April 30 Run: Blue Slide Park, Beechwood Blvd. at Nicholson St.

We'll meet at the entrance to Blue Slide Park, where my teenage daughter was once arrested for setting a bush on fire (it was someone else but god knows what she was doing) - and locus of undoubtedly many interesting tales about our children.

Last week we ran through the early morning light and pastel colors of Frick Park in April. Chris asked why we have to run this early. That's the reason! It was fairly glorious, and then we headed back to the 61C to cvetch, endorse, and otherwise commune. It was one of those standard Sunday runs that just had it all.

Here they are:
Nail polish - the kind that changes color.  Available at Kim Nails on S. Highland.  We couldn't agree on gel, or no gel.  But make sure the manicurist remembers her glasses.
Ordering online - if you put something in your "cart" but don't buy it, sometimes you'll get a discount offer later on.  This happened twice!
Events at Alphabet City (aka City of Asylum) - musical and literary, so much happening.
Really special underpants, period. If you want to find out more: Thinx.
Book:  Norwegian by Night - called "Octogenarian Chic", but sounds adorable.
Movie:  Harmonia - the Abraham-Sarah-Hagar story taking place in the Israeli Philharmonic
Nursery:  Mctighe's Garden Center in Glenshaw
Weird place:  Trundle Manor, "the most bizarre private collection on public display", i.e. a cat uterus, enough said.
The fact that Jagoff has a Wikipedia entry.  More than you ever wanted to know.

April 16 Run: 61C Cafe Squirrel Hill

Easter Sunday we'll (actually you'll, since I won't be there - so remember to sign up someone for the message) start and end at 61C, and the theme will be, appropriately, "places of worship." There are surely lots of them in the neighborhood!  Wear your Easter bonnet.

Last Sunday we made an East Liberty-Garfield-Friendship circuit, which was way more direct than our usual meanderings.  Also shorter, so more time to schmooze at the Ace - where we grabbed the best seating in our sweaty exercise clothes.  Through truth to tell, the hotel guests didn't look much better.  Lots of runners, lots of blab, lots of fun, lots of endorsements:

• Alphabet City on the North Side, home to the City of Asylum, Casellula, and the new bookstore.
• Gearfest - where Thriftique meets REI - consignment for outdoor gear, and beer too!  April 23 right there at the Ace
• The Fiber Arts Guild of Pittsburgh - but how's their cashmere?
• Hygge - we heard it was hip
• Free Ride - bike collective
• Seriously, the sanctuary inside of the East Liberty Presyterian Church across the street is magnificent - if it were in Europe it would be full of tourists.  Go see it!

(Thanks to Teri for photo!)

April 9 Run: Meet at Ace Hotel in East Liberty

Next Sunday we'll meet at the Ace Hotel in East Liberty - which ups our hipster quotient considerably.  And for those of us that think that has to do with hips, maybe it does.

Last Sunday's downtown run was awesome. Not only was the weather perfect, but we crossed 2 bridges, saluted PNC Park,  got terrific river views up and down the Ohio, AND we made our way into the seriously fenced-in Bicycle Heaven compound, where we were given a tour and a shortcut by our new friend, the kind-hearted night watchman (I'm guessing since he was there at 7:30 a.m.) He remotely opened the giant warehouse gates for us as we shouted our thanks into the security camera.
Many endorsements, and photos!

• local cartoonist Ed Piskor at the Toonseum - Free Opening Night Party for Hermetically Sealed will be held at The ToonSeum, 945 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15222, on Saturday night, April 8th from 7 to 10 pm. 
• Hillwood Estate Museum in DC - go with the docent tour if you can.
• Ways to laugh to counteract the awfulness:
• Trevor Noah in general, and particularly this parody of the now famous video of the dad trying to do a BBC interview with his little kids crashing in on it.  This one is pretty good too.  Also Late Night with Stephen Colbert, Samantha Bee, Bill Maher, Seth Meyers, etc. Not to mention the true meaning of Executive Orders (my favorite: "Pickel".) Thank you, comedy!
• If your kitchen sink disposal breaks, try inserting a broom handle.  Also, if you lose something, turn over a glass. Bubbameisters work!