Perhaps it’s the sweet, musty scent of ink and paper, or the promise of wisdom between the covers. The hefty weight of a hardcover between my fingers, the crispy-crackly pages that have been thumbed through by countless others, or the soft yield of the spine bending back to release its knowledge into the sun-soaked air.
Whatever it is, something about local bookstores’ mysteriousness and quirkiness has endeared them to me, so that I often find myself passing entire afternoons fingering through the yellowed, threadbare tomes in the their basements, searching for …

The clothes may not make the woman, but the shoes for sure make the outfit. With styles that change faster than the Pirates’ management, it’s hard to know what’s in. Luckily, this season’s footwear trends range from sky-high heels to ballet flats, and the universally flattering — and comfortable — gladiator sandals and wedges are really hot.
How do you wear these cute kicks?
Let’s start with the gladiators. With variations from flat and strappy basics to heels with straps lacing up the calf, gladiators come in a rainbow of colors. If …

There are few things in this world that never get old. And a hot dog is one of them. What do you eat at the ballpark? What’s on your grill at picnics? What appears on almost every menu?
Hot dogs. Hot dogs. And more hot dogs.
America is ruled by them like an army of steamrollers. They are grilled, placed on a bun, eaten, and rebuilt with condiments again and again.
So there shouldn’t be any reason to explain why hot dog shops are just as common. They are the perfect Saturday get-away: …

It was red, white and blue, hung on a wall and hypnotized me like the Penguin’s umbrella in Batman Returns. It ruled me, and apparently every other man in the neighborhood, as well.
I said, “Dad, what’s that? A candy shop?” as I pointed to the twirling candy cane across the street. “No, a barbershop”, my father said.
We walked through the door and sat down along the row of chairs. Tony, the owner, greeted my father with a friendly, “Hey Tom,” while I shied away into my seat.
My father went first. …

Rent? Check. Bills? Check. Gas? Check. Big meal for the day? Uh, whoops. As we approach the end of the recession, balancing the checkbook is getting easier, but spending a lot on eating out isn’t. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner, diners have always been an easy-on-the-wallet solution. And luckily, Pittsburgh is full of them!
If you’re in the mood for a tasty stack of pancakes, try Pamela’s (six area locations). And if you don’t believe me, ask President Obama. Over Memorial Day weekend, Pamela’s served up their famous hotcakes to …