Friday, August 7 Catch the Broadway hit Kinky Boots at the Benedum Center in downtown’s Cultural District; with songs by Cyndi Lauper and Pittsburgh-native Billy Porter’s reprisal of Lola–the role for which he won a Tony Award–Friday night’s 8pm performance kicks off the show’s final weekend.
Saturday, August 8 Artist Stephen Grebinski opens his first major Pittsburgh exhibit at Braddock’s Unsmoke Artspace with If One Won’t Another One Will, which will feature installations and videos made with found photographs which juxtapose portraits of men with “Appalachian landscapes, relics from abandoned homes, and appropriated photographs of antique interiors.” The exhibit will run through the month, but viewing is only by appointment after Saturday’s opening night.
Sunday, August 9 Playing at Pittsburgh Filmmakers Regent Square theater as part of the Sunday Series, City Lights is one of Charlie Chaplin’s finest films–and arguably his best silent film, despite coming out after the age of Talkies–the little tramp wanders through the hectic haze of the urban jungle, making friends with a drunken millionaire who never remembers his nights before, and falling in love with a blind flower girl. The movie features the famous boxing scene and what many consider to be the greatest ending of any film ever made…
Monday, August 10 Ever square danced? Perhaps embarrassingly? If so, you have the Scots to thank, and the Pittsburgh Scottish Country Dancers want to teach you how to practice their art and fine tune those moves! Classes are held every Monday and Sunday, and, as their website kindly points out, “no funny clothes required.”
Tuesday, August 11 Advocating for Black women’s rights, New Voices Pittsburgh is teaming up with Oakland’s Butterjoint bar/restaurant for its monthly Donations & Libations, a fundraising effort in which the staff of Butterjoint proudly donates all of their cash tips to a worthy cause: in this case, New Voice Pittsburgh’s efforts toward safety and health for women of color everywhere. One of the few times in which going to a bar is purely good idea.
Wednesday, August 12 The third annual Pittsburgh Style Week kicks off at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater with the Cut & Sewn Fashion Show, featuring local and international designers, a fashion truck, DJ, and cocktails. Style Week continues until the 16th with other events in the city.
Thursday, August 13 DNA evidence has been solving once-impossible cases for some time now, including the long-unsolved murder of Catherine Janet Walsh, a resident of nearby Monaca, in 1979. Point Park University’s Steve Hallock used his over-30 years of journalism experience to compile Justice Delayed, his true crime book on the Walsh case. Hallock will be at Oakmont’s famous Mystery Lover’s bookshop to discuss the book and sign copies.
Belt has some great events scheduled for September, and members receive discounts on tickets. Hint, hint.
