Family conference

JUNE 9—The Lord’s Church, 2517 Haymaker Rd., Monroeville, will host the International New Life Conference 2010 at 7:30 p.m. at the Monroeville Convention Center, 101 Monroeville Mall Blvd., Monroeville. The theme is “Back to Basics.” There will be special sessions and nightly praise and worship with Rev. Henry Davis Jr. Guest speakers include Apostle John Eckhardt, Rev. Harriet Dennis, Deacon Paul Scott and Bishop Clarence McClendon. The conference will run through June 11. Registration is $25. For more information, call 1-877-842-7922, ext. 313 or visit www.inlfc.org.

May 1 was a beautiful sunny day and there was a notable “Song” in the air, not a lyrical song but the many designs of hat designer Luke Song were spotted among the flowers and trees. Many of the hats worn in Highland Park at the 12th Annual Spring Hat Luncheon presented by PNC and the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy had that Song touch and had been purchased when Song was in town in April for the Patron Party hosted by Ritchie Scaife (hat luncheon honorary chair).

TRIO IN BLACK AND WHITE—Allyson Wynn, Candi Castleberry Singleton and Angela Arrington.

Song is based near Detroit and designed the gray chapeau that Aretha Franklin wore to President Barack Obama’s inauguration. Song donated a portion of all Pittsburgh hat sales made between the party and the luncheon to the conservancy. More than 600 arrived at the tents just off Highland Avenue to mix and mingle and get a good look at all the other ladies’ hats and to parade their hats in front of the Pittsburgh paparazzi.

When I found out that I would be afforded the opportunity to meet the man who designed the hat that Aretha Franklin wore to the inauguration, I was excited.

The meeting took place at the beautiful home of Ritchie Scaife, honorary chair of the fab Spring Hat Luncheon. He and I spoke briefly and I shared that I planned to be in Detroit on the upcoming weekend. Of course he invited me to his store. I couldn’t wait to get there. Mr. Song Millinery was located in Downtown Detroit, however, due to his newfound popularity, he moved to a new location in Southfield (think Monroeville, Pa). The store is a hat lover’s dream with hats covering every available space; there were big hats, portrait hats, berets and fedoras. I wanted to try them all. Luke Song also had a display of his ultra dressy headbands and if you didn’t see something that fit, he would design a hat for you.

Most parents face the same mealtime dilemma — mak­ing affordable and convenient food that the whole family will like. Time is short, palates are picky and some fear it will cost too much to put real food on the table.

Celebrity chef Bobby Flay joined the Hellmann’s® and Best Foods® Real Food Project to help moms tackle the barriers to real food in simple and helpful ways. “Real food does not have to be complicated. With a few basic ingredients, it’s easy to create a meal you can feel good about serving the whole family,” said Flay.

Pimento (Red Pepper) Cheese-Bacon Burgers