October 18 Run/Walk: Redux - Meet at Wendy Bennett Trailhead in Schenley Park

Since we were so formidably rained out last week, we will try again (and with even better leafy chromatics) at the famed WB Trailhead in Schenley Park, corner of Greenfield Rd. and Overlook Dr. (map).  I just noticed on Google Maps that the trail we take is called the Bridle Trail.  Once, within living memory, there were horses.

Last Sunday, a good number of us, loathe to miss our Sunday a.m. gabfest, showed up anyway at Commonplace, munched on the considerably better muffins to be found at Squirrel Hill coffee shops, and conferred.

• Votes differed on:
• Hokas - will they give you a comfy run, or make you fall on your face?
• Senior living:  rent ($$$) or own (roof is leaking!) I guess that's $$$ too, so a wash.
• AI - helpful thought partner? ubiquitous menace replacing your brain, controlled by evil techlords?
• Visit: Niagara-on-the-lake -the falls, wine, theater, and Lake Ontario!
• Shop: Friend-of-RG Rick Malmstrom's handmade silver jewelry
• Listen:  How I Built This podcast.
• Read:  books/stories by our 2 Janes:  Jane M and Jane B.  Also Marlon James' The Disappearers.
• Stay dry while you pedal:  Baleaf waterproof, breathable bike jacket.

Resistance Action of the Week:  Early voting! It will safely bank your vote ahead of potential stormy weather on election day and beyond.  Here's how and where you can do it.  And don't forget NO KINGS this Saturday - noon at the City County Building and 5 pm at Shady and Fifth - also more on the map.

October 11 Run/Walk: Meet at Wendy Bennett Trailhead in Shenley Park

 This week will be a walk in the park, starting from our favorite spot.  The Wendy Bennett Trailhead is unmarked, but easy to find, on the corner of Greenfield Rd. and Overlook Dr.  Here's a map.  

Last Sunday took us through the neighborhood surrounding Trace Brewery, and eastward to St. Mary's Cemetery on sunny (and completely ice-free) streets.  Not only was Trace Brewery open, but so was Jak's Bakery, and delicious treats were secured.  (We also found out who to call to make sure the Brewery is going to be open.)

Once again the origins of Running Group were considered, reminiscing about the Toy Lending Library and the auspicious meeting that started it all.  In September we (should have) celebrated our 33rd year! It was suggested that we start planning for the 35th, perhaps returning to NYC...

Several stories of RG adventures were shared, not repeated here because what happens in Running Group, stays in Running Group.

Talk of the state of the country and the upcoming election was unsurprisingly depressing, but Elaine cheered us up by telling us about her friends who spent the weekend being trained to be balloon holders in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  This effort involves hundreds of Macy's employees, and each balloon is handled by many holders, all of whom dress in outfits related to the balloon's theme.  Who knew?!

Recommendations included a few new Goodwill Stores in the suburbs-- one was in Wexford but others are lost in the ether...

The musical, "In Clay" at the City Theater is highly recommended (closes Sunday.)  Last week there was a movie endorsement for "Nonnas" on Netflix.  

Alas that is the full extent of my notes, but hope to find a way to add  Roye's Resistance Action.

See you Sunday.

October 4 Run/Walk: Meet at Trace Brewing, 4312 Main St. in Bloomfield

Next up is Trace Brewing in Bloomfield, regarding which, "we tried twice to go there and they weren’t open so hopefully the 3rd time is the charm."  If so, potentially beer at 8 a.m.  Why not?

Last week we visited the lovely lairs of Pittsburgh's 1%, the ones in Shadyside anyway, complete with hidden pathways and secret gardens.  We asked, how can so many people have this much money?  A question for our time.  Afterwards at the cavernous Coffee Tree Roasters, under a loudspeaker emitting "music", we overcame the sound and had a fine time. Unfortunately, my napkin notes vanished, but a few topics under discussion stood out:

• It's actually not hard to end up at the wrong funeral.
• Most endorsed underwear source:  Jockey. You can see it at Target ahead of ordering it. Notably absent source:  Victoria's Secret.  Sigh.
• Watch on streaming:  Little Dorrit, and a movie with 4 letters starting with N...Norm? Nerm? It's supposed to be good! Will find out for next week.
• Shakespeare in the Parks, only 3 weeks left.  It's the Merry Wives of Windsor happening during the Reagan administration.  See Mistress Quickly as the Material Girl!

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.