Editor's Picks category, Page 309
Feast of the Seven Fishes highlights Italian family tradition in Western Pa.
Dinnertime, for an Italian family, is sacred. It’s an opportunity to gather around the table, share a meal, drink some good wine and engage in great conversation. The spread on Christmas Eve represents the heart of this tradition. The Feast of the Seven Fishes — for which seven seafood items...
Alcoa-inspired flagpole with metal Christmas tree shines on near Route 66 in Gilpin
A flagpole in Gilpin has a unique holiday addition, compliments of a former Alcoa employee. “It’s Dad’s Alcoa flagpole tree,” joked Joseph Kovalchik of his late father’s handmade aluminum creation. John Kovalchik worked for 34 years as a maintenance electrician at Alcoa’s research lab in New Kensington. He died in...
Ligonier man’s Christmas story takes on new life
Carl Smith was a young father, worried about disappointing his children 50 years ago when he spun a Christmas tale that became a family tradition. At the time, he had no idea the tale would take on a life of its own, going so far as to be featured in...
TV Talk: Fayette County hunter launches season two of ‘MTN TOP Outdoors’Video
Jeremiah “Jay” Voithofer of Farmington, Fayette County, remembers going to a Holiday Inn in Uniontown at age 8 to meet Terry Drury, a host of TV shows about hunting. “I made a turkey sound call and he gave me – and signed – his box call,” Voithofer said. “It’s just...
TribLive Taste Test: Apple Pie and Sugar Cookie Toast CrunchVideo
If you’re a kid, you don’t want to waste a lot of time on Christmas morning deciding what you’ll have for breakfast. That’s taking up time better spent playing with toys. So the TribLive Taste Test team — working from home this week, and with the assistance of professional kid...
New Ken-Arnold food drive shatters goals for food, cash donations
Valley High School’s annual food drive came back — and came through — in a big way this year. After not being held last year because of the covid pandemic, the now-districtwide effort shattered goals for food items and cash so much that not one but two New Kensington police...
9 days after tornado, cat found in rubble of building
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Nine days after a tornado demolished his three-story office building in downtown Mayfield, Ky., Sonny “Hoot” Gibson was standing in the rubble when he thought he heard a faint meow. It instantly gave him hope that his office cat, Madix, who hadn’t been seen since before the...
Yuengling accuses Bud Light of trampling on trademark
A trademark tiff between America’s oldest beer maker and America’s best-selling beer brand appears to be over before it really began. Last week, D.G. Yuengling & Son, the nearly 200-year-old Pennsylvania-based brewer, demanded that its much larger rival, Anheuser-Busch, stop using a tagline for its forthcoming Bud Light Next zero-carb...
Holidays from the Heart remembers patients of UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital
Anne Alter walked back into UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital in Oakland on Friday — but not as a patient this time. She walked in as someone who is living proof that it’s possible to be well and live in recovery. Alter returned to sing a moving Hanukkah song at Holidays...
Actor Richard Thomas proving to be man for all seasons in PittsburghVideo
Let’s be clear. Actor Richard Thomas loves performing in Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh audiences love seeing Thomas perform. And they’re getting plenty of chances to watch the former “Waltons” star apply his craft. Thomas is currently in Pittsburgh reprising his role as Ebenezer Scrooge in the Pittsburgh CLO’s “A Musical Christmas...
TV Q&A: Will Mark Harmon return to ‘NCIS’ as Gibbs?
Q: Mark Harmon’s name and likeness are the first things that appear in the opening credits of “NCIS.” However, he is no longer on the show. Any idea why he’s still in the opening credits? — Jeff, Baldwin Q: Is Mark Harmon really done on “NCIS”? The new guy (Gary...
Westmoreland Conservancy marks winter solstice with nature hike in Murrysville
Technically speaking, “Tuesday night” began at 4:57 p.m. That was the official time for sundown at the winter solstice — the official start to winter, and the shortest amount of daytime sunlight the region will see in 2021. About 15 participants in the Westmoreland Conservancy’s Winter Solstice Walk, held Tuesday...
C_Shoemaker Custom Clothier brings bespoke menswear to Ligonier
If clothes don’t make the man, they certainly make the first impression. And if the clothes look good, the wearer feels good, too. That’s the aesthetic Cindy Shoemaker is bringing to Ligonier with her recently opened business, C_Shoemaker Custom Clothier. The shop specializes in custom-made suits, tuxedos, sport coats, trousers,...
Powerball ticket worth $200K sold at Homestead GetGo
A Powerball with Power Play ticket worth $200,000 was sold in Homestead, the Pennsylvania Lottery announced Tuesday. The ticket was sold at GetGo on East Waterfront Drive. It matched four of the five white balls drawn — 2, 13, 23, 34, 66 — and the red Powerball, 2, in Monday’s...
Januscary Film Festival brings winter chills to Pittsburgh’s Harris Theater
Usually, the scariest thing about January is getting the Christmas credit card bill. To kick off 2022, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust will offer more chills and thrills with the Januscary Film Festival, which will feature six new and classic horror films screening at the Harris Theater in downtown Pittsburgh. “Most...
TV Talk: Mt. Lebanon native charts course for ‘Book of Boba Fett,’ ‘Mandalorian’
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen offers a viewing tip for the coming week. Mt. Lebanon native Dave Filoni has been living his childhood dream of playing “Star Wars” for two decades, trading his childhood action figures for writing scripts and directing costumed actors and massive “Star Wars” props...
Westmoreland doles out retroactive pandemic hazard pay to top administrators
Nearly two years after the fact, Westmoreland County’s senior executives, department heads and other top administrators will receive bonuses for their work in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic. Commissioners on Monday unanimously approved retroactive pandemic pay for about 60 county officials for 10 days of work between March...
Pittsburgh Pop: Upcoming movies, midseason TV and ‘Being the Ricardos’
In this week’s episode of the “Pittsburgh Pop” podcast, host Tim Benz and TV Talk columnist Rob Owen discuss Pittsburgh pop culture news of the moment, including midseason cable/streaming series with local ties. Owen rates recent premieres “1883” and “With Love” and the pair preview what’s coming in midseason TV,...
Shop with Heroes event at Harrison Walmart pairs kids with first responders
A 9-year-old boy jumped on the edge of the shopping cart and scooted ahead of his newfound cop buddy, playing hide-and-seek in the superstore’s toy aisles. He paused to scour the shelves of Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh! trading cards and snag some Japanese manga comic books, teaching Harrison police Officer Matt...
Practical presents: These gifts serve needs without taking up space
If you’re running out of time to find that special gift for that special someone, this could be the year when the thing to give is not a thing at all. As Christmas bears down upon us, here are a few ideas for practical gifts that can make life easier...
Heyday of trolleys in Western Pa. transformed regionVideo
It’s been well over half a century since 69-year-old Anne Elise Morris of Wilkinsburg took a ride on a trolley. But Morris’ vivid memories make it seem like she rode the trolley just yesterday. “Whenever we were going to Downtown Pittsburgh, we would dress up for that,” said Morris. “I...
Fresh-cut Christmas trees in short supply this season
Where are the fresh-cut Christmas trees? That’s what some Alle-Kiski Valley businesses are asking as fresh-cut trees are in short supply — or completely sold out. A large vacant lot has been empty for weeks at Kiski Garden Center in Allegheny Township. In previous years, it still would be offering...
Up, up and they pay: $2.6M winning bid for Superman #1 comic
NEW YORK — A rare copy of a Superman #1 comic book that sold on newsstands for a dime in 1939 was purchased for $2.6 million in an auction. The comic showing Superman leaping over tall buildings on the cover was sold Thursday night to a buyer who wishes to...
Play it Forward Pittsburgh helps families with holiday gifts for their children
Stephanie Badstibner of McKeesport recalled waiting in line overnight to be one of the first moms inside the Play it Forward Pittsburgh Toy Drive. It’s a free toy store where families can peruse thousands of items from cars and trucks to dolls and blocks. The mother of five wanted to...
Braddock’s Brew Gentlemen opens refurbished tap room after lengthy closure
The pandemic caused the initial closure of Brew Gentlemen’s taproom in March 2020. Owners Matt Katase and Asa Foster then decided to take the time to refurbish the indoor space in Braddock. Those enhancements will finally be visible Friday as the popular craft brewery reopens. “It’s been quite a journey,”...
