May 29 Run/Walk: Meet at Biddle's Escape corner of Biddle and S.Trenton in Wilkinsburg

Just a bulletin today: 

This Sunday we'll escape (don't we need it) to Biddle's Escape.  Then afterwards if you like - it's Open Streets, happening from 10 - 2, Market Square to the South Side and through the Armstrong Tunnel!

Last week:  Lawrenceville - and they still haven't finished the trail so there was some bushwhacking involving trains.  

Also the tale of Nick's marvelous wedding, where there was a little fainting and a lot of dancing.  

Also a $10 cinnamon roll which we should have photographed.  

May 22 Run/Walk: Meet at The Abbey, 4635 Butler St., in Lawrenceville

Old favorite The Abbey, on Butler near 47th in deep Lawrenceville, which as long been closed or semi-open, is now back on track.  We think it has patio seating, and if not there's always takeout and Allegheny Cemetery across the street if we want to be outside.  Will COVID every leave?  We will ask Dr. Sharon.

Last week Beth offered up the highlights of Millvale - both the frisson of getting lost in Girty's Woods Nature Preserve and the appeal of cute bars, shops, gardens, and riverfront.  Lincoln's P&G Diner warrants another try when it's not so full, but we were undaunted, found a park, and kept on talking.

Recommended:

• Deckers Creek Trail in WVA
• 
  Read:  Women Don't Ask, and then, Ask for It - Linda Babcock's great advice to women who keep getting pushed off the ladder.  Also books on burnout by Kathleen Byers. 
• Watch: CODA - heart, Tehran - suspense, and Slow Horses - just fun.
• Regret: Jerry Kittman's chalushous Millvale furniture store, not there any more.
• Beth's explanation of how small water renovation projects around the city, like the Wightman Street planters, are finally channeling the dreaded stormwater.  Love hydrologists!
• Simon Girty.

May 15 Run/Walk: Millvale ahoy! Meet at Lincoln's P&G Diner, 232 North Ave.

Beth is taking us around Millvale!  We'll meet at Lincoln's P&G Diner, 232 North Ave. (map) Through her connections at the Allegheny Land Trust, she has the inside scoop on the new Girty's Woods park, and also other great things Millvale:

The Millvale run/walk can cover the highlights of this fun little place - two breweries, a knitting store, a community garden, a pocket park, the Riverfront Park, how to access their new 155-acre green space “Girty’s Woods” and wait, there’s more! The St. Nicholas Catholic Church where you can see the Maxo Vanka murals when the church is open.

The run on Mothers' Day was just right - cool-ish and sunny, passing through rarely seen South Oakland streets and reaching Our Lady of the Parkway, aka the Queen of Peace (with all our hopes and prayers for that) at the Shrine of the Blessed Mother, which RG first visited in 2008. Much annoying talk from myself and others about how we liked it better before (it's less unique now.)  But still the same inspiring sanctuary high above the interstate. Read the history!

Also, thank you Pitt Union for providing tables and chairs in the sunshine and Starbucks for finally allowing people to bring their own coffee cups.  

Endorsements:

• Emergency rooms:  Magee! Excellent care, not crowded, kind staff.  Who knew? They take men now too.  
• Heart health - women need to read this.
• Skincare:  What are we doing?  Not much.  Should we follow Elizabeth Warren's advice and stop washing and use Pond's? But so many chemicals. My grandmother's Nivea had formaldehyde. Maybe Andalou Naturals? Probably doesn't help.  We are gorgeous anyway.
• Voting in the primary on Tuesday! So much rides on this.  Info here.

May 8 Run/Walk: Meet at Oakland Starbucks - 4022 Fifth Ave. - for a visit to the Shrine

We're meeting in front of the Oakland Starbucks, across from Soldiers & Sailors, to make the annual Mother's Day pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Blessed Mother! Ahead of time we can start praying that the rain will stop.  Also that absolutely everyone doesn't have COVID by then because that looks like a possibility.  Also that Russia stops bombing innocents to smithereens, and our country doesn't become a fascist theocracy, and our planet is saved from atmospheric armageddon.

OK, let's start over.  We have each other!  Do bring a warm jacket and maybe even your mittens in case we decide to sit outside - it does promise to be nice though on the cool side.  Coffee and treats will be available at several cafes on that block.  

I'm sad I missed last week - which included the treat of an impromptu coffee at Wendy's and at long last a view of the sparkling renovations.  Endorsements can wait.