Articles Archive - Page 91 of 157 - Pittsburgh Quarterly

“Okay, what’s today’s joke?” The guy at the counter orders his Americano, sits down, lets the anticipation build for a few seconds. His eyes are dancing behind thick black glasses, grinning like he’s about to bubble over into a thousand little joy bubbles, because he’s got a joke. [ngg src=”galleries” ids=”220″ display=”basic_thumbnail” thumbnail_crop=”0″] Today’s joke. …

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Regional News

Developing Young Minds

by Julia Fraser

On May 1, 1969, a western Pennsylvania native with a relatively unknown children’s program testified before the Senate Subcommittee on Communication. Public broadcasting faced having its $20 million budget cut in half, and policymakers were skeptical about the educational benefit of children watching television—until Fred Rogers spoke of his year-old show and television’s potential to …

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Regional News

Air Quality Regulation: A Primer

by Pittsburgh Today Staff

Air quality in the United States is governed by a complex regulatory structure that sets pollution limits and authorizes federal, state and local agencies to enforce them. The regulations which agencies enforce vary with the source of pollution, what they emit and the air quality in the region where they are located. Federal President Richard …

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Regional News

Mobile Source Pollution

by Mike Wereschagin

Creeping into the Fort Pitt Tunnel, angling for space at the Parkway East’s Grant Street exit, or elbowing into a gap in traffic on the Veterans Bridge, tens of thousands of people drive or ride into and out of Downtown nearly every day. Trailing behind them are the often-invisible exhausts of internal combustion engines. At …

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Creative Capital

The Instability of Europe

by Greg Curtis

Between the first and second world wars, most of the European governments—Britain and, to a lesser extent, France, being exceptions—lived lives that were, to paraphrase Hobbes, weak, unstable, and short. The Weimar Republic in Germany faced existential issues from the beginning. Germany had been humiliated in World War I. It had been burdened with impossibly …

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Regional News

Air Rules

by Jeffery Fraser

Bluer skies over southwestern Pennsylvania owe a debt to local, state and federal regulations that have evolved over decades to spur technological advancements and investment in controlling air pollutants from industrial plants to the cars we drive. It wasn’t until the City of Pittsburgh adopted its Smoke Control Ordinance in 1941 that the dense smoke …

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Arts

Different Takes on Homelessness

by Matthew John Milligan

Given the unprecedented recent spate of destructive hurricanes, Contemporary Craft’s exploration of homelessness couldn’t be more timely. [ngg src=”galleries” ids=”146″ display=”basic_thumbnail” thumbnail_crop=”0″] Running through Feb. 17, “Shelter: Creating a Safe Home” is a cross-cultural exploration of the work of 14 artists on homelessness, refugees and relocation, gentrification, and individual sanctuary. “We want people to be …

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Food & Wine

The New Way to Entertain

by Barbara Eichenlaub

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. [ngg src=”galleries” ids=”218″ display=”basic_thumbnail” thumbnail_crop=”0″] 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, …

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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. [ngg src=”galleries” ids=”215″ display=”basic_thumbnail” thumbnail_crop=”0″] The idea of donuts popped into his head when he …

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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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