Sunday, May 27, 7am: Meet at Penn Ave entrance to Allegheny Cemetery

Sunday, May 27, 7am: Meet at Penn Ave entrance to Allegheny Cemetery

After recovering from royal wedding watching, we had an invigorating walk and run in the always delightful and especially verdant Frick Park. Back at 61C, we discussed elevator condos, humane elimination of groundhogs and endorsed:

Frick Fri night prix fixe dinners year round!
The Good Place Netflix 

PSO 360 intimate seating alternative concerts - who knew?
Voting for the Stephen Foster memorial replacement 
Seatstir comp tix for events

Summer Dancing:

Weekly dancing for free in Schenley plaza beginning May 30!
In bed by ten Frick Aug 17 "for people who can’t stay out until 1:00 a.m. anymore but still want to get down"

Hilarious:

Royal Wedding Video

Bonus Memorial Day run/walk: Monday May 28, 7:30am at 61C

May 20 Run: meet at corner of Shady and Phillips in Squirrel Hill

So we were talking about RG's olden days, with fond reminiscences of the "J" Corner (close to erstwhile homes of Janet and Julie) so I looked it up in the blog and recovered that it was the corner of Phillips and Shady.  So that's where we'll start!  Destination unknown (except coffee probably at 61C.)

Last week, oh ye of little faith, once again the morning downpour immediately stopped at 7 a.m., and luckily there was a trustful group to take advantage.  Runners reached the penitentiary without getting arrested, and walkers headed up to another famous corner, the unforgettably named Compromise and Hemlock in Fineview.  The Starbucks at CCAC was totally comfy - even if that guy from another table of talkers insinuated that we were too loud.  Seriously?! Enthusiasm is a virtue.
What were we enthusing about?

• (It being Mother's Day) Moms: "Umm, how old are my children again?" Also, is it OK when Moms lie?
• What if it has to do with wigs?  Which recalled those salons with the hood dryers (you can still get one.)  Also a wish for a Jetson situation:  you go into a machine and your hair is done!
• Life-changing Buddhist meditation weekend at Omega with Pema Chodron
• Pure joy happening in PNC Park
• On the other hand - why do we like violence in TV entertainment? viz. Game of Thrones. But.... we do: i.e. How to get away with murder, The Americans "right up there with Offspring", The Handmaid's Tale 
• But then again:  Marvelous Mrs. Maizel, Mad Men - back to those hair salons.
• Podcasts:  The Dollop, Ear Hustle, Pod Save America
• Pittsburgh Public Schools - may they hang in there and thrive 
• That Penitentiary - in the news
• Oh, and I just have to bring back this former endorsement that I found searching the blog for the J Corner:  Prancercise, which is priceless, please watch even for a minute (skip the ad)

May 13 Run: Meet at Cafe & Books (Starbucks) 845 Ridge Ave. on N. Side

We're heading to prison on Sunday - well, literally the picturesque and somewhat creepy abandoned Riverside Community Corrections Center along the Three Rivers Heritage Trail.  We'll start out at the Starbucks at CCAC which is located at 845 Ridge Ave. on the North Side (map).  The original plan was to start at the Casino, but I couldn't find either coffee or parking there, and this is a short distance away.  As checked on Google Maps, the run there and back is 4.6 miles, so it should be OK.  (Google says about running 5 miles: "A good time for middle aged runners would be 8:00 minute pace, so 40 minutes is a good time." Google sadly knows everything.)  And for anyone who is walking or doesn't feel like going the whole way, it's on a trail along the river, bordering Manchester which is also interesting, so a tempting route either way.

Last week:  annual wannabe marathoner route to Shadyside - got us some cheers and water when we were only going 4 miles.  Cozy coffee outside under the tent, where we endorsed:

• 2 great and inspiring science teachers at Allderdice:  Sally Martin and Jan Waldeck (Hey there Jan!)
• Cutco knives
• Medical marijuana for dogs
• Making homemade raviolis - moving beyond mittens and mahjong -
• Another idea - do we need a group tattoo?  Are we a gang?
• Shoes:  Rothy's (made from recycled plastic bags!) and Sabatini (cork soles!)
• "Purple is the new black."

May 6 Run: Mellon Park entrance at Beechwood and Fifth for the annual marathon preview run/walk.

We'll meet next week at the Mellon Park entrance at Beechwood and Fifth for the annual marathon preview run/walk.  As always, we'll run a tiny fraction of the marathon route.  Some people still cheer!  Next week stay tuned for an interview with RG's own marathoners.

I was out of town last week, so all I have is this photo Lainy sent in showing considerable hilarity, which I am sorry I missed!  Also, two endorsable events that we usually keep an eye on:

• In Bed By Ten Dance Party on May 10
• Big Boden Sale on Jun 2