April 6 Run/Walk: Meet at 61C Cafe in Squirrel Hill

First things first:  this Saturday 4/5, HandsOff demonstrations will happen here and everywhere.  PLEASE go! In the Burgh: 12:30, City/County Bldg. downtown, or 5 pm corner of Shady and Fifth.  Elsewhere in the US or World: find one here.  But Sunday will see us at the 61C, where the run/walk will happen and a delicious discussion will follow.  

Last week's excursions took us to Chatham campus and environs, with spring just starting to do its gorgeous thing.  Following that, a superfun bounteous brunch at Wendy's with added clothes-swap feature (inspired by NB) resulting in high and low fashion hilarity.  Many garments got a brand new life! 

While trying on, we endorsed:

• Taking a bike trip in Scotland 
• And another one in... Erie - we're planning it, stay tuned
• The KUAT bike rack - big bucks but worth it
• Wendy's pickles and the Tsukemono Pickle Press she uses
• Teri's Brunsli cookies (recipe from Ottolenghi) 
• Medical help for your eyes: go to the brand new ER at Mercy Hospital
• Read:  Gladys Taber's books, also Daniel Mason's, and Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials.
• Standing up against fascism.

March 30 Run/Walk: Wendy Bennett's, 6425 Wilkins Ave at Beechwood Blvd.

March 30 Run/Walk:  Wendy Bennett's house, 6425 Wilkins Ave at Beechwood Blvd.

Last Sunday, our hilly walk/run brought us through several neighborhoods, which some of us could name.  then we fit nicely onto the sofa and stools at Redstart Roasters.  

Why not start with the serious stuff?  For information on the local and Washington, DC demonstrations on April 5th check the Indivisible website -- Indivisible

How to think (and Act) Like a Dissident Movement in The Bulwark

To enjoy yourself in the meantime, Pasta Grannies

On Apple TV there's Drops of God

Or you can stream Will & Harper

Lovers of (live) chickens can read Susan Orleans' New Yorker stories, including "Chicken Chores," or see her and her barn on youtube Susan Orlean

Roye has reminded us that the old British comedies and sagas can still be seen on  PBS Passport, among them, Astrid, Forsyth Saga, and Upstairs, Downstairs.

Looking ahead, there's a 3-Day Bike Fest on Lake Erie  3-Day Bike Fest

And on Sunday -- check out Wendy's fabulous bathroom wallpaper.

March 23 Run/Walk: Redstart Roasters, 7:00 AM, 224 N. Euclid Ave, Pittsburgh 15206

March 23 Run/Walk: Redstart Roasters, 7:00 AM, 224 N. Euclid Ave, Pittsburgh 15206

While we sat at our long table at The Lot, a serious breakfast establishment in Oakmont, a lot of laughter cut through the despair.  Also, many recommendations for more laughter.  In Jamestown, NY, you can visit  The National Comedy Center and the Lucy and Desi Museum.

Other recs include:  Late Night Catechism, Michael McIntyre, on Instagram and live Michael McIntyre.  Also Nate Bargatze and those old faves -- Jimmy Kimmel and Seth Meyers.  

To continue to boost our spirits, there was the recommendation for a regular Happy Hour at either Lorelei or Margaux, both in East Liberty, or Over Eden, the rooftop bar at the Tryp Hotel in Lawrenceville.

A different way to boost one's spirits -- sacred music at  Heinz Chapel

And for body & soul:

Sir Pizza

Why Walking Helps Us Think

Happy birthday, forever young Virginia.  

 

March 16 Run/Walk: Heading for Oakmont - meet at The Lot, 145 Allegheny Ave.

On Sunday, we'll tool around Oakmont before settling down to a real breakfast at The Lot.  Last time we were there was July of 2021 -  light-years away!  Well only 4, but it seems like forever.

Last week saw the runners discover three hidden pathways around Chatham, and walkers in Homewood Cemmie visited the grave of Princess Farid-es-Sultaneh, the Motherless statue, and peered into various mausoleums to view examples of (possibly) Tiffany stained glass.

The cardamom buns, etc. at 5 Points were delectable as always, as was the schmooze. We've totally forgotten about the mice.  We started with recommendations for:

• Costco Lactation Muffins (aka Aussie Bites) - but then took a turn towards
• Cocktails:  serve them and your kids will come
• Monkey 47 Gin
  
• An envisioned monthly happy hour, possibly at Urban Tap or Margaux
• the Whiskey Rebellion Tour - but why pay $195, we could do this ourselves
• (you see where this was going...but then headed for movies/series)
• Our own Oscars - Anora, no; Emilia Perez, pretty good; A complete unknown, great; Conclave, yes
• Watch - Legally Blonde (many times!), Enlightened (surprise gem), The Empress, The Pitt, Landsman.  Dubbing, yes and no.
• Some escape is required right now.

March 9 Run/Walk: Meet at Five Points Artisan Bakeshop, 6524 Wilkins Ave. for a Squirrel Hill outing

Well, it's Daylight Savings time (remember, spring ahead) and we thought about traditionally starting at our old friend, the 61C, but... the cardamom buns.  So it's Five Points.

These are, with much reason, days of lamentations, and our group is full throated in that regard, but as always, practical advice is included:

• Stand UP for Science!  TODAY at 11 at Schenley Plaza.  We love our RG scientists!
• Get your documentation in order.  Real ID's can be processed right there at the Bridgeville DMV (other places have to send it to you by mail)  Check requirements and hours, probably best days to go are Tu - Th, bring a book for the wait but they will get to you. 
• Update your passport now if it's about to expire (before the State Dept. is entirely eviscerated) - and make sure the photo that you use is regulation.  
• If you are trying to escape (even for a little while) check foreign visa requirements - i.e. you now need one for the UK, and probably many more countries, but soon, maybe not for Russia.
• For suggestions on what to do about this nightmare, see Chop Wood Carry Water, 5calls, Robert Reich, the Contrarian, (many others out there too, a good sign!)
• Whisky helps, straight or in cocktail form with ginger syrup.

Almost forgot! Last week we had a cool tour of Sharpsburg - even the back streets were surprising. Redhawk Roasters was delightful, though with some odd edibles (e.g. Jewish Pizza, pretty good actually.)  Other things to lift spirits:

• Jane Fonda at the SAGs
• Beth showing us how to do winter sowing
• The Bayerhof Museum, adorable musical Pittsburgh weirdness
• Save the date:  March 23 at the Pittburgh Winery for a Small Hours concert, starring Margot!
• Same day:  cheer the JCC Indoor Triathlon, and our Triathlete Joanne!
• The Wendy Bennett Trailhead

March 2 Run/Walk: Redhawk Coffee Roasters, 1019 N. Canal Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15215

 March 2 Run/Walk: Redhawk Coffee Roasters, 1019 N. Canal Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15215

It was nice to be back at Tazza D'Oro, where one customer yanked out the power cord from his laptop so we could have room at a long table.  We didn't end up being able to sit there, but found one corner and then another corner, and someone -- who? -- said, "We do our best and then we let it go," which felt like wise advice about absolutely everything.

So much wise advice was shared:

Want to learn a language?  Be willing to humiliate yourself.

Join: a Conversational French group at the JCC

Listen: Gretchen's Pittsburgh Concert Chorale  https://www.pccsing.org

Listen:  Inside Economics

 https://www.moodys.com/web/en/us/about/insights/podcasts/moodys-talks-inside-economics/robert-reich-on-trump.html

Watch:  The Pitt on Max (HBO)

Be safe: Secure your credit rating

Be open:  Elaine explained the usefulness of "lived experience" as an educational term that shines a light on a person's particular experience

Stand up for what's Right

"We hate him too!"

February 23 Run/Walk: Meet at Tazza D'Oro, 1125 Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh 15206

February 23 Run/Walk: Meet at Tazza D'Oro, 1125 Highland Avenue

The rain didn't stop us, and Commonplace in Garfield was an airy, comfortable place to gather.  In another week, of grim news, there was the happy impossibility of Adrian Simancas swallowed, then upchucked by a whale.  In case anyone missed it, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMKO5NozLeY

From there, this blog-keeper was delighted by the language and culture questions posed by RG members. For instance, what's with those youngsters who say "on accident"?  Is that a Pittsburgh thing?

According to a non-human source, oldsters say "by accident," but those born after 1995, not just in Pittsburgh, say, "on accident."  Maybe this is because it's the opposite of "on purpose"?  Watch out; it might become acceptable.

Couldn't find anything marking when "experience" became "lived experience," but I was gratified to learn that plenty of people have an issue with servers asking, "Done working on that?"  One grump posted that, "It makes me think of a horse with a feed bag on its face."

If you search on line, you'll find reports from many irritable diners complaining about such locutions as:  "Do you need another drink?"  (Do I look like I do?)

AI says it's become "More accepted in casual settings" for men to wear hats indoors.

"On line," instead of "in line" is a regional usage, mostly in the NY area.

And "It's all good" originated in 1994 with a song called, "It's all good," by Hammer, a rap artist.

                                                  A Thanksgiving of turkeys