Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Positively Pittsburgh Live! News 10-31-12



Positively Pittsburgh Live! News
10-31-12

Who's Your Brother 2012 Holiday Toy Drive

Who’s Your Brother (WYB) will be launching its first Holiday Toy Drive. We will be collecting new, unwrapped toys for ages 0-18. The kick-off event for this toy drive will be Thursday, November 8th 6-9 pm at Shadyside Honda located at 5121 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224. There will be live entertainment by Slide Worldwide featuring Hill Jordan, free food and fun and prizes. There is no charge for this event! We just ask that you donate one unwrapped toy per person attending and we are also accepting monetary donations. 

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Pittsburgh Opera presents a Mozart favorite in a new production: Don Giovanni
Pittsburgh Opera presents the Mozart favorite Don Giovanni, November 3 – 11 at the Benedum Center. Based on the Don Juan legend and starring Michael Todd Simpson as Don Giovanni, the opera showcases a sterling ensemble cast and a new production built in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh Opera presents at least one new production every season, but it is unusual that the company presents three new productions in a single season. Its Don Giovanni is the first built-in-Pittsburgh production for the 2012-13 season. At press time, the distinctive “bullring” set is near completion in Ambridge, PA, and costumes and wigs are being fitted at the company’s Strip District headquarters. Don Giovanni is the story of a dissolute nobleman who chafes against the repressive culture of his native Seville, and pays the ultimate price for his philandering and lack of remorse. Read the entire release here

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Joey and the US National Tour of
War Horse

PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh presents the area premiere of WAR HORSE 
The National Theatre of Great Britain’s epic  WAR HORSE, winner of five 2011 Tony® Awards including Best Play, will make its premiere in Pittsburgh from November 13-18, 2012, at the Benedum Center. Michael Morpurgo’s beloved novel, War Horse, is also the inspiration for Steven Spielberg’s feature film of the same name, which earned six Oscar nominations including Best Picture.

Hailed by The New York Times as “theatrical magic,” WAR HORSE is the powerful story of young Albert’s beloved horse, Joey, who has been enlisted to fight for the English in World War I. In a tale the New York Daily News calls “spellbinding, by turns epic and intimate,” Joey is caught in enemy crossfire and ends up serving both sides of the war before landing in no man’s land. Albert, not old enough to enlist, embarks on a treacherous mission to find his horse and bring him home. What follows is a remarkable tale of courage, loyalty and friendship, filled with stirring music and songs and told with the some of the most innovative stagecraft of our time. Read the entire release here. 
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B.B. King
B.B. King, award winning, blues guitarist to perform at Benedum Center
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents award-winning, blues guitarist B.B. King at the Benedum Center on Wednesday, November 21, 2012, at 7:30 p.m.  Riley B. King, better known as B.B. King, has been enthralling audiences for more than fifty years.  Growing up in the Mississippi Delta, King played on street corners for dimes and would sometimes play up to four towns in a night.  His passion for music led him to Memphis, Tennessee where he got his big break performing on Sonny Boy Williamson's radio program on KWEM. This led to steady engagements at the Sixteenth Avenue Grill in West Memphis, and later to a ten-minute spot on Memphis radio station WDIA. "King's Spot," became so popular, it was expanded and became the "Sepia Swing Club." Read the entire release here



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Young Adult Report 2012
Young adults play a crucial role in defining southwestern Pennsylvania today and in the coming years as workers, consumers, parents, neighbors, voters and leaders. This report draws the most comprehensive profile to date of the young men and women who are so vital to the region's future. It is based on PittsburghTODAY's reporting, as well as an extensive regional survey and focus groups conducted jointly by PittsburghTODAY and its colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh Center for Social and Urban Research (UCSUR).

• In 2011, 3,740 more people moved into the region than moved out, continuing a trend that began in 2009. The region is drawing the largest number of migrants from Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and New York.
• Some 70 percent of new arrivals are under the age of 35 and most are between 22 and 34. 

Such trends have several implications.The complete young adult data from the 120-question Pittsburgh Regional Quality of Life Survey and the transcripts from five young adult focus group sessions conducted this summer are available on the PittsburghTODAY website in the special reports section here



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Gilberto Gil
Gilberto Gil at the Byham Theater
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents Brazilian singer, guitarist, and songwriter, Gilberto Gil, at the Byham Theater on Thursday, November 15, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. Gilberto Gil is known for both his musical innovation and political commitment. He is one of the first artists to lead the ‘Tropicalia’ music movement. Gil’s music has modernized Brazilian popular music and his style blends an eclectic range of influences including rock music and Brazilian genres like samba, salsa, bossa nova, and African music and reggae. His performance is highly praised by Variety, “There may have been one man onstage, but there was enough warmth, love, intelligence and sheer talent on display to power an orchestra.” Read the entire release here

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Flashdance
FlashDance World Premiere in Pittsburgh! January 1-6, Heinz Hall
Use promo code STEELTOWN to purchase tickets before they go on sale to the public Friday, November 9!
FLASHDANCE –THE MUSICAL tells the inspiring and unforgettable story of Alex Owens, a working-class girl from Pittsburgh with a dream of becoming a professional dancer. She works by day as a steel mill welder, and a bar dancer at night while aspiring to be accepted at a prestigious ballet academy. When Alex catches the eye of her boss Nick Hurley, their romance shows her the meaning of love and drives her ambition to pursue her dream.

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Buddy Valastro Live: The Cake Boss Homemade for the Holidays Tour
Candy canes, carols, and the Cake Boss! Celebrate the holidays this season with America’s favorite baker, Buddy Valastro, at the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh, PA on Wednesday, November 28, 2012, at 7:30 p.m.

Buddy Valastro
Buddy Valastro, star of TLC’s “Cake Boss,” brings a special live holiday show the entire family will enjoy. Sharing the holiday traditions and stories from his family at Carlo’s Bakery, Buddy presents an all-new show full of holiday spirit and jingle bell rock. Demonstrating the techniques that have made him the most famous cake artist in the country, Buddy will share behind-the-scenes stories from his hit TV show, answer audience questions, and will bring several lucky members of the audience up on stage for cupcake and cake decorating. Pack up your sleigh and head on down to the show, ‘cause Buddy is coming to town! Read the entire release here

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7th Annual  Pennsylvania Business Technology Conference
November 15, 2012
Read all the details here.

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Roving Pittsburgher Report 


Review of Pittsburgh Ballet's Gizelle

by Martin Thomas and Helene Vidovich


It has been said that music is the international language. One may argue that so is ballet or corporeal mime. However, when combined, they exponentially increase their impact. With no libretto to reference or language to interpret, there is only sound and the interactions of those on stage, the set designs, lighting and costuming. Masters of these elements dedicate their lives to perfecting their craft and teaching the next generations who will perpetuate their traditions. Pittsburgh Ballet's rendition of Giselle was a window into this long lineage of masters. Read the entire review here



Pittsburgh Whiskey Festival
If you were a novice to the world of finer liquors, before this event you got a crash course, a crash course without running up a huge bar tab and you definitely needed a designated driver. Two of the Good News Reporters with me just happened to be aficionados in Irish Whiskey and they had a blast being very discriminating.  Although I think discrimination went to the wind after the dozenth sample of various whiskies. Myself, I had a cold so I settled for some Honey Bourbon that definitely made my throat feel better, went down smoothly and opened up my sinuses. I also like the glow in the dark Saki.  Please don’t ask me to tell you the name. However the entertainers I got—Frank and Cher and Elvis.  They changed often enough and sang well enough that you knew when they were in the building and when Elvis left the building.  The fine people at the Rivers Casino put on a wonderful buffet with outstanding foods for every pallet and I must tell you we had the best buffet waitress ever and had he occasion to let the management know this. 

Joyce Kane of Cybertary, spent a wonderful morning with First Commonwealth Bank's Women First 2nd Annual Workshop. Kudos to AJ Drexler (women's impact on Pgh economy from 1892 -2012) and Dr. Jeannette Epps from NASA on Lessons Learned by Taking Risks keynotes. Thanks 1st Commonwealth!

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This was reported as a reproduction of PositvelyPittsburghLive news done by Joanne Quinn-Smith. (c) Joanne Quinn-Smith and PositivelyPittsburghLive(TM) 2012 All rights reserved.



Tara Darazio is a Positively Pittsburgh Live reporter, an independent copywriter, blogger, article writer, and social media strategist. If you are in need of writing assistance, or need help with your social media efforts connect with Tara on LinkedIn here.


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