Lifestyles category, Page 42
Silent Book Club gains traction in the Pittsburgh region
The rules of Silent Book Club are simple: No assigned reading, no homework and no small talk required. Members are expected to show up at a designated meeting place with whatever title they’re enjoying, sit and read. They can share thoughts if they want, but they don’t have to. The...
Homestead native will tell ‘The Story of Whiskey’ at West Overton Village
Robin Robinson began his entertainment career as a comedian in the 1970s. He convinced a band at the old Portfolio bar in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood to let him use their microphone for a little stand-up comedy during the set break. But while he’ll crack plenty of jokes during a March...
Century-old home for sale in Sewickley has storied history
A grand Sewickley house, built in 1905 by famed Pittsburgh architects, is on the market after being in the same family for nearly 80 years. Located at 47 Woodland Road, the property is the work of Frank Rutan and Frederick Russell, best known for the Schenley Park Hotel, today the...
A look at 3 Pittsburgh Black love stories
In Pittsburgh, Black love is thriving. The power of romantic Black love is not just about hearts and flowers, it’s about standing strong together in a world that can often be traumatic for Black people to exist in. Here, three couples share their experiences. High school sweethearts Casaundra Williams made...
Amid artificial intelligence boom, AI girlfriends — and boyfriends — are making their mark
NEW YORK — A few months ago, Derek Carrier started seeing someone and became infatuated. He experienced a “ton” of romantic feelings but he also knew it was an illusion. That’s because his girlfriend was generated by artificial intelligence. Carrier wasn’t looking to develop a relationship with something that wasn’t...
Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day fall on the same day this year. Here’s what you need to know
Feb. 14 is a holiday heavyweight this year due to a calendar collision of events. Yes, it’s Valentine’s Day, the fixed annual celebration of love and friendship, marked by cute couples, eager elementary school students — and critics who deride its commercialization. But it also happens to be Ash Wednesday,...
Chocolates, flowers and procrastination. For many Americans, Valentine’s Day is a last-minute affair
In a classic “Saturday Night Live” sketch, a young man hands his girlfriend a Valentine’s Day gift: a bear dressed in a bee costume that he picked up at the drugstore. “When did you get this?” she asks with a strained smile. “One minute ago,” he replies. It has more...
Take trip down rabbit hole at ‘Wonderland’ in Garfield
A Cheshire cat, pink flamingo, blue butterfly, white rabbit, chessboard and mad hatter walk into a bar. No, really. They did. Six friends dressed in costume to check out “Wonderland: An Immersive Adventure.” It’s the latest pop-up bar inside the Garfield hot spot Mixtape, inspired by Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures...
In this centuries-old English pancake race, ‘you just have to go flat out’Video
OLNEY, England — Women in matching checkered aprons, headscarves and a rainbow of running shoes limbered up Tuesday as they prepared for the centuries-old pancake race in this English country town. They rolled their shoulders in unison, raised up on their toes and did squats before stepping to the starting...
Rock star: Lab-grown diamonds are skyrocketing in popularity, say local jewelers, industry experts
When Sandee Vargo lost one of her diamond earrings two years ago, she turned that sinking feeling into an opportunity to try something new. Her remaining one-third carat stud earring was a natural diamond, mined from the ground. But Vargo of North Huntingdon became interested in another option for her...
After a pandemic, flyers are facing a ‘new normal’ for travel
Travelers who sought vengeance after the pandemic halted plans for over a year have already rescheduled and gone on those trips, but now are looking to venture out to their next destination, according to travel experts. After two years of travelers making up for lost time during the pandemic, leisure...
Italian flourless chocolate cake hits the right sweet notes for Valentine’s Day
Chocolate is inextricably linked to Valentine’s Day, and much of it comes packaged in heart-shaped boxes. For something different, consider making a torta Barozzi, a sumptuous and sophisticated flourless chocolate cake that’s often imitated but rarely duplicated. Traditionally, torta Barozzi is made without wheat flour (and is therefore gluten-free). Instead,...
Higher chocolate prices unlikely to deter Valentine’s Day buyers
As Joe Dastolfo was buying a box of chocolates for his wife’s Valentine’s Day gift, he didn’t consider the price. The Hempfield resident was shopping this week at McFeely’s Gourmet Chocolate in downtown Greensburg. “I don’t care about the price,” he said. For those who do care, the wholesale price...
Valentine’s Day gift ideas for any budget
Are you struggling to decide what to give your partner this Valentine’s Day? Here’s a list of ideas for any budget to help get you started: 1. Sweet treats or food You can’t go wrong if you buy your significant other their favorite candy — or snacks for those who...
Black-owned 2C Premium blends success with specialty coffee
When her two children were young, Teresa Hunt was a single parent constantly on the go, shuffling them between sporting events and daily activities — and her constant companion was coffee. When her kids left home for college, she took advantage of her newfound free time. Now the founder of...
Las Vegas, where the party never ends, prepares for its biggest yet: Super Bowl 58
LAS VEGAS — Las Vegas proposed to the NFL in December 2021. “Let’s just marry these brands, and let’s bring the Super Bowl here,” Steve Hill, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, recalled telling a room of NFL franchise owners. They said yes. The betrothal...
From Uber Eats’ ‘Friends’ reunion to Bud’s Clydesdales, here are the buzziest Super Bowl ads so far
NEW YORK — If you watch the Super Bowl for the commercials, you no longer have to wait until the big game to see what advertisers have in store for viewers. Many companies now release ads ahead of the game in the hope of capitalizing on the buzz that builds...
Coca-Cola releases 1st new permanent flavor in years, aimed at younger audience
A new flavor of Coke is on its way to store shelves soon. The Coca-Cola Company has announced that a new permanent flavor of soda, Coca-Cola Spiced, is being added to the lineup. The new Coca-Cola Spiced will offer “a unique alchemy of our iconic cola, raspberry and spiced flavors,”...
Before you start seeds indoors, make sure they’re not duds
I’ve had just about enough of winter and am itching to get my hands dirty. I can’t do that yet in my New York garden, but I have been distracting myself by growing microgreens and dwarf strawberries on the kitchen counter. It will be another month before I bring out...
This year, why not make custom chocolates for, or with, your Valentine?
Since Cadbury popularized the fancy box of chocolates in the 19th century, the link between love and those darkly sweet treats has only grown stronger — thanks partly to years of clever marketing. “If you look at advertising over the years, chocolate companies emphasized love and romance, and that you...
As cancer treatment advances, patients and doctors push back against drugs’ harsh side effects
For cancer patients, the harsh side effects of powerful drugs have long been the trade-off for living longer. Now, patients and doctors are questioning whether all that suffering is necessary. They’ve ignited a movement to radically change how new cancer drugs are tested, with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration...
Super Bowl cooks, it can be done: Buffalo wings with less splatter
We will start by acknowledging that deep-fried chicken wings are very, very good. And when I am out and about in a bar-ish setting, it’s difficult to pass them up. But deep frying chicken wings — or really anything — at home? Very rare in my kitchen. It’s messy, it...
Chemical hair straighteners and the impact on Black women’s health
Jasmine Green sat in the kitchen one afternoon in 2003, getting her hair done by her grandmother. Her curly coils were being parted in sections with a slender comb to reveal her scalp. Vaseline was placed on open areas between the parts. After the Vaseline, a thick, pungent white cream...
Gardening and growing food a form of liberation for the Black community
Amid winter’s gray skies and unpredictable temperatures, Black communities are reclaiming their narrative through gardening and growing food, a powerful act of resilience that fuels empowerment. Despite sometimes freezing temperatures, they sow seeds of change, heralding a season of growth and autonomy. Raynise Kelly and TaRay Kelly are owners of...
Fat Tuesday means big business for New Orleans bakers under exploding demand for King Cakes
NEW ORLEANS — It’s Carnival season in New Orleans and that means lines are long outside local bakeries and the pace inside is brisk as workers strive to meet customer demand for king cakes — those brightly colored seasonal pastries that have exploded in popularity over the years. “Mardi Gras...
