February 8 Run: Blue Slide park at the corner of Beechwood and Nicholson

Next week we'll check out the lay of the land at Blue Slide Park (Beechwood and Nicholson) and the rest of Frick Park from that starting point.  Depending on the ice and/or mud, we can either go through the park or follow Beechwood through it's twists and turns.  We're nothing if not spontaneous.

Last week at Bakery Square we were unexpectedly swamped by our running nemesis, The Fleet Feet franchise, the McDonald's of running groups. Hundreds of them!  Luckily we got off early, and just headed up the newly repaired Penn Ave. past many intriguingly hip storefronts, including the Center for Postnatural History and Los Sabrosos Dance Co. - which seriously made me think we were in Portland.  (Though my idea of Portland is purely imaginary.)  We entered the 19th century dignified calm of Allegheny Cemetery only to turn around and immediately head back to the Coffee Tree before the invading Fleet hordes returned.  In that very comfy space we endorsed:

• Nail polish - Opi brand Rosy Future and Color Zentury
• Cashmere sweaters for $4.50 ($3.75 with the over 55 discount!) at Goodwill
• Goodwill itself, particularly the new location in Lawrenceville and the Murrysville Clearing Center
• Etsy pattern for sewing mittens out of aforesaid cashmere 
• Making a quilt out of the t-shirts of your kids' childhoods
• The Wednesday/Friday fearsomely early morning runs, still going strong!
• Someone named Pauline downtown who repairs sweaters (I think this is it.)