Lifestyles category, Page 205
Think spring with a trip to the Philadelphia Flower Show
In late winter, a gardener’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of … the Philadelphia Flower Show. Billed as the “oldest and largest indoor flower show in the world,” the annual harbinger of spring is scheduled for March 2-10 in the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. Drawing more than 250,000 visitors...
Grandparents try to guilt family into visiting … without their new dog
Hello, Carolyn: My kids have been asking for a dog for several years and we finally got a family puppy. We love this dog more than we ever expected! Unfortunately, we live about 600 miles from my parents who want nothing to do with dogs. They do, however, want to...
‘Barefoot Contessa’ to dish on food, TV, love at Heinz Hall showVideo
Only a celebrity chef the caliber of Ina Garten could pack Pittsburgh’s Heinz Hall for an evening devoted to cooking — without the promise of whipping up one of her delicious dishes for sampling. There’ll be no food demo, but plenty of culinary conversation from the Food Network’s “Barefoot Contessa”...
Latrobe among 50 small towns Travel Channel dubs ‘most charming’
It likely comes as no surprise to those who claim bragging rights to Latrobe as their hometown, adopted or otherwise. Travel Channel includes the Westmoreland County town as among “50 of the Most Charming Small Towns in America.” The city gave birth to Fred Rogers, the banana split and Rolling...
Bayer grant helps shelter residents keep beloved pets
Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh is among 13 national shelters receiving a $10,000 donation from Bayer U.S. through its new program, Grants Fur Families. The funds are intended to help support shelters providing safe harbor for women and children fleeing physical, mental and emotional abuse with their pets,...
Project Prom offers free dresses, accessories to Allegheny County teens
The Allegheny County Department of Human Services and partner National Council of Jewish Women will kick off the annual Project Prom from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. March 9 at the council’s Thriftique shop, 125 51st St. in Lawrenceville. The giveaway of prom attire for eligible high school students will continue from...
OpenTable reveals Pittsburgh area’s top-rated restaurants
OpenTable announced their highest-rated restaurants in the Pittsburgh region for the month. These are the eateries that fall under their Diner’s Choice category and are scored by diners who use the OpenTable reservation system. “Eating somewhere new can feel like a risk, but these places have been vetted by our...
Pa. Farm Show wine winners are best of the best
Growing European grape varieties in Pennsylvania has always been a big challenge. Beginning with pioneering efforts in the late 1960s, Pennsylvania wine producers endured years of frustrating trials in the face of frigid subzero winters, late spring frosts and damp summers to ripen varieties such as sauvignon blanc, grüner veltliner...
Sister flakes out of biannual retreats
Adapted from a recent online discussion. Dear Carolyn: Three sisters, all in mid-40s, all live within hours of each other and are generally very close. I, as the oldest, like to plan twice-a-year “sisters retreats” where we all travel somewhere fun. Lately, the middle sister is “not feeling” these outings....
Hempfield couple takes the cake on ‘Bake It Like Buddy’
A Hempfield couple dove into a baking contest on national TV — and walked away with the top prize. Gabrielle “Gigi” and Randy Thomas won Discovery Family Channel’s “Bake It Like Buddy” on Saturday. They competed against another married couple from Chester, Pa. The show is judged by television’s Cake...
France’s fencing federation officially recognizes lightsaber dueling as sport
BEAUMONT-SUR-OISE, France — Master Yoda, dust off his French, he must. It’s now easier than ever in France to act out “Star Wars” fantasies, because its fencing federation has borrowed from a galaxy far, far away and officially recognized lightsaber dueling as a competitive sport, granting the iconic weapon from...
Cheers to National Drink Wine Day
It may be just another dreary Monday, but there’s a little something special about today. It’s National Drink Wine Day. Sure, it’s just another made-up pseudo holiday … but hey, there’s wine. Don’t worry, even though it’s President’s Day, Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores that are normally open on...
Welcome-home illnesses an unexpected ‘bonus’ of traveling
You’ve returned from vacation, and that post glow is fading fast. Your nose is dripping, you’re sneezing and your throat is sore. Or your stomach is upset. Really upset. Why is this your reward for travel, and how can you prevent it? And what if your symptoms don’t go away?...
Don’t wait to start your winter-recovery checklist
Though spring is still more than a month away, there are important tasks you can do around the house this month to prepare your home for the coming season. “It’s vital to start on your winter-recovery checklist as soon as you start to feel the first shy breezes of spring...
Out & About: Action for Animals celebrates canine ‘newlyweds’
What better way to assure that Love Is in the Air than to have a wedding? The 12th annual event hosted Feb. 16 by Action for Animals Humane Society had a wedding reception theme, and the happy couple were Ruby and Flash, two new residents at the Derry Township shelter....
Out & About: Humane Society supporters ‘Have a Heart’ for pasta
Always a popular event, the annual Have a Heart Buffet hosted by the Humane Society of Westmoreland County drew its largest crowd ever in 2019. A crowd of 350 flocked to Ferrante’s Lakeview in Hempfield on Feb. 10 to dig in to the Pasta Palooza buffet, take their chances on...
Out & About: Animal Friends host ‘senior night’ cash bash
You know your fundraising event is a success when there’s a long line of people waiting to get in. Such was the case Feb. 16 as the crowd queued up at Ferrante’s Lakeview in Hempfield for the winter cash bash hosted by Youngwood-based Animal Friends of Westmoreland. It was “senior...
Out & About: ‘The Art of Love’ decks Greensburg venue walls
Around Valentine’s Day, (almost) everyone is interested in “The Art of Love.” For the second year, artist Moira Richardson has brought the concept to life by curating a group exhibition with the same name in the Greensburg Garden and Civic Center. A reception for the 2019 version was held Feb....
Husband refuses to go on any kids-free dates with wife
Adapted from a recent online discussion. Dear Carolyn: My husband does not want to spend alone time with me, leaving me feeling frustrated. We have two very young kids and both work high-pressure, full-time jobs. We both are desperate for more time with our kids and try to maximize any...
Customers flocked to opening of Allegheny Township chicken jointVideo
There’s a new chicken joint in Allegheny Township. Big Shot Bob’s House of Wings opened last Monday, Feb. 11 in Kiski Park Plaza. Customers were lined out the door, according to co-owner Kara Jo Brank. Brank and her husband, Frank, left the corporate world for the culinary scene. After downsizing...
‘Golden Girls’ themed cruise to launch in 2020
Gather your pals and confidants, a “Golden Girls” cruise is sailing in 2020. Seems Flip Phone Events is throwing a party and inviting everyone they know — and it’s a “Golden Girls” fan’s dream. The five-night Western Caribbean cruise — aboard the Celebrity Infinity — will set sail from —...
Wife discovers husband’s long-term infidelity, inflicts pain on entire family
Dear Carolyn: Cast: Wife of 33 years and mother of three; all of whom are college-educated and in careers. Husband, worked out-of-town during the week for the majority of the years. Scene: Wife, who is not a suspicious woman — too busy rearing children alone — has a “feeling” and...
Students, artists craft bowls for regional Empty Bowls fundraisersVideo
On a recent rainy, chilly morning, Hempfield Area High School art students fashion ceramic bowls to fill with warming soup to benefit the area’s hungry. Students in instructors Ed Lasko and Hillary Haponski’s art classes are once again preparing vessels for an upcoming Empty Bowls event. Held annually by food...
Otter-spotters invited to Cook Forest State Park activity
If you’re looking for a different kind of outdoor winter adventure, you’ll find one on Feb. 23 at Cook Forest State Park. An Otter Watch driving tour is set for 7:30-11:30 a.m. that day along the banks of the Clarion River in the 8,500-acre park spanning Clarion, Forest and Jefferson...
For more streamlined chicken enchiladas, use a slow cooker
Chicken enchiladas offer a rich and complex combination of flavors and textures, but traditional cooking methods can be tedious. We wanted a more streamlined recipe for chicken enchiladas—one that utilized our slow cooker to make the filling and that enabled the enchiladas to be quickly assembled and finished in the...
