JoAnne Klimovich Harrop stories, Page 26
Billy Porter helping to revitalize Pittsburgh’s Homewood Coliseum
The arts saved Billy Porter. Porter wants those dreams for other young people. That’s why he is partnering with Herky and Lisa Pollock and professional cook Rachael Ray on the revitalization of the Greater Pittsburgh Coliseum in Homewood, a part of the city near and dear to Porter. Ray is...
Rustic Ridge community gathers in 2 places to honor the lives lost in house explosion
Teresa Champion-Feigel and her husband, Tim, walk on the weekends in the neighborhood of Rustic Ridge in Plum. On Saturday, she said she didn’t feel like walking. Her husband suggested they go to the nearby park — Ridge Top Park. “We were walking, and that’s when we heard the explosion,”...
Liberty Pole Spirits opens expanded location in North Strabane
Poles were erected and became symbols of protest by farmers in western Pennsylvania during the period of the Whiskey Rebellion from 1791 to 1794. They were known as liberty poles. As a way to honor this time in history, a family from Cecil in Washington County named their business Liberty...
Mt. Lebanon artist painting image of Andy Warhol on North Side building
Early in her art career, Ashley Hodder recalled visiting the “Silver Clouds” exhibit at the Andy Warhol Museum. “The bouncing silver balloons opened my mind into what art can be,” said Hodder, who has been painting a mural of Warhol’s image not far from the North Side museum. “Instead of...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Aug. 11-13
It’s the weekend. Here are some ways to spend it. ‘The Sound Inside’ Barebones Black Box in Braddock presents “The Sound Inside.” The Tony-award winning show by playwright Adam Rapp is at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. The story involves Bella Baird, an isolated...
7th annual CEO Soak benefits ALS Association
CEOs don’t wait for things to happen — they make things happen. That’s what more than 50 executives, along with local business and community leaders, did on Thursday at CEO Soak, the seventh annual ALS Association Western Pennsylvania Chapter’s fundraiser to support the fight against the disease. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis...
Bell Township real estate agent, client to be featured on HGTV’s ‘House Hunters’
In nearly 10 years of selling real estate, Lori Weig-Tamasy received a request she had never heard before from a client. “She told me she applied to be on HGTV’s ‘House Hunters’ and that she thinks she got accepted,” said Weig-Tamasy of Bell Township, a real estate agent for Century...
Con Alma in Shadyside ends regular hours, to open for special music events
There will still be jazz music playing at Con Alma in Shadyside, just not on a regular basis. “We are unfortunately not going to be open regular hours,” said Aimee Marshall, one of the owners. “We will be open for special music events.” She didn’t want to elaborate more on...
Steelers players dish on what they eat during training camp
Cam Heyward doesn’t count calories … during camp. “Not right now,” said the 6-foot-5, 295-pound defensive tackle after a practice preparation on Tuesday at Steelers training camp at Saint Vincent College on his way to lunch. “That is more of an off-season thing. When we get to training camp, I...
Pittsburgh Restaurant Week returns Aug. 7-13
They are the regulars of Pittsburgh Restaurant Week — establishments that have participated in the past and are serving up guests again for the semi-annual event that happens in January and August. The summer edition runs Monday through Sunday. “The timing of Pittsburgh Restaurant Week is perfect,” said John King,...
Manchester Historic Society to host home and garden tour
An 1876 home on Sheffield Street was vacant and deteriorating. David McAnallen bought it and brought it back to life. “I think if we had not stepped in that it would have been torn down,” McAnallen said. “It was an empty shell and needed a complete restoration.” Those who want...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Aug. 4-6
It’s the first weekend of August. In addition to the Pink concert on Saturday at PNC Park on the North Shore, here are some fun ways to spend it. Art crawl The Lawrenceville Art Crawl is from 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday. This festival along Butler Street has indoor and...
Bill Shay taught game of life on, off court for nearly 4 decades at Community College of Allegheny County
When Erin Hynds thinks back to watching her father, Bill Shay, on the basketball court, one particular image comes to mind. “I can remember his face being red because he would be screaming, and he’d be looking up at all these tall players he was coaching,” said Hynds, an Upper...
Paying it forward: ‘The Give Back Kid’ spreads positivity
Jamal Woodson recalled a time he had $2 for the week for food. “I bought a $1 loaf of bread and a $1 bottle of hot sauce and made sandwiches for the week,” the Murrysville resident said. “I added water and toasted the bread. It was a feeling I don’t...
TacoMania festival happening at SouthSide Works
Tacos, tacos and more tacos will be on the menu Sunday with TacoMania Super Fest at SouthSide Works. A dozen food trucks will be shelling out the popular food item. “People love tacos because they are a hand held food, and there are so many variations infusing so much flavor,”...
Peters home will be built upon purchase for $674,900
There is a house on the market projected to be a four bedroom, and two and one half bathrooms with a two-car garage — but it won’t be built until there’s a buyer. “The buyer has the opportunity to make changes to the floor plan if they desire,” said Renee...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: July 28-30
We’ve reached the final weekend of July. It’s going to be a hot one. Here are some ways to spend it. Party on the submarine The USS Requin Steel Beach Picnic is Saturday on the submarine behind the Carnegie Science Center on the North Shore. A Steel Beach Picnic is...
Speckled Egg, Commonplace Coffee share a dining space in SouthSide Works
Pitt students Lila Ost, Bella Jameson and Ellie Hawkey had breakfast al fresco on Wednesday. The incoming seniors were looking for a coffee shop, which they found with Commonplace Coffee. What the trio also discovered was The Speckled Egg hosting a grand opening in the shared space. The Speckled Egg...
Tepache Mexican Kitchen & Bar opening this fall at former Atria’s location in O’Hara
In Maya folklore, it is believed that hummingbirds connect the earthly and heavenly realms. When the new Tepache Mexican Kitchen & Bar in O’Hara opens this fall on Freeport Road, hummingbirds will be featured prominently throughout the space. “We are building a bridge between Mexico and Pittsburgh,” said Kayla Welch,...
Ferrari is the ‘Marque Car’ of the year at Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix
Enzo Ferrari’s passion was racing cars. That love of fast high-performance Italian automobiles carries over into this year’s Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix. Ferrari is this year’s Marque of the Year at the 41st annual event that’s happening Saturday and Sunday in Schenley Park. “Ferrari has a heritage, and it’s a...
Pleasant Hills woman’s passion for Barbie dolls inspired by her late mother
Dressed in bold red, bright green and shimmery pink ball gowns, Kim Bennear Fancsali’s Barbies are perched atop two shelves in the corner of the room. Some have sparkling tiaras, others are adorned with colorful capes and puffy faux fur. Fancy necklaces and earrings complete the look. They are from...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: July 21-23
We’ve made it to the weekend. If you aren’t attending Picklesburgh or the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix in Schenley Park, here are some other things to do. Edible garden The fifth annual Swissvale Edible Garden Tour is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. The free event showcases gardeners...
Quench your thirst: Picklesburgh has plenty of ‘dill-icious’ drink options
Pickle-flavored juice, beer, iced tea, lemonade and alcoholic drinks will be some of the liquids flowing starting at noon Friday when Picklesburgh opens. Pickles are commonly used in food, but the festival pours on the drink options, as well. The annual event produced by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership will have...
No bright future for Back to the Foodture restaurants
After months of emails with lawyers representing Universal Studios, owners of Back to the Foodture have decided the financial stress is just too much. “We have been going back and forth with them since February paying lawyer fees and filing paperwork,” said chef Angel Magwood, co-owner of Back to the...
Acrospire Brewing Co. opens a taproom in Shaler
Inside the “A” in the logo for the newest place to grab a beer in Shaler, an image of a shoot of a grain of barley is visible. The name of the establishment is Acrospire Brewing Co., and it’s inspired by ingredients in the beer. The word acrospire means the...
