Creatives Ale - A Beer for Every Street

The pair who throws free events with free alcoholic beverages takes the next step in their curated experience. Chancelor Humphrey and Cody Baker of Creatives Drink, the networking function doubled as a party, supply their own beer.

While the Creatives Drink series connects Pittsburgh's youthful generation with local businesses, especially distilleries, crafting their own liquor is a "no brainer expansion," Chance says in an interview on the latest episode of Drinking Partners podcast.

In collaboration with War Streets Brewery, opening soon on the Mexican War Streets of Pittsburgh, Creatives Drink offers Creatives Ale. The special red ale is brewed and packaged in minimal quantities and aims to "introduce [the public] to local liquor and beer," Cody says in the podcast. The breweries, distilleries, and wineries that Creatives Drink will work with will handle the alcohol, but Chance and Cody will handle the marketing aspect. Creatives Label controls how people perceive what they drink.

Chance and Cody try to inspire people to do something of their own in addition to offering experiences and products that showcase the best of Pittsburgh.

"If you have an idea just follow the steps to do it," Chance says. "This idea for the Creatives Label is a huge leap in a new direction. Creatives Ale can be and probably will be in bars in three or four months," Cody says.

People can sip Creatives Ale at Creatives Drink 7 (T.B.A.) or at LOCAL on the Rocks, a cocktail competition, on October 6. Also, listen to episode 88 of Drinking Partners podcast with Chance and Cody where the CD duo spill details on their new branch of Creatives Drink, Voyage, which is a party on a yacht with upscale liquor like D'Usse.

War Streets Brewery

1416 Arch Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15212

Thrival Combines Innovation and Music in Pittsburgh

With its blue-collar industry past, Pittsburgh now reinvents itself as a rising technology hub and do-it-yourself, entrepreneurial boomtown. New and creative ideas breathe throughout the city and a welcoming market support the enterprising spirit.

Three years ago, Thrival Innovation + Music Festival was one of the new and creative ideas in town. The forum provokes thought and the arts due to "innovation-focused programs punctuated by a weekend concert featuring some of the best emerging national music acts and top-tier headliners." The event also seeks to "introduce Pittsburgh as the world leader in post-industrial economic development."

Thrival, part of the Thrill Mill, Inc. nonprofit group, is attractive because it serves as an "incubator and accelerator for early-stage entrepreneurs," while providing a contemporary music outlet. Many people flock to the event, 2,000 showed the first year, 7,000 the second year, and 10,000 people attended in 2015.

Looking for continuous growth in 2016, Thrival is set to put on a bigger production than ever before. The Innovation portion will feature three days each with a separate theme. There will be four keynote speakers, more than 30 programs, and more than 50 total speakers. For example, Dr. Bennett Omalu, the man who discovered "CTE" and its link to professional football during his work in Pittsburgh, and Eugene Robinson, a journalist and Washington Post contributor, will give keynote talks. Programs hit on subjects like the rise of podcasts, food culture, and "How to Build a Music Town."

Innovative interactions will run Tuesday, September 20 through Thursday, Septemeber 22 at places like Alloy 26 Auditorium and New Hazlett Theatre on the North Side of Pittsburgh. After, Thrival's weekend music festival kicks off on Friday, Septemeber 23 to Saturday, Septemeber 24. Headliners include electronic act The Chainsmokers, DJ and producer Hudson Mohawke, hip-hop specialist Ty Dolla $ign, and more. The concert site pays homage to Pittsburgh's old industry ways as Carrie Furnaces, a former steel plant in the Swissvale and Rankin, Pa. neighborhood, will host two stages for musical performances.

In an effort to promote Thrival's musical event, Pittsburgh-based, cultural publication Jenesis Magazine produced several 10-minute music mixes by local DJs. Artists like Christo and DJ Topgun sample some sounds attendees will hear next weekend. Listen to all of the mixes here and go to Boom Concepts tonight from 7-10 p.m. to hear the mixes played live.

For more Thrival information, tickets, and venue locations go here.

Carrie Furnaces

623 E. Eighth Avenue

Homestead, PA 15210

Boom Concepts

5139 Penn Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15224

Trump Dic Pic

Via @trumpdicpic on Instagram

Let us hope the public never gets used to seeing Donald Trump's golden hair and his puffy and snide face which matches his arrogant speeches that are ignorant to America's ideals and most of her citizens.

"Fuck Donald Trump," many Americans advertise.

If you are of age, and you do not want the man to represent you or this country, vote against him. The creative rhetoric, intellectual conversations, and frustrations opposing Trump are good to raise awareness, but affirmative action lies in your vote to keep him out of office. 

Regardless, before election day on November 8, 2016, it is satisfying to make fun of Donald Trump and air him out for his absurdity, bigotry, and villainy.

For instance, Trump Dic Pic takes part in his shaming. Posters and stickers with Trump's screaming face appear in metropolitan areas. The colorful portraits of the Presidential candidate feature Sharpie text that is "most offensive or illustrative" of people's views against him. Some of the texts are ridiculous quotes said by Trump himself, like "women deserve punishment for abortion," "ask the gays," or "why can't I use nukes?" The comments and sentiments expressed on the posters alert the public to Trump's imperialist, privileged, and disrespectful attitude.

Trump Dic Pic photographed by Alex Young

These posters pop up in Downtown streets and inner-city neighborhoods where peoples are more diverse and more progressive, like Pittsburgh's East Liberty. The latest run of Trump Dic Pics is at 6119 Penn Avenue in the window of a former nail salon. Eight posters tease Trump and all of his flaws. "Don't boo, vote," reads one of the captions, which is a statement from President Barack Obama.

To explore more of the Trump Dic Pic movement or purchase posters to place around your community go here.

Fuck Trump.

Post 9 To 5 Thoughts Pixburgh Playboy Cap

Nine to five is a time frame during which some people grind professionally in corporate America. The eight work hours consume a good portion of the day. Sometimes after work, some people slip into a trap where they do not explore life outside the office. Sometimes, their daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. becomes unadventurous. It is easy for some people to fall into the same routine with no deviation day in and day out.

Post 9 a.m. To 5 p.m. Thoughts is the antithesis of this mentality. The after hours company is overseen by Pittsburgh-based stylish forces Pixburghcam and Yunngchi who express creative and cultural stimulation.

A quick browse on the two's socials here and here, and people can see how contemporary and past icons in fashion, music, and sport inspire their design aesthetic. Supreme, Dr. Dre, the Pirates, and Michael Jordan mesh in an Instagram post by Cam. Proudly, high fashion interchanges with streetwear, like an image of Louis Vuitton seat cushions attached to old paint buckets or a coffee table book tributing Bape's creator Nigo. A similar taste also applies to Yunng. See him study LeBron James' massive Nike advertisement for Cleveland or wear Carol Christian Poell, an unorthodox fashion label, matched with Nigo's Human Made. In their time, both Pixburghcam and Yunngchi celebrate a knowledgeable and specific niche of popular culture.

For Post 9 To 5 Thoughts, the designers work the classic Pittsburgh Pirates hat into something sexy. In two versions, a blue or white Playboy logo fills in the open space of the "P" on the black snapback hat. Officially called the "Pixburgh Playboy Cap," each order comes packaged with Playboy magazines cut from the 1970s. Use of the bunny from the men's entertainment company suggests a wondrous sex appeal around the city.

Get right and shop the hats here, although the blue bunny seems to have sold out from demand. For more on Post 9 a.m. To 5 p.m. Thoughts follow Pixburghcam and Yunngchi on Twitter.

Art and Exotic Cars

Art and Exotics' art car painted by Baron Batch photographed by Alex Young

The blue Porsche 996 hummed around a corner. Pittsburgh's Downtown skyline blurred on the car's passenger door. This was not a reflection but paint, and specifically an image painted by Texas import, former football player, and foremost painter Baron Batch. The car's driver was Matthew DeSantis, a business owner, photographer, and supercar enthusiast.

Via @matthewdesantis on Instagram

Other than an amazing piece of art, the 996 Carrera 4S is a traveling symbol that links Pittsburgh's creative and supercar communities.

In cities like Los Angeles or Miami, walkers and motorists regularly observe beautiful sports cars speeding down the highways or cutting through the Downtown streets. The cars' specialties are almost normal in these environments, so people may or may not stop to gawk at the vehicles.

Though foreign and high-performance vehicles are in Pittsburgh, DeSantis and his Art and Exotics event, an automotive art pop-up series, seek to make supercars consistently seen and relevant to a community that appreciates them most.

 "Anyone who drives these cars I want to know," DeSantis says. He is readily building a platform to showcase the exotic car community to Pittsburgh more creatively than the Auto Show or Vintage Grand Prix.

The Petrol Network, which DeSantis founded, connects car dealerships to the world of online influencing and implements an effective marketing strategy. The sports cars become more viewable thanks to promotion done by DeSantis and other media influencers on social network sites.

 "Move content across all social media platforms," he says. Utilizing Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter generates more followers, reaches more eyes, and further establishes a person's brand. While posting photos and videos of the cars and the actors in the creative community, DeSantis exposes two communities jointly, and perfectly promotes his Art and Exotics show.

Matthew DeSantis in front of his art car

What is most interesting about the 21-year-old entrepreneur originally from Long Island, New York is the analysis he uses to dissect his business. He is well aware of logistics and understands that to build a following one needs cohesive and frequent content. "The most engagement for an event usually happens during the week leading up to the show," DeSantis says. Also, weekly meetings at the inclusive Unstuck Pgh help further develop his concepts thanks to the circle talks provided by fellow local innovators.

Along with the supercars, like the Lamborghini Huracan and BMW i8 on display, the main attraction at the event on August 26 at the Mattress Factory on the North Side is "The Artist," Baron Batch of Studio AM. Known for his colorful and spirited paintings of elephants, Pittsburgh cityscapes, open eyes, and inspiring text with upside-down exclamation points, Batch carries his genuine attitude over to the Porsche 911. An elephant, a symbol of wisdom and strength, with a horizontal heart line going across adorns the driver side door of the German car. "FREE" is artistically written across a bumper. White stars are at the front tip of the sports car.

When DeSantis thought of art and car to mix it only made sense for him to enlist Batch as the painter. The artist's work is widely seen on murals throughout Pittsburgh and at Studio AM in Homestead. New pieces from The Artist will also feature at the Mattress Factory.

The way Batch thoughtfully executes his positive ideas creates the same positive energy around the painted Porsche 911 and the Art and Exotics event.

 "It's easy to think the people that drive these supercars are snobbish, but we are trying to change that," DeSantis says.

Combining exotic, modern cars with art highlights the artistry behind automotive and artistic crafts. So, when the public attends Art and Exotics this Friday, creativity and imagination will be at the forefront.

Purchase tickets to the event presented by Petrol Network here.

Mattress Factory

500 Sampsonia Way

Pittsburgh, PA 15212