| | 🚌 Pittsburgh’s sinkhole bus is swinging back around for the holidays | Plus, Lorelei in East Liberty is ‘making spirits bright’ all month long.By Francesca Dabecco It’s Thursday, Pittsburgh. The holidays are always filled with sweet treats, and Pennsylvania is puckering up to one candy in particular — Hershey’s Kiss. What started as a classroom project to help middle schoolers become familiar with the governing process is now a full-fledged campaign to make the Kiss our official state candy. We’re certainly here for a little chocolate fun, PA pride, and a lesson in civic engagement. But as you probably know, there are a lot of great candymakers throughout the state. Legislators don't often agree on much, but maybe they'll come together for the melt-in-your-mouth goodness of a Kiss. Just don't ask Pittsburghers their opinion; they'd probably vote for the Clark Bar. Whatever the case, I hope the kids get their state Kiss for Christmas. Now let’s unwrap today’s news... | What Pittsburgh is talking about | | | | | 4 things to know today ➡️ Mayor Bill Peduto helped develop a guide for mayors on how to respond to a mass shooting in their community. Earlier this year, he joined other elected officials who have navigated similar tragedies in their respective cities to craft a playbook that includes a case study on Pittsburgh and how local leaders responded to the Tree of Life attack in 2018. The guide also details how to help survivors, families, and communities recover from these types of devastating losses. (TribLIVE) 🚲 Speaking of Bike Lane Billy, Pittsburgh City Council has introduced legislation to ban parking in bike lanes to make the roads safer for all commuters. Some argue that there just simply isn’t enough space for vehicles to park, but council members are discussing possible exemptions from the rule, like allowing bike lane parking outside of some churches. “When everybody has their piece of the road, there’s peace on the road,” said Eric Boerer, advocacy director at Bike Pittsburgh. (Pittsburgh Magazine) 📖 Pulitzer Prize-winning Pittsburgh author David Garrow helped to exonerate two men convicted for killing Malcolm X. City Paper reporter Ryan Deto sat down with the former Pitt law professor to talk about the exonerations, the FBI’s role in the killing of Malcolm X, and how the media can play a part in establishing a more truthful historical record. Head to the link to read the full Q&A. ➡️ (Pittsburgh City Paper) 📸 “This is Where We Find Ourselves” is a new photography book by local artist Njaimeh Njie depicting the displacement of Black Pittsburghers through the experiences of her own family. She weaves together poetic text, notes of historical events, black-and-white urban landscapes, and family snapshots from the 1930s to the 2000s to paint an unnerving picture of inherited generational loss. You can find the exhibit version on display at Silver Eye through Feb. 19. (90.5 WESA) | 4 things to make you smile🍜 Need a thoughtful gift for that chef in your life? Head to Community Kitchen Pittsburgh in Hazelwood on Thu., Dec. 9 for its Bowls and Boards open house where they’ll be selling artist-crafted ceramic bowls from Prepping Pittsburgh. A portion of the sales will go back to CKP’s mission of changing lives by creating career pathways and offering culinary training for those experiencing barriers to employment. (Pittsburgh City Paper) ☕ The Pittsburgh pals behind the indie record label Lemon Tree PGH are trying to find the right home for a coffee shop in Millvale to go along with their music biz. “Coffee is a conduit for the creation of another Millvale community hub, a safe space where kids can hang out, listen to and play music, look at and display art, and forge IRL friendships,” said Sam McCoy Smith, one-third of the Lemon Tree PGH brain trust. In the meantime, follow their Instagram to find out where they’re popping up next. (NEXTPittsburgh) 🚌 Another holiday, another yinzerific light display. A Plum resident made the most out of the pit in his front yard by setting up a dazzling “tribute” to the infamous Pittsburgh sinkhole. Check out the photo of the Route G31 Flyer all decked out for the holidays. (@WTAE on Instagram) 🍸 Lorelei in East Liberty is “making spirits bright” all month long with its “Krampus, Baby” pop-up. You’ll find wintery cocktails like “Son of a Nutcracker,” which is made with apple brandy, plum wine, lemon, ginger, grenadine, chestnut orgeat (a sweet syrup), and allspice. Don’t do booze? There are NA options too! (@loreleipgh on Instagram) | | | Today🎻Enjoy a mix of classical music with contemporary sounds with a performance by Black Violin at the Byham Theater (Downtown) 🎄Be amazed by the synchronized lights at the Holiday Laser Show at North Park (North Hills) 🎨 Find finely crafted, one-of-a-kind artisanal pieces at the Holiday Mart Preview Party at Sweetwater Center for the Arts (Sewickley) 🎶Hear the stories of marginalized voices through a multimedia performance of Lavender Terrace at the New Hazlett Theater (Northside) 🕯️ Join Repair the World Pittsburgh for a virtual dinner & chat about dismantling colonialist ideas around Hanukkah and Judaism (Online) | Tomorrow🛍️Find holiday gifts, take classes, and visit exhibits along Penn Ave. arts district with Unblurred: First Fridays on Penn (Bloomfield / Garfield) 🎄 Watch a holiday classic come to life at A Charlie Brown Christmas at the Byham Theater (Downtown) 🎶Experience unique light sculptures, soundscapes, and vocal arrangements by Ian Brill and Clara Kent at Aura: Reimagined at KST’s Alloy Studios, today and tomorrow (East Liberty) | Saturday🛍️Find all your holiday gifts and shop from more than 200 local vendors with Handmade Arcade at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center (Downtown) 🛍️ Keep on shoppin’ local with even more vendors at the 10th Annual Peoples Gas Holiday Market (Downtown) 🍄 Find local produce at “A Taste of Harvie” Holiday Farmers Market with Farm to Table (Lawrenceville) 🐧Waddle on over to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium to watch the Penguins on Parade (Highland Park) 🕯️ Celebrate Kwanza at the August WIlson African American Cultural Center’s AWCommunity Day (Downtown) | | | | |
