If you’re a Bloc Party fan, chances are you’ve been hooked since their 2005 debut, Silent Alarm, which was met with critical acclaim, accolades galore, and platinum status, solidifying their position as a powerful force in the indie music world. For us, that entire album from start to finish was perfection and we sometimes forget they’ve released anything past that. We never thought we’d see the day when Bloc Party would be headlining Mr. Smalls, but the tour Gods have smiled upon our fair city and graced us with their presence June 1 as part of the venue’s series of 10th Anniversary shows. This one’s our fave on the list for sure.

Don’t expect to hear an array of Silent Alarm fan favorites if you’re attending the June 1 show. Bloc Party’s sound has shifted since their first album, and has traded a raw sound for a more layered, complex production that embraced the use of strings. They’ve managed to take an electronic direction with their later albums as well, citing Siouxsie and the Banshees as their inspiration for incorporating a brass section, in addition to including drum beats and loops and vocal manipulation, particularly on their third album, Intimacy.

Now that we’ve got you properly excited for their upcoming gig at Mr. Smalls, you can try your hand at our giveaway, the third in our series of 10th Anniversary celebrations. Simply follow the Rafflecopter instructions below for your chance to win. We’ll notify a winner via e-mail and they’ll have 24 hours to respond. No will call switches will be permitted. This show is not optional, it’s mandatory!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pittsburgh-based anti-war heroes Anti-Flag are well known for many things. They’re aligned with the global Occupy Together movement and proudly tout their left-wing political views via their beloved brand of punk rock. For the second edition of our series of giveaways for the Mr. Smalls 10th Anniversary Series, which celebrates their rich history of hosting diverse acts that come to town, we have a pair of tickets to see Anti-Flag during one of their two dates here in Pittsburgh. The band is set to embark on a series of two-night east coast tour dates which kick off in NYC and end here, the band’s home base.

Each city on the tour with host two dates. The first night will encompass songs from the following five albums: Die For the Government, A New Kind of Army, Mobilize, The Terror State and The General Strike. The second night features songs from the albums Their System Doesn’t Work for You, Underground Network, The People or The Gun, For Blood and Empire and The Bright Lights of America.

Each date will also feature the debut live performance of their version of the Amnesty International commemorative song “Toast To Freedom”. If you purchase a two-day pass you will receive a complimentary commemorative poster while supplies last. Or, you can try your hand at our giveaway for a pair of tickets to ONE of the two nights Anti-Flag are here in Pittsburgh at Mr. Smalls for the venue’s 10th Anniversary Series. You get to pick the show you attend (May 30 or 31). Simply follow the Rafflecopter instructions below and we’ll notify a winner via e-mail. Winner must respond within 24 hours to confirm. No will call switches are permitted. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tomorrow is a big day for Pittsburgh residents, as we’ll choose who is up for election in the fall. Bill Peduto is one of this year’s democratic mayoral candidates in the primary. Serving on City Council since 2001 has cemented his position as a big supporter of the arts, so we wanted to see what other aspects of Peduto’s platform might ring true with our readership. We’re here to promote a positive image of Pittsburgh, so it’s nice to see someone else who believes in the city as much as we do. We had a chance to ask Bill a few questions before the upcoming primary.

No stranger to local politics, Peduto was elected to Pittsburgh City Council in 2001 and is currently serving his third term. He chairs the Committee on General Services, Technology and the Arts, in addition to overseeing the City Information Systems department, the Cable Bureau and the Art Commission on Council. He plans on using this extensive experience to his advantage. “Being on city council has taught me what is working and what is not working in city government. I know how our city departments function and what changes are needed to get them working better. I also have been fortunate enough to be involved in development projects and community efforts all across the city – not just in my own council district. I can hit the ground running as mayor and be able to help move projects forward in Brookline, Beechview, Homewood, Troy Hill and other neighborhoods across the city because I’ve been involved in the discussions at the council table.”

Peduto’s involvement has been crucial to the transformative redevelopment of the city’s East End, and he feels other areas are poised to develop in similar ways. “Two neighborhoods that stick out for me are Beechview and the Hill. I think we can start to see some real resurgence in these neighborhoods from a community-driven standpoint. Beechview is starting to see a lot more young people and young families moving in and because of the work of Councilwoman Rudiak and committed neighborhood stakeholders you’re seeing new development there. Beechview has so much going for it from transit, to affordable housing stock, to a great little business district that is ready to start booming.
The Hill is at a turning point right now. With the redevelopment of the Civic Arena site we could see a real rebirth of the neighborhood but we have to make sure we get it right and that the community is really benefiting from the development. I will work very closely with the community and the developers to ensure that benefits flow directly to residents and business owners in the Hill.”

As for the young professionals of Pittsburgh, a few key issues ring true with Peduto. “I think cutting red tape in city government and making it easier for young people to start businesses, get around on public transportation, and live in walkable neighborhoods will all help to improve opportunities and quality of life. I also think that promoting Pittsburgh as a destination for tech and innovation companies will help draw new young professionals here and keep more of our graduating students here. People need to know that there is opportunity in Pittsburgh that you can’t find anywhere else. Combine that with affordable housing in livable neighborhoods and we could really start to see a population boom in the next decade.”

Peduto has routinely embraced methods of communication (YouTube, mobile app iBurgh, Facebook, Twitter) utilized by the more tech savvy, younger demographic. This key aspect of his practices as a politician have helped keep him in touch with a new generation. “I want young people to get more involved in their communities and in making decisions about the future of those neighborhoods. We need younger people joining community organizations and block watches and we need more young people serving on the city’s boards, authorities, and commissions. I want to open up the process for nominations to these bodies to get a more diverse mix of people making decisions for our city’s future. When you open up government and make it more transparent and accessible people actually want to be a part of it and I hope we can achieve that.”

One takeaway, regardless of the outcome, that Peduto will take away from this campaign is the opportunity to meet and engage with residents from each corner of the city. “The chance to get out and have conversations with people all over the city has been really meaningful. The funny thing is that no matter what neighborhood someone lives in or what their background is people in Pittsburgh all basically want the same things. They want the city to deliver the services they pay for. They want to feel safe in their neighborhoods. And they want opportunity for their families. That’s what this campaign is about and it’s about empowering people all over the city to work together with city government to make it happen.”

If you’re an avid supporter or still on the fence, we hope this helps to shape your opinion. And remember, no matter what party or candidate you support, the central message here is to get out and vote tomorrow because the future of our city is in YOUR hands! Visit here for more information on voting tomorrow.

There are people in this world who don’t put too much thought into what they wear every day and then there are sneaker heads. You know who we’re talking about – the folks who collect sneakers and have so many pairs they need an entire closet or two devoted to their footwear, most of which they’ve only worn once or twice. They’re like the urban version of Carrie Bradshaw, only way less annoying and about 10 million times cooler. Who doesn’t appreciate a nice pair of kicks!? They’re comfortable, functional, stylish and they cover up those stanky things we call feet. Today, S Bar in the South Side is showcasing a bunch of sneakers and some fresh streetwear to sport with your new kicks.

The event benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and is sponsored in part by Clique Vodka and JENESIS Magazine. The day will feature a rotation of DJs, drink specials, and raffles throughout the day.

Vendors include:

Frequently Fly Clothing
Nostalgically Fresh
Eye Candy
Dave’s Vintage Apparel
Grand Scheme
Faresh Brand
Penny Candy
Lou’s Sneakers
Daily Bread
Sneakerville
Social Status
ArieBella Couture Clothing
Obvious Clothing
Power In One Clothing
Kid Rich Clothing
Streetheart

This event is from noon to 5PM and is $5 to attend. Stock up for summer and support local brands and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation!

Novelty runs are all the rage right now. From color-infused jaunts to mud, and even zombies, it seems as though the world has already thought of every possible scenario for a 5K. We can now add Urban Dare to that list, which is being touted as “America’s Adventure Run” and combines both physical and mental challenges packaged neatly into a race. It’s an urban scavenger hunt of sorts that covers about 5 to 7 miles of the city and has a time limit of 5 hours. The first team to cross the finish line after successfully completing checkpoint dares and getting required photos will emerge victorious. It’s a great way to engage in some healthy competition, get in your daily exercise and discover new things about Pittsburgh along the way.

This event is team-based and relies on a series of checkpoints where participants must solve clues to move onto the next leg of the challenge. The route isn’t predetermined, so each team can come up with their own, however the use of cars, taxis, bikes, skates and the like are not permitted. Walking, running and public transportation are the only options in this adventure. A digital camera is also required for documentation of required photos that must be taken along the way.

We can’t help but be reminded of Pittsburgh’s very own Urban Hike project, which is locally-operated and occurs during various times throughout the year in a different neighborhood. We’re curious to see how the two compare, so if you end up participating, drop us a line and let us know!

Registration is still open for the June 8th Urban Dare sesh, so assemble your team of 2-4 people and head here to register!