June 28 Run: Espresso a Mano cafe on Butler Street for another Open Streets celebration

Next up:  Aimee reminded us that Open Streets is happening again next week, so we'll try it this time from the other direction.  We'll start and end at the Espresso a Mano cafe in Lawrenceville, 3623 Butler St., go up through Allegheny Cemetery, and come back via Penn Ave.

We had a nice classic run on Sunday, to Schenley Park and back to the 61C, fine weather, with the surprise return of the maverick trio of Tom, Jonathan and Paula, who assured us that the 5:45 a.m. Wed./Fri. run from Forbes and Murray is still on!  There was a time when this practice appeared to me basically insane, and then there was a time when I (resistance is futile) joined up for a while, and now I'm sort of going back to the original viewpoint, but mainly with awe.

Endorsements:
Education:  The Pittsburgh Public Schools! Yes! Many of us - with our children - had and are having really good experiences, and we spent some time during the run and after lamenting all the unfair negative stories that are discouraging young parents from signing on.  More evidence: read the great Op-Ed piece in the PG by a student at the Obama School from that Sunday.

Entertainment:  More movies shot in the Burgh - where else?  Southpaw with Jake Gyllenhall - Love the Coopers with Diane Keaton - Concussion with Will Smith

Food:  Rick Easton's Bread & Salt bakery in Bloomfield - now in the New York Times!  Also the macarons from Jean-Marc Chatellier's bakery in Millvale, AND the handmade raviolis from the Groceria Italiana,  also in Bloomfield.

More insane physical activity engaged in by our members:  Rachel Carson 34-mile sunrise to sunset hike, called "brutal" even in the promo.  And the Ragnar Appalachian Trail Relay, "15 miles of Appalachian badassery" done entirely in the dark.  And finally, North Park Paddle Yoga!  Awesome.