October 13th Run/Walk: Meet at Biddle's Escape (401 Biddle Ave. in Wilkinsburg)

We'll meet on Sunday morning at Biddle's (at Biddle and Trenton in Wilkinsburg) and get a head start on this neighborhood's famed Halloween decor on the way to Frick Park, starting to turn gold right now.  

Reporting on last 2 weeks, one in Edgewood and the other Downtown:  both had great weather, sights, comradeship, photos and endorsements:

• Pros and Cons of the JCC locker rooms: fancy or regular.  Fancy is a bit pricey, but you get extras (sauna, free classes) and regular has more nakedness (which could make you feel somewhat better, comparatively.)  Concerning the classes, Group Power is not for the accident-prone.
• Watch Nobody Wants This on Netflix
• Delightful visits from Galit, and my friend Leslie
• Updates on births and weddings, resulting in statements: "my 2 ex-husbands have never entered my house" and "every marriage is an intermarriage." 
• Discovery that the renowned Tom Paxton was staying at Gretchen's house that weekend!
• Biking trips - next group one will be the Hudson Valley Tour in May.  Recommended:  Vermont Biking Tours (I think this is it.)
• En route to or from said trip, do not put your wallet on the top of the car.
• Visit Bryce Canyon, much prettier and less crowded than Grand.  Also, get your Senior Pass to National Parks. This is more useful a Real ID, instead of which you can generally use a Passport Card.
• Don't forget to request your free Covid test (OMG why do we still need it.)  
• May we all be written into the Book of Life, wherever you think it might be.  And may Kamala and company be written into all the Ballots too.

October 6 Run/Walk: Meet at the new La Prima, 1100 Smallman St. for a downtown excursion

We'll check out Oktoberfest dahntahn and start off at the newer La Prima, at Smallman St. at 11th, across from the Convention Center.  

Lots to say but no time, except for this:

Excellent volunteer opportunity - Mission of Mercy, a free, two-day dental, vision and hearing clinic that serves patients in need, happening Nov. 1-2.  Endorsed yearly by RG!  See more and sign up here.  

Next week:  double the fun! 

September 29 Run/Walk: Meet at Spigolo Cafe, 101 Edgewood Ave. in (where else?) Edgewood.

A new find, c/o Elaine: we'll meet at the Spigolo Cafe, 101 Edgewood Ave. (map).  Don't worry about Great Race traffic - we have it on significant journalistic authority that this won't be a problem.  And Edgewood is always an elegant surprise.

Last week:  we await the tales of our intrepid Grand Canyon bikers! But our buoyant stay-at-home group got to Schenley Park and back to 61C and produced a 3-napkin confab with endorsements that can only be touched on here:

• Books to TV series:  Mick Herron's Slow Horses series or books,  Carl Hiassen's Miami books or Bad Monkey on TV.  
• Just TV: A very royal scandal, Madam Secretary, Call My Agent,Veep, the original Sex in the City
• Anything with Jodie Foster esp., Nyad, and True Detective
• Just books:  Neal Gaiman's American Gods 
• Boring sounds for middle of the night:  BBC Radio, Rain from iTunes
• Life before computers - would we go back?  Ahhhhh
• Buddhism, pain and suffering - I started to look this up and it was overwhelming.  But maybe right.  Especially when considering life after computers.
• The Dark Park (really called Cherry Springs State Park) for amazing stargazing in Coudersport.
• The Kinzua Skywalk - but get there before Nov. 19 - close to where the bike trip was!
• Weatherbury Farm Milling Certified Organic Estate Flours

September 22 Run/Walk: Meet at 61C Cafe in Squirrel Hill

Keeping in mind the long-awaited RG bike ride taking place this weekend in the glorious Grand Canyon (of PA), those remaining in the Burgh will meet at old fave 61C and maybe head over to Schenley Park to celebrate the first day of autumn among the trees.  

Last week, after skirting the banks of a glistening Allegheny, we paid homage to another old friend, La Prima on the Strip - it's sidewalk seating as tawdry as ever. (Coffee and meles are still great but they really should put in a bathroom.)  Besides the masterly bike trip organizing, there was also talk of:

• Old-fashioned baking delights - hermit bars, kichel, rugelech - as in, ancient Russian grandmother meets the Moosewood Cookbook.
• Another blast from the past - the kidney-shaped leather wine flask from college days, holding the only vintage we knew about: Mateus?
• The Pittsburgh Major Taylor Cycling Club - lots of interest, and we will ask Cheryl more about it.
• Watch streaming:  The Perfect Couple, She Came to Me
• Repair your appliances:  Zergan
• Power your own house:  EIS Solar
• Ride on, compadres! 🚴🚴🚴   Looking forward to the stories -

September 15 Run/Walk: Meet at La Prima Espresso (the original) - 21st off of Penn in the Strip

We need to get back to the warm almond meles, so on Sunday let's go back to La Prima in the Strip!  

Just a quick note today to get out the location. Last Sunday was a fun loop through North Point Breeze and Larimer.  Runners went on top of the future Brightline (on its way to Aspinwall), but were reminded why we do this route in the winter (so overgrown!).  A little bushwhacking didn't hurt anyone, I suppose.  Sort of a Running Group tradition!

September 8 Run/Walk: Meet at Commonplace Coffee near the Co-op: 7514 Thomas Blvd.

This Sunday, let's meet in the Commonplace in the new Rockwell Park by the Co-op.

This past long weekend was a glorious run on the wooded, wildflower paths of the Rachel Carson Trail in Wexford.  Gretchen led the runners and Beth led the walkers though beautiful (but watch out for ticks!) trails that reminded me of an Enchanted Forest from fairytales.

Coffee was at the fun Conmigo coffee, which has such an inviting space we wanted to stay for hours.  Discussion centered around the campaign, upcoming bike rides, and cookie tables for upcoming weddings.

Endorsements:

• The Rachel Carson documentary
• Wheeling Heritage Trail
• Dogs for Democracy 
• Tour de Trail (bike ride to Flight 93 memorial)
• And our very own Gretchen Jezerc campaigning for Harris got national press near Coach!  I love this photo!

Sept. 1 (already?) Run/Walk: Meet at an entrance to the Rachel Carson Trail, a parking lot on Brooker Dr. in the North Hills (map in message)

 Beth and Gretchen have a great plan for Sunday: 

The Rachel Carson Trail through the northern part of North Park, starting from the parking lot on Brooker Drive (aka Conestoga Dr). We can park here (map)

And afterwards we can drive across Perry Highway to Cafe Conmigo (map) for coffee! 

So much was discussed during post-run/walk conversations outside at the ol' 61C last week that I can never do it justice but here goes:

• The donkeys and handsome park rangers (which is first?) in the Grand Canyon
• Cheese from Goat Rodeo Farm, as highlighted in Pittsburgh Magazine
• The unforgettable memories of our lives with children that our children have forgotten entirely
• Martha Stewart - despite being obnoxious, a heroine!
• Mashed potatoes in a box - really not bad
• Wendy in Salamanca
• JCC classes where you can find RG members:  Wendy's Zumba, Group Active, Power with Marsha
• The photo of Gretchen at the Kamala rally (ignore headline) that is probably about to go viral
• Read Empire of Pain
• Watch Jon Stewart's assessment of the Dem. convention
• Michelle's braid