July 31 Run: Back downtown for Open Streets - meet at PPG Place

We'll start our run (and probable alternate powerwalk) at the PPG Place fountain downtown (parking usually available on 4th) and will finish our coffee just as Open Streets will begin downtown at 9 a.m. So you may want to bring a change of clothes, your bike or your rollerblades in the car - this time the new route map expands across two bridges to the West End and the Northside!  Also the video is awesome.

Last week we went in a whole new direction from Mellon Park to Frick Park, where Pam, Wendy, and David revealed a hidden pottery installation which was explained but is still deliciously ghostly and mysterious.  We also initiated a powerwalk group to accommodate those of us on the DL, or who just feel like walking. I went because of my broken toe, but liked it because it's even easier to talk - my primary motivation anyway.

Endorsements:

• Bad Lip Reading  - all of them, especially the latest Cruz Talks Trump
• The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up - has indeed changed some lives
• Busy Beaver in Lawrenceville has a surprisingly generous selection of mousetraps.  Related fact: Asian cockroaches are called "747's".
• The West Wing - decade-old but still inspiring TV series puts some sanity into this scary election season - can watch on Hulu or ??
• Other escapes:  Harper's Ferry WV, Frostburg MD (especially Allegheny Trail House and Shift Restaurant,)  Polymath Park

July 24 Run: Mellon Park parking lot at Beechwood and Fifth

I'm just making this one up because our original plan for Sunday is postponed for a few weeks - so let's meet at the Mellon Park parking lot across from the intersection of Beechwood and Fifth Ave. We can either head up Penn Ave. towards Allegheny Cemetery, or down Fifth towards Shadyside. We'll flip a coin!  And a choice for coffee at Bakery Square:  Panera or Coffee Tree - choose your adventure.

Now returning to this post the following day, after (against my better judgment) watching the end of the Republican Convention, I can no longer summon any lightness, so will just report that last week's run all around Frick Park showed us new ways of seeing it and its neighbors, and the coffee at Audrey's was showed us more of the joys of friendship and of baking.
Two notes:

• If you have had any recent problems posting to the list, please let me know at roye.werner@gmail.com - we're still working on this
• If anyone is interested in learning Mahjong (sort of a cross between bridge and dominoes - RG has numerous fans, most of which are beginners), please contact Audrey at aekane@gmail.com                                                                                                                                                         

July 17 Run: Frick Park run beginning on Kensington St. in Pt. Breeze

On Sunday we have a special treat which will be a potluck coffee at Audrey's, so we'll start there.  It's on Kensington St. (a small street) in Pt. Breeze - off of Braddock (towards Frick Park) between Penn and Forbes (closer to Forbes.)  Not much parking on Kensington, but should be plenty on Braddock. If anyone wants to contribute any goodies, please see Wendy's shared google sheet to see what's already there.

As for Sunday's run downtown, so much transpired that we are letting the photos below do the talking.  In order, side and below: 

• Visit (#1) of our dear friend and fellow runner Jacquie, with husband Tony and new baby Paavo, en route from their home in Iowa to NYC. 
• Tour (#2,3) conducted by Teri of the awesome 33-story new Tower at PNC Plaza with its "state of the art green technology," art everywhere and astounding views.  
• Tour (#4,5) conducted by Virginia of the bright and open new offices, home to all those familiar names that tell us what's new every morning, of the historic Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 
• New art underfoot on Strawberry Way (#6) 

Also the weather was sparkling.



Endorsements: 

• Salted tahini chocolate chip cookies (with heads up to refrigerate overnight before baking)
• Green beans with tahihi from Zahav 
• Hoteling - new workplaces keeping you on the move
• Stamoolis on the Strip - if you haven't been there in a while, or ever, it's had an upgrade, has a terrific selection and is a great way to support the Greek economy
• YogaintheSquare - in Market Square, we saw many yogis gathering from where we were sitting - namaste!

July 10 Run: Downtown starting at the PPG fountain (aka Tomb of the Unknown Bowler)

Next Sunday we'll meet at PPG Place downtown at the usual starting time of 7 (plus 5 minutes) - parking can usually be found on 4th Ave.  If there is anything you want to check out downtown, hold that thought and we'll put it on the route. Like the new installation on Strawberry Way for instance.  Or some Furries still hanging around from last week's convention.

The holiday weekend as usual provided for double dipping, through perfect weather on both Sunday and Monday from the old 61C.  (It's actually not that old, at least for Pittsburgh.)  First run went straight down Murray into Greenfield, where Wendy obliged with the correct pronunciation of B'nai Emunah, and we discovered a new Asian massage place, and then backtracked on Beechwood. Second run headed through Schenley Park and then took a winding route through the CMU campus, where we found a terrace with a great view behind the Potato Chip (aka Scaife Hall) and after finding an open door, did some dubious traipsing around inside, down corridors and through tunnels.

Coffee outdoors at 61C was a treat both days, with just a few endorsements:

• Masters Hardware - just like the olden days - in Swissvale on Noble St.
• The reincarnation of Mr. Rogers (we always knew he had Buddhist tendencies) in Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, and those songs that make us cry
• Imagining alternative futures - mainly the one where Al Gore becomes president - but also
• 11/22/63 by Stephen King (evidently unputdownable)
• The Man in the High Castle (book by Philip Dick and also Amazon Prime series)
• The Plot Against America by Philip Roth
• The Frangipane Tart (via PtB) and also the Gin & Lemon Tart (could we get that one too?)
• Almond Macaroons (via me) adapted from my brief sojourn in Enrico's bakery

July 3: Meet at 61C Cafe for a Runners' Choice Run; July 4 holiday also at 61C

I have been out of town, but didn't want to leave you hanging.  I return early tomorrow morning, so I hope to make it to one or both of the runs this time!

Apologies for not getting this out earlier:

Sunday July 3: 7am at 61C
Monday July 4: 7:30 at 61C