Lifestyles category, Page 31
Optimism is just what the doctor ordered. But what if I’m already too negative?
Prince Bhojwani never thought of himself as a negative person, until three trips to the hospital in one month forced him to reconsider. Before May 2018, he was a healthy but chronically worried start-up founder who regularly did 20-mile (32-kilometer) bike rides. When he suddenly became barely able to walk,...
‘Home Alone’ house being sold, but swinging paint cans aren’t included
WINNETKA, Ill. — The home of Kevin McCallister’s hijinks is changing hands. And if the new owner wants to watch “Home Alone,” there’s a movie theater inside, one of many upgrades since the suburban Chicago property was renovated and expanded in 2018. Sale of the Winnetka house, portrayed in the...
Want to live in a former funeral home in McKeesport? You can
When Marlene Fait-Schmalz bought her childhood home in 2011, she reclaimed a piece of McKeesport history. The unique Victorian-style residence, once the Richard L. Fait Funeral Home, boasts a parlor, chapel and grand entrance on the main level, while the upper floors offer cozy living spaces. Now on the market...
Wallaby joey recently born at Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium
The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium in Highland Park has a new resident — a wallaby joey, born to mom Ava. A wallaby is a marsupial, a pouched mammal in the kangaroo family. When they are young, they are called joeys. The animal is spending a lot of time in the...
Climate solution: Massachusetts town experiments with community heating and cooling
Jennifer and Eric Mauchan live in a Cape Cod-style house in Framingham, Massachusetts that they’ve been cooling with five air conditioners. In the summer, the electric bill for the 2,600-square-foot home can be $200. In the winter, heating with natural gas is often more than $300 a month, even with...
Muhammad Ali’s childhood home is for sale in Kentucky after being converted into museum
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The pink house where Muhammad Ali grew up dreaming of boxing fame — and where hundreds of fans gathered for an emotional send-off as his funeral procession passed by decades later — is up for sale. The two-bedroom, one-bathroom house in Louisville was converted into a museum...
Service dogs helped ease PTSD symptoms in U.S. military veterans, researchers say
Specially trained service dogs helped ease PTSD symptoms in U.S. military veterans in a small study that the researchers hope will help expand options for service members. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides talk therapy and medications to veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and runs a pilot program involving...
Mourners can now speak to an AI version of the dead. Will it help with grief?
BERLIN — When Michael Bommer found out that he was terminally ill with colon cancer, he spent a lot of time with his wife, Anett, talking about what would happen after his death. She told him one of the things she’d miss most is being able to ask him questions...
Tips for a tidy native-plant garden
For decades, native plants were relegated to the “weed” section of many American gardeners’ minds. Most nurseries didn’t stock them. But that’s slowly changing. Native plants provide food and shelter for bees, butterflies, birds and other beneficial critters. They effortlessly grow healthier and stronger than exotic species, seldom need fertilizers...
Plan a budget-friendly picnic date in the great outdoors of Western Pennsylvania
Nothing screams summer like a scenic alfresco picnic. Take your sweetie on a “datecation” outdoors for a fresh-air experience that doesn’t break the bank. Outdoor-inspired destinations abound in Western Pennsylvania, and those seeking an adventurous date are sure to find the perfect picnic spot. So pack a picnic, pile into...
Three Rivers Arts Festival gets 2nd day of sunny skies
The Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival entered its second day under sunny skies in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District Saturday. The 10-day festival began Friday and runs through June 9. The festival features performances on multiple stages, gallery exhibitions, public art installations, activities for all ages and an Artist Market open...
Activist Richard Parsakian named Pittsburgh Pride Parade grand marshal
For Richard Parsakian, a queer activist and artist in Pittsburgh, Pride is a celebration. “I feel like it’s an expression for us to acknowledge that we are still here — we are part of everybody’s life,” he said. He’s been marching in the Pride parade for more than 25 years....
Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival kicks off
Artists from across the region — and nation — will converge starting Friday on the 14-block Cultural District as the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival kicks off, ushering in 10 days of free art and music. The festival, now in its third consecutive year of festivities relocated from around...
Pittsburgh is hosting Chesney, Pride and Arts Fest on Saturday. Here’s how to navigate them
Call it the trifecta, the triple whammy or, like Pittsburgh parking magnate Merrill Stabile, the perfect storm. However it’s described, Saturday is shaping up to be epic for Pittsburgh, as the city hosts three major events Downtown and on the North Shore that are expected to draw hundreds of thousands...
Here’s where you can celebrate Pride in Western Pennsylvania this June
LGBTQ Pride Month is almost here, and with it, numerous events and festivals are coming to Pittsburgh and the surrounding area. The yearly, monthlong celebration in June honors the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, which was a tipping point in the Gay Liberation Movement, according to the Library of Congress....
On patrol: Mounted police officers create a presence
Their steps are choreographed, part of the job training the horses and their riders go through. The majestic animals are stationed in stables across the city, county and state. They perform details throughout the year, but spring is when you begin seeing them more often. Typically January through March there...
Mounted police units offer tradition, spectacle and service in modern law enforcement
On Monday, the Allegheny County Mounted Police Unit will add a touch of tradition and spectacle to the South Hills Memorial Day Parade. While officers on horseback are a rarer sight than those in cars or on motorcycles, “They definitely create a presence,” said Sgt. Jason Donaldson of the Allegheny...
Sam Butcher, artist who created Precious Moments figurines of teardrop-eyed children, dies at 85
CARTHAGE, Mo. — Sam Butcher, the artist who created the Precious Moments figurines depicting angelic teardrop-eyed children, has died. He was 85. The company said in a Facebook post that he died early Monday surrounded by family. It said his life’s mission was “to share God’s gift of love with...
Remember last year’s Memorial Day travel jams? Chances are they will be much worse this year
You didn’t think summer travel would be easy, did you? Highways and airports are likely to be jammed the next few days as Americans head out for Memorial Day weekend getaways and then return home. AAA predicts this will be the busiest start-of-summer weekend in nearly 20 years, with 43.8...
Steelers, UPMC Magee hold SteelHERS Social at Acrisure Stadium
Mary Beth Shaw ran a route, caught a pass from Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Rodney Williams and gave wide receiver Calvin Austin III a little shove to reach the end zone for the touchdown. Shaw was one of 1,000 women on the Acrisure Stadium field Wednesday evening. It was the...
For some digital detox, look to the latest in craft kits
Digital diversions may have us tethered to tech, but screen fatigue is real. Even my digitally native, young-millennial kids prefer printed books these days. And a recent weekend together at home had us busting out some craft kits. There might have been Netflix in the background, but everybody’s hands were...
Shake Shack opens Pittsburgh location, 2 more in the works
Emily Spooner turned 24 Monday. To celebrate her birthday, she headed to Shake Shack’s official opening day in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. The New York-based popular chain is known for its burgers, crinkle-cut fries and desserts including custards and milkshakes. Pittsburgh’s new location will also serve beer and wine. Originally from...
Sour Patch Kids Oreos? Peeps Pepsi? What’s behind the weird flavors popping up on store shelves
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream usually draws customers with gourmet takes on classics like vanilla and pistachio. But occasionally, the artisanal ice cream maker headquartered in New York slips in what it calls a “shock flavor,” like Hidden Valley Ranch or pizza. Surprising flavor combinations—think gravy-flavored Jones Soda or Sour Patch...
Prom is still a fun and glamorous rite of passage in 2024
Now that prom season is in full swing, some clear trends in fashion, music and overall prom experiences are emerging. Here’s the scoop on how kids today are having fun at the big dance. The fashion Finding the perfect gown is an essential part of the prom process for young...
Alyssa Lyon champions environmental justice through community activism, education
Alyssa Lyon wants people to stay connected to the environment, each other and themselves. Growing up in the Bronx, Lyon considers herself a “stoop kid” — afternoons after school were often spent playing on the block, with the sounds of laughter and running children behind her. Now the director of...
