Lifestyles category, Page 39
3 Pittsburgh chefs named semifinalists for James Beard Foundation Awards
Three Pittsburgh chefs from two restaurants were named semifinalists in the James Beard Foundation’s 2024 Restaurant and Chef Awards. Kate Lasky, Tomasz Skowronski and Bootsaba Tongdee got nods in the best chef category for the Mid-Atlantic region, which includes Washington, D.C., Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Lasky and...
In-N-Out to close Oakland, California, restaurant due to wave of car break-ins, armed robberies
OAKLAND, Calif. — In-N-Out Burger will close its only restaurant in Oakland, Calif., because of a wave of car break-ins, property damage, theft and armed robberies targeting customers and employees alike, the company announced. The fast-food burger joint in a busy corridor near Oakland International Airport will close on March...
U.S. scientist brews up storm by offering Britain advice on tea
LONDON — An American scientist has sparked a trans-Atlantic tempest in a teapot by offering Britain advice on its favorite hot beverage. Bryn Mawr College chemistry professor Michelle Francl says one of the keys to a perfect cup of tea is a pinch of salt. The tip is included in...
What to know about changes to this year’s FAFSA application for college students
NEW YORK — A new version of the federal student aid application known as the FAFSA is now available to all college applicants for the 2024-2025 school year. The new Free Application for Federal Student Aid was designed to make it easier for students and parents to apply and to...
How to book a unique all-inclusive vacation that’s not terrible
All-inclusive vacations can conjure images of food under heat lamps, too many poolside piña coladas, and being trapped on resort grounds. But sun-soaked packages are not the only type of all-inclusives. Sure, sprawling mega-resorts exist — and their numbers are growing. All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy has spent the last couple...
Jennifer Lopez shimmies, and Elie Saab shimmers, at the Paris spring couture shows
PARIS — As the Paris spring couture shows entered their third day, Jennifer Lopez ensured that the power of runway designs were matched by the power of a VIP audience. The singer and actress energized the Palais de Tokyo, arriving at the last minute for Elie Saab’s show amid pandemonium....
National Aviary announces death of macaw featured on ‘Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood’
The National Aviary in Pittsburgh on Tuesday announced the death of its “beloved and well-known” macaw Benito. The aviary’s male Hyacinth Macaw died unexpectedly over the weekend from an aneurysm. The jewel-toned bird, once featured on an episode of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” arrived at the Aviary’s Allegheny Center neighborhood in...
Be prepared for what you might find in your family history
You have to be brave to search your genealogy. Be aware that if you look into your family’s past, there is a possibility you may find some information that you don’t expect. “Every family has a skeleton,” said Donna Edwards-Jordan, a genealogist from North Huntingdon. “Everybody’s gene pool could use...
South Hills mother, son, travel to Italy in the name of genealogyVideo
Carol Lynn Vicini placed her hand on her grandfather’s tombstone, said his name and then cried. Atop a mountain at Trefiumi Cemetery near the village of Trefiumi, Italy, Vicini had reached the burial place of the grandfather she never knew, Albino Vicini. “This visit was very emotional as it was...
Greensburg Restaurant Week returns with range of options from sit-down to delivery
Diners can enjoy an eclectic array of menu options by sampling the specials offered at 14 area eateries during Greensburg Restaurant Week. Beginning on Monday and continuing through Jan. 28, those options will include fig and port wine duck breast at Morelands in South Greensburg, shrimp tacos at Tapped Brick...
Unity baker nearly makes semifinal round in Cake Boss’s ‘Greatest Baker’ contest
When Mary Ellen Raneri of Unity started helping her mother with Facebook livestreams of her cooking, she certainly wasn’t expecting the page to rack up nearly 70,000 fans. And she definitely wasn’t expecting those fans to help her make all the way to the quarterfinals of “The Greatest Baker,” a...
5 generations of Batmobiles on display at World of Wheels car show
Batman returns, in a way, to Pittsburgh this weekend. Five generations of the iconic Batmobile are on display at the 63rd Annual MAXmotive World of Wheels at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown. The quintet are reminiscent of an original 1966 Batmobile, the one driven in “Batman Returns,” the...
Instant is in, fancy is out. Nothing stays the same for long in the world of home-brewed coffee
Instants that demand respect. Compostable pods. High-altitude blends. And a myriad of related home-brew goodies that lift the senses with the familiar fragrant waft of a humble roasted bean: coffee. Coffee world can’t sit still, it seems — just ask Brooklyn Roasting’s founder and CEO Jim Munson. “The coffee market’s...
Primanti Bros. to open restaurant in Baltimore
Come this spring, there will be one more out-of-town location to grab a Primanti’s sandwich as Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar is set to open in Baltimore. Most of its restaurants are in Western Pennsylvania and there are locations in West Virginia, Ohio and the eastern side of Pennsylvania. The...
North Side woman advocates for more education and access to menstrual products
Tamara Abney recalled going into the restroom and realizing her period started. She searched her purse multiple times — nothing. She looked through bags she was carrying and pants and jacket pockets — still nothing. “If you don’t have a tampon or a pad (when your period starts), it can...
Modular homes offer a solution to Pittsburgh’s housing shortage
Harry Vine Homes, a modern modular home building company, prefabricates houses in a climate-controlled warehouse before transporting them to a specific address — a practice that can be a viable solution to the housing shortage. According to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh, there is a severe shortage of both...
Fruit Stripe Gum is no more
Another gum bites the dust. After 54 years, Fruit Strip Gum’s run is over. Ferrara Candy Co. has officially discontinued the striped sticks that came wrapped in a temporary tattoo of the brand’s mascot: Yipes the Zebra. “We have made the difficult decision to sunset Fruit Stripe Gum, but consumers...
Greenhouse Co-Op sells plants and cider in Greenfield
Greenfield just got a little greener — The Greenhouse Co-Op has shelves filled with plants and hooks hanging with greenery. It opened at the end of December. “We’ve had an amazing turnout our first two weekends,” said Darien Higgins of the South Side, who co-owns the business with her brother...
Oakmont Bakery serves up Mason Rudolph cupcakes for Steelers playoffs
As soon as the Pittsburgh Steelers secured a playoff spot, Samantha Serrao knew Oakmont Bakery needed a new football-related treat. The Rudolph Cupcake was born — a shoutout to quarterback Mason Rudolph ahead of Sunday’s wild-card game against the Buffalo Bills. “It was kind of like a group effort,” said...
For 2024, some simple lifestyle changes can improve your little piece of the planet
NEW YORK — The fight against climate change requires the mass cooperation of industries, companies, governments and communities, but individuals have a role to play, too. Little things make a difference, and feel good too. At the dawn of 2024, also known as New Year’s resolution season, here’s just a...
Murrysville library to host talk on Pittsburgh’s steel-making history
In the 1880s, the first steel mill was built in Pittsburgh. By the 1950s, the city’s top export had helped power the Industrial Revolution and supplied crucial materials during World War II. But why Pittsburgh? Susie Toman, a docent and educator with nonprofit Rivers of Steel, will explain at a...
Buffalo sauce boycott sweeps through Pittsburgh as Steelers gear up for Bills
Some Pittsburgh restaurants are taking the extreme measure of boycotting Buffalo sauce and other Buffalo-related products until the Steelers take on the Bills in Sunday’s wild-card playoff game. Buffalo dipping sauce will not be sold at select McDonald’s locations across the Pittsburgh region until after the game. Meghan Sweeney, owner/operator...
Wildcat’s Revenge at Hersheypark named among the best new attractions in the nationVideo
Wildcat’s Revenge, a steel and wood hybrid coaster that opened at Hersheypark last year is continuing to garner awards. Wildcat’s Revenge opened at Hersheypark on June 2, 2023. It is the park’s 15th roller coaster and debuted 100 years after the Wild Cat ride opened in 1923. In September, the...
Destination Daycation: Channel the tropics during winter at these Pittsburgh-area tropical-themed eateries
Craving some island vibes but stuck in wintertime Pittsburgh? Take a daycation destination to these tropical-themed bars and eateries that offer a beach-themed escape from the winter doldrums. From lobster specialty sandwiches and nachos to Caribbean-influenced cocktails, these independently owned restaurants put the paradise vibe in Pittsburgh. The Hula Bar...
Point Breeze home on the market for $3.95 million
A glass entryway with intricate lattice detail frames the front of this home built in 1900. Stepping inside, there are vintage vibes because of the well-maintained hardwood floors, high ceilings and a spacious winding stairway. Detailed molding is seen throughout the home, above doorways, in hallways and around fireplaces. “This...
