Lifestyles category, Page 79
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: July 8-10
Americana classics Session Americana will play classics of American roots music, along with original songs, at the weekly SummerSounds concert, beginning 7 p.m. today at St. Clair Park in downtown Greensburg. The Boston-based folk/rock collective comprises a rotating line-up of singers and multi-instrumentalists who promise a raucous live show. Group...
Black parade culture museum reopening in New Orleans
Ten months after Hurricane Ida damaged a museum celebrating New Orleans’ African American parading culture, the Backstreet Cultural Museum is reopening. A parade is planned Saturday afternoon from the original building to the new museum site just blocks away in the city’s Treme neighborhood, The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate reported....
‘It used to be just retired folks’: Full-time RV residents are getting younger
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Thomas Hoff was tired of living in a regular old house. He was fascinated with “tiny-living,” and often dreamed of moving into a recreational vehicle. When his roommates moved out of his Gardner Lake house in Johnson County in 2018, he saw his opportunity. He has...
Founder’s daughters revive Tropical Bungalow restaurant in Hempfield
Tom Papinchak said the smoothie was relatively new to Western Pennsylvania when he started selling the fruity concoction in the mid-1990s, first from a mobile thatched-roof kiosk and then at his Tropical Bungalow kiosks in Westmoreland Mall, downtown Pittsburgh and The Galleria in Johnstown. About 10 years later, he moved...
How a hotel satisfaction promise has led to more discontent
In the 1990s and early 2000s, the “100% Satisfaction Guarantee” was all the rage among many hotels. The gist was simple: Encounter a problem and receive your money back. In theory, this approach addressed fairly serious issues such as early-morning pool renovations that made the jackhammer an unwelcome alarm clock....
Tips for growing a healthy garden during drought
Many people try to save water just to do the right thing (and save money too). But when serious drought hits, and state and local governments enforce restrictions, water conservation becomes non-negotiable. So far this summer, nearly 65% of the United States and Puerto Rico is experiencing “abnormally dry” weather,...
Out & About: Ligonier museum program tracks fashion through the ages
“Petticoat” and “bodice” are familiar clothing terms, but what about “farthingale” and “stomacher”? Saint Francis University costume designer Bonnie Resinski discussed them all — and more — during the second annual fashion show and purse auction on June 25 at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley. Her...
Melon salad with spicy pork? A sweet and savory yes!
A summery fruit salad and spicy pork tenderloin might not seem the most natural pairing — until you consider the precedents of pork chops with apple sauce and Italian prosciutto with melon. Truth is, cooks have been pairing sweet fruits and savory meats for centuries. And there’s something about the...
4 ways parents can help kids have a great summer at camp
For generations of American kids, summer camp has been a familiar rite of passage. They’d get some exercise, maybe learn a new skill, and hopefully build a few new friendships before the lazy days of summer ended. Whatever the camp’s focus might be, kids could mostly count on a predictable...
Out & About: Karaoke fundraiser proves ‘Westmoreland Has Talent’
It wasn’t your run-of-the-mill karaoke night. The performers brought a little something extra to Westmoreland Has Talent, a fundraiser for the Westmoreland Diversity Coalition, held June 25 at Live! Casino Pittsburgh in Hempfield. University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg president Robert Gregerson channeled Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top with a beard,...
Venice unveils mandatory day-trippers’ reservation and fee
ROME — Starting in January, Venice will oblige day-trippers to make reservations and pay a fee to visit the historic lagoon city, in a bid to better manage visitors who often far outnumber residents in the historic center, clogging narrow streets and heavily used foot bridges crossing the canals. Venice...
Zambelli Fireworks preps for Pittsburgh Fourth of July celebration
Dr. George Zambelli Jr. describes it as “painting the night sky.” That’s what he and his family have been doing for nearly 130 years. Zambelli Fireworks is one of the largest fireworks companies in the world. It produces more than 1,600 “night sky” shows a year. Half are done during...
Unity couple founds nonprofit to provide housing for veterans
Andrew and Shela Gornik always have made a point of thanking veterans for their service. They’ve taught their four children to do the same. “If our kids walked past a veteran, even when they were small, we would tell them, go right back there and say, ‘Thank you for your...
Out & About: Fourth of July weekend starts with a bang at Fort Ligonier
The Fourth of July weekend started with a bang during the Friday evening Cannons and Cocktails party at Fort Ligonier. Literally. The festivities included mock cannon firings in the hilltop stockade of the restored French and Indian War-era historical complex. Guests had an opportunity to sample a George Washington Rye...
Inflation to blame for Hershey candy price hikes
Get ready to pay more for Hershey bars and other candies. The Hershey Company is raising prices to battle rising inflation and supply chain issues, according to analysts. Goldman Sachs analyst Jason English told Yahoo Money that Hershey has enacted “broad-based” price increases across its candy portfolio that “collectively amount...
Check out what Beechview has to offer: A Pittsburgh guide
Numerous beech trees growing on its hillsides is how the neighborhood of Beechview got its name. This area of Pittsburgh, located 3.5 miles outside of the city, was originally settled in the late 1700s, according to the book “Images of America: Beechview” (Arcadia Publishing). Scotch-Irish and English were the first...
Black-owned cigar lounge opens in Penn Hills
For years, every Tuesday, East Liberty native Sheldon Oliver would meet with a group of his male friends to have a space to be vulnerable, share laughs and talk about life. The small gathering of five men began to grow as people around them would gravitate to their conversations. Three...
Anthrocon attendees ready for hot Pittsburgh weekend in fursuits
In February 2016, there was a brazen theft from a car in San Francisco. The owner put a plea for help out on social media to find the missing item — a furry costume of a purple giraffe. “The post went viral, and a homeless person found the purple giraffe,”...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: July 1-3
Fair enough The Claridge Fair continues through the weekend at the Bushy Run Soccer Complex, 100 Kuch Lane, Penn Township. Hours will be 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The event will feature rides, games for all ages, live music, food, beer and...
Hampton hosts Food Truck Day every other Wednesday
The lamb gyro was fantastic. So reported Hampton resident Shane Cowoski after he and his wife, Millie, enjoyed dinner from the eatery Pittsburgh Halal. And they didn’t have to venture too far from home. From 3 to 7 p.m. every other Wednesday, Food Truck Day is featured in the side...
The worst hidden travel fees and how to avoid them
With travel prices soaring, customers might be tempted to pick the cheapest base option they find. But the base price of airfare and hotels represents only a fraction of the total costs. A parade of add-on fees await any traveler trying to navigate the checkout process, ballooning the final price....
5 ways to spice up your adult drinks this summer
Remember when White Claw was the drink of summer? Or when the trend was a Moscow mule? Well, put down the seltzer and step away from the brass mug. Local bartenders have a selection of unique drinks to try this summer. Infusions Jonette Politoske from Major Stokes Bar in Greensburg...
Lake Michigan car ferries make for fun Midwest getaways, plus 16 things to do once you land
A spin around Lake Michigan easily exceeds 1,000 miles and 18 hours of road time when following shoreline instead of interstate. That’s no vacation for the driver, or travelers low on leisure time. Another option: Shorten the loop by using two car ferries to cross the Great Lake, which turns...
Thunderbolt, Steel Curtain at Kennywood temporarily closed for maintenance
Two roller coasters have come to a halt at Kennywood, at least temporarily. The Thunderbolt and Steel Curtain are closed for maintenance, the West Mifflin park confirmed on Wednesday. “We appreciate our guests’ patience as we work closely with the ride’s manufacturer to reopen Steel Curtain as soon as possible,”...
Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival returns after 2-year hiatus
The long wait is almost over for fans of the Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival. Canceled in 2020 and 2021, the festival returns for its 48th year Thursday through Sunday at Twin Lakes Park, east of Greensburg. “It just keeps going and growing, so we’re very happy,” said Diane Shrader,...
