Lifestyles category, Page 124
7-Eleven’s Free Slurpee Day canceled amid coronavirus concerns
There won’t be a Free Slurpee Day at 7-Eleven this year thanks to the coronoavirus pandemic. The annual freebie event held on July 11 — or 7/11 — is being canceled for customers’ safety, according to the company. Free Slurpee Day, held since 2002, is the convenience store’s biggest day...
With proms canceled, those ball gowns aren’t just gathering dust
Ball gowns are hanging in closets across the country, unworn due to the pandemic-related shutdown of schools and cancellation of much-anticipated spring proms. For many young women, a lot of time and expense goes into choosing the perfect dress for prom. Not being able to wear it can be both...
Care-free days at theme parks giving way to virus safeguards
TOLEDO, Ohio — Hugs from Mickey Mouse are out at Walt Disney World. So is bunching up at Six Flags to snag a front-seat roller coaster ride. But the season won’t be completely lost for thrill-seekers. Carefree days of sharing cotton candy on crowded midways will give way this year...
Frozen bay scallops a sweet summer dinner
Keeping frozen bay scallops in my freezer has been a big help during these challenging times. They are always available for a quick dinner. They’re sweet-tasting and take only minutes to defrost in a bowl of cold water. The side dish for this quick dinner also uses ingredients from my...
5 Star Trail Poker Run goes do-it-yourself this summer
The 21st annual Five Star Trail Poker Run is adopting a “do-it-yourself” format this year. Participants can choose to bicycle, walk or jog the trail stretching from Greensburg to Youngwood during sessions on July 18, Aug. 15 or Sept. 19 — or on more than one date. There will be...
Pack swimsuit, mask, California welcomes back tourists
SAN DIEGO — There will be no packed double-decker safari buses with tour guides rolling through the San Diego Zoo, nor animal shows that draw crowds — nor breakfast buffets at hotels. Instead, hotels are adorning lobbies with hand sanitizing dispensers and will be limiting how many people lounge by...
Disney plans to reopen California theme parks in July
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Disney is proposing to reopen its Southern California theme parks in mid-July after what will be a four-month closure due to the coronavirus, the company said on Wednesday. Disney Parks, Experiences and Products said in a statement that the goal is to reopen Disneyland and Disney California...
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens reopening this weekend
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens will be reopening to the public this weekend. The Oakland landmark opened to members Wednesday, just in time for their summer flower show, “Back in Bloom.” The public will be able to visit starting Saturday. As Phipps put it in a social media post, “A...
Weekly SupperMarket returns to Lincoln Highway Experience
Wednesday night dinner prep will be a cinch with a stop at the Lincoln Highway SupperMarket. The popular open-air food festival returns June 17 to the grounds of the Lincoln Highway Experience, Route 30 East, Unity. SupperMarket will be held 5-8 p.m. Wednesdays through Sept. 9, weather permitting. Celebrating its...
Nordstrom reopening 2 Pittsburgh-area stores
Pittsburgh-area shoppers will have more options on Thursday, when Nordstrom Ross Park Mall and Nordstrom Rack Northway Collection reopen to customers. “We’re taking a phased, market-by-market approach to reopening our stores. The health and well-being of our employees, customers and communities is our priority,” Nordstrom says. Nationwide, the chain is...
Living with Children: Children need to learn that good behavior is its own reward
Question: My wife has a habit of giving our very stubborn and dramatic (lots of whining, moping, and tantrums) 6-year-old daughter “prizes” for doing what she is told. Last Sunday, for example, Carrie didn’t dress appropriately for church. We told her she had to change. She had a meltdown. She...
Cedar Point to reopen in July, starting with season passholders
Cedar Point announced Tuesday it will begin a phased reopening for the 2020 season, starting with Season Passholders only. In a statement on the park’s website, the company said it “has put stringent health, safety and hygiene protocols in place to allow a safe opening.” On July 9 and 10,...
Virtual PizzaFest to showcase 4 Pittsburgh pizza artisans
Four of Pittsburgh’s best pizza artisans will show their stuff during this year’s virtual PizzaFest – A Slice Of Delish! The event, which welcomed a sold-out crowd last year, will take place at 6 p.m. Sunday on Zoom. In addition to watching as chefs give demonstrations, tips and recipes from...
Create delicate ribbons without a pasta maker
If you are using your extra time at home to improve your cooking skills, America’s Test Kitchen has a new cookbook that can help. Called “100 Techniques,” it’s the first technique- focused book from the Boston-based media company that produces a public television cooking show, several magazines and countless cookbooks. Along...
June is the month to make emergency plans for your pets
We’ve heard about “go bags” and other types of preparation for both man-made and natural disasters. But when you’re planning a quick exit from danger for yourself and your family, you also need to think about your pets. We’ve all seen heartbreaking photos and videos of animals left behind in...
Out & About: Greensburg Garden Center opens butterfly garden
The Greensburg Garden Center’s butterfly garden is now open for the season, even though caretakers have yet to see many of the delicate lepidopterans flutter by. At a Thursday reception in the garden, members said they’ve seen one or two, but they’re working to make the premises more welcoming as...
Glazed, powdered or jelly? Yes, yes and yes — it’s National Doughnut Day
Friday is National Doughnut Day. It’s the perfect way to celebrate as Allegheny, Westmoreland and surrounding counties are headed into the “green phase” of the state’s coronavirus action plan. Always the first Friday of June, National Doughnut Day highlights everyone’s favorite cylindrical breakfast treat. Oakmont Bakery owner Marc Serrao said...
Out & About: Ligonier museum hosts plein air painting session
In anticipation of reopening to the public, the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley invited area artists to a plein air painting session Wednesday. Fortunately, lowering clouds and a few rain drops gave way to sun as artists set up easels on the wide back lawn, under shady...
Brewery looking for someone to hike Appalachian Trail and drink beer
A Virginia brewery is looking for someone to take on the Appalachian Trail and drink beer. As “Chief Hiking Officer” for Devil’s Backbone Brewing, based in Lexington, Va., just a few miles from the AT, the candidate will hike the entire trail in 2021 and get “some big ol’ beer...
Allegheny County to offer music on TV, online and movies in the park
To hear the music of the Allegheny County Summer Concert Series, tune into Pittsburgh’s CW. The entertainment usually heard at South Park and Hartwood Acres Park amphitheaters has moved to television because of the pandemic, the county announced. Presented by BNY Mellon, performances by local musicians and artists will be...
Business is boomin’ for bike sales — but will interest last?Video
June 3 marked World Bicycle Day and, to borrow a phrase from a former, lamented Pittsburgh Steeler, the bike business is boomin’. Bike sales soared when covid-19 restrictions shut down many other forms of exercise and entertainment, and people took to the outdoors for a little fun. “This is unprecedented,”...
Living with Children: The power of ‘no’
In 1972, a Stanford University psychologist conducted a study in which young children, individually, were offered either a small but immediate reward (a marshmallow or a pretzel) or a doubled reward if they were able to wait for 15 minutes. In follow-up studies, researchers found that children who were able...
Churches opting for virtual vacation Bible schools this summer
Like sports and art camps, vacation Bible schools are a big draw for children during the summer. “It’s a major program for us,” says Rachel King, youth coordinator at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Hempfield’s West Point section. “Most churches do a vacation Bible school, and a lot of kids...
Choolaah Indian BBQ to open 2nd location in Pittsburgh region
Choolaah Indian BBQ, a fast casual Indian barbecue-style restaurant, is opening a second Pittsburgh-area location. The newest location will open June 9 in North Fayette. The first area Choolaah opened in East Liberty in 2018. Choolaah means “oven” in Hindi. Jay Nesbitt, chief creative officer for Choolaah Indian BBQ, said...
Laurelville Retreat Center pool will open to the public
With many pools remaining closed this summer, swimmers will have one more option for water fun. The new pool at Laurelville Retreat Center in Mt. Pleasant Township will open to the public by June 15 for two daily swim sessions. The pool will operate with limited crowd capacities and distancing...
