JoAnne Klimovich Harrop stories, Page 90
Regent Square’s Istanbul Sofra temporarily closed
Istanbul Sofra has temporarily closed as the restaurant changes ownership, an employee at the Regent Square eatery told the Tribune-Review on Thursday. The lights are off, and there are no diners. The tables outside are covered in snow. The Mediterranean-style restaurant had remained open for about eight months as its...
‘Crawl After Dark’ offers one-of-a-kind visual arts experiences
“Crawl After Dark,” the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Winter Gallery Crawl throughout the cultural district is from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Jan. 25. This year marks the 15th time the trust is presenting four annual crawls. These free events offer one-of-kind visual arts experiences, engaging activities and performances created by community...
Pittsburgh-area friends bake top dessert on Food Network’s ‘Winner Cake All’
This story had a fairy-tale ending for Western Pennsylvania friends Cathy Lucas Burnheimer and Lesley Polinko Wasielewski. The pair conquered the Food Network’s “Winner Cake All” on Monday and claimed a $10,000 prize. Their masterpiece was chosen as the sweetest, tastiest and prettiest winner. Burnheimer and Wasielewski created cake fashioned...
Pittsburgh Symphony is offering free tickets to furloughed federal employees
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is giving away tickets to furloughed federal workers. The symphony posted a message to its Instagram account on Sunday: “For all furloughed Federal employees, we open our hall with two free concert tickets from now until 30 days after the end of the shutdown.” The post...
It’s smoking: Ribs, chicken, pulled pork and brisket on menu at Oakmont’s Burk’s BBQ
When Kevin Burkardt was 2 years old, he pushed a chair up to the stove in his grandmother’s house in an attempt to make bacon and eggs for breakfast. When he was in seventh grade, his mother, Meg Burkart, came home from work one day and saw her son and...
College student defies his mother’s ban on football
Adapted from a recent online discussion. Dear Carolyn: My son is a wonderful young man, but there was one thing we butted heads on all four years of high school: He wanted to play football, and I wouldn’t let him. Well, he just informed me that he plans to play...
Music City Downtown aims to transform live music scene in PittsburghVideo
When John Valentine owned the former Palate Bistro in Downtown Pittsburgh, diners often asked about nearby places to catch some post-dinner music. “There really wasn’t anywhere to tell them to go,” he said. “Pittsburgh really needs places where visitors can go to enjoy live music.” A new collaborative effort aims...
Pittsburgh friends show off creative skills on Food Network’s ‘Winner Cake All’
This baking experience definitely was the icing on the cake. That’s what Pittsburgh-area friends Cathy Lucas Burnheimer and Lesley Polinko Wasielewski say about their upcoming appearance on the Food Network’s “Winner Cake All.” The episode airs at 10 p.m. Jan. 21. The two say the experience was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity...
Joanne Rogers to get George Romero Legacy Award at the ‘Elly Awards Gala’
Joanne Rogers, wife of the late Fred Rogers, will accept The George Romero Legacy Award at the 2019 Steeltown Elly Awards, presented by PNC at The Rivers Casino Ballroom on April 11. Past awardees include film legend George Romero, former Fred Rogers Company CEO Bill Isler, and philanthropist Audrey Hillman...
Dreading graduation accolades after a rocky year
Adapted from a recent online discussion. Hi, Carolyn: I am finishing a training program and the ritual is a gathering with one of the senior people standing up to say (presumably nice) things about each of the departing trainees. I’ve had a rocky year, and my close supervisors and I...
Pittsburgh man tweets at DiGiorno, gets free pizza as part of promotion
This was an interesting pizza delivery. Lou Corsaro saw a Twitter post on Thursday to tweet DiGiorno Pizza to receive a free pie. “So, I was curious and thought I’d give it a shot,” said Corsaro, of Brighton Heights, on Friday. “I tweeted at them and almost immediately I received...
Cleveland’s Platform Beer to brew in Garfield
Cleveland-based Platform Beer plans to open a brewery and tasting room in the East End this summer. A lease is being finalized on a two-story, 8,000-square-foot building on Penn Avenue in Garfield to house a brew house, canning line, barrel aging, and more than 100 seats and 24 taps. “We...
Abby Lee Miller returning to Lifetime’s ‘Dance Moms’ for Season 8
People.com reports former Penn Hills reality star Abby Lee Miller has confirmed she is returning to Lifetime’s “Dance Moms.” The filming for Season 8 begins at the end of January. Via her Instagram account, Miller writes “Yes, it’s official!” adding hashtags #DanceMoms, #Aldcalways #abbyleemiller, #Season8, #ALDC, #Thebestisyettocome and #aldcla. According...
Penguins players’ wives, girlfriends release cookbook
The wives and girlfriends of Pittsburgh Penguins players have released a cookbook. The 152-page, hardcover “Welcome to our Table” book provides more than 70 recipes ranging from Russian pancakes and Beef Rydberg to healthy peanut butter cups and chocolate chip cookies. Proceeds from sales will go to nonprofits in Pittsburgh...
WDVE’s Sean McDowell is still rockin’ the airwaves after 4 decades
WDVE disc jockey Sean McDowell put on Don McLean’s “American Pie,” an 8-minute-and-33-second tune, thinking there was plenty of time to get to the men’s room and back. Well, McDowell got locked inside the bathroom. The year was 1986 and he was working on a Saturday, back in the days...
‘Paw Patrol Live! The Great Pirate Adventure’ comes to PPG Paints Arena
There will be some Pirates in Pittsburgh this weekend, but they won’t be playing baseball. “Paw Patrol Live! The Great Pirate Adventure” is set for PPG Paints Arena, in Pittsburgh’s Uptown, Jan. 11-13. It’s a pirate day in Adventure Bay, and Mayor Goodway is getting ready for a big celebration....
Hitchhiker Brewing’s hops get national props
A love of beer brewing is translating into national recognition. It’s almost overwhelming for Hitchhiker Brewing Co. founder Gary Olden after being named “One of the Best Breweries to Watch in 2019” by online magazine Hop Culture. “It’s certainly very humbling and really awesome that people respect our work, and...
Owners hop at chance to bring back Froggy’s Bar in Bloomfield
Froggy’s, once a legendary bar in Downtown Pittsburgh, is looking to get hopping again in Bloomfield. Five owners bought the former Pollock’s Cafe building on Liberty Avenue with a goal of re-creating the lively place on Market Street where drinks flowed and large crowds congregated. “Froggy’s was known as a...
Grist House Craft Brewery announces expansion
The Grist House Craft Brewery is opening a production facility and taproom at a former missile command center in Collier. The 55,000-square foot building in Collier is part of the business’ expansion, which includes retail space. “The building once served as the Nike Missile Command Center during the Cold War...
