Lifestyles category, Page 17
How pet blood donors are saving lives
Usually, when someone’s pet is in the veterinary hospital, it’s a stressful time — something is wrong, and it’s gone beyond the usual vet visit. But on Feb. 15 at BluePearl Pet Hospital in Ohio Township, Ashleah Stone wasn’t worried at all about her 7-year-old greyhound, J.B. That’s because J.B....
Fern Hollow Nature Center set to break ground on expansion this fall
Fern Hollow Nature Center administrators are making strides with ongoing fundraising efforts for an expansion project at the nature preserve that sits on 33 acres in Sewickley Heights. Since 1997, Fern Hollow Nature Center has welcomed all ages to experience and explore the nature side of Sewickley Heights Borough. In...
Western Pa. picked baby names Oliver, Olivia most in 2024
When it comes to baby names, the O’s have it. Across Allegheny Health Network in Western Pennsylvania, O names rose to the top of people’s lists in 2024 — specifically Oliver for boys and Olivia for girls. Across AHN’s maternity care units, those were the two most popular names given...
Early fascination with pipe organ leads to successful career for Franklin Park native
It was an organ performance at St. Paul Cathedral in Oakland that made up the mind of Daniel Ficarri, then just an eighth grader in the North Allegheny School District. He was entranced by the sounds and sights of an instrument that beautifully echoed throughout the grand space of the...
Rugs N Stuff owners look to foster creativity, confidence
Tyler Weston sees tufting’s potential to nurture creativity. Tufting is the art of decorative rug design. Using an electric tool that resembles a cross between a sewing machine needle and a tattoo gun, tufters push yarn through the back of their canvas, tracing and eventually filling in an image from...
No pain, no gain? Hardly. This year’s fitness buzzword is ‘recovery’
If you ever turned on the TV in the 2000s after midnight, you might have seen an informercial for P90X. The exercise program promised shredded abs and bulging biceps for anyone who pushed themselves to their limits for 90 days of 90-minute workouts. So it may come as a surprise...
Trader Joe’s popular mini cooler bags are back
Forget the Trader Joe’s mini tote bags — the viral mini cooler bags are back in stock. Available in a two-toned pink and a lilac and black combo for $3.99, the 1.5-gallon mini cooler bags previously have come in red, green, orange, yellow and blue, according to Taste of Home....
Point State Park tops the list of most-visited in the region in 2024
It’s probably no surprise that Point State Park was the most visited state park in the region in 2024, according to statistics released by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. With sweeping city, river and bridge views, the park provides 36 acres of green space while preserving its place...
A durable dahlia. A vigorous vinca. Here are 20 new garden plants to watch for this year
Like most gardeners, I have favorite plants I’ve been growing for years and will continue to grow, like fragrant and tasty Big Boy tomatoes, wide Romano-type Italian flat beans, climbing zucchini and Queen Lime Mix zinnias. But I also like to try new plants. So, it’s helpful to know that...
Eastern Europe’s traditional ingredients get star treatment in new cookbook ‘Kapusta’
Cabbage would seem to check a lot of boxes for what’s prized these days in Western food circles. It’s nutritious and inexpensive. Seasonal. Colorful. Climate-hardy. Fermentable. So why does it still struggle for respect? “It’s about how you cook it. People tend to overcook it, not letting it express all...
Angels among us: Duo creates keepsakes, 1 bead at a time
Daniel Krueger and Lucille Knopsnyder always have a handmade treasure stashed away in a pocket. It might be a colorful beaded bracelet that Krueger, of Derry Township, crafted, complete with little angel wings. Or it might be a beaded angel figurine, something Knopsnyder, of Unity, has been making for decades....
Researchers link a gene to the emergence of spoken language
Why did humans start speaking? Scientists suggest genetics played a big role — and they say the evolution of this singular ability was key to our survival. A new study links a particular gene to the ancient origins of spoken language, proposing that a protein variant found only in humans...
Inside Western Pennsylvania’s thriving sword-fighting community
A sword is the draw. Each participant carries a 48- to 52-inch saber into the former Holy Family Roman Catholic Church in East Deer for Friday Night Fights where, two by two, they enter a ring wearing gear representative of medieval times. They are prepared to attack their opponent —...
Ballerina Chandler Maria Bingham is a role model for Black dancers
Chandler Maria Bingham, a dancer in her seventh season with PearlArts Movement & Sound, is at Field Day in Lawrenceville, sipping a lavender chai — one of her favorites. Her hair, in box braids, cascades over her shoulders and a leather jacket adds a touch of edginess to an otherwise...
Pet safety while driving part of Pittsburgh International Auto Show
It’s a law for humans to have their seat belts fastened in vehicles, but when it comes to canine companions, automobile safety can be an afterthought. “Most people don’t think about anything bad happening,” said Marcy Kronz, president of Greater Pittsburgh Retriever Club and owner of Ruffwater Golden Retrievers, where...
Sewickley’s latest boutique, Picket Fence was inspired by similar family-owned stores
One of the newest businesses in Sewickley, The Picket Fence, opened last fall to a warm welcome from the community. “Sewickley is a wonderful neighborhood,” said Maureen Staley, who co-owns the business with her sister and their mother, Patti Staley. “It has a good community presence, and people have told...
Does your dating app match look like this? They’re probably not real
February is an expensive time of year to be falling in love, with Valentine’s Day and all. That goes double for someone who finds themselves caught in a catfishing scam, whether it’s through dating apps or some other form of conversation that doesn’t happen face to face. According to the...
Breakfast is booming at U.S. restaurants. Is it also contributing to high egg prices?
It’s a chicken-and-egg problem: Restaurants are struggling with record-high U.S. egg prices, but their omelets, scrambles and huevos rancheros may be part of the problem. Breakfast is booming at U.S. eateries. First Watch, a restaurant chain that serves breakfast, brunch and lunch, nearly quadrupled its locations over the past decade...
Pittsburgh’s CobblerWorld bakery offers sweet, made-from-scratch treats
Terina J. Hicks is serving up something sweet with her CobblerWorld bakery. Beyond just the taste of Hicks’ sought-after desserts, her personality and magnanimous spirit bring customers back. CobblerWorld was founded after a layoff from Carnegie Mellon University. “Something just said go back to baking,” she said. Baking came naturally...
Roses are red, violets are blue, 940 million flowers are traveling (through Miami) to you
MIAMI — If any husbands or boyfriends mess up Valentine’s Day this week, it’s not because of a shortage of flowers. In the run up to Feb. 14, agricultural specialists at Miami International Airport have processed about 940 million stems of cut flowers, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection....
Some canned tuna recalled in Pennsylvania due to risk of foodborne illness
Do you eat canned tuna? It might be a good idea to check your stash of products at home. Tri-Union Seafoods issued a recall of select Genova, Van Camp’s, H-E-B and Trader Joe’s tuna cans due to potential foodborne illness — and products in Pennsylvania at Trader Joe’s, Walmart and...
Altius, Monterey Bay among top 100 most romantic restaurants in country
If you’re looking for a romantic spot to take your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day, look no further than Pittsburgh’s Mount Washington. Both Altius and Monterey Bay Fish Grotto made the latest OpenTable ranking of the top 100 most romantic restaurants in the United States. Altius, which is rated 4.9 stars...
Crayola hits rewind with classic crayon colors, including dandelion
Crayola is bringing a collection of eight “nostalgic fan-favorite crayon colors” — including Dandelion — out of retirement. The decision marks the first time in Crayola’s 122-year history that retired colors are set to return, USA Today reported. Crayola said it “received an outpouring of fan requests to bring back...
Region’s 1st padel courts headed to Aleppo
A 30,500-square-foot warehouse is being transformed into the first padel courts in Western Pennsylvania. Matt Ferrari, CEO of Gamma Sports, a tennis and pickleball equipment company based in Pittsburgh, is building four indoor padel courts and six indoor pickleball courts in Aleppo, close to Sewickley. Dubbed Matt’s Pickle & Padel,...
Trib introduces ‘Asking for a Friend,’ a column for navigating life’s everyday quandaries
The Trib is launching “Asking for a Friend,” a column that tackles life’s little conundrums before they snowball into full-blown crises. Whether you’re unsure about whether to text back or how to gracefully handle a house guest who won’t leave, we’ve got you covered with advice that’s both practical and,...
