A taste of nature can provide balance and calm during the workday
NEW YORK — The crisp crinkle of fallen leaves beneath your feet. The swish and trickle of water moving through a stream. A breath of crisp, fresh air. Spending time in nature can be invigorating or produce feelings of peace and calm. But many professions allow little time or access...
Here are 5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Jan. 9-11
If you struggled through the first full work week of 2026, you’re not alone. Many have been looking forward to Friday since 9 a.m. on Monday. Now that the weekend’s finally on the horizon, what will you do with your free time? Here’s a few ideas around town. RV show...
New dietary guidelines urge Americans to avoid processed foods, added sugar
Americans should eat more whole foods and protein, fewer highly processed foods and less added sugar, according to the latest edition of federal nutrition advice released Wednesday by the Trump administration. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins issued the 2025-2030 U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans,...
Cremation overtakes burial as people rethink death, cost and tradition
A generation ago, burial was the default and cremation the exception. Today, the roles are rapidly reversing. By 2035, 80% of Americans will opt for cremation over burial, according to the National Funeral Directors Association. That’s a stunning figure, considering that just 55 years ago, only 5% of people chose...
Zero proof, pure pleasure: Mixing up Dry January mocktails
It’s a bright, shiny new year full of resolutions and commitments. The tough part is finding ways to match your good intentions with your good taste. If you are looking to avoid sugar, that can just be a matter of finding a good diet soda or a recipe for low-carb...
How to maximize PTO in 2026
Workers in Western Pennsylvania scheduling days off for 2026 might get some help from the calendar. Most federal holidays this year fall either on or close to a weekend, allowing for more maximization of paid time off than usual. Days off can be tacked onto federal holidays and weekends to...
1850 Victorian home boasts original turret in historic Saltsburg
The next homeowner of an authentic Saltsburg Victorian residence built in 1850 will have something most homes don’t — an original turret. A three-story brick home requiring some TLC is a new listing by Howard Hanna Mt. Lebanon Realtor Santino Merante for $175,000. “This home needs some love, but the...
Here’s why we eat pork and sauerkraut on New Year’s Day
We Pennsylvanians know that on New Year’s Day, we are obligated to eat pork and sauerkraut. But why? Yes, it’s a Pennsylvania Dutch tradition that we all follow, but it’s important to know its history. (It’s also fun.) So here’s why we eat pork and sauerkraut as well as other...
Here are 5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Jan. 2-4
Welcome to 2026! Time for new beginning, new goals and new experiences all over Pittsburgh. Here are a few ideas for new things to do this weekend to get your year started right. Laser shows at Buhl Planetarium For fans of blockbuster Netflix show “Stranger Things” or pop superstar Taylor...
The Future of Pittsburgh Ball ready to shine on New Year’s Eve
The nearly 1,000-pound Future of Pittsburgh Ball was tested Tuesday and is ready to rise on New Year’s. Mounted on an 80-foot-tall pole atop Penn Avenue Place in Downtown Pittsburgh, the illuminated sphere will rise Wednesday night as the city rings in the new year during the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s...
Unleash the hounds! And terriers and lapdogs. The American Kennel Club adds 3 breeds
NEW YORK — They’re ready to embark on 2026. Three more dog breeds joined the American Kennel Club’s roster of recognized breeds on Tuesday, making them eligible for many U.S. dog shows and likely increasing their visibility to the pet-loving public. One of the newcomers is a terrier named for...
Where are the wackiest New Year’s Eve drops in the U.S.?
Why let New York City have all the fun with its Times Square ball drop on New Year’s Eve? Dozens of places across the U.S. will ring in 2026 by dropping a quirky assortment of fruits, vegetables, sea creatures and balls of all shapes and sizes. Many have a hometown...
A power outage can turn dangerous fast. Here’s how to prepare
Power outages can come from winter storms, heat waves, wildfires or a delivery driver backing into the power line by your house. But depending on how long they last or what the temperature is outside, they can be serious or even fatal, no matter the cause. One of the biggest...
Find inspiration for achieving your financial resolutions and money goals in 2026
NEW YORK — The start of a new year usually brings new motivation to achieve goals like eating healthier or finally cleaning your basement. Many resolutions also focus on financial goals, such as paying off credit card debt, saving for a new house or simply getting more educated about money....
Ancient meditation practices find new life in modern religious communities across America
On most Monday nights, the sanctuary of All Saints Episcopal Church — with its vaulted ceilings, stone arches and stained-glass windows — seamlessly transforms into a space of quiet contemplation. It’s in this Gothic Revival church in Pasadena, California, that Betty Cole, a longtime Zen practitioner and “card-carrying Episcopalian,” leads...
Foods with healthy-sounding buzzwords could be hiding added sugar in plain sight
Many consumers feel pride in avoiding the glazed pastries in the supermarket and instead opting for “all natural” granola that comes packed with extra protein. Same goes for low-fat yogurts “made with real fruit,” “organic” plant-based milks and bottled “superfood” smoothies. Buyer beware: Healthy grocery buzzwords like those often cover...
‘The past gives comfort’: Finding refuge on analog islands amid deepening digital seas
As technology distracts, polarizes and automates, people are still finding refuge on analog islands in the digital sea. The holdouts span the generation gaps, uniting elderly and middle-aged enclaves born in the pre-internet times with the digital natives raised in the era of online ubiquity. They are setting down their...
Looking back on pop culture that had Western Pennsylvania buzzing in 2025
The past year has been a lively time in Western Pennsylvania for music, movies, TV, art and social media. From new art spaces to blockbuster series to sold-out TikTok-driven events, 2025 was a great time for
water cooler conversations and fun stories around town. Here are just a few. ‘The...
Former Rockette teaches aspiring dancers at Greensburg workshop
Bright lights and big kicks were the order of business Saturday for aspiring dancers in Greensburg. The Spectacular Holiday Dance Workshop, held at Seton Hill University and The Palace Theatre, welcomed students of all ages to step into the magic of Broadway with a 2½-hour class taught by former Radio...
A beginner’s guide to Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa has become a nationally recognized celebration of African culture and community in the United States since its founding in 1966 and also is celebrated in countries with large African descendant populations. The holiday, which serves as a nationwide communal event reinforcing self-determination and unity in the face of oppression,...
Volunteering with children can build character and create lasting family memories
NEW YORK — When Cami Teacoach’s son turned three she set out to find volunteer opportunities they could do together. He made Valentine cards for senior citizens. They hiked and picked up trash. He helped harvest produce at community gardens and made seed balls out of mud, throwing them into...
Why your holiday gift returns might go to a landfill and what you can do about it
The holiday season will soon come to a close, but the busiest time of the year for product returns is just beginning. The National Retail Federation estimates 17% of holiday purchases will be sent back this year. More retailers are reporting extended return windows and increased holiday staff to handle...
Allegheny River’s only floating Airbnb of its kind is in Blawnox
Full-time Pittsburgh River Rescue diver Greg Tersine spends much of his time in and around water, so building a floating house on the Allegheny River felt natural for the water-loving Blawnox resident. “I grew up on the rivers,” said Tersine, a homeowner in Blawnox and Squirrel Hill. “I was looking...
What you need to know about Highmark First Night in Pittsburgh
Downtown Pittsburgh will put on its holiday best to host the annual Highmark First Night, presented by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. The Cultural District will be ringing in the new year with a jam-packed lineup of performances, activities, fireworks and a midnight ball-raising. Tens of thousands of people are expected...
A look at aging baby boomers in the United States
The oldest baby boomers — once the vanguard of an American youth that revolutionized U.S. culture and politics — turn 80 in 2026. The generation that twirled the first plastic hula hoops and dressed up the first Barbie dolls, embraced the TV age, blissed out at Woodstock and protested and...
