April 29 Run: Wendy Bennett Trailhead (see map in message) for a return to Schenley Park

Next week, back to our fave Wendy Bennett Trailhead (in Schenley Park, corner of Overlook Drive and Greenfield Ave - here's a map).  For anyone who's new, we leave at 7 am (well, 7:05 to be exact) and walkers as well as runners are welcome!  It's so totally worth dragging yourself out of bed.

Last week we had the special treat of a tour of Wilkinsburg by Borough Councilman Mike Lefebvre!  Since Mike has been kind enough to lead similar trips some years ago, this time we saw progress being made and heard updates of things in store.  We saw gorgeous houses that were rehabbed with the help of the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Fdn., got news of the historic train station being redone, and are psyched about the Junior League coming back after 11 years to create another show house, this time at the Yingling Mansion.  Afterwards in Wilkinsburg's most unique coffeehouse, other fave Biddle's Escape, we had tons to discuss.  Including:

• more info from:  wilkinsburgpa.gov
• croissants and anything else from Madeleine's bakery down the street from Biddle's (had to be smuggled in)
• looking up your advertising profile on Facebook and getting creeped out
• the Major Taylor biking club
• taking WOW Airlines to Israel and Iceland
• Netflix documentary Wild Wild Country
• new phrase "a whole body eyesore"
• Also this, seen in Biddle's bathroom - anything starring Bitch Thunder, Rumbón de la Calle, and the Colonel Eagleburger Goodtime Band, etc.,  has got to be amazing:

April 22 Run: meet at Biddle's Escape, 401 Biddle Ave., Wilkinsburg for special tour!

On Sunday, we'll meet at Biddle's Escape once again.  Aimee has arranged for us to get a special tour of Wilkinsburg with Borough Councilperson Mike Lefebvre, adding more civic enlightenment to the social, culinary, travel, entertainment and philosophical education that we absorb while running.  Pretty great for Sunday before 8 am!

Last week, Karen had the excellent and prescient idea of taking in the spring blossoming trees before they were blasted by a week of snow and frigid winds. We should not take any metaphorical significance from this however.

Many endorsements from the Coffee Tree (where I'll bet they have reignited the fireplace today.)

• Big Bend National Park - described as a place where "night skies are dark as coal and rivers carve temple-like canyons in ancient limestone" - wow!  Not to be confused with the Big Ben Park dahntahn.
• Dance party at Jergel's in Warrendale
• Pouring extra-virgin olive oil on pasta before the sauce, especially on those little pillows of pasta with pear filling.
• Book:  The Lost Ravioli Recipes of Hoboken
• Airbnb Experiences - now in addition to places to stay - some amazing things to do
• High School Musical season is now happening!  (Hope this is not too late.)
• Sabatini cork-soled shoes?  I couldn't locate them online but evidently they are at Little's

April 15 Run: From Mellon Park parking lot off of Fifth Ave. at Beechwood Blvd.

This time we'll start at the Mellon Park parking lot off of Fifth Ave. at Beechwood Blvd.  I'm calling it since we're postponing the official Wilkinsburg run until next week - and we can go in various directions from there.  I'm partial to the Penn Ave. "let's see what's new this time" run, but will go anywhere.  Coffee can be at  Coffee Tree Roasters (family-owned) in Bakery Square just on the other side of the baseball field. We can reminisce about our February run there with Erika Strassburger and lift our coffee cups to her subsequent victory!

So last week we traversed the promised 3 bridges, which gave us constant glowing water views as you can see in Aimee's photo.  Let it be known that the walkers were basically just as fast as the runners.  Another intelligence-packed coffee hour at Starbucks followed: so let's call this a dossier.  Endorsements below also include previously skipped ones from when I was too lazy to put them in.

• Hunt Stained Glass - seen on W. Carson with weird statues on top, but check out what's inside.
• Happy Hour at the William Penn - why haven't we set a date??
• Cioppino's restaurant: maybe you'll get to hear Gretchen's daughter Margot sing! 
• Stephen Colbert suits up to exercise with RBG (Ruth Bader Ginsburg)
• Maruca little bags - the right size
• Family reunions - but plan them first with the group
• Steep&Cheap shopping site - says it all
• The "tape running in back of your head" of all the things that need to get done at home that apparently only women have
• Steroids - very rarely, but kind of great when you need them
• Movies:  A Quiet Place; Isle of Dogs
• TV Series:  Seven Seconds; One Day at a Time (remade with Cuban-Americans, with an amazing Rita Moreno)
• Books:  Exit West by Mohsin Hamid.  Also, by popular demand, Munmun by Jesse Andrews (full disclosure, I'm his Mom. Come hear his talk at the White Whale bookstore!)

April 8 Run: Meet at Market Square downtown for a 3 Rivers Run

April 8 Run:  Meet in Market Square for a clockwise route across three bridges and three rivers!

There is no better fun than crossing the Fort Pitt Bridge on foot in light Sunday traffic, so we’ll start in that direction. 
This week’s Easter morning run/walk was somewhat sparsely attended, but full of the usual enthusiasm and problem solving. Coffee at the 61C was brief but yielded inside information on the scheduled opening of the 61Z café! We’re pretty sure there is currently no 61Z bus route, so you’ll have to show up for next week’s run to find out where that café will be opening in July!

(thanks to Lainy for posting)