OMGPittsburgh

No one calls it that anymore. It’s “the movies” or “the theater”. No one calls it “the cinema”.

Courtesy Post Gazette

I was reminded of the reopening of the ominous Hollywood Theater that has taunted me for ages, sitting empty for so long on Potomic in Dormont, PA. For ages, I always wished I had the resources to restore something like that or the C4 on West Liberty.

The theater attempted to open a couple of years ago, running “second run” flicks for the neighborhood. I always wanted to check it out, but only my brother was able to check a viewing of The Simpsons there. Thanks to Veronica reminding me of the first showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show under the new management, I checked out the site to find the new Inglorious Basterds was playing. After some wrangling of some co-workers, we ventured to check the venue out.

We parked within a block, and just the short walk, you find the streets flooded with the crazy blue neon sign on the front marquee. We walked in to find a spacious lobby, with a large concession stand and a lounge-esque area on the right side. The bathrooms, I know, I’m reviewing the bathrooms here, are remeniscant, though not as upkept, of course, as the theaters down town, where you go downstairs to what’s like a lobby for the bathroom. So I walked up to join my friends, whom decided the balcony was worth checking out. I scaled the steps to find a cavernous theater space. The front rows were some 20+ feet back from a nice sized screen, still dwarfed by the size of the room, and an attached stage beneath. The seats, I’m told, were all replaced, and the place now sports recliner style seats like you would see at Lowes or Destinta nearby. Lining the back of the seats below, and up on the balcony behind it’s two rows of typical seating, are more lounge tables and seats. This is most likely for those who like to partake with the theater’s BYOB policy.

Now, I don’t really expect this theater to be so lucky to see first run movies such as Inglorious Basterds all of the time. But looking at the previous and upcoming lineups of Rocky Horror, Chopping Mall, Troma’s Poultrygeist, and Dead Snow, I’m looking forward to the grindhouse, b-movie feel this place is oozing. And I’m wasn’t so surp rised after I found that Bruce, the guy behind the insanely amazing (and I wish I had supported with a membership) Incredibly Strange Video that used to grace West Liberty.

I’ve always had a thing for this sort of place, and it’s better than any I’d seen. I’ve had the fortune to visit the Oaks Theater (Bubba Ho Tep), the Harris Theater (Cowboy Bebop: The Movie), and grew up seeing a couple of Disney movies back home in Greenville at the Jordan Theater…now a church parking lot as of 2004. I can only hope this theater can thrive the way these others have seemed to the few years I’ve been in this town.

The annual Three Rivers Art Festival is celebrating is 50th anniversary this year.  The event, which takes place in Point State Park, is a two week festival (June 5-14th) showcasing regional artist, good food and entertainment.   The festival started back in 1959 as a small outdoor gallery near the Carnegie Institute.  It was later brought downtown to allow easier access to more visitors.  A visitor to this year’s festival will find the Dollar Bank Stage where several musicians will be performing; each day with a different lineup.  There is also the WQED Children’s Area and the greatly expanded Artists Marketplace.  For a complete listing of events, check out the official website.

Some may know, I love eating and experiencing new places. The world famous Carnegie Deli in NYC. The original Texas Hots in Wellsville, NY. Quaker Steak and Lube in Western PA. This evening, we visited the Little Tokyo Bistro in the Southside of Pittsburgh. Now, I’ve had suchi before. But this was the brunch bar the next day after getting drunk at the christmas party at Nemecolin a few years ago. Not the greatest of experience, all things considered.

The Wrestling Mayhem Crew should be in attendance for this Pittsburgh area event, and it’s looking more and more worth it.  PLUS it’s for a good cause!!

J.J. Dillon, Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake, Shane Douglas, Missy Hyatt, Dominic DeNucci, as well as friends of our own Wrestling Mayhem Show such as The Gambinos, Jimmy Demarco, Super Hentai, Jason Gory, Michael Facade, B94’s Bubba the Bulldog, and PLENTY More!  Scope out information and tickets right here.

Sunday, May 3rd
6:00 PM Belltime
Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf
300 East Swissvale Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA (Edgewood)

Pre-Order Tickets Here!
Limited Front Row $25
Advanced Tickets $15
Day of Show $20
For tickets, email naw75lins@yahoo.com or call (412) 678-3287

Matches Announced so far:

Six Man Tag Explosion!
Dominic DeNucci & Dr. Cody Michaels & Shane Douglas vs J.J. Dillon & “Handsome” Frank Staletto & “Beef Stew” Lou Marconi

Brutus “the Barber” Beefcake vs King Kaluha

B94’s Bubba the Bulldog vs. Dynamite Dean

The Blanchard Express (Shawn Blanchard & Lou Martin w/ Frank Durso) vs Kris Kash and Anthony Alexander

Jessica Havok and Haily Hatred vs Angeldust and Brittany Force

Crusher Hansen vs Dennis Gregory

Our boy Chachi is setting up a TweetUp/GeekUp this Sunday for the last day, and last chance, to see the Vader Project at the Andy Warhol Museum on the North Side of Pittsburgh.  Admission is $15 for most that will be attending.

Sunday, May 3
11 AM
2 PM (delayed thanks to Pittsburgh Marathon)
The Andy Warhol Museum
117 Sandusky St. Pittsburgh, PA
http://www.warhol.org/

Facebook Event page

Flagship state schools, particularly in the Midwest, are relics of an economic geography dominant in the late 19th century. The agricultural focus was fine for putting a university in the middle of nowhere, where aspiring farmers could funnel in from all around the state. Today, that very isolation is wasting valuable brain power:

The University’s renowned international reputation, the health care industry, quality of life, green space, proximity to Detroit and easy access to Detroit Metropolitan Airport are all named as important factors to Ann Arbor’s prosperity.

[Lou Glazer (president of Michigan Future, an Ann Arbor-based think tank that conducts research on Michigan’s transition to a knowledge-based economy)] said it is the size of the University’s research operations and Ann Arbor’s central location in Southeast Michigan that distinguishes Ann Arbor from other college towns.

This combination is what gives the University more spin-off potential than other schools, he said, adding that if Ann Arbor was located a hundred miles north or south, the University would have a much smaller impact on economic development.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, another flagship research school, is an example of academia’s irrelevance if the school isn’t in a prime location, Glazer said.

“The University of Illinois in Champaign has almost no effect because it’s out in the middle of a corn field,” he said.

Pittsburgh is fortunate to have two major research universities within city limits. The density of knowledge production in Oakland, just 5 miles from the CBD, is fueling Pittsburgh’s latest renaissance. This asset really comes to the fore in the latest issue of Pittsburgh Quarterly.

“Pittsburgh’s College Corridor” starts in downtown with Point Park University and the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. In Uptown is, of course, Duquesne University. Oakland has Pitt, CMU and Carlow University. Lastly, there is Chatham University in Shadyside. Increasing the connectivity between these institutions, along with better transportation to and from the airport, should be priortiy one for economic development.

The biggest obstacle to realizing this vision is the barrier between downtown and Uptown. At the heart of the matter is Mellon Arena, which some residents would like to save. The Civic Arena effectively isolated the Upper Hill District and destroyed the Lower Hill District neighborhood. Reconnect the Hill with downtown and breathe life into the College Corridor.

This isn’t just a big idea that made for a nice story. Joanna Burley, Director of Pittsburgh Council on Higher Education, makes the following offer:

We’ve got an awful lot of schools in this area. If someone came through with an interaction plan that really made sense and benefited all of the schools and higher education in this region, I would take a very serious look at it.

I challenge the Pittsburgh social media community to craft an interaction plan. Do check out the story in Pittsburgh Quarterly. Students from all seven schools were interviewed and make a number of good suggestions. For example, I see a clear need for a blog covering the College Corridor scene. This blog could spark a functional collective identity, something I think social media is uniquely positioned to do.

The streets of Downtown Pittsburgh are a little bare this week as Point Park University students recess for spring break. While it seems that many students use this time to blow off some pent up steam by lying on a beach or just relaxing in front of their parents’ television for a few days, a dozen Point Park students have chosen an alternative to the norm. 

Teaming up with Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, these students decided to use their spring break to help rebuild houses in Biloxi destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.  Nearly four years after the devastation, the effects of the hurricane can still be seen.

Point Park’s students will be in Mississippi until March 7^th and are currently documenting their experiences on their blog, Biloxi or Bust.  http://biloxiorbust.blogspot.com/  

The concept of an alternative spring break is certainly nothing new.  But I can say that, as one of those students who chose to do nothing during spring break year after year, it is people like this who are my inspiration to get up and do more. 

Terra McBride is a member of the Point Park Staff

Separated twins are doing well at Children’s Hospital

This Thursday, folks from around the world will be gathering to support a great cause. The Pittsburgh Twitter community will be getting together at local bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, malls, movie theaters, parks etc… to raise money for Charity:Water.The event is being dubbed as a “Twestival“.

Charity:Water is a non-profit organization that helps to bring clean, safe drinking water to those that cannot otherwise afford or obtain it. Let’s break the numbers down… 1.1 billion people don’t have clean drinking water. That is 1 in every 6 people. WOW!

The event, sponsored by BarkleyREI, an interactive agency in Pittsburgh’s Strip District, will take place at Downey’s House on Stubenville Pike in Robinson Township on Thursday, February 12th. From 6-9, you can enjoy food and drinks, live music courtesy of Juan Vasquez from Sauce.

Pittsburgh media has been picking up the event and local businesses have been graciously donating for the raffle. Some prizes include, a green membership from the Mattress Factory, Penguins tickets, T-shirts from Wear Pittsburgh and IheartPGH, artwork from local artists, Mandy McFadden Photography, Steel City Artist, Strawberry Luna and much, much more!

Do you want to get in on the fun? Do you want be part of the Pittsburgh Twestival and make a difference in someone’s life? There is still time to donate and reserve your spot for Thursday’s event. Click here to donate.

It may be old news at this point, but for those who may not yet know it…there was this little backyard football game in Tampa over the weekend.  Okay, so I fib a little…it wasn’t quite ”little”  and, it wasn’t really a “backyard” football game. 

What it was, was an amazingly climactic sporting event which set some new records.  Our city now has the most Superbowl bling with six Superbowl championships under its belt.  We also have the youngest coach to ever win a Superbowl, with Mike Tomlin marking such a notable achievement at the age of 36.  And, who could imagine James Harrison running the full length of the field for a 100-yard interception return?

The absolute best part of the night was that I was able to spend it with my father who drove in from Western New York to watch the game.  What makes this such a monumental event?  Check out the picture below…and, please note the Steelers hat and the Steelers t-shirt, and there’s even a Terrible Towel in there somewhere.  

*Waves hand in a “come here” fashion and quietly whispers* ”My Dad is a Buffalo Bills fan.”

Hold on a minute.  Don’t go judging him because of his team affiliation.  Having been raised in Western New York, the Bills are the hometown team.  And, at least it’s not the Browns. 

Dad was excited about the prospect of celebrating a Superbowl victory with our city.  In fact, he plotted and planned in order to make it possible to be in the ‘Burgh for the big game.  He arrived in town Saturday evening, and spent some quality time with Mike and I in preparation for the festivities.

I couldn’t help but look over at him periodically as he watched the game.  Much like the rest of the city, he shouted and cheered on the ups and shouted and cursed on the downs.  The absolute best part of the night was after the victory. 

Having been witness to the 2006 Superbowl championship, we rushed Dad out to the back stoop after the game.  He watched in wide-eyed amazement as people scrambled into the streets below, shouting and clamoring in celebration.  He watched in awe as bursts of fireworks shot up over the horizon.  And, he was as giddy as a school boy as he listened to the sound of our Steel City uniting in a thunderous roar of celebration at the victory of our Superbowl champions.

Thanks Dad for letting me see such a special day for my city through your eyes.