June 30 Run: Meet at Market Square downtown - it's Open Streets!

We'll meet at Market Square (map) downtown, at 7 as usual, because...  Open Streets starts at 9 am with Zumba  right in the Square!  But also because downtown is always a treat.  A note about parking: there is no parking on the route, and it's a pain to cross it in a car (only possible at certain points) so be sure to be on the side of Penn Ave. that you want to be.  I think our usual parking spots on Third Ave. will be fine, especially at that hour.

No time for a recap of last week on the North Side, but 3 pictures are worth a thousand words.  I just learned that we were only blocks away from the house where Gertrude 'Stein was born!  Next time...

June 23 Run: North Side run starting at Commonplace Coffee, 1501 Buena Vista St.

Coming up this week:  back to the North Side, at Commonplace Coffee, 1501 Buena Vista St. in the Mexican War Streets.  I personally am hoping to visit the statue of George Washington, the birds at the Aviary, the scenic steps up to Fineview, the corner of Compromise and Hemlock, Randyland, City of Asylum - please add your own favorites and we'll work them in.

Last week we toured around, over and next to the 3 rivers, and, on the basis of good advice, avoided running across the Parkway.  Refreshment was had on the downwind side of the fountain, and also at the new La Prima, located at yet another shiny new hotel near the Convention Center.  Who is staying at all these hotels?  Are there really tourists here?  Apart from the annual Furries Convention, I mean - which by the way is happening July 4.  We may have to plan on returning for that.

Fascinatingly disjointed conversation topics:

• The earthquake in Cleveland - last week?
• Pornographic potholders
• The Casbah Happy Hour, and its new restaurant in Aspinwall, Altavia
• Mullin's Diner in Deutschtown -- on second thought
• The Farmer's Daughter Flower Shop
• Keeping your photos on Amazon Prime
• The artichoke and lemon taco at Tako downtown
• Research a Veteran at the WW2 Museum 
• Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf, which Chris claims is about drug-induced states - I disagree! - feel free to weigh in on Sunday. 
• Tree guys - ask Sharon who she decided on

June 16 Run: Meet at the NEW La Prima on the Strip at the AC Marriott,1100 Smallman Street

On Father's Day this Sunday, we're going to try out the new La Prima (map) where you can actually sit down, though we may have to smuggle in some meles, which apparently they have not transferred.  Parking should be available on Penn Ave. or Smallman around 11th or 12th St. - free on Sunday.  Many directions offer themselves, North Shore, Pt. State Park - runners and walkers choice!

Last week was another opportunity for forest bathing in Frick Park, which just keeps staying gorgeously green.  We then had the best of both cafe worlds: world-class baked yumminess from Madeleine's and plentiful outdoor coffee drinking at Biddle's.  All this would put anyone in a good mood - much needed these days. 
So we endorsed:

• Self-care:  
• Pedicures from Eva Szabo, and Kim's on Highland
• EsSpa in Aspinwall
• Wearing compression socks on plane rides
• Buying discount from Poshmark 
• Carrie Furnace - it's kind of breathtaking close up - if you missed the Quantum production onsite, you can still get there at the Rivers of Steel tours 
• Churchview Farms dinners - apparently fabulous but sold out, yikes! You can get on their mailing list for other things, and next year...
• Documentary starring AOC before the election, and may make you love her and forget all the hype that has followed.
• Pam's advice if you're driving to NYC:  stay in Secaucus!  Free parking, inexpensive hotels, and a 15-minute ride on NJ transit to Port Authority in NY, running 24-7.  ($1.55 each way with senior discount.)

June 9 Run: Meet at Biddle's Cafe, 401 Biddle Ave.

Back to Biddle's Escape this time, with maybe an Edgewood or a Wilkinsburg run: let's be surprised.  And we may end up at Madeleine's down the street for coffee and those astonishing Kouign-amann delicacies, which I just read have been called "the fattiest pastry in all of Europe" by the New York Times.  OK, so no eating the rest of the day, they are worth it.

Sharon took charge last Sunday as we broke new ground in Greenfield, following "the run" (aka Ruska Dolina with quite a history involving the Carpathian mountains.) In search of hidden stairs, we depended on human intelligence in the form of a mysterious man sitting on his porch at 7:30 am, next to a human skull.  See photo below, though you'll have to take my word for it about the skull.  Afterwards, another delightful coffee (next photo), and then on Tuesday, a Happy Hour at the Ace to celebrate birthdays for Wendy and Janet (yet another photo.)  (Is this blog getting too much like the dreaded Facebook?)
Endorsements:

• Babies being born: welcome to Baby Mo!
• Pigeon Bagels - finally, after 25 years, decent bagels return to Squirrel Hill.
• Neck pinching from the back - secret technique for photo ops.
• Pittsburgh Pro Bikes is now Pro Bike + Run, and has running shoes.
• Renaissance City Choir at East Liberty Presbyterian Church - keep checking for next concert.
• Boden Sample Sale is on Saturday at the Convention Center.
• Happy Hour at the Ace Hotel
• The 54C Bus - an amazing route
• Anthony Trollope's 47 novels