April 21 Run/Walk: Meet at Yinz Coffee, 4525 Liberty Ave., for a Bloomfield excursion

Back to Bloomfield on Sunday, meeting in front of Yinz Coffee, 4525 Liberty - we will see if the TRY-TRY-TRY stairs remain, what's new at Iron Eden, and/or go over the bridge.

Last week we took the path skirting the Mon at the Waterfront, sunrise glinting on the water, a mist of green on the trees.  No sign of the Senator, though, who surely has more weighty things to do, but the springy day had us schmoozing outside at last.  Much sharing of highly valuable info:

• Thread micro-wallets
• Dandy Blend - RG tested  by Beth - alternative to decaf coffee
• Contemporary Concepts store for gifts - next to Trader Joe's
• Read locally:  micro - the Homepage community newspaper, from Hazelwood and macro - Pittsburgh Magazine, everywhere that counts.
• Get help for anything in your house:  contact East End Handyman - but definitely do NOT google "appliance repair" or you will end up spending 2 hours in your kitchen with a hapless leprechaun.
• Vote:  if you still haven't mailed your mail-in ballot, bring it this weekend to the ballot return site this weekend, 9-5 Sat, 11-7 Sun - one of these is the Squirrel Hill Library.  
• Panera's orange scones have the Proustian memory kick of your Easy-Bake oven (which is still available!)
• Watch:  Unsinkable: Titanic Untold - on the big screen in Sewickley through 4/25; or Oppenheimer (when streaming you can split it up for 2 nights.)
• Recycle:  your ratty clothes and other textiles - UPitt Sustainability has 2 locations:  labeled blue bins in the parking lots of the O’Hara Student Center & 7500 Thomas Blvd.

April 14 Run/Walk: Meet at Panera at the Waterfront

Let's meet at Panera at the Waterfront (map), and maybe we'll greet our friend the Senator, visit some Homestead landmarks, or head for the trail and gaze up at the Eagle Cam.  If we hang around long enough, Costco opens at 10.  We may be able to sit outside and engage in Covid nostalgia, a time when we were freezing our butts off out there.

The cherry trees waited for us and were in lovely bloom at North Park on Sunday, petals lightly falling. Someone knew the Japanese word for this: Sakura-fubuki?  Evidently also related to kamikaze aircraft. Conviviality at Convive Coffee:

• Allegheny County Parks Foundation - yay for parks!
• Grape jelly and sliced oranges are food for orioles now
• Not as healthy, but delish, food for us could be the ham bones sold at Honeybaked Ham for $6.99, amazing if you're making bean soup.  They're in the freezer.
• The Wolfshager Hexenbrut Walpurgis dancers gone viral - funky witches!  Also available in Pittsburgh - stay tuned.
• Jane's running story - an inspiration!
• Somewhat less inspiring, the official RG motto:  We start out slow, and we taper off.
• Listen:  James by Percival Everett on audio - though reading is always good too. 
• Vote:  Primary is coming up on April 23 - WESA has a good voter guide,  and you can see the Summer Lee/Bhavini Patel debate here.
• Mahj - it's happening!

April 7 Run/Walk: Meet at the North Park Boathouse parking lot (map in message)

On Sunday we'll head up to North Park, meeting at the parking lot at the OTB Boathouse (map.) It has cherry trees!  And much more to be pointed out by Beth and Gretchen.  Afterwards, coffee at nearby Convive (map) in McCandless.  

Lots of runners/walkers came last week despite the utterly last-minute tiny message - showing that the mind-meld is in force.  Also that at our Squirrel Hill/61C locale, familiarity breeds comfort, and not even contempt for the hefty muffins.  I should also mention the week before: the Stately Manors of Mt. Lebanon were a sight to see, along with the fabulous local breakfast offerings - admittedly, not that far away.  Will try to consolidate 2 weeks of endorsements:

• Mt. Lebanon's Mediterra Cafe - worth crossing a tunnel and a bridge
• Shakshouka for breakfast - at the cafe, or else this recipe 
• which is from Melissa Clark whose recipes and videos at the NYT are easy and delish
• and can often be made on NordicWare sheet pans - the best
• Buffs - an RG standard since 2013 (see photo of Yi!) - can easily be crafted in cashmere too
• Hike:  Harrison Hills Park
• Visit:  Vieques
• Hold it:  Smartish phone cases
• A fully evolved male person

March 31 Run/Walk: Meet at 61C

 That's it!  Meet at 61C - 

March 24 Run/Walk: Meet at Mediterra Cafe, 292 Beverly Road, Mt. Lebanon

We're becoming ladies who brunch (and let's not forget the running/walking) so this time we'll meet at the Mediterra Cafe in Mt. Lebanon (map.)  This will require the navigation of bridges and tunnels, but it should be worth the trip.

Last week we celebrated St. Paddy's Day on the South Side, deliberately avoiding gross conditions outside the E. Carson St. bars. Then a yummy breakfast at the Speckled Egg - watched over by a screen showing the Irish movie we know and love from Blockbuster days of yore:  Darby O'Gill and The Little People (OMG you can see it here.)  Endorsed:

• Eat: the Speckled Egg, also Margaux (from last week)
• Watch:  Oscar winning documentary, The Last Repair Shop (it's all there)
• Read:  History of the Rain
• Listen:  Jazz at the new Greer Cabaret Theatre downtown (courtesy of Cheryl!)
• Upgrade your bijoux: Kenyon Jewelers (also from last week)
• Geraldine Day - we all deserve our own, and if you don't know what it is, you haven't been paying attention.
• West Virginia vacations, the Savage River Lodge, Blackwater Falls, the town of Thomas, the Dolly Sods, Berkeley Springs, etc. etc.
• Yurts available at the above?
• Financial dominatrix evidently is a thing, featured on Law & Order

March 17 Run/Walk: Meet in SouthSide Works, the Speckled Egg, 428 S 27th St.

Upping our usual post-run latte/muffin nosh, we'll face an intriguing menu at the Speckled Egg this week (i.e. Aloha Puddin') deep in the Southside Works.  Prior route could be anywhere:  up to the Steps, across the river to Hazelwood Green, either way along the Mon - whatever feels right on St. Paddy's Day.  (Maybe avoid E. Carson St. though.)

Last week we traversed adorable Aspinwall and checked out the expanding Allegheny RiverTrail Park, which should be a great summer destination (though a bit underwater at the moment.) Does the trail go all the way to Sharpsburg? TBD.  At Beans & Cream, we were watched over by characters from our rock'n roll past.  Speaking of which, we endorsed:

• Inside dope (some literal) at the legendary Fillmore East recounted by Jane; Woodstock; Deadheads; and Billy Joel.  Also:
• Wendy now leads two super-fun Zumba classes at the JCC: Sunday at 4:30 and Monday at 5.
• Tous les Jours, Korean Starbucks (?) in East Liberty.
• The Novo Asian Food Hall on the Strip
• Read blogs from Heather Cox Richardson (many times endorsed, also a podcast) and Kareem Abdul Jabbar
• Watch movies:  The Greatest Night in Pop, Poor Things, and for comfort food, Chocolat 
• Watch French TV:  Call My Agent and Astrid
• Past and future happy hours at Lorelei.

March 10 Run/Walk: Meet at RiverTrail Park in Aspinwall, off of Freeport Rd.

Set the clocks ahead and drag yourself out of bed an hour earlier (always worth it) for a visit to the RiverTrail Park in Aspinwall. Here's a map - there is parking.  Coffee can be at Beans & Cream across the street on Brilliant.

Last week was comfort week - returning to spots we've been to over and over, the Wendy Bennett Trailhead, Schenley Park, and the 61C.  Delightful, even if (see photo of us eyeing a mysterious large stone) we didn't get transported to 18th c. Scotland and into a castle boudoir with the outrageously hunky Jamie Fraser. (OK, that refers to the obsession-worthy Outlander in case you didn't follow up on the latest endorsements.)  But at a snug table at Murray and Bartlett there were more:

• The Tush Cush for those of us dealing with pains in the ass (or thereabouts)
• Dr. Loren Fishman and 12 yoga poses to counter osteoporosis
• And of course, there is always the Theragun
• The golden years (?) of no bras, no makeup, no leg-shaving.  
• Golden years gone, how about a Sephora Brand eyeliner?  Or ask Beth about making your own lipstick.
• Watch:  One Day, Normal People, Nine Perfect Strangers
• Troncones!  Linda Meacci's yoga retreat on the Pacific was heavenly.  Who's going next year? 
• The 2024 Election - fearsome as it is, we can do something. Some great options are offered by the PaDems Voter Protection Team - ask Virginia or me about the Voter Assistance Hotline.