Shirley McMarlin stories, Page 86
Country music series returns to Washington County ballpark
Texas Country concerts are returning this summer to Wild Things Park, home of the Washington Wild Things in North Franklin Township, Washington County. The schedule, announced by hosts Lord and Thorn Music Publishing and radio station Y108, includes: • June 15: David Allan Coe, with Ruff Creek and Todd Jones....
Out & About: Ligonier library shares ‘Memories of Idlewild’
Idlewild Park, along with its later addition SoakZone, holds a special place in the hearts of many Western Pennsylvanians. Dolores Allison of Stahlstown says she portrayed Little Red Riding Hood in the historic park’s Story Book Forest as a teen in 1957. Her mother was ”volunteered” to sew the costume...
Out & About: Easter egg hunt goes to the dogs
Conventional wisdom says that early humans domesticated dogs for the help they provided with hunting. For most dogs nowadays, their purpose is to be man’s best friend — but that doesn’t mean they’ve given up their love of the hunt. Even the most pampered pet perks up when a squirrel...
Out & About: Speaker tells riveting tale of escape from the mob
Andi Cipa of Murrysville had a special reason for wanting to attend the annual pre-Easter dinner held by the Greensburg Christian Businessmen’s Connection. As soon as she heard who was speaking, she says she told her husband, Kevin Cipa, a regular attendee, that she was going with him. Speaker for...
Travel tip: Tiny Jim Thorpe welcomes annual indie film festival
Nestled in the mountains of Carbon County, quaint little Jim Thorpe has been called one of America’s most beautiful small towns by Rand McNally, USA Today, Culture Trip and Architectural Digest. In addition to the natural beauty, visitors come for the annual Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival, set this year...
Grassroots organizations heed call to serve neighbors in need
The call to serve can come at an unexpected time, in an unexpected place. For Connie Staley of Greensburg, it came during a dinner hosted by a church she attended. The sumptuous meal cost $30 per person and was served at a local banquet facility. “It was a beautiful dinner,”...
Bust some myths during inaugural Seven Springs home show
Horticulturist Denise Schreiber says she “tells it like it is” when she talks about the science of growing things — especially when it comes to debunking old wives’ tales that are often accepted as gardening gospel. Expect to hear the facts and nothing but the facts when Schreiber presents “Urban...
Hanna’s Town opening day to include special activities, spring tea
Historic Hanna’s Town will open to the public for the 2019 season on May 4. In addition to tours, special opening day activities will include living history demonstrations, early American toys and games for children, planting in the kitchen garden and the annual spring tea. Hours will be 10 a.m.-4:30...
‘Match Gayme’ turns back time with all-drag, all-Cher cast
Remember the Match Game, the old television game show where contestants tried to match fill-in-the-blank answers with celebrity guests? Questions led to sometimes-silly, sometimes-suggestive and sometimes spot-on answers from celebrities like Charles Nelson Reilly, whose double entendres kept 1970s television censors on their toes. 1 Rockett Productions has updated the...
Entertainment planner: April 18-May 1
Saturday April 20 “Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical,” Byham Theater, Pittsburgh. 412-456-6666 or trustarts.org Kiss the Sky, Jimi Hendrix tribute, Hard Rock Cafe, Pittsburgh. 412-481-7625 or hardrockcafe.com Paul Luc, Club Cafe, Pittsburgh. 866-468-3401 or ticketweb.com/clubcafe Tuesday April 23 Charlie Chaplin Silent Picture Show, The Mattress Factory, Pittsburgh. 412-624-4129 or mattress.org...
Seth Meyers bringing politically tinged comedy to PittsburghVideo
With a dad hailing from Pittsburgh and a late-night talk show, Seth Meyers leaves little doubt as to what his Western Pennsylvania show will entail. Pittsburgh Steelers, Penguins and Pirates talk and political commentary will rule the night when Meyers, host of NBC’s “Late Night With Seth Meyers,” appears June...
Gipsy Kings bringing flamenco-salsa sound to Munhall music hallVideo
The Grammy-nominated flamenco/salsa group The Gipsy Kings will perform on Sept. 18 at the Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall, 510 E 10th Ave., Munhall. Doors will open at 7 p.m. for the 8 p.m. show. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. April 19 at 877-4-FLY-TIX, ticketfly.com and librarymusichall.com. Tickets...
Notre Dame cathedral played starring role in movie classicsVideo
In the wake of the devastating fire in the Notre Dame de Paris cathedral, reports say its stone construction and many priceless artworks have been saved. French President Emmanuel Macron has promised to rebuild the 850-year-old marvel of medieval engineering, and pledges worth millions of euros already have poured in....
Pitt ‘geek theater’ production travels to downtown Pittsburgh
How do you get to know someone after she’s died? In Qui Nguyen’s play, “She Kills Monsters,” the quest is accomplished through a game of Dungeons & Dragons. The University of Pittsburgh Department of Theatre Arts will present the award-winning play at 8 p.m. April 18 in the August Wilson...
Party like Dwight Schrute when ‘Scrantonicity’ comes to PittsburghVideo
“Scrantonicity,” a pop-up party based on “The Office,” is coming May 31 to the Hard Rock Cafe in Pittsburgh. “Scrantonicity” will feature “Office”-themed trivia, a DJ, comedian, bar games and costume contest. “Attendees are encouraged to come in their best dressed ‘Office’ attire. Whether you dress up as Dwight, or...
Keynote Cafe in Jeannette to close after ‘last hurrah’ concert
The Keynote Cafe in Jeannette, a popular performance space for area musicians, will close after a June 29 farewell concert. Owner Jill Sorrells of Jeannette posted this notice on Facebook on April 13: “This is to let u know that I have just signed a Sales Agreement on the Keynote...
Out & About: Latrobe Art Center welcomes East Suburban artists
Most members of the East Suburban Artists League hail from Pittsburgh’s eastern suburbs and the far northwestern reaches of Westmoreland County, and their work is often shown in venues around their regular stomping grounds. With an exhibition hanging through April 30 in the Latrobe Art Center, they may be expanding...
Out & About: CASA benefits from Caffe Barista’s adult egg hunt
Easter fun isn’t just for little ones. Lisa Hegedus, owner of Caffe Barista in downtown Greensburg, made sure of that by offering an Adult Easter Egg Hunt. Original plans were for an outside hunt April 12 at the Greensburg Garden and Civic Center, but heavy rain earlier in the day...
Out & About: Native America comedy group melds cynicism, satireVideo
The 1491s sketch comedy group describes themselves as a “gaggle of Indians chock full of cynicism and splashed with a good dose of indigenous satire.” Their name obviously refers to the year prior to Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the New World and the advent of European colonization. Nothing is sacred...
Travel tip: Easter Bunny Train will roll on Lancaster County tracks
If you can’t find the bunny trail, catch the Easter Bunny from April 19-21 on Strasburg Rail Road’s popular Easter Bunny Train. The steam train departs the station in Ronks for a 45-minute ride through the scenic Lancaster County countryside with the long-eared conductor aboard. The special Easter train rides...
Out & About: WCCC art students show work at capstone exhibitions
In architectural terms, the capstone is the final stone placed at the top of a building or a monument. In education, a capstone project (sometimes called a senior project or thesis) is a multifaceted course that integrates a student’s cumulative learning experience. At Westmoreland County Community College, associate of fine...
Mattress Factory hosts Charlie Chaplin films set to live music
Chamber Music Pittsburgh will host “The Charlie Chaplin Silent Picture Show” at 7 p.m. April 23 at The Mattress Factory, 500 Sampsonia Way, Pittsburgh. Pianist Tom Roberts and clarinetist Mary Beth Malek will perform live to accompany Chaplin films “The Rink,” “The Pawn Shop” and “Kid Auto Races at Venice.”...
Entertainment planner: April 11-24
Thursday April 11 “Focus on Nature,” New Kensington Camera Club exhibition, Penn State New Kensington Art Gallery, New Kensington. Through April 27. 724-334-6056 or newkensington.psu.edu “Game of Thrones” Party, over-21 event, Jergel’s Rhythm Grille, Warrendale. 724-799-8333 or jergels.com “Godspell,” Geyer Performing Arts Center, Scottdale. Through April 14. 724-887-0887 or geyerpac.com...
‘CatVideoFest’ to hit Carnegie Science Center’s giant screenVideo
Take your cat video-watching obsession to the next level with “CatVideoFest,” coming April 19-21 to the Rangos Giant Cinema at the Carnegie Science Center. “What’s better than watching dozens of adorable cat videos on the internet? Watching dozens of adorable cat videos on Pittsburgh’s largest screen,” says the center’s website....
New ‘Lion King’ trailer shows live-action take on beloved story
The best part of today’s new trailer for Disney’s live-action “The Lion King” might be the last few seconds — a snippet of Timon and Pumbaa, voiced by Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen respectively, singing — you guessed it — “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” Set for a July 19 release,...

