November 1 Run: 61C Cafe for a Neighborhood Halloween Run- REMEMBER TO CHANGE YOUR CLOCKS!

This Sunday, let's meet at 61C Cafe so that we can run around our 'hood to check out the various Halloween decorations.  And remember to change your clocks to fall back to reflect the end (or is it the beginning?) of Daylight Savings.

This past Sunday, Roye led us on a jaunt through Allegheny Cemetery. While we didn't find the Halloween decorated tombstones, we thought the whole place, being a cemetery, was quite "Halloweeny."  The colors of the trees seemed to be at peak-- so beautiful.  And the crows flying overhead signaled the change of seasons.  I didn't catch any endorsements at coffee because there were just so many conversations happening simultaneously.  Always a delight.

Nov. 8 (the following Sunday), we will be in Braddock for a run led by Michele. Roye already sent the "save the date."  I'll send the details next week.

October 25 Run: Commonplace at Voluto (5467 Penn Ave) for an Allegheny Cemetery Run

Sunday we decided to enjoy some more of the beautiful fall foliage, but this time from Allegheny Cemetery.  We will start and end at Commonplace at Voluto, a few blocks away on Penn Ave.

Last week, Karen led the group through Point Breeze, Homewood Cemetery and Frick Park.  Until Daylight Savings happens next weekend (Nov. 1), it's still quite dark until about 7:30, so the neighborhood streets and community gardens were welcoming until it was light enough to enter the park.

At coffee, numerous conversations were overheard, so I will try to summarize what I caught:

First, the serious stuff:

Chris wants to announce a gun violence forum taking place on Thursday, 10/29, at 6:30pm at 2200 Beechwood Blvd.  Please spread the word.  Any questions or to RSVP, email him at elgrip@gmail.com.

On that same topic, Audrey has crafted a beautifully and succinctly written letter that you can use to write your politicians.  For the letter, contact her at: aekane@gmail.com.  Or, write your own and send along to the following:

Websites for politicians:
http://doyle.house.gov/
http://murphy.house.gov/
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?State=PA

Under "Contact Me" you can fill out an email and write a letter or copy and paste what Audrey has written.

Other info:
http://billmoyers.com/2014/06/13/say-no-to-the-new-normal-five-things-you-can-do-about-gun-violence/

Now, the fun stuff:

Endorsements for food:
Convenient and tasty BBQ beef brisket at Costco snack bar
Almond croissants from Five Points Bakery
Peace Love Donuts (but only the Oakland location)

Endorsements for movies:
Robin Williams tribute
Me and Earl now on demand- HBO and Showtime.

 

October 18 Run: entrance to Frick Park at Reynolds and S. Homewood

The woods are turning ever more beautiful so we are taking advantage with a Frick Park Run, and will meet at the stone gatehouse in Point Breeze, at Reynolds and S. Homewood.  Karen will make sure we don't get lost.  Coffee most likely to follow at 61C Cafe.

Our autumn excursion through Schenley Park last Sunday was a little early in the month to be radiant, but it was still lovely as always.  Actually as a native New Englander, I think its leafy pride is a bit much - the colors there are almost day-glo - it's kind of a juvenile taste.  Here fall is more subtle, like a nice burgundy compared to Kool-Aid.  And, speaking of subtle, it's Stillers season!  

Multiple endorsements of all kinds bubbled up:

• Off the Record - like the Capitol Steps but all about Pittsburgh, courtesy of our amazingly talented news/film/radio/TV workers and supporting the Food Bank - go see it next year!
• adorable town of Cambria, CA - where Judy is headed temporarily - she says come visit!
• the fact that Wendy knit sweaters for her bridesmaids
• Five Points Bakery - can't say it too many times - have you tried the Tahini Cookies?  
• our resident judicial expert says: David Wecht and Hugh McGough.  Also Eat That Read This (also endorsed) additionally supports Christine Donahue and Kevin Dougherty.  And apparently if you select individual names instead of a straight party vote it carries more weight and is known as a "power vote" but maybe I should make sure I have that straight...
• not exactly an endorsement but it's got to be said:  Trader Joe's has gone bonkers over pumpkin.  I think there's pumpkin pizza dough - maybe pumpkin brie - it's nuts.
• the Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante, starting with My Brilliant Friend - PLEASE read them so we can discuss!  1500 pages goes by in a flash!
• And here we got totally psyched about TV series:
• Frankie and Grace
• Orange is the New Black
• The Good Wife
• The Affair
• Veep
• House of Cards
• The Newsroom

Now we're all set for winter.

October 11 Run: Meet at 61C Cafe for a Schenley Park Trail Run

This coming Sunday, let's meet at 61C Cafe for a Schenley Park trail run to see any first signs of leaves changing colors.  (Normally we meet at the Wendy Bennett Trailhead, but we decided to start and end at 61C for coffee drinking purposes:-).

This past Sunday, we enjoyed seeking out and finding as many Sukkahs (er, Sukkot, which is the plural, I believe) as possible on the last day of the holiday.  I believe PtB has the official count.  We even saw a Sukkah created by two of our own East End Runners, and a friendly neighbor of an EE Runner's Sukkah, complete with lights.  One thing I really enjoy about Running Group is that we learn so much from each others' faith traditions.  Keep it coming!

Endorsements from coffee include:

Duo Lingo free app for learning languages (but interactive, so using on the bus might not be recommended).

Sabbatical ideas for places, activities, etc.

Cities, cars that are conducive for short people!  (oh, the strange directions that conversations can take!).

That's all I got.  See you the following week, as I'm headed to West Virginia this weekend for the Apple Butter Festival.

October 4 Run: Meet at 61C Cafe for a neighborhood Sukkot run

This coming Sunday, we will meet at the 61C Cafe, then tour Squirrel Hill for any and every sukkah we can find.

Last Sunday, a smaller group due to the Great Race met up at Bakery Square for an East Liberty restaurant and real estate development tour.  The massive Eastside development (apartments, retail) dominates the area, but we looked beyond, for great new restaurants like Pizza Taglio, and ones that started a while back when East Liberty was first being branded as Eastside, like Paris 66.  We saw large scale housing development and a dilapidated church on the back side of Target, along with small scale redevelopment on the Highland Park side of East Liberty Boulevard.

Coffee endorsements:

Lux Artisan Chocolates, which can be found locally at Mon Aimee in the Strip District, Biddle's Escape, the Chocolate Moose, etc.