Dec 2 Run: Mellon Park parking lot for Shadyside run

Just woke up and thought:  OMG it’s Friday and haven’t sent out the run notice!

So here it is, barebones:  Mellon Park parking lot (at Fifth and Beechwood) for a Shadyside run.  Coffee place TBD.

Quick last week endorsements:

·         Buffs to keep the cold at bay

·         Theatrical Mormons:   Book of Mormon in Pittsburgh and Angels in America at CMU  (Reminds me:  didn’t we hear about some guy named Romney recently?)

·         Need show tickets in NYC?  TKTS booth Wednesdays after 1

·         Silver Linings Playbook – the movie

Have to run – off to explore the AllClad Clearance sale – will report.

Thanksgiving day (7:30) and Nov. 25 (7:00) Runs: Commonplace Coffee on Forbes

Though there was a rebellious attempt to overthrow the traditional holiday starting time, cooler heads prevailed, and the Thanksgiving run will start at 7:30 a.m. at Commonplace Coffee. 

And there was also some uncertainty about Sunday – for some reason I have written down “Forbes and Murray”??  - let’s just say Commonplace again and if anyone has a better recollection, just write in and we’ll do it.

An extraordinary run this week.  (Thank you, Virginia!)  Architectural charm and quirkiness on display in the Biddle St. neighborhood, then a descent down the yellow-leaf carpet of Frick Park , then the sun rising over white-frosted wetlands, then a few of us got lost, and then we all found each other again at the super-adorable Biddle’s Escape café.  Which has a style that somehow combines the 1860’s, 1960’s and 2060’s, covered with many, many beads and taking orders with an iPad embedded in an old whale’s jawbone.  We set up a u-shaped seminar table and chomped on chocolate croissants and other yummy items.   Pam told a Moth-style story about a heroic trip to Atlanta in which we learned many things, i.e. that the Centers for Disease Control have showers but no towels and that Delta stands for “Doesn’t Ever Leave The Airport.” 

Endorsements:

• Little Free Libraries (we saw one!)
• Nordstrom’s personal shopper service, and particularly for shoes
• Lincoln, the movie
• The Moth “True Stories Told Live” local venue, where we should try to go on Dec. 11
• Charles Dickens Exhibit Reception, with Victorian Christmas carols, Tuesday, November 27th (7:00-8:30pm) in Special Collections, Rm. 363 in Hillman Library, U. of Pitt - free and open to the public.  (A post-script, really, endorsed by me.)
• And, everyone is invited to an open house at Pam’s house on Sunday from 3-6 where you can meet her mom and her daughter’s fiancé and watch the Steelers at the same time!  (If you need Pam’s address, let me know at roye.werner@gmail.com and I’ll send it to you.)

Nov. 18 Run: Biddle's Escape at 401 Biddle Ave. (off of Braddock)

Virginia has discovered an intriguing coffee place, Biddle’s Escape, in the Edgewood/Wilkinsburg area that we should try out, and it’s open at 8 on Sunday.  She’ll lead the run around that neighborhood – a new one!  Directions from Braddock Ave. across from the tennis court parking lot:  “turn onto Biddle, go down 4 blocks and Biddle's Escape is on the left hand corner at Trenton. There is a big deck in the front with funky windows. We'll either run around Wilkinsburg/Edgewood or a section of Frick Park, depending upon the weather.”

A fine trademark run last Sunday through the Schenley Park trails was followed by our usual delightful coffee conversation at Commonplace – something to be said for habitual comforts.  So it makes sense that our endorsements tended toward shopping (Boden Clearance Sale and Old Grove City), baking (using chestnut puree), and donuts (all of them.)

Nov. 11 Run: Wendy Bennett Trailhead in Schenley Park

We’ll be back again in Schenley Park on Veteran’s Day – should probably think of some connection there – maybe red/white/blue running outfits? After yesterday I am truly feeling patriotic.   Coffee at Commonplace for sure this time.

Last week our famous downtown 3Rivers/3Bridges run took place under heavily overcast skies – no rain at least, but a little gloomy.  But we did it in what seemed like record time, probably because the fireplace glow of the  Market Square Starbucks was calling.  Much movie talk, maybe because of the opening of the Three Rivers Film Festival  - or perhaps being close to the most recent appearance of the Batmobile.  Endorsed:  Compliance (at the Festival) and The Other Son (at the Manor.)
And in retail news:

• Elite Runners has a new store in Monroeville (closer!), and they offer a free class in “Good Form Running.”.
• Cheap fashion ahoy!  This weekend marathon includes Dress Designer Days AND the Boden Clearance Sale (Convention Center Sat. 10-4.)