Editor's Picks category, Page 132
Huge raccoon mural on South Side promotes wildlife advocacy
A Pittsburgh nonprofit is using art to educate the public about wildlife. A mega-sized mural depicting a raccoon amid colorful flowers and butterflies, gazing over East Carson Street in Pittsburgh’s South Side neighborhood, is the most recent creation of street artist and muralist Jeremy M. Raymer. The mural was commissioned...
Rain haikus project reveals student poetry when sidewalk gets wet
Pittsburgh summers may be notoriously rainy, but this year there’s an advantage to a mid-afternoon shower in certain parts of the city — rain-revealed poetry to enjoy. PA Humanities, as part of its 50th year celebration, brought a Rain Poetry project to three sites in Pittsburgh this spring. Students from...
Seattle homebuilder offers home kits based on Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural principles
For the right price, you can stay in one of several homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, situated in Mt. Pleasant Township’s Polymath Park. But if you are so inclined, you could also have a similar design of your very own. Seattle-based Lindal Cedar Homes offers a line of Wright-inspired...
TribLive reporter pens book chronicling punk band Brainiac
In May 1997, an Ohio punk band called Brainiac, on the verge of exploding into popularity, saw their dreams deferred by the sudden death of frontman Tim Taylor. TribLive reporter Justin Vellucci wrote a comprehensive, engaging chronicle of the band in “Brainiac,” published by J-Card Press and available now through...
Sour Patch Kids Oreos? Peeps Pepsi? What’s behind the weird flavors popping up on store shelves
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream usually draws customers with gourmet takes on classics like vanilla and pistachio. But occasionally, the artisanal ice cream maker headquartered in New York slips in what it calls a “shock flavor,” like Hidden Valley Ranch or pizza. Surprising flavor combinations—think gravy-flavored Jones Soda or Sour Patch...
TV Talk: Except PBS, broadcasters rely on competition, game shows this summerVideo
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen offers a viewing tip for the coming week. Remember back in the ‘80s and ‘90s when broadcast networks used to put out a “Gone Fishin’” sign for the summer, airing mostly reruns? Then in the early 2000s to compete with cable, broadcasters upped...
Sleep Token’s talent can’t be masked in sold-out Pittsburgh concert
While Sleep Token’s masks are a key part of their identity, their anonymity may be gone soon enough if they keep putting on strong performances as they did Sunday night in Pittsburgh. In a show that sold out the Petersen Events Center months ago, the British rockers continued on their...
Prom is still a fun and glamorous rite of passage in 2024
Now that prom season is in full swing, some clear trends in fashion, music and overall prom experiences are emerging. Here’s the scoop on how kids today are having fun at the big dance. The fashion Finding the perfect gown is an essential part of the prom process for young...
Plum foundation honoring junior firefighter awards scholarship
A foundation created to remember a teen from Plum has awarded its first scholarship to a junior firefighter graduating from the borough’s school district. Jennifer Martinez created The Mark Matesic Memorial Foundation shortly after her 16-year-old son died by suicide in March 2022. Fascinated with trucks, especially firetrucks, since he...
Greta Van Fleet deliver classic, arena rock spectacle in Pittsburgh concert
Greta Van Fleet frontman Josh Kiszka fittingly sang a brief line from “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” — the theme song from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” — in the band’s concert Saturday night at PPG Paints Arena. For fans of classic rock, it was a beautiful day in the neighborhood as...
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s ‘Cinderella’ is magical
Friday night was an enchanted evening at the Benedum Center with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s “Cinderella.” The show, which runs through Sunday, marks the United States premiere of this production, choreographed by Jayne Smeulders. The ballet features music by Sergei Prokofiev, performed by the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Orchestra. Every moment sparkled...
Alyssa Lyon champions environmental justice through community activism, education
Alyssa Lyon wants people to stay connected to the environment, each other and themselves. Growing up in the Bronx, Lyon considers herself a “stoop kid” — afternoons after school were often spent playing on the block, with the sounds of laughter and running children behind her. Now the director of...
Here’s what’s on tap for ‘Week of Kindness’ at Latrobe Art Center
Latrobe Art Center on Monday will kick off its fourth annual Fred Rogers-inspired Week of Kindness by hosting an informational gathering for educators and child caregivers. Held in partnership with the Fred Rogers Institute and WQED Education, Monday’s session, set for 4 to 6 p.m., is titled “Educator Playground: Being...
Former Kyuss singer John Garcia on his day job, reunion talk and the desertVideo
As far as John Garcia is concerned, living a “normal” life is just fine with him, with the biggest angst getting his 14-year-old son to make his bed. “You know, I hate to really admit it, but my life is boring, which is exactly the way I want it to...
Bike shops boomed early in the pandemic. It’s been a bumpy ride for most ever since
For the nation’s bicycle shops, the past few years have probably felt like the business version of the Tour de France, with numerous twists and turns testing their endurance. Early in the pandemic, a surge of interest in cycling pushed sales up 64% to $5.4 billion in 2020, according to...
Meet the CMU alumni who are nominated for this year’s Tony Awards
Carnegie Mellon University has plenty to brag about now that this year’s Tony nominations have been announced. The 77th Tony Awards, which honor the season’s best efforts on Broadway, will take place June 16. When nominations were announced April 30, six alumni of Carnegie Mellon netted 11 nominations. In addition,...
Take the TribLive weekly news quiz: May 17
The following is a new feature from TribLive: A weekly news quiz:...
McDonald’s plans $5 U.S. meal deal next month to counter customer frustration over high prices
McDonald’s plans to introduce a $5 meal deal in the U.S. next month to counter slowing sales and customers’ frustration with high prices. The deal would let customers get a four-piece McNugget, small fries, a small drink and either a McDouble burger or a McChicken sandwich for $5 in most...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend, May 17-19
TGIF! Music, food and fun can be found around town this weekend. Here’s what you can do to unwind before Monday. Millvale Music Festival With 330 music acts, 28 stages, all within 0.6 miles, the Millvale Music Festival is back this Friday and Saturday — and it’s got more than...
TV Talk: Broadcast networks announce fall schedulesVideo
This week, “the upfronts” took place in New York as advertisers committed to buy ads ahead of the 2024-25 TV season that begins in September. With no pandemic or strikes, this fall the networks get back to normal — albeit a new normal with more, lower-cost unscripted programs than ever...
Parks on Tap Tour collaboration brings craft beer to city parks
Touted as a “one-of-a-kind fusion of nature, community and craft brews,” the inaugural Parks on Tap Tour is set to hit Pittsburgh parks this summer. The event marks a new collaboration between the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and Lawrenceville-based Eleventh Hour Brewing. The brewery will donate a portion of proceeds from...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County, May 17-19
For those who want to get out and about this weekend here are some fun activities to make it memorable in Westmoreland County. Sunday Fun Day A free day of fun and cultural learning wil take place Sunday at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art. Celebrating Asian American and Pacific...
British descendants of Mary Schenley visit her Pittsburgh legacies
Three descendants of Mary Schenley, the 19th-century Pittsburgh heiress and philanthropist, explored her legacy in a recent visit to Pittsburgh from their home in Britain. Robert Harbord of Oxford and Jeremy Harbord of Wiltshire, brothers who are great-great-grandsons of Mary Schenley, came to Pittsburgh with Robert’s daughter, Georgie Harbord of...
Furries snatch up hotel rooms within minutes for Pittsburgh convention
This summer’s furry convention in Pittsburgh — Anthrocon 2024 — is expected to be as big as ever, attracting potentially over 14,000 attendees to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. VisitPittsburgh said the hotel room block earmarked for Anthrocon guests sold out within 12 minutes after registration opened. Every summer,...
Find out which Pittsburgh radio stars are behind the new Yinzer Dogs food truck
An idea in the making since the Original Hot Dog Shop closed in Oakland in April 2020, the Yinzer Dogs food truck is up and rolling. It’s easily spotted by the bright yellow bridge design with an image of a hot dog tucked inside a bun with squiggly lines of...
