INSIDE: IMMIGRANT-RIGHTS GROUPS CALL OUT COLCOM FOR “GREENWASHING” PITTSBURGH’S ALTERNATIVE FOR NEWS, ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT SINCE S SI NCE 1991
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MARCH 11-18, 2020
Celebrating Women’s History Month through photos of female immigrants who call Pittsburgh home
Boat so Meet me at the Beach.
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Ayana M. Evans and Tsedaye Makonnen
ARTIST TALK Sunday, March 29th, 4:30–6:30 PM
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I came by
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Ayana M. Evans and Tsedaye Makonnen
JANUARY 24
Sunday, March 29th, 4:30–6:30 PM
THROUGH
I came by Boat so Meet me at the Beach.
MARCH 29, 2020
and Tsedaye followed by artist talk including Caroline
Closing reception with 30-minute performance by Ayana Hunter, member of the Inkwell Polar Bears, moderated by Jessica Lanay, art writer and poet in Gallery 1.
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I came by Boat so Meet me at the Beach. is on view in The BNY Mellon Gallery, first floor. RSVP Info@aacc-awc.org | free and open to the public aacc-awc.org | 412-339-1011
PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER MARCH 11-18, 2020
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MARCH 11-18, 2020 VOLUME 29 + ISSUE 11 Editor-In-Chief LISA CUNNINGHAM Director of Advertising JASMINE HUGHES 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 JOSIE NORTON, JEFF SCHRECKENGOST Events and Sponsorship Manager BLAKE LEWIS Senior Account Executive KAITLIN OLIVER Sales Representatives ZACK DURKIN Operations Coordinator MAGGIE WEAVER Events and Marketing Coordinator BRYER BLUMENSCHEIN Business Manager JUSTIN MATASE Circulation Manager JEFF ENGBARTH Featured Contributors REGE BEHE, LYNN CULLEN, TERENEH IDIA, CHARLES ROSENBLUM, JESSIE SAGE Interns MEGAN GLOECKLER, OLLIE GRATZINGER National Advertising Representative VMG ADVERTISING 1.888.278.9866 OR 1.212.475.2529 Publisher EAGLE MEDIA CORP.
FIRSTSHOT
BY ABBIE ADAMS
The vacant Horace Mann School in the Marshall-Shadeland neighborhood
GENERAL POLICIES: Contents copyrighted 2020 by Eagle Media Corp. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in Pittsburgh City Paper are those of the author and not necessarily of Eagle Media Corp. LETTER POLICY: Letters, or e-mails must be signed and include town and daytime phone number for confirmation. We may edit for length and clarity. DISTRIBUTION: Pittsburgh City Paper is published weekly by Eagle Media Corp. and is available free of charge at select distribution locations. One copy per reader; copies of past issues may be purchased for $3.00 each, payable in advance to Pittsburgh City Paper. FIRST CLASS MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS: Available for $175 per year, $95 per half year. No refunds.
COVER PHOTO: MAY LEBO MODEL: CHARLIZE PATIENCE ETAP, PHOTOGRAPHED WITH AN AFRICAN FABRIC READ THE STORY ON PAGE 6
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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER MARCH 11-18, 2020
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PHOTO: MAY LEBO/NAIBO VISUALS
May Lebo in the “Each for Equal” International Women’s Day pose
PHOTO ESSAY
A VISUAL EXPEDITION Celebrating Women’s History Month through photos of female immigrants who call Pittsburgh home TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY MAY LEBO
I
MOVED FROM KENYA to Pittsburgh for school in 2004. It’s changed a lot since then, particularly in its treatment of new immigrants, evolving to be a more welcoming place to people from other parts of the world. While there is room for growth, no doubt, it wouldn’t be right not to acknowledge the changes I’ve seen and appreciated since I arrived. More than 15 years after I moved to Pittsburgh, it is a city I call home, where I am now a business co-owner and photographer. To honor International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, I put together a photography collection featuring women from all over the world who have moved to Pittsburgh and now, like myself, call it home. From my experience and that of some of the women featured,
most of the locals we have interacted with don’t know who is here in Pittsburgh. They don’t know who is working alongside them to make this city a better place. I want to put a face to these women who are your neighbors, friends, attendants, employees, etc., and join together to celebrate our experiences. I interviewed and photographed six women from the six habitable continents, each representing a different age range. In one photo, they show where they are from in their attire or a flag in the background, a location that is quintessentially Pittsburgh. In the other photo, they are posing in the International Women’s Day “Equal for Each” stance in solidarity with women of the regions they represent, but most importantly Pittsburgh.
A VISUAL EXPEDITION: THE SHOW May Lebo’s full photo essay, including an additional portrait, will be on display through the end of March at Tu Y Yo Cafe. 3447 Harts Run Road, Glenshaw. Free. facebook.com/tu.y.yo.cafe
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PHOTO: MAY LEBO/NAIBO VISUALS
Grace Margarita Betancourt Jones, photographed in a scarf patterned with the Venezuelan flag
Grace Margarita Betancourt Jones from Caracas, Venezuela
What year did you move to Pittsburgh? 1981 Why did you leave your country? I left because of school. Of all places in the U.S., why Pittsburgh? Pitt has a large international program that my mother was interested in.
What is the role of women in your country? Women in Venezuela have the same role of women in United States. Housewives, mothers, daughters. Their work outside home contributes to the progress of our society. There are women who are political leaders. There are others who are entrepreneurs.
The International Women’s Day theme is “Each for Equal.” What does that mean to you? To me, this means that we have opportunities to be the same and to be treated the same! Have a voice. Be equal.
CONTINUES ON PG. 8
PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER MARCH 11-18, 2020
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PHOTO: MAY LEBO/NAIBO VISUALS
A VISUAL EXPEDITION, CONTINUED FROM PG. 7
Mihaela Stefanova, photographed with the Bulgarian landscape on a fan
What year did you move to Pittsburgh? 1999 Why did you leave your country? Better job opportunities. Off all places in the U.S., why Pittsburgh? We had friends who helped us get settled in the U.S. What is the role of women in your country? Bulgarian women live in a society that is customarily patriarchal. While Bulgaria is often described as a patriarchal society, women may have substantial authority in household budgeting or agricultural decision making. Both men and women have the right to vote and own property. The International Women’s Day theme is “Each for Equal.” What does that mean to you? I believe women deserve the same rights and equality as men in every aspect.
PHOTO: MAY LEBO/NAIBO VISUALS
Mihaela Stefanova from Shumen, Bulgaria
Yulin Ceraso, photographed with a Chinese blouse also worn by women from Taiwan
Yulin Ceraso, aka Jessie from Taipei, Taiwan
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What year did you move to Pittsburgh? 1996 Why did you leave your country? For school. I attended Geneva College. Of all places in the U.S., why Pittsburgh? At the encouragement of teachers, I came to Geneva College, an affiliate with Christ College in Taiwan where I was in school. What is the role of women in your country? Similar to the role of women in the U.S. only that the women in Taiwan are more timid, shy, and not as outspoken as the American women. The International Women’s Day theme is “Each for Equal.” What does that mean to you? I wasn’t raised feeling unequal to men. I have never really experienced a situation where women are treated unequal. I have heard about the unequal pay for men and women. I can’t prove it, but I have heard that it is happening.
PHOTO: MAY LEBO/NAIBO VISUALS
Charlize Patience Etap, photographed in an East African outfit called a Kitenge.
Charlize Patience Etap from Kampala, Uganda
Why did you leave your country? We could have better healthcare and schooling. Of all places in the U.S., why Pittsburgh? Because my father came here for his college and because there was Children’s Hospital and we could go there for our sickle cell disease. What is the role of women in your country? Women in Uganda are to make the food, raise the kids, and support your husband. The International Women’s Day theme is “Each for Equal.” What does that mean to you? What International Women’s Day means to me is to treat women with respect and equally, with no discrimination between different skin colors and to show love to every women in your life. CONTINUES ON PG. 10
PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER MARCH 11-18, 2020
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PHOTO: MAY LEBO/NAIBO VISUALS
A VISUAL EXPEDITION, CONTINUED FROM PG. 9
Breanna Morgan Jones, photographed with the Australian flag
Breanna Morgan Jones, aka Bree from Cronulla, New South Wales, Australia
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What year did you move to Pittsburgh? 2016 Why did you leave your country? To study dance at Point Park University Of all places in the U.S., why Pittsburgh? [Point Park is] one of the top dance schools in the United States. What is the role of women in your country? Women in Australia are and strong and independent! The International Women’s Day theme is “Each for Equal.” What does that mean to you? That everyone, regardless of your gender, is equal. Equal rights, equal pay, equal everything! •
THIS WEEK ONLINE AT PGHCITYPAPER.COM
HAPPY WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH, PITTSBURGH Pittsburgh City Paper is celebrating Women’s History Month every day this week online, highlighting local women excelling in arts, food, music, and more.
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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER MARCH 11-18, 2020
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CP PHOTOS: RYAN DETO
Benjamin Gutschow speaking at the rally in Downtown Pittsburgh
.NEWS.
GREENWASHED GIVING BY RYAN DETO // RYANDETO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
L
AST WEEK, a coalition of activists rallied Downtown to condemn the Pittsburgh-based Colcom Foundation for its massive donations to anti-immigrant groups — around $150 million since 2005. In 2017, the foundation gave more than $34 million to anti-immigrant groups, which was more than 80% of their total giving that year. But Colcom has also given significant funds to dozens of Pittsburgh-area environmental and civic groups over the years. While the vast majority of its donations are to anti-immigrant
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groups, many local nonprofits have come to partially rely on Colcom’s donations. Immigrant-rights advocate Guillermo Perez has urged those local nonprofits to reject donations from Colcom because he believes associating with them only helps the foundation with its “greenwashing” by using environmental advocacy to distract from Colcom’s true mission of immigration restriction. Perez says Colcom is masking its true purpose of spreading white nationalism. “This is not an environmental organization that dabbles in white supremacy,
this is a white supremacist group that dabbles in environmentalism,” says Perez, who heads the Pittsburgh chapter of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. “These institutions must stop their association with Colcom, or it will define who they are.” Pittsburgh City Paper reached out to dozens of environmental and civic nonprofits that received funding in 2019 from Colcom and asked them about their association with the foundation. Both Washington, D.C.-based American Rivers, Inc. and Pittsburgh-based Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) told
CP that following revelations about Colcom’s anti-immigrant giving, they will no longer accept or seek funding from Colcom. Two other organizations wouldn’t say if they are cutting off funding, but did express wariness, and even condemnation, of Colcom’s antiimmigrant boosting. But there are still dozens of local organizations that haven’t weighed in on Colcom’s role in funding large and influential anti-immigrant networks. Until more do, critics of Colcom believe the wealthy foundation will continue to stay under the radar.
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Guillermo Perez speaks at a rally condemning Colcom Foundation’s donations to anti-immigrant groups
COLCOM WAS STARTED by Mellon bank
heiress Cordelia Scaife May in 1996. Before starting her foundation, May had forged several close relationships with anti-immigrant white nationalists, the most prominent being John Tanton. In 1978, May helped Tanton create the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) with $50,000 in seed money. Through her personal giving and foundations, May has donated more than $180 million to anti-immigrant groups, according to the New York Times. Anti-immigrant groups that have received large sums from Colcom include FAIR and the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS). Both have been deemed hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). As revealed in emails by a former staffer at far-right website Breitbart, FAIR and CIS have had a large influence on White House aide Stephen Miller, who is generally considered President Donald Trump’s most prominent adviser on immigration issues. Virginia-based immigration lawyer Hassan Ahmad has done extensive research on May, Tanton, and Colcom, and is currently trying to unseal Tanton’s extensive files. Tanton died last year. “It is safe to say that without [May’s] money, the anti-immigration movement and the Tanton network would not exist,” says Ahmad. “These organizations are deeply embedding their networks into the Trump admin and existing policy.” Ahmad says that part of Tanton’s and May’s strategy to grow the modern antiimmigrant movement was to look for allies from other movements, including
the environmentalist community. Tanton was originally a board member of the Sierra Club, a large national environmental group, and he was motivated to start FAIR to reduce immigration’s role in U.S. population growth, according to SPLC. Over the years, this push influenced May. She shifted her early advocacy, which was focused on environmentalism and birth control access, to railing against “overpopulation.” But behind both May’s and Tanton’s rhetoric, there was evidence of overt white nationalism and extreme anti-immigrant sentiments. “I’ve come to the point of view that for European-American society and culture to persist requires a European-American majority, and a clear one at that,” said Tanton in 1993. May advocated for the U.S.-Mexico border to be sealed and once wrote the U.S. was “being invaded on all fronts” by immigrants and that foreigners “breed like hamsters.” Eventually, both May and Tanton had roles in creating different organizations that claimed different reasons for U.S. immigration restrictions. Some focused on cultural issues like the fear that English language would fade from American culture, some claimed undocumented immigrants were bad for local economies, and others linked environmental degradation to immigration. All these claims have been disproven by studies, but these organizations persisted, thanks to consistent funding from May and Colcom. Ahmad says this strategy of tying immigration restriction to other civic, cultural, and environmental movements has also helped Colcom and its
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GREENWASHED GIVING, CONTINUED FROM PG. 13
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CP PHOTO: RYAN DETO
More than 30 advocates rally in Downtown Pittsburgh, just outside the Colcom Foundation offices
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anti-immigrant benefactors deflect harsh criticism. “John Tanton and the organizations he [helped form] started an entire movement that camouflages their white nationalism,” says Ahmad, “and allows them to express anti-immigration rhetoric without sounding overtly racist.” COLCOM VICE PRESIDENT John Rohe has repeatedly denied Colcom’s ties to white nationalism. “Colcom categorically rejects intolerance, racism, and anti-immigrant sentiment,” Rohe wrote to CP. “It refuses to fund groups promulgating such activities. The Foundation supports public education on a long term sustainable level of immigration. This conversation should never be marred by racial bias. The starting point is to respect all people.” In Pittsburgh, Colcom has been able to operate for decades without much criticism. Their name is etched into the walkway of the Frick Environmental Center. Colcom’s “overpopulation” exhibit has graced the halls of the Carnegie Natural History Museum and the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Both Phipps and Carnegie Museums accepted donations from Colcom in 2019. “While Colcom scapegoats immigrants and climate refugees, they’re green-
washing their hate by using your organization’s important work fighting the climate crisis,” says Krystle Knight of the Thomas Merton Center, a local advocacy group. In addition to GASP, which ended its relationship with Colcom, national environmental organization American Rivers ended its relationship with Colcom last year. “American Rivers decided in September 2019 to conclude our relationship with the Colcom and Laurel foundations,” says American Rivers spokesperson Amy Souers Kober, also noting May’s smaller Laurel Foundation. “We continue our river conservation work in Pennsylvania and are committed to advancing the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the region and nationwide.” In July 2019, Rohe told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that essentially all local Pittsburgh groups told him they were supportive of Colcom’s “overpopulation” advocacy. Another local group that asked to remain anonymous accepts money from Colcom but disagreed with the foundation’s immigrant-restriction goals. “Being against overpopulation is also being against community development and growth,” says an anonymous representative from a local organization.
“The economic sustainability and the love of natural places seems pretty at odds with this over population and anti-immigration phobia.” Perez noted during last week’s rally that “overpopulation” fears and antiimmigrant rhetoric have been cited as motivations to carry out mass shootings in Pittsburgh and El Paso, Texas. Additionally, the U.S. is a sparsely populated nation with about 327 million residents. If it were as densely populated as Europe, it would have over 1 billion residents. Perez and a coalition that includes Veterans for Peace, the Thomas Merton Center, and Jewish social justice group Bend the Arc have started a campaign to pressure Colcom to drop its antiimmigrant funding, and to call on local groups to reject Colcom’s money. Ahmad says an effective way to get Colcom to stop funding anti-immigrant groups could be to remind everyone that they are consistently giving money to these groups. “Sunlight is the best disinfectant,” says Ahmad. “As an immigration lawyer, I have spent the majority of my time putting out fires. If we don’t spend time asking where the fires are coming from, if we don’t spend time putting those out, we are just going to be having the same conversations in perpetuity.”
Follow senior writer Ryan Deto on Twitter @RyanDeto
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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER MARCH 11-18, 2020
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.RESTAURANT REVIEW.
ZORROS BY MAGGIE WEAVER MWEAVER@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
T
FIRST DOMINICAN food Samantha Fox made for her husband Jesse was the braised chicken dish pollos guisado. It was a fitting introduction to her cultural heritage and cuisine: a simple entrée heavy on flavor and spices but built from a small but reliable roster of ingredients. These days, pollo guisado is one of the most popular orders at Zorros, the Dominican restaurant opened in Mt. Lebanon by Samantha and Jesse Fox in 2019. Served with rice, beans, and their secret red sauce, it’s a signature dish that represents how the couple approaches their menu: as a representation of their relationship, mixing Jesse’s cooking style with Samantha’s Dominican heritage. About half of the list is made up of traditional Dominican plates that go back generations (Samantha Fox’s family hails from the Dominican Republic). The rest of the list was dreamt up by Jesse Fox. He’s translated Dominican and Cuban flavors into the chimi burger (a basic burger topped with peppers, onions, slaw, and a house sauce), an avocado salad, shrimp skewers, and his own version of a Cuban sandwich. Though Jesse makes some tweaks to Samantha’s family recipes, the dishes at Zorros stay true to their original flavor. For instance, all of Zorros’ empanadas are fried, because that’s how Samantha Fox grew up eating them. Jesse Fox has recreated her family’s dough “recipe” — the frozen Goya Foods brand dough — into something he makes in house, from scratch. And it works: The dough was light, crispy, and notably thin. It didn’t overpower the fillings — one beef and cheese, the other yucca and cheese HE
CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM
Grilled salmon with mango salsa
ZORROS 1573 McFarland Road, Mt. Lebanon. zorrosrestaurant.com
FAVORITE FEATURES:
Rum Cake Hate rum? This is not the cake for you. There are three cups of rum to one cake.
— instead, acted as a booster for the flavors inside. When it came to the empanadas’ sauces, I was reminded of a friend who once told me that food is “just a vehicle for sauce.” Though I rarely agree with this sentiment, Zorros’ empanada sauces made a convincing argument for that stance. This thought carried over to my
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Zorro In Spanish, zorro means fox.
tostones, which were matched with a spice-heavy garlic sauce. The oil-based dip had a striking zing from garlic, which balanced nicely with the salty sweetness of fried plantains. Sancocho, a Dominican soup, featured plantains, yucca, and squash in a chicken broth, topped with a slice of avocado; a dusting of parsley and touch of citrus
Follow staff writer Maggie Weaver on Twitter @magweav
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brightened the basic soup and made it something memorable. When Samantha and Jesse opened Zorros, it was replacing Jose & Tony’s, a beloved Mexican restaurant that closed its doors in 2019 after a 50-year run. And taking over for an established eatery didn’t come without its challenges: Samantha says that setting Dominican cuisine apart from Mexican has been one of their biggest obstacles. Many diners don’t know the difference between the two and still come in expecting tacos and burritos, neither of which are found on Dominican menus. But the Foxes are confident Dominican cuisine will find a happy home here. If you try it, you’ll find something to love on their menu. I certainly did.
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Salsa verde cocktail at Bar Botanico
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GLOBAL GATHERING BY MAGGIE WEAVER // MWEAVER@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
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PEND ONE NIGHT at Bar Botanico
and you can travel the world (figuratively speaking). Kelsie Sinagra, co-owner of the Lawrenceville bar, is one of the many Pittsburgh bartenders and bar owners who have turned to global spirits in recent years. The bar’s shelves feature everything from Italian amaro and Irish gins, to Haitian rums and a Nordic aquavit. International spirits have been a growing beverage trend for decades. This boom has turned formerly unknown drinks — pisco, super punch, grappa — into household names. But despite the increase in popularity of internationally made spirits, Sinagra has still managed to find a few unique bottles for her shelves.
BAR BOTANICO 4325 Butler St., Lawrenceville. barbotanico.com
One of Sinagra’s favorites is Paranubes, an “undisturbed” Mexican rum she jokingly calls one of the bar’s favorite “toys.” Paranubes dates back to the 17th century, when Spaniards brought sugar cane to Mexico, and with it, rum. The spirit is produced from wild yeast by small, rural farms and distilleries in Oaxaca, which many consider to be Mezcal country. The rum is distilled in Oaxaca’s cloud forests; this mountainous region’s wild yeast lends to a briney, blue-cheese, funky taste, what Sinagra describes as “really pungent.” The savory flavor rings
clear in the bar’s coming-soon salsa verde cocktail, a pairing of Paranubes, Ancho Reyes poblano liquor, house-made salsa, and chili oil. Bar Botanico is one of the only city bars to carry Atamán, a sweet Spanish vermouth. It’s a product of Bodegas Barbadillo, the first distillery to bottle and name Spanish sherry wine (manzanilla). Its family-owned distillery has passed through six generations; Atamán is inspired by these old-style wines that have lasted centuries. The vermouth is crafted from a sherry base and peppered with chamomile, wormwood, rosemary, and orange peel, finishing with an enjoyable bitterness. There’s also Nomad Outland Whisky, dubbing it “hyper-international.” The scotch is first distilled in Scotland, then travels to Spain to age in sherry casks. The end result is full of dark fruit and spice. Bar Botanico is far from the only bar in Pittsburgh to explore international spirits, though they do have some more out-of-the-box options (all of which can be tasted at their Lawrenceville location). In Highland Park, Casa Brasil will soon be taking on authentic Brazilian rums and cocktails. Amaro and grappa are becoming as expected as spaghetti at many Italian restaurants; pages of hot sake and soju fill menus at restaurants like Soju and Umami. Even Wigle Whiskey has tried global spirits with the aquavit-style, rye-based pickle whiskey. Expand your horizons a bit and give these a shot.
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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER MARCH 11-18, 2020
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PHOTOS: JOSH FRANZOS
Alcohol House at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History
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ALKING INTO THE Carnegie Museum of Natural History, visitors are met with towering replicas of historical sites, dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures, and posed taxidermy. But behind all the bones and dramatic dioramas is the Alcohol House. Hidden for over a century deep in the museum, the massive collection of preserved reptiles and amphibians is finally making its public debut after years of preparation to transform it into yet another fascinating exhibit. Visiting the Alcohol House back in 2016, not long after the museum obtained a $499,224 National Science Foundation grant to update it, was like stepping into the past. Initially built in 1907, its open, two-story structure features shelves stocked to the brim with lizards, snakes, and other animals suspended in jars of alcohol preservative. Some of them date back to the late-1870s; it was difficult not to feel a bit of adventurous romanticism. It was like something out of an Indiana Jones movie if Indiana Jones traversed the world in search of rare frogs. On March 13, the museum will invite visitors to take the first public tour of
the exhibit during one of its After Dark events. (It’s currently only available to After Dark VIP Season Pass holders.)
SPEAKEASY AFTER DARK 6-10 p.m. Fri., March 13. Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. $15 advance/$20 at-the-door/$13.50 museum members. carnegiemnh.org
According to Stevie Kennedy-Gold, the CMNH collection manager for amphibians and reptiles, not much has changed in terms of how the place looks. “It’s effectively all the same, it’s just that things are better off than they were before,” says Kennedy-Gold, who started working with the Alcohol House last May. A few noticeable differences include the entry hallway, which used to house metal tanks containing the museum’s collection of North American freshwater turtles, the largest in the world. Because the museum expanded the number of tanks and moved them, that hallway has been converted into what Kennedy-
Gold calls a “little exhibit space” where guides will start tours with a brief history of herpetology and how herpetologists have collected specimens over the years. This means visitors will see some tools of the trade, like antique microscopes and anti-venom kits, as well as a sneak peek of the 250,000 Alcohol House specimens from all over the world, including jarred and mounted taxidermy specimens, bones, and molds and casts. Less noticeable is the shift to safer, more sustainable jars that KennedyGold says will hopefully keep specimens “preserved and retained for as long as possible.” The old jars have found a second life in the gift shop, where employees have converted them into terrariums and other keepsakes available for visitors to purchase. “It’s a little piece of history,” says Kennedy-Gold. With tours being available to the public, Kennedy-Gold believes the Alcohol House will play a variety of roles, including how people view natural history museums. “People see the bones out on display
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100
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LANDMARKS PRESERVATION RESOURCE CENTER A program of the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Founda Foundation tion Join us at the Landmarks Preservation Resource Center for ongoing events as we continue programming on architecture, history, design, urban planning, and other topics related to how cities function and historic preservation as a tool of community development.
TUESDAY, MARCH 17 • 6-8PM • $15 non-members JOIN US FOR THIS MONTHLY SERIES ON PITTSBURGH’S ENGINEERING LEGACY!
that they don’t necessarily realize that there’s this rich history behind the scenes, that museums are more than just tourist attractions,” she says. “They are super significant to scientists and house huge research collections that we want them to use and to get them excited about the natural world, about natural history, and science itself.” This speaks to another component of the new and improved Alcohol House, that of a comprehensive, updated online database and more accurate labels on all the specimens. “One thing that is notorious in all museums — and it’s just the way it is — is that science is ever progressing, which is fantastic, but because you have so many different people focusing on all of these different organisms and species, and you only have generally one, maybe two collection managers per section, we can’t necessarily keep on top of all the changes that are occurring in science,” says Kennedy-Gold. Aside from being a curiosity, the hope is that the Alcohol House will
serve as a teaching tool. Kennedy-Gold says that she and Dr. Jennifer Sheridan, the museum’s curator of herpetology, plan on imparting some of their knowledge when they oversee some of the tours. The museum has already welcomed work-study students from local universities, including the University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University, and Chatham University, as well as from City Charter High School. Kennedy-Gold hopes that, by introducing visitors to the vast and diverse world of reptiles and amphibians, the Alcohol House will generate interest in herpetology and de-stigmatize some of the more demonized species, like snakes. But most of all, she wants visitors to experience the awe that even she, as a museum employee, still feels. “Sometimes we’ll just walk around and see a new specimen jar that we haven’t seen before,” she says. “But it’s that excitement and that wonder because each of these little specimens is just a wonderland of information and history and fun.”
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Follow senior writer Amanda Waltz on Twitter @AWaltzCP
LECTURE: PENNSYLVANIA’S BORDERS: WHY IS THE COMMONWEALTH SHAPED THE WAY IT IS? For the second lecture in the Engineering PRESENTER: GREGORY F. SCOTT, PE Pittsburgh Lecture Series, we will explore
how Pennsylvania arrived at its current borders. We will explore which native American tribes historically inhabited the region; and how over time and numerous disputes with and amongst settlers, some turning violent, the Commonwealth took the shape we know today. We will also discuss the history of land surveying and how their tools and techniques have evolved over time.
About the presenter: Gregory F. Scott, PE, is currently serving as the Chair of the ASCE Annual Convention Technical Program Committee. He served two terms as a Region 2 ASCE governor from 2006 until 2012 representing civil engineers from Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and the District of Columbia. He is the lead author of Engineering Pittsburgh’s “Pennsylvania’s Borders” and “Drinking Water” chapters. The chapter on Drinking Water will be covered in an upcoming lecture later this year.
THIS LECTURE IS FREE TO PHLF MEMBERS. NON-MEMBERS: $15 • RSVPS ARE APPRECIATED CONTACT MARY LU DENNY: MARYLU@PHLF.ORG OR 412-471-5808 EXT. 527 744 REBECCA AVENUE
WILKINSBURG, PA 15221
412-471-5808
PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER MARCH 11-18, 2020
19
THE LOCAL 913: BINDLEY HARDWARE CO. BY LIZ FELIX // LIZ@WYEP.ORG
“The songs are all kind of introspective, and they’re very much based on self-analysis, looking inward for better or worse.” Jon Bindley is talking about three songs he just released with his band Bindley Hardware Co. on the appropriately named Solitaire EP. He says he let the songs marinate for a couple of years before heading into the studio with Pittsburgh producer extraordinaire Jake Hanner. He specifically chose to release them during winter, feeling that they fit the mood. Beyond the band’s high-quality country and Americana songs, Bindley Hardware Co. is known for its monthly Honky Tonk STAY UP-TOJukebox nights, a DATE WITH THIS collaboration with WEEK’S LOCAL others from the local, and MUSIC NEWS sometimes national, WITH CP MUSIC country music WRITER JORDAN scene. In a SNOWDEN world where the lines between AND WYEP mainstream country EVENING MIX and pop music have HOST LIZ FELIX blurred perhaps to the point of Listen every indistinguishability, Wednesday Bindley still finds a at 7 p.m. on place for authentic 91.3FM WYEP storytelling. Solitaire’s opener, “Future Tripping,” sharply details a feeling that most of us have experienced in our rapidly changing and disrupted world. “If you’ve ever had that night that you just lie awake and you can’t sleep and your mind’s racing and you’re thinking about things from years ago or things that might lie in wait, it can be very intoxicating and anxiety-inducing,” he says. “This song is about embracing that feeling and recognizing that all we have is the present moment and to not future trip too hard.” •
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CP PHOTOS: JARED WICKERHAM
Merce Lemon
.MUSIC.
JUMPING BACK IN BY JORDAN SNOWDEN // JSNOWDEN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
M
LEMON HAS been immersed in Pittsburgh’s DIY music scene for as long as she can remember. As a child, she attended concerts and house shows with big, noise-canceling headphones; her father was in a band called The Working Poor and her mother was in Bad Daughters, among others. Lemon played in bands herself from a very young age, including a punk ERCE
band called Two Dragons Black and Red between the ages of 10 and 12. She had everything stacked in her favor to excel in the local DIY music scene, but in her teens, Lemon stopped dabbling in music. At age 17, she moved in with her uncle in Seattle, where she finished high school through community college. “I was depressed in high school and needed a change and didn’t want to finish school here,” explains Lemon,
MERCE LEMON TAPE RELEASE 7 p.m. Fri., March 13. Babyland, 460 Melwood Ave., Oakland. $7-10. facebook.com/mercelemonmusic
who legally changed her name in high school. “So my mom said to go live with my uncle.” Lemon stayed in Seattle for three years after graduating high school, and it was there she was able to grow into her own, away from her parents and the city she was born in. She says it was the first time she started to feel independent. “I kind of got to rediscover [music] on my own, which was really special,” says Lemon. “I taught myself guitar in my uncle’s house with all the guitars he had laying around. … There was a cool music scene in Seattle that was really inviting. It was a great way to
ease back into playing music since I hadn’t played since I was 13.” And it was in Seattle that Lemon met Dylan Hanwright of grunge-pop band Great Grandpa, who helped her record and perform her first two EPs. Now, Lemon is back in Pittsburgh, with Ride Every Day, a reissue of her first two EPs Ideal For a Light Flow With Your Body and Girls Who Jump In, plus bonus material, via Pittsburgh-based tape label Crafted Sounds, out March 14. “Having grown up [in Pittsburgh] but having found my independence somewhere else has been really strange,” says Lemon. “I’m trying to find my independence in Pittsburgh, and be an adult here where most people have known me since I was a child.” It seems the return has been the right call for Lemon. She and her band — Greg Pierce (guitar, and Lemon’s father), Alec Ebeling (drums), Jim Lingo (bass), Noa Lipsky (vox), and the occasional guest appearance of Noa’s father, Eric Lipsky (cello) — recently finished recording Lemon’s first full-length album, tentatively titled Moonth, at Mr. Smalls Studio with Nate Campisi. Unlike the indie rock, bedroom pop sounds
found on Ride Every Day, Lemon says Moonth is a mix of genres, clocking in around 40 minutes and 17 songs, with
something for everyone. “I’m growing and changing as an artist,” says Lemon, who has been working
on the LP since her return to Pittsburgh and feels a little disconnected from the music found on Ride Every Day. “It’s always weird to listen to stuff you made a long time ago.” The decision to release the compilation tape Ride Every Day, instead of pushing Moonth, slated to drop in the fall, came from Crafted Sounds owner Connor Murray. “I never released Girls Who Jump In on tape, so [Murray] was like, ‘Why don’t we make the physical release of this, to get people excited for the album that’s coming?’” Murray says Lemon is “super talented, and quite frankly ready for the next level.” He’s been shopping around to get Lemon signed to a larger indie label so that he “can help her reach new heights.” But while Lemon says Murray makes her want to push harder, she feels comfortable where she is currently. “I don’t really want to play the game of the music industry,” she says. “I would love if something happened where someone would want to put out my record, but I’m totally cool going the DIY way and doing everything myself. My roots are in DIY.”
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Follow staff writer Jordan Snowden on Twitter @snowden_jordan
PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER MARCH 11-18, 2020
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Left to right: Lena Horne, Lillian Russell, and Lois Weber (photo courtesy of Library of Congress)
.FILM.
REEL WOMEN OF PITTSBURGH BY HANNAH LYNN // HLYNN@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
I
N HONOR OF Women’s History Month, we thought it would be a good time to look back at some of the actresses and filmmakers that came out of Pittsburgh during the earliest days of the film industry.
Lois Weber It wasn’t until last year that director Lois Weber received official and permanent recognition in Pittsburgh, which is both surprisingly and unsurprisingly late, given that she was the first American woman to direct a feature-length film. Weber was a director, screenwriter, actor, producer, and pianist, who was involved in over 130 films, many of which are now lost. In a 1914 interview, Weber was quoted as saying that in film, “I find at once an outlet for my emotions and my ideals. I can preach to my heart’s content, and … if my message fails to reach someone, I can blame only myself.” She was known to take on social issues, including poverty and abortion. Hand That Rocks the Cradle, which was written and directed by Weber and her husband
Phillips Smalley, stars the couple as family planning activists, inspired by Margaret Sanger. (Weber also made Where Are My Children?, a film that suggested abortion should be reserved for working class women. It was banned by Pennsylvania’s Board of Censorship.) Weber, born in Allegheny City (the North Side) in 1879, grew up to become the first woman to run her own movie studio and production company, Lois Weber Productions. She was an important figure in the earliest days of the filmmaking industry, but she died poor. Only thanks to attentive historians has her life and work been resurrected.
Lillian Russell Lillian Russell Moore is one of the few women interred at Allegheny Cemetery with a mausoleum that centers her name, as opposed to labeling her as “wife of” or “daughter of.” Born Helen Louise Leonard, she spent the first part of her career touring with opera companies. She came to Pittsburgh when she married 0Alexander Pollock Moore, publisher of the Pittsburgh Leader.
Russell eventually starred in films, but her work extended beyond the stage and the screen, into the women’s suffrage movement and protesting income taxes in the name of voter disenfranchisement. In 1922, President Warren Harding sent Russell on a fact-finding mission in Europe. The findings led to the Immigration Act of 1924, which set a quota on the number of immigrants allowed into the U.S. from Eastern European and Asian countries. Russell died in 1922 from injuries sustained on the trip, and as a result, received a military funeral. In her heyday, Russell was a renowned celebrity; her biographer Armond Fields cites her as a predecessor to Mae West and Marilyn Monroe.
Lena Horne Though she was born in Brooklyn and spent her childhood moving around, actress and singer Lena Horne spent a formative period of her life in Pittsburgh. When she was 18, Horne moved to Pittsburgh to live with her father in the Hill District, which was then a thriving area for Black jazz musicians and artists.
Follow staff writer Hannah Lynn on Twitter @hanfranny
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Her father Ted owned the Belmont Hotel, where Black artists stayed since they were banned from white-owned hotels Downtown. While living in Pittsburgh, Horne performed for Pittsburgh’s “white aristocracy,” as the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette described it in her 2010 obituary. During her time in Pittsburgh, she learned from legends like Billy Eckstine and Billy Strayhorn. After five years, Horne left Pittsburgh and moved to Hollywood, starring in two dozen films, but became disillusioned with Hollywood, partly because of the racism and because she was blacklisted for supposed association with communist groups. She focused more on her singing, performing in nightclubs and on variety shows. She also worked with Eleanor Roosevelt on anti-lynching legislation, refused to perform for a segregated audience, and attended the March on Washington. While her time in Pittsburgh was just a piece of her expansive life and career, she left a long-lasting impression on the city. In 1990, she was the first inductee into the Pittsburgh Jazz Hall of Fame.
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.LITERATURE.
A FATHER’S LYRICS
BY REGE BEHE CPCONTRIBUTORS@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
W
RITERS CAN BE particular about where they work. Some carve out corners in their homes with no distractions. Others work best in libraries or coffee shops. Poet Kristofer Collins goes out of his way to write in bars — “the natural habitat of poems,” he says — with a beer in front of him. “It’s not about the alcohol, it’s about the environment itself,” Collins says. “I like it a little dark. I like it noisy enough where I can’t listen to everything, so it all becomes a white noise around me, but not so noisy it’s like a jackhammer. I like enough people in the bar where I can observe, but I don’t want a crowded place, because it’s then hard to write and not draw attention.” Collins’ new poetry collection, The River is Another Kind of Prayer: New and Selected Poems (Kung Fu Treachery Press), will be released March 24 at White Whale Bookstore in Bloomfield.
KRIS COLLINS BOOK LAUNCH FOR
THE RIVER IS ANOTHER KIND OF PRAYER 7 p.m. Tue., March 24. White Whale Bookstore, 4754 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield. Free; first-come, first-serve. whitewhalebookstore.com
Collins, of Stanton Heights, admits his writing has taken a backseat lately because of the birth of his son, Cassidy, now 19 months. Writing in bars is now a rarity, especially since he’s a stay-athome dad. But in the run-up to his child’s birth, Collins produced a series of poems about fatherhood and father figures. “I honestly didn’t expect that,” Collins says of two such poems, “My Father Was a Kind of Country Song, Words My Father Never Taught Me” and “An Old Man Poem.” Then two things happened, Collins explains: having a son and the election of Donald Trump. “Both kind of dovetailed: impending
PHOTO: ANNA JOHNSON
fatherhood, and the world and country my son is coming into,” he says. “Those were two major pressures on me as I was writing. Knowing he was coming, it was really important to me that he knows who I was. It’s a book that introduces me from my 20s up until now, at 46, so he has an idea of who I was.” Collins also admits that there’s a bit of nostalgia throughout the collection. Places that no longer exist, such as Graffiti, the former nightclub in North Oakland, and the Panther Hollow Inn, a mainstay for Pitt and CMU students until a few years ago, are memorialized, as is Hemingway’s Cafe, where Collins co-hosts a summer poetry series. The poem “Panther Hollow Inn (1992)” blends Collins’ affinity for working-class themes and bars. But it’s a rarity for Collins in that it tells a story of men visiting the bar: they’d commandeer the same line of crumpled stools they’d held yesterday/lunch break carrying well until the dinner hour. “I never try to look back in poems,” he says. “At least I didn’t for many years. I would write about what was in front of me or what was going on. … But I started looking back and trying to offer my son an idea of who I was and what was going on.
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Follow featured contributor Rege Behe on Twitter @RegeBehe_exPTR PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER MARCH 11-18, 2020
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.STAGE.
TIPPING POINT BY LISA CUNNINGHAM LCUNNING@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
“
T
HEY’RE
FUCKIN’
ARMCHAIR
liberals,” Beth Corning cries out angrily while discussing her newest production, The Tipping Point, an artistic collaboration between her Corningworks company and the international medical organization Doctors Without Borders. It’s an older term coined in the ’60s that references “people who were really liberal but couldn’t get out of their damn seats,” according to Corning. Today, she’s speaking of folks on social media who like to bitch about problems without actually doing anything beyond typing their disgust into a keyboard. Everything about Corning is on fire these days, from rage at the current political state of the world burning inside of her to the hair on her head — save for a long silver streak in the front that she leaves untouched, a vibrant shade of not-quite-natural red, mimicking the color of flames. Her personal Facebook page is a constant stream of lit-up frustrations; recently, directed mostly to the Trump administration, using capital letters and extra exclamation points when especially enraged. She lists current events that aren’t being addressed: 800,000 Syrians displaced in three months, according to The New York Times. “That’s bigger than Pittsburgh!” Corning cries. Kids held in cages. “That’s not your kids,” she says. Flint water. “How many years has it been since they can drink the water? Would you still stay there? Obviously, they are.” Climate change, heat waves. “We’ll get air conditioning, honey.” The Tipping Point, with 20 performances between March 18-29, is Corning’s “wake-up call.” Part-theatrical performance and part-immersive experience, the production aims to ask the questions: “What might it be like if we had to seek refuge? Do you think it can’t happen here? Will you know when it’s time to leave? What is it going to take?” The immersive part of the program is re-imagining Doctors Without Borders’ global interactive exhibition, including a tour stop in Pittsburgh three years ago, where the public could experience part of what it feels like to be on the move when
PHOTO: FRANK WALSH
Corningworks’ The Tipping Point
THE TIPPING POINT 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. 20 performances between Wed., March 18-Sun., March 19. (Each performance is limited to 20 people.) 25 Carrick, 25 Carrick Ave., Carrick. $25-30. corningworks.org
being forced to leave home. The guided tour led people through the challenges refugees face, including staged camps and medical stops. An entire set has been built for Corningworks’ version inside an arts space and former church in Carrick. (Corning doesn’t give many details about her reworked version, but does let slip that she spent $500 on baby dolls.) While she insists The Tipping Point isn’t about her, everything in Corning’s life thus far seems to have prepared her to take on this story. She’s tackled socialjustice topics like the #MeToo movement in previous pieces, but she says those were simply “based on humanity.” This one, she says, is political. “This one has an agenda,” she adds. One of the things she said helped her move past being an armchair liberal was volunteering to work with a resettled Kurdish family from Syria through The
Jewish Family and Community Services’ Refugee & Immigrant Services program. It was only supposed to last three months, but it’s now been three years and she says she feels as if she’s become an extended member of their family. Talking to them is what gave her the idea to talk to more local refugees to use in the script for The Tipping Point, but after asking for introductions through local organizations, she was told the experience would be too traumatic for refugees to go through. Corning’s volunteer family disagreed and instead helped gather their own group of refugees, who she paid in exchange for hearing stories on why they left their home countries: not being able to go outside their home; people being killed next door; not being able to afford a loaf of bread. Corning’s eyes fill up with tears as she repeats what one of the men told her through
Follow editor-in-chief Lisa Cunningham on Twitter @trashyleesuh
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the translator after the interviews were done: “Thank you for bringing us all together. Thank you for allowing us to tell our stories because nobody asked. We feel nobody cares.” The Tipping Point includes a cast of 19 including a mix of actors and four dancers; a few of the refugees who shared their stories will also appear in the theatric portion of the show. With stairs and uneven terrain, the production is not handicapped accessible, and while Corning doesn’t believe she needs to provide trigger warnings to the audience — “It’s like going to a Holocaust movie. You don’t put up warnings. It’s a fuckin’ Holocaust movie.” — she does recommend that no one younger than 16 attend. But is she worried that she’ll be preaching to the choir if only liberals come to the show? “No! I’m the choir!” Corning shouts. “I am not above anybody coming to this. I am not above this. I don’t have the answers. I desperately want the answers, but I don’t have the answers.” She does hope, however, that people see the production and want to get off the couch and do something.
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.ART . .
CONTESTED TERRAIN BY AMANDA WALTZ AWALTZ@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
P
HOTOGRAPHER AN-MY LÊ and her
family fled their home country of Vietnam in 1975 at the end of the war, and the experience stuck with her throughout her life and career. This is abundantly clear in On Contested Terrain at the Carnegie Museum of Art, the firstever comprehensive survey of her work. On view from March 14-July 26, the show will feature 110 photographs that span from the beginning of Lê’s career, when she used large-format, black-andwhite photographs to document the return to her homeland in the 1990s, to several series of often-staged images meant to portray what a press release calls “the impact of the military on people, the landscape, and cultural memory.” It will also include new works from her latest series, Silent General, on view for the first time. CMOA curator of photography Dan
PHOTO: AN-MY LÊ/MARIAN GOODMAN GALLERY // Detail of Untitled, Ho Chi Minh City, from the series Viêt Nam
AN-MY LÊ: ON CONTESTED TERRAIN On view March 14–July 26. Carnegie Museum of Art, 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. Included with museum admission. cmoa.org
Leers says the opportunity to present such a major show demonstrates the museum’s dedication to the art of photography. “It’s very exciting that we are able to present it here in Pittsburgh and hopefully draw a lot of attention to the city and to this artist, and to the museum, and, honestly, what we’re doing with photography on a whole,” says Leers, pointing out that the museum now has photography-specific galleries, including the recently opened In Sharp Focus,
which grants access to more than 70,000 images by Charles “Teenie” Harris, who used his camera to capture Black life in Pittsburgh throughout the first half of the 20th century. He adds that by playing with traditional approaches to photography, Lê’s work addresses “very complex questions about the legacies of historical conflict on the landscape and on ourselves,” and how it relates to current wars overseas or the immigration crisis at the
U.S.-Mexico border. “It does so in a very nuanced and subtle manner that really provides our audiences the space to contemplate the picture, to look closely, and to formulate their own ideas and opinions about what these photographs and what the conflicts and what these landscapes mean to them,” he says. By staging so much of her work, Leers says Lê also questions the idea of truthfulness in photography. This includes Small Wars, in which she photographed and participated in Vietnam War reenactments in South Carolina, and 29 Palms, a collection showing U.S. Marines rehearsing combat in a California desert before being deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan. He adds that the museum also reached out to local Vietnamese and veteran communities to organize programming that would provide different, insightful perspectives on the photographs. This includes a talk between Lê and Viet Thanh Nguyen, the Vietnamese American author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Sympathizer. “I think it will be very personal and intimate for our visitors to see the photographs through someone else’s eyes or in light of someone else’s experiences,” says Leers.
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SEVEN DAYS OF CONCERTS SUNSTAR FESTIVAL, WOMEN & MUSIC FRI., MARCH 13 AND SAT., MARCH 14 Pay what makes you happy and spend the weekend with women in Pittsburgh’s music scene for the annual Sunstar Festival: Women & Music. Over two days at KST’s Alloy Studios, attendees will be able to enjoy an evening of classical music curated by Anqwenique (Friday), eat brunch and listen to the thoughts on being Black women in Pittsburgh’s music scene from Markeea “Keea” Hart of the podcast Girls Running Shit, Janita Kilgore, and Mia Marshall (Saturday afternoon), and experience performances from hip hop, soul, and R&B musicians Clara Kent, INEZ, Rhyme, and Brittney Chantele (Saturday night). Multiple Times. 5530 Penn Ave., East Liberty. Pay what you can. kelly-strayhorn.org CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM
INEZ
FULL LIST ONLINE pghcitypaper.com
THURSDAY MARCH 12
TERROR. Crafthouse Stage & Grill. 7 p.m. Whitehall.
WHEN PARTICLES COLLIDE. The Mr. Roboto Project. 6:30 p.m. Bloomfield.
FRIDAY MARCH 13
KENDALL STREET COMPANY, CBDB. The Smiling Moose. 6:30 p.m. South Side.
MULTI GENRE
WORLD
DARES, AIRBRAKE, GARAGE LEAGUE. Brillobox. 8 p.m. Bloomfield.
FRUIT LOOOPS, TH0USANDS OF BEEZ. Spaghetti Warehouse. 7:30 p.m. Lawrenceville.
KARAN CASEY. The Roots Cellar. 7:30 p.m. Shadyside. THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM. Club Cafe. 5:30 p.m. South Side.
ACOUSTIC
SKA
HIP HOP/RAP
JEFF PLANKENHORN, DARYL SHAWN. Acoustic Music Works. 8 p.m. Squirrel Hill.
STOP THE PRESSES, THE BURNRIDES, THE BISCUITS. 222 Ormsby. 7:30 p.m. Mount Oliver.
DJ YAMEZ. Cobra. 10 p.m. Bloomfield.
CLASSICAL ALINA IBRAGIMOVA. City of Asylum. 7 p.m. North Side.
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE
HOWARD JONES ACOUSTIC TRIO. Jergel’s Rhythm Grille. 8 p.m. Warrendale.
ELECTRONIC JAUZ. Roxian Theatre. 8:30 p.m. McKees Rocks.
ROCK TWIN PEAKS. Mr. Smalls Theatre. 7 p.m. Millvale.
JAZZ LYNN SPEAKMAN QUINTET. Kingfly Spirits. 7 p.m. Strip District.
METAL PRIMORDIAL TIDES. The Mr. Roboto Project. 7 p.m. Bloomfield.
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COVERS THE COOL FOOLS, ZACH NUGENT. Rex Theater. 7 p.m. South Side. PENNTERA. Crafthouse Stage & Grill. 9 p.m. Whitehall. JON BINDLEY, BUCK SHOOTS. North Park Lounge. 7 p.m. Lawrenceville.
ROCK 50 TIMES AROUND THE SUN. Mr. Smalls Theatre. 7:30 p.m. Millvale. O.A.R. Roxian Theatre. 7 p.m. McKees Rocks.
BIG PHILL. Thunderbird Café & Music Hall. 10 p.m. Lawrenceville.
R&B THE SOUL SUITE. Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum Trust. 6:30 p.m. Oakland.
METAL FIT FOR A KING. Mr. Smalls Theatre. 6 p.m. Millvale.
POP CELINE DION. PPG Paints Arena. 7:30 p.m. Uptown.
JAZZ/BLUES HUNNYCOMB (SINGLE RELEASE). Spirit. 9 p.m. Lawrenceville.
KENIA. Fairmont Hotel. 8 p.m. Downtown.
THE DISTRICTS. Mr. Smalls Theatre. 7 p.m. Millvale.
ROBERT CRAY, CLINTON CLEGG. The Palace Theatre. 7:30 p.m. Greensburg.
THE SILENCERS. Jergel’s Rhythm Grille. 8 p.m. Warrendale.
SATURDAY MARCH 14
BLACKWATER. Hillman Center for Performing Arts. 7:30 p.m. Fox Chapel.
ST. PATRICK’S ST. PATRICK’S DAY BASH. Crafthouse Stage & Grill. 12 p.m. Whitehall. IIRISH 2020. Cake. 12 p.m. Strip District. CLASSIC BREW BAND. Oaks Theater. 7:30 p.m. Oakmont. PARADE DAY PARTY. Rex Theater. 5 p.m. South Side. JON BINDLEY’S 3RD ANNUAL PADDYS DAY. The Park House. 8:30 p.m. North Side. THE CHEERLY MEN & THE WOLF TONES. Mr. Smalls Theatre. 8 p.m. Millvale.
ROCK CODE ORANGE. Roxian Theatre. 6 p.m. McKees Rocks. CONSIDER THE SOURCE. Thunderbird Café & Music Hall. 8 p.m. Lawrenceville.
WORLD
R&B/HIP HOP DIAMOND MEMORIES. East Liberty Presbyterian Church. 7:30 p.m. East Liberty. SIMEN SEZ, KILLGXXD. Spirit. 9 p.m. Lawrenceville.
CLASSICAL IRISH RHAPSODY. The Palace Theatre. 7:30 p.m. Greensburg. EDGEWOOD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERT. Katz Performing Arts Center. 7:30 p.m. Oakland. EAST OF THE RIVER. Hicks Memorial Chapel. 8 p.m. East Liberty.
MULTI GENRE HODGEPODGE VIII. Babyland. 7 p.m. Oakland.
ELECTRONIC BARONHAWK POITIER. Hot Mass. 12 a.m. Downtown. GLO PHASE, JOCELYN RENT. Brillobox. 9 p.m. Bloomfield.
FOLK HER LADYSHIP, THE BIG BEND, DAN GETKIN. Hambone’s. 8 p.m. Lawrenceville. LUCY WAINWRIGHT ROCHE. Club Cafe. 6 p.m. South Side.
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE WELL WISHER, WILLOW HILL MOTEL. The Mr. Roboto Project. 7 p.m. Bloomfield.
SUNDAY MARCH 15 R&B/SOUL
DEAL’S GONE SLACK. Cattivo. 8 p.m. Lawrenceville.
LITTLE ANTHONY AND THE IMPERIALS. The Palace Theatre. 3 p.m. Greensburg.
BLUES
BLUES
RON YAROSZ AND THE VEHICLE. Moondog’s. 8:30 p.m. Blawnox.
ERIC GALES. Thunderbird Café & Music Hall. 8 p.m. Lawrenceville.
SKA
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PHOTO: SPENCER WELLS
R.A.P. FERREIRA PURPLE MOONLIGHT PLACES TOUR
Rory Ferreira
SUN., MARCH 15 Chicago-born rapper Rory Allen Philip Ferreira, aka R.A.P. Ferreira, has gone by a handful monikers over the years: Milo, Scallops Hotel, Black Orpheus. Yet, he’s remained constant with his artfully crafted lyrical flow and a sound that has never pandered to trends. In fact, he has been a considerable influence in the alternative rap scene. Since getting his start, Ferreira has started his own label (Ruby Yacht), opened a record store (Soulfolks Records & Tapes in Biddeford, Maine), and has charted on Billboard’s Hot 100 — all while staying true to his experimental roots. Following the release of Ferreira’s latest album, Purple Moonlight Pages on March 6 (the first album as R.A.P. Ferreira), he takes to the road, stopping at Spirit with alternative-rapper Kaila Chare. 8:30 p.m. 242 51st St., Lawrenceville. $10-15. spiritpgh.com KIM WILSON AND HIS BLUES ALL STARS. Club Cafe. 8 p.m. South Side.
RAP/HIP HOP MOD SUN. Mr. Smalls Theatre. 7 p.m. Millvale.
WORLD DEVILISH MERRY. Kingfly Spirits. 2 p.m. Strip District.
JAZZ KENIA. Con Alma. 7 p.m. Shadyside.
TUESDAY MARCH 17
WEDNESDAY MARCH 18
ROCK
ELECTRONIC
PLOUGHMANS LUNCH REUNION. Thunderbird Café & Music Hall. 7 p.m. Lawrenceville.
LAL, DJ MARY MACK. Glitter Box Theater. 9 p.m. Oakland.
OSO OSO. Spirit. 6 p.m. Lawrenceville.
JAZZ
BEASTO BLANCO. Crafthouse Stage & Grill. 6:30 p.m. Whitehall.
MONDAY MARCH 16
ZZ WARD. Mr. Smalls Theatre. 7 p.m. Millvale.
JAZZ
STRING MACHINE. WYEP Community Broadcast Center. 6:30 p.m. South Side.
KEN VANDERMARK & NATE WOOLEY TRIO. Spirit. 7:30 p.m. Lawrenceville.
SOUL
FOLK
METAL
NATHANIEL RATELIFF. Byham Theater. 7 p.m. Downtown.
HAKEN, THE CONTORTIONIST. Rex Theater. 6:30 p.m. South Side.
JAZZ
METAL
HOWIE ALEXANDER TRIO. Con Alma. 5 p.m. Shadyside.
ADRESTIA, IRON LUST. Gooski’s. 8 p.m. Polish Hill.
LUCARELLI JAZZ. Rivers Club. 5 p.m. Downtown.
ROCK LOST DOG STREET BAND. Stage AE. 7 p.m. North Side. AGAINST ME! Mr. Smalls Theatre. 7 p.m. Millvale.
METAL CLOSET WITCH, SWING LOW. Collision. 8 p.m. Polish Hill.
WORLD FOUR OCEANS WORLD MUSIC ENSEMBLE. Mattress Factory. 7 p.m. North Side.
These listings are curated by Pittsburgh City Paper’s music writer Jordan Snowden and include events from our free online listings. Submit yours today at www.pghcitypaper.com/submitevent
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PHOTO: TIM SACCENTI
Code Orange
.MUSIC.
CODE BREAK
FULL STORY ONLINE pghcitypaper.com
BY EDWARD BANCHS // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
F
OLLOWING UP A celebrated record
has never been easy, particularly when that record is the Grammy Award-nominated Forever from Pittsburgh hardcore trailblazers Code Orange. And yet, with Underneath (out March 13), the five-piece has sailed past those sky-high expectations and delivered something captivating, innovative, and defiant. It’s clear now that the only thing to expect from them — drummer/ vocalist Jami Morgan, guitarists Reba Meyers (also a vocalist) and Dominic Landolina, bassist Joe Goldman, and guitarist/programmer Eric “Shade” Balderose — is the unexpected. “Metal, a lot of times is so — even though I love it — it’s almost like a beautiful drawing on a flat piece of paper. And this is 3D. It’s coming at you from all sides,” says Morgan. Underneath amplifies the band’s
grunge and industrial influences alongside their aggressive core. The results are masterful as the album leaps between varied sounds, from Balderose’s insistent electronics to the stirring melodic hymns dotted throughout the album by covocalist Meyers. “When we went into it, our number one goal [was] let’s make the most creative, in one aspect challenging, but also the most accessible [album] — try to walk that tightrope. And I think we did,” says Morgan. Code Orange began the arduous task of putting new ideas together after the whirlwind that followed the release of Forever, which included several trips across North America, performances at WWE’s NXT Takeover, and their Grammy nomination. About a year after the release of Forever, Code Orange spent nearly every
CODE ORANGE WITH EVERY TIME I DIE, ZAO, JESUS PIECE, MACHINE GIRL, FACEWRECK 5 p.m. Sat., March 14. Roxian Theatre, 425 Chartiers Ave., McKees Rocks. $28-30. roxianlive.com
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day of 2018 at their Mt. Oliver rehearsal space working on new material before heading to Nashville twice last year to work with producer Nick Raskulinecz (Alice in Chains, Foo Fighters). Upon returning from Nashville, the band got to work on mixing the album, an undertaking they oversaw themselves. Code Orange’s hands-on approach during all stages of the album, and the amount of time they spent on their fourth full-length reflects the work ethic that has carried on throughout their career — one that began while the members were still teenagers. Whether designing their stage show, merchandise, and album covers or writing their video scripts, Code Orange straddles the major-label world with a workingclass mindset. Morgan points to their two most recent videos for the album’s lead singles “Underneath” and “Swallowing the Rabbit Whole” as exemplifying the band members’ involvement with all aspects of their craft. Morgan wrote the script for both videos, understanding that if they wanted to accomplish what
they envisioned with the small budget they had, it would require a substantial amount of work on their part — the band built many of the set visuals and props featured throughout the two videos. Morgan credits both the band’s intense focus and its distinct mix of punk, noise, hardcore, and electronic music to their hometown. Not often given a chance to perform here as a result of their continued success on the road, the band always enjoys playing in Pittsburgh, says Morgan. “It is the city that is most important for us to build in, as we intend to represent it around the world,” he adds. Code Orange is ready to share the fruits of their labor with their hometown at their upcoming Underneath release show at the Roxian Theater. For the Coachella-bound band, this bump to the largest venue they have ever headlined in Pittsburgh is a testament to all of their work, as well as those who have stood by this band since they were kids. Morgan hopes this is the natural step in their progression to another venue they have their eyes set on: PPG Paints Arena.
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.STAGE.
HAVE YOURSELF A GOOD CRY BY JOSH OSWALD JOSWALD@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
P
ARENTING IS A difficult enterprise
and full of uncertainty. Am I doing what is best for my children, myself, and tending to the needs of my partner? And is my partner doing what is right for our children? The questions never stop and there are no definitive answers. But there is help in companionship, and that is one of the many issues award-winning playwright Molly Smith Metzler touches on in her anythingbut-reassuring play Cry It Out. The play is set in the shared Long Island duplex backyards of Lina (Julianne Avolio) and Jessie (Sarah Goeke). It is evident early on that they have drastically different backgrounds. As the two bond over the struggles of raising newborns, they share the common details that come out during casual conversations over coffee, frequently to the subtle dismay of the other. Jessie is a married, well-to-do lawyer on maternity leave. Lina isn’t married, has a thick
PHOTO: KRISTI JAN HOOVER
CRY IT OUT
Cry It Out
Continues through Sun., March 22. City Theatre, 1300 Bingham St., South Side. $29. citytheatrecompany.org
Long Island accent (perfectly executed by Avolio), and half-heartedly tells Jessie that she thinks that her live-in boyfriend might someday propose. The intentional economic disparity between the two implies that beyond both having newborns, they have very little in common. As the two share coffee, stories, and a backyard area, they grow closer and closer. Just as they start hitting their neighborly stride, a man we soon find out is Mitchell (Tim McGeever), storms into their backyard in an alarmingly harried fashion.
He’s wearing a pair of wireless overthe-ear headphones and is completely out of breath. Lina and Jessie have no idea what to make of the man who erratically drove his car almost directly into their backyards and discuss the oddness of the situation as Mitchell paces back and forth and tries to speak to the women. Mitchell then speeds off as quickly as he arrived only to return a short time later after Lina and Jessie get some barbs in about his strange behavior. Mitchell gets his wits about him long
enough to tell the women that he lives up on the hill, pointing to one of the big, silhouette houses that rises high above the set and asks them if his wife, who had recently given birth, too, could join them during their “coffee klatch.” Lina is vocally dismissive while Jessie, perhaps too nice for her own good, tells Mitchell that it would great if Adrienne (Rebecca Hirota) would join them. When Adrienne arrives to the backyard for what feels like a playdate set up by Mitchell, no one is there. But the table that has been there for the entire show is now filled with treats from Dean & DeLuca, courtesy of Mitchell. And Adrienne is not impressed by his gesture. When the two women show up and introduce themselves to Adrienne, the audience learns just how much Adrienne does not want to be there as she barely looks at them and dismisses many of their questions. The show then hits fifth gear as all of the characters begin to share uncomfortable truths about themselves, their relationships, and parenting. There is no tidy conclusion for any of the characters in Cry it Out, and that feels like the entire point. The honest performances and tight writing suggest that life is hard. While there are good times and bad times, there are certainly no guarantees.
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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER MARCH 11-18, 2020
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.FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 12
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY BY ROB BREZSNY // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): I suspect your fantasy life will be especially potent in the coming weeks. Your imagination will have an enhanced power to generate visions that could eventually manifest as actual events and situations. On the one hand, that could be dicey, because you can’t afford to over-indulge in fearful speculations and worried agitation. On the other hand, that could be dramatically empowering, because your good new ideas and budding dreams may start generating practical possibilities rather quickly.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Giacomo Puccini’s famous opera Tosca premiered in 1900. It featured a heroine named Tosca. In 1914, Puccini’s favorite Tosca, a soprano singer named Maria Jeritza, was performing in a production at New York’s Metropolitan Opera. As she got ready to sing an aria entitled “I Live for Art,” she stumbled and fell. Rather than struggle awkwardly to rise, she pretended that this was all quite natural — called for in the script. She sang the entire piece while lying on the floor. Puccini loved it! Ever since then, most of the singers who have played the role of Tosca have sung “I Live for Art” while prone. I suggest you regard this as an inspirational teaching. What lucky accidents could you make into permanent additions or enhancements?
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus poet Gary Snyder said, “Three-fourths of philosophy and literature is the talk of people trying to convince themselves that they really like the cage they were tricked into entering.” Personally, I think that many of us, not just philosophers and writers, do the same thing. Are you one of us? Your first assignment during the next four weeks will be to explore whether you do indeed tend to convince yourself that you like the cage you were tricked into entering. Your second assignment: If you find that you are in a cage, do everything you can to stop liking it. Third assignment: Use all your ingenuity, call on all the favors you’re owed, and conjure up the necessary magic so that you can flee the cage.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
boxes” — locked into a tyrannically mechanical clockwork pattern. According to my reading of the astrological omens, dear Leo, the coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to experiment with Eno’s insight. How? Escape mechanical clockwork patterns and activate the “multiple, free-floating rhythm” metaphor in everything you do.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Are you interested in enhancing your mastery of togetherness? Are you open to my suggestion that you should seek out practical education about the arts of intimacy? Would you be willing to meditate on how you might bring additional creativity and flair into your close alliances? If you answered yes to those questions, the next six weeks will provide you with ample opportunities to dive in to all that fun work. “Collaboration” and “cooperation” will be words of power for you. “Synergy and symbiosis” should be your tender battle cry.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): As you come to the climax of your Season of Good Gaffes and Lucky Bloopers, I’ll remind you of folk singer Pete Seeger’s definition of a “productive mistake.” He said it had these five qualities: “1. made in the service of mission and vision; 2. acknowledged as a mistake; 3. learned from; 4. considered valuable; 5. shared for the benefit of all.” Let’s hope, Libra, that your recent twists and turns fit at least some of these descriptions!
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Would you consider making one more push, Scorpio? Can I coax you to continue your half-confusing, half-rewarding quest? Are you willing to wander even further out into the frontier and take yet another smart risk and try one additional experiment? I hope so. You may not yet be fully convinced of the value of these forays outside of your comfort zone, but I suspect you will ultimately be glad that you have chosen what’s interesting over what’s convenient. P.S. In the coming weeks, you could permanently expand your reservoir of courage.
“Your body is not a temple,” declared author and celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain. “It’s an amusement park. Enjoy the ride.” I half-agree with him. I’m deeply devoted to regarding the body as an amusement park. It should be a source of endless fun and enjoyment. We have the right — indeed, I’d say a duty — to wield our bodies in ways that immerse us in the mysteries and miracles of pleasure. But here’s where I disagree with Bourdain: I believe the body is also a temple that deserves our reverence and respect and protective tenderness. Your assignment in the coming weeks, Gemini, is to raise your commitment to treating your body as both an amusement park and a holy temple.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
CANCER (June 21-July 22):
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
Early in his career, Cancerian painter Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot (1796–1875) sold only a few paintings. But eventually his luck improved. Once he was financially successful, he became very generous. He wielded his influence to get jobs for other artists, and mentored many artists, as well. Sometimes he added a few dabs of paint to the finished works of younger, struggling painters, then signed the canvases with his own name so that the works could more easily be sold. The coming weeks will be a favorable time to adopt your own version of Corot’s approach toward those around you who could benefit from your help and support. (P.S. It’s in your selfish interest to do so, although the reasons why may not be clear for a while.)
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Composer Brian Eno has testified that African music underlies and influences much of his work. He exults in the freedom and unpredictability it encourages. Why? Here’s one reason: In African songs, there are often multiple rhythms. And they’re not locked together; they float freely in relationship to each other. Eno says this is different from Western music, whose salient quality is that all the rhythmic elements are contained “in little
A traditional astrologer might say that you Sagittarians typically spend less time at home than any other sign of the zodiac. Some of you folks even rebel against the idea that having a stable home is a health-giving essential. You may feel that you can’t be totally free unless you always have your next jaunt or journey planned, or unless you always have a home-awayfrom-home to escape to. I understand and appreciate these quirks about your tribe, but am also committed to coaxing you to boost your homebody quotient. Now would be a perfect time to do that. You’re more open than usual to the joy and power of cultivating a nurturing home.
The more crooked the path, the faster you’ll get to where you’re going. Every apparent detour will in fact be at least a semivaluable shortcut. Any obstacle that seems to block your way will inspire you to get smarter and more resourceful, thereby activating lucky breaks that bring unexpected grace. So don’t waste even a minute cursing outbreaks of inconvenience, my dear, because those outbreaks will ultimately save you time and make life easier. (P.S.: During the coming weeks, conventional wisdom will be even more irrelevant than it usually is.)
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): When I was a young adult, I was unskilled and indigent. Many restaurants exploited my feeble prowess at washing pots and pans and dishes, but the meager wage they paid me barely kept me fed and housed. You will perhaps understand why, now that I’m grown up, I am averse to cleaning pots and pans and dishes, including my own. That’s why I pay a helper to do that job. Is there an equivalent theme in your own life? An onerous task or grueling responsibility that oppressed you or still oppresses you? Now is a good time to find a way to declare your independence from it.
Go to realastrology.com to check out Rob Brezsny’s expanded weekly audio horoscopes and daily text-message horoscopes. The audio horoscopes are also available by phone at 1-877-873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700
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EARLY WARNINGS SPONSORED UPCOMING EVENTS FROM CITY PAPER’S FINE ADVERTISERS
WED., MARCH 25 WALTER TROUT
WED., MARCH 25 PRO-PAIN 5:30 P.M. CRAFTHOUSE STAGE & GRILLE, SOUTH HILLS. Under 21 w/ Guardian. $17-$29.50. 412-653-2695 or ticketfly.com.
WED., MARCH 25 THE BLASTERS
PHOTO: BLURRYLENS
6 P.M. JERGEL’S RHYTHM GRILLE, WEXFORD. Under 21 w/ Guardian. $20-$33. 724-799-8333 or ticketfly.com.
WED., MARCH 25 THE BLASTERS
7 P.M. HARD ROCK CAFÉ, STATION SQUARE. Under 21 w/ Guardian. $18. 412-481-ROCK or ticketfly.com.
WED., MARCH 25 GUSTER: AN EVENING OF ACOUSTIC MUSIC & IMPROV 7 P.M. CARNEGIE OF HOMESTEAD MUSIC HALL, MUNHALL. All Ages. $25-$50. 412-462-3444 or ticketfly.com.
WED., MARCH 25 AMERICAN SON 8 P.M. O’REILLY THEATER, DOWNTOWN. All Ages. $31-$81. 412-316-1600 or ppt.org.
WED., MARCH 25 THE LOVE JONES EXPERIENCE 8 P.M. CLUB CAFÉ, SOUTH SIDE. 21+ Event. $20. 412-431-4950 or ticketweb.com/opusone.
THU., MARCH 26 THE HOLDUP GRIEVES 5 P.M. CRAFTHOUSE STAGE & GRILLE, SOUTH HILLS. All Ages. $20-$75. 412-653-2695 or ticketfly.com.
THU., MARCH 26 BILLY PRICE BAND / BILL TOMS & HARD RAIN 5 P.M. JERGEL’S RHYTHM GRILLE, WEXFORD. Under 21 w/ Guardian. $18-$30. 724-799-8333 or ticketfly.com.
THU., MARCH 26 REBA MCENTIRE 8 P.M. PPG PAINTS ARENA, UPTOWN. All Ages. $57-$152. 412-642-1800 or ticketmaster.com.
HARD ROCK CAFÉ, STATION SQUARE.
FRI., MARCH 27 JAKE THE HAWK + SIKES AND THE NEW VIOLENCE 8:30 P.M. MR. SMALLS THEATRE, MILLVALE. All Ages. $10. 412-421-4447 or mrsmalls.com.
FRI., MARCH 27 JAMESON RODGERS 6 P.M. JERGEL’S RHYTHM GRILLE, WEXFORD. Under 21 w/ Guardian. $15-$25. 724-799-8333 or ticketfly.com.
SAT., MARCH 28 ANTZ MARCHING: A TRIBUTE TO DAVE MATTHEWS BAND 8:30 P.M. HARD ROCK CAFÉ, STATION SQUARE. Under 21 w/ Guardian. $10. 412-481-ROCK or ticketfly.com.
SAT., MARCH 28 TROLLS LIVE! 10 A.M. PPG PAINTS ARENA, UPTOWN. All Ages. $33-$185. 412-642-1800 or ticketmaster.com.
SAT., MARCH 28 PITTSBURGH WOMEN’S MUSIC FESTIVAL
412-331-1050 or roxianlive.com.
SAT., MARCH 28 DREW LYNCH: SPEECH THERAPY TOUR 7 P.M. PITTSBURGH IMPROV, HOMESTEAD. 21+ Event. $22. 412-462-5233 or improv.com/pittsburgh.
SUN., MARCH 29 SAVES THE DAY WITH ANXIOUS AND BRIGHTSIDE 8 P.M. MR. SMALLS THEATRE, MILLVALE. All Ages. $20. 412-421-4447 or mrsmalls.com.
MON., MARCH 30 KAT EDMONSON: DREAMERS DO TOUR 2020 8 P.M. CLUB CAFÉ, SOUTH SIDE. 21+ Event. $22. 412-431-4950 or ticketweb.com/opusone.
TUE., MARCH 31 JACK HARLOW 7 P.M. STAGE AE, NORTH SIDE. All Ages. $51. 412-229-5483 or ticketmaster.com.
TUE., MARCH 31 ROTTING OUT
1 P.M. MR. SMALLS THEATRE, MILLVALE. All Ages. $15. 412-421-4447 or mrsmalls.com.
6 P.M. SMILING MOOSE, SOUTH SIDE. All Ages. $15. 412-431-4668 or ticketfly.com.
SAT., MARCH 28 ANTI-FLAG
TUE., MARCH 31 TUESDAY NIGHT TRAIL RUNS
6 P.M. ROXIAN THEATRE, MCKEES ROCKS. All Ages. $42-$74.
6 p.m. FRICK PARK, Oakland. All Ages. Free. 412-871-5038 or 3riversoutdoor.com.
FOR UPCOMING ALLEGHENY COUNTY PARKS EVENTS, LOG ONTO WWW.ALLEGHENYPARKS.COM PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER MARCH 11-18, 2020
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SEVEN DAYS OF ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
PHOTO: SAMIR GANGWANI
^ Sat., March 14: Icky Vicky’s Brokenheart Sideshow at Hodgepodge VIII
THURSDAY MARCH 12
MUSIC The ongoing collaboration between Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and City of Asylum invites its musicians to perform in a space a tad more intimate than the theaters and concert halls they’re used to. The series returns with the theme of “Fierce and Female” voices in the arts, featuring conductor Christine Hestwood of the PSO, renowned visiting violinist Alina Ibragimova (she’s tackling
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Shostakovich over the weekend at Heinz Hall), and poets Kizza and Clare Welsh. 7 p.m. 40 W. North Ave., North Side. pittsburghsymphony.org
LECTURE Cancer affects more than just patients, but also their families, friends, and doctors. Dr. Azra Raza, author of The First Cell: And the Human Costs of Pursuing Cancer to the Last, explores her scientific, personal, and cultural discoveries about the human cost of cancer. She will be at the Ace Hotel for The C Word: Writing about Cancer Using Scholarship & Empathy part of Creative Nonfiction’s Science as
Story series. 7 p.m. 120 S. Whitfield St., East Liberty. creativenonfiction.org
LIT What do a jellyfish, a lunch lady, and a platypus have in common? Well for one, they’ve all been the subjects of books by children’s and young adult author Jarrett J. Krosoczka. From the Platypus Police Squad series to Hey, Kiddo, a memoir about growing up in a family with addiction, Krosoczka’s stories tackle issues, both big and small, for the whole family. He’ll appear at Carnegie Library Lecture Hall for a reading and book signing. 7 p.m. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. $10 or free for CLP cardholders. pittsburghlectures.org
STAGE The touring production of The Band’s Visit comes to the Benedum Center, giving Pittsburgh audiences a chance to experience the offbeat hit musical in person. Based on a 2007 film, the show follows a band comprised of Egyptian police force members that gets lost on the way to a gig in Israel. After premiering in 2016, the show has won 10 Tony Awards, as well as a Grammy and Emmy. Be sure to read CP’s review for more insight on this production presented by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh Series. 7:30 p.m. Continues through Sun., March 15. Seventh St. and Penn Ave., Downtown. $33-109. trustarts.org
Like you’ve never seen it before....
PHOTO: DEREK FOWLES
^ Thu., March 12: Jarrett J. Krosoczka
REIMAGINED. SIZZLING. MODERN. SULTRY. UNFORGETTABLE.
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
MARCH 13
MARCH 14
FILM
MARKET
Obnoxious youths partying in the woods for New Year’s come face-toface with a killer whose spirit animal is ... TERROR! That’s the premise of Spirit Animal, a delightfully trashy horror comedy directed by Madeline Deering. The film is shot on VHS and the sets and costumes are minimal, but that’s only because the filmmakers apparently blew the whole budget on fake blood. There is a lot of fake blood. Enjoy the future classic at Parkway Theater, presented in Smell-O-Vision. 7 p.m. 644 Broadway Ave., McKees Rocks. $5. “Spirit Animal Movie” on Facebook
LIT See original works by LGBTQA+ youth during a special event at the Peirce Studio Theater in the Trust Arts Education Center. Presented by Dreams of Hope, An Evening of Queer Youth Voices includes staged readings of multiple short plays and performance pieces written by young LGBTQA+ people, all read by members of the theatriQ Youth Ensemble. 7:30 p.m. 807 Liberty Ave., Downtown. Pay what you can. dreamsofhope.org
Electronic music fans may love to flex their skills consummate crate diggers, but once in a while, it’s nice to have some of the work done for you ahead of time. The Pittsburgh Electronic Music Record Fair invites fans of electronic music (and all the genres within it) to spend a day shopping for records, CDs, tapes, gear, and memorabilia at Ace Hotel. Spinning throughout the event will be Spednar, Tony Fairchild, Kelly Carter, and more. 1 p.m. 120 S. Whitfield St., East Liberty. “Pittsburgh Electronic Music Record Fair” on Facebook
KIDS “This is an effort to pass on the ways to show kindness through art.” This is how Selva Priya, artist, instructor, and owner of the Priya Arts studio, describes the Youth Gallery Show opening at The Children’s Museum. Centered around the theme of kindness, it includes works showcasing the talents of over two dozen Priya Arts students ranging in age from CONTINUES ON PG. 34
PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER MARCH 11-18, 2020
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CALENDAR, CONTINUED FROM PG. 33
TOP 5 WAYS TO CELEBRATE ST. PATRICK’S DAY IN PITTSBURGH You won’t have a hard time finding green beer this weekend in Pittsburgh, especially if you’re Downtown or in the South Side. But here are some other alternatives to celebrating your Irish heritage in the city.
GREEN EGGS AND BIG HAM BUFFET Start your St. Patrick’s Day off with a buffet featuring green eggs and ham for $15.95. (They’re also serving $4 green shots if you insist on drinking at 7 a.m.) 7 a.m.-Noon. Sat., March 14. Bigham Tavern, 321 Bigham St., Mt. Washington. Bighamtavern.com
ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE One of the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the country. (You might not be a true Pittsburgher until you’ve witnessed drunk people cheering on marching bands at 10 a.m.) 10 a.m. Sat., March 14. Begins at intersection of Liberty Avenue and 11th Street, Downtown Pittsburgh. pittsburghstpatricksdayparade.com
FAIRE IN THE SQUARE If you’ve got kids, head here after the parade while others are hitting the bars. Free family-friendly entertainment including live music, face painting, and vendors. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat., March 14. Market Square, Downtown Pittsburgh
ST. PADDY’S FOOD TRUCK ROUNDUP What better way to stuff your face in between the parade and your next bar stop than Millvale’s first food truck roundup of the year? 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat., March 14. Grist House, 10 Sherman St., Millvale. gristhouse.com
RADICAL IRELAND: ALTERNATIVE ST. PATRICK’S DAY The Pittsburgh Democratic Socialists are hosting a panel of Irish historians talking about the radical militant feminists, prison protests, and socialist priests of Ireland. 7:30-9 p.m. Fri., March 20. Caffe d’Amore Coffee Company, 5400 Butler St., Lawrenceville. $5 suggested donation. Search “Radical Ireland” on Facebook.
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PHOTO: MATTHEW MURPHY
^ Thu., March 12: The Band’s Visit
5-13. Show your support for the young artists during a special opening reception. 1-3 p.m. Continues through Tue., April 28. 10 Children’s Way, Allegheny Square, North Side. Free with admission. pittsburghkids.org
ART Interdisciplinary variety show Hodgepodge VIII, hosted at Babyland, lives up to its name with a mixed collection of art including “performancefocused experimental music” from 7D, circus tricks for adults from Icky Vicky’s Brokenheart Sideshow, choreography from Ari that “develops from mining infernal somatic realms, and more. 7-10 p.m. 460 Melwood Ave., Oakland. $10 suggested donation. “Hodgepodge VIII” on Facebook
FILM What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Washington, D.C.? If your answer is anything but Ian MacKaye, then this film has a thing or two to teach you. Punk the Capital; Building a Sound Movement explores the late ‘70s/early ‘80s punk movement of sounds and ideas that inspired an incalculable number musicians.
Relive the scene with recently unearthed Super-8 films of hardcore pioneers Minor Threat and Bad Brains. (I also would have accepted “Guy Picciotto” or “Abe Lincoln.”). For more info, read CP’s interview with Minor Threat/ Dischord Records’ Jeff Nelson from 2019. 7:30 p.m. Also 4:30 p.m. Sun., March 15. Harris Theater, 809 Liberty Ave., Downtown. $7-10. trustarts.org
SUNDAY
MARCH 15 FOOD The annual Empty Bowls event returns to Rodef Shalom Congregation to help address hunger in the region. Now in its 25th year, the tradition invites guests to enjoy homemade soups and bread by local restaurants, bid on local works during an art auction, and take home pieces of original, handmade pottery. The event benefits the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and Just Harvest. 1-3:30 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. 4905 Fifth Ave., Oakland. $20 advance/$25 at the door. $10 for kids 3-12. rodefshalom.org
MONDAY
MARCH 16 LIT In Irish author Anne Enright’s latest novel, Actress, theater icon Katherine and her daughter Norah spend their lives performing, on and off the stage. As she grows older, Norah examines the toll the industry took on her and her mother, and searches for answers to lingering questions about her identity. Tickets for Enright’s appearance at Carnegie Library lecture Hall include a copy of the book. 7 p.m. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. $33. pittsburghlectures.org
TUESDAY MARCH 17 FOOD You love drinking and talking about beer. Consequently, the more beer you drink the more you talk. Turns out you are the perfect attendee for Craft Beer School at Greer Cabaret Theater, where you can
PHOTO: NEKROSHARK FILMS
^ Fri., March 13: Spirit Animal
enjoy and discuss quality craft beers with a variety of special guests, each with expert knowledge of the evening’s theme. There are also door prizes! 5:45 p.m. 655 Penn Ave., Downtown. $31.25. trustarts.org
WEDNESDAY MARCH 18
FILM Bring the kids to a mini-marathon of PBS programming at WQED’s historic Fred Rogers Studio. To celebrate Women’s History Month, WQED Family Movie Night will highlight young female characters, with shows including Pinkalicious, Word Girl, and Super Why! There will also be free snacks and beverages, and an appearance by Princess Presto of Super Why! to make the night extra fun. 5:30 p.m. 4802 Fifth Ave., Oakland. wqed.org
LIT Acclaimed poet and translator Erin Mouré visits City of Asylum for its Art of Translation Series. The discussion, moderated by Michelle Gil-Montero, editor at Eulalia Books, will focus on two of Mouré’s most recent translations: Sleepless Nights Under Capitalism: The Poems of John Wendell by Argentinian poet Juan Gelman, and The Uplands: Book of the Courel and other poems by Uxío Novoneyra of Galicia. 7 p.m. 40 W. North Ave., North Side. RSVP required. cityofasylum.org
LIT Local authors PJ Piccirillo and Damian Dressick will appear at White Whale Bookstore for a reading and conversation with local journalist and writer, Jody DiPerna. The event will celebrate the release of Piccirillo’s new historical novel, The Indigo Scarf, which is based on the true story of two slaves who “fled their owners with white women into the wilderness of north-central Pennsylvania.” Books by Dassick, who has published fiction pieces in more than 50 journals and anthologies, as well as the novel 40 Patchtown, will also be for sale. 7-9 p.m. 4754 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield. whitewhalebookstore.com
COMEDY Three years ago, Bryan Quinby, co-host of the podcast Street Fight Radio, explained his show to CP like this: “People want to hear people being mad at the government, because everybody’s mad at it. … And MSNBC, these liberals do it in such a dorky way.” Needless to say, not much has changed in the three years since: the self-identified “dirtbag left” still provokes thinkpieces about vulgarity and socialism (the New York Times had one on the podcast Chapo Trap House just last week) and the left/liberal/democratic/ socialist divide is as bitter as ever. So it’s a good time to catch up with Quinby and co-host Brett Payne in person at Club Cafe for the Street Fight Anarcho-Comedy Show. 8 p.m. 56 S. 12th St., South Side. $35. clubcafelive.com • PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER MARCH 11-18, 2020
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IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-20-2912, In re petition of Marc Anthony Johnson parent and legal guardian of Alaya Lashae James and Marc Anthony Johnson for change of name to ajesah, al aya l ashae, bey and T’ru si al ma chu nqua, bey II. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 3rd day of April, 2020, at 9:45 a.m., as the time and the Motions Room, City-County Building, Pittsburgh, PA, as the place for a hearing, when and where all persons may show cause, if any they have, why said name should not be changed as prayed for
IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-20-579. In re petition of Tyler J. Baker for change of name to Tyler J. O’Rourke. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 27th day of March, 2020, at 9:45 a.m., as the time and the Motions Room, City-County Building, Pittsburgh, PA, as the place for a hearing, when and where all persons may show cause, if any they have, why said name should not be changed as prayed for
IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-20-2167, In re petition of Adeva Shank parent and legal guardian of Shymellian Jaquez Tyjier Downing for change of name to Shymellian Jaquez Tyjier Greene. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 16th day of March, 2020, at 9:45 a.m., as the time and the Motions Room, City-County Building, Pittsburgh, PA, as the place for a hearing, when and where all persons may show cause, if any they have, why said name should not be changed as prayed for
IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-20-2839, In re petition of Mycah Clemons parent and legal guardian of Masia Malevon Clemons-Beard for change of name to Masia Malevon Clemons. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 3rd day of April, 2020, at 9:45 a.m., as the time and the Motions Room, City-County Building, Pittsburgh, PA, as the place for a hearing, when and where all persons may show cause, if any they have, why said name should not be changed as prayed for
IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-20-2046. In re petition of Janet Vanessa Holley for change of name to Vanessa Epiphani Holley. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 6th day of April, 2020, at 9:45 a.m., as the time and the Motions Room, City-County Building, Pittsburgh, PA, as the place for a hearing, when and where all persons may show cause, if any they have, why said name should not be changed as prayed for
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WHAT’S THE DIRT?
BY BRENDAN EMMETT QUIGLEY // WWW.BRENDANEMMETTQUIGLEY.COM
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ACROSS 1. Gasp over a Hamburger 4. Put on a scale? 8. Video game princess 13. As well as 14. Instagram’s camera, e.g. 15. Enjoy, as a meal 16. Feed bag tidbit 17. Finances used to remove dirt? 19. Herculean efforts needed to remove dirt? 21. Carrot top? 22. Tom yum cuisine 23. Sopping 24. Monopoly corner piece 25. Most WASP-y 28. Some pieces of musical notation 29. Portal with a period in its logo 30. Gas station trash 34. Place to examine dirt? 40. Standard, say 41. First name introduction? 42. Thought incorrectly? 45. Star of “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago P.D.,” and “Chicago Justice” 48. One jumping a moving train, say 49. Org. involved in snow removal?
52. Rangers goalie Shesterkin 53. Genre whose fans wear skinny jeans and studded belts 54. What one with mastery over dirt has? 58. Dirty road? 60. Family-friendly show designation 61. Site where the first Woodstock was held 62. “___ we forget” 63. Place where you might catch a few bugs 64. Give out 65. Motion filer: Abbr. 66. Tidbit
DOWN 1. Quark component 2. One sharing a jacket 3. Spicy dog covering 4. Sambora of Bon Jovi 5. Compound’s unit 6. Album promotional event 7. Give, as money 8. Some red wines, for short 9. Wrap things up 10. Fancy lenses 11. “Finito!” 12. 2002 World Series winners 15. HVAC tube 18. Shakespearean “yuck!” 20. Graham of “The Vampire Diaries”
24. Don’t be serious 25. Shake one’s tail 26. Completely convinced 27. Reunion mujers 28. Genetics topic 31. Corp. takeover 32. “If,” “and,” or “but”: Abbr. 33. Golden Fleece transporter 35. “The kissing disease” 36. Bugling beast 37. Just a few 38. Recess game that has many breakthroughs 39. Approving motion 42. Christopher
Wray’s org. 43. Bros from way back when 44. Letter-shaped fasteners 46. Highway speed that’s begging for a ticket 47. Cop’s rank: Abbr. 49. Going both ways 50. Oscar night prop: Abbr. 51. “The Jungle Book” wolf 54. Butter for naan 55. Tech review site 56. Kick out 57. Rainbow flag letters 59. Day of Christ’s ascension: Abbr.
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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER MARCH 11-18, 2020
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PEEPSHOW A sex and social justice column BY JESSIE SAGE // PEEPSHOWCAST@GMAIL.COM
L
AST WEEK, Pittsburgh-based artist
and poet Christina Springer was a guest speaker in the class I’m teaching on sex work and sex workers. She read from her collection of poems, The Splooge Factory, which draws on her time as the receptionist at an erotic massage parlor/dungeon in the early 2000s. In discussing these experiences, she spoke candidly about her reluctance to work more directly with clients, saying, “I remember the other women urging me to consider dominatrix work. They thought I would be a natural: I was theatrical, I loved language. But I felt I was too fat and that no one would ever want me.” Though she was assured that there would be many clients who would prefer her build, she said, “I had internalized one of many oppressive attitudes,” adding, “Some days, I wish I had [become a dominatrix].” Her word struck me on a personal level, being a plus-size woman who wound up working in the industry. As she expressed the way body image issues prevented her from doing work that would have been lucrative, I was simultaneously being harassed online for the crime of being naked on the internet (while fat), the parenthetical being the most salient part. The conversation was particularly resonant with me, given that one
PHOTO: SCREENSHOT FROM VICE DOCUMENTARY WE MAKE PORN TO PAY OUR RENT
... DESIRE IS WAY MORE DIVERSE THAN INTERNET TROLLS WOULD HAVE US BELIEVE. week earlier Vice featured my husband and me in a short documentary about making porn as a couple. In less than two weeks, it’s already hit 1.2 million views. Such broad exposure catapulted us out of our safe circle of fans/clients, colleagues, and sympathetic friends, to a harsher and more critical general audience. I anticipated the way that sex work stigma would negatively impact people’s views of our careers; I am quite used to managing that stigma. The intense fat shaming, on the other hand, was something I wasn’t prepared for. Watch the video on YouTube and
you’ll find comments like: It would be cool if she wasn’t a whale … people pay for this? If she lost 100 pounds, she would make way more money. Bruh she’s built like she sips mayonnaise out of the jar for breakfast. Curves, she’s built like a grocery bag full of water. Yet, while I was being shamed for being too fat to fuck, I was also being flooded with new OnlyFans subscriptions and video sales. This is hardly surprising. Anyone who has spent any time in this industry knows that desire is way more diverse than internet trolls would have us believe.
While such fan support is important (after all I have a mortgage to pay), what was just as powerful to me were the messages I got from other women thanking me for making them feel different about their own bodies, here is one example: I have always loved and respected my curvier friends but always had a fear of losing ‘my figure’ and seeing the confidence you embrace gives me a reassurance that as my body grows and changes I will still be beautiful. While I certainly don’t think that the job of women/femmes is to be sexually attractive to men (or moreover that the sex industry is a good choice for everyone), I do hope that with more representation of women of all sizes, fewer and fewer will question their own desirability. It makes me wonder if this is why being unapologetic about my own body was so unsettling to the endless people who worked hard to tear me down and make me insecure about my weight. Women believing in their own desirability is powerful, perhaps threatening. I will take all of the hate I got in the last couple of weeks if it meant that even a handful of women feel more comfortable in their own bodies and sexuality, if they stop thinking that they are too fat to go after anything they desire.
•
JESSIE SAGE IS CO-HOST OF THE PEEPSHOW PODCAST AT PEEPSHOWPODCAST.COM. HER COLUMN PEEPSHOW IS EXCLUSIVE TO PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER. FOLLOW HER ON TWITTER @PEEP_CAST. HAVE A SEX QUESTION YOU’RE TOO AFRAID TO ASK? ASK JESSIE! EMAIL INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM. QUESTIONS MAY BE CONSIDERED FOR AN UPCOMING COLUMN.
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