Day 290 otherwise known as Christmas Day

Today was generally a nice day – pleasant, sweet, comforting really. To be honest, it has left me unnerved and apprehensive, as if this one lovely day is a parting gift before disaster strikes. The last time I felt this was during multiple trips to Eat’n Park in early January through mid-March. I had this […]

Encourage your children to donate their gently used toys to Play It Forward (Adults, too)

Donate toys for Christmas

There’s a great toy distribution project called Play It Forward Pittsburgh. For the past ten years, they have distributed gently used toys to neighbors in need during this reason. Hundreds of volunteers sort, clean, and pack the toys for distribution out of the Convention Center (DLCC.) Play It Foward Pgh is a super queer friendly […]

How to Request Toys for Tots in Western Pennsylvania in 2020 – UPDATED

Toys for Tots Pennsylvania

This is our annual (8+ year) round-up of Toys for Tots programs in Western Pennsylvania for 2020. I’ve done my best to sort through the available information and provide you what you may need to know. PLEASE click through to the applicable link to doublecheck the details. I will update as information becomes available. Some […]

The Xmas When I Grew Up Too Fast

Content Note: childhood, family dynamics, shame When I was either a little girl about 5 or 6 years old, I wanted a baby doll that wet its diaper for Christmas. This was somewhere between 1975-77. I was quite thrilled when Santa brought me that doll. It wasn’t quite as fancy as some of the other […]

E! the Dragnificent: ‘Celtic Woman’ performance with PSO stirs feelings of warmth and the meaning of Christmas

Celtic Woman The Best of Christmas Review Pittsburgh

Our youth (and drag) correspondent, E! the Dragnificent recently covered the Celtic Woman holiday concert at Heinz Hall. She and her father attended the performance. ~ Sue   The Celtic Women’s performance was an amazing night of Christmas tunes with a traditional Celtic sound! There were four women on stage in beautiful red sparkly gowns, […]

My Family History Christmas Edition: Grandma’s Date Nut Pudding Recipe

Date Nut Pudding Handwritten Recipe

For most of my childhood and young adulthood, my paternal grandmother baked these puddings for Thanksgiving and Christmas. She made one per household for her three adult children, one for her own household, and one for the family meal. She may have baked more on occasion as a gift for a friend or hairdresser or […]

Is Krampus Coming to the White House This Year?

Melania White House

When I first saw the images from the White House Christmas decor, I immediately thought “Melania is honoring her heritage!”  Melania Trump is from Slovenia, one of several Central European-Balkan nations that include “companions” in their holiday traditions – typically frightening beasts who acommpany St. Nicholas for some reason or another, manifesting the consequences of […]

Those Times When Santa Came to Visit on a Fire Truck in West Mifflin

Santa Claus West Mifflin

When I was a child growing up in West Mifflin, a blue-collar suburb of Pittsburgh, there were a few consistent holiday rituals. These included: making Advent wreaths at CCD; watching the Charlie Brown Christmas special; and fire truck Santa. Each year the local volunteer fire department would drive around the neighborhoods with Santa on a […]

Holiday Cards for LGBTQ Elders, Youth

Holiday Projects Pittsburgh

We are once again gearing up to help our LGBTQ neighbors during the holiday season. This year we are highlighting several organizations conducting their own holiday drives. Please give what you can to help those who need our support. Of course, financial gifts to any LGBTQ organization are very welcome, but we know that some […]

Holiday Toy Distribution in Pittsburgh 2015

Behind the scenes, this information is some of the most frequently sought from my blog this time of year. So I’m going to make it as accessible as possible. There are two major two distributions that are open to the public. Play It Forward will distribute gently used toys, books and similar items on Saturday […]