February 08, 2008

You Oughta Be In Pictures

A reliable source tells Tube City Almanac that the upcoming film The Road, starring Viggo Mortensen and Charlize Theron, will be shooting some scenes in Braddock at an abandoned car dealership.

The Road is based on Cormac McCarthy's best-selling novel of the same name and is set to begin filming around Pittsburgh later this month. (PittGirl has information for people who want to work as extras.)

According to Reuters, the film is being co-produced by Mt. Lebanon native and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

. . .

A review at Amazon.com describes The Road's setting as "a post-apocalyptic blight of gray skies that drizzle ash, a world in which all matter of wildlife is extinct, starvation is not only prevalent but nearly all-encompassing, and marauding bands of cannibals roam the environment with pieces of human flesh stuck between their teeth."

Naturally, after reading that description, the producers thought the perfect place to film was in the Mon Valley. (Rimshot.)

But you horndogs can put your tongues back in your mouth. I am told that Charlize probably won't be in Braddock (although ladies, listen up: apparently Viggo Mortensen might be).

Hmmpfh. What does Viggo Mortensen have that I don't have? (OK, don't answer that.)

. . .

Speaking of Braddock: Did you know that Lauren Tewes, who played "Julie," the cruise director on The Love Boat, is from Braddock?

Wow. There will be a slight pause while you say, "Who cares?"

. . .

In Other Turtle Creek Valley Film News: Kevin Smith is filming his new movie in Monroeville, including some scenes at Monroeville Mall, but as Zandy Dudiak points out in the Woodland Progress, not all of us were getting with the program:

While they may have some name recognition among mall rats and clerks --- at least younger ones --- Smith and the film's stars, Seth Rogen of "Knocked Up" fame and Elizabeth Banks of "Scrubs," still aren't well known among the older crowd.

(Editor's note: They would have recognized a real celebrity, like Ken Rice.)

"They're shooting a movie that's coming out next Christmas," Lunney says, unaware of the film's somewhat-irreverent title, "Zack and Miri Make a Porno."

It sounds like fine Christmas viewing to me. After all, how many times can you watch Miracle on 34th Street?

It's the second movie Smith has filmed in the Mon-Yough area; as you may remember, many scenes from Dogma were shot in and around Our Fair City.

Kevin, bubbeleh, if you need a balding, 30-something yinzer, just call me; we'll do lunch at Tillie's.

(More semi-official Kevin Smith news here.)

. . .

More Theater News: According to a story in last night's Daily News by Bonnijean Adams (no link online), CCAC South Campus is receiving complaints over its decision to stage The Vagina Monologues this weekend.

Easily offended Mon Valley residents are objecting; they don't like seeing "that word" on the CCAC marquee along Clairton Road.

You know which word. ("Monologues.")

No, no, that's not the word they're worried about. But it's worth noting that Wilson Christian Academy is almost next door to CCAC South, so I guess a lot of parents are driving past the sign.

Maybe CCAC could change the play's advertising based on callers' suggestions. They could bill it as "The Your Dirty, Sinful, Lady-Parts Monologues." (Rimshot.)

. . .

To Do This Weekend: McKeesport Heritage Center celebrates Black History Month with a free presentation of York on Sunday at 2 p.m.

Join actor and scriptwriter Gregory Gibson Kenney of Educate Us Productions as he portrays York, the only African American on the Lewis and Clark expedition.

Performed at the heritage center located in Renziehausen Park, the dramatic 30-minute monologue will be followed by a 15-minute question and answer period. The program is open to the public but space is limited so plan to come early. Light refreshments will be served.

Kenny, who trained with the Pittsburgh Playhouse in association with Point Park University, has appeared in numerous theatrical productions, commercials, and feature films. His company, Educate Us Productions, strives to educate each audience in history through theater while showcasing the lives of historical figures as they face trials, goals, triumphs and achievements. Call (412) 678-1832.

Meanwhile, CCAC South Theater, 1750 Clairton Road, West Mifflin, presents The Your Dirty, Sinful, Lady-Parts Monologues The Vagina Monologues today and tomorrow. Call (412) 469-6219 for tickets and showtimes.

Posted at 12:00 am by Jason Togyer
Filed Under: General Nonsense, Mon Valley Miscellany | one comment | Link To This Entry

February 07, 2008

Picture This

I finally replaced the photo on the Tube City Online homepage with something a bit more suitable to the season.

Since it's been kind of a mild winter, there haven't been too many opportunities to shoot local scenes in snow. All of these pictures are from last year.

Here's Our Fair City, shot from Port Vue.

The W.D. Mansfield Bridge, lower 10th Ward and Glassport, seen from Skyline Drive in West Mifflin.

By the way, I stood up there for 20 minutes last winter, holding a long, 300-mm lens and freezing my butt off as I watched this towboat.

And I'd like to thank the jerk who blew his horn as he drove past, trying to spoil the picture. I hope he hits a pothole while he's picking his nose.

Finally, here's Third Ward and the Youghiogheny River. That stuff floating on the water is ice, not sewage (no thanks to the Elizabeth Township Sanitary Authority).

. . .

Business News: Several people emailed to ask about a real-estate listing in the papers two weeks ago, listing a $2 million transaction on Seventh Avenue, Downtown. (Some of them thought you could buy Downtown for $2 million, which is just mean.)

A little detective work reveals it's the state Department of Public Welfare office on Sixth Avenue. The front entrance of that building, and the parking lot, are both on Sixth, across from the parking garage, but it's all part of a larger parcel that goes through to Seventh Avenue, according to the Allegheny County Recorder of Deeds, and that's how they've listed the property.

The seller was local businessman David Sunstein, president and CEO of city-based Pennsylvania Coach Lines, while the buyer was a New Jersey-based real estate partnership called "220 South 6th Street LP." Sale price was $2.2 million.

State agencies in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware have no listing for a limited partnership called "220 South 6th Street," and the address that the county lists for tax bills is that of a mortgage broker in Howell, N.J., which doesn't tell me much.

. . .

Radio Killed the Website Star: On a local message board, an alert reader suggests that Tube City Online should take over WPTT (1360), at least at night, to talk about McKeesport.

First, thanks for the nice words, reader, but make sure you spell my name right. This is a toyger. It has more hair than I do. It's also cleaner. Those are the main differences.

Second, I'm part of a group that wants to create a local, Mon Valley-oriented public radio station. If someone from WPTT wanted to talk to us, we'd sure talk to them. But I don't think they'd realistically be interested.

In the past, we approached two commercial radio station owners about buying or leasing their stations; the amounts of money they wanted for even struggling AM stations would blow your mind (think high six figures) and weren't realistic.

That's why we'd like to go the LPFM route. Now, since Penn State Greater Allegheny also would like an LPFM, we've asked them twice over the past year if we can help them in any way, by raising money, organizing volunteers, etc.

So far, Penn State has not responded, but we're still open to a partnership. (If someone from PSGA wants to get in touch with me, my email is j togyer at g mail dot com.)

Anyway, I appreciate the mention, but I think there's a better chance of Terry Lee coming back to do overnights on 1360 than me.

Posted at 07:23 am by Jason Togyer
Filed Under: General Nonsense, Mon Valley Miscellany | six comments | Link To This Entry

February 06, 2008

It's in the Bag

Alert Reader Tim sends along this link to a classified ad on Craig's List. It's a genuine matched set of what older McKeesporters know as "hunky suitcases":

"And this guy has NINE of them," Tim says. "And he's lookin' to turn a profit. Crazy like a ... ?"

Well, nine bucks is a bit much. But I'd pay $5 for a Balsamo's bag. Heck, I bought an Immel's bag recently at an antiques store (I think I paid $3).

Over the past three years, I've bought Lord-knows-how-much G.C. Murphy Co. "private label" stuff at flea markets and thrift stores and over eBay --- for research purposes, but still.

By the way, does anyone need yarn? I've bought more than a dozen never-used skeins of "Murphy's Mart"-branded Wintuk yarn. There must be miles of that stuff left in Western Pennsylvania; you'd have thought Murphy's was a yarn store.

Come to think of it, is yarn tax-deductible as a business expense? I bought it because I was writing the book, after all. Do we have any lawyers out there?

. . .

Speaking of Balsamo's: The Daily News is running a trivia contest. Every week they're going to print a different archival photo in the paper; readers have to guess the location and return the coupon by Friday to be entered in a prize drawing.

The first photo ran last night on page 14. I didn't want to be a party-pooper, but I can't resist showing off, so I'm going to give you the answer. If you want to be a big cheater, hold up a mirror to this image, and you'll get the answer:

. . .

Also in the News:

• Versailles officials are asking Allegheny County to reassess homes because of the methane problems in the borough, according to Michael Divittorio. This might be the first time in Pennsylvania history that a borough has asked the county to lower the taxable value of properties; I'm sure half the McKeesport Area School Board fainted when they read that.



• Pat Cloonan reports that the West-to-West Coalition is calling for small, vacant parcels along Braddock Avenue in Braddock to be merged into larger parcels so that they're easier to market to developers. That's such an obviously good idea that I sprained my wrist slapping my forehead.



• And Raymond Pefferman writes that one of the members of the North Huntingdon planning commission is calling for better mass transit in Westmoreland County to alleviate traffic problems on Route 30. Maybe Westmoreland County can institute a liquor tax to pay for it.

Posted at 12:00 am by Jason Togyer
Filed Under: General Nonsense, Mon Valley Miscellany | one comment | Link To This Entry

February 05, 2008

Sleep Easy, Western Pennsylvania

Cluttered items from an empty mind:

. . .

Law & Order, Part I: U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan has created a task force to investigate people who lie on their mortgage applications, according to the Tribune-Review and Post-Gazette.

Buchanan's task-force, composed of agents from the Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, state Attorney General's Office, and the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office, is targeting people who claim more income than they actually have; some of them borrow money to make temporary increases to their bank account balances before completing their mortgage applications.

Those scoundrels!

"This is a very serious criminal activity we're facing here in Western Pennsylvania," Buchanan said at a press conference. "Unfortunately, we know that this is just the beginning of many of the cases that we're looking at very closely."

In a region where rival drug dealers are gunning down 12-year-old girls, it's nice to know that Buchanan has finally zeroed in on "very serious criminal activity" --- namely, big, mean borrowers beating up on poor, defenseless banks.

. . .

In a Related Story: You may recall that Buchanan's diligence also got that notorious hardened fugitive, Tommy Chong, locked up for selling marijuana paraphernalia.

(Note: The federal government couldn't foresee the collapse of Enron or Worldcom, can't seem to rein the deficit back, can't fix the problems in the VA Medical Centers and can't find Osama Bin Laden, but by golly, if you're a washed-up '70s comedian peddling bongs, you're going to jail.)

Unfortunately, due (no doubt) to liberal judges and prosecutors, Chong is out of prison, and according to The Onion's "AV Club" he's written a new book.

He's written a book?! Is there no end to this fiend's diabolical schemes?

. . .

Law & Order, Part II: Not to be outdone by Buchanan, Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala Jr. has formed his own task force to crack down on illegal video poker, blackjack and slot machines in local bars and taverns.

According to the P-G, the new effort will be funded by a $500,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

In a city where a councilwoman can defraud the government of $44,000 right under the noses of her colleagues and the region's highest-ranking law enforcement officials, it's nice to see Zappala going after real criminals --- namely, little old ladies playing video poker at the neighborhood beer garden.

. . .

Incidentally: The state Gaming Control Board is the same entity that licenses those giant slot-machine parlors.

But it's funding efforts to crack down on other slot-machine parlors.

Remember that old bumper sticker that said, "Don't steal --- the government hates competition"?

. . .

In a Similar Vein: I was telling a cow-orker the other day about the old days of the state store system.

I can remember visiting the state store on Washington Boulevard in Port Vue, for instance, when all of the liquor was behind the counter, with one bottle of each variety arrayed on a shelf behind the clerk. Mom and dad picked what they wanted from a printed price list, and the clerk went back and fetched it.

"Sure, grandpa," my friends said, "tell us another story."

And then along came Steve Twedt's magnum opus in the Post-Gazette unraveling the byzantine glories of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board --- and right in the first story, bam!:

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, formed after Prohibition under temperance-minded Gov. Gifford Pinchot, marks its 75th anniversary in 2008.

State stores once were user-unfriendly places where a clerk behind a counter fetched wines for customers who had to make their selections off a list.

I don't actually mind shopping in the state store. I have found the clerks helpful and the selection reasonably broad, and yes, I have visited liquor stores in other states, so I do have a basis for comparison.

But then again, I'm not a restaurant owner who has to jump through hoops every time I deal with the PLCB, nor am I a wine buff frustrated by the stale, limited inventory.

I can't think of one good reason why the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is in the retail liquor business. Can you?

. . .

WIXZ-Land Weather: If it rains as much today as the National Weather Service says it's going to, I predict the intersection of Walnut Street and Eden Park Boulevard will flood.

I also predict there will be standing water on Route 48 between Walnut Street and Ripple Road.

Walnut Street, of course, is a state highway (Route 148 ... you can look it up).

Maybe instead of the 18 percent "Johnstown Flood Tax" that the Liquor Control Board has levied on bottles of hooch since 1936, the state could institute a "McKeesport Flood Tax" and improve the damned drainage on two of our main arteries. I'm just sayin'.

. . .

And Finally: Speaking of highways, the Angry Drunk Bureaucrat describes the Mon-Fayette Expressway (aka "The Mo-Fo Excessway") as a massive, taxpayer-funded bowel movement. As long as you're not easily offended, make sure you read it.

Posted at 07:44 am by Jason Togyer
Filed Under: Good Government On The March, General Nonsense, Mon Valley Miscellany, Pointless Digressions | ten comments | Link To This Entry

February 04, 2008

Briefly Noted

Today's the birthday of one of the Mon Valley's most famous natives.

Ninety years ago today, Mr. and Mrs. Chedwick of Homestead, Pa., celebrated the birth of a baby boy they named George Jacob Chedwick.

But his mom called him "Porky."

You can read Ed Weigle's 2001 tribute at Pittsburgh Radio & TV Online, and make sure to view Dave Crawley's story from KDKA-TV.

. . .

In Other Business: Jack Bogut of WJAS (1320) notes that tomorrow is Mardi Gras and "Super Tuesday." "Let's all get drunk and choose the next president!" he says.

Has he looked at the candidates? If that doesn't drive you to drink, nothing will.

. . .

Speaking of Politics: Ken Ruffing has announced that he's going to challenge state Sen. Jay Costa Jr. in the Democratic primary.

You'll remember Ruffing as the former state representative from West Mifflin who lost his re-election bid to current state Rep. Bill Kortz.

Ruffing was one of the legislators who voted for the controversial state legislative pay raise, later overturned. But Ruffing refused to give back his raise, saying he had "donated it to charity."

The charity turned out to be his son's school, and the donation turned out to be his son's tuition.

After the primary defeat, Ruffing was accused of backing into a parked car at a church festival and driving away. When Munhall police caught up with him, they accused him of driving with a blood-alcohol level four times the state's limit for intoxication. Ruffing was charged with driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident.

I'm no big fan of Costa, who also voted for the pay raise (you might remember the sarcastic letter I sent him, and his response) but unlike Ruffing, at least he had the courage to admit he'd made a mistake by voting for the pay raise, and he apologized. (It's between him and his conscience to determine if the apology was sincere.)

We're still waiting to see some contrition from Ruffing, who last week told Pat Cloonan and Michael Divittorio of the Daily News that he's running for Costa's seat because he wants to see change in Harrisburg.

We all want to see change in Harrisburg, but Ruffing's record makes unlikely that he's the one who can deliver that change.

Maybe this is the year that Mon Valley Republicans put up a viable candidate for Costa's seat --- and one who's not an ultraconservative religious whack-job in the Peg Luksik/Pat Toomey mold.

Otherwise, I don't know if I want to vote for Costa, but Ruffing doesn't offer much of an alternative.

Posted at 07:00 am by Jason Togyer
Filed Under: History, Politics | five comments | Link To This Entry