(Things to do while adjusting to life in a post-apocalyptic world…)

Friday, February 16
The Great Guinness Toast, 8:00 p.m., Mullaney’s Harp And Fiddle, Strip District
That yearly thing to get people to drink Guinness to set a new world’s record for largest toast that doesn’t involve a toaster happens tonight at locations varied and widespread, but the place to be is probably dahn Mullaney’s in the Strip. They’ll have giveaways all night and live broadcasts by local radio stations. They don’t say which radio stations, so, I mean, it could be anyone. I’m kinda hoping the whole crew from WQED will be there, if only to hear the dulcet quiet tones of a classical DJ doing the standard radio station location jive of “Hey, come on down to Mullaney’s, jump in the QED money machine, and then do a shot with me. And don’t forget to pick up your QED ‘Cellists Do It Sitting Down’ beer koozie. Let’s rock on now with Marche Slave by Tchaikovsky part of a ’20 in a row or 20 thousand dollars’ all day marathon.”

They usually get packed for this deal, and in addition to the toast, Seamus Kennedy performs at 9, so it’d probably be a good idea to get there early-ish.

Savage Republic, 8:00 p.m., Lawrenceville Moose, Lawrenceville
Lindsay (who also braved the weather to drink at D’s the other night during our time of crisis) posted this up the other day and writes about it better than I could ever hope to, so just go read it there. I will say that this looks like a really good solid show, and why would one ever not go to the L’ville Moose?

Paul Tabachneck, 9:00 p.m., Cabaret At Theater Square, Dahntahn
Free is good, so good… I like free a lot. Probably too much, but that’s something I’ve got to work out with my therapist, that poor, poor man. I’m sure he never saw this coming when he went to grad school or he might’ve made a different career choice. He’s earning his money, that’s for sure… I mean, I mentioned something about my childhood and he did that sort of “sucking in your breath through your teeth while wincing and saying ‘ooo'” thing. That’s probably not a good sign, is it?

What? Oh, right, yeah, the Tabachneck thing… The Cultural Trust’s page says that Paul is “A bright & engaging singer/songwriter” and that his lyrics “reflect on loves lost and let loose.” Ok, so far so good, we all love a good torch song, don’t we? He does some covers in his act, and is also known for his “dark humor”. And that’s all well and good, but of greater import is the fact that Happy Hour at the Backstage Bar is from 9 to 11. So, no cover to get in, and the drinks are gonna be on special at a non-traditional-happy-hour time of day – honestly, what’s stopping you? Also, it’s a smoke-free environment, and I know how important the whole “breathing thing” is to some of you.

Saturday, February 17
Rod Stewart , 8:00 p.m., Mellon Civic Arena, Dahntahn
Too subtle over there on the left? Never let it be said I won’t perpetuate an Urban Legend.

Stewart will be playing all the hits, I’m sure, although I’m not 100% sure whose hits those will be. They might be his songs or they might be tunes from the “Standards” albums he’s been putting out the past few years. I’m guessing a combination of both, but I’m not sure how well “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” will fly at this point.It could be bizarre, like Debbie Reynolds singing “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

An Evening with Aaron McGruder, 8:00 p.m., Byham Theater, Dahntahn
The creator of the much-missed (by me, at least) comic strip The Boondocks comes in for a night at the Byham. The thing is, it doesn’t actually say what he’s going to do there. I’m assuming that means a speech of some sort, perhaps a look at his work, both the strip and the tv show, and a Q&A session. He’s never been afraid to speak his mind with regards to politics which is, in my opinion, a good thing in a comic strip author. Like that time when Cathy Guisewite got arrested for macing riot cops at that WTO protest in Seattle a couple years back.

Ok, I may have made that last part up.

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Because Knowing Where To Go (and drink) Is Half The Battle
(Further Suggested Reading)
– Pittsburgh City Paper
– Pittsburgh Post Gazette
– Craigs List

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Got an event planned? Would you like a whole flock of yinzers with disposable income to show up? Let Git Aht know by sending the electronic mail to gitaht@gmail.com.