Lifestyles category, Page 3
Exploring barefoot trails on 2 continents as a way to connect with nature this Earth Day
GUTACH, Germany — At the edge of a trail in Germany’s picturesque Black Forest region, waterlogged steps sink into ankle-deep water and mud, requiring careful footing. An ocean away, a sandy trail in the ponderosa forests of northern Arizona demands treading just as deliberately when walkers reach a line of...
Researchers have spent decades breeding better potatoes for chips, and their work isn’t done
EAST LANSING, Mich. — There’s a surprising amount of science in a bag of potato chips. Researchers have spent decades developing potatoes for chip makers that can grow in all kinds of climates, avoid diseases and pests, sit in storage for months and still deliver a satisfying crunch. They’ve also...
New seafood restaurant coming to Pittsburgh’s Cultural District
A new coastal seafood restaurant is coming to Downtown Pittsburgh. Meredith Boyle and Fernando Navas, owners of the Argentine eatery Balvanera in the Strip District, will open another concept, Casa Anchoa. Set to launch this fall, the restaurant will take over the space formerly occupied by Nine on Nine at...
Consumers are lost at sea as seafood sustainability grows more complex
BOSTON — Don’t overfish. Don’t trawl the seabed. Keep aquaculture healthy for the fish as well as the ocean. Some aspects of sustainable seafood are obvious and well-trod, even if the how-to intricacies likely are lost on most consumers. But sustainability today is complicated terrain, as much about business as...
The Onion launches new bid to take over Alex Jones’ Infowars and turn it into a parody platform
The satirical news outlet The Onion is back with a new plan to take over the Infowars platforms of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones as his company faces liquidation over more than $1 billion in defamation judgments owed to relatives of victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Under a...
What to know about psychedelic retreats, a booming business with few safety guardrails
WASHINGTON — Surging interest in the purported benefits of psychedelic drugs has given rise to books, documentaries and conferences dedicated to the mind-altering substances. Now add one more business to the list: psychedelic retreats. Hundreds of outfits across the world are offering multiday trips where attendees pay for drug-assisted experiences...
Where to eat on the South Side during the 2026 NFL Draft
Tourists visiting Pittsburgh for the 2026 NFL Draft, and seeking to avoid the North Shore crowds by staying in Pittsburgh’s historic South Side, have plenty of walkable dining options in the neighborhood. East Carson Street — known as one of the nation’s longest Victorian-era main streets — is lined with...
Primanti’s for beginners: Do’s, don’ts, tips and tricks for eating Pittsburgh’s legendary sandwichVideo
The region’s restaurants have been busy preparing for a massive influx of guests. Frequently topping visitors’ “must-try” lists is Primanti Bros., maker of the so-called “Pittsburgh sandwich” that has become synonymous with the city itself. As locals well know, the iconic sandwich, served on thick-cut Italian bread, features grilled meat,...
To make hosting less stressful, strive for connection and not perfection
Inviting friends and family members over for a celebration, holiday or routine dinner provides an opportunity for connection, but pressure to serve good-tasting food in a clean and welcoming environment can deter many people from hosting or prevent them from being fully present with their guests when they do. But...
Life jacket worn by a passenger who survived the Titanic auctioned off for over $900,000
LONDON — A life jacket worn by a passenger on RMS Titanic as she escaped the sinking steamship on a lifeboat sold at auction on Saturday for 670,00 pounds ($906,000). The flotation device was worn by Laura Mabel Francatelli, a first-class passenger on the doomed ocean liner, and is signed...
Trump’s dyslexia barbs stir anguish and anger, perpetuating a myth about the learning disability
WASHINGTON — Lauryn Muller was scrolling on social media when she saw a clip of President Donald Trump belittling California Gov. Gavin Newsom for having dyslexia. It stirred a well of emotion for the 18-year-old Muller, bringing back memories of her own struggles learning to read and the times she...
Harry Potter-themed Airbnb brings the magic in New KensingtonVideo
Calling all muggles. Harry Potter fans — and those just looking for whimsical digs — can book a stay in a two-story Harry Potter-themed Airbnb rental created by uber-fan Kim Waits and her boyfriend, AJ Rassau, both of New Kensington. It’s the latest creative Airbnb endeavour for the couple, who...
Here are some places to dine in the North Hills during NFL Draft
North of Pittsburgh lies an array of restaurants for NFL Draft visitors seeking a break from the crowds. The North Hills suburbs include Ross, Shaler, McCandless, Pine and Hampton. Within these areas are a wide variety of cuisines, from Thai joints to Italian establishments. Here is a selection: Barrel Junction...
Could more cattle cause record beef prices to drop? Ranchers say it’s not that simpleVideo
MANDAN, N.D. — It’s never been so expensive for Americans to buy a steak or hamburger, but cutting those costs requires ranchers like Stephanie Hatzenbuhler to raise more cattle — and that’s not an easy ask. For a host of reasons, Hatzenbuhler and other ranchers across the country are reluctant...
Gatorade, inventor of the sports drink, is getting a rebrand targeting non-athletes
Sixty years after it invented sports drinks, Gatorade is making a surprising pivot: It’s no longer focusing primarily on athletes. PepsiCo, Gatorade’s parent company, said Thursday that the brand wants to broaden its reach to non-athletes who are looking for ways to hydrate, whether they’re on a long flight, going...
F&F Pizzeria in Mt. Lebanon introduces spring spritz menu featuring olive oil cocktail
When F&F Pizzeria opened in Mt. Lebanon six months ago, its famed slices and Italian fare made a splash with their fresh ingredients and artisanal style. The Brooklyn-based pizzeria boasts a 72-hour fermented sourdough crust, and even has its own brand of olive oil produced and cold-pressed in Sicily. The...
How the rich shrink their tax burden
With the IRS expecting 164 million individual income tax returns this year, there’s a common conception that rich people pay less tax in the U.S. than what many would consider fair. It’s a sentiment that shows up in polling on Americans’ attitudes about the federal tax system and animates a...
Asian surnames have been the fastest-growing in the U.S., according to Census Bureau report
ORLANDO, Fla. — The most popular last names in the U.S might be unchanged from the previous decade, but Asian surnames were the fastest-growing at the start of this decade, the U.S. Census Bureau said Tuesday. “Smith,” “Johnson,” “Williams,” “Brown,” and Jones,” remained the top five last names in the...
Non-plastic garden gear can help reduce microplastics in the soil
It’s seed-starting and planting season, and that means it’s likely buying season. This year, consider not only the gardening gear and plants you bring home, but also whether they’re made of, contained in or wrapped in plastic. Those plastic products eventually break down into minuscule particles called microplastics, which can...
Iron City Distilling prepares for 3rd whiskey release, book signing
Iron City Distilling is hosting two releases today, combining the launch of its third Bessemer Rye Single Barrel release with a book signing by Master Distiller Matt Strickland. The third single barrel release is available in the East Deer distillery’s gift shop. No bottles will be sold online. “Crafted entirely...
Hot Wheels customization goes from hobby to full-time job for military vet
As an artistic child growing up in Rector, Donald Wyckoff loved building models and collecting cars, a hobby he shared with his grandfather. But over the course of 10 years that Wyckoff spent in the Navy as a military police officer stationed at various stops across the country and around...
Western Pennsylvania CSAs bring produce to your table
Eating in spring summer is all about fresh and flavorful produce, from juicy tomatoes and vitamin-rich greens to sweet and tangy berries. Salads, skewers, sorbets and sangrias will cover picnic tables, and farmers markets make mouths water. For those looking for the freshest produce that the season has to offer,...
Pastry chef Casey Renee opens bakery cafe in Regent Square
Chef Casey Renee is known for her high-end pastries, elaborate cakes, and whimsical, creative touches — but still loves her classic chocolate chip cookies. “I don’t know what it is about chocolate chip cookies,” she said. “Maybe it’s you loved eating the batter when you were a kid. (But) I...
Bible stories would be part of a new Texas public schools reading list drawing attention
Biblical stories like Jonah and the whale would be required reading for Texas public schools students under proposals that are putting the state at the center of another contentious wrangling over the role of religion in classrooms. Religious leaders, teachers, parents and students spent hours Tuesday before the state education...
Once part of Drive-In Capital of the World, this rural complex fights for survival
“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” blared across the massive screen at Riverside Drive-In on April 2 to mark opening night of the 2026 season at the Parks Township theater. But owners were quick to say, without recent community support, the screen would have remained dark. A GoFundMe organized by employee...
