Best mascot: Panther

Let’s face it; being a sports mascot isn’t the best job in… Best mascot: Panther

Let’s face it; being a sports mascot isn’t the best job in the world. You’re stuck in a silly, hot outfit, you have to jump around and make a fool of yourself and, maybe worst of all, you have to put up with hostile fans.

But every mascot isn’t the Panther.

Anyone who’s been to a Pitt football game this season knows that the Panther doesn’t take crap from anyone – especially another mascot. Pay attention to the sidelines; you’ll likely see the Panther beating on the opposing team’s mascot. At the Kent State game, the Panther repeatedly beat Kent’s mascot with a megaphone. That mascot was shown who’s boss.

Better still, at the Rutgers game, pursued by their mascot during a touchdown celebration, the Panther got into a knock-down, drag-out fight with the silly-looking Rutgers mascot. Needless to say, that goofy Rutgers mascot didn’t come looking for a fight with the Panther again.

And that’s what you need from your mascot – someone who doesn’t roll over for anyone, a badass, if you will. Sure he acts goofy; that’s a requisite for all mascots. But when was the last time the Pirate Parrot or Iceburgh dropped the crowd-working routine to drop the gloves?

– Dante A. Ciampaglia, Contributing Editor

Best Pittsburgh sports team: The Steelers

What’s better than football in Pittsburgh? Well, a winning season of football in Pittsburgh would be nice, but as it is, natives of Pittsburgh still love those Steelers, pronounced Still-ers.

One thing synonymous with Pittsburgh, other than an abundance of mullets, is the Steelers. The black-and-gold wrecking crew has been a staple to the Steel City since 1933, and with four championship rings to their name, they have the right to be recognized as the best sports team in the ‘Burgh.

Famous for the heralded Steel Curtain defense and, of course, one of the greatest plays in the history of the NFL, the Immaculate Reception, the Steelers have history that is more blue-collar than the fans who fill those yellow seats at Heinz Field every Sunday.

No matter what a Steelers fan may say throughout the course of a season, no matter how bad they may bash the decisions made each week, remember that Pittsburgh sports fans love the Steelers.

– Brian Palmer, Staff Writer

Best free entertainment: Flagstaff Hill Movies

Scraping together enough cash to pay for your summer rent is about as much fun as sitting alone, broke, in your dark apartment on a beautiful summer night.

The free summer movies at Flagstaff Hill can get you out into the night without harming your already-crippled wallet. You might have paid $8 to sit inside a crowded theater to see this summer’s blockbusters, but if you had been willing to wait until next summer, you could see them for free on the Hill.

If you’ve only been in Pittsburgh for the city’s monochrome winters, you might not understand why anyone would want to sit outside for several hours. But Pittsburgh summers offer temperate weather that can – almost – make up for gloom that descends upon the city from October through May. Enjoy the brief, beautiful weather, find out about all the movies you couldn’t afford to see when they were new, and take advantage of Pittsburgh’s best free entertainment.

– J. Elizabeth Strohm, News Editor

Best strange thing in Oakland: Sombrero Man

Oakland offers strange things to stimulate all your senses. To anyone not familiar with Pittsburgh, the fried egg-and-french fry sandwich at Primanti Bros. might seem pretty weird. To a person used to the relative olfactory delights of the suburbs, the mix of odors that pervade Oakland might seem quite bizarre. To a person who has spoken only standard English in his lifetime, the intricacies of Pittsburgh-ese might not settle on the ears so well.

But, by far, Sombrero Man is the strangest anomaly you’ve found in Oakland. He’s a man, he’s got a sombrero and, according to some, he may possess super powers. Whether you’re encountering Sombrero Man for the first time, or you’ve grown to expect him as a presence as comforting and familiar as the Cathedral of Learning, you can’t walk by the guy without pausing your stream of thought and thinking,

“Gee, that’s kind of strange.”

– J. Elizabeth Strohm, News Editor

Best radio station: 96.1 KISS FM

When you’re studying and you need the perfect background music, the average Pitt student picks: probably not KISS 96.1. But if you want to distract yourself from your studies, it’s the perfect frequency. With its commercial-free mornings (though students usually sleep through them) and an ex-Olympic swimmer on in the afternoon, KISS’ non-stop flow of pop music will keep you from those books as long as you want. In addition to the listening pleasure, you have sponsored concerts and other events in the Pittsburgh area, and a decent Web site for a radio station. If the dial were going to break on their radio, more Pitt students would set it to 96.1 first than any other station.

– Michael Mastroianni, staff photographer

Best local band: The Clarks

Who hasn’t screamed their lungs out to “Penny on the Floor” or “Cigarette?” And if you don’t know what the Fayette County Fair is, then you obviously aren’t a Clarks fan.

The Clarks have been together and going strong since the late ’80s, probably about the time most students at Pitt were still learning to tie their shoes and color inside the lines, and they have given no signs of letting up, as they continue to tour and make even more of a name for themselves and rock music from Pittsburgh.

The success of last year’s “Another Happy Ending” has been exactly what the Highland Park natives, who started playing parties for cases of beer, have been working for. And all of their hard work is finally paying off.

Currently, the hometown boys are on a national tour, giving a taste of Pittsburgh to the rest of the country; but don’t worry – they remember their roots. They have three shows set for the end of November.

On Nov. 24 and 25, they will be playing shows at Nick’s Fat City, one of their favorite stomping grounds on the South Side, and on Nov. 29, they will be playing at the Carnegie Music Hall.

– Brian Palmer, Staff Writer

Best Pittsburgh neighborhood: Shadyside

mon*ey n. 1. a medium that can be exchanged for goods and services 2. something you need a lot of to live in Shadyside, a posh neighborhood just a stone’s throw away from Oakland.

By now, you probably get it. Shadyside is a little on the expensive side. But that’s okay. Where Oakland has a Rue 21 and a McDonald’s, Shadyside has a Banana Republic and Walnut Grove, an eatery a little on the – you guessed it – costly side.

Jokes aside, Shadyside is a beautiful area with a classy atmosphere and a nice shopping district on Walnut Street.

For those of you who can’t decide whether you want to explore this lavish neighborhood, take a short bus ride or do the electric slide and get your backside to Shadyside. Go ahead, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

– Ben Greiner, Staff Writer

Web site for college students: www.pitt.edu

It doesn’t offer you a new credit card, it won’t help you lose weight and it won’t provide you with adult entertainment. But www.pitt.edu does tell you almost everything you want to know about Pitt, and perhaps for that reason, you chose it as the best Web site.

Countless students can make important college decisions while sitting, naked, in their dorms, thanks to the convenience of this Web site. It provides links so you can access next semester’s course schedule, discover the many splendid groups Pitt has to offer and, of course, check up on the daily Pitt news, as reported by The Pitt News.

Of course, never leaving your room can impair your ability to succeed in college, and this Web site might not hold all the secrets to make the next four – or five, or six – years of your life the best they can be. But if you’re going to use the Internet as your primary guide to college happiness, this is a good place to begin.

– J. Elizabeth Strohm, Contributing Editor

Best Movie Theater: Loews Cineplex

Mmmmm, nothing says a night at the movies like a big ol’ bucket of … shrimp? Not your conventional movie theater food, but then again, Loews Cineplex isn’t your conventional movie theatre. Located at the Waterfront, Loews offers a wide variety of snacks, including of course the usual popcorn and nachos. The cineplex also offers a choice between 22 different screens, each one furnished with stadium seating. You won’t have to worry about that woman with the giant Jersey hair blocking your view ever again. And Loews also gives its customers the option to buy tickets ahead of time, whether it be online or over the phone. Movie patrons can even skip the line at the theater by using their debit or credit card at the handy Fandango machines located near the box office. And since the theater is a short drive or bus ride from campus, Loews proves to be one of the best theaters around.

– Amanda Waltz, Staff Writer

Best Live Theater: Benedum Center for the Performing Arts

The Benedum Center for the Performing Arts, besides being one of the most beautiful buildings in the city, is one of the best places to catch a show.

The Benedum hosts numerous theatre performances from companies like the Civic Light Opera and the Pittsburgh Opera as well as other swanky events. Formerly the Stanley, a movie theater and concert venue, the Benedum was converted and renovated and turned into the theatre venue and occasional concert hall that it is today. Because of this history, the acoustics are magnificent – microphones and speakers are used, but if an actor with a booming delivery were to take the stage, that technology wouldn’t be needed – and the stage space is large

There are numerous theaters around the city, but none can compete with the Benedum. It’s a beautiful building and theatre space that has no equal in terms of luxury and overall presentation.

– Dante A. Ciampaglia, Assistant A’E Editor

Best Dance Club: Matrix

If there is one place in Pittsburgh that can transform someone who abhors dance clubs into a person who has mucho fun at them, that place is Matrix.

With four clubs under one roof, there is something that will please just about everyone.

Club Velvet is the swankiest room in Matrix, with red velvet couches, high tables and sexy dancers shaking to salsa music on top of the bar. Club Goddess has a Roman theme, and pictures of some of the most beautiful celebrities adorn the walls. The newest rap, dance and hip-hop can be heard in here.

Venture through one hallway into Club Liquid, an extremely dimly lit room with pulsating trance music. Venture through the other hallway in Goddess and you will find yourself in Club Exit, where house and industrial beats inundate the room.

You are always certain to see someone that you know, and with drink specials most nights, you can’t go wrong with Matrix.

– Katie Mavrich, A’E Editor