‘Mother’s Day’ on Local Screens; Dining Out at Steel Cactus and Kavsar (Sun., 5/8/16)

1) Mother’s Day – Director Garry Marshall has a unique way of celebrating particular holidays—he makes films about them! And films of a similar style: They’re star-heavy comedy/dramas telling different stories through self-contained vignettes which, nevertheless, are also interconnected. First came the 2010 movie Valentine’s Day about several couples in Los Angles dealing with the pressure the day puts on romance. Then there was the 2011 film New Year’s Eve, about couples in New York waiting for the ball in Time Square to drop. And now this picture which, in a break from tradition, is less about couples and their relationships and more about moms and their relationship with their children. Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson, Julia Roberts, Timothy Olyphant, Jason Sudeikis, Jon Lovitz, and Margo Martindale star. Personally I can’t wait for his next one: Arbor Day. Check Fandango for screens and times. (TH)

2) The Steel Cactus on Walnut Street is open for Sunday Brunch from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.—perfectly timed to get you filled up and out before your Sunday activities. The brunch menu includes Huevos Rancheros, Spicy Southwest Omelet, Fajita Breakfast Burrito, Breakfast Nachos, Steak and Eggs, Pancake of the Week, and French Toast served with eggs and bacon or sausage. “Salud!” with a Bloody Mary or Mimosa. There’s also a Steel Cactus on the South Side at 19th and E. Carson Street that also serves brunch. 5505 Walnut St., Shadyside.

3) Shiloh Street is one of Pittsburgh’s hidden gems. There’re bars, ice cream, even a barber/tattoo shop. But if you go to the end of Shiloh (away from that great view from Mt. Washington) and turn right, you’ll find the first Uzbek halal restaurant in Pittsburgh, called Kavsar. Halal means that the restaurant uses foods that observant Muslims may eat under Islamic law. The Uzbek cuisine includes palov, a dish that was traditionally cooked by men. It’s made of beef, carrots and rice. The restaurant serves not only Uzbek but also Russian foods, such as borscht. Kavsar, like the new Nepali restaurants in the region, is helping to turn Pittsburgh into a United Nations of culinary delights. 16 Southern Ave., Mt. Washington.

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