June 30 Run/Walk: Meet at KLVN Coffee Lab, 6600 Hamilton Avenue

A quick note for next week, meeting at KLVN Coffee Lab, 6600 Hamilton Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206.

Last week, runners and walkers explored Swisshelm Park and Duck Hollow:

June 23 Run/Walk: Meet at Parisi Cafe, 7107 Harrison Ave. in Swissvale

On Sunday, meet at the Parisi Cafe, 7107 Harrison Ave. in Swissvale (my new hometown! but sadly I'll have to miss this one.) 

Last Sunday we we made our way to Beth and Gretchen territory, somehow traversing river and highway without incident.  We visited the huge trees, ponds, woods, trails, fairy zones, and adorable 20th c. Sears Roebuck mail order homes that lurk unsuspected behind Interstate 279.  Then on to a particularly memorable coffee klatch in Beth's green shaded porch, starring toast with chocolate sprinkles, while solving the thorny problems of discriminatory homebuying and smelly used car purchasing.  Followed on Wednesday by a special holiday run to honor Juneteenth.

Endorsed:

• Barebones Productions, now playing Animal Kingdom, with Brew Gentlemen brewery nearby 
• Target summer pants, and laundry detergent sheets in cardboard boxes (no plastic!)
• Scratch & Co. restaurant in Troy Hill
• Gourmet chocolate sprinkles .
• Cochran Suburu's Outback Wilderness 
• Musicians of Steel 5K - run or walk to support the PSO musicians with live music en route.
• The Panhandle Bike Trail

June 16 Run/Walk: Meet at Beth's House: 9384 Hilliard Road Pittsburgh, PA 15237

Beth Dutton has offered to host coffee on Sunday 6/16.  We are looking forward to coming to the verdant hills of the North!

This past Sunday in Troy Hill started off with too much excitement-- no, the mishap wasn't related to the scary Rialto Street, but rather a scary pothole on 579 ramp (between Blvd Allies and Veteran's Bridge) on the way to the run.  A tire blowout for me, and a lift up to De Fer in Troy Hill (thanks to Virginia) so I could ignore my flat tire for a couple of hours and enjoy life for a short while....

The run/walk was glorious-- perfect weather and nice sights.  A view around every corner and over every hill.  Unique murals, yummy food (Scratch kitchen) and holy bones/relics at St. Anthony's.  Such a cool neighborhood.

Coffee conversation at the delightful De Fer cafe revolved around:

• Speculation that AAA's largest share of revenue has got to be those who let their memberships lapse and then call for roadside assistance;
• What is scarier/more dangerous: white water rafting or deer leaping over your head while on a bike trail;
• Buffalo Rose is playing on Friday 6/14 at the Original Pittsburgh Winery: Doors open at 7:00pm.  Buy tickets here.
• Buffalo Rose will also be playing at Aspinwall Riverfront Park on August 9 and at Tall Trees Amphitheater in Monroeville on August 11.

Running events coming up from Gretchen: "Here are a couple of 5k run/walks happening next Saturday morning that you could join or support:

• Pittsburgh Cure Sarcoma: my brother, Kurt Weiss, is a sarcoma survivor and very active in this group. The run/walk is at 9 AM starting at the North Park Boathouse. Here's his team: https://runsignup.com/Race/144196/Donate/SiRuxjWz99OQ8XUY   
• Highmark Walk for Vincentian: I've formed a team to support Vincentian's network of senior care/human services, including Schenley Garden in Oakland. The walk starts at Stage AE at 9 AM and ends in the stadium. Here's my team:  http://hcf.convio.net/site/TR/Pittsburgh/HighmarkWalk?team_id=18798&pg=team&fr_id=4720. (The Luddites at Highmark haven't upgraded this to a secure https url yet. If your Chrome blocks it, you could try another browser or your mobile device)"

June 9 Run/Walk: Meet at De Fer Coffee shop in Troy Hill: 1800 Rialto Street

On Sunday, let's climb Rialto and zigzag around Troy Hill.  Meet at De Fer, 1800 Rialto Street.

Last week, runners and walkers started in the Strip, checked out the Arts Festival Downtown, and runners came back through Washington's Landing.  It was "the best way to see the Arts Festival."

Conversation at the new Bitty and Beau's Coffee (with excellent, moist muffins in our mouths) included:

• Poems returned!  But chatGPT? Let's not think about it...
• Quirky Apple Store geniuses "phoning the Mother Ship" and building bunkers for the apocalypse.
• Endorsed are Chewy.com subscriptions, especially for prescriptions.
• Stick shift experiences-- everyone has a crazy story!