Lifestyles category, Page 194
Appliances that work hard to keep a house running need cleaning, too
Your major appliances work hard for you. So why not pay some attention to your washer, dryer, dishwasher, fridge and stove? “Lots of people think that the function of the washing machine or the dishwasher is to clean, so it must just clean itself,” says Melissa Maker, who runs a...
What’s causing those stains on the chimney?
Question: Our chimney is badly stained from weather. A chimney sweep told us chemicals and power washing would not guarantee removing these stains, and a heavy power wash could even damage the brick. How can we safely remove the stains? Answer: The stains could be mold, dirt, algae or soot,...
Create a fairy garden with the little ones
Spring is the perfect time to work with your kids or grandkids to create a fairy garden. Betty and John Robison built a fairy garden trail in Scenery Hill, Washington County. In 2010, the couple started Robison Acres a small nursery and wild plant sanctuary. Each year new things get...
Ask Doug Oster: Advice on peach trees, bugs and more
Gardening editor Doug Oster gets asked a lot of questions. A lot. And he doesn’t mind offering gardening advice. But rather than just limiting those answers to the person who asked, we thought it might be a good idea to share that wealth of knowledge with everybody. There are three...
Cutting through quartz requires some serious drilling
Question: I want to thread a 12-foot pipe through a hole in a large rock and into the ground to support a birdhouse. The rock would remain on top of the ground, but it would anchor the pipe better and more attractively than my current arrangement. I can take the...
Try these plants that are beautiful and deer- resistant
In May, the deer finally have something to eat in the forest, hopefully keeping them busy and out of the garden. Any gardener that lives in deer country, though, knows that the allure of hostas and tulips draws the four-legged marauders to the garden. Here are some plants that I...
Prevent and manage rose cankers
Question: I have several pink Knock Out roses that I’ ve had for several years, and they have always been healthy and lovely. I make sure I care for them properly. Recently I noticed that all of them have cankers and discoloration (black and dark brown) up and down the...
Brownsville Perennial Project teams students with landscape architect, community leaders
Landscape architect Laura Patterson walks through a parking lot in Brownsville occupied by some overgrown shrubs and an old white dump truck abandoned there years ago. She has lived in the greater Uniontown area her whole life and owns Exquisite Garden Design. Her grandmother lived in West Brownsville, working in...
Spring means it’s time for annual Fox Chapel garden symposium
Landscape architect and author Jennifer Bartley couldn’t make healthy eating look any easier. Want a delicious, fresh spring salad for lunch? Simply go outside to the kitchen garden and pick a bunch of kale, lettuce and other annual greens — and don’t forget some herbs and edible flowers. “Spring is...
Birthday Cake is the latest Cool Whip hitting store shelves
Cool Whip no longer needs to sit atop something else. It’s a dessert all on its own. What used to play the role of real whipped cream is now taking on rich flavors that will tempt you to eat it straight from the tub. With Oreo and Double Chocolate Brownie...
TribLive Taste Test: National Jelly Bean DayVideo
Not only is Easter coming up, but Easter Monday is officially National Jelly Bean Day. The TribLive Taste Test team dove into four different varieties of the bean-shaped candy, compared Starburst Strawberry jelly beans with the old-fashioned “spiced” jelly beans — which raised a very important question for us: spiced...
10 hand slaps to make you smile on National High Five Day
This is the day to reach up and slap someone. In a good way. National High Five Day inspired people to share their favorite hand-slapping photos and videos across social media. Here are our ten favorites from Twitter. This one is going to be hard to replicate. Most epic high...
Pennsylvanians prefer wolf emoji when they text, study says
In the days when far-flung friends and relatives wrote and mailed each other letters, they often signed off with “SWAK” — sealed with a kiss. If it was a love letter, the female writer might gift the recipient with a lipstick kiss imprint. Fast forward to instantaneous communication, and we...
Brew review: Prantl’s Burnt Almond Torte
It smelled like Prantl’s famous cake when I opened the can. I am one of the lucky ones who scored a can of Torte, a beer inspired by Prantl’s Burnt Almond Torte and brewed by Cleveland-based Platform Beer Co. The beer is selling out in stores across Western Pennsylvania. The...
Sold out: Prantl’s Burnt Almond Torte beer by Platform a hot itemVideo
There’s no beer here. Demand for Cleveland-based Platform Beer Co.’s new blonde ale based on the delectable burnt almond torte cake from Prantl’s Bakery is a big hit with Pittsburgh-area customers — if they can find the brew. Platform rolled out the beer for sale Monday, but finding it is...
Greensburg offers day of music, culture with ArtsWalk
Greensburg ArtsWalk returns for a second year from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. April 27, filling the downtown area with dance, music and art activities. Visitors can take a self-guided tour of indoor and outdoor locations. A map of scheduled events will be available at Courthouse Square, listing more than 17 locations...
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...
Bob Ross cereal is the calming breakfast we need
The beauty of Bob Ross, the painter with the curly afro and gentle voice, was how calm he left us feeling after an episode of his “The Joy of Painting.” Now you can start your day with a bit of that calm thanks to FYE’s Bob Ross: The Joy of...
Gobblerito is returning to Mad Mex for 1 day
The legendary Gobblerito is making a one-day appearance at Mad Mex this spring. Conceived as a Thanksgiving meal wrapped in a burrito, the popular turkey dish is going to be available out of season on April 23 at Big Burrito Group’s Mad Mex restaurants. Dubbed Gobblerito Day, the event was...
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust to curate cocktails at the Benedum
With the philosophy that every drink has a story, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust will conduct its second annual “Cultured Cocktails” event from 8-10 p.m. May 4 at the Benedum Center. Guests can imbibe as they walk through time, exploring the histories behind their favorite drinks and spirits. According to acrobatiquecreative.com, mixologists...
Chocolate-stuffed marshmallows will up your s’mores game this summer
It’s tough to improve upon the simple perfection of s’more. Graham crackers, a chocolate bar and a toasted marshmallow. But imagine your surprise when you discover that marshmallow is filled with chocolatey goodness. And it’s melted. Bam! You’ve kicked the campfire up a notch. View this post on Instagram Chocolate...
Vlasic to release Pickle Chips — made from actual pickles
Snack time just got a new entry: Vlasic’s Pickle Chips. Conagra Brands, Vlasic’s parent company, is set to release the vacuum-fried pickle chips, Food Business News reports. But these aren’t just potato chips with a dill flavor to them. These are made from actual pickles. “Pickles has always been a...
Kennywood now a certified autism center
In an effort to accommodate all visitors, including those with sensory needs or on the autism spectrum, Kennywood now has status as a Certified Autism Center, according to officials with the West Mifflin amusement park. The designation is awarded by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards to...
Brew Gentlemen expanding with outdoor space for summer
Brew Gentlemen is looking to stretch out with an outdoor summer space in time for the local craft brewer’s weeklong fifth anniversary bash starting May 20. Additionally, the Braddock business plans to renovate its the 28,000-square-foot warehouse behind its Braddock Avenue taproom to create a full-scale production brewhouse and canning...
If you still think lamb is gamy, there are new rules
Listen, lamb-leery cooks: Don’t be intimidated by the myth of a “too gamy taste,” true of the bygone mutton- eating generation. Today in America, what was once known as “spring lamb,” is offered to market between 6 and 12 months old, which yields a fresh, meaty flavor no more pungent than...
