Feb. 2 Run: 61C cafe, corner of Murray and Bartlett, Squirrel Hill

We're fans of the franchise - after two weeks at the 61B, we're heading back to the 61C cafe on Murray and Bartlett (around the corner from Commonplace) and will probably do a variation of the Bird Run, named for some birds who are no longer there.  In this way we are continuing the cherished Pittsburgh tradition of following "things that are not there anymore."

Bravely, last Sunday Virginia and Michele led the same surprise-filled Regent Square run, but due to the cold and snow, there was another small turnout.  So we'll rerun this run in the spring when there will be less weather discouragement.  The cafe is definitely cozy spot and conducive to long juicy chats.  And this time we noticed the luscious-looking range of baked goods.  Wendy offered us  captivating tales of their son's off-the-charts NY/NJ wedding - which we realized was the last in a series for us, to be followed by a baby series - knitters, start your needles!

Endorsements!
Wild Swans - memoir of 3 generations of Chinese women during the Cultural Revolution
The Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto
An alternative to Spanx (which are dangerous!) - Costco's Tummy-Toning Tanks, which are currently out of stock but Michele will see to it they return soon, along with more hand warmers
AND - send this out to all your friends - the Kosher Love Song from the Bennett/Coulson wedding, lyrics by David, sung by the extremely handsome groom.

Jan. 26 Run: repeat of last week: corner of S. Braddock and Hutchinson in Regent Square

The icy streets, barbarous cold, special events, and who knows what else kept almost everyone away from the run last week, which was so new and clever that we just have to do it again next week so more people can experience it.  So we're meeting in Regent Square at S. Braddock and Hutchinson, and will gather at the new 61B cafe afterwards.

It was just a hardy threesome that made the trek, leaders Virginia and Michele and the intrepid Sarah.  I wimped out myself and made a "run to the coffee" (which has its charms.)  Mum's the word on the run, so it will be a surprise next time.  Ensconced in the cozy new 61B, such is the effervescence of the RG that even the four of us could easily come up with some great endorsements:

• Superior Motors - new community restaurant in Braddock, brainchild of chef Kevin Sousa, to open in 2015, having raised 1/3 million $$ from Kickstarter in 33 days.
• Episode on This American Life about a very special "hold" music, called Opus #1.
• Do NOT miss, if you are not one of the 20+ million people who have listened/watched so far, Pharell Williams' 24 Hours of Happy - so mesmerizing and contagious, you will also dance in the street.

Jan. 19 Run: Regent Square - corner of Braddock Ave. and Hutchinson

Next up:  a Regent Square run,  possibly Edgewood, Swissvale, Frick Park?  Virginia said she would show us something, but I can't remember what so it will be a surprise.  We start at the corner of Braddock and Hutchinson.  New coffee place - 61B in Regent Square!

It's always a little iffy starting off on a run when we don't know where we are going, especially on a day as dreary as this one, but the one on Sunday (with help from Virginia) turned out to be quite perfect - ranging over architecturally captivating territory full of discoveries.  We began with a small gathering on the sidewalk on W. North - right next to another hardy group in front of the Light of Life Mission - then up and down many Mexican War Streets, with their fetching old attached houses looking like a movie set - probably have been several - over to the quainter and grander Allegheny West neighborhood - through the park to quirky Deutschtown - up past Allegheny General to the Fineview Fitness Trail, with another steptrek taking us way above the city, past a hidden mini-labyrinth, and finally to the heartbreakingly named corner of Compromise and Hemlock Sts. and of course the eponymous fine view.

In addition to endorsing the comfy Crazy Mocha cafe where we started out, we liked:
- Optic White toothpaste - really works!
- a tip for drying wet sneakers - stuff them with newspaper
- sneakers? tennies? trainers? running shoes? Keds? Cons?
- more tips from the venerable Hints from Heloise - illustrated by our own David C.
- Sarah's Twitter Tutorial:  we need more but it was a great start
- Breadworks - where we convened after coffee and got an amazing 2-for-1 deal on thrillingly crisp and toothsome fresh-baked walnut raisin loaves
- the fact that we added 2 more neighborhoods to our list: Fineview and California-Kirkbride (am counting the Breadworks side trip.)
- I have to add one more thing - found on the Hints for Heloise website - speaks for itself -

Jan. 12 Run: Mexican War Streets on Northside, starting at Federal and E. North Ave.

Sunday's run starts and ends at the Crazy Mocha coffeehouse on the Northside - a block down from Allegheny General Hospital on the corner of Federal St. and E. North Ave.  There should be parking on the street.  We'll tour the Mexican War Streets, but in our quest to cover all neighborhoods, perhaps we can also sneak into Fineview and California/Kirkbride which may be still untouched.  No plan yet, so if anyone wants to devise one, let us know.  And might I suggest that post-coffee, anyone with a car might want to stop at Breadworks Bakery close by on Brighton Ave. - it opens at 8, and has a giant selection of their famous fabulous breads cheaper than anywhere else.

Two runs to cover last week, New Year's day had a good turnout (perhaps this is an indictment of our partying skills) and the only thing I recall is that we had a surprisingly homey time at Dunkin' Donuts (right.)

Sunday, Karen stepped up and led a delightful Highland Park tour, involving a hidden street with the Hobbit house (left), frozen swimming pools, a stairmaster sequence, a footbridge, and warm scones at Tazza D'oro.  So we have at least double the endorsements:

• Films:
• Run for your life - New York Marathon story
• Veep - Julia Louis Dreyfus one step away from the nuclear button
• Lilyhammer - The Sopranos meet Kristin Lavransdatter
• The Killing - crime drama also related to a Nordic land
• Blackfish - "mesmerizing psychological thriller with a killer whale at its centre" 
• I Sodi restaurant in NYC - found years ago by Teri
• a party card game:  cards against humanity - weirdness with laughing
• the word "bollard" - advancing further in our vocabulary development thanks to PtB
• life in Montana where it's so cold that your ear can snap off (maybe the opposite of endorsed)
• Yiddish - we need more of it in our lives - try the magnetic poetry
• Bear Paw boots - forget those leaky Uggs, these keep you warm

We need those today!  Stay warm everyone -