Apr 4: Spring Holidays Run: Coffee Tree

Since many people are away next weekend we will meet at the Coffee Tree in Squirrel Hill for whatever kind of run we want to dream up - it should at least include looking for lawn decorations.

Today we ran on one of the newly surfaced trails in Schenley Park on our way to Greenfield and a set of steep and often missing steps - you can see these from the Parkway if you look fast. It was a shortish but pleasant run that took us to a part of Pittsburgh we rarely see - so much so that Eric chose to do another loop! Many of us ran back to the Coffee Tree where I got a tip on a cell phone and learned about how wonderful Costco was from Elaine and Wendy. I am sure other conversations were just as productive!

Mar 28 Run: Bartlett entrance to Schenley Park

Next Sunday we will run through Schenley Park to find the crumbly steps up to Greenfield and loop back to the starting point: the Bartlett entrance to the Park. This is across the road from the Wendy Bennett (not Memorial) Trailhead - at the corner of Bartlett and what I thought was the Boulevard but at that point is Hobart, turning into Panther Hollow Road - whatever... You can find it on this map: http://www.pittsburghparks.org/schenley-directions

It was a big group, longer distance, beautiful morning kind of run today. There were close to 15 people who turned out for one of the group's favorites - the South Side. We ran down river accompanied by birds of all sorts to the Smithfield Street bridge - turned around and ran back via Carson Street which had the atmosphere of a vacation town in the off-season feel - good times supplanted by an early morning quiet. I found two pennies and ran over a patch of glitter - what could be better!

Even with a few people not coming to coffee (although Pam Murray showed up) it was a big and noisy coffee group.

To view 03/21/2010 River Route, follow the link below:
http://www.mapmyrun.com/view_route?r=776126917915878756

Mar 21 Run: Hot Metal Bridge for a SSide Run

It must have been the time change because there were only 7 runners at the Coffee Tree yesterday morning, a surprise after two weekday runs with10 people. Since it was a small group we decided to venture out and pay visit to the shrine of the Blessed Virgin that overlooks the Parkway - fortunately Elaine had just looked up the route and guided us through the back streets of South Oakland. It is difficult to describe this very Pittsburgh place - for me it always stirs up memories from my catholic childhood. The last time we were there, over a year ago, it was summer and you did not get the full impact of the views over the city. It was quite a run!

Here is web reference I found:

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/9433

And coincidentally (or is it fate?) from the WQED Web Site (note we have been to two of these sites):

Sunday, April 4, 2010 at 5:30pm
OnQ: Viewers Request: Unique Places of Catholic Worship in Pittsburgh
The theme is "Unique Places of Catholic Worship in Pittsburgh" and we've chosen three stories from our archives: 1. Maxo Vanka Murals at St. Nicholas Church in Millvale 2. Parkway Shrine (it's an outdoor "grotto" on a hillside near Bates St. in Oakland) 3. St. Anthony's Chapel in Troy Hill (Experts believe this church houses more catholic relics than anywhere in the world except the Vatican).

March 14: Guess where: The Coffee Tree - REMEMBER TO TURN YOUR CLOCK FORWARD

Because quite a few people will not be here next Sunday and because next Sunday it will be dark again (sigh - who are these people who make the daylight savings rules????) we defaulted to the Coffee Tree again.

As all of you here in Pittsburgh know, it was a gorgeous morning. Tom said it reminded him of the mountains in the summer - full sun but snow on the ground - which makes everything even brighter. We ran in the cemetery again but it looked quite different from last week - most of the roads have no snow on them now. It was so clear that at we could see East Liberty Presbyterian Church from one vantage point. Wendy missed the run but joined us for coffee which was raucous as usual.

Pam suggested we all attend this event: http://www.frickart.org/programs_events/specialevents.php

Film, Friends and Drinks with LUPEC:
It Happened One Night
Tuesday, March 23
7:00 p.m.
The Frick Art Museum

But get your tickets now - it sounds like it could fill up quickly.