Art All Night 2018

Yep .. it’s back. It’s moved slightly over across the river, but it’s back …. and it needs volunteers.

Art All Night is something SWB has always supported when it can (although this year I can’t … my apologies ahead of time). If you want a perfect example of nondiscrimination under any guise, Art All Night is it. All art, all music, all styles are welcome – regardless of where it came from. It’s an awesome place to agree to disagree about the art, and still go out for pizza and beer afterwards (oh … wait, that’s during – I guess maybe wine afterwards, then?)

The point is this is a non-censored show (yes, all kids are welcome … but parents do have to be aware and have common sense [control what your kids see, but please don’t teach them discrimination while doing it]).

If you really want to see the available creative talent in Pittsburgh – this is the place to go. Currently the dates are April 28th/29th. Volunteers are always needed, to please Click Here to get to their website if you want to do so, or just want to get info on the event.

Although I’ll miss the Lawrenceville aspect of Art All Night …… SouthSide could use its presence – so please continue to support it outside of L’Ville.

Support Local by supporting your fellow artists.

-SWB

Art All Night 2011 – the wait is over!!!

The Wait Is Over!!!
This is our traditional call out for this time of year.

Yes, it’s getting close, and time to start thinking about Art All Night (click on the logo to go to AAN’s website).

Why? … and for those of you that are new to Pittsburgh, you ask, “umm, OK, why??”

Art All Night, through it’s persistence has really become the official announcement to the start of the Spring/Summer art season in Pittsburgh and surrounding areas.  You know spring is coming when you start hearing the volunteer calls for Art All night.  You know spring is here when you start seeing those Art All Night “calls for artists”.  You know one of the main qualities that defines this city is now in full bloom when the first person walks into Art All Night … an sees the defining artistic creativity of the residents of our city.  There is nothing better during this time of year to show you a visual definition of “Pittsburgh”.  Art All Night has become a staple of the area holding it’s artists together every year.  Click Here to read the rest of the article on Sophisticated Pittsburgh.

Karyon Nightly

Hello SWB readers, I’d like to introduce myself.  My name is Karyon Nightly, one of the writers for the website http://www.sophisticatedpittsburgh.com.  Since we are taking control of SWB, I wanted to let you in on what we are planning on doing to move the site into something that can accompany S.P. as a blog.  SWB has a strong sarcastic and cynical side to it as most of the rant blogs did that started out around the mid 2000’s.  SWB will be that part of S.P. for those little sarcastic articles that we want to have fun with, but may not want to publish on the main site.  Here is what we are planning so far (there are many minds at work, so this may change from time to time):

• We will be deleting any blog entries from SWB that may have too strong of an opinion, or quite frankly don’t any longer apply to issues in the city.
• We will be toning down the sarcasm and strong opinions – we are not censoring, but challenging our writers to be as effective as SWB was, but with more creativity and good writing.
• Although sarcastic, cynical, and a little ranty … we want to try to make our articles readable by all Pittsburghers and outsiders.

Keep in mind, just because we are making SWB a little nicer to fit in with Sophisticated Pittsburgh, that doesn’t mean if you deserve a slap to the face we won’t give it anymore.

We’ll still cover things like Pittsburgh politics, The Steelers, The penguins, enjoyable moments from the council, the Strip District, the wonderful roads, etc, etc.

more later ….

Thanks

-Karyon

 

Changes To SWB

Our New Owners

Yup, we being taken over.

This is for the good.  After being inactive for a while, another site has inquired about taking over Screaming Weasel.  There will be changes, it will retain some of  the sarcasm, but will lose some of the “rantiness”  and negativity that it had when it started around 2005-2006 and rant blogs were the fad – although we will gripe a little through it,  and SWB will be the occasional guest writer.

We think you’ll like it … and what it will present about Pittsburgh.

If you want to check out our new owners, Click Here

Here is their future WordPress Blog (Click Here)

Please welcome Karyon Nightly (sophisticatedpgh) as  the new main writer.

-SWB

The Day After and the Road To Super Bowl 45

Yinzers getting ready the morning after AFC championship

Yep, we won again.  Being the courteous people that Pittsburghers are, we gave them a link of Parma Sausage and a cheese sampler from Penn Mac as a consolation prize.  We believe them a worth opponent, but not good enough to get that cool metal trophy we’ll put on out shelves.

We’re on the way to Super Bowl 45, Ben could bring in the Steeler’s 7th ring in his 7th season, by number 7.  Think of the lottery possibilities here folks.  This is an important win for the city – it will bring even more international recognition of our city, the sport of American football, and people.  The more people come to our city, the more jobs come with them.  Considering that, even if you aren’t a sports fan, you might want to start rooting for The Steelers to get ring 7.

-SWB

Review: SouthSide Works Chili Festival (ChiliWorks)

We made it to ChiliWorks!

… and it was definitely worth it.

I love food, cool art, and the sound of live brass – so booths full of chili, original artists, and a mariachi band made my day (along with seeing allot of friends on a great sunny day).

The event took place on upper 27th street in SouthSide works with the bands close to the courtyard.  The artists we occupying the old Joseph-Beth storefront.  Booths full of chili were just everywhere!

Oh … did I say booths full of chili were just everywhere?!?!?!

We expected the event to be slightly different and have a higher level of “cool” than your standard issue chili festival, and it was.

Here is what we found:

• Out of all the chili’s in competition, almost all tended to show a higher level of culinary skill put into their creations.  There were maybe one or two that were mediocre – but that may be more because of our personal tastes than anything.
• The bands were excellent, and the mariachi band definitely set the tone for the event. Heavy kudos to them for pulling out a two hour set. Music levels were loud enough to feel the music, but not drive you to the end of the street – good for everyone. We recommend having the bands again … and keeping whatever techs were hired.
• Thanks to Carrie Nardini and I Made It! Market … that art was great!  I Made It! never ceases to amaze SWB with the originality and diversity of the artists participating in their events. Watch out Three Rivers … we like ya, but Carrie and I Made It! are coming up with goods and the coolness.
• The ticketing, tasting, artist areas, etc were all very well planned out and easy to get through even with the very heavy crowd.
• Overall the event run by the SouthSide Works crew was well thought out, family friendly, and gave every reason to add it to your yearly “attend this” list.

But, most importantly …

Who won the chili contest?

According to a text from Pam at SSW – Tusca Global Tapas and Chef Jeff.

If you want to check out the restaurant, Click Here to go to Tusca Global Tapas in SouthSide Works.

When we tasted Tusca’s chili, we found it to be unique and not standard, but well made enough to rank highly with competition event chili’s … and in the end they showed their skills in that.  SWB didn’t expect any less from Tusca, as the culinary capabilities of those that work there are proven time and time again.

-SWB

PS – We were impressed enough with the event so we are adding it to SWB Recommends … and we hope to see it back next year.

City Blooms and Phipps Shows

Trees Blooming In The City.

No, we’re not talking about work or construction blooming in the city … but the trees are opening up in full bloom.  It’s one of the few times you can imagine the city as a welcoming garden.

It’s also a reminder that the Spring Show at Phipps has started.  We don’t have any pics here, but it looks great and you need to check it out.  Many changes have happened at Phipps over the last few years, along with the Presidential visit … which makes the show much different this year.  It’s worth taking it in.  The outside of Phipps should be getting into bloom now too, which makes for the overall experience of the Conservatory spill out from inside the glass walls.  Where else can you experience a rain forest without fighting off massive bugs?  The Butterfly Forest will also be showing up April 24th – a reason to go back after seeing the Spring Show.

-SWB

PS – I’m sure if you really want large bugs as part of your Phipps Rain Forest experience, and you donate a large sum to the conservatory – they’ll make an effort to find a few over sized mosquitoes to accommodate your needs.

SSW Chili and Art Festival (ChiliWorks)

Capture from SSW’s ChiliWorks event posting – click it to go there.

Everyone likes a Chili Fest ….. that’s just the way it is. Period.

You get everything there that you could possibly want: Good food that’s probably really bad for you, imported beers, loud entertainment, oh – and did I say good food that’s probably bad for you?

You can’t go wrong by going to a Chili Fest.

Now,  one of the hottest spots in Pittsburgh, SouthSide Works, has popped their own into place with a full compliment of I Made It! Market artists brought in by Carrie Nardini, Live Entertainment and Kid’s Korner brought in by SouthSide Work’s marketing director Pamelyn McMahon, and much more!  It’s a Pittsburgh cool and chic chili fest for the whole family!  The date is April 10th this year (2010).

This is another event by the folks that brought you SouthSide Work Exposed (less me … I opted out of Exposed a few years ago), so it’s bound to be cool.

Quickie List Of Events:

• Chili Tasting (if you haven’t figured that out)
• Mariachi Fiesta Band
• I Made It! Market Artists
• Kid’s Korner

* Click on the schedule icon above to go to the actual events website.

-SWB

PS – Even if you aren’t the beer drinking, chili pounding partier that everyone thinks goes to chili festivals – go anyway and support I Made It! Market (these are the artists that make changes and the cool stuff you have in your homes).  If you don’t have any of their cool stuff in your homes … BUY SOME!

DJ Lawrence (OMV) back at Tusca Tapas

I normally don’t push events I work at on this blog, but due to the long break courtesy of the February snow storm here … I have to try to get some customers back (did that sound like enough of s sob story to may you feel bad, but professional enough to promote the event?).

Anyways, Click Here for the event link in Bar Smart.

There is a link to my events website that allows you to request music when I am at Tusca (normally Fridays 5pm until ???).  Since the month of April is National Jazz Month, the music can range anywhere from 70s/80s/current to smooth or other forms of jazz.  The programming, genres, and styles change throughout the year – so give us feedback on what you want.

BarSmart is where I will have the main postings on events I do at Tusca, but keep alert to The Tribune Review, Pittsburgh City Paper, etc.

-SWB

PS – if you don’t dance, you can still hang out … it’s a good way to get some down time from the kids during this last stretch of Spring Break.

BTW – Tusca Tapas is in SWB Recommends, not because we work there, but because the Chefs are that good.

Review: My Tale Of Two Cities

First off, I’m disappointed that I didn’t make the opening because I didn’t get to meet some of the cast, the director, and some of the folks from Mr. Roger’s. {{groan}} … don’t ya just hate being responsible enough to have other obligations? … that’s probably one of those Pittsburgher traits that keeps us from moving on.

Well, not really … but it’s one that does make people want to build a family here.  It’s a place you can make a decision that shows the importance of your family to you and still keep your job.

Let’s get to the movie: If you were looking for the whiny movie about a man that moved away and made it big in someplace like Broadway, and just realized he missed out on raising his children well in a more family oriented town like Pittsburgh because his oldest child just went through rehab for the fifth time for drug addiction … your in the wrong place – it’s not a reality show or movie.

What it is … reality. Real reality, no fakes, no acting, *REAL*.

The movie is more of a constant interview than a documentary. We are making that statement as a compliment. Whether you live here, or whether you are thinking about moving here, it makes you think. Considering that thinking is the biggest and most important prerequisite to change, this movie could well be the missing key to starting a true growth and city wide thinking renovation revolution that Pittsburgh honestly and truly needs.

The movie was created and filmed by the typical nerdy type guy most would have gladly beat up (I know … I was one too.  I grew up in Brentwood where there were two cliques for guys – the ones that could play football, and everyone else).

You may want to consider thanking this “nerdy kid” from the past for almost losing everything to make this movie, as it may be the calling card that finally kicks this city into saving itself.  Pittsburgh will not be saved by new construction, cool apartments, or attracting new business – we’ve tried that before.  The only thing that will save it is new thinking.  Carl Kurlander filmed a way to new thinking for the city.

Click Here to check out info on the movie and show times (it’s only in Pittsburgh at SouthSide Works until the 25th of March, so run if you want to see it on the big screen … and I suggest seeing it if you want to acquire some ambition to change your city).

This is one of those projects, if you knew was going on, you would have wanted to volunteer time to help complete it.

-SWB

PS – I truly was the nerdy kid in school … the only difference between me and Carl was that I listened to my parents and went into Information Technology instead of going with what I loved (recording, live sound, photography, and filming).  I still smack my Father upside the head once in a while for guiding me into that decision.

BTW – we STRONGLY (yes, we’re rudely screaming this) suggest further supporting the project by buying the movie DVD … Click Here to do that.

Two For One: Waived Snow Days and Pitt Anarchist

First … Happy real St Patrick’s day to y’all.

Now, on to the gripe … it’s two for one idiots in the news article day, so feel special.

Snow Days:

This is just a joke … the state (or county) is deciding who gets waived snow days.  Now, when I went to school you just made them up.  There was no question about it.  Family vacations and other things did not take precedence over the importance of being in school or making up days.  This is just dumb, but what makes it worse is someone after the level of storms we had is deciding who gets waived. I’m sure they will quickly forget that we were in this together.  You can almost guarantee that certain areas will be waived over others, and not due to the level of winter issues in that area … use your imagination, you can dream up the reasons. We’re not going to highlight any articles to go to, just check out the Tribune-Review, Post-Gazette, KDKA, WPXI, etc as there will be enough stories to just catch one.

The Pitt Anarchist:

What do you do if you are a popular college in the area to get news coverage and perk up your income?? … that’s right!!, you got it!! … you invite the guy that was affiliated with the group bombed your city in the 70’s to come speak on his anti-US views.  Real winner, Pitt.  Maybe you should fire all of your American teachers, put a ban on them, and outsource your school, since by inviting an anti-Pittsburgh, anti-US speaker to the city he helped bomb (11 buildings by the way) you’ve proven your views.  Click Here to check out the article from the Tribune-Review by Chris Togneri.  Free speech is one thing … but this is another thing.

-SWB

PS – Oh well, at least our top universities and politicians prove they can consistently work at the same level of stupidity.

Did I Really Do That?

Well, it’s a few days after St. Patty’s day (the Pittsburgh parade and party day that is … that’s a note for the outsiders not realizing Pittsburgh tends to celebrate on the weekend with the parade, not necessarily on the actual day), and hopefully you’ve recovered enough to get back to work.

If you haven’t – then get back to sleep … the “Twitter beep” your phone just gave you alerting you to this post isn’t worth it just yet.

If you have recovered enough to be on your way to work (or already there), the next thing coming to most peoples mind is … “what pictures hit work before I did, and am I ready to deal with them”.

There is a simple and well tested resolution to this problem … avoid everyone.

That’s right … avoid everyone.

So, how do you do that? … I mean most work places are crammed tight as companies try to get the most per square foot out of any space they own, lease, or rent.

If you realized what are you live in (cell cams, netbook cams, mini cams, etc … and the internet) when you started your current job, you would have taken the time to scout out useful places where you work. Those are places like unused cubes, janitor’s closets, offices abandoned due to outsourcing, etc. Not only can you use those places for a quick snooze while you continue to recover from the party weekend, they are perfect to make a quick escape into when you overhear your coworkers talking about the pic Jill snapped of you trying to balance yourself on top of the beer tap (and of course the end result of you not being successful at it).

Now if your smart … you’ll not just find the location of these places, but check them out ahead of when you need to use them. Janitor’s closets can be a tad smelly at times, and you never know what an ex and disgruntled employee did to an office after he or she was told their job is now in some unheard of suburb of some obscure Romanian city. Empty cubes are about the best bet for hiding from the St. Parry’s day weekend pics or other pics of mistakes you made under the influence of something you shouldn’t continued drinking. Cubes without doors are out in the open enough that most ex employees don’t have the guts to do anything in ’em.

Anyway … if you had to hide to avoid your coworkers today, you have SWB’s advice.  If you choose to ignore it, be prepared to be on one of your works friends Clueless and Confused posts, or on of their “So Stupid” company wide e-mails, etc.

Don’t say we didn’t warn or try to help you get out of answer “Did I really do that???”

-SWB

PS – The best bet was to not drink that much anyway … but if your a corporate time, anything that makes that much sense is forbidden.

It’s Friday! … Finally

Even if you don’t have a heavy week, sometimes Friday just takes tooooooo long to get there.

It doesn’t matter if you work, don’t work, keep house, hose down pets, etc … weekdays are weekdays even if you are in a coma and sleep through all of them.

Right?

… right.

So we’re in agreement on that one.

Keeping in mind that this weekend is St. Patrick’s Day, so that means extra fun.

We also have the Home and Garden Show.

I know the first thing that comes to mind is the drunks that will out … well, that’s part of it.  But, think further. Since we have the Home and Garden Show going on too, so the festivities really hit once the St Patty’s day crowd finds the Home and Garden Show after the parade.  There’s nothing like watching already tired and weary sales people trying to explain the differences of various garage door openers to drooling, slurring drunk people.

Hmmm …. makes me wonder if they have a dunk tank there.  I believe that alcohol content of about 50% of the attendees on the 13th should make them fairly buoyant (thus making sure they won’t drown and die) … and the thrashing about in water of confused drunk people has always been entertaining (I used to hang out by a lake … so  know this for a fact).

It’s Spring!

Birds are singing.

Snow is melting.

Potholes are blooming.

Green shamrocks are growing in the potholes.

You get the idea … it’s turning Spring in Pittsburgh.

—————

So what other signs of Spring do we have in this wonderful city of ours?

Let’s see:

• The pirates are starting spring training with aspirations to actually become a baseball team again.
• The waters are threatening to crest and carry Pittsburgh’s Primanti sandwiches out to sea.
• The Cultural District smells like a well tuned engine with the performances of Grease (or could that be the oil leaks from the buses?).
• Orange pylons are emerging from winter storage as Pittsburgh’s roadway obstacle courses are set for the Spring and Summer seasons.
• In The Strip, dogs howl as the sweet voices of the Opera blend with the musical tones of the local bird song.
• The aromas from the open doors at Pittsburgh Popcorn enlighten the senses (and unfortunately distract the drivers … that kitty never had a chance).
• Vendors in the strip finally shed their winter garb, thaw out, and begin wakening from hibernation (it was sad how people just stole their stuff when they were sleeping over the winter).
• Oh, and did I mention the potholes?  Well, we’re not going to make fun of the city crew, since this is really going to be a sucky Spring for them … although they fill all probably end up fitter than a fiddle (until St. Patty’s Day … along with everyone else).

-SWB

PS – Yup, Spring is in the air … so is the job market, fuel prices, home values.  Such appropriate crisis’ for the Spring 😉

St. Patrick’s Day Parade Changes

Well, it’s less than a week from the 2010 St. Patty’s Day parade, and if you haven’t heard there are changes.

Yup … in a town that pushes back against changes like a 767 jet engine pushing back against a 100 ton hydraulic press … that seems a little weird.

I mean … no party in Market Square.  Who cares if it’s a mud pit right now … nobody is usually coherent enough during the parade to care or notice, and if they wake up back home covered in mother earth they’ll just figure they forgot to take their clothes off before hitting the mud bath at the spa.

And no open alcohol.  That’s an issue.  Not that I’m pro-drunks or of the thinking that being Irish is about being drunk.  Absolutely not … that’s just offensive.  This issue is that the best part of the parade is not the parade (although that is a good show) – it’s watching the drunks pinging off the telephone poles. Since most of the poles are metal in the city, depending on the frequency and size of the heads hitting them, you can occasionally hear a tune being played from the pings … honest.

I’ll miss that.

… and what excuse will you have for your boss when he’s working on the weekend and sees you dancing on top of the parked cars in the street??  If you actually did things like that sober, you probably wouldn’t be working for him.

-SWB

PS – Oh well, change happens … sometime not for the best.

Anyway, Click Here for a link with some info on the changes from Channel 4.