📰 The best Pittsburgh stories of 2023

Your Friday food news edition!

Heinz Bottle Finds A New Home

The 35-foot-long ketchup bottle that used to stand next to the scoreboard at Heinz Field will be memorialized as a historical artifact at the Heinz History Center today. Check it out on the exterior of the building at 12th St. and Smallman St., and take a selfie for a chance to win a gift basket and museum membership. Don’t forget to tag the museum!

• Do yinz think Pittsburgh has recovered from the “Acrisure” name change? [City Cast Pittsburgh]

The Tale Behind Eat’n Park’s Christmas Tree

Nothing puts you in the holiday spirit in Pittsburgh quite like the 1982 Eat’n Park Christmas commercial — you know the one. The 30-second spot is actually one of the longest-running seasonal ads in the country, and it all started as a “thank you” to Pittsburgh residents for contributing to the restaurant’s Caring for Kids campaign. [Pittsburgh Magazine]

‘A Christmas Story’ Inspired Bread

Mancini’s Italian Bakery is known for its colossal creations, and the latest is baked with holiday spirit. See the 190-pound leg lamp made of dough, made in honor of the 40th anniversary of “A Christmas Story,” at Mancini’s Strip District location. [TribLIVE]

Noodles, dumplings, black-eyed peas, greens, pork and sauerkraut, cornbread… They’re all eaten by different cultures to bring good luck for the new year. Pittsburgh claims its own tradition: the New Year's pretzel, a German-American novelty from Sandusky, Ohio, according to the History Channel.

It’s not your soft, salty pretzel you get at concessions, but a baked good garnished with icing, dried fruit, and nuts — like a dessert bread, but not too sweet.

If you want to bake in some good luck for all of the twists ahead in your 2024, here are some places to find a New Year’s pretzel in Pittsburgh.

Thanks for joining me for my series of local gift recommendations. I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface! Come back in 2024 for more local shopping tips, no matter the season. But until then… I’ll leave you with this.

For The Pittsburgher Who Has Everything & Wants Nothing

Know someone who loves urban forests? You can give the gift of a tree in your friend or family member’s name through Tree Pittsburgh. This is perfect for the nature-lovers or in memorial of a beloved someone you lost this year.

A $100 donation covers the cost of the tree, planting supplies and protection, and professional staff time. All gifted trees are put into the ground during Tree Pittsburgh’s planting programs during the spring and fall.

The Best Pittsburgh Stories in 2023

It’s a special edition of the Friday news roundup! There’s a lot we could say about this year, but we’ve decided to focus on the good. We’re wrapping up 2023 by highlighting the best stories in the Burgh, including the return of McCutchen and grilled stickies, a bunch of milestone anniversaries, improvements to city landmarks, investments in city neighborhoods, and a few funny mishaps along the way. Only happy news to close out the year!