JoAnne Klimovich Harrop stories, Page 17
Mother-daughter bond encircled with permanent jewelry
When Kim Francese looks at the shiny bracelets around her wrist, she immediately thinks of her daughter Abby. They have matching accessories on their arms every day — keeping them connected when they are apart. This jewelry is permanent, just like their mother- daughter bond. Jewelers measure a customer’s wrist...
A ‘tip of the hat’ to guests who didn’t allow rain to dampen the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy hat luncheon
Under drizzle at times on a dreary Saturday afternoon in the heart of Schenley Park, guests brightened the day with the finest colorful and bold headwear. It was the 26th annual PNC Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Spring Hat Luncheon. A little precipitation didn’t deter this crowd. Members of this group were...
National Aviary announces death of penguin Stanley
One of the longest-tenured flock members at the National Aviary has died. He was 22. Stanley, named after the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup, arrived at the Aviary on Pittsburgh’s North Side in 2001 when he was just 2 months old. Stanley was nationally known for the bond he shared...
The Chadwick wedding venue has been sold
The Chadwick, a wedding and event venue in the North Hills, has been sold. An email from the venue in McCandless confirmed the news. “The Chadwick property has been sold to the Jim Shorkey Family Auto Group,” Chadwick spokesperson Ralph Sansale said via email. “The Chadwick will remain in operation...
What to know about the Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon
Preparing for a marathon is a challenge even if you aren’t the person running 26.2 miles. Someone has to make sure every step of the course is clear: the twists, the turns, the bridges and the hills. That person is Brian Schmidt, director of operations for P3R, the organization hosting...
North Side favorite Gus & Yiayia’s to open for the season
For a 90th year, the bright orange cart with the rainbow umbrella will be parked on Pittsburgh’s North Side. So will Gus Kalaris, 92. Known as the “Ice Ball Man,” Kalaris sitting on a stool by the stand is a welcome sight every spring. He will greet customers around noon...
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s public art installation features kites crashed in trees
Many of us remember on a windy day going to the park to fly a kite. We also might recall the colorful piece of fabric attached to a long string getting stuck in a tree. Bringing back those moments, artists Lenka Clayton and Phillip Andrew Lewis created an installation of...
Remodeled home in Natrona Heights on the market
The bold hue accented with the white railings and window frames makes this Natrona Heights home stand out. Recently painted a color called Daring Indigo from Glidden, the newly remodeled 1,241-square foot house is move-in ready and on the market for $205,000. Built in 1900, there are three bedrooms and...
40th annual Sewickley House Tour features net zero home
A Sewickley couple transformed a row of neighborhood garages into a net zero home, meaning the residence makes as much electricity as it uses. “We were driven by energy savings,” said Greg Kaminski, who owns the house with his wife Susan. ”We are climate change people. We want a low...
Kennywood admission cost is similar to other amusement parks, but there are ways to save
In the wake of the announcement that the Steel Curtain would be closed for the 2024 season, Kennywood enthusiasts took to social media to poke the amusement park for its $75 entrance fee. The reasoning, in part, went something like, “You’re charging $75 to get in, and one of the...
Goddaughter of King Charles III, India Hicks, to speak at Carnegie Museum of Art
Having a king as a godfather is pretty cool. Just ask India Hicks — hers is King Charles III, monarch of the United Kingdom. Hicks will be in Pittsburgh as the featured guest at the On Dec 2024 presentation and luncheon sponsored by the Women’s Committee of the Carnegie Museum...
Dave & Andy’s Homemade Ice Cream in Oakland is closing
When Leigh-Anne Weiss saw a Facebook post announcing that Dave & Andy’s Homemade Ice Cream shop in Oakland is closing this week because owner Andy Hardie is retiring, she said she was left with a sense of sorrow. “This is sad when you hear about such a great place closing,”...
Sensory accessibility: Theaters create a welcoming space for guests
When Amy Hart caught a glimpse of daughter Sophie jumping up and down in her seat in the theater, she began to tear up. Artists from the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s “The Nutcracker” were dancing on stage in a sensory-friendly performance in 2021, and 14-year-old Sophie and her friend were smiling...
The Kitchen by Vangura will bring back memories of the Primadonna restaurant
Many people who dined at the former Primadonna restaurant in McKees Rocks can recall walking in the door and immediately being greeted by the owner. Joe “Joe Joe” Costanzo Jr. would approach with arms wide open and a hearty laugh. Minutes later, guests were seated and out came a heaping...
Luxury Sewickley Village condominium hits market
“For those looking to downsize, that doesn’t have to mean downgrade,” Piatt Sotheby’s International Realty associate broker and real estate advisor Kathe Barge said of a Centennial Avenue condo in Sewickley Village. That’s apparent from the get-go — a governor’s drive winds in front of the red brick and cast...
Roast the coach: Steelers’ Bill Cowher was the man of the hour at the Mel Blount Youth Home All-Star Celebrity Roast
On Pittsburgh 412 Day, a true yinzer was honored. Crafton’s own Bill Cowher was in the spotlight at the annual Mel Blount Youth Home All-Star Celebrity Roast on Friday at the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh, Downtown. The day pays homage to Pittsburgh’s area code, 412, on April 12. “Pittsburgh 412 Day...
New Third Space Bakery in Garfield is a co-op and teaching kitchen
The term “third space” is a location other than school/work or home. Third spaces tend to be relaxing spaces, free from any expectations and somewhere you want to be but don’t have to be. That comfortable setting was the thinking behind the name Third Space Bakery Co-op and Teaching Kitchen,...
Beautifully restored home in Pittsburgh’s Mexican War Streets hits the market
Barbara and Ed Ivanko went on the Mexican War Streets House & Garden Tour in 2014 and fell in love with the neighborhood. The uniqueness of the homes reminded them of the benefits of living so close to a Downtown area, something they enjoyed while growing up in New York...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: April 12-14
It’s the weekend. Here are some ways to spend it. Spring Carnival Carnegie Mellon University’s Spring Carnival includes amusement park rides, adventures in booths, unhealthy snacks and buggy races — the university’s oldest tradition. Streets will be closed in and around the campus. Since 1920, the event has featured buggy...
Dick’s House of Sport opens at Ross Park Mall
Dick’s House of Sport is a true experiential shopping setting. With a 30-foot, 360-degree rock climbing wall, an 18,000-square-foot outdoor track and field, multi-sport cage and golf simulators, athletes can try before they buy. “This is a retail experience, a community experience and a museum experience — although unlike a...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: April 5-7
It’s the first weekend in April and the Pirates home opener is Friday at PNC Park on the North Shore. Here are some ways to spend it. Retro Fair The Senator John Heinz History Center is hosting the 10th annual Vintage Pittsburgh Retro Fair in partnership with The Neighborhood Flea...
Going to the Pirates home opener? What you need to know
The first-place Pittsburgh Pirates open their home season Friday. They host the Baltimore Orioles. First pitch is set for 4:12 p.m. — a nod to the city’s 412 area code — at PNC Park on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. The weather forecast isn’t looking favorable. Attendance is, however. The game is...
Kennywood unveils additions for opening day, including details of new Potato Smash ride
Kennywood’s newest version of its famous Potato Patch fries will be smashed. The West Mifflin amusement park spent the offseason transforming its classic bumper-car ride into a Potato Patch theme. Called Potato Smash, the attraction will feature 20 vehicles — which the park refers to as “spud-tacular” cars — modeled...
Renegade Dog among Pirates’ new food offerings this season at PNC ParkVideo
Pirates pitcher David Bednar’s walk-up song inspired one of the new food items at PNC Park. The Renegade Dog is a footlong hot dog, with pot roast, mini pierogies and pickle slices — which all start with the letter “P” — on a bun. There are onions, too. It will...
Rankin’s Mary’s Vine restaurant, wine and cigar bar ‘elevates the night’
The former Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Rankin has found new life as Mary’s Vine, a restaurant and wine and cigar bar. As you make your way to the main entrance, owner Cheryl Stasinowsky greets you with a smile. She and her family invite patrons to sip...
