June 22 Run/Walk: Start at 61C cafe in Squirrel Hill

RG will convene again at the dear old 61C Cafe, in order to re-run the dear old weekday route of yore, that met every Wed/Fri at 5:45 am from the Squirrel Hill Library.  Sometimes it was so dark that you couldn't see your feet (this was before fluorescent shoes).  But we could always see Tom's head.

Last week we took an atmospheric trek through lovely Frick Park, recently hydrated so that Falls Ravine actually had little waterfalls.  Then we then took over a large section of the Biddle's Escape porch. We reflected that many had lived long enough to compare No Kings to Hell No We Won't Go, and the National Guard in LA and at Kent State.  (For those of you who haven't lived that long, see: Vietnam War.) 

• No Kings was declared pretty glorious.  Do look at this.
• Signs we loved:  Don't Worry Melania, I Hate Him Too.  No Kings, Only Drag Queens.  American Pope OK, American King No Way. Elect a Rapist - Expect to Get Fucked (If the New Yorker can say it, so can we.)
• More Vietnam era endorsements:   The Best & The Brightest, The Women, The Post (and hurray for our Virginia!), The Deer Hunter, Apocalypse Now.
• The Post-Gazette evidently is not as reactionary as it has been.
• The US Open provided a relief from politics.
• If you need a public bathroom (i.e. you're at La Prima), there's an app for that.

June 15 Run/Walk: Meet at Biddle's Escape (401 Biddle Ave.) for a Frick Park excursion

Before the news - a reminder to join the NO KINGS demonstrations on Saturday - Pittsburgh offers 2 of more than 1500 planned nationwide - 12:30 at City County Building and 2 pm at Freedom Corner.  We rise up together.

Could it be that we haven't been in Frick Park since January?  Seems impossible but this blog seems to think so.  Anyway, it's gorgeous lately so let's head for the trails, and then sit under the Biddlean porch.  If it rains on Saturday, then Falls Ravine will actually have waterfalls, but you might want to wear your mud shoes.  

Last Sunday we barely averted the Three Rivers Arts Festival's customary downpour (it never rains on the run) but we saluted the booths (which received a professional appraisal from Max) and headed down along the river.  Under the Convention Center, we lamented the spooky darkness (appearing like a descent into Hades) of the once marvelous Riverfront Plaza. Bring back the light!  Runners reached the fountain and crossed the Fort Duquesne bridge.  At La Prima we were blessed with a bounty of almond meles, though a usable bathroom (aren't they required to have one?) would be nice too.  Noted:

• Golden Quill Awards! Mazel Tov to Grant, who got one for his article in Pittsburgh Magazine (and also to Maggie, loyal reader of this blog, who got the one for Service to Journalism.)
• Speaking of Pittsburgh Magazine, we want to re-read that one about unique local pizzas from 2021.
• "You have to be friendly with your doulas."
• A flying chipmunk, seen colliding with Lainy on last week's bike trail.
• The splendor of Pittsburgh's downtown architecture, and quirkiness of its shop windows.
• We compared hand sizes - wild variation.
• Juneteenth will be celebrated with a bike ride from Connellsville.
• Democracy - use it or lose it.

June 8 Run/Walk: Meet at La Prima, 21st and Penn on the Strip

Back to La Prima and the Strip on Sunday - getting there before the 3 Rivers Arts Festival opens at noon.  That will be over at the riverfront so we can scope it out.

Last week's we wandered around the Cemmie (Homewood) and the nearby Greenhouse (Frick, I think), with gardens in bloom everywhere.  The Sunday a.m. line outside of 5 Points looked daunting, but they are supremely efficient and soon we sat down to a table of magnificent treats and the usual witty repartee.  It involved naked men playing pool at the JCC.  I think that's as far as I can go.