Lifestyles category, Page 149
‘Tis the season: Pa. alcohol sales spike as holidays approach
It’s the holiday season, and everyone is getting into the spirit — or at the very least, into the spirits store. November and December are far and away the busiest times of the year at Pennsylvania’s Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores. The top single sales day in each of...
Wash your hands, but NOT that turkey
These days, it seems like we’re constantly washing everything in sight. From hands to countertops, keyboards to kids’ toys. And with covid-19 a serious threat, it’s the best thing you can do. Except when it comes to that turkey. Yep, it’s true. Poultry doesn’t exactly seem super clean, but no...
Airbnb looking for 100 of the best home chefs for a trip
NEW YORK — Airbnb is launching a global search for 100 top home cooks and treating them to a trip to Italy to learn how to refine their recipes with teachers including David Chang and his mom. The lucky chosen will travel to the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo,...
Scottdale house tour, West Overton holiday market to get you in the spirit
Area residents and visitors will have several upcoming opportunities to enjoy the holiday season in the Scottdale area. The West Overton Village and Museums hosts its annual free Homestead Holiday Open House and Market and the Scottdale Historical Society holds its annual Christmas House Tour, both on Dec. 7. Guests...
Out & About: Annual Wind Up/Wine Down benefits Norwin musicians
What’s a good way to spend a Saturday night? Some folks like to Wind Up/Wine Down. That’s the name of the signature fundraiser for the Norwin Play It Forward Fund, which helps fund private lessons and music camps for Norwin School District students in grades 4-12 who participate in instrumental...
Out & About: Redstone Highlands gala sets sail on the Love Boat
More than 200 “passengers” set sail on the Love Boat for this year’s Redstone Highlands Fling. The 17th annual gala with a nautical 1970s theme, held Nov. 23 at Stratigos Banquet Centre in North Huntingdon, raised funds for the benevolent care fund of the senior care organization with campuses in...
To Whom it May Concern? Advice on addressing holiday cards
It’s that holiday-card time of year again. But before you open up the address book or spreadsheet, read up on some modern etiquette for addressing those to whom you’re sending your jolly good tidings. Holiday cards, particularly Christmas cards, are big business. Leading greeting-card maker Hallmark estimates 1.3 billion Christmas...
Out & About: Ligonier Y supporters look back at ‘how we got here’
Supporters of the Ligonier Valley YMCA took a look at “how we got here” at the Y’s third annual Legacy Dinner, held Nov. 22 at Laurel Mountain Ski Resort in Ligonier Township. The program included a short history of the Y, the year in review and testimonials on the organization’s...
Out & About: Greensburg store hosts WSO shopping spree benefit
Time is at a premium during this busy season. It’s good when you can kill two birds (or maybe three) with one stone, so to speak. Teri Bowes of Hempfield invited a group of friends to do just that on Nov. 18. She was the winner of a shopping party...
To stuff or not stuff? That is the Thanksgiving question
The idea of a juicy, stuffed turkey serving as the centerpiece to Thanksgiving feast can get just about any of us drooling. So I hate to be the bearer of bad news. But cooking your stuffing inside the bird might not be the best idea. It sure is delicious, but...
Living with Children: Yes, mothers are the main parent enslaved to ‘The Portal’
OK, it’s time to set the record straight, confront the gorilla in the proverbial room, call a spade a spade, and so on and so forth. I recently published a column on “The Portal” — the black hole in academic cyberspace that has trapped many a mother — in which...
Travel tip: Prepare your vehicle for winter snow and cold
Like it or not, it’s time to prepare for winter driving. The folks at AAA East Central offer these tips to prep your vehicle for cold and snow: • Have your battery tested if it is more than three years old, to ensure it is strong enough to endure cold...
How to grow and enjoy celeriac (AKA celery root)
If celeriac hasn’t yet found its way into your garden plot, make next year the year. This surprisingly tasty, bulbous root can be eaten fresh in salads, or cooked and used in soups and stews. Softball sized and looking like a lumpy chunk of tree bark, celeriac, also called celery...
Fox Chapel native opens Simple Sugars holiday pop-up shopVideo
Bakery Square will be a little smoother this holiday season. Simple Sugars, an all-natural handmade skincare product line specially formulated for sensitive skin, has opened a holiday pop-up shop through Dec. 22 in the East End shopping complex. The products have previously been sold only through its website. “I have...
Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show canceled, parent company wants to ‘evolve marketing’
The secret’s out: the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is canceled. L Brands, the lingerie company parent company, confirmed the cancellation on its earnings call Thursday and said it wants to “evolve the marketing” of the brand, according to Variety. The annual event, aired since 2001, had declining television ratings in...
‘Tidying Up’ star Marie Kondo debuts online store
The woman who has made a name for herself encouraging people to get rid of their clutter wants to sell you items “that spark joy” and “enhance your everyday routine.” “The goal of tidying is to make room for meaningful objects, people and experiences. I can think of no greater...
The scoop on hardy hibiscus, their common pests
Question: When can I cut back my hardy hibiscus? Also, something devastated the leaves on my hardy hibiscus this summer. How can I prevent this from happening again? Answer: Hardy hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos) are show-stopping late-season bloomers for sunny gardens. These big beauties are hardy down to -20 degrees F,...
50+ deer-resistant plants to add to your landscape
As I stepped out the kitchen door to walk the dog, a young deer munching on hydrangeas confronted us. This buck was in rut and looked at us as if we were competitors in the race to mate. As my dog barked wildly, the deer backed off a little but...
Saying ‘I do’ with a beautiful, budget-conscious wedding
With stars in their eyes, newly engaged couples often plunge into the excitement of planning their perfect wedding day. Sticker shock can soon set in, as the costs of catering, photography, gowns, flowers and more send budgets plummeting into the red. Some couples prefer, or soon agree on, smaller weddings,...
Where and when to shop on Black Friday in Western Pa.
Christmas season seems to start earlier and earlier every year, at least according to store displays – need some holly with your Halloween pumpkin? Still, lots of folks don’t get into the spirit until after Thanksgiving. Once the pumpkin pie is eaten, though – watch out. It’s time to go...
Flying this Thanksgiving? Expect record crowds at airports
Record throngs of travelers are expected to jam into airports over the Thanksgiving break and airlines are adding hundreds of flights a day in response. The Transportation Security Administration said Wednesday that it expects to screen more than 26.8 million passengers and airline crew members between Nov. 22 and Dec....
10 tips for hosting a stress-free Thanksgiving dinner
Whether you’re a first-time host or a seasoned veteran, whipping up a Thanksgiving dinner is no piece of pie … er … cake. Add in a bit of forgetfulness, a touch of poor planning and some overly eager houseguests, and you could quickly find yourself in the middle of a...
IronRock Tap House proprietors promise ‘cool, hip’ vibe in HempfieldVideo
When IronRock Tap House goes “live” next month, diners can expect to enjoy food prepared in a “scratch” kitchen, sourced as locally as possible, along with superior customer service, its owners say. Proprietors Greg and Christina Cammerata of Murrysville believe the location in front of Westmoreland Mall is a prime...
What’s Brewing? Add some beer to your recipes
We’ve been conditioned to accept that wine pairs well with food. Cooking with it adds another tasty flavor to our dish. Wine is romantic and used to complement the perfect meal, date or special occasion. Consequently, we’ve been conditioned that beer goes well with hot dogs, sports and popcorn. It’s...
Greensburg cafe offers cat and kitten cuteness, with a coffee chaserVideo
On its second day of business, Greensburg’s new Cattfeinated Cat Cafe is quickly filling with customers, many of whom are immediately drawn to the cat “lounges.” The cafe offers baked goods from Peinetti’s in Jeannette and coffee drinks in three sizes — kitten, queen and tom. “Everything is made off-site,...
