(Things to do while making all that pudding…)

Friday, October 20
Pittsburgh Gay & Lesbian Film Fest, 8:00 p.m., South Side Works, Sahsside
The nine day film festival opens with a screening of “Short Bus“, the John Cameron Mitchell (“Hedwig and the Angry Inch”) film that’s causing a bit of controversy because it (allegedly) contains “real” sex, but it’s integral to the story, so I guess that’s ok. Not that I’m complaining, mind you. Hell, I’ve got the First Amendment tattooed on, ummm… Tattooed on my… uhh… Let’s just say I’ve got a First Amendment tattoo and leave it at that. It’ll be at South Side Works and not the Garden on the North Side, probably because the Garden has the exclusive local engagement of “Snakes On A Jane”. (Note: Strictly a fanciful jest! I don’t know what the Garden’s running these days.) The important thing here to remember is that this is indeed an adult film. For grown-ups. 18 and above is what I’m saying. Don’t bring the kids, unless you’re like a super-ultra-uber progressive parent, and even then, y’know… I mean, this is beyond Friday Night Skinemax After Dark stuff.

(Eds. Note: All right! Point made! Move the hell on!)

Right. The PGLFF is throwing an opening night party at the Hot Metal Grille tonight, so stop by there after checking out “Bus” or the other featured film at South Side Works, “The Gymnast”, a “romantic drama explor(ing) the developing relationship between an acrobatic young woman and the Asian-American woman who performs with her.” The fest runs at various venues around town check the schedule early and often.

(Thanks to Nat for sending this one in!)

Soulcialism, 10:00 p.m., White Eagle Club, Sahsside
Sweat, booze, good music, dancing. As long as Juddy and Soccer John keep throwing these gigs, I’ll keep writing about them, because I love 60s Soul music, I love cheap drinks, and I love dancing with girls who love 60’s Soul Music and cheap drinks.

Blindsider CD Release Party, 10:00 p.m., Shadow Lounge, ‘Sliberty
Local band Blindsider releases a CD and this is the party for it. With a self-described sound of “David Hasselhoff meets Wesley Willis”, this should be a good one. I checked out a couple of their tunes on their myspace page (Dude, like everyone has a myspace page now) and it’s not bad, even on first, bleary-eyed Friday morning listen.

Also playing at the party, Life In Bed and Donora. I’m guessing not the entire town of Donora, just a few of them. I mean, Shadow’s pretty roomy and everything, but I dunno of they could fit an entire Mid-Mon valley town in there. Besides, most of them would want to smoke, and they’d have to go outside.

Saturday, October 21
Mensa Test, 10:00 a.m., 1207 Fifth Ave, Dahntahn
I dunno about this one. From the posting on Craigslist:

“Mensa is an organization whose sole criteria for membership is a score at or above the 98th percetile on a standardardized IQ tsst.”

But, ok, I’m not the smartest person, but I am smart enough to realize that maybe, just maybe, this is some new way of spelling with which I am unfamiliariar.

(Yes, yes, a thousand times yes, I know I can’t spell either. But I ain’t in Mensa. And there’s a good reason for that. It’s ’cause I’m none too bright.)

Pitt vs. Rutgers – Homecoming 5:45 p.m. Heinz Field
Hands up everyone who thought back when they announced the schedule that this would be a big game? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Right. But it is, what with Pitt being 6-1 and Rutgers coming into Heinz undefeated with 6 wins of their own. So the game itself should be competitive, and it is getting national tv.

But there are a whole bunch of other events tied into Pitt’s homecoming weekend, not the least of which is the tremendous tailgating sure to take place on a crisp, sunny (so they say) Autumn afternoon. So, let’s say, hypothetically, Mini-Ditka shows up to your tailgate, and he challenges you to a drinking contest, he even spots you a 10 red solo cup lead. Do you win?

No. No you don’t. You know who wins? Mini-Ditka. Why? ‘Cause he’s just like Ditka, only mini.

The Great Ants, 10:00p.m., 31st Street Pub, The Strip
Dear Great Ants Bass Player,

I love you. I want to marry you and have, like, 10,000 babies. Well, I mean, like… I wouldn’t, like, actually have them. I mean.. That’d be, y’know… You and all. But I’d be waaaaay supportive and shit. Yeah. I totally would. Ferreals.

Call me, we’ll go bowling or something.

Yours Truly,
Git Aht

Sunday, October 22
Love Letters, 2:00 p.m., Heinz Hall, Dahntahn
See, it’d be so easy to drop the “Hey, It’s Jeannie and Barney Miller” vibe on this one, but they both have had really good, long careers. I mean, Barbara Eden has a resume a mile long, and Hal Linden has been a Broadway star forever, even winning a Tony in 1971 for Best Actor in a Musical. So, I kinda feel as if they’re owed a great deal of respect and admiration for their work, and I don’t want to trivialize it by making a cheap jo…

Ah, screw it. Go see Jeannie and Barney Miller in a play. It’ll be good for sure.

UPDATE: Jeannie and Barney have better things to do, apparently, as this one is CANCELLED! (Thanks to eagle-eyed, awesomely-named Monolithic JJ for letting us know.)

George Romero’s Fright Nights, 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m., Chevrolet Amphitheater, Station Square
They’re coming to get you Barbara.. Wait, what? Oh.. Sorry Barbara.. You’ve got to go to them. And pay admission. And pay for parking. But still.. I mean, it is Romero’s name on it, so one has to assume high zombie quality. He’s like the Tiffany of anything Undead-related. A name you can count on, in other words.

This runs through the first weekend in November, so if you can’t make it tonight, you’ll still have plenty of opportunity to get there. Or lurch there. Whichever.

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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.