January 4 Run: Later changed to: 5 Points Bakery on Wilkins - also New Year's Day Holiday Run at 7:30 a.m. from Starbucks on Forbes and Shady

Next runs: the default New Year's Day holiday run Thursday at 7:30 a.m. from Starbucks at Forbes and Shady (figuring that other places will be closed?) - and the Sunday run from our new go-to coffee location, the 61C Cafe on Murray. [Later changed to 5 Points Bakery on Wilkins.]  I have no idea where it will go, just where it will go to.

Last Sunday, as I set off in the midst of a steady rain, I thought - oh, boy, I really shouldn't have said that about never raining on the run - was just tempting fate - and now I have to go because I offered to lead - yech.  But, lo and behold:  five minutes after we started, the skies cleared, and we were hardly damp.  So again, ye of little faith!  Although it's true many of us are out of town. We had a small but as always loquacious group, traversed Larimer, Point Breeze, Shadyside, East Liberty, Friendship, and Garfield, and again got to witness the Moravian stars shining through the gloom at the corner of Hastings and Selwyn. 

Perhaps the number of endorsements is inversely correlated to the number of endorsers? Probably it's just that I can only pick up one conversation at a time -

• Serial - gotta listen
• This American Life and NPR apps: you never have to be without them
• Things that you think you are making happen, but you are probably wrong:  elevator and street crossing buttons
• What do to about the environmental cost of flying somewhere - carbon offsetting?
• Get your personal budgeting act together
• Children's books! Even the forgotten ones 
• Toys:  wobbles, toy drones (oy - actually this was endorsed at Shadyside Variety, itself an endorsement)

December 28 Run: Bakery Square Coffee Tree - and Christmas Day Holiday Run: 7:30 am Commonplace Coffee on Forbes

Don't forget the holiday run on Christmas Day - 7:30 a.m. from Commonplace Coffee on Forbes (but we'll have coffee afterwards at Starbucks, since they'll be the only place open.)
And on Sunday, I'll call this one, since we didn't make a plan:  meet at the Bakery Square Coffee Tree, (map) for a 5-neighborhood run with Moravian stars. 
And, a reminder for all you early-birds who love the thrill of racing down a hill in pitch darkness, the 5:45 a.m. Wednesday and Friday runs from Forbes and Shady are still happening! 

On Sunday, our traditional holiday dahntahn event had an excellent turnout and good weather, and we ranged over the usual sights.  I have to say that the run itself seemed somewhat uninspired this year - maybe because all the downtown construction has the place looking disheveled, or because the Macy's windows were pathetic, the new Mellon Square was fenced off, the sound sculpture was NOT fixed, Market Square looks like a Shantytown, and the City menorah was STILL crappy.  We took a quick tour inside Macy's, which was OPEN, and which may have depressed everybody. OK, let's suppress the grinch: there were bright spots.  The crazy Steeler-paraphernalia vendors were ready to go at 7 a.m., the carols wafting out of the subway stop were sweet, and the quick illegal entry into the almost-done hip new Kimpton Hotel was kind of fun.  And of course the always beautiful dawn views over the river.
And, there were many endorsements!

• Yummy oatmeal cookies (Joy of Cooking recipe) brought by Carrie
• Sharpsburg eateries:  the Gran Canal Caffe for dinner and the Cafe on Main for breakfast.
• Mah-jongg Meetup at Panera in Bakery Square (but no beginner's classes yet...)
• Dreadnought Wines wine-tasting - we are now planning a RG event on February 6 - stay tuned
• "Add your own recipes" feature on Epicurious - they will be there forever
• Undercover Boss starring Bill Peduto - was Sunday night - hope you saw it!  Though it was pretty cheesy.  Oh dear, grinch is returning...

December 21 Run: Annual downtown holiday run, starting at PPG Place Skating Rink

Sorry guys - it's Hanukah!  And pre-Christmas!  Crazy-time!  So this is a little late.

Next Sunday's run is the long-awaited Annual Downtown Holiday Run - starting at the PPG Place Skating Rink (map) at which we will tour dahntahn's glorious festive decorations and hope against hope that those crappy PVC-pipe menorahs have been upgraded to something decent.  Also that the captivating sound sculpture on Strawberry Way is operational.  Coffee most likely at the Market Square Starbucks.

Last week was further proof that, despite all appearances, it never rains on the run - o ye of little faith!  And just to symbolize the faith that we did have, it was highlighted by the largest inflatable Mary possibly ever seen.
Cheryl led our trusting group on a magnificent art-and-architecture-studded run through the Mexican War Streets, California-Kirkbride (I think), Manchester, and Allegheny West.  Too many adorable and fascinating things, and views,  to catalog here - you'll just have to come along the next time.  Except I will mention RandyLand, which gave us the chance for only a slight trespass as we climbed up to peer through the gates - below.  Relaxing coffee but the holidays have me too frazzled for endorsements - will be more relaxed by Sunday, so remember to bring some.

December 14 Run: Mexican War Streets starting at Crazy Mocha on the North Side

This coming Sunday, Cheryl has graciously offered to take us around her new neighborhood - the North Side Mexican War Streets and maybe a bit of Manchester, and we'll meet at the Crazy Mocha on 2 E. North Street (map.)

Last Sunday on the strip our run started under the flight of hundreds of crows across the early dawn sky, and ended with the sight of a giant transparent moon setting by the river.  We ran down Penn Ave., crossed the 31st. St. Bridge (reportedly the longest bridge... somewhere?), visited the homes of random Steelers on Herr's Island, followed Laurie through our customary trespass to get on the trail back to the 9th Street Bridge and a straight shot (tip for future runs: top notch restroom at the Hampton Inn on Smallman) to the promised La Prima, amazingly busy at 8 a.m. on Sunday, as we squeezed in around a stand-up table, helping ourselves to just-baked almond meles.  This produced many endorsements:

• Kukicha Tea, only available at the East End Food Coop, provides more calcium than just about anything
• S&D Polish Deli for all things Polish, including fabulous pirogies and pierogi-making classes
• Dreadnought Wines has a Casual Friday night wine tasting event that sounds delightful - suggestion was made for RG to attend en masse - how about the 19th??
• Movies:  Interstellar (the future) - Moonstruck (the past, including Cher!)
• Brass Quintet concert at Phipps
• Nationality Rooms annual holiday event - the afternoon after the run - belly dancing, African drumming, guys in Lederhosen, bagpipes, samosas, strudel, and a once-a year tour of a hidden secret room based on the House of the Seven Gables - don't miss it next year -

Dec. 7 Run: 21st and Liberty for a Strip Run

Next up:  meet at the parking lot at 21st and Liberty in the Strip District.  We'll try to weave the themes of Pearl Harbor Day and Pierogies into this run.  Maybe things that start with P, which includes Pastry, of course, at La Prima!  For the hardiest among us, there will be a run to the run, starting at Wendy's house at Wilkins and Beechwood, at 6:15, I think - please send a correction if needed.  (RTTR times recorded in 2007 say 1 hour from Wendy's house to the Downtown Hilton.)

For the Thanksgiving holiday week we had two runs, the first to take the edge off the day beforehand, and the second to recover and burn off some of that butter afterwards.  I don't know about you, but several pounds of butter that had been in the fridge on Wednesday were gone by the time we sat down at the table.  On Thanksgiving, Virginia took us up and down 6.5 cleansing miles around Squirrel Hill, and on Sunday it was the bird run of RG lore, now getting its name from a trendy backyard chicken coop spotted off Beechwood.

Endorsed:  more trends, going local (are we turning into Portland?)

• CocoBella Naturals 
• The Framesmith on Murray - ask for the Wendy Bennett discount!
• Don't miss the Handmade Arcade this Saturday at the convention center
• Center for the Arts Giftshop - see adorable pierogi ornament:
• New local bookstores rising from the Barnes & Nobles ashes
• The Burgh's own Michael Keaton in Birdman, and soon-to-be visiting scholar at CMU

Preview: Dec. 14 run is a tour of the Mexican War Streets and Manchester, starting at Crazy Mocha (also local) on 2 E. North St., led by our newest Northside resident, Cheryl.  Then, on Dec. 21, the annual Christmas and Hanukah Holiday run downtown, more details to follow.