March 31 Run: Wendy Bennett Trailhead (map in message) and Schenley Park

There may be some evidence of Spring by Sunday, so we'll search for shoots of green in Schenley Park, starting at the famous Wendy Bennett Trailhead (map.)  Don't forget - we have both runners and walkers!  Coffee probably at 61C afterwards.

Last week we trekked over the blessedly flat streets of Shadyside and East Liberty.  Unaccountably, no photos this time!  Pastries at Coffee Tree at Bakery Square seem to be getting better, so we made the most of that.  I also love the cute little seltzer water they give you with espresso.

Much to recommend though:

• Being early for flights!  Otherwise, nightmares can ensue.
• While on that flight, thinking about where you would disappear, assuming that you want to do that for a short or long time.  (Not related to the witness protection program.)

• A place that will not be mentioned so that one of us will not be found
• The Arizona Biltmore
• Diamondhead in Honolulu
• Anywhere in Vermont
• Yosemite
• A mountain lodge in Banff
• Somewhere on a train in Canada, going from one gorgeous railroad hotel to another
• Or in the US, sleeping on the train, as in this delicious NYT article sent in by Wendy
• Burping and other bodily noises, which seem to be proliferating - maybe this is not an endorsement.  But may we heed the Yiddish proverb: "Burp and be healthy!" (I looked this up and couldn't find it, so it's possible Lainy made it up.)
• Book: The Art of Racing in the Rain, about dogs
• Dogs:  "everything now is some kind of doodle" - especially the Burnedoodle
• Finance: following enthusiastic endorsements for Sharon Reese as a financial planner - who was at the next table!  You can contact her at 412-883-6271.
• Mortality: RG's own Karen will lead a conversation called "Emotionality, Familiality, Terminality" on Thursday, April 4, 7-9 pm at Point Breezeway, 7113 Reynolds St.  With light refreshments and vino, and "will include the effects of unresolved family conflict on end of life experiences." Please come and share - and RSVP to karenengro@hotmail.com 
• History: if you want to know everything about our recently visited Westinghouse Park and excavating the mysterious buried remains of the George Westinghouse estate - here you go!  

March 17 Run: Meet at parking lot at 21st St. and Liberty Ave. for St. Patrick's Day Strip Run

Top o' the mornin' run next Sunday on the Strip, meeting at the parking lot off of Liberty Ave. at 21st. St.  (I won't be there so don't forget to tag someone to send next week's message.)

Last week gave us both the Happy Hour midweek and the 3R/3B (rivers/bridges) Run on Sunday - see pictures at the bottom that tell it all.  We were under those chandeliers a lot!
Endorsements:

• Running lights used by Lainy with awesome customer service.
• Books:  the vast archive of children's books we gratefully have access to here, i.e. the whole Nancy Drew series, Little Women and its sequels, really too many to list.  Also (not for children, and only if you want to stay up all night) All the birds singing. 
• Podcasts: First let it be known that this powerful story originated with the Post-Gazette!  Then appropriated via the Washington Post to PBS Frontline Dispatch, and called "I don't want to shoot you, brother."  Also "Last seen" about the amazing heist, still unsolved, at the Gardner Museum in Boston.  Also Finding Cleo - the appalling tragedy of indigenous children taken from their homes in Canada.  Also (sigh) Offspring has another convert.  
• Movies:  Alan Arkin - esp. in Love the Coopers (lots of Pittsburgh scenes) and Pierce Brosnan in the Thomas Crown Affair.
• Kaufmann's Historic Murals - did we actually talk about these?  I have something in my notes, so I followed it up and just lost the last half hour, but it was interesting! In addition to murals (long gone), they also had pink vinyl chairs in the hair salon, and Laurie got one at their auction.

March 10 Run: Meet in the William Penn lobby downtown for the famous Three Bridges Three Rivers Run! (Also March 5 Happy Hour, same place.)

This favorite run, created by Lainy, has river views from every angle! We start and end downtown at the William Penn hotel lobby, and, as advertised, cross 3 bridges and 3 rivers.  It takes a little more than an hour so be prepared.  Then we sink into the deep cushions of the hotel sofas and kibitz.  It's ideal.

Meanwhile - also in the aforesaid William Penn lobby - Happy Hour will happen tomorrow, Tuesday, March 5, at 5:30 pm.  Come, even if you've never run or walked with the group.  We still miss the lovely person who came to lunch with us once many years ago in the Carnegie Museum cafe: where are you?

Also:  Save the date!
Paula (aka PtB) and Iain are leaving their beloved Pittsburgh to return to their also beloved British Isles so they can straighten out that Brexit thing. Come raise a glass and bid farewell!
Date: Tuesday, March 12, 5:15 - 7:00 pm
Place: The Squirrel Hill Cafe; 5802 Forbes at Murray Ave

So about the latest run/walk, first let's say Three Thumbs Up for EveryDay Cafe!  Totally delightful, with perhaps the best muffin (lemon cranberry but somehow more than that) ever.  Also the best music.  We'll be back.  Much to see on our trek: street art, the elegant Homewood Library, the Busway from above, the Trash Raccoon (again), historic George Westinghouse Park, Black Radish Kitchen, and Chris' ElectroGrip factory that makes mysterious things like Electrostatic Chucks.
Endorsements:

• Food Glorious Food on Bryant Street.  Everyone in the world is cutting out gluten and carbs, and yet the lines out the bakeries are ridiculous.
• TV - nobody can understand the accents, but you can turn on subtitles!  Perhaps a case in point is (here it is again) Offspring (from Australia).  Also Anne with an E (Canada.)
• LARC - Long-acting reversible contraception - I was wondering how we made that transition but then it became clear:  Offspring! (Not really.)
• How to stop sitting still: standing desks. (But then the high chairs that you have to get to sit at them.) They also work well for fidgety school kids.  Also, sitting on a giant ball.  Which can also be used when you are in labor.  If you're not in labor, you can dance around while sitting on them.  However, if you do that, they have been known to explode.
• Spiritual Midwifery, and The Farm in Kentucky where it was, ahem, born. 
• Boots from La Canadienne and hiking shoes from Keen.  They are from Costa-Plenty, as my husband likes to say, but you can also type whatever into Ebay and find a bargain.  But may I add, I was just at Little's (also often endorsed) where terrific boots are on incredible sale RIGHT NOW.
• Fun and uplifting: volunteering at "Project Prom" which provides free prom gowns, shoes and accessories to eligible teens, and happens at Thriftique - Wendy recommends highly!  It's coming up soon - if you can sew, bring your machine, but plenty to do if you can't.