In 1995, after more than 20 years as a journalist with two major New York City publications, Pulitzer Prize winner Anna Quindlen left the world of newspapers to become a full-time novelist and essayist.Since then, she has written 18 books, 13 of which have appeared on the <em>New ...
Get ready to break out your Santa hats, ugly sweaters, reindeer ties and, for Grateful Dead fans, Jerry Claus shirts.As November turns into December, the calendar is loaded with holiday celebrations around the South Hills. And whether you’re a “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” type ...
From as far back as the 1849 short story “A Christmas Legend,” we’ve known Santa Claus’ marital status.We’re not sure if her name is Mary or Martha or Gertrude or Carol – Jessica Kringle, perhaps? – but Mrs. Claus occasionally can be seen accompanying her ubiquitous husband on his ...
It wasn’t quite a triple-dog dare, but close enough for jazz.Back in the waning days of the 20th century, a high school swimming coach named Frank Nelson called the newspaper company I was working for at the time to tell about members of his team joining him for a swim.In the Monongahela ...
Staff writer Harry Funk has been aiming various cameras at various musicians for quite a while, and has dug up some images from the past, some taken at venues that no longer exist as such.From nationally know acts to local legends to flat-out fantastic performers, take a look at some of the ...
By Harry FunkStaff writerhfunk@thealmanac.netAmid the bustle that’s typical for a Saturday in Pittsburgh’s Strip District is a refuge for music enthusiasts, the Penn Avenue purveyor of cigars and coffee appropriately called Leaf & Bean.Today, the place is packed for a ...
