August 29 Run or Walk: Meet at our old friend 61C Cafe in Squirrel Hill for a nostalgia run

Meet-up on Sunday will be at the old favorite, 61C cafe in Squirrel Hill, where the outdoor seating is ample, the cute little birds come right up to the table, and the Sunday Morning farmer's market is a block away. I won't be there so don't forget to find someone to write this next week.

Last week we were all over Wilkinsburg, Frick Park, Regent Square, etc.  We are so wise to get out early these steamy days.  We are so wise, period.  Much talk about travel:

• Deckers Creek Trail, in Morgantown - really not that far
• Rehoboth Beach - further but something for everyone
• Columbia River Gorge in Oregon - really far but gorgeous 
• Much loved and not far at all:  Cupples Stadium on the South Side
• Air travel - NOT - the mask situation is insane
• E-bikes and paddleboarding are better ways to get around but admittedly limited.  Also what's up with those Spin scooters?  
• The genius coach that got our lazy kids to play sports:  Mr. Picc at Frick
• Listen to podcast Heavyweight
• Watch Pittsburgh-based Sweet Girl (maybe?) but definitely The Chair
• Watch Paris-based Call My Agent, Dublin-based What If, and Hawaii-based The White Lotus

August 22 Run or Walk: Meet at Biddle's Escape, corner of Trenton and Biddle Aves.

Next time we can explore Frick Park, Wilkinsburg, Point Breeze - many options - starting at Biddle's Escape, corner of Trenton and Biddle Aves., which has outdoor seating with umbrellas, bathrooms, and they are currently highlighting their ginger peach scones.  What's not to like? Be there at 7 am as usual.  (That's for the new folks on the list - hi there!)

Last week, while we missed many of you out traveling the world, a hardy few of us traversed the South Side, finding tons of wildflowers lining the trail, and checking out the Pittsburgh Highline, OK, it's not like NY but there aren't a million people breathing on you, and it's right on the Mon! Also, several thumbs up for Cup-Ka-Joe's, nice urban chic alternative to the Big Dog down the street.

Endorsed:

• Cedar Creek Park, much to do there, not far and right on the Great Allegheny Passage trail
• Fabulous show at the Frick Museum of Women's Sporting Costumes (way better than it sounds - you have to see these up close) and if you go on Th - Sun. midday, the Cafe is open.
• Relaxing things to do:  swimming and grouting
• Keeping out undesirables:  Ace Locksmith on Baum Blvd.
• Finding local professionals:  Thumbtack - evidently most popular in Pgh now are electrical wiring repair and wedding officiants
• Watch on Apple TV (free for one week and then $4.99 a month): Ted Lasso, and The Morning Show.

August 15 Run or Walk: Meet at corner of Sarah St. and 27th St. on the South Side

We'll meet at the corner of Sarah St. and 27th St. on the South Side, and then decide where to have coffee: Cup-Ka-Joe's or Big Dog.  Cup-Ka's has more outdoor seating, but the Dog is a favorite.  We'll vote - democracy! And we'll run or walk somewhere too.

Last week we took a tour of East Liberty's charms, including the Borland Garden and a block of Historic District row houses (pictured) that I cannot now locate on any map (Brigadoon? Hogwarts Express?)  And where did you go, runners?  Are we entering another dimension?

Back on earth we reviewed:

Ohio:  home of Metroparks and Warblers

Yoga: Monday at noon and Saturday at 10 in Schenley Plaza

The Detective Building renovation

Don't ever go:  Chuck E. Cheese, apparently kosher? 

Draw: with Posca acrylic markers (David Coulson's favorite)

Read: Squeeze Me by Carl Hiassen

Love art in the Hudson Valley: Dia Beacon, and many more

Name your kid:  Hadassah

August 8 Run or Walk: Meet at Redstart Roasters Coffee, 224 N. Euclid St. in East Liberty

We'll begin and end at Redstart Roasters, a new-ish coffee place at the Detective Building in East Liberty - 224 N. Euclid St.  Interestingly, it was "originally formed in 2017 as the intersection of a considerable coffee habit and an affinity for birds."  I'm excited to see how this manifests itself.  Cappuccino with feathers?  Nest seating?  Maybe on the run/walk, we can ID some feathered friends with our new Merlin Bird Sound app.  There have been local sightings of a Dickcissel and a Brown Thrasher!  

Last week we trekked through Frick Park from the Blue Slide side and affirmed that it is still blue. It is strangely reassuring that we can still get lost in there.  Lucky for us, Pam and Chris invited us all for a cheery coffee in their aerie-like porch right across the street, complete with adorable grandkids Maya and Nuri.  

Endorsements - so many! 

• The plural of octopus is NOT octopi because it's Greek. It's octopuses.  Good luck with that.  However, DO read The Soul of an Octopus, watch My Octopus Teacher and listen to podcast How Octopuses Upend What We Know About Ourselves and you will be transformed.
• Now trees:  Read and watch The Hidden Life of Trees, and read The Overstory.  
• Now composting: you can do it yourself, or get a service.  
• Now politics (sorry!): Jonathan Chait's column in New York Magazine.
• Now thrifting AND politics: Gisele Fetterman and one of our favorite stores, Thriftique
• Eat: at the new 40 North Restaurant at City of Asylum
• Listen: Buffalo Rose (Gretchen's daughter's band) concerts coming up at Hartwood Acres on 8/15 and Kingfly Spirits on 8/27
• More listening: Podcasts Heavyweight (funny) and Suave (inspiring) and Aack-cast (quirky)
• Biking:  does anyone want a free registration to PedalPGH, coming up last week in August?  If so, email Virginia at virginiaclinn@gmail.com.