Since my daughters’ orthodontist was located in the Bloomfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh, I’ve spent many hours, wandering around the area waiting for various dental appliances – expanders, retainers, braces – to be put in and taken off. So one would think that I would’ve explored every nook and cranny of this primarily Italian neighborhood.
But last [...]

Growing up near the big steel mills of Pittsburgh, words like coke (not the soda or the sniffy kind,) Bessemer oven and Carrie furnace were part of the local vocabulary, but I admit I didn’t really know what they were . . until yesterday.  The Babushkas & Hard Hats tour, sponsored by Rivers of Steel, [...]

A few months ago, I went on a search for some real Pittsburgh “church lady” pierogies. You know, the type  made by hand by devoted church members in their parish basement.  The kind that don’t come from a cardboard box in the freezer section of the supermarket. Tender, butter and onion topped,  potato filled packets. [...]

Oh friends, all hail the Farmer’s Market.  It is a haven for budget-conscious cooks and restaurateurs alike.  You’ll find the best, newest, shiniest and most delicious veggies in the city. My local market is Wednesday night at Carrick Shopping Center, but I’m not a one market gal.
Just this year I’ve also visited the market on [...]

During a blistering hot afternoon at PNC Park, sitting in my seat to watch the Pirates play the Phillies was not an option. I tried it for about ten minutes, I really did, but I didn’t want to end up being carried out on a stretcher in front of my family and friends.  So I [...]

Red and juicy, sweet and luscious. Oh, that wonderful bite of a fresh picked strawberry, still warm from the June sun.  In Western Pennsylvania, strawberry season is short, so each berry must be savored.
This year, since I’m away for the month of June and my kids are now grown and living on their own, I’m [...]

On a rainy Saturday in Pittsburgh, I wasn’t in the mood for dodging umbrellas in the Strip District or jumping puddles at an outdoor farm market in order to get my farm-fresh fix.  But all was not lost.
The Farmer’s Cooperative of East Liberty (344 Sheridan Avenue,) a year-round indoor market in the East End, rescued [...]

Sugar and spice and everything nice. That’s how the poem goes, but it’s also the smell that flows out onto the street every time I pass The Enrico Biscotti Company in Pittsburgh’s Strip District.  Even when there’s nothing I need, I loop through the shop just to get a more intense whiff of the sweet [...]

There is a saying that goes something like this:  “Instead of worrying about the destination, focus on the journey… for it’s the journey that is truly important.”  So in that spirit, I’m going to focus on a fun way to journey across PA, wherever your final destination may be:  traveling via Amtrak.
Spring fever sent my [...]

If you are around Pittsburgh and looking for a great place for a baby shower gift, child’s birthday party or even a little something for yourself, visit The Picket Fence in Shadyside.  This quaint boutique is filled with children’s toys and apparel, gifts for the home, women’s clothing and accessories, and gifts for a special [...]