May 2nd Run/Walk: Like last week, meet at Biddle's Escape in Wilkinsburg

Last week we sat outside Madeleine's bakery and it was delightful, so the vote is for a repeat, and this time it won't be so chilly.  Coffee is better from Biddle's so let's park and start from there: 401 Biddle Ave.  We'll choose our own adventure.

Not sure where runners went last Sunday but walkers found yet another winding path through Frick Park and later smelled the gorgeous lilacs, and visited some masked monkeys who evidently hadn't heard the latest liberating rules from the CDC.  Are we going to comply, be performative, join the culture war?  What will we do with our enormous mask wardrobe?  As always, stay tuned.

Last week we mulled over the several thousand candidates for the upcoming judicial, etc. elections - it's a baffling ordeal.  We decided not to come up with recommendations - just find your best election guru and listen up.  

But we are recommending:

Watch:  Brittany runs a marathon, The Crown (I think this is in here for the 4th time)

Upholstery:  

Grimes Interiors

Betty's Upholstery (no website, a sort of recommendation in itself, but at 415 Butler St, Etna, PA.) 

Shoes:  Mojo Running and Multisport, in Cranberry

Read: Confessions of a Wall Street Shoeshine Boy

Listen: Stooping turns trash to treasure 

More treasure: Antique mall in Verona

April 25th Run/Walk: Meet at Biddle's Escape in Wilkinsburg - and bring blankets

It might be just warm enough to sit outside at Biddle's - we'll try.  The run/walk will start from there - to who knows where - it's at 401 Biddle Ave.  If the line at Madeleine's isn't too long, we might be able to grab some of their outrageously caloric kouign amanns.  Better make that a long run.

Last week was kind of perfect - so much to examine and critique that's being built on the strip, a spooky gorgeous mist over the river, an actual table in the sun at La Prima - almost normal!   

Endorsements:

• For judge (there will be more of these to come I'm sure) Jill Beck, Sabrina Korbel, Lisa Middleman.
• Houses in the news: Garfield tiny house v. Fox Chapel monster house.
• Quantum Theater's next project: a musical called the Current War about Westinghouse and Edison, which will take place at Westinghouse park. By the screenwriter of the movie of the same name.  His name is Mitnick.  Tesla's in it too.

• 412 Food Rescue! Rescuing people too during the pandemic.
• Arcade Comedy Theater - with outdoor shows starting that night.
• A future return to RG Happy Hour - maybe at the Over Eden rooftop in Lawrenceville - they say "no food, just drinks" - should be fine!

April 18 Run/Walk: Meet at the Strip - Penn and 21st Street - should be enough street parking

This week we'll explore everything that's been happening on the Strip in the last year - a lot!  Meet at Penn and 21st, park on the street.  Coffee either at La Prima if we're feeling yinzer or Atelier de Fer (200 Smallman) if we're feeling chichi.  Bring a chair - who knows where we can sit.  Though it looks like it will be a bit, ah, chilly - maybe bring blankets.

Normality is creeping back!  On Sunday we had a real run, walk, coffee and kibitzing.  We wore shorts and ate pastries.  We climbed a new overlook and found a new cafe (cutesy but not overly Beans 'N Cream!)  Beth, resident scientist, explained the unusual water infrastructure.  There was some bouncing. 

Endorsements:

• Also discovered in Aspinwall: Farmer x Baker, farm to table (now takeout) restaurant in a shipping container on the riverfront.
• Airbnb's where you don't have to deal with the owners.  
• Vintage nut crushers
• La Fermiere yogurt at the co-op - could be dessert and comes with adorable ceramic cups, especially the red ones in February.
• Swimming with the fishes - at lakes in Keystone and Moraine State Parks

April 11 Run/Walk: Aspinwall Riverfront Park, 285 Riverview Ave., along the Allegheny River

Let's meet at the Aspinwall Riverfront Park, 285 River Ave., and get acquainted again with that adorable district. Why a sudden change in our location, which we agreed would be spring-infused Frick Park again?  This is why. Thanks to an alert from our roving correspondent Aimee, I figured we should probably avoid a run-in with a very large snake identified by the Pittsburgh Zoo as a Black Rat Snake, and also described as "massive." Even if they catch it - what if it had babies?  And let's hope that bear hightails it out of Mt. Washington.  

Also I checked with this coffee place that is a few blocks from the park and they will be open at 7:30 am on Sunday.  We can get takeout from there, or maybe they have outdoor seating.  At any rate, there should be a place to kibitz at the park.  Maybe bring a chair.

Last week we were worry-free about scary fauna as we navigated the Riverside Trail and are pretty sure that we sighted the faraway windmills of the Laurel Highlands.  We got a little lost which was delightful. 

In non-threatening-wildlife news:

• Shout-out to Erika!
• Prantl’s bakery is coming to Squirrel Hill on Forbes Ave in the building next to the Dollar Bank.  (Who else thinks that the almond torte is seriously overrated?)
• We recalled this awesome article about Max’s Dad at 101.
• Inspiration for Sunday's location - future trails from Aspinwall up to the East End and down to Verona.
• Galit sends this, from a PA doctor (actually this is about threatening wildlife):  If anyone is looking for a covid vaccine(Pfizer), call the Heritage Valley Health System at 724-770-7555.  They have a TON of openings starting next week, and the call center said they are being instructed to be very flexible in their scheduling as to not waste vaccines.  So even if you are not 1A, I recommend you call and ask!  The clinics are in Robinson and Monaca.

April 4 Run/Walk: Trying again: Blue Slide Park entrance (Beechwood at Nicholson in Squirrel Hill)

Repeat due to the rain last week (that actually disappeared from 7-8) - we'll investigate whether one really can see the Laurel Highlands windmills from the Riverview Trail in Frick Park.  We'll start at the Blue Slide itself.  And it will be Easter, and the last day of Passover, and springtime, so just think about that.  Can we breathe yet?

Zoom will follow more or less at 8:15 and the link is  https://pitt.zoom.us/j/97642356094?from=addon.

Last zoom was a needed pickup on a dismal morning with discussions of:

• Iranian New Year virtual group flower arranging
• Dancing on Friday evening in Highland Park has begun!  Besides Wendy and Sky's 6:30 Zumba, check out Bhangra, African, all kinds - how can this not be fun?
• Watch:  Shtisel returns to the small screen, and the group insists that it gets better and better.  I just need to get beyond that cuisine.  
• More on vaccines - evidently a profuse supply at the ACMH Hospital in Kitanning
• New rules on greeting long-missed grandchildren: dry hugging but no slobbering.