Author Archives: Patrick

Git Aht: Things To Do This Weekend

(Things to do while figuring out if it’s the heat or the humidity or the fact that you still won’t take off your “Drink Like A Champion Today” sweatshirt…)

Friday, July 21
Wine & Dine In The Park, 5:00 p.m., Robin ill Park, Moon
Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow you go out and do the same thing all over again, but probably not with as much quiet dignity and grace that a wine-tasting usually provides. PA wineries put out their best, local restaurants provide the food, and the singing chef Olga Watkins performs with her quartet. This is hoity, possibly toity, but definitely full of good wine. Plus, it’s out by the airport, so it won’t take long for a cab to show up to take you home when you’ve started telling people that you think it’s a “yappy little vintage that sits on the tongue asking you for your approval like a sad puppy, with a hint of clove in the after-taste and if any of you disagree we’re gonna have a tussle” about a chradonnay, and security asks you to leave.

Juggling In Afghanistan, 8:30 p.m. The Ice House, Lawrencevlle
Neon PullOk, I’m not sure that’s what it’s called, but this is a showcase for Pittsburgh Photographer Renee Rosensteel, showcasing pictures from her trip to Afghanistan. The juggling bit comes from the fact that Zany Umbrella Circus juggler Ben Sota was along for the ride, teaching juggling at a circus school. She also visited bazaars, and the Hindu Kush mountains, shooting all the way. She does restaurant-quality work, especially in the photo-journalistic style, so go show some support for the local photographers. Plus, it’s billed as a party, so there’s that. After, roll on up to Ray’s for the benefit since you’re in the nieghborhood.

Too Tall Jones, 10:00 p.m., Club Cafe
No, not Ed, Fred. Local Rock / Hardcore / Alternative at Club Cafe. They cite Queen, AC/DC and the Cult as influences, so you can’t really go wrong here, unless you really don’t like Queen, AC/DC and the Cult. Which is just silly.

Saturday, July 22
The Fourth Annual North Side Celebration in the Park, 11:00 a.m., Allegheny Commons Park
Puppets! Run! They’ll kill you as soon as look at you!

Wait, hang on a sec… That’s clowns, right? Yeah… clowns. Puppets are ok. There’s a lot going on here, fun for the whole family and such-like, so let’s hit it up bullet-style:

  • – Band Performances
  • – Children Interactive Activities
  • – Trackless Train Rides (Which is better than Trainless Track rides, I’m thinking)
  • – Face Painting
  • – Puppetmaking
  • – 3-on-3 Basketball Tournaments
  • – Senior Wellness Programming sponsored by AGH
  • – Allegheny Center Alliance Church Flea Market
  • – Speciality Item Vendors
  • – Kid’s Karaoke
    – The inevitable “much more”

The Pittsburgh Ring Cycle, 3:00 and 8:00 p.m., The Byham
No, not the Japanese horror flick, and no, this has no Hobbits. This is Der Ring des Nibelungen, which, tranlsated roughly means “takes like, 4 days to watch”. You’ll recognize “Ride of the Valkyries” at the three o’clock show as the music that Duvall blasts from the helicopters in Apocalypse Now, but refrain from shouting “Charlie Don’t Surf!” if you can. The eight o’clocker is Siegfried, with no Roy in sight.

Dixie Chicks, 7:30 p.m., Mellon Arena
Natalie, darlin’… Call me. I’ll pick you up in the truck, we’ll go down to the Stew Ball, have a couple longnecks, shoot some pool, play a tune or two by Slim Chance and the Can’t Hardly Playboys on the juke box. At some point, I’ll say Yee-ha. Trust me on that, sweetheart. Hoo-ee, I love me some good geetar playin’ and fiddlin’, and this show should have it.

Sunday, July 23
Bach, Beethoven & Brunch, 10:30 a.m., Mellon Park
This week, they’re featuring the Renaissance City Winds, and of course, brunch. But the important thing here is they’ve got prizes. That’s all you really need to know about this one. It’s got prizes. At a brunch. With classical music. Prizes.

Pittsburgh Blues Festival, Noon., Hartwood Acres
This benefits the greater Pittburgh Community Food Bank, and the lineup is good all weekend, but it seems especially so today, with Lee Rocker, The Yardbirds, and John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers. Plus, there’ll be whole raft of local artists too. Go, listen, order four fried chickens and a coke. Or some dry white toast. Whichever.

Flick: Ice Age 2, 9ish, Flagstaff Hill
Because there were so many unanswered questions from the first one, that’s why. Oh yeah, this is really important here: FREE! FREE! FREE!

Git Aht: Things To Do This Weekend

(Things to do while deciding if head-butting the guy in the next cubicle is worth the inevitable red card you’d get from HR…)

Friday, July 14
South Side Works “Exposed”, 5:00 p.m. (and all weekend), South Side Works, 26th-ish down Carson
Neon PullBilling itself as “exposing Pittsburgh to all cultures” (although presumably this doesn’t involve a trenchcoat and looks of surprise on stunned passers-by), this little get-together will feature belly dancers, African drummers, a hookah bar and a wine tent. Hopefully that means a tent that will serve wine and not a tent where people just complain about stuff. While you’re there, climb the rock wall at REI and then, because you’ll be feeling so good about yourself, all healthy and everything, go eat cheesecake.

Station Square Street Jam, 5 p.m., Station Square
The trick is to find the West End Circle Peanut Butter to go along with it. Gin Blossoms’ll be there, I’m guessing they’ll play “Hey Jealousy” at some point. Hey man, it’s free, and free is good. It’s my favorite price in the whole wide world and fills me with a sense of goodness and well-being for my fellow man. Then I watch the news and that all goes straight to hell. The Street Jam is a great time, though, and a great way to start the weekend, just pace yourself. Seriously, the experienced Git Ahter knows that you do no more than one beer an hour before the sun goes down on Friday or you screw up your drinking mojo for the whole weekend. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Saturday, July 15
Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, All Day Saturday and Sunday, Schenley Park
Chris dropped the dime on this the other day, so go read that because it’s chock full o’ information about what a great thing this is and how it works as a fund-raiser for an excellent cause. I will throw in that I used to go to this when I was a kid and my dad was a fanatic for weird old cars. Now he’s a fanatic for living in Florida on a canal and looking at the manatees. I think this is just something that happens as you age and I kinda look forward to it in a way.

Urban Hike, 9:30 a.m., in front of Schenley High School on Centre
More self-referential goodness… Go here and read about it. I’d go, but I have this thing Saturday morning where I sleep off Friday night*. I will say that I know one of the people who organizes the hikes, and she has some of the strongest calves this side of, well me, ’cause my calves are almost Adonis-like. People come from two counties over to pay two-bits a gander is what I’m sayin’.
(*NOTE: Strictly a fanciful jest! KIDS! DON’T DRINK! I’m actually cutting the North Forty out here on the homestead in preparation for a Saturday night grill-out/bocce/booze fest, and that grass ain’t gonna cut itself.)

Smalls Summer Xtravaganza, All Day, Mr. Smalls, Millvale
Live music, skateboarding, BMX, inline… It’s so extreme you’ll cut yourself on it’s extreme-itude. Contests, demos, skinned body parts – it should be awesome. You’ll come for the half-pipe drop-ins, you’ll stay for the pecan pie. If they have pecan pie, which they probably won’t. Actually, that wouldn’t surprise me, the folks up at Smalls are pretty cool, and if you asked for pie, they might give you pie. Vallely’s band Revolution Mother will be playing too.

Sunday, July 16
Kids Day At Schenley Plaza, 1:00 p.m., Schenley Plaza
Story-telling, puppets, balloons. This is so wholesome and good, I’m not sure why I’m reporting on it. Trying to get out of a few days of purgatory, I think. The new Plaza is an awesome thing, a reclaiming of a parking lot into a great little urban green space complete with a carousel. It’s so Americana I expect Robert Preston to start singing to Shirley Jones at some point about how great life is here in River City. Man, Shirley looked good in that movie. Hoo-fah. That’s probably where I got my thing for really smart women. The problem is, that means they’re smart enough to not date me. Dammit. I gotta figure that whole thing out at some point here…

Kenny Blake Trio, 7:00 p.m., Rhythm House Cafe, Bridgeville
WDUQ’s Tony Mowod hosts the Kenny Blake Trio out at the Rhythm House. The special is the Fish Parmesan. Sponsored by the Pittburgh Jazz Society. Kenny Blake, I mean, not the fish parmesan. That’s probably sponsored by the Pittsburgh Fish Parmesan Society, which really doesn’t get enough props. I mean, they’re out there promoting the flourishing Pittsburgh Fish Parmesan scene, and what thanks do they get? Blake’s pretty good though, a local legend, as they say, so this would definitely be worth the trip down to Bridgeville.

Flick: Zathura, 9ish, Flagstaff Hill
FREE! FREE! FREE! This movie is the one that… It’s the … The plot is… Nah, I haven’t heard of this one at all. I think it’s a kids movie, lemme look…

OK, so, IMDB says: “Two young brothers are drawn into an intergalactic adventure when their house is magically hurtled through space because of the board game they are playing.” Dude, same thing happened to me when I was playing “Three-Man” in college. Crazy. Oh, I see… Jon Favreau directed this… Might be worth a look then. He’s good.

Git Aht: Things To Do This Weekend

(Things to do while deciding which Blue team to root for in the World Cup Final.)

Friday, July 7
Gallery Crawl, 5:30 p.m., Downtown
Normally I don’t actually crawl at these things, at least not at first. It really depends on what they’ve got at any complimentary bars that I may stumble across. This thing is chock full o’ art, so anywhere’s a good place to start, but I’d have to go with SPACE where music will be provided by the brilliantly-named The Sexes.

All-Star Fan Fest, Various Times, All Weekend, David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Over 40 baseball-themed attractions which, sadly, does not include any “Re-enact the 1985 Coke Trial that even involved the mascot” booth, but hey, maybe next time. Mayor Bob’s been redding up the city, so that means company’s coming. Hose off your sidewalk and clean up the kitchen chair you use to reserve the space in front of your house. Also, be nice to all these out of towners who may not speak our language. They’re probably going to talk really slowly and loudly if they don’t understand us, which is normal. Just explain to them calmly, rationally, and cooly that the cole slaw is indeed supposed to be on the sandwich.

Saturday, July 8
All-American Beer Fesival, 2:00 and 6:00 p.m., The Priory, North Side
If you missed the big shindig last month up at Sharp Edge, you can still get in touch with your inner beer snob at the Grand Hall. Craft and micro-brews abound, and if you get out of hand, well, the Priory rents rooms too, which is way better than trying to sleep in the park next to the Aviary, ’cause those birds’ll keep you awake all night, and you’ll be all beer-muscled up and try to fight the Eagles, which is never a good idea. Trust me on this one.

Wings Over Pittsburgh Air Show, 911th Air Wing Base
Blue Angels flying around in formation, which is a great thing to see, but I hope it doesn’t give all the people I commute with any ideas. Seriously, I’m going down Washington Blvd. and the guy in the left lane is running formation with the guy in the right lane the whole friggin’ way, even past the bike loop. Dude! It’s the passing lane! That means pass! Gah!

Sunday, July 9
Cat Power and the Memphis Rhythm Band, 7:30 p.m., Hartwood Acres
“Indie Folk Darling” which seems cliched, but my friend Matt (No, the other one) really digs him some Cat Power, err, Chan Marshall. The latest album has help from former members of Booker T. and The MG’s, so it’s well-pedigreed, that’s for certain. Go see her and the band for free at tasteful Hartwood Acres..

Electric Six, 8:00 p.m., Mr. Smalls, Millvale
Electric Six Silk ScreenJack White favorites The Electric Six wing in (ok, probably van in) from Detroit to give us here in Pittsburgh their signature good-time party vibe. This is a show you don’t want to miss if you like good dance/rock/funk. I saw them earlier this year down in DC, and it was one of the most high-energy shows I’ve ever seen. Bonus points if they do their cover of Radio Gaga at this show, which is fantastic.

Flick: Fever Pitch, 9ish, Flagstaff Hill
FREE! FREE! FREE! The Flagstaff movie catches all-Star Fever with the baseball-themed Romantic Comedy starring Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon. This is based on a British film of the same name which was based on a novel by Nick Hornby that was about football, soccer, which I’m thinking might’ve been better because it probably had hooligans using cockney rhyming slang, but what do I know? I mean, I’m the kind of person that thinks every movie would benefit from having wire-fu karate fight scenes, so don’t take my word on anything movie-related. Seriously, how much better would Titanic have been if Dicaprio flew throught the air all crane-style and attacked Billy Zane with a mystical sword from the Shaolin Temple? Tons better, that’s how much.

Go Watch The Big Booms

The Post-Gazette has published a list of places to go where you can ooo and aaahh to your hearts’ content. If you’ve never done the downtown event beore, you really should – it’s one of the premiere firework displays in the world, and you can put your mad firework photography skillz to the test.

Ok, I’m off to Sandcastle, soak up the rays and drink that blue frozen thing they serve that looks like a blended smurf.

Git Aht: Things To Do This Weekend

(Things to do while getting ready to sing “Oh Say Can Yinz See”)

Friday, June 30
Nine Inch Nails, 7:00 p.m., Post Gazette Pavillion
Mercer High School band member Trent Reznor brings the Nails to town, so pale yourself up and enjoy the angst. Openers are 80’s Goth stalwarts Bauhuas and the delightfully reserved and timid Peaches. (She of the greatest post break-up song ever, I won’t link ’cause we’re a family site, but if you know Peaches, you know the song I’m talking about.) Incredibly Awesome Reznor Trivia: Trent played Professor Harold Hill in his high school production of The Music Man, so see if he’ll shout out a couple choruses of “Marian The Librarian” at the show tonight.

Grease, 8:00 p.m., Benedum Center
Please, don’t stand up and shout “What was Shatner like to work with on TJ Hooker?!?” when Adrian Zmed is on stage as the Teen Angel character. I mean, he’s probably heard that one before. Besides, we all know Shatner’s a pain in the ass to work with anyway, so there’s no point in asking Zmed again. Let’s all move on.

Saturday, July 1
Satruday Light Brigade Live Broadcast, 10:00 a.m., Pittsburgh Children’s Museum
Local radio, live at the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum. This is your “family” event for the weekend, or at least, the family event I found that seems to be the coolest. Hell, it makes me wanna get a family for the weekend, maybe like, I dunno, rent one, just so I can go to this thing. SLB is a local show, produced out of WRCT for like, ever it seems. So get local, and go support Larry and Rikki Berger and the rest of the crew.

Pittaburgh Three Rivers Regatta, All Day, Downtown
“Float On” said the Modest Mouse… There’s so much going on, we just don’t have the space to describe it all… So some highlights for Saturday:

  • Grand Prix Powerboat Races, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
  • Jet Ski Stunt show, 11 a.m., 1:30, 6 and 7:30 p.m.
  • The Mister Rogers Sing-Along Movie Shoot, 5 p.m., Main Stage at the Point. Breen mentioned this the other day here
  • The Violent Femmes add it up at 8:30 p.m. This is the highlight if you’re an old guy like me.

The Space Pimps CD Release Party, 7:00 p.m., Mr. Smalls, Millvale
Local Pop-Punkers (Punk-Poppers? I dunno…) The Space Pimps throw a gig with a bunch of local bands the celebrate the release of their new disc “Turn It Up” at the great Mr. Smalls Theater compound. The Pimps are gearing up for national tour including some Warped Tour dates, so catch them before they get all famous and start puttin’ on airs n’at.

Sunday, July2
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, 8:15 p.m., Hartwood Acres
Mozart, Bruch and Beethoven rock the funkin’ hizzy Sunday night, and the PSO goes along for the ride. Note to single guys: The Violinist is really cute, but I would advise against throwing your hotel room key on stage as any shiny flying objecs will distract the drummers and interrupt the show. We percussionists are easily distracted, see, because we’re not real bright. Seriously, one time, the bass player in this band I was in locked his keys in the car and had to break a window to get me out.

March of The Penguins, 9ish, Flagstaff Hill
FREE! FREE! FREE! No, this isn’t a film about the possible exodus of our beloved hockey team, this is the one about the birds that caused all the ruckus last year. Seriously, how did this great little documentary become a political football? Just let me watch my damn penguin movie! Anyway, maybe all the shots of Antarctica will cool you down in the midst of high Summer. Go see this and enjoy the night air and the dulcet tones of Morgan Freeman describing the mating habits of flightless waterfowl. Rent a tux, get into the spirit of the thing.