PITTSBURGH (AP)—The takeout restaurant with its bright blue storefront and large, sunny yellow lettering sits among a city block of plain white brick buildings. There’s no place to sit, and there’s only one item on the menu: a wrap sandwich from Iran called a kubideh.

In a few months, the menu will change to food from Afghanistan, then perhaps North Korea.

This is Conflict Kitchen, a takeout cafe designed and run by artists hoping to start conversations with customers about countries in conflict with the U.S.

CONFLICT KITCHEN—This May 29 photo shows the blue and yellow storefront of the Conflict Kitchen, along Baum Boulevard in between the Waffle Shop (left) and the Shadow Lounge in East Liberty.

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.

“I thought it was very worthwhile and I was honored that they acknowledged her,” said Johnson, who lives in Uniontown.” I wish my mom had been here to receive the award herself.”

Barbara L. Ruffin Johnson passed away on March 12, 2008. She was a supervisor with Mon Yough Mental Health and Retardation before her retirement. She was also a former director with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit.

IN MEMORY OF BARBARA JOHNSON (1937-2008). Members of the Johnson family with Barbara Johnson’s award.

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.