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!

June 28 Run/Walk: Meet at Virginia's Home, 2100 Lancaster, Regent Square

Virginia has offered to host us for coffee in her beautiful garden in Regent Square.   

Last week we explored Mt. Washington.  The walkers had Patricia's excellent guidance which led us through Chatham Village and along Grandview Blvd with minimal hills.  The runners found their way to Emerald View Park and managed to find their way out again.

We enjoyed a lovely coffee time on Patricia's amazing deck.  There were a variety of conversations only some of which I managed to note. (Rookie mistake!)  The highlight, of course, was a rousing chorus of Chumba Wumba (aka Tubthumping) which may still be making its wormy way around some of our brains...

Recommendations flew by.  Caught a shout out for Astrid and it's British version, Patience, both on PBS.  Astrid reminded someone of how great Call My Agent is, and something led strong support for Shtisel on Netflix.  Minx is a fun but NSFW (or perhaps even at home if the neighbors can see your big screen TV) series, also on Netflix.  Last but not least was lavish praise for Ann Patchett's latest, Whistler.

Look forward to seeing you on Sunday!

June 21 Run/Walk: Meet at Patricia's house, 672 Meta St.

Patricia has graciously offered to have coffee at her house, 672 Meta St. in Mt.Washington (map) so we'll meet there and do some intrepid exploring in a new zone.

Last week we returned to old haunts, Schenley Park and good old 61C (when will they get a new muffin recipe?) in perfect weather.  Walkers found a new trail deep in the park ravine, enchantically called Ponticulus.  Endorsements abounded:

• Panadería Jazmín in Mt. Lebanon - authentic Mexican pastry and other delights.
• Handy cellphone stand to avoid arrest on the highway
• Shakespeare lives!  upcoming The Tempest at the Carrie Furnace from Quantum Theater, and Poor Yorick's Players in Monroeville.  Also in the book Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel.
• Watch movie:  Pressure
• See musical: Carol King's Beautiful at CLO
• Read book: The Correspondent (well, everyone is reading it).
• See stars in the dark sky at Blackwater Falls or Wagman Observatory

June 14 Run/Walk: Meet at the Wendy Bennett Trailhead, Overlook & Greenfield Ave., Schenley Park

Here's a map.  We'll figure out the coffee spot en route.

Last week, clear skies, cool air, we met at the newer La Prima on Smallman Street and after our run/walk got to convene al fresco for coffee and conversation.  But Blog Keeper failed to take notes, can report almost nothing about our lively conversation, and begs for forgiveness.  

Now she is leaving for the summer, and there will only be one Jane.  Which is it?  

Also, Buffalo Rose headlined the Three Rivers Arts Festival!

June 7 Run/Walk: Meet at the newer La Prima in the Strip, 1100 Smallman Street

Today the 2026 Three Rivers Arts Festival opens in lovely dahntahn!  And Sunday we'll be there to explore its latest location at the spanking new Arts Landing.  Amazingly, it won't be raining.  We'll meet at La Prima #2 (map), adjacent to the Convention Center, where maybe, just maybe, the underground fountains will be flowing.  

Last week, after a spin through Frick Park, we had a glorious return to the comfort and abundance of Elaine and her Kitchen on fabled Lower Waldron.  And then, on Thursday eve, the lollapalooza fabulous zumba/line dance party to celebrate our Wendy's special b'day. Much to be grateful for!

• The intrepid cyclists reported back from their trip out east: much fun, new sights, highlights being the vastness of Bethehem Steel's carcass, and Washington's Landing, about which Sharon had memorized surprising facts. 
• Jane M. will offer a story class.  Details forthcoming!
• A new cashmere mitten workshop is being planned.  Hit the Goodwills.
• "Situationship" is a thing, one that we know next to nothing about.
• Buffalo Rose (long endorsed by RG) is profiled in the newly reborn Post-Gazette, as it headlines the abovementioned TRAF on Thursday, June 11, 7:30 p.m.  Be there!

Resistance action of the week:  a reminder - tomorrow, Saturday, at 10 a.m., protesters will gather at the Citizens Bank branch in Squirrel Hill (1801 Murray). They will join protests around the US, demanding that the bank stop financing GEO Group and Core-Civic, the two main operators of notorious immigrant detention facilities, AKA prison camps. GEO runs Moshannon, 3 hours from Pittsburgh and the largest one in the Northeast.