Dave Chappelle Plays PPG Paints Arena; Allegheny Land Trust Green Spaces for Recreation and Quiet Contemplation (Thurs., 6/1/23)

1) Tonight one of the nation’s top comedians, Dave Chappelle is performing at PPG Paints arena. Chappelle was born in Washington, D.C., and started performing stand up comedy in clubs at the age of 14. After graduating from High School Chappelle moved to New York City, working the comedy clubs there. He was soon recognized as a hot, new talent and got work in movies and television including: Robin Hood Men in Tights,  “Buddies,” and The Nutty Professor, and 2018’s A Star Is Born. He parlayed his comedy success into his own comedy specials and even a self-titled television series, “Chappelle’s Show.” One of the funniest skits on his show was the tale of Prince challenging and playing Eddie Murphy’s brother Charlie to a game of basketball.The game was a landslide win by Prince and his crew. Prince loved it and backed up Charlie Murphy’s recount of it. Should be a night of many laughs! Chappelle, his wife and two kids, live on a 65 acre farm in Ohio. 7:30 p.m. PPG Paints Arena, 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown.

Sycamore Island is a ‘Green Space’ haven river-bound and close to town.

2)Speaking of Pittsburgh’s best-kept secrets: Have you heard of Allegheny Land Trust?  The nonprofit maintains “Green Spaces” across the city and into the suburbs and exurbs. There’s a bunch of them, open daily for activities ranging from relaxed walks to biking, birding, and even camping. Wingfield Pines, south of Downtown, is a reclaimed strip-mining area. Audubon Greenway in Sewickley is notably bike-able. Emerald View Park on the slopes of Mt. Washington offers wooded trails with, as the name implies, great views. And Sycamore Island—in the Allegheny River, just a few miles upstream from the Point—is singularly cool. Reachable only by boat, it’s a patch of undisturbed nature where one can camp overnight (get a permit in advance) almost within shouting distance of the city limits. But don’t shout; check it out. The Land Trust has 22 Green Spaces overall, having added Girty’s Woods in the Shaler/Millvale communities under its protection. The Land Trust has also now secured a tract in Churchill Valley. (M.V.)

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