Freelance writer w/focus on hospitality, travel, food and business. Blog: cheeseplatesandroomservice.com. Work appears in many publications across the US. Winner of five Keystone Media awards and one NAMPA award.
River City Brass Band merges music with visual arts in Pictures at an Exhibition
/Editor's Pick
River City Brass Band will marry music and art during performances across the region in April, including shows in Greensburg and Bethel Park.
The beloved River City Brass Band (RCB), which also has the distinction of being the only professional full-time brass band in the country, is bringing a unique performance to four locations in Southwestern Pennsylvania this April.
Called Pictures at an Exhibition, the concert is inspired by the visual arts, with selections like “Night on...
Singer, songwriter, nomad: Joshua Radin takes the stage in Pittsburgh
Editor's Pick
By Stephanie Kalina-Metzger
Down-to-earth, devoid of bells and whistles, unafraid, vulnerable and minimalist – these are all words that describe Joshua Radin.
The world-renowned artist counts among his credits a staggering 1 billion streams and 1 million records sold — an exemplary feat he accomplished simply, with a guitar in his hands and a song in his soul.
A Musician’s Journey
When it comes to becoming a musician, you could say that Radin was a late bloomer.
“I’ve always lo...
Scranton-to-NYC rail line eyed with optimism
When it comes to resurrecting the Scranton-to-New York City rail line, you’ll be hard-pressed to hear any negativity, at least in the Scranton region.
Everyone seems to be in favor of the idea which would restore a service that was shut down in 1970.
A Casey, Cartwright Proposal
On December 5, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (D-PA-8) announced that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) had included Northeastern Pennsylvania in its Corridor Identificat...
The mystery behind Mechanicsburg’s beloved bookshop
Stephanie Kalina-Metzger//February 28, 2024//
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The shop local movement is alive and well, at least when it comes to independent bookstores, which, just a few short years ago, seemed to be going the way of the dodo bird.
The New York Times weighed in on the issue in 2020, reporting that their future looked bleak, with sales falling nearly 30 percent. Something interesting happened after the pandemic, however. According to a survey conducted by the American Booksellers Ass...
Former FIG chef opens restaurant at The Pinch hotel in downtown Charleston
March 11, 2024
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If you follow the news in the food world, you might already know that Chef Jason Stanhope won the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: Southeast in 2015. The talented chef recently stepped down from his 15-year stint at Charleston’s award-winning restaurant FIG, to pursue a new venture called Lowland.
The restaurant, which opened in mid-November of last year, is part of The Pinch, a 22-suite boutique hotel on the corner of King and George streets i...
Blues sensation Kenny Wayne Shepherd set to rock Greensburg’s Palace Theatre
The Palace Theatre will, once again, prove itself as a destination for music lovers when blues-rock icon, 5-time Grammy-nominated guitarist and Louisiana native Kenny Wayne Shepherd takes the stage on March 10.
A Childhood Obsession
Malcolm Gladwell claims that to master one’s craft, one must be willing to practice — a lot.
“It takes 10,000 hours to truly master anything. Time spent leads to experience and experience leads to proficiency,” he said, in his best-selling book “Outliers.”
If that...
One of America’s oldest herb shops builds upon founder’s legacy
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Herb lovers are in their element the minute they step into the Mechanicsburg shop known as the Rosemary House & Gardens, located at 120 S. Market Street. The cozy, aromatic little business which opened in 1968 has the distinction of being one of the oldest herb shops in America. The iconic haven for herbal remedies that have withstood the test of time is owned by Susanna Reppert Brill and was founded by her mother, Bertha.
“Part of the reason for the location was due to...
Mining Your Roots: A trip to coal country helps our writer connect with her great-grandfather
I remember very little about my great-grandfather, Ignatz Kalina.
I have but one picture of him—a fading black-and-white photo of the two of us, sitting together on a couch, in his living room in Taylor, Pa. I seem to recall that day when I, young and squirmy, was forced to sit for a photo when I had so much to explore in those new-to-me surroundings.
With the ongoing Ukrainian/Russian conflict, I’ve been thinking more about him and my great-grandmother, Paulina, who left the region for the U...
Romantic Retreat: Maryland's Antrim 1844 Is a Luxe Getaway You Won't Soon Forget
Gentlemen: If you want to knock it out of the park on Valentine’s Day, you can do what my husband did and take your wives to Antrim 1844 in Taneytown, Maryland for a romantic getaway.
I don't usually dedicate an entire blog to one place, but am making an exception for an exceptional property.
The Main House at Antrim 1844
Antrim 1844 is listed as a “Country House Hotel,” but it’s so much more than that in terms of beauty.
The historic destination is listed in the Select Registry for Excellenc...
School Food Rocks to open headquarters in downtown Greenville
School Food Rocks, a local food-service consultant company, is moving into downtown Greenville’s Daniel Building, also known as the Landmark Building.
Founder Joe Urban recently signed a lease for 2,000 square feet of space at 301 N. Main St. He previously worked as the Greenville County Schools food and nutrition services director.
The new headquarters will be located on the building’s ground floor facing College Street. It will include a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen, a dining area, a...
Whiskey maven combines laughter with education at West Overton Village & Museum
From crafting laughter onstage to distilling the essence of whiskey into a 90-minute dissertation that is both amusing and educational, Robin Robinson schools his students on what whiskey is, was and where it’s going.
The former stand-up comic blends his unique sense of humor with top shelf information designed to impart knowledge while eliciting laughs. And if you ask him, he’ll probably be the first to admit that adding six whiskeys to the mix doesn’t hurt either.
The Master ...
Your Best Self: Allenberry opens Longevity Center to promote wellness, healthy aging
Mike Kennedy could feel age beginning to creep up on him.
“I’m 55 now and, as a workaholic, I haven’t taken care of myself physically like I probably should have,” he said.
So, he decided to do something about it and, in the process, felt he could help others who similarly needed to make changes as they aged.
The owner of the Allenberry Resort, Kennedy recently unveiled the Longevity Center, a self-care haven nestled in a serene corner of the property with a view of the scenic Yellow Breeches...
They're taking it to heart--Local doctors weigh in on heart health
It’s February, a month when our thoughts turn to love.
It’s also a time when hearts seem to be popping up everywhere, which is why the American Heart Association picked the month of February to shine a spotlight on heart health by declaring it American Heart Month.
Some may find it hard to believe that heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the United States for a century now.
This grim reminder should inspire us to cherish and care for the most vital organ in our bodies.
The go...
Pa. Christmas + Gift Show celebrates 40 years of Christmas cheer
The Pennsylvania Christmas + Gift Show returns to the Farm Show once again this year, drawing in shoppers who make the annual pilgrimage in search of the perfect gift for those who seem to have it all. This is the 40th anniversary of the Yuletide event which will be held from November 29-December 3.
The show, which spans six acres and attracts more than 30,000 visitors, was sold last summer to Marketplace Events, which touts more than 77 consumer shows across the country. “When the company pu...