Jan. 5 Run: Tazza D'oro on Highland Ave., whither we don't know---and don't forget: New Year's Day run, from Starbucks on Forbes, 7:30 a.m.

First runs of 2014!  Jan. 1, a holiday run from Starbucks on Forbes & Shady at 7:30, then Jan. 5,  starting in Highland Park at Tazza D'oro at 7 of course - any inspirational routes or themes will be entertained.

Last week is all a blur - I don't know about you, but my brain is not computing these on-again, off-again holidays - what day is it again?  But we did have a perfectly wintry Christmas run all through Smithfield and Homewood cemeteries where Wendy and David (through the group mind-meld) somehow knew where to find us.  Then on Sunday, dripping and dreary as it was, a trio of us (Lainy ran up in time for coffee) splashed through Oakland's dark ramshackle streets, making our detour into the soaring bright holiday-festooned Cathedral of Learning almost a religious experience.

The whole thing felt quite deliciously Dickensian (PtB may have something to say about that) bringing us to our endorsements:

• (This is mine.) The Royal Shakespeare Company's 8-hour theater production of Dickens' Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby - truly one of the great stage experiences of all time - filmed at the Old Vic to be telecast here in 1983 - is on YouTube.  Broken up in to 8 episodes, but all the same, completely divine.  And you can see it on your TV screen using Roku or AppleTV.  What a world we live in.
• (This is Lainy's.) The Paradise - Victorian TV drama - sounds like the perfect chaser.

Dec. 29 Run: Peet's Coffee on 3619 Forbes Ave. in Oakland and don't forget Xmas holiday run: 7:30 a.m. Commonplace

Next up:  First, Xmas run tomorrow 7:30 a.m. at our default spot, Commonplace Coffee in Squirrel Hill.  And on Sunday:  Oakland area run starting at Peet's Coffee, 3619 Forbes in Oakland, off of Atwood.

Glad tidings!  As a very special treat for the season, the report on last week comes courtesy of Lainy, our bard in residence: 

T’was the run before Christmas and all through the town

The runners were waking to rain coming down

With temperatures rising alongside the sun

The rainfall was heavy and dampened the fun

The plan was a flat one, on Walnut to meet

Outside of the Coffee Tree… patter of feet

First Sarah and Lainy, then Sandy and Yi 

But soon it was clear they were all there would be.

No Wendy or Paulas, no Karen nor Roye,

Just FOUR East End Runners, all ready for joy.

They loitered, they waited, for hopes there’d be more

By 10 after seven, they wondered “what for?”

On Walnut they headed toward mansions on Fifth,

To gaze at a manor all wrapped like a gift!

Then down Panther Hollow, more modest abodes

And up a steep staircase to Oakland’s back roads.

Now Tom should not read this, of this I must WARN

For then…a spontaneous route change was born

See, Sandy, it turns out, had yet to discover

The most beloved Shrine of the Sweet Blessed Mother.

So onward the foursome did head in a line

To take in the Queen of the Parkway Shrine

As always, a treat full of awe and some wonder

The sky remained grey with some rain, but no thunder.

Now back into Oakland and towards the Cathedral

(And now comes the trespass that wasn’t quite legal)

Though fire alarms flashed and speakers spewed warnings,

We’re used to the Cathedral being open most mornings

Now, back at the Coffee Tree others arrived

And into the ritual chatter we dived

We spoke of good movies, and holiday treats

And next week the run starts in Oakland at PEET’s!

In keeping with Christmas Day rituals and rites

We’ll meet at the Starbucks, in jackets and tights

Not ‘til 7:30 (you get to sleep in)

Then promptly the Christmas Day Run will begin.

But meanwhile we hope that the week will bring fun,

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good RUN!

Dec. 22 Run: Shadyside run starting at Coffee Tree on Walnut St.

Next run by popular demand will stay away from hills (not easy) by running through Shadyside - starting at the Coffee Tree on Walnut St. - visiting shop windows and upscale holiday decorations, especially the Giant Bow on the Mansion on Fifth.  

Our last run was quite a story - in fact many of them - told to us with panache by Bellman and Jazzman Par Excellence, Darryl Cann, who not only knows everything that's happened in the Omni William Penn Hotel during its long, celebrity-filled history, but has riveting tales to tell about them, and in fact is a local celeb himself.  Of course Lainy recruited him for The Moth - where he would undoubtedly carry the day.  Highlight:  fabulous outdoor jazz serenade - pictured.  

That all took place inside and out of the glorious hotel lobby - all gold and glitter for the holidays - which was the start and end of our run (well, with a number of stops) visiting many Christmas trees - giant (City-County Building), historical (corner of the old Horne's, now Highmark), and really weird (The Fairmont)  - and of course the magnificent life-size creche, where we briefly considered posing on the steps, but thought that we'd better not add sacrilege to trespass - and many cute shop windows - and, miracle of miracles, the Sound Sculpture on Strawberry Way, which is making sounds again!  For a while we melded with the Fleet Feet Runners, who once again showed up in our route - are they reading our blog?

Coffee of course in that sumptuous lobby - with the knowledge (learned earlier) that on one of the upper floors, the entire Steelers team was probably still asleep:  Troy was in the house!  What a morning.  Maybe next Sunday we will actually do some running.

Endorsements:

• Darryl Cann, of course, who also hosts and plays jazz at events: canndarryl@yahoo.com
• New running shoe store:  Up 'N Running, out by Rte. 8
• The Speakeasy - reopened after decades hiding out in the Wm. Penn basement
• Etsy and Ravelry - who knew there were so many creative people out there?
• AND - one more chance!  Max is having another jewelry and craft sale by local artisans (and herself) at her home at 1411 Severn St., Squirrel Hill this FRIDAY DECEMBER 20TH 4-8pm.

Dec. 15 Run: Omni William Penn entrance on Wm. Penn Place for annual Dahntahn holiday run

Ho ho ho! Time for the annual downtown holiday run to visit the festive decorations, and since I just had an inspiration for the most elegant coffee venue ever - the Starbucks adjoining the Omni William Penn lobby - not to mention the most opulent public bathroom - let's meet at the entrance on Wm. Penn Place.  There should be plenty of on street parking thereabouts.  Unfortunately after yesterday the celebratory black & gold will be minimal :-( but as always there will be much to gaze at: at least 8 trees, and maybe since Hanukah is over we will be spared those truly tacky menorahs (get it together, Chabad!)

On Sunday, after peering into an icy Frick Park and thinking better of it, our cohort of 17 (!) headed out to the streets - first stop: the adorable lighted star decorations around the house at Hastings and Selwyn, where they soon went dark probably as a result of our raucousness. We promise not to do it again, nice artistic people!  Later: the dawn view of more twinkling city lights from the heights of the Chatham campus - luckily nobody there to wake up.

Back at Commonplace, we endorsed:

• Wendy's hair
• Jan's dog
• The Moth - this Tuesday night at 8!
• JFGI (this acronym contains explicit language)
• A trip to Chicago
• A trip to Marblehead
• Mysteries later to be revealed by group members
• The West Wing
• Apple TV
• adorable baby Greta - now on her feet!  Soon to be running!
• return of the Buffs - do you know of any other headgear referred to as "endless fun"? Our very own version coming soon...

How do I remember all this?

Dec. 8 Run: Frick Park entrance at Reynolds and S. Homewood

On Sunday, Karen has offered to lead through the late fall scenery of Frick Park at dawn - grey, melancholy, quiet - until we get there in our dayglo shoes and start talking.  Meet at the stone entrance next to the rotary at Reynolds and S. Homewood.

Our last run took us through the concrete jungle of Waterfront parking lots and railroad tracks, until we finally reached the bike trail site of Pittsburgh famous eagles' nest.  No eagles spotted, but Lainy did scope out an exit from the Glenwood Bridge which we can use another day.  We are here (photo by Pam) taking note of our quick sojourn in the neighborhood of Hays, and have at least a hopeful intention to record all of them, like the artist Virginia told us about.  Ummm, looking at that list, this may require several generations.  But it's good to have a goal.

Enjoyed a cozy coffee hour tucked into a corner of the Waterfront Starbucks, where we pondered how everything old is new again (i.e cloth diapers, yoga) and endorsed:

• The Barnes Foundation in Phila.
• Women taking a break from family on a solo vacation (like they reportedly do regularly in Norway?)
• Norway
• Free online Harvard course on Science & Cooking (who wants to do this together?)