May 1 Run/Walk: Meet at the Mellon Park, corner of Beechwood and Fifth - and park carefully

May 1 - we made it through another covid winter!  Just barely.  And Sunday is both Marathon Day and Pitt Graduation (thank you Sharon for the reminder.) We'll do our usual thing: RG non-racers will meet at Fifth and Beechwood and maybe head down the race route to check out preparations.  Park wisely.  To the racers: whoa, you can still do this!

Last week was the long-awaited trek through Bloomfield, down the hill into the rarely seen and fairly ragged area underneath.  We found the TryTryTry steps.  Some of us got to the tail end of Art All Night on the Strip, others to Friendship Park.  Coffee at Yinz was only marginally comfy - maybe we need more tattoos.  But as usual, some endorsements:

• Gretchen's Half-Marathon fundraiser for Magee Womens Research.  Go Gretchen!
• Podcasts:  Tiffany Dover is Dead - how conspiracy theories happen, and Hidden Brain - Why Conversations Go Wrong, and Outlaws - "hot, urban flavor"(or was it the TV Series Outlaws?  Lots of outlaws out there.)
• Daily news insight with history and sense: Heather Cox Richardson
• Plumbers: Pawlak and Restano.  Or post on Thumbtack if you're adventurous.

April 24 Run/Walk: meet at YINZ Coffee at 4525 Liberty Ave. in Bloomfield

See yinz at YINZ Coffee in Bloomfield on Sunday - 4525 Liberty Ave.  In 2018, the group evidently ran over the Bloomfield Bridge for the first time and reported that it was awesome, so maybe that's in the plan.  And what's happening with the crumbling ruins over at Iron City Brewing?

Last week we located more unseen parts of Squirrel Hill - odd houses on Lower Burchfield - and paid our respects to the departed Sylvania Natives (another thing that is not there anymore.)  Woodland Road mansions were apparently also on view.

Happily we could still schmooze maskless at the 61C and discuss:

• Last week's graupel storm
• Deer control - OK, we know, Bambi, etc. but it's getting literally too close to home. There are now coyotes and hawks in pursuit. Your hostas are toast. Will arrows be flying through the park? In the meantime try Liquid Fence.
• Whatever happened with that bridge collapse anyway?  Investigators are baffled.  
• If you are ever going to Melbourne, you can absolutely stay in NINA PROUDMAN'S HOME! (If you don't know who Nina is by now, you haven't been reading these messages.
• We recalled when Diabolique with Sharon Stone brought sex and murder to St. Philamena's/CDS
• Old Enough on Netflix, described by them as "the most wholesome show you’ve ever seen — in this unscripted series, Japanese toddlers (ages 2-5) are sent on simple errands to help their parents and the results are just so pure."
• I Still Have Anxiety on Tumblr

Get rid of that anxiety and come on Sunday!

April 17 Run/Walk: Meet at 61C Cafe for a close-to-home Easter Sunday route

On Easter Sunday, we'll start and end at the old fave 61C to hop around Squirrel Hill and environs. (For those newly on the list, this means Murray and Bartlett at 7 am on Sunday.)   This will put us equidistant to Frick Park, Schenley Park, and B'nai Emunoh, all excellent destinations.  If the latter, Wendy will tell us how to pronounce it.

Last week we did some serious recon in Frick Park surrounding the Bridge-that-isn't-there-anymore. All those orange plastic fences are sad! But they are working on it. Endorsements:

• Getting your booster at the Pitt Covax Center. It’s free to everyone and super easy in-out. They validate your parking below Soldiers and Sailors and you’re tended to by friendly nursing and pharmacy students. You can sign up here. 
• Gretchen is running the Pittsburgh Half Marathon and simultaneously raising funds for Magee-Womens Research Institute, professional home of Janet, so 2 great things at once.
• Going places seems to be getting harder - lots of late or cancelled flights.  I guess we're endorsing staying home.
• Where there is still Magic!  Meaning Liberty Magic downtown, shows every Wed - Sun nights, fun and definitely offbeat.
• Get a job: the Allegheny County Virtual Career Fair, which, even though it took place today, apparently "will remain open 24/7 for 30 days." 
• Watch:  "Servant of the People" on Netflix - a Ukrainian TV series from 2015+ in which the real Volodymyr Zelenskyy played a comic role of an accidental President.  It's not only prescient, it's really good!  But the loveliness and normalcy of Kiev will break your heart.

April 10 Run/Walk: Meet at the Frick Environmental Center (aka Nature Center) parking lot

On Sunday we'll meet at the parking lot for the Frick Environmental Center (map) - which was called the Nature Center when ye olde running group came across the smoldering ruins in August 2002.  And now it's a gleaming example of environmentalism.  Maybe giving some hope to counter the smoldering ruins that we see every day in the news.  Some runners will be attending the Bird Talk at 9, others will figure out where to schmooze instead.  Route may involve some bushwhacking and/or trespass. We are always prepared.

Last week we visited Garfield and were treated with many signs of urban renewal, wall art, and ruminant herbivores.  Endorsements included:

• Dr. Sharon's help on dealing with new covid concerns: order your free government home tests before the money runs out (mine came in 3 days!) and think about timing your next booster closer to travel plans.  
• Speaking of travel plans, we were informed of a whole world of aids for female peeing.  Also graphically warned about criminal consequences of not finding a bathroom - apparently a legal specialty. 
• On to less biological topics:  Mother-of-the-bride facemask - basic black or matching the dress? Opinions varied.  
• One Brilliant Boutique in Aspinwall. And the nearby Sol Collective for shoes.  And the nearby consignment store and Spark Books children's bookstore - Brilliant Ave. is the promised land.
• Doorbells - do we really want to see what goes on?

April 3 Run/Walk: Meet at Commonplace Coffee 5467 Penn Ave. in Garfield

Aimee has offered to lead a seldom-travelled Garfield route - so we'll meet at the Commonplace Coffee (aka Voluto) at 5467 Penn Ave. (across from the Glass Center) and head out from there.

The never-ending snow and ice did not deter the group from its appointed rounds on the Strip on Sunday, as we crossed and re-crossed on some slippy bridges.  A mysterious turtle on a historical medallion at the Point was later investigated and found to be a symbol of Native American influences, or perhaps just a turtle.  And the Oscar for best after-run ambiance goes to - Cafetano Coffee Roasters. ¡Maravilloso!  Where we endorsed:

• Long lost Happy Hours!  So now we have one: come on down to the next RG Happy Hour, next Thursday April 7 at the Galley at Bakery Square! It's from 4:30-6:30 so show up whenever.  Even if you've never been on a run.
• The salacious bridal showers of yesteryear - now you get an instant pot.
• But an immersion blender is still loved.
• As is a tree!  Tree Pittsburgh makes it easy.
• Chuck Beard - his photos and his beard
• Watch oldies:  Gilmore Girls, West Wing, Legally Blonde, Offspring (of course!!)
• Listen to: All About Me - Mel Brooks audiobook
• Read:  Fresh Water for Flowers
• Social Security and the Spousal Benefit (oy, did we ever think we would be talking about this?