Tag Archives: arts

Guide to Pittsburgh’s Independent Movie Theaters

When the weather starts heating up, sometimes the only thing to do is go inside. This season many of us will take to the air-conditioned refuge of our local megaplexes. To switch things up, I offer you a list of local independently owned theaters. Many of the theaters screen the same new releases, but also provide character and unique programming.

Hollywood Theater475193_275212485896001_1501098987_o

1449 Potomac Ave., Dormont

(412)563-0368

The Hollywood plays a wide variety of movies as well as special film events. Known for its Rocky Horror Picture Show performances, as well as its “Breakfast and a Movie” series (just what it says, breakfast, and a movie) there’s something for everyone. The single-screened theater is a nonprofit dedicated to revitalizing Potomac Avenue and Dormont by providing a theater and community center.

The Strand

119 North Main St., Zelienople

(724)742-0400

The Strand offers a variety of films as well as live performances. The Rocky Horror Picture Show screens regularly (17 & over only) and yes, you can throw things at this performance. The theater screens classics like Gone With the Wind and The Wizard of Oz, but you can also find live shows at The Strand. The nonprofit theater was restored in 2002, and wants to expand the project.

The Manor

1729 Murray Avenue, Pittsburgh

(412)422-9851

The Manor theater screens both wide-release and independent movies, at often lower prices than the megaplexes. The Manor also boasts “The M Bar” in the lobby where patrons can bring alcoholic drinks into the theater. Check out the “Manor at Midnight” series, when the theater screens classic movies Saturdays at midnight.

Harris Theater

a little history?

a little history? (Photo credit: macwagen)

809 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh

(412)682-4111

Owned by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and programmed by Pittsburgh Filmmakers ,the Harris Theater is a classic movie house in the heart of the Cultural District. The theater screens foreign and contemporary independent films, and is also part of the Three Rivers Film Festival.

Oaks Theater

310 Allegheny River Blvd., Oakmont

(412)828-6322

The single screen Oaks Theater screens both new releases and cult classics. Check out the summer series “Moonlit Matinees”, where Oaks screens a cult classic every Friday and Saturday night. Once a month, the theater hosts the “Cine Bruch”, where movie fans can watch and munch on a delicious Oakmont Bakery brunch.

Regent Square

Regent Sq Theater

1035 South Braddock Ave., Pittsburgh

(412)682-4111

Owned and operated by Pittsburgh Filmmakers, this single screen theater plays limited release independent movies seven days a week. In addition, every Sunday night the Regent Square theater hosts “The Sunday Series”, a monthly series of film screenings based around a theme, era, or director.

Melwood Screening Room

477 Melwood Ave., Pittsburgh

(412)681-5449

Located within the Pittsburgh Filmmakers building, the Melwood Screening Room is the youngest of the independent theaters on this list. The screening room plays independent features, and hosts “Film Kitchen” on the second Tuesday of every month.“Film Kitchen” is a series featuring local short films. The filmmakers are present at the screening and available for discussion after the show.

 


View Independent Theaters in Pittsburgh in a larger map

What’s your favorite theater in Pittsburgh? Seen any good movies lately?

Treader’s Choice: (Fe)nale

(Fe)naleTreading Art has been putting together an amazing list of weekend events around Pittsburgh. Each week we will highlight one of those events here on IheartPGH and link you back over to Treading Art’s weekly events post.

This weeks Treader’s Choice event:
Friday (TODAY!) June 28
(Fe)nale

Lawrenceville’s Fe Gallery is closing it’s doors at the end of the month. Swing by to check out their last exhibition, enjoy some small bites, DJ Zan Naz, and cheers your goodbyes.
Fe Gallery @ 4102 Butler St – Lawrenceville

7pm // FREE

Click here to see the rest of the Weekend Treadings

Steel of the Week: Yinzer Bingo

This week’s featured Steel of the Week is Yinzer Bingo by John the Craftist. Seen at Boutique 208, you are sure to get a kick out of this unique bingo card if you are from the Pittsburgh area. All the spaces on the card are relevant to the area, such as “Road Work”, “Pothole”, “Terrible Towel”, “Big Ben Jersey”, with some of the more culturally unique ones being ”Pgh Left”, “Jean Shorts”, “Confusing Intersection”, “80s Bangs”, and “Jagoff”. John the Craftist’s products mostly consist of PGH-centric/Pittsburghese greeting cards, along with magnets, keychains, buttons, gift tags, and other small paper craft items. Zodiac birthday cards are also available. All the products are handprinted, handcut, and hand-folded by John the Craftist, who is actually Thea Okonak of Aspinwall.Yinzer Bingo

 

Along with Boutique 208, John’s stockists include The Mattress Factory Museum, The Shop at Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Wildcard in Lawrenceville, Koolkat Designs in Mt. Lebanon, and Nota Bene in Aspinwall. John also vends at he I Made It! Market events, and this past year sold with Koolkat Designs at the Three Rivers Arts Festival and with Steeltown Etsy at Handmade Arcade.

You can get a first look at new cards by checking out the Facebook page, http://facebook.com/johnthecraftist. This is where you can also find out the next vending location and interact to give feedback or stories about the products you’ve enjoyed!


Have an item you would like featured as our Steel of the Week? Submit to sotw@iheartpgh.com!

Five Things To Do This Week (and One Next Week)

Akira
Tuesday 7p
ToonSeum, Cultural District

Based on the groundbreaking cartoon series, this 1988 animated Japanese film is set in an obsessively detailed version of a post-apocalyptic Japan.
More info: http://www.toonseum.org/

 

Obscure Game Night
Wednesday 9p
Hambone’s, Lawrenceville

Not much on the website, but it looks as if it’s a night dedicated to weird and obscure board games. Sounds ridiculously fun.
More info:  http://www.barsmart.com/bars/events.cfm?evnt=2A987CA4-A612-8638-C3FCEB69BDE5D8DD&id=990

 

MAKEnight
Thursday 6p-9p
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, North Side

Create keepsake items, feast on local artisan foods & specialty cocktails, more. Ages 21+.
More info:  http://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/makenight/Event?oid=1610569

 

Gojira with Devin Townsend and The Atlas Moth
Saturday 8p
Mr. Smalls, Millvale

If you’re at all into metal, this is an awesome lineup. That’s a lot of musicianship for one evening.
More info/tickets:  http://www.mrsmalls.com/NewPHP/home.php?section=events

 

Pulp Fiction
Saturday Midnight
Manor Theatre, Squirrel Hill

Tarantino’s classic 1994 film shown in all its glory on the silver screen. If you’re like me, you were too young to see it when it was new.
More info:  http://www.manorpgh.com/img/ManoratMIdnightOscar.pdf

 

Arcade Comedy Theater Grand Opening
Friday, Feb 15 8p
Cultural District

I’m a week early on this one, but let’s support our newest comedy club. Their mission statement: “Arcade Comedy Theater provides an interactive platform for players of all levels, both onstage and off, to experience various forms of theatrical comedy, from proven standards to offbeat styles.”
More info:  http://arcadecomedytheater.com/

 

Some information provided by:
http://old.post-gazette.com/events/
http://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/EventSearch

A Matter of Public Record – History, Mystery and an iPhone App

Pittsburgh in 1902
Image via Wikipedia

Something about this summer- super great collaborative projects abound. First there was the  illustration ale a partnership between East End Brewing and the Toonseum.  Then Barebones Productions brought Killer Joe to the stage with Joe Grushekcy accompaniment.  Public Record is a collaboration between Pittsburgh writer and artist Justin Hopper, tech company DeepLocal and publishers Encyclopedia Destructia to bring some of the mystery and history of Pittsburgh to life on the streets of downtown Pittsburgh. Continue reading