JoAnne Klimovich Harrop stories, Page 63
Pittsburgh Monster Pumpkin Pop-Up carves out a new face this year
The Pittsburgh Monster Pumpkin Festival has turned into the Pittsburgh Monster Pumpkin Pop-Up. The pandemic won’t allow for the traditional event along Pittsburgh’s North Shore, but organizers have devised another way. Not far from the usual spot, they will create a “mammoth, pumpkin-carved and painted scene of Pittsburgh’s mythical river...
37th annual Penn’s Colony Festival canceled
The Penn’s Colony Festival in Saxonburg has been canceled because of the pandemic. The 37th annual event was scheduled for Sept. 19-20 and 26-27. Organizers plan for the festival return next year, setting the dates as Sept. 18-19 and 25-26, 2021. It is held at the Penn’s Colony Village Grounds...
Pittsburgh-based Top Hat branding agency to open Necromancer Brewing Co. in North Hills
Top Hat, a Pittsburgh-based creative branding agency known for collaborating with the craft beer industry, is opening its own brewery. Necromancer Brewing Co. is scheduled to open by the end of the year in the North Hills. The exact location will be announced in a few weeks, said Ben Butler,...
Greenfield woman, 89, crafts hundreds of pandemic masks to donateVideo
Jackie Stebler pushes her walker among the rows of fabric. She’s in search of the perfect material. When she finds what she needs, she places it on the seat of the walker and keeps moving. Her daughter, Karen Culley, transfers the fabric pattern to a shopping cart. Jackie is on...
Because of pandemic, Pittsburgh Fashion Week has virtual look this year
Pittsburgh Fashion Week will have a signature look this year. Because of the pandemic, the event is being held virtually Sept. 21-25. There won’t be an in-person runway show, but there will be plenty of style, said John Valentine, executive director of the Downtown Community Development Corp., which is hosting...
Paralympic sled hockey hopeful inspired by friend facing similar challengesVideo
Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger” plays in the background. Two young men – one in a wheelchair and the other with forearm crutches – are working hard. It’s a sweltering 90-degree day at Piff’s Power and Fitness in Youngwood. Personal trainer Lou Rocco bellows out instructions to one his clients....
Tako restaurant coming to Bakery Square in Pittsburgh’s East End
Taco lovers can soon get their fix at a new East End location. A second Tako restaurant is opening in Bakery Square in Pittsburgh. It joins the Downtown venue owned by the Richard DeShantz Restaurant Group. “We are really excited to have a Richard DeShantz Restaurant Group restaurant,” said Gregg...
The Clarks’ Scott Blasey to perform at diabetes fundraiser
If Julia Balobeck sleeps through her phone’s alarm, it can be life-threatening. The 18-year-old from Crafton has diabetes and wears a device that alerts her to low blood sugar through her smartphone. It also sends a warning to her mother’s phone. “At night she gets some crazy low readings,” said...
‘Shopopoly’ to showcase Downtown Pittsburgh’s business district
The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership’s latest promotion is a Golden Triangle take on an iconic board game. “Monopoly” has become “Shopopoly.” Customers who visit stores from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and get a color-coded game card (available at the shops or in Market Square) stamped to be entered into...
Quick Drip IV brings hydration therapy trend to South SideVideo
In a neighborhood known to attract people drinking their way to a hangover, Bo Trasada offers to help replenish the fluids and vitamins these individuals might have lost. He opened Quick Drip IV, a trendy intravenous hydration salon on Pittsburgh’s South Side. “An IV is the most efficient way to...
Freeport Theatre Festival presents ‘President Arthur’s Inspiration’
The words in these letters spoke volumes. Julia Sand wrote to then-vice president Chester A. Arthur, who would become the 21st president of the United States, offering advice on how to be a better man. Arthur read the correspondence and seemingly took it to heart. You will have to come...
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra announces financial changes because of pandemic
In the wake of canceled concerts and postponed tours, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on Thursday announced a series of financial cutbacks to help sustain the organization through the pandemic. The 87 musicians have agreed to a 25% reduction in base salary. Additionally, 75% of the staff has been affected with...
1 last chance to visit Kennywood, Sandcastle, Idlewild
Labor Day has become the unofficial end of summer. This year, it also marks the final weekend of 2020 to visit Kennywood Park in West Mifflin, Sandcastle Water Park in West Homestead and Idlewild & SoakZone in Ligonier Township. In past years, there were things to do celebrating Halloween and...
The Laser Loop, a former Kennywood favorite, is for saleVideo
Are you loopy enough to buy a roller coaster? Now, you can. The Laser Loop, an attraction at Kennywood Park in West Mifflin from 1980 to 1990, is for sale. You’ll need to negotiate the $490,000 asking price, which does not include the cost of dismantling the ride, transporting it...
Canine Companions for Independence provides dogs for people with disabilitiesVideo
Jessica Gardner rolls herself in her power wheelchair to the dryer. But with cerebral palsy, it’s difficult to pull the clothes out. Her best buddy comes to the rescue. Ford, a Labrador-golden retriever cross, has been by her side for four years. The two were matched through Canine Companions for...
Graeter’s Ice Cream hosts ‘Cones For The Cure’ fundraiser for pediatric brain cancerVideo
Six-year-old Elena left notes in her mom’s briefcase and her dad’s backpack. There were many written messages from the little girl before she died from brain cancer in 2007. “She hid some between books on the bookshelf, in the corners of our dresser drawers or between dishes in the china...
Art Rooney Awards Dinner and Auction held onlineVideo
The 47th annual Art Rooney Awards Dinner and Auction has gone virtual. Like so many nonprofits, the event could not be held live because of the pandemic. Organizers compiled a video with messages from the honorees, along with showcasing the football jerseys, golf packages, spa certificates and hotel stays that...
Lower Burrell woman, others join 6-person living-donor transplant swapVideo
Katherine “Kate” Maloney is definitely a daddy’s girl. And her father, Steve Leach, is definitely a girl dad. “When I look at my dad, I see a strong, hardworking man. I see my best friend,” said Maloney, 30, of Lower Burrell. “I see an amazing grandfather. I love that I...
Western Pa. veterans create art for virtual exhibit
The pieces of art were created by heroes. Twelve veterans from the Southwestern Veterans Center are part of the exhibit, “We Are Beautiful Art!” An opening was planned for March at the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, Downtown, but was canceled because of the pandemic. The 35-piece collection can be viewed...
Frick Pittsburgh opens some of its exhibits, grounds
Portions of The Frick Pittsburgh have reopened. The East End museum is operating with limited hours and is opening in phases. Not everything is available because of social distancing constraints inside the Clayton House, the cafe and the greenhouse, said Frick spokesman Greg Langel. The Car and Carriage museum and...
Artist creating huge street mural in Downtown PittsburghVideo
When Jayla Patton was 13 years old, her family’s cable television service got cut off. “The bills were expensive,” said Patton. “My father told me to forget about watching TV and to draw instead. It gave me something to do.” These days, it’s not just a way to pass the...
Animal Friends to benefit from sales of BrewDog beer showing adoptable canines
Cheers to your furry friends. Scottish craft brewer BrewDog has teamed locally with Animal Friends in Ohio Township as well as Gigi’s Shelter Services in Ohio to showcase adoptable dogs looking for forever homes. The brewery created Street Dog and Street Dog AF (alcohol free), beers of its Punk IPA...
Western Pa. mobile fashion boutiques to be part of national virtual marketVideo
Beth Buenaventura started her fashion business with a mobile truck. She then added to a brick-and-mortar boutique. Thursday, it will be transformed into a virtual shop. Buenaventura, owner of Fresh Nostalgia, a women’s clothing and accessories store in Downtown Pittsburgh, said her company will be one of nearly a dozen...
Vandergrift native to compete in virtual ‘East Coast Regional GrandSLAM’
Mariah Passarelli is going to share her story. The Vandergrift native who lives in Downtown Pittsburgh is one of eight people competing in The Moth’s first virtual East Coast Regional “GrandSLAM—A Multi-City Showdown” at 7:30 p.m. Monday. The Moth is a non-profit group based in New York City dedicated to...
VisitPittsburgh’s new marketing campaign invites people to rediscover the cityVideo
VisitPittsburgh is inviting people to visit Pittsburgh again. A new marketing campaign, “Rediscover Pittsburgh,” aims to drive visitation and encourage local and regional audiences to plan a weekday or weekend getaway right here in Pittsburgh. Via social media, VisitPittsburgh has been highlighting the area’s three rivers, outdoor dining possibilities, museum...
