Lifestyles category, Page 4
Why doing good also makes us feel good, during the holidays and beyond
WASHINGTON — The holiday season is a time for giving thanks, giving gifts — and for many, a time for giving back. Food banks, services that deliver meals to seniors and other U.S. charities typically see a surge in volunteering between Thanksgiving and the end of the year. But there...
Swung vases see upswing in value among fans of mid-century modern collectiblesVideo
If someone admires your nubby butt, don’t take it personally — but do take it as a compliment. Chances are, they’re among enthusiasts who are paying as much as four figures for swung vases. Available in a variety of colors, this elongated style of handmade glassware first gained popularity in...
Brick & Barrel serves up hearty fare with a side of history in Indiana Township
Brick & Barrel co-owner Jeff Brungo wants customers to enjoy more than just a meal when they visit his eatery and bar in the historic Cross Keys Inn in Indiana Township. “There’s history here. We have original bricks from 1850,” Brungo said of the former hotel and stagecoach stop. The...
Restoration labor of love for Aspinwall couple residing in Sauer Buildings Historic District
Newlyweds Chris and Heather Smith are in love with something besides each other — their new “old” house in Aspinwall. The couple bought a historic stone home in the Sauer Buildings Historic District on Center Avenue in the borough. The Smiths were so enthralled with their residence, they chose the...
They relied on marijuana to get through the day. But then days felt impossible without it
BROOKLINE, Mass. — For the past several years, 75-year-old Miguel Laboy has smoked a joint with his coffee every morning. He tells himself he won’t start tomorrow the same way, but he usually does. “You know what bothers me? To have cannabis on my mind the first thing in the...
More families ‘adopt’ turkeys for Thanksgiving instead of eating them
ERIE, Colo. — “Gus” the turkey has been spending Thanksgiving week much differently than millions of other unlucky gobblers across the U.S. As he trots in a sprawling animal sanctuary on the Colorado plains, he is stopped every few steps by staff who pet him, hug him or even give...
Jingle all the way to these Pittsburgh-area holiday pop-up bars
’Tis the season to celebrate with a festive drink at one of the region’s Christmas-themed pop-up bars. Check out these Pittsburgh-area pop-up bars offering festive fa-la-la fun. Atomic Tinsel Cocktail Club The Industrialist Hotel, 405 Wood St., Downtown Pittsburgh Nostalgia mixes with a winter wonderland at The Industrialist’s...
Grist House Craft Brewery, Turner’s Dairy announce Udderly Baked collaboration
Two Pittsburgh favorite companies have a tasty collaboration brewing for the winter season. Grist House Craft Brewery and Turner’s Dairy came together for the first time in four years for the return of a decadent beer with a familiar sweet twist. Together, they created Udderly Baked, a brownie-batter milk stout...
Is mac and cheese a Thanksgiving must?
Macaroni and cheese at Thanksgiving — yes or no? For some families, it’s as expected as mashed potatoes or stuffing, a pot of gold beside the turkey. For others, it’s an outlier — a welcome guest but not a required one. And on the internet, the question of whether mac...
TribLive Taste Test: Thanksgiving-themed Cup NoodlesVideo
As those who’ve watched these videos will recall, Thanksgiving has brought us some uniquely horrible opportunities here at the TribLive Taste Test. Witness the apocalyptic horror of Brach’s “Turkey Dinner” candy corn. Imagine a food — if you can — where being candy corn is somehow only the SECOND THING...
Patron’s shuttered East Liberty liquor license transferred to Hard Rock Cafe International
Patron Mexican Grill on Highland Avenue in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood has permanently closed. The restaurant at 135 S. Highland Ave. is boarded up with tan paper covering the windows. However, according to TribLive observations Wednesday, some of the light fixtures were turned on inside the establishment. There is a...
Pontifical secret revealed: Pope Leo XIV changes his Wordle start word each day
Pope Leo XIV opened a virtual meeting with American Catholic young people Friday by revealing a closely held pontifical secret: He uses a different Wordle start word each day. Leo divulged his strategy playing the popular New York Times online game before fielding questions via videoconference about artificial intelligence, social...
National Aviary’s ‘Jingle Bell Flock’ show brings high-flying holiday cheer
The National Aviary on the North Side is getting into the festive spirit, starting the day after Thanksgiving with its new “Jingle Bell Flock” immersive show. At a media preview on Wednesday, birds swooped throughout the Aviary’s Helen M. Schmidt FliteZone Theater while bird-themed versions of classic Christmas songs played....
O’Hara couple set to open new ‘elevated’ dining experience in Aspinwall’s business district
Two restaurateurs from O’Hara are the husband-and-wife team behind a new, casually chic restaurant and bar opening soon in Aspinwall. Adam and Diana Kucenic are co-owners of Foxhole Tavern, located in the former Tavern in the Wall, known as Sam’s Tavern to locals, at 211 Commercial Ave. Sam’s Tavern operated...
Roberto Clemente Jr. shares stories of profound loss on Children’s Grief Awareness Day
Robert Clemente Jr. remembers entering Three Rivers Stadium when he was 7, and spotting posters with a picture of his father. He walked directly toward one of the images behind the backstop of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ former home field on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. “I missed him so much that when...
When is the best time to serve Thanksgiving meal?
Late lunch? Early dinner? Sundown? Different homes. Different rules. Different palates. So when is the best time to serve Thanksgiving dinner? Food & Wine asked 15 chefs. The consensus? Fourteen said the best time to serve a Thanksgiving meal is between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Of those, 11 said...
Fiber is something most people could use more of. But experts advise caution with ‘fibermaxxing’
U.S. consumers who have had their fill of finding protein added to everything from cereal to ice cream are about to meet the next big food fad: fiber. Americans have been boosting their protein intake for years; even Pop-Tarts and Starbucks are selling protein-enhanced products. But the number of new...
‘Say Yes to the Dress’ and Kleinfeld Bridal designer coming to Mt. Lebanon boutique
Wedding dress designer Hayley Paige says that the moment a bride steps into her gown is sacred. “In a world that’s constantly evolving, that moment remains sacred,” said Paige, who will be at Bridal Beginning in Mt. Lebanon on Thursday. “It transcends trend or extravagance; it’s pure expression. For so...
Pittsburgh native Michael Misko keeps whimsy alive with comedy-laden magic act
Editor’s note: The following story was submitted for the Shaler Area Student Section, a collaboration between TribLive and The Oracle, the student newspaper of Shaler Area High School. Most people start their career sitting behind a screen in an office cubicle, but Pittsburgh-raised magician Michael Misko’s career started in the...
Three Dog Bakery in Sewickley offers treats and more for furry friends
The door opens and in walks Bentley. He goes directly behind the counter … and waits. “Bentley knows where the treats are,” said Lee Ann Carey, owner of Three Dog Bakery in Sewickley. “Dogs will be on the sidewalk a few stores away and they just know where this shop...
Artificial heart kept Collier man alive until he could get a transplant
When Landon Shaw was 16, a big, bulky machine sat by his bed. Twelve-foot hoses with attachments connected to both sides of his heart, pushing air to pump blood throughout his body, making a loud whooshing sound. For 17 days, the biventricular assist device, known as a BiVAD, an artificial...
O’Hara native travels the country collecting baseball-themed bobbleheads
Tom Iurlano was 5 when his late aunt Margaret Tomko treated him to a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game at Forbes Field in Oakland. He came home with a souvenir he still holds dear and keeps on display in his O’Hara home. “She bought me a L.A. Dodgers bobblehead,” said Iurlano...
Making Thanksgiving happen: Filling the table despite high prices and tough times
Food insecurity has been an issue for many Americans since the covid pandemic and the inflation that followed. In 2025, it has escalated amid concerns about tariffs, program cuts, layoffs and the federal government shutdown. For those who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, uncertainty has deepened as a...
Are buy now, pay later options worth it? Western Pa. weighs in
It’s hard to miss the buy now, pay later options becoming more common on the checkout pages of online stores, both large retailers like Amazon and Walmart, and small local businesses. Buy now, pay later is exactly what it sounds like. Similar to layaway programs, buy now, pay later sites...
North Carolina resident stops in Pittsburgh advocating for lung cancer patients
For Dusty Donaldson, one journey led to another. After navigating the emotional path of a lung cancer diagnosis, operation, chemotherapy and recovery, Donaldson decided to travel down another road. She purchased a Ford Transit Connect van and drove across the country to create awareness for early detection of lung cancer....
