Lifestyles category, Page 20
Houseplants that don’t require soil and can be displayed any which way? Look to air plants
If you’re looking for a houseplant that’s as unique as it is low-maintenance, let me introduce you to air plants, members of the Tillandsia genus in the Bromeliad family. I first became acquainted with Tillandsia circa 2007, when I was invited to tour the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival at...
Craft breweries adjust to industry change as closings outpace openings for 1st time in 20 years
Thirty years ago, if someone said, “I’m going out to grab a craft beer,” the person they were talking to might not have known what that meant, let alone where they would go to get it. Today, in Greensburg alone, it could mean eight different taprooms, and that’s not counting...
Western Pennsylvanians react to U.S. Surgeon General’s call for cancer warning on alcohol
On Friday, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said that because alcohol is a leading cause of cancer, warning labels should be on all alcoholic beverages. Murthy said in an Associated Press article that Americans should be better informed about the link between alcohol and cancer, in particular, noting alcohol consumption...
Chetia Hurtt of Mana Meals combines food, healing and wellness
Chetia Hurtt doesn’t just cook food — she crafts an experience, layering flavors and textures with the same intentionality and warmth that she brings to every aspect of her life. As the founder and owner of Mana Meals Catering and the kitchen manager at Braddock Public House, Hurtt, 46, has...
Meet the Danish-Swedish farmdog, the newest breed in the American Kennel Club’s lineup
NEW YORK — Say hello to the latest dog in the American Kennel Club’s lineup of recognized breeds. Or you might say “hej.” The Danish-Swedish farmdog — yep, that’s the official name — joins the pack this week. The designation makes the breed eligible to compete for many best in...
The dill of a lifetime? In a nation that’s enduring its own sour patch, the pickle dominated 2024
SHARPSBURG — When did we know for sure? Was it April, when Nature Made introduced its pickle-flavored gummy vitamins? Was it November, when Petco’s “Pickle Mania” promotion offered 26 different pickle-themed toys for dogs and cats? Maybe it was the December day that a food scholar was heard to utter,...
Pennsylvania towns put unique spin on New Year’s Eve ball drops
While lots of folks will watch the traditional ball drop in New York’s Times Square tonight to ring in the new year, Pennsylvanians will have the chance to watch some unique twists on the tradition. Here are a few examples: Pittsburgh The city will host its annual Highmark First Night...
Running a marathon a day in 2024, she has a world record within her grasp
GHENT, Belgium — Finally coming to a halt on Tuesday — the last day of 2024 — Belgian ultra runner Hilde Dosogne felt she had done all to take the world record as the first woman to run a marathon every single day of the year. Weary but seemingly far...
Small businesses brace themselves for potentially disruptive TikTok ban
A looming TikTok ban could affect the millions of small businesses that use the short-video social media app to help them grow their business. Desiree Hill, owner of Crown’s Corner Mechanic in Conyers, Georgia, started her business solo as a mobile mechanic. Sharing videos of her work on TikTok helped...
Ice maze returns for Highmark First Night Pittsburgh
When Richard Bubin was a child, he would draw pictures of animals in crayon on the walls of his family’s home. The tool and canvas he uses have changed, but he is still creating. On Monday, he guided a chain saw through blocks of ice to carve Pennsylvania-themed items such...
Your guide to Pittsburgh’s First Night 2025 celebration
Pittsburgh is set to host its 31st New Year’s Eve party Tuesday. As the calendar turns to 2025, the city will ring in the new year at Highmark First Night Pittsburgh, a six-hour, arts-focused community celebration that offers free and ticketed events. A production of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, festivities...
Will New Year’s Eve be loud or quiet? What are the top 2025 resolutions? AP-NORC poll has answers
NEW YORK — If you’re planning on ringing in the new year quietly at home, you’re not alone. A majority of U.S adults intend to celebrate New Year’s Eve at home, according to a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. “As I’ve gotten older over...
Redbeard’s Bar & Grill on Mt. Washington to transform into new spot
The shuttered Redbeard’s Bar & Grill on Mt. Washington will open as a new dining spot next year. Shiloh Plate & Pour will replace Redbeard’s in April 2025, according to a social media post. “The new establishment promises an exciting transformation of this iconic space into a must-visit destination for...
Building blocks: Lego inspires creativity in children and adults
Owen Napierkowski, 7, makes building a Lego set look simple — even a 3,955-piece “Home Alone” house. He has been building Lego sets most of his life. His parents, Lynda and Dan Napierkowski of New Kensington, took him to the Carnegie Science Center on Pittsburgh’s North Shore when they had...
Grandview Heights townhomes under construction on Pittsburgh’s Mt. Washington
Some new homes on Grandview Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Mt. Washington neighborhood will have a grand view. Grandview Heights, a development of luxury townhouses, is currently under construction. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a brand-new home on Grandview Avenue,” said Lorrie Crummie, sales manager for Laurel Communities, which owns the...
10 Western Pa. ways to ring in 2025
Are you ready for 2025? This year flew by and somehow, Dec. 31 is upon us again. If you don’t want to stay home and First Night in Downtown Pittsburgh doesn’t seem appealing, there are lots of other events to attend. Here’s a sampling from around the region. City Works...
Local business owner joins prestigious Spark 10 for women in manufacturing
A local Black business owner is getting a place on the national stage. Nisha Blackwell, CEO, designer and founder of Knotzland, was nominated by a long-time customer to be part of Recast City’s inaugural Spark 10, which focuses on women in manufacturing — specifically, small business owners with brick-and-mortar retail...
Here are some stress-free dishes to make for your holiday gathering
The gifts are half-wrapped (or half-bought!), one string of lights on the tree is out and the stockings have not yet been hung by the chimney with care. And somewhere on the ever-growing to-do list is the dish you promised to bring to Christmas dinner. With just a few days...
From teen CEO to entrepreneur: Lani Lazzari grows Simple Sugars into skincare powerhouse
Entrepreneur Lani Lazzari continues to stir things up in the skincare world. She was just 11 when she began experimenting with sugar and other all-natural ingredients in an attempt to cure her eczema and other related skin issues in the basement of her parents’ Fox Chapel home. Her mother, Gina...
It’s eggnog season. The boozy beverage dates back to medieval England but remains a holiday hit
SAN FRANCISCO — At Scoma’s Restaurant in San Francisco, this holiday season ‘s batch of eggnog began 11 months ago. The process typically starts in late January, just after the previous year’s celebrations are over. Nearly a thousand egg yolks, gallons upon gallons of heavy cream and roughly $1,000 worth...
NORAD’s Santa tracker was a Cold War morale boost. Now it attracts millions of kids
The Christmas tradition has become nearly global in scope: Children from around the world track Santa Claus as he sweeps across the earth, delivering presents and defying time. Each year, at least 100,000 kids call into the North American Aerospace Defense Command to inquire about Santa’s location. Millions more follow...
Still shopping? Here are some last-minute local gift ideas
If you haven’t wrapped up gift buying for the holidays yet, you aren’t alone. Forbes reports that 31% of Gen Z, 36% of millennials, 42% of Gen X and 42% of baby boomers who answered a survey about their holiday shopping habits said they still planned to buy gifts in...
Community rallies to save toy drive in Pittsburgh’s Hill District
The multi-purpose room at the Thelma Lovette YMCA in Pittsburgh’s Hill District neighborhood resembled Santa’s workshop on Wednesday. Elves — volunteers, actually — helped adults choose toys for their little ones. There were piles of games and books, Barbies and baby dolls and trucks, ready to be wrapped for Christmas...
Strip District restaurants to close: Cioppino and Osteria 2350
New Year’s Eve will be the last night for upscale Cioppino Restaurant & Cigar Bar as well as its less formal sister restaurant, Osteria 2350, in the Strip District. “Unfortunately, the pressures of running a fine-dining business have become increasingly untenable,” the owners said in a social media post. Cioppino...
Millions of Stanley mugs recalled
Could your Stanley travel mug be dangerous? About 2.6 million of Stanley’s switchback and trigger action stainless steel travel mugs sold in the U.S. have been recalled due to a burn hazard, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The mugs’ lid threads can shrink when exposed to heat and...
