Editor's Picks category, Page 170
50th anniversary: Latrobe historical society searches for next generation
The Latrobe Area Historical Society has evolved and expanded throughout the past 50 years — but its continued service to the local community is reliant on the work of numerous dedicated volunteers. President Mary Lou Townsend said the society is seeking younger volunteers to spearhead future growth of the organization....
Oxford University Press names ‘rizz’ as its word of the year
LONDON — Oxford University Press has named “rizz″ as its word of the year, highlighting the popularity of a term used by Generation Z to describe someone’s ability to attract or seduce another person. It topped “Swiftie” (an enthusiastic fan of Taylor Swift), “situationship” (an informal romantic or sexual relationship)...
Raising Cane’s to open 2nd Pittsburgh-area restaurant
A popular chicken-finger chain is opening a second Pittsburgh-area location this week. Louisiana-based Raising Cane’s is opening a new location in North Versailles on Tuesday, according to a press release. The restaurant is located at 298 Lincoln Hwy. in the Mon Valley suburb and will become the second Raising Cane’s...
Former Pirates player Cole Tucker reportedly marries actress Vanessa Hudgens
Former Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Cole Tucker has a new position to play: husband. The Pirates’ first-round draft pick in 2014 married “High School Musical” actress Vanessa Hudgens over the weekend, according to several media reports. People Magazine broke the story, reporting the couple married on Saturday in Tulum, Mexico. TMZ...
Pittsburgh Pop podcast: Hulu cancels series that was to film in Pittsburgh; new WTAE reporter; Verizon’s new streaming bundle
In this episode of the “Pittsburgh Pop” podcast, host Tim Benz and TV Talk columnist Rob Owen discuss Pittsburgh pop culture news of the moment including this weekend’s news that Hulu has dropped Lee Daniels’ Sammy Davis Jr. biographical series that had planned to film in Pittsburgh in 2024. Producers...
Red Hot Chili Peppers to bring Unlimited Love tour to PittsburghVideo
The Red Hot Chili Peppers are extending their Unlimited Love tour into 2024, with a show scheduled for the Pittsburgh region. The veteran funk rockers, who released two albums in 2022, will play July 2 at the Pavilion at Star Lake in Burgettstown. Kid Cudi and IRONTOM will open the...
The year in review: Influential people who died in 2023
Here is a roll call of some influential figures who died in 2023 (cause of death cited for younger people, if available): JANUARY Fred White, 67. A drummer who backed up his brothers Maurice and Verdine White in the Grammy-winning ensemble Earth, Wind & Fire. Jan. 1. Ken Block, 55....
Barbie doll honoring Cherokee Nation leader is met with mixed emotions
OKLAHOMA CITY — An iconic chief of the Cherokee Nation, Wilma Mankiller, inspired countless Native American children as a powerful but humble leader who expanded early education and rural healthcare. Her reach is now broadening with a quintessential American honor: a Barbie doll in the late Mankiller’s likeness as part...
What to know about Hanukkah and how it’s celebrated around the world
Hanukkah — also spelled Chanukah or other transliterations from Hebrew — is Judaism’s “festival of lights.” On eight consecutive nightfalls, Jews gather with family and friends to light one additional candle in the menorah — a multibranched candelabra. In Hebrew, Hanukkah means “dedication,” and the holiday marks the rededication of...
Spotify axes 17% of workforce in 3rd round of layoffs this year
LONDON — Spotify says it’s axing 17% of its global workforce, the music streaming service’s third round of layoffs this year as it moves to slash costs while focusing on becoming profitable. In a message to employees posted on the company’s blog Monday, CEO Daniel Ek said the jobs were...
Kiss say farewell to live touring, become first U.S. band to go virtual and become digital avatarsVideo
On Saturday night, Kiss closed out the final performance of their “The End of the Road” farewell tour at New York City’s famed Madison Square Garden. But as dedicated fans surely know — they were never going to call it quits. Not really. During their encore, the band’s current lineup...
Taylor Swift to rake in $100M as Spotify’s top artist of 2023
Taylor Swift didn’t just enchant Spotify as its top artist of 2023, but she’s also to track to earn more than $100 million in royalties from the streaming service this year. The “Enchanted” singer, 33, will take home that gorgeous figure after hitting 26.1 billion streams around the world since...
Daycation Destination: Indiana, Pa., is ‘Christmas Tree Capital of the World’
It’s the birthplace of a famous Hollywood star and a major holiday destination dubbed the “Christmas Tree Capital of the World.” Take a Daycation Destination trip to Indiana, Pa., set amid the rural, scenic foothills of the Allegheny Mountains in Indiana County, about an hour east of Pittsburgh. It’s home...
New Kensington launches holiday season with tree lighting, mayor’s dinner; many more events to come
New Kensington is kicking off the holiday season. Residents gathered Friday evening at Ninth Street and Fourth Avenue for carols and the lighting of the city’s Christmas tree. That was followed by Mayor Tom Guzzo’s annual holiday dinner at the city’s nearby No. 1 fire hall on Fourth Avenue. The...
Classic rockers Styx, Foreigner tour hitting Star Lake in 2024Video
A pair of veteran classic rock bands that haven’t played together in 10 years are touring next summer, including a stop outside Pittsburgh. Styx and Foreigner are launching the Renegade & Juke Box Heroes tour, including a show on July 31, 2024, at the Pavilion at Star Lake. John Waite...
TV Talk: Recently published books go behind the scenes of TV biz
TribLive TV writer Rob Owen offers reading tips for recent books about TV. One of the pitfalls of writing about TV in the #peakTV era is that if you don’t make a point to take a break from watching screeners of TV shows, you’ll never find time to pick up...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Dec. 1-3
It’s the first weekend of December. Here are some ways to spend it. Open house The 32nd Nationality and Intercultural Exchange Programs Holiday Open House is from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Nationality and Heritage Rooms inside the Cathedral of Learning on Pitt’s campus in Oakland. Guests are...
Specialty whiskey, rum on sale at Fort Ligonier Museum Store
Looking for holiday gifts? Specialty whiskey and rum will be available for purchase at Fort Ligonier’s Museum Store during December. St. Clair’s Spirits, a white rye whiskey made exclusively for the fort, and Queen Charlotte’s Courage Rum, the second in a series of three new distilled beverages, will be sold...
Holiday Lights Trolley takes guests on a 3-hour tour of festive locations in Pittsburgh
Sparkling lights have always brightened Molly Shaheen’s holidays, so much so that she founded a company — Holiday Lights Trolley LLC — to bring that festive feeling to others. Pittsburgh is her most recent city stop. Guests will board a trolley or bus and take a tour around the city,...
Local celebrities make guest appearances in Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s ‘The Nutcracker’
Kristine Sorensen recalled going to see the performance of “The Nutcracker” with her sister and their mother, Barbara. “It is one of my favorite holiday traditions as a child,” said Sorensen, anchor of the 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. KDKA-TV newscasts and Kidsburgh reporter, via email. “Then I performed in...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend: Dec. 1-3
The holiday season is in full swing. Instead of bundling up by the fire, here are five things to get you out and about in Westmoreland this weekend. Holly Jolly Christmas From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, the annual Holly Jolly Christmas returns to downtown Latrobe. The event will...
Shane MacGowan, lead singer of The Pogues and a laureate of booze and beauty, dies at age 65
LONDON — Shane MacGowan, the boozy, rabble-rousing singer and chief songwriter of The Pogues, who infused traditional Irish music with the energy and spirit of punk, died Thursday, his family said. He was 65. MacGowan’s songwriting and persona made him an iconic figure in contemporary Irish culture, and some of...
TV Talk: KDKA+ announces 8 p.m. anchor; local ratings; Pa.-set ‘Great Photo’ uncovers family’s story
WPKD-TV, known in branding as KDKA+ on Channel 19, will begin broadcasting a one-hour 8 p.m. newscast Jan. 8 with Jessica Guay as anchor, relocating from her current weekend morning anchor position on KDKA-TV. Ray Petelin will provide weather forecasts on “Primetime News on KDKA+.” Recent hire Megan Shinn will...
Highland Area Rotary Club gets into holiday spirit by hosting 35th Annual Alle-Kiski Choral Festival
The Highland Area Rotary Club kicked off the Christmas season Wednesday as it hosted the 35th Annual Alle-Kiski Choral Festival at Highlands High School in Harrison. Choruses from Highlands, Burrell, Springdale and Freeport Area high schools sang Christmas and seasonal songs, both solemn and festive. For the finale, as is...
Highmark First Night Pittsburgh turns 30 this year
Pittsburgh’s annual New Year’s Eve celebration turns 30 years old on Dec. 31. It’s a six-hour arts-focused family-friendly free production of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. The event takes place in a 14-block area of the Cultural District, Downtown. Live music, dance, theater, visual arts, magic, kids’ activities and a community...
