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Richard Parsakian of Eons Designs Pittsburgh Opera’s Fashion Show

By
Kylie Thomas
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Richard Parsakian stands in his Eons vintage shop between racks of clothes.

For the Pittsburgh Opera’s annual fashion fundraiser on March 23, vintage clothing dealer and perennial scene-maker Richard Parsakian of Eons goes gloriously over the top—serving couture-caliber looks, a cast of provocateurs, and drama worthy of the stage. 

A rack of vintage clothing with shoes hanging above it.

Inside Richard Parsakian’s Vision for the Pittsburgh Opera’s It’s About Time Fashion Show

It’s a snowy Tuesday morning in the last week of February, and Richard Parsakian is fretting over two garment racks in Eons Fashion Antique, his vintage clothing store in Shadyside. He’s moving outfits, trying to decide which of the pieces he’s pulled from his vast archive—everything from a 1940s monkey-fur bolero jacket to a delicate silk floral-embroidered coat dress dating to the early 1900s—will be featured on the catwalk at the Pittsburgh Opera’s It’s About Time Fashion Show on March 23. He is 77, running on three hours of sleep, the sole creative director overseeing one of the city’s most-anticipated fundraisers, and it’s just four weeks to showtime. 

“The runway is in my head when I wake up, and when I try to sleep,” says Parsakian, a self-described insomniac. “It’s a puzzle, but I like puzzles.” 

Richard Parsakian leans against two clothes racks.

A Long Creative Partnership With Pittsburgh Opera

For Parsakian, whose store turns 40 this year, the event continues a relationship with the Opera that began in 2016, when he designed and sourced costumes for a production about Gertrude Stein, set in 1920s and ’30s Paris. In 2022, he returned to oversee and curate the runway show Diva Dreams and Fashion Queens. This season, with general director Christopher Hahn preparing to step down after two decades, the Opera invited Parsakian back for an encore.  

“Richard’s commitment, couture collection, and quirky creativity makes him the perfect partner in producing a high-octane, theatrically charged and intriguingly different event,” says Hahn.  

Richard Parsakian holds out an orange dress.

Blending Opera, Performance, and Vintage Fashion

Staged at the Opera’s Strip District headquarters, the event ranks just behind the company’s black-tie gala in fundraising and is expected to bring in about $60,000 to support productions and education programs. The evening blends runway and performance, with the Opera’s resident artists singing arias and Bob Dylan classics while models strut, sashay, and dance down the runway. Parsakian’s concept, inspired in part by the 1992 film Orlando—a story of a gender-fluid immortal noble who moves through centuries and across sexes—travels through time, with hybrid, high-drama looks spanning roughly a century. He is also selecting the music and collaborating with the Opera team on cinematic videos that will play during the show. “It’s storytelling,” he says. “Just without dialogue.” 

Parsakian’s biggest difficulty is fit. Vintage clothing was typically made for smaller bodies—especially through the rib cage—and none of the garments can be altered. Because he can’t cut, sew, or hem the fabric, Parsakian has to find models who exactly match each period piece, not the other way around. With the clothes determining the casting, Parsakian relies on his innate ability to visualize structure and proportions. “I see the person, and I just know,” he says. “Or I know it won’t work.” 

Richard Parsakian holds a vintage long suit jacket.

Inside the Eons Vintage Archive

Nearly everything in the show comes from his warehouse—he won’t divulge the hush-hush location—where he stores more than a thousand pieces collected over four decades. Nothing in the inventory is cataloged or digitized, so Parsakian imagines the runway lineup first, then heads to the warehouse to pull each look. “I can picture where things are,” he says. “It’s like a mental map.” 

For the 33 models, Parsakian tapped his far-reaching network: drag performers, artists, longtime customers, and Opera supporters across a range of ages, sizes, and gender expressions. The youngest walker is an 18-year-old from Pittsburgh’s performing arts magnet school, and the show’s closer is a woman Parsakian has dressed since the 1980s. Her finale look, he promises cryptically, will be “big.” 

A brown vintage hat sits on a mannequin head.

Parsakian arrived in Pittsburgh in 1971 with an architecture degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a placement with VISTA—the stateside version of the Peace Corps—and never left. He opened Eons in 1986 two doors down from its current location, building it into a hybrid retail shop, costume archive, and community room. With thrifting now a TikTok phenomenon and the second-hand retailer Depop having sold to eBay for over $1 billion, Parsakian fills the racks through word-of-mouth. Visiting stylists, filmmakers, and costume designers rely on his inventory and encyclopedic knowledge of fashion history when they’re in town for shoots, while other customers come simply to shop or hang out. Among the local LGBTQIA+ community, his store has long been a place of affirmation and experimentation, where people can try on clothing—and identities—without fear or judgment. 

Richard Parsakian stands beneath a pride flag.

Eons and Parsakian as Pittsburgh LGBTQ+ Icons

Over time, Parsakian has become an icon and patron saint of the city’s queer cultural life, organizing early drag performances, co-publishing one of Pittsburgh’s first gay newspapers, carrying a mammoth 30-by-60-foot Pride flag through the parade for 25 years, and throwing out a first pitch at a Pirates Pride Night. “I’m like Auntie Mame,” says Parsakian. “I just want everyone to have a fabulous time.” 

Vintage jewelry hangs from a stand.

Back at the rack, he pauses at the bolero jacket. Parsakian will likely pair its glossy, jet-black Colobus monkey fur—popularized in the 1930s by designers like Elsa Schiaparelli and now rarely seen outside museum collections—with a red vinyl Versace dress from the 1990s, one of the many cross-era mashups he’s assembling. Further down the rack are looks still in progress, including a patterned Pucci dress, dramatic lime-green velvet bell bottoms from the late 1960s, and a Thierry Mugler blazer with a peplum and sharp shoulders. 

Eons opens at noon. Despite the demands of the show, Parsakian is still working six days a week while finalizing what he insists will be his last runway extravaganza. But he notes he’s Armenian, like Cher, who has spent years on farewell tours. Asked if he’s certain this is truly his fashion send-off, Parsakian pauses. 

Richard Parsakian folds a long green velvet dress.

“This is my last show,” he says. “The same way Cher’s is her last show.” 

Story by Kathleen Renda
Photography by Laura Petrilla

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Lolo y Lauti’s ‘Triple Threat’ Opens at the Mattress Factory

By
Kylie Thomas
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A person stands in front of a barre bar as another person poses on a screen behind it.

Stepping into Triple Threat, the new installation by Argentine artist duo Lolo y Lauti at the Mattress Factory, you might feel like you’re stumbling in late for a rehearsal you didn’t know was happening.

Lolo y Lauti’s Triple Threat at the Mattress Factory Takes Multimedia Art to New Levels

A ballet barre runs along the wall while a row of monitors shows three dancers already mid-routine. Their movements have the stylized flair of vintage television musicals: kicks held a beat too long, arms flung outward with theatrical precision, bodies pivoting sharply in formation. Their hair is sculpted into retro shapes, and they wear matching pale blue sweaters that give the scene the look of a variety show from a bygone era. One dancer performs much of the routine with a cigarette dangling from their mouth, pushing the choreography toward camp. The room begins to feel less like a gallery than the set of a long-lost television variety show. 

The artists conceived the project after a visit to the museum’s main building at 500 Sampsonia Way. The details of one particular exhibition room caught their attention. Narrow and rectangular, the space reminded them of a dance studio. That shape became the foundation for the work. After the visit, Lolo y Lauti returned to Argentina to produce the video component, and in recent weeks they have been back at the Mattress Factory installing the piece on site, where dancers on the monitors occasionally reach for the ballet barre mounted on the gallery wall. 

Three screens of people posing behind a barre bar.

A Deeper Look

The title Triple Threat refers to a familiar phrase from musical theater: someone who sings, dances, and acts. But here the number three carries additional weight. The choreography was designed for three performers, the video unfolds across three monitors, and even the rhythm of the dancers’ movements suggests a triangular dynamic, bodies shifting between formation and separation. 

For Lolo y Lauti, musical theater has long been more than entertainment. Growing up in Argentina, both artists encountered American musical theater through television broadcasts. Those performances became an unexpected lifeline. “It was beyond inspiring,” they recalled during a tour of the exhibition. In a cultural landscape where queer representation was scarce, televised variety shows offered glimpses of flamboyant, unapologetic performers. For the artists, those broadcasts suggested a world where queer expression could be uplifted. 

The costuming in the video draws directly from that history. The dancers wear pale blue sweaters inspired by the wardrobe of the 1960s American musical variety show Hullabaloo. For Lolo y Lauti, the aesthetics of mid-century television and stage design represent a moment when queer performers could occupy public space with a kind of joyful excess. 

Reality vs Intentionality

Yet the installation itself is spare. The room contains only the screens, the barre, and a mirrored wall. The artists describe their approach as deliberately stripped down. After 16 years working together, they have developed a practice that embraces minimal means. “We have learned to work with very little,” they said, “and that’s the way we like it.” 

That restraint opens the work to interpretation. The video plays without sound, a choice that immediately changes the viewer’s experience. Without music, the choreography becomes strangely suspended. Visitors instinctively imagine a soundtrack—perhaps a Broadway number, perhaps something entirely different. The silence invites viewers to mentally complete the performance. 

The mirrored wall offers another shift in perspective. Turn away from the screens and the work doubles back on itself. The dancers appear again in reflection, their movements unfolding in a reversed orientation. 

Windows at the far end of the gallery add another layer. For nearly a decade, these windows had been covered, but when Lolo y Lauti returned to install the piece, they encountered natural light flooding the room for the first time. Rather than treat the windows as background, they folded them into the work. The artists often think about mirrors and windows as “activated rectangles”—moving images contained within frames, much like video screens. 

A mirrored ballet room with screens along the walls featuring people posing.

More Than Just a Screen

The result is an installation built from a series of activated rectangles: monitors, mirrors, windows, and the elongated architecture of the room itself. Within that framework, the dancers’ bodies become instruments for exploring how movement inhabits space. Lolo y Lauti say they love collaborating with dancers precisely because of this awareness. The artists themselves are not dancers, a distance that may explain the fascination. Watching the performers move, they seem to study the choreography as much as present it. 

Standing in the gallery, viewers may find themselves doing something unusual for a museum space—imagining movement. The dancers on screen hold the barre, pivot, and shift their weight in silence. Without music to anchor the scene, the choreography feels open-ended. 

For Lolo y Lauti, this sense of blankness represents possibility. In this room, that possibility unfolds somewhere between rehearsal and performance, between television memory and present space. The stage is set. The music, if there is any, exists only in your mind. 

Lolo y Lauti: Triple Threat is on view now at the Mattress Factory’s 500 Sampsonia Way building. 

Story by Shawn Simmons
Photos Courtesy of Sean Carroll for the Mattress Factory

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7 Saint Patrick’s Day Recipes for an Irish Feast

By
Kylie Thomas
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A delicious bowl of Irish Pub Curried Lamb Stew with tender lamb, vegetables, and rich flavors.

Article Updated March 6, 2026

As Saint Patrick’s Day approaches, it’s time to embrace the spirit of the Emerald Isle with a feast of vibrant flavors and hearty fare. From traditional Irish fare like the Irish Soda Bread, to modern twists on classic dishes like the Reuben, our curated collection of Saint Patrick’s Day recipes promises to delight your taste buds and bring a touch of Irish charm to your table. Whether you’re hosting a festive gathering or simply looking to indulge in culinary exploration, join us as we uncover the delicious tastes of Irish cuisine, where each dish tells a story.

Saint Patrick’s Day Recipes for an Irish Feast

Butter Pecan Irish Soda Bread

A dark green plate holds a Butter Pecan Irish Soda Bread with a slice laying on the table plus butter and a knife nearby.

Our take on Irish Soda Bread has a crunchy, sweet Butter Pecan twist. It starts as your traditional, distinctive soda bread before adding rich butter and pecans for a flavorful combination. Make it for breakfast to start off your Saint Patrick’s Day, and have the leftovers to cure your hangover the next day.

Irish Stew with Lamb and Curry

A delicious bowl of Irish Pub Curried Lamb Stew with tender lamb, vegetables, and rich flavors.

If you’re looking for a cozy main dish to warm you up on a cold Saint Patrick’s Day, this Irish Stew is exactly what you need. It uses lamb for a fulfilling protein and curry powder to add a little extra kick. Not to mention, it goes well with our two soda bread options.

Buttermilk Irish Soda Bread with Fennel Pollen

Buttermilk Soda Bread with Fennel Pollen in a frying pan placed on a napkin, which is placed on a dark black surface with sprinkled flour on it

The simplicity of Irish Soda Bread makes it a must for the holiday. But, this year, try something a little different by using buttermilk and fennel pollen. The buttermilk adds moistness to the bread while the fennel pollen pushes in a subtle anise taste. This herbaceous recipe is great on its own or with one of our main dish recipes.

Reuben Salad with Grilled Cheese Croutons

Reuben salad with sliced meat on top and a drizzle of thousand island dressing.

We couldn’t forget the corned beef for a proper celebration. Our Reuben Salad takes the beloved sandwich and turns it into a healthier alternative. Slices of corned beef lay on a bed of greens and sauerkraut, coated in a thousand island dressing. Plus, the recipe includes homemade Grilled Cheese Croutons, made from rye bread for an added texture.

Roasted Potato Venison Shepherd’s Pie

A Roasted Potato Venison Shepherd’s Pie displayed in a cast iron pan.

This is not your grandmother’s Shepherd’s Pie but we promise it’s just as tasty (if not better). Instead of lamb, we use bold, robust venison as the protein of this recipe. Then, rather than mashed potatoes, we top the venison, veggies, and gravy with roasted potatoes for another textual and flavorful element.

Chocolate Pretzel Shamrocks

Green Chocolate Pretzel Shamrocks lay on a green textured background with regular pretzels and sprinkles scattered throughout.

Get the kids in on the holiday fun with an edible craft that’s easy to make and easier to eat. Just use mini pretzels, melting chocolate, and your sprinkles of choice to create these chocolatey Shamrocks. With a little help, the kiddos can take charge of making this treat for the whole family.

Guinness Brownies with Baileys Buttercream Icing

An overhead shot of brownies with buttercream icing and gold sprinkles on a piece of parchment paper on a green surface.

Even if you’re not a Guinness fan, adding the beer to your brownie recipe makes them fudgey and extra-thick in size. Our Guinness Brownies recipe includes chopped walnuts for a earthy touch to this sweet heaven. Finish it off with a homemade Baileys Buttercream Icing that brings out the chocolate-coffee flavors of Baileys Irish Cream without the burning of the alcohol.

Story by Kylie Thomas

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A Dreamy Mexico Wedding in Todos Santos

By
Kylie Thomas
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A candlelit outdoor wedding reception table at Villa Santa Cruz in Todos Santos, Mexico, featuring vibrant floral centerpieces and a Mariachi band in the background.

How do you know when you’ve met the right person? That special someone with whom you want to spend the rest of your life? Shared interests would be high on the list. Or that sense that – pardon the movie reference – you complete each other, in a wonderfully ying and yang way. All of that was true for Amanda Alexander and Justin Quintana but perhaps the clincher was the four-paw test.

Mexico Wedding in Todos Santos Makes a Couple’s Dreams Come True

Not only did Amanda fall in love with Peach – Justin’s just-turned four-year old pooch – but he reciprocated the feeling for her 10-year old dog Blue. And in a “this must be it” moment, the dogs have fallen madly in love with each other and are inseparable.

The exterior of Villa Santa Cruz in Todos Santos, Mexico, featuring traditional terracotta roof tiles and lush tropical greenery along a stone path.

Perhaps it’s not surprising, because when you meet Amanda and Justin the powerful connection between them is clear. Not only are they now life partners but they also work together at Peyote Bird, the Santa Fe, New Mexico-based business started by Amanda’s father Mark Alexander in 1974 and home to an unrivalled collection of both artisan-crafted jewelry and one-of-a-kind vintage pieces.

Vibrant pink bougainvillea flowers climbing an earthy, terracotta-colored textured wall at Villa Santa Cruz in Mexico.

Sun, Color and Happiness

For their early December wedding, a location filled with sun and color was a must. The couple chose Villa Santa Cruz, an idyllic spot located squarely between the Baja desert and the Pacific Ocean in 20 acres of jaw dropping landscape. Like Amanda and Justin, this spot in Todos Santos Mexico is relaxed with a vibe that that’s equal parts bohemian and tranquil.

A bride in a floral lace wedding gown ascending a decorative tiled staircase at Villa Santa Cruz in Todos Santos, Mexico.

Working with Gemini Event Planning, Amanda and Justin wanted a destination wedding that worked with the stunning landscape rather than against it. Color was key whether in floral arrangements of vibrant pinks, reds, yellows, and orange for the actual day or a Full Moon Fiesta the night before where guests dressed in celestial whites and shimmering silver to echo the super full moon that night. The lightness and brightness was balanced with a floral palette of deep purples, burgundies, and also crimson hues in orchids and poppies.

A groom in a light blue suit and orange boutonniere walking down an outdoor concrete staircase framed by large tropical green leaves.

A Nod to Fashion

The bridesmaids chose their own dresses for the wedding, opting for elegant and simple silk sheaths in tones of pinks, umber, burnt orange, and olive green and wearing block heels, wedges, or even boots in a stylish nod to practicality and the grass and gravel paths that awaited them. Hair was simple in loose waves as well as halfway up and makeup was what Amanda called ‘light beautiful.’

A wedding guest in a light grey suit and white straw hat smiling while holding a cocktail at an outdoor ceremony on the main villa lawn.

Elegant simplicity was the rule for the men as well. They wore light blue suits paired with classic white shirts as well as cognac brown boots or loafers and color-corresponding belts. To complete the look the groom provided his six groomsmen with ties and boutonnieres.

Wedding guests seated on wooden benches on the lush lawn of Villa Santa Cruz during an outdoor ceremony in Todos Santos, Mexico.

For Love of Food and Wine

Both Justin and Amanda share a love for food and wine which Villa Santa Cruz delivers with a farm to table approach. With its own garden, the resort creates curated menus that lean into the produce they grow themselves as well as an abundance of fresh fish and seafood.

A Mariachi band in traditional white suits performing at an evening wedding celebration at Villa Santa Cruz in Mexico.
Fresh catch ceviche appetizers garnished with sesame seeds and microgreens, served on homemade tortilla chips during a wedding cocktail hour.
Wedding guests dancing under vibrant blue and purple lights in a rustic, woven tunnel structure during an evening reception in Todos Santos, Mexico.
A smiling wedding guest in a brown dress and wrap standing next to a man in a tan suit, floral shirt, and straw hat at Villa Santa Cruz.

The rehearsal dinner was family-style at the beachfront Green Room (the name comes from a surfing term of riding inside the ‘barrel’ of a breaking wave) where the food is inspired by Baja surf culture. Guests helped themselves to platters of Salsipuedes Temaris – thinly sliced salmon, tuna, and yellowtail served sashimi-style on rice with wasabi guacamole, chipotle mayo and microgreens – tacos, and tostadas including tempura-fried shrimp and sliced fresh tuna and shrimp, followed by Pescadero Beach Skewers – flank steak, salmon, and shrimp skewers marinated in a spicy Thai glaze.

A candlelit outdoor wedding reception dinner at night featuring long wooden tables, vibrant floral arrangements, and guests engaged in conversation under warm lighting.

The Special Touches

The wedding ceremony was officiated by Amanda’s brother Jackson Alexander and also took place on the main villa lawn, followed by cocktail hour by the pool with guests sipping a Brisa del Mar – an intoxicating blend of tequila, lemongrass infusion, lemon juice, agave syrup and fresh basil and nibbling on teriyaki shrimp bao and fresh catch ceviche served on homemade tortilla chips as they were serenaded by a Mariachi band. Lotería cards –from a popular Mexican board game of chance – directed guests to their tables for dinner where they were greeted with a handcrafted Talavera tile place cards bearing their name. A two-course plated dinner was followed by dancing under the stars.

A bride in a floral lace gown and a groom in a blue suit with a bolo tie smile with a guest at their candlelit wedding reception at Villa Santa Cruz.

A casual pool party the next day was the perfect way to wrap up the festivities. The couple exchanged stories and photos as guests helped themselves to a taco bar, swam, or simply soaked up the sun. A perfect piece of paradise to celebrate a marriage – literally – made in heaven.

Wedding guests dancing under the stars in a unique, cavernous woven structure illuminated by colorful purple, blue, and yellow stage lights.

Amanda’s Tops Tips for Planning a Dream Destination Wedding…

  1. Work with a wedding planner. Amanda calls this “the saving grace for us through all of the planning process.” She says a planner – like Meridith Lowe at Gemini Event Planning – has a specialized knowledge of what needs to happen, and when, to keep your vision on track and on time.
  2. Visit the location. Amanda says she’s “a little bit of a death by details type of person” but is still surprised when she hears about couples who haven’t visited the location prior to the big day. Visits make it possible to meet the on-ground team, troubleshoot, and create the perfect day.
  3. Choose your team well. Communication and trust are the two keys, Amanda says, when it comes to choosing your team of vendors. With a good team you can relax, “because at that final day, you just want to be able to be present and let go…”
  4. Plan, but don’t over plan. Yes, schedule lots of fun events for your guests but don’t over plan. Allow downtime for guests to rest, sit by the pool, or go shopping. They’ll thank you.
  5. Nurture connection. Amanda and Justin invited some of their best friends for a combined bachelor/bachelorette party prior to the big day. It’s an opportunity for old friends to reconnect and new friendships to form. “And it was really magical, because now they’re all so close,” she says.
A bride in a floral lace gown hugging a guest in a tan suit and straw hat during an evening outdoor wedding reception at Villa Santa Cruz.

Who Made it All Happen

Story by Julia Platt Leonard
Wedding Planning by Gemini Event Planning
Catering, Venue & Lodging by Villa Santa Cruz
Event Rentals by Warehouse Rentals
Linen Rentals by BBJ La Tavola
Florals by FLORENTA
Ceremony & Reception Musician by GARMAN
Mariachi by Soy Mexico Mariachi
Photographs by Shane Macomber
Content Creation by Ever After
Event Activation by Cabo Fine Arts
Hair & Makeup by Gladys Treviño
Stationery by Kelly Kristin Design
Transportation by Cheke Luxury Travels
Wedding Gown by GALIA LAHAV
Groom’s Wear by Neiman Marcus
Groomsmen Wear by The Black Tux
Jewelry by Peyote Bird

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City of Asylum Names Andrés Franco Executive Director

By
Kylie Thomas
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Andrés Franco stands in a black suit jacket with a blue tie.

City of Asylum has named its new executive director — and he already knows his way around the office. Andrés Franco, nonprofit leader as well as orchestral conductor, will return to the role he held from 2020-2023.

Andrés Franco Named New Executive Director of City of Asylum

Currently the executive director of dance-theater company Attack Theatre, Andrés Franco will step into the executive director role at City of Asylum beginning May 1. It’s a position he held previously. Franco served as the nonprofit’s executive director from 2020-2023, before taking leadership roles at Attack Theatre and New York-based arts organization DNAWORKS. 

Franco is also an accomplished conductor, having served as resident conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Forth Worth Symphony Orchestra, as well as music director for the Philharmonia of Kansas City and the Signature Symphony. 

“As an artist and an immigrant, City of Asylum’s mission resonates with me profoundly,” Franco said in a statement released Tuesday. “I am honored to return to help steward it at a moment when this work feels especially urgent.” 

Andres Franco stands at a stand to give a speech at City of Asylum.

A Home for Writers in Exile 

City of Asylum, founded in 2004, is a residency program that focuses on writers in exile — the largest such organization dedicated to persecuted writers. Recent residents include Haitian poet Bertony Louis and Ukrainian writers Olena Boryshpolets, Oleksandr Frazé-Frazénko and Volodymyr Rafeyenko. (Rafeyenko’s new play, Signals of Being, gets its staged reading on March 17.)  

The organization also hosts a number of public-facing programs — including the enduring Jazz Poetry Month series and its annual LitFest — and operates the Alphabet City performance space and bookstore. 

Hannah East, City of Asylum’s acting executive director, will remain with the organization as chief operating officer. 

Meanwhile, programming continues uninterrupted at City of Asylum, including jazz from musician Anton DeFade this Thursday and a book release and reading from Pittsburgh-based poet Sony Ton-Aime this Sunday. 

Story by Sean Collier
Photo by James Korn

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Throw a 2026 Oscars Watch Party with Effortless Luxury 

By
Keith Recker
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7 roasted oyster with corn and herb garnish on a blue plate and 2 oyster shells and a beer sitting on a dark colored surface. seafood dishes

Hosting an Oscar party doesn’t require days of prep or a catering budget. With a bottle or two of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut and five of our standout hors d’oeuvres recipes, you can create an evening that feels both elegant and relaxed—letting you and your guests focus on the glamour on screen, not the stress in the kitchen.

Host a Luxury Party for the Oscars

Why Veuve Clicquot?

Veuve Clicquot’s crowd-pleasing versatility makes it the perfect anchor for an Oscar spread. Its crisp acidity and brioche undertones pair seamlessly with both savory and rich foods, cutting through indulgence while enhancing delicate flavors. Whether you’re serving caviar or popcorn, this champagne elevates without demanding attention—much like a great supporting actor.

The Menu: Five Recipes That Set a Glamourous Tone

a wooden board on a piece of white and gray marble on a wooden table with six deviled eggs topped with caviar and garnished with chives

Deviled Eggs with Caviar start the evening with elegance. The creamy yolk and briny caviar create a sophisticated bite that Veuve Clicquot’s classic flavor notes complement beautifully. Prepare these ahead of time; they’re one-bite perfection during award announcements.

large lump crab pieced covered in brown butter and lemon zest on a small round pink plate and a long narrow pink tray with a broken crusty baguette, parsley, and lemon slices on a piece of light yellow spotted fabric

Brown Butter Crab Toast brings coastal luxury without fuss. Crab’s delicate sweetness is a textbook champagne pairing and serving it on crisp toast means guests can eat standing up while debating Best Picture frontrunners. Or an award whose winner seems surprising.

A roasted oyster dish with an impressive symphony of flavors and textures.

Roasted Oysters with Cornbread Leek Banana Pepper Crumble add drama, flavor, and substance. Oysters and champagne are inseparable partners, and the cornbread crumble adds unexpected texture and warmth—ideal for a long evening of conversation about the best red carpet looks and your favorite films. 

A flat-lay image of an Edamame and Kale hummus dish with carrots, cucumbers, and radishes surrounding the plate.

Edamame and Kale Hummus offers a lighter, verdant hors d’oeuvre option. It’s vegetable-forward, easy to make ahead, and provides textural contrast to richer bites. Serve with crackers and vegetable crudites.

A small glass mason jar holds a popcorn panna cotta with a white creamy base, caramel, and carmael corn on top.

Popcorn Panna Cotta, served in individual glasses, closes the evening on a playful note. This dessert-snack hybrid feels whimsical yet refined—perfect for the post-ceremony wind-down or during commercial breaks. Its creamy texture and subtle sweetness pair gorgeously with champagne’s acidity. Plus: a night spent celebrating movies should include some popcorn!

How to Get Ready for Your Party

Make sure you have enough champagne glasses (and champagne!) for everyone on the guest list.  Buy some black or white cocktail napkins, perhaps edged in gold.Collect your favorite small plates and forks. Have some candles ready to light when guests arrive. Maybe a bouquet of flowers too.

The popcorn panna cotta can be made a day ahead. So can the deviled eggs and hummus. Toast the bread for the crab thirty minutes before guests arrive. Roast the oysters and sautée the crab as people settle in. This staggered approach means you’re never trapped in the kitchen during crucial moments—like when the Best Supporting Actor or Actress award sneaks up on you. 

Set the Vibe on Awards Night

The beauty of this menu is its restraint. Each dish is memorable but not fussy. Veuve Clicquot’s approachability and familiarity means everyone can relax. You’re not serving a wine that steals the scene; you’re serving one that enhances the night. Your guests will only look back to remember the champagne’s elegance and the food’s deliciousness, not a sense of fussiness or effort. 

An Oscar party should celebrate cinema, not stress. These five recipes and a bottle of Veuve Clicquot deliver exactly that: luxury that feels effortless, food that tastes like you tried, and an evening where everyone leaves satisfied—whether their favorite film wins or not.

As the Best Picture nominees take center stage, try our Oscar Cocktails for 2026’s Best Picture Nominees, a collection of cocktail recipes inspired by the year’s biggest films. Think you can beat the odds on Oscar night? Check out Collier’s Cuts Oscar Predictions for 2026 to find our predictions in every category.

Story by Keith Recker

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10 Swimsuit Salad Recipes

By
Kylie Thomas
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A plate with a salad on it has plenty of kale and citrus fruits like orange slices with drinks in the top right corner of the photo and more plates and forks to the left.

Article Updated March 10, 2026

Swimsuit season will be here before we know it. While every body (no matter its size or shape) is a swimsuit body, we completely understand wanting to feel your best by adding nutrient-dense salads to your diet. Stuffed with fresh citrus, vegetables, and drizzled in delicious dressings, these salad recipes are great to keep in your back-pocket for lunches, on-the-go dinners, picnics, and much more. Plus, each will give you a little snake-peak of the summer flavors we all cannot wait to indulge in. While you’re here, mix up a low calorie cocktail recipe that makes relaxing easy and healthier too.

Swimsuit Salad Recipes for the Incoming Summer

Fennel Orange Salad

Fennel Orange Salad served on a plate, which is placed on a blue surface

The perfect salad delivers a strong combination of textures and flavors. In the case of our Fennel Orange Salad, we use creamy whipped ricotta cheese, olive croutons, and citrus. It’s a great balance to the fennel base with lemon juice, olive oil, honey, salt and pepper, and parsley as the dressing.

Apple and Rutabaga Salad with Date Vinaigrette

Two yellow bowls hold an an Apple and Rutabaga Salad with a Date Vinaigrette in a small dressing bowl to the top right and forks in the bottom left corner.

It’s time to start bringing fresh flavors from the farmers market into your meals. Start simple with Honeycrisp and Granny Smith apples in our Apple and Rutabaga Salad. Feel free to add in a protein such as chicken breast or serve as listed with a homemade Date Vinaigrette. 

Citrus and Kale Salad With Fig and Honey Vinaigrette

A plate with a salad on it has plenty of kale and citrus fruits like orange slices with drinks in the top right corner of the photo and more plates and forks to the left.

If you’re looking for a nutrient-dense salad that leaves you feeling energized and confident, this Citrus and Kale Salad is the one for you. Bright orange and grapefruit citrus pack a punch of flavor within the bed of kale. Plus, start feeling the flavors of summer with the Honey Vinaigrette that’s useful for other dishes and salads as well.

Biscuit and Peach Panzanella Salad

Peaches easily remind us of summer thanks to their sweet taste and even sweeter blend of orange tones. This zesty Biscuit and Peach Panzanella Salad uses biscuits as a crouton replacement. It’s also paired with a simple red wine vinaigrette to not overwhelm the juicy fruit. 

Wilted Lettuce Salad

Wilted Lettuce Salad - A bowl of fresh leaf lettuce topped with crispy bacon, radishes, and scallions

Salads don’t have to be filled with toppings in order for them to be delicious. In fact, the greens in this Wilted Lettuce Salad make the dish. It’s also recommended to serve hot or at room temperature so while it may not be best for a super hot day, the addition of bacon fat makes it addicting.

Strawberry Kale Salad

A Strawberry Kale Salad sits on a white plate featuring small green patterns. A silver fork and spoon sit to the right of the plate.

You can’t go wrong with strawberries in a salad. Our Strawberry Kale Salad uses kale, green onions, strawberries, avocado, roasted almonds, BBQ chickpeas, and a homemade dressing. It’ll bring your favorite elements of summer into your kitchen a little early and get your body prepared for swimsuit season at the same time.

Summer Salad

An aerial shot of a colorful summer salad on a yellow plate sitting on wooden slates purple in color and surrounded by flowers and herbs. Summer Salad Recipe

You’ll want to stock up on farmers market fresh zucchini, cucumbers, and tomatoes for our Summer Salad. It’s a natural, healthy meal featuring olives as one of the key components. Mix it all up with an olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, and Dijon mustard dressing and you have your lunch for the next day ready to go.

Nana’s Cucumber Salad

a bowl filled with Nana’s Cucumber Salad next to a smaller bowl and a fork and a knife

Salad made with a cucumber base is crunchy, juicy, and refreshing in ways a lettuce based salad cannot be. Just cucumbers and radishes make up the bulk of Nana’s Cucumber Salad but here, simple is better. One bite with an apple cider vinegar and extra-virgin olive oil dressing is all it takes to hook you.

Pea Salad with Greens, Strawberries, and Mint Vinaigrette

A giant platter of pea salad with strawberries, pickled veggies, and peas sits on a table beside a small bowl of dressing and a blue plate with vegetables on it.

As the seasons head into spring and you start preparing for that swimsuit body, peas are one ingredient that’s abundant. This Pea Salad layers pickled sugar snap peas, cucumbers, and sweet onion along with butter lettuce, fresh strawberries, and a Dijon vinaigrette.

Panzanella Mango Salad

A panzanella mango salad sits on a white plate by bowls of seasonings and a set of silverware.

Panzanella is the alternative to croutons that makes use of stale bread without the whole loaf going to waste. These small chunks of charred bread meet a hearty mix of cherry tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and mango. Then, finish it all with a chili pepper balsamic dressing.

Story by Kylie Thomas

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Can’t-Miss St. Patrick’s Day Specials in Pittsburgh 2026

By
Kylie Thomas
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A ramekin of Irish Shepard's pie with a green St. Patrick's Day drink in the background.

Guinness, Shepard’s Pie, Irish Stew, Soda Bread, and Corned Beef take center stage whenever St. Patrick’s Day rolls around. Rather than trying to make a new recipe at home, venture out to Pittsburgh’s restaurants to try St. Patrick’s Day specials for 2026. Each chef or bartender adds their own touch to each recipe, mixing authentic flavors with their own delicious details. Whether you’re heading Downtown for the iconic parade, bar-hopping on the South Side, or planning to stay away from the chaos, there’s no shortage of festive menus all throughout the city. So grab your friends, wear something green (optional but encouraged), and dig into another way to celebrate this holiday that’s about more than just drinking.

St. Patrick’s Day Menu Specials in Pittsburgh 2026

A mix of corned beer with potatoes and cabbage on a plate.
Photo Courtesy of Pane è Pronto

Pane è Pronto

Take your chance to try Pane è Pronto’s alter ego for St. Patrick’s Day, Lunney’s. On March 13, 14, and 15 you can pick-up a true Irish feast for enjoyment at home. The meal for two includes soda bread with fennel butter, smoked salmon, red cabbage salad, Guinness beef stew, potato and leek soup, colcannon, corned beef with braised cabbage, and gingersnap cookies for dessert. With easy reheating instructions, you can ensure your holiday is well spent. 

A square plate holds a round green cake with a slice of lemon beside it.
Photo Courtesy of Khalil’s

Khalil’s

Though the Khalil sisters focus on Middle Eastern culture and cuisine, the two also have close family connections to Ireland. This St. Patrick’s Day, they’ll be Cahill’s, your stop for festive cocktails, Syrian Irish Stew, and O’Mara’s Due by Sunday as dessert featuring O’Mara’s Country Cream Dubai style chocolate, house-made baklava, as well as vanilla ice cream. Don’t worry though, you’ll still have their Signature House Salad alongside it all. 

Coughlin’s Law Kitchen & Alehouse

Right on top of Mount Washington, just minutes from the parade in Downtown, Coughlin’s Law Kitchen & Alehouse is ready to host your group for St. Patrick’s Day. On this day only you can look forward to exclusive Irish food specials from their excellent kitchen. Plus, get your party started early with deals for $4, 22oz Green IC Lights all day, $6 Irish Drafts and Green Jello Shots while their supplies last.

The Commoner

Even if you sleep in a little past the parade, you can still enjoy an Irish brunch at The Commoner in Downtown. Stop in during or after the festivities to dine on a menu of traditional Corned Brisket Hash and Reuben Sandwiches. Then don’t forget to wash it all down with one of their holiday cocktails like the Teeling Whiskey Sour with house-made honey syrup and green egg white foam or a simple Jameson Irish coffee. 

A ramekin of Irish Shepard's pie with a green St. Patrick's Day drink in the background.
Photo Courtesy of Ritual House

Ritual House

Executive Chef Edwin Smith has a surprise in store for patrons of Ritual House. Try his Grandmother’s pub-style Tender Corned Beef whose recipe comes straight from Ireland. Plus, you can dig into braised cabbage, red potatoes, as well as a classic Shepherd’s Pie. Don’t forget your beverage with choices of a green beer or Leprechaun’s Punch featuring Malibu rum, Midori, and sours.

City Works

The early bird gets the worm, on March 14 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., this restaurant in Market Square not only provides a delicious breakfast but you can bask in the sound of bagpipes as you eat. Their breakfast buffet includes scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, Bailey’s french toast, Irish corned beef, fruit salad, and $5 drink specials on green beer, Guinness, bloody Marys, and also mimosas. 

A plate of pierogis sits beside a pink of beer.
Photo Courtesy of Palm Palm

​Palm Palm

Pittsburgh is a pierogi town so when it comes to St. Patrick’s Day, the ultimate celebration comes in a dough-wrapped form. Palm Palm will be serving up Reuben Pierogies with corned beef, Gruyere cheese, sauerkraut, braised red cabbage, and Thousand Island dressing. Pair it with a Shamrock-Tini that mixes vanilla vodka, Creme de Menthe, Creme de Cacao White, and half & half for a dinner that tastes like a pot of gold. 

Irish ConFusion with Chef Nicholas Saxon

What could feel more exclusive than a private chef dinner with each course made exclusively for you? This up-close and personal dinner with Chef Nicholas Saxon takes you through Irish Soda Bread, Authentic Guinness Beef Stew with Potatoes, Fried Cabbage with Bacon, Corn Beef Brisket, Boxty, and a Chocolate Guinness Cake. Not to mention, you’ll sip on Fernet-Spiked Irish Coffee with Lemon Cream, an Irish Whiskey Flight, and a taste of Irish beer too. 

A square plate of salad beside eggs Benedict.
Photo Courtesy of Square Cafe

Square Cafe

Bartenders, baristas, and chefs at Square Cafe will be busy from March 13-26 serving up festive drinks to match their Irish-inspired menu specialities. Try the cafe’s take on an Irish Coffee  made with Bushmills Irish whiskey or opt for the non-alcoholic Irish Cream Mocha featuring dark chocolate and Irish cream. Then, fill your table with Boxty Eggs Benedict using traditional Irish potato pancakes as well as Irish Cream Pancakes that they infuse with coffee and Irish Cream buttermilk.

A green cocktail with a foam on top and gold rim.
A yellow cocktail with gold sugar along the side of the glass.
Photos Courtesy of Spirits and Tales

Spirits and Tales

Now through March 17, you can take a seat at the bar and kick back with two specialty cocktails for St. Patrick’s Day. The first is a Shamrock Martini (left) that mixes Baileys, crème de menthe, and vanilla vodka then blends with half & half and then gets topped with a mint-green vanilla foam. The other is a Pot of Gold (right) botanical mix of gin, fresh lemon, pear liqueur, and Damiana. Just before serving, they set flash paper on fire for a quick burst of flame and a bit of magic.

Story by Kylie Thomas
Featured Photo Courtesy of Ritual House

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Phipps Spring Flower Show: True Colors Showcases Colorful Blooms and History

By
Kylie Thomas
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A pink hydrangea in a field of grass and flowers.

Whenever spring rolls around again, one of the first signs of the season are blooms of flowers in a vibrant array of colors. Rather than venturing out and working hard to find these beautiful displays, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens presents their Spring Flower Show as a way to embrace nature again after a long winter. The theme of True Colors this year embraces the most colorful displays possible along with looks at the historic archives through photographs and information. The show starts March 28 and runs through April 26 so you’ll only have four weeks to catch it before the conservatory transitions to its summer show. 

A field of tulips in purple, pink, white, red, and orange.

What to Expect at Phipps Conservatory’s Spring Flower Show: True Colors

Step into Phipp’s Conservatory’s new spring show and immediately your senses come to life. Through seasonal floral, greenery, trees, and other finishing touches, Phipps takes you into all corners of spring’s bounty. The first thing you’ll see (and smell) in the welcome center is a rainbow wall of living plants. 195 plants make up this display that takes you naturally through all the colors of the rainbow. 

Associate Director of Exhibits Jordyn Melino designed this particular showcase and her intention is to take you directly into the role that Phipps plays in visitor’s lives. Each time you walk into a room, you’ll come across photographs and informational archives from previous spring exhibits. These will show you exactly what this particular room looked like in past years, allowing you to step back in time into someone else’s shoes for a moment. This look at timeless memories is exclusively a part of the True Colors show, something you won’t be able to see any other time.  

Yellow daffodils up close and fully open.

The Little Details

Each display within the spring flower show evokes a certain feeling as you step throughxz. The Palm Courts exhibit gets a colorful upgrade with multicolored hanging kites scattered around the premises. Plus, as you take your time pointing out the kites and other installations, you’ll hear birds chirping in the birdbath and beyond. 

Another room takes you into an adventure of what it would feel like to be a bug in a garden. The oversized garden makes you feel teeny tiny next to giant watering cans and larger-than-life daffodils. Transport yourself into this Honey, I Shrunk the Kids world with oversized raindrops and blue blooms under the sounds of a rainy day.

In case you need a relaxing sidequest, the South Conservatory showcases the calmness of springtime. Here, white petunias flow over the centerpiece tree among bushels of lush flora and endless greenery. Take a seat on one of the benches throughout and then meditate on the gifts that nature brings us. 

Finally, finish your trip by strolling into the sunset in the Serpentine Room. What better way could there be to end your trip than with a vibrant and bright exhibit? A glowing sun sets the scenery for you to walk amongst fields of yellow, pink, red and orange flora. Really take your time to take in the sights, scents, and atmosphere that surround you. Just be sure to thank the blooming daffodils, tulips, lilies, and petunias on your way out.

Story by Kylie Thomas
Photos Courtesy of Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

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The Ultimate Guide to Easter Sunday from Cocktails to Dying Eggs

By
Kylie Thomas
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Two short cocktail glasses hold a Hippity rose hip and lavender easter cocktail with small purple flower garnishes and a basket of eggs sitting in the background.

Updated on February 24, 2026

There are many ways to enjoy Easter Sunday and rather than how you celebrate, it’s about who you celebrate with that makes a difference. Warmer temperatures and sunnier skies call out for a party with those you love. Suddenly, sometimes seemingly overnight, you can stand outside in the sun with bare arms. Crocuses and daffodils start to peep out through the frigid soil. All of this sets the scene for Easter, a holiday all about renewal and rejuvenation. Whether it has spiritual meaning for you or you just love the Easter Bunny, these Easter recipes and tips will make sure that you have everything you need to have the best holiday you can.

The Ultimate Guide to Easter Sunday

Different naturally dyed Easter Eggs sit in the bowls in the colors pink, purple, blue, and brown.

Dying and Using Up Easter Eggs

One of the quintessential signs of Easter is Easter eggs. Any other day and hard-boiled eggs would be just another addition to your salad but on this holiday, they’re a crucial centerpiece. Start off your celebration by dying your eggs for the Easter Bunny (or for delectably eating, we won’t judge!) Rather than going to the store and grabbing one of those kits that seem to be more pain than promise, try dying your eggs naturally this year. Using various vegetables and spices found in everyday kitchens like turmeric or red cabbage, you’ll create beautiful, vibrant colors on your Easter eggs. Plus, we think mixing your own natural dye adds to the fun.

A bowl holds Pysanky designed Ukrainian Easter eggs with green easter grass underneath them and some loose on the table.

But, if you’re looking for other options, there are plenty of different ways to dye your eggs including Ukrainian Pysanky. In the Ukrainian culture, they intricately dye and draw on eggs to create detailed patterns. Though you can also opt to use flowers, shaving cream, and even onion skins to create unique looks as well.

Now that you have cartons full of dozens of eggs, it’s time to put them to good use! You could pop these hard-boiled eggs into your mouth with a bit of salt or you could stretch them further by using leftover Easter eggs in recipes. Think Green Goddess Egg Salad, Egg Masala Puffs, Chorizo Scotch Eggs, and more.

A green bowl holds a Green Goddess Egg Salad with dyed eggs to the right of the bowl.

Cocktails, Mocktails, & Wine Pairings

Wine is a large part of Easter celebrations because of its connection to Judeo-Christian culture. Whether it’s turning water to wine, sharing bread and wine at the last supper, or Moses’ daily offerings, wine has always been a part of God’s story. Even during a Passover Sader, followers are told to drink wine as a way to honor the redemption of the Jews from slavery. No matter what main dish you’re choosing to feature this year, you can find a wine pairing for your Easter ham, lamb, or whatever else you may enjoy.

blue pink and yellow peeps with jolly rancher colored martini

For those who are not a fan of wine, maybe you’d prefer a Cottontail Cocktail that proves that kids shouldn’t get to have all the fun at Easter. It uses chocolate syrup alongside vodka, simple syrup, lemon juice, club soda, and an egg white for a delectable foam on top. It’s like those little chocolate malted Easter eggs you used to eat as a kid but in adult-form. And in case you’re craving another sugary sip, our Peep-a-tini Cocktail gets its sweet inspiration from your marshmallow Peeps friends.

A Hoppity IPA Cocktail in a tall beer glass sits on a white table surrounded by Easter grass, eggs, and a gold bunny by the pastel backdrop.

Do we have you feeling like a kid at heart yet? If not, our next collection of cocktails and mocktails are sure to throw you back to your youth. Growing up, we all heard the song, “Here comes Peter Cottontail, hopping down the bunny trail…” But as an adult, we’d rather drink through Peter Cottontail’s tune instead. Whether you’re sipping on the Hoppity cocktail that focuses in on a hoppy IPA base , or a carrot juice-infused mocktail called Hoppin’ Down the Bunny Trail, you’ll want to hippity hoppity over to your own shaker.

Ham & Savory Dinner Dishes

An aerial view of a cooked ham with blueberry yuzu glaze sitting in a white roasting tray with blueberries, thyme, and lemon garnishing the meat.

What would Easter be without a glistening ham or rack of tender lamb on the dinner table? Other than the curing of winter meats lining up with Easter’s timing, we eat ham on Easter since ham/pigs are a symbol for springtime and decadence after straying from meat for the Lenten season. On the other hand, lamb is more of a delicacy as its luxury price-tag makes it perfect for special occasions. Not to mention its association with symbols of sacrifice and new life.

A crown roast of lamb with min sauce from the gilded age sits among a bed of figs and potatoes and greens.

In order to prepare your dinner table for your finest guests (your beloved friends and family), browse our list of lamb and ham recipes for Easter. You’ll have recipes like a traditional Crown Roast of Lamb with Mint Sauce alongside more modern favorites like a Ham with a Blueberry and Yuzu Glaze. No matter which protein you choose this year, accompany it with a homemade Italian Easter Bread. Its subtle sweetness and buttery spread on top will have you grabbing slice after slice.

On a green plate beside a bowl of brightly colored easter eggs sits a round braided Italian Easter Bread with a slice taken out of the top which sits on the table buttered.

Easter Sweets and Desserts

Don’t fill up on your dinner too quickly! There are plenty of desserts and Easter sweets to indulge in that involve fun hands-on decorating and a delicious product.

Chocolate Pretzel Easter Bunny Treats sit on a green striped background made out of pretzels, chocolate, and M&Ms with M&Ms tossed between the treats.

The rabbit is an ancient symbol of fertility, but it’s also become one of the most enduring Easter symbols. To represent this mascot of the holiday, try making Chocolate Pretzel Bunny Treats. These are a fun and simple way to get kids involved in the kitchen with the use of pretzels, M&Ms, and white chocolate.

colorful rice crispy treats made with peeps

Or, if you don’t mind getting a bit messy, create Cardamom Peep Crispy Treats that use Peeps for the marshmallow base. Their rainbow finish is undeniably beautiful.

A flat-lay view of seven carrot miso cupcakes.

But, for an overall show-stopper, Carrot Miso Cupcakes are just grown-up enough with a little bit of umami flavor. Plus, miso has a lot of health benefits so you can feel good about what you’re eating.

Story by Kylie Thomas

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