Editor's Picks category, Page 288
TV Talk: Former Pittsburgher directs ‘Better Nate Than Ever,’ based on his novel, for Disney+Video
Tim Federle grew up in the Pittsburgh suburbs as a theater kid, realized his dream of appearing on Broadway, became an author and now is a scriptwriter/showrunner/director with the movie “Ferdinand” and Disney+’s “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” among his credits. But his film directorial debut, an adaptation...
Scene from movie ‘A Man Called Otto’ filmed at Oakmont church, sans a man called Tom Hanks
Oakmont resident Kassandra Stotler held her sons, Glenn and Billy, as the stood outside St. Thomas Episcopal Church. They were watching folks not normally seen in town. Crews moved cars, trucks, cameras and equipment up and down Delaware Avenue and Fourth Street. The place of worship just a few blocks...
Immersive Frida Kahlo exhibit in Pittsburgh encompasses artist’s tumultuous life
Frida Kahlo lived most of her life in pain. Her art reflects the hurt. The Mexico native’s work is being showcased in Immersive Frida Kahlo at Lighthouse ArtSpace Pittsburgh on the North Side. The exhibit opened Saturday and will continue at least through May. “Frida’s parents urged her to paint...
Springdale High School program gives back, offers student social skills
Allegheny Valley School District administrators and teachers were able to enjoy a meal while giving to a good cause Wednesday afternoon. The meal was a part of the Empty Bowls luncheon, “a grassroots movement by artists and crafts people in cities and towns around the world to raise money for...
Bruce Willis, diagnosed with aphasia, steps away from acting
NEW YORK — Bruce Wills is stepping away from acting after a diagnosis of aphasia, a condition that causes loss of the ability to understand or express speech, his family announced Wednesday. In a statement posted on Willis’ Instagram page, the 67-year-old actor’s family said Willis was recently diagnosed with...
TV Q&A: Was Steve Harvey ever a real judge?
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen answers reader questions every Wednesday at TribLive.com in a column that also appears in the Sunday Tribune-Review. Q: I’ve been watching ABC’s “Judge Steve Harvey.” It’s very entertaining. Is he a real judge? – Theresa, Allegheny Township Rob: Unlike the judges on daytime...
TV Talk: ‘This is Us’ gives a shout-out to Eat’n Park
NBC’s partially Pittsburgh-set “This Is Us” has its share of local references – the Steelers, the Pirates and even the late Froggy’s in Downtown Pittsburgh have received multiple references on the family drama – and in Tuesday’s episode it was local chain Eat’n Park’s turn. In the present, while at...
Misuse of books reported at the Sharpsburg Community Library
Sharpsburg police are investigating reported book tampering at the Sharpsburg Community Library, which library officials consider to be attempts at censorship. Branch Manager Sara Mariacher said multiple books were hidden or removed from displays between February and mid-March. A police report was filed March 24. “The library and its board...
Foo Fighters cancel tour in light of drummer Taylor Hawkins’ death
Foo Fighters on Tuesday announced the cancellation of all remaining tour dates, including a scheduled stop in Western Pennsylvania later this spring. The announcement comes days after drummer Taylor Hawkins died while the band was on tour in Colombia. In a statement to fans, the band called the loss of...
Bitter Ends restaurant in Bloomfield to close
After nearly five years of serving diners breakfast, coffee, fresh-baked bread, and inventive brunch and take-out items, Bitter Ends will close in April. The popular spot took over the former Bloomfield Sandwich Shop location in 2017, and quickly built a passionate fan base. Bitter Ends focused on hearth-baked bread and...
10K eggs with prizes up for grabs during festival at Westmoreland Fairgrounds
Some lucky winners will take home prizes Saturday during a huge egg hunt for adults and children at the Westmoreland Fairgrounds. There will be 10,000 plastic eggs up for grabs, some of which have prize-winning golden tickets tucked inside. “We have an egg team and we will be putting them...
Millennial Money: Please don’t go broke attending weddings
Sure, you want to feel joy and love upon receiving a wedding invitation. But one little postcard or email can also pack loads of pricey pressure. Perhaps you must secure travel and lodging, buy gifts and attire, or call off work. Or maybe you have the honor — and extra...
From Hollywood’s illusion factory, some unexpected reality
In the minutes and hours after Will Smith accosted and slapped Chris Rock before a live audience of millions, social media platforms lit up with a breathless and emphatic hot take: Surely, multitudes insisted, the whole thing was staged. They talked of the specifics of the altercation (“Rock barely moved”)....
TV Talk: Beaver County teen’s ‘Idol’ streak continuesVideo
Morgan Gruber of Franklin Township, Beaver County, made it through a second week of ABC’s “American Idol” in the season’s first Hollywood Week episode Monday night. Gruber was barely featured in the episode but she could be glimpsed briefly singing Demi Lovato’s “Anyone” as part of the pop performers genre....
Pittsburgh Pop podcast: Talking Will Smith’s Oscar’s slap, ‘Bridgerton,’ ‘Halo’ and the sports announcers’ swap with a local tie
In this episode of the “Pittsburgh Pop” podcast, host Tim Benz and TV Talk columnist Rob Owen discuss Pittsburgh pop culture news of the moment, including what everyone is talking about today: Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars over Rock’s joke at the expense of Smith’s wife. Benz...
Week in pictures: March 21-27
A selection of the best photos from Tribune-Review photographers from around the Pittsburgh region from the week of March 21-27....
Eagles soar with ‘Hotel California’ concert at PPG Paints Arena
Just as most Eagles fans will probably never forget where they were the first time they heard the song “Hotel California,” those at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday night won’t soon forget hearing the live version of the song that kicked off an in-concert performance of the entire “Hotel California”...
A really cool planetary event is happening on Monday, then not again until 2040
A planetary event that will not happen again until 2040 will occur Monday morning when Venus, Mars and Saturn appear very close together near the horizon just before sunrise. And to make the show more fun, a crescent moon will appear nearby. They aren’t really close together, of course. Venus...
Wedding officiant: Tom Hanks said ‘I will do it’ and performs ceremony for Bellevue couple
Krisna Poznik Stahl wrote a letter to actor Tom Hanks. She told the Academy Award-winning star a story about her and her fiancé, Tyson Stahl. They live in a 102-year-old house in Bellevue they’ve been renovating — reminiscent of the home in Hanks’ 1986 movie “The Money Pit.” The couple...
Pitt professor in Ukraine tells U.S. ‘send money and weapons’Video
During a week when President Biden visited Europe and promised the U.S. would provide $1 billion to deal with the surge in Ukrainian refugees from the attack by Russia, a University of Pittsburgh economics professor living in Ukraine was asked what his country really needs from the United States. “Weapons,”...
‘Save Ukraine’ T-shirts sold at Sprankle’s to raise funds for war-torn nation
Sprankle’s Neighborhood Market launched a T-shirt fundraiser Tuesday to help the people of Ukraine as they suffer under a Russian military invasion. The Sprankle’s chain, with locations in Leechburg, Saxonburg and Kittanning, hope to raise $5,000 for the Red Cross by selling the shirts. Co-owner Ryan Sprankle said an employee...
Kingfly Spirits in Strip District is brewing up something new: a daytime cafe
The Strip District distillery Kingfly Spirits is known for its whiskeys, spiced rum, vodka, gin and liqueur, served in cocktails at its lively bar in the evenings. Now Kingfly has added fresh-brewed coffee to the mix, looking to claim the daylight hours as well. Kingfly Café opened within the 11,000-square-foot...
Scientists figure out how vampire bats got a taste for blood
WASHINGTON — Scientists have figured out why vampire bats are the only mammals that can survive on a diet of just blood. They compared the genome of common vampire bats to 26 other bat species and identified 13 genes that are missing or no longer work in vampire bats. Over...
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra to play Beethoven symphonies in iconic local settings
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will break new ground — and cover new ground, too — with upcoming performances included in an extensive Beethoven in Your Neighborhood project. Under the baton of Music Director Manfred Honeck, the symphony will present all nine Beethoven symphonies in one week at iconic locations around...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: March 25-27
Travel photos Jeannette resident Rob McLaughlin will display his photos depicting the beauty and culture of Italy and Ireland from 4-9 p.m. Friday and noon-4 p.m. Saturday at the Jeannette Area Historical Society, 415 Clay Ave. The exhibition is offered in honor of the late John Howard, who was a...
