February 13, 2019 - Pittsburgh City Paper

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650 Smithfield Street, Suite 2200 Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412.316.3342 / FAX: 412.316.3388 E-MAIL info@pghcitypaper.com

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FEB. 13-20, 2019 VOLUME 28 + ISSUE 7 Editor-In-Chief LISA CUNNINGHAM Associate Publisher JUSTIN MATASE Director of Operations KEVIN SHEPHERD Managing Editor ALEX GORDON Senior Writers RYAN DETO, AMANDA WALTZ Staff Writers HANNAH LYNN, JORDAN SNOWDEN Photographer/Videographer JARED WICKERHAM Digital Media Manager JOSH OSWALD Editorial Designer ABBIE ADAMS Graphic Designer JEFF SCHRECKENGOST Marketing and Promotions Coordinator CONNOR MARSHMAN Senior Sales Representative BLAKE LEWIS Sales Representatives KAITLIN OLIVER, NICK PAGANO Office Coordinator MAGGIE WEAVER Advertising Sales Assistant TAYLOR PASQUARELLI Circulation Manager JEFF ENGBARTH Featured Contributors REGE BEHE, GAB BONESSO, LISSA BRENNAN, LYNN CULLEN, TERENEH IDIA, CRAIG MRUSEK, CHARLES ROSENBLUM, JESSIE SAGE, STEVE SUCATO Interns JANINE FAUST, XIOLA JENSEN 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 2019 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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COVER ILLUST RAT ION: XIOLA JENSEN RE A D T H E S TORY ON PAG E 6

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER FEB. 13-20, 2019

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THE BIG STORY

PITTSBURGH LOVE STORIES

BY LISA CUNNINGHAM // LCUNNING@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

P

ICK ANY well-known figure in pop culture, and there’s sure to be fan fiction written about them. The genre has grown in popularity so much over the years that it’s branched out from stories about fictional characters to include “real person fiction,” with fans writing stories about celebrities and public figures they admire.

For this year’s Valentine’s Day Issue, we put out a call for readers to pen stories about their favorite Pittsburgh personalities. On the following pages, you’ll read an ode to our beloved cover model; an always smiling WQED celebrity who made it into not one, but two stories; a popular chef whose food is so delicious, the writer penned a futuristic love story about an imaginary restaurant; a romantic script to the city itself; and one story, well, let’s just say it’s a love letter to every single woman in Pittsburgh.

(You’ll see what I mean.)

My fanfic? I’m picturing all of our readers, lying in a bed full of City Papers, dressed only in the tattoos of transferred newsprint ink, whispering, “I can’t believe I get to read this incredible paper every week for free. Print media is alive! Aliveeeeeeeeeee!”

Hey, fan fiction is fantasy, after all. *All of the following submissions are fictional pieces submitted by our readers. They do not reflect the viewpoints of Pittsburgh City Paper.

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IT’S LOVE & A LOT OF OTHER STUFF

BY SARAH SANTONI

I

DO NOT KNOW when I fell for you,

but I do know that it was instant and all-consuming.

Standing outside of the WQED studios on Fifth Avenue, I hesitated and asked myself as the rain started to fall, “What will I say?” What could I say to the man behind Sandwiches That You Will Like, the greatest work of seduction I ever experienced?

“I … I have never been to Brookline,” I stammered, as you sauntered to your car.

The way you looked at me without any trace of pity, it melted away my inhibitions.

“Let’s go!” You tossed your beat-up briefcase adorned with a faded Chapel Hill sticker into the trunk and stepped towards me, your hand extended and welcoming. In a blink of an eye, we were strolling the boulevard, unaffected by the rainwater splashes from cars hitting potholes. In Pitaland, we laughed at the clever tip jar, and then you leaned in and said point-blank, “Tell me something you’re afraid to tell anyone.”

“I don’t think I like roller coasters,” I admitted.

“What! What do you mean?” You squeezed my hand, and somehow we floated down the Mon to Pittsburgh’s great old amusement park.

The Jack Rabbit rattled my bones, yet the pain of early arthritis receded into my soul as my heart opened more to your memories of Kennywood — your

glee, so contagious. At The Potato Patch, I confessed, “You reveal charm in places I underestimate. You show the possibility in the banal. You’re the most romantic man I’ve ever known.” My hands trembled as I clutched my food tray. Sensing my anxiety towards my own admission, you hugged me generously, before taking a fry.

At sunset, you took us to the South Hills where we sat together at Warhol’s grave, delicately slurping Campbell’s soup in near silence. You pointed up to the camera, and we stared into the live feed, giving 15 minutes of fame to our love. Our closeness was so comfortable, and I knew then that those final 15 minutes were all I needed, because an entire city, perhaps a whole world of PBS enthusiasts, were perpetually waiting for you.

So I accepted your goodbye and watched as you walked down the grassy hill, careful not to fall, utilizing your new physical therapy skills. As you turned to nod farewell, flashing those dimples that could reignite the Carrie Furnace, I called out to you, “I will make an entire tribute of reasons I love you A-Z.” “That may be too niche for a TV audience,” you said.

As I forced a goodbye wave, the rain camouflaged my tears, and I whispered, “No, it is not.”

Never stop making scrapbooks for our hearts, Rick Sebak.

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HURT IN AN ACCIDENT

BY JASON CLEARFIELD

I

T CAUGHT ME first as a glint, the globe glistening with the bold, radiant energy throbbing from his bright-lit, bald bulb. His finger was pointed, thrust in my direction. I didn’t know how to communicate with the fauxUncle Sam, the daddy of accident protection, the maestro of injury claims. All I knew how to do was stare.

It was the glint in his eye, the deadpan searing lust radiating from this beacon, a saint; asking me if I, I!, was ay? I was injured. Asking me about myself. I didn’t have the words, but what good would it have done anyway? se with a staring into the faded image of a photograph, a visage of a titan conductor enabling his intercourse ulable lot city dawning on his creation. Was I the Adam to his massive mien? Or was I just one of an incalculable e, and him of masses, tired wretches wrenching upwards to meet his muddle in satiating that desire for more, knowing they wanted more. That I wanted more. I caress his two-dimensional image, looking like a monster, nder studio a fiend at the bus stop. Near weeping, calling out for a caress of his warm, golden globe glistening under rds that burly light; wanting to chase the line of his finger, up through his suit jacket arm and upwards towards y I’m taking the pepper beard, which inflames with static urgency. I wasn’t hurt in an auto accident. That’s not why bus. It’s all for you, Edgar. It’s always been for you. There’s never a me unless I get a moment with you.

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:ŽŝŶ ƚŚĞ : ƚŽĚĂLJ ĂŶĚ ŐĞƚ ΨϭϬϬ ŽīΎ Squirrel Hill: 412-697-3522 • South Hills: 412-278-1975 membership@jccpgh.org ΎKīĞƌ ĞdžƉŝƌĞƐ DĂLJ ϯϭ PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER FEB. 13-20, 2019

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AN EVENING AT ARMAND’S

BY JOSEPH FRIEDMAN

I

T WAS HARD TO BELIEVE that 2028

would finally be the year Chef Curtis Gamble’s new concept restaurant, Armand’s Bar and Grill, would re-emerge out of Neu Lawrenceville’s recently extended Liberty Avenue.

I walked in on an unassuming night, chasing the simply-bulleted online menu: “The Special.” The haze of Armand’s red lights and stale air was just what I needed to shake this April snowstorm, but I had no clue that the real experience Gamble had in mind would end up being so sexy.

I stood at the bar next to Android Fred Rogers, who was sharing a pop with Rick Sebak. “Hi neighbor,” Fred greeted. Sebak, out of breath, his clothes stained with a mixture of what looked like fresh cream sauce and sweat, peeked his signature smile from his mustache. “… Incredible, but it’ll cost you,” he whined. He was no doubt talking about The Special. Gamble, who had been behind the bar the whole time, spraying cigarette-smoke-infused pork floss into the ventilation system, motioned to the fryer behind him. “I know what you want.”

I took out my money, wrapped in a gumband, and revealed a fresh Lincoln.

“The Special, Chef.”

Gamble shoved his bare hands, fingers glowing with gold rings, into the fryer. He lifted them out, gripping his voluptuous cod, and ripped it to shreds. Stuffing the pieces into my cargo shorts, he whispered sweetly, “I know you like it dirty.”

That’s right; I did like it dirty. I liked it dirty, and I liked it sexy. “Tonight,” the

chef mewled, “you are The Special.” I felt my pants tighten, and it wasn’t because they were full of cod.

He used his bare, fishy hands to dress me in butter. Sebak licked his lips as Android Fred Rogers moved to a nearby piano and started playing Scott Joplin’s 1902 ragtime hit “The Entertainer.”

The next three minutes of erotic bliss began with Curtis Gamble wrapping me in honey-baked turkey slices so thin you could see through to my Grateful Dead Steelers shirt. You know the one.

Gamble took off a sneaker and emptied its contents over me — a traditional cheese sauce, marinating for days under his footsteps. The chef flipped a switch below the bar, and the Marlboro pork floss hummed through the air, covering every exposed inch of me. Mmmm.

Rick Sebak crossed his arms in approval. The music ended. A Nancy B’s cookie penetrated my mouth.

I walked to the back to clean up, covered in foot-fermented béchamel, lips throbbing from what Gamble put in my mouth. I opened the bathroom door to see three strangers, naked, rubbed with sour cream, stuffing each other like pierogies, groaning in an intimate, fried-onion-topped embrace. Turned to a human Devonshire, I realized what Gamble meant when he wanted to bring the culture of Pittsburgh’s smokiest dive back to town. I ripped off my turkeywrapped clothes and added my kielbasa to the pile. Just another night at Armand’s — all that was missing was the Ranch.

•

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER FEB. 13-20, 2019

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LATE NIGHT AT THE PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE

BY SARAH JAMES

I

T’S 4:55 P.M. on February 14th, and I’m about to hang up my pen for the day. As the editorial cartoonist for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, I’ve had a long week of drawing g cartoons about how women are stupid, and it’s time for some much needed R&R. The hallway is empty as I head for the elevators, except for — is that a swish of skirt fabric, up ahead? I round the corner and there she is: a real, live woman. I rarely interact with human women, although you definitely can’t tell that from my very accurate cartoons.

I clear my throat. “Hello there, miss,” I say. “Would you like ike me to press the elevator button for you, or are you one of those ose modern gals?”

She laughs. “I’m not a gal at all,” she says. At first, I’m caught ght off guard because her flowing red frock is giving me feelings in my bathing suit area, the sort of feelings I really don’t want to examine ine if she turns out to be RuPaul. But then she clarifies: “I’m your conscience.” nce.”

“My conscience?” I ask. “Didn’t realize I had one of those.”

“Only just barely,” she replies. “But it’s true. Deep down inside e you, you know your cartoons are outdated and sexist. Some part of you knows that continuing to accept a paycheck for drawing them is morally reprehensible.”

“Calm down, sweetheart,” I say. “They’re just cartoons.”

“Cartoons that re-affirm misogynistic structures of power,” she says. “Women

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are paid less, interrupted more, treated as objects, denied access to healthcare. Your cartoons contribute to that state of mind.”

“But I love women,” I say. “I love my mother.” wom “Are you sure?” she asks. “Because as your conscience, I think you may be afraid.”

I chuckle.

“Afraid of women? But they’re women!” chuc “I don’t mean afraid of women,” she says. “Although you probably do are that, that too. I mean afraid of death. These cheap-shot cartoons recycling jokes that th would barely be funny in the 1950s are your paper’s — and by extension, your own — last grasp at relevance in a changing world. exten No matter matte how many cartoons you draw, know this: the world is moving on, and it is leaving you behind. One day you, and the backward views you hold will die. Your existence on earth will be forgotten. Rage against women, whose growing power in society you no doubt blame for your decreasing power, all you want. wan You will still one day be irrelevant. Meaningless. Nothing.

You are going to die, and what’s more, you will die knowing you spent your time making the world worse instead of better.”

I inhale sharply, not knowing what to say. “Well, that’s … uh … do you want to grab dinner?”

My conscience merely laughs. “No,” she says. “No, I do not.”

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PITTSBURGH: THE REAL CELEBRITY

BY SUSAN J. ILLIS

T

“

ELL ME AGAIN about your ex.”

“Which one?”

“The one who got famous and left you for someone better.”

Slight eye roll. “Let me tell you about them all. They were all kind of famous, but for different reasons.

“First there was Diamond. He was a Scottish farmer, with a sexy burr in his voice. A little rough around the edges. He liked his whiskey but really resented paying taxes.”

“What happened?”

“He married an Irish girl and had a bunch of red-haired kids. After a while, his face was as ruddy as his children’s hair.

“Next was Smoky. Big German guy who worked in a glass factory, then an ironworks. He spent a lot of time at breweries and kept some livestock on the side. He lived up Pig Hill.”

“What happened to him?”

Sad shake of the head. “Tragic slaughtering incident. But by then, I had already moved on to Steel. He was a gorgeous hunky.”

“Don’t you mean hunk?”

“Oh, you are so naive. A hunky is a person from Eastern Europe. He was a hunky hunk, or a hunky hunky. Anyway. He worked in the steel mill. Shoulders and arms like Popeye’s after a can of spinach. Chiseled cheekbones. He had a dark side, though, and could be morose. Really, Smoky would have been an appropriate name for him as well.”

“Let me guess. Steel mill accident?”

Grudging smile. “Good answer, but no, that wasn’t it. He forgot to

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tell me about his wife back in the old country. We were both surprised when she showed up with five children.”

“Was the next one the famous one?”

“The first three were famous. Just not as celebrated as the next two.”

“Well, go on, then.”

“Champ came next. The kind of fame Diamond, Smoky, and Steel had was kind of negative, even though they weren’t all bad.

But Champ — everyone made a big deal about Champ. He was very athletic. That’s what he was known for — his ability to win games.

His successes brought people together, gave them hope when they’d been focused on all the bad things that happened to them. Some still claim his victories as their own, even though he moved on to other cities.”

“Who’s next?”

“Tech. He’s the one you think is going to leave me for someone else. Tech is a hipster, kind of a Renaissance man. He’s focused on technology and medical advances. Loves craft beer and liquor, and is a bit of a foodie. He lives in Lawrenceville. He used to have a goatee and a man bun.” Shrug. “Sometimes it seems he doesn’t really belong here. We’ll see how it works out.”

“Which one was really your favorite?”

“I don’t have a favorite. They were all perfect for the stage of my life when I knew them. And really, I’m a little bit of all of them, just as each one carried something from the one before.

They’re all still with me. In my heart.”

•

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Valentine’s Pudding Wrestling Massacre at Spirit

.EVENT.

VALENTINE’S DAY(S)

BY MAGGIE WEAVER // MWEAVER@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

C

ANDLELIT DINNERS are always a

lovely choice, but they’re not the only option for celebrating Valentine’s Day this year. If you’re looking for something a little off the beaten path, check out our list of fun events around town for both couples and singles. Looking for love? Don’t lose yourself in the apps — the carpal tunnel isn’t worth it. Check out one of our single-friendly events instead.

Who knows? Maybe you’ll even find a Valentine!

Moonlight Yoga 6 p.m. Wed., Feb 13. Heinz History Center, 1212 Smallman St., Strip District. $25. heinzhistorycenter.org Thanks to Leslie Knope, everyone knows that Galentine’s Day is better than Valentine’s Day. This Galentine’s, grab

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your closest ladies and hit moonlight yoga for a heart-centric vinyasa flow.

Afterward, enjoy a moon-inspired cocktail and special access to the History Center’s exhibit Destination Moon: The Apollo 11 Mission.

Valentine’s Day with Cats 3 p.m. Thu., Feb 14. Colony Cafe, 1125 Penn Ave., Downtown. $13-50. colonycafepgh.com Celebrate love with cats. Choose the Sip & Purr event for an hour of cat-time and boozy accompaniment, finished with a legendary frosted brownie. Or, opt for Wine, Cheese, and Cats: grab a partner and your favorite bottle of wine to pair with Colony Cafe’s cheese board and a cat-filled hour.

Valentine’s Day Dance Party 6:30 p.m. Thu., Feb 14. Studio 101, 5877 Commerce St., Shadyside. $15. studio101pgh.com Anyone, and Studio 101 means anyone, can be your Valentine for this party. Dust off your best dance moves and prepare to sweat love away with a hip-hop combination from two resident teachers. After tearin’ up the dance floor, treat yourself to wine and cupcakes. Positive vibes only!

MAKEnight 6:30 p.m. Thu., Feb 14.

Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, 10 Children’s Way, North Side. $15-20.

21+. pittsburghkids.org Put some sass in V-day with the MAKE-

night: My Snarky Valentine at the Children’s Museum (though this event is not for kids). Ditch the Valentine for some valen-slime. Explore the museum’s two-story climbing structure made from packing tape. Or, up your Tinder game with a professional photographer to spice up your profile.

Valentine’s Day at the Drive-In 6:30 p.m. Thu., Feb. 14.

Dependable Drive-In, 549 Moon Clinton Road, Moon Township. dependabledrivein.com Some love candy and roses. Others love watching people get slaughtered in thrasher movies. It’s the best of both worlds at Dependable Drive-In for its Valentine’s Day screening of Happy CONTINUES ON PG. 16

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER FEB. 13-20, 2019

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VALENTINE’S DAY(S), CONTINUED FROM PG. 14

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LANDMARKS PRESERVATION RESOURCE CENTER - A program of the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation Foundation

JOIN US AT THE LANDMARKS PRESERVATION RESOURCE CENTER FOR ONGOING WORKSHOPS AS WE CONTINUE PROGRAMMING ON ARCHITECTURE, HISTORY, DESIGN, URBAN PLANNING, AND OTHER TOPICS RELATED TO HOW CITIES FUNCTION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION AS A TOOL OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19 • 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM LECTURE: A SHORT DISCUSSION OF ARCHITECTURE AND TIME PRESENTER: CHARLES ROSENBLUM WRITER AND ARCHITECTURE CRITIC Judged from afar, historic buildings are old, and contemporary architecture is new. But the more carefully you look, the more time works to intertwine the seeming opposites.

Some particularly old buildings are still futuristic, while the avant-garde can be surprisingly shop-worn. By looking at a combination of familiar favorites and unlikely obscurities in architecture, punctuated with insights from a few key texts, this presentation aims to present a broadening sense of how buildings allow us to experience time, not simply as past, present, or future, but across a varied range of effects.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER: Charles Rosenblum is a journalist, critic, and scholar writing about architecture, art and other aspects of visual culture. For the past 20 years, he has taught history of architecture and art at a number of universities in Western Pennsylvania. His writing has appeared in books and publications nationally and regionally, including several for PHLF. Charles has won journalism awards for architectural writing in the Pittsburgh City Paper and Pittsburgh Quarterly. In 2013, he was historical consultant and on-screen expert for the documentary, Henry Hornbostel in Architecture and Legacy, broadcast on WQED. He earned a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia with a dissertation on Hornbostel’s architecture.

Death Day 2U and Glass. The $25.50 admittance for couples includes popcorn, candy, fountain drinks, and a rose. The best part? You can surprise your date with a message on the big screen during intermission. Reserve your spot ASAP: tickets must be purchased online by 5 p.m. on Wed., Feb. 13.

Match Made in Hollywood 7 p.m. Thu., Feb. 14. Spork, 5430 Penn Ave., Garfield. $75. sporkpittsburgh.com Spork is tossing out the traditional prix-fixe Valentine’s dinner for a fun singles party. The restaurant is pairing with local dating company, The Green Band, for a Hollywood-themed dating game. Participating singles are given a popular character name and spend the night finding their romantic counterpart. Not a speeddater? Sip on Spork’s movie-magic cocktail list instead.

Valentine’s Clay Date 7 p.m. Thu., Feb. 14. Union Project, 801 N. Negley Ave., Highland Park. $75/pair. 21+. Search Facebook for “Valentine’s Clay Date”

THIS LECTURE IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. RSVPS ARE APPRECIATED: MARYLU@PHLF.ORGOR 412-471-5808 EXT. 527.

744 REBECCA AVENUE

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PGHCITYPAPER.COM

WILKINSBURG, PA 15221

412-471-5808

Ever fantasize about recreating that sexy scene from Ghost in which Patrick Swayze is straddling Demi Moore in front of a pottery wheel? Make the magic happen at the Union Project for a fun evening drinking wine and creating clay pieces of art to take home with you.

Have “Unchained Melody” stuck in your head yet?

Trap N Paint 7 p.m. Thu., Feb. 14. Jeron X Grayson Community Center, 1852 Enoch St., Hill District. $40 per person. trapnpaint.com Bring your boo, and your booty, for a night of trap dancing and painting. Picture a bunch of easels dropped into your favorite hip-hop club. This isn’t your mom’s painting night, unless your momma likes her paint mixed with a generous side of pop and locks.

Valentines on Ice 7 p.m. Thu., Feb. 14. Schenley Park Skating Rink, 10341 Overlook Drive, Oakland. 18+.

Search Facebook for “Valentines On Ice” It’s a two-for-one night at the Schenley Park Skating Rink this Valentine’s Day. For only $5, couples can ice skate, salsa dance, and get free caricatures and temporary tattoos. There will also be raffle prizes, and the first 200 couples will get a rose and chocolate.

Valentine’s Day Bacon Bingo 7 p.m. Thu., Feb. 14. Strange Roots Experimental Ale, 501 E. Ohio St., Millvale.

Free. strangerootsbeer.com After you win your partner’s heart, win them some bacon. Millvale brewery Strange Roots Experimental Ale is teaming up with Pittsburgh Smokehouse to bring a meaty theme to its weekly bingo night.

Win a B-I-N-G-O, get some B-A-C-O-N.

Trashed Thursday: Anti-Valentine’s Day 11:45 p.m. Thu., Feb 14. There Ultra Lounge, 931 Liberty Ave., Downtown There Ultra Lounge wants you to embrace

love. Or, show Valentine’s Day your dark side. The choice is up to you. Either way, Trashed Thursday is bound to be a blowout. Gather your besties and party like a lovebird.

Love, Sex, and Science 6 p.m. Fri., Feb 15. Carnegie Science Center, 1 Allegheny Ave., North Shore. $15. carnegiesciencecenter.org Learn about all forms of love at the Carnegie Science Center. Explore the science of attraction, sensory speed dating, learn about polyamory, talk with experts from the Pittsburgh kink community, and study the anatomy of love organs.

End the night by grabbing a collector’s endangered species condom.

Valentine’s Pudding Wrestling Massacre: 10th Anniversary 9 p.m. Fri., Feb 15. Spirit, 242 51st St., Lawrenceville. $10-20. spiritpgh.com Who needs love when there is lots and lots of vanilla pudding? Spirit, for the tenth year in a row, is throwing down with their Valentine’s Pudding Wrestling Massacre. Twelve women compete to win a cash prize and bragging rights.

Celebrity judges — keep an eye out for Bill Peduto — make the final call.

Cupid’s Undie Run 12 p.m. Sat., Feb 16. McFadden’s Restaurant and Saloon, 211 North Shore Dr., North Shore. $45-50. Cupids.org Dress your underwear-best for Cupid’s Undie Run! Join in this cheese-fest with ranks of scantilly-clad runners. Mingle and drink, then after the short 15minute run, spend the rest of the weekend dancing on the North Shore. Profits from the run benefit research for neurofibromatosis, a genetic tumor disorder.

presents KARAMO BROWN “of Neflix reboot of Queer Eye”

MARCH 1, 2019 | 7 P.M.

Anti-Valentine’s Hafla 6:30 p.m. Sat., Feb 16. Bodiography Center for Movement, 5824 Forbes Ave., Squirrel Hill. $15 at the door. steelshimmybellydance.com Shimmy out of the Valentine’s Day slump with an anti-love belly-dancing hafla. Watch performers dance to heavy-metal covers of love songs. As the event page says, “If you’ve always wanted to dance to the metal version of ‘I Will Always Love You,’ this is the show for you!”

PURCHASE TICKETS AT

AACC-AWC.ORG

412-339-1011

•

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER FEB. 13-20, 2019

17

.VOICES.

A BLACK AMERICAN FAMILY Told in Four Generations, Part II

BY TERENEH IDIA CPCONTRIBUTORS@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Read the first installment at pghcitypaper.com.

T

HADDEUS GILMORE MOSLEY (SR.)

may be one of strongest men you could ever encounter. At 5’9” he would bet that if you were 150 pounds or less, he could lift you with one hand.

And he could.

So one could not blame the thenteenaged Helen Lee Fagan for meeting Thaddeus and deciding, after a time, that it was best to leave that “mean stepmother” on the Fagan Farm. They married and moved to Elbon, Penn. to stay on the Mosley Farm, where their first three daughters — Beattle, Margaret, and Orvetta — were born.

However, the isolated farm life did not appeal to Helen. So the young Mosley family of five moved to New Castle, where a son, Thaddeus Gilmore Mosley Jr., was born, followed by another daughter, Corliss, 14 months later.

But the uncertainty of hourly work forced Thaddeus Sr. to relocate the

18

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

PHOTOS COURTESY OF TERENEH IDIA

Fagan family memorabilia

family again, this time to Number 5 Mine, a deep coal mining town located near Grove City. The homes were companyowned, the store was the company store.

In order to not “give every penny back to the company,” Thaddeus Sr. and Helen used their agricultural experience to turn their big back yard into a garden, pig pen, and chicken shed.

There was a strong community among the coal miners. The Mosley family’s two-story mill house was next to an Irish-American family on one side and an Italian-American family on the

other. “Everyone went to each other’s house,” Thaddeus Jr. remembers. “Mom was involved in lots of clubs and she was on a softball team.” At four or five, Thaddeus Jr. was allowed to walk the dirt road to the mine entrance and greet his dad when he finished his shift.

The Mosleys had a piano and a car.

Thaddeus Sr. was a big reader; his bookcase — filled with history, novels and poetry — was a prized, if rare, possession in the mining town. He never worried about others’ opinions. “No one is asking me what to buy or what they should be

Follow featured contributor Tereneh Idia on Twitter @Tereneh152XX

thinking. Just as soon as they do, I’ll start worrying about what others are thinking about me.”

Thaddeus Sr. became a union organizer working to institute fair labor practices for coal miners. The family believes this led to unionbusting intimidation tactics, including having the family home routinely targeted by shooters.

Helen had to learn how to use a rifle.

Beattle, known as Bea, was the lookout.

Bea would yell out, “Someone’s coming!”

Thaddeus Sr. would shoot from the front of the house and Helen from the kitchen out back. Bea had a buckshot scar on her forehead the rest of her life because of her lookout duties. The family was never able to positively identify the shooters.

Eventually Helen decided it was best to live in a place that offered more for her children. She, along with the kids, moved back to New Castle. Helen and Thaddeus Sr. divorced.

Several years ago, my dad showed me grandmother’s wedding ring. It is a simple but beautiful wide gold band, with dents and dings, a ring worn on a working hand. My dad told me what my grandmother said about my grandfather: “Although I remarried, your father was the love of my life.”

You can see Thaddeus Sr.’s face in his son, grandson, and great grandsons.

Helen’s laughter lives on in a granddaughter and her great grandsons have her baseball skills.

I am only three generations away from slavery in my family. Two generations from life on a farm. One from a coal mine. We call this History, but it so many ways it is also the Present.

•

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19

CP PHOTO: GAB BONESSO

An Italian father’s daughter

.GABBY NORMAL.

FOOL-BLOODED ITALIAN

BY GAB BONESSO // CPCONTRIBUTORS@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

M

Y ENTIRE LIFE has been a lie. I

only recently discovered this because I was given an Ancestry DNA kit for Christmas. The reality is that I was given an identity crisis for Christmas. Thanks, sis.

My whole life I’ve declared that I am an Italian American. My father, I believed, was the product of two Italians. Therefore I assumed my old man was 100 percent Italian, making me at least 50 percent.

My mother never knew her birth father. We were told he was either Russian or Italian. (What? My maternal grandmother had a full dance card. Don’t judge.)

My mother deluded herself into believing she was Italian. Honestly, if you had ever eaten her food, you would have assumed she was a full-blooded Italian. Don’t let a chef’s palate fool you.

It means nothing.

My results arrived last Thursday. The “science” deduced that I was only — wait for it – 35 percent Italian (sobbing).

I was so irate, I threw my laptop in what I used to describe as an “Italian rage fit” and now I can only call a “rage fit.” This is not right.

I must question the science behind a Q-tip of my saliva determining my heritage. I don’t know if I’m buying this. I am definitely trying the competitor 23andMe. I just can’t accept 35 percent! I’m telling you, I look just like my father,

especially when I wear a fake mustache.

This can’t be accurate.

According to the test, one of my Italian grandparents wasn’t all Italian, capisce?

Here’s my DNA breakdown, which incidentally caused a mental breakdown: • 35% Italy • 22% Russia (We found out who our Grandpa was!)

• 13% Greece and the Balkans • 11% England, Wales, Northern Europe • 9% France • 4% Baltic States • 3% Ireland and Scotland • 2% Turkey and the Caucasus • 1% Sweden Who the hell am I? This is the first time I’m glad my parents aren’t alive to see this garbage. Poor mom … got the birth father she never wanted. Poor pops wasn’t even a full-blooded Italian. More like FOOL-blooded, am I right?

I am so sad. Not to be dramatic, but it’s like spending your whole life assuming you’re Rocky Balboa, the Italian Stallion. Then you find out you are equal parts Rocky and Dolph Lundgren. I’m fighting myself in Rocky 4, you guys! (more sobbing) Whatever. Culturally, I was raised Italian. It doesn’t matter what my spit determines. I know who I am. I’m Gab and I’m Italian … kind of.

•

Follow featured contributor Gab Bonesso on Twitter @gabbonesso

20

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

.JUST JAGGIN’.

JAGOFF AND CHILL

BY JOSH OSWALD // JOSWALD@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

I

T’S HARD TO FIND a companion as a

single person in Pittsburgh in 2019.

The median age in the city is around 33, which significantly narrows the field.

Bars and clubs are packed with Quaaludetoting jackals. And what can a dating app built by some self-righteous, Silicon Valley nerd know about who or what a Pittsburgher is looking for?

Luckily, a group of tech-savvy locals have created a new app called Yinzer Mingle, which they promise will disrupt the Pittsburgh dating scene.

According to the unnamed company’s press release, “Yinzer Mingle is the product of the most respected relationship and technology minds in the Greater Pittsburgh region: bar patrons who are good at erotic Photo Hunt. Our employees are consistently ranked in the top 10 of Photo Hunt professionals worldwide. They are extremely knowledgeable about both body parts and touch-screen technology, the two main pieces of any dating app.”

Yinzer Mingle works similarly to other dating apps: users create a bio and select options from key areas of compatibility including hobbies, dream vacations, and food, each tailored toward Pittsburgh sensibilities.

“Not everybody wants to go dahn to one those fancy fondue restaurants. I

can get like five Superburger Combos for those kinda prices!” says the lead product designer who goes only by Jeffrey.

“Yinzer Mingle’s categories treat Pittsburgh dating the way it used to be.

The way it is supposed to be!

‘You like jumbo sammiches?’

‘Yes.’ ‘I do too. Let’s make aht.’”

When two users get enough matches, live within three miles of each other, and don’t have to cross any rivers to meet up, each gain access to the other’s profile and contact information. Jeffrey calls this “The Golden Triangle of Compatibility.”

The beta version of the app has over 50 users, and every user has been matched up three times each. Jeffrey explains that the high rate of successful matches as a testament to the technology.

“Our algorithms are top-notch. We bought ’em off a guy who makes thousands selling knock-off Steelers hoodies in the strip. So, you know he’s smart.”

Jeffrey hopes to get another 50 users

by July and plans to make a strong promotional push at his cousin’s corndog stand during this year’s Regatta.

•

See a demo of the Yinzer Mingle app in this article online at http://bit.ly/ yinzer-mingle

Follow digital media manager Josh Oswald on Twitter @gentlemenRich PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER FEB. 13-20, 2019

21

.FOOD.

BURNING UP

BY MAGGIE WEAVER MWEAVER@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

B

ONFIRE FOOD & DRINK is new

to Pittsburgh, but its chef is not.

Head chef/owner Chris Bonfili is known (and loved) for Avenue B, a now-retired Shadyside restaurant.

And, it’s clear from the expert craftsmanship behind Bonfire’s dishes why Avenue B is sorely missed.

Heading into Bonfili’s new South Side digs, my eyeroll was almost audible. It was one more eatery boasting a “wood-fired oven,” and I was sure Bonfili’s fresh take on fire wasn’t anything new. I expected more of the same tasteless, charred, gimmicky food. But from my first bite, it was clear that Bonfire was nothing of novelty. Bonfire isn’t just another wood oven, it has a menu bursting with originality.

Part of a two-floor concept, the first floor hit the perfect middle ground between upscale and casual. (Bonfili plans on opening a reservation-based, elevated dining room on the second floor.) Groovy patterns adorn the booths, accented by muted blue walls. The open kitchen, a counter barely dividing Bonfili and his team from diners, fits in seamlessly with the decor, stacked stones neatly outlining the oven.

Everything on Bonfili’s menu, from salmon to s’mores, was touched by fire. I chose to play the field, based on server endorsed dishes. I started with a few of Bonfili’s snacks — pork belly lettuce wraps, Brussels sprouts, the cheesesteak flatbread — and finished with the wood-fired salmon.

The Brussels sprouts were ridiculously tasty, dressed with a brown butter aioli, smoked grapes, and hazelnuts.

Juicy, tender pieces mixed with tinged, toasty leaves while the tang-less grapes added a subtle sweetness. The aioli added a rich, nutty layer, rounding out

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Chicken with root vegetables, greens, and bacon jam at Bonfire

BONFIRE FOOD & DRINK

2100 East Carson St., South Side.

Tue.-Thu., 11-12 a.m.; Fri., 11 a.m.-1 a.m.; Sat., 3 p.m.-1 a.m.; Sun., 3-11 p.m.

412-481-3473 or bonfire-pgh.com

the veggie flavor from the Brussels.

The wraps were DIY, a mountain of ginger barbequed meat smothered in

kimchi mayo plated alongside idle cups of iceberg lettuce. It missed a spicy zing from the ginger, relying on two heavy sauces — mayo and bbq — to carry the flavor.

Bonfili’s flatbread was genuinely flat. Philly’s signature cheesesteak got an upgrade, the spongy crust covered in cheddar, shredded lamb shoulder, and decorated with peppers, onions, and greens. I was enamored with the vibrant, down-to-earth-flavor, a simple

FAVORITE FEATURES:

22

Bathroom Wallpaper

Happy Hour

Projector

Bonfire stays groovy, even in the bathroom. The wallpaper, a perfect backdrop for Instagram selfies (I totally took one), shimmers with metallic gold ferns.

There’s nothing better than an actually good happy hour. Stop by during the week for $2 off all drinks and $3 off appetizers.

Why settle for a big-screen TV when you can watch the game on an even bigger screen? Bonfire uses a whole wall to cheer on ‘Burgh favorites.

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

boost for the everyday cheesesteak.

My salmon arrived beautifully perched on a bed of quinoa and cauliflower, emblazoned with a streak of curry hollandaise. The fish was gorgeous — not a char mark to be seen — flaking apart at each touch of a fork.

Hollandaise brought a lush, creamy hit to its light components, subtly spiced with toasted curry.

Dessert was more play than substance, my deconstructed s’mores featuring chocolate cream, marshmallow fluff, and house-made graham crackers.

It was a fun end, toying with the true notion of fire.

Bonfire Food & Drink is more than just a wood oven. Plates are masterpieces, flirting with innovation, flavor, and flame.

•

Follow staff writer Maggie Weaver on Twitter @magweav

“Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.”

Dr. Mae Jemison, first African-American female astronaut

Black History Month

February 2019

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER FEB. 13-20, 2019

23

.FOOD.

FERMENTED FUN

BY HANNAH LYNN HYLNN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

F

ERMENTED FOODS are like zany

science projects. They change shape and color in glass jars, grow mold, get stinkier and stranger and tastier. There are several ways to define the scientific processes that make up fermentation, but Justin Lubecki, director of the Pittsburgh Fermentation Festival, thinks broader definitions are better.

“To me, it’s just a transformation over time,” he says. “That makes the definition very broad, and I think that’s one of the things that lends to what is so special or what is the draw of fermentation is that there’s not one way of looking at it.”

The Fermentation Festival, Feb. 17 at Spirit, certainly does showcase a wide scope of fermented foods. Local small businesses will have their goods for sale, including kombucha, pickles, and sourdough bread. There will be fermentation demos and stations where people can make and take home their own sauerkraut, shoyu, and tempeh. Grow Pittsburgh will offer garden-planning and Carnegie Library will present fermentation books. There is a fermented food contest, a “mold pageant,” and a goofy musical number about vegetable waste put on by people in the food industry.

Like a childhood science fair, the festival is both fun and educational. There are opportunities to taste and make fermented foods, as well as learn about all facets of fermentation, including its value in sustainability, health, agriculture, and of course, tastiness.

Even though local vendors are selling

their foods, they’re also just excited to be able to “nerd-out” with people about fermentation, says Lubecki.

PITTSBURGH FERMENTATION FESTIVAL

11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun., Feb. 17. Spirit, 242 51st St., Lawrenceville. fermentpittsburgh.com

Generally, food festivals cater to sponsors with the goal of getting people

to spend money. They often come attached with a business or corporate name, letting attendees know the ultimate goal is amassing crowds to make large profits. There is typically less focus on learning about and engaging with food. For example, another popular brined-food festival, Picklesburgh, is sponsored by Kraft Heinz, and became so popular it nearly overcrowded its home on the Clemente Bridge.

But unlike Picklesburgh, which relies on attendees purchasing food or trying

sponsored samples to participate in the pickle appreciation, Fermentation Festival is for everyone, regardless of whether or not they can or want to spend money.

Aside from the products sold by local businesses, the festival is completely free.

“We try to redefine what these food events are. We don’t want it to be so much of a commercial commitment, like if you’re not going to spend money you’re not going to have a good time,” says Lubecki. “Dive in, get your hands dirty, don’t be afraid to just try everything.”

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Satya inside Tessaro’s

.ON THE ROCKS.

KNOW YOUR BARTENDER: SATYA FROM TESSARO’S

BY CRAIG MRUSEK // CPCONTRIBUTORS@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

YOU ARE GRANTED AN EXTRA DAY IN THE WEEK. HOW DO YOU SPEND IT? Setting fire to metal by some means or another — welding, blacksmithing, fabrication, etc., followed by hanging out with my amazing, wonderful, loving family. Then I would maybe ride an elephant for about 45 minutes.

WHAT PITTSBURGH INSTITUTION DO YOU LOVE? Have you seen the steamfitters apprenticeship training facility in Harmony? It’s state-of-the-art with all kinds of access to equipment and instruction for welding!

Soooo beautiful.

IF YOU COULD DESIGN YOUR OWN BRAND OF SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Fully handmade bars made entirely of metal, wood, and leather. That and custom-made luxury gloves for people with small hands.

IF YOU COULD REBOOT/REMAKE A TV SHOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Kath and Kim— the original Australian version with the original cast.

YOU’VE WON A VACATION FOR TWO AT A LUXURY RESORT ON THE MOON. WHO DO YOU TAKE WITH YOU? The MOON? Aw hell no, I’m not going to the moon! I would sell the tickets to the highest bidder and then see if Dolph

Lundgren would join me to go glamping in Tanzania.

IS THERE A TIME OR PLACE FROM YOUR PAST YOU WISH YOU COULD REVISIT? No. I don’t believe in looking back wistfully into the past. It’s unproductive for me and induces feelings of unnecessary nostalgia. NOW is where I like to live.

YOU ARE GIVEN A ROBOT THAT CAN PERFORM VIRTUALLY ANY TASK. WHAT DO YOU ASK IT TO DO? ALL domestic chores! I don’t ask for much, I just really despise cleaning and doing housework of ANY kind. If ol’ robot pal could also greet me at the door with my preferred cocktail of the evening — which it can obviously sense based on brainwave algorithms—I would be just tickled pink.

IF A BAND WROTE A SONG ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD THE TITLE BE? Two songs about my life already exist: “My Life” by Space Primates x GoldFord, and “Horns” by Bryce Fox. WHAT IS YOUR DREAM VEHICLE? 1972 306 V8 Classic Ford Bronco, lifted and riding on 33-inch BFG All-Terrain T/A KO2s. Solid black, no chrome, no white top. That, and most definitely a tuk-tuk: fuel-efficient, agile, elegant, convenient, and my dog can ride comfortably without sacrificing the panoramic view from his perch.

•

Follow featured contributing writer Craig Mrusek on Twitter @DoctorBamboo PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER FEB. 13-20, 2019

25

DINING OUT

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

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BAR LOUIE

330 N. SHORE DRIVE, NORTH SIDE (412-500-7530) AND 244 W BRIDGE ST., HOMESTEAD (412-462-6400) / BARLOUIE.COM We’re your neighborhood bar, where you can kick back and be the real you, with the help of an amazing staff, great music, handcrafted martinisand cocktails, local and regional drafts, incredible wines and 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.

EIGHTY ACRES

1910 NEW TEXAS ROAD, MONROEVILLE/PLUM 724-519-7304 / EIGHTYACRESKITCHEN.COM Eighty Acres Kitchen & Bar offers a refined, modern approach to contemporary American cuisine with a strong emphasis on local, farm-totable products.

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.

MERCURIO’S ARTISAN GELATO AND NEAPOLITAN PIZZA

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.

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.

COLONY CAFE

PAD THAI NOODLE

THE CAFÉ CARNEGIE

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.

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.

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.

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER FEB. 13-20, 2019

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.MUSIC.

FUNKY FAST

BY JORDAN SNOWDEN JSNOWDEN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

F

OR A NEW BAND, Kiwano Sour’s

music career is building rapidly.

Only ten months into its existence, the funk rock band has already performed at well-known venues around the city like the Rex, Mr. Smalls, and Stage at Karma. Kiwano Sour became affiliated with the art collective Three Rivers Circus and opened a studio with jazz-funk band BowTank called Sour Tank Studios. And on Feb. 14, Kiwano Sour is dropping its first EP, Boogie Funk Daydream, with an accompanying release show Feb. 16 at Cattivo.

“Things are moving super-fast,” says Geoff Bland, Kiwano Sour’s vocalist and founder. “I feel really lucky every single day.”

Completed in about four months at Audio Bridge Studios in Cheswick, Pa., Boogie Funk Daydream is a five-song fusion of funk, jazz, and rock, whose track list covers a gamut of styles and emotions, showcasing the band’s outlook and growth. Starting with the upbeat “Movin,” Bland sings about the stresses of everyday life, and not letting the strain triumph, thanks to passion projects and creative outlets.

“All of my mental health eggs are in one basket,” Bland says when talking about Kiwano Sour. Up until college, much of his life revolved around playing music. But attending the University of Pittsburgh, in addition to working a job, sucked up all his free time. “I dropped out of school for mental health reasons and financial issues. Then got a 9-5 job and my evenings were free. I had time for a hobby again.”

“On My Way,” the second track on the EP and most radio-ready, due to its pop-leaning sound, boasts the line, “Joy is an act of defiance,” another nod to mental health. Before Kiwano Sour, Bland’s musical focus was punk. When he was able to start working on music again, his genre preference shifted.

“I’ve been struggling with mental health and so are a lot of people in our circle, so I started to see that trying to fight back and be joyous was more defiant than I could have ever been with punk music,” says Bland. “It’s not about

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Kiwano Sour

forgetting it or trying to run away, it’s about accepting it and knowing you can still have a good time, and saying I’m not going to be grinded down.”

KIWANO SOUR EP RELEASE SHOW

Sat., Feb. 16. Cattivo, 146 44th St., Lawrenceville. $10. cattivopgh.com

Slowing the beat down, Boogie Funk Daydream’s third song “Together,” is a hometown track about support and the power of working with one another.

“Together” may be the most relevant to Kiwano Sour’s identity.

“For us, it’s all about the community that we found here,” says Bland. “The

music scene in Pittsburgh is in a weird place. There’s a lot of people comparatively to the size of the city trying to do that work, so it’s hard to find space to move sometimes. We were lucky enough to find this group of people that are serious about creating something new and building a support network around it. With Three Rivers Circus … we can support each other’s shows.”

Bass player Sam Kisic is one of the reasons Kiwano Sour has flourished.

Kisic has been involved in several bands in the city, resulting in connections with promoters and venues.

“We were sitting in [keyboardist Oliver Fleischmann’s] house when we first started out, and I just offhand mentioned, ‘We’re sounding pretty good now, we should try to get a gig or something.’ [Kisic]

Follow staff writer Jordan Snowden on Twitter @snowden_jordan

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picks up his phone, calls the Rex Theater, and in like 20 minutes we had a show.”

After “Together,” the EP moves into a more lighthearted party vibe with “Paid in Gold,” the first song the Kiwano Sour ever wrote, created just a few days after forming. The EP ends with “Boogie Stop,” bringing it back to the fast, body-gyrating pace of “Movin.”

Kiwano Sour already set its sights set on gigs outside of Pittsburgh. But because the members know they owe their fast advancement to the help of people around them, the band is open to talking to local musicians about using their studio for tracking.

“We know it’s hard to get recording time in Pittsburgh nowadays,” says Bland. “So, we’re really leaning on each other and trying to build community.”

•

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

The inside of Cattivo in Lawrenceville

.MUSIC.

VENUE GUIDE: CATTIVO 146 44th St., Lawrenceville. 412-687-2157 or cattivopgh.com

BY JORDAN SNOWDEN // JSNOWDEN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

H

EADING TO A VENUE for the first

time can be anxiety-inducing, or at the very least, inconvenient.

Where’s will call? Is there parking? Will you have to hide your expensive bag behind a tree because it’s too big to pass security?

Pittsburgh City Paper wants to make attending shows as stressless as possible.

So, welcome to our venue guide, where you can find out what to wear, where to smoke, and everything in between.

CP will detail the ins and outs of venues in Pittsburgh, so you can fully enjoy the experience and not worry about little nuisances like not knowing the bar was cash-only.

The third venue in our guide is Cattivo.

Found burrowed on 146 44th St. in Lawrenceville, the bar and “function space” turns 26 years old in June. Besides live music from local and national acts, the two-floor establishment hosts Christmas events, dance parties, private functions, and more. Most music performances take place on the bottom floor, leaving the top floor as a bar space. On non-event days, Cattivo is open 4 p.m. – 2 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

•

FOOD & BEVERAGE:

BATHROOMS:

• Two full-size bars available on both floors, full food menu available on both floors • Cash, credit, and debit are accepted.

An ATM is located inside the venue on the top floor • Prices are on the lower end (e.g., domestic drafts are $3) • Food is available for dine in or take out, the kitchen is open until 1 a.m.

• Cattivo offers pizza, hoagies, salads, calzones, gyros, and bar bites (fries, nachos, chicken tenders, etc.)

Prices range from $8-20 for meals, $4-7 for apps. Full menu can be viewed online.

• Vegetarian options available

• Men’s and women’s bathrooms on both floors, located on the right side of the venue • Both men’s rooms have one stall and two urinals • Both women’s rooms have three stalls

SMOKING:

• No dress code • No backpacks, large bags, etc. If you do bring one, it will be searched • Depending on the function, all bags are subject to search

• Cattivo is an indoor smoking venue, but the act/promoter can delegate whether smoking is prohibited or not • The owners ask that only legal vapes are used inside (no marijuana)

ROOM • Capacity: downstairs 250 people, upstairs 200 • Seating and standing room • Tables and seating available on both floors • Capacity can go up if tables are removed

SECURITY

MORE VENUE TIPS ONLINE AT PGHCITYPAPER.COM PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER FEB. 13-20, 2019

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.STAGE.

ALL SHOOK UP

BY ALEX GORDON ALEXGORDON@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

I

N TERMS OF career pivots, you could

do worse than Elvis impersonatorto-drag queen. Some of the details of the job are obviously different, but the core skills — stage presence, big personality, fabulous outfits — would make for a smooth transition.

That’s the driving plot of Matthew Lopez’s The Legend of Georgia McBride, staged at barebones productions Feb. 14-March 9. The story follows a bluecollar Elvis impersonator named Casey who’s forced to change career tracks after his primary venue becomes a drag bar. It turns out he has a knack for that line of work, too.

This show, directed by barebones found er P at r i c k Jord an, i s n’t the standard fare for the Braddock-based theater. While it has all the earmarks of previous programs (off-the-cuff, risky, modern), Georgia McBride is notably more upbeat and colorful than barebones’ standard fare.

Pittsburgh City Paper spoke to Jordan about his new production, why he’s trying out musical numbers, and how to find the perfect actor for both Elvis and drag.

YOU CALLED THIS PLAY “A DEPARTURE” FOR BAREBONES. WHAT MAKES IT AN OUTLIER? Our shows, even though they tend to have a dark sense of humor, this would be the closest we’ve come to a comedy. Other shows that we’ve done, I’ve thought were comedies, but other people thought were a lot darker. This play has so much heart, and the overall message of tolerance that guides us through this play is really a beautiful thing. And this will be our first play with musical numbers, with dance numbers, and with drag.

WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUR AUDIENCE TO KNOW GOING INTO THIS PLAY? It’s a comedy. You have an Elvis impersonator at a dive bar in Florida. The dive bar gets turned into a drag bar, and the Elvis impersonator, who’s married with a baby on the way, ends up stumbling into becoming one of the most sought-after drag queens in Florida.

PHOTO: RIEDER PHOTOGRAPHY

Andrew Swackhammer

THE LEGEND OF GEORGIA MCBRIDE

Premieres Thu., Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. Continues through Sat., March 9. Barebones Black Box, 1211 Braddock Ave., Braddock. $35. barebonesproductions.com

THIS IS YOUR FIRST SHOW OF THE 2019 SEASON. HOW DO YOU APPROACH THAT DECISION OF WHAT TO LEAD OFF WITH? I try to do something different from the last show that we’ve done. I try to mix it up. I take into account what’s going on in the world, a lot of different factors. I thought this one was good. Headlines are so dark lately and morale is kind of low, so I thought that starting the season off here

with a show in February opening on Valentine’s Day with something that’s fun, quick, and has a really beautiful message — I thought this would be a good way to start 2019.

WHAT WAS THE AUDITION PROCESS LIKE FOR THE LEAD ROLE OF CASEY? WHAT WERE YOU LOOKING FOR IN THAT CHARACTER THAT YOU FOUND IN ACTOR ANDREW SWACKHAMMER? I was looking for someone who could easily move in both worlds. Somebody that could be accepted as a drag queen and also someone who is, ya know, a guy who used to play football going home to his pregnant wife and drinking a beer.

Andrew was able to encompass both of those things beautifully. It was amaz-

Follow managing editor Alex Gordon on Twitter @shmalexgordon

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ing to see him be able to move from one world to the next. As [the play] goes on, he gets better and better at being a drag queen. So watching his evolution, both in rehearsal and what you see in the show, it’s very special.

DURING THE AUDITION PROCESS, DID YOU HAVE ANDREW DO BOTH DRAG PERFORMANCES AND AN ELVIS IMPERSONATION? Yeah, pretty much. [Laughs] You kind of have to. There’s no way around it. You gotta know the goods.

ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD? You’re not going to see anything like this in Pittsburgh. The show’s a lot of fun, there’s a lot of bells and whistles. It’s a party.

•

.PGHPAGES.

TRADING PLACES

BY REGE BEHE CPCONTRIBUTORS@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

J

ESSICA STRAWSER had the perfect job to launch a career as a novelist.

As the editor-at-large for Writer’s Digest, the Moon Area High School graduate has interviewed renowned writers including Alice Walker, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, and Khaled Hosseini.

“The whole time I was working at Writer’s Digest full-time, that was my dream job,” says Strawser, who appears Feb. 15 at Penguin Bookshop in Sewickley to promote her third novel, Forget You Know Me. “I guess the only thing I could think of doing better was getting to do what [the writers] did. And now I’m able to do that too, which is amazing.”

Strawser, who lives near Cincinnati and is currently the writer-in-residence at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, has carved a niche for herself through stories about young women facing life-altering situations.

Her debut, Almost Missed You, is about a woman abandoned at a beach by her husband. Her second novel, Not That I Could Tell, chronicles a group of women who, after a night together, find one of their friends has disappeared.

“I don’t write stories based on any one thing from real life, but I do think I tend to draw from general themes I’ve been thinking about from real life,” Strawser says. Forget You Know Me

PHOTO: CORRIE SCHAFFELD

Jessica Strawser

follows a similar psychological/mystery theme; a longtime friendship between two women is torn apart by a bizarre video chat.

JESSICA STRAWSER

7 p.m. Fri., Feb. 15. Penguin Bookshop, 417 Beaver St., Sewickley. Free. penguinbookshop.com

“I’m approaching 40, and I think I’m surrounded by people who are moving to this new phase together where relationships you thought were going to be true, are not,” she says. “You kind of move from that phase where everyone you know

seems to be getting married and having kids, to suddenly people are getting divorced. And the people you think of as your best friends are people you haven’t seen in years.”

Strawser admits she’s still finding her own unique voice as a writer. She still draws from her former gig at Writer’s Digest. Each interview was an opportunity to learn from some of the best literary minds working today.

“There are lots of times I’ll find myself in a jam with a story or a situation,” she says. “And I’ll think back to advice from one of the interviews that I’ve done. I’ll use that as my guidance for finding my way through.”

•

BETWEEN THE LINES One of the most celebrated new authors, Ottessa Moshfegh, will appear Mon., Feb. 18 at Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland as a guest of Pittsburgh’s Arts & Lectures.

Moshfegh, whose influences range from Jim Jarmusch to Nirvana, set her most recent novel in New York City, circa 2000.

My Year of Rest and Relaxation, about a young woman who attempts to sleep for an entire year, is a memorable novel that lingers long after the final page.

7:30 p.m. Mon., Feb. 18. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. pittsburghlectures.org

Follow featured contributor Rege Behe on Twitter @RegeBehe_exPTR

SALE PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER FEB. 13-20, 2019

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LOVE STORIES

BY HANNAH LYNN HLYNN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

PHOTO: ROADSIDE/MIRAMAX

Cloudburst

Valentine’s Day is upon us, which means it’s time to curl up with your beloved person or bag of chips and watch a romantic flick. Instead of Googling “romantic movies,” just watch one of these!

Cloudburst This Canadian road trip dramedy follows an aging lesbian couple on a journey to freedom. Sweet-tempered Dotty (Brenda Fricker) and foulmouthed Stella (Olympia Dukakis) have been together for decades, but when Dotty’s clueless granddaughter puts her in a nursing home, the couple breaks out, drives over the Canadian border, and picks up a hitchhiking cowboy along the way. It’s a heartwarming and beautifully-shot story about long-lasting love.

Southside with You This fictionalized version of Barack and Michelle Obama’s first date in Chicago circa 1989 is pieced together from interviews and stories told by the couple. It’s a dreamy story that could be about anyone—it just happens to be about a future president and first lady.

Barack (Parker Sawyers) is a summer associate at a law firm trying to woo his supervisor Michelle (Tika Sumpter).

They spend a whole day together, attending an art exhibit, a community meeting, and watching a movie.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before For years, rom-com fans were deprived of quality films, having to rely on genre classics that were 10-20 years old. To All the Boys quenched the thirst with a sweet and wholesome story about a shy teen on the cusp of romance.

Introvert Lara Jean (Lana Condor) has powerful crushes she keeps to herself until her little sister makes them embarrassingly public. To save face, she fake-dates popular boy Peter (Noah Centineo), but, as these stories go, the love can’t stay fake for long.

PHOTO: NETFLIX

Natasha Lyonne trapped at her birthday party in Russian Doll

.FILM.

ALL DOLLED UP

BY HANNAH LYNN // HLYNN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

T

HE PREMISE of the Netflix series

Russian Doll is not particularly inviting. It follows a woman who dies on the way home from her 36th birthday and is brought back to life in the exact same spot at the party, over and over again. It’s a time-loop, like Groundhog Day, or more recently Happy Death Day, a horror movie about a college student who repeatedly wakes up on her birthday only to be murdered by an unknown killer. Even The Good Place is an apt comparison. Trapping characters in this format can be grating and anxietyinducing, knowing something terrible is going to happen but not knowing how or when or why. But Russian Doll, created by Natasha Lyonne, Amy Poehler, and Leslye Headland, beats viewers into submission, creating an intriguing world that’s part comedy, part drama, part sci-fi, part dark abyss.

Nadia (Lyonne) is a chain-smoking gaming programmer with the swagger of a De Niro impersonator. Her best friend Maxine (Greta Lee) throws Nadia a birthday party in her very Brooklyn apartment filled with very Brooklyn people. When she leaves to look for her missing cat, Nadia accidentally walks in front of a car and gets killed. She comes to in the bathroom of the birthday party, before tripping to her death down

a flight of stairs, and freezing to death, and getting hit by a car again.

Over and over, she is thrown into this party with the same people, making slightly different choices each time, all while trying to figure whether she’s on drugs, gone insane, or something else unknown. She tries a therapist, a drug dealer, a rabbi, a mental hospital, but can’t live in any one timeline long enough to figure it out. Everything shifts when, halfway through the eightepisode season, she meets another person who is constantly dying.

RUSSIAN DOLL

Now streaming on Netflix

By the end of the first episode, the series has not fully succeeded in selling the characters or the premise, both prickly. But as the series unfolds, Nadia becomes less archetype and a more complete person. Slowly, with each death reboot, more of her past is revealed, offering reasons for her dysfunction but none for her death. Nadia is made into a detective of her own death.

Lyonne’s persona is characters she played previously and based on some of Lyonne’s personal life. Nadia smokes from the moment she wakes up til the

moment she goes to sleep. She drinks with abandon and has done so many drugs she’s forgotten which she’s tried. Lyonne has been open about her own struggles with addiction, having been arrested and hospitalized for it at various points.

Nadia is the epitome of a cool fuckup. She doesn’t have her shit together emotionally or personally, but she has sick Dracula-at-prom outfits and an envious head of curly red hair. She smokes constantly, which is bad health-wise but looks slick. And she has Lyonne’s inimitable smirk-smile, wry even when she doesn’t mean for it to be.

The show is highly stylized—almost excessively so—but it lends to the eccentric nature of the show. Sure, the outfits are wild and so is the bathroom door that looks like a blue vagina, but it’s not any more absurd than having infinite lives. The dialogue too seems written specifically to be quotable (“Nothing in this world is easy except pissing in the shower,” “buildings aren’t haunted, people are.”) At times, it can be hard to decipher whether to take the show at face value or whether it’s some sort of parody, but the confusion is also part of the fun.

Russian Doll, as the name indicates, is layered, but where or why they end is a mystery. Or, as Nadia puts it, “life is like a box of timelines.”

Follow staff writer Hannah Lynn on Twitter @hanfranny

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•

ILLUSTRATION: FROM THE FLYIN’ WEST POSTER

.STAGE.

KANSAS BOUND

BY AMANDA WALTZ // AWALTZ@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

T

HE

FOUNDING

OF

AMERICA

comes packaged in a white, male-dominated history full of pioneering figures like Davy Crockett and Buffalo Bill Cody. In reality, however, this country’s past is far more complex and diverse, as shown in Flyin’ West, a 1994 play written by African-American author and playwright Pearl Cleage, about African-American women settlers in an all-Black town.

The University of Pittsburgh presents a new production of the work, opening Feb. 14 at the Henry Heymann Theatre.

Director Karen Gilmer says she first read Flyin’ West about 15 years ago, while she was in graduate school at Boston University.

FLYIN’ WEST

Feb. 14-24. 4301 Forbes Ave., Oakland. $12-25. play.pitt.edu

“I was drawn to the richness of the setting and the story,” says Gilmer, who also serves as a costume design lecturer in Pitt’s Department of Theatre Arts.

“Cleage’s storytelling and language drew me in. Her characters are vibrant and their language is alive with life force and passion.”

Set in 1898, the story follows four women who relocate to Nicodemus, Kan., a town settled by African Americans, many former slaves, after the Civil War. The main characters endure harsh winters, the threat of domestic violence, and racial conflict as they attempt to carve out lives for themselves in new territory.

“The fact that I had never heard or learned that African Americans had migrated west was intriguing,” says

Gilmer. “All cowboys and folks who settled out west are always portrayed as white. This was the first dramatic work I had ever read where the settlers and pioneers were of color. The idea that the West was settled by a diverse population fascinated and excited me.”

That the play is based in fact makes it all the more compelling. The Homestead Act of 1862 offered settlers a new start in freed up western land taken from Native Americans. As a result, many African Americans migrated west to escape Jim Crow and the violence inflicted on Black people in the South during Reconstruction.

Cut to Nicodemus, an actual town founded in the 1870s by W.R. Hill and W.H. Smith, along with five AfricanAmerican ministers.

Gilmer says she wanted to do the play to continue to shed light on an obscure part of African-American history.

“It takes a look at the generation born after slavery and how they are able to experience a better life than the ones who paved the way for them before,” says Gilmer. “It is much like the Civil Rights movement and the effect the movement has on this generation today. It also addresses why the history is so important and passing down stories that show triumph, determination, and pride are important to preserving and maintaining Black culture.”

She also believes Flyin’ West depicts the pursuit of the American Dream long before the idea of the American Dream even existed. “Moving to the unknown to survive and thrive was better than being in the South,” says Gilmer. “That is what it costs to be a part of the American Dream.”

•

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER FEB. 13-20, 2019

33

CP PHOTO: AMANDA WALTZ

TL;DR by Seth LeDonne

.ART . .

DISTILLED BEGINNINGS

BY AMANDA WALTZ // AWALTZ@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

A

DISTINCT SENSE of whimsy characterizes Distilled, the latest exhibition at the Pittsburgh Center for Arts and Media (formerly Pittsburgh Center for the Arts). Woven throughout 82 works by 42 members, teaching artists, and staff are touches meant to delight and surprise. Visitors are greeted by the candy-colored, ribbon-y text of This Magic Moment, a mural by Danny Devine spanning a back wall of the downstairs gallery area. Crocheted footprints (Self Portrait by Mary Towner) pull the room together as they spread out across the floor in the upstairs gallery, waiting to be tromped upon by those too busy eyeing the wall hangings to notice the artwork beneath their feet.

In a show where one would expect to find mostly amateur still life paintings, nature photography, and collage work (and those are here, believe me) it’s refreshing to see plenty of offbeat pieces with a sense of humor or, at least, a lack of pretension. There are brightly framed cameo portraits by Jessica Alpern Brown, a ceramic jug that takes a cue from folk

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PGHCITYPAPER.COM

art by staring back at the viewer with a comically exaggerated face (My Head Is Swimming by Melissa Sullivan), and jewelry decked with a silver manta ray and bejeweled turtle (Pat Falbo and Debra Bober, respectively).

DISTILLED

Continues through April 28.

Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and Media. 6300 Fifth Ave., Shadyside.

Free or donation. center.pfpca.org

Artist Kara Zuzu makes a mark with a variety of nature-inspired ceramic and clay pieces, including the mounted animal heads of Ambition (Goat) and Guide (Hare) and the posed faux-taxidermy of Keeper of the Secrets (Raven) and Change (Chameleon), all of which call attention to the often bizarre, morbid trophy art of hunting culture.

Taking the dark playfulness a step further is Climate Change Crankie by Katy DeMent, an interactive installation with an entertaining approach to

addressing environmental destruction. In a dark room, a decorated panoramic scroll unfurls along three different walls. Sticks poke out from behind lit panels, allowing visitors to manipulate simple shadowy puppets of tractors, cars, cats, and beavers with gardening tools. While I appreciate the clever concept, I wished it had been better executed, as the sometimes unwieldy puppets diminished the intended effect.

Taking up another room is TL;DR, a mural installation by Seth LeDonne.

The work invites visitors into a simulated webscape with four walls covered in crudely painted gridlines and paintings that serve as ominous pop-up ads with messages like “Your Data Will Be Lost When The World Ends” and “How To Keep Paying Your Web Hosting Platform After You Die.” While TL;DR attempts to put into perspective the ephemeral, dehumanizing nature of internet life, it lacks the immersive impact and sophistication necessary to warrant taking up an entire room.

Not to be ignored are the sensual paintings of Heather Heitzenrater and Evy Rodgers. From Heitzenrater, Nasty Woman and Poised Instinct convey palpable, complex ideas of female vulnerability, as nude women become lost in environments dominated by reflective cellophane balloons. The acrylic works from Rodgers experiment with textures and color, recalling geological and urban spaces with veiny, tectonic seams, splashes of gold and turquoise, and geometric figures.

Also featured are works by Amy Burke, Amy Butler, Andrew Baumeister, Audra Clayton, Carolyn Carson, Cathy Trzeciak, Christianna Kreiss, Christopher Stetser, Danny Devine, Emily Eckel, Ginny Caliguiri, Jack Trzeciak, Juliet Zavon, Justin Louis Murrell, Leslie Mitchell, Linda Price-Sneddon, Lisa Bergant Koi, Lisa Haabestad, Lorraine Free, Margot Dermody, Olena Abakumova, Patricia Kennedy-Zafred, Rachel Oliver, Robert Kirschner, Robert Raczka, Stefano Ceccarelli, SuSu Kanemoto, Suzanne Werder, Tess Allard, Thomas Norulak, Tressa Jones, and Yue-Fang Chang.

Distilled continues through April 28 at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and Media.

•

Follow senior writer Amanda Waltz on Twitter @AWaltzCP PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER FEB. 13-20, 2019

35

.THEATER.

BACKSTAGE

BY LISSA BRENNAN CPCONTRIBUTORS@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

NAME: Joanna Obuzor, North Side WORK: Operations Manager, Benedum Center RECENT PROJECTS: Hamilton, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s annual gala, DOUBLE DARE LIVE! UPCOMING: Come From Away, Mariah Carey, Jerry Seinfeld

WHAT DOES AN OPERATIONS MANAGER DO? We have 19 different rentable spaces. I manage everything that goes on in all of them, including stage, auditorium, lobby spaces, rehearsal rooms, plus the loading dock.

SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN ON A DAILY BASIS WHEN YOU WALK INTO WORK? It changes every day, and that’s one of the things I love about it. I love calendars and schedules and figuring all of those pieces out. But many times, you’ll plan your day and say, “OK, I’m going to do this, this, this, and this,” and then you come in and say, “Oh. There’s a sinkhole. There’s a sinkhole in the alley,” and that changes your plans a little. When a sinkhole comes up, you have to fix the sinkhole.

AN ACTUAL SINKHOLE? That’s the grand scale of derailments, but lots of things come up. I love that every day is a new adventure. Most often it’s planning and documents, interaction with the companies using the spaces.

LIKE WHO? Resident companies, the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Pittsburgh Opera, and Pittsburgh CLO; they’re here most frequently. Broadway tours, usually for one week, also one-night-only events.

You’re dealing with everything that they need: rehearsal space, to special events, to bomb-sniffing dogs.

ARE BOMB-SNIFFING DOGS FREQUENTLY CALLED FOR? They’re not common but something we’re seeing more of. We had one for Hamilton. The level of security with a show is very much on the rise.

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CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Joanna Obuzor

WHAT BROUGHT YOU HERE? Way back I was a dancer, had a really bad injury, and found my way into technical theater. I was a stage manager, loved that part of things more than performing, worked as a production manager then moved on to this. I’ve been in this position coming up on two years.

YOU ENJOY THE ORGANIZATIONAL ASPECT? God, yes. I spend an hour in Excel figuring out how to make things fit better and think, “They’re paying me for this! How delightful!” There’s an elegance of a good spreadsheet that tickles me. That element of coming up with an idea, “It would be great if — insert blank” and you’re like, “Oh! I bet I could get it to do that!” Some-

times it takes some finagling to line the pieces up, but when you figure it out.

ephemeral about anything done with attention and care.

YOU ARE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT PAPERWORK, WHICH PEOPLE ARE NOT TYPICALLY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT. The other day I made a report that detailed seven years of revenues, all on one beautiful page. I had friends waiting for me and I was like a kid playing a video game, “Five more minutes, just give me five more minutes!” And I was literally making a spreadsheet.

WHAT HAVE YOU LOVED BESIDES SPREADSHEETS? Hamilton — there was a tingle in the air with people that were just ready, that wanted to be here so badly, and it was truly special. We participated in EduHam — schools sign up and teach about the show, art, creativity. At the end of the program, students come to the theater for a special matinee. They’ve all written songs, spoken word, dialogue, and some are chosen to perform. It was magical seeing 3,000 kids watching a show where people look like them, talk like them, on a stage where some of them had performed earlier in the day.

YOU FIND CREATIVITY IN IT? There is an art to the administration of the arts. I think that about any profession, an accountant, a mechanic. There is a grace to work done well, something

•

.FOR THE WEEK OF FEB. 14.

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

BY ROB BREZSNY // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): According to the Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology, the word “obsession” used to refer to the agitated state of a person who was besieged by rowdy or unruly spirits arriving from outside the person. “Possession,” on the other hand, once meant the agitated state of a person struggling against rowdy or unruly spirits arising from within. In the Western Christian perspective, both modes have been considered primarily negative and problematic.

In many other cultures, however, spirits from both the inside and outside have sometimes been regarded as relatively benevolent, and their effect quite positive. As long as you don’t buy into the Western Christian view, I suspect that the coming weeks will be a favorable time for you to consort with spirits like those.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): When directors of movies say, “It’s a wrap,” they mean the shooting of a scene has finished. They may use the same expression when the shooting of the entire film is completed. That’s not the end of the creative process, of course. All the editing must still be done. Once that’s accomplished, the producer may declare that the final product is “in the can,” and ready to be released or broadcast.

From what I can determine, Aries, you’re on the verge of being able to say, “it’s a wrap” for one of your own projects. There’ll be more work before you’re ready to assert, “it’s in the can.”

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In accordance with astrological omens, I invite you to create your own royal throne and sit on it whenever you need to think deep thoughts and formulate important decisions. Make sure your power chair is comfortable as well as beautiful and elegant. To enhance your ability to wield your waxing authority with grace and courage, I also encourage you to fashion your own crown, scepter, and ceremonial footwear. They, too, should be comfortable, beautiful, and elegant.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In 1995, astronomer Bob Williams got a strong urge to investigate a small scrap of the night sky that most other astronomers regarded as boring. It was near the handle of the constellation known as the Big Dipper. Luckily for him, he could ignore his colleagues’ discouraging

primed to benefit from the healing power of laughter. You’re likely to encounter more droll, whimsical, and hilarious events than usual, and your sense of humor should be especially hearty and finely-tuned.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “A freshness lives deep in me which no one can take from me,” wrote Swedish poet Gunnar Ekelöf. “Something unstilled, unstillable is within me; it wants to be voiced,” wrote philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. In accordance with your astrological omens, I propose we make those two quotes your mottos for the next four weeks. In my opinion, you have a mandate to tap into what’s freshest and most unstillable about you — and then cultivate it, celebrate it, and express it with the full power of your grateful, brilliant joy.

pressure. That’s because he had been authorized to use the high-powered Hubble Space Telescope for a ten-day period. To the surprise of everyone but Williams, his project soon discovered that this seemingly unremarkable part of the heavens is teeming with over 3,000 galaxies. I suspect you may have a challenge akin to Williams’, Gemini. A pet project or crazy notion of yours may not get much support, but I hope you’ll pursue it anyway. I bet your findings will be different from what anyone expects.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): A study by the Humane Research Council found that more than eighty percent of those who commit to being vegetarians eventually give up and return to eating meat. A study by the National Institute of Health showed that only about 36 percent of alcoholics are able to achieve full recovery; the remainder relapse. And we all know how many people make New Year’s resolutions to exercise more often, but then stop going to the gym by February. That’s the bad news. The good news, Cancerian, is that during the coming weeks, you will possess an enhanced power to stick with any commitment you know is right and good for you. Take advantage!

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Are there two places on earth more different from each other than Europe and Africa? Yet there is a place, the Strait of Gibraltar, where Europe and Africa are just 8.7 miles apart.

Russia and the United States are also profoundly

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):

unlike each other, but only 2.5 miles apart where the Bering Strait separates them. I foresee a metaphorically comparable phenomenon in your life. Two situations, influences, or perspectives that may seem to have little in common will turn out to be closer to each other than you imagined possible.

A study published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science suggests that people who use curse words tend to be more candid. “Swearing is often inappropriate, but it can also be evidence that someone is telling you their honest opinion,” said the lead researcher.

“Just as they aren’t filtering their language to be more palatable, they’re also not filtering their views.” If that’s true, Scorpio, I’m going to encourage you to curse more than usual in the coming weeks. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, it’s crucial that you tell as much of the whole truth as is humanly possible.

(P.S. Your cursing outbursts don’t necessarily have to be delivered with total abandon everywhere you go. You could accomplish a lot just by going into rooms by yourself and exuberantly allowing the expletives to roll out of your mouth.)

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):

Virgo basketball star Latrell Sprewell played professionally for 13 years. He could have extended his career at least three more seasons, but he turned down an offer for $21 million from the Minnesota team, complaining that it wouldn’t be sufficient to feed his four children. I will ask you not to imitate his behavior, Virgo. If you’re offered a deal or opportunity that doesn’t perfectly meet all your requirements, don’t dismiss it out of hand. A bit of compromise is sensible right now.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In 1992, an Ethiopian man named Belachew Girma became an alcoholic after he saw his wife die from AIDS. And yet today he is renowned as a Laughter Master, having dedicated himself to explore the healing powers of ebullience and amusement. He presides over a school that teaches people the fine points of laughter, and he holds the world’s record for longest continuous laughter at three hours and six minutes. I nominate him to be your role model in the next two weeks. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you will be especially

In the mid-1980s, a California carrot farmer grew frustrated with the fact that grocery stories didn’t want to buy his broken and oddly-shaped carrots. A lot of his crop was going to waste.

Then he got the bright idea to cut and shave the imperfect carrots to make smooth little baby carrots. They became a big success. Can you think of a metaphorically comparable adjustment you could undertake, Sagittarius? Is it possible to transform a resource that’s partially going to waste?

Might you be able to enhance your possibilities by making some simple modifications?

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Mongolia is a huge landlocked country. It borders no oceans or seas. Nevertheless, it has a navy of seven sailors. Its lone ship is a tugboat moored on Lake Khovsgol, which is three percent the size of North America’s Lake Superior. I’m offering up the Mongolian navy as an apt metaphor for you to draw inspiration from in the coming weeks. I believe it makes good astrological sense for you to launch a seemingly quixotic quest to assert your power, however modestly, in a situation that may seem out of your league.

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

Pittsburgh’s lone liberal talkshow host for 30+ years Listen live every weekday at 10 a.m. at lynncullen.pghcitypaper.com PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER FEB. 13-20, 2019

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THIS WEEK ONLINE AT PGHCITYPAPER.COM

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LANDMARKS PRESERVATION RESOURCE CENTER - A program of the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation Foundation

JOIN US AT THE LANDMARKS PRESERVATION RESOURCE CENTER FOR ONGOING WORKSHOPS AS WE CONTINUE PROGRAMMING ON ARCHITECTURE, HISTORY, DESIGN, URBAN PLANNING, AND OTHER TOPICS RELATED TO HOW CITIES FUNCTION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION AS A TOOL OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21 • 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM WORKSHOP: BRONZE WEATHERSTRIPPING OF DOUBLE HUNG WINDOWS PRESENTER: REGIS WILL • VESTA HOME SERVICES In this second part of a comprehensive workshop on repairing and restoring double hung windows, we look at single leaf spring bronze weatherstripping. While spring bronze is traditionally used for doors and swinging casement style windows, it can also be adapted to double hung windows. It provides a number of advantages over the tongue and groove style weather strips usually found on double hung windows.

Among the benefits of spring bronze weatherstripping is the easier maintenance of the window, tighter air sealing, and reduced rattling. This workshop will include a demonstration on installation as well as a demonstration on how to convert your window from tongue and groove to spring bronze weatherstrips.

You needn’t have attended the first part of this workshop to attend this one.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER: Regis Will is a woodworker, craftsman, and owner of Vesta Home Services, a consulting firm on house restoration and Do-it-Yourself projects. He blogs about his work at The New Yinzer Workshop.

THIS WORKSHOP IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. RSVPS ARE APPRECIATED: MARYLU@PHLF.ORG OR 412-471-5808 EXT. 527.

744 REBECCA AVENUE

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WILKINSBURG, PA 15221

412-471-5808

PART OF CITY PAPER’S MONTH-LONG CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH

PITTSBURGH’S ROLE IN THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD The Heinz History Center’s From Slavery to Freedom exhibit celebrates 19th-century activism

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WED., FEBRUARY 27 GAELIC STORM 8 P.M. JERGEL’S RHYTHM GRILLE WARRENDALE. $21-40. 724-799-8333 or ticketfly.com.

WED., FEBRUARY 27 SWITCHFOOT 8 P.M. CARNEGIE OF HOMESTEAD MUSIC HALL MUNHALL. All-ages event. $25.87-49.50.

412-462-3444 or ticketfly.com.

With special guests Colony House & Tyson Motsenbocker.

WED., FEBRUARY 27 OPEN STICK TIME 7:30 P.M. NORTH PARK ICE RINK NORTH PARK. All-ages event. Rink admission fees apply. 724-935-1280 or alleghenycounty. us/parkprograms.

THU., FEBRUARY 28 ADAM CALHOUN & DEMUN JONES 7 P.M. CRAFTHOUSE SOUTH HILLS. $23-25. 412-653-2695 or ticketfly.com.

THU., FEBRUARY 28 RODNEY ATKINS 8 P.M. JERGEL’S RHYTHM GRILLE WARRENDALE. $24-45. 724-799-8333 or ticketfly.com.

THU., FEBRUARY 28 THE CRYSTAL METHOD 8 P.M. FOXTAIL SOUTH SIDE. All-ages event. $20-22. 412-651-4713 or ticketfly.com. With special guest The Molecule Party.

FRI., MARCH 1 RIVERS OF NIHIL 8 P.M. CATTIVO LAWRENCEVILLE. Over-21 event. $12-15. 412-687-2157 or ticketfly.com. With special guests Entheos, Conjurer, Wolf King, & Everyone Hates Everything.

FRI., MARCH 1 AARON CARTER 9 P.M. HARD ROCK CAFE STATION SQUARE. $18-68. 412-481-ROCK or ticketfly.com. With special guests Leon Budrow, ALBVS, & Kenny Sukitch.

WED., FEBRUARY 27 SWITCHFOOT CARNEGIE OF HOMESTEAD MUSIC HALL MUNHALL

FRI., MARCH 1 LA ROCHE COLLEGE PRESENTS SPRING GALA

SUN., MARCH 3 J BOOG

8 P.M. BYHAM THEATER DOWNTOWN. $21.25-46.26. 412-456-6666 or trustarts.org.

8 P.M. REX THEATER SOUTH SIDE. Over-18 event. $21-75. 412-381-1681 or greyareaprod.com. With special guests Earthkry & Eddy Dyno.

FRI., MARCH 1 MELVIN SEALS & JGB

SUN., MARCH 3 ICE HOCKEY SKILLS CAMP

8 P.M. REX THEATER SOUTH SIDE. Over-18 event. $20-24.

412-381-1681 or greyareaprod.com.

10 A.M. NORTH PARK ICE RINK NORTH PARK. All-ages event. $200-250 (registration required). 724-935-1280 or alleghenycounty. us/parkprograms.

FRI., MARCH 1 AARON WATSON & PAT GREEN

MON., MARCH 4 SOCCER SHOTS

8 P.M. JERGEL’S RHYTHM GRILLE WARRENDALE. $27-46. 724-799-8333 or ticketfly.com.

5:30 P.M. SOUTH PARK HOME ECONOMICS BUILDING SOUTH PARK. Ages 2-8. $120-130 (registration required).

412-350-4636 or soccershots.org/pittsburgh.

SAT., MARCH 2 THE ROOMMATE

TUE., MARCH 5 TONY DEPAOLIS

5:30 P.M. CITY THEATRE COMPANY SOUTHSIDE. $5-61. 412-431-CITY or citytheatrecompany.org.

SAT., MARCH 2 CIRQUE MECHANICS 7:30 P.M. BYHAM THEATER DOWNTOWN. $25-45. 412-456-6666 or trustarts.org.

We Know Snow | skiboyce.com

5 P.M. BACKSTAGE BAR AT THEATER SQUARE DOWNTOWN. Free event.

412-456-6666 or trustarts.org.

TUE., MARCH 5 BOOMBOX 8 p.m. REX THEATER South Side.

Over-18 event. $17-20. 412-381-1681 or greyareaprod.com.

FOR UPCOMING ALLEGHENY COUNTY PARKS EVENTS, LOG ONTO WWW.ALLEGHENYPARKS.COM

VALENTINE’S DAY & South Park Ice Rinks!

SKATE North

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 7:30-9:00 PM COUPLES OF ALL AGES BUY ONE ADMISSION, GET SECOND ADMISSION OF EQUAL OR LESSER VALUE FOR FREE ALLEGHENYCOUNTY.US/SPECIALEVENTS PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER FEB. 13-20, 2019

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CALENDAR FEBRUARY 14-20

PHOTO: SEAN CARROLL

^ Sat., Feb. 16: empathy machine

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

MUSIC

DANCE

FEB. 14

When discussing the unorthodox, the popular idiom is “Variety is the spice of life.” But here in Pittsburgh we say, “Variety is the Kingfly Spirits of life.” The newly opened distillery in the Strip District offers a fresh take on booze with a bar and event space alongside its housedistilled spirits. Each Thursday, Live! at Kingfly offers performances from local jazz musicians and bands. Grab a glass and enjoy the music of tenor saxophonist Patrick Breiner backed by Solstice’s Antonio Croes, Eli Naragon, and Carter Freije. 7 p.m. 2613 Smallman St., Strip District. Free. kingflyspirits.com

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PGHCITYPAPER.COM

at its new space in Homewood.

7 p.m. Also Sat., Feb. 16. 6601 Hamilton Ave., Homewood. $20. $15 students/seniors. Ages 13+. alumnitheatercompany.org

FEB. 15

Dance is the hidden language of the soul, and Alumni Theater Company wants to help you understand what yours is saying.

The company’s Professional Ensemble performs Reveal, a dance show about the challenges one faces during self-discovery.

The contemporary dance, choreographed by Cherish Morgan, one of the ensemble’s own members, will be performed

VALENTINE’S DAY EVENTS FOR COUPLES & SINGLES

COMEDY

Demetri Martin brings his signature brand of deadpan comedy to Pittsburgh when he stops by the Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall for his Wandering Mind tour.

Martin has become one of the most well-known modern comics for integrating live illustration and music into his stand-up. You may have seen him on TV or in films, including as the lead in

SEE PAGE 14

the 2009 comedy Taking Woodstock or in his 2018 Netflix special Demetri Martin: The Overthinker. 8 p.m. 510 E. Tenth Ave., Homestead. $39.50-139.50. librarymusichall.com

COMEDY

Lovers of stand-up and improv rejoice: Arcade Comedy Theater is celebrating its sixth anniversary with an entire weekend of events sure to tickle your funny bone. The fun kicks off with a mix of beloved local acts and the weekend’s headliners, Baltimore improv group Casually Dope. Stop by both nights and be the first to see a preview of Arcade’s 2019 lineup. 8 p.m.

Also Sat., Feb. 16. 943 Liberty Ave., Downtown. $12-15. Ages 16+. arcadecomedytheater.com/anniversary2019

^ Fri., Feb. 15: Casually Dope

SATURDAY FEB. 16 EVENT

Ever watch a movie or TV show and find yourself admiring the lamp in the protagonist’s apartment? Ever wonder what happens to the pieces of décor assembled to represent the life of a character once the movie or show is done filming? Now you can find out, at the Netflix Originals Set Dec & Prop Liquidation at the Nomadic Trading Company Event Center. The event description doesn’t specify, but it’s probably definitely pieces from the set of Mindhunter.

You can buy a couch Jonathan Groff might have sat on. 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

150 Thornhill Road, Warrendale. nomadictradingcompany.net

MEETING

President Trump and his administration have worked to demolish gay and trans rights since taking office. He

and ultraconservative Vice President Pence seem willing to do anything to justify those efforts. The Pittsburgh Party for Socialism and Liberation wants to discuss Transgender Liberation in the Age of Trump and fight back. A meeting at the Hill District’s Carnegie Library branch is the first step.

1-3 p.m. 2177 Centre Ave., Hill District. Free. pslweb.org

WORKSHOP

Have a shirt that fits perfectly in the waist, but your boobs don’t fill out the chest? To hell with padded bras, bring that ill-fitting garment to feminist makerspace ^ Wed., Feb. 20: Astronomy on Tap PHOTO: HEATHER KRESGE

Prototype PGH for a Body Affirming Tailoring workshop. Seamstress grizzemily cross, of sex-positive group Fair Moans Collective will help folks learn how to tailor their garments to better fit their bodies. All sizes and gender identities are welcome.

Drop-in hours: 2:30-6:30 p.m.

460 Melwood Ave., Oakland.

Pay what you can. prototypepgh.com

DANCE

The Hillman Center for Performing Arts hosts a dance performance with a purpose with Spreading Love Conquering Hate. The Philadelphia-based SHARP Dance Company presents a night of modern dance pieces, including the collaborative Puzzle, co-choreographed by

Joe Cotler of the Koresh Dance Company and Diane Sharp-Nachsin of SHARP, as well as a performance of 669, inspired by the story of Sir Nicholas Winton, a man who saved 669 children from the Holocaust. All proceeds will go to the families of the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting victims.

8 p.m. 423 Fox Chapel Road, Fox Chapel. $28. thehillman.org

ART

The Space Upstairs presents empathy machine, a group work by the multidisciplinary performance duo slowdanger. The work aims to “desexualize intimacy and examine empathy as a continual process of sensitizing ourselves to our own bodies, companions, and environment.”

It was made in collaboration with the ProjectileObjects LED light sculpture, computational artist Char Stiles, and performers Ru Emmons, Roberta Guido, and Simon Phillips. Be aware that the piece contains flashing lights.

8 p.m. 214 N. Lexington St., East End. $10 suggested donation. thespaceupstairs.org CONTINUES ON PG. 42

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER FEB. 13-20, 2019

41

CALENDAR, CONTINUED FROM PG. 41

7 DAYS

OF CONCERTS

BY JORDAN SNOWDEN JSNOWDEN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

PHOTO: MCNAIR EVANS

St. Paul & The Broken Bones

THURSDAY Ben Kweller 9 p.m. Spirit, Lawrenceville. spiritpgh.com

FRIDAY Spear of Destiny, Royal Honey, Love Dumpster 8 p.m. Cattivo, Lawrenceville. cattivopgh.com

SATURDAY

PHOTO: ROBIN ELROD

Three Dog Night 7 p.m. Carnegie Library Music Hall, Homestead. librarymusichall.com

SUNDAY GoldCastle, Castle of Ink, Rsb, Mike The Artist 6:15 p.m. The Rex Theater, South Side. rextheater.net

MONDAY That 1 Guy 7 p.m. Club Café, South Side. clubcafelive.com

TUESDAY St. Paul & The Broken Bones 7 p.m. Stage AE, North Side. promowestlive.com

WEDNESDAY Brother Bird 6 p.m. The Smiling Moose, South Side. smiling-moose.com

MORE MUSIC NEWS ONLINE

AT PGHCITYPAPER.COM 42

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

^ Sun., Feb. 17: Eric Jones

SUNDAY

MUSIC

In its heyday, post-punk group Gang of Four knew how to cause a stir. The band walked off the set of a TV show because the producers wanted them to change the word “rubbers” to “rubbish.” The song “I Love A Man in a Uniform” drew controversy for criticizing men who joined the military only to look good to women.

Though Andy Gill is the only remaining member of the original lineup, the band still knows how to bring the noise, which it will do at Mr. Smalls Theatre. 7 p.m. 400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale. $28. mrsmalls.com

FEB. 17 STAGE

You may soon think twice about tossing away that broken pan or sitting in your favorite antique chair. Bunker Projects presents an artist talk with Selena Hurst and Derek Peel, creators of the art gallery’s exhibition A Better Home and Garden. The show challenges the viewer, asking if an object loses its identity when it loses its function, while considering the possible flaws in structures that appear sturdy or attractive. Curator Emma Vescio will lead a discussion that questions humanity’s definitions of what is precious and what is not. 6 p.m. 5106 Penn Ave., Bloomfield.

Free. bunkerprojects.org

MONDAY FEB. 18 LIT

MAGIC

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust debuts its new venue Liberty Magic with renowned magician Eric Jones. Prepare to be amazed in the intimate, speakeasystyle performance venue as Jones pulls quarters from all kinds of places, not just ears. Jones is a master illusionist, known nationally for his appearance on America’s

PHOTO: KRYSTAL GRIFFITHS

^ Mon., Feb. 18: Ottessa Moshfegh

Got Talent. By the end of the night, he’ll have you questioning reality. 6:30 p.m.

Through March 17. 811 Liberty Ave., Downtown. $40. trustarts.org

When discussing her controversial novel Eileen, author Ottessa Moshfegh revealed that it started out as a joke, a bold gesture executed in a time when she was broke and wanted to be famous. The joke paid off. Eileen was shortlisted for the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Man Booker Prize and won the PEN/ Hemingway Award for debut fiction. Now Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures welcomes the

award-winning author to the Carnegie Music Hall to discuss her second novel My Year of Rest and Relaxation, a New York Times bestseller about a young Manhattanite trying to find meaning in her empty, uber-privileged existence.

7:30 p.m. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. $15-35. pittsburghlectures.org

YOGA

Twisting into yoga poses is uncomfortable, especially with your neighbor grunting through the pain. Belvedere’s solves this awkward problem with Silent Sukhasana, a silent-disco style flow. Attendees don a pair of headphones and twist their bodies through asana poses with ease. Removing outside noise allows for a deeper, more intimate experience.

Newbies welcome. 8 p.m. 4016 Butler St., Lawrenceville. $10 suggested. belvederesultradive.com

TUESDAY FEB. 19 MUSIC

Pittsburgh jazz fans may recognize the name Tim Stevens. Named “Pittsburgh Entertainer of the Year” in 1970, Stevens has played at numerous clubs and venues throughout the metropolitan area. He’s also released multiple albums, singles, and compositions, while being an active and outspoken advocate for Black rights and interests. Paired with pianist Leonard Johnson, Stevens will belt it out for the Tim Stevens/Leonard Johnson Project at Backstage Bar in Theater Square.

5 p.m. 655 Penn Ave., Downtown.

Free. trustarts.org

ART

Learn about one of Pittsburgh’s most celebrated artists when the Carnegie Mellon University School of Art presents a lecture with sculptor Thaddeus Mosley. For over 50 years, Mosley has made a name for himself with his hand-carved, wood sculptures, some of which have become fixtures of the city as public works at the Pittsburgh International Airport, the August Wilson Center, and outside the Martin Luther King Jr. Library in the Hill District. Joining him is Naomi Chambers, co-creator of the Wilkinsburg community art studio and creative space, FlowerHouse. The event will take place in McConomy Auditorium in CMU’s Jared L. Cohon University Center. 6:30 pm. 5000 Forbes Ave., Oakland. Free. art.cmu.edu

WEDNESDAY FEB. 20 FILM

In the 1960s, Black civil rights activist Robert Williams set up a rifle club to

PHOTO OF THADDEUS MOSLEY’S SCULPTURES: BRYAN CONLEY, COURTESY OF CARNEGIE MUSEUM OF ART, PITTSBURGH

^ Tue., Feb. 19: Thaddeus Mosley

defend his people from the KKK or other violent offenders. His book Negroes with Guns explored violent racism and his disagreements with the non-violent civil rights movement. The 2004 documentary Negroes with Guns: Rob Williams and Black Power tracks the activist’s life and work, offering much discussion on a topic that is as relevant now as it was then.

The documentary screens at CLPHomewood as part of the From Slavery ^ Wed., Feb. 20: Antwaun Sargent

to Freedom film series, presented by the Heinz History Center. 5:30 p.m.

7101 Hamilton Ave., Homewood. carnegielibrary.org

ART

Series in advance of his photography book release later this year. 6:30 p.m.

120 S. Whitfield St., East Liberty. Free.

All ages; children under 18 with an adult. pghphotofair.com/speaker-series

Antwaun Sargent, a New York City writer and critic, is a champion for Black arts. His Instagram page is a lively, colorful display of Black images and portraits. The Way We Live Now, an art show he co-curated last year, featured stunning images from 18 photographers from all over the world. PGH Photo Fair brings the popular writer to Ace Hotel for its Speaker

SPACE/BEER

Unless you regularly study math and science, the concept of outer space is exceptionally difficult to grasp. There are hot planets and something called “dark energy” and maybe probably definitely aliens! While the concept is overwhelming, the local branch of Astronomy on Tap, a multi-city series of informal and fun yet educational talks, will bring an astronomer to Franktuary to help us better understand the science. There will be games, prizes, and drinks. So sit back, sip a beer, and try to understand the immense expanse of the universe beyond Earth’s surface. 7 p.m. 3810 Butler St., Lawrenceville. astronomyontap.org •

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER FEB. 13-20, 2019

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER

CLASSIFIEDS FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIEDS ADVERTISEMENT, CALL 412-316-3342 HELP WANTED

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Flea Market & Consignment Shop Sat & Sun 2/9 & 2/10, 9AM-2PM, indoors, 2nd fl of Farm Mkt (next to Home Depot). 344 Sheridan Ave 15206. Antiques, Chinaware, Stained Glass, Framed Pictures, Computer, and More Visit our Vendor-Space Available. 412–301-1234 email: attic2fl@comcast.net

starting @ $150/mo.

Many sizes available, no sec deposit, play @ the original and largest practice facility, 24/7 access.

Uber Technologies, Inc. has MULTIPLE POSITIONS open in Pittsburgh, PA for the following:

Autonomy Engineer (Ref#3061378)

Dsgn/archtct, dvlp & test algorithms, SW & apps for autonomy (self-driving) stack.

Refer to Ref# & mail resume to Uber Technologies, Inc, Attn: A. Aldrich, 685 Market St, Suite 400, San Francisco, CA 94105

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PEEPSHOW A sex and social justice column

A VALENTINE’S DAY LETTER TO MY CLIENTS’ WIVES

BY JESSIE SAGE // PEEPSHOWCAST@GMAIL.COM

T

HERE’S A popular meme among sex workers that reads, “Thinking that a sex worker is going to steal your man is like thinking that a childcare provider is going to steal your child.” The analogy works because it holds a grain of truth. We do not want to replace you.

While sex workers may care for some of your husbands’ needs, we are not looking for a partner, or even an affair. In fact, like you, many us have our own relationships that we work hard to maintain.

But more importantly, what I want you to know is that your husbands also don’t want to replace you. In fact, I would go so far as to say that the majority of my interactions with my married clients are not about me, they are about you, about their love for you.

I realize that to an outsider, this may be hard to imagine or understand, so let me offer a few examples (all names have been changed): Frank, a high-powered executive, calls on Fridays before you come home.

He wants to feel a moment of surrender after a stressful week. He asks me to play both coach and witness as he whips himself with a belt. I tell him

to undress, then count off every crack while I listen for his grunt. I once inquired as to why he doesn’t ask you to play this role. He responded, “I’m not afraid she will say no. I know she will say yes, but it will be really painful for her to watch. I don’t want to put her in that position.”

YOUR HUSBANDS ALSO DON’T WANT TO REPLACE YOU. Justin calls me when you are out of town for work. Knowing how dedicated you are to your career, he doesn’t want to distract you. We talk about your beauty and the warmth of your body.

I walk him through a fantasy of what will happen the next time you are together. He tells me he loves you.

Chris is interested in opening your relationship up, but doesn’t know how to talk about it. He fears losing you. So, I pretend to be you, and we talk through every possible scenario.

We work through jealousy and the excitement of new relationship energy.

We talk about safer sex practices and negotiating boundaries. He is slowly weaning himself from me, hoping to soon be prepared to have these conversations with you.

James still mourns your loss, ten years after your death. Though he tries, he can’t really date. I’m a temporary fill-in. He tells me he loves me when he comes. While I don’t usually entertain talk of love with clients, I let him say it. I know he misses being married and needs to imagine he still has that kind of connection.

We live in a culture that obsessively equates love with sexual and emotional monogamy, so I can understand why you would find our presence threatening. I’m also a wife.

Yet, what I want you to hear is that this isn’t what I see from the other side.

What I see are men who are trying very hard to figure out how to negotiate their needs without hurting you, or being too demanding of your attention, or doing anything to screw up your marriage and family. What I see, in other words, is men who really love and respect you. And, as I come to see you through their eyes, I also feel appreciation and respect for you.

•

Jessie Sage is co-host of the Peepshow Podcast, which addresses issues related to sex and social justice.

Her column Peepshow is exclusive to City Paper. Follow her on Twitter @peep_cast.

We’re your sexual partner.

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-Birth Control -STD & HIV Testing -Gynecological Care -Pregnancy Testing -Emergency Contraception -PrEP & HIV Prevention -Abortion Services & Counseling

Peepshow Sidebar This week on the Peepshow Podcast we bring you two interviews from our time at the Adult Video Network (AVN) convention this year. This is the first of two episodes that will come from our time there.

We talk to photographer, videographer, and performer Ashlee Juliet; and sex educator, blogger, and clip maker Gwen Adora. What Gwen and Ashlee have in common is that they are both young women, relatively new to the industry, looking to create space for people like themselves.

Ashlee has been both in front of the camera, and behind it, and is now focusing on the production end.

She says that while young women in the industry are often taken advantage of, she is working to create a safe space for models: “I want to build a brand around safety and genuine content.”

Gwen started her career as a sex educator and sex blogger and has only recently crossed over into porn production. Part of her interest as a crossover figure between sex work and sex education is to give sex workers a stronger voice in sex education circles. She says, “Sex workers are doing the work of showing up for sex educators, but sex educators aren’t doing the work of showing up for sex workers.”

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