April 5 Run: Start at 61C Cafe in Squirrel Hill for and Easter/Passover run

Starting at the 61C Cafe on Murray in Squirrel Hill - our newest coffee location, and the challenge is, in honor of both holidays, to cover as many churches and synagogues as we can in an hour.  I looked at Google Maps and it's kind of like a connect-the-dots puzzle.  If you do it you get an outline of a squirrel!

First, I promised to go back 2 weeks to our return to Robert E. Williams Memorial Park, aka Herron Hill Park which takes us to the top of the Hill and around the reservoir which gets an amazing view of the city in all directions.  Checking the blog, this is the 6th time we've been there - starting in 2008.  It seemed more rundown than in previous years but at least we weren't chased by a large ferocious dog (2010.) We circled back to Laurie's house for coffee, which was delightful in every way, though not least because of the pecan sticky buns.

Last Sunday we really tried to retrace an old route through Greenfield, and did get as far as Big Jim's, but we got off track when we were barred from the crumbling steps next to the church (alas no trespass) and we simply ad-libbed, hitting the Jail Trail, an old stairway off of Bates, and the conjunction of Romeo and Juliet Streets in South Oakland.

2 weeks worth of endorsements:

• Crying Towels - Laurie has one from her grandmother, and Wendy has uncovered related facts including an intriguing connection with Terrible Towels - to be revealed in the next installment!
• In a pinch, croup and any number of ailments can be treated with your dog's prescription for Prednizone
• Lenox, MA, Kripalu yoga retreat, and the Berkshires generally
• The Trapp Family Lodge - where the hills are alive 
• Clem's Barbecue in Blairsville - only an hour away
• Safe biking behavior - especially as the years pile on
• Mark Wahlberg (really)
• Monica Lewinsky's TED talk: The Price of Shame - generated a new look at that whole episode, and also this comment found later by Sarah.