June 28 Run/Walk: Meet at Virginia's Home, 2100 Lancaster, Regent Square

Virginia has offered to host us for coffee in her beautiful garden in Regent Square.   

Last week we explored Mt. Washington.  The walkers had Patricia's excellent guidance which led us through Chatham Village and along Grandview Blvd with minimal hills.  The runners found their way to Emerald View Park and managed to find their way out again.

We enjoyed a lovely coffee time on Patricia's amazing deck.  There were a variety of conversations only some of which I managed to note. (Rookie mistake!)  The highlight, of course, was a rousing chorus of Chumba Wumba (aka Tubthumping) which may still be making its wormy way around some of our brains...

Recommendations flew by.  Caught a shout out for Astrid and it's British version, Patience, both on PBS.  Astrid reminded someone of how great Call My Agent is, and something led strong support for Shtisel on Netflix.  Minx is a fun but NSFW (or perhaps even at home if the neighbors can see your big screen TV) series, also on Netflix.  Last but not least was lavish praise for Ann Patchett's latest, Whistler.

Look forward to seeing you on Sunday!

June 21 Run/Walk: Meet at Patricia's house, 672 Meta St.

Patricia has graciously offered to have coffee at her house, 672 Meta St. in Mt.Washington (map) so we'll meet there and do some intrepid exploring in a new zone.

Last week we returned to old haunts, Schenley Park and good old 61C (when will they get a new muffin recipe?) in perfect weather.  Walkers found a new trail deep in the park ravine, enchantically called Ponticulus.  Endorsements abounded:

• Panadería Jazmín in Mt. Lebanon - authentic Mexican pastry and other delights.
• Handy cellphone stand to avoid arrest on the highway
• Shakespeare lives!  upcoming The Tempest at the Carrie Furnace from Quantum Theater, and Poor Yorick's Players in Monroeville.  Also in the book Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel.
• Watch movie:  Pressure
• See musical: Carol King's Beautiful at CLO
• Read book: The Correspondent (well, everyone is reading it).
• See stars in the dark sky at Blackwater Falls or Wagman Observatory

June 14 Run/Walk: Meet at the Wendy Bennett Trailhead, Overlook & Greenfield Ave., Schenley Park

Here's a map.  We'll figure out the coffee spot en route.

Last week, clear skies, cool air, we met at the newer La Prima on Smallman Street and after our run/walk got to convene al fresco for coffee and conversation.  But Blog Keeper failed to take notes, can report almost nothing about our lively conversation, and begs for forgiveness.  

Now she is leaving for the summer, and there will only be one Jane.  Which is it?  

Also, Buffalo Rose headlined the Three Rivers Arts Festival!

June 7 Run/Walk: Meet at the newer La Prima in the Strip, 1100 Smallman Street

Today the 2026 Three Rivers Arts Festival opens in lovely dahntahn!  And Sunday we'll be there to explore its latest location at the spanking new Arts Landing.  Amazingly, it won't be raining.  We'll meet at La Prima #2 (map), adjacent to the Convention Center, where maybe, just maybe, the underground fountains will be flowing.  

Last week, after a spin through Frick Park, we had a glorious return to the comfort and abundance of Elaine and her Kitchen on fabled Lower Waldron.  And then, on Thursday eve, the lollapalooza fabulous zumba/line dance party to celebrate our Wendy's special b'day. Much to be grateful for!

• The intrepid cyclists reported back from their trip out east: much fun, new sights, highlights being the vastness of Bethehem Steel's carcass, and Washington's Landing, about which Sharon had memorized surprising facts. 
• Jane M. will offer a story class.  Details forthcoming!
• A new cashmere mitten workshop is being planned.  Hit the Goodwills.
• "Situationship" is a thing, one that we know next to nothing about.
• Buffalo Rose (long endorsed by RG) is profiled in the newly reborn Post-Gazette, as it headlines the abovementioned TRAF on Thursday, June 11, 7:30 p.m.  Be there!

Resistance action of the week:  a reminder - tomorrow, Saturday, at 10 a.m., protesters will gather at the Citizens Bank branch in Squirrel Hill (1801 Murray). They will join protests around the US, demanding that the bank stop financing GEO Group and Core-Civic, the two main operators of notorious immigrant detention facilities, AKA prison camps. GEO runs Moshannon, 3 hours from Pittsburgh and the largest one in the Northeast.