City Cast Pittsburgh
💄 Pittsburgh on Drag Race
January 17, 2025 · — Francesca Dabecco
Happy Friday, neighbor! 🎧 Tune in to today’s City Cast Pittsburgh podcast to catch up on news you might’ve missed this week, like…
- 🏈 A unique quirk about 55 years of Steelers coaches
- 🛒 What new grocery store Pittsburghers are jazzed about
- 🍔 How you can get the most coveted burger in the city
- 🐧 The Pittsburgh superstar with an unfortunate jewelry problem
- 🎤 And ways to honor Mac Miller on his birthday weekend
What's CITY Talking About?
📚 Pgh Applies To Be a UNESCO City of Literature
A group of local literary organizations including City of Asylum — the North Side refuge for writers in exile — is applying to get Pittsburgh designated as a UNESCO City of Literature. The program recognizes cities with a strong publishing scene, lots of literary events, and libraries and cultural centers that promote local and foreign literature. Only two U.S. cities have the designation: Seattle and Iowa City. [Littsburgh / Cities of Literature]
- New board leadership! Chairman Henry Reese, co-founder of City of Asylum, is passing the torch to Kevin McKeegan, current chair of the Governance Committee. [Pittsburgh Magazine]
📣 Smithfield Street Church Looks for Help
The century-old church in Downtown needs nearly $10 million in repairs, and congregation leaders are looking for partners to help save it. [Next Generation Newsroom]
- Can Downtown be cool again? Smithfield Street was once a popular shopping destination, but it currently has a bunch of vacant storefronts. Learn about plans to restore the corridor. [🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]
💄 Pittsburgh Queen on RuPaul’s Drag Race
Watch local drag sensation Lydia B. Kollins on season 17 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, airing Fridays at 8 p.m. on MTV. You can also stream it on Hulu + Live TV, Philo, DirecTV Stream, and Fubo. [QBurgh / Rolling Stone]
Sponsored Content
Pittsburgh Opera presents Hayden’s spell-binding ‘Armida’
The Prince of Darkness sends the enchantress Armida to seduce and destroy the heroic knight Rinaldo. But when Armida falls in love with Rinaldo, will she obey her orders or her heart?
Fall into Armida’s clutches, January 25th through February 2nd.
Pittsburgh Opera – where can we take you?
Pop Quiz, Pittsburgh!
What To Do
Friday, Jan. 17
- 🏺 It’s About Time Exhibit Opening at Pgh Center for Arts & Media | 6-8 p.m.| free | Point Breeze
- 🎶 Rachmaninoff with the Pittsburgh Symphony | 7:30 p.m. — through Jan. 19 | $35+ | Downtown
- 📽️ European Union Film Fest at Pitt | various times — through Jan. 23 | $9+ | Oakland
- 🎭 Look Forward: The Ruby Bridges Story at Prime Stage | 7:30 p.m. — through Jan. 26 | $8+ | Allegheny Center
- 🔥 Winter Heat at Carnegie Museum of Art | 8 p.m. - 12 a.m. | $30 | Oakland
- 🪩 Hot Stuff Disco at Brillobox | 10 p.m. - 2 a.m. | free | Bloomfield
Saturday, Jan. 18
- 🚂 Locomotion Weekend at the Science Center | 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. — through Jan. 19 | $15+ | Chateau
- ☃️ Winterfest 2025 at The Frick | 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | free | Point Breeze
- 🏺 Guided Tour of Gei at Contemporary Craft | 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. | free | Lawrenceville
- 🛍️ Bloomfield Winter Market | 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. | free | Bloomfield
- 👟 City Steps of Pittsburgh at CLP | 1-2 p.m. | free | Oakland
- 🧵 Mending 101 with Old Flame Mending | 1-3 p.m. | $12 | Green Tree
- 🖨️ 3D Printer Training with Prototype | 4-6 p.m. | $13 | Polish Hill
- 🥃 Phil-a-Palooza at Wigle Whiskey | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | $12 | Strip District
- 🎶 In Bed by Ten 90s Dance Party at Bottlerocket | 6 p.m. | $10 | Allentown
- 🎤 Century Cycle Poetry Slam at AWC | 6 p.m. | $10 | Downtown
Sunday, Jan. 19
- 🌺 Tropical Forests of Hawaii at Phipps (last day) | 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. | $23 | Oakland
- 📖 Storytime with Lulu at White Whale | 10-11 a.m. | free | Bloomfield
- 🥕 Souper Sunday at Sweet Alchemy | 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. | pay as you go | New Kensington
- 💄 Primping with Peach at Prototype | 1-3 p.m. | free | Oakland
- 🦋 Things with Wings at Frick Environmental Center | 1-3 p.m. | free | Squirrel Hill
- 🎹 Jellyfish at Trace Brewing | 3-9 p.m. | free | Bloomfield
- 🎤 Poetry vs. Hip Hop at City Winery | 6 p.m. | $30+ | Strip District
- 🎶 Mac Miller Tribute at Thunderbird Café | 8 p.m. | $20 | Lawrenceville
Monday, Jan. 20
- 📷 Photo Backdrop Workshop at WCDC | 12-3 p.m. | free | Wilkinsburg
- 📣 MLK Day Art & Advocacy at Kelly Strayhorn Theater | 1-4 p.m. | pay what you can | East Liberty
- 🎨 Community Craft Night with WorkshopPGH | 6-9 p.m. | free | Wilkinsburg
- 🏂 Women & Genderqueer Beginner Snowboarding | 6:30-9 p.m. | $40 | Boyce Park
- 🎶 Let Freedom Sing at Kelly Strayhorn Theater | 7:30 p.m. | pay what you can | East Liberty + virtual
Sponsored Content
New Frick Mansion Tour Wins National Award!
Step into the Gilded Age and explore Pittsburgh’s influence as an industrial powerhouse, all within the private spaces of one of the country’s most controversial corporate figures. Get your tour tickets at TheFrickPittsburgh.org.
We won’t be publishing a newsletter or podcast on Monday in observance of MLK Day. 📣 Here are some ways to honor his legacy!
Catch up with yinz on Tuesday,
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