Stephanie Kalina Metzger

/Community
Part of the fun of Memorial Day is cooking out and spending time with friends and family.
But let’s face it – who wants to do that all weekend?
Instead, folks might want to consider packing up the family – and maybe a few friends, too – and heading to Hollywood Casino at The Meadows in North Strabane for the annual Greater Pittsburgh Food Truck Festival from Friday through Sunday. One of the region’s premier summer events, the festival features a wide variety of food trucks, craft ...

Floral designer Katelyn Pinner offers tips to make the most of mother nature’s beauty
With years of hands-on experience balancing color, texture, and seasonality, Katelyn Pinner, owner and floral designer at Katelyn Pinner Studio in Travelers Rest, pulls back the curtain on flower arranging, sharing approachable techniques she’s developed over 13 years in the industry.
From choosing complementary blooms to building balanced arrangements and extending the life of fresh flowers, Pinner’s advice...

/Entertainment
If patriotic music stirs a sense of pride and reflection, the Washington Symphony Orchestra (WSO) will offer both during its “Red, White & Blue,” performances Saturday and Sunday at the Olin Fine Arts Center in Washington.
The concerts will serve as a tribute to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States.
Principal conductor and musical director Yugo Ikach said the program is designed to highlight shared values at a time when div...

Two new coffee shops have opened in Greenville County — each bringing a distinct concept to market.
The faith-based owners of Crown + Bloom in Simpsonville have created a welcoming space designed to foster a sense of community, while the team behind Phin + in Mauldin is introducing a culturally rooted experience centered on traditional Vietnamese brewing methods and hospitality.
Sharing a culture
Those who pass by Phin +, located at 1140 E. Butler Road in a small strip mall in Greenville migh...

Ballpark food has evolved from a supporting player to a headliner, and South Carolina’s minor league teams have taken note. What were once simple, handheld staples designed for convenience have given way to chef-driven, locally inspired creations that are as much a reason to attend the game as the action on the field.
From Greenville to Spartanburg and Charleston, ballparks are serving up inventive fare that caters to both traditional tastes and more adventurous appetites.
A family affair
The...

Making it to “Oprah’s Favorite Things” list is no small feat.
Products must first be discovered by Oprah Winfrey’s internal team, then evaluated for quality, originality, usefulness and emotional resonance before being passed along to the celebrity herself, who makes the final decisions.
Philip Given, co-founder of The Pretzel Company, was thrilled when he heard the news.
“When we started out, all we hoped for was to share a truly authentic, bakery-fresh product with our neighbors,” he said. ...

As the country gears up to celebrate its 250th birthday, there’s really no better place to take it all in than Philadelphia—a city that doesn’t just tell the American story, it lives it. Spend time at the Museum of the American Revolution, visit the Liberty Bell Center, explore the Philadelphia Museum of Art (founded in 1876) and step inside a humble 18th century home that is closely tied to the American flag.
Philadelphia is the kind of place where the past feels present, making it an ideal ...

Maryland’s higher education landscape continues to evolve to meet modern students’ changing needs — from workforce readiness to funding, industry partnerships, delivery models and legislative policy.
A Daily Record webinar on higher education featured three experts in the field: Dr. Maarten Pereboom, dean of Salisbury University’s Fulton School of Liberal Arts and a history professor; Hung-bin Ding, associate dean of academics and professor of management at Loyola University of Maryland’s Sel...

For Maryland’s high school seniors, the transition to college is beginning earlier than ever as the state emphasizes college readiness in its landmark education plan.
The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, a 10-year, multibillion-dollar reform package, encourages colleges to collaborate with high schoolers, allowing them to earn credits, build skills and explore campuses before their freshman year officially begins.
These initiatives from Maryland institutions are introducing students to colleg...

/Entertainment
The stars of “Mutts Gone Nuts: Unleashed!” weren’t discovered in Hollywood-they were discovered in shelters.
Once waiting quietly for their “furever” homes, these rescue dogs now leap, dance and steal the show in a high-energy comedy act coming to the State Theatre Center for the Arts in Uniontown on Saturday.
The show, created by Scott Houghton and his wife, Joan, features rescue dogs and trainers who have appeared on the NBC-TV series “America’s Got Talent.”
Barking up the wr...

/Entertainment
Anyone feeling nostalgic for the classic story that has spawned generations of fans may want to see “The Wizard of Oz,” coming to Little Lake Theatre starting Thursday and continuing through April 19.
The timeless children’s tale aligns perfectly with this year’s theme at the theater: “Home Is Where the Heart Is.”
Artistic Director Patrick Cannon believes the story resonates today.
“Right now, I think people are craving stories about home, belonging and finding your courage in ...

Greenville’s dining scene continues its steady evolution, and the latest example is Cork & Cleaver, a new restaurant slated to open April 20 at 114 Markley St. at the former Urban Wren space. The restaurant aims to pair steakhouse classics with a wine-driven approach, adding another dimension to an area that’s quickly becoming one of the city’s most dynamic culinary corridors.
The surrounding area is also poised for growth, with a Kimpton Hotel and a live entertainment and music venue — Truel...

Across the country, window boxes brimming with fillers, thrillers and spillers are elevating curb appeal—and perhaps even inspiring a little neighborhood jealousy as passersby stop and take notice.
“‘Wow’ was the expression we heard most often,” said founder Sue Schneider, explaining how the WOW Windowboxes business earned its name.
Schneider went from sharing her window boxes with friends and family to serving residential and commercial clients.
Now the concept has arrived in the Harrisburg ...

/Entertainment
Exposing children to the arts at an early age may seem daunting for some parents, but “Peppa Pig: My First Concert” embraces the philosophy of “meeting the children where they are.”
What results is a lively, family-friendly introduction to classical music designed especially for preschoolers.
“Peppa Pig,” the beloved British preschool animated television series that has been airing for more than 20 seasons, is a favorite among young viewers. Now the popular characters are stepp...

Dumplings are having a moment — emerging as a strategic menu category nationwide. Delivery data bears this out. Potsticker orders jumped more than 500% year-over-year in 2025, highlighting rising demand for dumpling-style starters.
For James Beard Award-finalist Chef Nikko Cagalanan and wife and business partner Paula Kramer, however, the idea wasn’t trend-driven. It grew from personal preference and a New York trip that helped crystallize the concept for their new restaurant Bareo — a name d...