September 26, 2018 - Pittsburgh City Paper

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EVENTS 9.28 – 8pm MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: SADONNA The Warhol theather Co-presented with Carnegie Mellon University School of Art and School of Drama Tickets $15/$12 members and students

9.29 – 10am - 5pm RADical DAY 2018 Featuring Free admission

10.5 – 6:30pm SCREENING OF GEORGE A. ROMERO’S SEASON OF THE WITCH WITH FILMMAKER PEGGY AHWESH The Warhol theather Co-presented with the University of Pittsburgh’s Humanities Center, and in conjunction with the Romero Lives: Pittsburgh Celebrates George A. Romero city-wide tribute.

Free

10.11 – 8pm SOUND SERIES: ESSEX GREEN WITH SPECIAL GUEST THE GARMENT DISTRICT The Warhol theater Co-presented with WYEP Tickets $15/$12 members and students

10.25 – 7pm THE BLACK ECSTATIC: AN EVENING OF POETRY & FILM Frick Fine Arts Building, Room 125 (Oakland) Co-presented with Center for African American Poetry (CAAPP) at University of Pittsburgh This program is presented in conjunction with The Warhol’s Devan Shimoyama: Cry, Baby.

Free; Registration is suggested

Generous support of Devan Shimoyama: Cry, Baby is provided by the Quentin and Evelyn T. Cunningham Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Fine Foundation.

Daphne s Prayer (detail), 2016, Courtesy of Lesley Heller Gallery and the artist

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.

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPT. 26-OCT. 3, 2018

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SEPT. 26-OCT. 3, 2018 VOLUME 28 + ISSUE 39 Editor-In-Chief ROB ROSSI Associate Publisher JUSTIN MATASE Director of Operations KEVIN SHEPHERD Managing Editor LISA CUNNINGHAM Associate Editor ALEX GORDON Senior Writers RYAN DETO, AMANDA WALTZ Staff Writers HANNAH LYNN, JORDAN SNOWDEN Photographer/Videographer JARED WICKERHAM Digital Media Manager JOSH OSWALD Marketing and Promotions Coordinator CONNOR MARSHMAN Graphic Designers MAYA PUSKARIC, JEFF SCHRECKENGOST Senior Sales Representative BLAKE LEWIS Sales Representatives KAITLIN OLIVER, NICK PAGANO Digital Development Manager RYAN CROYLE Office Coordinator MAGGIE WEAVER Advertising Sales Assistant TAYLOR PASQUARELLI Circulation Manager JEFF ENGBARTH Featured Contributors REGE BEHE, GAB BONESSO, LYNN CULLEN, CRAIG MRUSEK, BILL PEDUTO, STEVE SUCATO Intern ALEX POPICHAK Office Administrator RODNEY REGAN National Advertising Representative VMG ADVERTISING 1.888.278.9866 OR 1.212.475.2529 Publisher EAGLE MEDIA CORP.

GENERAL POLICIES: Contents copyrighted 2018 by Eagle Media Corp. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in Pittsburgh City Paper are those of the author and not necessarily of Eagle Media Corp. LETTER POLICY: Letters, faxes or e-mails must be signed and include town and daytime phone number for confirmation. We may edit for length and clarity. DISTRIBUTION: Pittsburgh City Paper is published weekly by Eagle Media Corp. and is available free of charge at select distribution locations. One copy per reader; copies of past issues may be purchased for $3.00 each, payable in advance to Pittsburgh City Paper.

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPT. 26-OCT. 3, 2018

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THE BIG STORY

STILL DEAD AFTER ALL THESE YEARS

BY AMANDA WALTZ // AWALTZ@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Russell Streiner in Night of the Living Dead FILM STILLS: IMAGE TEN, INC.

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CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

The “Maul of Fame,” signed by cast members and producers, is shown at the Night of the Living Dead Museum in Butler County’s Evans City, where the movie was filmed.

I

N 1968, Night of the Living Dead

made its world premiere at the Fulton Theater and put Pittsburgh on the film industry map. As the city prepares to celebrate Night’s 50th anniversary with a special screening and other events, City Paper spoke with three central cast and crew members about how they went from making commercials and industrial films for their small production company, Latent Image, to making one of the most influential horror films of all time.

The Beginning GARY STREINER (SOUND ENGINEER): We were very lucky to be able to be making a living off of TV commercials in Pitts-

burgh, but at some point in time, particularly with an energy like [director George Romero’s], we wanted to do our own thing … WIIC, Channel 11 at the time, had bought a package of five horror films. This was even before Bill Cardille was at the station and doing the midnight horror show. And [co-writer John Russo] and George watched the first one on the night it premiered and basically said, “We can do better than that.”

JOHN RUSSO (CO-WRITER/GHOUL): Since George and I were the two writers, we started throwing ideas around. And I said whatever kind of script we came up with, it probably should start in a cemetery because people find cemeteries spooky... My idea was that aliens had come to earth in search of human flesh … I told George

about that idea and he came in with about 20 to 30 pages of a story where this girl and her brother go to put a wreath on a grave and the girl’s being chased and the brother’s head had been bashed against a tombstone and so on. I read it and said, “This is good, it has all the right twists and turns and suspense, but you don’t say who’s chasing this girl.” … And I said, “It seems to me while I was reading it that they could be dead people.” … So I said, “Why don’t we use my flesh-eating idea?” … That’s how they became dead people after human flesh.

Casting RUSSELL STREINER (CO-PRODUCER/JOHNNY): [Karl Hardman and Marilyn Eastman]

played Harry and Ellen Cooper, and Karl’s real daughter, Kyra Schon, played the young girl in the film, simply because Karl was deeply involved in the production and he sort of quasi-volunteered his daughter to play the Karen part.

Duane Jones was originally from just outside of Pittsburgh in Duquesne, but none of our group knew Duane at the time. He had already moved to New York City, where he was teaching acting, and acting in theater. By pure happenstance, a mutual friend knew Duane from New York. Duane came back to visit his family in Easter of 1967, and she said, “Our friends are making a film. They’re about to start in the summer. While you’re at home, why don’t you audition for them?”

As it turned out, he was the absolute best CONTINUES ON PG. 8

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPT. 26-OCT. 3, 2018

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STILL DEAD, CONTINUED FROM PG. 7

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CP PHOTOS: JARED WICKERHAM

A replica of “Zombie #1” is shown at the Night of the Living Dead Museum.

choice to play the Ben character.

RUSSO: At first, I was going to be the ghoul in the cemetery. I got into that makeup … and then [Bill Hinzman] showed up and he had a black suit. He was very gaunt in those days, so he became the cemetery ghoul.

RUSSELL STREINER: Judith O’Dea was a performer who had been working in various Hardman productions. She and I looked enough like brother and sister, so it made logical sense that I would play her brother.

PHOTO BYLINE????

Caption???????????????

Night of the Living Dead signage in downtown Evans City

The Shoot GARY STREINER: We probably had about five crew members that actually shot the film … If I wasn’t being the sound man, I was loading magazines of film and assisting the cameraman. We all covered a lot of different bases on Night.

The 1968 Pittsburgh World Premiere RUSSO: [The Fulton Theater] was totally packed. Russ and I handled all of the promotion of it. We didn’t trust that the distributor would do anything, which [it] didn’t. And so we went with klieg lights and red carpets and limos and the whole

damn thing. People ate it up. The movie got a standing ovation in a packed theater and it took off.

It was in 17 drive-in and neighborhood theaters in Pittsburgh. … There were a lot of drive-ins up and down Route 51 and the people trying to get into the drive-ins were lined up on the main highway because they couldn’t get in.

On the Museum of Modern Art and 50th Anniversary GARY STREINER: When we got it restored through the MOMA, that gave it a new

Follow senior writer Amanda Waltz on Twitter @AWaltzCP

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FILM STILLS: IMAGE TEN, INC.

Stills from Night of the Living Dead: Ghouls at Night (top); Kyra Schon (above); Duane Jones and Judith O’Dea (right)

breath and new life. Being preserved and restored by one of top art institutions in the world brought it into not just being a grainy, black-and-white Bmovie playing in drive-ins, gave it the honor of being art. I like [that] on the 50th anniversary we can present it to the audience as art.

RUSSELL STREINER: George was present, along with Gary and John Russo and me and our wives, at the MOMA premiere of the film. We were asked to make a few remarks … George stood up in front of the audience at MOMA and said, “I can’t believe it. If you knew all of the back story of how this project came to be, it is highly improbable that we would be standing here in the MOMA among an audience like this of people recognizing our film.”

And he was genuinely impressed that

our modest little Pittsburgh picture had achieved such acclaim … After he made these remarks of astonishment, I think he followed it up with, “What’s wrong with you people?” [Laughs]

•

SHUFFLE INTO THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY SCREENING OF NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD AT THE BYHAM THEATER And don’t forget your formal wear — this is a red-carpet, black-tie event. Sat., Oct. 6. 8 p.m., 101 6th St., Downtown.

Tickets start at $50. trustarts.org

*For more events honoring Night of

the Living Dead and George Romero, including zombie fests, films, talks, and a special flower show at Phipps, visit romerolives.net.

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPT. 26-OCT. 3, 2018

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GAB BONESSO’S FACEBOOK POST

.GABBY NORMAL.

FACING UP

BY GAB BONESSO // CPCONTRIBUTORS@GABBONESSO.COM

I

’VE BEEN losing interest in sites like Facebook since the last election. I couldn’t post anything without a barrage of comments informing me of my wrong opinions, and eventually went on a spree of only posting Beyoncé videos in an attempt to stop the madness. Instead, people were more infuriated. It was then I realized silliness doesn’t exist on Facebook — and soon neither will I. Before the end of this year, I plan on deactivating my account.

Recently, KDKA’s Rick Dayton posted on Facebook a link to a story about the Penguins not changing their goal song to Mac Miller’s “Party on Fifth Avenue.” I’m not really a sports aficionado, but I am a fan of Mac, and I was taking his death particularly hard. It triggered grief for my brother, who died the same way that Mac had been reported to.

My brother, like Mac, was known for being sweet and kind to everyone. My brother, like Mac, would give the shirt off of his back to a stranger. Mac’s death had me mourning for my own brother all over again.

And then I read a comment under Dayton’s post: “Good! I feel for his family over the loss of their loved one, but he made the bad choice. Don’t understand why someone who made this choice is getting so much glory.”

Two things immediately struck me about this woman’s comment. First, she is wrong; Addiction is a disease, not a choice. Second, she didn’t seem mean, just uninformed.

I was physically shaking after reading

her comment. I wanted to scream, but I also wanted her to know my brother. I wanted her to know how sweet he was, how so many people try drugs and never become addicted. My anger was rooted in hurt feelings, and it caused me to step back, meditate, and find the words to advocate.

And I wrote back to her. (See the picture accompanying this column.)

It was the best I could do at the time. I was still shaking as I wrote. Once it posted, I promised myself I would not engage in a verbal war with this woman. When I still couldn’t calm down, I screen-captured the post and put it on my Facebook page accompanied by this PSA: “Addiction is not a choice, it’s a disease.”

As of this writing, my post had received more than 100 likes, 14 comments and four shares.

One person wrote they weren’t sure Patty deserved the kind of response I had provided. I disagree.

We have to stop fighting ignorance with anger. I’ve never been able to learn when someone’s screaming at me. How about you?

I’d like to end this column with the same words that appeared in my final Facebook response: Thanks guys! We live in such an angry, divided World. We have to learn to communicate with kindness. There are many topics that I need to learn about and I would hope someone would be kind and try to educate me rather than snap at me for my ignorance. We have to be on the same team ... Team Humanity.

Go team!

•

Follow featured contributor Gab Bonesso on Twitter @gabbonesso

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CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

.COMMUNITY.

CAPA LIFE

Lexis Wright, a senior at CAPA, and Jau’mair Garland, a junior, dance together with a view of the sister bridges in the background at CAPA.

BY MAGGIE WEAVER // MWEAVER@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

T

“

HIS IS THE school for me,” says

Jay Chapman, a student at Pittsburgh’s Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA). He wasn’t always a part of this arts education or majoring in musical theater. As a senior, Chapman had planned to attend Perry High School.

Then a CAPA flyer showed up on his doorstep. He was curious.

For those still curious …

Located in the Cultural District, CAPA is a seven-floor building dedicated to the arts. It is one of Pittsburgh’s four schools to offer 6th through 12th grades, a merger between CAPA High School and Rodgers CAPA Middle School. Grades 6-8 are taught on the top floors, separated from high schoolers below.

CAPA’s first building was in Homewood, opening its doors in fall 1979. In 2003, CAPA moved to its current location.

The building is designed for an arts-centric

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curriculum. The space offers a 400-seat auditorium, black box theater, multiple art galleries, and more.

Though a public school, admission at CAPA is based on an application and audition process. Once accepted, students choose a major. The majors cover dance, instrumental music, literary arts, piano, production technology, theatre, visual arts, and vocal music.

Each year, CAPA puts on studentgenerated performances that encourage interdisciplinary collaboration. The first 2018 show is Sister Act. High schoolers begin their days with typical subjects (physics, second-level algebra, and literature) and finish with music theory, wind ensemble, or ceramics.

Arts classes are taught by professional and working artists.

Each floor is dedicated and designed for a specific major. The sixth-floor houses

visual arts, and incorporates workspaces dedicated to ceramics, textiles, conceptual work, and more. Dance students gather a floor below, where barre-lined studios boarder the hallway. Dressing rooms are embedded into the school, one for men, women, and non-binary students.

Theatre exists in two parts: musical theatre and drama. Education goes beyond ensembles; students are taught musical entrepreneurship and theory.

Music and musical theatre majors receive one-on-one lessons with faculty.

Windows from the music floor open on the literary arts level, a floor cushioned with fluffy armchairs — perfect for writing. One floor down and under the stage, production theater majors learn the techniques behind carpentry, scenic painting, and early theatrical design.

With their majors, students build towards performances, exhibitions,

and recitals. With homework doubling the normal workload, longer days, and extracurriculars, a CAPA student stays extremely busy.

Senior dance major Lexis Wright says success is about maintaining balance.

CAPA teaches students how to balance a double workload, jobs, clubs, and socialization before they leave high school. Instilled in these students is a drive to one day look back upon high school and say “I did that,” says Mikeiya Bennett, a junior musical theater major.

Up to 973 students (CAPA’s maximum occupancy) aim to speak similarly. They learn to “share their voices,” and how to “maneuver through their environment” and side-by-side with practical academics.

As sophomore Lila English puts it: “CAPA nurtures us to be individuals.

We’re embraced as human. It makes us who we are.”

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPT. 26-OCT. 3, 2018

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CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

The former Post-Gazette building in Downtown

.MEDIA.

DYING INK

BY RYAN DETO // RYANDETO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

T

HE NEXT PHASE of development

in Pittsburgh won’t be chronicled in a daily newspaper.

Two years after the Tribune-Review stopped printing entirely, the PostGazette cut its Tuesday and Saturday editions. Pittsburgh is now the nation’s largest metropolitan region without at least one daily paper.

In this digital age, a citizen could be excused for not worrying about the current or future state of print in Pittsburgh. But residents should know there is evidence that pocketbooks take a hit when publishers take away newspapers.

“There is a true cause and effect between government costs and losing local news coverage,” says Dermot Murphy, of the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Inspired by a segment about the decline of local newsrooms on Last

Week Tonight with John Oliver, Dermot co-authored a joint study that shows decreases in newspaper coverage can lead to higher costs of municipal bonds used by governments to fund infrastructure projects or services. Reporters in Denver told him a city councilor there once joked, “we can do whatever we want now” when the Rocky Mountain News folded in 2009.

Along with colleagues at his school, as well as University of Notre Dame, Murphy set out to conduct “a cleareyed, social science study” to determine any tangible effects of losing local coverage. They found bonds becoming more expensive in places where newspapers folded.

Murphy is re-examining the data and seeing similar effects in places such as Pittsburgh, where media cutbacks have been significant compared to ear-

lier in the decade, when the Post-Gazette and Tribune-Review often had multiple reporters devoted to city and county beats. “We are finding that the evidence is pretty consistent,” says Murphy. “If the newspaper does cut back, we are still seeing increased costs in bonds.”

Murphy says Pittsburghers should be concerned. Large newsroom cuts can lead to 0.1-percent increase on the cost of a bond. While that might not seem like much, that would mean an additional $650,000 in cost to taxpayers if Pittsburgh’s municipal bonds were at the national average ($65 million).

Paul Gao, Murphy’s co-author from Notre Dame, finds logic in the link between bond prices and coverage.

“Because [when] you lose the media, the local public officials are not supervised,” says Gao. “They can be wasteful and they can be riskier. Then if [they]

Follow senior news writer Ryan Deto on Twitter @RyanDeto

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are riskier, [lenders are] going to charge them a higher rate for bonds.”

Without adequate local coverage of local officials, perceptions can exist that leaders are taking risks (even if they aren’t). Bonds are issued on perceptions of how markets will react.

Robust local coverage can show, or at least give the perception, that market is stable. Gao says shrinking local coverage can also decrease voter turnout, which often weakens the public’s faith in local officials being held to account.

Good or bad, behavior by public officials has long been put on record by reporters from daily newspapers.

Print journalists are often considered “watchdogs” or “gatekeepers” because of their meticulous record keeping of officials, business leaders and the ilk.

Citizens have long counted upon daily newspapers to provide resources to inform the public.

Gao and Murphy believe Pittsburgh’s residents and leaders might want to start viewing local newsrooms as public goods. Their study doesn’t recommend policies to address the loss of newspapers, but Gao says providing public funds to local media is “something to explore.”

“Local issues are more important than ever,” says Murphy. “It will save taxpayers money with high-quality journalism in the area. Think of it like a public good, like a bench in the park. People like that bench, but no-

body wants to pay for it. That is kind of like journalism.”

Andrew Conte, a former TribuneReview reporter, directs Point Park University’s Center for Media Innovation. He agrees shrinking newsrooms can have cascading problems for local residents and cites McKeesport as an example. Many of its around 20,000 residents will feel neglected without adequate coverage, Conte says.

“Residents voiced concerns about how guns and litter are affecting the city,” says Conte. “If there was no local paper, no one was going to be writing about these things.”

Conte sees a glimmer of hope because many media companies are confronting shrinking resources by bucking their rivalries and working together. He notes efforts in Philadelphia, where publications are collaborating to produce investigative and enterprise stories on poverty.

But similar efforts have failed across the country, and Conte is concerned Western Pennsylvania’s shrinking and disappearing newsrooms will have unpredictable consequences.

“I think we should be worried about all of this stuff,” says Conte. “The research shows [as] government costs goes up, people are also less involved in public discussion. That is concerning. What does that mean in the long term?”

It’s hard to answer a question if nobody is around to ask it.

BONUS COLORING IMAGE! ARTWORK BY MAYA PUSKARIC

•

ONLINE THIS WEEK

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Lawrenceville is one of nation’s fastest growing millennial neighborhoods. Read more at pghcitypaper.com.

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPT. 26-OCT. 3, 2018

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.FOOD.

PITS OF PITTSBURGH

BY HANNAH LYNN // HLYNN@PGHCITYP HLYNN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM TYPAPER COM

Double deckle brisket is sliced at Spork in Garfield.

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CP PHOTOS: JARED WICKERHAM

Walter’s barbecue restaurant in Lawrenceville

B

ARBECUE IS the antithesis of a wave of prominent healthfood trends to emerge over the past few years. Instead of artfully arranged quinoa bowls to be eaten daintily with a fork, barbecue is served as slabs of meat on a tray and often eaten with hands. Instead of pasta made from zucchini and milk made from

nuts, barbecue is accompanied by creamy, full-fat macaroni made with real noodles.

Well-intentioned, if poorly executed, barbecue is increasingly offered along with salads, stir-fry, quinoa, sushi, and poke bowls at fast-casual restaurants. It is present but not overbearing in Pittsburgh.

This is, after all, a city known for putting French fries on salads.

But like most food trends, barbecue here has trickled down from bigger cities.

Of course, the city is home to many long-standing barbecue restaurants and food trucks, but newer ones were established during a restaurant boom. And barbecue is growing in popularity. The search term “bbq” is more than twice as popular now as it was 10 years ago.

There is more than one TV show about barbecue pit masters. In 2015 and 2018, a barbecue chef won the prestigious James Beard Award.

After opening Morgan’s, a barbecue joint in the heart of Brooklyn, Texas-born chef Chris Morgan and co-owner Joel Bolden wanted to move somewhere with better affordability and quality of living.

CONTINUES ON PG. 20

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPT. 26-OCT. 3, 2018

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LET S GET ’

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Pittsburgh fit, and they opened Walter’s in Lawrenceville, a barbecue restaurant at which a majority of the square-footage is dedicated to outdoor seating, lawn games, and the smoker.

“Pittsburgh, like Texas, I think, is a meat-and-potatoes town. I think brisket’s gonna be very popular, and I think our protein will do really well here,” says Morgan. “It’s a renaissance here, but it’s always been respected in Texas. Up North, yeah, because it’s not part of the culture. It’s too hard to do outside in the winter, so it’s not something you would do year-round.”

Chris Frangiadis, chef and owner of Spork Pit in Garfield, opened his barbecue restaurant in August, directly across the street from his other restaurant, Spork.

Like the owners of Walter’s, Frangiadis is hoping to bring a specific genre of barbecue to the city. “There’s a number of different styles of barbecue here,” he says. “The one that really wasn’t here was Texas-style barbecue, which is a little more meat-centric.”

Walter’s and Spork Pit are one and a half miles from each other, each serving Texas-style barbecue on trays with traditional sides. These restaurants share traits such as ample outdoor seating, wrapped in yellow-hued string lights.

In the same vicinity is Sugar and Smoke, which opened this month in Bloomfield (in a building that used to house Jabo’s Smoque House, another barbecue restaurant) and specializes in

Southern cuisine, including barbecue.

Though she grew up on Mount Washington, owner Andrea Robinson was raised cooking dishes common in the South (macaroni, collard greens, and sweet potato pie). The menu includes some of her recipes, as well as other Southern favorites such as gumbo, and chicken and waffles.

Robinson lacks traditional restaurant experience and previously worked as an account executive in the chemical manufacturing industry. But as the head of one the only Black-owned businesses in Pittsburgh, she hopes to create a space that is open and inclusive. “I always push unity and that’s why I’m here, to help lead the path for Black-owned businesses, as a woman,” she says.

As Morgan notes, traditional barbecue is not a new trend; it’s been part of American culture since the 19th century.

But aside from thick and sweet barbecue sauce slathered on burgers, nuggets, and ribs, barbecue culture is not ingrained in the northern states. For three barbecue restaurants to open so close to each other, in time and place, there must be something other than smoke in the air in Pittsburgh.

All three restaurants have large gathering spaces, encouraging groups of friends and family to gnaw on bones together. And there is something inherently unifying about barbecue, a food rooted in social gatherings. No one learns how to barbecue for one.

Follow staff writer Hannah Lynn on Twitter @hanfranny

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPT. 26-OCT. 3, 2018

21

.DINING.

LEON’S CARIBBEAN

BY MAGGIE WEAVER MWEAVER@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

I

F IT WAS a beauty pageant, Leon’s Caribbean would lose. The restaurant has no frills. On Warrington Avenue in Allentown, Leon’s sticks out with a yellow brick wall. A slightly beaten and half-lit sign sits over the door, a swinging sign extends over the sidewalk that is adorned with two palm trees. For ambiance.

Walking in, I knew the food was going to be good. There’s a sense you get with true hole-in-the-wall restaurants — the chef knows the food is good, no beautification needed.

The dining room consists of two tables, made with plastic reminiscent of childhood pizzerias. To the left is a bar with a few seats facing a TV. Decoration is sparse, save for a Bob Marley flag by the counter. The rest of the space’s white walls are adorned with old photos of the city.

Leon’s menu is simple, based on traditional Jamaican cooking. I went with two familiar classics: curry goat, and jerk chicken. I couldn’t resist the option for plantains, so I threw an order of those in too.

If you’re looking for luxury, Leon’s is not for you. The dishes were served in Styrofoam takeout boxes with plastic silverware.

Each entree was paired with rice, beans, and boiled cabbage. It was an impressive sight: rice piled so high I couldn’t move the container without losing a few grains. On top of the food mountain sat a piece of pound

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Jerk chicken and plantains at Leon’s Caribbean

cake-like bread.

Leon’s goat falls off the bone, with meat flaking apart when stuck with a fork. The curry was mild and slightly salty.

I’ve had bad jerk chicken: no flavor, overdone, dry meat. One taste of Leon’s changed my entire understanding of what jerk chicken could, and should, be.

The first bite smacks with cloves and nutmeg. My taste buds were overwhelmed with the deep flavors, a

Follow staff writer Maggie Weaver on Twitter @magweav

touch of heat following the swift aromatic kick (well, more than a touch — I did start to sweat a little). The chicken absorbed the jerk seasoning, keeping the flavors woven within the perfectly moist meat. I’m a dipper, and Leon’s cakey bread was the perfect carb to absorb excess sauce. The bread carried some cinnamon and a light sweetness that paired perfectly with the chicken.

LEON’S CARIBBEAN

823 E. Warrington Ave., Allentown. leonscaribbean.com

The chicken was a dish of my dreams. But it’s not for the squeamish.

Leon’s sticks to tradition and keeps bones in the meat. Food tastes better when you have to work for it, right?

Plantains were an impulsive addon and proof its best to always go with your gut. These were freshly fried, the syrupy caramelization of the fruit a perfect ending.

A warning: Leon’s will ruin your portion control (for all the right reasons). The addictive, savory sauces kept my fork moving, non-stop from the plates to my mouth.

•

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PGHCITYPAPER.COM

FAVORITE FEATURES No. 1: Food in a pile None of this “my food can’t touch!” baloney. Leon’s just stacks everything as high as they can.

You can’t avoid mixing everything together, and that’s why it works.

No. 2: Delivery option I love not leaving my couch and getting fantastic food delivered to my door. Leon’s is on GrubHub, and I highly recommend it for a lazy Sunday night, or a Tuesday afternoon. Really, any day, any time. Just eat it.

No. 3: True to roots This restaurant isn’t trying to be what it’s not; Leon’s know the food is going to sell itself — and make you come back.

Applebee’s Perfect Margaritas

.ON THE ROCKS.

CHASING PERFECT

BY CRAIG MRUSEK // CPCONTRIBUTORS@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

D

OES MARGARITAVILLE exist at

Applebee’s? Assuming you haven’t already stopped reading, this was the question I pondered after discovering the string of casual dining spots offering a “Perfect Margarita.” As part of my ongoing project to explore classic cocktails interpreted by chain restaurants, this was a no-brainer. If Applebee’s was confident enough to declare its margarita as “perfect,” I was in.

Taste-wise, it skewed a bit sweeter than I prefer, but stopped short of overwhelming.

After conferring with the bartender on the specifics of the recipe, I discovered this particular drink doubles-down on the sugar, using a combo of two orange liqueurs, a sour mix, and a bit of simple syrup. This made me grateful for the salt, which tempered the sweetness. Overall, it looked great and tasted pretty good.

At the second location, I got an identi-

BONUS COLORING IMAGE! ARTWORK BY JEFF SCHRECKENGOST

IF APPLEBEE’S WAS CONFIDENT ENOUGH TO DECLARE ITS MARGARITA AS “PERFECT,” I WAS IN. Like many classic cocktails, the origins of the margarita are disputed. What’s not up for debate is its popularity. Though some accounts show margaritas being enjoyed as early as the 1930s, awareness of the drink spiked significantly with Jimmy Buffett’s* hit song “Margaritaville” in 1977. Today, people continue to gleefully sip them wherever they’re available.

Buffett is on record claiming that Margaritaville is a state of mind rather than a physical place. Following his principle, I could conceivably experience that mindset at Applebee’s, provided I had the proper psychic framework. And a margarita.

At the first of two local Applebee’s scouted for this project, I received an attractive-looking drink. Pale green in color, it came in a standard cocktail glass with half the rim delicately salted, and a blemish-free lime wedge attached.

cal-looking drink, but with an improved flavor. I can’t say whether this was due to a decrease in sugar or an increase in citrus (or possibly both), but drink No. 2 was the better of the pair. It was balanced, and with a noticeable acidic snap from which no margarita should shy away.

However, if you insist a margarita must be overly boozy, tart, or distinctive in some way, keep looking. Understand that Applebee’s Perfect Margarita works. It’s probably what 75 percent of the world thinks a margarita should be, and that’s fine. Perception is reality, and only the most insufferable amongst us turn up our noses at a solidly-made utility cocktail. *There is a requirement that any discussion of the margarita must include a Jimmy Buffett reference. This is a variant of the “James Bond/Martini Rule.”

•

Follow featured contributor Craig Mrusek on Twitter @DoctorBamboo PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPT. 26-OCT. 3, 2018

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DINING OUT

CP PHOTO BY JARED WICKERHAM

SPONSORED LISTINGS FROM CITY PAPER ’S FINE ADVERTISERS

THIS WEEK’S FEATURED RESTAURANT 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!

THE ALLEGHENY WINE MIXER

5326 BUTLER ST., LAWRENCEVILLE 412-252-2337 / ALLEGHENYWINEMIXER.COM Wine bar and tap room in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood. Offering an eclectic list of wine by the glass or bottle, local beer, craft cocktails, cheese and cured meats, good times and bad art.

BAR LOUIE

www.taipei-fc.com

Taiwanese, Japanese and Chinese Specialties FULL BAR AND BUBBLE TEAS!

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.

THE CAFÉ CARNEGIE BLACK AND GOLD ROLL

7 DAYS A WEEK – LUNCH AND DINNER

4400 FORBES AVE., OAKLAND 412-622-3225 / THECAFECARNEGIE.COM An excellent dining experience from James Beard Semi-Finalist, Sonja Finn featuring a locally-focused menu, full service dining, and espresso and wine bar.

COLONY CAFE

BEEF NOODLE SOUP

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 house-made bistro fare in a stylish Downtown space.

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. Hope to see you soon!

LIDIA’S PITTSBURGH

1400 SMALLMAN ST., STRIP DISTRICT 412-552-0150 / LIDIAS-PITTSBURGH.COM Lidia’s Pittsburgh is a warm Italian restaurant offering signature classics from Lidia Bastianich. Featuring brunch, lunch and dinner menus as well as private dining.

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.

PAD THAI NOODLE

4770 LIBERTY AVE, BLOOMFIELD 412-904-1640 / PADTHAINOODLEPITTSBURGH.COM This new café in Bloomfield features Thai and Burmese specialties. Standards like Pad Thai and Coconut Curry Noodle are sure to please. But don’t miss out on the Ono Kyowsway featuring egg noodle sautéed with coconut chicken, cilantro and curry sauce.

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.

SPIRIT

242 51ST ST., LAWRENCEVILLE 412-586-4441 / SPIRITPGH.COM/SLICEISLAND Every day we bake fresh focaccia from unbleached flour, pull our own mozzarella, and curdle our own ricotta to put on your pizza with fresh toppings from the best local farms, butchers, and purveyors.

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.

Z-BEST BARBEQUE

1315 5TH AVE., UPTOWN 412-235-7163 / ZBESTBBQ.COM Z-Best Barbeque Chicken & Ribs offers Pittsburgh a savory taste of home cooked delciousness. Hearty and delightful plates of ribs, chicken, pulled pork with appetizing sides of mac & cheese, greens, cabbage, baked beans, potato salad and more.

HAPPY APPY HOUR HOUR: MONDAY MONDAY-FRIDAY FRIDAY 4 4-6PM 6 1124 Freeport Rd, Fox Chapel

412-781-4131 24

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Look for this symbol for Sustainable Pittsburgh Restaurants, committed to building vibrant communities and supporting environmentally responsible practices. Love Pittsburgh. Eat Sustainably. www.EatSustainably.org

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPT. 26-OCT. 3, 2018

25

Jaye Cooper and Brian Crawford from The River’s Edge

.MEDIA.

POD CONFLUENCE

BY AMANDA WALTZ // AWALTZ@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

A

S A KID, Sean Koon dreamed of having a career in radio like Howard Stern. But Koon set that goal aside .when he realized how much work was involved.

“I found out [that] to be Howard Stern, you have to earn it,” says Koon, who now lives in Elizabeth borough. “And I thought, ‘well, I’m not going to do drive time in Sheboygan playing country music.’”

Then he discovered the ease of podcast production. Koon started the Pittsburgh Nerd Podcast, and over the last five and half years has posted weekly episodes where he and co-host Ian Bellamy cover all things pop culture, from

movie news and reviews to comics to celebrity deaths.

Pittsburgh Nerd Podcast is one amongst a diverse array of podcasts being produced by people with a lot to say about a variety of subjects, including horror movies, true crime, and, in the case of I Got the Hell Out, life in a religious cult.

But despite the growing popularity of podcasts over the years, Koon wonders if anyone is actually listening.

“Unless you have your ear to the ground and you’re specifically looking for podcasts, you wouldn’t know there was a Pittsburgh podcast community,” says Koon.

His sentiment is echoed by Brian

PITTSBURGH POD CON

Sun., Sept. 30. 5-10 p.m. Free. Spirit. 242 51st St., Lawrenceville. spiritpgh.com

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PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Crawford of The River’s Edge, a Millvalebased streaming radio company that partly started out as a podcast in Crawford’s attic closet. Even though he sees the Pittsburgh podcast scene as being very collaborative, with many producers working together and promoting one another, more needs to be done to support it.

“I think it’s a really talented part of the Pittsburgh arts community, but I don’t think it has the recognition that it needs,” he says.

To raise awareness of the city’s podcast scene, The River’s Edge joined forces with the podcast network, Sorgatron Media, to launch the first-ever Pittsburgh Pod Con. Sponsored by Sidekick Media Services, the event invites podcasters from the region to participate in International Podcast Day; an annual celebration meant to connect producers, listeners,

and industry leaders from all over the world.

More than 30 area podcasts will be represented at the event, with several staging live shows. Pod Con will also showcase the city’s podcast scene on the world stage with a live broadcast of a panel led by Crawford and featuring Sorgatron Media founder, Michael Sorg, Katie Dudas of the ScareHouse Podcast, Mike Sasson of The River’s Edge’s Mike Sasson Show, Corey Nevills of the BMovie Bros, and Kahmeela Adams of the RuggedAngel Cast.

Adams started RuggedAngel Cast as a way to strengthen and build better relationships with women in her life. Like Koon and Crawford, she also wishes the Pittsburgh podcast scene was more connected.

“There are a few podcasters that I

Kahmeela Adams of the “RuggedAngel Cast”

know of here, but it seems there many more that I’m not aware of,” she says. “We should all be talking to [and] promoting one another.”

Crawford hopes that Pod Con not only helps local podcasts network with one

another, but puts Pittsburgh on the map as a prominent podcast city. “We have so many fantastic podcasters here and I think this is a way [to] let people know that Pittsburgh’s here and we’re doing this,” says Crawford.

•

HOW TO PODCAST

BY ALEX POPICHAK // CPCONTRIBUTORS@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

I

NSPIRED ENOUGH by true crime or current events podcasts to wander into the

weeds and forge your own? The allure — and occasional pitfall — of podcasting is that pretty much any person with a smartphone can create a podcast. To save you from yourself, consider these steps when launching a podcast.

Choose a topic Consider what the podcast will be about and establish a goal for it. The audience should generally know what to expect, but the concept should be broad enough to avoid running out of steam after the first episode.

The subject matter should be an area of expertise to the host. We’ve all heard radio call-in shows where the caller has no clue what’s going on. Don’t be Random Caller with a Podcast.

Build a format Before hitting record, set parameters for the podcast’s overall structure. Will this be a limited-run exploration of something specific or shall it sustain after the initial episode?

Decide on a frequency that works for your schedule, because you’ll need time to put out the best possible product. Once you’ve plotted out the general idea for the format, get to working on planning out individual episodes.

Get a microphone The cost of entry for podcasting has never been lower. That said, audiences can sense bad production from a mile away. Single hosts should procure lapel microphones that can plug directly into an iPhone or Android phone. (Broadcast-quality sound will cost

around $18 on Amazon.) A recording app will work for a one-person podcast, and additional hosts can be brought in for the price of USB mics. (Snowball mics are available for $45, again on Amazon.)

Edit the thing When finished recording your masterpiece, get to a computer and edit the episode using something such as Audacity, a free, opensourced audio editor. Online tutorials and plugins exist to help guide you. New-to-it podcasters should pay close attention when adding music at the beginning and end to “bump” into and out of the show, and also when adjusting or “normalizing” the levels of voice track(s). If you can’t stand to listen to it yourself, why would anyone else?

Publish to the world If there’s anything worth outsourcing when it comes to podcasting, pick publishing.

With so many podcasting platforms in existence, only posting to iTunes would ignore audiences elsewhere. Pittsburgh-based Libsyn is a company that specializes in hosting and publishing podcasts and can demystify the whole process. If all else fails, get yourself a pro-level SoundCloud account and share it with the world. •

Follow staff intern Alex Popichak on Twitter @alexpopichak PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPT. 26-OCT. 3, 2018

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPT. 26-OCT. 3, 2018

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.FASHION.

GOING FOR GOLD

BY KATE BENZ CPCONTRIBUTORS@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

W

HEN YOU walk into the House of Handsome Barbershop & Boutique in Dormont, don’t expect to flop into a plastic chair and thumb through a stack of old, sticky GQs while SportsCenter drones on from the flat screen as you wait to get a haircut.

Instead, you walk into the parlor, where eleven gold chandeliers hang from a custom tin ceiling, above leather pin-tucked sofas and velvety smooth armchairs with gold hardware. Jazz and big band are piped through the speakers.

While waiting, you might tap against the wall to open a secret door to access a private BYOB locker (most of which are already taken), and pour a scotch on the rocks. If not in the mood, there’s Perrier on the house.

The vibe is like a 1920s hotel. There is hand-screened wallpaper, gold foil, glass tile, and white orchids under an octagonal coffered ceiling. You’ll smell

PHOTO: JORDAN BECKHAM

House of Handsome Barbershop

a blend of moody French Jasmine, the same fragrance notes in the in-house styling products — facial wash, mois-

HOUSE OF HANDSOME BARBERSHOP AND BOUTIQUE

2906 W. Liberty Ave., Dormont. handsomepgh.com

turizer, pomade, unisex cologne — displayed on gold shelving.

The goal is to get you settled into one of four black leather barber chairs in the cutting room for the full, 45-minute experience. Massage. Shampoo. Conditioner.

Wax removal of hair from places grandpa forgot existed. “Anything less than 45 minutes is an injustice,” says proprietor Michael B.

It took him three years to renovate on the space. Running an electric saw through walls and hauling out 26 tons of debris and 50,000 gun shells during demolition of the former gunsmith shop. He didn’t let a single client see the transformation. Not the guy who flies in from Miami every two weeks for his haircut, or the childhood buddies who have been coming to see Michael B. since 1993, when he was a 12-year old-kid cutting hair with his dad’s Gillette Mavericks on the front porch of his house.

His dad’s the shoe-shine guy now.

Came out of retirement, did an unofficial apprenticeship at the Bellagio in Vegas and learned how to excrete the natural oils from a deer bone by massaging it over your leather shoe that he charges eight bucks for. And if you’ve got a few minutes to spare, go for the 24-karat facial ($55) or just get a shave and have the brows groomed ($40).

Walk-ins are welcome, but you might wait a while without an appointment. And make sure you’re over the age of 12. There are sharp instruments and hot setting tools and a child policy that respectfully asks that even the most dedicated family folks leave the terrors at home.

TREATY OF FORT PITT: 240TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION

This Saturday: Honor the historic Treaty of Fort Pitt at the Fort Pitt Museum in Point State Park.

Activities include free living history demonstrations, a lecture by Dr. David Preston, and traditional dances led by visiting members of the Delaware Tribe of Indians.

Pittsburgh, PA | Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | 412-281-9284 www.heinzhistorycenter.org/fort-pitt

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PGHCITYPAPER.COM

•

.FOR THE WEEK OF SEPT. 27.

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

BY ROB BREZSNY // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): There is no such thing as a plant that blooms continuously. Phases of withering and dormancy are just as natural as phases of growth. I bring this fact to your attention to help you remain poised as you go through your own period of withering followed by dormancy. You should accept life’s demand that you slow down and explore the mysteries of fallowness. You should surrender sweetly to stasis and enjoy your time of rest and recharging. That’s the best way to prepare for the new cycle of growth that will begin in a few weeks.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): If you were ever going to win a contest that awarded you a free vacation to an exotic sanctuary, it would probably happen during the next three weeks. If a toy company would ever approach you about developing a line of action figures and kids’ books based on your life, it might also be sometime soon. And if you have ever had hopes of converting your adversaries into allies, or getting support and backing for your good original ideas, or finding unexpected inspiration to fix one of your not-so-good habits, those opportunities are now more likely than they have been for some time.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): An 81-year-old Capricorn man named James Harrison has donated his unique blood on 1,173 occasions. Scientists have used it to make medicine that prevents Rhesus disease in unborn babies, thereby healing more than 2.4 million kids and literally saving thousands of lives. I don’t expect you to do anything nearly as remarkable.

But I do want to let you know that the coming weeks will be a favorable time to lift your generosity and compassion to the next level. Harrison would serve well as your patron saint.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): On a spring morning some years ago, a smoky aroma woke me from a deep sleep. Peering out my bedroom window into the backyard, I saw that my trickster girlfriend Anastasia had built a bonfire. When I stumbled to my closet to get dressed, I found my clothes missing. There were no garments in my dresser, either. In my groggy haze, I realized that my entire wardrobe had become fuel for Anastasia’s conflagration. It was

this bold move would be the intelligence and expressiveness with which you are going to wield your erotic sensibilities in the coming weeks.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):

Biologists are constantly unearthing new species, although not new in the sense of having just appeared on our planet. In fact, they’re animals and plants that have existed for millennia. But they’ve never before been noticed and identified by science. Among recent additions to our ever-growing knowledge are an orchid in Madagascar that smells like champagne, an electric blue tarantula in the Guyana rainforest, and a Western Australian grass that has a flavor resembling salt and vinegar potato chips. I suspect you’ll be making metaphorically comparable discoveries in the coming weeks, Libra: evocative beauty that you’ve been blind to, and interesting phenomena that have been hiding in plain sight.

too late to intervene, and I was still quite drowsy, so I crawled back in bed to resume snoozing. A while later, I woke to find her standing next to the bed bearing a luxurious breakfast she said she’d cooked over the flames of my burning clothes. After our meal, we stayed in bed all day, indulging in a variety of riotous fun. I’m not predicting that similar events will unfold in your life, Aquarius. But you may experience adventures that are almost equally boisterous, hilarious, and mysterious.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): I’ve got three teachings for you. 1. Was there a time in your past when bad romance wounded your talent for love? Yes, but you now have more power to heal that wound than you’ve ever had before. 2. Is it possible you’re ready to shed a semi-delicious addiction to a chaotic magic?

Yes. Clarity is poised to trump melodrama. Joyous decisiveness is primed to vanquish ingrained sadness. 3. Has there ever been a better time than now to resolve and graduate from past events that have bothered and drained you for a long time? No. This is the best time ever.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Do you have any skills at living on the edge between the light and the dark? Are you curious about what the world might look like and how people would treat you if you refused to divide

everything up into that which helps you and that which doesn’t help you? Can you imagine how it would feel if you loved your life just the way it is and not wish it were different from what it is? Please note: People less courageous than you might prefer you to be less courageous. But I hope you’ll stay true to the experiment of living on the edge between the light and the dark.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): According to Popbitch.com, most top-charting pop songs are in a minor key. In light of this fact, I encourage you to avoid listening to pop songs for the next three weeks. In my astrological opinion, it’s essential that you surround yourself with stimuli that don’t tend to make you sad and blue, that don’t influence you to interpret your experience through a melancholic, mournful filter. To accomplish the assignments that life will be sending you, you need to at least temporarily cultivate a mood of crafty optimism.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Gemini regent Queen Victoria (1819–1901) wore crotchless underwear made of linen. A few years ago, Britain’s Museums, Libraries, and Archives Council accorded them “national designated status,” an official notice that means they are a national treasure. If I had the power, I would give your undergarments an equivalent acknowledgment. The only evidence I would need to make

CANCER (June 21-July 22): I’ve taken a break from socializing, my fellow Cancerian. In fact, I’m on sabbatical from my regular rhythm. My goal for the coming days is to commune with my past and review the story of my life. Rather than fill my brain up with the latest news and celebrity gossip, I am meditating on my own deep dark mysteries. I’m mining for secrets that I might be concealing from myself. In accordance with the astrological omens, I suggest that you follow my lead. You might want to delve into boxes of old mementoes or reread emails from years ago. You could get in touch with people who are no longer part of your life even though they were once important to you. How else could you get into intimate contact with your eternal self?

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Here’s a quote from A Map of Misreading, a book by renowned literary critic, Harold Bloom: “Where the synecdoche of tessera made a totality, however illusive, the metonymy of kenosis breaks this up into discontinuous fragments.” What the cluck did Harold Bloom just say?! I’m not being antiintellectual when I declare this passage to be pretentious drivel. In the coming days, I urge you Leos to draw inspiration from my response to Bloom.

Tell the truth about nonsense. Don’t pretend to appreciate jumbled or over-complicated ideas. Expose bunk and bombast. Be kind, if you can, but be firm. You’re primed to be a champion of downto-earth communication.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): A data research company, Priceonomics, suggests that Monday is the most productive day of the week and that October is the most productive month of the year. My research suggests that while Capricorns tend to be the most consistently productive of all the signs in the zodiac, Virgos often outstrip them for a six-week period during the end of each September and throughout October. Furthermore, my intuition tells me that you Virgos now have an extraordinary capacity to turn good ideas into practical action. I conclude, therefore, that you are about to embark on a surge of industrious and high-quality work. (P.S. This October has five Mondays.)

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

Cavacini Garden Center

End of Season Sale on Shrubs and Trees!

Great prices on

PUMPKINS & MUMS Check out our HUGE variety of colors and sizes!

Great FALL items in stock! Corn stalks, straw and much more!

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK • DELIVERY SERVICE AVAILABLE

100 51st 51 st STREET • LAWRENCEVILLE • 4126872010 Off Butler Street. Across from Goodwill.

Family Owned and Operated

AUTHENTIC & FRESH Franchise Opportunities Available.

Visit our website for more details.

5523 Walnut Street • Shadyside • 412-621-6220

mercuriosgelatopizza.com PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPT. 26-OCT. 3, 2018

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PHOTO: M PHILIP PHOTOGRAPHY

.STAGE.

WIENERS AND BOOBS

BY ALEX GORDON // ALEXGORDON@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

I

N TEANECK, New Jersey, the big business is sex a.k.a. wieners and boobs (a few ingredients missing there, but whatever). Prostitutes and gigolos walk the streets for the business of eager townsfolk, under the protection of corrupt Mayor Gerard Depardieu, who’s in the pocket of a crime boss named Tad Theaterman. When a new sheriff, Jack Greenberg, arrives in town, the whole W&B operation is threatened.

Those are the bones of SEX aka Wieners and Boobs, staged by Arcade Comedy Theater through October 6. You might expect a wiener-boob-driven plot, but that’s not really it (there is a dildo, though). Nor, as I had thought/hoped for, is it Blazing Saddles with a Jewish sheriff. SEX is a collection of silly sight gags, wild tangents, and in-jokes that land with varying success. Just like its namesake.

SEX comes from David Wain, Michael Showalter, and Joe Lo Truglio, who have been collaborating since their undergrad days at New York University where they cultivated a brand of profoundly silly, subtly dark humor. Wain and Showalter were at the helm for 2001 cult classic Wet Hot American Summer (and its Netflix sequels), in which Lo Truglio starred alongside other frequent collaborators (Ken Marino, Michael Ian Black, Thomas Lennon, Kerri Kenney-Silver). Anyone familiar with these writers should know what to expect.

The show opens with a stuffy theater director named Doniello informing the audience that, due to scheduling conflicts, the Q&A will have to take place prior to the performance. An audience plant asks

if the “hot dog scene [was] a deliberate tip of the hat to Moliere.” It’s a joke, but also a little wink to anybody trying to find deeper meaning in the gleefully stupid sh*t in the story. It is what it is.

The rest of the play is narrated by an old timey prospector-type, played hilariously by Michael McBurney. One highlight: “Well, looks like Sherriff Jack’s in a bit of a checkmate. ‘Course you can’t really be in a bit of a checkmate. You’re either in checkmate or you’re not. It’s like being preggers.” That bit of introspection into semantics continues for a paragraph before he gets back to a-narratin’.

SEX AKA WIENERS AND BOOBS

Continues through October 6. 10 p.m. $20.

Arcade Comedy Theater, 943 Liberty Ave., Downtown. arcadecomedytheater.com

Sometimes, those bits of time-consuming, tangent-chasing succeed — a wordless, choreographed march of the bad guys across the stage; a straight-faced rendition of a scene from a Mamet work, mid-play, without explanation. Other times, you just want to fast-forward. The successful ones succeed in their commitment to inexpediency, while the others are just tedious.

But the cast and production handle the bargain admirably. The Arcade space is un-fancy and intimate, so it works well with the fourth-wall breaking and charming clumsiness of the script. It’s not the writers’ finest work, but fans of their absurd, silly world will find plenty to like here.

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Follow associate editor Alex Gordon on Twitter @shmalexgordon

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TOP 5

ELECTRONIC MUSIC ACTS COMING TO PITTSBURGH

BY JORDAN SNOWDEN JSNOWDEN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

PUCCINI’S

Madama Butterfly

Seven Lions

MANIC FOCUS WITH RUSS LIQUID Thu., Sept. 27, Rex Theater

To properly showcase the hip-hop, funk, and bass elements found in his music, Manic Focus performs with a live band, forgoing the typical stage scene of a DJ and his turntables.

WHETHAN

Fri., Sept. 28, Spirit Whethan’s list of collaborators includes EDM stars Skrillex and Flux Pavilion, pop singers Charli XCX and Dua Lipa, and alt-pop duo Oh Wonder. And he’s only 19.

LANE 8

Fri., Nov. 2, Rex Theater Known for prohibiting the use of phones and cameras during his shows to allow for a full musical immersion, Lane 8’s smooth house music takes listeners on a spiritual journey.

SEVEN LIONS

Thu., Nov. 15, Stage AE Jeff Montalvo, a.k.a. Seven Lions, expertly weaves trance, pop, glitch hop, and dubstep into a music experience that transcends time, space and humanity.

SAN HOLO

Sat., Nov. 17, Stage AE While San Holo falls under the EDM umbrella, the Dutch DJ’s latest, album1, mixes guitar melodies with warm, airy beats different from the usual electronic style.

Love, betrayal, & sacrifice OCTOBER 6, 9, 12, 14 • Benedum Center • Tickets start at $14; Half-price tickets for kids 6-18 • 412-456-6666 • pittsburghopera.org/butterfly UNDERSTAND EVERY WORD! English texts projected above the stage.

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPT. 26-OCT. 3, 2018

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.ART.

BE THIS ART

BY HANNAH LYNN // HLYNN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Artwork by OSGEMEOS

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M

USEUMS CAN be places of silence, of quiet contemplation. Often art hangs on a wall, .visitors stare at it, and then they leave. But the Mattress Factory’s selections for its Artists in Residence series all possess an interactive quality that not only encourages visitors to move with and around the art, but requires it. These are not passives pieces of art at which walkers-by should glance. These are things to touch, move, listen to, and over which to scratch your head.

The museum dedicated an entire floor to Lyrical by OSGEMEOS, the collective name of twin artists Gustavo and Otavio Pandolfo. Their folk-art style evokes the liveliness of their home country of Brazil with bright colors, surreal sculptures, light displays, and pop culture references.

Spanning four rooms, this exhibit explores all parts of the creators’ identity: what is means to be a twin; to be Brazilian; to be an artist; to be a man. The biggest room features a floor painted the colors of Earth’s core with warped sculptures protruding from the

CP PHOTOS: HANNAH LYNN

Installation artwork by Karina Smigla-Bobinski

ground. One wall is covered in wooden picture frames and trinkets, while the other contrasts with a colorful street art-inspired mural. For other parts of the exhibit, visitors peer into a light-

filled cavern, one of which only lights up for two minutes every hour.

The lower floor of the Mattress factory tends to feature physically darker exhibits, and Laleh Mehran’s The Inter-

stitium — named after a fluid space between a body’s structure and its internal organs — adds bursts of light to the darkness. Light sculptures made from coal byproduct appear to be growing CONTINUES ON PG. 36

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Learn about art that reflects the world.

Join us for a unique class that dives into the ways art can challenge, perplex, comfort, and define us. Crash Course: Contemporary Art launches October 10, just in time for the opening of the Carnegie International.

Sign up now at cmoa.org!

Keith Haring, Untitled, 1981, Gift of Lannan Foundation © Keith Haring Foundation

CMOA education programs generously supported by: One of the four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh

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PART OF THE

out of the walls, and they light up and dim with viewers movements — like a glittery cave.

Entering ADA, the exhibit from German artist Karina Smigla-Bobinski, there is a distinctly strong smell of charcoal. This piece, named after early computer scientist Ada Lovelace, invites visitors to help in its creation and longevity. It features a massive, helium-filled ball covered in charcoal spikes that mark the walls as it is moved around. The experience is reminiscent of Andy Warhol’s Silver Clouds that floats shiny balloon pillows around the room. Even if attending alone, visitors interact with each other — all part of a collective piece.

In one of the more cerebral pieces at the museum, live artists are a part of the exhibit, blurring the line between art and voyeurism. At the centerpiece of Lessons, the work of local sculptural artist William Earl Kofmehl, III, is a shower with a glass door. Under the running water, an elderly man in a suit talks to himself about the equations written on the shower walls. Off to the side, a small room with another glass door features a dance instructor and

student practicing in front of a silver dinosaur skeleton. It’s the kind of piece that, while interesting, also makes one question “what is art?” and also “do these people get meal breaks?”

ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE

Continues through Aug. 4, 2019.

Mattress Factory, 500 Sampsonia Way, North Side. Admission varies. mattress.org

In an effort to distort bodily perceptions of scale and time, multimedia artist Christina A. West created Screen, a series of rooms filled with green and pink sculptures, windows, mirrors, and screens that have a funhouse effect.

West works to “engage the viewer as voyeur and subject,” as visitors’ movements are captured and displayed on screen with a delay that allows for self-observation.

At a glance, the collection of pieces, which use totally different mediums, structures, and materials, don’t appear to have a connection. But they all share a desire to draw viewers into the piece, encouraging them to become part of the art.

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPT. 26-OCT. 3, 2018

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.PGH PAGES.

PITTSBURGH DREAMS

BY REGE BEHE CPCONTRIBUTORS@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

H

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It’s his fourth poetry collection after years of writing expansive, rollicking novels such as Honeymooners and Last Mountain Dancer. Because of the health issues

that precipitated the move to Florida — two strokes, a heart attack, and knee replacement and triple-bypass surgeries — Kinder can no longer muster the energy

•

BETWEEN THE LINES

Rachel Kaadzi Ghansah

Follow featured contributor Rege Behe on Twitter @RegeBehe_exPTR

Chuck Kinder

PHOTO: WIKI CC USER FUZHEADO

E WAS THE benign godfather of Pittsburgh’s literary scene, the irresistible gravitational center for writers, poets, editors, musicians, malcontents, and misfits. At his Squirrel Hill home, Chuck Kinder and his wife Diane Cecily frequently hosted parties.

Guests might include Tobias Wolff or James Crumley, Scott Turow or Richard Ford, April Smith or any other noted writers he befriended in his travels before arriving in Western Pennsylvania in the mid-1980s to teach creative writing at the University of Pittsburgh.

Now, 75, and four years after leaving “the Paris of Appalachia” — the phrase he coined to describe Pittsburgh’s mix of arts and grit — Kinder and Cecily live in Key Largo, Fla. But the connection to Pittsburgh grows deeper as the years pass.

“I try to write about my emotional Meccas, which for me, of course, are West Virginia, San Francisco, and Missoula, Montana,” he says. “But in particular Pittsburgh has become, in my memory and imagination, such a magical place.

I spent 30 years — my whole working life — there, and all my dreams are about Pittsburgh. They’re all set in Pittsburgh.”

Kinder’s latest work is Hot Jewels, published by the local Six Gallery Press.

necessary for longer forms of writing.

But poetry, his first muse, provides the perfect outlet for his ever-sharp wit and observations.

“I was never a good poet,” Kinder says. “I was a pretty bad poet, actually.

But I love working with images. To me, it was like an exercise in origami. The brain weaving images and ideas together. It’s somewhat like a dream process.”

The poems in Hot Jewels have a distinct feel familiar to anyone who has read Kinder’s fiction. They are alternately profane and sacred, and the line between poetry and prose is blurred.

Writing poetry helps Kinder “pay much more attention to the moment,” he says.

“Because when you’re writing prose, you hear so much about borderlines between fact and fiction. That’s a porous borderline for me, I cross that easily.

And the same thing between poetry and prose. It all kind of weaves together for me.”

THE PITTSBURGH CONTEMPORARY WRITERS SERIES opens its 2018-19 season on September 26 with an appearance by Pulitzer Prize-winning essayist Rachel Kaadzi Ghansah. Ghansah’s resume includes If He Hollers Let Him Go, an essay on Dave Chapelle for The Believer. But Ghansah’s “A Most American Terrorist: The Making of Dylann Roof” (GQ, 2017) is considered her masterpiece, honored with the Pulitzer for Feature Writing in 2018, and a National Magazine Award for Best Feature Writing.

Ghansah’s first book, The Explainers & the Explorers, (Scribner), will be published in November.

7:30 p.m., Wed., Sept. 26. Heinz Memorial Chapel, Oakland. Free. pghwriterseries.wordpress.com

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPT. 26-OCT. 3, 2018

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Ni’Ja Whitson, Jonathan Gonzalez, and Duane Cyrus in Virago-Man Dem

.DANCE.

MUSING MASCULINITY

BY STEVE SUCATO // CPCONTRIBUTORS@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

1366 OLD FREEPORT ROAD • PGH, PA 15238 412.963.0640 • WWW.BAJABARGRILL.COM

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ESSIE AWARD-winning choreographer Cynthia Oliver says of her latest work Virago-Man Dem: “It’s a love letter to my son.”

Co-commissioned by the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater, Dance Place, and others, this hour-long, dance-theater piece without an intermission is performed by Cynthia Oliver Co., and premieres in Pittsburgh on September 28.

Described as “a nuanced study in masculinities and their multiplicities within cultures of Caribbeanist and African-American communities,” Virago-Man Dem was inspired by Oliver’s experiences raising her now 14-year-old son.

“I watched in amazement at his socialization outside our home and the kinds of things he was picking up,” says Oliver, a professor of dance at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. “Some of it was horrifying.”

Most frightening to her were the narrow-viewed do’s and don’ts’ of masculinity.

“As the mother of a black male child in America, there are certain harsh realities you have to contend with to give them the best chance at a long, productive life,” she says.

VIRAGO-MAN DEM

Fri., Sept. 28 and Sat., Sept. 29. 8 p.m. No set prices. Kelly-Strayhorn Theater, 5941 Penn Ave., East Liberty. kelly-strayhorn.org

One reality informing the work was a heartbreaking conversation with her son that Oliver says is familiar to many African-American parents: “You can’t do this in the classroom just because Billy can, because you are seen differently than Billy.”

Virago-Man Dem acknowledges those harsh realities and looks at a world without those types of constraints, and at the joyful beauty of black life.

Set to an original rhythmic score by Jason Finkelman, and utilizing movement, spoken word, projections, and black futurist imagery, this work also draws heavily on its cast members’ personal experiences related to masculinity and black life.

“A lot of my interest in storytelling is rooted in the experiences of the actual performers and woven through experiences of my own with certain key figures in my life,” says Oliver.

The New York Times described this work as being “all about defying cultural pressures and expectations, or slyly slipping out from underneath them.” Oliver says audiences can also expect surprises — some humorous and others perplexing — for people familiar with black culture.

“I want to get dirty, acknowledge demons, hail the angels, tell secrets, question and celebrate conflicted, complicated, glorious lives fully lived,” says Oliver.

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Follow featured contributor Steve Sucato on Twitter @ssucato

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPT. 26-OCT. 3, 2018

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.LIFESTYLE.

PLANT PARENTHOOD

BY JORDAN SNOWDEN JSNOWDEN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

C

RAZY PLANT PEOPLE are the new crazy cat lovers. There is an entire community on Instagram dedicated to showing off houseplants and swapping care tips and tricks. Earlier this year, Amazon rebranded and reorganized its Patio, Lawn & Garden section, which is now called Amazon Plant Store. Forget Paint Nite — Plant Nites, during which attendees make terrariums or gardens in a bar, are popping up all over. The plant industry is in full bloom.

Plants make spaces look fuller and more alive. Owning houseplants, or just being around plants, is said to be good for a person’s overall mindfulness, health, and productivity. There are numerous reports on the multiple benefits of being a plant owner, many equating owning a leafy friend to pet ownership. Millennials are waiting longer to have kids, and don’t want the responsibility of a pet, so plants are being used to fulfill the need to nurture.

While I’m not denying the positive benefits of having a houseplant (natural humidifiers, improve air quality and make a room look pretty), owning a plant is, in the most basic sense, like being a parent. And the constant-care requirement is accompanied by other worries, leaving me in a perpetual state of anxiety.

Worry No. 1: Am I killing these plants?

In less than a month, I accumulated five house plants, a windowsill herb garden, three pepper plants, two tomato plants, four succulents, lavender, sunflowers, and a cactus. Despite my lack of experience and a green thumb, I went from no plants to having an extended plant family.

My problem was all the plants requiring a different watering schedule, which I couldn’t remember. Did I water the pepper plant yesterday or two days ago? And some, like the succulents and cactus, are finicky when it comes to the right amount of water. Too much

PHOTO: MICHAEL TUITE

Jordan Snowden and her plants

or too little, and they die. Whether I was killing them was not immediately apparent. Plants are a slow burn type of creature, leaving me to wonder daily whether mine are thriving or dying?

Worry No. 2: Why are the leaves turning brown?

This is an extension of Worry No. 1.

Parts of plants turn brown, dry up, and look ugly unless properly maintained. But how much brown is too much? Where’s the line between life and death? How often do I prune, and if I don’t prune fast enough, will the brown leaves contaminate the rest?

Worry No. 3: Bugs Warm, wet soil is an insect’s nirvana. By bringing these plants into my house, was

I creating an open invitation for bugs to come in and make a home? Yes.

Worry No. 4: The Big Picture My indoor garden increased my anxiety.

It also has me questioning what type of parent I’ll be someday.

Caring for plants is nothing compared to owning a pet or raising a child.

If and when I have kids, I hope to be over this fear of not knowing what is totally right. (Though, no first-time parents entirely know what they are doing.) Maybe I’m working through a process by bringing these plants into my life. Or maybe I will always be anxious about bringing any living thing into my life. Only time will tell.

Until then, I’ll continue fussing over my leafy green babies.

Follow staff writer Jordan Snowden on Twitter @snowden_jordan

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•

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EARLY WARNINGS SPONSORED UPCOMING EVENTS FROM CITY PAPER’S FINE ADVERTISERS

WED., OCTOBER 10 BRIAN FALLON 8 P.M. CARNEGIE OF HOMESTE MUSIC HALL MUNHALL. All-ages event. $30-37. 412-462-3444 or ticketfly.com.

With special guest Craig Finn.

THU., OCTOBER 11 FALL FOLIAGE CRUISE 10:15 A.M. GATEWAY CLIPPER DOWNTOWN. $70-76. 412-355-7980 or gatewayclipper.com.

THU., OCTOBER 11 CHAD PRATHER 7 P.M. THE OAKS THEATER OAKMONT. All-ages event. $25-45. 412-828-6322 or ticketfly.com.

FRI., OCTOBER 12 PITTSBURGH LIBATIONS WEEK KICKOFF BASH 6 P.M. NOVA PLACE NORTH SIDE. $25-65.

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FRI., OCTOBER 12 PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS DANNY ELFMAN’S MUSIC 8 P.M. HEINZ HALL DOWNTOWN. $22-99.

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FRI., OCTOBER 12 ANDY GRAMMER 8 P.M. CARNEGIE OF HOMESTEAD MUSIC HALL MUNHALL. All-ages event. $19-359.

412-462-3444 or ticketfly.com. With special guests John Splithoff & Josie Dunne.

WED., OCT. 10 BRIAN FALLON CARNEGIE OF HOMESTEAD MUSIC HALL MUNHALL

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PHOTO: KATIE GING

Dancer Kelsey Bartman

.DANCE.

DISTINCT SOUND

BY STEVE SUCATO // CPCONTRIBUTORS@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

S

EEMINGLY always looking to one-up

BONUS COLORING IMAGE! ARTWORK BY CONNOR MARSHMAN

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themselves, Texture Contemporary Ballet artistic directors Alan Obuzor and Kelsey Bartman are presenting three distinct programs at North Side’s New Hazlett Theater this weekend. This popular dance company (now in its eighth season) will open with The Speed of Sound from September 28-30. The program will feature two premieres.

The first of two premieres on the program, Obuzor’s “Glass Walls,” is a 45-minute, non-narrative ballet that will explore themes of isolation, inclusion, and constriction. Set to excerpts of composer Philip Glass’ “String Quartet No. 3,” piano etudes, and the soundtrack to the 2002 film The Hours, this ballet will have its cast of eight female dancers and Obuzor in pointe shoes. The footwear bound to the dancers’ feet is symbolic of thematic constriction, and society’s rules as to which gender can wear them.

Abstract in its approach, “Glass Walls,” like other Obuzor ballets, is sure to contain an array of emotions in its dancing.

Also steeped in emotion will be Bartman’s latest, “Fourth Road Bridge.”

Inspired by the tragic death of Scott Hutchison, front man for Scottish band Frightened Rabbit, this 35-minute ballet gets its name from the 2008 Hutchison penned song “Floating in the Fourth” that foreshadowed his suicide.

“I think I always knew there was a sadness to all of [Hutchison’s] songs but I never thought about it,” says Bartman.

In an interview just prior to his death,

Hutchison said “that there is a use of poetic structure to veil and romanticize pretty painful times” in his songwriting.

Primarily a tribute to Hutchison and the band, this ballet for nine dancers delves into themes of depression and loss, which Bartman says are more revealed in the emotional palette and mood rather than any concrete statements made on those themes.

Of choreographing the ballet to seven of Frightened Rabbit songs (not all are melancholy), Bartman says: “It’s been a lot of weight on my shoulders.”

TEXTURE CONTEMPORARY BALLET PERFORMS

THE SPEED OF SOUND

Fri., Sept. 28-Sat., Sept. 29, 8 p.m. Sun., Sept. 30, 2 p.m. $20-30. New Hazlett Theater, 6 Allegheny Square East, North Side. textureballet.org

On Sat., Sept. 29, at 4 p.m., Texture will present a free Interactive Children’s Performance using some of the choreography from The Speed of Sound.

Then on Sun., Sept. 30, at 5:30 p.m., the company will host its curated program Dance Shorts, featuring six area professional and pre-professional dance artists/groups, including Texture, Nick M. Daniels/The DANA Movement Ensemble, Shana Simmons Dance, Ballet Academy of Pittsburgh, West Point Ballet, Attack Theatre’s Simon Phillips and STAYCEE PEARL dance project’s LaTrea Rembert.

Also performing will be New York-based NSquared Dance. Tickets are $20.

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PHOTO: HEATHER KRESGE

Corrine Jasmin performing at an open mic night.

.LITERARY.

TREADING WATER

BY JORDAN SNOWDEN // JSNOWDEN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

“D

ON’T BE AFRAID to ask for help,” says local poet Corinne Jasmin of her experience struggling with mental health issues. “I had walls up my whole life and was very alone for many years. [But] once you [knock] the walls down, it’s so much easier.”

With Jasmin’s first book of poems, Tread, she aims to encourage those battling with mental illness to be vocal about issues that plague them.

For Jasmin, those walls didn’t start to come down until her exploration into spoken word. Afraid of being vulnerable, she felt the best way to tackle this fear was to put herself in front of an audience. “It’s all in my writing,” she says. “I keep it very honest and transparent.”

Her first open mic took place at Station in Bloomfield, during an event called For The People. It was well-received, so she began performing at open mics around the city. Soon, people asked Jasmin where her poetry could be found, and the idea to create a collection of her work was born.

TREAD RELEASE

Wed., Sept. 26. 7 p.m. $5-12. Community Forge, 1256 Franklin Ave., Wilkinsburg

Debuting September 26, Tread is a self-published collection of poetry that touches on mental health, childhood trauma, heartbreak, falling in love, and self-loathing. It’s a deconstruction of self, following Jasmin’s journey as she blossomed into adulthood.

Heavily focused on the last three years of her life, Jasmin described this growth period as “messy, was ridden with pain, depression, and anxiety.” She was lost and confused about herself, and her place in the world. Fittingly, one of the poems in her collection is entitled, “The mess it’s taken me to become a woman.”

During that time, Jasmin didn’t have anything to help with her mental health and questions about her sexuality. But, she hopes the book will help women in their late teens and 20s who are dealing with similar issues. “I wish that I would have had that.”

Now, with her walls down, Jasmin is a vocal advocate for not only mental health but discusses being a person of color in America. In a video on her website, Jasmin poses nude, with a voiceover whispering, “Do not lighten my skin.” She is exposed, literally and figuratively.

“What I’m trying to encourage, is to be honest, we all have that yin and yang, and faults and mistakes, but it’s about ownership and accountability, and showing up for you before anyone else; just taking care of yourself. Let the walls down. [And,] in the most non-cheesy way, you’re not alone in your suffering.”

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER SEPT. 26-OCT. 3, 2018

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CALENDAR SEPT. 27-OCT. 3

PHOTO: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

^ Fri., Sept. 28: Science Fair

THURSDAY SEPT. 27 OUTDOORS

Help the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy beautify Schenley Plaza Gardens during a morning of volunteering. Slip on some long pants and close-toed shoes and get down in the dirt to weed, deadhead, and mulch. Tools, gloves, and training are provided. Don’t forget your wet weather gear — the event takes place rain or shine.

9-11 a.m. 4100 Forbes Ave., Oakland.

Free. Registration required and spots are limited. pittsburghparks.org

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FILM Join the University of Pittsburgh for its inaugural Best Japanese Documentary award ceremony, established by Pitt’s Japan Council and co-sponsored

by Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival. The winner is Sennan Asbestos Disaster by Kazuo Hara, which follows the asbestos industry in Japan and the government’s apathy and deflection regarding the danger in producing this material and the people affected by it. The award ceremony is followed by a screening. (Be warned: the film clocks in around four hours.) 5:30 p.m.

Frick Fine Arts Auditorium, 650 Schenley

Drive, Oakland. Free. RSVP required. pitt-jdfa.com

MUSIC

Rock, doom, sludge, and metal convene for the second annual Descendants of Crom festival. Things kick off at Howlers with a fancy-sounding “pre-gala” featuring Destroyer of Light, Rebreather, Fist Fight in the Parking Lot, Grand Gila, and Mires. The main festival goes down at Cattivo with more than 30 bands over two days, including the moody post-rock of The Long Hunt, the slow-burning doom of Horehound, and the relentless riffs from North Carolina’s Toke. 8 p.m.

Howlers, 4509 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield.

Also 4 p.m., Fri., Sept 29 and Sat., Sept. 30 at Cattivo, 146 44th St., Lawrenceville. descendantsofcrom.com

FILM

Revisit — or, more likely, witness for the first time — the 1983 horror film The House on Sorority Row from Mark Rosman (who later directed two Hilary Duff pictures in the early 2000s; who knew?). The film’s plot: a group of sorority sisters stage a prank leading up to their graduation and end up with a dead body and a witness to the crime who’s bent on avenging the death. From the horror-film site Bloody Disgusting, this is the first in a series of Retro Nightmares screenings,

PHOTO: TREVOR RICHARDS

^ Thu., Sept. 27: Horehound at Descendants of Crom

which also include Sweet Sixteen, The Convent, and two submissions from the Amityville Horror franchise. 9:15 p.m.

Retro Nightmares programming continues through Thu., Oct. 11. SouthSide Works, 425 Cinema Drive, South Side. southsideworks.com

FRIDAY

SEPT. 28 SCREEN

This Pittsburgh premiere isn’t your standard vinegar-andbaking-soda science project as Science Fair debuts at the Rangos Giant Cinema at the Carnegie Science Center. The documentary, directed by Cristina Costantini and Darren Foster for National Geographic, chronicles nine high-school students as they prepare for the International Science and Engineering Fair. One of the most competitive science fairs, the ISEF pits 1,700 students from 78 countries against one another to earn the title “Best in Fair.” This massive competition hits Pittsburgh’s largest screen for a limited run. The breakout documentary was given the first-ever Festival Favorite award at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival.

^ Sun., Sept. 30: Fortune Feimster

Continues through Thu., Oct. 4. Various showtimes. Carnegie Science Center.

1 Allegheny Ave. North Shore. $9.95. carnegiesciencecenter.org.

FESTIVAL

BONUS COLORING IMAGE! ARTWORK BY JEFF SCHRECKENGOST

Take in three days of uplifting talks, live performances, and art exhibits during the Festival of Friendship. The Trust Arts Education Center plays host to a variety of cultural events, including piano and choir performances, and discussions on topics such as migration and religion. On display are The Eternal Instant, an in-depth examination of American artist, Edward Hopper, a look at a sculptural wonder in The Portico of Glory, and Out of Many — Stories of Migration, a collection of images depicting the experience of multiple generations of Pittsburgh immigrants.

Continues through Sun., Sept. 30.

5 p.m. 805 Liberty Ave., Downtown.

Free. Registration required. revolutionoftenderness.net

MUSIC

North Side Hungarian restaurant Huszar welcomes iconic old-world composer and violinist Erno Olah for 10 performances This Budapest-based musician performs traditional gypsy music accompanied by his Gypsy String Band.

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PHOTO: SUNDANCE SELECTS

^ Fri., Sept. 28: Pick of the Litter

There’s also a special menu to go with the music, featuring traditional Hungarian food such as bakonyi steak, magyar schnitzel, stewed beef, gypsy pork, and homemade desserts. Don’t miss this; Olah doesn’t perform often in the States. 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Continues daily through Tue., Oct. 2. 627 E. North Ave., North Side. $50. huszarpittsburgh.com

SCREEN

The painfully cute “dogumentary” Pick of the Litter follows a litter of puppies from birth through their intense training to become seeing eye dogs.

Only the best pups can make the cut.

Which will be the chosen ones or the pick of the litter? The documentary is playing at the Harris Theater until October 4, so there’s plenty of time to rustle up tissues and fellow dog lovers. 6 p.m. 809 Liberty Ave., Downtown. $8. cinema.pfpca.org

MUSIC

In the Chinese Zodiac, 2018 is the year of man’s best friend. Local collective Hounds is celebrating with Year of the Dog at Ace Hotel — a gritty, industrial evening of music and art. Hip-hop

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artists Mars Jackson and Benji. are set to perform along with HearIsMatt and Chris Allen, and sets from DJ Bamboo and G.R. Zombie.

Part of proceeds from this event will go to the Humane Animal Rescue shelter and wildlife center. 7 p.m.

120 S. Whitfield St., East Liberty. $10. houndsusa.com

MUSIC Iconic pop star Madonna sings about love, lust, and dance over buoyant pop beats. Musical artist and choreographer Miguel Gutierrez puts a twist on the discography of the queen of pop in his piece, Sadonna, at the Andy Warhol Museum. Gutierrez reworks ^ Sat., Sept. 29: Mind Warp

classics into slower, sadder versions, like a melancholy, piano-only rendition of “Lucky Star.” Others, like “Dress You Up,” are accompanied with help from his backup singers, The Slutinos.

The performance aims to show “just how tiny the spiritual distance is” between a global superstar and an independent experimental artist. 8 p.m.

117 Sandusky St., North Side. $12-15. warhol.org

Particularly at a young age, playing music helps develop social, psychical, and academic skills while boosting selfesteem and patience. “Lil” Juke Joint, which is taking place during the first annual Highmark Blues and Heritage Festival, is a one-hour class that will teach fundamentals of blues to young music fans. Recommended for ages 8 and under, this could be how the next B.B. King or Eric Clapton get their start. 11 a.m. 980 Liberty Ave, Downtown. Free. aacc-awc.org

PARTY

SEPT. 29

Hoppy Birthday to the folks at Dancing Gnome. In celebration of the Pittsburgh brewery and taproom’s second anniversary, Hop Culture is throwing a classic-style birthday party, but with booze.

(Sorry kids, this one’s just for mom and dad.) With music, local food, plenty of nostalgia, and unlimited beer from 14 breweries, get ready to eat, drink, and relive the birthday parties of your youth. 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. 925 Main St, Sharpsburg. $20-$90. hopculture.com

BLUES CLASS

OUTDOORS

SATURDAY

Listening to music feeds the soul, but learning to play music feeds the mind.

Fall is a time for breezy bike rides and seasonal beverages. Everyone knows

this. Luckily, breweries in the North Side want you to enjoy both at the same time.

Five neighborhood breweries and cider houses (Penn, Spring Hill, Threadbare, Bier’s Pub, Allegheny City) are organizing a bike tour so riders can enjoy the outdoors in between sampling alcoholic beverages.

A ticket provides participants a t-shirt, souvenir plastic mug, and two free samples from each brewery. Bikes not provided. Grab a pumpkin-spice ale then get on the bike trail. 1-5 p.m.

Various Locations, North Side. $25. pittsburghnorthside.com

7 DAYS

OF CONCERTS

BY JORDAN SNOWDEN JSNOWDEN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

PHOTO: MARC MILLMAN

Eric Lindell

THURSDAY Jesse Denaro 7 p.m. Club Café, South Side. clubcafelive.com

FRIDAY ^ Sun., Sept. 30: Sweet Honey in the Rock

Donovan Woods & The Opposition 7 p.m. The Funhouse at Mr. Smalls, Millvale. mrsmalls.com

MUSIC

If you haven’t checked in with George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic in a while, please stop what you’re doing (reading?) and find the video for their 2018 track “I’m Gon Make U Sick O’Me,” featuring Scarface and Gary “Mudbone” Cooper. It’s not just good for Clinton’s age (77) or a crew that’s been playing together since the late 1960s. The song is as flamboyant, bizarre and fun as anything in its canon, with an infectious funk guitar riff and a music video not lacking for butts. Come out and see/hear for yourself at Stage AE, as P-Funk is joined by Zapp, Mary Jane Girls, and Steve Arrington. 6 p.m. 400 North Shore Drive., North Side. $30-120. promowestlive.com

MENTALIST

No one likes to find themselves at an airport hotel on a Saturday night, unless of course you’re a fan of mind reading, in which case it’s the best possible place to be. Head over to the Hilton Garden Inn near the Pittsburgh airport for Mind Warp, a comedic mind reading and magic show hosted by mentalist Steve Haberman. This interactive show features audience participation that may or not end in a revelation of your deepest, darkest secrets. Now that’s some good clean family fun! Just kidding, this event is not for children. 7:30 p.m. 9600 University Blvd., Moon. $18-30. 13 and older. mindwarpshow.com

SATURDAY Bettye LaVette 8 p.m. August Wilson Center, Downtown. aacc-awc.org

SUNDAY Carl Broemel 7 p.m. The Rex Theater, South Side. rextheater.net

MONDAY Eva Noblezada 9:30 p.m. Greer Cabaret Theater, Downtown. trustarts.org

TUESDAY Eric Lindell 7 p.m. The Church Recording Studio, Overbrook. thechurchrecordingstudio.com

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PHOTO: LOROTO PRODUCTIONS

^ Tue., Oct. 2: Frankie Cosmos

SUNDAY SEPT. 30 MUSIC

Get ready to close your eyes, nod your head, and praise Jesus. The soulful harmonies of female a cappella quartet Sweet Honey in the Rock is feel good music. Deeply inspired by its AfricanAmerican roots, the ensemble’s songs are spiritual and empowering. The group performs at August Wilson Center as part of the Highmark Blues & Heritage festival and will include American Sign Language interpretation for those with hearing impairments. 4 p.m. 980 Liberty Ave., Downtown. aacc-awc.org

COMEDY

Anyone who can do equally successful impressions of Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Ivanka Trump, and Ann Coulter is a person worth spending time with.

Fortune Feimster nailed all three in appearances on Chelsea Handler’s Netflix show, particularly her turn as Sanders reading a letter to President Trump in that trademark aloof monotone (“this one’s

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from a real little boy named Cucumber”).

She’s also appeared on Glee, The Mindy Project, Drunk History, and RuPaul’s Drag Race. Catch her stand-up at Club Cafe, with special guest Felicia Gillespie and host John Dick Winters. 6 p.m. 56 S. 12th St., South Side. $20. 21 and over. clubcafelive.com

TUESDAY OCT. 2 MUSIC

“I wasn’t built for this world, I had sex once, now I’m dead,” Greta Kline sings on the rollicking “Cafeteria” from Frankie Cosmos’ latest, Vessel. It’s a great line, and one that reflects succinct, sardonic songwriting that’s brought this fourpiece so much (well-deserved) acclaim in its seven years in action. Joining Frankie Cosmos at Roboto are two other remarkably clever, guitar-driven songwriters in Stef Chura and Lomelda. This show was originally at Cattivo, but moved to Roboto after the former dropped all-ages shows.

Don’t miss an opportunity to see these great bands in such an intimate spot.

7 p.m. 5106 Penn Ave., Bloomfield. $16. therobotoproject.com

STAGE

“Ride the cosmos in an emotional rocket ship through the light and dark of being a human, parent, dreamer and seeker of hope” — with a pitch like that, it’s hard to resist being curious about Not So Supernova, an autobiographical one-woman show by Shannon Milliman.

This Portland, Ore. performer traces her journey from marrying a musician to dealing with the difficulties of motherhood, all the while finding humor in life’s unmet expectations. The event takes place at Glitter Box Theater.

7-10 p.m. 460 Melwood Ave., Oakland.

Free. theglitterboxtheater.com

WEDNESDAY OCT. 3 COMEDY

In her latest special, Rape Jokes, comedian Cameron Esposito tackles sexual assault from the survivor’s perspective. “There were certain folks, high profile folks

who were being called out as abusers,” Esposito told PBS this year. “It seemed like the cycle was moving on to rehabbing those people’s images. ... without ever talking about what it’s like to be a survivor.” Though it sounds heavy, Esposito is insanely funny, fresh, and insightful on Rape Jokes, which will come as no surprise to anyone who’s been following her career since she started in 2007. Other highlights include stand-up appearances on Conan, The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and Last Call with Carson Daly; “Ask a Lesbian” on Buzzfeed; and her TV show Take My Wife.

Esposito brings her Person of Consequence tour to Rex Theater. 7 p.m. 1602 E. Carson St., South Side. $25. rextheater.net

SLAM

It’s verse versus verse when poets gather for Nasty Slam at Spirit. The open, bracketstyle competition gives each participant three minutes to spit out their best written or improvised material for the chance to win a cash prize. The victor is determined by audience applause, so bring your squad to cheer you on. 10 p.m.-12 a.m. 242 51st St., Lawrenceville, $10 to slam and watch.

21 and over. spiritpgh.com •

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