Lifestyles category, Page 33
From the Newsroom: Ponderosa’s last frontier in Pennsylvania
This week’s episode features reporter Joyce Hanz joining Zac Gibson to dive into the nostalgia and loyalty surrounding the last Ponderosa Steakhouse in Pennsylvania. Butler County has one of the last of 16 Ponderosa restaurants left in the country. It’s located in Center Township. Visitors travel from New York, Virginia,...
Pikes Peak getting ‘trashed’ by overuse, blatant disregard for environment
The lyrics to “America the Beautiful” were inspired by a trek to the summit of Pikes Peak via prairie wagon in 1893. But when Katharine Lee Bates penned a poem called “Pikes Peak,” which became an American anthem after it was set to music in 1910, she could scarcely have...
Where is the last Ponderosa Steakhouse in Pennsylvania?
Employees of Pennsylvania’s last Ponderosa Steakhouse along Route 8 in Butler County are used to customers taking parking lot selfies and making a big fuss over the staying power of this Ponderosa. Server Denise Morin, 58, has worked at the Ponderosa in Center Township for 40 years. It opened in...
Western Pennsylvania restaurant workers dish on dining etiquette
Workers in the food service industry have their plates full navigating menus, taking orders, making drinks, cleaning tables and running food orders — all while keeping customers happy. The restaurant industry generates more than $28 billion in tips annually, according to a 2023 report from Gitnux, which specializes in consumer...
Yinzerfest: A Pittsburgh Q&A with some of the festival’s performers
Yinz ready to celebrate Pittsburgh n’at? The David L. Lawrence Convention Center will be bleeding black and gold with the first Yinzerfest, kicking off Thursday and running through Sunday. The event will feature an impressive slate of local bands, musicians and comedians, plenty of Pittsburgh eats, vendors from the area...
More than just a bowl of noodles, ramen in Japan is an experience and a tourist attraction
TOKYO — Spicy, steaming, slurpy ramen might be everyone’s favorite Japanese food. In Tokyo, long lines circle around blocks, and waiting an hour for your ramen is normal. What awaits might be just a dive, but a hot bowl of ramen rarely fails to hit the spot. Often cooked right...
Kennywood admission cost is similar to other amusement parks, but there are ways to save
In the wake of the announcement that the Steel Curtain would be closed for the 2024 season, Kennywood enthusiasts took to social media to poke the amusement park for its $75 entrance fee. The reasoning, in part, went something like, “You’re charging $75 to get in, and one of the...
Bellevue’s Lincoln Avenue ranks in USA Today’s top 10 most charming
USA Today recognized Bellevue’s Lincoln Avenue as one of the nation’s most charming main streets. “With shady, tree-lined sidewalks, colorful storefronts and friendly restaurants, Lincoln Avenue … is a main street that oozes charm,” the USA Today article says. It ranks Bellevue’s main street at No. 6 on the list....
Get better sleep with these 5 tips from experts
Spending too many nights trying to fall asleep — or worrying there aren’t enough ZZZs in your day? You’re not alone. Nearly one-third of American adults say they don’t get the recommended seven to nine hours a night. Some of the major causes: Stress, anxiety and a culture that experts...
Skincare company holds deep roots for Washington County family
Philip and Vania Gbee founded Nabakindo Skincare in 2020 as a tribute to their cultural heritage, family and commitment to their community. Their commitment to simplicity is certainly important for their daughter Amirah, 8, who has eczema and inspired their first product, Sweet Dreams, a body moisturizer designed to alleviate...
Coffee roastery in Finland launches AI-generated blend
HELSINKI — An artisan roastery based in the Finnish capital has introduced a coffee blend that has been developed by artificial intelligence in a trial in which it’s hoped that technology can ease the workload in a sector that traditionally prides itself on manual work. It is only apt that...
The Kitchen by Vangura will bring back memories of the Primadonna restaurant
Many people who dined at the former Primadonna restaurant in McKees Rocks can recall walking in the door and immediately being greeted by the owner. Joe “Joe Joe” Costanzo Jr. would approach with arms wide open and a hearty laugh. Minutes later, guests were seated and out came a heaping...
Explainer: 4/20 grew from humble roots to marijuana’s high holiday
SEATTLE — Saturday marks marijuana culture’s high holiday, 4/20, when college students gather — at 4:20 p.m. — in clouds of smoke on campus quads and pot shops in legal-weed states thank their customers with discounts. This year’s edition provides an occasion for activists to reflect on how far their...
Would you like a cicada salad? The monstrous little noisemakers descend on a New Orleans menu
NEW ORLEANS — As the nation prepares for trillions of red-eyed bugs known as periodical cicadas to emerge, it’s worth noting that they’re not just annoying, noisy pests — if prepared properly, they can also be tasty to eat. Blocks away from such French Quarter fine-dining stalwarts as Antoine’s and...
Celebrate the ‘stinky rose’ for National Garlic Day on April 19
It stinks so good. There are few culinary scents as unmistakable as garlic. In its raw form, it can have enough bite to rival low-level chili peppers. Roasted, it spreads smooth as butter on a thin slice of toasted baguette. You can even make dessert with it if you have...
Monongahela Whiskey Exchange brings diversity to local wine and spirits scene
Aaron Kendeall, a whiskey distiller and owner of Monongahela Whiskey Exchange (MWX), found himself drawn into the world of spirits just as he reached the legal drinking age. While studying Japanese in college and exploring Japan, he became captivated by the art of distillation and blending. Kendeall’s background in marketing...
Kennywood closes Steel Curtain for entire season
Kennywood’s Steel Curtain roller coaster has been sacked for the season. According to an Instagram post Wednesday, Kennywood said the Steel Curtain — which opened in 2019 — will be closed for the 2024 season. The iconic Western Pennsylvania amusement park opens on Saturday. The flagship Steelers-themed attraction is undergoing...
Heinz launches new limited Barbiecue sauce
Heinz and Barbie lovers in Europe are in luck: a limited edition pink vegan mayo with BBQ sauce was launched to celebrate Barbie’s 65th anniversary. Mattel and Heinz have unveiled the new Heinz Classic Barbiecue Sauce. It will be available in the U.K. and Spain initially, and it may be...
Your morning coffee may be hundreds of thousands of years old
That coffee you slurped this morning? It’s 600,000 years old. Using genes from coffee plants around the world, researchers built a family tree for the world’s most popular type of coffee, known to scientists as Coffea arabica and to coffee lovers simply as “arabica.” The researchers, hoping to learn more...
What does science say about the ingredients in functional beverages?
Functional beverages — or drinks promoted as offering mental or physical benefits beyond hydration — are growing in popularity around the world. Hundreds of companies have jumped into the market, hoping to get some buzz with trendy and sometimes unfamiliar ingredients. Here are some of the latest ones found in...
With ‘functional’ beverages, brands rush to quench a thirst for drinks that do more than taste goodVideo
Supermarket beverage aisles are starting to look a lot more like a pharmacy. There are sodas made with mushrooms that supposedly improve mental clarity and juices packed with bacteria that claim to enhance digestive health. Water infused with collagen carries the promise of better skin, and energy drinks offer to...
Iconic Pittsburgh restaurant dishes taste great in yinzer kitchens
Some recipes are synonymous with a particular place. Chicago is hot dogs and deep dish pizza. Can you even think about cheesecake and bagels without New York coming to mind? Philadelphia is more than just cheesesteak — think soft pretzels, scrapple and water ice. And then there’s Pittsburgh. Our food...
Roast the coach: Steelers’ Bill Cowher was the man of the hour at the Mel Blount Youth Home All-Star Celebrity Roast
On Pittsburgh 412 Day, a true yinzer was honored. Crafton’s own Bill Cowher was in the spotlight at the annual Mel Blount Youth Home All-Star Celebrity Roast on Friday at the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh, Downtown. The day pays homage to Pittsburgh’s area code, 412, on April 12. “Pittsburgh 412 Day...
The Northern Lights are expected to be spectacular. Here’s where to get a good view.
Still trying to decide where to vacation this year? A destination to view Northern Lights might be optimal for 2024 — as it’s the best time to see them in decades. The Northern Lights, known as aurora borealis, will be especially strong through 2025, according to Erica Grow Cei, a...
Breaking from routine with a mini sabbatical or ‘adult gap year’ can be rejuvenating
If you daydream about getting a break from stress, you might picture a restful week of vacation or a long weekend away. But some people opt for something bigger, finding ways to take longer or more varied time away from the routine. Mini sabbaticals. Adult gap years. Or just gap...
