PittsburghScene's topics - tribe.net

Christian musicians wanted for Spirit-filled worship in Munhall

bjcollins — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 18:58:16 GMT

You've been blessed by God with musical talent, and there is no greater privilege than leading His people in worship. Give of your first fruits - your time and talent - to the One who has given so much to you. God will honor your desire to serve Him, and you'll grow in your ability to perform as you simultaneously grow in spiritual maturity and knowledge. You can be a blessing to others, and store up some treasures in heaven. (412) 831-ROCK.

posted in PittsburghScene - 1 reply

Taxim - student/teacher belly dance showcase and swap meet - this Friday!!

kari_merlina — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:28:59 GMT

Taxim - Friday, July 18th at Your Inner Vagabond
Featuring students and teachers of the tri-state area!
Swap meet too!!

Show starts at 7pm
$5 entrance fee

Your Inner Vagabond - Lawrenceville, PA
www.yourinnervagabond.com

posted in PittsburghScene - 0 replies

Bellydance is Beautiful 3 - THIS Saturday at Your Inner Vagabond

kari_merlina — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:28:55 GMT

BellyDance Is Beautiful 3!

* Saturday July 5th, 2008

To BUY TICKETS:

www.zafiradance.com/bdib3.html

**Registration fees are non-refundable unless the event is cancelled**

Registered names for the show will be on a list at the door/no tickets
will be mailed

Venue:
Your Inner Vagabond!

Show time: doors 7:30/8PM show
Show fee: $10/$15 (door), paypal tax added

************************************************************
Line-up:
FEATURING Your hostesses Zafira Dance Co members

Our Phabulous emcee Phat Mandee

The amazing local talents of:
Sadiqa!
Khafif!
Narah Bint Durr! (WV)
Melanie Wood from Kassar!
********************************************************************************

posted in PittsburghScene - 0 replies

Don't miss.....

kari_merlina — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 12:05:42 GMT

Pittsburgh Underground TONIGHT at 7pm.
Hosted by Sadiqa - www. sadiqabellydance. com
Venue: Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall
www. carnegiecarnegie. com
$15 at the door
- children 12 and under $5

Celebrating Pittsburgh's 250th birthday with music, spoken word and dance!

Featuring:
John Thomas Menesini - Spoken Word and our Master of Ceremonies!!
Haywood and friends - Jazz
Trini and Sean - Tango
Balafon - West African Music and Dance
B.J. York - Music and Flamenco Dance
Margot B. Dance Company - Hip Hop Dance
Cultivator - Reggae
Ishtar - Turkish Bellyrock
Icarus Witch - Rock
Sadiqa - Belly Dance

posted in PittsburghScene - 0 replies

Pittsburgh Underground - this SATURDAY!! - June 28th

kari_merlina — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:58:37 GMT

Hosted by Sadiqa - www.sadiqabellydance.com
Saturday, June 28th
Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall
300 Beechwood Avenue
Carnegie, PA 15106
www.carnegiecarnegie.com

Celebrating Pittsburgh's 250th birthday with music,
dance and spoken word. Vending too!

- featuring all local artists

Music by:
Balafon - West African
B.J. York - blues/jazz
Haywood and friends - jazz
Icarus Witch - rock
Ishtar - Turkish Bellyrock
Man on the Street (Cultivator) - reggae

Dance by:
B.J York - Flamenco
Margot B. - Hip Hop
Sadiqa - Belly Dance
Trini and Sean - Tango
Balafon - West African

Spoken Word and our MC:
John Thomas Menesini

Advanced tickets on sale now via PayPal until midnight
Friday, June 27th!
$10 in advance
$15 at the door
http://www.yogaandbellydance.com/pghug.html
$5 children 12 and under

posted in PittsburghScene - 0 replies

L.A. Burner moved to Pittsburgh...

basicmemory — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:26:30 GMT

Hey Everybody,

I moved here from L.A. for a better job but I need my burner peeps man!!! I hope to meet lots of you and enjoy working, grooving and evolving with you, uh so what's the hap over here??? please feel free to send me a hello at-

chris@basicmemory.com

i am a multimedia designer and a jungle/breakz head...

-chris

posted in PittsburghScene - 2 replies

Going away without your pooch??

Jenn — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:17:05 GMT

If you live north/east of Pittsburgh and are looking for a place to leave your pooch (whether you're going to work or on vacation, or hosting a big event), check out Hampton DogCentral. It's a center for dogs that offers boarding, grooming, self-wash, and all day supervised play care. It's a small business operation so you're dog's name, needs, and personality become familiar to the staff. Even if your dog is new to the canine social scene, it will soon become a casual, comfortable, fun and healthy atmosphere for his/her mind, body, and spirit. Dogs need physical exercise, play, and the stimulation of socializing with other dogs. So, if you're a busy dog mom or dad, or if you are going away, don't put your dog in a traditional boarding kennel where all he/she'll do is sit in a cage all day and miss you, let Hampton DogCentral show them a good time! www.hamptondogcentral.com

posted in PittsburghScene - 0 replies

Pittsburgh Underground - June 28

kari_merlina — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:44:25 GMT

Hosted by Sadiqa
Saturday, June 28th
Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall
- featuring all local artists

Music by:
B.J. York
Cultivator
Icarus Witch
Ishtar

Dance by:
B.J York
Margot B.
Sadiqa
Trini and Sean

Poetry:
John Thomas Menesini

Tickets on sale now!
$10 in advance
$15 at the door
http://yogaandbellydance.com/pghug.html

posted in PittsburghScene - 0 replies

4days in pittsburgh

paul — Sat, 10 May 2008 20:02:22 GMT

hey-
coming to town for a conference from tuesday may 13 to friday the 16th. looking for some excitement in the evenings. interesting, reasonable restaurants, breweries, quintessential pittsburgh, areas to walk, parks, public art, live/dj funky soulful music to dance... staying downtown - penn ave.
yum

posted in PittsburghScene - 1 reply

Jalsah Pittsburgh VIII - June 7- bellydance jam

melissaclarinetchick — Tue, 27 May 2008 17:41:54 GMT

On June 7, Mark and Melissa of Ishtar and Nick Ragheb will be teaching drum and music workshops at Your Inner Vagabond prior to Jalsah Pittsburgh VIII!

Pre-register for workshops at:
www.ishtar-music.com/html/workshops.html

Mark will teach beginner darbuka, a class perfect for dancers and darbuka novices to understand basic rhythms. 3-4PM $15 Learn more about Mark at www.ishtar-music.com

Nick Ragheb, recently returned from music studies in Istanbul, will teach intermediate and advanced darbuka and bendir (frame drum) technique. 4-5pm $15 (cash and check only) www.nickragheb.com

Melissa Murphey will conduct the workshop: Middle Eastern Music Ensemble for ALL Instruments. Sheet music will be available to borrow or to purchase. All drummers and melody musicians regardless of instrument are welcome to attend. 5:30-7PM $15 www.clarinetchick.com

Take both Melissa and Mark's workshops for $25!

Take any ONE workshop and come to the Jalsah for FREE!

Sign up here: www.ishtar-music.com/html/workshops.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jalsah Pittsburgh VIII - the Ultimate bellydance community participation event! Bring your drum, bring your instrument, bring your hipscarf and PARTY all night at the Jalsah! Play the tunes and rock out with Ishtar and Nick from 8PM to 1AM! Everyone plays music! Everyone dances!

Dance Teachers: this is a great opportunity for your dance students to gain experience dancing to live Middle Eastern music. Have three of your students purchase advance tickets online and *you* can come to the Jalsah for FREE!

www.jalsah.org

Jalsah Pittsburgh VIII
June 7, 2008
Cover $7, under 14 - $3, under 5 free. BYOB
8PM-1AM

Your Inner Vagabond
4130 Butler St
Pittsburgh, PA 15201
www.yourinnervagabond.com

posted in PittsburghScene - 0 replies

The Job Scene

Debbie — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 03:02:19 GMT

Hello All, I am from Pgh and living in Houston Texas. I just finished a phlebotomy course and find that the hospitals in Houston are on a job freeze. Between no jobs and the oppressive heat down here, I am thinking of moving back home. What is the job situation like there? Are there a lot of jobs in the medical field? Help a girl out !!!! Thanks

posted in PittsburghScene - 2 replies

Bellydancing downtown for the Gallery Crawl!

melissaclarinetchick — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:44:41 GMT

Ishtar BellyRocks the Pittsburgh Gallery Crawl for 3.5 awesome hours!

We will be joined by the vivacious bellydancer, Ayleeza of New York. Ayleeza is an exciting performer, not to be missed!!! She has been performing bellydance for 15 years and is also an accomplished riqq player. www.ayleeza.com

Check us out from 5:30 to 9PM at the Backstage Bar at 655 Penn Ave, Downtown Pittsburgh. (entry at Katz Plaza)

The Gallery Crawl is a FREE quarterly event with much art and merriment for all in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Here are ALL the happenings!

www.pgharts.org/education/...ycrawl.aspx

posted in PittsburghScene - 0 replies

Big diverse music show! April 11!

melissaclarinetchick — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:10:54 GMT

Just a friendly reminder that Ishtar will be playing a 40-50 minute set this Friday night April 11 at Your Inner Vagabond. (4130 Butler St, Pittsburgh PA 15201) Doors are 7:30 and show is at 8PM. All ages, BYOB and a $10 cover. Under 14 years, $5.

We are trying to raise money to record and press a CD. Our studio dates are April 26 and 27. Yes...Ishtar is going to the studio. :-)

FUNDRAISER ALERT!!!!

We are sharing the stage with Between Liberties and Agnes Wired For Sound. Between Liberties is progressive acoustic eclectic rock. (Yeah, quite a bit of adjectives there.) Agnes is Pittsburgh's most excellent industrial band with Chad Hammit as the cooollleest front man ever.

PhatManDee will be EmCeeing the evening and sitting in on a song or two with Ishtar.

All three of our bands are recording this year, so we have combined forces to bring a diverse and eclectic group of performers and audience members together for one fun filled night at Your Inner Vagabond.

In addition to 3 great musical acts and one Phabulous MC, I will be bellydancing -- costume and all to an Agnes Wired For Sound song. Many of you know of my love for industrial music. :-)

www.myspace.com/agneswfs
www.myspace.com/betweenliberties
www.myspace.com/ishtarmiddleeast

Here comes the best part: FREE STUFF!

Get a free Ishtar shirt *or* our 5 song demo EP of Radio Babylon. Only at the SHOW on Friday April 11 and only while supplies last.

More shirts will be forthcoming...we are screening them ourselves.

posted in PittsburghScene - 0 replies

Hideous! Kinky! Speak Easy Cabaret April 12

oliviakiss — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 00:10:21 GMT

Hideous! Kinky!
Speak Easy Cabaret.
Hosted by Zafira Dance Co.

Mira Betz (CA)
Sadiqa (PA)
Balafon West African Music and Dance Company (DC)
Ukelucky (The dynamic duo: Ukelizzy and Buddy Nutt) (PA)
Zafira Dance Company (PA)
Emcee Phat Mandee (PA)
and more!

Hideous! Kinky!
Sat. April 12
8 PM
@
Grey Box Theatre
3595 Butler St (Lawrenceville)
Pittsburgh, PA 15201

For info on Workshops w. Mira Betz and to purchase tickets:
www.zafiradance.com/mira.html

To see pictures from the last Hideous! Kinky!
www.pbase.com/darter02/hk1

We are excited about this show because it coincides w/ the 10th Anniversary of Eve Ensler's Vagina Monologues and her V Day foundation whose mission is to stop violence against women.

Hideous! Kinky! will coincide w/ a huge 2 day V-Day spectacular at the Super Dome in New Orleans. Selma Heyak, Oprah, Ellen Degeneres... and a gagillion other stars will all perform at the Super Dome and all the money from these events will go straight to the women of New Orleans!! Here is an article about the event:

v10.vday.org/node/401

Here is Eve Ensler speaking about her play, her foundation and its mission and her evolution in Buddhism:

www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/64

posted in PittsburghScene - 0 replies

This Wed. March 26: Vagabonds for Change

mirvana — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 18:05:33 GMT

Patricia and I will be performing a short set at Your Inner Vagabond tomorrow night. Kicks off around 7 pm. We will also have tickets for the Voltaire/Ego Likeness show (April 5 at Pegasus) on us, if you would like to get the advance price.

Details:

YIV is hosting a rally with Western PA for Obama on Wednesday March 26 beginning at 7pm. There will be food & drink, music and info about the campaign.

With performances by

Phat Man Dee
Bellydance by Amethyst & Natasha
Buddy Nutt
Patrica Wake

more TBA

Come on out and support change!

posted in PittsburghScene - 0 replies

Parousing through Pitt

twistedchick — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:45:53 GMT

I'm visiting Pitt from 3/26 to 4/1 since I only know two workaholic ppl there I'm in desperate need of trouble to get into. sooo please spam me with anything half way interesting going on in PA.

My friend who lives there says he can't find a damn thing to do even those he's turned over many rocks n even went to the wrong side of rail road tracks......anyone willing to help me prove him wrong & at the same time save my spring vacation????

raych

posted in PittsburghScene - 0 replies

how do you turn your neighborhood cool?

phatmandee — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:06:36 GMT

My neighborhood is not cool. It could be cool. I think it needs a coffeeshop and art gallery. I think that might be a first step. I live in Allentown above South Side, before Mt Washington halfway up that hill.

Any suggestions? We have a trolley and severe economic depression, but property is cheap, super cheap.

posted in PittsburghScene - 0 replies

Irish Music for SAINT PATRICK'S DAY

vadeking — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 22:02:52 GMT

Not one but THREE days!
Come hear us play...
((see, that all rhymed. This is why we make the big bucks))

Though there's a lot of info to share, I'm keeping this short and sweet as I can.

Saint Patrick's Weekend 3 days, 3 shows:

Friday 14th------------9:00 - 12:00
Saturday 15th--------4:00 - 6:00
Monday 17th----------9:00 - 12:00

All at LANIGAN'S IRISH PUB in New Castle PA!

website, address, phone number here: http://www.lanigansirishpub.com/

After a handful of brief discussions, Your favourite friendly neighborhood isish trio would like to suggest SATURDAY as the likely best day for the wearin' O' the green in lovely New Castle. There will be several bands plus Irish Step Dancers! Here's the day's rundown besides us:

March 15
- Open 7am-10am for KEGS & EGGS Irish Breakfast!
- County Mayo, 12pm-4pm
- Burke School Of Irish Dance performance at 5pm (website)
- Mixed Greens, 7pm-10pm
- Back Lash (rock), 10pm-1am

We're bookending the Burke dancers on Saturday. The night is not about US at all... it's almost our day off where we'll just be keeping the energy and music flowing between the band that ends at 4 and the one that starts at 7. We're planning on hanging out there all night and seeing just how "into the holiday" we can really get!

Barring that, if you're main goal is to see Colin's Way own the night, then Friday would be your day. Be there by 9pm in that case and BRING ID just in case! They reserve the right to kick out anyone underage after 10pm.

Finally... if you miss the first two shows and you're not worried about turning into a pumpkin, you'll have a last shot on the REAL St. Pat's day and you can stay up late with us on Monday. We'll keep you up, promise!

So we know where WE'LL be... what about YOU?

PS: more information about Colin's Way can be gleaned from our tribe group as well as our myspace page: www.myspace.com/colinsway

posted in PittsburghScene - 0 replies

Girls Night Out at Fox and the Hound March 12th with XXX-ERCISE

Cherries — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:44:01 GMT

Join Oh My You're Gorgeous and XXX-ERCISE for Girls Night Out at the Fox and the Hound on Wednesday, March 12th from 7 - 9.

There will be pole dancing demonstrations and free classes throughout the night.

Come check out the poles at the Fox and Hound on McKnight Road this Wednesday, March 12th from 7 - 9.

Come check out what pole dancing for fitness is all about.

XXX-ERCISE and OH MY, YOU'RE GORGEOUS will be having free giveaways.

For more info call 724-612-7724, email ohmyyouregorgeous.com, or check us out at www.ohmyyouregorgeous.com

Look for our new studio opening in April!! Offering classes 7 days a week.

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Frostburn 2008

michelle — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 22:36:51 GMT

This President's day weekend we will be holding the first Frostburn - Western Pennsylvannias first regional burn.

More info available is here http://pittsburgh.tribe.net/event/Frostburn-Western-PA-Premiere-Regional-Burn/slippery-rock-pa-16057/7433766f-6ba2-471a-ab3c-54b59c95f09e

and on the website at www.frostburnpgh.com

We hope you can make it to our first event :)

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Sharon Kihara in Pittsburgh: Early Bird Deadline Extension!!

oliviakiss — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 19:41:38 GMT

Pittsburgh Workshops with Sharon Kihara of the Bellydance Superstars
Jan 26 & 27th
Breathe Yoga Studio
hosted by Zafira Dance Company

Saturday: Technique with a Focus on Layering
This class is intended for the Bellydancer who wants to improve their sense of timing, coordination and power. We’ll begin with a yoga and pilates based workout to stretch and tone the body, and graduate to full-body drills and unique combinations, featuring juicy layered movements! This class is fun for adventurous beginners with some experience through more advanced level dancers. Please bring a yoga mat or towel and dress as though you are going to a yoga class.

Saturday Night Showcase: Details TBA

Sunday: Cairo-SF-NY: An Egyptian/Tribal Fusion choreography
Middle East meets West Coast in this original fusion dance! Learn a full choreography, with roots based in San Francisco Tribal style, spiced with Classical Egyptian flavor, to beautiful fusion music from NYC! This class is recommended for all levels, and we will employ much of the technique from the Saturday class. Please dress in comfy, stretchy clothes; bring a belt or hip scarf of some kind; and a notebook if you like!

*** We area also extending the Early Bird prices until midnight, friday Jan. 4th. Why? Because we like you.****************************

visit www.zafiradance.com to register or for more info

posted in PittsburghScene - 0 replies

Holiday jam Dec 22 (xpost)

melissaclarinetchick — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 01:26:13 GMT

Bring your instrument and caroling voice 'cause we will be raqin' around the xmaz tree (or dreidel) at Jacques' place on December 22! We will jam on the regular bellydance tunes as well as play some holday faves.

I'll bring sheet music and everyone else bring a snack or a bottle to share cause we can't do this sober, people!

Holiday Hijaz Jam starts at 6PM.

Jacques' house:

2618 Stella Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203

Contact him at: people.tribe.net/joc

or jocko@nidhog.com

~melissa the clarinetchick

posted in PittsburghScene - 0 replies

Robot Art Opening at the Brew House - free!

LizZiBeth — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 06:45:52 GMT

if you're looking for something fun to do this Friday the 14th, come to
the Brew House for the closing reception of "the Uncanny Valley Rally"

http://www.brew-house.org/events.php

7pm to 10pm
2100 Mary Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203

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Dec 2 @ 2pm - Middle Eastern music and rhythms workshop

melissaclarinetchick — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 16:59:06 GMT

Hi everyone!

I will be teaching a Middle Eastern music and rhythm ensemble workshop on December 2. I am only asking a $5 donation, because I really want everyone to come to Jalsah Pittsburgh VI as well.

The workshop is for all instruments and drummers. I will teach the basic structure of several popular Middle Eastern dance songs. Percussionists can learn how specific rhythms fit specific songs and how to change seamlessly between rhythms. Melody musicians can learn popular Middle Eastern melodies and will be given instruction on basic makam theory. The goal for this workshop is to enable all percussionists and melody musicians to play common songs together. All instruments are welcome, as this music can be played on any instrument.

Workshop at 2PM on December 2 at Your Inner Vagabond, 4130 Butler St, Pittsburgh 15201.

www.yourinnervagabond.com

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Raquy & the Cavemen this Friday at YIV

AJ — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:14:02 GMT

Black Friday Raqs
A Day of Festive Shopping &
an Evening with Raquy & the Cavemen

Your Inner Vagabond Coffeehouse & World Lounge
4130 Butler @ 42nd, Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh 15201

Friday, November 23, 2007

4PM to 8:30PM
Shopping Bazaar - YIV will open for Black Friday holiday shoppers with an in-house bazaar, featuring vendors & craftspeople specializing in exotic and unique gift ideas from around the world for the Globalista on your holiday list. FREE

6:30PM to 8:30PM
Darbuka workshop with Raquy Danzinger – A master percussionist from New York City, Raquy will lead an all-levels workshop. $20 (includes show)

8:30PM to 2AM
Raquy & the Cavemen with special guest Ishtar – From New York City, Raquy & the Cavemen fuses traditional Middle Eastern percussion and instrumentation with modern hard-rock vibrations. Open floor dancing and jamming will follow the performance. $10. Entry includes a sumptuous spread of desserts, savories and exotic soft beverages including teas and coffees from the menu of YIV.

More info at www.YourInnerVagabond.com

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Vaudeville Carnivale TICKETS ON SALE NOW!!!

oliviakiss — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 16:52:41 GMT

Git Em while the're hot!

Visit: www.proartstickets.org or 412-394-33533 for advance tickets

Zafira Dance Company's
Vaudeville Carnivale .:Deaux:.
Where the Bourgeois meet La Boheme!

Sat. Nov. 24, 2007
Kelly Strayhorn Theater
Pittsburgh, PA

8pm/ doors open @ 7pm
$15 Advance/ $18 Door
$10 Students /$5 Children under 10
www.proartstickets.org or 412-394-33533 for advance tickets

Join us for an evening of tantalizing performances, food, drink and artistry that will delight your soul. Our city’s finest entertainers & legends come out for this spectacular fundraising event for Pittsburgh’s own Zafira Dance Company and the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater. Prepare yourself for a stunning spectacle of epic proportions!!!

Magnificent performances that will inspire and delight you!

Daring delicacies to tempt your taste buds, Your Inner Vagabond will set up their Turkish Coffee house. Savory treats and libations for sale and by donation.

Don’t forget your purse! We will have a bizarre bazaar with artwork, clothes and jewelry to outfit your inner gypsy!

Wear your finest and get an Old-Tyme Photo Portrait of you and your loved ones!

Artists & Performers include:
 The Man. The Legend.... Bob Ziller… Circus Barker Emcee
 Kill the Unicorn (Torchlight Jazz, Gospel, Calypso Art Band)
 Ana Vey (Tri- Hop Gypsy Jazz)
 Liz Hammond (AKA the UkeLady)
 Phat Mandee (Singer Songstress)
 Zafira (Steal your heart, saucy, ragtime bellydance)
 Kassar (Otherworldly, Athletic, Devine Dance Divas)
 Sarah & Katrina (Vintage Ballet Performances)
 Erin Carey (Aerialist Extraordinaire)

Tickets on sale now! www.proartstickets.org or 412-394-33533

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Irish Music NOVEMBER 9TH (friday)

vadeking — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 19:12:34 GMT

Colin's Way is playing Lanigan's Irish Pub in downtown New Castle!
If it's your first time, you can mapquest:

128 E. Washington St
New Castle, PA 16101

The band's in from 8pm till midnightish. Tunes kick off at 9.
Guinness always on tap, no cover!

posted in PittsburghScene - 0 replies

New Beginner Belly Dance lessons taught by Kari Merlina of PurpleMatilda

kari_merlina — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:50:53 GMT

Beginner Belly Dance
January 12 through April 26
Saturdays - 12:00 to 1pm
Point Park University
Contact Kari directly for more information.
purplematilda@yahoo.com
www.purplematilda.com

posted in PittsburghScene - 0 replies

NCEF! Media sabotaged! Hijacked by lone wingnut! Accused of fraud and embezzlement!

White Rabbit — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 04:11:11 GMT

NCEF! Media in Humboldt County, Ca. is accused of fraud and donation embezzlement. Caution! Do not support this lone wingnut's scam! Other legitamate groups exist in the area. Caution! Do not be fooled by NCEF! Media and his fraudulent outreach. Shunka Wakan exists completely seperate from any active affinity group. Read about how he perpetuated a lawsuit under the guise of EF! against a legitamate environmental nonprofit:

Dog Days
From: http://northcoastjournal.com/100407/cover1004.html
October 4, 2007
Money On Trees

Big cash nearly fell into Shunka Wakan's lap. Other Earth First!ers are kinda happy it didn't.

by Heidi Walters

As the jury trial for the civil suit Kathryn Miller v. the Trees Foundation puttered to a start last week inside Courtroom 3 at the Humboldt County Courthouse, Shunka Wakan — a key witness for the plaintiff — spent mornings sitting on the hard wooden benches in the long hallway outside the courtroom. During breaks, Miller's attorney Linda Mitlyng, would come out of the courtroom to join him. But otherwise, as other people and their legal affairs swirled around him in a warm, odiferous bath of humanity, Shunka sat alone. Or, sometimes, he stood alone, straight-spined, his small, stocky body swallowed by the huge, stiff blue suit out of which his newly shorn, razor-scraped bald head poked vulnerably — as if, at any moment, the suit could gulp once more and he'd disappear completely. Always, he clutched a paper folder with a wolf's face on its cover.

The North Coast Earth First! Media guru had shaved off his woolly rust-tinged brown hair and beard the night before jury selection started, after discussing it with attorney Mitlyng. Now, it took an uncertain moment to recognize him. Then, of course: Shunka's light blue eyes in the pink-pale face, Shunka's closed-lip smile, Shunka's trademark husky murmur, "Mm-hmm, for sure," in response to a comment.

In Courtroom 3, the amiable but no-nonsense Judge Christopher Wilson's domain, the fate of a $185,000 donation dangled. Would the plaintiff, donor Kathryn Miller, prevail in her claim that the defendant, the Trees Foundation, was not in fact the intended recipient of her generous gift? That Shunka Wakan's NCEF! Media Center and the treesitters were? Or would the Trees Foundation convince the jury that, in fact, the money was intended all along for Trees, with no instructions attached for funneling it elsewhere?

Richard Idell, left, who is defending the Trees Foundation against a lawsuit filed by Kathryn Miller, confers with Doug Wallace, community support coordinator for Trees. Photo by David Lawlor.

In her opening arguments, Miller's attorney, Mitlyng, said the case came down to "fraud and broken promises." "She believed [Trees] would hold [the money] in trust, for the benefit of North Coast Earth First!" said Mitlyng. The defense's attorney, Richard Idell, countered in his opening argument that the donation was an unconditional gift and Miller never wrote letters of instruction — as Miller claims she did. "Ms. Miller ... didn't do anything. She took the check [from her mother's estate] and flipped it over and wrote on the back, 'Payable to the Trees Foundation,'" said Idell.

Miller's claim sought the return of her $185,000, plus interest.

Out in the hallway, Shunka waited to tell his side of the story. Maybe he thought about the magical donation that never materialized, and now probably never would. Maybe he thought about the other times he'd been in this courthouse — dozens of times, along with other activists, often before Judge Wilson, answering to charges of trespassing and other forms of civil disobedience in the woods. Likely, he wondered when they were finally going to call him in to testify — it was taking forever in there. He'd even sent out an e-mail prematurely to the several hundred subscribers to his NCEF! online group erroneously announcing he would be first up to testify.

By the end of Friday's court session, Miller was still on the stand. Perhaps Monday it would be Shunka's turn. Whenever it was, he would be testifying on Miller's behalf; but he wasn't a party to the lawsuit. And in the end, after hearing all of the evidence, the jury would be determining who was telling the truth about intentions and letters of instructions. Shunka was just there to provide context and evidence in a contract dispute.

But to a number of forest activists, including a half dozen or so who appeared in the audience last Friday to watch the trial unfold, that context matters more to them than the legal questions. They say this lawsuit has placed a strain on the environmental community that could do as much damage as an ill-felled redwood that takes down other giants in its descent. They disapprove of the lawsuit, and they blame Shunka for it. And, they say, it's just another example of how Shunka has commandeered the North Coast Earth First! identity and used it for purposes that nobody else in the amorphous but consensus-driven local Earth First! movement has agreed to.

"For a lot of us, when we read about the lawsuit, this is kind of like Shunka on trial," said long-time forest activist Deane Rimerman last Friday, calling from Olympia, Wash. "And, to what extent is he worthy of that money?"

Kathryn Miller wanted her money to go toward saving trees, she said on the witness stand last Thursday. The slender 59-year-old was dressed in a pink print skirt and white sweater, with her gray-streaked dark hair pulled back into a neat, thin braid tinted slightly green. (Little did the jury know that Miller had spent the night in jail, in blue jail duds, and then had been "dressed out," in court lingo, in her street clothes before being escorted into the court by the bailiff. Miller had been arrested the week before, on Sept. 17, when she arrived in civil court for the pre-trial readiness hearing; according to the misdemeanor criminal charges filed against her, Miller allegedly had made annoying phonecalls to Barbara Ristow of the Trees Foundation all hours of the day and night.)

On the stand, Miller described how she became an activist. She remembered how, when she was a child in Orinda, her mother decided to stop spraying the beautiful oak trees on their property after reading Rachel Carson's Silent Spring. "And then, when my son was 9, we were watching the news on TV about the Chernobyl nuclear power plant meltdown. And my son said to me, 'I wish I'd never been born. I don't think I'll get to live a full life.'"

She protested the building of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. She started a peace action group in the late 1980s in San Jose. She did nonviolent protests at the Nevada Test Site. And in 1990, she came up with some of her fellow protestors to help set up the camp for Redwood Summer, and to take part in demonstrations. She's been on and off involved in Earth First! actions in Humboldt ever since, she said, including huffing in supplies for treesitters and huffing out their garbage. She'd also, at one point, bought a condo in Arcata.

In 2004, Miller sold her condo and bought an acre of farmland, already planted with coffee, in Guatemala. She put in fruit trees to shade the coffee. That same year, her mother, who lived in Sonoma, died. "The last time I saw her was in 2003," said Miller. "She told me when she died, she was going to leave me some money. I told her I'd use it to further my work for the forest. And she was pleased, because she loved the treesitters and the forest."

Shortly after learning of her mother's death, Kathryn Miller sought out Shunka Wakan in front of the food co-op in Arcata, where he "tabled" to raise funds for the North Coast Earth First! Media office — selling T-shirts, and stickers, offering pamphlets, accepting donations. She'd known Shunka for about five years, she said.

"I said to him, I was going to inherit some money: What was the best way to get that to the North Coast Earth First!?"

In the spring of 2005, Shunka Wakan was floating above the treetops. "I was so excited," the 32-year-old said in an interview a few weeks ago, sitting inside his tiny but colorful North Coast Earth First! Media office in Arcata, walls covered in art and topo maps — including one of Buckeye Mountain, where in 2000-2001, during the "Mattole Free State" action, Shunka and others hiked 14 miles through waist-high snowdrifts to save trees.

Kathryn Miller, he recalled, had come up to him excitedly as he walked along the sidewalk outside the Arcata Co-op and said, "I just donated $185,000 to North Coast Earth First!'"

She'd talked to him the year before about making the donation — she'd said she was anticipating an inheritance from her mother's estate, and she wanted to make a big donation to his group. He'd told her to make it through the Trees Foundation, which handled the NCEF! Media office's finances through an arrangement that had been established years ago. (The Trees Foundation is an umbrella organization formed in 1991 to assist smaller environmental groups. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, it can accept large, tax-deductible donations on behalf of affiliates, and provide professional resources. And it can lead large campaigns, like the one to save the Headwaters Forest back in the '90s.)

Well, now she'd finally done it.

Miller and Shunka agreed to meet at Fiesta Café in Sunny Brae, so she could tell him how she wanted the money spent: She wanted, straight away, for someone to organize a mediated workshop for the local Earth First! activists on ageism and sexism, issues she thought were fracturing the movement. And, she wanted the bulk of the donation to help support the forest activists who blockade logging roads and hunker up in ancient redwoods to fend off loggers' saws.

Not long after, Shunka was on his way to have lunch with some folks from the Trees Foundation, where they'd talk about Miller's wishes.

"Our media outreach was going to get a big boost," Shunka said. "The donation would keep the EF! office going for many years. So I walked into the Wildflower Café feeling elated, thinking we got all this money."

Barbara Ristow and Doug Wallace of the Trees Foundation were there. "I was super excited," Shunka said, "and I said, 'This is great, this big donation. Isn't it wonderful?' We ordered food, and still I'm all excited, talking about the money, but I notice they're looking nervously at each other. [Finally], they said, 'Well, we're just shocked that you think this money was for you.' And I was like, 'I just met with the donor, and that's what she said.' And they're like, 'Well, let's go ahead and plan the workshop and deal with that later.' I remember that, because it put me at ease."

After that, Shunka said he gave Trees a list of people he thought might benefit from the mediator-run workshop. "Some were people I knew had beefs with me, but I was willing to bring 'em into the circle and talk about it."

According to some vague accounts, the workshop was a disaster. One person who was there claims that Shunka, at one point, pounded his fists on the floor, blustered, then got up and stormed out, yelling as he walked away. Shunka says that's overblown.

"The letter from Kathryn Miller to Barbara Bristow said she wanted the mediation to be a safe place, safe to be emotional," he said. "And I think people are saying 'I freaked out.' The freak-out reports are exaggerated. It's just part of this ongoing character assassination. People say I was 'red-faced.' But my face is naturally red."

In late 2005, while Shunka was in Seattle, a friend called him from Arcata to say a woman had come by asking for the office key. She had a list of equipment she wanted to take away. The friend didn't give her the key.

When Shunka got back from Seattle, he discovered his reimbursement funds from Trees had been "frozen." He also learned about a letter someone in the NCEF! movement had circulated for signatures and then sent to Mark Knipper, who handled the Trees Foundation transactions for the NCEF! Media office. It said, in essence, "We don't want Shunka running EF!"

"I called the Trees Foundation," Shunka recalled. "I was sick, it was the middle of the winter, I'm trying to table, it's raining, it's cold. And Barbara Ristow told me, 'You just need to have a meeting [with the other Earth First!ers] and come to a group consensus on what the Trees Foundation funding should be used for."

The meeting never happened — nobody could agree to meet, said Mark Knipper, also in an interview last week. Knipper is a social worker and a long-time activist who had been the contact person between Trees and NCEF! Media. "So it ate itself," Knipper said. "And although I'm former Navy, a mariner, I said I'm not going down with this ship. So I divorced myself from it ... and signed it all back to Trees."

The NCEF! Media office was dropped from the Trees Foundation altogether.

Shunka and the NCEF! Media office never did see any of the big donation. Miller didn't even know that, he said, until she phoned him up in the summer of 2006, more than a year after she made the donation, to ask about a guy named "Jungle," who had been reported as missing on the NCEF! hotline. Miller was spending much of her time in Guatemala now, where she was raising fruit trees; after she'd made her big donation, Hurricane Stan had struck — she spent the ensuing year mopping up the mess.

First, Shunka told her Jungle was still missing. Then he told her about the money.

"I said, 'Yeah, they told me it wasn't for us,'" said Shunka. "And she said, 'I meant for all of it to go to you guys.' She sounded real upset. And I was like, 'I knew it! I knew it!'"

Shunka tried to sue Trees in small claims court, but it went nowhere.

Miller filed a claim against the Trees Foundation on Oct. 5, 2006, in Humboldt County Superior Court, seeking the return of the $185,000 plus interest so she could distribute the money herself.

And if she wins? "She may just spread it out more," said Shunka. "She's got tree planting ideas. Maybe she could buy a grove. She'd maybe not give it all to Earth First! this time. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that Trees blew for us."

On an uncomfortably hot afternoon last week, four forest activists who'd agreed to an interview for this story — Jeff, Shaggy, Sparrow and Farmer — sat on the ground at the Arcata Marsh next to a log bench on which a teeming crew of red ants worked a splintered notch. Someone had come along here in 1999 and carved a grouping of faces — bearded, grimacing, possibly mourning faces — onto the log and signed it Daniel. The carving had been drenched in red paint, and burnished by years of sitters.

"It kind of reminds me of the memorial for Gypsy," said one of them. "With the red paint."

Gypsy was the forest name of David Nathan Chain, who in September 1998, during an Earth First! action at Grizzly Creek, was crushed to death by a tree felled by an enraged logger. Farmer, actually, was there — he was just 16, but had a year of activism already under his belt. And Shunka was there — it was Shunka's first forest action.

Farmer, Shag, Sparrow and Jeff first made it clear that they spoke for themselves alone, although they participate in various forest defense affinity groups: Farmer works for the Mattole Wildlands Defense Group now, watchdogging the California Department of Forestry for new timber harvest plans, and keeping an eye on a Pacific Lumber Co. watershed analysis. Shag, who saw his first redwood about five years ago, helps keep the Fern Gully treesit village in Freshwater functioning. Jeff, who grew up in the high desert, and fell in love with the woods, works with the Nanning Creek treesit just outside of Scotia, as well as other groups. Sparrow, who was drawn to forest action because the cultural landscape was "like a folktale" he couldn't resist, is with the Fern Gully affinity group. These groups are all part of the Humboldt Forest Defense Association, a collective with a website but no formal structure.

The HFDA sprang into being six years ago — about the time the entity called North Coast Earth First! had essentially dissolved. It would take a book to describe that drawn-out dissolution — a book of lost causes, won causes, waning media interest, Judi Bari's death, Gypsy's death, ego-spurred squabbles, interpersonal catastrophes, a war overseas, hurricanes. And while the HFDA activists might still cherish the Earth First! name — the movement — in their hearts, it's now been further complicated by what you might call the Shunka effect.

"I still feel in many ways solidarity with the greater Earth First! movement abroad," said Farmer. "But in this county, in this climate, if you say you're with the North Coast Earth First!, many people associate you with North Coast Earth First! Media."

Shunka revived the North Coast Earth First! office around 2002. And he did what previous office managers had done — tabled, put out news releases, wrote articles for other publications. But it wasn't like the old days, in the '90s, when hundreds of people were getting arrested in forest actions and the jail support phone and legal resources were in constant use.

Shunka first worked in an office in Eureka, then later moved to Arcata. He called his outfit the NCEF! Media Center. For a time, he and other "affinity groups" tried to work together. But he alienated some people. He took over the North Coast Earth First! website. He controlled the North Coast Earth First! email list of 300 or more subscribers to the news alerts. He sent out press releases on his own.

"I felt the North Coast Earth First! Media Center was a unilateral effort on Shunka's part," said Farmer. Whereas, in the old days, "spokespeople were decided on by the group. And if you wrote an article it was passed by everyone. I feel Shunka appointed himself spokesperson at some point."

Many also claim they've been subject to a lashing anger from Shunka.

"I won't work with him because I pledge nonviolence in my actions," said Shag. "I don't believe he pledges the same thing. He has exhibited violent behavior towards me and towards other activists in my presence."

"He's a bear," said Jeff, making claw-fists with his hands.

But the sad thing is, all of this infighting probably has done nothing to help the actual trees. And the mediation workshop Kathryn Miller wanted didn't fix matters. Now, there was her lawsuit.

"When I heard about this lawsuit, I thought, the Trees Foundation does not deserve to be attacked in that way," said Farmer. "There's much bigger issues that need to be dealt with — with Maxxam and old-growth logging. ...If you look at Fern Gully and Nanning Creek (the Bonanza timber harvest plan), there's hundreds of old growth acres still standing whose fate is unclear."

Shag put it more bluntly: "If [Miller] knew Shunka and wanted to get the money to North Coast Earth First! Media, she should've given it to Shunka. But if she was trying to get it to treesits and forest defense, then the money went to the right place.

"My problem is this whole representation thing. There's people in the trees — how do you know who to get the money to, to help them?"

Shunka knows that a lot of fellow activists aren't happy with his role in the donation dispute. He also knows how some people talk about him and say he's hard to get along with. "I'm just standing up for the truth," he said. "And people don't like it. To me, it feels like a small clique of people who don't like me. I feel a lot of love and support in this community."

He certainly doesn't come off right away as someone who's angry, or who lashes out, or who locks the office and doesn't let people in. Why, recently, he helped a young woman hook up with the treesitters so she could learn the ropes. (Shaggy said that's proof Shunka doesn't have direct connections with the people doing direct action; but you can't deny it's a connection.)

It's probably a bad idea to ask Darryl Cherney, one of the founders of the local Earth First! movement, what he thinks of Shunka Wakan, whose real name is Jason Wilson. (Shunka tells a story of how he was named by a Lakota medicine man on the banks of the Cheyenne River in South Dakota in 1995. "Shunka Wakan," meaning "great dog," is only part of it. There's a secret part after that — altogether, his name means "the humble man called horse.")

"Shunka's a wingnut," Cherney said over the phone last Friday, sounding cheerfully vitriolic. "I have a 10-verse song about Shunka."

Here are the last few verses:

Who's at the co-op spanging a donation
Shunka, Shunka
Who's got a lawsuit 'gainst the Trees Foundation
Shunka, Shunka
Shunka, Shunka
Who's gonna keep on fighting the fight
Shunka, Shunka
With four of his friends at swimmers delight
Shunka, Shunka
Shunka, Shunka (Shunka voice: It's the last of the revolution)

There's no other word for it but "mean." But Cherney and Shunka have history — not all of it sour. Cherney said Shunka laughed when he heard the song, at least the first time.

"I met Shunka in 1998," Cherney said. "And I know he knew Julia ["Butterfly" Hill, whom Shunka had come west to find]. That was a good thing, helping Julia. That was good Shunka."

Cherney had even pushed for Shunka to go to Houston to talk with Charles Hurwitz, whose Maxxam Corp. bought out the old Pacific Lumber company back in 1985 and quickly became the forest activists' number one villain. Shunka went.

But now? "The current status of Shunka and me," Cherney said, "is that Shunka has sent me five or eight or nine e-mails threatening to sue me. Shunka is a joke."

Cherney can talk for hours about the problems he's had with Shunka over the years. His main point, though, is what has Shunka done for the trees lately?

"My question is, where's your topo maps?" he asked. "Where's your wilderness preservation proposal? Where's your lobbyist team in Sacramento?"

It has to be that, on some level, even the people in the movement who don't like Shunka understand somewhat where he's coming from. So he's emotional. Passionate. Perhaps he's caught up so completely in the cause he can't let go. Or, who knows — maybe he's a phony, like he accused Knipper of being back in 2005.

But being a forest activist comes with perils beyond the obvious physical ones.

"I'm really trying to have compassion for Shunka, even though he's kind of attacked us," said Susy Barsotti by phone from Laytonville a couple of weeks ago. Barsotti is president of the Trees Foundation board, and she says the lawsuit has held Trees hostage, unable to function fully. "I've been mystified and dismayed that he's participated like this in the suit. But Shunka witnessed Gypsy's death. And I think he may have post-traumatic stress syndrome. I don't think he's recovered from it. And that can affect your behavior."

A number of people mentioned this, actually, about Shunka. And he often refers to Gypsy's death himself. In an article titled "What Luna has taught me," posted on the website of Julia "Butterfly" Hill's organization, Circle of Life, Shunka writes: "I decided to commit to doing ground support after witnessing the death of David Nathan "Gypsy" Chain on September 17, 1998 ... I remember looking across the valley as we hiked up that day, seeing the rolling hills of forests and clear-cuts, and thinking out loud, "That's why we're here!" Seeing Gypsy's life taken from him, and then seeing the corruption and lies of the Humboldt County Sheriffs ... really opened my eyes to the situation our old-growth forests face."

Later, he did ground support for Hill in her second year in Luna. And in the same article on her website, something else Shunka writes indicates how ready he was to devote himself to a cause: "Being on the support team was the top priority in my life, and I was happy knowing that everything else revolved around when I'd be needed for the next supply run. I never felt lost because I knew what I was doing. That was a feeling I had not felt in years, between feeling dissatisfaction with life in college, and then more dissatisfaction with life as a minimum-wage worker after college. Before joining Julia's ground support team I was unhappy, even to the point of tears, wondering if my entire life was going to be a minimum-wage nightmare ...."

Pure devotion, without benefit of a little hypocrisy, could drive anyone batty. Deane Rimerman, the activist from Olympia who said it is Shunka who is on trial, said it's not uncommon for intense, stressful movements like Earth First! to produce an army of walking wounded. And he's been around, in forest actions up and down the coast, for long enough to know; he was the one, in fact, who "got the maps and led the first hikers up to the hill" to the Gypsy Mountain campaign and Luna treesit.

"In the forest activist movement, there's very little that's rewarding," Rimerman said. "There's a lot of post traumatic stress syndrome. All of us get it. Once you've been through the court process, and the jail process, and seen 1,000-year-old trees get cut down that you really cared about and thought you could save — it's devastating."

That alone, setting aside the troubles with Shunka, could explain the many rifts that have occurred within the local EF! ranks over the years. Josh Brown, who moved to Humboldt in 1995 right before the peak of the Headwaters campaign, said one of the unique qualities of Earth First! is that it "is primarily a youth movement."

"A lot of people that come through are young, are passionate — and it's a wonderful thing," he said. They get thrown into leadership positions quickly — and then they get burned out. Many move quickly on to other things. Brown stayed in longer than most. "When I left [in 2001], I was 30 years old. And I'd been a full-time activist since I was 18."

Paradoxically, said Brown, the youthful draw and the departure of seasoned activists leaves the movement with "no elders to kind of sit around and coach the [new kids]."

The movement also draws strong personalities, he said. Tenacious ones, too, like Shunka's.

"Shunka, I think he really does have a big heart," said Brown. "And I think he does care for the forest."

Last Friday, following the morning session of Miller v. Trees, a group of the Humboldt Forest Defense Association activists stood on the courthouse steps talking. The door opened, and Shunka walked out and down the steps toward the group. They didn't greet him. After a time, he tried to talk to one of them, Jeff. Jeff walked away. Shunka followed him, then stopped and talked to another guy. Then he stood alone again.

From: http://northcoastjournal.com/101107/news1011.html

Trees Foundation Wins

October 11th, 2007

The jury in the civil case Kathryn Miller v. the Trees Foundation decided in favor of Trees, after deliberating all day Tuesday. (See "Money on Trees," Oct. 4).

Miller is the long-time forest activist who inherited a bundle from her mother and then signed $185,000 over to the Trees Foundation. In her lawsuit, she claimed she had intended the money to be passed through Trees to one of its affiliates, North Coast Earth First! Media, run by Shunka Wakan. She claimed she had made her intentions clear, verbally and in writing, and that Trees had agreed to the conditions, then broken its promise and kept the money. Trees denied making such promises, and said it had never seen any letters or heard of instructions to give the money to NCEF! Media. (Also, somewhat relatedly, in criminal court on Tuesday Miller pleaded no contest to charges that she had made annoying phonecalls to Barbara Ristow of the Trees Foundation.)

So, that's that. Now, there are only the pieces to pick up.

For Shunka Wakan — featured in last week's Journal as a central figure in a messy nest of infighting that has fractured the current ranks of local Earth First!ians — it could be a long, lonely patching together of lost friends and broken alliances. Not only did he and Miller lose their attempt to retrieve her donation, but now he's been banned from the North Coast Co-op.

Yes, that happened last week. It was Thursday, around 4:15 in the evening, and two activists with the Humboldt Forest Defense Association were tabling — hawking brochures and such — outside the Co-op. It's an activity Shunka himself has spent many a day doing in that very same spot, raising cash to pay for his NCEF!Media outreach work and other causes. And, well, these two fellows, Jeff and Farmer, were on Shunka's shit list, now. They'd spoken gently, but unfavorably, about Shunka's doings in the North Coast Earth First! arena — said he lashed out at people, said he commandeered NCEF! resources, and so forth. Here's a snippet of Jeff's account of what happened, which he sent to the NCJ in an e-mail on Friday:

"Shunka was removed from the Arcata Co-op yesterday after a scuffle with myself and another activist around 5 p.m. Well, he wasn't exactly removed, but APD was called. He was asked to leave after threatening to flip over the HFD donation table while stating he was 'like Jesus in the marketplace ...'"

Sue Coulter, manager of the Arcata Co-op, recounted on Friday how an employee walking by heard the argument and went inside to get her. "So I went out to talk to [Shunka], because it's not the first time we've had problems," she said. "Most of the time, he's fine. Most of the time, I stick up for him." One time, she said, she even called the police to protect Shunka after someone had threatened him. "But he gets into arguments. I tried to talk to him. I told him to leave. ... He was causing a scene, right by the door, and I can't have it. He refused to leave. ... I said, fine. I went into the store. He followed me into the store, and he was still yelling at me, 'Oh, now you're going to call the police on me.'" Coulter called the police, but Shunka left before they arrived.

Shunka, waiting in the courthouse for the jury verdict Tuesday, said Coulter did indeed ask him to leave and he did, indeed, refuse to. As for the HFD tablers, he said he merely asked them why they had Trees Foundation literature on their table. "I said, 'Why do you want to represent these people?'" And then, he said, "Jeff accused me of embezzling — he said this in public. He said, 'You've embezzled thousands of dollars from the Earth First! movement through the years.' And I complained to one of the employees who was walking by. Because that's serious, accusing someone of embezzling."

But Shunka said the whole thing's yet another attack on him. "I don't consider I was yelling. We were talking. I'm an emotional person, I concede to that. I speak from my heart. I don't scream at people. I would love to — but I don't."

In his email, Jeff with HFD predicted Shunka would leave town within weeks, if not sooner. But at the courthouse, even before the verdict, Shunka said he wasn't going anywhere.

"I'm just going to continue to run the Earth First! office and continue to call Humboldt County home," he said. He's also going to write a letter to the Co-op, complaining about how he gets scapegoated and booted out of there even when other people, he says, are the culprits. And, as for the Miller v. Trees case, he said, he and Miller may now take their complaint to another venue.

-- Heidi Walters

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This Friday: The Last Dance, plus a few more...

mirvana — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:42:22 GMT

Patricia Wake and I are going on at 6:30-ish. It's going to be a very cool set, stuff you've prolly never heard before and a few more surprises.

with The Last Dance, Dyksik, Wreckcreation, Patricia Wake, Upstage Nation DJs

@The Pegasus
818 Liberty Ave.
Pittsburgh 15222

Doors at 6 pm
$8 advance/$10 at door

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Calling all Gypsies, Tramps and Queens!

oliviakiss — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 20:14:46 GMT

Come and play w/ us!

Zafira Dance Company Hosts

Vaudeville Carnivale .:Deaux:.
Where the Bourgeois meet La Boheme

Sat. Nov. 22, 2007
Kelly Strayhorn Theater
Pittsburgh, PA

8pm/ doors open @ 7pm
$15 Advance/ $18 Door
$10 Students /$5 Children under 10

Join us for an evening of tantalizing performances, food, drink and artistry that will delight your soul. Our city’s finest entertainers & legends come out for this spectacular fundraising event for Pittsburgh’s own Zafira Dance Company and the Kelly Strayhorn Theater. Prepare yourself for a stunning spectacle of epic proportions!!!

Magnificent performances that will inspire and delight you!

Daring delicacies to tempt your taste buds, Your Inner Vagabond will set up their Turkish Coffee house. Savory treats and libations for sale and by donation.

Don’t forget your purse! We will have a bizarre bazaar with artwork, clothes and jewelry to outfit your inner gypsy!

Wear your finest! Old-Tyme Photo Portraits of you and your loved ones!

Artists & Performers include:
 The Man. The Legend. Bob Zillah… Circus Barker Emcee
 Kill the Unicorn (Torchlight Jazz, Gospel, Calypso Art Band)
 Ana Vey (Tri- Hop Gypsy Jazz)
 Liz Hammond (AKA the UkeLady)
 Phat Mandee (Singer Songstress)
 Zafira (Steal your heart, saucy, ragtime bellydance)
 Kassar (Otherworldly, Athletic, Devine Dance Divas)
 Sarah & Katrina (Vintage Ballet Performance)
 Erin Carey (Aerialist Extraordinaire)

Visit www.zafiradance.com for more information and to purchase tickets! Tickets on sale soon!

posted in PittsburghScene - 1 reply

Classic rock...bellydance style. (Xpost)

melissaclarinetchick — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 17:30:17 GMT

Rock/Raq/Rawk out with Ishtar, playing the classics of bellydance at Your Inner Vagabond on November 10. Open floor dance during Ishtar’s set, so get up and boogie!
www.ishtar-music.com

Also featured is Ana-Vey, playing down-tempo, gypsy jazz, parlor rock tunes with a slight trip-hop edge. Check them out at: www.myspace.com/anaveyband

In addition, Zafira’s own Olivia will be performing her unique and creative style of bellydance for you!

$10 buys you all the cool live music from DaBurgh that you can handle, fantastic dance performances, a chance for yourself to groove, catered snacks and amazing drinks from Your Inner Vagabond. BYOB.

4130 Butler St
Pittsburgh (Lawrenceville) 15201
November 10
8PM
www.yourinnervagabond.com

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Interested in Bellydance music dancing and drumming?

melissaclarinetchick — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 05:38:37 GMT

Jacques is hosting a Hijaz Jam, an informal music and drumming party on October 21 at 7:30 PM. It will be held at his home on the South Side Slopes.

http://people.tribe.net/joc

Dancers are welcome, there will be space for dancing.

Bring any instrument or a drum. Sheet music will be available to borrow. Bring a snack or bottle to share!

If you are interested, drop me a line thru tribe or email at melissa@ishtar-music.com. Or you can message Jacques.

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Fusion - October 13th - Carnegie, PA

kari_merlina — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 01:03:32 GMT

Last day to register on-line for Fusion is tomorrow, October 12th. Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to take Belly Dance workshops with Unmata and Zafira Dance Company......plus yoga with Sterling Painton and don't forget the shopping!!!
www.yogaandbellydance.com/octoberworkshops.html

The spectacular evening show will feature Belly Dance with PurpleMatilda, Unmata, Zafira Dance Company, Belly Dance Superstar's Moria and other dance disciplines to include Flamenco, Tap, Ballet, Lyrical and Acro-Contortion.

Come out and support the Pittsburgh Belly Dance Community!!

Fusion - Saturday, October 13
Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall
www.carnegiecarnegie.com
***There will be additional parking in the post office parking lot down the hill from the venue. There will be a shuttle service to and from the lot and venue.

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PhatManDee & Ishtar - AVA Lounge October 5

melissaclarinetchick — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 16:36:35 GMT

Ishtar - Pittsburgh's classic bellydance band will play the raq-inest tunes of the Middle East at the AVA Lounge. There will probably be enough space to come out and get your bellydance groove on.

PhatManDee, Colter Harper, Tony DiPaolo and Nick Ragheb will perform unique jazz songs from PhatManDee's latest release.

Then later, winess the synergy of Jazz and Turkish as the bands jam together.

Cover is $7.

October 5 @ 11PM
AVA Lounge
126 South Highland Ave

www.ishtar-music.com
www.phatmandee.com

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Pittsburgh Mandolin Orchestra - 5th Anniversary concert - Saturday October 13th

Jim — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:38:04 GMT

Pittsburgh Mandolin Orchestra 5th Anniversary Concert

with Alan Epstein , Founder and Mandolin Soloist,
The Pittsburgh Mandolin Orchestra adn Alumni,
The Great American Gypies,
and the 3 Rivers Mandolin Consort

Saturday October 13th , 7:30

Bellefield Auditorium
315 S. Bellefield Avenue, Oakland
University of Pittsburgh

Tickets $10, available at Acoustic Music Works in Squirrel Hill or at the door.

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Sept 13-16 bellydance and music weekend in DaBurgh

melissaclarinetchick — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 04:18:27 GMT

Sept 13 Thursday: Ishtar with Carmine Guida on oud entertain at Khalil's Restuarant. Featured dancers are Kari (www.purplematilda.com) and Berna (www.khafif.com) Starts at 8:00, cover is $12.00 with mezze platter included. 4757 Baum Boulevard, Pittsburgh 15213

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friday Sept 14 ---- Jalsah Pittsburgh V! Celebrate one year of Jalsah events!! The Jalsah-versary! This is the event that has EVERYONE participating. Bring whatever instrument you have and the dance floor is open all night to get your groove on! Special guest is Carmine Guida on oud. Join the party!!!

www.jalsah.org

Jalsah Pittsburgh V at the Zenith: 86 South 26th St. Pittsburgh 15203. Admission is $7.00 to help me defray the rental fee. This is an all ages event. BYOB! Vegetarian snacks will be provided.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sept 15 Saturday: Bellydance show at Altar Bar (1620 Penn Ave 15222) with music by Ishtar with Carmine Guida on oud. Fetaured dancers are Deniz from Dayton OH (www.caravanworkshops.com), Amethyst, Astarte, Aviva, Dharma, Tavi, and Christa. Doors open at 9PM, tix are $7.00 in advance, $10.00 at the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sept 16 Sunday: Workshops with Deniz of Dayton OH. She is teaching a workshop on taqsim, floor work, veil work and glass dancing (goblet dance). 10AM to 5PM. www.healingartsbyamethyst.com/pitts...t.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Whew! Got a lot goin' on in DaBurgh!

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X post: Live music at Gypsy Caravan movie August 31 at Regent Square Theater

melissaclarinetchick — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 19:11:30 GMT

Ishtar plays before both showings of the Gypsy Caravan movie only on Friday August 31! Hear us at 6:15PM and 9PM.

For movie times: http://pghfilmmakers.org/exhibition/showtimes.html

About the Movie: Five Romani bands from four countries unite for the Gypsy Caravan tour across North America. An audience favorite at film fests worldwide, this gorgeous sound celebration documents the luscious music of top performers while interweaving real life tales of their home life. Shot by documentary icon Albert Maysles, this stirring, beautiful film takes us through the US, as well as Romania, Spain, Macedonia, and India. (Jasmine Dellal; USA; 2007; 110 min) Supported in part by 91.3 WYEP and Gypsy Cafe. Attend opening night for a chance to win dinner at Gypsy Cafe on the South Side.

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Live classic bellydance music with Ishtar on July 8 & 22

melissaclarinetchick — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 20:09:06 GMT

Come out and get your bellydance groove on! No cover charge, free admission!!!

On July 8 and 22 at 8PM , Ishtar plays the classics of the Middle East at Murphy's Tap Room. 1106 South Braddock Ave, Regent Square.

Featured dancer on July 8 is Nawal and featured dancer on July 22 is Aviva!

Afterwards, open floor dancing and Middle Eastern jam session! Members of Ishtar will coach you through the songs and rhythms!!

Hope to see you there!

www.ishtar-music.com
www.murphystaproom.com

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Phat Man Dee CD Release tomorrow w/ Zafira

phatmandee — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 18:51:19 GMT

Friends, please come out tomorrow evening. I have been talking about
this event for a while now, and I do hope that, for those of you who
do live in Pittsburgh, PA, you will come on out for a wonderful
evening of music, dance and art. I just spent last weekend in NYC,
Tommy and I marched with the Madagascar Institute of Brooklyn, NY in
Coney Island's Mermaid Parade, I got an agent at UGLY NYC, and I heard
wonderful music and visited my cousin, Manny Kivowitz at his office
in Manhattan, but in the end I came home to you and I hope you'll come
out and let me sing to you again.

Yours in music,
Mandee

For immediate Release:

Phat Man Dee cd release party for "Torch of Blue"
Thursday June 28th , 2007
doors 8, show 9 p.m., 21+
Rex Theatre , 1602 E. Carson St, Pittsburgh, 15203
$20 entrance gets you one free cd "Torch of Blue"
artist / student discount is $10 (does not include free cd)

The cd release party will feature a performance at the Rex Theatre,
1602 E. Carson St. South Side, Pittsburgh, PA 15210. Phat Man Dee
shall sing with Colter Harper, Tony DePaolis, Chris Parker and Jacob
Yoffee. Artist Kevin "the Nerve" Wenner shall provide extreme visual
accompaniment and the opening act shall be the dancers of Zafira
Bellydance Troupe. Doors at 8, showtime is 9 p.m.. Tickets available
at the door for $20, this price includes a free signed copy of the new
cd "Torch of Blue", student/starving artist discount is $10 (but does
not include the free cd.)

Working in conjunction with Tony DePaolis, together they have created
a work which exhibits not only Mandee's lovely and unique vocal
qualities, but also the superb musicianship and originality of some of
the finest young cats from the independent jazz scene in Pittsburgh
today. Though some of the area's sweetest sounding jazz men did play
on the album , it should be noted the music and poetry contained
therein do not typically represent jazz as it is seen today. With
songs like "T.G.I.D.K.U" (Thank God I Didn't Kill You) which features
the soprano sax soloing over a traditional middle eastern 5/7 hooked
rhythm, then add to that the poetry and wild improvisation of "Poly
Resin Icon" , it has plenty of of what can only be described as a
touch of wild glee encased in fine jazz. With selections like "Torch
of Blue" and "What Kind of Woman", classic jazz is showcased by the
delicate and thoughtful playing and voicing of these new tunes, but
Mandee has assembled a repertoire of truly original music . In
addition to her own original compositions, works by Tommy Amoeba,
Christiane D., Colter Harper, John Purse and the Big Daddy Bull Seal!
aka Damon Griffith are as well included.

Mr. DePaolis, as musical director, assembled the arrangements , the
musicians and oversaw post production with George Heid and Jim Barr.
The musicians represented on this disc include Colter Harper, Tony
DePaolis, Chris Parker, Kenny Peagler, Mike Murray, and Jacob Yoffee.
The setting for the sessions was Heid Studios in Aspinwall. Besides
the golden ears of George Heid himself, the access to the beautifully
maintained Steinway, Hammond B 3 and Rhodes were nothing short of a
musical offering of manna to this talented group of musicians. Mixing
was done by Skip Sanders Studios. One track, a modern electronic
retake of Dona Nobis Pacem featuring mandolin by Tall Paul Leech and
darbukka by Simon Jaeger, was produced by Peter Guellard of the Church
Recording Studios.

Useful web links:

www.sonicbids.com/phatmandee
www.myspace.com/tdepa
www.myspace.com/colterharper
www.myspace.com/chrisparkerinc
www.myspace.com/jacobyoffee
www.myspace.com/kpeagler
www.myspace.com/mikemurray
www.zafiradance.com/
www.rextheatre.com/

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Globalista Jam this Friday - an evening of World Music, Belly Dance & Food

AJ — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 16:34:38 GMT

Please join us this Friday evening, June 29, as we present a special evening of live World Music, Dance & Food at ModernFormations Gallery at 4919 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh 15224.

Once again Your Inner Vagabond will transform this hip Penn Avenue gallery into a Near Eastern coffeehouse & world lounge. While you sit back and enjoy the sounds of the globe we’ll be serving a sumptuous spread of desserts, savories and exotic soft beverages including teas and coffees from our eclectic menu.

More info: http://yourinnervagabond.com/globalistajam.html

Globalista Jam
Friday June 29, 2007
7:30pm to midnite
ModernFormations Gallery
at 4919 Penn Ave, Garfield, Pittsburgh 15224

Featuring the talents of

Mike Griska
Classical Indian sitar raga

Maurice Rickard
World ambience

The Balkan Babes
Intricate, haunting melodies of the Balkans

Jacques Francschini
Spanish & Italian classical guitar

Purplematilda
Tribal Fusion bellydance

EasternWatershed
Klezmer with touches of Balkan and Middle East flavor

Life in Balance
World flutes and quartz crystal bowls

Khafif
Middle Eastern Music & Dance

Following the conclusion of the evening’s program we’ll hold an open floor jam for musicians & dancers to experiment. Bring an instrument!

Entry is $10/$8 students and includes a sumptuous spread of desserts, savories and exotic soft beverages including teas and coffees from the eclectic menu of Your Inner Vagabond Coffeehouse & World Lounge.

This event is BYOB and exotic mixers will be on hand.

The event is a precursor of our opening in a permanent location in Pittsburgh this Fall. Check out pictures from our last Jam on our website.

Come check it out!

-AJ & Andrew

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Globalista Jam on May 18

melissaclarinetchick — Sun, 06 May 2007 22:55:09 GMT

http://yourinnervagabond.com/globalistajam.html

For one evening, ModernFormations will get an exotic makeover when Your Inner Vagabond transforms this hip Penn Avenue gallery into a Near Eastern coffeehouse & world lounge.

World musicians, dancers, storytellers & cultural ambassadors from a variety of backgrounds and influences will showcase their art. Following the evening's performances all those in attendance are invited to join in an open-floor collaborative jam.

Entry includes a sumptuous spread of desserts, savories and exotic soft beverages including teas and coffees from the eclectic menu of Your Inner Vagabond Coffeehouse & World Lounge.

$2-off coupons will be available at various locations and YIV-attended events around the city.

The venue is BYOB.

Musicians and performers: please contact emay@yourinnervagabond.com

Please include information about:

Your performance (music, dance, storytelling, poetry, etc)
How long you would like to perform (3-20 minutes)
Cultures and/or countries of origin/inspiration of your performance
Any other details you'd like to highlight
Students, amateurs, and professionals alike are all welcome and encouraged to participate. Reduced admission for guests of artists.

While this is not a paying venue, please feel free to bring any merchandise you'd like to sell (you keep 100% of the profits). There will be space for flyers and promotional materials, and we will link to any website you provide.

Your Inner Vagabond will offer many more opportunities for world musicians and performers to showcase their talents, and we hope to soon create a permanent venue for your style of performance.

posted in PittsburghScene - 0 replies

Try Something New - Learn to Pole Dance - Pittsburgh, PA

Stephanie — Thu, 03 May 2007 00:16:37 GMT

For Fitness, Fun or Just to Feel Sexy, Let Us Show You How!!!
Erotic dancing has gone from the gentlemen's club to the latest intensive fitness and workout trend. Pole dancing has become a legitimate form of exercise that can allow you to express yourself in a sensual artistic manner.

XXX-Ercise teaches women pole dancing techniques in the privacy and comfort of their own homes to get into shape and have fun doing it! After your session, choose to pamper yourself and your friends with any number of our add-on services such as manicures, pedicures, massages, teeth bleaching, or an adult novelty and lingerie party just to name a few. Book one of our Ultimate Party Packages or customize your own session for you and your closest friends.

XXX-Ercise provides personal and group lessons. We're also great for batchelorette birthday, divorce, new single parties or even just a girls night out! Check out our services, party packages or create your own package!

This is a work out like no other! XXX-Ercise can help tone, shape and sculpt your body while enhancing flexibility and strength.

Getting Started
Our sessions are designed for women of all sizes and shapes from ages 18 - 88. Instructors will customize the session based upon age, flexibility, and willingness of the group. Depending on your comfort level and tastes, our sessions can range from sophisticated and classy to down-right naughty. XXX-Ercise let's you set the pace. And best of all, absolutely no dance experience or nudity is required!

Home parties require a ceiling height of at least 8 feet and no more than 12 feet for the portable pole. This tension mounted pole does not require any drilling, holes, ceiling or floor marks. Pole Work is limited to woman 225 pounds or less. For cathedral and ceilings higher than 12 feet we have a PROFESSIONAL portable dancer stage and pole. The 4 foot square, 12 inch high stage fits easily into the corner of any room and supports a 7"11" foot high polished mirror finish stainless steel pole. This pole does not attach to the ceiling or floor and is perfectly stable to do the caziest pole tricks!! Based upon booking and space, we can bring both of our poles for your party or session.

Don't have enough room for your party or session? Call us and we can assist you! We have a number of options available for the perfect place to host your night!

During the session, participants should wear clothes that are comfortable and hug or cling to your body. If you’ve done pilates, yoga or work out frequently, the same style of clothes can be used. The sessions are preferably performed barefoot however you may also wear sneakers or stilettos.

Call us today and discover your inner goddess, sense of personal power and self-confidence!

Visit us at http://www.xxx-ercise.com or http://www.myspace.com/xxxercisepittsburgh

Call us at 724.612.7724 or Email us at info@xxx-ercise.com

For Fitness Fun or Just to Feel Sexy, Let us Show you How!!

posted in PittsburghScene - 0 replies

Fusion Belly Dance event - October 13th - Unmata and Zafira

kari_merlina — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 17:13:36 GMT

Registration for this event begins on April 15, 2007. Check out http://www.yogaandbellydance.com/octoberworkshops.html for more details.

posted in PittsburghScene - 0 replies

Instructional Middle Eastern MP3s and guitar tablature

melissaclarinetchick — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 09:08:18 GMT

Hi everyone!

If you or a loved one are interested in learning traditional Middle Eastern music and the rhythms that accompany those songs, well look no further!

Carmine Guida and I (Melissa Murphey) have recorded an instructional CD that has 12 plain straightforward songs that will enable drummers or musicians to learn to play the traditional tunes.

This CD includes such classics as Layla, Misirlou, Shisheler, Fire Dance and Sulukule. There are no distracting vocals or excessive ornamentation here, just the plain songs for learning purposes. The MP3s are available for immediate download at www.dorku.com. they are only 1 dollar each!

All soundfiles are in the same key as the sheet music available at www.dorku.com.

In addition, GUITAR TABLATURE is now available for select Middle Eastern songs at www.dorku.com. Sheet music is available for key of C instruments, B flat instruments (trumpet, clarinet , soprano and tenor sax) and Bass clef instruments (cello, trombone, baritone)

www.dorku.com - for all your Middle Eastern Music needs!

posted in PittsburghScene - 0 replies

Jalsah Pittsburgh III March 2, 2007

melissaclarinetchick — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 21:40:02 GMT

Hi everyone!

I am hosting another Jalsah at the Zenith on March 2, 2007!

www.jalsah.org
http://pittsburgh.tribe.net/event/Jalsah-Pittsburgh/pittsburgh-pa-15203/06dfb8c3-e503-4719-9178-ea3f19266ad4

Bring your instrument (ANY instrument goes...last time we had a ukelele), your drum and a hipscarf. Carmine Guida and I will coach you through the Middle Eastern songs and rhythms and Erika May will get the bellydancing started.

The whole Jalsah is participatory, so everyone is welcome to join in at whatever they are good at!

Also on March 2, Carmine Guida (www.carmine.com) is teaching a Middle Eastern drum workshop at Breathe Yoga on the South Side.

http://pittsburgh.tribe.net/event/Carmine-Guida-Drum-Workshop-in-Pittsburgh/pittsburgh-pa-15203/b1e93083-0ae1-496f-b33b-838baeb875bb

Carmine's workshop is for all levels of drumming. It costs $20.00 and admission to the Jalsah is free with the workshop.

Hope to see you there!

Tell your friends!

posted in PittsburghScene - 0 replies

What happened to Art All Night in Lawrenceville?

melissaclarinetchick — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 06:28:34 GMT

Does anyone have any information about the Art All Night festival?

The emails bounce and the website still has last years dates.

posted in PittsburghScene - 3 replies

Jalsah Pittsburgh: Middle Eastern music and dance event (xpost)

melissaclarinetchick — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 20:05:39 GMT

The Jalsah is this Friday night December 1 in the Southside, at the Zenith 26th & Sarah Sts 9PM to midnight.

This is a participatory community event designed to bring together Middle Eastern musicians and dancers in a casual setting. Experienced....inexperienced...all are welcome!

My band Ishtar will be there, along with Nick Ragheb, Erika May, Carmine Guida and Phil & the Destroyers.

The dancing is open floor all night and we will coach drummers and instrumentalists thru the rudiments of Middle Eastern music and rhythm theory.

Erika will teach basic Middle Eastern dance moves.

Cost is $7 to help defray the expense of renting the space. BYOB and the Zenith is making some snacks, but they probably won't last long!

Thanks for supporting live Middle Eastern music and dance in DaBurgh!

posted in PittsburghScene - 0 replies

Private doumbek lesson with Carmine Guida

melissaclarinetchick — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 07:09:19 GMT

Doumbek Lessons with
Carmine Guida
of Djinn from NYC

December 1, 2, & 3

Carmine will teach you the proper hand/finger techniques to produce clean beautiful sounds from your doumbek. You will learn how to play several traditional Middle Eastern rhythms as well as how to switch between them. Carmine’s lessons are perfect for beginners or experienced drummers who want to brush up or clean up their technique.

Carmine will be in Pittsburgh for a limited time! See him play Middle Eastern music at the Jalsah event at 9PM on December 1 at the Zenith (86 S. 26th St. South Side) and on December 2 at the Brillobox (4104 Penn Ave, Lawrenceville) with local bellydance band Ishtar at 9PM.

Drop me line on tribe if you are interested in a lesson.

posted in PittsburghScene - 0 replies

Spas in Pittsburgh

bethanysmith — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 01:34:53 GMT

Does anyone know of a good spa in the Pittsburgh area?

posted in PittsburghScene - 4 replies

where to find chevy's ampitheater

marty — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 19:52:12 GMT

could someone please tell me the street address for this place,it's somewhere's in station square,i'll be coming from the west into pittsburgh,thanks

posted in PittsburghScene - 1 reply

Jalsah this weekend in Pittsburgh, September 16

melissaclarinetchick — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 19:51:33 GMT

Bellydancers, musicians and drummers, check out the first ever Jalsah community event to be held in Pittsburgh.

On September 16, 6 PM at the Union Project, we will have a 30 minute darabuka (doumbek) class taught by Nick Rahgeb and immediately afterward, a 30 minute introductory bellydance class taught by Mavi.

At 7:30, my band, Ishtar, takes the stage to provide live Middle Eastern music for open floor dancing. PhatManDee will accompany Nick, Jeff and me on some Turkish, Hebrew and Ladino songs. Nick and Phil will perform rhythm duets. The open stage for musicians and drummers begins at 9:30.

Open floor dancing all night! Bring a hipscarf, bring an instrument, bring a drum. Bring a snack to share!

Bring some money. Earth Movement Studios will be vending bellydance gear and Prem will be selling hookah supplies.

In addition, bring old bellydance stuff, CDs, DVDs etc, that you wish to sell. There will be a swap table to sell bellydance stuff that needs a new home.

Entrance fee $5 (to defray the cost of renting the space).
801 North Negley Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
September 16, 2006
6-10PM
www.jalsah.org

posted in PittsburghScene - 0 replies

movie in pittsburgh

psytrancedancer — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 15:11:50 GMT

Hi All,

I just wanted to share this info about The Celestine Prophecy Movie. It’s playing at a bunch of different locations all over the country right now, including Penn Hills Cinema in Pittsburg.

www.thecelestineprophecymovie.com

Based on James Redfield's worldwide best-selling novel, The Celestine Prophecy is a spiritual adventure film chronicling the discovery of ancient scrolls in the rainforests of Peru. The prophecy and its nine key insights predict a worldwide awakening, arising within all religious traditions, that moves humanity toward a deeper experience of spirituality.

Starts 8/25…

Penn Hills Cinemas
76 Federal Dr.
Pittsburgh, PA 15235
(412) 243-1831

posted in PittsburghScene - 0 replies

hydrocide....maybe if it's naked.....

phatmandee — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 13:41:09 GMT

I just saw the post about Hydrocide, and it seems like fun, but what about naked? Or fopr legalities sake, maybe just pasties and g strings, if we really are aftraid of jail time? A water fight just seems so tame, let's dial it up a notch, shall we?

posted in PittsburghScene - 1 reply

Iron-on fuzzy letters, sports jersey shops- any recs?

morleyroarly — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 15:10:14 GMT

Hey all!

I need to make some t-shirts with old-skool style iron-on fuzzy letters. The kind that are often used to put names/numbers on the back of sports jerseys.

Does anyone know a sports or craft shop in the greater Pittsburgh area that would sell the letters or, better yet, do it for me?

Thanks!

posted in PittsburghScene - 0 replies

Electrobelly - Tonight!!

kari_merlina — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 21:41:56 GMT

The Rex
E. Carson Street - Southside
10pm - 1am
$10
21 and over

posted in PittsburghScene - 0 replies

Help out a local comic artist...

javaman — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 08:30:23 GMT

Local comic artist DJ Coffman (www.yirmumah.net), has made it to the finals of the Comic Book Challenge at the San Diego Comic Convention. If you have a spare couple of seconds head on over to http://comicbookchallenge.com/vote.html and vote for his submission, Hero By Night.
The caricature that is my default picture was done by him.

posted in PittsburghScene - 0 replies

Pittsburgh restaurants

michelle — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 16:19:38 GMT

I'm new to town and looking for some recommendations for good restaurants. I thought it might be a good idea to set up a tribe so that we can keep this one more focussed on art and entertainment.

Please join and help me and others find great eats in Pittsburgh
http://tribes.tribe.net/pittsburghrestaurants

Hope to see you there!

posted in PittsburghScene - 1 reply

SantaCon Pittssburgh

michelle — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 02:58:42 GMT

I know its still along way off ...but I'd love to arrange a Santa Con in Pittsburgh this year

Any takers?

http://www.santacon.com/

posted in PittsburghScene - 1 reply

Phat Man Dee to compete at Emergenza Sun Night!

phatmandee — Thu, 18 May 2006 20:32:01 GMT

Can a jazz band fronted by an ex circus sideshow mama win a festival competition filled with heavy metal guitar driven rock bands? We say why not?!?!? Phat Man Dee with Colter Harper, Tony DePaolis and Jacob Yoffee. This contest will eventually lead to a band tour of Germany! Come on out and help make it be us!
Contact Mandee to purchase tickets 412-448-6891. $12 advance, $15 at the door.

Hosted By:
Emergenza
http://www.emergenza.net/

When:
Sunday May 21, 2006
at 8:00 PM

Where:
Mr Small's Funhouse
http://www.mrsmalls.com/
415 Evergreen Avenue
Milvale, PA 15209

posted in PittsburghScene - 0 replies