Some campers prefer sports or the outdoors, while others want to have adventures with furry, feathered, and even scaly friends. Animal camps have become a popular alternative for children of all ages looking for a unique experience. One of the options available to children ages 4 to 14 is the Animal Adventures Zoo Camp at Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. Since 1988, zoo campers have enjoyed animal encounters, guided tours and themed classroom lessons as part of the weeklong cam

You might not find any real-life little green men in the borough of Mars, but the town is proud to be associated with the Red Planet, even if it’s just in name only. A replica of a silver spaceship sits in the middle of town, reminding visitors that they have arrived in a charming, out-of-this-world neighborhood. Mars is a borough in Butler County that has experienced a small business and housing renaissance, perhaps due in part to the expansion of Route 228, which allows mor

By Kathleen Beaver, President & CEO 2021 was yet another year that was anything but normal. And that's ok. It has urged us to chart a new course, look at things differently, rethink how we solve community challenges and make Animal Friends an even better place to work and save lives. A few of the successes in 2021 that are worthy of celebration include: Despite “The Great Resignation,” we added a number of exceptionally talented, passionate and professional individuals to our

REALTIME INTERVENTIONS, Pittsburgh’s community-fueled, performance-based arts company, presents the world premiere of People of PIttsburgh: The Alchemist of Sharpsburg at City Theater’s Hamburg Stage on April 7-17, 2022. The show is a live, interactive exploration of the life of Candra, a Hindu-practicing, black-metal-listening game enthusiast and native son of Sharpsburg, PA. This first installment of People of Pittsburgh is written and “game-mastered” by RealTime Co-Artistic

Reflective of an all-too-familiar American headline, Blue centers on the hopes and fears of a young Black couple as they raise their son. As the boy grows into a young man, he becomes a student artist and activist. His mother worries for his future, while his father tries to prepare him for the harsh realities of 21st-century America. The father also wrestles with his own identity as a police officer, a "Black man in blue," and the friction that causes within the family. When

Everyone hates washing dishes; it’s truly the worst part of cooking, even if you clean as you go or don’t use many utensils. I aim to make my dinners as simple as possible, so I have fewer dishes to clean. Sheetpan dinners have become my saviors. You can cook anything in under 40 minutes and you’re only using one pan. As of late, my favorite sheet pan dinner is oven roasted gnocchi and juicy tomatoes. It’s the best way to cook store-bought gnocchi. Start with some dried gnocc

“How do you get your protein?” “Oh, no worries, you eat salad, right?” “Aren’t you always hungry?” For those following a plant-based diet, these are familiar questions. And they’re also pretty used to explaining why they follow a diet centered around plant-based foods. For those not in the know, Forks Over Knives, a well-known, plant-based diet resource, defines a plant-based diet as “centered on whole, unrefined, or minimally refined plant foods that excludes or minimizes me

Looking outside at winter’s drab and dreary leftovers, everyone starts wistfully thinking of spring—a time for green grass, colorful wildflowers and leaves back on the trees where they belong. For homeowners faced with sad-looking lawns, a few tips can help to brighten up that property. “When spring arrives, we want the grass to green-up as fast as possible. The first step is to get out in the yard and look for any damage incurred over the winter,” said Eric French, presiden

Like so many other things, the way we receive healthcare changed dramatically during the pandemic, especially for those seeking mental health services. A 2021 report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) revealed that the massive increase in telehealth calls during COVID was highest among behavioral health providers. Before these extenuating circumstances, telehealth appointments for mental health care services were rare. Demand for virtual appointments

Recent statistics by the World Health Organization reveal that more than 55 million people worldwide are living with dementia. Cognitive brain disorder is perhaps one of the most stressful aspects of aging. Reaching beyond the usual consequences of growing older, dementia delivers a host of other problems: physical, psychological, social and economic. These not only affect the person living with dementia but also their family members, who often serve as caregivers. When it co

There is no doubt about it—humans create a lot of waste. But more and more people are doing something about it, embracing the Zero Waste Movement philosophy. What does ‘zero waste’ mean? According to Ecocyclesolutionshub.org, the zero-waste approach seeks to maximize recycling, minimize waste, reduce consumption, and ensure that products are made to be reused, repaired or recycled back into nature or the marketplace. Flux Bene founder Rebekah Joy was alarmed at how many garme

The City of Pittsburgh boasts an astonishing 163 parks, spread across 3,800 acres. The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is a nonprofit that is helping the city restore and beautify 22 of those parks through a public interest partnership agreement. We spoke with Catherine Qureshi, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s president and CEO, about some of the projects that the organization has taken on, along with the role that parks play in communities. North Hills Monthly (NHM): What is