Latest news with #Pittsburghers
CBS News
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Props from Pittsburgh-filmed Hershey biopic hit the auction block
Filming of the Hershey biopic has wrapped, and now Pittsburghers have a chance to own a piece of its production. From period furnishings and antiques to vintage set decor, props from "Hershey," a movie chronicling the life of Pennsylvania chocolatier Milton Hershey, are hitting the auction block. "Whether you're a film buff, a Hershey aficionado, or a collector of Americana, this auction offers a one-of-a-kind chance to acquire pieces that blend storytelling, craftsmanship, and Pennsylvania pride," a press release from Carey Auctions said. Bidding has already begun online, and there's an in-person preview scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 24, from noon until 4 p.m. at the Carey Auctions facility in Blairsville, Pennsylvania. One auction ends on Wednesday, Aug. 27 and the other ends on Thursday, Aug. 28. "Hershey" filmed across the Pittsburgh area this summer, transforming areas like the South Side, Ligonier and Butler County into scenes from the past. Starring Finn Wittrock of "American Horror Story" and Alexandra Daddario of "The White Lotus," the movie is set in the late 1800s and early 1900s as it follows Hershey's quest to build his chocolate empire. "Against all odds, Milton achieved great success, but unlike a lot of other wealthy men of his time, he shared his success with the working people and community around him," director Mark Waters said in a news release announcing the movie earlier this year. "The core of HERSHEY, the movie, will be the special love story between Milton and Catherine Hershey, who inspired his greatest legacy - the creation of Milton Hershey School. I'm excited to have Finn Wittrock and Alexandra Daddario to portray these two visionaries, who believed in leaving the world a better place than they found it - the kind of wonderful, true story that audiences are hungry for right now." The film is set to release in 2026.
NBC News
06-08-2025
- Business
- NBC News
Living the high life before taking off
Pittsburghers are so excited to see the new $1.7 billion airport terminal opening this fall that 18,000 of them applied for 2,000 test day slots even before the date was set. The lucky volunteers chosen to drive to the airport and fly nowhere will be among the first 'passengers' to pass under the soaring wood ceiling dotted with more than 4,000 constellation lights and grab some fresh air while enjoying a snack on one of the four outdoor green terraces. They'll be greeted by Alexander Calder's reinstalled 28-foot-long hanging mobile, which is named for the city. Then they will make their way through a facility powered by the airport's own microgrid and staffed by some employees whose kids spend their days playing at the airport's on-property day care. In addition to being more efficient and high-tech, the new terminal is designed to 'elevate the passenger experience,' said airport CEO Christina Cassotis. Airports everywhere are undergoing makeovers, amplifying VIP-style services and other amenities that offer travelers expanded options. Airlines are installing premium cabin upgrades, and lounge spaces are getting larger and snazzier. Portland International Airport's (PDX) new main terminal opened in late 2024 with a speakeasy, regular visits from therapy llamas and a soaring 9-acre wood-beamed ceiling that inspired a rap song. The $19 billion makeover underway at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York includes two new terminals and modernizations of the two existing terminals. New Terminal One, which will be JFK's largest terminal, will open in phases beginning in 2026 and include more than 300,000 square feet of dining, retail, lounge and recreational space. The partners building JFK's $4.2 billion Terminal 6, also set to open in phases starting in 2026, say travelers will find a ' digital-first, boutique guest experience.' The recent $1.5 billion transformation of JFK Terminal 4, currently the airport's largest terminal, is 'distinctive, personalized and not cookie-cutter,' said Belinda Jain, vice president of customer experience and commercial at the terminal's operator, JFK International Air Terminal. Its commercial offerings are intended to reflect life in New York, with regular pop-ups and eight lounges, including Capital One's largest lounge to date. While many airport upgrades reflect expected growth in passenger traffic and some long-delayed infrastructure investments, the 'premiumization' of many services and the flurry of new lounges may be a response to airports being — or feeling — more crowded. Travelers have been willing to open their wallets to improve their experience and feel 'special.' At many airports, the experience on the concourse is nice enough that you don't need to access a lounge to have robust Wi-Fi, power outlets, comfortable seating, pleasant surroundings and plentiful concessions, said travel analyst Henry Harteveldt, president and founder of Atmosphere Research. Yet 14% of the 5,000 U.S. airline passengers his group surveyed earlier this year said they have access to airport lounges through paid memberships, qualifying credit cards or flights, and spend status with an airline, said Harteveldt. 'We all want something that not everybody else has. And these lounges also appeal to the innate snob in all of us," Harteveldt said. "In some cases, the lounges are above the general concourse area, meaning you are literally looking down on the people in the main terminal area." In a recent survey of more than 10,000 global travelers who take two or more trips a year, airport lounge operator Airport Dimensions found that 66% of U.S. travelers said they'd be willing to purchase premium services such as priority check in, fast-track lanes, paid waiting areas and lounge access to improve their airport experience. The survey found that so-called affluent leisure travelers were significantly more willing to pay for those premium services than others. These travelers, also known as ALTs, are defined in part as taking three or more trips a year. 'These are people traveling by choice, not just necessity,' said Chris Gwilliam, Airport Dimensions' senior vice president of global business. 'And they are willing to spend when the experience feels worth it.' Those with big budgets who want an even more premium experience can access luxury terminals when flying commercial from some airports. PS, which opened a private, gated terminal for affluent travelers at Los Angeles International Airport in 2017, opened a second one at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Georgia in 2023. It plans openings for airports in Dallas/Fort Worth and Miami in 2026. Services include private security screening, on-site customs and immigration facilities, spa services, chef-prepared meals, private suites or shared private lounge access and chauffeur service to the airplane. Fees range from $1,295 for individual access to close to $5,000 for a private suite for up to four travelers. Demand for private travel experiences has skyrocketed since the pandemic along with a general desire to splurge on travel, said Amina Belouizdad Porter, CEO of PS. 'It's a trend that we have benefited from.' Even less than affluent flyers are ponying up. SkySquad is a service that expedites check-in and escorts travelers from the curb to the gate, with prices from $79 (walk-up) to $149 (prebooked) for up to six people at a growing number of airports, The Bethesda, Maryland-based company had its busiest month ever in December at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), where the company can only service customers of Spirit Airlines, an ultra-low-cost carrier. 'We helped over 2,900 groups at FLL that month, which shows that travelers across all price points value a VIP experience,' said company founder Julie Melnick. There are other widely available ways to get preferential treatment. The expedited screening lane accessible with TSA Precheck is available at more than 200 airports. Pricing varies by enrollment provider but can be around $85. For $209 a year, travelers can join CLEAR+ and cut to the front of the security checkpoint line at more than 59 airports. 'Travel is hard, and it's only getting harder,' said Annabel Walsh, CLEAR's senior vice president for marketing. Services like CLEAR's, she said, give travelers 'a faster, more predictable, premium experience when they need it most.'
Technical.ly
18-07-2025
- Business
- Technical.ly
Pittsburgh weekly roundup: Skild opens San Francisco office; Ansys acquisition complete; Forge AI Pitch Challenge
This week in Pittsburgh, the data center gold rush, advice from angel investors on raising capital and more. Read on for weekly roundup of top news in the region. 📰 News Incubator: What else to know • What happens when a data center comes to town? PA's Dorrance Township doesn't want to find out. With real estate developers sniffing around for potential, this rural community is setting up protections before applications start rolling in. [ ] • Skild AI is expanding to San Francisco, a controversial move in the Pittsburgh startup scene. When Abridge announced its intention for a similar move in March, it sparked a debate about why the local talent scene isn't enough for these hypergrowth firms. [ Pittsburgh Biz Times / ] • Synopsys finally completed its $35 billion acquisition of Cannonsburg-based Ansys, after more than a year checking all the legal boxes. [ Synopsys / ] • Protestors surrounded the Energy and Innovation Summit, as Pittsburghers spoke up against Carnegie Mellon University's decision to host President Donald Trump and the impact of AI development on climate change. [ / Pittsburgh City Paper / WESA] • Apply by Aug. 8 for a chance to be recognized as one of the region's top AI startups — and win $50,000 — at the Forge AI Pitch Challenge. [ AI Horizons ] • People aren't moving for jobs, but instead to places they want to live and then finding jobs there, Chris Wink writes in his latest column. In Pittsburgh, telling its unique stories of relative cost of living and quirky culture can be the thing that pulls talent in. [ ] • It just got easier for union workers to report employer violations. Allegheny County launched the confidential Right to Organize Incident Report Form to document the errs, but you should still file a formal complaint, too. [ Allegheny County ] • ICYMI: Catch up on the top takeaways from local startup CEOs Shiv Rao, John Thornton, Jake Loosararian and more at the AI Horizons kickoff event earlier this week. [ Pittsburgh Slack channel ] • If your startup exit strategies rely on M&A, start by finding the right advisor to guide you through it. Here are 10 tips to sift through the candidates. [ ] 🗓️ On the Calendar • Fix your gaming keyboard and get back to gameplay at a $25 electronics repair class hosted by Hackers Guild PGH on July 19. [ Sign up ] • Get access to 3D printers at Prototype PGH at a training session for beginners on July 19. The event costs $10 to attend, but no one will be turned away due to lack of funds. [ Register ] • Level up your woodworking skills at HackPGH's picture frame design class. The July 20 event costs $185 and is recommended for folks with beginner woodworking knowledge. [ Attend ] • Head to the University of Pittsburgh for JuliaCon from July 22 to 25. Prices vary, but for an additional fee, you can attend a Pirates game with fellow enthusiasts of the coding language. [ Get tickets ] • Learn how to access your Bitcoin on the Solana blockchain, followed by a Federal Galley hangout, with BitDevs Pittsburgh on July 23. [ More info ] • Brush up on your sketching skills and meet new people at Ascender's Pictionary Happy Hour on July 24. [ Details here ] • Procrastinate on your latest project by catching up with friends or finally make time for that deadline you've been putting off at Avenu: Meyran's coworking summer Fridays on July 25. [ Learn more ]
Technical.ly
18-06-2025
- Business
- Technical.ly
8 questions to test your knowledge of Pittsburgh's top tech news
Did you follow the big news coming out of Pittsburgh's startup ecosystem last month? PyCon US came to town, federal cuts continued to make waves and Pittsburghers voted for the city's mayoral candidates. If you want to test how well you're keeping up with the latest news, take our Pittsburgh news quiz. (Hint: Study up by reading our articles and weekly newsletter.) Scroll down to take the quiz. Enter your answers below, then submit and SCROLL UP, then hit 'View Score' to see how you did. Don't see the questions below? Take the quiz here.
Axios
16-06-2025
- Business
- Axios
Pittsburgh's homes are really old
The median home bought in Pittsburgh in 2024 was 68 years old, according to a new Redfin report. Why it matters: We've got the second-oldest housing stock in the nation, ranking behind only Buffalo, with over 81% of homes sold last year at least 30 years old. Zoom in: Just 4.5% of homes sold in the Pittsburgh area last year were built between 2019 and 2024, among the lowest percentages in the nation. The big picture: A major construction slowdown "has fast-tracked the aging of America's housing stock," per Redfin. The median U.S. home bought last year was 36 years old — the oldest since at least 2012. Reality check: It's not that most buyers want older houses, which often come with dated infrastructure and higher upkeep. The U.S. hasn't built enough new ones, experts say. Just 9% of homes were built in the 2010s, after the global financial crisis — the smallest share for any decade since the 1940s, per Redfin. State of play: Older homes tend to be cheaper, and Pittsburghers needed only about 25% of their median household income to afford a median-priced home last year, the lowest of any U.S. metro area and below Redfin's benchmark of 30%. Yes, but: Our old homes come with plenty of costs not included in the initial purchase. 8.2% of homes here have structural damage, inadequate insulation and faulty wiring, according to a 2022 study from Porch, forcing owners to pay for costly upgrades and repairs.
