Writing Pittsburgh

The Cloud Factory, mourned too soon

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 13:11:33 -0400

I somehow missed this article when it first appeared back in January. Brian O’Neill reacts to the Cloud Factory’s change from coal to natural gas only to later realize that not all that much has changed… or has it?

The whole thing is brilliant.

Books n' At

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 09:24:37 -0400

Books n' At:

There’s a new Literary Pittsburgh blog out there!

From their webiste:

Celebrating the literary life of Pittsburgh: a home for Pittsburgh authors, books set in the ‘burgh, local readings and events, movie tie-ins, reviews, giveaways, and interviews, and more.

If BP hit home

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 15:08:49 -0400

rustybridge:

Pittsburgher Rob de la Cretaz pointed out the amazing site www.ifitwasmyhome.com which uses your current location to help visualize the impact of the BP oil spill. The spill is so large that if it began in Pittsburgh it would almost spill into Lake Erie.

Watching Every Jeff Goldblum Movie: Pittsburgh! (2006) Total Goldblum Rating: 9/10 Jeff Goldblum stars in...

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 12:20:00 -0400

Watching Every Jeff Goldblum Movie: Pittsburgh! (2006) Total Goldblum Rating: 9/10 Jeff Goldblum stars in...:

Watch every Jeff Goldblum Movie just reviewed Pittsburgh!, and gave it an appropriate 11 out of 10 on the Goldbluminess scale.

Pittsburgh's Inexact Translations

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:16:26 -0400

If you read the Magazine section of yesterday’s Post Gazette, you may have noticed an ironic pairing of articles about the new, and inevitably disappointing sitcom set in Pittsburgh, “Romantically Challenged.” The first article, “Love for Penguins behind City’s setting for ‘Romantically Challenged,’” explains creator, Ricky Blitt’s crazed enthusiasm for Pittsburgh Hockey, while the review immediately following the article begins, “The first thing for Pittsburgh viewers to know about ABC’s ‘Romantically Challenged’ is that it does not feel Pittsburgh-y.” So why is that Pittsburgh so often fails to translate with any degree of accuracy to television or film? Or, maybe more accurately, why haven’t many people tried to make this translation?

It seems to me that most of the time films and TV shows think of the city in two of the following reductive forms: 1. Pittsburgh as generic mid-sized city OR 2. Pittsburgh as “Hell with the lid off.” Where the former makes no effort to consider the “place-ness” of Pittsburgh, the latter relies on out-dated stereotypes to construct the “Flight from [insert unsatisfactory hometown here]” narrative… Can’t blame them for trying, though, right? On the other hand, there have been a handful of films as of late that have utilized Pittsburgh more fully (think Adventureland, Mysteries of Pittsburgh, She’s Out of My League). The city, in these films, is not presented as a caricature, nor is it used merely as a scenic backdrop; the place is intimately connected to the protagonist. Of course, I don’t mean to make any kind of value judgement about these films based solely on this criteria - after all, I’ve been kind of unfairly using a lens of realism to examine genres that don’t strive for realism - but we are left with a number of questions concerning the way artists and writers develop these thumbnail sketches of our city - one of the biggest questions being, to what degree are steel and sports our inescapable representational modes?

widepipe: Fictional Pittsburgh Subway Map This fictional...

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 12:26:44 -0400

widepipe:

Fictional Pittsburgh Subway Map

This fictional version of a Pittsburgh Subway system is tremendous. The best thing about this imagined version is that unlike the dreaded North Shore connector, which connects commercial districts to each other, this connects residential areas to commercial and cultural districts, residential to residential, and even suburb to suburb. It’s a complex system, and one that is probably too big considering our population, but it’s an exciting prospect, nonetheless.

Here You Go!: Calling all Hander Outers!

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 11:28:34 -0400

Here You Go!: Calling all Hander Outers!:

Spring is here and so is the rain.

If you want to help us give away free umbrellas to people caught in the rain, the time is now!

Come join us for a cup of coffee (our treat) and become an official Here You Go Hander Outer, next Saturday morning at Espresso a Mano in Lawrenceville.

We’ll be there from 8 AM until 12 noon. Come whenever you can. We’ll get you caffeinated, signed up, and stocked with umbrellas.

Where: Espresso a Mano, 3623 Butler St. Pittsburgh, PA 15201
When: Sat, April 17, 8 AM-12 noon
We will be able to be reached by SMS or phone on the day of the event at 412-567-7844 or, as always, by email at

hereyougopgh@gmail.com

Pirates Predicted to Win World Series this Year

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 19:02:38 -0400

Pirates Predicted to Win World Series this Year

robrogers: Altmire - 29 Mar 2010 Rob Rogers’ Tumblr....

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 10:47:42 -0400

robrogers:

Altmire - 29 Mar 2010

Rob Rogers’ Tumblr. Awesome.

liqidfusion: Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pittsburgh...

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 12:46:34 -0400

liqidfusion:

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pittsburgh! <3

I don’t really know the story behind this video, but there are some terrific shots of the Pittsburgh snowscape. Does anyone know when/where/why this was shot in Pittsburgh?

Eating Schenley Plaza

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:43:38 -0400

Eating Schenley Plaza:

Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy has made plans to open a restaurant in Schenley Plaza.

Click through to see exactly where the restaurant will be.

photo via Melissa @ PPC

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:35:20 -0400

photo via Melissa @ PPC

One last post in honor of Fred Rogers.

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:13:19 -0400

One last post in honor of Fred Rogers.

Mister Rogers Make a Journal for Preschoolers iPhone App

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:00:18 -0400

After the 7:30 showing of My Tale of Two Cities last night at South Side Works, director, Carl Kurlander and a number of other cast members including Mr. McFeely, mentioned an iPhone app. developed by PBS Kids called “Mister Rogers Make a Journal for Preschoolers.”

From the iTunes App. Store Description:

Mister Rogers’ Make a Journal encourages children to identify and talk about their feelings about their everyday experiences like school, playtime and friends. The app features an animated version of favorite Neighborhood of Make-Believe character Daniel Striped Tiger, who invites children to make a journal to help them reflect on the things they do and to express how they feel.

It’s Won’t You Be My Neighbor Day! -...

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 14:33:20 -0400

It’s Won’t You Be My Neighbor Day!

- “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” by Fred Rogers

“My Tale of Two Cities” Trailer This will be playing...

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:09:37 -0400

“My Tale of Two Cities” Trailer

This will be playing at South Side Works this Friday and Saturday. It would be very unneighborly of you not to check it out.

More information and show times here.

Special thanks to Pop City Media for originally bringing this to my attention.

We love St. Patrick’s Day here, but this Saturday is...

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:56:03 -0400

We love St. Patrick’s Day here, but this Saturday is really the best day of all - “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” Day.

From the “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” Day website:

Won’t You Be My Neighbor? Day is an annual event to celebrate Fred Rogers and his legacy of neighborliness on his birthday. Neighbors everywhere are encouraged to wear his or her favorite sweater and promote neighborliness in their neighborhood. We’re glad to be your neighbor!

Oakland Transit Line Explored

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:33:56 -0500

Oakland Transit Line Explored:

I’m always happy to hear the city talk about new transit proposals; unfortunately, we rarely see them come to fruition. In this latest proposal, Dan Onorato appeals to private investors to help create a Downtown-Oakland transit system.

It seems like there are a number of ideas being thrown around, but I’m most interested in the “personal rapid transit” component of this project. It appears that they are looking to model this after WVU’s current system.

Could we have these little guys running around Oakland?

Something like this could have a a great deal of potential especially in those hilly areas of the city, as well as Intra-neighborhood travel… Then again there’s always the two-wheeled option for your short commutes.

… Or even the lost art of walking!

thepittsburghhistoryjournal: Carnegie Lake and Boat House,...

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:21:16 -0500

thepittsburghhistoryjournal:

Carnegie Lake and Boat House, Panther Hollow, Schenley Park [Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy]

ahitscayla: Picture I had taken of Pittsburgh from the...

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:46:57 -0500

ahitscayla:

Picture I had taken of Pittsburgh from the Smithfield Bridge.

Nice photo, Cayla!