August 16 Run/Walk: Meet at Biddle's Escape, 401 Biddle Ave., Wilkinsburg

Starting line is at old fave Biddle's, where the coffee is OK, the decor is quirky, and the ambience is a comfort.  "A couple of thunderstorms" in the Sun. morning forecast, but we have faith.  And umbrellas.  

Last week we wandered around the Phipps side of Oakland - wondering WHEN are they going to finish the Panther Hollow bridge (supposedly this month LOL) but at least we were able to walk over and witness the blooming algae (our very own reflecting pool!) on the pond beneath.  There are various random statues of large men in the vicinity, including a newly uncovered Columbus.

Conversation in the Starbucks plaza brought together some historical themes.

• Collective party planning, reminiscent of the Bar/Bat Mitzvah parties of yore, weddings, birthdays, and graduation celebrations. Thumbs down for Grand Concourse ("sad") but thumbs up for the University Club ("not as stuffy as you think").
• Crazy personal connections - brand new friend Caitlin appearing from Boston turns out to have a Dad known to all of us and who may just possibly have featured Joanne in a novel as the "woman in spandex."
• Read:  Evensong, and Emily Alone by Stewart O'Nan (the Dad featured above.)
• Sunday Line Dancing at Highland Park is back!  If you actually open that link (ahem!) you will see a familiar face.

Resistance action of the week:  Never too early: make sure that you, your friends and family will be able to vote.   Check voter registration here, and if needed, register to vote here.  And in the interest of preparedness, make sure of your documentation: birth certificates, passports, real IDs, etc. 

August 9 Run/Walk: Meet under the tent at Schenley Plaza in Oakland (redux)

Torrential rain again! I say as I wring out every item of clothing I put on this morning.  So the fact that last Sunday the unheard happened: RG was rained out of Schenley Plaza. (For the record, 5 diehards did show up).  This seems to be just part of the new normal. But let's not go there - instead, we forge ahead! Start under the big tent next to the Carousel (map). 

But there was coffee - and Starbucks has real china cups again.  Other things to cheer us up:

• Watch:  The Odyssey, on IMAX if you can (but not in those puffy barcaloungers. OK, I know there is a difference of opinion, but really, just look at this). 
• Read: Land, by Maggie O'Farrell
• Summer events right here - the Frick tours are better all the time.  Make sure you get Linda!
• Also:  The Great Pittsburgh Book Crawl tour of 30! fascinating indie bookstores listed here - oh, well, we missed it this year but keep in mind for 2027!  Especially loved were Beyond Bedtime and City Books.  Speaking of loved - local romance bookstores are multiplying.
• Also: Hollidaysburg PA - it's adorable - who knew?  While you're there, head over to Canoe Creek State Park 10 minutes away.
• Chill with WZUM, Pittsburgh's 24-hour jazz station, which lists a ton of jazz venues (lately including RG fave Small Hours) and also, weeknights, somehow retrieves the long-lost Tony Mowod shows of yore.

And even this will cheer you up - Resistance Action of the Week:  every Sunday, the Substack feature Chop Wood Carry Water features a long list of acts of decency, bravery, resistance, and general upstandingness - see this for the latest, and check back here next Sunday, or daily for other resistance possibilities.

August 2nd Run/Walk : Meet at Schenley Plaza

 August 2nd Run/Walk : Meet at Schenley Plaza.  We'll figure out coffee from there.

Last week both the walkers and runners poked their noses into St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, admiring the beautifully restored stained glass.

The walkers then cruised up the Allegheny path to the Sixth Street Bridge, commenting on all the housing along that trail, and throughout the Strip.  

The runners went the other direction, taking in views of a variety of murals on the Strip and the 31st. Street Bridge. 

Creative rearrangement of La Prima's outdoor space provided room for everyone around the tables, joining throngs of other early morning coffee drinkers. Animated conversations ranged from discussion of the recent Friday morning ICE protest  and plans for trips to Niagara Falls (Everyone should go--it's not that far! Especially the Canadian Side).  For those interested in some novelized historical background, check out Joyce Carol Oates' The Falls.  

Other recommendations:  Bramwell originally presented on Masterpiece Theatre, now on BritBox.  (As a matter of fact there is a whole listing of former Masterpiece Theatre shows that provides a wonderful resource for potential bingeing at https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/shows/  (NB: this link should work but it's  wonky.)

Monday nights at Beit Kulanu (the unified Rodef Shalom Congregation and Temple Sinai) offer dinner and a variety of interest groups (including Mah Jongg and Needlework).  Worth checking out.

Line Dancing returns to Highland Park on Sunday, August 2 and for the next four Sundays.  7-9, following the Jazz Concerts.

Resistance action of the week:  Come to the weekly interfaith anti-ICE vigil any Friday, from 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. at ICE's Pittsburgh facility, 3000 Sidney Street on the South Side.  Organized by Casa San Jose, Pittsburgh Area Pax Christi, and the Sisters of St. Joseph to stand up against immigrant persecution. You'll see some familiar faces there!

See you Sunday!

July 26 Run/Walk: Meet at La Prima Coffee in the Strip, 205 21st St., Pittsburgh

 July 26 Run/Walk: Meet at La Prima Coffee in the Strip, 205 21st St., Pittsburgh 

Last week walkers took a tour of the Grand Prix, and through the lovely surrounding neighborhood.  Amazing woodwork and ceramics on one home which also featured an array of the flags of NATO.

  Runners stretched out a bit to run by Catherine Jerzec's new home before their Grand Prix tour.

Everyone ended up at Sharon's for coffee.  Due to continuing smoky conditions, we hung out indoors with excellent food and great conversation which was so diffuse that I didn't end up with any recommendations but a great time was had by all.  And, of course, we all ended up in the kitchen!

See you Sunday.

July 19, Run/Walk: Meet at Sharon Riddler's, 5612 Woodmont, Squirrel Hill

July 19, Run/Walk: Meet at Sharon Riddler's, 5612 Woodmont, Squirrel Hill.  Sharon has graciously offered to host our coffee.  We'll meet there and head for Schenley Park to visit the Grand Prix.

Last week the walkers cruised around East Liberty checking out the new construction (BIG apartment building) at Frankstown and Liberty, then walking back through the newly transformed Homewood Park and Pool.  

The runners visited several community gardens in the neighborhood and the church that was featured in the movie Dogma (unfortunately dilapidated 😞).  There are numerous former churches in sorry states around town.  It was suggested that one might be converted into the Running Group communal living space.  Need to get Amy working on the financing options for such a venture...

Conversation during coffee at KLVN Lab included the Polish sisters in Gretchen's order and whether or not they speak Polish. (Some do, Gretchen does not, but Bobbi does!)  This morphed into some discussion of the value of multiple language learning in young children. (Interested parties might want to check out this article: www.zerotothree.org>resource>dual-language.)  There followed some conversation about the "mother-in-law role"  and how it differs between sons and daughters.

In response to an endorsement for camping at Blackwater Falls State Park in West Virginia, a question arose about whether camping is hazardous due to trees falling on tents.  (Apparently there was a recent tragedy in Cumberland County.)  Cabins are available!

Roye gave a brief review of  Three Sisters, Three Queens by Phillipa Gregory, "Riveting!"

In a quick recap of the Canonsburg 4th of July 5-K, Sharon noted that Canonsburg is an attractive little town.  It's main claim to fame seems to be Sarris Candies.

Resistance action of the week:  Good Trouble: 3 opportunities! (Registration NOT required - just go)

Sunday, July 12th Run/Walk Meet at KLVN Coffee Lab, 6600 Hamilton Avenue, Pittsburgh

Since we met at a Commonwealth Coffee last week, let's give KLVN a shot after a tour around Homewood/Point Breeze. 

Last week's walk through Shadyside led us past a memorable sculpture urging us all to move forward,  

 and then on to Mellon Park to take a look at the lovely memorial for Annie Seamans which mirrors the stars in the night sky on the night of her birth.  Sorry, runners, I forgot to ask where you went...

Discussion centered largely around books.  Elizabeth Strout's latest met with mixed reviews, as did The Correspondent (Virginia Evans).  Ann Patchett's Whistler is a great read.  Charlotte M Gonaghy's Wild Dark Shore was recommended as were Poor Deer by Claire Ohshetsky, and Land  and The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Hamnet author, Maggie O'Farrell.

Some discussion of the discomfort entailed in patronizing Amazon or other on-line conveniences concluded with the suggestion that we just buy less stuff!

The new Shadyside Commonplace is a worthy successor to the late lamented Georgie's.

Resistance Action TBA

Run/Walk on Sunday, July 5th, Meet at Commonplace Coffee, 5743 Walnut, Shadyside (formerly Georgie's)

 More of a post later today-- stay cool!