More Lifestyles category, Page 43
Sharing lessons learned in a tough 2020, looking ahead to a better 2021Video
Was most of what we learned in 2020 stuff we didn’t want to know? Like what really happens during a global pandemic or an ultra-polarized presidential election? From wildfires and earthquakes to hurricanes and floods, it hasn’t been pretty. In fact, a lot of it has been frightening and heartbreaking....
Greensburg infant’s brief life honored with random acts of kindness
In January, the brief life of a Greensburg infant led to an outpouring of love and support to his bereaved parents. This year on the date of his birth and death, Jan. 6, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region is honoring his memory with Willie’s Random Acts of...
The Westmoreland’s upcoming Community Day will be last for a while
Fans of Community Day programming at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art might want to make sure they join in the Jan. 3 virtual installment. Not only will it offer three hours of diverse programming, it also will be the last session for a while. “This will be the museum’s...
Living with Children: Teaching emotional resilience
A journalist asks, “What is the biggest challenge facing today’s children?” “The real world,” I said. For the last 50 years or so, good parenting has been defined as protecting one’s children from frustration, defeat, difficulty, stress, loss, deprivation, negative consequences, mistake and just about every other real-world experience. The...
Voting still open for People’s Choice award in Pittsburgh’s Gingerbread House Display and Competition
There are 14 more days remaining to vote for the People’s Choice award in the City of Pittsburgh’s Gingerbread House Display and Competition. The recognition is new for the 18th annual event, which went virtual this year because of the pandemic. More than 1,500 votes have been cast for the...
Holiday symbols represent the meanings for the season
They are the universal symbols of the holiday season. Menorahs and dreidels, wreaths and trees, unity cups and bowls of fruit — all integral parts of Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa. While each has its own customs and meanings and ways to celebrate, all three share one thing in common: light....
Pittsburgh ‘Menorah Parade’ lights up the cityVideo
Despite months of pandemic gloom, the lights of Hanukkah shined bright Tuesday evening on Pittsburgh’s East End. More than 75 vehicles illuminated with menorahs drove through the streets, honking horns and yelling “Happy Hanukkah” to the people lining the course. The annual Menorah Parade celebrates Hanukkah, known as the festival...
Living with Children: Tantrums and bribes
Question: Our 14-year-old daughter desperately wants to begin wearing makeup, which all, and I mean all, of her classmates are allowed to do. We have held off not only because of our beliefs but also because of her immaturity. Up until recently, for example, she has continued to throw magnificent...
Philadelphia Flower Show to move outdoors for 1st timeVideo
For the first time in its history, the renowned Philadelphia Flower Show will be an outdoor event in 2021. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society said the long-running exhibition is being re-imagined to provide a new, safe experience for visitors. “We are thrilled to be able to celebrate the outdoors and offer...
Play it Forward Pittsburgh Toy Drive changes game plan because of Wolf’s covid-19 ordersVideo
The plan to distribute toys to 200 families on Friday and 300 on Saturday turned into 500 on the same day. That doesn’t sound like fun, but organizers of the Play it Forward Pittsburgh Toy Drive scrambled to make sure bicycles, trucks, dolls, stuffed animals and more get into the...
Downtown Pittsburgh ice rink still open with capacity changes
The Rink at PPG Place in Downtown Pittsburgh plans to stay open, but with capacity changes, in light of Gov. Tom Wolf’s new pandemic restrictions. Outdoor gatherings are limited to 50 people. “The ice rink will be open and abiding by the state requirements,” said Byron Sharp, president of Magic...
Gifty new and unusual pandemic-proof games for the holidays
The pandemic has proven there’s no shortage of games to keep families, couples and kids amused. The classics are ever-present, but a range of new or off-the-beaten-track gift entries are available. A sampling: Tragos It’s a party card game focused on Latino pop culture that comes in a variety of...
Play it Forward Pittsburgh Toy Drive gives new meaning to children’s fun
Miniature cars are lined up ready to roll. Kitchen sets await that first pretend meal. Bicycles sit ready for that ride around the block. And teddy bears and baby dolls long for that much-needed hug. These are some of the items that will be given to children as part of...
Virtual menorah lighting, scaled-back parade set in Pittsburgh to celebrate Hanukkah
Dark times need illumination. At 5 p.m. Thursday, 1,000 homes in the Pittsburgh area will light the first candle on their menorah celebrating the opening of Hanukkah, the festival of lights. They will do it virtually because of the pandemic. “It is so important that people stay connected,” said Adam...
Get a pair of rare, collectible sneakers in newly opened Neecs Sneaks in GreensburgVideo
Silver and gold, stocks and bonds, are all tried-and-true investments. But Nico Giannilli of Unity is betting his financial success on another hot commodity — sneakers. Not the worn-down, smelly footwear you schlep around in, but the pricey, celebrity-endorsed kicks that go for big bucks. Giannilli, 24, has been amassing...
Living with Children: What ‘Hand in Hand’ parenting gets wrong
“Hand in Hand” parenting is the latest iteration of progressive (nouveau, unverified) childrearing. I became aware of HIH several weeks ago, courtesy of a grandmother whose daughter and son-in-law are practitioners. She was both amused and appalled. Intrigued, I went to the HIH website (handinhandparenting.org) to see for myself. The...
‘Baking With Lucy’ goes on, as daughter continues late mom’s online cooking show
Mary Ellen Raneri hasn’t taken much time to mourn her mother’s passing. She’s been too busy baking. Her mother, 98-year-old Lucy Pollock, who went viral this year with her “Baking With Lucy” Facebook videos, died Nov. 22 from complications of covid-19. The Latrobe resident said she feels like she owes...
Where to find cut-your-own Christmas tree options around the Pittsburgh region
Still looking to cut down your own tree this Christmas? This interactive map shows some of the places in the Pittsburgh region growing real trees you can select and cut your own fresh evergreen. Those on the hunt for a tree are advised to call first or check the location’s...
Pittsburgh fiber artist, friends from Vermont, California make rugs, wall hangings to benefit food banks
Fiber artists make rugs from wool. They intertwine the fabric to create decorative wall hangings or functional floor coverings for the home. Three women from across the country are fashioning them — not only for a house’s décor — but to help put food on someone’s table. RFL or “Rugs...
DCNR cancels all in-person events due to covid concerns
The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has canceled all in-person events and programs in all state parks and forests, starting Sunday. That includes those organized by its staff or volunteers. The decision includes the elimination of the DCNR’s organized group First Day Hikes planned for Jan. 1. The...
Equine therapeutic center in Cook Township plans drive-thru holiday Winterfest
The STAT Ligonier Therapeutic Center will spread some holiday cheer with a drive-through Winterfest, from 6-9 p.m. Dec. 18 and 19. “We were thinking about how so many Christmas events have been canceled, and we wanted to do something for the kids and the community,” said founder Catherine Markosky. The...
Pittsburgh Pothole Filler made to satisfy sweet-and-salty popcorn cravings
The creative minds behind Pittsburgh Yinzer Greetings have found a way to make potholes palatable — literally. Just in time for holiday gift-giving, the company has teamed up with Sarris Candies to introduce Pittsburgh Pothole Filler. The sweet-and-salty treat features fresh-popped popcorn, dunked and drizzled in rich dark chocolate in...
Post-holiday storage tips will make decorating a snap next year
When this article comes out, you may have just unpacked and displayed the last of the holiday decorations. And, while the last thing you want to think about when admiring your menorah or twinkling tree is storage options, the time will eventually come when the holiday decor must be repacked...
Greensburg Garden Center crafts unique items for annual greens sale
There are a lot of good reasons to shop Greensburg Garden Center’s annual Christmas greens and decor sale. Offering everything from trees, wreaths and roping to kissing balls, table arrangements and hanging baskets, along with other handcrafted decorative items, it’s one-stop shopping, said center president Carla Rusnica. It’s also one-of-a-kind...
Goodbye, ugly Christmas sweater — hello, holiday-themed mask
Forget the ugly Christmas sweater — the holiday-themed mask is the hot, new look this year. “We can’t even keep them stocked,” said Beth DeNillo, manager of Bella Unique Boutique in downtown Greensburg. “They’re very popular,” she added. “Our customers are saying, ‘If we have to wear them, we might...
