If you have ever glanced at our Quick Facts on Pittsburgh, you may know that Pittsburgh has nearly two dozen sister cities. We are kin with well-known metropolises such as Sofia, Bulgaria, and Zagreb, Croatia, and lesser-known nooks around the globe like Karmiel, Israel, and Fernando de la Mora, Paraguay. President Eisenhower founded the Sister City movement in 1956 to connect people around the globe,
Read the Full Article →
Although Kaufmann’s department store is no longer in existence, the clock that has been attached to what was once known as the Kaufmann’s building at the corner of Smithfield Street and Fifth Avenue, where the store was located, is still there keeping time. Prior to this clock, there was a free-standing clock on a tall pedestal at the corner. However, since 1913, this 2,500-pound ornately
Read the Full Article →
Though born and raised in London and having spent time at Cambridge, England, and Cambridge, Massachusetts, Mary Soon Lee has found a home in Pittsburgh. “My father was ethnically Chinese, and my mother was Irish, but I acquired a British accent from my classmates,” said the author of both fiction and poetry, who lives in Squirrel Hill. It’s not often that a writer is both
Read the Full Article →
I asked my ten year old grandson if he would like to join me at the Benedum to watch The Pittsburgh Ballet perform The Nutcracker. As soon as I asked, the look on his face indicated that he was trying to think of a reason not to go. So I sweetened the deal: we’d stop at a restaurant that serves one of the best pizzas
Read the Full Article →
I will never forget the morning of Saturday October 27th, 2018. What was a relaxing morning at home watching national news with my family soon became a chaotic blur of intense emotional heartbreak and the constant shrill ringing of my house phone- with worried family and friends on the other end. The shock of reading the words “Mass Shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue” scrawled
Read the Full Article →
This past Wednesday night, the Pittsburgh art community and all its supporters partied hard and celebrated the talent of 60 artists, performers, and models in the RAW Artists showcase, OVATION. RAW Artists is an international organization that serves as a platform for local artists to share their crafts/talent with the community. Their mission statement appropriately represents this message as they wish: “To serve independent artists
Read the Full Article →
When the holiday season begins to approach, many people begin to make lists: shopping lists, Christmas card lists, grocery lists, etc. But what about a list detailing things to do to make it your best holiday season ever? What would you put on that kind of list? At the top of our list is getting into the proper frame of mind by taking time to
Read the Full Article →
Last year, I hope you asked Santa to bring you some extra free time because you are going to need it this holiday season if you are going to squeeze in all the fun doings scheduled in and around Pittsburgh. The following is a list of some things that will help to make your days merry and bright. Light Up Night No one kicks off
Read the Full Article →
My wife and I found ourselves traveling hungry along Route 28 near Millvale discussing dinner options when The Grant Bar and Restaurant entered the conversation. Three minutes later we were walking through the bar section of this 85 year old establishment on our way to a dining area. When our waitress told me that their famous Homemade Turtle Soup was only available on
Read the Full Article →
On June 12, 2006, my family and I were on vacation at North Carolina’s Outer Banks, a popular beach destination for many Pittsburghers. As it was an overcast day, my daughter and I decided to do some shopping at Scarborough Faire Shopping Village. Near lunchtime as we meandered along the boardwalk that connected the boutiques, my daughter’s cell phone rang. While she answered it, I
Read the Full Article →