Lifestyles category, Page 38
Super Bowl cooks, it can be done: Buffalo wings with less splatter
We will start by acknowledging that deep-fried chicken wings are very, very good. And when I am out and about in a bar-ish setting, it’s difficult to pass them up. But deep frying chicken wings — or really anything — at home? Very rare in my kitchen. It’s messy, it...
Chemical hair straighteners and the impact on Black women’s health
Jasmine Green sat in the kitchen one afternoon in 2003, getting her hair done by her grandmother. Her curly coils were being parted in sections with a slender comb to reveal her scalp. Vaseline was placed on open areas between the parts. After the Vaseline, a thick, pungent white cream...
Gardening and growing food a form of liberation for the Black community
Amid winter’s gray skies and unpredictable temperatures, Black communities are reclaiming their narrative through gardening and growing food, a powerful act of resilience that fuels empowerment. Despite sometimes freezing temperatures, they sow seeds of change, heralding a season of growth and autonomy. Raynise Kelly and TaRay Kelly are owners of...
Fat Tuesday means big business for New Orleans bakers under exploding demand for King Cakes
NEW ORLEANS — It’s Carnival season in New Orleans and that means lines are long outside local bakeries and the pace inside is brisk as workers strive to meet customer demand for king cakes — those brightly colored seasonal pastries that have exploded in popularity over the years. “Mardi Gras...
Country music icon Jason Aldean to open restaurant on Pittsburgh’s North Shore
A country music megastar plans to open a new bar/restaurant in Pittsburgh this year. Jason Aldean’s Kitchen+Bar is opening at the old Jerome Bettis’ Grille 36 location. The new business, at 393 North Shore Drive, is in partnership with TC Restaurant Group, owner of Tequila Cowboy. The nearly 10,000-square-foot venue...
Hempfield ice cream stand adds drive-thru, plans to open year-round
The owners at Tastyland in Hempfield are looking to keep the taste going year-round. They’re building a drive-thru at the ice cream and food stand, which has operated in the past on a seasonal basis. “We’ve owned it now for about three years and have had a lot of crazy...
Edmunds: What you actually need to know about wintertime driving with an electric vehicle
As a big winter storm rolled across the United States in mid-January, many news outlets reported on drivers of electric vehicles dealing with dramatically reduced range and multi-hour waits at public charging stations. It’s true that driving an EV in freezing weather poses extra challenges compared to a gasoline-powered vehicle....
Universal Orlando reveals details about resort’s new theme park, slated to open next year
ORLANDO, Fla. — Universal Orlando Resort’s new theme park opening next year will feature lands devoted to Super Nintendo World characters, Universal film monsters, the “Fantastic Beasts” films and the “How to Train Your Dragon” film franchise. But at the center of it all will be Celestial Park, theme park...
Viral ‘sleepy girl mocktail’ promises improved night’s rest. Does it work?
If you’re having trouble falling asleep, some TikTok users argue there’s an elixir called the “sleepy girl mocktail” that could provide a solution. The drink is a combination of tart cherry juice, magnesium powder and a fizzy drink like sparkling water or prebiotic soda that allegedly promises a better night’s...
Irwin natives open Trafford brewery as gathering place for community
Brothers Chris, Nick and Mike Juricich have shared an appreciation for craft beer for as long as they can remember. The Irwin natives will set their passion into motion today with the opening of their latest entrepreneurial venture, Wye Beer Co., located on Forbes Road in Trafford. “Craft beer is...
The world’s largest cruise ship has 20 decks, 7 pools and would cover almost 4 city blocks
MIAMI — The world’s largest cruise ship — the size of almost four city blocks — is set to begin its maiden voyage Saturday as it leaves from the Port of Miami. Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas runs nearly 1,200 feet (365 meters) from bow to stern. The ship,...
3 Pittsburgh chefs named semifinalists for James Beard Foundation Awards
Three Pittsburgh chefs from two restaurants were named semifinalists in the James Beard Foundation’s 2024 Restaurant and Chef Awards. Kate Lasky, Tomasz Skowronski and Bootsaba Tongdee got nods in the best chef category for the Mid-Atlantic region, which includes Washington, D.C., Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Lasky and...
In-N-Out to close Oakland, California, restaurant due to wave of car break-ins, armed robberies
OAKLAND, Calif. — In-N-Out Burger will close its only restaurant in Oakland, Calif., because of a wave of car break-ins, property damage, theft and armed robberies targeting customers and employees alike, the company announced. The fast-food burger joint in a busy corridor near Oakland International Airport will close on March...
U.S. scientist brews up storm by offering Britain advice on tea
LONDON — An American scientist has sparked a trans-Atlantic tempest in a teapot by offering Britain advice on its favorite hot beverage. Bryn Mawr College chemistry professor Michelle Francl says one of the keys to a perfect cup of tea is a pinch of salt. The tip is included in...
What to know about changes to this year’s FAFSA application for college students
NEW YORK — A new version of the federal student aid application known as the FAFSA is now available to all college applicants for the 2024-2025 school year. The new Free Application for Federal Student Aid was designed to make it easier for students and parents to apply and to...
How to book a unique all-inclusive vacation that’s not terrible
All-inclusive vacations can conjure images of food under heat lamps, too many poolside piña coladas, and being trapped on resort grounds. But sun-soaked packages are not the only type of all-inclusives. Sure, sprawling mega-resorts exist — and their numbers are growing. All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy has spent the last couple...
Jennifer Lopez shimmies, and Elie Saab shimmers, at the Paris spring couture shows
PARIS — As the Paris spring couture shows entered their third day, Jennifer Lopez ensured that the power of runway designs were matched by the power of a VIP audience. The singer and actress energized the Palais de Tokyo, arriving at the last minute for Elie Saab’s show amid pandemonium....
National Aviary announces death of macaw featured on ‘Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood’
The National Aviary in Pittsburgh on Tuesday announced the death of its “beloved and well-known” macaw Benito. The aviary’s male Hyacinth Macaw died unexpectedly over the weekend from an aneurysm. The jewel-toned bird, once featured on an episode of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” arrived at the Aviary’s Allegheny Center neighborhood in...
Be prepared for what you might find in your family history
You have to be brave to search your genealogy. Be aware that if you look into your family’s past, there is a possibility you may find some information that you don’t expect. “Every family has a skeleton,” said Donna Edwards-Jordan, a genealogist from North Huntingdon. “Everybody’s gene pool could use...
South Hills mother, son, travel to Italy in the name of genealogyVideo
Carol Lynn Vicini placed her hand on her grandfather’s tombstone, said his name and then cried. Atop a mountain at Trefiumi Cemetery near the village of Trefiumi, Italy, Vicini had reached the burial place of the grandfather she never knew, Albino Vicini. “This visit was very emotional as it was...
Greensburg Restaurant Week returns with range of options from sit-down to delivery
Diners can enjoy an eclectic array of menu options by sampling the specials offered at 14 area eateries during Greensburg Restaurant Week. Beginning on Monday and continuing through Jan. 28, those options will include fig and port wine duck breast at Morelands in South Greensburg, shrimp tacos at Tapped Brick...
Unity baker nearly makes semifinal round in Cake Boss’s ‘Greatest Baker’ contest
When Mary Ellen Raneri of Unity started helping her mother with Facebook livestreams of her cooking, she certainly wasn’t expecting the page to rack up nearly 70,000 fans. And she definitely wasn’t expecting those fans to help her make all the way to the quarterfinals of “The Greatest Baker,” a...
5 generations of Batmobiles on display at World of Wheels car show
Batman returns, in a way, to Pittsburgh this weekend. Five generations of the iconic Batmobile are on display at the 63rd Annual MAXmotive World of Wheels at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown. The quintet are reminiscent of an original 1966 Batmobile, the one driven in “Batman Returns,” the...
Instant is in, fancy is out. Nothing stays the same for long in the world of home-brewed coffee
Instants that demand respect. Compostable pods. High-altitude blends. And a myriad of related home-brew goodies that lift the senses with the familiar fragrant waft of a humble roasted bean: coffee. Coffee world can’t sit still, it seems — just ask Brooklyn Roasting’s founder and CEO Jim Munson. “The coffee market’s...
Primanti Bros. to open restaurant in Baltimore
Come this spring, there will be one more out-of-town location to grab a Primanti’s sandwich as Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar is set to open in Baltimore. Most of its restaurants are in Western Pennsylvania and there are locations in West Virginia, Ohio and the eastern side of Pennsylvania. The...
