If Kevin Acklin Had Lunch at Bistro-to-Go

Nikki Heckman

Tell us about a time you made a false assumption about a person or a place — how did they prove you wrong? I have a few stories in the vein. First, there was Kevin Acklin.  I wrote this in 2009 when Kevin submitted a guest blog post. My first encounter with Kevin was at the January 10, […]

ROY G BIV is a Friend of Mine

Mnemonic Device

When was the last time you experienced writer’s block? What do you think brought it about — and how did you dig your way out of it? What do you think of when I say the term “mnemonic device”? My most recent bout of writer’s block hit me last week, “write” after Ledcat left for her […]

Towanda in the Amtrak Parking Lot

Pittsburgh Parking

We often capture strangers in photos we take in public. Open your photo library, and stop at the first picture that features a person you don’t know. Now tell the story of that person.   Last week, I went to pick Ledcat up from the Amtrak station which is on Liberty Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh. […]

Win Free Passes to See “Empire” Dance Performance at Off The Wall Theater

Empire Pittsburgh

Our friends at Off The Wall Theater have offered a chance to giveaway 2 sets of 2 tickets to see the world debut of “Empire” this weekend As we imagine in our own minds the legacy we are creating and those created by great icons before us we examine the roles of power, instinct, cunning, […]

Licorice Tea With Vinegar If You Please

Breathe Easy

Bacon and chocolate, caramel and cheddar… Is there an unorthodox food pairing you really enjoy? Share with us the weirdest combo you’re willing to admit that you like — and how you discovered it. The weirdest combo that I currently appreciate is more of a folk remedy for what ails me, than a gastro concoction – apple […]

Being a Fan of the Steelers is a Preference, Being a Lesbian is Not

Eric Waters

It is 2014. There is simply no excuse for a college educated 23-year-old man like Eric Waters to use the phrase “sexual preference” unless he is being a snide bigot. Period. I’m referring to a Tribune Review interview in which Waters talks disrespectful trash about his college roommate, Michael Sam – the first openly gay […]

Donate Back To School Supplies for LGBTQ Youth

School supplies

Backpacks or similar bags are de rigueur for school students, no matter what grade. There are always trends in terms of what’s a cool bag, but for many youth – a durable bag that functions is pretty much what they want. So I have this blue backpack that I purchased in August 1998 for grad […]

Brittney Griner: LifeSize

A terrific 15 minute short film about WNBA player Brittney Griner. This is about her first season playing for a Chinese national team. It was produced by ESPN. The video is a bit wonky – it is set on autoplay and some other things that I think were designed to make it “not copieable” so […]

The Mental Illness Happy Hour

Mental Illness Happy Hour

Last week, I wrote about discovering the amazing Maria Bamford. Well, she led me to a true treasure trove of goodness – a podcast called “The Mental Illness Happy Hour.” The show is geared towards anyone interested in or affected by depression, addiction and other mental challenges which are so prevalent in the creative arts. […]

Watch This Terrific Documentary on PBS This Week

Grace Lee Boggs

Over the weekend, I was introduced to Grace Lee Boggs who is a 99-year-old Chinese American activist deeply enmeshed in the fabric of Detroit. I learned about Grace from a reference on Bitch Media to a free documentary streaming on PBS (through Thursday July 30) “The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs.” Grace’s story is an […]