Dec. 2 Run: meet at North Park Boathouse parking lot

It's been a little over a year since we had a North Park run, so it's time already!  We'll meet at the parking lot for the Boathouse (map) and then have coffee in the Over the Bar restaurant right next door.  It should take about 35 minutes to get there from Squirrel Hill on a Sunday morning.  If anyone wants a ride, Lainy is driving her van from in front of Colfax School on Beechwood Blvd. (another map) - leaving at 6:25 (unlike the run, that doesn't mean 6:30.)

We had a familiarly comfy Squirrel Hill run last week (entitled:  Reverse Bird Run) predictably involving more uphills than down.  They love us so much at 61C that they asked us to make them our "official" cafe!  But what if there's a breakup?  (Which has happened before, talking to you, Commonplace on Forbes.) Too sad! We must simply go where our Mizunos take us.  And our endorsements:

• There was something about a TV mystery series set in West Virginia, but I can't find it so I'm providing this instead:  Television shows set in Pittsburgh: so many!
• Places to get lots of pies:  5 Points Bakery (apple recommended), Allegro Hearth, and Soergel's.  Also many of our kitchens on Thanksgiving - see Virginia's recipe for special pecan pie below!
• Welcome Blanket - the inventor of the Pussy Hat started another craft movement to make blankets to give to refugees and immigrants and to conceptually counter the cursed "Wall": "what if lines of yarn became 3,500,640 yards of blankets to welcome people in?" 
• The amazing book series starting with My Brilliant Friend is now on HBO - brilliant.
• The Annual Chanukah car and bike parade is happening on Tuesday.  
• Movies:  The Green Book, Widows
• Books:  Last Ragged Breath, Little Fires Everywhere, An American Marriage
• All of those and more on Audiobooks, especially using the Libby App free from Carnegie Library. So much use, "my ears got bruised!"
• Save the date for the Annual Downtown Holiday run:  Nov. 16

November 25 Run: Meet at 61C Cafe - also Thanksgiving Holiday Run: Meet at Forbes & Murray at 7:30 -

Getting this out under the wire to remind everyone about the Thanksgiving Holiday Run, meeting at Forbes & Murray at 7:30 a.m.  Then on Sunday, back to the trusty 61C at 7.  Walks and Runs are both happening.  Lots of calories to burn off!

The cold gloom of these days is seeping into everything but we had a pretty cheery time among the 19th century tombstones and 21st century deer and geese in Allegheny Cemetery.  Also the Big Guy, below, offering peace, some of which we then found in the atmospheric Abbey coffeehouse, sinking deep into the upholstery.

Endorsements:

• Finding the turnips for the celery remoulade - not at the Giant Eagle?  Ask one of us, we have them on hand.
• A solution for Too Many Cabbages:  cook 'em 3 ways. 
• Not the Abbey's Pumpkin Scones - they were a "bit stodgy"
• (Which brought up the group love for the British Baking Show - just rerun the first series and all anxiety will melt away.)
• But definitely their Malva Cakes!
• Still seeking the perfect 25th reunion plan - it will be the 30th by the time we find it.  But one thing for sure:  no awards will be given!
• Former VP Spiro Agnew was a creep and a crook, but that  saga is totally engaging and eerily current (witch hunt!) in Rachel Maddow's new podcast, Bag Man.
• Movie:  Bohemian Rhapsody
• Yoga class at the Carnegie Museum - don't need a membership
• Feldenkrais - if you missed the yoga class

Nov. 18 Run: Meet at the Abbey coffeehouse, 4635 Butler St. Lawrenceville

Did we pick a place for Sunday?  No idea, so I'm going for the cozy Abbey Coffeehouse at 4635 Butler St. and a Lawrenceville - or maybe Allegheny Cemetery - run, since the parks are pretty muddy right now.  And outdoors is darkly atmospheric these days, so this sort of fits the Victorian ambience.  Wear your corsets!

Last week we honored Squirrel Hill and the tragedy that took place there, with hopes for moving forward with love, justice, and care for each other, and gratitude for the beautiful solidarity of our Pittsburgh neighbors. When Jewish towns were burnt to the ground in 19th century Russia, nobody said, "Sorry for the pogrom!" The mutual sorrow and kindness that happened here, and around the world, has been so uplifting.

And we contributed another full house at 61C where we took up most of the tables, and probably air in the room, while endorsing:

• Millennials! They are our hope for the future (Baby Boomers having screwed up, it must be admitted) and we forgive them for running up the prices in thrift stores.  
• Speaking of millennials, hurray for Sarah and Kristin for running yet another marathon (the Bobcat) and then showing up to run with us the next day!
• How about those House races that keep flipping?  We now have a member of Congress named Xochitl! 
• The return of Tom (and Kay) and his brilliant and knowledgeable contribution to our discussion of Steelers uniform variations.
• "Librarian Chic" - aren't they all?
• Enix Brewing Company - more great beer in Homestead.
• Not only is the Wednesday weekday run back, so is the Friday!  Squirrel Hill Library corner:  be there at 5:45 am.

November 11 Run: meet at the JCC on Forbes Ave.

We'll meet at the JCC on Forbes (map), and give our love to Squirrel Hill.  There is also a totally optional participation in the "Virtual 5K Run/Walk to Benefit the Pittsburgh Jewish Community Center" which can be done simultaneously. I'm doing it for the t-shirt.

The last two runs have gone by in a flash. Memorable parts were:  finding Elaine and Aimee on the Strip in the dark via the blaze of Elaine's personal headlight, the still-warm almond meles at La Prima, and the technicolor leaves drifting down on us in Schenley Park. And the hugs of course that are helping everyone through this time.  Huge turnout last week, graciously documented by KDKA photographer Kenneth Sims!

Not to mention some endorsements:

• The RG's revitalized weekday run, every Wednesday at 5:45 from the Squirrel Hill Library corner - 5 runners last week! Just show up. Going that early feels kind of otherworldly.
• Taking the train to New York - long but so restful, plus the Horseshoe Curve.  Also to DC.
• Boden Sample Sale coming up Saturday! Convention Center, 10-4. 
• Choolah Indian restaurant - good for parties, great naan. 
• Plans for 25th RG reunion - in the works - brunch or dinner?  Here or there?
• The In Bed By 10 Dance Party - and the upcoming one on the 17th benefits Tree of Life.
• Books:  Unsheltered by Kingsolver, Alternate Sides by Quindlen, Anthony Trollope's 47 novels, Educated, A Memoir by Westover,  Paris by Book by Callahan
• Screen time:  Love, Gilda documentary, Jane the Virgin, Haunting of Hill House, the Jane Fonda movie with Robert Redford.
• If you have any Disney movie VHS tapes, they are worth a lot!
• Blue light - makes you less sad.
• The crows are back.

November 4 Run: Wendy Bennett Trailhead for a Schenley Park Run

I swear that after Saturday, suddenly all the trees, which had been dusty green, started glowing, and took on their fall colors overnight.  We'll surround ourselves with those on Sunday in Schenley Park, starting at the Wendy Bennett Trailhead (map) and absorb all of their healing power.  And of course all of the healing power of the running group then and later. 

No heart at the moment to list all the wonderful endorsements that have piled up, but they will come, I promise, with a better day soon.