It will be Marathon Sunday so we will stick close to home but perhaps get a sneak preview of the course before the runners get there.
Flat, stylish Shadyside run this past Sunday - it felt to me like we glided through those leafy streets. There was a fair crowd complete with new and returning runners.
Coffee was raucous as usual. My end of the table got caught up in election year politics - we vowed to not do that again as we got too upset.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Apr 29 Run: Mellon Park Playground
Meet at the Mellon Park Playground on 5th Ave where Beechwood ends. Virginia will take us on a tour of Shadyside - always delightful.
Anna created a layered run of Lawrenceville which took us on both familiar and never visited routes. We started on the hidden path along the Allegheny River - always a great place to begin - then zigged and zagged across the streets. First we visited the tightly packed worker row houses near the river, climbed up to the slightly bigger "manager" homes, dipped down to the commercial district and ended up with a tour of Allegheny Cemetery. The houses were a mix of fashionably renovated, well-kept and not so well-kept originals making it difficult to chat as there always seemed to be something interesting to see. The cemetery was travel book perfect in its Spring finery and we saw two fox cubs!
Since it took longer than usual to cover all this, we decided to try Expresso A Mano in Lawrenceville again. The last time we were there, the group was bigger and we overwhelmed the small coffee shop. Today we did not seem so disruptive, service was quicker and it was overall a nicer experience (although I have a feeling customers may have been happy to regain their quiet Sunday morning when we left). While there were many topics of interest the one that captured me were the working vacations being planned by Wendy, David and Jan through the aid of https://www.helpx.net/. Check it out. We also learned that Anna, who just joined us will be leaving - good news for her and her husband as they will be moving to Glasgow, Scotland but sad news for the rest of us who have been enjoying her company.
Anna created a layered run of Lawrenceville which took us on both familiar and never visited routes. We started on the hidden path along the Allegheny River - always a great place to begin - then zigged and zagged across the streets. First we visited the tightly packed worker row houses near the river, climbed up to the slightly bigger "manager" homes, dipped down to the commercial district and ended up with a tour of Allegheny Cemetery. The houses were a mix of fashionably renovated, well-kept and not so well-kept originals making it difficult to chat as there always seemed to be something interesting to see. The cemetery was travel book perfect in its Spring finery and we saw two fox cubs!
Since it took longer than usual to cover all this, we decided to try Expresso A Mano in Lawrenceville again. The last time we were there, the group was bigger and we overwhelmed the small coffee shop. Today we did not seem so disruptive, service was quicker and it was overall a nicer experience (although I have a feeling customers may have been happy to regain their quiet Sunday morning when we left). While there were many topics of interest the one that captured me were the working vacations being planned by Wendy, David and Jan through the aid of https://www.helpx.net/. Check it out. We also learned that Anna, who just joined us will be leaving - good news for her and her husband as they will be moving to Glasgow, Scotland but sad news for the rest of us who have been enjoying her company.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Apr 22 Run: 46th St & Hatfield St, Lawrenceville
Anna, one of our new "members" (seems like a strong word for such a loosely organized group), is stepping up to lead us on a brand new run in Lawrenceville. Meet at the corner of 46th and Hatfield - there is parking all along Hatfield. It was sounding like coffee would still be at the Commonplace since we overwhelmed the local coffee shop the last time we ran in that area.
It was slightly misty and definitely overcast this morning, making the run through Schenley particularly photogenic. I can't find words to capture how painterly the spattering of bright green leaves against the dark forest looked - it was evocative of old photographs. There were clusters of white trillium blooming on the steep hillsides as well - a very spring landscape.
Here is our coffee discussion in links (this does not include links related to the discussion of the various merits of grocery shopping at Trader Joe's, The East End Coop and Whole Foods or why you might not get good gas mileage with Get Go Gas):
http://themoth.org/events?month=5 The Moth Story Slam Pittsburgh: May 9 - sounds like a possible group outing. Highly recommended by Elaine and Jan
http://www.lagourmandinebakery.com/ La Gourmandine French bakery (need I say more) in Lawrenceville that is unfortunately not open on Sunday
http://jeanmarcchatellier.com/ Jean Marc Chatellier’s French Bakery in Millvale another wonderful French bakery that is not open on Sunday
http://www.slowfoodpgh.com/ Slow Food Pittsburgh where you can sign up to get emails. Sharon and Anne Jane bought wonderful lamb from the Slow Food Sponsored Laptop Butcher Shop (look for the tab on the Slow Food site)
http://www.kcponline.com/ Kevin's Computers: Recommended to Sharon for replacing the screen on her laptop shattered by rambunctious boys
http://www.arcadia.edu/ Arcadia University where Elaine's youngest daughter will be heading this fall - looks very interesting
http://hairylemonuganda.com/ The Hairy Lemon Resort where Pam and family relaxed while visiting their daughter in uganda
It was slightly misty and definitely overcast this morning, making the run through Schenley particularly photogenic. I can't find words to capture how painterly the spattering of bright green leaves against the dark forest looked - it was evocative of old photographs. There were clusters of white trillium blooming on the steep hillsides as well - a very spring landscape.
Here is our coffee discussion in links (this does not include links related to the discussion of the various merits of grocery shopping at Trader Joe's, The East End Coop and Whole Foods or why you might not get good gas mileage with Get Go Gas):
http://themoth.org/events?month=5 The Moth Story Slam Pittsburgh: May 9 - sounds like a possible group outing. Highly recommended by Elaine and Jan
http://www.lagourmandinebakery.com/ La Gourmandine French bakery (need I say more) in Lawrenceville that is unfortunately not open on Sunday
http://jeanmarcchatellier.com/ Jean Marc Chatellier’s French Bakery in Millvale another wonderful French bakery that is not open on Sunday
http://www.slowfoodpgh.com/ Slow Food Pittsburgh where you can sign up to get emails. Sharon and Anne Jane bought wonderful lamb from the Slow Food Sponsored Laptop Butcher Shop (look for the tab on the Slow Food site)
http://www.kcponline.com/ Kevin's Computers: Recommended to Sharon for replacing the screen on her laptop shattered by rambunctious boys
http://www.arcadia.edu/ Arcadia University where Elaine's youngest daughter will be heading this fall - looks very interesting
http://hairylemonuganda.com/ The Hairy Lemon Resort where Pam and family relaxed while visiting their daughter in uganda
DC Adventure Report
I mistakenly thought this was sent to everyone in the group so it is a few weeks late but still well worth reading. Here is Jan and Cheryl's captivating description of their trip to DC:
Encore, Encore… or… the running get-a-way that must be repeated: Our invitation to DC truly came from the heart. We were welcomed into Ceil’s townhouse with a dinner on the grill, wine and stories about politics (... when in Rome). This was followed by a long walk around the tidal basin under the cherry blossoms which were in full bloom (check out Cheryl's phone's wallpaper). Saturday, we ran 5 miles through Rock Creek Park, stopping in Georgetown for an organic breakfast. The run was so pleasant, as was the conversation, so we insanely decided to retrace our steps, rather than catch a bus. We spent the rest of the day as tourists, and did a ‘monument’ run Sunday morning as well. In between our consecutive day runs, we enjoyed a visit to the National Portrait Gallery, including relaxing in its fabulous courtyard, then a chocolate- infused dinner experience and a play at the Ford Theater. It was a 5-star plus weekend although we missed our fellow runners
Encore, Encore… or… the running get-a-way that must be repeated: Our invitation to DC truly came from the heart. We were welcomed into Ceil’s townhouse with a dinner on the grill, wine and stories about politics (... when in Rome). This was followed by a long walk around the tidal basin under the cherry blossoms which were in full bloom (check out Cheryl's phone's wallpaper). Saturday, we ran 5 miles through Rock Creek Park, stopping in Georgetown for an organic breakfast. The run was so pleasant, as was the conversation, so we insanely decided to retrace our steps, rather than catch a bus. We spent the rest of the day as tourists, and did a ‘monument’ run Sunday morning as well. In between our consecutive day runs, we enjoyed a visit to the National Portrait Gallery, including relaxing in its fabulous courtyard, then a chocolate- infused dinner experience and a play at the Ford Theater. It was a 5-star plus weekend although we missed our fellow runners
Sunday, April 08, 2012
Apr 15 Run: Wendy Bennett Trailhead
Thanks to Wendy for writing up the run in my absence.
April 8 run:
The smell of viburnum helped launch this morning's run, commencing at CMU, and continuing down Fifth Ave behind Central Catholic HS and along the footpaths paralleling the Panther Hollow soccer fields. We ran a portion of the jail trail which put us at Jameson's Restaurant/Bar (favored by the Fitzgerald's we were told) where we puzzled over the Hump Day sign (was it because Wed. is Hump Day or is that the clever name of a band)? Across from Jameson's we mounted a set of Pgh steps that took us near the Shrine of the Holy Mother and past Dan Marino field. As we crossed Panther Hollow Bridge, we encountered a parade of early morning Easter celebrants and found ourselves outside the Tepper School of Business, deep within the nerve center of the community of CMU buggy racers.
Commonplace was closed so we convened at Starbucks where we got to admire some local Easter finery (pastel sports jackets are in this year). Topics included coffee mug nostalgia, ideas for business start-ups, unusual science and medical careers, the original of Tractor the dog's name and the trickle down effect of the unfortunate Pitt bomb threats.
Next up April 15:
Wendy Bennett trailhead (entrance to Schenley Park, just below the Oval, at the intersection of Bartlett and whatever that road is named at that time - I think Panther Hollow Road).
April 8 run:
The smell of viburnum helped launch this morning's run, commencing at CMU, and continuing down Fifth Ave behind Central Catholic HS and along the footpaths paralleling the Panther Hollow soccer fields. We ran a portion of the jail trail which put us at Jameson's Restaurant/Bar (favored by the Fitzgerald's we were told) where we puzzled over the Hump Day sign (was it because Wed. is Hump Day or is that the clever name of a band)? Across from Jameson's we mounted a set of Pgh steps that took us near the Shrine of the Holy Mother and past Dan Marino field. As we crossed Panther Hollow Bridge, we encountered a parade of early morning Easter celebrants and found ourselves outside the Tepper School of Business, deep within the nerve center of the community of CMU buggy racers.
Commonplace was closed so we convened at Starbucks where we got to admire some local Easter finery (pastel sports jackets are in this year). Topics included coffee mug nostalgia, ideas for business start-ups, unusual science and medical careers, the original of Tractor the dog's name and the trickle down effect of the unfortunate Pitt bomb threats.
Next up April 15:
Wendy Bennett trailhead (entrance to Schenley Park, just below the Oval, at the intersection of Bartlett and whatever that road is named at that time - I think Panther Hollow Road).
Sunday, April 01, 2012
Apr 8 Run:Forbes and Beeler
For an Easter treat we will try and piece together Bobbi's run through Panther Hollow and Greenfield. Meet at the corner of Forbes and Beeler. There was some speculation that the CMU garage is free on Sundays.Coffee will have to be at Starbucks because Commonplace is closed.
The run to the run will start at the corner of Forbes and Murray at 6:45AM.
We pasted together a spring run through Frick Park this morning. While there were not many blossoms there were dustings of light green where the new leaves were starting to emerge. On our way home we had a close encounter with a herd of young deer who were grazing in the cemetery. The looked at us calmly across the low wall.
Because the group at coffee was small we were able to focus on one topic at a time. Teri's new job, recent trips, Easter food...Judy provided us with a fascinating introduction to the therapy approach she will be using in her new practice. We all chewed on the implications it had for our various relationships.
The run to the run will start at the corner of Forbes and Murray at 6:45AM.
We pasted together a spring run through Frick Park this morning. While there were not many blossoms there were dustings of light green where the new leaves were starting to emerge. On our way home we had a close encounter with a herd of young deer who were grazing in the cemetery. The looked at us calmly across the low wall.
Because the group at coffee was small we were able to focus on one topic at a time. Teri's new job, recent trips, Easter food...Judy provided us with a fascinating introduction to the therapy approach she will be using in her new practice. We all chewed on the implications it had for our various relationships.
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