September 21 Run: Commonplace Coffee in Squirrel Hill- someone will have an idea

Next weekend is up for grabs; nobody called it, so we'll just go with our default location at Commonplace Coffee in Squirrel Hill.  I'll be out of town, so it's up to all of you!

Yesterday we truly did come to grips with summer's end:  autumn mists covering Frick Park and long-sleeved jackets covering us.  We zigzagged around the park trails, coming upon the surprisingly large construction site of the brand new Environmental Center - remembering the time over a decade (!) ago when we came across the old Nature Center the very morning it had burned down - still smoldering at 7:20 a.m. according to the PG.

Just Cheryl, Judy and I at coffee (still delightful) so I'm tacking a few items:

• shout out to Jacquie in Iowa - thanks for posting the photos - we miss you!
• running group librarian tip for classics lovers:  thousands of books published before 1923 have a totally free Kindle version on Amazon, which you can then read with a free Kindle app on any tablet, phone, or PC - i.e. Babbitt, The Forsyte Saga, any Dickens or Trollope, etc. etc.  (I'm also mad at Amazon's monopoly practices, but this isn't sending them any money.)  Brand new e-books similarly for free from CLP of course.

September 14 Run: Blue Slide Park at Beechwood and Nicholson

We'll meet at Blue Slide Park at Beechwood and Nicholson, and possibly find a new route through Frick Park (or not.)  At any rate, we'll surely be surrounded by early signs of autumn.  Already!

If I might say so, last week's run was glorious.  From the brilliant chandeliers inside the William Penn, to the sparkling waters of the Mon, to the glowing gold of Steelers t-shirts for sale every 10 feet, we traversed new bike paths, crossed rivers, circled Heinz Field, visited the Mr. Rogers (bad) and the WWII (good) memorials, attempted to catch a train at the new Allegheny T Station, and viewed the gushing Fountain at the Point from at least 3 different angles.  The weather was perfection.

Back at the William Penn, we were met by several rather festive Steeler-watchers (one posing here with Sarah) and settled down in the Starbucks there, more elegant than most (but why don't they have real cups?) where we covered the following:

• How Pittsburgh has changed in less than a lifetime - 30 changes in 30 years
• Hearing loops
• Rose Garden in McKeesport
• KT Tape 
• Matchmaker Tova Weinberg, who famously said: "If the mother is Jewish, I don't care if the father is the pope."

September 7 Run: Meet at William Penn entrance downtown

Well, since nobody called a run for next week, I get to pick:  where else but dahntahn?  We'll meet at the entrance to my favorite hotel - the William Penn -

on William Penn Place (and have coffee in the resplendent lobby afterwards.)  But mainly - yes, it's that time again - we must run our magic circle around Heinz Field as a charm for the Steelers' opening day! Just call us...

Last week our two runs were East End specials with great back-from-vacation turnouts:  a drizzly but refreshing Frick Park foray and then somewhere around Squirrel Hill (not sure since I just showed up for coffee.)  A few of us on the DL inspired some talk about having a parallel bike ride - starting and ending at the same spot with the runners.  In fact it could be tried this Sunday - if some people want to show up with bikes and ride around on the trails for an hour - could be an interesting development!  RG never stops evolving.

Speaking of which:  a marvelous invitation from Jan - a running group trip to her peaceful forest cabin in the Laurel Highlands the weekend of Sept. 13 - just email her if you're interested - janetrw@hotmail.com.

Endorsements:

• Wholistic Acupuncture - for heel pain
• Almond flour at PennMac - gluten free baking
• Not using sexually explicit words in online Scrabble with strangers
• Yoga on Youtube - you can get almost any kind of class!  

August 31 Run: entrance to Frick Park at Reynolds and S. Homewood AND Labor Day holiday run at 7:30 from Commonplace

End of summer run!  We'll meet at the gracious stone entrance to Frick Park for a run through the park led by Karen, who always finds the best trails, and who forgives us for inadvertently running off without her last week while she was being a good samaritan.  And of course the holiday run on Monday, meeting at 7:30 at Commonplace Coffee on Forbes, allowing a whole 30 minutes of extra sleep.

A perfect classic Schenley Park run last week - clear skies, leafy paths, lots of gab - just right.  We happened on the two major improvements to the park that are underway:  new separated bike paths around Phipps and new meadows on Bartlett.  And after I lamented the dearth of endorsements last week, the group certainly stepped up to fill the gap this week:

• Quantum Theater's production of Tamara - unorthodox, unforgettable, and somewhat wild theater experience where your running training will come in handy, trust me.  There isn't much time left, though - call soon if you want to go.  Advice:  follow Mario.
• From the sublime to the...   How to deal with bloating:  Beano, peppermint, or charcoal.  (You eat charcoal?)
• For joint pain:  Glucosamine & Chondroitin which needs to also have something called MSM
• Or, a chiropractor!  Preferably one with some kind of knife that she/he pulls over your skin in some way that was described enticingly as "excruciating."  
• Capetown as the most beautiful city anywhere, from another of our global voyagers
• The Renaissance Fair - not tacky, huge fun.  
• Movie:  Boyhood - apparently still at the Waterfront
• This one cannot be spelled out too clearly for fear the appointments will fill up, so it's just:  Lynn, nails, Forward, across from bowling alley.

August 24 Run: Wendy Bennett Trailhead at the bottom of the Schenley Oval for a park run

We will meet at our favorite Wendy Bennett Trailhead, which is located at the beginning of Overlook Drive, intersection with Bartlett St:  map.  The run planned is our classic Schenley Park trek, with coffee to follow at Commonplace.  Something to be said for continuity in this dizzying world.

 Last week we enjoyed another classic, the Three Rivers/Three Bridges run downtown, which never fails to showcase our delightfully picturesque city center.  OK, so it's not the Brooklyn Bridge, but really, just try to get a free parking spot near that one.  The skies were grey, but the rain held off, and the city and its rivers still had a monochromatic beauty which we saw from many vantage points.  Everyone had places to go right after the run, so no coffee chat, hence no endorsements.  Hopefully that will correct itself this Sunday!

(Photo used with Creative Commons license from Flickr.)

August 17 Run: PPG Place downtown for the famous 3-Rivers 3-Bridges run

On Sunday we'll hope for good weather to show off the gorgeous views from 3 bridges - Smithfield St., Fort Duquesne, and West End -  downtown - starting at the fountain at PPG Place.

We certainly had good weather last Sunday as we headed down from the now infamous Blue Slide Park (I mean 22 million views?)  into cool, deep Frick Park.  It wasn't until we reached the very bottom and crossed Commercial St. that I remembered we were aiming for Duck Hollow (which has its own admittedly sparse Facebook page - in this case, 532 views - there is no justice in the social media world) which was as adorable as ever.  Then of course the long, long trek up - passing through the eerily uniform Summerset development, where not a soul was in sight and the gardens look regimented. But it does have a spectacular view. We discussed where we all might want to live after moving out of the family house and looked favorably on the venerable Maxon Towers, which we discovered a) Wendy's Mom wrote a song about, and b) is a NORC.

Later over coffee we endorsed:
Transcendental meditation - may be a road to bliss or at least something different
Tin Front Cafe in Homestead - recently enjoyed
Podcasts:  60 minutes, Story Collider, Freakanomics

August 10 Run: Frick Park's Blue Slide Park at Beechwood Blvd. & Nicholson St.

Next week: Meet at Frick Park's Blue Slide Playground at Beechwood & Nicholson for a Park and Duck Hollow run.

Last week, a small group of us braved the 95% humidity and gloomy, threatening skies to run in Highland Park.  Unfortunately, the trails were too muddy, so we stayed on the roads encircling the reservoir and lake.  We passed the inviting City pool, looping around the park, reservoir, then along a little traversed road with secret City steps.

We enjoyed coffee at delicious Tazzo d'Oro, which never seems to disappoint.

Endorsements:

City Events:
Highland Park's Reservoir of Jazz and Summer Soul Line Dancing Sunday evenings through August
First Fridays at the Frick

Movies: Philomena, The Grand Budapest Hotel
TV: This Old House- Jersey Shore post-Sandy season

August 3 Run: Enrico's Tazza D'Oro on Highland Ave.

Next week:  meeting at Enrico's Tazza D'Oro on Highland Ave. for a (what else?) Highland Park run, and as always we hope Joanne will appear, but if not, Aimee will lead the way.

Last week, after filing through Mellon Park, serenaded by a mysterious young man with a recorder,
Virginia got us to check out the new Bakery Square development.  Apparently there are already some earlybirds living there, waking up to the sounds of earth movers.  We found a new path to Shadyside, revisited the passive house on Walnut Street, the massive houses everywhere else, and pondered the 1-percenters in our town:  who are they and where do they hang out?  We also learned that it is possible to bike to Monroeville from Regent Square in 30 minutes.  Which beats driving on the turnpike at rush hour.

Coffee talk centered on food - surprise!

• Jacquie has been to the Kavsar Uzbek restaurant on Mt. Washington with an intriguing menu listing of meat in jelly, cold soup, ground beef sautéed in omelet with cheese, fried lamb with bones, eggs stuffed with sprats, and pancake bags.  I would go just to order things named Shurpa, Tuzlama, and Holodets.  There is also live entertainment!
• New "artisan bakery" on Wilkins Ave. - awaiting the opening
• Pam endorses Colangelo's polenta almond cream cake from the place next door to La Prima
• We need to stop eating 0% yogurt - it doesn't have the good yogurt germs.  It seems full fat is better for you.  Hurray!
• Speaking of full fat - two cakes have been tested that can be created in your own kitchen and will never be forgotten by their eaters:
• Scott Peacock's chocolate cake
• Amanda Rockman's Basque cake with pastry cream filling

July 20 Run: PPG Place fountain for downtown Open Streets run

We'll start at the PPG Place fountain downtown and take a look at the city without cars during Open Streets Pittsburgh.

The highlight for me last week was Aimee's gracious offer to be co-author of this blog/list!  I'm going on vacation on Friday, and who knows when I'll be back?  (Just kidding, Aimee.)  Last week we had hoped to see the fancy cars in Schenley Park, but realized that would have to wait a few weeks, so we just headed over to Greenfield for something different.  We traversed the great new trail that was once most of Pocusset Street, and saw numerous intriguing and even famous landmarks on Greenfield Avenue:  Salon Louis, home of Tom and Wendy's brilliant stylist, also St. Rosalia's church, behind which we have been known to bushwhack up a giant hill, also Kevin's Computer and Photo and Szmidt's Old World Deli (have no idea how it is but what a great name.)  The hills coming back up Schenley Park were killer, but we talked and talked through them of course.

Endorsements:
The pilgrimage walk to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, led by Macs Adventure
Movie: The Way, where Martin Sheen also makes this trip
The new croissants at Starbucks!

July 13 Run: Starbucks at 2345 (lower) Murray Ave for a trip into Schenley Park for opening of Grand Prix

Cheryl reminds me that this weekend is the start of the Grand Prix, so we can go see what's happening there - and maybe we can also change it up by trying out the Starbucks on lower Murray Ave.  There seems to be some news about Starbucks changing its croissant recipe after buying the La Boulange restaurant/bakery, so I'd say we are required to check that out.

I literally can't read anything on my recording napkin except for "bunbo" and "cat acne" and somehow I hesitate to call them endorsements.  But I can report we had 2 delightful runs last week, starting in the same place but covering completely different territories.

Help wanted:  person who can type and run (not necessarily at the same time) to serve as co-contributor to this blog/list.  Reply to: roye.werner@gmail.com.  It's fun - really!

July 4 (7:30 am) AND July 6 (7 am) Runs: Both starting at Commonplace Coffee on Forbes, for simplicity

Hope that title wasn't too confusing - usually the holiday run comes after the regular Sunday run, but not this time.  So, this Friday, July 4 at 7:30 am from Commonplace.  (And possibly also this Friday, July 4 at 5:30 am for the early-bird weekday runners who just pop awake at 5 every Wed. and Fri.)  And, of course the 7 am Sunday run, let's also make it from Commonplace, because this is already a mess and we really don't want to complicate it any further.

Last week was graciously hosted by Aimee and took us through the Squirrel Hill streets and byways that we never see - Parish Lane, Holyrood St., Kipling St., the house that Willa Cather lived in - followed by coffee, etc. at Aimee's beautifully renovated home where we were joined by Larry and Greta, got some excellent home renovation ideas, and of course had the usual informative gabfest and endorsed:

• TSA Pre - get into the special fast lane at the airport!  You can apply or it seems to sometimes happen to some of us now automatically - possibly because middle aged women in pink Mizunos don't fit the terrorist profile
• Cantaloupes from Costco - tasted at Aimee's - perfect!
• HelpX - volunteer work exchange overseas where Jan is heading right now!
• Drinkable Book Project - from Wendy, and I'm embarrassingly late on this one so we missed the fundraising deadline, but still important to know about.
• Books:  

• Cut me loose: sin and salvation after my ultra-Orthodox girlhood by Leah Vincent (from Pittsburgh) - this set off a local firestorm in the Jewish Chronicle when it came out
• Cooked by Michael Pollan - anyone who cooks will love to read how that activity forms the entire basis of civilization

June 29 Run: Aimee's run from her house at 5557 Woodmont, plus coffee and treats!

Next Sunday Aimee invites us to coffee and goodies in her newly renovated kitchen, after a run she's also cooked up starting at her house at 5557 Woodmont in Squirrel Hill.  If you feel like bringing more yummy stuff, it will also be welcome.

My task now is to find some way to cover two action-packed runs and two info-packed group confabs in condensed form, so as not to write forever.  Here goes:

Two Sundays ago:
Route:  Starting and ending at the William Penn Hotel, aka Reid's and my residence until we get kicked out.  (We are in love with staying here, having been prepared for it many years ago by Eloise.) Ran through some festival highlights: giant Renoir dancing couple in PPG Place

; 1000-t-shirts dipping into the water at Point State Park; Liberty Ave lined with rainbow "Be Brave" banners; arrival at the fountain at the moment it was turned on; ditto the start of the Man Up Father's Day 10K.  Congratulated Yi on his first Father's Day!  Also on his post-doc at U. Chicago!  Where we will miss him but he promises he'll be back soon.

Last Sunday:
Route:  Strip to Washington's Landing and back. Carefully observed the 5 minute rule!  Which allowed us to meet up with the valiant run-to-the-runners near the start; then over the river and through the woods to the tip of the island and back along the trail to the 14th St. Bridge - all the way drinking in the shimmering Allegheny in the early summer light, trying not to trip over the multitudes of bunnies that are hopping around everywhere. Rewarded finally with abundant warm almond meles (no sharing this time I noticed) and the discovery of Colangelo's almond polenta cake - also catering.

Combined endorsements - it will take you all summer to get through these -
La Hutte Royal in Troy Hill - amazing secret artist project
Sally Hanson's Insta-Dri Top Coat
But also gel with Lynn from Pearl Nail Salon 
The "share garden" on Wilkins Ave. near Beechwood
Vaseline (wrote this down but not sure why)
Cafe Granita - now at La Prima!
Dona Jo Active Wear - Pittsburgh/Brazilian entrepreneur with very cool pants.  But are they pants or tights? Teen vs. Dad showdown.
Watching the World Cup on Univision - free on your computer and the announcers are wild
Kohinoor Indo-Pak Cuisine - super-recommended
Superior Motors - new Braddock restaurant by Kevin Sousa - about to open
Pittsburgh movies:  Out of This Furnace? Actually Valley of Decision with Gregory Peck, vs. Out of The Furnace with Christian Bale
Cures for plantar fasciitis:  the boot and the sock
The Under-the-Counter Composter that can save your marriage

June 22 Run: strip run starting at 21st and liberty parking lot

(Sorry - have had a distracting week and am writing this on my phone so I have no idea how it will look.)  Run is planned to make a circuit of Washington's Landing but anything is possible.  More news and endorsements next week - also photos (hint:  if you have them please send!)

June 15 Run: Omni William Penn Hotel downtown main entrance

Writing this from the Wm. Penn Hotel lobby under one of the three grand chandeliers, everyone is invited to start the run from my temporary (2 weeks) home here, which is awesome!  We'll start outside the front entrance, visit the newly opened Mellon Square across the street, and then run around the 3 Rivers Arts festival grounds, etc.  Speaking of the latter, let's hope the rain holds off.  Coffee in the lobby and perhaps we'll get to visit with our friend Darrell!

Last week at the WB Trailhead,  I am sorry to say that the 5-minute-waiting rule was sadly ignored!  It took Aimee and me a half hour of wandering the leafy trails to finally pick up a trace of that telltale raucous laughter.  But all is forgiven, especially after the sight of Yi, who came to coffee with his beautiful new baby Luke (Boteng in Chinese), about whom he said, unforgettably, "when you hold him, it's like holding the whole world."

Endorsed:
Flu shots, by our infectious disease expert, we are now convinced!
New Squirrel Hill farmers market - Sundays 9-12 in the parking lot between Beacon and Bartlett
The BOB Stroller (I think) tested by Aimee and now Yi
Free or donation yoga classes:

• Tuesdays at 6:30 at Blue Slide Park (Linda)
• Sundays at noon at Schoolhouse Yoga - Strip District location
• Sundays at 9 a.m. at Market Square downtown (LuluLemon)
• Sundays at 9:30 in Highland Park (Yoga Hive)

Namaste everyone!

June 8 Run: Wendy Bennett Trailhead for Schenley Park run

Next Sunday we'll start at the Wendy Bennett Trailhead, at the start of Overlook Drive, foot of the Schenley Oval, and lightfoot it through the leafy trails.  Remember when the road down into the park was pitch dark, forbidding as the entrance to Mordor?  Now it's so bright at 7 it might as well be mid-day.   Tempus fugit, or something.

Anyway, we had a lovely run through CMU, Oakland, and - to tell the truth, I can't recall since there was so much talking.  But whatever it was, it was a success in rounding up the rogue trio that is often missing from the Sunday runs - and now at least some of us know where they go!  Plus we got two pieces of fascinating data on the house across from Tom's:  in 1920 it was mistakenly bombed by anarchists, and today it has two exquisite red Chinese symbols flanking the door expressing double happiness in celebration of a wedding.  Despite trying I cannot think of how to connect those two, but maybe you will.  Other highlights:  we are proud to have a Zumba Instructor, a Professional Cuddler, and a soon-to-be new bride in our midst; our daughters are discovering fascinating things in foreign lands; and never let a new father change a baby's diaper in your kitchen.

Treat coming up at the June 29 run:  Aimee will lead from her house and give us coffee in her new kitchen!  More details forthcoming...

June 1 Run: corner of Aylesboro and Forbes in Squirrel Hill

A bit of nostalgia for olden days leads us to start the run at the foot of Aylesboro near Forbes, where we often began it in the past.  Where did we used to go from there?  There may have been some sketchy scrambling up a hill in Greenfield.  Well, someone will remember something, or else we'll try something completely different.

A holiday weekend means 2 runs, so we obliged, with one classic over three bridges downtown, and one ad hoc through Homewood Cemetery - fresh, green, cool, perfect.
And endorsed:

• Travels through Montana, South Dakota, Idaho
• McCormick & Schmick's (downtown) happy hour - awesome! - an RG HH there now being planned
• Marty's Market food store/restaurant on the strip
• North Park's Bicycle Cafe at The Boathouse
• Pittsburgh Obama School winning the Kelly Award Best Musical for The Wiz!
• Idea to build bike trails along the busways
• Semiannual Boden Sale Saturday May 31 at the Convention Center - think it starts at 9 but it's good to get there early - or else at 3.  Somewhat wild - be warned.

May 25 Run: Market Square downtown for 3B/3R run

Thank you Lainy for the following report and technicolor photo!

Next Sunday let’s meet downtown in Market Square for a 3 Bridges 3 Rivers run.  Monday will meet at Commonplace Coffee at 7:30 for the usual Holiday sleep-in start time.

All of the elements of a classic Pittsburgh run converged on last Sunday’s East End Runners. We had brilliant sunlight along the river trail and two bridges with sweeping views of the river and the city. We experienced the jaw clenching auditory assault of a screeching freight train in one direction, and the high intensity whiz of speeding cars on the Parkway  in the other direction.

May 18 Run: Hot Metal Bridge: start at parking lot at Bates St./2nd Ave.

Next up: Over the Hot Metal to the South Side trails, starting at the parking lot at the foot of Bates St. and 2nd Avenue

This is just a bulletin because I've been knocked out this week by the most miserable respiratory virus ever to inhabit this particular vessel, and am only entering words in between coughs.  But even the nastiest flu meets its end! at which point we'll get back to tales of weddings, travels, jobs, food, houses, books, plumbers, mah jongg, physics, etc. etc.  Can't wait!

May 11 Run: Frick Park from the entrance on Reynolds and S.Homewood

Next week:  Frick Park run from the grand entrance on Reynolds and S. Homewood.  I'm just making this up since we made no decisions, but it seems reasonable, won't interfere with Race for the Cure, and it's the only run that I will run to (from 4 blocks away.)  Someone will come up with a plan, and the park should be in early springtime glory.  Of course, to all you Racers, we're with you in spirit.

Today we covered the Chatham campus, circled around much of Shadyside, and came back up what seemed like endless Hills of the Squirrel.  Theme of this run turned out to be the hip compact passive and super-sustainable houses that are tucked away among the sprawling Edwardian mansions, whose garages are bigger than said houses.  After our heating bills this year, we sort of fell in love with them.

Perhaps it was the happy return of Janet today that inspired us at coffee to go back to one of our favorite topics:  the Pittsburgh Public Schools and our hopes for them.  We sighed over the demise of Schenley (and its fabulous musicals), but were cheered by Sharon's thumbs-up for the Obama IB School.  Another fave subject - wedding locales - also on the docket.  That our group has gone from picking kindergartens to picking mother-of-the-bride outfits is kind of mind-blowing.
Looking forward to reports from Marathoners!

Endorsed:
More reportage on Tiny Houses from none other than Eve Andrews (forgive a doting parent)
New hip bar in East Liberty - from the people behind Bar Marco
Jamie Oliver's (!) Cooking Club at the Obama School  - also related to Bar Marco
Showing up at the County Council voting meeting on Tuesday night (details here) to protest fracking in our parks (thanks Pam and Chris for the alert)

May 4 Run: Back to Commonplace Coffee in Squirrel Hill due to Marathon

Sure doesn't feel like May - what is this, Canada?  Oh, right - if it were, we'd have universal health insurance...

Back to the issue at hand:  since we have numerous Marathon Men and Women in the group, the rest of us  slackers will take off from our default location, Commonplace Coffee on Forbes to parts unknown.

Last week was a Lawrenceville run, led by moi, so I'm fairly biased - but it was awesome.  It included:
a spontaneous visit (suggested by David) to the wild scene of Art All Night in a giant warehouse - admittedly a bit bleary in the morning light despite the sounds of heavy metal in the background
a sylvan trail along the river leading to the requisite bushwhacking across the railroad tracks
rays of sun lighting up the legendary stained glass pictures of Pittsburgh industry in the old bank building on Butler St. (now PNC)
blocks of adorable Victorian row houses, culminating in this mind-blowingly decorated one (see photos)
tour of stunning Allegheny Cemetery with a brand new walkway complete with Bambi and friends
coffee at the super-hip Expresso a Mano where I ran into the chef of E2 getting her morning brew

AND endorsing
the amazingly quick return of Sarah!
documentary Finding Vivian Maier at the Harris
using the rubber bands that supermarkets put on broccoli to exercise your hands and fingers
New York Times tells us yet again that running is the best - this time for your skin
Evolve Mod Hair salon in Lawrenceville

NOT endorsing
edible marijuana
UPMC insurance cutoffs - taking us back to:  Canada!