February 27 Run/Walk: Meet at super-hip KLVN Coffee Lab at 6600 Hamilton

We'll explore the area all around the super-hip KLVN Coffee Lab at 6600 Hamilton and see if we can cover 5 neighborhoods all in one route.  (From that spot it's possible, as Pam once showed us.)

Last week we just made the sunrise and it was as advertised - providing the glow that lasted through our grateful return to the Tazza D'Oro, where there were too many people talking at once, but here's a sample:

• When it's time to move out of the big house: how about an apartment in Maxon Towers?  Is it already a NORC? Oy, do I have to think about this already?
• Crows - we love to see them taking off in the dawn - here's why they do.
• Watch:  Offspring is back! (it will never leave.) 
• Read: Mel Brooks, All About Me.
• 
  Watch then read:  Inside Melissa Clark's Home Kitchen - her Dinner cookbook
• Go: the bike/beer tour outlined by Virginia on Pittsburgh Magazine
• Sol Collective shoe store in Aspinwall.
• Make something with wool crafting supplies from the famous Pendleton Mills.
• Alterations Plus near Trader Joe's can give you good mending advice even if they can't fix it.

February 20 Run/Walk: Return to Tazza D'Oro, 1125 N.Highland Ave.

Just discovered that Tazza D'Oro has re-opened after being a pandemic dropout - perhaps there is light at the end of this tunnel!  And, this may be the last time we can catch the sunrise over the Highland Park reservoir (at 7:06 am on Sunday and getting earlier).  So let's do it.  Hopefully there are apple dumplings.

For our pre-Valentine's excursions, we wandered out from Mellon Park.  Intrepid walkers uncovered the origin of the soon-to-be-created Brilliant Line bikeway/walkway from Aspinwall to the East End over the Allegheny River. Hurry up already! At the moment you can get to one end of the rail route up a ramp off of Hamilton near N. Dallas, and when snow blesses us, it's a cross-country ski route all the way to the river.  Then we visited the gorgeously renovated Homewood Library and the bridge over the busway to Westinghouse Park.  Panera beat Starbucks so we'll find another one soon.  Endorsed:

• Three Rivers Outdoor Co. in Regent Square (locally owned) hosts events.
• Senita running clothes (lots of bras!) and this link should get 15% off first purchase
• The Moth is gone, but storytelling remains in the Burgh with Story Club
• Black Radish big and small catering for all of us who miss Kate Romane's scrumptious E2 restaurant.  Especially Farm to Family Fridays for 6 - 8.
• Brunch at 40 North and Revel are also yum.
• Plant trees in the parks (my Valentine's present!)
• 1Password pw manager
• Voss Appliance - apparently we are all buying ovens
• You can hide your nude photos.  This becomes more urgent by the year.

February 13 Run/Walk: Meet at Mellon Park Playground parking lot at Beechwood/Fifth

Meet at the parking lot to the Mellon Park playground, where Beechwood meets Fifth Ave. We'll check out what's new at Bakery Square and environs - or else head to Shadyside - or else...  There may be some way to connect this to Valentine's Day weekend - we'll see!  For coffee, we can go corporatist (Panera or Starbucks) or indie: (Commonplace on Reynolds) - make your bets.

Last week felt normal! (I'm almost afraid to write that.) We pretty much skated through frozen Frick Park, miraculously without injury, checking out what views we could snatch of the sunken bridge.  Then convened to kibitz and endorse more things than I could keep track of, but here are selections:

• 
  Induction cooktops
• Appliance-related:  "I had this lovely experience with a man named Stephane."
• Also related: Hauck Appliance Repair and Bosch dishwashers
• Getaway! find an upscale tiny house in the Ohio woods or anywhere and unplug
• Gretchen's Margot's band's EP Release Party (click there and listen!) at Thunderbird Cafe on 2/25
• Wendy's Hill's artist Remi Wolf at Mr. Small's on Feb. 8 (sorry this message is too late)
• Instagram is bad, I know, but @pghparkrangers may redeem it.
• Read: Finding the Mother Tree and then read: The Overstory
• Get free N95 masks at Rite Aid 
• Plastic drain snakes
• The magnificent J.P. Morgan library in NYC - and the unknown woman behind it, Belle da Costa Greene (though not the recent blah book about her)
• The Return of Persephone and February holidays

February 6 Run/Walk: Meet at 61B cafe on S. Braddock, Regent Square for a Frick Park Recon

We need to see this for ourselves: what has changed in Frick Park since the astounding Fern Hollow Bridge collapse.  So we'll meet at 61B Cafe (1108 S. Braddock in Regent Square) and go from there.  Though likelihood of ice could change the plan - bring your Yaktrax or put chains on your footwear if possible. 

Last week we braved the weather to traverse the South Side and visit our 'Burgh-ish Highline, covered in snow, and bright red hearts - a proposal?  Hope someone said yes, or at least maybe.  Red - as in the airborne bus - was the color of the week, and here I'm going to quote my journalist daughter: "Everyone on board survived, and then the bus itself was removed from the wreckage by crane and held aloft against a pink winter evening sky. It was lowered safely to land, where it was deemed 'somewhat operational.' The bus is a symbol of resilience!"  

So was RG, as we gingerly returned to Coffee Inside, and endorsed:

• The New York Times Cooking site (I know, you have to pay, but worth it) and, for one thing, the cornmeal poundcake, and the comments.
• Using your grandmother's silverware
• Skating!  Schenley Park, North and South Park, the new one at The Armory, and if you can get to Ottawa, the glorious 5-mile Rideau Canal.
• Listen to podcast: A couple walks into a house.

January 30 Run/Walk: Meet at Big Dog Coffee (2717 Sarah St.) for a South Side Excursion

We come to the end of January and it just may be the case that predictions of drastically falling COVID cases are happening.  Let it be, as John Lennon used to say. So we'll meet on Sunday at Big Dog Coffee, 2717 Sarah Street on the South Side, and maybe, just maybe, we'll feel it's safe to go in and schmooze.  Fingers crossed for a return to normal life!

Due to lack of schmoozing, there are no recorded endorsements from last week's outing.  The runners headed up to the Water Tower at Robert Williams Park, and the walkers went bushwhacking behind Phipps and then circumnavigated the Tepper Taj Mahal, I mean Business School.  But we all basked in winter sunrise over Oakland.

January 23 Run/Walk: Meet at Oakland Starbucks across from Soldiers & Sailors

This is what you get if you can extricate yourself from your bed at 6:30 on Sunday in the freezing cold - not to mention the companionship - worth it!!  (Thanks to Virginia for the photo.)  Next Sunday we'll be in Oakland, so a different vista, but as always there will be something remarkable. Meet at the Oakland Starbucks, kitty-corner (dating myself here) from Soldiers & Sailors at 4022 Fifth Ave.  Probably not a good idea to go inside for coffee yet - but since it's supposed to plunge to 7 degrees by Sunday night, outdoors is not that appealing either.  What we need are survival suits!

Last Sunday, as pictured, our trek through Frick Park was illuminating, and then we visited streets and stairs in Squirrel Hill that, impossibly, we had never seen before.  A good turnout, with the added enhancement of Teri's return.  And mittens were de rigueur.

Endorsed (recorded on the run so memory is short):

• Listen:  For the Love of Parks podcast - Whose parks? Our parks!
• Watch:  Succession - but can someone please start group therapy for those of us drawn into that fiendish swamp.
• Run/Swim/Bike: Mighty Tri Girls Triathlon Training - also fine for beginners - starts Feb. 1 - Joanne has done this for years and will be glad to answer questions (412) 303-1145.   

January 16 Run/Walk: Let's try again - meet at Beechwood Blvd. at Nicholson, entrance to Blue Slide Park

On Sunday, we'll try once more to bathe in the winter forest of Frick Park.  We'll meet at the Beechwood entrance to Blue Slide Park and figure it out.

As if a pandemic, global warming, and an assault on democracy weren't enough, now we have to face the fact that our last RUN WAS RAINED OUT.  The apocalypse has arrived.  OK that's a little extreme.  Blame the fact that I have been drawn into watching Succession for 5 days straight and am steeped in the evil of humankind.  

But we'll try again!  If it stays cold, maybe bring your Yaktraks for the ice.  If not, we may sit outside for post-run coffee so bring a blanket and a hot drink.  We could all use some RG therapy right now.

January 9 Run/Walk: Meet at Beechwood Blvd. at Nicholson, entrance to Blue Slide Park

We're going to meet at the Beechwood Blvd. entrance to Blue Slide Park on Sunday, and then perhaps make an attempt at winter forest bathing in Frick Park.  Or in Squirrel Hill, a forest to squirrels!

Last week, it was pouring rain on Saturday - did anyone go?  But Sunday was perfect, and even balmy enough to sit outside for coffee. The unbridled holiday kitsch at the Waterfront is actually appealing, especially in the dark.  Note for next week: bring a blanket in the car just in case we can sit outside, though it looks ominous.  But what doesn't look ominous these days?  BTW - did anyone detect the exploding meteor on New Year's day?  I thought it was a leaf blower.

Endorsements:

• Listen to podcast:  American History Tellers, told by Lindsay Graham who "is not in any way the Senator from South Carolina."
• Watch movies:  Don't Look Up, The Club
• The Pump House - on our route, site of the great Battle of Homestead.  Workers unite!
• Everyone suddenly has Hoka running shoes.  Am remembering when Newtons and Shoes with Toes were hot. These, on the other hand, make you an inch taller.
• Neck and shoulder rice heating pad - helps with achy flu or, God forbid, covid. This just begs for a DIY version made with (what else) recycled cashmere. I may finally break down and get a microwave.
• Get a Light-Up vest like Aimee's ON SALE at Noxgear.com.

Jan. 1 & 2 Run/Walk: Saturday: New Year's Day Run at 61C at 7:30; Sunday: meet at Starbucks at the Waterfront

Hurray! Another holiday run on a Saturday followed by another the usual Sunday.  New Years Day run: meet at 61C (will they be open?)  Then on Sunday, meet at Starbucks at Waterfront for Homestead run.  A holiday gift:  double RG-time!  This time we'll have to gauge (COVID-wise) whether we're having coffee inside. If we have to go back to constant zoom I may explode.  

But last week we were still in a fairly normal mode, and hung out in the 61C and La Prima with some abandon, after cloudy but merry excursions through Squirrel Hill and the Strip/Herr's Island.  We have notes only from one day but that was quite enough:

• Billie joined us for coffee! At Hillel she became Morah Billie.
• Offspring - the endorsement that never ends.
• Subscribe to socks
• or get serious with Haflinger Felt clogs 
• Read the Squirrel Hill book
• Go to Curative to get a PCR test
• Manischewitz barley vegetable soup tastes the same as it did in the 1960's!  It's the Jewish madeleine.
• Microwavable heated snake from Etsy gets Wendy thru the winter.

Oh, there was so much more but there always is.  Best of all was Lainy's Holiday Ode:

Run/Walk Christmas 2021

 

‘Twas the morning of Christmas, the year ‘21

Of course, we had scheduled a holiday run

 

The weather was chilly, a light rain prevailed

The streets were all quiet, the gifts had been mailed

 

The start time was nearing at 61C

Not knowing which runners and walkers we’d see…

 

And who would appear to run/walk and schmooze?

Turned out to be only the Christmas ‘morn Jews

 

Come Maxine and Wendy, come Roye and Elaine

Who cares that its chilly and pouring down rain?

 

And we weren’t the only ones out and about

Its Christmas on Shabbos, so no one’s left out!

 

The route was on sidewalks, avoiding the mud

Who knew the real threat was a possible flood?!

 

Then, just as we all had really been hopin’

The 61C turned out to be open!

 

And Billie showed up with stories to tell

Mostly about her job at Hillel

 

May your next year be free of a sniffle or cough

Merry Christmas to all and a big Mazel Tov!

Dec. 25 and 26 Run and Walk: Saturday (holiday) at 61C at 7:30, Sunday at La Prima on the strip at 7 per usual

Thanks to Lainy for this info. and to various RG members for the photos (from last 2 weeks):

This Sunday’s run/walk is scheduled for the Strip District and Polish Hill - meet at La Prima Espresso, 205 21st Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.  Christmas Holiday run is scheduled for 7:30 am at the 61C, which we’ve been told would be open (but who knows?)

Last Sunday, runners and walkers looped through Lawrenceville’s main streets and back alleys, feeling hip. We climbed a scary staircase off of Butler Street that led us to new heights in Upper Lawrenceville. We peeked in at the renovated Pusadee’s Garden, where we should have happy hour some day. The mural at Spirit (a former Moose Lodge) was a great backdrop for the group, and another possible future happy hour venue.  Coffee at Convive was boisterous, as usual, and the muffins were delicious. They even said we were welcome to come back. Conversation was heavily focused on planning a GAP trail bike trip to Cumberland in October ’22.

December 19 Run or Walk: Meet at Butler and Fisk in Lawrenceville

The place to meet on Sunday is Convive Coffee, 4032 Butler St. for a Lawrenceville run. There is a hope that, after the depressing dearth of Christmas windows downtown last week, there may be some creative spirit surviving on Butler St.  (We did find one great one though - in photo, Beth is contemplating wearing this outfit to a Xmas party.)

We did get to visit the new I-579 Cap Park - aka Frankie Pace Park, a brilliantly creative way to literally bury the highway that famously cut off the Hill from Downtown, and bring Black Pittsburgh into focus.  Also - who knew the Federal Courthouse had a facade?  And what gabion  baskets are? Walkers watched the sun rise over the Mon on the Duquesne U. campus - runners on the Roberto Clemente Bridge saw it over the Allegheny.

Coffee at Market Square Starbucks (jumping at 8 am on a Sunday!) brought up:

• Perla's Appliances for your next dishwasher, etc.
• Everlane clothes
  
  
• Reduce COVID exposure at movie theaters by going at early bird time (i.e. 4 pm at the Waterfront.)  Then watch: Belfast or C'mon C'mon.
• Also watch: Wait for your laugh (Rose Marie documentary.)
• Listen to audiobook: Ron Howard, The Boys
• Or read it, along with the Katie Couric autobiography
• Go ahead, spit in that bottle and find your roots at Ancestry.com or Myheritage.com.  

December 12 Run: Downtown Holiday Run; Meet in Market Square

 On Sunday, let's run our traditional Holiday run downtown.  Let's start in Market Square.  Parking can usually be found on Fourth Avenue near the rink at PPG Place.  After the run or walk, we can meet at the Starbucks in Market Square.

This past Sunday, Gretchen and Beth led the run on a beautiful portion of the Rachel Carson Trail within North Park.  We enjoyed the beautiful sunrise, rolling hills, wildlife, and fresh air.  It was a really nice route!

We had coffee at a nice little spot called Cafe Conmigo that smelled of fresh pine and had very nice gift items!  Endorsements include: 

• Holiday movies such as "The Holiday," "Elf," and a non-holiday, feel-like-you're-on-a-vacation movie "Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar."
• Theatre: The 12 Dates of Christmas
• Shopping: Public Lands in Cranberry for outdoors gear and clothing
• Wearing both a pad and a tampon to be better prepared in life... Is it a metaphor, or just common sense?
• Retreating into different parts of the house if you have a holiday guest that won't stop talking....

December 5 Run/Walk: A new North Park Run with Beth and Gretchen: meet at the Rachel Carson Trailhead (directions in message)

Sunday's plan, with thanks to Beth and Gretchen:

Travel up Rt 19 (Perry Highway) heading north, turn right at Wendy's onto Brooker Drive.  Brooker Drive immediately turns into Conestoga Drive. Park in the gravel parking lot along the edge of the woods.  Here's a map. 

Start of the run - Rachel Carson Trailhead in North Park on Conestoga Drive. The trailhead is roughly located behind Above All Salon and Spa in a strip mall in Wexford. The run/walk will follow the Rachel Carson Trail using the arrows on the brown Allegheny County Park posts. When you reach the McKinney soccer complex turn right and run along McKinney Rd for about 700 ft.  Turn left at a weathered wooden sign and take the path that leads through a wildflower meadow then into the woods of North Park. You can take any number of trails from here, and you may need the map on your phone to navigate back to McKinney Rd.  Getting lost is half the fun! 

Followed by coffee at Cafe Conmigo, 10 North Meadow Drive, off Perry Highway (map)

Last Sunday took us all the way from the Hot Metal Bridge to Hazelwood on the trail - lots of open space, natural landscape, a different view of the Mon, and also of where Pitt and CMU will be cooking up inscrutable futuristic stuff in Hazelwood Green.

And, free coffee (!) and room to lounge around at the Hotel Indigo. 

Speaking of inscrutable, my sketchy endorsement notes this week appear to include nasal strips, Canadian bacon, older dating, naked photos, and JDate. Hope it wasn't recorded.

November 28 Run and Walk: Hazelwood Trail (info. in message) at 7; AND Thanksgiving Morning Holiday Run: 61C at 7:30.

 Two runs this week:  

1. The annual T-day holiday run/walk, meeting Thurs. am at 7:30 at the 61C Cafe on Murray Ave.  
2. Sunday at the usual 7 am, meeting in the parking lot off of Technology Drive (near "Bridgeside Point on this map - you can get there by going down Bates St. and crossing 2nd Ave.  We'll examine what's been happening on the Hazelwood Trail since we last visited it in 2019.  We're planning coffee at the Hotel Indigo but may decide differently en route.

Sunday provided a delightful trek through Aspinwall all the way up to Fox Chapel - adorableness, stone turrets, and a killer hill with a view.  Photos of us: obstructing a window holiday arrangement and having coffee under the eye of Mick Jagger at the Beans 'n Cream hippie haven.  Endorsed:

• Wool& clothes - merino can compete with cashmere
• Dates and the boxes they come in from Rancho Meladuco
• City Bonfires - have s'mores will travel
• No-stress Thanksgiving (by yourself actually sounds pretty great)
  
• Having Dr. Sharon explain effectiveness of vaccination boosters and the latest research here.
• Another North Park run on the other side - stay tuned...
• This is important!
• 

November 21 Run/Walk: Meet at the Aspinwall Riverfront Park

We'll meet at the parking lot of the Aspinwall Riverfront Park, and our local guide Elisa will show us the sights of that adorable neighborhood.  Depending on the weather and our COVID nervousness, we'll either have coffee at Beans & Cream or by the riverside wrapped in blankets.  In case of the latter, bring your preferred warming outfit, a hot drink, and optional treats.  I think the chairs are still there.

Last Sunday we checked out what's happening in East Liberty - a new Whole Foods empire, several living walls, but no sign of life at the Ace Hotel despite promises. Also, at the doorstep to the erstwhile Penn Ave Fashion Hosiery, a vintage tile delight (pictured) that none of us had ever noticed.  (Hard to see but it's a stocking between 2 biting dogs saying "Hard to Tear".) Who remembers stockings? If we do, we're vintage too.

Some of the rather boisterous endorsements:

• Quiet Creek School of Country Living in Brookville for soap making and herbal medicine classes -"Thieves" essential oil smells nice and has some fun folklore associated with it.
• Watch Dopesick (but not if you're having a bad week), Belfast - especially at the Tull Family Theater in Sewickley.
• Passenger rail! Take a ride on the steam engine in York County.  Watch out the window from Jasper to Vancouver or Seattle to Oakland and get served in a real dining car.  And it's going to get better! 
• Model airplanes are flying around and they're jets.
• Pot smoking through an orange.
• Wendy adds:  Karen Carpenter, drumming.
• One more: Text #662# to clock spam calls.  Anything to get rid of them.

November 14 Run or Walk: Meet at the Mellon Park Parking Lot at Beechwood and Fifth

We'll park at the Mellon Park parking lot at Beechwood and Fifth (map), and then head over to explore the new things all around Bakery Square, and have our coffee there (Panera or Starbucks?)  We should also check out what's happening at the replacement for the defunct Ace Hotel (see below.)

Last week was simply luminous in Frick Park as we wandered over the trails (esp. the newish Dinky Bridge Trail).  

Once the leaves are down everywhere, we are encouraged to just leave them there by several of the endorsements expressed at our happy return to the 61B:

• The North Area Environmental Council and its upcoming event on the Lawn to Nature program, Tues. 11/16 at 7 on zoom - email bethdutton2000@yahoo.com for the link
• Wild Ones local chapter - save the world through native plants
• Read: Nature's Best Hope by Doug Tallamy

And a few more:

• Home renovation advice and stuff at Lowe's at the Waterfront 
• Fluvial geomorphology as seen on Nine Mile Run
• Oboz shoes
• Mosaic tilework made by Max
• Rite-Aid on Baum Blvd. for whenever you get a booster shot
• Cedar Creek Park
• New hotel taking over the sadly short-lived Ace Hotel in East Liberty

Nov. 7 Run and Walk: Meet at 61B (the one on Braddock in Regent Square) for an autumn trek through Frick Park

 Thanks to Elaine for this post:

Next week’s run will meet at the 61B Cafe, 1108 S. Braddock, for a fall foliage forage at Frick Park. Don’t forget to change your clocks back (do we still have clocks that require this or do most of our clocks do this themselves?) at 2am on Sunday Nov. 7. Then go back to bed so you can get up at 6 for the run!

The North Side run/walk was splendid, with the usual ceasing of rainfall along the way. Audrey was a main attraction and, as the sun rose, we enjoyed many visual treats:  the beautiful architecture of Allegheny West and the Mexican War Streets, intentional and unintentional spookiness along East Ohio Street, the peaceful paths and fountains of Allegheny Commons, and the lovely new restaurant 40 North and City of Asylum Bookstore at Alphabet City. Coffee at CCAC Starbucks was notable. The running group decibel level remained well below that of the adjacent table of “regulars”… escaping notice of the loudness police.

Endorsements:

• Podcast: Murdaugh Murders: great story, but riddled with an annoying vocal fry.
• The Libby App (probably a repeat) links to the library to download and listen or read audio and ebooks for free. Great for long car rides.
• The most kosher restaurant in Rockland, New York turns out to be at a Walmart…

Oct. 31 Run: on the North Side, meet at the CCAC Starbucks, 808 Ridge Ave.

We haven't been on the North Side since springtime, and never on Halloween, so we can explore how those fancy Mexican War Streets - or Allegheny West - houses have spooked themselves up.  We're meeting at the CCAC Starbucks at 808 Ridge (map) which has a lot of space inside and requires masks (except I suppose while sipping.)  

Last week we trekked around Squirrel Hill, leading to a delightful brunch in Max's garden bower.  Maybe was our last outdoor coffee klatch this year?  Wide range of endorsing:

• The fabulous mosaics that Max has created all around her house.
• Aimee's showstopping glow-in-the-dark wearable lights.
• Co-housing - see this article (not just for parents, though) - sounds like a plan. Especially if we can do it in Maxon Towers.
• Plumber:  Jim Allen (ask Lainy for contact info.)
• Athleta joggers (which can be found only slightly used at Avalon.) Also the running shirts have thumb holes again.
• Native plant gardening - free your lawn!  Get info. from this article, and the Wild Ones organization.
• Immersive Van Gogh - amazing but you may throw up.  
• Read: the History of Love by Nicole Krauss, and (I'm adding this one) Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr.

October 24 Run/Walk: Max is hosting at 1411 Severn Street

Very small turnout on a chilly morning

Just a few endorsements and discussions:

• Suggestions on how Janet can spend the money she is saving from having her kids removed from her Health Plan
• Gretchen in the kind hearted manner that we have all come to appreciate and admire, had us send out a Happy Birthday video to Carol Black
• Virginia's husband to be inducted into his High School Hall of Fame, I think Brentwood, Kudos
• Our app guru, Elaine, suggests Zelle (pronunciation in dispute) and Key Ring Rewards
• Sharon shared a link for Pitt CoVax Vaccination Center.
• Friday Morning runs meet at the corner of Forbes and Murray @ 6:00 am

I will have small heaters on the patio. Let's hope for a dry and relatively warmish Sunday!

With hugs

Max

October 17 Run or Walk: Oakland Crows & Construction: Meet at Starbucks 3618 Forbes, across from Soldiers & Sailors

Last week there was a wonderful surprise appearance by Teri at 61C.

As usual the discussion covered the waterfront, and included:

• Hair: frizzy, curly unmanageable.This lady would know. 
• LED mirrors. Flat side toilets.
• Comfort food: Five Point’s Everything croissant & Max’s Popeye Soup. Look for her recipe next week.
• Women Who Rock Magee-Womens Research Institute and Foundation (MWRIF)  Saturday evening 10/16 benefit concert. Tickets are still available! 

October 10 Run and Walk: meet at 61C in Squirrel Hill

Having so much to share at Beth's house last week, we didn't land on a particular run for this week, so we'll go with the old standby, 61C cafe on Murray Ave. Photos below will tell the tale of Sunday's Adventure in McCandless! It was a total treat - thank you Beth, for getting us across the bridge, showing us the sights and feeding us lavishly. 

Just caught a few endorsements:

• The adorable 1920's Sears Catalog houses in McCandless (like this one)
• Who Cooks for You CSA - as good as Kretschmann's but without the dirt - also comes with recipes like grilled cabbage slices, "crack for Eastern Europeans."
• Bike trails in Ohio (can't recall which but probably one of these.)
• Steve Jobs biography and movie - was he Mephistopheles?

October 3 Run and Walk: Beth is hosting from her home in McCandless (it's not that far!) 9384 Hilliard Rd. 15237

We'll discover autumn in the McCandless woods from Beth's house, which is just 33 minutes from Pt. Breeze (probably less on an early Sunday morning).  Address:  9384 Hilliard Rd. (map). A new frontier!

Sunday was perfect weather and a sizable group took in some unexpected sights of Wilkinsburg, including this home of someone probably called Edwin Drood or Miss Havisham.  (The Inimitable Boz was discussed on the walk, though not ever enough.) 

Almost everyone was called away at 8 and so missed the scintillating talk between Janet and me sitting under the elms (I think?) outside Madeleine's consuming to-die-for croissants. Ha! Just captured a few endorsements:

• Movies:  Judas and the Black Messiah, The Trial of the Chicago 7  (Can we take a minute to marvel at the ability to just watch ANY movie whenever we want?)
• Book: Caste by Isabel Wilkerson 
• Podcast: Throughline episodes on the history of Afghanistan
• TV:  The Morning Show - and you might want to splurge the $4.99 for AppleTV for Ted Lasso, Jon Stewart, Asimov's Foundation, not bad

September 26 Run or Walk: Meet at Biddle's Escape on corner of Biddle and Trenton

Let's meet at Biddle's:  it's out of the way of the Great Race route, is in an adorable neighborhood, and has a comfy outdoor space.  For the Great Racers:  you go, girls, and don't forget Pam has invited all to start out at her house at 2200 Beechwood. 

Last week's weather was fine and some of us did check out the hidden mansions off of Shady.  One of them was discarding on its curb a complete Ethan Allen bed frame in PERFECT condition (estimated new cost $2000!)  AOC is right on.  Also - good idea to check out Highmont Rd. curbs from time to time.

Lots to discuss and endorse:

• Speaking of advertising slightly-used items, David's hand-lettered yard sale sign was the best ever seen.  Want one? 
• 2nd hand good stuff: Plato's Closet and Kid to Kid.
• The Bob Newhart Comedy Album from 1960
• Custom-made earplugs
• The Renfest!  Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival, better than ever, chomp on a Giant Turkey Leg, watch a Joust, hear the Washing Well Wenches. Game of Thrones in real time.
• Fern Hollow Bicycles and repair shop - you don't have to wait weeks to get it done.  
• Watch The French Dispatch, The Dressmaker