The Pittsburgh Steelers’ franchise is a classic example of announcer Bob Prince’s maxim of “hidden vigorish.” According to Prince, it means that the more you lose the closer you come to winning. The Steelers’ franchise was founded in 1933, and during the years from their founding until 1972, the team did a lot of losing. They won their division only once during those nearly four
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Caustic, vulgar, outrageous, funny, charming, honest, insightful, successful, tragic, Sharon Needles could be described by any of those terms–and she could also be called a Pittsburgher. You may not be aware of it, but Pittsburgh is home to one of the most famous drag queens in the world: Sharon Needles. For a person who admits that she doesn’t feel welcome most anywhere, Needles is comfortable
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You’ve probably heard the term constable before, but do you know exactly what a constable is and what one does? Unless, you’ve had a run in with the law, you may not. Constables Go Way Back Constables have been around for centuries, and the term “constable” comes from the Old French word conestable meaning “steward.” The first constables were established in France at the beginning
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Owning a home has been an integral part of the American dream for decades, but one person’s dream can be another’s nightmare. If you are moving to the area, or simply looking for a place of your own, this question is probably preeminent in your mind: Should I rent or buy a home in Pittsburgh? Well, that depends. Each quarter, Florida Atlantic University publishes the
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An Unlikely Mayor Jewish, a septuagenarian, and a woman without a college education, Sophie Masloff was a mayor unlike any other Pittsburgh had seen before. While she may have been unlike any other mayor, she was quintessentially Pittsburgh. Her life embodied many of the things that define Pittsburgh and those who live here, making her one of the city’s most colorful, most memorable, and one
Read the Full Article →Pittsburgh is noted for its abundance of excellent colleges and universities. In addition, the region is also fortunate to have a wealth of wonderful private schools for elementary and secondary education. Following is a list outlining some of our area’s best private schools. Aquinas Academy Founded in 1996, Aquinas Academy, located in the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh, is a college-preparatory school for students in Pre-K
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When Susan Gregg Koger was in high school, she had no clue that her penchant for vintage clothing would lead to founding one of the nation’s fastest growing retailers. The Florida native came to Pittsburgh in 2002 along with her then boyfriend Eric Koger (now her husband) to attend Carnegie Mellon University. The Floridians’ need for warm winter clothing led them to thrift stores, where
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An adage advises to “bloom where you are planted.” In the case of Randy Gilson, he not only bloomed but also painted, created, and transformed a drab, depressing neighborhood on Pittsburgh’s North Side into a whimsical wonderland known as Randyland. A little over 30 years ago, Gilson, 59, rented an apartment in the Mexican War Streets on the North Side. Gilson, who is a waiter,
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When Diana Napper makes a promise, she keeps it. In 1990, her best friend Carol Jo Weiss Friedman lost her battle with breast cancer. Before Carol Jo succumbed to the disease, Diana promised her that she would pursue a lifelong dream of designing jewelry and opening a jewelry store, selling her designs that would fund a hospice in Carol Jo’s name. Diana honored that promise
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In 1994, Diana Napper founded The Glimmer of Hope, a nonprofit dedicated to finding a cure for breast cancer. She began this foundation to honor a promise she made to her friend Carol Jo Weiss Friedman before she lost her battle with breast cancer. Initially, Diana had designed a small piece of jewelry, a Swarovksi teardrop pin capped with a pearl to symbolize hope over
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