Mary Pickels stories, Page 2
5 things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend: Feb. 28-March 1
In like a lion, out like a lamb? No matter, March is upon us. This weekend at least, snow bunnies will still get some time on the slopes. The rest of us can look forward to Old Man Winter heading back into hibernation. Meanwhile, a weekend of entertainment beckons. Lost...
3 Pittsburgh chefs make James Beard Awards semifinals list
Christian Frangiadis was flying home from Denmark when a customer called to make a booking at his Spork restaurant. He also congratulated the chef on his being named a James Beard Award semifinalist. That’s how Frangiadis learned he was on the 2020 list of semifinalists, in his case for Best...
Superior Motors, Barebones Blackbox Theater offer ‘Pulp’ pairing
Fans of Quentin Tarantino’s hit 1994 film “Pulp Fiction” can gather with like-minded aficionados — and foodies — for a screening in Braddock on March 8. Barebones Blackbox Theater and Superior Motors will offer a “cinematic experience” in the theater, attached to the restaurant at 1211 Braddock Ave. Chefs will...
Country’s Sturgill Simpson performs at Petersen Events Center
A country singer who believes he’s best heard live, Sturgill Simpson will bring his “A Good Look’n Tour” to the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood. Simpson has produced four albums, winning a 2017 Best Country Album Grammy for “A Sailor’s Guide to Earth.” Additional music comes from earlier...
Westmoreland Cultural Trust plans enchanting masked gala at The Palace
Those attending this year’s Party at the Palace at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg will enjoy a themed masquerade event, with guests visiting masked celebrations from around the world. “Party at The Palace is a fantastic evening to celebrate and support the arts while enjoying amazing food, music and company...
Burgh’ers Farkleberry Tart continues sweet donation tradition to Children’s Hospital
In 2019, Burgh’ers Brewing raised contributions totaling $2,642 for UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh’s Free Care Fund. Burgh’ers’ donation came through $2 per sale of each Farkleberry Tart blackberry sour ale. The fund provides care to every child in the region, regardless of a family’s ability to pay. Last year’s...
Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival quilts have 9/11 focus
The Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival will return March 20-22 to the DoubleTree by Hilton in Green Tree. Hours are 11 a.m.-6 p.m. March 20, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. March 21 and 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. March 22 in the hotel at 500 Mansfield Ave. The festival offers classes, exhibitions, a creative open...
‘Metamorphosis’ makes American premiere in Pittsburgh
Maria Caruso, founding artistic director of Bodiography Contemporary Ballet, will bring her solo creation, “Metamorphosis,” to Pittsburgh for its first U.S. stop. The 8 p.m. Feb. 29 performance will take place at an experimental warehouse space at 1501 Preble Ave., in Pittsburgh’s Chateau neighborhood. “Metamorphosis” has been performed around the...
Westmoreland Cultural Trust plans enchanting masked gala
Those attending this year’s Party at the Palace at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg will enjoy a themed masquerade event, with guests visiting masked celebrations from around the world. “Party at The Palace is a fantastic evening to celebrate and support the arts while enjoying amazing food, music and company...
Times Square campaign features White Oak cancer survivor
A White Oak woman diagnosed as a teen with stage II rectal cancer will be among 14 people featured in a new awareness campaign in New York City’s Times Square on Feb. 26. Denelle Suranski, 37, is an awareness ambassador with the nonprofit Fight Colorectal Cancer. At 9 a.m. Wednesday,...
Greensburg Civic Theatre holds auditions for Tennessee Williams play
A southern plantation home populated by a dysfunctional family, including a litter of “no-neck monsters,” is the setting for Tennessee Williams’ “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” Greensburg Civic Theatre will hold auditions from 6-9 p.m. March 3 and 6-7:15 p.m. March 4 for an April 30, May 1-2 production...
Blackburn Center reaches ‘Walk a Mile in Her Shoes’ milestone
For the 10th year, men will slip into, tie or strap on a pair of women’s shoes and walk 1 mile through Greensburg on April 18, literally walking in the opposite sex’s shoes. Hempfield’s Blackburn Center, which works to educate the public about and end domestic and sexual violence, bullying...
Cartoonist, writer bring back iconic comic ‘The Yellow Kid’Video
A longtime editorial cartoonist and a comics writer meet at an arts festival, admire each other’s work and strike up a friendship. No, it’s not the set-up for a punchline, but rather collaboration of like minds among two of the biggest fans of a century-old newspaper comic-strip character: The Yellow...
Pittsburgh foodie dishes on best city ‘crawls’
A Pittsburgh native and Mt. Washington resident, Shannon Daly enjoys exploring the city’s neighborhoods, especially its restaurants and watering holes. She often shares her finds on her popular Instagram account, pittsburghplates Her mouth-watering social media posts brought her to the attention of publisher Globe Pequot Press. In May, the company...
McDonald’s celebrates half-century of ‘scentsational’ Quarter Pounder
Almost 50 years ago, McDonald’s began introducing America to what would become one of its signature sandwiches — the Quarter Pounder. Created by a franchise operator in 1971 and hitting menus nationwide in 1973, the sandwich remains a favorite with the chain’s loyalists. Enthusiasts now have a line of Quarter...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend: Feb. 21-23
Hang in there — Punxsutawney Phil failed to see his shadow, so spring is hot on our heels, right? Meanwhile, another weekend has arrived, with enough music, theater, art and other entertainment on tap to make us venture out, cold and dark or not. A toast to our first president...
Building a Pittsburgh bar, brick by brick by brickVideo
Ever get jealous of kids building skyscrapers, forts, planes and cars from their colorful Lego sets? Wish you could still stack, snap and construct your own visions with those childhood toys? The pop-up event Brick Bar invites grown-ups to play again, bringing what it calls its mobile “nostalgia trip” to...
Ohiopyle State Park program in need of citizen scientists
As part of a new program called “Tree Measuring,” Ohiopyle State Park is seeking “citizen scientists” to help measure the park’s trees. The Fayette County park has some of the state’s, and in some cases, the northeastern section of the nation’s, tallest trees, says Rose Fuge Bando, environmental education specialist....
Westmoreland Historical Society plans day trip to museums
The Westmoreland Historical Society will sponsor a bus trip from Greensburg to the Fort Pitt Museum, Fort Pitt Blockhouse and the Senator John Heinz History Center, all in Pittsburgh, on April 4. Guided tours of the Fort Pitt Museum will include the exhibit “Pittsburgh, Virginia,” detailing how the city almost...
Gordmans grand opening in East Huntingdon draws curious shoppersVideo
Several dozen shoppers braved a wet, windy morning Tuesday to be among the first to shop at the new Gordmans, formerly Peebles, department store in East Huntingdon. Officials from the township and from Mt. Pleasant borough joined employees as they officially opened the location in Countryside Plaza. Grand openings of...
The Westmoreland’s African American art exhibition features array of genres
The 45 pieces of work by 34 black artists at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art’s newest exhibition, part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s traveling exhibition, represent seven decades of art. “African American Art in the 20th Century” runs Feb. 16 through May 10 at the museum at 221...
New Stanton Cracker Barrel named chain’s ‘store of the year’
Cracker Barrel restaurants are known for hearty meals, folksy decor and front porch rockers. The New Stanton restaurant, at 154 W. Pennsylvania Ave., also is basking in a special accolade these days. Its parent company has declared the site the chain’s “Restaurant Store of the Year” for fiscal year 2019....
Entrepreneurs find niche in small, local downtownsVideo
Jim Seaman is just one of many entrepreneurs zeroing in on — and filling — particular niche markets in the region. He’s also among those choosing to open in downtown business districts, sometimes filling otherwise empty buildings. After earlier operating a coffee shop in Lock Haven and a recent career...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend: Feb. 14-16Video
Happy Valentine’s Day. Maybe you’re wearing red, enjoying a bouquet of roses or a box of chocolates, or just looking forward to celebrating with your loved one (s). Here are 5 suggestions to make the weekend even sweeter. All things love The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, 221 N. Main...
JTown Kitchen owner believes ‘the bigger, the better’Video
Diners at JTown Kitchen are unlikely to leave hungry. They also are likely to leave with leftovers. Cheryl Cochran makes big plates for big appetites at the Jeannette eatery she owns with her husband, Christian Weiss. “It’s been described to me as comfort food. The bigger, the better,” Cochran said...
