Articles Archive - Page 89 of 154 - Pittsburgh Quarterly

As the holidays approach, so might a corresponding sense of dread—at the thought of entertaining. While enthusiastic hosts and hostesses can get lots of things ready in advance, preparing and serving a holiday meal or hors d’oeuvres at the last minute can be overwhelming. Some people choose to simply go to a restaurant or club, …

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Arts

A Creepy Mill Town

by Nick Keppler

Calynn Lechner isn’t sure what’s looking back at her. The clay face she’s sculpting has a beak like a turtle and lobster-ish whiskers. When she’s done, the skin will look gelatinous, like a jellyfish’s. “It’s a smorgasbord of everything,” says Lechner, 23, her tattooed arm moving slowly as she uses a scalpel-like tool to carve …

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Regional News

Up in the Air: The Final Chapter

by Jeffery Fraser

Air polllution’s place in the history of southwestern Pennsylvania is as prominent as the region’s mighty rivers and the steel industry that once crowded their banks. For nearly a century, it was a defining characteristic in the eyes of visitors, who pulled no punches when describing the grim conditions they found. “In truth, Pittsburg [sic] …

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Events

Time Honored Party Celebrates Public Service

by PQ Staff

The first year event by the Jefferson Awards Foundation (JAF) Pittsburgh was held at Presenting Sponsor LUXE Creative in Point Breeze, on Saturday, November 11, 2017. The party featured the inaugural Kate Dewey Lifetime Achievement in Public Service Award presented to Ms. Dewey by JAF Regional Executive Director Jodi S. Klebick. Kate is retiring president …

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Sports

Things Seem Great with the Steelers, But…

by Matthew John Milligan

Something’s missing. That seems to be the general feeling among pundits of late, even as the Steelers sit comfortably atop the AFC North with a 3-game lead over the Ravens. Some things, retrospectively, look slightly more forgivable now. The earlier defeat to the Jaguars stings less, as Jacksonville now shares a 1st place tie within …

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Events

Pointe in Time Gala Raises $630,000 for the Arts

by PQ Staff

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre hosted a sold-out crowd of 555 for its Pointe in Time Gala: West Side Story Suite, Saturday, Nov. 11, at the Westin. Chaired by Dr. Christopher Howard, president of Robert Morris University, and his wife Mrs. Barbara Noble Howard, the annual gala raised $630,000 for artistic priorities, including PBT’s Community Youth Scholarship …

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Creative Capital

On Populism

by Greg Curtis

Civilization is like a very fine suit of clothes that is just slightly too small for us. The term “populism” derives from the Latin, populus, meaning “people.” It doesn’t mean “people” in the sense of “There are a lot of people who don’t read my blog.” It means “people” in the sense of a nation, a …

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Events

Wings & Wildlife Soirée Raises $55,000 in Support of National Aviary

by PQ Staff

The National Aviary’s Annual Wings & Wildlife Art Show kicked off on Friday, November 3 with a first class Soiree & Benefit Auction. Guests mingled with wildlife artists and met exotic birds up-close as they enjoyed gourmet hors d’oeuvres, open bar and strolling strings, all before gathering for an exciting live auction, emceed by beloved …

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PQ Poem

Just Because

by Jimmy Cvetic

I know there are things that you ain’t supposed to do and will probably get you a good whipping if you’re caught but you’ll do them anyway just because and for no other reason than just because. Like you ain’t supposed to play with matches just because you can burn someone’s porch down or shoot …

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Opinion

Nailed It

by Elizabeth Wiethorn

I recently received a nail salon gift card, which I thought was a bit unusual, because I have short, raggedy nails and giant “Man-Hands.” My “Man-Hands” are definitely passed down from my father’s side—my Uncle Willis could bend bottle caps into little tacos just using his thumb and index finger—and my Dad had thick strong …

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Creative Capital

Investing in a Rigged Market, Part IV

by Greg Curtis

If we care about the health of free market economies, then we need to care about how efficiently capital is allocated in those economies. And if we care about efficient capital allocation, then we need to care about the health and efficiency of capital markets, because those markets are the principal instruments we have for …

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Money

Seek, and You Shall Find… Conflicting Investment Advice

by Bruce Zewe

The run of this current Raging Bull of a stock market has been exceptionally long: eight-plus years. (The average bull market has lasted four years, nine months.) In response there has been great conjecture by investment firms, financial advisers, brokers, and market pundits in Pittsburgh about how much longer the market may rage. These opinions …

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Arts

A Bold Look at Race Through Art at the Carnegie Museum of Art

by Vicky A Clark

When Vogue lauded “20 / 20: The Studio Museum of Harlem and Carnegie Museum of Art” as the most important art show in America, they guaranteed a critical response. Setting aside the hyperbole, the magazine established race as the context for viewing and thinking about the exhibition, stating that “as monuments to Confederate generals come …

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American Spirit

Tommy the Unlikely Donut Man

by Kate Benz, photography by John Altdorfer

Tommy Gozion had never made a donut in his entire life. Which was weird, given the fact that he tacked some neon to the storefront along Route 8 and announced to the world that Valencia Donut was open for business. The idea of donuts popped into his head when he was at the beach a …

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Creative Capital

Squeezing out the Investment Experts

by Greg Curtis

The core problems with central bankers, which have led directly to the catastrophes of the Tech Bust, the Financial Crisis, the pathetically weak recovery from the Great Recession of 2008-09, and the near-destruction of the asset management business, are: groupthink, arising out of the fact that every central banker in the world went to the …

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Events

The Frick Pittsburgh Opens “Undressed” with Gala

by PQ Staff

The Frick Pittsburgh marked the opening of “Undressed: A History of Fashion in Underwear” with a gala held on the evening of October 19. The sold-out “Undressed” gala provided four hundred guests the opportunity to experience the blockbuster exhibition before it opened to the public on Saturday, October 21. Gala co-chairs were Ina Gumberg, Peggy …

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Creative Capital

The Fed and Friends

by Greg Curtis

We are talking about the traumatizing events that rocked the asset management business, to say nothing of the world, beginning in 2008, a calamity brought to us courtesy of the world’s central bankers. I’ve discussed elsewhere the bizarre strategies of the U.S. Fed and its various doppelgängen at other central banks around the world. But …

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Events

Washington & Jefferson College Inaugurates Knapp as 13th President

by PQ Staff

Washington & Jefferson College inaugurated John C. Knapp, Ph.D., on Oct. 19, 2017 as the institution’s thirteenth president. The ceremony was held at Olin Fine Arts Center on the W&J College campus. Dr. Knapp began his appointment at W&J on Aug. 1, 2017, following the retirement of former W&J President Dr. Tori Haring-Smith in June. …

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Events

Big Brothers Big Sisters’ ILLUMINATION Ignites the Senses

by PQ Staff

Big Brothers Big Sisters’ ILLUMINATION ignited the senses: guests reveled in the multi-sensory environment of light, sound and taste held at LUXE Creative Studio TWO on the evening of October 7. ILLUMINATION raised $324,109 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh. The evening sparkled with designer cocktails, delectable bites and an expansive silent auction. …

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PQ Poem

Miscalculations

by Milena Nigam

I. Through my in-laws’ breakfast window in the country, the nuthatches roll and bounce and shake spiny winter brambles. Their breasts puffed round as if to fit in the hand of a child. I scrape rings of hardened milk from my coffee mug while I confuse the birds for chickadees and search for spring. II. …

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Creative Capital

Investing in a Rigged Market

by Greg Curtis

The asset management business as we know it today got started in the mid-19th century. The impetus for investment management firms separate from banks arose out of the awkward fact that banks often fail, while asset management firms hardly ever do. According to Nigel Edward Morecroft, who has studied the history of asset management, firms …

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Creative Capital

To Experts: a Few Words of Wisdom

by Greg Curtis

“I would rather be governed by the first 2,000 names in the Boston phone book than by the Harvard faculty.” –William F. Buckley I began this series of posts by focusing on the annoyance ordinary people experience when they are constantly being told what to do by an ever-proliferating series of experts in almost every field …

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