May 29 Run: Meet in Lawrenceville at Barb's Corner Kitchen 4711 Butler Street; May 30 Memorial Day holiday run to meet at 61C Cafe

Next Sunday, let's start and end/eat at Barb's Corner Kitchen at 4711 Butler Street, so we can celebrate the beginning of Open Streets Pittsburgh, where Butler Street and Penn Avenues are closed to vehicular traffic between 9am and 1pm and various events take place (see below). Monday is a holiday (Memorial Day), so we will meet at 61C Cafe for a Runners' Choice run.

Info on Open Streets:

"What better way to celebrate the coming of summer than to close a street from Downtown to Lawrenceville and fill it with family fun? OpenStreetsPGH plans to bring the festivities once again this year and the first one of the summer is on Sunday, May 29. From Market Square to Sixth Street and Penn Avenue then down Penn to Lawrenceville, the roads will completely shut down to motorized vehicles but open up to an array of all different forms of foot/wheel traffic. From walking and yoga, to bicycling and skateboarding, the streets will fill with different activities and events. Be sure to check out the major hubs in Downtown:

Market Square:

• 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. - Zumba and Turbokick boxing
• 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. - Yoga in the Square Kick-Off
• 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Pure Barre Class
• 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. - Hype-Spin Cycling

28th Street and Penn Ave:

• 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. - Morning Yoga with the Yoga Hive
• 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. - Chris Anthony Fitness: Bodyweight Cardio
• 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - YMCA Pittsburgh: Soul Line Dancing
• 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. - Shape Training
• All Day - Find Some Flow: Stonehenge and Kinetic Games

23rd Street and Penn Ave:

• All Day - Burgh MAN!
• All Day - Thick Bikes, Butler Wobble and the Wonders Uni-cycling
• All Day - Neville Roller Drome: Skate!

OpenStreetsPGH will also be host to small businesses along the route that will offer deals to all participants with specials available throughout the entire route.

Join in the fun and help to continue Pittsburgh’s streak as one of America’s most livable cities. Did we mention that it’s all free?"

This past Sunday, we ran Downtown, and discovered lesser-known streets like First Avenue, past the old printing presses at the old Post-Gazette building, then on to the Point.  We reached the Point just 10 minutes before they turned it on, and because we were running along the river, we missed the exact moment that it was turned on.  We will have to catch the magic another time!

Coffee in the lovely lobby of the Omni William Penn included the following topics:

Newton shoes purchased via Runners World include a 90 day guarantee, no matter how many times you have worn them!

Itsdeductibleonline.com, which is essential for tracking your donated items and estimating their value for tax purposes.  

Save the Date: Sunday, June 5th post-run coffee/snacks will be at Elaine's for Wendy's birthday.  Potluck!