After a long winter filled with a lot of snow and many days shut inside with nothing to do, May is a fine month to get outside and enjoy the fresh air. Take full advantage of seasonal vegetables and the first fruits of this year’s spring harvest. Summer is nearly two months away and officially begin...

Adam Ravenstahl talks with two voters. (Photo courtesy Friends of Adam Ravenstahl) With a little more than two weeks until the May 18 special election for Don Walko’s old perch in the State House, no candidate appears to be a clear frontrunner. This may be because only one candidate, Mark Purcell , ...

Northsider Eric French talks with Northside Leadership Conference Executive Director Mark Fatla about reconnecting East Ohio and Federal streets in Allegheny Center at an April 26 meeting. (Photo/Kelly Thomas) More than 100 Northsiders crowded the basement theater in the Children’s Museum on Monday ...

The second annual Troy Hill Plant Swap in 2009 attracted around 25 people. This year's will be held May 1 in Citizens Park. (Photo courtesy Troy Hill Citizens) On May 1, Troy Hill will host its third annual plant swap in Citizens Park between Claim and Lagar streets. Anyone can attend, even those no...

Walt Nalducci of Observatory Hill, Inc. accepted an award for the Northside Leadership Conference on April 23 at CCAC's Legends in Leadership dinner. (Photo/Chris Stalnaker) Heinz Field’s elegant East Club Lounge played host to the 13th annual Community College of Allegheny County’s Legends in Leade...

At first glance, a group of white musicians playing Middle Eastern music in Pittsburgh bars — of all places — might seem odd. But for members of local band Ishtar, traditional Middle Eastern songs — played with a few twists of their own — have given them a new musical life. Front woman and Spring Hi...

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson shakes hands with kids from the Sarah Heinz House Boys and Girls Club after the Earth Day Live with Energy Star event on April 21. (Photo/Kelly Thomas) Unbeknownst to those living in them, many households hide a nefarious vampire population. But these vampires don’t su...

About 75 people came to the city's first PreservePGH meeting on April 19. PreservePGH is the first phase in the 12-phase PlanPGH program. (Photo/Henry Clay Webster) What would you like to see in Pittsburgh in five or 10 years? Alan Perry wanted to see overnight camping return to Riverview Park. “I’d...

Soon, with a little help from the latest round of Charm Bracelet Project microgrants, crops will grow in community gardens, artists and writers will take to the streets and young songwriters will take to the airwaves. The Charm Bracelet Project’s Northside Microgrant Fund gives $500 to $10,000 to lo...

Mark Purcell doesn’t just want you to vote him on to Harrisburg. If he wins the May 18 Democratic primary for the 20th District of the Pennsylvania State House, he wants to walk there. “At my age, if I’m willing to walk to Harrisburg, I’ll get listened to,” said the 63-year-old native and former com...