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Penguins Penguins & & Paws Paws Calendars Calendars Calendar will feature members of the Pittsburgh Penguins with their pets and adoptable animals from Humane Animal Rescue!

Available November 23, 2018 To order, visit www.humaneanimalrescue.org/penscalendar

Proceeds For pre-order, visit www.humaneanimalrescue.org/penscalendar benefit the animals at HAR!

Humane Animal Rescue Visit our website at www.humaneanimalrescue.org for more details! PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DEC. 26, 2018-JAN. 9, 2019

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DEC. 26, 2018-JAN. 9, 2018 VOLUME 28 + ISSUE 52

FIRSTSHOT BY JARED WICKERHAM

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 Designers MAYA PUSKARIC, 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, LYNN CULLEN, TERENEH IDIA, CRAIG MRUSEK, CHARLES ROSENBLUM, JESSIE SAGE, STEVE SUCATO Office Administrator RODNEY REGAN National Advertising Representative VMG ADVERTISING 1.888.278.9866 OR 1.212.475.2529 Publisher EAGLE MEDIA CORP.

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The

2019

SPIRIT KING of

Award Ceremony

This annual award honors lifetime achievement in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Port Authority is proud to present Harvey Adams, Jr. and The Honorable Walter Little as the 2019 Spirit of King honorees. The ceremony takes place Thursday, January 10th 10:00 am at The Kingsley Center, 6435 Frankstown Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15206 Please RSVP at 412.566.5320 By Friday, January 4, 2019

HOLD THIS DATE

Thursday, January 10th 10:00 am

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DEC. 26, 2018-JAN. 9, 2019

CP ILLUSTRATION: VINCE DORSE

THE BIG STORY

NEW IDEAS FOR A NEW YEAR Suggestions for a new, improved Pittsburgh BY CP STAFF // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

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IMAGE: RYE DEVELOPMENT

Illustration of proposed Allegheny #2 Hydro-electric Project

Harness the Hydropower BY AMANDA WALTZ

ATER, WATER everywhere, and yet not a spark in sight. That’s the case in Pittsburgh, a river-rich city that has yet to grasp the true power-generating potential of one of its most abundant resources. But that may soon change. Recently, the University of Pittsburgh made its largestever commitment to renewable energy when it agreed to receive 25 percent of its campus power needs from Allegheny River hydroelectric power. As part of the deal, Pitt signed a letter of intent to purchase 100 percent of the power from a low-impact hydroelectric plant to be constructed on the Allegheny River at the existing Allegheny Lock and Dam No. 2, located just below the Highland Park Bridge. (It’s expected to open in 2022). As stated in a press release about the arrangement, the plant at Allegheny Lock and Dam No. 2 will be the ﬁrst of eight potential hydropower facilities planned by Rye, a Bostonbased hydropower developer, to capture energy from the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers. However, the same statement pointed out that it’s been nearly three decades since a new hydropower facility was constructed on the Allegheny River. So while the deal is a positive, severely overdue move in the right direction – especially for an entity with as much clout

and buying power as Pitt – it would be nice to see it expand, and quickly. And if climate scientists have anything to say about it (and they do), the city needs to get in gear if it wants to stop contributing to a potential worldwide catastrophe. After all, Pittsburgh has rivers. So many rivers. More rivers than we know what to do with. Why not take advantage of them, especially when cities are scrambling to reduce their carbon emissions? Where was the mention of hydropower when Mayor Bill Peduto promised to power Pittsburgh o with 100 percent renewables by 2035, a response to President Trump’s mention of the city in his 2017 antiParis Accord statement? Sure, wind turbines are nice, but the city’s geography isn’t suited for them. And solar is great too, even if it does require some personal investment. As far as Pittsburgh is concerned, hydro should be where it’s at. Solar and wind may have risen in popularity, butt the U.S. Energy Information Administration positionss rgy hydropower as the largest source of renewable energy in the country. In 2017, it accounted for about 44 percent of electricity generated from renewable energy and 7 percent of the total U.S. electricity generation. So come on, Pittsburgh. Turn that sometimes sewagechoked river water into gold. Invest in hydropower.

Downtown Community Center BY RYAN DETO

ATING FAST food in Downtown

Pittsburgh can be a bit overwhelming. McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, and Arby’s are typically packed with customers waiting in line. The staff is overwhelmed, t and the tables are ﬁlled with people ch chatting loudly and messing a around. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it feels like a displacement thing. Several places Downtown have become de facto ccommunity centers. Youths, the h homeless, workers, and residents ga gather en masse in just a few locations that feel welcoming to everyone, regardless of income or status. There is clearly a demand for places where people can hang out indoors, have food, and enjoy some entertainment. Inclusive places that are the opposite CONTINUES ON PG. 8

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DEC. 26, 2018-JAN. 9, 2019

NEW IDEAS FOR A NEW YEAR, CONTINUED FROM PG. 7

of the private, wealthy spaces like the Duquesne Club. But it’s sad that those places are fast-food restaurants, run by multibillion-dollar corporations that pay poor wages and make Americans less healthy. We are letting the 1 percent provide a Downtown necessity, and let’s be honest, it’s far from ideal. Let’s change that. Downtown needs a public, indoor community center. It needs a place where kids waiting for the bus can spend time. Maybe computers and tutors can be provided, so they can do homework. Board games, couches, and tables can give them a place to hang out, maybe calm the tensions that exist when they’re stuck outside for hours, unsupervised. The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Downtown branch provides some of these services, but clearly, there is demand for more space and more services. A potential community center could provide the homeless and jobless a place to keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Maybe career counselors can help them look for work. Maybe a community food kitchen can help provide some food. Heck, maybe the center could provide a place for people just to gather, watch a Pirates game and let whitecollar workers interact with the service workers that keep their offices clean. Everyone says we are in a divided time in America. Why not have local government create a place that fosters camaraderie among groups that rarely interact? This wouldn’t be an easy undertaking, but that shouldn’t stop Pittsburgh from trying. There are several properties Downtown that have sat vacant for years. Pittsburgh City Paper offices are next door to several vacant buildings on Smithwo field Street. Surely one or two could be converted. Funds are always an issue for these kinds of projects, but there are missed opportunities the city could take advantage of o to help pay for them. Just to take an example at random,, lthere are millions in uncollected revenue, because Amazon isn’t collecting sales tax on online purchases in Allegheny County. In a statement to CP, Amazon representatives indicated they wouldn’t be against collecting the sales tax if the state legislature

Get smokers off Pittsburgh’s rush-hour sidewalks ... And into our Ubers BY JOSH OSWALD

T TAKES A Steel City constitution to hop off the Red Line T at 8 a.m., crack a Monster Energy tallboy, and ﬁre up a cig like the

coke-smelting furnaces of our recent past. But those of us who aren’t as Pittsburgh strong may struggle with a wakeup call from the Philip Morris Rooster. Despite chapter 880 of the Allegheny County code, neither the Common Use Area, Passageway, or any of arbitrary distances from entrances can keep cigarette smoke out of the faces of sidewalk commuters. I’m not interested in telling people how to live. I may have had a cig or two in my day. Let’s just find a way our two parties can peacefully coexist. Pittsburgh is a city of firsts. The first Ferris Wheel, commercial radio station, and the first civilization to subsist solely on potato products. It’s time we set another precedent. Let’s marry our steely past with our tech-boon present and introduce the Smoker’s Uber. The infrastructure is in place. We have the smokers, we have the Ubers. Accessible from literally any sidewalk where morning smokers smoke, why not request a Smoker’s Uber and savor that Winston in the warm comfort of Chad’s Outlander Sport? Riders will have no choice but to listen to The Fan. There will be mints and Axe Body spray for those who have morning conference calls. And since autonomous Ubers crash every 15,000 miles, the service provides the same Russian Roulette thrill of smoking a cigarette.

al altered the law to force them to collect. Then that extra salestax revenue could be funneled to the Allegheny County Regional Asset Distri rict, which funds community as assets like parks, libraries and museums. A city- or county-owned community center would easily fall under that jurisdiction. It’s past time we provide some comfortable space for the large crowds that congregate Downtown each day.

Logical Liquor laws BY HANNAH LYNN

N 1933, the governor of Pennsylvania was a man named Gifford Pinchot. He loved forestry and had a staggering moustache. He was also a big fan of prohibition, and when the act was repealed nationwide, Pinchot established the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) to make buying

alcohol “as inconvenient and expensive a s p o s s i b l e .” T h e P L C B s t i l l r u n s all state liquor stores, and it’s still inconvenient as shit. The alcohol content between beer and wine is much more similar than that between wine and liquor. But in Pennsylvania, most wine and liquor are sold at state-run stores while beer is sold at distributors. Due to recent changes to that law, wine and beer are available at some grocery stores and gas stations. However, in Pittsburgh, this mostly means Giant Eagle-owned CONTINUES ON PG. 10

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NEW IDEAS FOR A NEW YEAR, CONTINUED FROM PG. 8

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establishments. Bars can sell six-packs, but not wine or liquor. Breweries and distilleries can sell their products at their own establishments and sometimes at farmers markets. If you’re lost, blame Ol’ Pinchy. There are several moves that can be done to straighten out this mess, like allowing liquor sales at all grocery stores. Sometimes I fantasize about the infamous two-dollar wine sold at Trader Joe’s in other states. Having liquor stores that are not state-run would be nice, but that would involve the state giving up a billion dollars in revenue. Is it too much to ask for lax open container laws? It would be fun to drink in the park. It doesn’t seem more dangerous than open carry laws. If anyone from the government, the liquor board, or the ghost of Gifford Pinchot is reading, please make it easier to buy alcohol. Earth is very stressful and we’re still a ways away from legal weed.

Noise Complaints BY JORDAN SNOWDEN

UTDOOR CONCERTS are ubiquitous in Pittsburgh during the ts summer: the sun sets late, and the city starts to cooll off. Just as you start to get comfortable, the music suddenly comes to an end. Once the clock strikes 10 p.m. in Pittsburgh, sound d above 55 decibels could e result in ﬁnes or, if the venue al serves alcohol, the potential loss of its liquor license. But late-night musical excursions are a key factor of thriving music scenes in places like Austin, Texas, where music can be heard in the streets long after the sun has set.

Earlier this year, after a ten-month process that included input from more than 1,800 musicians and civic leaders, the Pittsburgh Music Ecosystem Project released a study detailing how to grow the local music scene. The study was developed by Sound Music Cities, Inc., an Austin-based company that promotes po positive community and econ nomic growth within music ccommunities. Don Pitts, who w worked with Austin’s Economic Development Department’s music and entertainment division, assisted with the p project. While working at the d department, Pitts effectively red reduced Austin’s noise complaints by 70 percent. One of the suggestions on how to combat sound complaints was to petition for a noise ordinance exemption in certain parts of the city, allowing for musicfriendly districts. Those specific areas CONTINUES ON PG. 12

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NEW IDEAS FOR A NEW YEAR, CONTINUED FROM PG. 10

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Baum Boulevard

would operate under a city-run special sound ordinance. Noise-friendly districts with music flowing freely into the night are a spectacular idea. But getting laws changed can take a long time. So for 2019, I propose a silent disco bar (with an outdoor area for when it’s nice). A silent disco is a dance event in which music is piped into attendees’ wireless headphones, reducing noise to not much more than shuffling feet. Want to chat with a friend? Take the headphones off. Music too loud? Turn the volume down. Too low? Turn it up. There are even more advanced silent discos, where the headphones give the option to flip between two different channels. For example, one frequency could be tuned into a funk band, while the other plays indie rock.

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Not only would excess noise no longer be a concern, people could dance, party, and mingle late until the night. No petitions required.

Redesign Baum Boulevard BY RYAN DETO

OST OF the East End is a pedestrian’s paradise, but some parts feel out of place. These sections are typically remnants of urban renewal, a post-WWII development strategy meant to clear blight out of urban neighborhoods. In actuality, redesigns focused on attracting carfocused suburbanites, but ended up

decimating city neighborhoods, especially majority-Black ones, because the strategy favored huge Brutalist architecture surrounded by giant parking lots and what were basically highways. Not exactly a nice place to live. As a result, neighborhoods like East Liberty were made worse. But now, city leaders are taking steps to improve East Liberty’s urban-renewal scars. Bike lanes have given people an alternative option to driving, and walking is better since trafﬁc is slowed down. Four-lane, oneway streets are being converted back to two-way streets, with improvements to pedestrian and cycling infrastructures. Complete Streets, the idea to weigh the needs of drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, is taking hold. But, one major thoroughfare is being

ignored, and it cuts through the East End with reckless abandon: Baum Boulevard. This four-lane road is cold and barren, filled with drivers that regularly speed. There is consistently congestion by drivers waiting to enter fast-food drive thrus. A road designed to increase traffic flow is often slowed because it’s also designed to cater to the material needs of drivers. It’s insanity. Furthermore, Baum Boulevard contains blocks where cars can park in lanes near the curb, effectively turning a four-lane road into a three- or two-lane road. On top of that, periodic viewings of Google traffic on Baum during rush hour show large-scale congestion rarely happens. Honorably, the new apartment complex Ollie at Baumhaus created a green barrier between pedestrians and cars on their

section of sidewalk. It’s the most pleasant part of Baum, but it’s a band-aid on a massive, gaping wound. Solution? Redesign Baum Boulevard. Reduce four lanes to two, with sections where drivers can wait to make left turns at intersections or into drive thrus without stopping traffic flow. Cars would also be discouraged from speeding, since left-turn sections would force drivers to ke the follow a meandering path, like en section of Penn Ave. between 40th and 45th streets. One of the eliminated lanes could provide space for a protected bike lane that would offer vital connections to other bike lanes in d Bloomfield, Friendship, and y East Liberty, and eventually i i t d North Oakland. The other eliminated driving lane on Baum (where it isn’t used for left-turn sections) could be converted into additional parking or parklets for trees and green space. Baum could be transformed into a Complete Street sanctuary.

Designated places to set off fireworks BY AMANDA WALTZ

ICTURE THIS: it’s summer. You’re

on your back patio enjoying one of the few sunny Pittsburgh days, cold beer in hand, dog at your side. Then all of the sudden, BLAM! Your backyard becomes a miniature war zone, the dog runs away in fear, and the day is ofﬁcially ruined. This is the reality in Pittsburgh since the state recently made it legal for consumers to buy the higher-grade, aerial ﬁreworks banned in Pennsylvania since 1939. This extends to items containing up to 50

milligrams of explosive material, including Roman candles, mortars, and bottle rockets. Since then, residents all over Pittsburgh have had to deal with inconsiderate neighbors setting off loud, potentially dangerous fireworks for weeks before and after the Fourth of July. This, despite the fact that it’s illegal to set off fireworks within 150 feet (or 10 car lengths) of occupied buildings, a law that I can tell you firsthand is definitely n not followed by certain people in my neighborhood. So what to do? You could petition the local government to ban fireworks from the city, as they cause injur ries, property da age, and other d disturbances. You could flood 91 with noise complaints about 911 k going off near your house unfireworks til, finally, police decide to do something about it (and yes, you’re supposed to call 911 for noise complaints). Or we could just designate areas far, far from the city where explosion-happy jerks can make big noises and blow their fingers off to their heart’s content without disturbing people (especially those with PTSD) or pets. Maybe in a dome-like stadium? Or at the bottom of a ravine? How about in an abandoned warehouse they were going to burn down anyway? The possibilities are endless.

Easier ways to load connect cards

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BY HANNAH LYNN

ONNECTCARDS ARE a great tool for riding Port Authority transit. They make boarding the bus more efficient and cheaper than paying with cash. They can be loaded with unlimited daily, weekly, monthly, or annual bus passes. Depending on how often cardholders use public transit, these passes can save a lot of money. Personally, I get a monthly bus pass on the first of every month. It costs $97.50, which evens out to $3.14 a day. I take the bus a minimum of twice a day, which would be $5+ a day without a pass or ConnectCard. Despite the convenience and costeffectiveness of the card, Port Authority does not make it easy to reload. The ConnectCard website features a difficultto-read list of locations and businesses where customers can load cards. While the list is long, the locations CONTINUES ON PG. 14

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NEW IDEAS FOR A NEW YEAR, CONTINUED FROM PG. 13

are not evenly spread out. With some exceptions, places that load ConnectCards mostly include Giant Eagle, Goodwill, and kiosks at busway stations. I, for example, don’t live near any of those establishments, so on the ﬁrst of the month, I walk 10 minutes to the gift shop at the Children’s Hospital to reload my card. The ConnectCard website also allows for online reloading, but not for passes. Plus, it takes several days for the money to apply. I live in a central location in Bloomﬁeld, so if it’s slightly inconvenient for me, it’s certainly even more inconvenient for others. Some propositions: more kiosks, not just at busways. Card loading available at more locations, like convenience stores, libraries, gas stations, and pharmacies. Locations should be as widespread as possible, both because of need, and because everyone should be encouraged to use public transportation.

Beyond Megatouch BY ALEX GORDON

ACKING A taproom with 1980s arcade games and slapping an easy portmanteau out front may strike some as excessively trendy, but don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.. Throw back a few beers, level sev-eral city blocks in Rampage, and see how you feel about it then. Barcade™ is credited with debuting the drinking/gaming concept in Brooklyn in 2004 — though, to be fair, one of the ﬁrst arcade cabinets ever was actually installed in a bar in the early 1970s. The company now has locations around the country (even in nearby Philadelphia, which isn’t nearby). They have some competition, hence the 2007 court case to secure the ™, so clearly the video games-plus-drinking formula has something going for it. We should get on board. Traditionally, Pittsburgh is more of a pinball town, but no one’s ever gone broke underestimating Pittsburghers’ penchant for drinking beer and playing games. We’re already stacked in generalgaming bars (Kickback, Games N’ At, Victory Pointe), but none fully committed to arcade games, which is the best way to get your joystick muscles back in ﬁghting shape. Plus, given Pittsburghers’ appetite for nostalgia, it’s a safe bet the throwback games would make bank. Who wouldn’t CONTINUES ON PG. 16

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CP PHOTO: KEVIN SHEPHERD

Steely McBeam and a bunch of people who deserve a better mascot

Here He Goes, Steelers BY LISA CUNNINGHAM

IVE ME a plate of pierogis over a cheesesteak. I’ll

hang out with yinz before youse. But I’m sorry, Pittsburgh, the City of Brotherly Love kicked our ass this year when it introduced a new hero for the people. He’s big, jolly, orange, batshit insane, and FABULOUS. Gritty, the new mascot for the Philadelphia Flyers, debuted in September, jiggling his big belly and rolling his oversized googly eyes into all of our hearts. Gritty almost instantly became one of the most popular memes of 2018 and was adopted by leftists as a liberal icon soon after. In the arena, fans cheered as he slid around and fell down on the ice like a champ. When Trump came to town, protesters took to the streets with Gritty signs saying, “This town only has room for one orange asshole,” and “GRITTY SAYS ‘GTFO OF PHILLY.’” Meanwhile, back in Pittsburgh, a Steely McBeam doll with an oversized jaw and a dumb smile permanently stuck on his big dumb face lays abandoned in a ditch because, seriously, who wants him as a mascot, let alone an icon, for anything? No one. He shows up in the Bloomﬁeld Halloween Parade and people wish the costume was wearing a costume. I’m a proud member of the Facebook group Gritty Memes for Philly Teens, along with 18,000 other folks. I’m cheered up

almost every day when someone posts a new Photoshopped image of Gritty. People all over the country, not just Philadelphia, are making Gritty cookies, Gritty hats, Gritty Christmas ornaments. Last week, someone posted a photo of a Grittyshaped latke. The love for Gritty doesn’t just cross city lines; it’s a powerful force with the ability to end cultural and religious divides. It’s time to replace Steely McBeam with our own Gritty. Here we go, Steelers, here we go. Pittsburgh wants you to take a new mascot to the Super Bowl. Might I suggest it not be a big dumb white man? The one we have at quarterback is probably enough. In 2019, let’s take Steely to the salon and give him a makeover. Stuff some plates of Primanti sandwiches and haluski down his face, fatten him up. Get rid of those tight clothes. Replace his head with an oversized ball of black and gold fur. Our hockey and baseball mascots can stay. The PNC Park pierogis, the Eat’n Park cookie, and Kenny the Kangaroo, too. But Steely McBeam has been a part of the Steelers organization since 2007 and can you once remember seeing his face on someone’s shirt? Has anyone ever carved a Steely McBeam pumpkin for Halloween? If they did, I bet it looked as dumb as his face.

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DEC. 26, 2018-JAN. 9, 2019

NEW IDEAS FOR A NEW YEAR, CONTINUED FROM PG. 14

want to get tipsy and sample old favorites like Frogger and Pac-Man? It’s settled: Let’s bring a Barcade to Pittsburgh in 2019. If they’re not interested, we’ll build our own and call it Juice and Joysticks. Or a different, better name.

Pittsburgh Left Ain’t Right BY LISA CUNNINGHAM

“P

EOPLE JUST need to learn how

it works.” That’s what someone told me when I said the Pittsburgh Left needs to go. Listen, if everyone who drove a car in Pittsburgh was courteous and watched out for cyclists and pedestrians and actually cared about people other than themselves, maybe. But let’s be honest, they don’t. The Pittsburgh Left is an unwritten rule of the road, in which the first leftturning vehicle at an intersection is given right-of-way over the opposing traffic going straight. Drivers here tend expect the move. Who cares if the driver in the oncoming traffic isn’t from Pittsburgh and has no idea what you’re about to do, right? “You’re in PITTSBURGH, buddy. Learn to speak our language!” This aggressive behavior is so expected that drivers in left-turn lanes often gas it before the light even turns green, just so they can shave off a few seconds from their commute. They’re not just doing this when there are a line of cars waiting to go. They do it even if it’s just a two-car faceoff. It’s not just silly, it’s dangerous. As a pedestrian, I’ve almost gotten hit multiple times while crossing the street and coming face-to-face with one of these drivers, so intent on making the Pittsburgh Left that their gazes are transfixed on the light and not on their surroundings. As a driver, I’m extra cautious of Pittsburgh Lefters and sometimes sit at the light forever, waving my hands and flashing my headlights at the other driver doing the same exact thing, only to have both of us eventually give up and pull out at the same time. The Pittsburgh Left is exhausting. Let’s eliminate it in 2019 by providing a reason for it to no longer be needed: Install more left turn signals at lights. Until then, try to leave your house a little earlier, suck it up, and wait your turn. And for god’s sake, stop honking your horn if someone in front of you chooses not to put their life in danger by participating in this ridiculous tradition.

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Great Taste, Zero Waste BY MAGGIE WEAVER

MAGINE A world where Pamela’s

Diner installs an inhouse composting system, turning leftover pancakes into a renewable resource. Prantl’s Bakery serves cakes in 100 percent biodegradable boxes. Crazy Mocha gathers used coffee grounds, blessing local farms with free fertilizer. Southern Tier offers to recycle and reuse glass bottles, designating taproom collection points. U.S. restaurants waste 11.4 million tons of food annually. That’s an average of $390 per customer, tossed into a dumpster. And that’s just food. Zero waste is a buzzword in the food industry. But the rising trend that hasn’t quite made it to Pittsburgh, though the city — thanks to the community — is on its way. In practice, zero waste doesn’t reduce waste entirely. It’s just an ideology, encouraging reuse and redesign to limit careless waste. Restaurateurs allow

patrons to use toilet paper, but switch from paper towels to hand dryers. Chefs practice nose-to-tail and root-to-stem cooking, a technique that uses all parts of a vegetable or meat. There’s money to be made in waste management. Creating a mindful menu with smaller portion sizes and a decreased range of ingredients lowers food costs.. Sometimes, it’s as simple as a question. Asking a guest if they need a straw or bag lessens use of non-recyclable plastic. But tracking and analyzing waste, two of the e most profitable tactics, are more involved. For many restaurants, it’s a competition between feasibility and profitability. It takes time, energy, and funds for a waste audit. With an average profit margin of three to five percent and constant business competition, money for composting and waste tracking is practically nonexistent. Other roadblocks hinder Pittsburgh restaurants’ ability to go waste-free. Many rent properties and face regula-

tions from landlords, especially regarding the smell of compost. With new codes in the South Hills, businesses may not be able to recycle glass. Organizations like Sustainable Pittsburgh Restaurants (SPR) and 412 Food Rescue are stepping up to offer support and resources for waste reduction. Early this fall, SPR initiated the Straw F Forward project, an opportun nity for restaurants to donate st straws for community art. The David L. Lawrence Convention Center manually sorts waste with hockey ssticks. KayaFest, a summer ev event held by Kaya, was compl pletely waste-free. Three area t t are participating in the Oysrestaurants ter Recovery Partnership, collecting shells to help restore the Chesapeake Bay’s oyster population. Restaurants in the city are making leaps and bounds toward waste reduction. But in comparison to other cities, Pittsburgh is still behind. With local initiatives and community support, 2019 will hopefully bring the city’s ﬁrst zero waste restaurant.

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BY JORDAN SNOWDEN // JSNOWDEN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Buku aka Robert Balotsky CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

F BUKU HADN’T grown up in Pittsburgh, the electronic trap artist would likely still go by Robert Balotsky. It wasn’t his plan to be a DJ, but thanks to the small but encouraging music scene in the ‘Burgh, Balotsky was able to become the festival-hopping musician he is today. During his sophomore year at Duquesne University, Balotsky started getting into EDM through the YouTube channel of record label UKF. The channel shares “the best in bass music,” and features electronic sub-genres, garage, glitch hop, trap, and electro house. Balotsky decided to experiment by emulating the styles he heard on UKF. This wasn’t far-fetched, since he was already an active musician, having studied Music Technology at Duquesne an d p l ayin g d ru m s t h ro u g h o ut his adolescence.

“I started to understand it more, and was making things that were totally terrible,” Balotsky laughs. He was just making music for the sake of making music. But as he started to improve, he realized that if he wanted to perform his creations, he would have to learn how to DJ. At the time that Balotsky was getting interested in electronic music, the Pittsburgh music community was nearing the end of the peak of its DIY rave scene. Venues like The Eagle on the North Side or the Lawrenceville Moose were hot spots for underground, and sometimes illegal, electronic shows. A friend of Balotsky’s brought him to a house party where he met some of the people who were running the DIY raves. Through those connections, Balotsky started getting opening slots at The Eagle. “Friends book friends,” says Balotsky. “[In major cities], people are like ringing each other’s necks to get an opening slot. [Pittsburgh’s] really not that big of a community, especially among artists and musicians, everyone knows each other – it allowed me to hone my craft a little bit more and have a community around that was interested.” The size of the music scene gave Balotsky the opportunity to practice, experiment, and get in front of crowds. Soon, his music began drawing national attention from big EDM names like Diplo, Datsik, Rusko, and Skrillex. Fast forward to 2018: Balostsky has now collaborated with Stylust, G Jones, Willy Joy, Minnesota, and many other big names in the genre. He spent the summer playing on the electronicmusic festival circuit. “I [played] a bunch of my bucket-list festivals: Shambhala, Camp Bisco, and

Electric Forest,” says Balotsky. “Those were absolutely the ones I’ve been wanting to do for a long time now.” Electric Forest is a music festival in Rothbury, Mich. that focuses on electronic music and jam bands. This year, because of the event’s growth in popularity, the festival expanded to two weekends. Attendees can choose to purchase tickets for one or both weekends. While the lineups were similar, many of the acts only performed at one or the other. Balotsky was asked to play at both weekends at Electric Forest, and the ﬁrst one brought a surprise.

BUKU

9 p.m. Mon., Dec. 31. The Rex Theater, 1602 E. Carson St., South Side. $30. rextheater.net

“They had some sort of scheduling conﬂict,” says Balotsky. “I was supposed to play sometime around 8 p.m. on one stage. They ended up asking if I wanted to play 12:30-2 a.m. on another stage. So, I ended up getting to close out the entire festival. I still have people contacting me. That was my most special moment of the summer.” Next year, Balotsky is set to travel with Space Jesus for his Temple of Noom tour across the U.S., hitting 40 cities between Jan. and April. But before he starts touring again, Balotsky is closing out 2018 in his hometown. “It’s going to be completely bananas,” says Balotsky of his headlining New Year’s Eve show at The Rex Theater. “I hope to continue growing this Pittsburgh support. I am almost stubborn [in how much] I want to represent Pittsburgh, and I refuse to move away. I want to become a name that could be synonymous with Pittsburgh.”

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Follow staff writer Jordan Snowden on Twitter @snowden_jordan PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DEC. 26, 2018-JAN. 9, 2019

.NEW YEAR’S EVE.

20 WAYS TO KILL 2018 IN STYLE BY JORDAN SNOWDEN & MAGGIE WEAVER // JSNOWDEN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

EW YEAR’S EVE comes with high expectations. It’s a night to remember, ﬁlled with drinking, dancing, and maybe even the coveted midnight kiss. Sometimes it delivers, and other times it’s a whole lot of buildup with nothing but crowds and expensive drinks to show for it. To ensure you have the right kind of NYE in Pittsburgh, City Paper picked out some of our favorite spots, parties, shows, and meals to help ring in the New Year. Some are high-energy, some are laid back, some are chic, some are down to earth, some are pricey, and some are free. But it’s safe to say there’s enough variety here to satisfy anybody. Pop the bubbly (or whatever you feel like popping) and welcome the New Year in style.

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PHOTO: JUSTIN MIERZEJEWSKI

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong

ghetti. Your taste buds won’t want to leave 2018.

7 p.m.-1 a.m. Stage AE, 400 N. Shore Drive, North Side. $25. promowestlive.com Psychedelic-funk quartet Pigeons Playing Ping Pong is closing out the year with a show at Stage AE. Members of the band’s fanbase, The Flock, know that for its New Year’s Eve performances, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong generally play to a theme. This year’s theme is “New Year’s stEve.” Along with their own hits, expect to hear songs from the catalogs of Stevie Wonder, Stevie Nicks, Steven Tyler, Steve Winwood, and even Steve Aoki.

New Year’s Eve Beer Pairing Dinner

New Year’s Eve Tasting Menu 5 p.m. Cure, 5336 Butler St., Lawrenceville. $125. curepittsburgh.com Cure’s New Year’s Eve tasting highlights the talent of chef Justin Severino and his team. The menu, showcasing the restaurant’s Mediterranean fare, is ﬁlled with items like roast pork, dark chocolate soufﬂé, and squid ink spa-

6-8 p.m. Spoonwood Brewing Company, 5981 Baptist Road, Bethel Park. $65. spoonwoodbrewing.com Who needs champagne when there’s beer? At least, that’s the motto for New Year’s Eve at Spoonwood Brewing Company. Indulge in four courses all paired with a Spoonwood craft brew.

New Year’s Eve Booklovers’ Bash 8 p.m.-12 a.m. Amazing Books & Records, 29 Liberty Ave., Downtown; and 2030 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill. Free. amazingbooksandrecords.com Want a more laid-back New Year’s? Amazing Books & Records is holding its sixth Annual Book and Brew Bash in both of their locations, simultaneously. There will be free drinks and food, and turntables spinning vinyl. Plus, you get to ring in the New Year surrounded by books and records. CONTINUES ON PG. 22

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DEC. 26, 2018-JAN. 9, 2019

20 WAYS TO KILL 2018 IN STYLE, CONTINUED FROM PG. 21

PHOTO: MOLLY STEADMAN

DJ Joanie B AT Howlers

NEW YEARS EVE D E TA I L S

TEQUILA COWBOY • 12/31 8PM-1/1 2AM

ACCESS TO TEQUILA COWBOY, WANNABS KARAOKE ROOM LIVE MUSIC, DJ, BULL RIDING KARAOKE TICKET OPTIONS

PRESALE: $50 • DOOR: STARTS AT $60 VIP* (LITTLE RED CORVETTE): $75 VIP OPTIONS

LITTLE RED CORVETTE/ 8PM-MIDNIGHT FOOD BUFFET, 3 DRINK TICKETS FOR BAR, COMPLIMENTARY CHAMPAGNE TOAST, CHAMPAGNE BOTTLE OPTION MUST BE 21 FOR ENTRY/ VALID ID REQUIRED MUST PRINT OUT TICKET OR SHOW MOBILE TICKET FOR ACCESS

380 NORTH SHORE DRIVE PITTSBURGH, PA 15212

New Year’s Dance Party

Beacon: A New Year’s Celebration

8 p.m. -12:30 a.m. Howlers, 4506 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield. Free. howlerspittsburgh.com Who says you have to pay giant cover fees to have fun? This New Year’s event has no cover. Yes, you read that right. And, on top of the free entry, there will be a free traditional pork and champagne toast at midnight. Even further, listen to your favorite tunes. DJ Joanie B is taking requests for this anything-goes night.

9 p.m.-4 a.m. 3577 Studios, 3577 Bigelow Blvd., Polish Hill. $20-30. showclix.com/event/beacon-nye2019 The Facebook event page for this New Year’s party says it best: “This New Year’s Eve, take a ride with us on a journey through space and time in an intimate warehouse setting in the heart of Polish Hill.” Dance late into the night with house and techno beats and an open bar, cash donations accepted. A portion of donations from the bar will be donated to The Project to End Human Trafﬁcking.

New Year’s Eve a la Mexicana 9 p.m.- 2 a.m. La Palapa, 2224 East Carson St., South Side. $80. lapalapapgh.com Experience New Year’s Eve Mexican style. La Palapa offers up a buffet of appetizers. Stuff yourself to the sweet sounds of a Mariachi band. After, dance it all off with DJ J.Ski. Don’t forget to eat 12 grapes at midnight!

Y2Gay NYE 2019 Bash 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Brillobox, 4104 Penn Ave., Bloomfield. $10. brilloboxpgh.com Pgh Bro Club is saying hello to 2019 with the best party jams of Y2K & today selected and smashed together by DJ Dad Time and Edgar Um. In addition to the music, there will be a live performance by Bambi, a secret performance by a special guest, and free champagne for toasting when the ball drops.

Brew Year’s Eve 9 p.m.- 1 a.m. Smallman Galley, 54 21st St., Strip District. $75. smallmangalley.org Brew Year’s Eve is back to ring in 2019! One ticket is good for unlimited pours of the 20 craft beers on tap. Two of the restaurant concepts, crumb. and Home, will serve a special menu, including a vegan slider trio and (non-vegan) trufﬂe wings. As an added bonus, Smallman Galley is offering a $5 Lyft credit to make sure you get home safe.

Spirit NYE 8:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Spirit, 242 51st St., Lawrenceville. $25-40. spiritpgh.com Usually when there are two shows simultaneously taking place at Spirit in the Hall and the Lodge, attendees need to pay for both to see both. But for New Year’s, Spirit is going big: the ticket price grants access to free Slice Island CONTINUES ON PG. 24

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The

Mister Bunch

Mister Grooming & Goods 4504 Butler Street 412.326.5964

6921 Fifth Avenue • Pittsburgh, PA 15208 compassselfstorage.com • (412) 440-5325

Mistergroomingandgoods.com

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4322 BUTLER STREET LAWRENCEVILLE

www.unabiologicals.com PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DEC. 26, 2018-JAN. 9, 2019

20 WAYS TO KILL 2018 IN STYLE, CONTINUED FROM PG. 22

Pizza until 1 a.m., a complimentary champagne toast at midnight, and performances in both the Hall and the Lodge. Acts include Diane Coffee, Morgan Smith, Starship Mantis, Benji., and Jellyﬁsh.

NYE at The Vandal 6-10 p.m. The Vandal, 4306 Butler St., Lawrenceville. $60-95. thevandalpgh.com Neighborhood cafe The Vandal plates a ﬂavor-ﬁlled, four-course menu. Add a drink pairing for a simple, seamless meal. For a bright beginning to 2019, finish off the night with The Vandal’s citrus meringue tart.

NYE Afro-Caribbean BLACK TIE Affair 9 p.m.-3 a.m. The Boiler Room, 1070 Banksville Ave., Banksville. $30+. afrocaribbeannye.eventbrite.com Promoted as Pittsburgh’s biggest and sexiest New Year’s Eve Party for the African & Caribbean community, this upscale event (no sneakers, t-shirts, or hats/ caps) features hip-hop, kompa, Afrobeat, dancehall, and soca music provided by Smi, Faya Ras, Dj. Flipwave and African Wolf, Legend, and Outtareach.

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New Year’s Eve Dinner Kaya, 2000 Smallman St., Strip District. $45-55. By reservation. kaya.menu Take a trip to the Paciﬁc with New Year’s Eve at Kaya. The restaurant is featuring a three-course menu full of island-inspired ﬂavors. Plus, us, it caters to all eaters — vegan, vegetarian, and omnivore. ore.

New Year’s Eve 2019 Siempre Algo, 414 East Ohio St., North Side. $40-75. By com reservation. siemprealgopgh.com Taste your way through ugh Siempre Algo’s menu, a chefcreated feat covering everthing rthing from spring rolls to tortellini. ni. A la carte is available in both the e dining room and at the bar, alongside the fourcourse tasting.

Uptown NYE with Bombici 9:30 p.m.-1 a.m. 1640 Colwell St., Downtown. Free. facebook.com/bombici Bring in your New Year’s Bombici style. The local Balkan electroacoustic band teamed up with photographer Craig

Thompson for an evening of dancing, drinks, video projections, and psychedelic Balkan grooves – which all takes place a photo studio. No cover and BYOB.

2019 New Year’s Eve Cocktail Party Coc 9 p.m.p.m 1:30 a.m. Carmella’s Plates and Pints, 1908 East Carson St., South Side. $120.19. carme carmellasplatesandpints.com Cele Celebrate a new you with a cocktail h in hand. Hors d’oeuvres are served throu throughout the night, beer, wine, c and cocktails are on tap, and party favors are included. Name a better recipe for the perfect party.

Music Television 9 p.m.-2 a.m a.m. Remedy Restaurant and 51 Butler St., Lawrenceville. Lounge, 5121 $5. facebo facebook.com/remedypgh Party like li its 1999, 1989, 1979 … DJ Maculate is ushering in the New Year by counting down the best music videos do from the last 50 years. The music will f be eclectic, but with a heavy emphasis on speaker-rattling house beats, ’90s hip-hop, and funk from every era synced up to music videos, movies,

tv shows, and cartoons.

All That ’90s New Year’s Eve 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Cattivo, 146 44th St., Lawrenceville. $10. cattivopgh.com Why go forward in time, when you can go back? Local DJ Arie Cole will play all the best hip-hop, R&B, and pop hits from the ’90s as you ring in the New Year with free champagne at midnight.

Best of 2018 - The Remix 5-10 p.m. Spork, 5430 Penn Ave., Garfield. sporkpittsburgh.com To celebrate the end of 2018, Spork is serving up the best of the best. The a la carte menu lists some of their favorite dishes, like crab soufﬂé and sweet potato gnocchi. End the evening with a small-scale version of the Pittsburgh-famous cookie table.

Altius New Year’s Eve 2018 Altius. 1230 Grandview Ave., Mount Washington. $125. By reservation. altiuspgh.com Start 2019 off with a view. Looking over the city, eat your way through Altius’s four-course spread. Forget the champagne toast! Altius turns NYE bubbly into a dessert, topping a white chocolate ball with champagne foam.

•

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.FOOD REVIEW.

THE BELLE OF BELLEVUE BY MAGGIE WEAVER MWEAVER@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

EVIVAL ON LINCOLN is part of a

larger restoration initiative in Bellevue. The restaurant took over a grand three-story, single-family home built in 1902, perched royally on the neighborhood’s main drag. In April, renovations began, transforming the mansion into a full-service finedining establishment. Bellevue is still climbing out of prohibition, which officially ended for the borough in 2015. Acquisition of a liquor license has proved difficult, but things are slowly changing, as evidenced by Revival on Lincoln and the upcoming Lincoln Avenue Brewery. The 116-year-old building is eyecatchingly beautiful. Wooden-carved hawks perch over the building’s front yard, like gargoyles but much less threatening. Floodlights accentuate ruby-red walls and ornate pillars that mark the restaurant’s entrance, a small-scale Pantheon. A brass-handled door opens to a poinsettia-festooned front room. There’s no mistaking that Revival on Lincoln was once a home. Rooms are separated by half-walls and doorways. A huge staircase leads up to a dark hallway. It has the comfort and confusion of a grandmother’s residence, with irregularly shaped mirrors and gaudy Christmas trees sprinkled through the rooms. At the same time, it has the air of a luxurious movie from the ’50s. When I sat, the dining room was bustling. Holiday parties filtered in with festively wrapped presents. Cackles erupted over gag gifts and white wine. The dinner menu was labeled “supper,” another grandmaternal

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Salt-roasted, candy-striped beets with the Gina Marie cocktail

touch. I opted for a brown butter curry cauliflower salad, chorizo meatballs, and shrimp and smoked cheddar grits. The salad presentation was odd. Cauliflower was covered by a pile of arugula, hiding the sauce, and showered with melon-balled cucumber. Once I found all the parts, I was impressed. The cold cauliflower was sufficiently spicy, with a touch of nuttiness from the brown butter. Lemon aioli was perhaps the best part, bringing a nice balance to the peppery arugula.

REVIVAL ON LINCOLN 366 Lincoln Ave., Bellevue. Tue.- Fri., 4-10 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 4-10 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. 412-223-5715 or revivalonlincoln.com

Similarly, sauce starred in the meatballs. It was an ancho chile cream, packing heat with a touch of chocolate. The chorizo was lost in the meatballs but saved by the ﬂavorful sauce.

FAVORITE FEATURES:

Fireplace made of glass

House-sized bathroom

Hide and seek

A blue glass fireplace was the cherry on top of Revival on Lincoln’s strange decor, completely conflicting with the sleek, regal dining room.

Whoever said the building was built for a single family was fooling themselves. The bathroom was as big as my current bedroom.

Revival is mysterious, dark, and probably haunted, the ideal place for a game of hide and seek. The child in me wanted to run around Revival at full speed, poking my head into all of the rooms and hallways, to find the perfect hiding spot.

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My main course, shrimp and grits, was surprising to ﬁnd on a Pittsburgh menu. Good grits don’t typically travel this far north and often tastes like scrapple. As a whole, the dish was incredibly rich. The grits were lush, creamy, and cheesy. Five perfectly cooked shrimp rested on top with sherry glaze, caramelized onions, roasted tomatoes, bacon, and a poached egg. The yolk broke with cinematic perfection, melting into the rest of the dish. But I was left wanting just one more texture, something with a crunch. To end, I tasted a dark chocolate bread pudding. I wanted the pudding for breakfast, not dessert. It was basically a thick, square version of a chocolate chip pancake. Revival on Lincoln may be a bit kitschy, but the food is pretty delicious. The restaurant, soon to be a nationally recognized historical building, brings a b r e at h o f f r e s h a i r f o r a forgotten neighborhood.

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Resolutions! Plant-Based Frozen Meal Kits, Ready When You Are. Find more information on a healthier and more convenient way of eating at

www.ChipandKale.com PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DEC. 26, 2018-JAN. 9, 2019

.ON THE ROCKS.

TOOL TIME

The third round of recommendations for your personal bar cart BY CRAIG MRUSEK // CPCONTRIBUTORS@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Give the

GIFTO!F BEER OV ER 1 ,00 VARIETI 0 ES

t our Check ou

B E ER CAVE!

OF BEER !

DO I NEED IT? Depends. This type of strainer is mainly used for ﬁnishing drinks that are served “up” (no ice), so if most cocktails you make are on the rocks, you can get by without it. But if you want your no-ice drinks to look extra spiffy, then pouring them through a ﬁne mesh strainer is a nice detail.

Juicer

BASIC OR FANCY? Basic. The inexpensive ones they sell at kitchen and restaurant supply stores work just ﬁne for home use.

EING A BARTENDER, I frequently get questions about the various tools I use. Most often, people want to know what speciﬁc items they need to make decent drinks at home. In previous columns, I covered a handful of essential bar tools, but there’s still several that can come in handy.

WHAT IS IT? Exactly what it sounds like: a gadget that gets the juice out of fruit. We’re talking about simple ones designed for limes, lemons, — not those high-horsepower beasts used for healthtype drinks. DO I NEED IT? Absolutely. If you’re making any cocktail that calls for citrus juice, you always, always, always want to use fresh-squeezed.

ds6pax.com

BASIC OR FANCY? If you only need a few ounces of juice at a time, a simple hand-operated one will do. If you’re going to make drinks in bulk, a countertop model or moderately priced electric one will save you a ton of time and hassle.

Fine Mesh Strainer WHAT IS IT? A tiny sieve. Used in conjunction with a Hawthorne strainer, it ﬁlters ice shards and other small solids, guaranteeing your drink contains nothing but liquid.

1118 S Braddock Ave 28

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Swissvale, PA 15218

(412) 241-4666

Muddler WHAT IS IT? A stick for mashing stuff, more or less. They’re cylindrical and can be made of plastic, metal, or wood (picture a miniature baseball bat). It’s used for gently pressing the oils and other ﬂavorful goodies from fresh fruit or herbs. DO I NEED IT? Maybe. If you’re going to be making a lot of mojitos, caipirinhas, or any drink where you want to incorporate the essence of fresh produce, then pick one up. BASIC OR FANCY? Basic. Any place that has a halfway decent selection of barware will carry them, so you can get a perfectly serviceable one for just a few bucks. But if you’re one of those people who like artisanal, hand-crafted exotic showpieces, then knock yourself out. Either way, it’s still just a stick.

•

Follow featured contributing writer Craig Mrusek on Twitter @DoctorBamboo

7 DAYS A WEEK • LUNCH & DINNER

DINING OUT

SPONSORED LISTINGS FROM CITY PAPER ’S FINE ADVERTISERS

www.taipei-fc.com p Taiwanese, Japanese & Chinese Specialties

THIS WEEK’S FEATURED RESTAURANT

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

BAR LOUIE

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

THE CAFÉ CARNEGIE

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

COLONY CAFE

1125 PENN AVE., STRIP DISTRICT 412-586-4850 / COLONYCAFEPGH.COM Whether stopping in for a weekday lunch, an afternoon latte or after-work drinks with friends, Colony Cafe offers delicious housemade bistro fare in a stylish Downtown space.

and features a full service bar, huge sandwiches and half-priced happy hour. Open 4 p.m.-midnight, Mon.-Fri., and noon– midnight on Saturday. Check us out on Facebook for upcoming shows and events.

HARTWOOD RESTAURANT AND WHISPER’S PUB

3400 HARTS RUN ROAD, GLENSHAW 412-767-3500 / HARTWOODRESTAURANT.COM A hidden treasure in the Pittsburgh suburbs. Outdoor dining, full bar, eclectic atmosphere. Casual elegance at its finest. Daily specials. Open Tuesday through Saturday. Hope to see you soon!

LEON’S CARIBBEAN

823 E WARRINGTON AVE., ALLENTOWN 412-431-5366 / LEONSCARIBBEAN.COM Family owned and operated since December 2014. Here at Leon’s, we take pride in our recipes and quality of dishes. Simple menu with all the traditional dishes! Leon Sr. has been a chef for 30+ years, mastering the taste everyone has grown to love and can only get at Leon’s.

LIDIA’S PITTSBURGH

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

MERCURIO’S ARTISAN GELATO AND NEAPOLITAN PIZZA

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-to-table products.

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.

FULL PINT WILD SIDE TAP ROOM

PAD THAI NOODLE

EIGHTY ACRES

5310 BUTLER ST., LAWRENCEVILLE 412-408-3083 / FULLPINTBREWING.COM Full Pint Wild Side Taproom is Full Pint Brewing company’s Lawrenceville location

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.

AS! UBBLE TE B & R A B FULL OUR: PM HAPPYRH AY 4-6 ID -F MONDAY

SAGA HIBACHI

201 SOUTH HILLS VILLAGE MALL, BETHEL PARK 412-835-8888 / SAGAHIBACHI.COM Saga in the South Hills is now under new management. Stop in for exciting table-side preparations and the famous shrimp sauce. Or sit in the sushi-bar area for the freshest sushi experience, with both traditional preparations and contemporary variations.

SPIRIT

1124 Freeport Rd, Fox Chapel

412-781-4131

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

SUPERIOR MOTORS

1211 BRADDOCK AVE., BRADDOCK 412-271-1022 / SUPERIORMOTORS15104.COM Thoughtfully prepared food, drawing inspiration from Braddock, its people, its history and its perseverance. The cuisine best represents the eclectic style which has become a trademark of Chef Kevin Sousa. Fine dining in an old Chevy dealership with an eclectic, farm-to-table menu and a community focus.

TOTOPO MEXICAN KITCHEN AND BAR

660 WASHINGTON ROAD, MT. LEBANON 412-668-0773 / TOTOPOMEX.COM Totopo is a vibrant celebration of the culture and cuisine of Mexico, with a focus on the diverse foods served in the country. From Oaxacan tamales enveloped in banana leaves to the savory fish tacos of Baja California, you will experience the authentic flavor and freshness in every bite. We also feature a cocktail menu of tequila-based drinks to pair the perfect margarita with your meal.

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

The best gifts are edible. 1910 New Texas Rd. Pittsburgh, PA 15239 724.519.7304 EightyAcresKitchen.com

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DEC. 26, 2018-JAN. 9, 2019

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Wood-fired veggie flatbread pizza, paired with an Imperial Stout Ogro beer and beef brisket empanadas and roquefort croquetas

.FOOD REVIEW.

ENIX RISING

BY MAGGIE WEAVER // MWEAVER@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

HAD ASSUMED that Enix Brewing

Company, a new brewery in Homestead, would focus mostly on quality beer, and let the food menu fall by the wayside. I was wrong. The menu at Enix is inspired by Spanish ﬂavors, and it shines through with pillowy empanadas and crunchy croquetas. The space also has malty, sitemade brews and a bowling alley upstairs. But the Iberian-style cuisine should attract those looking for something new in Pittsburgh’s restaurant scene. Enix Brewery is owned by brothers

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Victor and David Rodriguez. David, along with his wife, was an integral part of Madrid’s craft beer scene. In 2013, they opened one of Madrid’s ﬁrst brewpubs, Fábrica Maravillas. Homestead caught his eye and the master brewer decided to partner with Victor, purchasing the old Levine Brothers Hardware building on Eighth Ave. The brothers ofﬁcially opened Enix Brewing Company in August. The brewery embraces an industrial feel, situating tables and decor around big, steel pipes that zig-zag across the ceiling. It’s a sleek space, grayscale with a

few pops of bright red. Toward the back, gigantic brewing equipment is on display through a glass screen. I took a Sunday afternoon trip to Enix. It was almost silent, save for one company holiday party across the room. Brunch was busy, but I arrived during turnover.

ENIX BREWING COMPANY

337 Eighth Ave., Homestead. Mon., 4-11 pm.; Wed., 4-11 p.m.; Thu.-Fri., 4 p.m.-12 a.m.; Sat., 12 p.m.-12 a.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-9 p.m. 412-656-2107 or enix.beer

At the bar, I analyzed the long draft list. Enix houses a tap system with 12rotating brews, featuring everything from an imperial stout to a kolsch. To start, I tasted an Enix signature beer and Madrid favorite, MadRed IPA. The beer, pale red and malty, combined a hoppy, American-style IPA with a bitter stout. From there, I moved onto the food menu. It featured brewpub classics such as ﬂatbreads and chips, along with unexpected options like Spanish tortilla, croquetas, and empanadas. I picked the

Roquefort croquetas and black bean and manchego empanadas. The empanadas and croquetas were unbelievable. I easily broke the empanada in half with a satisfying crunch. The inside had the texture of a warm, whipped pancake. Black beans and Manchego countered the almost-overwhelming sweet dough with a touch of acidity. It was served with a mild, smoky sauce. But the croquetas stole the show. The bread-crumb crust crunched like cornﬂakes, opening to a molten, creamy inside. The Roquefort cheese was wrapped inside a lava-like center. It was rich, the bleu cheese adding a gentle tang. It was the relationship between the beer and food that truly impressed me. The MadRed’s bitterness cut through the rich, fried food. I wasn’t overwhelmed by oil or fat because I could tease my palate with malt. During my bar-stool residency I tried a few other beers, consistently impressed with unique ﬂavors. In a sea of Americanstyle breweries, Enix brings Spain on the scene. It’s time to trade in the IC Lite for something a little more malty.

•

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Lost Island of Fizzlantis DJ BUSCRATES 10-2 BUBBLES ABOUNDING Midnight Toast includes bubbly, hats, toys, and our annual questionable balloon drop! What will happen this year? NO COVER • NO RESERVATIONS

FAVORITE FEATURES: No free samples The bartenders at Enix will not give small tasters for free. The brewer wants patrons to actually taste the beer, not just base a decision on one frothy sip.

Bowling I am a terrible bowler, so I avoided the alley. But it’s a fun addition to the brewery, adding another unique element. And, they manage to make it soundproof. No crashing pins will interrupt a first date downstairs.

Beer-drinking Santa I love quirky holiday decorations and Enix hit the mark with a hand-painted, beer drinking Santa displayed front-and-center on the window.

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CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

The spires of PPG Place in Downtown Pittsburgh

.ARCHITECTURE.

STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY BY CHARLES ROSENBLUM // CPCONTRIBUTORS@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

HILIP JOHNSON became a household

name, or at least a corporate office name, in Pittsburgh for PPG Place, which opened in 1983. The architect had an innate sense for the story that Pittsburgh wanted to tell about itself, not recession and deindustrialization, but a shimmering and theatrical renewal. On closer examination, the complex can seem heavy handed and aloof. Still, amid a generation of office towers of Pittsburgh’s Renaissance II, PPG is still the widely admired scene-stealer. Johnson himself presents a more complex case. While he influenced many of the major developments in twentieth century American architecture

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as curator at the Museum of Modern Art or in his own private practice, he could be glib and capricious in person and in architecture. A new biography by Mark Lamster, the architecture critic of the Dallas Morning News, brings renewed insight to a paradoxically omnipresent and newly shocking ﬁgure. Born to wealthy parents in Cleveland in 1906, Philip Johnson became a troubled and unremarkable student at Harvard. But his father’s work for the company that became ALCOA vaulted him from privilege to independent wealth. And his mother’s degree in Art History from Wellesley led him to contact professor Alfred Barr, future direc-

tor of the Museum of Modern Art. Under Barr’s direction, he collaborated on a groundbreaking 1932 exhibition of International Style architecture, which introduced works of his hero, Mies van der Rohe, as well as Walter Gropius, J.J.P. Oud and others to American audiences, influencing American architectural culture for decades. With his uncanny skill at tastemaking initiated, he continued as Director of Architecture at MOMA, influentially, but without pay. His entrée into architectural practice came in 1942 when his financial resources enabled him to build the Mies van der Rohe-influenced Cambridge residence that was his Harvard graduate thesis. It

was only the beginning of a proliﬁc career. Often criticized, even by Lamster, as a designer of some derivative and forgettable buildings, he is nonetheless associated with many icons. His Glass House of 1949 in Greenwich, CT, another Miesian exercise, is renowned as a center of important architectural gatherings, but it is an emblem of a style that includes better houses. On New York’s revered Seagram Building, completed in 1958, he was junior partner to Mies, though Johnson famously secured the commission. By 1979, Johnson was ready to completely abandon Modernism and fully embrace the colorful and ironic, even cartoonish aspects of postmodernism. His AT&T Building, a pink slab, whose pitched roof is frivolously broken by an open circle, put him on magazine covers in the late 1970s. Plenty of architects were postmodernists by then, but Johnson’s conversion seemed especially cynical, a betrayal of his aesthetic principles.

A NEW BIOGRAPHY BRINGS RENEWED INSIGHT TO A PARADOXICALLY OMNIPRESENT AND NEWLY SHOCKING FIGURE. Yet this realignment was nowhere near his worst betrayal. In the 1930s and through the beginning of World War II, Johnson was an actual Nazi. Regardless of his own homosexuality, he admired Hitler and published a series of anti-Semitic essays. Johnson escaped prosecution and imprisonment mostly because he was too wealthy to accept money from Hitler’s regime. Spy magazine exposed this record in the late 1980s, as did Franz Schulze’s 1994 biography, but those failed to capture the public eye the way Lamster’s book has. The Man in the Glass House is newly detailed, personal, and readable

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Follow featured contributor Charles Rosenblum on Twitter @CharlzR

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DEC. 26, 2018-JAN. 9, 2019

.MUSIC.

SPOTLIGHT STRUGGLES BY JORDAN SNOWDEN JSNOWDEN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

N APRIL, shock waves hit the music world when news broke that electronic DJ Avicii had committed suicide. Many fans were left wondering what this worldwide star had been dealing with privately. In 2016, he retired from touring and was seemingly happy, making new music, and focusing on himself. But as the documentary Avicii: True Stories reveals, Avicii (born Tim Bergling) had been struggling with mental health issues for years. Avicii: True Stories was originally released in October of 2017, but was removed from Netflix after Avicii’s death. The film begins streaming again on Dec. 28. In the aftermath of his passing, it takes on an eerie new meaning and helps explain his life leading up to his suicide. Shot over four years by film director Levan Tsikurishvili, the documentary follows the Swedish DJ from his humble beginnings to stardom. At the start, you see Avicii as an introverted kid that simply liked making music. Then in 2011, the progressive house single “Levels” became an EDM hit, and Avicii became a worldwide name. He started getting booked for more and more gigs, and he loved it. “Every show was like a party,” Avicii says in the documentary. “I didn’t realize before that you could do Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Once that opened up, you could tour a whole year, and that’s kind of what we did.” From 2008-2012, Avicii performed 550 shows around the world. But he struggled with anxiety and would drink before every set to settle his nerves. In 2012, Avicii was hospitalized for acute pancreatitis, due in part to his excessive drinking. Instead of taking

PHOTO: TMA PUBLICITY

Avicii aka Tim Bergling

the time to rest, he left the hospital as soon as he could and began working again. The ﬁlm shows Avicii was a severe workaholic, and his managers encouraged his unhealthy exertion and lifestyle. The more Avicii toured and dropped new music, the more money they made.

AVICII: TRUE STORIES Available on Netflix Fri., Dec. 28.

His schedule took a toll on him, which is apparent in Avicii’s physical appearance throughout the ﬁlm. He becomes extremely skinny, with dark bags under his eyes. This is especially evident when juxtaposed against his more recent interviews, where he appears much healthier. He almost looks like a different person.

There’s one particularly disturbing part where Avicii sits in a car talking to his tour manager about setting up interviews, an upcoming show, etc. All the while, Avicii is in obvious pain. His eyes twitch and slightly roll back into his heads. He’s pale, with a faraway look in his eyes. Through this, Avicii continued performing globally and making new music. The documentary shows just how serious and potentially unhealthy touring can be for an artist. Avicii didn’t know how to balance work and selfcare. His managers were money hungry and self-interested. With no one looking out for Avicii’s best interest, not even himself, the combination of alcohol, little rest, hectic schedules, and avarice compounded. Eventually, Avicii realizes his drinking is connected to the stress and anxiety

of performing, and announces his retirement from touring. He had already booked gigs for the summer, however, and his manager, Ash Pornouri, tells Avicii that those commitments needed to be met Then, in another cry for help caught on camera, Avicii begs to cancel them all. He says he’d be ﬁlled with dread and stress days before he was even set to perform. But Pornouri doesn’t listen, and by the time Avicii plays his last show, his performance tally is up to 813. In the media, the life of DJs is glamorized. Constant parties, money, and sex. But, Avicii: True Stories shows a different side: issues with mental and physical health, the stress of being a global star, and what happens when you let the unrelenting lifestyle consume you.

•

2018 WRAP-UP: JAM TO CP ARTISTS SEARCH “PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER” ON SPOTIFY FOR OUR PLAYLIST OF MUSICIANS FEATURED IN OUR PAGES IN 2018 36

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WE BUY RECORDS & CDS TOP PRICES PAID FOR QUALITY COLLECT COLLECTIONS

SINCE 1980 PHOTO: THE CINEMA PSYCHOS

Brian Cottington and John and Elaine Wooliscroft of The Cinema Psychos

.FILM.

PLANET OF THE TAPES BY AMANDA WALTZ // AWALTZ@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

“I

T’S PRETTY much your high school friends’ basements, but with better beer.” That’s the Facebook event pitch for Video Valley III: Secret VHS Night on Dec. 28, a late-night screening event at Row House Cinema dedicated to a bygone medium. Enticing guests with the promise of brews and hot dogs, Row House will screen one “tantalizing tape” from the collection of Mike Valley, a local VHS/bad movie buff and creator of Video Valley, with the theater’s public relations coordinator, Travis Ayers, serving as host.

VIDEO VALLEY III: SECRET VHS NIGHT

Fri., Dec. 28. 10 p.m. 4115 Butler St., Lawrenceville. $8/$13 for ticket, hot dog and lager. rowhousecinema.com

Joining Valley onstage for a prescreening session are the hosts of local podcast The Cinema Psychos, indie ﬁlmmakers Brian Cottington and husbandand-wife team, John and Elaine Wooliscroft. The group will record a mini-podcast episode about the ﬁlm being shown and discuss its history and cult following. John and Elaine Wooliscroft agree that VHS holds a great sense of nostalgia for people who grew up watching the format. “Most people our age still have extremely fond memories of tapes, and there is something oddly comforting about older technology,” says Elaine. “Sure, there are easier - and some may say better - ways to consume media, and certainly, we’ve developed technology to make them look more beautiful, through digital restoration and remastering, but

the memories we have of those movies will likely always be associated with the original VHS.” Invented in the 1970s, VHS – the acronym for Video Home System – offered an easy way for consumers to rent and watch movies in the comfort of their living rooms, and gave a platform to films – particularly those of the horror genre – that would otherwise never see theatrical distribution. Widespread during the 1980s and through the 1990s, VHS gave way to DVD, which then gave way to streaming platforms and the death of video store chains. But much like vinyl, VHS has become popular again as a collector’s item, with film fans who grew up scanning video store shelves now seeking rare tapes to add to their collections. “I love picking up random tapes at flea markets, either movies from childhood, or something completely random to try and make John laugh,” says Elaine. Filmmakers have also paid homage to the format with titles like the 2012 horror anthology V/H/S and its sequel, V/H/S 2. John adds that, in many cases, VHS is the only option. “For big-time movie buffs, there may be a film they can get or watch any other way then on VHS,” says John. While the Row House screening selection is secret, one thing is for sure — things are going to get scary, or, at the very least, weird. “In Video Valley, we have all your dreams and nightmares on tape. Hark back to the days of homegrown horror, fuzzy fantasy, and raw, analog magnetism,” a promo for the event declares. Long live VHS.

•

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DEC. 26, 2018-JAN. 9, 2019

.FOR THE WEEK OF DEC. 27.

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY BY ROB BREZSNY // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):

A hundred years ago, most astronomers thought there was just one galaxy in the universe: our Milky Way. Other models for the structure of the universe were virtually heretical. But in the 1920s, astronomer Edwin Hubble produced research that proved the existence of many more galaxies. Today the estimate is that there are at least 400 billion. I wonder what currently unimaginable possibilities will be obvious to our descendants a hundred years from now. Likewise, I wonder what currently unforeseen truths will be fully available to you by the end of 2019. My guess: more than in any other previous year of your life.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):

Author Elizabeth Gilbert offers advice for those who long for a closer relationship with the Supreme Being: “Look for God like a man with his head on fire looks for water.” I’ll expand that approach so it applies to you when you’re in quest of any crucial life-enhancing experience. If you genuinely believe that a particular adventure or relationship or transformation is key to your central purpose, it’s not enough to be mildly enthusiastic about it. You really do need to seek your heart’s desire in the way people with their heads on fire look for water. 2019 will be prime time for you to embody this understanding.

ARIES (March 21-April 19):

I suspect that in 2019 you’ll be able to blend a knack for creating more stability with an urge to explore and seek greater freedom. How might this unusual confluence be expressed in practical ways? Maybe you’ll travel to reconnect with your ancestral roots. Or perhaps a faraway ally or influence will help you feel more at home in the world. It’s possible you’ll establish a stronger foundation, which will, in turn, bolster your courage and inspire you to break free of a limitation. What do you think?

TAURUS (April 20-May 20):

On average, a total eclipse of the sun happens every 18 months. And how often is a total solar eclipse visible from a specific location on the planet? Typically, once every 375 years. In 2019, the magic moment will occur on July 2 for people living in Chile and Argentina. But I believe that throughout the coming year, Tauruses all over the world will experience

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):

A typical fluffy white cumulus cloud weighs 216,000 pounds. A dark cumulonimbus storm cloud is 106 million pounds, almost 490 times heavier. Why? Because it’s filled with far more water than the white cloud. So which is better, the fluffy cumulus or the stormy cumulonimbus? Neither, of course. We might sometimes prefer the former over the latter because it doesn’t darken the sky as much or cause the inconvenience of rain. But the truth is, the cumulonimbus is a blessing; a substantial source of moisture; a gift to growing things. I mention this because I suspect that for you, 2019 will have more metaphorical resemblances to the cumulonimbus than the cumulus.

other kinds of rare and wonderful events at a higher rate than usual. Not eclipses, but rather divine interventions, mysterious miracles, catalytic epiphanies, unexpected breakthroughs, and amazing graces. Expect more of the marvelous than you’re accustomed to.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20):

“The world’s full of people who have stopped listening to themselves,” wrote mythologist Joseph Campbell. It’s imperative that you NOT be one of those folks. 2019 should be the Year of Listening Deeply to Yourself. That means being on high alert for your inner inklings, your unconscious longings, and the still, small voice at the heart of your destiny. If you do that, you’ll discover that you’re smarter than you realize.

CANCER (June 21-July 22):

Jackson Pollock is regarded as a pioneer in the technique of drip painting, which involves drizzling and splashing paint on canvases that lie on the floor. It made him famous. But the truth is, Pollock got inspired to pursue what became known as his signature style only after he saw an exhibit by the artist Janet Sobel, who was the real pioneer. I bring this to your attention because I see 2019 as a year when the Janet Sobel-like aspects of your life will get their due. Overdue appreciation will arrive. Credit you have deserved

but haven’t fully garnered will finally come your way. You’ll be acknowledged and recognized in surprising ways.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):

As the crow flies, Wyoming is almost a thousand miles from the Pacific Ocean and more than a thousand miles from the Gulf of Mexico, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean. Now here’s a surprise: in the northwest corner of Wyoming, the North Two Ocean Creek divides into two tributaries, one of which ultimately flows to the Pacific and one that reaches the Gulf. So an enterprising fish could conceivably swim from one ocean to the other via this waterway. I propose that we make North Two Ocean Creek your official metaphor for 2019. It will symbolize the turning point you’ll be at in your life; it will remind you that you’ll have the power to launch an epic journey in one of two directions.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):

I have come to the conclusion that softening your relationship with perfectionism will be a key assignment in 2019. With this in mind, I offer you observations from wise people who have studied the subject. 1. “The perfect is the enemy of the good.” — Voltaire 2. “Perfection is a stick with which to beat the possible.” — Rebecca Solnit 3. Perfectionism is “the high-end version of fear.” — Elizabeth Gilbert 4. “Nothing is less

efficient than perfectionism.” — Elizabeth Gilbert 4.“It’s better to live your own life imperfectly than to imitate someone else’s perfectly.” — Elizabeth Gilbert

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):

In 1682, Peter Alexeyevich became co-Tsar of Russia. He was ten years old. His 24-year-old halfsister Sophia had a hole cut in the back of his side of the dual throne. That way she could sit behind him, out of sight, and whisper guidance as he discussed political matters with allies. I’d love it if you could wangle a comparable arrangement for yourself in 2019. Are there wise confidants or mentors or helpers from whom you could draw continuous counsel? Seek them out.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):

The body of the violin has two f-shaped holes on either side of the strings. They enable the sound that resonates inside the instrument to be projected outwardly. A thousand years ago, the earliest ancestor of the modern violin had round holes. Later they became half-moons, then c-shaped, and finally evolved into the f-shape. Why the change? Scientific analysis reveals that the modern form allows more air to be pushed out from inside the instrument, thereby producing a more powerful sound. My analysis of your life in 2019 suggests it will be a time to make an upgrade from your metaphorical equivalent of the c-shaped holes to the f-shaped holes. A small shift like that will enable you to generate more power and resonance.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):

Sagittarian singer-songwriter Sia has achieved great success, garnering nine Grammy nominations and amassing a $20 million fortune. Among the superstars for whom she has composed hit tunes are Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Flo Rida. But she has also had failures. Top recording artists like Adele and Shakira have commissioned her to write songs for them only to subsequently turn down what she created. In 2016, Sia got sweet revenge. She released an album in which she herself sang many of those rejected songs. It has sold more than two million copies. Do you, too, know what it’s like to have your gifts and skills ignored or unused or rebuffed, Sagittarius? If so, the coming months will be an excellent time to express them for your own benefit, as Sia did.

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.FASHION.

CLOTHES MAKE ... Name: Liz Sterrett HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF? Social Media Strategist/Art Director/ Corporate Loser. WHAT ARE YOU WEARING TODAY? A pink corduroy shirt by LPA with rufﬂed off the shoulder sleeves. [LPA Designer Lara Pia Arrobio] is a “slow fashion” designer based in California. Track pants from Zara from last year and Vans. WE TALKED ABOUT A FUN AND FESTIVE THEME, SOMETHING TO WEAR TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS AND NEW YEAR’S PARTIES. WHAT BROUGHT THESE PIECES TOGETHER FOR YOU? I bought this shirt to wear as my holidays going-out top for parties because I don’t like the traditional red and green sparkles. I wanted something that speaks to me, that is unique, that is like “my brand.” The sparkly earrings add a bit of a festive touch. YOU MENTIONED THE BRAND LPA AND SLOW FASHION, TELL ME MORE ABOUT WHY SMALL BRANDS AND SLOW FASHION ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU? It is more quality over quantity, ontrend pieces that translate over several different seasons. LPA is made here in America. It costs a little more, but I am glad to shell out more money for something that is well made and is going to last, not made by someone in an impoverishment environment. Listen, I am as guilty as everyone shopping from Zara, but I like to ﬁnd some nice pieces that will last a while, so I don’t keep buying from [major fast fashion brands]. It’s important. You should always support artists’ dreams and ambitions. They are only successful if they’re supported. YOU MENTIONED SOME OF THE THINGS YOU’RE WEARING ARE FROM PAST SEASONS? The pants are from last season, I have no

CP PHOTO: TERENEH IDIA

Liz Sterrett

reason to buy new ones—they work just ﬁne. And they look just great. ARE YOU WEARING SOMETHING THAT IS A GIFT FROM SOMEONE THAT HAS PARTICULAR OR SPECIAL MEANING TO YOU? I didn’t wear it today, but my grandmother recently passed, and she left behind a Pandora bracelet that she made for me. It is not my style, but it means so much. She also left behind charm bracelets that she had her entire life, so I have been wearing those, the gifted jewelry that I like. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE? I always try to stay a little on trend but also classic as well. Because I don’t look

good in some trends, I try to find things that work well on my body. I work all of the time so [I choose] things that work in an office. I am all over the place. My style has to be mom-style so I can bend over to pick up a candy wrapper that my child dropped, driving in a messy car. So it would be a cool-mom style. WHAT TRENDS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO WEARING NEXT YEAR? The sheer trend. It is so light, delicate, [and] beautiful. It will be fun to find pieces that work with my aesthetic. WHAT ARE YOU EXCITED ABOUT FOR 2019? I am the art director for the first Style412 studio cohort. We are starting a project

in January to showcase the trends of spring-summer 2019. They are always shown in NYC, Paris, but [people] don’t expect to see these amazing things in Pittsburgh. People expect the bridges and Black and Gold. There is an opportunity to be high fashion here. We have amazing designers here and they need support to grow. WHERE CAN PEOPLE FIND YOU? LizSterrett.com, [or on Instagram] @LizfromPittsburgh.

•

Asked to pick a favorite place in Pittsburgh, Liz mentioned Ace Hotel Pittsburgh. Thank you to the staff of the Ace Hotel for allowing us to photograph our story there.

Follow featured contributor Tereneh Idia on Twitter @Tereneh152XX PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DEC. 26, 2018-JAN. 9, 2019

CHRISTMAS OVERLOAD BY HANNAH LYNN HLYNN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Christmas Harmony

For the 25 days of December leading up to Christmas, Pittsburgh City Paper staff watched one Christmas movie each day. They ranged in quality from so-bad-it’s-good to so-badI-wanna-cancel-Christmas. As a staff, we’ve collectively learned a lot about the genre of Christmas movies designed to exude as much merriment as possible. The most important aspect of a Christmas movie, specifically those on Hallmark or Lifetime is the age-old conflict of city vs. small-town. Urban vs. rural. New York vs. festively named town in Ohio. There are literally dozens of movies where a woman working a busy job in the city learns to slow down and remember her roots, and those roots almost always include a smalltown boy who is vaguely rugged. It’s anti-urban propaganda! Christmas spirit and the meaning of Christmas are also crucial concepts that crop up in nearly every movie. Rarely are they defined succinctly, but they can serve as a stand-in for falling in love, hanging out with family, donating to orphans, or helping Santa. Finally, there is the snow situation. Christmas movies take the concept of a White Christmas very literally (and I don’t just mean with casting choices). It is constantly snowing on and around Christmas, with that perfect, fluffy, snowball snow. Obviously, it’s picturesque, but if holiday movies continue to portray Christmas in this way, it will only exacerbate the disappointing reality of a snowless Christmas, because the planet is dying. Happy holidays! • Read City Paper’s complete Holiday Film Advent Calendar at pghcitypaper.com.

PHOTO: ANNAPURNA PICTURES

Christian Bale as Dick Cheney

.SCREEN.

VICE AGE

BY HANNAH LYNN // HLYNN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

LOATED, pompous, self-serving — these are all words to describe Vice President Dick Cheney. They also describe Vice, the biopic about his life and career. Written and directed by Adam McKay, the brain behind Anchorman and The Big Short, the movie follows Cheney’s ascent to power, from lying in his own vomit at Yale, to lying in the oval ofﬁce. Vice attempts tell a sweeping story about the power and greed of politics and instead offers an exhausting sprawl, heavily reliant on tedious gimmicks. When we meet young Dick (Christian Bale, extra beefy), he’s hanging power lines for a living, having recently been kicked out of Yale. After two DUIs, his wife Lynne (Amy Adams) tells him to clean up his act, so he becomes a congressional intern and begins his long career working with Donald Rumsfeld (Steve Carrell). From there, Cheney works his way up the D.C. ladder, until democrat Jimmy Carter wins the White House, sending him to the business world. Cheney is the CEO of Halliburton when George W. Bush (Sam Rockwell) begs him to be his running mate. He says yes, but only if he can be the most powerful V.P. of all time. Bush, cartoonishly stupid, says sure.

That’s the ﬁrst half. The second half shows Cheney asserting his newfound power in the White House, making more and heavier decisions than the president. In the wake of 9/11, Cheney’s moves became even more drastic and violent, as he spearheads decisions to invade Iraq and torture suspected terrorists.

VICE

DIRECTED BY: Adam McKay STARRING: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Steve Carrell Now playing everywhere

McKay’s penchant for gimmicks in Vice is incessant, using an array of devices to liven up Cheney’s monotone lectures. When Cheney hears the words “absolute power,” the movie cuts to a grainy clip of a lion attacking an antelope. Cheney and company go out to dinner, and the waiter lists menu items like “Guantanamo Bay” and “enhanced interrogation.” There are politicians as game pieces to signify that, you know, politics is a game. There’s Jesse Plemons as the movie’s narrator, whose connection to Cheney is kept a secret until an utterly terrible reveal. There’s a post-credits scene that made me want to throw my notebook at the screen.

The movie also fails to wholeheartedly indict Cheney. It almost seems like McKay thinks Cheney is kinda cool, all snarling speeches and bold power-plays. It focuses so much on Cheney’s absolute power, and portrays Bush as such a clueless dolt, that it practically absolves the president of any wrongdoing. For better or worse, Bale commits to his roles, and Vice is no exception. He gets Cheney’s mannerisms and speech down, blending so well into the role that, under all the makeup, he’s truly unrecognizable (but I won’t commend male actors for gaining signiﬁcant weight for a role because it’s unhealthy, unnecessary, and women aren’t allowed to do it). Adams is good enough, though too good for her role as Lynne, which seesaws between doting wife and political go-getter. Carrell once again picks a role ill-suited for his unchangeably earnest demeanor. Vice is a shallow and surface attempt at quirky analysis that not only fails to offer new or nuanced criticism of Cheney, but also serves as a warning sign for future political movies. If this is as good as it gets after ten-plus years of reﬂection on the Bush era, then the inevitable movies about Trump will be nothing short of an embarrassment.

Follow staff writer Hannah Lynn on Twitter @hanfranny

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

•

.MUSIC.

COME TOGETHER BY JORDAN SNOWDEN JSNOWDEN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

FTER A successful ﬁrst install-

ment, Pittsburgh Plays is back for a second round. This time local bands and musicians are covering music from Paul McCartney at Mr. Smalls Theatre. The initial tribute series took place earlier this year and celebrated the life and music of the late Tom Petty. When Josh Bakaitus and Cory Muro, the series’ producers, heard about Petty’s passing, they expressed regret about missing what turned out to be their last opportunity to see Petty perform. Thus the idea for a tribute show was born. They could experience Petty’s music live through the talented musicians and bands in the ‘Burgh. Pittsburgh Plays Petty sold out two concerts at Mr. Smalls, one at Jergel’s in Warrendale, and one at The Crafthouse in Baldwin. For Pittsburgh Plays McCartney, the lineup includes Beauty Slap, Cello Furry, Punchline’s Steve Soboslai, Chet Vincent, Rusted Root’s Patrick Norman, Shane Turner, Brett Staggs, Diego, and many, many more. Bakaitus is personally excited to see the string section (Cello Fury) and horn section (Beauty Slap). “That’s a twist that we hadn’t done in the past,” says Bakaitus. “It’ll be cool to see how the ‘rock’ musicians blend with the classically trained musicians. But beyond that, I’m most excited to see how these musicians interpret the songs.” The series tends to bring together local artists that wouldn’t normally be on the same bill, or even know each other.

PHOTO: JOSH BAKAITUS

Pittsburgh Plays Petty

PITTSBURGH PLAYS MCCARTNEY

Dec. 28-29. 8 p.m. Mr. Smalls Theatre, 400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale. $25. pittsburghplays.com

“It’s funny,” says Shawn McGregor, who performed at one of the Petty shows. “Even in a relatively smaller city like Pittsburgh, it certainly has different groups and cliques of musicians, and it’s nice to be able to play with people from different backgrounds who I haven’t gotten the opportunity to play with yet.”

That mixing of scenes isn’t accidental. “Often times the hardest thing about this is coordinating the rehearsals amongst people who live all of the Greater Pittsburgh area,” says Bakaitus. “We try to be mindful of that while also putting musicians together who generally wouldn’t ever cross paths. It’s an effort to help foster an actual local music community.” Bakaitus and Muro strategically planned the tracklist, and then selected musicians based on the songs. “Somebody like Jon Belan from Gene The Werewolf, being more of a rocker type, we wanted to give him the harder rock

songs with more aggressive vocals,” says Bakaitus. “The most important thing is that we push the musicians outside of their comfort zones.” Experiencing new territory, surrounded by fresh faces, Pittsburgh Plays offers a unique opportunity for local artists, and fans to connect and bask in nostalgia. “It’s cool that so many local musicians are involved and get to perform together in a great venue like Mr. Smalls,” says Nicole Myers of Cello Furry. “Pittsburgh is one of those cities where musicians are always willing to come together and collaborate, and this line-up of talent makes it really special.”

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Pittsburgh’s lone liberal talkshow host for 30+ years Listen live every weekday at 10 a.m. at lynncullen.pghcitypaper.com PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DEC. 26, 2018-JAN. 9, 2019

HyperLocal at Assemble

.ART.

GROUP EFFORT BY AMANDA WALTZ // AWALTZ@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

THE HUSTLE and bustle of the holiday season leaves little time to catch all the new gallery and museum exhibitions opening around Pittsburgh. Once presents are opened, cookies are eaten, and families are visited, wind down with these group art shows before they close. And because this season tends to leave people strapped for cash, Pittsburgh City Paper recommends two free shows to close out the year. Your eyes and bank account will thank you.

HyperLocal at Assemble December 2018 through January 2019. 4824 Penn Ave., Garfield. Free. assemblepgh.org Since 2011, the nonproďŹ t arts and technology community space Assemble has provided a place for people to explore their creative and innovative sides through a variety of free or low-cost programs. To ensure its commitment to the surrounding neighborhoods, Assemble

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created HyperLocal, an annual show featuring work by artists and makers who reside within ten blocks of its location, in Bloomﬁeld, Garﬁeld, Friendship, and East Liberty. Started in early December, the latest event will hold another opening on Jan. 4 to introduce arts lovers to people of all ages in Pittsburgh. To make it equitable, the show has a free, open submission process, and they accept pieces representing a variety of media, including painting, sculpture, and jewelry, as well as zines and digital art. The only major requirement is that all work be acceptable for young eyes to see, as Assemble often hosts programming designed for K-12 youth. (So, yes, HyperLocal is kid-friendly.)

Ten Futures at 937 Gallery Continues through Feb. 24. 937 Liberty Ave., Downtown. Free. trustarts.org The New Year, with its resolutions and other forward-looking traditions, causes people to consider the future, whether it’s the coming year, the coming decade, or a more distant time. Such is the case with Ten Futures at 937 Gallery, an exhibition presented by Wood Street Galleries and The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. Curated by Fred Blauth and Dave Zak, the multimedia group show operates on a theme described in a Facebook post as “perched between the science ﬁction genre and the futures unfolding around us in real time.” The displayed work questions whether or not the scientists and engineers driving technology are designing software and devices with people of color, queer and non-binary people, and other groups in mind. For Ten Futures, Pittsburgh-based artists representing a wide range of media try to “make sense of, escape from, and question their own 21stcentury realities and the futures they hold.” Among them are fashion designer Elaine Healy, Japanese-American sculptor and conceptual installation artist Shohei Katayama, and Celeste Neuhaus, a self-described interdisciplinary artist, educator, and witch. It will also feature a video game designed by duo Everest Pipkin and Loren Schmidt, and selections from zine and comics illustrator Paul Peng. Also included are works by Summer Jade Leavitt, Adam Milner, Maybe Jairan Sadeghi, Centa Schumacher, and Bradley Weyandt.

•

Follow senior writer Amanda Waltz on Twitter @AWaltzCP PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DEC. 26, 2018-JAN. 9, 2019

.LIT.

I’M REALLY CURIOUS ABOUT YOUR BOOK, HELLO, UNIVERSE. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE IT? It’s difﬁcult to pinpoint exact inspiration. All of my stories develop from a character. For Hello, Universe, the character Virgilio Salinas came to mind ﬁrst. The story took off from there.

HELLO, PITTSBURGH BY GAB BONESSO CPCONTRIBUTORS@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

RIN ENTRADA KELLY is an author

WHAT CAN FOLKS EXPECT TO HEAR AT YOUR LECTURE ON JAN. 6? WOULD YOU CONSIDER THIS A LECTURE FOR ALL AGES? Yes, it’s for all ages. I typically discuss otherness, kindness, the power of imagination, and my creative process.

of children’s literature and was awarded the 2018 John Newberry Medal by the Association for Library Service to Children for her third novel, Hello, Universe. She will be visiting the Carnegie Lecture Hall on Sun., Jan. 6 with her newest book You Go First. The critically aclaimed 2018 book is an exploration of life as a middle schooler through “family, bu lly i n g, word games, art.”

IS THIS YOUR FIRST VISIT TO PITTSBURGH? IS THERE ANYTHING LOCALLY YOU’RE HOPING TO DO WHILE YOU’RE HERE? I’ve never been to Pittsburgh. I’m really looking forward to it. I plan to see the Penguins while I’m in town. I’ve never been to a hockey game, so it should be fun, even though I don’t know any of the rules and don’t know any of the players except Sid Crosby. I’m also looking forward to visiting the library. So I’ll have two very different Pittsburgh experiences!

YOUR NEWEST WORK EXPLORES THE TOPIC OF BULLYING. WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO A CHILD WHO IS CURRENTLY BEING BULLIED? In a perfect world, children would have trusted adults they could talk to. My first piece of advice is to find that person and tell them what’s happening — a parent, teacher, friend. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world. Some young people don’t feel like they have anyone they can turn to. For them, my advice is to remember that no one defines who you are except you. We all have a voice. Don’t allow anyone to silence yours.

Erin Entrada Kelly

ERIN ENTRADA KELLY

PITTSBURGH ARTS & LECTURES 2:30 p.m. Sun., Jan. 6. $11. All ages. pittsburghlectures.org

Follow featured contributor Gab Bonesso on Twitter @gabbonesso

2110 Babcock Blvd. Pittsburgh, PA 15209 412-821-5908

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ANY NEW WRITING PROJECTS YOU CAN TELL OUR CP READERS ABOUT? My ﬁrst fantasy, Lalani of the Distant Sea, will be released on May 7, 2019. It’s the story of an ordinary 12-year-old girl on an extraordinary quest. And I’m already working on a rough draft of a novel that is set for 2020.

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A book signing with Erin will follow the program in the Children’s Department of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DEC. 26, 2018-JAN. 9, 2019

.DANCE.

STAND-OUT LOCAL DANCE 2018 BY STEVE SUCATO CPCONTRIBUTORS@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

N A YEAR ﬁlled with many ﬁne local

dance performances and programs, here are eight that touched area audiences’ hearts and minds in very different ways. Shana Simmons Dance – The Missing Piece (Bricolage Theater, March 2-10)

PHOTO: CORNINGWORKS/FRANK WALSH

CorningWorks’ Patricia Petronello in In House: Intimate Interiors

Dancer/choreographers Shana Simmons, Brady Sanders, and Jamie Erin Murphy turned to areas of disquiet in their own lives for inspiration for T he Missing Piece, a multimedia contemporary dance work about identity, suicide, and Alzheimer’s disease that delivered messages of hope, struggle, and resilience. CORNINGWORKS – In House: Intimate Interiors (The Mattress Factory, March 14-18) Choreographed by Beth Corning and directed by Dominique Serrand, this site-specific dance theater work was transfixed with poignant characterizations of damaged individuals who plumbed the depths of human emotion and rocked viewers to their very core with committed performances by a cast that couldn’t have been more engaging. Attack Theatre – If/Maybe/Then (April 12-29, former Homestead Office Depot) The site-specific, interactive-media production blended video projection mapping and motion-tracking technologies to both dazzle and bemuse audiences. The unique work about a group of fictitious time-traveling strangers brilliantly played with the psychology of choice and perspective. Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre – West Side Story Suite/In the Night/ Fancy Free (May 4-6, Benedum Center) Celebrating the 100th birthday of late choreographer Jerome Robbins, PBT, along with the PBT Orchestra, presented

PHOTO: ANDREW JORDAN

Caitlin Scranton in Christopher Williams’ Ursula and the 11,000 Virgins

three of the choreographic giant’s ballets including the carefree, sailors on shore leave, Fancy Free, the spellbinding In the Night, and the Leonard Bernstein-scored and highly entertaining West Side Story Suite that had PBT’s performers both singing and dancing. newMoves Contemporary Dance Festival (May 11-19, Kelly Strayhorn Theater) Headlined by Bill Shannon’s thoughtprovoking Touch Update that mixed dance, video installation, and wearable projection technology, the Kelly Strayhorn Theater’s annual festival with national import showcased a cornucopia of local dance artists including Jil Stifel, Maree ReMalia, Staycee Pearl dance project, Nick Daniels, Exhalations Dance Theatre, and Moriah Ella Mason.

Maria Caruso – Lamentations (Sept. 29, Succop Theater) Part of Bodiography Contemporary Ballet’s program at Butler County Community College, Maria Caruso expertly captured the passionate expression of sorrow contained within Martha Graham’s iconic 1930 solo Lamentations that was breathtaking and ﬁtting of Graham herself. The Blanket – The Christopher Williams Project (Oct. 26-28, New Hazlett Theater) Bold, bizarre, and grotesquely beautiful, The Christopher Williams Project featured excerpts from the New Yorkbased choreographer’s best-known dance theater works, Bessie, Awardwinning Ursula and the 11,000 Virgins, and The Golden Legend. Set to medieval

Follow featured contributor Steve Sucato on Twitter @ssucato

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

PHOTO: KATIE GING

Conservatory Dance Company in Aszure Barton’s Happy Little Things

music and steeped in the iconography and literature of that period, Williams’ impassioned choreography for a series of dance portraits of saints and The Blanket’s dancers’ performance of them was wondrous. Conservatory Dance Company – Winter Dance Concert (PNC Theatre, Dec. 7-16) S t e l l a r wo rks f ro m f o u r wo rl d renowned choreographers contributed to one of the Point Park University’s student dance company’s best overall productions in years. From choreographer Tyce Diorio’s tribute to Charlie Chaplin and Edwaard Liang’s sweeping The Art of War, to Aszure Barton’s rustic gem Happy Little Things, and Nacho Duato’s Palmeras, the program delivered on all counts.

•

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Lola Hughes

.STAGE.

CROWD WORK BY HANNAH LYNN // HLYNN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

G @lewisatlarge

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pghcitypaper

ETTING MONEY for the arts is no easy task nowadays. It’s increasingly common for creators to turn to crowd-funding in the hopes of gathering enough money to complete or distribute a project. This is the case with Two Lines, a play written by Lola Hughes and co-directed by Hughes and Kauleen Cloutier. Hughes wrote the one-act play as part of her senior project at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), where she graduated from in May. She ﬁrst staged it with IUP students before submitting to the Strawberry One-Act Festival at the Riant Theater in New York, now in its 32nd year. When it was accepted, she started a GoFundMe to cover travel, props, theater rental, festival fees, and other expenses. “We just wanted some help and support since we’re not an actual Two Lines by Lola Hughes POSTER: AISLINN AIMINO

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

theater company; we’re just a troupe right now,” says Hughes. The cast, made up of local actors, begins rehearsals in January at the Glitter Box Theater and will head to the festival in March. The festival includes multiple rounds with audiences voting for their favorite plays. The winner has the opportunity of a run at the off-Broadway venue. Two Lines is a dramedy that follows a former couple who gets together for a one-night-stand. After the girl gets pregnant, the couple has to decide whether to keep the baby or have an abortion. Hughes notes that, although the topic might be prickly to some, she wanted to give it a more positive twist than is typically depicted in popular culture, where most often women keep the baby or give it up for adoption. “I don’t want it to be like Juno. I feel like there’s a lot of negative connotation with abortion,” says Hughes. The poster, which depicts a hand holding a pregnancy test like a smoking joint, is a nod

to how the play also tackles weed culture. “The main guy is a pothead, and at ﬁrst you just think, ‘Oh he’s just a lazy pothead,’ but as the play goes on, you ﬁnd out that he has depression and self-medicates,” says Hughes.

FUNDRAISER FOR TWO LINES

gofundme.com/Two-Lines-Goes-To-OffBway

The GoFundMe has not been as successful as Hughes would have hoped. After launching around two months ago, only two people have contributed a total of $45, out of a total goal of $2,100. But Hughes says that the show will go on, regardless of whether or not more money is raised. “Either way we are going. I told them, if I have to pay out of my own pocket I’ll make it work,” says Hughes. “I hope I can inspire people about different topics, maybe open their eyes a bit about, ‘Oh this isn’t as dark an issue as I thought it was.’” While the play has no set plans for a performance in Pittsburgh, Hughes hopes to arrange a preview before the festival for the local community.

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PHOTO: FUN A DAY PGH

Fun a Day Pittsburgh’s 2017 art show

.ART.

FUN A DAY

BY LISA CUNNINGHAM // LCUNNING@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

ORCING YOURSELF to make something every single day of January: a worthy creative New Year’s resolution ... or self-torture? For artists who participate in Fun a Day Pittsburgh, it can be a little of both. Milo Berezin, a Pittsburgh artist and the arts education coordinator at Union Project, says it is fun every day. “It’s also exhausting, infuriating, inspiring, panic-inducing, energizing, and occasionally even relationship-damaging. But, it’s worth it!” After kicking off 15 years ago in Philadelphia by artists’ group Artclash Collective, Fun a Day has now branched out to seven other cities, including Pittsburgh. Participants spend every day in January working on a project for the month — some make something new for 31 days, others pick one big project and work on it a little each day. At the end of the month, everyone is invited to show off their ﬁnished projects in a group art show. This will be Berezin’s fourth year participating. Last year, because he wanted to learn to be a better cook, he used the opportunity to cook a new dish every day. Afterwards, he drew a recipe card, hand-lettering and illustrating the

One of Milo Berezin’s 31 illustrated recipe cards

list of ingredients. He’s also done a print-a-day and “31 Drawings of my Dumbass Dog,” including a hilarious illustration of his dog laying down, paw touching his erection, surrounded by the text, “Draw me like one of your French poodles.” This year, he plans to work with ceramics. Laura Greenawalt, coordinator for Fun a Day Pittsburgh, compares it to forcing yourself to exercise every day. You know you should do it, but it’s not always easy.

“There will deﬁnitely be days that you’re like, OK, this will take me ﬁve minutes. Just go do the thing, but still it’s a struggle,” she says. “After you follow through on it a couple of times, it gets easier.” To help motivate the group, participants share their works-in-progress on the group’s Facebook page, and Greenawalt sends out emails throughout the month, encouraging everyone to keep going.

“There’s a lot of people who start with really big ambition and then get frustrated or run out of ideas or life gets busy and they already got the endorphin rush of saying they’re going to do the project,” says Greenawalt. “I think there’s something to putting your best effort into building a healthy creative habit that makes it really worthwhile.” Greenawalt has been involved in Fun a Day for five years, starting off as a participant before volunteering to help. Not everyone who signs up is an artist. She says it’s a great chance to push yourself and experiment, and people shouldn’t beat themselves up if they miss a day. Greenawalt herself says she didn’t quite finish all 31 days her first year. “I think I landed at 27 pieces or so, but walking into [the Fun a Day art show] to see my piece hanging next to everyone else’s was really powerful!” This year’s art show will take place in early February, and people still have time to sign up to join in on the fun. “It’s so much fun to see dozens of wonderfully different approaches to the same challenge,” Berezin says. “To celebrate everyone’s accomplishments and to commiserate about the ways in which we struggled.”

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Follow editor-in-chief Lisa Cunningham on Twitter @trashyleesuh PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DEC. 26, 2018-JAN. 9, 2019

PHOTO: VSIN

Jimmy Vaccaro

GAMBLIN’ MAN

BY REGE BEHE // CPCONTRIBUTORS@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

IMMY VACCARO has spent most of his

adult life waiting for sports betting to be legalized in Pennsylvania, and this year, he got his wish. The Trafford native, who is nationally recognized as one of the country’s top bookmakers, has been a ﬁxture in Las Vegas since 1975. Vaccaro ran the sports books at the Golden Nugget, the MGM, the Mirage, and most recently the South Point, where he helped start the Vegas Stats & Information Network (VSIN), a multi-platform source of information for sports bettors. CNBC has interviewed Vaccaro about gambling on boxing matches, football games, and even during the run-up to the 2016 presidential election (it’s illegal to bet on in the U.S., but not the rest of the world). He was recently featured in ESPN’s documentary 42 to 1 about heavyweight boxer Buster Douglas’ upset of Mike Tyson in 1990. Vaccaro, then working at The Mirage, was the only U.S. bookmaker to post odds — at 42-1 — on the prizeﬁght. And now, thanks to a Supreme Court ruling legalizing sports betting in the state this year, he’s coming home. In mid-January, Vaccaro, 72, will return to Pittsburgh to help promote the new sports book at the Rivers Casino, which opened Dec. 13. “I would have never even considered

doing anything else anywhere in the country,” Vaccaro says. “I wanted to stay here and work for the great Michael Gaughan [a casino owner and operator in Las Vegas]. When the Pittsburgh people approached me, it was the only place I would consider. The more I thought about it, I’m getting older and still have a lot of family and friends in Pittsburgh. It’s a natural ﬁt for me at this age.” Vaccaro says the thrill of watching a game in a sports book is “like nothing you’ve ever seen before.” But he also says it’s important to wager smartly, especially for newcomers to sports betting. Here are some tips from Vaccaro for those who’ve never bet on sports – and for those who have. WHAT’S THE FIRST THING NEW GAMBLERS SHOULD DO? Don’t go in with the all these big ideas that you have the answer. Don’t go in completely unarmed. Ask a supervisor (if you have questions). … There are handbooks and guides to help you

through the process. The biggest mistake a newcomer makes – and it happens all the time – is they wait 25 minutes in line, there are 10 windows open 20 (people) deep, and they get up to the front of the line and say, `How do I do this?’ … Don’t screw it up for everybody else behind you.” WHAT’S THE BEST WAGER FOR FIRST-TIME BETTORS? Do the basic thing ﬁrst. There are a thousand different ways to make a bet. Simply ask for a point spread bet.* The easiest thing is not to immerse yourself in all the other things: the point total for the ﬁrst half, the money line bets, the teasers. That will come to you as you growinto it. *A wager where the bettor is given a certain number of points, plus or minus. If it’s Pittsburgh minus two points, the Steelers have to beat the other team by three or more points – by two points would be a tie, or a push, with all monies returned to bettors – for the bet to win.

Follow featured contributor Rege Behe on Twitter @RegeBehe_exPTR

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WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO DO RESEARCH? Go slow. The ﬁnal bet should be the one that comes out of your convictions. … You might want to watch shows like the ones on the VSIN network that explain what’s going on. But don’t try to do too much. It’s like trying to be the engineer on a train. The ﬁrst job you should have is shoveling coal into the furnace. You can’t be driving it. IS THERE ANY SPORT THAT’S GROWN RECENTLY IN POPULARITY WITH BETTORS? College football. Way back in the mid1980s for every one dollar we’d take on college games on Saturdays, we’d take three times that on Sundays with the NFL. It’s dead even now. There’s just as much to bet on Saturdays as on Sunday NFL games. BESIDES FOOTBALL, WHICH SPORT GENERATES THE MOST INTEREST? College basketball when March Madness starts. March Madness is a huge, huge event. It’s a four-day event, and they (bettors) start coming in on Wednesday, they jam the place Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. It’s starts tailing off on Sunday because they’re so tired. But March Madness is a huge event.

•

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WENDY BELL HIRED AT KDKA RADIO AND PITTSBURGHERS ARE ... AMBIVALENT Some applauded the decision, while others see it as a step back in term of the region’s racial relations given Bell’s past comments

JENSORENSEN

Active shooter training provides preparedness during overwhelming situations. Encountering an active shooter isn’t easy to prepare for. In light of the recent mass shootings seen around the country and here in Pittsburgh, groups are finding more and more of a need to train for the unexpected. The Gun Violence Archive lists over 300 active shooters in 2018. In response, active shooter trainings are popping up across the country, teaching schools, offices, and religious centers tactics to recognize and react to gun violence. Early this year, Inpax opened doors to a training facility in Ross Township. Sam Rosenberg, a Marine Corps veteran and body-guard professional, founded Inpax with one goal: teaching personal safety. His motto, “It’s good to have a lifeguard, but better to know how to swim,” is woven into Inpax’s comprehensive training programs. The veteran-owned establishment instructs and empowers in hours, not years. Start building a safer community today. The Department of Homeland Security recommends two things: make a plan and stay informed. For an active shooter situation, their plan stands on three actions: run, hid, or, as a last resort, fight. But are any of us truly prepared for this situation? If so, we may know how to run and hide, not how to react or fight. Rosenberg explains, in his training, the common reaction is to freeze. It’s a natural reaction from the central nervous system. It’s unlike any situation, and that’s were familiarity and training makes a huge difference. He explains real world scenarios and provides defense tactics for public spaces. Rosenberg encourages trainees to locate exits. It’s like preflight safety instructions. “The exit may be behind you.” These pieces of information are vital during an emergency.

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DEC. 26, 2018-JAN. 9, 2019

CALENDAR DEC. 27-JAN. 9

^ Sun., Jan. 6: Untitled: a solo show by Brendon J. Hawkins

THURSDAY DEC. 27 CONCERT

In the wake of the tragic shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue, Pittsburgh has come together in a variety of ways to help heal the city. Among the handful of concerts dedicated to the cause is tonight’s Roots of Steel show and silent auction. The evening opens with an auction, proceeds benefiting the Tree of Life, Congregation Dor Hadash, and New Light Congregation,

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followed by a star-studded performance. Talent includes Tony-award winning Broadway star Billy Porter, among other Pittsburgh-natives. 7 p.m. Carnegie Music Hall, 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. $18-154. rootsofsteel.org

FRIDAY DEC. 28 POTLUCK

Pittsburgh Pagans who identify as queer: Head over to Persad Center for

Pagan Queer Munch. The meetup includes a potluck and discussions on topics including “the history of offerings” and “practicing safe hex.” Nice. If punctuality isn’t your thing, no worries. As the organizers wrote of the event, “our ilk tend to be the night owl variety.” Latecomers welcome. 7 p.m. 5301 Butler St., Lawrenceville. Free. persadcenter.org

MUSIC

The end of December will undoubtedly be frigid in Pittsburgh, but the Andrew Carnegie Library and Music Hall wants to

transport you to summer of the Southern Hemisphere, at least musically. The Jazz ‘N’ Samba features Pittsburgh’s “Ladies of Jazz,” who showcase their vibrant Brazilian sound. Etta Cox and Kenia will perform hits by famous Brazilian composers (“Girl from Ipanema”), as well as classic American jazz numbers. Following the concert is a dessert reception, where concert goers can meet the performers and adults can enjoy complimentary prosecco (though kids are welcome, too). 8 p.m. 300 Beechwood Ave., Carnegie. $5 for 12 years and under. $25-30. Carnegiecarnegie.org

PHOTO: YEARBOOK PHOTOS OF CAST MEMBERS ABBY FUDOR, MIKE RUBINO, MISSY MORENO, AND JOHN FEIGHTNER

^ Sat., Dec. 29: Your High: Yearbook-Inspired Comedy

DRAG

Year’s English Tea Service, a spectacular display of caviar, truffles, and canapés. The Whitfield’s pastry chef, Casey Renee, pairs up with the hotel’s event designer, Tommy Conroy, for an extravagant afternoon of food, live music, and dazzling florals. It’s time to brush up on that forgotten high tea etiquette. Pinkies out. 4 p.m. Ace Hotel Pittsburgh, 120 S. Whitfield St., East Liberty. $50. acehotel.com

Don’t sashay away from Blue Moon when it hosts a Cafeteria Get Down viewing party of RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars. Host Mildred the Lunch Lady — a beloved Blue Moon denizen and CP’s 2018 Best of Pittsburgh winner for Best Bartender — will work the bar and keep everyone in line. As drag performers go head-to-head on the small screen, become one of Mildred’s kids as she slings drinks and sandwiches that will take you back to your school days. Afterward, it’s your turn to take the stage with karaoke by Eddie Oke. 8 p.m. 5115 Butler St., Lawrenceville. Free. 412-781-1119

Jazz vocalist, junior high school library media specialist, journalist, and DJ, Kiddo is also co-founder of Walking and Falling, a mentoring and workshop program for woman-identifying and nonbinary music enthusiasts. Because of her work as a mentor (in addition to her DJ skills) MESH, an all-inclusive queer dance party, is bringing Kiddo

COMEDY

^ Fri., Dec. 28: Jazz ‘N’ Samba

and her techno, electro, and house collection to 3577 Studios. Joined by resident DJs Sis Girl and ChadKid, the fun goes until the early morning and is BYOB with a donation bar. 10 p.m.4 a.m. 3577 Studios, Polish Hill. $10. facebook.com/meshparty

SATURDAY DEC. 29 FOOD

Take cues from royals at Ace Hotel’s New

Is there anything more horrifying than leafing through your old yearbooks? Arcade Comedy Theater’s own Abby Fudor and her entire Plum Senior High School Class of 2000 will have their Forever 21 halter tops and Wet Seal sequined pants placed under the spotlight for Your High: Yearbook-Inspired Comedy. The monthly improv night, inspired by real high school yearbooks, features members from Arcade and CP Best of Pittsburgh “Best Comedy Troupe” winners Knights of the Arcade. 8-9:30 p.m. Arcade Comedy Theater. 943 Liberty Ave., Downtown. $12. arcadecomedytheater.com CONTINUES ON PG. 54

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DEC. 26, 2018-JAN. 9, 2019

CALENDAR, CONTINUED FROM PG. 52

14 DAYS

OF CONCERTS BY JORDAN SNOWDEN JSNOWDEN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

PHOTO: MATT LEWIS @FILMOWSKI

Tropidelic

WEEK 1: DEC. 27-JAN. 2

THURSDAY Frank Cunimondo 7 p.m. Wallace’s Whiskey Room + Kitchen, East Liberty. wallaceswhiskeyroom.com

FRIDAY Shawn Allen 10 p.m. Carmi Soul Food Restaurant, South Side. carmirestaurant.com

SATURDAY

PHOTO: REBEKAH WITT

^ Wed., Jan. 2: Fat Night

Tropidelic & Zach Deputy 8 p.m. The Rex Theater, South Side. rextheater.com

SUNDAY Identity X and Big Atlantic 8 p.m. Club Café, South Side. clubcafelive.com

MONDAY Happy New Year’s Eve! Check out CP’s NYE guide on page 20 for a full list of concerts and events

TUESDAY Tenova 1:30 a.m. Tilden, Downtown. tildenclub.com

WEDNESDAY Brookline Open Mic 7:30 p.m. Brookline Teen Outreach, Brookline. brooklineteenoutreach.org CONTINUES ON PG. 56

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

FESTIVAL

Chill out before all the big New Year’s Eve celebrations when the six-piece Cleveland band Tropidelic brings its mix of reggae, hip hop, and high energy funk to the Rex Theater. Presented as part of its The Freak Drop tour, Tropidelic is joined by Zach Deputy, a singer/songwriter/ multi-instrumentalist whose soulful new sound blends hip hop, funk, and folky pop with soca and calypso. Also featured is Keystone Vibe, a Pittsburgh-based reggae rock band influenced by Sublime and Phish. 7 p.m. 1602 E. Carson St., South Side. $15 advance, $20 door. rextheater.net

MUSIC

It doesn’t get much more Rust Belt punk than this. Legendary Cleveland hardcore outfit 9 Shocks Terror is traveling to the Steel City. The Rock Room will be hosting the quartet, and if it is like most 9 Shocks shows, expect to get a bit bruised up in the mosh pit. After several years on hiatus, the group reunited last year. You can purchase discounted tickets before the show at nearby Cruel Noise Records or buy tickets on-site. Make sure to stretch before entering the pit. 8 p.m. 1054 Herron Ave., Polish Hill. $12-15. 412-683-4418

SUNDAY DEC. 30 EVENT

It’s quite remarkable, but according to a Morning Consult poll, the most “heard about” political story of 2018 was the #TakeAKnee protests, in which NFL players knelt during the national anthem to protest ongoing police brutality against people of color. No, not an actual political story, like the Democrats winning 40 seats to retake the U.S. House or the many guilty pleas of those working on Trump’s presidential campaign. And yet, here we are. Pittsburgh’s chapter of the Women’s March is hosting a Stand for Justice/ Kneel for those who cannot event outside of the Steelers game today. Protesters will gather outside at the corner of Art Rooney Avenue and North

Shore Drive. The goal according to their Facebook page is to “reflect our concerns about police violence against African Americans and other people of color throughout the country.” 12:15-1:15 p.m. Heinz Field, North Side. Facebook search “Women’s March on Washington - Pittsburgh”

NEW YEAR’S EVE EVENTS

TRIBUTE

Thirty-five years ago in Los Angeles, Talking Heads put on arguably the best rock show of all time and Jonathan Demme captured it to make arguably the best concert film of all time, Stop Making Sense. (To be fair, he assembled the footage from the band’s four-night run, but close enough.) It features a marathon of catalogue highlights played to perfection, David Byrne’s big suits, and some of the best running in place you’ll ever see. It looks exhausting. Since the band broke up in 1992, the movie is the closest most of us will get to seeing them live. Or, you could go out

SEE PAGE 18 & 20

PHOTO: HEINZ HISTORY CENTER

^ Sat., Jan. 5: Destination Moon Family Day

for Start Making Sense, the preeminent Talking Heads tribute band, at Mr. Smalls. If you’re on the fence, check out the live videos on YouTube and you’ll be sold. If that’s not enough, know that Talking Heads keyboardist Bernie Worrell gave his blessing, calling them “a great representation of Talking Heads’ music.” 7 p.m. 400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale. $15. mrsmalls.com

MONDAY DEC. 31 COMEDY

Laugh your way into the new year. One of Pittsburgh’s best comedians, Steve Byrne, makes his way back to the ‘Burgh on New Year’s Eve. Byrne is known for starring in three seasons of Sullivan & Son on TBS and in comedies The Dilemma and

Couples Retreat. The NYE event includes champagne and party favors, with an optional three-course dinner or premium seat upgrade, completed with a new year souvenir. 7 p.m. Pittsburgh Improv, 166 E. Bridge St., Homestead. $40-125. improv.com/pittsburgh

TUESDAY JAN. 1 MESS

Slime stuck in the carpet, crayon on the walls; kids are messy. On New Year’s Day, let them embrace the dirty disorder with MessFest. A Science Center tradition, MessFest teaches about science, while getting ooey and gooey in the process. With activities like finger painting, a pudding “pi” eating contest, and more, be prepared to leave covered in gunk.

All activities are included in the price of the Science Center’s general admission. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Carnegie Science Center, 1 Allegheny Ave., North Side. Free with admission. carnegiesciencecenter.org

OUTDOORS

Don’t believe the rumors, people do ride their bikes in the cold winter months. If the snow is cleared, people will ride. And nothing shows that spirit more than Pittsburgh’s annual Icycle Bicycle ride. The New Year’s Day ride is organized by the Western Pennsylvania Wheelmen and all are welcome (just bring a bike, a helmet, and sign an insurance form beforehand). The ride starts in the South Side and travels to the West End Bridge, across the Ohio River to the North Shore, over the Allegheny River to the Strip District, through Downtown, and eventually back to the South Side at the Hot Metal Bridge. It’s all about showcasing

how enjoyable riding through Pittsburgh’s streets and trails can be, even when the weather is frightful. The tradition traces back decades. WPW reserved a room in Claddagh Irish Pub for hungry and thirsty cyclists after the ride. A $5 donation goes to the Community Human Services food pantry. Bundle up! 10:45 a.m.12:30 p.m. South Side Works, 424 S. Seventh St., South Side. $5 donation. Facebook search “Icycle Bicycle 2019”

WEDNESDAY JAN. 2 MUSIC

Fat Night is starting 2019 with a monumental occasion: its first show in Pittsburgh. Fans of Vulpeck’s instrumental funk, or Ripe’s modern yet retro groovy music will flip over Fat Night’s soulful CONTINUES ON PG. 56

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14 DAYS

OF CONCERTS CONTINUED FROM PG. 54

PHOTO: ULLOA PHOTO & VIDEO CENTER

T-Rextasy

WEEK 2: JAN. 3-9

THURSDAY T-Rextasy, Calyx, Saltlick 7 p.m. The Mr. Roboto Project, Bloomfield. therobotoproject.com

FRIDAY Bill Henry Band 9 p.m. Crafthouse Stage & Grill, Whitehall. crafthousepgh.com

SATURDAY Pack, Dinosoul, Bikini Islands 7 p.m. Cattivo, Lawrenceville. cattivopgh.com

SUNDAY William Fitzsimmons, Jim and Sam

^ Sat., Jan. 5: Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live! King for a Day

7 p.m. Club Café, South Side. clubcafelive.com

MONDAY Show Tunes Mondays 8 p.m. Element, Shadyside. elementpgh.com

TUESDAY Feral Light 7 p.m. Black Forge Coffee House, Allentown. blackforgecoffee.com

WEDNESDAY Rayland Baxter 8 p.m. The Rex Theater, South Side. rextheater.net

MORE CONCERT LISTINGS ONLINE

AT PGHCITYPAPER.COM 56

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

sound, like the silky vocals and breezy drumline heard in their latest single, “Honest Man.” The funk/soul band’s Toasty Tour is joined at Spirit by two local acts, hip-hop artist Isaiah Small and rock group Lofi Delphi. 9 p.m. 242 51st St., Lawrenceville. $8. spiritpgh.com

THURSDAY JAN. 3 STAGE

Tired: Watching the country’s most popular dance show on TV while slumping on your couch. Wired: Watching the country’s most popular dance show live in Pittsburgh, oohing and ahhing at mesmerizing dance numbers and enjoying music from the city’s best musicians. The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is hosting the Dancing with the Stars LIVE tour at

Heinz Hall. Expect ballroom, salsa, classical, and every other style of dance you wish you could do. Some of the show’s top dancers will be performing including: Brandon Armstrong, Alan Bersten, Witney Carson, Artem Chigvintsev, Sasha Farber, Jenna Johnson, Gleb Savchenko, Emma Slater, Hayley Erbert, and Britt Stewart. (Though cast is subject to change.) VIP passes are available that provide meet and greet opportunities with the cast, exclusive merchandise, and photo opportunities. 8 p.m. 600 Penn Ave., Downtown. $69.50-95. pittsburghsymphony.org

FRIDAY JAN. 4

BURLESQUE

Enjoy a wild start to the New Year with an all-night queer burlesque party at the

Glitter Box Theater. Hosted by the performing arts troupe Catacky, Glittercock at the Clitorbock provides a space for queer burlesque artists to practice their craft in a welcoming environment. Things will get rowdy but not rude because, as event organizer Stephanie Dax puts it, booers will be booted. Be sure to bring $1 bills to show your appreciation to the performers. A dance party will follow. 8:30 p.m. 460 Melwood Ave., Oakland. $2. 18 and over. theglitterboxtheater.com

SATURDAY JAN. 5 SPACE

There’s a chance that your kids are a lot like a far-too-large portion of Americans that believe we never landed on the

PHOTO G R A P H Y

THE EYES OF

moon. Don’t panic, our country is just a misinformation-filled hellscape. But there is an antidote for all this bogus conspiracy nonsense and the Heinz History Center is here to administer it with Destination Moon Family Day. The History Center hosts a family-friendly event with experts from the Armstrong Air and Space Museum. Participants can see the original command module Columbia, which astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins returned to earth following their lunar landing. Kids can also build and float their own miniature command module and try to set it down safely. Children receive free admission for this event. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 1212 Smallman St., Strip District. $18 for adults. heinzhistorycenter.org

KIDS

Take the kids to dance, sing, and laugh during Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live! King for a Day at the Byham Theater. The hit PBS animated show comes to life when Daniel Tiger and all his furry, feathered, and human friends hop aboard the trolley and take the audience on a musical adventure through the Neighborhood of Make-Believe. Along the way, they share stories of friendship, help others, and celebrate new experiences, all while encouraging the whole family to play along. Shows at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. 101 Sixth St., Downtown. Tickets start at $30. trustarts.org

FILM

The animated movie The Breadwinner is an engrossing and powerful story that follows an 11-year-old girl in Afghanistan whose father is unjustly arrested under Taliban rule. To circumvent all the rules women must follow, the girl cuts her hair and disguises herself as a boy to support her family and rescue her father. The movie is animated like a storybook, bringing light and hope to a world that could use a little extra of both. The movie, which received nominations by the Academy Awards and Golden Globes, will screen at City of Asylum as part of the ongoing Sembène Film Festival. 3 p.m. 40 W. North Ave., North Side. alphabetcity.org

(412) 735-0492 THEEYESOFOZ@GMAIL.COM

PHOTO: STUDIOCANAL

^ Sat., Jan. 5: The Breadwinner

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SUNDAY JAN. 6 SKATE

Historically, skateboarding has been an activity only young men are encouraged to participate in. When health coach Maya Henry saw her son skateboarding, she got jealous, because skateboarding will never not be cool. Now, she’s created Shred Your Fears, a skateboarding class and retreat for women who want to get out of their comfort zone and gain a new kind of confidence that

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PHOTO: CRISTIN GOSS

^ Sun., Jan. 6: Shred Your Fears

only comes from gliding on wheels. The event, at Switch & Signal Skatepark, includes a yoga session and brunch, in addition to a skateboarding lesson with a park instructor. The cost includes access to a skateboard and safety equipment. 9 a.m. 7518 Dickson St., Swissvale. Free. shredyourfears.com

GAMES

Did you know that The Beatles’ 1965 hit song “Help!” was about a man playing a ruthless game of pinball, calling out for help as his sweaty hands lose grip on the machine? Just kidding, that would be nuts! But the Fab Four will surely pique fans’ interest with their new Beatlemania-themed pinball machine at Kickback Pinball Café. To celebrate, there will be a launch party complete with a multi-round, Beatles Launch Party and Pingolf Tournament (a spinoff of pinball). Did you know

PGHCITYPAPER.COM

that The Beatles’ 1969 song “Come Together” is about a group of friends coming together for a pinball tournament? It’s not. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. 4326 Butler St., Lawrenceville. $1 per play. kickbackpgh.com

ART

Local multi-disciplinary visual, performance, and sound artist Brendon J. Hawkins finds inspiration from taking daily walks and picking up street trash along the way to incorporate into his work. See the results of his efforts and hear more about his process when he leads an intimate tour of his debut solo show Untitled at Bunker Projects. The exhibition includes his various sculptures, drawings, and portraits created from found objects like old signs, lumber, plastic bags, and more. 2-3 p.m. 5106 Penn Ave., Garfield. Free. Registration required. bunkerprojects.org

TUESDAY JAN. 8

STORYTELLING

If your New Year’s resolutions are to get out more, tell more stories, and conquer a fear of public speaking, kill three birds with one stone at The Moth StorySLAM at The Rex Theater. The monthly event features regular folks telling true stories live on stage. January’s theme is “Intentions,” so if you’re intending to participate, prepare a five-minute story about “best-laid plans, to-do lists, New Year’s resolutions.” Not tickled by that topic? Save your best tragic romance story for next month’s theme, “Love Hurts” on Feb. 5. 7 p.m. 1602 E. Carson St., South Side. rextheater.net

LIT

When a local figure debuts into the literary

world with a critically acclaimed novel, it’s a cause for celebration. Duquesne University Associate Professor John Fried recently published The Martin Chronicles, and the coming-of-age story has received praise from far and wide. Pulitzer-prize winning writer Colson Whitehead called the book “wise and winning” and a “sumptuous evocation of those adolescent afternoons when every moment was equally fraught and full of possibility. A charming, marvelous debut.” Pittsburghers have a chance to hear about the novel from Fried during the Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures event, where Fried will be talking about the book, other fictional works, and the general stumbling most of us do on our journey to becoming adults. The talk takes place at the Carnegie Library Lecture Hall, which is adjacent to Carnegie Library Main branch in Oakland. Registration required. 7 p.m. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. Free. pittsburghlectures.org •

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PUBLIC NOTICE

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA IN RE: APPOINTMENT OF : CRIMINAL DIVISION Sean Slampak : Misc No. 5984-2018 AS CONSTABLE IN AND FOR : 19th Ward - Pittsburgh ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PA. : ORDER NISI AND NOW, this 17th day of December 2018, uponconsideration of the petition and hearing on the above captioned matter, it is ADJUDGED, ORDERED and DECREED that Sean Slampak be and hereby is appointed to serve as Constable for the 19th Wd - Pgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, until the first Monday of January, 2023, being the expired term of the vacancy created by the death, resignation, etc. of the duly Elected Constable in and for the aforesaid constable district. AND IT IS FURTHER ORDERED and DECREED that thrity (30) days shall be allowed for the filling of exeptions with the Department of Court Records of Allegheny County, Room 114 Courthouse, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to the appointment made herein. BY THE COURT,

19 Ward of City PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DEC. 26, 2018-JAN. 9, 2019

FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE BY BRENDAN EMMETT QUIGLEY // WWW.BRENDANEMMETTQUIGLEY.COM

ACROSS 1. “You got that right” 5. “We outta here!” 10. Car sticker no. 14. Free daycare provider, assuming she lives nearby 15. Scoop holders 16. “Correctamundo” 17. Start of a quip by 43-Across 20. Printer type 21. Avant’s opposite 22. On the safe side, on a boat 24. Newman-O’s alternative 25. Quip, part 2 32. Place to get a pint 33. Oxen joiners 34. Class with a lab section: Abbr. 35. Let out ___ (sound shocked) 38. Place to take a stand at a party 39. Drum major’s prop 41. Quip, part 3 43. Source of the quip 45. Took care of 46. Cold weather home 47. Tree juice 49. Quick punch 50. End of the quip

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57. It’s just not done 58. Open grassy field 59. Made a scene? 61. Talent buyer 62. Range of knowledge 63. Charged 64. Doles (out) 65. Some pre-rolls 66. Sink part

DOWN 1. “While we’re on the topic ...” 2. It might be stopped on vacation 3. One-named Irish singer 4. Bahamas’ capital 5. ___-cat (coward) 6. Eternity 7. Conclusion 8. “You got that right, pal” 9. To the extent that 10. “Black ___” 11. Eye disorder 12. Tagus y Douro, e.g. 13. Nittany Lions’ sch. 18. “I want, no, NEED to know!” 19. Someone who’s a real 0: Abbr. 23. Conjure up 24. Final letter

25. Pampering locales 26. Sci-fi author’s accolades 27. Her autobiography is “Becoming” 28. Squeeze (out) 29. “Nyuh-uh!” reply 30. Cheapskate’s prefix 31. “You got that right, pal,” sound 36. Work on a quilt 37. Some criticism 39. New York Stock Exchange sight 40. Puncher’s tool 42. Linguist Chomsky 44. Miley Cyrus’

beau Hemsworth 48. Non-parody “Weird Al” tune, at times 49. Guess product 50. Bacon that’s brought home 51. “No fucking shit” 52. Coloration 53. Bassoon part 54. Charlotte’s home: Abbr. 55. Lab burner 56. Hairy snowman 57. Scottish cap 60. Omerta bigwig LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS

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PEEPSHOW A sex and social justice column

WORK STUDY

BY JESSIE SAGE // PEEPSHOWCAST@GMAIL.COM

OFTEN GET asked how I got into

sex work. I understand that my own story is not representative of many folks, but it is my story and it looks something like this. I got my start in sex work on a cam site. For those unfamiliar with camming, it typically consists of live, interactive broadcasts with the possibility of sexual performances. I started in part because I was curious, and in part as a political project. I was aware of the feminist critiques of the sex industry. What I also noticed is that most of the critiques leveled against sex work came from folks outside of the industry. And despite the things they said, I knew a lot of women I respected who chose sex work. As a feminist who was interested in body positivity, I wondered if there was space for women like me. When I started camming, I found that there was indeed space for me and that customers were mostly pleasant and supportive (not the porn-crazed monsters that the media made them out to be). Yet, I hadn’t quite found my home. As a quiet,

reﬂective introvert who didn’t particularly like being the center of attention, I didn’t feel entirely at home in the one-on-many dynamic of the cam room. A friend of mine told me that I should consider phone sex, where interactions were private and oneon-one. I told her I couldn’t do this because I am not good at dirty talk. She laughed at me, and I decided to give it a go.

WHAT IF NO ONE CALLS? WHAT IF THEY DO AND I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY? I created an ad and the first day I decided to turn my line on, I was so unbelievably nervous. What if no one calls? What if they do and I don’t know what to say? I sat in my office, doing other work, waiting for the phone to ring. When it finally did I picked up nervously. He said his name was Chris

and asked me what I was doing. I said reading. He asked me to stand up and walk to a doorway. I did. He told me to stand against it and imagine him walking in the room, standing behind me, lightly wrapping his arm around my waist from behind, kissing my neck. It was slow and sensual and sexy; his voice was melodic. We spoke in hushed tones about this dance we were doing in the doorway. He then asked me to tell him a secret. Not being ready for this question I said the first thing that came to mind: “This is my first call, I’m nervous, and I’m at work and hope my boss doesn’t walk in.” And then we both started laughing, the joyous laugh that comes from the realization of a genuine connection. It was the first of hundreds of intimate conversations of all sorts: funny, nostalgic, sad, steamy, political, philosophical, kinky. I made $50 standing in that doorway having a conversation that still makes me smile. I realized that day that I would continue to work in the sex industry for as long as it would have me; I had found my home.

•

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.

Peepshow Podcast, Ep. 37 December 17th was the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. Starting in 2003, this day has been celebrated by sex workers rights organizations throughout the world as a way of remembering the sex workers that we have lost to state and civilian violence, and as a way of gathering in community to show love and support to those of us that are still living. The Pittsburgh chapter of the Sex Workers Outreach Project (SWOP) was one of the groups to recognize December 17 this year. As a community, we gathered at the Persad Center to host a candlelit vigil for the dead. After reading all of the names of folks who died in 2018, we shifted to a night of storytelling. Sex works of all sorts — escorts, strippers, cam models, phone sex operators — submitted their stories of survival, insight, and joy. These stories were read, for the most part, by actors to protect the privacy of those sex workers who may not be out about their work. For a special episode of the Peepshow Podcast, we collected audio from the event. We bring you reflections on our community and our lives, our stories in their beauty and complexity. To hear these stories and more on the significance of December 17, listen to peepshowpodcast.com/ peepshow-podcast-episode-37

Too embarrassed to ask your friends about a sexual position? Want to know what it’s really like to work in the sex industry? Jessie Sage wants to hear from you! Submit a question for a chance to get it answered in an upcoming column. Email your question to info@pghcitypaper.com with “Ask Jessie” in the subject line. (All questions will be kept confidential.) 62

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER DEC. 26, 2018-JAN. 9, 2019

FINAL DAYS! THROUGH SUNDAY, JAN. 6 TheFrickPittsburgh.org

The exhibition has been organized by The Frick Pittsburgh, Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Society of the Four Arts, Oklahoma City Museum of Art, and Artis—Naples, The Baker Museum. The Pittsburgh presentation of this exhibition is supported by EQT Foundation and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. National exhibition tour support is provided by FedEx. Major exhibition program support is provided by the Richard King Mellon Foundation. Image: Isabelle de Borchgrave (Belgian, b. 1946), Delphos Dress and Coat (detail), 2006-7. Based on a Delphos dress, c. 1910–1930. Mixed media: paper, cut, folded, and molded with acrylic paint, ink, metallic powder, and adhesive; mounted on dress form. 58 ½ x 40 ¾ x 26 inches.

THEFRICKPITTSBURGH.ORG 412-371-0600 7227 REYNOLDS STREET PITTSBURGH, PA 15208