Billygardell
The 412

Billy Gardell Recreates Famous Scene from “Raiders of the Lost Ark”

If you think Gardell is auditioning to be the next Indiana Jones, think again.
Richard Cook,

Swissvale native Billy Gardell, wearing a hat resembling Indiana Jones’ fur felt fedora and carrying that famous leather satchel, has recreated a scene from “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” complete with pandemic overtones. The spoof was to promote CBS’ airing of the movie, part of a series of Paramount Pictures films that will be shown Sundays in May. The other…

Virtual Weekender: April 30-May 2

We have four socially distant picks to shake up your routine this weekend.
Sean Collier,

PHOTO VIA FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS Outdoors Pittsburgh Marathon Virtual Race Anytime Through May 15 Anywhere This would’ve been race weekend for the annual Pittsburgh Marathon. Getting thousands of sweating people in the same place is obviously not ideal at the moment; that doesn’t mean, however, that you can’t cross the finish line. Sign up for a virtual race through the…

Bradshawtz
The 412

Terry Bradshaw’s New Song Describes Life in Quarantine

Proceeds from the single, which was inspired by a comment from Bradshaw's wife, will go to a good cause.
Richard Cook,

Former Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw says he feels like the rest of us: He’s tired of being cooped up. Granted, Bradshaw lives on an 800-acre quarterhorse ranch near the Texas-Oklahoma border, a far cry from a one-bedroom apartment in the South Side Slopes. After six weeks at home with his wife, Tammy, his three grandchildren and nine dogs, Bradshaw told…

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The 412

Liberty Magic @ Home Offers Virtual Illusions

The Cultural District venue will live stream magic shows every Friday night, beginning with performances from a pair of Liberty Magic veterans.
Sean Collier,

PHOTO COURTESY MADIGAN GREINER Magician Anna DeGuzman, whose spring Liberty Magic residency, “Queen of Cardistry” was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, made her name as an Instagram and YouTube star. She should be perfect for Liberty Magic @ Home. The Cultural District’s Liberty Magic is launching a home performance series featuring virtual illusions by (and conversations with) world-renowned magicians….

Jv Final 1

I Can’t Go to the Salon, What Should I Do with My Hair?

Salon owner John Vella offers advice for keeping a good and healthy look during these days of hair care at home.
Content Provided by The John Vella Salon,

It’s time to feel good about yourself! This is a time of healing. Our world is much different than it was a short time ago, and we are reminded of the importance of self-care.  Looking good and feeling good is important.  In this video series, Insights into Self-Care with John Vella, he offers some important do’s and don’ts when it comes…

The Blessing
The 412

Watch: Pittsburgh Churches Create Virtual Choir for Easter

The project, called the Pittsburgh Blessing, is the work of two dozen local churches.
Richard Cook,

Pittsburgh churches will be empty Easter Sunday, but their parishioners have a chance to sing the same hymm. Leaders from two dozen Pittsburgh-area churches created a virtual choir to sing a video-recorded anthem that can be downloaded and played by any church streaming their Easter services. The lyrics and soundtrack of “The Blessing,” which was composed and released earlier this…

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The 412

No Better Time than Now to Watch a Story about the Polio Vaccine

Steeltown Entertainment re-releases documentary about Salk’s work
Garret Roberts,

It was 65 years ago this month that the mass distribution of a polio vaccine began in the United States. The vaccine, developed by University of Pittsburgh researcher Dr. Jonas Salk, would change the world.  The story of the discovery is told in the Steeltown Entertainment documentary “The Shot Felt ‘Round the World” which is being re-released on Vimeo, a…

Rockyou
The 412

Watch: Pittsburgh Celebrities Rock in Music Video

See if you recognize all of the well-known Pittsburghers who came together, while staying apart, to thank those working during the pandemic while urging the rest of us to stay at home.
Richard Cook,

“We Will Rock You Pittsburgh” was released by Vault Recording Studios.   Categories: The 412

Homeward
The 412

Watch and Sing Along: Pittsburgh Couple’s Quarantine Parody

Clair and Mel Vatz reworked the lyrics of Simon & Garfunkel's 1966 song “Homeward Bound” into a YouTube video that's generated hundreds of thousands of views.
Richard Cook,

Clair and Mel Vatz told Chicago radio station WGN that they have been writing “stupid parody songs” for a long time. “Thanks to all who have watched this and made such touching comments,” Mel wrote on his YouTube page. “We had no idea that this video that we sent to a few friends and family would reach so many people….

Fredmcfeelysmall1
The 412

Mister Rogers Album Enters Library of Congress Recording Archives

It’s a beautiful day when the Latrobe native joins the National Recording Registry’s 2019 inductee class.
Garret Roberts,

PHOTO COURTESY FOCUS FEATURES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The Library of Congress has announced that Dr. Dre, The Village People and Mister Rogers will all be neighbors under their roof. The library has named 25 new inductees to their National Recording Registry, creating the “Ultimate Stay at Home Playlist” during the coronavirus outbreak. The list features recordings that are important to…

Uncorked
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The 400-Word Review: Uncorked

Netflix's family drama doesn't break new ground, but it tells its story well.
Sean Collier,

PHOTO BY NINA ROBINSON / NETFLIX There’s nothing novel about the central conflict in “Uncorked.” Father wants son to take over the family business; son has other aspirations. It’s a story so common that it almost rises to the realm of archetype. In telling such a tale, then, the quality is dependent on how well the story is presented. In…

Bloodshot
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The 400-Word Review: Bloodshot

The Vin Diesel action flick, briefly released before cinemas closed, has moved to an early digital release.
Sean Collier,

PHOTO BY GRAHAM BARTHOLOMEW / CMTG, INC. “Bloodshot,” a visually rich new actioner based on a comic-book series, works pretty well as a sci-fi mystery. Later, it falters as an action spectacle. The result is a movie nearly equally balanced between bad and good — the kind of movie worth watching if you’re curious (or, say, if you’re stuck at…

Homeworkoutwoman
Hot Reads, The 412

Get Fit During the Pandemic: Local Studios Offer Online Classes

We’ve put together a roundup of virtual fitness options from locally owned small businesses.
Jessica Sinichak,

PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK In this time of COVID-19, it would be all too easy to flick on Netflix while eating your stock of quarantine snacks from the comfort and safety of your own couch (no judgment if you do), but if getting fit — or relieving stress and improving mental health through exercise — during the pandemic is part of your…

Virtual
Hot Reads, The 412

How to Virtually Enjoy Pittsburgh’s Cultural Activities

Pittsburgh Magazine’s ongoing guide to online activities you can do while social distancing.
Kimberly Rooney,

FRICK MOBILE LANDSCAPE APP As you settle into your new social distancing routines, you may wonder what there is left to do as museums, venues and more close their operations to the public. If you want a taste of entertainment and education that was once available beyond the walls of your home, here’s an ongoing list of now-virtual activities you…

Theplatform
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The 400-Word Review: The Platform

Netflix's new thriller will be too dark for many viewers, but it's a compelling choice for horror fans.
Sean Collier,

PHOTO COURTESY NETFLIX A metaphor doesn’t need to be clever to be compelling. Take “The Platform,” for example. The new sci-fi/horror hybrid takes place in an unnamed dystopia, where a combination prison/social experiment stacks its captives two by two in a gargantuan, concrete tower. Prisoners wake up on a random level, where they’ll remain for a month. Each day, a…

Tedtalk
The 412

How Pittsburghers Online Can Help Fight Cabin Fever

YouTubers and TedTalkers offer company while you’re practicing social distancing.
Kimberly Rooney,

Phrases like “self-quarantine” and “social distancing” are everywhere as COVID-19 spreads.  The safety measures are vital to follow for public and personal health, but leave people separated from each other and their routines.  Sports events, theater performances, movies and more are canceled or postponed, and while there’s plenty of room for disappointment, there’s also room for other activities to fill…

Lostgirls
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The 400-Word Review: Lost Girls

Netflix's latest feature is a somber, but important, true-crime drama.
Sean Collier,

PHOTO BY JESSICA KOURKOUNIS / NETFLIX “Lost Girls,” a narrative drama from the accomplished documentary filmmaker Liz Garbus, strikes an impressive balance with its difficult subject matter. The true-life story is a tragic one, about the “Long Island serial killer” who murdered a double-digit tally of young women over a 20-year period — and whose crimes were barely investigated until…

Handwasing
The 412

5 Pittsburgh Songs Perfect For Hand Washing

In case “Happy Birthday” is getting a little old.
Amanda Reed,

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK According to the CDC, you should wash your hands for 20 seconds, which equates to singing “Happy Birthday” twice.  But what if you perform the song at vivace, when you really should be taking it at adagio or andante? That defeats the point of a 20-second marker.  Here are five 20-second song snippets to change up your handwashing…

Thehunt
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The 400-Word Review: The Hunt

Don't believe the hype; at best, this grisly political satire is accidentally shocking. It's mostly just dumb.
Sean Collier,

PHOTO COURTESY UNIVERSAL PICTURES Universal is leaning into the controversy surrounding its delayed thriller “The Hunt,” using outrage over the film’s subject matter as a marketing opportunity. That premise (an update of the oft-invoked short story “The Most Dangerous Game” wherein coastal intellectuals hunt alt-right victims for sport) provoked widespread criticism; after a pair of mass shootings in early August,…

Spenser
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The 400-Word Review: Spenser Confidential

Mark Wahlberg returns to his wheelhouse with satisfying results in this Netflix police drama.
Sean Collier,

PHOTO BY DANIEL MCFADDEN / NETFLIX Stop me if you’ve heard this one: Mark Wahlberg plays a rough-and-tumble Boston cop. You should always go with what works, I suppose. In the interest of precision, the former Marky Mark is an ex-cop in “Spenser Confidential.” That doesn’t stop him from doing a whole lot of cop stuff throughout the film, because…