Lifestyles category, Page 25

In the 1880s, the first steel mill was built in Pittsburgh. By the 1950s, the city’s top export had helped power the Industrial Revolution and supplied crucial materials during World War II. But why Pittsburgh? Susie Toman, a docent and educator with nonprofit Rivers of Steel, will explain at a...

Some Pittsburgh restaurants are taking the extreme measure of boycotting Buffalo sauce and other Buffalo-related products until the Steelers take on the Bills in Sunday’s wild-card playoff game. Buffalo dipping sauce will not be sold at select McDonald’s locations across the Pittsburgh region until after the game. Meghan Sweeney, owner/operator...

Craving some island vibes but stuck in wintertime Pittsburgh? Take a daycation destination to these tropical-themed bars and eateries that offer a beach-themed escape from the winter doldrums. From lobster specialty sandwiches and nachos to Caribbean-influenced cocktails, these independently owned restaurants put the paradise vibe in Pittsburgh. The Hula Bar...

A glass entryway with intricate lattice detail frames the front of this home built in 1900. Stepping inside, there are vintage vibes because of the well-maintained hardwood floors, high ceilings and a spacious winding stairway. Detailed molding is seen throughout the home, above doorways, in hallways and around fireplaces. “This...

Usually, you see lines of frenzied shoppers in stores in the weeks before Christmas, not immediately afterward. But the release of a special limited-release cup sold at Target has led to long lines, campouts and people reselling the items for hundreds of dollars in some cases. The limited edition Stanley...

As opinions about drinking alcohol, even in moderation, are shifting negatively, perhaps it’s no surprise that Dry January has gained in popularity. But is Dry January — quitting alcohol for the entire month — for you? And what exactly is Damp January? Or even sober curious? Here’s what you need...

Those familiar with the nonprofit Greensburg Garden and Civic Center know of its value to the community. The home to outdoor events, plays, meetings, weddings, teas, art shows and garden parties, will host a first-ever wedding expo this month in an effort to make the center a destination site for...

Gardening isn’t usually the first thing that springs to mind when the calendar page turns to January. But with the holidays behind us, there’s no better time to start planning and preparing our 2024 gardens. Of course, that will mean different things in different places. It’s impossible to account for...

A popular burger chain is looking to add a second site in Pittsburgh. Shake Shack will be moving into a new development in Pittsburgh’s East End, the second location announced in the city for the New York-based burger chain. O’Hara-based Echo Realty announced last week that Shake Shack will be...

NEW YORK — The confetti has been tested for airiness. The giant numerals — 2 0 2 4 — are in place. And the luminous ball, bedazzled in 2,688 crystal triangles, is fixed to the pole from which it make its 60-second descent at 11:59 p.m. With throngs of revelers...

Nick Saxon loves the creativity that the kitchen provides . From his main job as executive chef and beverage director for Braddock’s Rebellion, the restaurant in the Renaissance Hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh, to his commercial kitchen, SaxonFood Ink in Prospect, Butler County, Saxon loves nothing more than firing up a...

Jon Mullin and Brendan Bailey’s clash is not flashy like an Errol Flynn duel in one of those classic black-and-white swashbuckling films. Then again, flashiness is not a typical feature of effective, real-world sword-fighting. The goal is not to look impressive; the goal is to win the fight. Mullin and...

When cousins Ken Knupp and Walt Boyd closed the doors of their Ligonier Borough barbershop Wednesday, one thing was clear — they will miss their customers the most. After working as barbers for more than 60 years, the two decided to retire together from their longtime practice at Knupp’s Barbershop....

Pittsburgh was once hailed nationally as a foodie destination because of its booming culinary scene. Whether that’s still the case could be up for debate. But there certainly wasn’t a dearth of news on the restaurant front this year. Here were the comings and goings of 2023. Yes, we’re open...

I tend to view holiday decorations strictly as anticipatory objects. They’re lovely leading up to the big day, but as soon as midnight strikes, I’m ready to drag the Jack-O-Lantern or Christmas tree to the curb. Not so with poinsettias, however. The red and white “flowering” beauties can be kept...

Gift cards make great stocking stuffers — just as long as you don’t stuff them in a drawer and forget about them after the holidays. Americans are expected to spend nearly $30 billion on gift cards this holiday season, according to the National Retail Federation. Restaurant gift cards are the...

It’s the night before Christmas, and you have people stopping for a little caroling and “It’s a Wonderful Life.” It’s an impromptu holiday get-together: You need party food, and you need it now. So what can you do when you barely have enough time to get in the kitchen let...

With the holiday season rapidly approaching, knowing just the right gift to give may be tricky. But, there are still three days until Christmas. For anyone who still feels like summer was last week — this one is for you. There is still time to get something unique and with...

The holidays, a time where families and friends can get together to talk, to laugh — or get into screaming arguments. There are plenty of reasons togetherness can turn into tension — maybe that cousin you mostly love has that one opinion on politics or world events you just can’t...

As a freshman at what is now called the Professional High School of Tourism in his native Bulgaria, Zhelyazko “Jak” Latinov studied the standard math, geography and history. He studied English but it wasn’t a core subject. In addition to his regular classes, he attended a technical school where he...

MENANDS, N.Y. — Kaine is a big, buoyant dog looking for a home. But lately, he’s spending a lot of time at the office. Animal shelters around the U.S. are bursting at the seams amid the rising cost of living, so the gray and white 7-year-old has been staying in...

SANTA FE, N.M. — Like Christmas trees, Santa and reindeer, the poinsettia has long been a ubiquitous symbol of the holiday season in the U.S. and Europe. But now, nearly 200 years after the plant with the bright crimson leaves was introduced north of the Rio Grande, attention is once...

Millennials are revamping white elephant holiday parties. The tradition stems back to Southeast Asia when the white elephant — considered a sacred animal — was given by a high-ranking person as a gift to someone who displeased them. The gift was given almost as a punishment because the recipient would...