Gallery Crawl Warms Up Cultural District

Get the first look at the brand new Arcade Comedy Theater, a 60-seat performance space on Liberty Ave.

BY PM EDITORS

Photo courtesy of the Cultural Trust

Gallery crawl warms up the Cultural District
At various points this week, the local temperature has fallen to levels somewhere between 4 degrees Fahrenheit and “it’s too cold to check the thermometer”— so we know you’re not particularly enthused to leave home. But take heart: Tomorrow, the temps will climb to a balmy 25 degrees. Warm? No. But compared to Tuesday, it’s Tahiti.

So celebrate this incremental improvement by hitting the first Gallery Crawl of 2013. There’ll be great events across the Cultural District, as usual, including performances and pop-up oddities a-plenty. One of the featured entrants, though, is the brand new Arcade Comedy Theater, which will welcome guests for the first time before its grand opening; the multifaceted theater will offer short performances and improv games throughout the evening — and it’ll be right around the corner from an outdoor curling event. Quite the intersection.

(Downtown; tomorrow, 5:30-9 p.m.; full agenda and list of locations available at trustarts.org)

Les Miserables is everywhere
This weekend, Les Miserables has the run of the city, with the film playing at every cinema worth mentioning and the acclaimed (and, surprisingly, revised) touring production — rumored to be gearing up for the next Broadway revival, in 2014 — playing a second weekend at the Benedum. So what to choose? We’re assuming diehard fans have already seen both shows. For the curious, the casual and the confused, there’s a guide in this week’s edition of After Dark!

Rivertowne to aid East Suburban Family YMCA
The East Suburban Family YMCA location has been around for more than 40 years. But it relies on generous support from locals to help fund services offered to local youth, seniors and families — and its expansion. This Saturday, Rivertowne will team up with the East Suburban YMCA for a beer dinner benefit, held at the Rivertowne Pour House. Ticket fees cover a five-course dinner with hand-crafted brew pairings, plus a complimentary draft. Rivertowne’s brewmaster will teach guests about beer matchups. And the executive director of the East Suburban Family YMCA will be present to explain how the proceeds will help..

(Rivertowne, 312 Center Road, Monroeville; Saturday, 7 p.m.; $60; 412/372-8199 for reservations)

In Theaters: Four very different movies debut in Pittsburgh theaters this weekend: raunchy ensemble comedy Movie 43, incredibly poor idea Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, Jason Statham action romp Parker and Bill Murray’s turn as Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Hyde Park on Hudson. PM Film Editor Sean Collier will be on the 102.5 WDVE Morning Show Friday morning at 7:15 to review two of those flicks. Tune in tomorrow morning at 102.5-FM or DVE.com to hear his remarks!

This Sunday marks the start of the Kean Quest Talent Search competition’s 10th season. Local vocalists can perform at Gibsonia’s Kean Theatre for a variety of medals and prizes — but if you don’t sing, just go listen. Click here for more information.

Get a group together and head to South Broadway Manor this Sunday, to learn how to cook the Creole way with the help of chef Rick Bruckner, just in time for Mardi Gras. BYOB, beads and gumbo — who could pass that up? Click here for more information.