July 10 Run: Downtown starting at the PPG fountain (aka Tomb of the Unknown Bowler)

Next Sunday we'll meet at PPG Place downtown at the usual starting time of 7 (plus 5 minutes) - parking can usually be found on 4th Ave.  If there is anything you want to check out downtown, hold that thought and we'll put it on the route. Like the new installation on Strawberry Way for instance.  Or some Furries still hanging around from last week's convention.

The holiday weekend as usual provided for double dipping, through perfect weather on both Sunday and Monday from the old 61C.  (It's actually not that old, at least for Pittsburgh.)  First run went straight down Murray into Greenfield, where Wendy obliged with the correct pronunciation of B'nai Emunah, and we discovered a new Asian massage place, and then backtracked on Beechwood. Second run headed through Schenley Park and then took a winding route through the CMU campus, where we found a terrace with a great view behind the Potato Chip (aka Scaife Hall) and after finding an open door, did some dubious traipsing around inside, down corridors and through tunnels.

Coffee outdoors at 61C was a treat both days, with just a few endorsements:

• Masters Hardware - just like the olden days - in Swissvale on Noble St.
• The reincarnation of Mr. Rogers (we always knew he had Buddhist tendencies) in Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, and those songs that make us cry
• Imagining alternative futures - mainly the one where Al Gore becomes president - but also
• 11/22/63 by Stephen King (evidently unputdownable)
• The Man in the High Castle (book by Philip Dick and also Amazon Prime series)
• The Plot Against America by Philip Roth
• The Frangipane Tart (via PtB) and also the Gin & Lemon Tart (could we get that one too?)
• Almond Macaroons (via me) adapted from my brief sojourn in Enrico's bakery