March 15 Run: meeting at the new cafe at Five Points Artisan Bakeshop, 6520 Wilkins Ave.

Yet another coffee locale to start from:  the new cafe at Five Points at 6520 Wilkins Ave. in Squirrel Hill, with the delectable pastries we know and love, plus coffee from Espresso a Mano.  There are so many of these now we could go on forever trying them out.

On Sunday we moseyed around industrial and commercial Larimer and East Liberty, circumnavigating that enormous development that we used to gawk at when it was a giant hole in the earth.  Things that aren't there any more.  Or, are there now but weren't.  Which is also true of the megadose of hipster-mania in the KLVN coffee emporium, living up to its motto: "TURNING ON AND PUTTING OUT THE CLEANLINESS OF CAFFEINATED STOKE AND POWERFUL CRYSTAL VIBES." Whoa. The barista made my espresso twice because he wasn't quite satisfied with it the first time.  You've never held coffee cups like these, and the music made me feel fairly ancient, not to mention slightly deaf.  You've gotta try it.


Totally appropriate to the ambience were these inspirational fired clay plaques discovered in Teri's basement!  (They may ultimately be found at the Center for Creative Reuse.)  We endorse all those words, as well as:

• The Fred Rogers Center at St. Vincent College
• Robotic dogs and cats - when we get old, we may not know the difference.  But, there are advantages!
• A"corn box" for your arm in PT (warm floating shredded corn cobs) feels terrific
• Watch:  Cheer on Netflix or Dixie Chicks on Amazon (upbeat), Trials of Gabriel Fernandez on Netflix (NOT upbeat)
• Listen:  Michael Pollan audiobook "Caffeine"