Sept. 1 Run and Labor Day Runs: Commonplace Coffee on Forbes

We'll be back at Commonplace next weekend for both Sunday (7:00 a.m.) and Monday special holiday (7:30 a.m.) runs - returning to the comfort zone.  Someone will think of a creative destination: Labor Day theme, anyone?  Maybe a tour of RG workplaces? Magee Hospital?

Speaking of RG, Lainy confirmed that this fall we will in fact celebrate 20 years of covering ground and waking up anyone on the route with windows open in the early hours.  Plans are underway - though perhaps the anniversary trip to Paris may not be realistic.  Maybe Paris, Ohio.  A quick report on last week, mainly because I was AWOL and also discovered that the napkin recording technique has a fatal flaw when spilling occurs, so suffice it to say that with luck Virginia appeared to lead us through the quirky charm of parts of Wilkinsburg/Regent Square and then through large leafy swaths of Frick Park and back.  Came back wondering about that sign on a house close to Biddle's Escape: freeingthegoddess.net - and found that the quirky charm is happening inside as well as out.

Today we were back on the strip, flanked by Pedal Pittsburgh bicyclists around every corner, proving once again that the Burgh puts Portland in the shade. Which was proved again by the magnificent multi-colored spectacle of Knit The Bridge, which we crossed twice.  Synchronicity also happened twice, when we looked over the rail and shouted to Anne Jane in her shell on the river, and when we looked up from our cappuccinos to see Cheryl come riding up on her bike.  We thank Enrico's (and Teri) for being there with warm chocolate croissants, relieving our great sadness at the sight of a dark deserted bakery where those succulent peach meles Karen told us about were made. Sic transit gloria pastry.

August 18 Run: Biddle's Escape, on Biddle and S. Trenton, Regent Square area

Next week's run we'll return to an idea from 2 weeks ago, when we saw how delightful the outdoor space is at Biddle's Escape cafe (map.)  So let's start and end there, and in between explore Regent Square, Edgewood, Swissvale - hopefully someone will have an idea of exactly how to do that.  If not, we'll figure it out.

Sad news is that even after we ran our magic circle around PNC Park, the Bucs lost their 3rd in a row to the Colorado Rockies, so maybe we should hold off doing that again.  Once more we saw the Fleet Feet running group starting rather close to our run, which led us to suspect they are checking our blog for ideas. Their calendar for next week says TBA - 'nuff said.  Saw along the way:  two caged (sadly) birds of prey, old and new Allegheny Center libraries, fabulous statue of George Washington (had a super-hip ponytail), adorable streets (Virgin Way and Avery), 2 little bridges over a pond, 2 big bridges over the river, one of which was being festooned with thousands of bright knitted panels for the biggest yarn bombing ever. 

One more try - let's get tickets for a Moth Night Out - August 22: On Point - Stories of Balancing Acts .  Lainy and Sarah have been judges. (And they're back on the run - hurray!)

Love:
Books - What Do You Buy the Children of the Terrorist That Tried to Kill Your Wife?, Movement of Stars, Caleb's Crossing 
Movies - Way Way Back, Identity Thief
TV - Orange is the New Black, Breaking Bad finale, Downton Abbey anticipation
Cookbook - Jerusalem
Crop - Wendy's garlic
Idea - residencyinmotherhood.com 

Hate:
Leafblower wielded incessantly by a pathetic individual clearly insecure about his manhood making a godawful racket in Market Square on SUNDAY MORNING WHEN THERE WERE NO LEAVES IN SIGHT.  

Aug. 11 Run: PPG Place downtown for a Celebrate the Bucs run

We'll start once more at PPG Place, aka Tomb of the Unknown Bowler, but head north this time to pay homage to PNC Park, home of the winning Pittsburgh Pirates, the current best team in baseball! This is a historic event! Hopefully our attentions won't jinx it.  And then, we'll go even further north to take a tour of Allegheny Commons:  here's the idea.  

Surprise from today uncovered:  all kinds of things at Phipps!  In a trek that spanned the elegance of 19th century design and the super coolness of 21st century environmental knowhow, Teri's plan toured water lily ponds, outdoor garden paths, and way around back, the spanking new uber-green Center for Sustainable Landscapes. This building is planned to be completely off the grid - capturing its own water and making its own power.  From its green (and purple and pink and yellow) roof, we got yet another fabulous view of our fair city.

Back at Commonplace, romance and shopping ruled, with talk of how young people date today (casual), and how their moms buy wedding clothes (shoes are important!)  Also, some of us pretty much levitate out of there because the cappuccino has 4 shots.
Endorsed:  Bondstreet Shoes in Shadyside
Also:  the cappuccino

Go Buccos!!