September 21 Run/Walk: Meet at the Oakmont Bakery, One Sweet Street (really), in Oakmont, naturally

Here's the map for the Oakmont Bakery - much to explore around there!

Last week we moseyed around Allegheny West and Manchester.  We are continually surprised by the myriad lovely/curious/weird vistas hidden away in this town.  Bobbie, who used to live here, gave us the lowdown on local edifices, and Beth, as always, found the garden.

Thumbs up (¡pulgares arriba!) for Colombino Coffee - delish, comfy and friendly - we'll try the one on Butler St. next.  Mainly we talked about what to do in this time of alarm and dismay.  We agreed it would be good to use this forum for sending out ideas - so stay tuned. For today:  

1. Call your congresspersons.  First, listen to AOC here (adorable) and find out why calling works best.  Then use 5calls.org (or any other way) to make your calls.  Important: don't worry about crafting a long message or getting tongue-tied (we all do), it just takes a little practice.
2. Tell everyone you know and love about the upcoming judicial election on Nov. 4.  Are they registered? Need a mail-in ballot? See this.  The judges on the ballot that need to be retained are all Democrats (just vote YES on each retention - there are no party labels) in order to keep their majority and hold on to our voting rights.  More info here and here.

But also there was joy and cheering about the new RG baby born last week - mazel tov to the Mormers!

                                              

Sept. 14 Run/Walk: Meet at Colombino Coffee, 926 Western Ave. on the North Side

Quick note tonight - time flies when you're retired. Sunday we'll tour the North Side from its Allegheny West neighborhood - many directions to explore, as well as a new coffee spot, Colombino Coffee (map.)

Last week on the South Side we skirted the river and found a nice large table and decent coffee, but.... no muffins!  We'll go back to Big Dog next time.  Some endorsements were recorded:

• Black Rooster Baltic Rye bread.  This does sound amazing.  We will ask Linda the baker if we can make it ourselves.
• The Pittsburgh Left, which (I never knew) is "technically illegal."  Love it or leave it, basically.
• The Penguin Lessons - one of those oddly marvelous Argentine films.

        I always feel there is something off about writing this blog as if the world is normal now, which it isn't, so

• Question for next time: what do we do when we see our country, that we thought we knew, dissolving before our eyes?  Let's talk.  
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Sept. 7 Run/Walk: Meet at Big Dog Coffee, 2717 Sarah St. for a South Side excursion

Back to Big Dog (map) on Sunday, where we will try to occupy the large table, around which many dramatic RG tales have been told.  (For anyone new to the group, we meet at 7 am.  Not sharp.)

Last (actually Sunday and Monday make it This) week's locations were Highland Park and Squirrel Hill.  Walkers missed the sunrise over the reservoir, but it was still glorious, and then Jane M. took us to see the hidden hobbit/elf houses.  Next day we did a circuit past the Wendy Bennett Trailhead (where are you WB?) and the Pocusset walkway.  Runners didn't share their routes, and you might ask them why.  

• We are trying to keep spirits up here so won't dwell on the daily horror, but we will include some points of light:  Casa San José's Rapid Response Team, 900+ strong -  Growing attendance at the Shady/Fifth Outrage Hour  - Ditto at the Friday 8 am Interfaith Prayer Vigil at ICE HQ.
• Go see:  Fences, outdoors at the August Wilson house (Saturday is the last day!)
• But you can see the Renfest through Sept. 28 - sword swallowers, jousting, witch trials - Aimee says to go early.
  
• Read:  Foster (and anything else) by Claire Keegan.  Also, the movie.
• Hear: Buffalo Rose (RG fave) at the Oaks on Sept. 19.
• Watch:  Netflix documentary Katrina.
• Description of an unknown man:  "he's like a doodle male."  
• Birthing secrets were revealed in epic detail on... Labor Day.  
• Lainy will soon be staying in a castle in the Cotswalds where she will be surrounded by labrador retrievers:

August 31 Run/Walk: Meet at the Tazza D'Oro, 1125 N Highland Ave. at 7 - then, on Labor Day, Holiday run at 61C at 7:30

Lovely Highland Park and its environs await.  Sunrise is at 6:46 a.m. - maybe we can just catch it over the Reservoir.  

Last Sunday our tripartite group: 

1. Marched through Chatham campus and surrounding streets, noting (with Beth's help) marvels of water infrastructure.
2. Ran all around Frick Park, 4+ miles, going only uphill.
3. Biked to all corners of our fair city with the Pedal Pittsburgh mob. 

Those not on wheels convened in the relaxing outdoor patio of 61C.  Do you think we could slip them a new recipe for scones?  

• Mushroom tour of Hays Woods - next one is October 25
• The yART Sale was great but over - try for next year - 
• Of all things, the Univ. of Pittsburgh enables recycling for unusable textiles !  Public drop-off is around 7500 Thomas Blvd. (large blue bin in parking lot past gates, behind building near picnic table and entrance).
• We have GOT to visit the Ebisu Life Store on Forbes for a mind-blowing Sensory Alternative Experience.
• From Paula the Brain (also Farmer) we learned that 90% of gardening is weeding.
• Gretchen left early to travel to the mighty statewide protest against ICE at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center (read: prison).  We were with her in spirit. 

August 24 Run/Walk: Meet at 61C Cafe, 1839 Murray Avenue

This Sunday let's meet at our default location, 61C Cafe.  Pedal Pittsburgh is happening at the same time, and a few of us may be riding through Squirrel Hill and Schenley Park at the same time as the runners/walkers!

Last Sunday I didn't take any notes on endorsements from the coffee at the lovely Redhawk Coffee Cafe in Uptown, but I can share a bit about the run itself.  First, Virginia led us to the artsy Gist Street, full of quirky sculptures and murals created by James Simon, then Gretchen led us over to the August Wilson House.  Finally, Gretchen led us up to the tippy top of the hill at Duquesne University, where we looped around and through the campus, and frolicked through the sprinklers to cool off.  

August 17 Run/Walk: Meet at Redhawk Coffee Roasters in Uptown: 1715 Fifth Avenue Pittsburgh PA 15219

This past Sunday we were treated to the "triple play birthday kids" and got to meet Elaine's siblings while they visited to celebrate their collective birthdays!  A treat, indeed!  I don't have any endorsements because everyone was soaking up the excitement of our visitors.  Some great photos were taken, which is what I will share here.  See you Sunday in Uptown!

August 10 Run/Walk: Meet at Biddle's Escape, 401 Biddle Ave.

Next up:  Meet at Biddle's (map), head to parts unknown.  

Sunday last we met at the Waterfront.  We followed the GAP trail, which unfortunately for us walkers, never quite made it past the parking lots and railroad tracks (next time we'll go in the other direction).  Runners however made it to Homestead and the Bulgarian Macedonian National Cultural Center.  We missed seeing Senator Fetterman in his usual Sunday spot - but were not quite sure of what we would say to him if he surfaced.  The last time we exchanged views on Hokas.

It's always appealing to sit in that space outside Starbucks, even in our winter Covid days, wrapped up in blankets.  Distress and outrage about the current moment were a main topic,  but also some opportunities and distractions:

• Gretchen reported on the Ambridge (and other) ICE attacks on immigrants.  Casa San Jose offers various opportunities to help as a volunteer, notably the Rapid Response Team.  Jane M. also told us about a weekly vigil on Fridays from 8 - 10 a.m. outside the ICE office on the South Side.
• Quantum Theater's production of Seagull is wonderful - ends Aug. 17th.
• One's 70th birthday is tough. 
• Somebody is listening to Miranda July's All Fours on audiobook.  Whoa.