New Year's Day Run/Walk at 7 - plus the day after that at 7:30: meeting at 61C in Squirrel Hill

Light turnout last weekend, thanks to a holiday and a wind chill that freezes flesh in 15 minutes, so we're making it simple this time and meeting both days at our usual default spot, the 61C cafe in Squirrel Hill.  7 am on Sunday and 7:30 on Monday.  Should be absolutely balmy!

A few endorsements were recorded:  

• Peloton, where you can tour the Hebrides on your bike in company with a very cute guy
• Loehmann's and Marshall's in their heydays - and when will there be another Boden sale?  
• Haflinger slippers
• Vinegar for cleaning your oven and everything else

December 25 Run/Walk: Sunday, meet at 7 am at Starbucks on Forbes/Shady corner; Monday, meet at 7:30 am at the 61C

Yes, Virginia (and thank you Virginia for writing up this message!), there is a run/walk on Christmas Day.  Whoever isn't otherwise occupied can meet at 7 am at the Starbucks at the corner of Forbes and Shady.  Then the next day (the federal holiday) we'll be meeting at good old 61C cafe in Squirrel Hill at 7:30 am.  

After tours of the holiday lights Downtown, we had a nice coffee adventure at Aslin Brewery -- a huge space that opens every day at 6:30 a.m. They don't offer pastries yet, but those will be introduced soon. The biggest challenge of the place was figuring out how to angle park backward, per the design of the parking on Smallman. I've heard people have gotten tickets if they don't back into the spaces.

Discussion: 

• We learned the term: DTR: define the relationship 
  
• Also: Meet cute
• Endorsements for "The Holiday", the charming 2006 movie starring Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Cameron Diaz and Jack Black.
• Another endorsement for the Ultra podcast.
• Several of us also compared notes on the season finale of "White Lotus."
• Also endorsed:  Yumuniverse - gluten free recipes and online cooking courses.

December 18 Run/Walk: Annual Holiday Downtown Run! Meet at the Aslin Beer Company, 1801 Smallman St. in the Strip

Beer at 8 am?  What have we come to?  Actually they have a coffee bar (but go ahead with the beer if you want!)  We meet at Aslin Beer Co., Smallman St at 18th St., and head down to USX tower to see "the world's only authorized replica of the Vatican's St. Peter's Square nativity scene."  We'll check out the usual holiday sites - and decide whether the menorah at the City County Bldg. is still pathetic.

Last week was a Hartwood Acres extravaganza led by Beth which despite the imminent rain (which was negligible and quite atmospheric) and a long drive brought out a record turnout.  There was much to see (the last time most of us had been there was possibly in the last century) and many photos (only a few of which are below).  Three Little Birds cafe was adorable and most obliging.  Could only catch a few endorsements:

• Vintage movie:  Darby O'Gill and the Little People (if once upon a time you were looking for this at Blockbuster in Squirrel Hill and it was out, it was at our house.)
• Warm mini-skirts at REI
• Nice enough for work but comfy Dalia pants at Costco: unbelievable bargain
• Listen to podcast:  Slow Burn:  Roe v. Wade (and all of them are great actually)
• Watch:  The Fabelmans (Spielberg on Spielberg)
• Jello Mold served with Cool Whip.  Have you tried it recently?  Maybe not bad? But do not Google "Funworld Brain Gelatin Mold."

December 11 Run/Walk: Meet at the Hartwood Acres parking lot in Allison Park (map in message)

Special treat:  this Sunday we're crossing a river - maybe even 3 or 4 (except for Beth and Gretchen) - to enjoy a Hartwood Acres run/walk led by Beth.  We'll start at the parking lot, 4100 Middle Rd., Allison Park (map).  Afterwards we'll decamp to the Three Little Birds Cafe (another map) which Beth arranged to open especially for us at 8.  A new frontier!

See below for a veritable gallery of gatherings, including 

• traversing the rarely viewed neighborhood on the river side of the Blvd. of the Allies where Hamlet St. meets Elsinore St. and Ophelia St.  
• our private room at Panera - will need to return
• visit to artist Ron Donoughe's 19th c. (really) studio surrounded by his radiant evocations of our fair city.
• stopping at Glowland giant musical seesaws in Schenley Plaza 
• and an unmissable newly revealed photo of our stay in Smithton off the GAP trail.

Were there endorsements too?  You betcha!  (now that S. Palin is done for we can say that.)  On the off chance that you're not sick of reading this already, here are:

• Dalia pants from Costco - can be ordered online.  Comfy, stylish, a bargain!
• Kuat bike racks
• Foldable kayaks - and also sit-on-top kayaks
• Watch:  Yentl (movie) and Slow Horses (series) and if you have a new TV you don't have to mess with unfathomable streaming devices.  To get to Offspring now you have to get Hulu (just seeing those faces makes me want to watch it again)
• Read:  James Michener - still enchants - especially Hawaii, Alaska, Iberia

December 4 Run/Walk: Meet at the parking lot for Panera at 3401 Blvd. of the Allies (near Magee)

On Sunday we'll meet at the Panera parking lot, at 3401 Blvd. of the Allies, near Magee Womens Hospital.  We are hoping to try out the adult seesaws in Schenley Plaza, and wander around little seen parts of Oakland.

Last week had the luxury of 2 runs, Squirrel Hill and Highland Park, and NO rain despite the forecast, and a raucous return to the Tazza without being shushed.  Plus a star Moth performance by Lainy, the highlight of which was a giant deer eye plastered to her windshield.  A good week!

Endorsements galore:

• Morey's Marinated Wild Salmon, at Costco
  
• Listen to podcast:  Ultra from Rachel Maddow - astoundingly similar sedition history from the 1940's
• Read: Before We Were Yours and Mother Daughter Traitor Spy 
• Watch interactive:  New York Times 12 Notable Keepsakes, esp. the Kindertransport tag
• Watch on TV: White Lotus (new season) esp. Jennifer Coolidge character, also the Westminster Dog Show (well, we missed it but it's on Youtube.)
• Schenley Ice Rink - open for the season
• In-law Invasion Ale:  Happy Holidays!