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The 412

What Are the Big Upgrades Coming to PNC Park This Season?

From additional gathering spaces to historical mini-exhibits throughout the park, a lot is changing in 2022.
Ollie Gratzinger,

PHOTO BY RICHARD COOK Just in time for the Pirates’ home opener next week, fans can expect to see some notable upgrades around PNC Park. Park officials announced Monday what they called “significant enhancements to the fan experience.” Updates will mostly focus on providing more gathering spaces throughout the ballpark and include new social gathering spaces with views of the…

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The 412, Things To Do

Sandcastle Water Park Promises Big Changes for its 2022 Season

The changes are all part of a multimillion dollar park improvement plan that Sandcastle unveiled on April 1 — no joke.
Ollie Gratzinger,

PHOTOS/RENDERINGS COURTESY OF SANDCASTLE It’s been a big year for Pittsburgh’s amusement parks, and the season hasn’t even begun yet.  Last month, both Kennywood Park and Idlewild Park & Soak Zone announced that they would open earlier than usual with some notable changes in store. Today, Sandcastle joined its sister parks with the promise of exciting events, a new waterslide…

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House of the Week, Sponsored Content

House of The Week: Spacious Colonial in Fox Chapel

This seven-bedroom home is perfect for the largest of families.
Content Provided by Howard Hanna Real Estate Services,

7 Sweet Water Ln., Fox Chapel, PA 15238 Presented by Stephanie Veenis Howard Hanna Real Estate Services Enjoy this home’s spacious open floor plan for dining, entertainment, and work. Light abounds all day long. A covered porch with outside media and a fireplace brings you to vacation mode throughout the seasons. No question there is a space for whatever a family needs….

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The 412

What Will It Cost to Restore Pittsburgh’s Riverfronts, Parks and Trails?

Riverlife’s Completing the Loop project, which aims to create community green spaces within the city’s 1,055 acres of riverfronts, will be funded largely through fundraisers.
Ollie Gratzinger,

PHOTOS VIA RIVERLIFE | AREAS MARKED IN GREEN REPRESENT THOSE INCLUDED IN THE COMPLETING THE LOOP PROJECT. Access to Pittsburgh’s many trails and parks may be priceless, but the process of finishing and restoring these areas is anything but; Riverlife’s Completing the Loop project is expected to cost an estimated $246.9 million.  The funding, according to Riverlife President and CEO…

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Hot Property

This Condo in Oakland Is Perfect for a Doctor, a Student or a Retiree

The studio space is located in a U-shaped historical apartment complex designed by architect H.G. Hodgkins.
Rosa Colucci/Hot Property,

Last week, I wrote about how finding homes for sale for less than $200,000 in a competitive Pittsburgh real estate market, such as this four-bedroom Victorian that quickly went under contract in Brighton Heights, could still be done.  This week’s Hot Property is another affordable gem, but it’s a rather swanky condominium in Oakland’s Hampton Hall. Located at 166 N….

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House of the Week, Sponsored Content

House of the Week: Former Model Home in Peters Township

The five-bedroom home built by Benjamin Marcus boasts an open floor plan with a two-story foyer.
Content Provided by Howard Hanna Real Estate Services,

380 Buckingham Dr., Peters Township, PA 15367 Presented by Helen Sosso Howard Hanna Real Estate Services Built in 2020, this well-appointed, former Benjamin Marcus model boasts an open floor plan. Upon entering, you’ll love the soaring two-story foyer which flows into the living area. Here you will find a wall of elongated glass windows, a switch-controlled gas fireplace and an open view…

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Best-Known Lakes

Did You Know Lake Erie Has Its Own Legendary Monster?

Lake Erie is the fourth largest and shallowest of North America's five Great Lakes.
Huck Beard, Photos by Huck Beard,

Let’s start big with Pennsylvania’s largest lake, which is also the fourth largest (by surface area) of North America’s five Great Lakes. It’s also the shallowest and the first to freeze in the winter. The southernmost of the Great Lakes, which we share with Canada, once sat near the settlements of the Erie, Attawandaron, Iroquois and Anishinaabe tribes, who fished…

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Best-Known Lakes

Conneaut Lake is Pennsylvania’s Largest Natural Lake

This particular body of water has inspired quite a few ghost stories.
Huck Beard, Photos by Huck Beard,

Pennsylvania’s largest natural lake is just a short drive north in Crawford County. The typical lake activities — boating, water skiing, swimming, fishing, strolling a historic boardwalk — can be found here, but we need to talk about the ghosts. A dozen hotels once dotted the shores of Conneaut Lake, but the historic Hotel Conneaut is the sole survivor. At…

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Best-Known Lakes

Twin Lakes Park is a Popular Lake-Duo in Westmoreland County

Both lakes are stocked with game fish by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and it’s a popular destination for ice fishing in the winter.
Huck Beard, Photos by Huck Beard,

For a quiet walk or jog through a pristine lake ecosystem, try this lake duo in Latrobe. A figure-8 walkway circles both lakes — known as the Upper and the Lower — in a 2.5-mile, easy stretch in the shade. Reflection Island, on the Upper Lake, is designed for remembrance of loved ones who have passed, while the Vietnam Veterans…

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Best-Known Lakes

Marshall Lake Is The Man-Made Jewel of North Park

The lake is stocked with game fish and attracts thousands to its shores on the first day of fishing season.
Huck Beard, Photos by Huck Beard,

North Park is the largest in the Allegheny County Parks system. The lake itself is bordered by almost five miles of natural woodlands. At one time, the area’s Old Pine Creek flowed into a surrounding marshy area; this wetland was transformed into the man-made lake now known as Marshall Lake (or North Park Lake). The lake was soon stocked with…

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Hot Property

Yes, You Can Still Snag a House in the Pittsburgh Area for Under $200,000

Rosa Colucci shares her tips for finding an economically priced home, such as this four-bedroom Victorian that recently went under agreement in Brighton Heights.
Rosa Colucci/Hot Property,

With inflation at an all-time high, are there any affordable gems left on the market for under $200,000 in Pittsburgh? The good news is that there are, but if you’re hoping to snag one, be ready for a ride.  For example, Sara Augustine, an agent with ReMax City Life, recently listed 1109 Davis Ave. in Brighton Heights for $179,900 (MLS#1540982)…

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This Week in Pgh History

This Week in Pittsburgh History: The St. Patrick’s Day Flood

The flood is considered one of the region's worst natural disasters.
Richard Cook, Content Provided by The Odd, Mysterious & Fascinating History of Pittsburgh,

PHOTOS: ALLEGHENY CONFERENCE ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PHOTOGRAPHS, 1892-1981, MSP 285, DETRE LIBRARY & ARCHIVES AT THE HISTORY CENTER. Nearly 2 inches of rain fell in Pittsburgh on March 16, 1936. Combined with melting snow, the rain caused massive flooding; a day later, the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers rose to a peak of 46 feet at the Point, more than 20…

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House of the Week, Sponsored Content

House of the Week: Renovated Dutch Colonial in Fox Chapel

This five-bedroom, five-full-bath home sits on a mostly flat three-plus acre lot.
Content Provided by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty,

203 Fairview, Fox Chapel, PA 15238 Presented by Julie Rost Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty This expansive estate is fully renovated and features a gourmet chef’s kitchen with marble countertops, Wolf appliances, a Sub-Zero refrigerator and a wet bar.  The dining room with a coffered ceiling leads to a tiled sunroom. There is also a large family room with…

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The 412

What Will the New Fern Hollow Bridge in Frick Park Look Like?

PennDOT and the City of Pittsburgh say construction will begin in April.
Ollie Gratzinger,

PHOTOS VIA PENNDOT Almost two months after the collapse of the Fern Hollow bridge in Frick Park, the city has released preliminary designs of what the replacement structure will look like and said construction will begin in April. The new bridge will still carry four lanes of traffic, with a 5-foot sidewalk along the northern lanes and an approximately 10.5-foot…

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Weddings

This Couple Pulled off a Gothic Castle Wedding Right Here in Pittsburgh

With the Mansions on Fifth proving the perfect backdrop, Katie Sasinoski and Matthew Tumas created a perfectly elegant yet nontraditional day.
Madison Jarnot,

PHOTOS BY RACHEL ROWLAND PHOTOGRAPHY When Katie Sasinoski and Matthew Tumas got engaged on May 3, 2018, they knew they wanted a wedding that was refined but still had a feeling of warmth. “I was going for something elegant and gothic, with a little bit of a freaky edge,” Katie says. “And I wanted something that was cozier. I wanted…

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Hot Property

This Mid-Century Modern Ranch in Beechview was a Gift to a New Bride

The never-remodeled, three-bedroom brick home is perfectly preserved.
Rosa Colucci/Hot Property,

The year was 1955. Gas was 29 cents per gallon, a loaf of bread cost 18 cents and sending a love letter would run you 3 cents in postage. And the average cost of a house? About $9,000.  It was around that time that cement finisher Edward “Spitz” Caliguire built a house for his new bride, Helen, as a wedding…

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Best of Design

Best of Design 2022: Renovated Home

A century-old former barn in Sewickley Heights underwent a dramatic transformation.
Jessica Sinichak,

PHOTOS BY NICK SARGENT It’s hard to believe upon seeing it now, but this year’s Best Renovated Home winner was once the barn of a 1920s-era estate in Sewickley Heights. “It has a really neat history,” says Betsy Wentz, owner of Betsy Wentz Interior Design in Sewickley. “It was turned into a house sometime in the 1980s.” Now a three-bedroom,…

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Best of Design

Best of Design 2022: Renovated Bathroom

Designer Christine McCall transformed a dated primary bathroom in Aspinwall into a modern, airy space while honoring the home’s history. 
Ollie Gratzinger,

PHOTOS BY TYLER NORMAN PHOTOGRAPHY Designer Christine McCall says it’s always fun to think outside the box. That’s exactly what she did when designing the bathroom of an Aspinwall home, which judges named their Best Renovated Bathroom for 2022. The owner of Christine McCall Home says she was motivated by the 116-year-old home’s original architecture, which included “beautiful” dark woodwork…

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Best of Design

Best of Design 2022: Best Overall Space

Blue & Blanc designer Meghan McDermott created a luxury pool house that an Upper St. Clair family can use throughout the year. 
Sarah Barnes,

PHOTOS BY POEMA PHOTOGRAPHY ​​When Blue & Blanc Design’s Meghan McDermott was approached to design a pool house in Upper St. Clair, she took it a step further, creating a luxurious retreat perfect for all seasons. “We knew from the start that it was going to be an enclosed structure with plenty of natural light and nature-inspired decor to bring…

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Best of Design

Best of Design 2022: Outdoor Space

Designer Lauren Levant created a modern Italian vineyard in the backyard of Michael and Kim Pezzone’s suburban home. 
Sarah Barnes,

PHOTOS BY DAVE BRYCE PHOTOGRAPHY Michael and Kim Pezzone had a vision. Inspired by their travels, as well as Michael’s Italian heritage, the couple — both physicians — dreamt of bringing the vineyards of Italy to their backyard in Upper St. Clair. The Pezzones, who also have spent time in the Napa and Sonoma regions of California, love to cook…

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House of the Week, Sponsored Content

House of the Week: Four-Level Luxury Townhome in Squirrel Hill

This three-bedroom home is within walking distance from restaurants, shops and Frick Park.
Content Provided by Howard Hanna Real Estate Services,

6345 Aylesboro Avenue, Squirrel Hill, PA 15217 Presented by Lori Hummel Howard Hanna Real Estate Services A unique and truly exceptional property, this four-level townhome’s design is rich with custom details and an impressive array of superior amenities, including high ceilings heated marble floors on the first floor and bathrooms, ambient lighting, granite counters, sleek custom cabinetry and elegant fixtures. A glass-accented…

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Hot Property

Luxury Living at its Highest: The Trimont Boasts Spectacular Views of the City

The three-bedroom penthouse has been extensively remodeled.
Rosa Colucci/Hot Property,

PHOTOS BY MARK HOLEWINSKI, MJH DIGITAL IMAGES You can’t miss the triangular-shaped staircase building that sits atop Mount Washington — and that’s by design.  Built in 1983, the Trimont’s unusual footprint mimics the confluence of the Ohio, Allegheny and Monongahela rivers below, and the staircase steps of the exterior enhances the very mountain it sits on.  Unit 1140C is a…

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House of the Week, Sponsored Content

House of the Week: Luxury Estate on 19 Acres With Private Lake in Franklin Park

This six-bedroom home regally presides over the lake where ice skating in the winter and swimming in the summer delight owners and visitors alike.
Sponsored Content Partner RE/MAX Select Realty,

1635 Pegher Lane, Franklin Park, PA 15143 Presented by Gina Giampietro RE/MAX Select Realty Only once in a generation does a captivating estate like this one change hands. The 10,000+ square-foot, timber-framed home is topped with a slate roof and adorned with copper gutters and mahogany soffits. Grand mahogany doors open to a two-story great room with a barn stone…

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Hot Property

This Century-Old Home in Highland Park is Ready For a New Life

Located in one of Pittsburgh's most sought-after neighborhoods, the three-story home has been updated multiple times.
Rosa Colucci/Hot Property,

Homes, like neighborhoods, go through many changes as the years go on, and in Pittsburgh’s East End, the transformations have been dramatic. This includes Highland Park, one of the city’s most sought-after neighborhoods.  Built in 1920, the three-story, frame-and-shingle home for sale at 5627 Jackson Street has such a story. It’s in a section of Highland Park where many homes,…