Lifestyles category, Page 2
Amid rising questions about pet vaccines, veterinarians say risks remain rare
Jennifer Sybol keeps a cherished urn with her beloved dog Jasmine’s ashes on display in the dog room of her Penn Hills home. Sybol said Jasmine developed health complications after receiving too many vaccines when she was 5. Her white blood cell count “went way up” and began working against...
Guide to local holiday gifts: Western Pennsylvania shops, treats and experiences
Whether you’re starting your holiday shopping or trying to find that last gift for a tough customer, a whole world of local businesses has a selection for anyone on your list. From local delicacies to ’Burgh-branded merch to unforgettable experiences, here’s a quick guide to shopping close to home this...
Expert tips to ease financial pressure and avoid holiday overspending
NEW YORK — Are you feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to spend money on gifts, parties and travel this holiday season? The job market is tough, student loan and credit card debt are rising, and prices for many items remain high due to inflation. If you’re feeling financially strained, know...
Retired contractor completes years-long build of high-tech home in O’Hara
Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither was a state-of-the-art custom home on the market in O’Hara. Retired homeowner, civil engineer and general contractor Lou Marsico originally kicked off construction on the more than 5,000-square-foot, five-bedroom residence in 2022. At that time, the house was intended for Marsico’s adult...
Aleppo man shares memories of the race track he helped build
At 87, Earl Seiler returned to the track he helped build and took one last lap — this time on foot, hand-in-hand with his daughter. The Aleppo resident and his daughter, Nancy Patterson of Edgeworth, walked from the starting line to the finish at Pittsburgh International Race Complex at the...
Splurge Boutique delivers warm welcome, unique finds in O’Hara
The welcome is always warm for shoppers visiting Splurge in Fox Chapel Plaza. Owner Kym Pelcher of Fox Chapel greets every customer with the same upbeat energy. “I always try to be real positive and I have a sign that says ‘No Drama Please’ and we greet every customer. I...
‘Sports360,’ 1st major exhibition at the Kamin Science Center, set to open
An exhibition that immerses visitors in the science of athletic performance is about to debut. Details of the “Sports360” exhibit were announced Thursday at a pep rally at the Daniel G. and Carole L. Kamin Science Center on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. The exhibit officially opens Saturday with a family-friendly tailgate....
Poppin’ Tags Free Store owner extends mission with funds, new business
Sonya Dembowski remembers the moment she decided to begin her Poppin’ Tags Free Store in West Deer. She was driving through Coraopolis in the height of the pandemic shutdown. She remembers seeing piles of donations left outside a closed store. Dembowski later saw on the news that, because the donations...
Office holiday parties can be dreadful for introverts and people with social anxiety
NEW YORK — The year the radio station company where he worked held its holiday party at a dive bar, Ryan Arnold walked in and saw coworkers passing around a tall glass boot filled with beer. He heard the office manager belting out ’80s power ballads between whiskey shots. Arnold’s...
Gordo’s Café and Cantina coming to RIDC Park in O’Hara
A scratch bakery and cantina in O’Hara will feature tavern-style pizza, fresh-roasted meats and gourmet cronuts in a prime location perched along Route 28. Gordo’s Café and Cantina is scheduled to open in the coming weeks in RIDC Park, in the home of the former Periwinkle’s Bakery & Café. “The...
The Grinch Meal takes over McDonald’s for the holidays
He’s a mean one, that Mr. Grinch, but McDonald’s doesn’t seem to think so. In a Dr. Seuss-esque poem, the international fast food chain made an announcement just in time for the holidays: The Grinch is taking over with a plan so keen; McDonald’s USA will serve the most mischievous...
Paula Sculley’s legacy lives on through generous gift to Fern Hollow Nature Center
The late Paula Sculley had a vision for an outdoor space in Sewickley Heights. She convinced G. Whitney Snyder Sr. to donate property to the Sewickley Heights borough in 1997, a gift of land that created the opportunity for outdoor and educational experiences at the Fern Hollow Nature Center. Sculley...
The holiday shopping season comes with tons of extra emissions. Here’s how to do it sustainably
We’re in the thick of the holiday shopping season, and U.S. residents are expected to shatter the spending record again this year. The National Retail Federation forecasts that 2025 will be the first time we collectively spend more than $1 trillion on year-end gifts. A lot of materials, energy, packaging...
What to know about changes to Disney parks’ disability policies
ORLANDO, Fla. — Changes that Disney made to a popular program that lets qualifying disabled people skip long lines at its California and Florida theme parks are too restrictive, disabled fans contend in a federal lawsuit and shareholder proposal that seek to expand eligibility. The battle over who can skip...
If you want that tattoo erased it’s going to hurt and it’s going to cost you
DETROIT — Colin Farrell’s had it done — many times. So have Angelina Jolie and Megan Fox. Heck, even Bart Simpson did. Whether it’s Marilyn Monroe’s face, Billy Bob Thornton’s name, a sultry rose or even Bart’s partially inscribed homage to his mother, some tattoos simply have to go for...
Sewickley designer Elise Keely creates welcoming outdoor spaces
As a landscape designer, Elise Everett Keely envisions more than yards and gardens. She sees a connection between the architectural style of a home or business and the surrounding outdoor spaces. Sketch pad in hand, she walks into the space and takes in every detail. She begins to draw what...
TV Talk: From ‘The Pitt’ to Mister Rogers, gifts for TV fans abound
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen offers gift-giving tips for the TV fan in your life. As the holidays draw near, there’s still time to pick out gifts for the TV fans in your life, including for devotees of “The Pitt.” Whether it’s a Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center T-shirt...
North Huntingdon grandma’s love fills wedding cookie table
There is one ingredient in Adrienne “Baba” Frishof’s homemade cookies that can’t be measured — love. Frishof, 78, crafted 90 dozen cookies — 17 of the 26 varieties — for her granddaughter’s Oct. 11 wedding cookie table. “We had little takeout containers for guests to take cookies with them,” said...
Pitt’s Nationality Rooms to welcome thousands for holiday open house
Kati R. Csoman came from an immigrant Hungarian family. Her father was a steelworker in Beaver County, and there wasn’t a lot of money for college. When her mentor, University of Pittsburgh professor Robert P. Donnorummo, suggested she apply for a scholarship to study abroad in her native Hungary, she...
Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired property listed for $1.5M in Upper St. Clair
Dr. Allen Axelson is preparing to bid farewell to his beloved, nature-infused home, which he designed himself in the 1970s in Upper St. Clair. Axelson drew from his lifelong admiration of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright to build a contemporary home on seven acres for his growing family. “I’m a...
Christmas trees 101: Pros, cons and what experts recommend
Choosing a Christmas tree used to feel simple. Pack up the car, drive to the lot, find the tree that calls you and then haul it home to decorate. But with lifelike artificial trees everywhere (and holiday schedules busier than ever), more people are asking themselves the annual December question:...
Bar Noel Sewickley serves holiday cheer
Nestled inside Mi Cita, an upscale bar and lounge, is a chic holiday pop-up establishment serving high-end wines and champagne, craft cocktails, beer and mocktails as well as small plates. This is the second year for the Bar Noel Sewickley concept. In 2023, it was located inside the Sewickley Tavern....
Here are 5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Dec. 5-7
Brrr! Winter weather has arrived in Pittsburgh and we’re all feeling the chill. But that’s no excuse to stay home — bundle up and head out to see what’s going on in the ‘Burgh this weekend. Handmade Arcade Holiday Market It’s the thought that counts when it comes to gift-giving,...
Detroit’s own crime-fighter RoboCop finally stands guard in Motor CityVideo
DETROIT — RoboCop has finally found a permanent home in Detroit. A statue looming 11 feet tall and weighing 3,500 pounds began standing guard over the Motor City on Wednesday afternoon. “It was snowstorm, dark and below 30 degrees and there was a steady stream of people driving by,” after...
Where to move that Elf on the Shelf? Parents offer some creative tips
A few years ago, Kurt Neesley of Redondo Beach, Calif., was brainstorming where to put his family’s Elf on the Shelf for his three kids to find the next morning. He decided to make it look like the doll, named Elfie, had painted on their kitchen wall. Neesley used Tootsie...
