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Category: Events

  • Tango Lessons!

    tango

    I write to this post from bright and sunny Buenos Aires, Argentina, tango capital of the world. (Even the most diehard Pittsburgher has to escape from the snowy or rainy skies some time. ) To prepare for my vacation, I just had to get in one tango lesson. It was really fun and I got a lot of exercise in just one afternoon … so if going to the gym is not an appealing way to get in shape for you, try the tango! (Believe me, it is a lot more than strutting with your partner in a straight line down the dance floor!) I just got this e-mail from my instructor, Martin de san Martin:

    “Hola Tangueros!

    “Happy New Year to you all!

    “How are you? I hope you had a great holiday season and are itching to come back to the dance floor!

    “I am writing to you to confirm that we will have our weekly tango class this Sunday, January 8th, in our new home at the East Liberty Presbyterian Church – ELPC which is known as the Cathedral of Hope.

    “The Cathedral of Hope (East Liberty Presbyterian Church – ELPC) is located at the corner of Penn and Highland in the East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The main entrance is on Highland Avenue. Following I’ve attached a link with the directions posted on the ELPC website for your convenience.

    http://www.cathedralofhope.org/directions.html

    “Please note that we’ve changed the class schedule a bit to accommodate the requests of many of you. Therefore, the classes will be starting one and a half hour earlier!

    “Time: 6:00 pm Beginners
    7:00 pm Intermediate

    “As usual, you’re welcome to suggest steps and techniques you’d like to work on. If you have questions please email at: tangointheburgh at yahoo dot com “

    The tango is experiencing a revival around the world, Pittsburgh included: there is a surprisingly robust tango community here and many Argentines call this city home.

    But I have to say, being in the middle of humid, hot summer sans air conditioning actually makes me appreciate the Pittsburgh weather I just left. So see? I still heart Pittsburgh! But I must go take a nap now … apparently the party doesn´t get started here until midnight … zzzzz.

  • SANTARCHY!

    santa

    So. Before you go you go curling or see Mamaspell this Saturday, Dec. 10, you need to check out the first annual Pittsburgh SANTARCHY. This Santastic event has been held everywhere from Tokyo to San Francisco. The evidence at left is from McMurdo Station in Antarctica. Good Lord, I never thought I’d see the day where Pittsburgh was playing catch-up to Antarctica on a cultural trend. But anyway. We got it, finally.

    From the organizer’s post at craigslist:

    What is it? Santarchy is a nonpolitical, non-religious, not-for-profit (i.e. free), demented Santa Claus convention — a mass gathering of Santa Clauses that will spread a little disruptive, holiday cheer to everyone we encounter. It’s part pub crawl, part culture jam, and part prank.

    Meeting place: Southside, Beehive Coffee House, corner of 14th and Carson.
    When: 3:00 p.m., this Saturday
    Until: ??? (But plan on a long day.)

    The itinerary will be kept secret until the actual day, but expect the following:
    — It will start and end in the Southside.
    — Lots of walking
    — Use of public transportation system
    — Visits to Station Square and Downtown.
    — Pub hopping
    — Lots of funny looks

    This event is free and open to all Santas, however, the drinks and food along the way will not be.

    In order to participate you MUST dress like Santa Clause. Here is some advice from Pittsburgh Cacophony Society:

    “Santa apparel is mandatory. A Santa hat is not enough. Get a Santa suit. Make a Santa suit. Steal a Santa suit. Buy a Santa suit. If you don’t have any money, be creative. If you don’t have any creativity, slap yourself three times and ask your mom to help you. Glue cotton balls to red long johns. Make it purple. Make it pink. Already have a Santa suit? Make a spare so Santa can assimilate strangers. Past examples: pimp Santa/Santa garcia/Santa’s naughty little helper/misfit toy/elf/reindeer. Traditional suits can be bought at local party stores or ordered online for $12 and up.”

    I am looking forward to the insantaty.

  • Local freeform Hip-Hop group… BEAM!

    Do you miss the cutting edge days of hip-hop music? Are you looking for refreshing, genre-bending musical artists? Do you think the local music scene consists solely of punk bands and really bad “spoken word” hipsters?

    Local jazz/hip-hop band Beam turns conventional hip-hop music on its head at their monthly gigs at the Pittsburgh Deli Company. From 10pm to midnight the first Friday of every month, at PDC in Shadyside, this 5 piece ensemble will blow your mind.

    Drummer David Throckmorton (aka Throck Ock) pounds out the classic breakbeats, uptempo jungle beats, spacey jazz rhythms, and funky rock n roll stylings and directs the free flowing improv between all five band members: bass player, “space bass” effects generator, dart-spittin MC, and champion DJ Supa C.

    These guys are amazing. They play a variety of composed hip-hop tunes and freeform improvisational psychedelic hip-hop that goes all over the map. Akil Esoon’s rhymes range from narrative gangsta fables to insightful political commentaries to playful party freestyles. Supa C’s DJing, scratching, cutting, and beat juggling skills perfectly compliment the funky rhythm section. As soon as Akil finishes spittin an ill verse, Supa C will start cutting up some classic ’90s vocals. Steve “Lantronics” Landay, orchestrator of the “space bass” rig, adds psychedelic soundscapes that give an extra layer to the music, rarely found in hip-hop.

    These guys are definately at THE TOP of the local music scene, producing sounds and styles you can’t hear anywhere else. It’s a hip-hop revolution right before your very eyes.

    It’s too bad PDC is such an “alterna-coffeeshop-crowd” and nobody dances! But they have fine beer selections, to be sure….

  • Mama Spell’s Holiday Spectacle On Ice

    Mama Spell
    For a holiday treat that is sure to delight – we highly reccomend Mama Spell’s Holiday Spectacular on Ice! Mama Spell a native of Mississippi now calls Pittbsurgh her home and is a true Pittsburgh lover. This is sure to be a great night of holiday fun.
    More info available here – http://www.clocabaret.com/latenight/Spell.html
    SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10
    Mama Spell’s Holiday Spectacle On Ice
    at the Pittsburgh CLO Late Night Cabaret
    With Special Guests Chupa Cabra and others!
    CLO Cabaret Theater, 655 Penn Ave. Downtown. 9:30pm
    Tickets: (412) 456-6666. $10 at the door, $8 in advance

  • Your vote can help the Steelers beat Green Bay

    Show your support for the STEELERS! It only takes 5 seconds & end world hunger

    Go to http://www.chunky.com/clickforcansvote.aspx and vote for the
    Pittsburgh Steelers! This year, two NFL teams will earn donations of
    Campbell’s soup to the food banks of their choice. For the team with the
    most clicks, Campbell’s will get the stats for all the players on the
    team’s official roster and donate the team’s total weight in cans! So
    far, the Green Bay Packers remain the undefeated Click for Cans champs
    will they stay on top, or will they get a run for their money this year?
    It’s up to you! Take a moment and click and pass it on to others to
    help fight hunger in The Burg.