(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.
Marc Rettig (pictured) is this months feature photographer and this show wraps up the involvement with Club Havana. No word yet on where it’ll be moving to, but as long as they keep it at a bar, I’ll be happy. And drunk.
Local Witches, Druids, Wiccans, Shamans, and the like get together and whoop it up at the Pagan Potluck. This is a chance to get to know your local pagan, and also lets the local covens network a bit. They want you to bring a dish, and sweet Lord, (I know, yeah) I hope someone makes a Stonehenge out of marzipan.
Local music for a cause. It’s at Borders, so it can’t get the “Drinking for a Cause” label, but so be it, it’s still a good idea. Bring some non-perishable food items and enjoy the fun and live music from three great local bands with plenty of time to get home to watch the commercials that go on in between plays. Seriously, the Super Bowl’s kind of a pain in the ass anymore, because it takes so friggin’ long to watch the game. Ok, so ‘Em Stillerz aren’t in it this year, which my hypertension is thankful for, but still… I can’t even relax to watch the game because of the interminable commercials and half time show. Sure, it’s Prince, I love Prince, but do you think we’re gonna get a rollicking version of “Darling Nikki”? ‘Cos I don’t. Here’s hoping the assless chaps make an appearance, if only for the absurdity of it, and the controversy it’d cause.
Given the weather, the main thing here (among all of the galleries featuring great work and live music) is the Hot Chocolate and marshmallows that will be available free in the lobby of the Cabaret Theater in Theater Square. The marshmallows are shaped like snowmen, so this is your chance to at least symbolically exact revenge on Winter by biting the heads off first, pretending you’re a giant monster from a 50s Japanese sci-fi flick. Make some sort of “grarrrr!” sound to show the staff at the Cabaret Theater that you mean business, and are not one to be trifled with. This will help you to get that second mug of cocoa much quicker. Git Aht Tipâ„¢: Slipping some butterscotch schnapps into hot chocolate makes it a lot better, especially in the mid-term.
They’re kind of a big deal, I think. They get a lot of national notice, they’re homegrown, and even at a known rock joint that has a friggin’ skatepark attached to it, they’re standing room only tonight. Me, I dunno… I like my country music to be old school, about drinkin’, and heartbreak, and drinkin’. Preferably sung by someone who has lived through drug addiction, maybe a heart attack or two, a divorce, and rampant bouts of alcoholism. That’s country music, pardnah. Somebody help me out here – do the PNH do this kind of thing?
You’ll pay for the whole seat, but you’ll only need the edge! Well, ok, probably not, I mean, the back part of your ass’ll get numb after about 20 minutes, and you’ll wanna lean back with your Coors Light, take a load off so to speak. Go and see motorcycles flying through the air, going sideways, flipping around, and healing the sick.
Pictured, Dresta Kill, the Captain of my favorite team (based solely on team name), 
The Carnegie’s got an exhibit of Rembrandt prints running now through February 11th, all etchings spanning three decades that will show the evolution of his style. Works included are Self-Portrait Leaning on a Stone Sill, (1639); The Three Trees (1643), and my personal favorite which truly shows the incredible depth of his work, Christ Crucified Between Two Thieves (The Three Crosses) While Dogs Play Poker In The Foreground, 4th state (c. 1660).
They’ve also got an installation piece by Jonathon Borofsky, the same guy that has the “Walking To The Clouds” piece up on the CMU campus. It’s called “Human Structures” and it’s meant to be walked around and through. Well, not literally through because that would reduce it’s value, but you know what I mean. All in all, it sounds like a pleasant way to spend a Winter afternoon.
Heat up the cold winter night by packing your ass into the Eagle with 100 or so of your closest, soul-loving friends. Drinks are cheap, the music’s great, the dancing’s even better, and there ain’t no cover (yes, i now it’s a double negative, which I guess could mean that there is a cover, but you need to stop being so literal and have some fun for a change, fer chrissakes…)
“Refreshments”. We all know what that means, don’t we? Although, the concept of refreshment is one of those means different things to different people things, so your particular refreshment might not be available. For instance, I think a pint of Martini is fantastic for a summer’s day, although it can make for a truly horrendous summer’s night.
You’d think a taste of Ireland would involve whatever it is they do to the Blarney Stone at night after the tourists leave, but no. In this case, it’s all about the beer. Well, for me it is. Guinness all night, live music, and a stunning lack of potatoes. Consider this a warm-up for St. Patrick’s Day… Training camp, if you will. And you will, let’s not kid ourselves.