Housed in 10,000 square feet of warehouse space at the intersection of 17th and Smallman streets, Mahla & Co. Antiques opened its doors in 1995. Owner Sue Cosgrove’s mother, entrepreneur Elizabeth Mahla, started the enterprise in the building that Sue’s father bought to store inventory for Mahla Office Furniture, his business of 56 years. It is only fitting that a building showcasing antiques would have a history of its own.   Read More ...

When Mary Roberts Rinehart and her husband went into debt due to the 1903 stock-market crash, Mary was inspired to embark on a writing career to help her family, which included three young sons. Success was almost instantaneous. By 1909 her mystery novels The Circular Staircase and The Man in Lower Ten were best sellers, with decades of lucrative play and movie adaptations of her works ahead. This propitious beginning   Read More ...

Mention Italian food and chances are that most people immediately think of red sauces, those staples of southern Italy. The second thought might be of northern cream sauces, or perhaps the earthy, salt-free breads of Tuscany that are incorporated into so many dishes. Actually, any one of about 20 responses, one for each area of Italy, would be correct. Venetian cuisine is one of the most interesting, with influences from   Read More ...

It is amazing the places one can discover that are under an hour’s drive from our beloved, bustling Strip District. About 40 minutes south down Route 51 is the spectacular, family-owned Vinoski Winery, located on 30-plus sprawling, green acres in Belle Vernon, Rostraver Township. Aptly named The Castle, the 34-room estate that sits majestically atop the grounds was built in 1992 as a single-family residence but is now an ideal   Read More ...

Since elementary school, I have been interested in playing board, domino, and card games. As a teenager, I decided I would make collecting games from other cultures my hobby. Over the years games came from friends and family, or were purchased in stores in Pittsburgh and other cities, or from catalogues. Still others were handcrafted or came from kind individuals I never met. Among the games in my collection is   Read More ...