May 26 Run: Downtown starting at the Omni William Penn Hotel main entrance

Special treat next week as we are joined by some of the nation’s most creative and funniest people, members of the National Cartoonist Society who also run!  David (our very own cartoonist) and Wendy are helping to host the group for their first-ever meeting in the Burgh, and so we decided to invite them along on our Sunday run – which will be downtown and will try to expose our fair city’s best sights.  Coffee will be at the Starbucks inside the hotel lobby (a treat in itself.)

At the bottom of this message, Wendy gives us the “absolute correct hotel info” complete with visuals. More info. about the epic gathering of Cartoonists in this must-read article by David from Sunday’s PG!

Last week our Bakery Square took us through:  Larimer, East Liberty, Garfield, Lawrenceville, Bloomfield, Friendship, and Shadyside, in that order.  (By adding just 5 more minutes, we could add Point Breeze, North Point Breeze, and Homewood – I am determined to do that next time - Pam’s idea from a few months ago, by the way.)  We intersected with the City Spree – 5K No Course Event - a highly organized group doing another neighborhood run and clearly cooler than us – but they were leaving at 8 so we didn’t wait.  Important fact revealed by Scientist Jan as we were breathing hard up a seriously vertical slope in Allegheny Cemetery:  Pittsburgh has no hills!  This is an Earth Science truth related to the concept of erosion – Jan will explain.

Another fun coffee at the spacious Coffee Tree (but they shouldn’t wrap their pastries in plastic) with the following endorsements/pans:

·         Everyday Noodle was panned due to chalky taste and percussive noise – but nearby Ramen Bar got thumbs up.  Related information:  Jacquie explained that the difference between northern and southern Chinese cooking is huge – like comparing Russian and French food – we have a lot to learn.

·         Rainbow Nails is great – on Forbes between the library and the old Baskin Robbins (another “thing that isn’t there anymore” proving that Beth – who gave directions - is a true Pittburgher.)

Roye

Back to Wendy:

This week we'll be stuffing goody bags for the attendees of the National Cartoonist Society (NCS) Convention and include info about our planned run next Sunday at 7 am. I'm thinking we should meet at the main entrance to the Omni William Penn Hotel, right across from Mellon Square Park on William Penn Place. There should be free street parking at that time and the Mellon Square Garage  which is inexpensive and open 24/7, can serve as back up.

See you next week!

Wendy