March 12 Run: Bloomfield run starting at Crazy Mocha, 4525 Liberty Ave

New exploration going into deep Bloomfield on Sunday, starting and ending at Crazy Mocha at 4525 Liberty Ave. (near Tessaro's.)


Last Sunday was memorable, starting with heading out Butler Street toward the zoo and passing a zone of hipster outlets too numerous to count including one window full of lace, the Home of Gently Worn Bridal Gowns.  Heading up some unknown Pittsburgh stairs as long as the Stairway to Heaven, we came to a "Stairs Closed" sign about 3/4 of the way up.  Naturally we decided to bushwhack the rest and run through a couple of backyards, arriving way way up at the top of Upper Lawrenceville. Verdict: adorable.

Then down down to the aforementioned Abbey on Butler with truly over the top Victorian atmospherics, and a cozy place in front of the fire.  Great coffee!  And a surprise welcome return of Aimee now with 2 beautiful children, and maybe Women's History Month too, led us to new-fangled diapers (superthin, HareKrishna, bamboo), handsfree breast pumps, and when is best to go back to work after childbirth (a Friday.)  Also advice heard in January:  "if you have a urethra and are going to the march..."

We realized that our next run falls exactly on Purim, Jewish festival of hamentaschen, Queen Esther, and origin of the term "the whole megillah."  Though not Magilla Gorilla.  Wendy reminded us of the eternal theme of Jewish festivals:  "They tried to kill us. We survived.  Let's eat!" of which there are several musical versions on Youtube.

Just a few endorsements:

• Andrew Carnegie Free Library in Carnegie with civil war room
• New White Whale bookstore on Liberty Ave. in Bloomfield
• North Park when the frogs are mating (site of run soon!)

Here was the best part:  no mention of T----p the whole time.

                                                                                              Photo credits:  Michele and me.