The Pittsburgh Cultural Arts Meetup Group

Author Sunil Amrith "The Burning Earth"

Mon, Mar 2 · 7:00 PM EST

Carnegie Music Hall, 4400 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, US

Please join Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures as they welcome Sunil Amrith to discuss his latest book, The Burning Earth.

A brilliant, paradigm-shifting global history of how humanity has reshaped the planet, and the planet has shaped human history, over the last 500 years.

In this magisterial book, historian Sunil Amrith twins the stories of environment and Empire, of genocide and eco-cide, of an extraordinary expansion of human freedom and its planetary costs. Drawing on an extraordinarily rich diversity of primary sources, he reckons with the ruins of Portuguese silver mining in Peru, British gold mining in South Africa, and oil extraction in Central Asia. He explores the railroads and highways that brought humans to new terrains of battle against each other and against stubborn nature. Amrith’s account of the ways in which the First and Second World Wars involved the massive mobilization not only of men, but of other natural resources from around the globe, provides an essential new way of understanding war as an irreversible reshaping of the planet. So too does this book reveal the reality of migration as consequence of environmental harm.

The imperial, globe-spanning pursuit of profit, joined with new forms of energy and new possibilities of freedom from hunger and discomfort, freedom to move and explore, has brought change to every inch of the Earth. Amrith relates in gorgeous prose, and on the largest canvas, a mind-altering epic—vibrant with stories, characters, and vivid images—in which humanity might find the collective wisdom to save itself.

Sunil Amrith is the Renu and Anand Dhawan Professor of History and Professor of the Environment at Yale University. He is the author of five books and recipient of multiple awards, including a MacArthur “genius” fellowship and the 2024 Fukuoka Prize.

The Jailhouse Lawyer is available to pre-order through bookseller White Whale Bookstore who will be set-up in the lobby with many books available for purchase by other authors that have been part of the Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures series.

TICKETS
In person tickets start at $31 Sunil Amrith | Seat Selection for the upper balcony (where it is easier for a group to sit together) Tickets may also be purchased by phone (412) 622-8866 or at the door starting at 6:30 PM

For Online Tickets ($31) Sunil Amrith Online The viewing link will be emailed on the day of the event. Viewers will have access to the recorded program for one week.

Parking While many visitors find street parking, the Carnegie Museum has plenty of parking which is conveniently located near the museum entrance at the corner of Forbes Ave & S. Craig Street. Here is a link with more info about parking and directions http://cmoa.org/visit/directions-maps-parking/

"Time to Act" (world premiere opera) 30% off discount tickets

Sat, Mar 7 · 1:30 PM EST

Pittsburgh Opera in the Strip, 2425 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, US

Time to Act
Music by Laura Kaminsky
Libretto by Crystal Manich
FEBRUARY 28, MARCH 3, 6, 7, 8, 2026

Pittsburgh Opera is proud to present this gripping world premiere!

A group of high school students prepares for a production of Sophocles’ Antigone, joined by a new student, Alona, who comes with a formidable secret.

Time to Act demonstrates how the arts can uplift and unify victims of trauma, empowering them to act, while giving voice to the young citizens who have been most impacted by an ongoing cycle of devastating school violence.

Time to Act is composed by Laura Kaminsky, whose acclaimed opera As One has become the most-produced modern opera in America. Emmy Award nominee Crystal Manich, the librettist, is a Pittsburgh Opera mainstay whose works for stage, film, and circus have been seen across the United States, Europe, Argentina, and Australia.

Time to Act is a Co-Commission by Pittsburgh Opera, Opera Montana and Boston Conservatory at Berklee, with additional funding by Opera Santa Barbara.

Michael Sakir conducts. Crystal Manich directs.

Understand Every Word: "Time to Act" is sung in English, with English supertitles projected above the stage at all performances.

Meetup Ticket Discount Offer
With promo code “POMEETUP” Meet Up members can save 30% ($49 instead of $70) for the March 7th performance. Please note student tickets (ages 18 & under) are 50% off ($35) without using any code.

There are a limited number of discounted seats. Discount tickets must be purchased online in advance and are not for sale at the box office. With this link the discount is pre-applied http://www.culturaldistrict.org/promotion/apply?promotion_code=POMEETUP
If you have any questions, please contact Álvaro Muñoz, Group Services Manager, PITTSBURGH OPERA at 412-281-0912 x 213

This is a nice offer and a wonderful opportunity to experience opera, especially for those that have never checked out opera before. Naturally, this offer is not intended to be a substitute for Pittsburgh Opera 2025-2026 subscriptions which have many benefits.

For more information about this production, including review articles, audio/video previews, cast info, etc., please visit TIME TO ACT | Pittsburgh Opera

The Meetup ticket offer is a really good deal, so definitely think about treating yourself or bringing family/friends.

And if you can't make it on March 7 with the Meetup ticket offer, please consider attending one of the other performances of "Time to Act"

Saturday, February 28 at 7 PM

Tuesday, March 3 at 7 PM

Friday, March 6 at 7 PM

Saturday, March 7 at 2 PM

Sunday, March 8 at 2 PM

Normally priced tickets and ticket availability for all performances may be found at TIME TO ACT | Pittsburgh Opera or by calling (412) 456-6666 or stopping by the Theater Square/Benedum Box Office.

Parking
There are several websites with recommendations for parking in the Strip District, such as Strip District Neighbors | Pittsburgh Pennsylvania | Directions & Parking

In addition, PRT Buses 54, 86, 87, 88, and 91 have stops near the corner of 25th and Liberty which is directly across from the Pittsburgh Opera location.

Peregrination: Xiaojing Yan 闫晓静 Exhibit and more at Contemporary Craft

Sat, Mar 21 · 10:45 AM EDT

Contemporary Craft, 5645 Butler Street ,, Pittsburgh, PA, US

Please join us to check out Peregrination: Xiaojing Yan 闫晓静 exhibit (on display from February 6, 2026 to May 2, 2026) at Contemporary Craft, 5645 Butler Street, which is open Monday-Saturday from 10 AM - 5 PM.

Please note there will be a free guided Gallery Tour on Saturday, March 21 at 11 AM. Registration required.

Peregrination, a long and meandering journey…
This exhibition features work by Toronto based artist, Xiaojing Yan. Through the lens of personal migration and cultural hybridity, Yan explores the evolving relationship between identity, tradition, and the natural world. Yan’s art reflects a journey of transformation – an intricate weaving of folklore, ritual, and nature into a symbolic and dreamlike representation of lived experience.

Drawing from ancient Chinese myths and customs, Yan reinterprets traditional narrative through a contemporary lens, reflecting on the fluidity of cultural memory. Her practice is both a tribute and a reimagining, examining how heritage can be at once rooted and reshaped – especially through her choices of materials and processes. Natural motifs, often deeply embedded in Chinese folklore, emerge in her work as metaphors for movement, adaptation, and belonging. Mountains, rivers, and celestial elements echo the rhythms of migration, symbolizing the passage between worlds – both physical and spiritual.
Through meticulous craftsmanship and layered symbolism, her work becomes a meditation space – where the past converses with the present. Laden with symbolism, her creations remain as resonant today as they were historically, also engaging with contemporary concerns. In this act of peregrination, Yan constructs a landscape uniquely her own, evoking poetic and philosophical reflections on humanity’s connection to the natural world.

This exhibition is part of Handwork 2026.

While at Contemporary Craft, check out:

1. Gift Store As part of Contemporary Craft’s mission, their goal is to support nationally recognized craft artists, as well as new and emerging talent. The CC Store represents over 150 artists nationwide, offering handmade, one-of-a-kind art pieces in ceramic, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal, mixed media, paper, wood, and furniture. Each of these pieces has spent countless hours in the hands of an artist before reaching us. When you purchase work at Contemporary Craft, you directly support the livelihood of working artists and helping to advance the economic ecosystem of the craft community.
2. Check out Contemporary Craft’s Studios that offer in-person craft classes and workshops in metals/jewelry making, wood, fiber, mixed media, book binding, and paper arts at every level from beginner-friendly to mastery. Check out the full list of workshops and register on their upcoming workshops page! Or learn more about their Open Studio Rental program. Scholarship money is also available for all Workshops and for Open Studio Rental. Click to apply! Consider supporting the Studio with a purchase from their Wish List!

Meetup Considerations Depending on the interests of the group and the weather forecast, the group will discuss other Saturday afternoon options, such as walking around Lawrenceville or grabbing lunch/drink at a nearby restaurant. For example, Hop Farm Brewing is located only 1 block away from Contemporary Craft. It is open from 12 PM – 11 PM on Saturdays, while the kitchen is open from 3 PM - 10 PM.

Stay tuned for updates!

Parking and Accessibility Contemporary Craft has its own small parking lot. Street parking is available as this part of Upper Lawrenceville is not usually very busy. Public transportation is available as PRT Buses 87 and 91 have bus stops next to Contemporary Craft.

Author & TV Host Padma Lakshmi lecture, Q&A Discussion

Tue, Mar 31 · 7:00 PM EDT

Carnegie Music Hall, 4400 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, US

Please join Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures as they welcome Padma Lakshmi to discuss her latest book, Padma's All American. The lecture will include audience Q&A which will be followed by a book signing. Padma's All American merchandise will also be available in the lobby.

Based on the award-winning Hulu series Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi. This book is a love letter to the people who create and evolve American cuisine every day. It is also a road map to the foods that give America its vibrant palate.

“I never had to leave the country to taste the world’s flavors. Wherever you live, come along with me.”

When Padma Lakshmi arrived in New York City in the 1970s, she witnessed firsthand the cuisines of the immigrant communities around her: uniquely their own and yet quintessentially American. Here, in this very personal book—the result of seven years of traveling and tasting, listening and observing for her show Taste the Nation—Lakshmi compiles dozens of recipes from the immigrant and Indigenous communities she visits, as well as many from her own family, showing us what really comprises American cuisine.

For Lakshmi, food is a lens. Through it, we can explore the influence of an eclectic array of cultures—and come to see, clearly, who we are and how we eat as a nation. Padma’s All American gives us a kaleidoscopic view of the vast range of incredible dishes she delighted in tasting on her travels, from coast to coast, and everywhere in-between.
From Indian coconut rice and Peruvian tamales with chicken to Afghani dumplings with leeks and scallions—from Oaxacan mushroom tacos to a strawberry, cardamom and cream cake that will be your new favorite celebration treat—Padma’s All American is filled with mouth-watering recipes, adapted here for the home cook—along with profiles and stories from the people who inspired the dishes. Padma’s All American is a joyful book—a reflection of who we truly are as a nation, from one of our most essential culinarians.

Padma Lakshmi is an Emmy-nominated food expert, television producer, and New York Times bestselling author. She is the creator of the critically acclaimed Hulu series Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi, and served as host and executive producer of Bravo’s Top Chef for nineteen seasons. She is co-founder of the Endometriosis Foundation of America, a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador and an ACLU Artist Ambassador for immigrants’ rights and women’s rights. She is the author of Easy Exotic, Tangy, Tart, Hot & Sweet, The Encyclopedia of Spices & Herbs, her New York Times best-selling memoir Love, Loss, and What We Ate, and the best-selling children’s book Tomatoes for Neela.

Padma's All American is available to pre-order through bookseller White Whale Bookstore that will be set-up in the lobby with many books available for purchase by other authors that have been part of the Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures series.

TICKETS Because this lecture will sell out, it is recommended people purchase in person tickets before March 31.
In person tickets start at $31 Padma Lakshmi | Carnegie Music Hall | Tue, Mar 31, 2026, 7:30pm | Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures for the upper balcony (where it is easier for a group to sit together) Tickets may also be purchased by phone (412) 622-8866 or at the door starting at 6:30 PM

For Online Tickets, it us OK to wait until the day of the lecture. Online tickets are $31 Padma Lakshmi Online | Online Event | Tue, Mar 31, 2026, 7:30pm | Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures The viewing link will be emailed on the day of the event. Viewers will have access to the recorded program for one week.

Parking While many visitors find street parking, the Carnegie Museum has plenty of parking which is conveniently located near the museum entrance at the corner of Forbes Ave & S. Craig Street. Here is a link with more info about parking and directions http://cmoa.org/visit/directions-maps-parking/