Editor's Picks category, Page 196
‘Moves like Jagger’: As Mick marks 80 years, WYEP will air Pittsburgh band covers of Rolling Stones songs
Mick Jagger is turning 80 on Wednesday, and Pittsburgh radio station WYEP is celebrating with a collection of new, local band covers of classic Rolling Stones tunes. “Pittsburgh’s Got Moves Like Jagger” will air throughout the day Wednesday, and a full hour special of Pittsburgh artists’ covers will air at...
Mustard Skittles are a thing that’s happening
Mustard + Skittles = uhhhh, yeah. Yes, the snack treat that no one asked for has arrived. Mustard-flavored Skittles are now a thing — thanks to the candy brand and French’s. It’s all a way to help promote the brands on National Mustard Day, which we all celebrate on Aug....
Foreigner bassist Jeff Pilson on the band’s farewell tour, its future and its legacy
Foreigner bassist Jeff Pilson says it’s not unusual for his band name to create some bewilderment. “It’s funny, people oftentimes don’t recognize the name, but they recognize the songs,” Pilson said. “I can tell somebody, oh yeah, I play in a band called Foreigner. ‘Oh, OK, very good. Would I...
Twitter turning into X is set to kill billions in brand value
It’s rare for corporate brands to become so intertwined with everyday conversation that they become verbs. It’s rarer still for the owner of such a brand to announce plans to intentionally destroy it. On Sunday, in the middle of a quiet summer weekend, Elon Musk decreed that Twitter’s product name...
Jason Aldean’s ‘Try That in a Small Town’ rockets to No. 2 on charts after music video controversy
LOS ANGELES — Jason Aldean ‘s “Try That in a Small Town” is experiencing exponential growth following controversy over its music video. “Try That in a Small Town,” which was released in May, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week just behind BTS’s Jung Kook solo...
Pittsburgh Pop podcast: Talking ‘Barbie,’ Shark Week, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
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 the future might hold for AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh. Benz and Owen discuss the double hits of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” (and the failures of...
With ‘Barbie,’ Greta Gerwig breaks a box office record for female directors
“Barbie” didn’t just break the opening weekend record for 2023; It also shattered the first weekend record for a film directed by a woman. With $162 million in ticket sales from North American theaters, according to studio totals Monday, “Barbie” catapulted past both “Captain Marvel,” which was co-directed by Anna...
Jury deliberates in Kevin Spacey’s sexual assault trial in London
LONDON — Jurors in the sexual assault trial of Kevin Spacey retired to begin deliberations Monday on allegations against the actor by four men that date back two decades. Spacey, 63, has pleaded not guilty to nine charges, including multiple counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a...
Tips and tricks for keeping garden critters at bay
As she browsed the outdoor aisles of 380 Auction in Murrysville, Plum resident Marilyn Covert lamented the loss of her homegrown tomatoes to a deer. “They’re terrible,” she said of the deer, as she pushed her cart stacked with gardening supplies. “There’s nothing like a homegrown tomato.” Covert uses deer...
Musk says Twitter to change logo to X from the bird. Changes could come as early as Monday.
NEW YORK — Elon Musk said Sunday that he plans to change the logo of Twitter to an “X” from the famous blue bird, marking what would be the latest big change since he bought the social media platform for $44 billion last year. In a series of posts on...
‘Bake’ sweet summer icebox cakes in the fridge
Hear the word “cake” and an image comes to mind. It’s usually a round, layer cake filled and coated with thick frosting and maybe finished with sprinkles. Cut a big, triangular wedge and you have an absolute textbook illustration of a piece of cake. Delicious to eat anytime — but...
New Kensington’s Sizzling Summer Night had something for everyone
Many years ago, particularly during the Victorian and Edwardian eras, summer was said to be a time of decadence, socializing, and inspiration largely taking place outdoors. New Kensington’s second annual Sizzling Summer Night, held Saturday evening, had that kind of feel. Though she wasn’t around during those bygone times, one...
Ferrari is the ‘Marque Car’ of the year at Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix
Enzo Ferrari’s passion was racing cars. That love of fast high-performance Italian automobiles carries over into this year’s Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix. Ferrari is this year’s Marque of the Year at the 41st annual event that’s happening Saturday and Sunday in Schenley Park. “Ferrari has a heritage, and it’s a...
‘Blessing bouquets’ outreach blooms in Vandergrift
A Vandergrift woman is using her green thumb and the power of flowers to brighten the lives of strangers. Last year, Katie Vance, 33, transformed her front lawn, once a rocky, barely there lawn with two small trees, into a floral oasis, complete with native perennials and annual flowers. Each...
Tony Bennett, masterful stylist of American musical standards, dies at 96
NEW YORK — Tony Bennett, the eminent and timeless stylist whose devotion to classic American songs and knack for creating new standards such as “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” graced a decadeslong career that brought him admirers from Frank Sinatra to Lady Gaga, died Friday. He was 96,...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: July 21-23
We’ve made it to the weekend. If you aren’t attending Picklesburgh or the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix in Schenley Park, here are some other things to do. Edible garden The fifth annual Swissvale Edible Garden Tour is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. The free event showcases gardeners...
Murrysville man will sing national anthem at PNC Park
Joe Hnath of Murrysville is making his mother proud at a pretty rapid rate these days. Hnath, 24, is on the autism spectrum and was diagnosed at age 2 with Asperger’s Syndrome. His mother, Lisa, is a volunteer education advocate with the nonprofit East Suburban Citizen Advocacy, which is dedicated...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend: July 21-23
Sunset soiree Experience Fort Ligonier at twilight with a sunset tour from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the historical site at routes 30 and 711 in Ligonier. Guests will enjoy a guided tour of the fort’s museum and a wine, cheese and dessert reception on the education center patio....
Kennywood’s Raging Rapids reopens
After three long years, the Raging Rapids are running again. Kennywood Park’s water ride finally reopened Thursday. In April, the park announced the ride would return at some point this season. Crews have spent weeks working on the ride before its return, said Kennywood spokesperson Tasha Pokrzywa. “We’re really excited...
Fans of martial arts legend Bruce Lee fondly remember his life philosophy 50 years after his death
HONG KONG — Fans of late martial arts legend Bruce Lee, who broke negative stereotypes around Asian men in films, gathered in Hong Kong this week to commemorate their idol’s death half a century ago, remembering his legacy and his life philosophy on persistence. Lee, who was born in San...
Quench your thirst: Picklesburgh has plenty of ‘dill-icious’ drink options
Pickle-flavored juice, beer, iced tea, lemonade and alcoholic drinks will be some of the liquids flowing starting at noon Friday when Picklesburgh opens. Pickles are commonly used in food, but the festival pours on the drink options, as well. The annual event produced by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership will have...
TV Talk: ‘Shark Week’ goes inside ‘Belly of the Beast’ to get close-up views of sharksVideo
“Shark Week 2023” kicks off this weekend on Discovery Channel and streaming service Max with “Belly of the Beast: Feeding Frenzy” (8 p.m. Sunday), which is a prototypical “Shark Week” entry. Part science, part derring-do for the purposes of entertainment, cameras follow marine biologist and “Shark Week’ mainstay Austin Gallagher...
Art enthusiasts and sleuths can conspire for The Great Heinz Caper in Sharpsburg
A Sharpsburg scavenger hunt has the potential to be a really big ‘dill.’ The Great Heinz Caper – a live, Clue-like game on borough streets – is scheduled Sept. 9. It combines the punch of live gaming with the perk of learning about the borough’s most famous son, ketchup magnate...
Kecksburg UFO Festival returns with out-of-this-world activities
Many Pennsylvania towns have summer festivals that serve as a community gathering and homecoming for native sons and daughters. None of them is quite like Kecksburg’s. The tiny Mt. Pleasant Township village will have its 18th annual celebration — the Kecksburg UFO Festival — Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There will...
No bright future for Back to the Foodture restaurants
After months of emails with lawyers representing Universal Studios, owners of Back to the Foodture have decided the financial stress is just too much. “We have been going back and forth with them since February paying lawyer fees and filing paperwork,” said chef Angel Magwood, co-owner of Back to the...
