Category Archives: Dance

Git Aht! – Things To Do This Weekend

(Things to do while detoxing your body of the Tryptophan…)

Friday, November 24
Good Friday Wine Tasting, 5:30 p.m., The Warhol, North Shore Side
warhol_wine_bottle It’s the last Friday of them month and that means wine and cheese at the Warhol. It’s a delightfully tasteful and refined way to start your weekend, although, let’s be honest – our weekend started Wednesday night, and then kinda paused for turkey and a nap yesterday, and will now kick back in. Sample four wines provided by Big Burrito, and mix it up with cheeses, fruits, nuts, and other assorted trappings of a wine tasting. Reservations are ok, but walk-ins are also welcome.

I’m not really big on wine tastings (as the people at a wine and cheese party I went to last night can attest. I was all like “Yo, where’s the American individually-wrapped processed cheesefood slices? Where’s the Velveeta? Where’s that 5 pound block of government cheese they gave us when I was a kid?”), but I do know what I like. I like wine that gets me toasty. That’s good wine. Beyond that, I’m a philistine.

Reel Big Fish, 7:00 p.m.,Mr. Smalls Funhahse, Milvale
lightupnightThe “Third Wave Ska Band” makes a stop at Mr. Smalls for an all ages show tonight. They were recently dropped by their label, which for most bands is a bad thing, but they were hoping for it for a long time, working to get out of it, get back to what they want to do, which involves starting off tunes with a trombone version of the Imperial Death March from Star Wars. They’re known for awesome covers at their live shows, including a fantastic version of A-Ha’s “Take on me” which was featured in the movie “BASEketball”. Like to hear it? Here it is:

Soulcialism, 10:00 p.m., The White Eagle, Sahsside
soulcialismAnother monthly (mostly) event, Soulcialism powers up the turntables and loads them full of the best in sixties and seventies Northern Soul music tonight at the White Eagle. Cheap drinks, great music, and lots of dancing make for a great event. No cover makes it even better. Work off the stuffing with dancing, and see if that cute girl wants to teach you the mashed potato or the bony marony.Saturday, November 25
Celebrate The Season Parade, 9:00 a.m., Dahntahn

bbjones
No, the other one.

Macy’s picks up the Kaufmann’s tradition and throws a party to get you to shop at their store out of the goodness of their hearts and to “Celebrate The Season”. I’m assuming this means the holidays and not deer season, but I’ve ben wrong before, so, y’know. Wear orange just in case.

A bunch of people I’ve never heard of will be there, but so will Jim Kelly, East Brady’s pride and joy, and Mayor Luke too. Don’t forget to drink if he mentions “moving forward“, even if it’s just to get the parade moving, um, forward. Still counts.

Motorpsychos, 8:00 p.m., RPMs, Bridgeville
RPMs dahn Bridgeville is a bit of a haul, but this is probably worth it based on band name alone. Buning Earth and The Cosmosonics are there too. Burning Earth are the headliners, I think, but c’mon. Motorpsychos. So, all right, maybe that’s not your cup of tea, so…

Don Aliquo and Mark Perna, 8:30, Gypsy Cafe, Sahsside
Don plays woodwinds, Mark plays keyboards and together they solve crimes while getting into one zany situation after another! It’s the “Reed And Ivory” show!

Actually, no, I think they’re just going to play jazz in a really cool setting, the Gypsy Cafe, an intimate place down at the corner of Bingham and 14th. But it would be cool if they solved crimes too. Admit it. It would.

Sunday, November 26
Dvorak’s “New World Symphony”, 2:30 p.m., Heinz Hall, Dahntahn
page_bowDvorak’s Symphony No. 9, to be precise, but hey, who am I to quibble with pop culture? This is his most popular work, influenced by his trips to America in the late 1800s, and he based it largely on Native American music and African American spirituals, at least according to wikipedia where I just looked it up. I remember playing this in high school orchestra, I think. I always hoped that one day I’d show up to orchestra practice and the director would hand out the sheet music to “Kashmir” by Zeppelin, but it never happened. Would’ve been way cool though, if a bit repetitive, but then again, what’s Bolero, fer chrissakes?

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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.

Git Aht! – “Thursday Is The New Friday” Edition

bootsyTonight, Brillobox, DJs J. Malls & Omar-Abdul crank up the funk-o-meter to 11. Why? Because it goes to 11, that’s why. The Big Throw Back party hits on a Thursday, and yeah, I know, there’s all this good TV on tonight. Like, umm.. What’s that show, the Friends show? With all the kids in New York? Yeah, that and the one with the doctors, umm, Rosemary Clooney’s nephew’s on it… Eh, whatever, look, dancing to funk and soul music is way better, and 4 out of 5 certified Doctors Of Funk agree. Wait, 4 out of 5? Hang on a second.

Ok, I had “a quiet word” with the fifth one and he’s come around to my way of thinking. Or rather, he will when he wakes up and they take the tube out. So now it’s 5 out of 5. The cost? 3 bucks at the door. It’s the best funk there is – it’s bargain funk. Funk you very much!

Git Aht! – Things To Do This Weekend

(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
soulcialism 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
blindsider 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
mensagroupI 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
ditkaHands 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.

swerskiBut 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
ga_bassDear 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
notldThey’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.

Aldo Coffee Company – A Coffee Shop with a blog

I first came across Aldo Coffee Company last year when I started IheartPGH.com, I didn’t link to Aldo because technically they are not in the city of Pittsburgh. Yes, work has called me outside of the city limits and I was in need of an urban haven. Aldo Coffee Company meets, actually exceeds, all of my requirements for a good coffee shop so it is worth mentioning. I darted into Aldo Coffee Company last week in search of the elusive free wireless connection, the barista’s weren’t sure if the telerama wireless had been converted in to free wireless. I opened up my computer and BAM – I am online. The owner came around and we started talking about blogs.

There are so many reasons that Aldo Coffee Shop is worth a visit, I need to make a list.

  1. Darn Nice People – I talked to the owner, I talked to the barista’s everyone here is super nice and helpful. A big thank you for the wonderful latte – which has a heart on top of the foam, which leads us to reason number 2…
  2. Latte Art – Art and Coffee shops go together
  3. Steelers Latte Art, oh yes, you read that correctly, Steelers Latte Art –
  4. Excellent Food Selection – as someone who spends many a meal time at coffee shops, I am always thrilled to find a place that has fresh food, salads, resonable portion sizes (yes you can order 1/2 sandwich!), and reasonable prices.
  5. Smoothies with REAL Fruit – This is a big one for me. I strive for 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day. This has become even more difficult with the recent spinach ban. Many establishments have smoothies, few actually use fruit.
  6. Cannoli Bar – I am not even sure I like cannoli, but I really think I would like cannoli, and they have all sorts of custom made cannoli here.
  7. Support Local Businesses – They do, I had a great chat with the owner who was on his way to Squirell Hill for a coffee shop field trip.
  8. Free Wireless – Thank goodness, this is near impossible to find free wireless outside of the east end.
  9. The Aldo Coffee Co Blog – Web2.0 meets coffee shop – Even IheartPGH.com has been mentioned in the blog!
  10. Belly Dancing – Tomorrow (Friday) Night they have live Belly Dancing
  11. Take the T – Aldo is located right near the T-stop. Yeah for public transportation! A great destination for your next public transportation field trip!

So if you are a suburban resident, take a break from Starbucks and visit Aldo, I have yet to find a Starbucks that offers Belly Dancing. If you are a die hard urbanite and find your self stranded in Mt. Lebanon, you can find an urban haven at Aldo.

Soulcialism: Get Your Mod On

Soulcialism - Juddy soulcialism Soulcialism - Dance Soulcialism - Dancers

Soulcialism is a monthly gathering of lovers. People who love Sixties Soul Music (specifically the Northern Sound). People who love to dance. People who (apparently) love to sweat.

The atmosphere at the White Eagle is… How can I put this?

Divey. Or divish.

Something like that, but in the best possible meaning of the term. You see, it has a feel that you’re in an underground club, that what’s going on is almost illicit, that what you’re doing would be frowned upon by “The Squares”, whoever the hell they might be these days. It’s a members club most days, but one Friday a month perhaps a hundred young people descend upon it to celebrate a commonality of sound. If you like Soul Music – the late 60s, early 70s variety of Northern Soul as spun by your hosts Juddy and Soccer John – this is the place to be Friday night.

It’s also a good place to be if you like to have a drink on the cheap. This is a “Club” after all, so you can get a round of drinks, and I mean three, four drinks, for maybe 7 bucks or so, depending on how posh you’re feeling.

This months gathering is also a bit of a benefit. Many New Orleans musicians are still dispersed throuhgout the country a year later. A small donation will get you a CD of new Orleans Soul to take home with all proceeds going straight to the New Orleans Musicians Hurricane Relief Fund. The donation is entirely voluntary – there is not now, nor has there ever been, a cover charge. What’s not to love right there?