Drfu Op Jan22
Community Feature, From the Magazine, Hot Reads

Pittsburgher of the Year: Dr. Freddie Fu

With his boundless energy and spirited optimism, Dr. Freddie Fu built a world-class sports medicine program that turned Pittsburgh into a go-to international destination not only for surgeons, athletic trainers and physical therapists, but for many of the world’s best banged-up athletes.
Cristina Rouvalis,

PHOTOS BY HARRY GIGLIO Dr. Freddie Fu {1950-2021} The young doctors training under Dr. Freddie Fu at UPMC’s Sports Medicine Program knew the brilliant knee surgeon would push them to new limits. But Dr. James Romanowski never expected to end up in a cage with a Kodiak bear named Sarah. It was a fall day in 2008 when Romanowski received…

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Hot Property

Hot Property: You’ll Want to Stay Forever at This Woodsy Property in Beaver County

The six-bedroom home in Brighton Township is located near a charming shopping district.
Rosa Colucci/Hot Property,

PHOTOS BY PENNSYLVANIA REAL ESTATE PHOTOGRAPHY It was the room with the picture window that sealed the deal for Natalie and Bryce Whittingham when they first stepped into what they thought was going to be their forever home.  “The dining room looks right into the woods,” Bryce says. “It was snowing and the view through the back window was so…

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Hot Property, Nest

Hot Property: You’ll Want to ‘Reserve’ This Updated Duplex

Located just four miles from Downtown, the two-unit duplex in Reserve has all new kitchens and bathrooms.
Rosa Colucci/Hot Property,

PHOTOS BY EXPOSURE IT For Garret Myers, renovating his first house gave him a chance to put his project management skills to use beyond his regular 9-to-5 job — and it also afforded him a chance to spend quality time with his father, Gary.  Together, father and son tackled remodeling 3719 Mt. Troy Road, a duplex in Reserve.  “It was…

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The 412

Why Did a Giant Floating Head of van Gogh Come to Pittsburgh?

Yes, it's a publicity stunt. But that doesn't mean it wasn't fun to watch.
Ollie Gratzinger,

The Van Gogh Balloon might be the coolest thing you’ll see all day. Hurry over to Schenley Park because Vince has other places to visit. pic.twitter.com/Ib7pa1xc5A — Paul Guggenheimer (@PGuggenheimer) December 10, 2021 It’s not every day you see a 92-foot-tall balloon capturing the likeness of Vincent van Gogh floating over the city. As promised, the balloon landed Friday morning…

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House of the Week, Sponsored Content

House of the Week: Spacious Split-Level in Mt. Lebanon

With plenty of room inside and out, this home is located close to schools, Downtown and Pittsburgh International Airport.
Content Provided by Howard Hanna Real Estate Services,

801 Elm Spring Road, Mt Lebanon, PA 15243 Presented by Cindy Sunseri Howard Hanna Real Estate Services This home features cathedral ceilings, a two-story entry, and an eat-in kitchen that opens to a spacious deck overlooking a huge backyard. The four spacious bedrooms have large closets and refinished hardwood floors and are freshly painted. The oversized game room offers floor-to-ceiling windows and…

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Hot Property, Nest

The Angel’s Arms Welcome You into This South Side Slopes Unit

The airy two-bedroom condo is located in the former church’s baptistry.
Rosa Colucci/Hot Property,

PHOTO BY PENNSYLVANIA REAL ESTATE PHOTOGRAPHY A love of interesting architecture led Kurt Wallnau and his wife, Kai Wei, to purchasing Unit C7 in the Angel’s Arms development on the South Side Slopes. Located in the former St. Michael the Archangel Church, the one-of-a-kind residences at 1 Pius St. offer breathtaking views of the city.  “We look for things that…

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Hot Property, Nest

Hot Property: Everything You Need Is Nearby with this Tudor-Style Home

The four-bedroom home in Dormont is within walking distance of bustling West Liberty Avenue.
Rosa Colucci/Hot Property,

Jim Paonessa has a lot of great memories of his late sister, Rosetta.  The siblings were two of five children who, with their parents Joseph and Sara, moved into 1300 Biltmore Ave. in Dormont more than six decades ago.  Rosetta spent her life as a respected executive secretary at Westinghouse. She also served her community and her church — and…

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The 412

What To Expect When You Visit Pittsburgh’s New Cap Park

The I-579 Cap park aims to reconnect the Hill District and Downtown, after construction separated them more than 60 years ago.
Ollie Gratzinger,

PHOTOS BY OLLIE GRATZINGER In the heart of the concrete jungle — or rather, steel jungle —  there’s a not-so-little patch of green. The I-579 Cap park was officially dedicated Monday after a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the 3-acre public space, which was built above Interstate 579. It’s bordered by Bigelow Boulevard, Centre Avenue, Chatham Street and Washington Place, and serves…

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Hot Property

Hot Property: Coffered Ceiling are Part of This Beechview Home’s Charm

The four-bedroom home is filled with original details.
Rosa Colucci/Hot Property,

Becky Thurner is a storyteller. She uses her camera to capture images that inspire, delight — and say what words can’t. So it was only natural that she fell head over heels for a quaint Cape Cod-style home in Beechview filled with picturesque details.  “I bought the house 18 years ago, when I was single,” she says.  At the time,…

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House of the Week, Sponsored Content

House of the Week: Westmoreland County Brick Farmhouse Built in 1856

This gracious home sits on 52 acres in East Huntingdon Township.
Content Provided by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty,

2 Second Avenue Scottdale, PA 15683 Presented by Josh Crowe Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty The home has been well maintained and is loaded with charm and character! The kitchen features custom cherry cabinets and plenty of storage. There is custom cherry hardwood flooring and paneling throughout the home. The large living room features a stone-cased wood-burning fireplace. The…

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Hot Property

Hot Property: Life is Easy With This Low-Maintenance Townhouse in Ross

Located in a wooded community, the tudor-style unit is close to Downtown and Ross Park Mall.
Rosa Colucci/Hot Property,

PHOTOS BY ROSEANNE R. MARTIN | PENNSYLVANIA REAL ESTATE PHOTOGRAPHY Downsizing isn’t easy; It’s hard to get rid of things that have sentimental value, harder to get rid of things you paid “good money” for — and even harder to justify that it really needs to be done at all.  For every homeowner who successfully makes the transition, there are…

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House of the Week, Sponsored Content

House of the Week: Equestrian Estate in Sewickley Heights

The property features a 20 room stone Georgian-style manor house located on 30 acres.
Content Provided by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty,

202-204 Scaife Road, Sewickley Heights, PA 15143 Presented by Nicole Kriebel Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty Commanding over 30 hilltop acres, this immense and spectacular Sewickley Heights estate includes a 20 room magnificent stone Georgian-style manor house built in 1938 by W.C. Robinson Jr. & designed by Jack Franklin, an architect who concentrated on houses in Sewickley and is…

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Rick Sebak

Around Town: Rick Sebak Explains the Truth of the Fresh Turkey

He says a visit to a local turkey farm in 2017 was a revelation.
Rick Sebak, Photos by Rick Sebak,

For most of my life, my family bought big frozen turkeys at our local supermarket for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. Giant boulder-like balls wrapped in plastic, those turkeys defrosted slowly in our downstairs refrigerator till the day they were stuffed and roasted. Then in 2017, while putting together a WQED-TV program that I called “Meat Pittsburgh,” several people suggested that…

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Hot Property

Hot Property: Why This Condo Is a Real Gateway to Pittsburgh

The one-bedroom unit has a view of the Allegheny River and PNC Park.
Rosa Colucci/Hot Property,

PHOTOS BY JESSE RIESMEYER PHOTOGRAPHY For Alice Barnett, moving Downtown turned out to be a life-changing experience.  She purchased unit 7E in Gateway Towers, which overlooks the Allegheny River and has a prized view of PNC Park, several years ago. The life she glimpsed beyond the windows immediately called her to explore the area.     “You see the ballpark lit up…

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House of the Week, Sponsored Content

House of the Week: A Luxury Condo on Mount Washington

Each room is spacious and highlights the unobstructed views of the city.
Content Provided by Howard Hanna Real Estate Services,

1 Trimont Ln #1415A, Mount Washington, PA 15211 Presented by Lynne Bingham Howard Hanna Real Estate Services This spacious, three-bedroom home features 3,400 square feet of lavish interiors inspired by international architectures and trending decor styles that make this luxury unit distinct. The flooring is made of either Brazilian Walnut or White Macaubus Quartzite. There are extensive custom built-ins throughout…

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Hot Property

Hot Property: An Original Sears “Kit” House Goes Up for Sale in McCandless

The mail-order, two-bedroom Mission-style home remains largely unchanged.
Rosa Colucci/Hot Property,

PHOTOS: PENNSYLVANIA REAL ESTATE PHOTOGRAPHY The kit and catalog houses by Sears Modern Homes were well on their way to changing the way Americans approached housing when the Osborn model from the Honor Bilt line was introduced in 1916.  Priced at $2,753, the Spanish Mission-style design featured stucco porches, bulkheads trimmed with brick coping “for color” and timber columns. Two…

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Rick Sebak

Around Town: The Fresh Take on Thai Food by the River in Blawnox

Rick Sebak recounts his first visit to what's become one of his favorite restaurants.
Rick Sebak, Photos by Rick Sebak,

I was lucky. On April 5, 2018, a Facebook friend, Kevan Yenerall, who teaches political science at Clarion University, sent me a note on Messenger alerting me that his wife had opened a new Thai restaurant in Blawnox. I didn’t have dinner plans that night, so I decided to check it out, and I was immediately impressed at the freshness…

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The 412, Visitors Guide

The Ultimate Vacation Rental for Horror Fans is Hidden in Perryopolis

Buffalo Bill’s House, a filming location from “Silence of the Lambs,” has been converted into a fun and welcoming rental property.
Sean Collier, Photos by Huck Beard,

Even after you pass through the small town of Perryopolis, Buffalo Bill’s House is out of the way. To get there, you’ll need to pass through an imposing tunnel and over a one-lane bridge that spans the Youghiogheny River. There are surprises in store once you arrive — from the recreated scenes in the basement of the 111-year-old home to…

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The 412

Weird and Wonderful: Witches on the Water Return to North Park Lake

In the third annual event, costumed paddleboarders and kayakers delighted spectators on the shore.
Ollie Gratzinger, Photos by Mary Pegher,

Something wicked this way comes … Well, they aren’t wicked at all. In fact, the witches on the water at North Park Lake are pretty friendly; they just want to encourage folks to get outside and have some fun. The third annual Witches on the Water event was held this past Sunday, and Nancy Barnes, who works as a stand…

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House of the Week, Sponsored Content

House of the Week: Brick Colonial in Mt. Lebanon

Custom built by Londonberry Homes, this six-bedroom home has plenty of room inside and out.
Content Provided by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty,

2 Forest Glen Dr., Pittsburgh, PA, 15228 Presented by Lisa Murovich Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty A two-story grand entry leads to a charming living room with beautiful built-ins and a fireplace. There is a formal dining room and an extra-large office/library. The spacious eat-in kitchen leads to a relaxing sunroom that overlooks the private backyard. A cozy family…

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Things To Do

Delights and Frights at FearScapes, More Than a Run-of-the-Mill Haunted House

In exploring one last haunted house before Halloween, I found a hidden gem in Ellwood City.
Ollie Gratzinger,

PHOTOS BY OLLIE GRATZINGER It was finally cold enough to feel like autumn after a long and sweaty Applachian summer, and the seasonal chill was the perfect backdrop for my fourth and final haunted house excursion. As someone who, until a month ago, had actively avoided all the things that go bump in the night, I’m hardly an expert. But…

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Hot Property

Hot Property: A Small Town Home in Oakmont That’s Big on Charm

Recently renovated, the 141-year-old home is close to Oakmont's shops and eateries.
Rosa Colucci/Hot Property,

PHOTOS BY MARK J HOLEWINSKI Some homes are just built right, with a footprint and room sizes that make sense.  Christine Donahue’s place at 622 Fourth Street in Oakmont is a great example. The 2,182 square feet of space in the classic Victorian interior was a nice fit for her family. Through the years, it needed very few changes.  Located…

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House of the Week, Sponsored Content

House of the Week: Custom-Built Brick Home in Franklin Park

Located in the North Allegheny School District, this home is minutes from major highways, shopping, restaurants and North Park.
Content Provided by Howard Hanna Real Estate Services,

1512 Abby Rose Ct., Franklin Park, PA 15237 Presented by Malini Jaganathan Howard Hanna Real Estate Services This five-bedroom home sits on a cul-de-sac with a large, usable lot.  A grand two-story foyer entrance with Porcelain floors greets you.  The kitchen features an oversized granite island, tall cabinetry, stainless steel Bosch appliances, a beverage station, a walk-in pantry and a breakfast nook…

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The 412, Things To Do

Experiencing Pittsburgh’s Most Popular Haunts: Phantom Fall Fest at Kennywood

The event, formerly dubbed Phantom Fright Nights, featured five haunted houses and a range of creatures creeping through the park.
Ollie Gratzinger,

PHOTOS BY OLLIE GRATZINGER No series on Pittsburgh haunts would be complete without a visit to the Halloween-themed festivities at West Mifflin’s Kennywood Park. The infamous Phantom Fright Nights began back in the early aughts, but this year, things looked a little different: Rebranding as Phantom Fall Fest, the park opens earlier in the day for family-friendly fun, including autumnal…