51 - David Hood, aka Cinemonster, celebrates horror films and local film history
The Slaw: Staying On Top of Pittsburgh
Release Date: 10/27/2020
60 - ICYMI Meet some of Punxsutawney Phil’s Inner Circle
The Slaw: Staying On Top of Pittsburgh
The Slaw is recording fresh episodes, but last year, we interviewed some members of the Groundhog Day Inner Circle and met Punxsutawney Phil. Listen to learn about the history of the event, how Phil has managed to continue predicting the weather for over 135 years, and meet some of his team — they keep the festivities going year after year. Plus, we highlight Quantum Theatre’s NearBuy project and the opening of Sklep, a Polish market in Polish Hill.
info_outline
59 - ICYMI Restaurateur Ben Wong of Two Sisters & Banh Mi & Ti
The Slaw: Staying On Top of Pittsburgh
The Slaw is currently recording fresh interviews. In the meantime, please enjoy this interview from the archives with restaurateur Ben Wong of Banh Mi & Ti in Lawrenceville and Two Sisters in East Liberty. While the interview first aired approximately a year ago, we think it is as important as ever to support local restaurants right now. Press play for some cozy food content. Plus, what’s one thing you shouldn’t miss this week? It’s actually two things: Piper’s Pub now has online ordering. And for those of you looking to plan your MLK Day, check out Repair The World’s schedule of...
info_outline
58 - Tony Theil of Attic Records
The Slaw: Staying On Top of Pittsburgh
In this week’s episode, we meet Tony Theil of Attic Records. Just how much does Theil love buying, selling and playing records? He quit multiple jobs and moved to Millvale from Ohio when owner Fred Bohn Jr. offered him a job at the store. Learn about the history of Attic Records (spoiler alert: it wasn’t just records at the start) and about the “Pittsburgh sound.” Theil gives some advice for those just starting to collect vinyl and shouts out some local bands whose albums he thinks you should own. (It’s a non-comprehensive list.) Since Theil lives right above the shop, we also ask...
info_outline
57 - Maker Month with Jamal Etienne-Harrigan of Uncle Jammy’s BBQ rubs and sauces
The Slaw: Staying On Top of Pittsburgh
It’s the final week of Maker Month, and in this episode, we meet Jamal Etienne-Harrigan of Uncle Jammy’s sauces and seasonings. Learn more about his early cooking experiences and what inspires him. Of his creative process, Etienne-Harrigan explains, “I'll come up with a name and then I will backtrack towards making the recipe fit the name. And for a lot of people, that's not the way it goes.” Not just for barbecued meats, he offers some alternate applications for Uncle Jammy’s seasonings. He even has a non-dairy ranch rub. Etienne-Harrigan shares how a (non-romantic) meet-cute with...
info_outline
57 - Maker Month with Jamal Etienne-Harrigan of Uncle Jammy’s BBQ rubs and sauces
The Slaw: Staying On Top of Pittsburgh
It’s the final week of Maker Month, and in this episode, we meet Jamal Etienne-Harrigan of Uncle Jammy’s sauces and seasonings. Learn more about his early cooking experiences and what inspires him. Of his creative process, Etienne-Harrigan explains, “I'll come up with a name and then I will backtrack towards making the recipe fit the name. And for a lot of people, that's not the way it goes.” Not just for barbecued meats, he offers some alternate applications for Uncle Jammy’s seasonings. He even has a non-dairy ranch rub. Etienne-Harrigan shares how a (non-romantic) meet-cute with...
info_outline
56 - Maker Month with artist Oreen Cohen
The Slaw: Staying On Top of Pittsburgh
It’s week three of Maker Month, our series on local folks who make things for a living. In homage to Pittsburgh’s steelworking past, in this episode we chat with local artist Oreen Cohen, whose work includes large public sculptures. From listening to a community’s stories to scouring the streets for materials, Cohen explains how she gets inspiration from a particular place. She shares her love of the Carrie Furnaces in Rankin and how it influenced her choice to come to Pittsburgh. She speaks in detail about her most recent installation at Wightman Park -- three sculptures designed in...
info_outline
55 - Maker Month with Darren Myers of From These Woods
The Slaw: Staying On Top of Pittsburgh
It’s week two of Maker Month, and this week’s episode features local woodworker Darren Myers. A degree in art, followed by a home purchase that required a lot of work, led Myers to travel to Vermont to learn more about woodworking. He believes that the physical aspect of working with his hands is what makes him so passionate about the craft, and the fact that he is “able to harness an old-school skill set in the modern day, where it's not as not as prevalent as it used to be.” Learn about what influences him, his process, and his dream projects. When asked if Pittsburgh...
info_outline
54 - Maker Month with Graphic Designer Paul Haggerty
The Slaw: Staying On Top of Pittsburgh
Meet graphic designer Paul Haggerty. His moody aesthetic and vintage vibe can be seen locally on T-shirts, stickers and pins. “I try to imagine what that would be like if the 70s never ended,” Haggerty explains. You might have recently seen his “we’ll make it together” designs for sale at Workshop PGH. When asked what it is like seeing his work out in the world, Haggerty admits to being overly excited and even sometimes snapping a secret photo. “It’s cool that it resonated with somebody enough to buy it. It’s a big deal for somebody to spend money on your stuff.”...
info_outline
54 - Maker Month with Graphic Designer Paul Haggerty
The Slaw: Staying On Top of Pittsburgh
Meet graphic designer Paul Haggerty. His moody aesthetic and vintage vibe can be seen locally on T-shirts, stickers and pins. “I try to imagine what that would be like if the 70s never ended,” Haggerty explains. You might have recently seen his “we’ll make it together” designs for sale at Workshop PGH. When asked what it is like seeing his work out in the world, Haggerty admits to being overly excited and even sometimes snapping a secret photo. “It’s cool that it resonated with somebody enough to buy it. It’s a big deal for somebody to spend money on your stuff.”...
info_outline
53 - Kimberly Refosco, leader of Outdoor Afro Pittsburgh
The Slaw: Staying On Top of Pittsburgh
Kimberly Refosco grew up loving the outdoors. Now, as the leader of Pittsburgh’s Outdoor Afro community, she helps others explore nature by organizing group hikes, kayaking, camping, fishing outings around Western Pennsylvania. Each month, Outdoor Afro hosts several events that are focused on providing opportunities for participants to get outdoors. From hikes in Pittsburgh parks to camping, Outdoor Afro creates opportunities to help participants enjoy the great outdoors. In this episode, we talk about how to get outdoors with Outdoor Afro Pittsburgh and some of the favorite...
info_outlineWhen David Hood was younger, he stumbled across the 1931 version of “Frankenstein” on television, which led to a lifelong interest in horror films. In 2013, he started Hooptober, a horror movie viewing project that asks participants to watch 31 films in 31 days. The project is named for “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” director Tobe Hooper, because as Hood likes to joke, “You can’t spell October without t-o-b-e.” While they change each year, this year’s rules include watching “three disease-based films, a film with a movie theater in it, and two films with a Black director or a predominantly Black cast or lead,” Hooptober is about seeing the genre as something that is beyond just blood and gore. The project is meant to incite conversation and recommendations between participants and to use the guidelines as an opportunity to view some films you might not have otherwise heard of or seen. Hood believes that by expanding the idea of what is considered “horror,” that there really is a horror film for everyone. “You're not going to like every style of beer; you're not going to like every type of film. But just because you don't like a stout doesn't mean that there's not a stout out there that you would like, and just because you think you don't like horror films doesn't mean that there's not something out there that would speak to you.” The Hooptober online community continues to grow, with almost 1,000 participants from 19 different countries this year. Hood gives some movie recommendations for #spookyszn and highlights some of Pittsburgh’s notable horror film history -- from George A. Romero and Tom Savini to the lesser-known “Blood Sucking Pharaohs in Pittsburgh” (shot in Lawrenceville in the ‘80s).
Links in this episode: