Editor's Picks category, Page 10
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...
Holiday-themed concerts and events set
Here is a list of holiday-themed concerts and events taking place in December: Thursday, Dec. 4: Holiday Bell Choir. The event will be at 6 p.m. at the Penn Hills Library, 1037 Stotler Road. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required by calling 412-775-4700 or emailing phlibrarypgh@pennhillslibrary.org....
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...
Consumers should do their research before giving in to Travel Tuesday temptation
NEW YORK — Chain stores have Black Friday. Online marketplaces have Cyber Monday. For local businesses, it’s Small Business Saturday. In the last 20 years, more segments of the retail industry have vied for their own piece of the holiday shopping season. The travel trade has firmly joined the trend...
Why your electric bill is rising this winter and how to prepare
As residents in Western Pennsylvania finish hanging their holiday lights, electric companies warn that an estimated 1.3 million customers will be hit with higher bills and should prepare accordingly. This week, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission announced forthcoming adjustments to energy supply rates for all state-regulated electric utilities in December. Among...
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...
Lori Falce: Yinz know the Christmas Star, right?Video
I am one of those people who doesn’t look at the holidays as a series of individual dates. From Thanksgiving to St. Nicholas Day to Christmas to New Year to Epiphany, each day is a bright light strung on a wire, illuminating the darkest days of the year. In between...
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...
For many, Thanksgiving is about more than the food
This Thanksgiving, siblings Garry Wiles and Jamie Long got together to share more than just a meal. They honored their father, a Vietnam veteran, by keeping alive a five-year long tradition of sharing Thanksgiving dinner at the American Legion in Lower Burrell. “Our dad is a member here. He’s in...
Scientists capture crackling sounds of what they believe is lightning on Mars
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Scientists have detected what they believe to be lightning on Mars by eavesdropping on the whirling wind recorded by NASA’s Perseverance rover. The crackling of electrical discharges was captured by a microphone on the rover, a French-led team reported Wednesday. The researchers documented 55 instances of...
Top December concerts for Pittsburgh: Trisha Yearwood, Trans-Siberian Orchestra and more
It’s the season of light, and that will be nowhere more evident than with a pair of shows this month at PPG Paints Arena with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, while country music star Trisha Yearwood will be celebrating the holidays with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Here’s a look at those and...
Cold does not deter 2,000 from Greensburg Turkey Trot
With blustery weather more fit for Christmas than Thanksgiving, more than 2,000 runners and walkers braved the 3.1 miles up and down hills in the annual Greensburg Turkey Trot. Since its inception 34 years ago, the race has attracted those who make it part of their holiday, getting some exercise...
Here are 5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Nov. 28-30
The leftovers are packed in the fridge and the family is still hanging around for a couple more days. What to do? You can show them how fun and bright Pittsburgh is with these events. Enjoy! Beers of the Burgh’s Winter Warmer Get ready for some fancy holiday cheer and...
Here are 5 things to do in Westmoreland this weekend: Nov. 28-30
Don’t let the post-Thanksgiving lull last all weekend! It’s time to get fully into the Christmas swing of things with a whole treasure trove of events this weekend. Here are a few. Light Up Ligonier Even if you aren’t putting up your Christmas tree and lights this weekend, the town...
A welcome form of inflation: Balloons take shape for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
NEW YORK — Giant balloons got into shape Wednesday for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as crews inflated the giant characters on the streets of New York City. The parade kicks off Thursday morning, with dozens of huge balloons set to take to the skies. Floats, entertainers, marching bands and...
TV Talk: ‘Stranger Things’ begins its end run; ‘Rivalry’ heats up; KDKA-TV reunionVideo
The first thing viewers will notice about the new season of “Stranger Things” is that the show’s kid characters are no longer teens and try as they might, producers cannot hide this fact, especially when it comes to Will (Noah Schnapp), Lucas (Caleb MacLaughlin) and Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo). Because of...
TV Talk: How Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade evolved through the decades (and how it stayed the same)Video
“Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade” (8:30 a.m. Thursday, WPXI) has always been an inherent promotional opportunity for its namesake department store, an effort to jump-start the holiday shopping season. But as TV evolved over the decades, so has NBC’s parade telecast. A static camera trained on a parade may have been...
Q&A: Johnnyswim husband-and-wife duo on Christmas show in Pittsburgh, deluxe album and moreVideo
In the 20 years since Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano formed the pop/soul/R&B duo Johnnyswim, the now-married couple has played plenty of holiday concerts. “We’ve cut our teeth touring a lot with Christmas shows,” Ramirez said. But an early New York City show still stands out. The duo recorded the...
‘Stranger Things’ season 5 debuts tonight; here’s a recap of what has happenedVideo
It’s been more than three years since viewers had the opportunity to see a new episode of Netflix’s “Stranger Things.” The last new episode streamed in July 2022. That all changes tonight at 5 p.m. when the first batch of episodes in the final season drops. Since it’s been a...
Apple launches knitted pocket to hold iPhone
Apple launched a new accessory for iPhone this month — and it’s already sold out before the holidays. Called the “iPhone Pocket,” the product is a sock-looking sleeve that’s mean to carry people’s iPhones like a purse. It comes in long and short version. The pocket, which is made by...
‘Les Misérables’ is an epic tale of revolution at the Benedum Center
Other than “Wicked” (at the moment) and a handful of others, “Les Misérables” has to be one of the most well-known musicals in the modern canon. It’s the longest-running musical in the history of London’s West End, has won eight Tony Awards for its Broadway production — including Best Musical...
National Parks to raise fees for millions of international tourists to popular sites
WASHINGTON — The National Park Service said Tuesday it is going to start charging the millions of international tourists who visit U.S. parks each year an extra $100 to enter some of the most popular sites, while leaving them out of fee-free days that will be reserved for American residents....
Americans eye Thanksgiving travel weather after Texas tornadoes, snow and rain elsewhereVideo
CYPRESS, Texas — Kenny Beck surveyed the damage Tuesday to his family’s two-story home after at least two tornadoes tore through the Houston area, damaging over 100 homes at the start of a busy Thanksgiving travel week that has Americans closely eyeing the weather. “Half my roof on the back...
Pittsburgh airport T. rex absent from new terminal as officials weigh its future
Wondering where Pittsburgh International Airport’s iconic Tyrannosaurus rex ended up in the new terminal? It hasn’t reappeared. Its next chapter is still undecided, though it’s on the airport’s radar. In a collaborative Instagram post Monday with the airport, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History says they are discussing the exact...
Pittsburgh Brewing Company to host 3rd annual Light Up Night
The Pittsburgh Brewing Co. is expecting 1,500 people to attend its sold-out third annual Light Up Night in East Deer. Despite the large number, the Pittsburgh Brewing team said it’s around the same amount of attendees as last year’s celebration and they’re prepared for the crowd. “We do much more...
