September 27 Run/Walk: Meet at Coffee Tree Roasters, 5524 Walnut St. in Shadyside

It will be Great Race Day, but that's all happening between Squirrel Hill and Downtown, so if we stay north of that, we'll be fine.  Here's the course map.   ¡Buena Suerte! to anyone who is racing.  The rest of us will mosey around Shadyside, and lament the things that aren't there anymore.

Last week in the environs of the Kinder Being (who wouldn't want to be there?) we discovered that none of us were familiar with that little pocket between Allegheny General and the 279 Parkway.  Walkers trekked to Allegheny Commons and viewed the sad giant outdoor birds at the Aviary, George W. on his high horse, location scenes from The Pit, the fine view from Fineview trail, and the poignantly named corner of Compromise and Hemlock.  I don't recall where runners went but they can chime in.  

Topics ranged widely but some can't be discussed publicly.

• Everybody's fluid.
• Can we please have machines with knobs again?
• There are guys with strange practices.
• i.e. Historic swordplay (see this if you want to try.)

Resistance action of the week:  Observe the World Day of Migrants and Refugees - "Love your neighbor, protect every child" - at an interfaith vigil, march and rally on the Strip this Sunday, Sept. 27, at 2 pm at 21st. St. and Smallman. 

September 20 Run/Walk: Meet at Kinder Being Cafe, 715 East Street, Northside

On September 20 we'll meet at Kinder Being Café, 715 East Street on the northside. 

 

Last week we explored Beth’s Village of Ingomar in the northern ‘burbs of McCandless Township. A crochet lesson followed, where our patient and amazing teacher Janet wisely observed, “Crochet is like tearing Saran Wrap, it’s all about confidence.”

 

Endorsements include:

 

West Virginia handcrafted bottles for serving water (makes a good gift).  You can buy locally here.

 

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR 

 

Visit the Thousand Islands, an archipelago of 1,864 islands straddling the border between northern New York (USA) and southeastern Ontario (Canada) on the St. Lawrence River (also where the salad dressing was invented).

 

Stretch your legs at Greenwood Furnace State Park in Rothrock State Forest in central PA.  It’s got it all – hiking, camping and Amish towns.  

 

Aimee’s Tech Tip of the Week - How to add a Legacy Contact – someone you can choose to have access to data in your Apple Account. 

 

Running Group Birthday Tiara – We have vague memories of this slightly annoying tradition from years gone by.  Can anyone substantiate? Extra points for a photo.

 

Resistance action of the week:  You can become a Designated Agent, officially defined here.  You would help a disabled voter cast their vote.  DA’s are much needed in the weeks leading up to the election, starting as soon as mail ballots are available.  It may seem like a stretch, but you can do it only once or twice if you want, and it is an uplifting experience.  

You could simply do it on your own for someone you know or participate in the program run by the Pennsylvania Democratic Party (PADems).  (Roye did it twice in 2024 and found them extremely well organized).  Possibilities are picking up and returning a mail ballot as someone’s designated agent — you each sign a form — or driving them to vote and back. A match specialist will offer you potential assignment, and you can accept or reject it, and wait for another.  If you want to learn more, fill out their volunteer interest form:  https://davol.pademsvopro.org/.

Blog writing credit goes to Beth!

September 13 Run/Walk: Meet at Beth’s house, 9384 Hilliard Rd , McCandless

Beth has invited us back to her home, always delightful, surrounded by trails and greenery.  And, an added attraction of a crochet-fest tutorial afterwards for those that can stay.  If we each make a granny square, we can finish an afghan right there!  It's about 25 minutes from "the city."

Last week we returned to Sharpsburg, and considered moving there as a group project. Why not?  It's close to the river, has an indefinable appeal, and seems to be open to all kinds of creative living situations.  This discussion may have been affected by coffee provided by the Redhawk Roasters.  They also serve Pizza Ebraica, a rare treat.  Talk as usual was rampant.

• Area parks that are best kept secrets: Preston Park and Laurel Hill State Park.
• Watch movies:  Coyote v. Acme, Tony, Death Cafe (really?)
• Go on a yoga retreat in Troncones, Mexico with the beloved Linda Meacci. 
• See the sunrise over Lake Erie at Presque Isle.
• Appreciate art by local artist Oreen Cohen.
• Read London Falling and Say Nothing by Patrick O'Keefe.
• Travel with Patagonia Duffel/Backpacks.
• "But I had never even been out of New Jersey!"

Resistance Action of the Week - considering that ICE has stepped up its local brutality, particularly terrorizing the people of Beechview so that many are staying in their homes and not going to the local immigrant-owned businesses, how about heading up there (only 11 min. from "the city") and getting some great Latino food?  Here's what the PG food editor has recommended.  And bring your whistles.

September 6 Run/Walk: Redhawk Coffee Roasters at 1019 N. Canal Street Pittsburgh, PA 15215, Sharpsburg; Also Labor Day Run at 7:30 am at 61C

Text contributed by Beth (thanks Beth for taking notes!):

On September 6 we'll meet at Redhawk Coffee Roasters in Sharpsburg (also Lori's new place of part time employment) to have a look around, including a masterpiece sculpted by Oreen Cohen from metal scraps on display at the Sharpsburg Community Garden. Hooray for public art! 

Monday is Labor Day so we will have a holiday run a little later at 7:30 am at 61C Cafe.

Last week we enjoyed our favorite haunt, Homewood Cemetery, and the runners took advantage the fence hole portal to make a quick exit to coffee at Wendy's lovely patio with a bounty of treats from Five Points (thank you Mary Ann.)

 

Endorsements include:

 

The Mount Assisi Sunken Gardens at St. Francis University in Loretto, PA. Take a trip to Italy without leaving PA. 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Vkx4VhZGWEeE58Xi9

 

Deer Ball Repellant to keep the big rats away - https://a.co/d/07P2lFsx

 

Reuseable silicone food storage bags - https://a.co/d/0gAAowVG and also at Target.

 

Books, books, always books  – Land (Maggie O’Farrell); Whistler and The Dutch House (Ann Patchett); Harlem Shuffle (Colson Whitehead)

 

From the department of retro things we still love using – taking handwritten notes using a clipboard.

 

Resistance Action of the Week:  Take a trip north to McCandless to join EmpowHer (a grassroots group in the northern suburbs that Gretchen and Beth are active with) for a peaceful, nonviolent Rally for Democracy.  Meet at the intersection of Duncan Ave and McKnight Rd on Monday, September 7 from 5:15-6:15 pm. Show your support for democracy, build community, and show dictators they are not welcome here. We meet here twice a month on Mondays - join us any time. 

August 30 Run/Walk: Meet at Five Points Artisan Bakeshop, 6524 Wilkins Ave., Squirrel Hill

We'll meet again at the delectable Five Points, diets be damned.  Oh, right, there will also be a preliminary run/walk to multiple points of interest in the area.  

Dahntahn was at its best last Sunday, and Arts Landing particularly shined.  Several of us had not known about the glowing new pickleball courts.  The De Fer patio and its pumpkin bar were stellar, encouraging ample chitchat:

• We do love the old cookbooks (Moosewood!), but online recipes can be life-changing, most recently with the inimitable Ruhama.
• And you can use those perfect NordicWare sheet pans.
• Public Libraries! From the 19th century glass floors in CLP-Oakland's stacks to the Libby E-book App. 
• Head to NYC and see the World Premiere of Show Trial, written by the playwright daughter of our own Linda Rose, Laura (Zlatos), Off Broadway at The Tank (312 W 36th St.), 10/15-11/8!    
• When something hurts - it's probably your shoes - get a new pair.
• Ah, yes, after 25 years RG has come to this: we are to watch the Anti-Ageist TED talk.  Right on! (But hasn't she had some work done?)

Resistance Action(s) of the Week - take a look at this Action Calendar (put together weekly by the indefatigable Debra Fyock) and find an enormous bouquet of things people are doing and can do here. Just reading it will make you take heart.  

August 23 Run/Walk: Meet at De Fer coffee at 725 Penn Ave. in downtown's cultural district

Meeting at De Fer's downtown was our last-minute idea last Sunday - it's approximately next to the sparkling new Arts Landing where there may be picnic tables.  There should be onstreet parking.  Anyway, we'll figure it out. 

Last week - I think we all were trooping through in Frick Park?  At least the walkers were, bathing in its green glow, a result no doubt of the daily rain torrents. Then we were under the tent at Biddle's, having smuggled in some of Madeleine Bakery's 300% butter pastry.  This inspired us to focus entirely on natural health practices. 

• Endorsements for Dr. Lobur and the Pittsburgh Center for Functional Medicine.  P.S. he's pretty cute. Also, Suma Medicine in Highland Park.
• Sleeping in the woods or on the beach may support your immune system, or result in not sleeping.
• Recipe to defeat your cough:  Bring a pot of water to boil. Add 2 teaspoons of rosemary, 2 teaspoons of thyme, 2 teaspoons of oregano. Put a lid on the pot and let it steep for five minutes. Remove the lid, put a towel over your head breathe in the steam for 15 minutes.  
• Watch:  A Place to Call Home, here Elaine calls on us to love Australia again as we did with Offspring.
• Paddle:  with the Witches at North Park
• Get: a shingles vaccine

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.