She’s walking 2,473 miles to see DeGeneres, help charity
Rebecca McCrea — owner of Hickey Bottom Barbecue Co. in Fenelton, Butler County — is planning to walk 2,473 miles from Fenelton to Ellen DeGeneres’ studio in Burbank, Calif., to raise money for Best Friend Animal Society, one of the TV star’s favorite charities.
Ms. McCrea recently underwent reconstructed ACL knee surgery, but she’s determined to make the trek. She departed May 18 and expects to finish in late August. She hopes to raise at least $1 per mile.
Along the way, she’ll stop at retailers to promote her barbecue sauce, which comes in three varieties — Sweet BBQ, Honey BBQ and Hot BBQ — as well as her Smokey Hot Sauce and Grillin’ Rub.
For more about the company: hickeybottombbq.com. To contribute to the cause: gofundme.com/walk-to-Ellenfor-best-friend-animal-society.
Festivals
Party in the Square: Food trucks, live music, local and craft beers. 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday at Bakery Square, East Liberty. Free admission. eventbrite.com (search for Party in the Square).
KayaFest: Caribbean-inspired food, steelpan drums and Samba dancers. Noon to 10:30 p.m. Sunday on Smallman Street outside Kaya in the Strip District. Free admission. kaya.menu.
Dinners
Spargel/White Asparagus Dinner: Pittsburgh’s German American Chamber of Commerce presents its fourth annual dinner featuring Germany’s “edible ivory” — white asparagus imported from Germany. Menu includes cream of asparagus soup, artisan greens topped with German potato salad and warm salmon cake, three entree choices (pork ribeye, salmon and scallops or grilled Portobello and cannellini bean pate, all served with asparagus as a side) and chocolate mousse with berries. 5 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday at Mansions on Fifth, Shadyside. $150; $95 for GACC members. gaccpittsburgh.wildapricot.org/Events.
Veneto Wine & Cheese Dinner: The latest installment of the Origins Wine Dinner Series, featuring wines and cheeses of Veneto, Italy. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Vallozzi’s Pittsburgh, Downtown. $135. Reservations required: 412-394-3400.
For charity
Pizza-eating contest: First pizza-eating contest benefiting the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation (a genetic “brittle bone disease”). Eat as much as you can in 12 minutes; winner gets $250. Noon Saturday at Exit4Pizza, Lawrenceville. Minimum $10 donation to participate. To sign up: exit4pizza.com/eating-contest.
Barnyard Beer Benefit: Craft beer from local breweries, food from local restaurants, and live music. 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday at Gilfillan Farm, Upper St. Clair. $40 for food only; $60 with beer; ages 21 and up only. Benefits historic preservation and restoration of Gilfillan Farm buildings. eventbrite.com (search for Barnyard Beer Benefit 2019).
Other events
Sip, Sample and Shop: Trunk show by urbanfitco, food from American Natural, wine from Allora Wine Group and meet-and-greet with American Natural lifestyle and wellness expert Niki Campbell, who will help guests choose fitness gear for their workouts. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at American Natural in Harmar. americannatural.com/ retail-overview.
Cider Washed Cheese Curds Class: Threadbare Cider pastry chef Elise Miranda teaches a class on making cider-washed cheese curds. 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 23, at Threadbare Cider, Spring Garden, $40 includes glass of cider, cheese curds to take home, a cider house tour and a meat, cheese and pickle board for nibbling during class. threadbarecider.com/ events.
Blended Burger Project: The James Beard Foundation’s annual campaign invites restaurants to create and feature on their menus a “blended burger” — a burger consisting of at least 25 percent fresh mushrooms along with ground protein — from Monday through July 31. Chefs from participating restaurants will have a shot at cooking at the historic James Beard House in New York and winning $5,000. Local participants are Burgh’ers in Lawrenceville, Home (one of the restaurants in the Smallman Galley in the Strip District) and Ola Appetit Catering in Duquesne. jamesbeard.org/ blendedburgerproject.