Quantum Theatre Presents “Fat Beckett” (show review)

Quantum Theatre Pittsburgh presents "Fat Beckett"

“Perspective…an inescapable truth.”

Samuel Beckett is most noted for his play Waiting for Godot, where his two main characters wait endlessly for a man who never comes. By the wishes of Beckett, his plays must be performed without changes to his tedious stage directions and under no circumstances can male characters ever be played by women. This set writer and lead actress Gab Cody and her counterpart Rita Reis on a mission: to find the “existential clowning piece” for women. In her own words Cody “set out to create a piece of highly physical theater that poses existential questions in the most ridiculous of situations.” In seeing the opening night of Quantum Theater’s “Fat Beckett” it seems that Cody and director Sam Turich have succeeded.
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David Calfo’s Steel City Salvage Art Goes Upscale at Arbor Aid

Arbor Aid 2011 with art by Dave Calfo presented by Tree Pittsburgh

This Friday’s Arbor Aid 2011 fundraiser will feature a variety of artwork for sale from over 40 local artists, but there’s one sculptor in particular whose work you’re going to feel like “salvaging.” David Calfo, an unboring Pittsburgh native, salvage artist and nature enthusiast, has contributed three sculptures, two of which are composed exclusively of materials reclaimed from the historic McBride Log House.
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Rust Melt: New Abstractions from Pittsburgh Art Exhibit

Rust Melt Art Exhibit at the Fe Arts Gallery on Butler Street

Rust Melt: New Abstractions from Pittsburgh opens today at the Fe Arts Gallery in Lawrenceville. The exhibit is curated by Julie Leidner and Elizabeth Mooney and features the works of eight artists with ties to Pittsburgh: N Sean Glover, Jessica Langley, Dana Lok, Clayton Merrell, Meghan Olson, Karen Seapker, James A. Schaffer, and Adam Welch.

Opening reception tonight (Friday, August 12, 2011) at 7:00pm – 9:00pm.
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Delicious “Fish” Sandwich

Delicious "Fish" Sandwich

Dear Pittsburgh,

Please note that quote marks indicate parts of a sentence repeating something someone else said. In their secondary function, their use is ironic, indicating the item in marks is somehow, perhaps, an imposter. For example, ‘You gonna get the “Seasoned Beef” on your taco?’

At no time, ever, Pittsburgh, should they be used for emphasis. Yes, Pittsburgh, really. Not ever. You’re just wrong on this one.

(That said, Neid’s Hotel has a way bitchin’ fish sandwich. Yinz should bike dahn and get one. Even on days that aren’t Friday.)
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Dozen Cupcakes Final Bake Sale: Closed for Good

Dozen Bake Shop's Final Bake Sale

It was a sad day for Pittsburgh as Dozen Bake Shop hosted their final bake sale this morning in Lawrenceville. The bakery that was once voted having the “Best Cupcakes” by our readers has closed their doors for good.

Whether you voted for them in that poll or not, it cannot be denied that Dozen was a great asset to Pittsburgh. They brought the cupcake trend to the Burgh, but more importantly, they expanded beyond cupcakes and explored ways to run a locally-sustainable business that conscious foodies could enjoy. They came up with fresh new menus, sourced local/organic/animal-free ingredients, and even opened on Mondays! Before Dozen came to town it was impossible to get a cupcake on a Monday. What will Pittsburgh do without their vegan sweets and Elvis cupcakes?

The closure was a big surprise to Boring Pittsburgh and we had to find out why they made the decision to shut their ovens off. First let’s look at a timeline of some random events leading up to this day:
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Dave Calfo’s Heritage of Steel

Pittsburgh's Steel Artist, Dave Calfo

Artist Dave Calfo (#BurghVerified) originally thought he would spend his life working with steel. But when the fourth-generation Pittsburgh native of Hungarian descent returned to the city after a stint in the U.S. Army in the early 1980s, he found, like so many others, that the steel mills were closing shop.

“There was nowhere for me to work,” Calfo said. “I thought I’d work in the steel mills, but I never had the chance.”

Today, his hands aren’t casting steel in a mill – they’re molding it into fine art, a tribute to Pittsburgh’s proud history. Inspired by the hard work of those who labored in the mills, Calfo turns steel-related scrap and salvage into gritty, beautiful sculptures. He’s also documented the city’s heritage in a collection of photographs.

“It was truly a part of the lives of families here,” Calfo said of the steel mills. “People have forgotten.”

Inspired by “junk”

A master carpenter by trade, Calfo created his first piece of art on a dare. While renovating a bar in Lawrenceville and after moving some benches, Calfo and his coworkers found a bunch of old cigarette lighters and some rolling papers.

“A friend challenged me to make something out of it,” he said.
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