Jul 1 Run: Cafe Cravings, 402 Bigham St.

Cheryl has created a Mount Washington exploratory run for the group AND she got the Chatham Village coffee shop owner to open up early . Meet at Cafe Cravings, 402 Bigham Street at the usual time.

I could not resist taking a boat out this gorgeous summer morning but Aimee kindly sent a few words about what must have been a very fun run:
Anna zigged and zagged us through the streets of Manchester and The Mexican War Streets.  A beautiful morning with tons of surprises around every corner.  The pics show a particularly arty house on Jacksonia.

Jun 24 Run: Western and Allegheny, N. Side

Anna Brewer is giving us a going away gift: a run through Manchester and the North Site. Meet at the big parking lot at Western and Allegheny. There is plenty of street parking. Last Sunday's run was through summer-fied Frick Park - all the open spaces have been filled up by green trees. Coffee was shorter than usual due to the cooler than expected breeze.

Virginia Linn's Famous Black Bean Salad

Virginia Linn's Famous Black Bean Salad

1 pound dried black beans or 2, 16-ounce cans black beans (my option)
1 large red bell pepper, diced
1 large yellow bell pepper, diced
1 large orange bell pepper, diced
1 small red onion, diced
1 large garlic clove, crushed or 1/4 tsp. minced garlic
1/2 cup olive oil (I don't use that much -- probably a little more than 1/4 cup)
1/4 cup of red wine vinegar
2 Tablespoons of Penzey's Salsa Salad Seasoning (before I got this, I used a couple of tablespoons of mild or medium jarred salsa and mixed it in -- little different in taste or texture
1/4-1 teaspoon of freshly ground pepper
3-4 Tablespoon of fresh, chopped cilantro leaves (optional)

If you are using dried beans, place them in a bowl and cover with warm water. Soak overnight and drain. Place the beans and 4 cups of water in a 2-quart saucepan, Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour or until the beans are tender. Drain and cool. OR open your two cans of black beans, drain and rinse under cold water in colander. Place in serving bowl.

Add peppers, onion and garlic

In a small bowl combine olive oil, vinegar, salsa salad dressing (or salsa). Mix well. Dress the bean mixture, tossing gently. Add pepper to taste.

Refrigerate an hour before serving. Sprinkle with chopped fresh cilantro

If using the cans, you can throw this together in 15 minutes and can make ahead.

Enjoy

Jun 17 Run: Entrance to Frick Park at Reynolds and Homewood

Fathers day run in the park - meet at the Frick Park Gatehouse, Reynolds and Homewood - at the circle.

I was on the river this morning not on the run but I know that trail to Kennywood would have been leafy and cool this time of year. And of course there were glimpses of the river all along. I did hear that the group saw a man walking on the roller coaster tracks at that back gate.

Jun 10 Run: Lowe's Home Store at Waterfront

Thanks to Elaine Mormer again for this provocative write-up!  How did the group get taken over by Billy Joe McCallister??

Run on Sunday should meet at the Lowe's parking lot (home store, not movie theater) for a run along the trail from homestead towards Kennywood.

We had a lovely run Sunday -over the Hot Metal Bridge, along the river trail towards town, and back through the South Side streets. The run to the run was eventful...we saw a minor emergency involving the Pittsburgh Fire Fighters battling a contained fire in a container at the Anderson Playground. The run, and coffee,  was highlighted by ongoing critical analysis of Billy Joe McCallister's demise at the Tallahatchee Bridge( wait, did he really die that day?), and intermittent country singing We all made it across the Hot Metal Bridge twice with NOTHING being thrown over the side. Ask Tom just how the Bathhouse on the Southside relates to the 3rd of June...

Jun 3 Run: Hot Metal Bridge

Thank-you to Elaine Mormer for this evocative recounting of various runs and even adding lyrics.
I will be thinking of you all as I get ready to race down the Anacostia River in DC.

We had two hot runs last weekend. Sunday Pam took the group on a long and varied route through Frick Park and some hidden treasure neighborhoods of south Squirrel Hill. For Monday’s holiday run we sought the shade of the Schenley Park trails. Coffee was long and lingering both days, and we appreciated sitting outside. We did agree on a run starting at the Hot Metal Bridge for this Sunday. Meet in the parking lot at the corner of Hot Metal Bridge and Second Avenue, entrance directly across from Bates Street. Run to the Run 6:25 Common Place.


And while we are on the bridge theme: on Wednesday’s run this week Tom pointed out that this Sunday’s run will take place on June 3…which many of us remember as the day that…   Billy Joe McCallister jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge…Friday’s run will be recorded as the first run during which Tom showed up with full lyrics in hand (protected by a plastic newspaper bag) and said lyrics accompanied the group through the entire morning route.
In honor of this special date, and Tom’s special and sensitive affection for this musically notable event, I’ve included the lyrics and a link to the history of Billy Joe’s tragedy. Wendy, Tom, and others are ready and willing to lead an East End Runners soulful rendition of Billy Joe’s heartbreaking ballad…on Sunday. And perhaps we will discuss what was thrown from the bridge, and why….
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110123002150AACYYNa

Ode To Billie Joe lyrics

It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta day
I was out choppin' cotton and my brother was balin' hay
And at dinner time we stopped and walked back to the house to eat
And Mama hollered out the back door "y'all remember to wipe your feet"
And then she said "I got some news this mornin' from Choctaw Ridge"
"Today Billy Joe MacAllister jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge"

'n' Papa said to Mama as he passed around the blackeyed peas
"Well Billy Joe never had a lick of sense, pass the biscuits, please"
"There's five more acres in the lower forty I've got to plow"
'n' Mama said it was shame about Billy Joe, anyhow
Seems like nothin' ever comes to no good up on Choctaw Ridge
And now Billy Joe MacAllister's jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge

'n' Brother said he recollected when he and Tom and Billie Joe
Put a frog down my back at the Carroll County picture show
And wasn't I talkin' to him after church last Sunday night?
"I'll have another piece-a apple pie, you know it don't seem right"
[ From : http://www.elyrics.net/read/b/bobbie-gentry-lyrics/ode-to-billie-joe-lyrics.html ]
"I saw him at the sawmill yesterday on Choctaw Ridge"
"And now ya tell me Billie Joe's jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge"

'n' Mama said to me "Child, what's happened to your appetite?"
"I've been cookin' all morning and you haven't touched a single bite"
"That nice young preacher, Brother Taylor, dropped by today"
"Said he'd be pleased to have dinner on Sunday, oh, by the way"
"He said he saw a girl that looked a lot like you up on Choctaw Ridge"
"And she and Billy Joe was throwing somethin' off the Tallahatchie Bridge"

A year has come 'n' gone since we heard the news 'bout Billy Joe
'n' Brother married Becky Thompson, they bought a store in Tupelo
There was a virus going 'round, Papa caught it and he died last Spring
And now Mama doesn't seem to wanna do much of anything
And me, I spend a lot of time pickin' flowers up on Choctaw Ridge
And drop them into the muddy water off the Tallahatchie Bridge