied: “I’m remaining upright and moving forward. I think I’m doing it kind of right.” At this point, he went on to explain that walking is only a good exercise if you want to lose weight, and that I don’t need to lose weight, so I’m doing it all wrong. I thanked him for the advice and began to walk home. And I couldn’t help but wonder if the old man was using walking as a metaphor for life. The following thoughts rapidly flew through my brain within 15 seconds: Was he trying to say that I am doing life all wrong? Or did he just mean walking? Do I walk all wrong? I mean, exercise all wrong? No, I love my walks. They help with my mania. They can’t be wrong. Wait. Who even was that guy? Why am I listening to a word that man said? God knows what meds that old coot is on, and I’m listening to his advice! I can’t believe I walked over there!! What if he was a serial killer?!!! Needless to say, I was mouth-breathing and tapping my fingers the rest of the walk home. I can’t even tell my shrink this happened because she prohibits me from making eye contact with strangers. She’d be so mad to find out that I went over to a stranger’s porch for unsolicited advice. What it is about me that says to strangers, “I should tell that girl what a dummy she is”? Eventually, I let the exchange go so as to not become obsessed with it. One mini-meltdown was permitted, but I wasn’t going to let this stranger ruin something that really helps both my mental and physical health. Now, when I walk by his house, I shake my head thinking about the kind of person who would tell someone “you walk all wrong.” That guy might not be John Wayne Gacy, but he’s definitely a clown.
WHY AM I LISTENING TO A WORD THAT MAN SAID?
•
Follow featured columnist Gab Bonesso on Twitter @GabBonesso.
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B
“
UT DAD … Alec Guinness is in it,
and James Earl Jones!” Eightyear-old me hoped two serious actors would persuade dad to let my brother and me see Star Wars: A New Hope. “It looks scary,” dad said, replaying the trailer in his head. Phaser blasters. Lightsabers. Terrifying army in white. Darth Vader. “We won’t be scared.” “It’s too violent,” dad said. And I knew the conversation was nearing its end. We were losing the battle. “And,” dad said, continuing with a furrowed-brow finality, “no child of mine is going to a movie with the word ‘wars’ in it.” It was the verbal equivalent of a lightsaber splitting the kitchen table in two, along with our hopes. Vrummummm. We were not allowed to see the original Star Wars when it opened in 1977. We did see it eventually, and decades later I remain a huge fan of the series. When some of my new favorite characters — Finn (John Boyega), Rose (Kelly Marie Tran), and Rey (Daisy Ridley) — were subjected to racist and/or sexist harassment on social media, I wondered: “What’s up Star Wars fan fam?” As a black child, I experienced stories without often seeing myself in them, never expecting someone like me to be the hero. I don’t know what it is like to be “so vain you probably think this song is about you — don’t you?” Don’t you? I do not accept erasure of black, brown, women, and LGBTQIA peoples in science fiction or futurism. On the contrary, my love of these genres means I demand better. So, what to do with these vocal fanboy “manbabies” with the free time and determination to form harassing
online groups? No. 1: Creators of Star Wars and other pillars of popular culture need to own their part in developing these fanboys. Entire worlds are focused on white cis males in this galaxy and the ones far away. No. 2: Understand that presenting the human experience includes representing People of the Global Majority (aka people of color). Depending on how you define “whiteness,” white people make up 15-20 percent of the world population. Whites are the minorities.
MY LOVE OF THESE GENRES MEANS I DEMAND BETTER. No. 3: All of humanity is interesting, complex, beautiful, and worth exploring. No. 4: Representation matters. A recent University of North Carolina study found most American Christians think “God” is a white man. All of those Eurocentric paintings and that Fresco propaganda worked. If we create art and media for the world, let’s start reflecting the world. As a young, black girl, one of my heroes was Luke Skywalker. I believe a young, white boy can be equally inspired by an amazing, black woman like scientist/princess Shuri from Black Panther. Someone may try to argue this point with me. But Black Panther has made $1.3 billion around the world. Vrummummm.
•
Follow featured columnist Tereneh Idia on Twitter @Tereneh152xx
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.FOR THE WEEK OF AUG. 16.
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY BY ROB BREZSNY // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Many of us imagine medieval Europe to have been drab and dreary. But historian Jacques Le Goff tells us that the people of that age adored luminous hues: “Big jewels inserted into book-bindings, glowing gold objects, brightly painted sculpture, paintings covering the walls of churches, and the colored magic of stained glass.” Maybe you’ll be inspired by this revelation, Virgo. I hope so. According to my reading of the astrological omens, you can activate sleeping wisdom and awaken dormant energy by treating your eyes to lots of vivid reds, greens, yellows, blues, browns, oranges, purples, golds, blacks, coppers, and pinks.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): An astrologer on Tumblr named Sebastian says this about your sign: “Libras can be boring people when they don’t trust you enough to fully reveal themselves. But they can be just as exciting as any fire sign and just as weird as any Aquarius and just as talkative as a Gemini and just as empathetic as a Pisces. Really, Librans are some of the most eccentric people you’ll ever meet, but you might not know it unless they trust you enough to take their masks off around you.” Spurred by Sebastian’s analysis, here’s my advice to you: I hope you’ll spend a lot of time with people you trust in the coming weeks, because for the sake of your mental and physical and spiritual health, you’ll need to express your full eccentricity. (Sebastian’s at venuspapi.tumblr.com.)
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): A blogger who calls herself Wistful Giselle has named the phenomena that make her “believe in magic.” They include the following: “illuminated dust in the air; the moments when a seedling sprouts; the intelligence gazing back at me from a crow’s eyes; being awaken by the early morning sun; the energy of storms; old buildings overgrown with plants; the everchanging grey green blue moods of the sea; the shimmering moon on a cool, clear night.” I invite you to compile your own list, Scorpio. You’re entering a time when you will be the beneficiary of magic in direct proportion to how much you believe in and are alert for magic. Why not go for the maximum?
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Since 1969, eight-foot-two-inch-tall Big Bird
coming weeks. You’ll have extra potential to create and foster beauty, and any beauty you produce will generate practical benefits for you and those you care about. But for best results, you’ll have to expend more effort than maybe you thought you should. It might feel more like work than play -- even though it will ultimately enhance your ability to play.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
“Whoever does not visit Paris regularly will never really be elegant,” wrote French author Honoré de Balzac. I think that’s an exaggeration, but it does trigger a worthwhile meditation. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you’re in a phase of your cycle when you have maximum power to raise your appreciation of elegance, understand how it could beautify your soul, and add more of it to your repertoire. So here are your homework meditations: What does elegance mean to you? Why might it be valuable to cultivate elegance, not just to enhance your self-presentation, but also to upgrade your relationship with your deep self? (P.S.: Fashion designer Christian Dior said, “Elegance must be the right combination of distinction, naturalness, care, and simplicity.”)
has been a star of the kids’ TV show Sesame Street. He’s a yellow bird puppet who can talk, write poetry, dance, and roller skate. In the early years of the show, our hero had a good friend who no one else saw or believed in: Mr. Snuffleupagus. After 17 years, there came a happy day when everyone else in the Sesame Street neighborhood realized that Snuffy was indeed real, not just a figment of Big Bird’s imagination. I’m foreseeing a comparable event in your life sometime soon, Sagittarius. You’ll finally be able to share a secret truth or private pleasure or unappreciated asset.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Activist and author Simone de Beauvoir was one of those Capricorns whose lust for life was both lush and intricate. “I am awfully greedy,” she wrote. “I want to be a woman and to be a man, to have many friends and to have loneliness, to work much and write good books, to travel and enjoy myself, to be selfish and to be unselfish.” Even if your longings are not always as lavish and ravenous as hers, Capricorn, you now have license to explore the mysterious state she described. I dare you to find out how voracious you can be if you grant yourself permission.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): According to my reading of the astrological omens, the coming weeks will be prime time
TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
to vividly express your appreciation for and understanding of the people you care about most. I urge you to show them why you love them. Reveal the depths of your insights about their true beauty. Make it clear how their presence in your life has had a beneficent or healing influence on you. And if you really want to get dramatic, you could take them to an inspiring outdoor spot and sing them a tender song or two.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In her book Yarn: Remembering the Way Home, Piscean knitter Kyoko Mori writes, “The folklore among knitters is that everything handmade should have at least one mistake so an evil sprit will not become trapped in the maze of perfect stitches.” The idea is that the mistake “is a crack left open to let in the light.” Mori goes on to testify about the evil spirit she wants to be free of. “It’s that little voice in my head that says, ‘I won’t even try this because it doesn’t come naturally to me and I won’t be very good at it.’” I’ve quoted Mori at length, Pisces, because I think her insights are the exact tonic you need right now.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): “The prettier the garden, the dirtier the hands of the gardener,” writes aphorist B. E. Barnes. That’ll be especially applicable to you in the
Author and theologian Thomas Merton thought that the most debilitating human temptation is to settle for too little; to live a comfortable life rather than an interesting one. I wouldn’t say that’s always true about you, Taurus. But I do suspect that in the coming weeks, a tendency to settle for less could be the single most devitalizing temptation you’ll be susceptible to. That’s why I encourage you to resist the appeal to accept a smaller blessing or punier adventure than you deserve. Hold out for the best and brightest.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “I’ve learned quite a lot, over the years, by avoiding what I was supposed to be learning.” So says the wise and well-educated novelist Margaret Atwood. Judging by your current astrological omens, I think this is an excellent clue for you to contemplate right now. What do you think? Have you been half-avoiding any teaching that you or someone else thinks you’re “supposed” to be learning? If so, I suggest you avoid it even stronger. Avoid it with cheerful rebelliousness. Doing so may lead you to what you really need to learn about next.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Sometimes you make it difficult for me to reach you. You act like you’re listening, but you’re not really listening. You semi-consciously decide that you don’t want to be influenced by anyone except yourself. When you lock me out like that, I become a bit dumb. My advice isn’t as good or helpful. The magic between us languishes. Please don’t do that to me now. And don’t do it to anyone who cares about you. I realize that you may need to protect yourself from people who aren’t sufficiently careful with you. But your true allies have important influences to offer, and I think you’ll be wise to open yourself to them.
GO TO REALASTROLOGY.COM TO CHECK OUT ROB BREZSNY’S EXPANDED WEEKLY AUDIO HOROSCOPES AND DAILY TEXT-MESSAGE HOROSCOPES. THE AUDIO HOROSCOPES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE BY PHONE AT 1-877-873-4888 OR 1-900-950-7700
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HOP ON BOARD FOR A ROLLER COASTER RIDE with award-winning author Brian Butko through Pittsburgh’s amusement park history with two new books published by the Heinz History Center – the “Smithsonian’s Home in Pittsburgh.” Kennywood: Behind the Screams, Pocket Edition invites long-time fans and new visitors to take a walking tour through Kennywood by exploring the history at each ride and attraction. Founded in 1898, the park has layers of history that tell of changing architecture, entertainment, and regional history, all brought to life by more than 300 vintage photos — many never-before-seen and in color. In Luna: Pittsburgh’s Original Lost Kennywood, Butko brings readers on a rollicking ride through the history of North Oakland’s Luna Park, built by roller coaster inventor and amusement park visionary Frederick Ingersoll in 1905. With carneys hawking souvenirs, exhilarating live animal acts that sometimes turned deadly, gawkers paying to ogle over incubators displaying newborn babies of indigent mothers, and a starry night sky further illuminated by dazzling displays of electric lights, Luna Park entertained guests until its closure in 1909.
PURCHASE THESE BOOKS AT THE HEINZ HISTORY CENTER MUSEUM SHOP AT 1212 SMALLMAN STREET OR ONLINE AT SHOP.HEINZHISTORYCENTER.ORG
PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 15-22, 2018
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CP PHOTO BY LAUREN ORTEGO
Outside Mount Washington’s Coughlin’s Law
.FOOD REVIEW.
COCKTAIL HOUR BY LAUREN ORTEGO // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
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HEN I WALKED in to Coughlin’s
Law, a new Mount Washington restaurant named for a set of aphorisms from the 1988 movie Cocktail, I found myself struggling to pigeonhole it. Was it a classic ale house? A modern update? A grille and bar? More bar or more restaurant? The first thing I noticed was the view of Downtown’s skyline (obviously). The second thing was a strong scent of oak. It reminded me of a fresh fire, bacon freshly cooked, and immediately started my stomach growling. As we sat down and looked at the menu, I found myself a little overwhelmed. There were six sections to pick from, including a diverse selection of appetizers ranging from hummus to charcuterie to chicharrones (fried pork belly or pork rinds). To start, my dinner date and I ordered bacon lollipops, which are exactly what you would think: crisp bacon wrapped in a ball, stuck on a stick, and served with chipotle syrup. The syrup was amazingly sweet and the perfect balance to the saltiness of the bacon. I would have drank it on its own. Instead, I choose an ale for my drink (it’s an ale house, after all). Knowing almost nothing about beer, other than the fact that I enjoy it, I asked the waitress to recommend something. She offered the Station 33 Firehouse Ale, a customer favorite brewed by North Country Brewing in Slippery Rock. The beer was light, something your friend who only drinks clear liquors might be able to enjoy.
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For my entree, I decided on the eponymous Coughlin’s Burger. I felt like if Coughlin’s were willing to put a name on it, the burger must communicate something important about the restaurant as a whole. I was right. The burger was served on a small, round plate and was covered in a glass bowl, like the one covering the rose from Beauty and the Beast. The waitress set it down in front of me and lifted it up, releasing a small cloud of steam that traveled over the burger and gracefully down the plate.
COUGHLIN’S LAW
10 Virginia Ave., Mount Washington. 412-586-5673 or eatatcoughlinslaw.com
After figuratively picking my jaw off the floor, I realized that pork belly, chili slaw, bacon jam, smoked aioli, cheddar, and pickles all piled on a hefty meat patty made a tall burger, maybe too tall to tackle by hand. With the help of my knife and fork, I dug in. The crunch of slaw and sweetness of bacon jam created an interesting, satisfying bite. The burger was filling, and I regretted having an appetizer after leaving a defeated bite left that I couldn’t manage to get down on the plate. Overall, the atmosphere was welcoming and the outside bar made for a great afterwork stop. The price point seems right for the quality and presentation, and the food proves it’s not just an ale house, but a restaurant that can stand on its own.
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Sean Rosenkrans behind the bar at The Allegheny Wine Mixer
.ON THE ROCKS.
BEHIND THE BAR BY CRAIG MRUSEK // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
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OW WELL DO you know your local bartender? Probably not as well as you think. Meet Sean Rosenkrans from The Allegheny Wine Mixer.
IF YOU COULD BE A FICTIONAL CHARACTER, WHO WOULD IT BE? Either the free-spirited but incomparablyloyal Hassan, from Meša Selimović ’s book, Death and the Dervish, or the clever mnemonist James Sim in Jesse Ball’s Samedi the Deafness. YOU’RE ON A RIVER IN A SMALL BOAT WHEN IT CATCHES FIRE. DO YOU PUT OUT THE FIRE OR SWIM FOR SHORE? Neither. If you’re dumb enough to catch a vessel on fire surrounded by water, you salvage some honor and go down with the ship. WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU’VE DONE RECENTLY THAT YOU’RE PROUD OF? Hypnotized a woman well out of my league to agree to marry me. I also recently passed the advanced exam through the Court of Master Sommeliers, which was neat. IF MONEY WAS NOT A FACTOR, WHAT’S ONE THING YOU’D ADD TO YOUR HOUSE? A combination wine cellar/cigar humidor/smoking room/chashitsu (Japanesestyle tea house)/reading room — to consolidate all my vices.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DINOSAUR? Brontosaurus, primarily due to the sweetass characters in the TV series DinoRiders. (Yes, I know it was a Diplodocus on the show.) YOU WILL BE LIVING IN SOLITUDE ON A REMOTE MOUNTAINTOP FOR A YEAR. WHAT NON-ESSENTIAL ITEM(S) DO YOU TAKE WITH YOU? A copy of Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations. It’s gotten me through many periods of abject solitude. WHERE DO YOU MOST ENJOY HAVING A DRINK? The Squirrel Cage … either in a booth with close friends and great conversation, or alone with a book at the bar, where Billy has kindly taken care of me for many years. WHO’S SOMEONE THAT’S HAD A SIGNIFICANT INFLUENCE ON YOUR LIFE? The two principal professional mentors for me have been Jamie Patten (owner of AWM) and John Wabeck (Poulet Bleu, etc.), who both taught me subtle and important lessons on hospitality ASIDE FROM YOUR KEYS, WALLET, PHONE, ETC., WHAT’S ONE THING YOU ALWAYS CARRY WITH YOU? An interminable sense of self-doubt.
Follow featured contributor Craig Mrusek on Twitter @DoctorBamboo
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www.nickysthaikitchen.com PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 15-22, 2018
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The General sandwich from GetGo
.MONSTER MUNCHIES.
TSO BAD
BY HANNAH LYNN // HLYNN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
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TONERS MUST develop fast-food menus, because chains are always introducing new and improved Monster Foods. You know, those dishes that combine two foods into a shape or flavor you would only ever dream up after downing that sweet weed potion. Think: Taco Bell’s Waffle Breakfast Taco, Burger King’s Mac n’ Cheetos, KFC’s Double Down sandwich. GetGo Cafe and Market is in on the action, recently advertising a sandwich called The General. It features General Tso’s chicken and comes with the tagline “It’s Tso good!” (The official description says the sandwich is comprised of chicken tenders slathered in General Tso’s sauce and sriracha, topped with egg rolls and served on a sesame-seed roll.) As soon as City Paper’s staff learned of its existence, there was no choice but make use of the investigative journalism skills for which we’re known. A day after the annual Best Of Pittsburgh party, editorials staffers sampled The General to assess this culinary experiment on taste, appearance, and flavor accuracy. Results were mixed, ranging from “that’s not the worst thing I’ve ever had” to “I will watch you eat this, but I will never eat it.” The tenders are likely the same ones used on every other GetGo chicken sandwich, only these are doused in something they are calling General Tso’s sauce. Doesn’t taste like it. The taste is too harsh, thanks to generic tenders heavily seasoned with pepper
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being combined with sriracha sauce. If the skin on the tender was ever crispy, it was long before it reached the CP offices. The tenders could best be described as wet and soft. The sauce could best be described as spicy syrup. It doesn’t taste like anything specific, but tastes enough like something to taste bad. The picture in the ad shows two perfectly round, crispy egg rolls sitting atop the chicken, uncrushed by the bread. In reality, the egg rolls are flattened, but that’s not their fault. How could they possibly retain crispiness with the sh*t hand of cards?
THE GENERAL
Prices vary. Participating GetGo Cafe locations. getgocafe.com/cafe/subs
The bread holds up well with its heavy load, but it’s not enough to save the sandwich. During our tasting, staffers agreed: It’s not “Tso good,” but it is “Tsokay.” Even to the hungriest stoner, this sandwich would be a disappointment because the appetizing image doesn’t correlate with the taste. You think that you want something that tastes vaguely like Panda Express. You are fed a piece of sriracha-nothing instead. Despite generally bad results, food chains should continue to make weirder, even more grotesque creations. The trash heart and stomach want what they want.
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DINING OUT
SPONSORED LISTINGS FROM CITY PAPER ’S FINE ADVERTISERS
THIS WEEK’S FEATURED RESTAURANT
W E ’ R E D O N AT I N G OF OUR
BAR LOUIE 330 N. SHORE DRIVE, NORTH SIDE (412-500-7530) AND 244 W BRIDGE ST., HOMESTEAD (412-462-6400) / BARLOUIE.COM We’re your neighborhood bar, where you can kick back and be the real you, with the help of an amazing staff, great music, handcrafted martinis and cocktails, local and regional drafts, incredible winesand a huge selection of bar bites, snacks, burgers, flatbreads and sandwiches. Come in after work, before the game, late night at night, or any time you need a quick bite or a night out with friends. Bar Louie. Less obligations. More libations.
BROAD STREET BISTRO
1025 BROAD ST., NORTH VERSAILLES 412-829-2911 / BROADSTBISTRO.COM Broad Street Bistro is a neighborhood restaurant offering daily specials. ALL food is prepared fresh and made to order. It is family friendly with a special kids’ menu.
COLONY CAFE
1125 PENN AVE., STRIP DISTRICT 412-586-4850 / COLONYCAFEPGH.COM Whether stopping in for a weekday lunch, an afternoon latte or after-work drinks with friends, Colony Cafe offers delicious housemade bistro fare in a stylish Downtown space.
FRANKTUARY
3810 BUTLER ST., LAWRENCEVILLE 412-586-7224 / FRANKTUARY.COM Bar and restaurant in Lawrenceville plus mobile food truck. Grass-fed beef and vegan franks, local sausage, poutine, craft beer, classic cocktails. Tuesday is trivia night!
FULL PINT WILD SIDE TAP ROOM 5310 BUTLER ST., LAWRENCEVILLE 412-408-3083 / FULLPINTBREWING.COM Full Pint Wild Side Taproom is Full Pint Brewing company’s Lawrenceville location and features a full service bar, huge sandwiches and half-priced happy hour. Open 4 p.m.-midnight, Mon.-Fri., and noon–midnight on Saturday. Check us out on Facebook for upcoming shows and events.
HARTWOOD RESTAURANT AND WHISPER’S PUB
3400 HARTS RUN ROAD, GLENSHAW 412-767-3500 / HARTWOODRESTAURANT.COM A hidden treasure in the Pittsburgh suburbs. Outdoor dining, full bar, eclectic atmosphere. Casual elegance at its finest. Daily specials. Open Tuesday through Saturday.
JAMBO GRILL
ONE WILD PLACE, PITTSBURGH ZOO 412-365-6016 / SSANUTRITIONPITTSBURGHZOO.COM/ CATEGORY/JAMBO-GRILL Made-to-order wraps, pizza, salads, soups, fresh juices and smoothies prepared from organic, local and gluten-free ingredients and freshly baked items.
LEGENDS EATERY
500 EAST NORTH AVE., NORTH SIDE 412-321-8000 / LEGENDSEATERY.US Legends Eatery is a family owned, BYOB Italian restaurant located in the heart of Pittsburgh’s North Side. Get your family and friends together and make reservations today!
MERCURIO’S ARTISAN GELATO AND NEAPOLITAN PIZZA 5523 WALNUT ST., SHADYSIDE 412-621-6220 / MERCURIOSGELATOPIZZA.COM Authentic Neapolitan pizza, artisan gelato, and an inviting atmosphere are just a small part of what helps create your experience at Mercurio’s Gelato and Pizza in Pittsburgh. It’s not your standard pizza shop; in fact, this isn’t a “pizza shop” at all.
NINE ON NINE
900 PENN AVE., DOWNTOWN 412-338-6463 / NINEONNINEPGH.COM Nine on Nine has been a popular dining venue known for serving some of the finest culinary dishes in the city since opening in 2006.
PIAZZA TALARICO
3832 PENN AVE., LAWRENCEVILLE 412-652-9426 / PIAZZATALARICO.COM Piazza Talarico and Papa Joe’s Wine Cellar is a small, family-owned restaurant and winery in Western Pennsylvania serving authentic Italian peasant food. Enjoy the fresh food on site or take out. Specializes in “Baked Maccheron”, an al forno dish of rigatoni, Grandma’s sauce, cheese, pepperoni and boiled eggs.
SAGA HIBACHI
201 SOUTH HILLS VILLAGE MALL, BETHEL PARK 412-835-8888 / SAGAHIBACHI.COM Saga in the South Hills is now under new management. Stop in for exciting table-side preparations and the famous shrimp sauce. Or sit in the sushi-bar area for the freshest sushi experience, with both traditional preparations and contemporary variations.
SUNNY BRIDGE NATURAL FOODS 30 GALLERY DRIVE, MCMURRAY 724-942-5800 / SUNNYBRIDGENATURALFOODS.COM Our café creates made-to-order wraps, pizza, salads, soups, fresh juices and smoothies prepared from organic, local and gluten-free ingredients and freshly baked items from our glutenfree bakery.
SUPERIOR MOTORS 1211 BRADDOCK AVE., BRADDOCK 412-271-1022 / SUPERIORMOTORS15104.COM Thoughtfully prepared food, drawing inspiration from Braddock, its people, its history and its perseverance. The cuisine best represents the eclectic style which has become a trademark of Chef Kevin Sousa. Fine dining in an old Chevy dealership with an eclectic, farm-to-table menu and a community focus.
TOTOPO MEXICAN KITCHEN AND BAR 660 WASHINGTON ROAD, MT. LEBANON 412-668-0773 / TOTOPOMEX.COM Totopo is a vibrant celebration of the culture and cuisine of Mexico, with a focus on the diverse foods served in the country. From Oaxacan tamales enveloped in banana leaves to the savory fish tacos of Baja California, you will experience the authentic flavor and freshness in every bite. We also feature a cocktail menu of tequila-based drinks to pair the perfect margarita with your meal.
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RECEIPTS
TO
The Pennies from Heaven Fund gives financial assistance to the families of children who are undergoing treatment at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
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YUZU KITCHEN 409 WOOD ST., DOWNTOWN 412-288-9900 / YUZUKITCHENPGH.COM Yuzu kitchen is a contemporary East Asian kitchen pulling on Chinese, Japanese, and Korean flavors. Focusing primarily on Ramen, stir fries, sake, and Japanese Whisky.
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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 15-22, 2018
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ASYLUM ASSIMILATION BY REGE BEHE // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
City of Asylum Bookstore manager Lesley Rains CP PHOTO BY JARED WICKERHAM
BETWEEN THE LINES What’s it like being adopted? Writers Lori Jakiela, Nancy McCabe, and Phil Terman share their experiences at White Whale Bookstore (4754 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield). This free event starts at 7 p.m. on Sat., Aug. 18. Lindsey Smith, author of Eat Your Feelings and Food Guilt No More, will talk about making simple meals that nourish the spirit at Riverstone Books (8850 Covenant Ave., McCandless). Her talk/signing begins at 2 p.m. on Sun., Aug. 19. 24
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.PGH PAGES.
ASYLUM ASSIMILATION BY REGE BEHE // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
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CITY OF ASYLUM BOOKS
40 W. North Ave., North Side. 412-435-1110 or cityofasylum.org/books
The Accusation, penned under a pseudonym by a North Korean dissident, is a popular selection, as are books by Syrian authors. So are mass-market novels by Italian author Domenico Starnone and The Nakano Thrift Shop, by Japanese writer Hiromi Kawakami. “They’re telling really good stories,” Rains says. “I think a lot of times people pigeonhole foreign authors as avant garde or really out there.” City of Asylum Books also benefits from being a multi-use space. In addition to readings, jazz concerts are frequently staged in the store’s performance area. Being in the same building with Brugge on North, run by the owners of Point Brugge Cafe in Point Breeze and Park Bruges in Highland Park, also attracts
& Artisan's Marketplace At the Gateway to the Laurel Highlands
Aug. 18 thru Sept. 23
ITY OF ASYLUM Books at
Alphabet City doesn’t stock best-selling titles. There are no popular mysteries, thrillers, or romance novels on its shelves. But if you’re looking for a book or poetry collection by a writer from South America, Asia, Africa, or Europe, there’s a good chance of findng it at this bookshop. Despite its niche selections, this North Side store, which opened in January 2017, is doing well. “Obviously when you open a store that focuses on international and translated literature, you always wonder if people are going to respond to it,” store manager Lesley Rains says.” People have been over the moon and excited about what we’re doing.” Rains is former owner of Bloomfield’s East End Book Exchange (now White Whale Bookstore). She acknowledges the current political climate has “steered a lot of people towards us who are looking for a safe place to read the books they like.” The store’s affiliation with City of Asylum, a non-profit organization that provides sanctuary to writers threatened because of their political beliefs, is also a draw.
Affordable Fun n for Everyone!
Weekends & Labor Day 10:30am- 6:30pm
patrons not familiar with the bookshop. “We mutually benefit from each other,” Rains says of the restaurant that replaced Casellula in April 2018. “Brunch on Sundays brings families in, and that helps us out. People from our store will grab a book, go to the bar and read, or grab a bite to eat. Anything that gets people in the door is helpful. Even if they don’t buy a book, maybe they’ll come back.” The bookstore has experienced the usual ebbs and flows that accompany most new ventures. Rains admits that business during the week tends to be slower than on weekends. However, City of Asylum Books has become a destination for some readers. When U2 played Pittsburgh in June, 2017, Rains met a couple who came to Pittsburgh to attend the concert and go to the bookstore. “We get a lot of visitors and tourists on weekends,” Rains says, “but we still want to be everyone’s neighborhood bookstore. We’re still working on getting the word out, frankly, telling people that we’re here and that there’s easy parking and easy access to transit.” On September 8, City of Asylum Books will play host to a Freedom-to-Write Public Conversation featuring Turkish novelist and journalist Ashli Erdogan in conversation with Akhil Sharma, author of the PEN/Hemingway Award-winning novel, An Obedient Father. September is also Jazz Poetry month at the store, with various events scheduled throughout the month.
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Follow featured contributor Rege Behe on Twitter @RegeBehe_exPTR. PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 15-22, 2018
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PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN COLOMBO
Costumes from The Butler and Selma in Heroes and Sheroes
.ART.
TRUTH, RUTH BY TERENEH IDIA // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
I
N BLACK PANTHER’S Warrior Falls fight scene, a weary Prince T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) hears an encouraging battle cry from Queen Mother Ramonda (Angela Basset): “Show him who you are!” These words fly off the screen and into the heart of the viewer. They also reflect the artistry of one of the world’s leading costume designers, Ruth E. Carter. Carter shows us who we were, are, and what we may become. “That is the role of the storyteller, that is the role of the costume designer,” she explains. FashionAFRICANA presents the world premiere of Heroes & Sheroes: The Art & Influence of Ruth E. Carter in Black Cinema. Opening Sat., Aug. 25 at the Heinz History Center and on view here through Dec. 2, the show then travels to Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles. The exhibition will feature costumes from the 35-year career of the Academy and Emmy award-nominated designer.
Carter’s work appeared in Do The Right Thing (1989), Malcolm X (1992), What’s Love Got To Do With It (1993), Amistad (1997), The Butler (2013), Selma (2014), Sparkle (2016) and Black Panther (2018). It’s easy to assume an exhibition entitled Heroes and Sheroes would focus on Black Panther, given the financial and critical success (not to mention the societal impact) of that film. But as Carter explains: “Superheroes are one thing, but everyday heroes are another. Incredible people make gigantic contributions to the culture, the paradigm. It’s important that we recognize them as heroes.” Carter points to the Edmund Pettus Bridge march scene in Selma. Many of the extras were descendants of the “foot soldiers” in the Civil Rights movement. As she dressed the extras, she said, “You are representing your grandmothers, your uncles, your aunts. You have to think of them while you march, you have to be them.”
HEROES AND SHEROES: THE ART AND INFLUENCE OF RUTH E. CARTER IN BLACK CINEMA Aug. 25-Dec. 2. Heinz History Center, 1212 Smallman St., Downtown. heinzhistorycenter.org
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Demeatria Boccella, founder of FashionAFRICANA, explains how this exhibition came to be: “I have a list of people I want to work with, and Ruth Carter is on that list.” After seeing the electrifying first trailer for Black Panther in 2017, Boccella knew “it was now or never. I sent a proposal via an email on Carter’s website and luckily her assistant responded.” Carter feels “Pittsburgh is the perfect place” to launch this exhibition. The late, great Bill Nunn Jr. was a close friend to Boccella and “film family” to Carter through their work with Spike Lee. Also, Teenie Harris, a legendary Pittsburgh photographer, played a huge role in inspiring her work, “I fell in love with Teenie Harris before I knew anything about coming to Pittsburgh,” Carter says, adding that Harris’ work was the main inspiration for her designs used in Thurgood Marshall biopic Marshall (2017). Ruth E. Carter’s work presents a rigorous authenticity, a truth that completes the story, making her one of the most in-demand costume designers in the industry. And Nunn used to say: “That’s the truth Ruth.”
•
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.FILM REVIEW.
CAMPERS
BY HANNAH LYNN // HLYNN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
T
HE TRADITIONAL teen movie has
been in a multi-decade drought. No movie has quite been able to gain the popularity and iconography of early 1990s teen movies. While it’s not an instant classic, The Miseducation of Cameron Post is a funny, sad, and empathetic movie that pays tribute to a classic genre, with some updates. Directed by Desiree Akhavan and based on a novel of the same name by Emily Danforth, Miseducation centers around Cameron (Chloë Grace Moretz), a high-school girl sent to a gay conversion camp when caught with a girl in the backseat of a car at prom. She quickly makes friends with fellow campers Jane Fonda (Sasha Lane), who stores homegrown weed in her prosthetic leg, and Adam Red Eagle (Forrest Goodluck), a Native American boy sent by his politician father. The three take solace in each other as they navigate the Christian dystopia, led by Reverend Rick (John Gallagher Jr.) who claims to have been cured of his homosexuality and his sister, Dr. Lydia Marsh (Jennifer Ehle), the therapist who did the curing. Akhavan mostly manages to strike a balance between tragedy and humor by showcasing the absurdity of the institution, where students workout to “blessercize” aerobics videos and fill out iceberg worksheets explaining the roots of their sins. Parts of the movie feel underdeveloped or glossed over. Cameron gets shipped off in the first five minutes, but the strictness of her home life hasn’t been established enough to justify this
action. And the tone shifts too unevenly. The movie falls somewhere between John Hughes and Girl, Interrupted. Despite their emotional abuse and repression, these are still teenagers, and they’ll always find a way to bend the rules and listen to the music they want. In a particularly great scene, Cameron and crew break into singing 4 Non Blondes’ “What’s Up” while peeling potatoes. Moretz plays the role a little too understated, with blank stares and short lines that are reminiscent of early Kristen Stewart, but the supporting cast pulls enough weight to make up for it.
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Ultimately, the movie is deeply empathetic, acknowledging all the characters are in great pain. Some kids are convinced they can be cured, preaching to the nonbelievers, while others have no intention of changing. But they all bond over their societal rejection. Even the reverend, who would be easy to make into a two-dimensional villain, is clearly struggling in the same way these kids are. Despite the circumstances, the movie feels hopeful. Not for the state of conversion camps, which are still legal in 41 states, but for the ways oppressed communities always find ways to take care of each other when no one else will.
•
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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 15-22, 2018
27
#2
#3
beSt Bar
beSt TacO
tHanKs For VOtiNg, PitTsBurGh!
The 5th Judicial District of Pennsylvania and Allegheny County Pretrial Services urges you to enjoy your weekend out in Pittsburgh but
make the right choice,
don’t drink & drive.
CP PHOTO BY ANNIE BREWER
Nardo
.MUSIC.
STILL FUNKY
BY ALEX GORDON // ALEXGORDON@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
T
HE COVER OF Nardo Says’ new record, YSDM, features a tight focus on his face, engulfed in a pitchblack background, brows wrinkled and mouth slightly open. His expression is tough to unpack: it’s a bit confused, maybe slightly miffed, a little “are you serious?” As far as album covers go, it doesn’t fit any familiar tropes, but that’s part of its power. Listeners don’t know what to expect once they hit play. That knack for risk-taking and ambiguity is part of what makes Nardo such an unexpected, if underappreciated, voice in Pittsburgh’s hip-hop scene. The facial expression is Nardo’s answer to the album’s title, which stands for “You still do music?” — a question he is asked frequently, probably too frequently. He’s been writing and recording music for more than 20 years, both in his home commonwealth of Virginia and for the past few years in Pittsburgh. His last release before YSDM was in 2015, but he’s constantly producing and writing and
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making featured appearances on other artists’ tracks. (His vocal contribution to Mars Jackson and Nice Rec’s “Sunrise” is not to be missed).
And yet, he still gets it: “You still do music?” Some ask because they want to hear what he’s been working on, but some-
times there’s an undercurrent of surprise, like he should have moved on by now. And to be fair, he’s not the most vocal self-promoter. After finishing YSDM, Nardo posted on his Bandcamp, and aside from a few social media posts, that was the extent of his marketing. If you weren’t skimming for new local releases on Bandcamp in the past month, YSDM was easy to miss. But YSDM deserves fanfare. From the open-ended cover art to the instrumental jazz piano solo that opens the album (“Nothing”), it’s littered with satisfying surprises and unexpected pivots. “Still Funky,” the first proper track after the intro, starts with a minimalist drum-bass beat, but by the end has dipped into the sort of vocal-heavy, neon funk that you might expect from a Parliament sample. “Days Go By,” featuring Mars Jackson, is an unrushed nostalgia trip, with a laid-back beat and major chorded synths coloring the verses. Nardo’s
singing on this one is unforgettable, and it pairs perfectly with Jackson’s charisma and nonchalant delivery. “If I Was You” starts in the vein of old Saul Williams, all high-energy and raucous drums, before pivoting into a slowburning funk jam for the song’s second half. It’s unpredictable, unpolished, and hard to turn off. “Mistakes were made naturally,” Nardo writes in the album’s liner notes, and that’s a big part of the album’s appeal. There’s nothing egregious or super obvious, but there are moments throughout when it feels slightly unhinged, and that’s not accidental. “I like my music to have mistakes,” Nardo says. “Humans, we make mistakes, we are not perfect, so I feel like that should [be reflected] in the music. There are mistakes in there. People may not notice, but at the point I was finishing it, I was like, ‘You know, man? I’ve been doing this for so long, this is something I love to do. I’ve been creating since I was a child. I’m trying to get back that child-phase, that fun-phase where I don’t care about [mistakes] no more.’” That sense of vulnerability comes to a head on the album’s closer, “Well Did
I Stutter?” in which he opens up about his stutter and the accompanying struggles as a rapper or singer. The chorus: “Did I stutter? /Oh, yes you did /But I know just what I want to say but it don’t really work that way.” “I don’t think there’s ever been a hip-hop song that talks about [having a stutter],” Nardo says. “A lot of people have it. James Earl Jones used to stutter, and a lot of people like me are still dealing with it as an adult. People take for granted being able to effectively communicate, that’s important.” YSDM is full of surprises like that, whether it’s in song structure, production style, or the clarity and vulnerability of Nardo’s lyrics. The album might be flying under the radar, but these eight tracks reflect an artist pushing himself and his collaborators towards something new and challenging and satisfying. It’d be hard to imagine audiences not taking notice. In the meantime, he’s developing a business that sells all-natural deodorant, looking to book shows for YSDM, working on self-promotion, and fleshing out some of the songs that didn’t make the cut for YSDM. Nardo is still making music.
•
August th th 6 24th , 25 & 2
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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 15-22, 2018
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Camille A. Browne PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTOPHER DUGGAN
DANCE
DANCING DAYS BY STEVE SUCATO // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
W
ITH AN U NUSUALLY hot summer beginning to wind down, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s 2018-19 dance season is poised to begin heating up. Back from a 5-year hiatus, the Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts is set to challenge and delight audiences with cutting-edge dance from around the globe, including several U.S. premiere productions. This festival is a golden opportunity for Randal Miller to further push the envelope of dance in Pittsburgh. As the Trust’s director of dance programming and special projects, Miller’s programming philosophy is to present dance that audiences want to and should be seeing. He believes other presenters see a company being frequently booked as a stamp of approval. “Just because everyone is booking someone doesn’t necessarily mean that what they are doing is good,” says Miller. “I try as often as possible to use an aesthetic that will match the city of Pittsburgh and is of excellent quality.”
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PHOTO COURTESY OF ZORAN JELENIC
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
This becomes difficult when Miller wants to program dance that is particularly challenging and new. What really helps the cause is funding to help bring innovative dance works to Pittsburgh from around the globe. An example is the North American premiere of “The Moon Opera,” from Chinese contemporary dance company Yabin Wang Dance. Miller views its dance as the highest of artistic quality, but also something less adventurous presenters will wait on until someone else makes the first move. “It’s an example of how we are independent and ahead of curve,” says Miller. Beyond the Festival of Firsts and the Dance Council’s new season, the Cultural Trust typically presents much more by way of productions at the August Wilson Center, through the Cohen & Grigsby TRUST PRESENTS Series, its Broadway Series, and in partnering with outside agents. A brief sampling of some of the Trust’s dance offerings this season (all at Byham Theater unless otherwise noted):
OCT. 26: Noted Haitian dance company Ayikodans presents the national premiere of “Cri des Nago” at the August Wilson Center.
NOV. 3: Yabin Wang Dance’s “The Moon Opera” tells the story of a Peking Opera performer struggling between her dreams of artistic stardom and the harsh realities of maintaining her traditional role as a woman in society. “It’s a tragedy in the proper sense of an opera, while also being absolutely gorgeous,” says Miller.
JAN. 26, 2019: Popular New York Citybased troupe Jessica Lang Dance kicks off the New Year with a program of several of award-winning choreographer Lang’s celebrated works, including “The Calling,” “Glow,” and “Thousand Yard Stare.”
FEB. 23: Pittsburgh favorite Paul Taylor Dance Company returns with a program of classic Taylor works, and former company dancer Lila York’s new work, “Continuum.”
SEPT. 20: America’s Got Talent finalists iLuminate returns to Pittsburgh Sept. 20 with its electrifying mix of dance and neon, bright-lighting effects performed on a dark stage.
MARCH 9: Camille A. Brown & Dancers present “ink” — the final chapter in Brown’s trilogy examining the cultural narrative of African-American identity, at the August Wilson Center.
OCT. 13: Brazilian dance group Deborah
APRIL 13: Drag ballet company Les Bal-
Colker Dance brings a highly-athletic spectacle, “Cão sem Plumas (Dog Without Feathers).” “What is exciting about ‘Cão sem Plumas’ is that while it features some that cool apparatus-based physicality, the company is known for, the work is so much deeper than that,” says Miller.
lets Trockadero de Monte Carlo is back with more hilarious parody.
APRIL 17: Derek Hough, a judge on reality series World of Dance, explores a range of dance styles in his brand-new stage production, “Derek Hough: Live!”
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Follow featured contributor Steve Sucato on Twitter @ssucato. PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 15-22, 2018
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.DANCE.
BOMBA AWAY BY MAGGIE WEAVER MWEAVER@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
LIVE MUSIC AUG 16
Truth & Rites Reggae
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M
ARÍA EUGENIA Nieves Escoriaza and Gloria Rodríguez-Ransom grew up with bomba dance in their blood. Now, they’re bringing it to Pittsburgh. “It wasn’t until I left Puerto Rico that I fell in love with bomba,” says Escoriaza, whose nickname is Geña. “I was 21, and I thought, ‘I really feel Puerto Rico.’” Adds Rodríguez-Ransom: “We are trying to share the Puerto Rican culture with this city.” It’s been said that Puerto Rico is Bomba. In bomba, every move and beat holds significance. This ritualistic dance stands on the three pillars: drums, movement, and lyrics. The dance originated in AfroPuerto Rican slave communities where dancers used rhythm as a social and political outlet. There are 21 drum patterns, each representing a unique emotion. These women are a part of Calle Bomba, a local music ensemble who, with help from Carnegie Mellon University, won a grant for workshops in partnership with the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh and the Latin American Cultural Union. The grant was for three separate workshops. Rodríguez-Ransom and Escoriaza are on their final one. Their class was divided into three days, and participants are learning about bomba culture, Afro-Puerto Rican dance, drumming, and lyrics. “Bomba is unique because there are so many different beats,” says Escoriaza. “There are certain rhythms that you know — that’s salsa, that’s meringue — but bomba has more. “They change the feel and the flow, and it’s so bomba. That’s why it’s interesting to me. You never conquer it. You just continue learning and learning.” Bomba’s complexity is a statement of Puerto Rico’s cultural diversity. Flamencoinspired skirts are worn by female dancers, a connection to Puerto Rico’s Spanish roots. Dance is from the Tiano people, Puerto Rican natives. Drumming is based on African tradition. Built on playfulness, bomba provides a creative challenge between the primo (drummer) and the dancer. The liana (singer) begins, then the dancer emerges. From there, it’s a call and response, the dancer leading the primo. “Bomba has its own language,” Escoriaza says. Bomba’s steps never change. The feel of the music dictates how the dancer tells a story. If the song is flirtatious, movements are softer, flowing, and teasing.
CP PHOTOS BY JARED WICKERHAM
Dancing and drumming at Calle Bomba Workshop at Spencer Family YMCA on Sat., Aug. 11
Unlike other Latin dances, dancers never touch. Conversation remains intimate between one dancer and the primo. A bomba conversation is mesmerizing. Circled by their audience, the primo and dancer keep eyes locked. The dancer’s body tells a story, signaling with a flick of the skirt or tip of the hat. “It’s ritualistic,” says Escoriaza. “It’s this connection between the body and the sounds. If you’re dancing with the right drummer, it’s heaven.”
CALLE BOMBA WORKSHOP SERIES
Sat Aug. 19, 12:30-2 p.m. Spencer Family YMCA, 305 Church Road, Bethel Park. $10 tickets. 412-576-2510.
Pittsburgh’s Latin dance scene is steadily growing. Los Sabrosos Dance Co. offers a variety of lessons and dance socials. Clubs such as Perlé and Cavo promote Latin nightlife. But the focus is on salsa, bachata, merengue — rarely bomba.
Venues have opened stages to Latin music, but Escoriaza emphasizes that it’s all DJ-based because live music is more expensive. Bomba’s essence is in live music. “If you go to a club and all the sudden they’re playing Bengali music, and it sounds great, what’s the problem?” says Escoriaza. “It’s diversity. I think people underestimate their ability to love something different than [what] they’re used to. “I hate dancing bachata and merengue. I love complexity, and I love polyrhythms, and I love for my head to be messed around with sounds.” Bachata and merengue are based on simple steps, much like bomba. Escoriaza and Rodríguez-Ransom encourage testing out many Latin dance styles as a way to experience the culture. “It’s healthy, it builds community. It’s freeing, it’s therapeutic — it’s everything,” says Escoriaza. “If people were to go to a Latin dance and someone takes them on the floor, everyone would love that. It’s great to trust that someone will just spin you around.”
•
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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 15-22, 2018
33
.COMICS.
THRIVING/ SURVIVING BY MATT PETRAS // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
C
ENTURY III MALL in West Mifflin is filled mostly with vacant storefronts. Staples such as Hot Topic, Macy’s and GameStop have all closed, and the food court is barren. But a stalwart remains and it’s thriving: New Dimension Comics, located on the bottom floor. This massive store, packed with toys, tabletop and card games, thousands of comics and more, has maintained through thick and thin. It even has a second room next door dedicated to playing games. “We’ve seen some dips, but things have kind of leveled off a little bit,” says Chip Grossman, manager of Century III New Dimension Comics. “I’ve not been in this situation before, so you don’t really know what the future looks like as far as traffic… it has a pretty strong customer base that it’s been able to survive on.” New Dimension Comics is a small chain with five other locations in Pennsylvania and Ohio, including one at Pittsburgh Mills. The Century III store has diversified its appeal and taken advantage of empty store fronts nearby. Next door, New Dimension uses a room as a dedicated space for folks to play card and tabletop games. One of the commonwealth’s more famous comic-book stores, Amalgam in Philadelphia, has seen financial success thanks to creating a homey atmosphere. Amalgam has tabletops and couches, and a coffee shop inside the store. New Dimension appears to be following a similar model, though doesn’t offer coffee yet. Also, once a year, it plays host to Three Rivers Comic-Con in the mall. The event
CP PHOTO BY JOHN COLOMBO
Inside New Dimension Comics’ Century III Mall location
solely focuses on comic books in an era where most comic-cons have embraced comics-related movies and TV shows. The last one, in May, drew about 1,000 attendees, says Grossman. “Those parking lots were packed,” says Stephanie Reynolds, a frequent visitor who attended the last Three Rivers Comic-Con. “People will still come out for their comics.”
NEW DIMENSION COMICS AT CENTURY III MALL 3075 Clairton Road, West Mifflin. ndcomics.com
Reynolds, 40, usually shows up every Wednesday for Dungeons & Dragons and likes to buy manga (Japanese comics) at the store. She’s made some strong friendships while gaming there. “We look out for each other,” she says. “If something’s going on, we’re there for
each other.” Another customer, Justin Comp of Latrobe, comes to the store once or twice a month. New Dimension is succeeding if it’s attracting customers from well beyond the South Hills market. “It’s worth the drive,” he says. Grossman and assistant manager Tim Hibbard love to channel their enthusiasm for comics and try to sell customers on certain titles. It’s not just fun, though – it’s a business strategy. “When we get excited about things, sales get affected,” Grossman says. Hibbard exudes passion. He has notebooks filled with sketches and ideas for comics he’d love to create himself, he says. “I feel like half the people who read comics had aspirations of writing them or drawing them at some point,” Hibbard says. “I haven’t given up on the idea yet.” New Dimension’s success comes at a dark time for malls across the U.S. A new report from New York-based real estate re-
search firm Reis shows the vacancy rate at regional and super-regional malls reached 8.6 percent in the second quarter of 2018. This is the highest vacancy rate since 2012. Grossman believes the store has succeeded, despite the failures of malls at large, because New Dimension has garnered a dedicated fan base, in addition to attracting out-of-towners. “We’ve carved out this little niche,” Grossman says. “People tend to not travel more than 10 minutes, so you kinda want to stay within that little bubble, because that’s where your regulars are.” A sheriff sale for Century III has been announced and postponed a few times. It’s now set for September. There’s no way of knowing what a new owner would do, leaving the mall in flux at the moment. But New Dimension is unfazed by the uncertainty. “It’s an unnecessary distraction,” he says. “I just want to run the store and sell stuff and sell people fun.”
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T H E H I T B R O A D WAY MUSICAL
1 2- 4 5 6 -4 - 4 8 0 0 ∙ G R O U P S (10 ( 1 00+ + ) 412-471-6 +) 411 2-- 4 7 1-66 9 3 0 AUGUST 22 – SEPTEMBER 9 ∙ BEENE NEDDUUM CENTER ∙ 4412-4 TRUSTARTS.ORG /BROADWAY
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EARLY WARNINGS SPONSORED UPCOMING EVENTS FROM CITY PAPER’S FINE ADVERTISERS
3W S
FOOD TRUCKS AND HOP FARM BREWING COMPANY CRAFT BEER AT ALL CONCERTS BEGINNING AT 6PM
SOUTH PARK AMPHITHEATER BNY MELLON JAZZ PRESENTS
WASHINGTON. $39-59. 724-250-9555 or ticketmaster.com. With special guests Lil Uzi Vert & P-Lo.
JEAN LUC PONTY + LYNDSEY SMITH
FRIDAY, AUGUST 17 | 7:30 PM
THE DEAD DAISIES
HARTWOOD ACRES AMPHITHEATER
WARRENDALE. $20-34. 724-799-8333 or ticketfly.com. With special guests Dizzy Reed’s Hookers & Blow, NeverWake & Dying Breed.
PITTSBURGH BALLET THEATRE
STEEL PULSE & TRIBAL SEEDS
SUNDAY, AUGUST 19 | 7:30 PM
MUSIC HALL MUNHALL. $35.75-52.75. 724-799-8333 or ticketfly. com. With special guest Iya Terra.
STEEL PULSE & TRIBAL SEEDS
ALLEGHENYCOUNTY.US /SUMMER
CARNEGIE OF HOMESTEAD MUSIC HALL JERGEL’S RHYTHM GRILLE
COUNTING CROWS BURGETTSTOWN. $18-128. 724-947-7400 or livenation.com. With special guest LIVE.
BLACK SABBATH LIVES WARRENDALE. $7-15. 724-799-8333 or ticketfly.com.
SAWYER FREDERICKS & JD EICHER Over-21 event. $20. 412-431-4950 or ticketweb.com/opusone.
DANTE ROMITO Over-21 event. $10. 412-431-4950 or ticketweb.com/opusone. With special guest AE Honick.
PENTATONIX BURGETTSTOWN. $18-129. 724-947-7400 or livenation.com. With special guest Echosmith & Calum Scott.
SAY AHH (POISON TRIBUTE)
724-799-8333 or ticketfly.com. With special guest Bill Ali Band.
SOUTH PARK. Free event. 412-835-5710.
VINNY FASLINE Over-18 event. $15. 412-381-1681 or greyareaprod.com.
Over-21 event. $7. 412-431-4950 or ticketweb.com/opusone.
GREAT WHITE WARRENDALE. $30-42.
SOUTH PARK WAVE POOL
NORTH PARK SWIMMING POOL
PARK. $15 (per dog). 724-325-4667 or alleghenycounty.us/parkprograms.
BRITSBURGH EXPLORING THE STABLE COMPLEX NOON. HARTWOOD ACRES STABLE COMPLEX HARTWOOD ACRES. Over-6 event. $6-8. 412-767-9200 or alleghenycounty.us/parkprograms.
JAMES JOHNSON III LOFI DELPHI
SETTLERS CABIN WAVE POOL
POOCHES IN THE POOL
SQUARE. $7. 412-481-ROCK or ticketfly.com.
PAUL LUC & KAYLA SCHUREMAN
BOYCE PARK WAVE POOL
Free event. 412-456-6666 or trustarts.org.
NONPOINT
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 4-6PM LET YOUR POOCH COOL OFF IN OUR POOL ON LABOR DAY! $15 PER DOG ACCOMPANIED BY UP TO TWO GUARDIANS, BUT ONLY ONE DOG PER GUARDIAN WILL BE ADMITTED. ADDITIONAL ATTENDEES WILL BE CHARGED $5 PER PERSON.
412-653-2695. $20-22. 412-653-2695 or ticketfly.com. With special guest He Is Legend, Letters From The Fire & Oceans to Ash.
FOR UPCOMING ALLEGHENY COUNTY PARKS EVENTS, LOG ONTO WWW.ALLEGHENYCOUNTY.US
REGISTER AT ALLEGHENYCOUNTY.US/PARKPROGRAMS PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 15-22, 2018
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Outdoor B a n ds a l l g Summer Lon Aug. 17 A Aug. 18 Aug. 19 Aug. 24 Aug. 25 Aug. 26 Aug. 31
No Bad JuJu Band (8pm) In Transit Band (8pm) Nieds Hotel Band (2-6pm) Ferris Bueller’s Revenge Band (8pm)
Dancing Queen Band (8pm) Ras Prophet (2-6pm) The Shiners (8pm)
*FREE Sunday Summer Concert Series!
PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN SOX
Open Daily: 11:30 AM Lunch-Dinner-Late Night Fare Happy Hour Monday-Friday: 5-7PM
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BY ALEX MCCANN // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
S
OMETIMES A punk show doesn’t
have its location or address listed; instead, it simply says “ask a punk.” That’s generally so unwanted guests don’t show up unexpectedly to a semi-illegal house show. No need to worry finding secret punk shows this weekend. It’s Skull Fest — the punks you’re looking for are probably there. Between Thursday and Sunday, the schedule for the 10th annual edition of Skull Fest is full of head-banging punk. The Cro-Mags. Mob 47. Annihilation Time. The F.U.’s. The Proletariat. Arctic Flowers. Haram. Those are just the headliners who comprise a handful of the 60plus bands that will perform at nearly a dozen shows across Pittsburgh. Everything from post-punk and hardcore to thrash metal and psychedelic punk is on the bill, so there’s sure to be something for every variant of the genre.
SKULL FEST
Thu., Aug. 16 through Sun., Aug. 19. Various locations. Individual shows $10-27; full weekend passes sold out. skullfestpgh.com
And if you want to head to one, some, or all of the shows, you won’t need to ask a punk — though you will if the Punks Picnic on Sunday afternoon piques your interest. All of Skull Fest’s shows are at local venues that just about everyone knows and loves: Spirit, Cattivo, Belvedere’s Ultra-Dive, Rock Room, The Shop, Babyland. Skull Fest is organized in part by Dusty Hanna, the owner of Skull Records in Allentown, which caters to vinyl lovers looking for a new or used punk, garage rock, or metal record. The festival actually began as a birthday celebration for
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The F.U.’s
.MUSIC.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERT SULLEN
Arctic Flowers
Hanna and co-founder Jimmy Rose back in 2009. Having grown astronomically since that fateful birthday party, Skull Fest kicks off with opening ceremonies at The Shop on Thursday afternoon. The opening show will feature raw Canadian punk from Parasytes, hardcore from Norwegian group Negativ, and the pulse-pounding local “thrashcore” punk brothers who comprise Möwer. Also scheduled are Oakland (California) hardcore group Khiis and Philadelphia punk-metal rocker group Iron Wind. Lupus, Janitor Scum, BB Eye, and Collision round out this show. That’s just the first of the 11 scheduled shows, and one of the three open to punk enthusiasts of all ages (bring the kids!). Full weekend passes sold out back in early July, but tickets to 10 of the 11 shows are still available. The Friday evening show at Spirit, headlined by the Cro-Mags and Annihilation Time also sold out in early July. Check out the full lineup online. Just remember to ask a punk if you need something — as long as you’re not there to shut down the party.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF DEANA MURO
^ Fri., Aug. 17: Grey Gardens
THURSDAY AUG. 16 LUNCH
In our hectic world, with long hours and dwindling labor rights, sitting down to lunch with friends can feel like stumbling onto an oasis. Kelly-Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty wants to facilitate that feeling with Neighborhood Lunch Break. Join friends, strangers, neighbors, and community members for home-cooked meals. After, enjoy some booze to get you in a good mood, then groove along to the beats of DJ Gladstone Deluxe. Midday conversations, dancing, and drinks sounds like a pretty good time to us. 12-2 p.m., 5530 Penn Ave., East Liberty. Pay what makes you happy. kelly-strayhorn.org
STAGE
Fans of soul-crushing, sardonic Russian political drama, rejoice! (Or whatever it is those people do.) Nikolai Gogol’s celebrated satire The Inspector General comes to life at Pittsburgh Playwrights, staged by Throughline Theatre Company. The play tells the story of a corrupt small-town government sent into a frenzy of paranoia after learning an anonymous ^ Thu., Aug. 16: The Inspector General PHOTO COURTESY OF KATE HAGERTY
“inspector” is visiting to investigate funny business. As one might expect from Russian drama, there’s a lot of dark humor, pointed absurdity, and fourthwall breaking. Pittsburgh favorite Connor McCanlus directs. 8 p.m. Runs through Sat., Aug. 18. 937 Liberty Ave., Downtown. throughline theatre.org/main-stage
FRIDAY
AUG. 17 STAGE
Translating tragedy into shiny musical theater is a little tired at this point. The novelty of mismatched tones wears off if
there’s not much else to it, and the winking can get exhausting. The musical-theater transcription of 1975 documentary Grey Gardens is an example of just how well that approach can work if executed right. The film focuses on Big Edie and Little Edie, a mother-anddaughter pair living in a dilapidated mansion in East Hampton, reminiscing about their long-gone glory days as upper crust aristocrats (Jackie Onassis was their cousin/niece). On stage, the outsized Broadway-songwriting of the first half captures the glitz of the pair’s golden past, whereas the closing act dryly portrays the bizarre, depressing dynamic captured in the film. It’s a winning contrast at New Hazlett Theater. 8 p.m. Runs through Sun., Aug. 26. 6 Allegheny Square East., North Side. $20-35. frontporchpgh.org CONTINUES ON PG. 38
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PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID WALKER
^ Sat., Aug. 18: Renaissance Festival
SATURDAY
freebies: admission, refreshments, and children’s activities. Also, “one of the best stage shows of the year.” Benji, Clara Kent, NVSV and Jacquea Mae are amongst the featured performers. They’ll be joined by Jordan Montgomery, Aleigsha J, and Treble NLS. Also, there will be a bounce house — so, really, what’s not to love? And promoting love is the mission of this gathering. Founder Livefromthecity aims to bond citizens through art as viewed through hip-hop. Have a better way to spend one of summer’s last Saturdays? Didn’t think so. 4 p.m., Community Forge, 1245 Franklin Ave., Wilkinsburg. livefromthe.city
AUG. 18 RENFEST
You can always tell fall is around the corner when the Renaissance Festival rolls into town. And you can always tell when the festival is in town because some hibernating force awakens and says, “It’s time to gnaw on a giant turkey leg while watching fire breathers.” The festival comes every year to West Newton, complete with jousting, medieval music, and an escape artist named The Great Rondini. There will also be a marketplace with handmade artisanal goods such as art, jewelry, costumes, and weapons. Of course, cosplay is always welcome, so dust off your corsets and saddle up the donkey. Just kidding, pets aren’t allowed. 10:30 a.m.6:30 p.m. 112 Renaissance Lane, West Newton. $11-22. pittsburghrenfest.com
CATS
We’re not kitten around: The Carnegie Museums in Oakland are teaming up for the purrfect CATurday. At the art museum,
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MUSIC ^ Sat., Aug. 18: Mushroomhead at Summer of Screams Tour
kids can meet Art Cat, the program’s mascot, get cattoos and check out famous cat paintings, like Jéan-Léon Gerôme’s “Lion Snapping at a Butterfly.” Over at the history museum, Super Science Saturday: Meowfest! has adoptable kittens and veterinary experts to answer questions about your furry friends. Have a cat at
home? Bring in a picture and you’ll get a gift for your kitty! 12-4 p.m. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. Free with admission ($11.95-19.95). carnegiemuseums.org
MUSIC
Free is fantastic for any festival. And the second Sun Fest promises the following
As Warped Tour nears its final trip around the sun and joins the black parade, it’s fitting that another angry, angsty, guitar-filled cross-country tour is starting up. The inaugural Summer of Screams Tour will take metal across the U.S. and up and down both coasts, and it starts right here in the ‘Burgh at the Rex Theater. Headlining the tour will be metal group Mushroomhead, whose avant-garde music is almost as terrifying and raucous as its
on-stage masks and dramatic shows. This first show will also feature The Browning, Psychostick, Kissing Candice, UnSaid Fate, Voodoo Terror Tribe, Shrouded In Neglect, and East Koast Craziez. 5 p.m. 1602 E. Carson St., South Side. $28-30. summerofscreams.com
7 DAYS
OF CONCERTS BY HANNAH LYNN HLYNN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
EXHIBIT
Few of a Kind Bookstore & Gallery is holding an Immigrant and Refugee Artisan Showcase to give some local immigrant artists the chance to share stories through their art. Handmade goods and jewelry will be on display. The opening night will include demonstrations, a henna tattoo artist, and light refreshments. Select items will be on sale through September. The showcase is free and open to public, but a $5 donation is suggested. Money raised goes to the Muslim’s Women Association of Pittsburgh. 6-8:30 p.m., 302 ½ N. Craig St., Bloomfield. Free. mwaofpittsburgh.org
PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNA WEBBER
Nicole Atkins
CE L E BR ATES
125 51st Street, Lawrenceville 412-742-4951 ncjwthriftique.com
Y A D E R l a O n o i T t a S N RIFT Don’t miss TH the fun! AY, D R U SAT
THURSDAY
Join us from 9am to 6pm for:
The Avett Brothers 6:30 p.m. Stage AE, North Side. promowestlive.com
FRIDAY Nicole Atkins 8 p.m. Club Cafe, South Side. clubcafelive.com
T 18 S U AUG
•
BIG in-store discounts
• Hot dogs, chips & drinks at noon
while supplies last
• Thrift Store Bingo with prizes for the winners • Raffles, giveaways & surprises
SATURDAY LegenDerry, Back Alley Sound, Abstract Theory, Phresh LaRosa, Alec Munson 6:30 p.m. The Smiling Moose, South Side. smiling-moose.com
SUNDAY Gideon IMAGE COURTESY OF CMOA
^ Sat., Aug. 18: Jéan-Léon Gerôme’s “Lion Snapping at a Butterfly” at CATurday
6:30 p.m. The Funhouse at Mr. Smalls, Millvale. mrsmalls.com
MONDAY
FUNDRAISER
The truest test of a podcast, its host(s), and its producer(s) is a live recording; with no filter and no editing, there’s always the potential for a big screw-up. The folks from the podcast “THRIFTY” are hoping that doesn’t happen at Hard Times THRIFTYthon at the Mr. Roboto Project, where guests watch and listen to a live recording of the podcast while partying to raise money to replace the podcast creator’s fried hard drive. Three musical acts will perform: dark, groovy “hell pop” act Bluffs, dreamy lo-fi fourpiece yrs, and the Ryan Thompson Cassette Tape Project (not even the organizers know what Thompson has planned). 7 p.m. 5016 Penn Ave., Bloomfield. $5. therobotoproject.com
FUNDRAISER
Rock ‘n’ roll made its name on not giving a damn. But every once in a while, it’s important to give a damn about some things, and curing cancer is one of them.
Fireside Collective, Shelf Life String Band 8 p.m. Club Cafe, South Side. clubcafelive.com
TUESDAY Outcalls, Riddiot, Metacara 7 p.m. The Smiling Moose, South Side. smiling-moose.com
WEDNESDAY Marty Stuart, Lee Ann Womack 7:30 p.m. The Palace Theatre, Greensburg. thepalacetheatre.org
FULL CONCERT LISTINGS ONLINE
AT WWW.PGHCITYPAPER.COM
CONTINUES ON PG. 40
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PHOTO COURTESY OF HELLO NEIGHBOR
^ Sun., Aug. 19: Hello Neighbor Day at PNC Park
Rockout to Knockout Cancer is an annual fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Staged this year at Club Cafe, six musical acts will perform and show support for the ACS. This lineup features New York City-based rock singer and Rock and Roll Hall-of-Fame producer Ray Powers, rock singer-songwriter Brian Genovesi, and blues rock group Fetish Noir. Country-rock singer-songwriter Megan Pennington, goth folk singer Carrie Collins and singer Paul McGinty round out the bill. 8 p.m. 56 S. 12th St., South Side. $15. rockouttoknockoutcancer.org
SUNDAY AUG. 19 FOOD
It may still be August, but fall is right around the corner. Celebrate with the 8th Annual Apples and Honey Festival, a family-friendly event to help transition from those hot summer days to chill autumn afternoons. There will be booths, food vendors, crafts, apples, honey, the whole
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shebang. New to the festival is a giant Velcro wall (pretty much what it sounds like). Raffles include a pass for a family of four to the Children’s Museum, a Bed & Breakfast package, and more. 11 a.m. Waterfront Town Center, 149 West Bridge Street, Homestead. Free. shalom pittsburgh.org
EVENT
Immigrants living in America is about as American as baseball. The U.S. is overwhelmingly occupied by people whose ancestors are from somewhere else. On Hello Neighbor Day at PNC Park, people can celebrate ^ Sun., Aug. 19: Paul Luc at Bayardstown Reunion
those two great American traditions simultaneously. Hello Neighbor, a local nonprofit that pairs refugees with nativeborn residents, is holding a picnic before the Pirates game. Participants can mingle with immigrants from Africa, Asia and Latin America, all while enjoying peanuts and Cracker Jacks. Discounted tickets are offered, and $5 from the purchase goes to fund Hello Neighbor. Families are encouraged to attend. 12 p.m., 115 Federal St., North Side; $23. mlb.com/pirates
FEST
Why pay hundreds of dollars for a plane ticket when you can take your palate down to the Sri Lankan Food Festival hosted by the Pittsburgh Buddhist Center? In this buffet-style fest, the food is
homemade and the desserts are plentiful. Dishes include ambulthiyal, with a special Sri Lankan preparation, Dhal (a lentil curry), Deviled potatoes, Mallum (chopped greens with coconut), and so much more. Sri Lankan pastries will be available for purchase alongside hoppers and koththu roti, all freshly cooked for your enjoyment. 5 p.m. 111 Route 908, Natrona Heights. $20; $5 for kids. pittsburghbuddhistcenter.org
REUNION
Bayardstown, an unofficial minineighborhood in the Strip District, was once home to a child-gang called the Bayardstown Boys, known as the “Rats.” More than a century after its reign ended, a summer social club in the 3000 block of Penn Avenue paid homage to the neighborhood’s history with a mural of a giant rat as a backdrop for the stage. That stage was put to good use. Weekly gatherings at Bayardstown from 2013-2016 hosted some of Pittsburgh’s finest folk/country/acoustic musicians performing for club members chowing down on food-truck fare or just sitting by the campfire. One of the most frequent performers, Paul Luc, aims to
TUESDAY
recapture the magic with the Bayardstown Reunion at the Pittsburgh Food Truck Park. The details are pretty much the same as a night at Bayardstown in its heyday: music, beer, food, good times. Bonus fact: the Bayardstown Boys reportedly used to skate out onto a frozen Allegheny River to brawl with a rival North Side gang, a story that’s unconfirmed and has nothing to do with this show, but is awesome. 6 p.m. 52 River Front Drive, Millvale. Free entry and beer with old Bayardstown membership key; $5 otherwise. (Facebook search “Bayardstown Reunion”)
AUG. 21 MUSIC
Wolf Parade emerged as an indie-rock favorite in the early 2000s thanks the eccentric, shuddering vocal style of its singer, Spencer Krug. The Canadian-based outfit released a handful of memorable full-lengths and EPs over its 15-year career, but the heaviest hitter is Apologies To Queen Mary, the massively influential, if underappreciated, 2005 debut. Listen to tracks like “Grounds for Divorce” or “You Are A Runner and I Am My Father’s Son” and it’s easy to recognize the lineage of a dozen acts that followed in its wake. If the legacy of gleefully odd, slightly sloppy post-punk of the 2000s sounds good, head to Mr. Smalls and catch Wolf Parade with local opener Dinosoul. 7 p.m. 400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale. $22-25. mrsmalls.com
COMEDY
In April, Michelle Wolf roasted the Trump administration at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and immediately was put on Fox News’ sh*t list, alongside Colin Kaepernick and Nancy Pelosi and a lot more (it’s a long list). When Hasan Minhaj compared President Trump to Game of Thrones’ psychopathic Joffrey Baratheon at the previous year’s Dinner, no such backlash ensued. With any luck, Minhaj’s barbs and wit will continue when his “Before the Storm” tour stops at the Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall, and he won’t cause a cable-news fuss. Even if he does, who cares? He’s too smart to give a damn and too funny to stop. 7 p.m. 510 E. 10th Ave., Munhall. $29.75-75. hasanminhaj.com
WEDNESDAY AUG. 22 EVENT
DANCE
Everything’s a little more magical on summer nights under the moonlight. Bring a blanket and a picnic to Ballet Under the Stars at Hartwood Acres Park and pretend you’re in a fairy tale with free performances by Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. Have a kid who dreams of becoming a ballerina? Come early for family-friendly activities before the show, including dance activities and photo opps with costumed dancers. Don’t feel like cooking? Grab a bite from a food truck. Hartwood Acres Middle
PHOTO COURTESY OF KELLY PERKOVICH
^ Sun., Aug. 19: Ballet Under the Stars
Road concert area. 7:30 p.m. performance; pre-show activities 5-7 p.m. Free. pbt.org
COMEDY
Chicago P.D. is a TV show from famed executive producer Dick Wolf centered around a Chicago police department, following beat cops and intelligence unit detectives. LaRoyce Hawkins plays the latter as Officer Kevin Atwater, who often has to deal with racism at his job and in
his personal life. Despite the seriousness of the role, Hawkins is also a comedian, and will bring his stand-up chops to Club Cafe. (This is not the first time an actor portraying a serious cop was also a good comedian — think Christopher Meloni wearing jorts in Wet Hot American Summer). The night will also feature local comedians John Dick Winters and Collin Chamberlin. 7:30 p.m. 56 S. 12th St., South Side. $15. 21 and older. clubcafelive.com
According to 2016 data from the Centers for Disease Control, of U.S. counties with more than one million residents, Allegheny County had the highest drug-overdose death rate. News site PublicSource understands the importance of telling stories of the drugafflicted in the Pittsburgh region, and it wants to bring those subjects directly to you. During The Fix opioid reporting event, you can meet people behind PS’s drug-reporting project and hear first-hand stories of addiction, resilience, and redemption. A memoriam will honor the lives of Dr. Neil Capretto and Kuzuri Reid. The event is free, but registration is suggested. Light refreshments will be provided. 12 p.m., 1825 Centre Ave., Hill District; free. publicsource.org •
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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 15-22, 2018
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PISSED OFF
BY BRENDAN EMMETT QUIGLEY // WWW.BRENDANEMMETTQUIGLEY.COM
ACROSS
1. “Landmark Cases” channel 6. QR code alternative 9. NBA commissioner Silver 13. Place for some Bears touchdowns 14. The other thing, in Oaxaca 15. Costing nothing 16. Beverage that doesn’t make you act like a jerk when you get drunk? 18. It’s what’s coming to you 19. Woolproviding animal 20. Neither’s partner 21. Real do-gooder 22. Hong Kong hair product? 27. Adds a lane 28. Know ___ Meme (website) 29. “Ocean’s Eleven” climax 30. Typeface 32. “Random Acts of Flyness” channel 35. Cold treats 36. Shipping option 37. “The King and I” setting 38. Water bowl user 39. Like not the top talent 40. Suggestion 41. Rouhani’s land 42. Quito resident
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43. Tournament for hicks? 47. “You with me?” 48. Commotion 49. End the single life 51. Go back to square one 52. Event to get the really good weed? 56. Education acronym 57. They’re counted down in perfect games 58. Country singer Steve 59. Truck loads 60. Sharp, as a wit 61. Member of the birch family
DOWN
1. Deal with 2. Expo spotlight 3. It can help you eat like your ancestors 4. Diamondbacks, on scoreboards 5. Bring-home 6. Twins’ first homes 7. Coming before 8. Dollar rental 9. Gossip magazine fodder 10. Sink hole 11. Anthem rival 12. Event when you might have a stroke 14. Orchestra instrument 17. Finishes 21. Keep clear of 23. Private dining room?
24. Member of a colony 25. Noah Syndergaard, e.g. 26. Persuade 27. Indiana Jones weapon 30. Do some tattoo touch ups 31. Goes overboard with the horse 32. Steeler who was the first KoreanAmerican to win the Super Bowl MVP 33. Mere nothing 34. Bad sign 36. Custardy dessert 37. Point of view 39. Wine specification
40. Home wrecker? 41. Some long crossword answers 42. Shortly 43. Bean in some burritos 44. Utah city 10 miles east of the Great Salt Lake 45. Subtly cruel 46. Praiseful lines 47. Pledge target 50. Creature caught in headlights 52. Hitting noise 53. In ___ lifetime 54. Brew for breakfast 55. Bill Simmons’ podcast buddy “Cousin ___” LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS
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LASTSHOT
BY JARED WICKERHAM // JWICKERHAM@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
ZAZA The Bendable Girl performs at City Paper ’s Best of Pittsburgh party at Nova Place on Thu., Aug. 9.
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PGHCITYPAPER.COM
Gain the confidence and coping skills you need to address life on life’s terms. Addiction and mental health difficulties don’t have to define you forever. If you’re ready to embark on a journey free from active addiction and mental health struggles, our certified therapists are ready to help you. • Opioid Dependency Counseling • Alcohol Counseling • Depression • Anxiety • Anger Management • OCD
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Your pathway to a fresh start and new way of thinking begins with a phone call.
CALL NOW: 412-224-2812 We Accept:
PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER AUG. 15-22, 2018
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Big save. Your Port Authority ConnectCard will not only get you to and from the ballpark this season, it will help you save big on your game tickets. Use your ConnectCard and save up to $10 per ticket on any Sunday through Friday Pirates home game from April 4 to September 23. • Save $10 per ticket on Outfield Box seats • Save $6 per ticket on Infield Box seats • Save $3 per ticket on Grandstand seats (Sunday-Tuesday/Thursday-Friday)
Special offer for Port Authority ConnectCard customers only. • All Grandstand seats are just $10. (Wednesdays only) Simply show your ConnectCard at the Pirates box office the day of the game or purchase in advance by going online to Pirates.com/ConnectCard. Connect and Save with this special offer today.