May 8 Run: Blue Slide Park, corner of Beechwood Blvd. and Nicholson

Next Sunday's run will start at the famous/infamous Blue Slide Park, corner of Beechwood Blvd. and Nicholson St. in Squirrel Hill, 7 a.m., not exactly sharp.  

Last week our hardy little group of non-marathoners skirted the drizzle and the street barriers and headed into Shadyside, past the burgeoning Google complex, and included a special RG first:  a detour through the labyrinthine corridors of Shadyside Hospital, which was very quiet and has exceptional bathroom facilities - good to know!  I envision more hospital detours.

Coffee venues were bursting with runners but we found a windowside table at Panera (also pretty good facilities, not to mention pastries) and had possibly the "longest coffee sit in the history of the running group" according to Lainy, who should know.  Considerable fun and wisdom, but I lost my note-taking napkin, so I only have the following endorsements:

Podcasts:  Israel Story - and Trumpcast - both terrific.

Hope the Marathon was a good one for everyone - looking forward to the reports!

May 1 Run: Mellon Park at Fifth and Beechwood

Thanks to Virginia for the run summary.  And good luck to all the marathoners on Sunday!

From Virginia:

On Sunday, May, 1, we are meeting at Mellon Park on Fifth Ave., in the parking lot next to the playground which is next to the tennis bubbles. Remember there is the marathon that day.

    Here is what we talked about this past Sunday:

 

    For jewelry repair, use Kenyon Jewelry in Wilkinsburg

    We talked about the history of how the Schenley Park trail got the name of the Wendy Bennett Trail -- which apparently is now retrievable in a Google search.

    Other recommendations:

    Ace Hotel for coffee, especially sitting at the bar

    Black pudding and white pudding (Dishes that Iain had when he was in Scotland recently) and vegetarian haggis.

April 24 Run: the famous Wendy Bennett Trailhead

Sunday's run starts as usual at 7 a.m. (with the 5-minute delay) at the now famous Wendy Bennett Trailhead in Schenley Park - at the foot of the Schenley Oval (map) - you'll see us standing there.

Sorry for the late message - one thing retirement does for you is alter time - who knows what day it is?  Last Sunday's run through Frick Park was almost cinematic - a misty sunshine outlining our forms through the branches, surrounded by pinpoints of green leaves. And the drama didn't end there:  our prescient decision to sit outside at the 61C meant that we were ON THE SCENE as an electrical line across the street popped, fizzled and fell down among the cars. In a flash Kristin was calling 911 and Joanne was directing traffic.  LIVES WERE SAVED undoubtedly.  This was so exciting that it precluded most endorsements, except for:

• assertion evidence slide design  (we are nerds)
• memories of safety patrol, especially the belts (we may always have been nerds)
• incredibly comfortable shoes (admittedly nerdy) that Sharon and I have been wearing for years: Clark's Un.loop 

April 17 Run: Colfax School for perhaps a Frick Park run

Next run will begin at the Colfax School at Beechwood and Douglas in Squirrel Hill, and we'll enjoy some early springtime in Frick Park if it's not too muddy, or snowing - which is almost exactly what this blog says last year at this time, proving yet again that April is the cruelest month.  (However, the forecast is for 70 and sunny!)

Last week we met in Highland Park, and Joanne took us in the other direction - to Stanton Heights - which are very high!  But we all made it and saw some excellent views, not to mention streets and houses rarely encountered in our usual travels.  The Tazza D'Oro was inviting as always, and as usual we covered a lot of bases:

• Kosher cakes
• Iontophoresis - new way to ingest pharmaceuticals electronically, next we will put USB ports in humans
• the origins of the phrase "jumped the shark"  - Happy Days? Really?
• something I can't remember but it included the question "Was it because they couldn't smell him under the dumpster?" 
• Thriftique Sale, April 14-17 - 51st St. in Lawrenceville
• Book:  Nathan Englander's For the relief of unbearable urges
• The blitz episode from How I met your mother
• the excellent apple dumplings at the cafe! And, I found the children's book that they reminded me of - also endorsed -

April 10 Run: Tazzo d'Oro for a Highland Park Run

Last Sunday, only two runners made it for the Allegheny Cemetery run.  I suppose the threat of icy roads kept many away (or fun Saturday night plans kept us in bed Sunday morning).

Thanks to Gretchen and Joanne, a run was chosen for next Sunday, back to Highland Park.  This is a great opportunity to still see the views out to the river before the trees are completely leafed out.  Meet at Tazzo d'Oro on Highland near the intersection with Bryant.  Maybe we can look for signs of our reluctant Spring.

April 3 Run: Starting at Caffe D'Amore on Butler at 54th, Lawrenceville: Allegheny Cemetery

Spring has sprung along with a multitude of gorgeous Magnolia trees, and Allegheny Cemetery is the perfect setting, so we'll explore.  Start and coffee will be at Caffe D'Amore at 5400 Butler St. in Lawrenceville.

On Sunday we had a first:  exploring Aspinwall!  It's adorable.  We started at the Aspinwall Riverfront Park - with a whimsical climbing sculpture by a famous artist - and more is planned, including free ice skating in the winter - could be great.  It is apparently so safe that one house had, among its inflatable-sized Easter decorations, an elaborate outdoor miniature train set just sitting out there.  It's also so small that within a short time we found ourselves in Fox Chapel, invading one of the private drives of the 1 percent.

Due to the Easter holiday, we had coffee at... the Waterworks Giant Eagle! Astoundingly, they have an entire comfy Starbucks tucked inside - along with a pretty impressive beer emporium - who knew?
Endorsed:

• New Barebones Theater production:  One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - April 21-May 7 at the New Hazlett Theater 
• Podcast: The Hidden Brain
• Busgazer app for telling you when the next bus is coming
• Hotels that have fire pits with s'mores, like they do in Duluth
• in a period full of bad news, here's some great news: chocolate boosts your workout

Not exactly endorsed, she said scowling, but she's not really:

• RBF - Resting Bitch Face 

March 27 Run: Aspinwall - Meet at Beans 'n Cream, 16 Brilliant Avenue

So we're crossing a river!  On Sunday we're starting at Aspinwall Beans 'n Cream on 16 Brilliant Ave. (map) - checking out a whole new neighborhood.

This is not really a shlep, so don't kvetch - as we discussed along with various other yiddish words last week, including ufsalukhus (sp?), which Lainy uses to great effect but when I've tried to find it, all I come up with is koolasuchus, some kind of Australian dinosaur which may or may not be related.  All this occurred at the cozy Big Dog Coffee place at the end of a pretty great South Side run.  We visited the origination spot for the StepTrek, ran down many adorable residential streets, discovered the new part of the trail overlooking another marina, and climbed on various ancient steelworks relics.  We also witnessed the big development going on at the former Duquesne Brewery - the Brew House Lofts.  As we came in from the cold, Big Dog had a fire going in the fireplace - some of us just stayed and stayed.

As a result, many endorsements:

• Coats with up-zippers
• AmeriCorps
• Videos for yoga and training:
•   Bryan Jones
•   Sri Pattabhi Jois (original Ashtanga guru)
•   Sydney Leroux Gym Sculpt
• Dish restaurant on the S. Side
• Zenith restaurant for vegans/vegetarians
• Starbucks new Clover Brewing system
• Annual Mindfulness Fair (was last week,) the Center for Mindfulness, and mindfulness in general
• There are now so many podcasts that we like that we are recommending whole groups of podcasts:  Radiotopia Network, and Panoply (from Slate)
• Not really an endorsement but some really weird thing about whispering over the internet called ASMR
• The Running Group's ability to communally problem-solve - twice!

March 20 Run: Meet at Big Dog Coffee for a Southside Run

Next Sunday, meet at Big Dog Coffee (2717 Sarah Street) for a South Side run!

This past Sunday, we started and ended at 61C, running down Murray Avenue down to Greenfield, then coming back up the hill via Greenfield Avenue, Lilac, and Shady.  We saw many new and old businesses throughout Squirrel Hill and Greenfield.  We also saw the place where an SUV accidentally drove on top of the roof of the Greenfield Giant Eagle (from the rear, via Greenfield Avenue); thankfully the fence held the car back from hitting the brick wall!

I don't have any major endorsements to share with you from coffee since there were only three of us and we mainly discussed public vs. private schools since the whole school decision is nearing for me personally.  Well, I should say, the chocolate pastry and apple danish from 61C Cafe could be endorsed :-).

March 13 Run: Meet at 61C Cafe for a Runners' Choice Run- and SPRING FORWARD YOUR CLOCKS!

This upcoming Sunday, let's meet at 61C Cafe for a default run, to be determined.

I was out of pocket this past Sunday, but I heard that the great weather and Schenley Park run attracted a big group.  So, sorry to say that I don't have any coffee notes to share.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO SET YOUR CLOCKS FORWARD ON SATURDAY NIGHT!  (Or else you will be an hour late for the run!)

March 6 Run: Wendy Bennett Trailhead for a Schenley Park run

Next Sunday we'll start at the Wendy Bennett Trailhead, at the start of Overlook Drive, foot of the Schenley Oval.  You know where it is, and if not, just follow Bartlett or Hobart to Schenley Park until you see the group standing around until 7:05 when they will take off in an unknown direction.  

Last Sunday we had a great run up to the top of the Pittsburgh world - the Robert Williams Memorial Park in Herron Hill.  To get there we passed Laurie's house and (sigh) Schenley High School that was, and went up and up and up until we arrived at the path around the reservoir, from which - especially now that the trees are bare - you can see vistas in all directions.  We then came back via the monumental Pitt sports complexes, which somehow also managed to be up and up - defying the laws of physics, but no matter.  We were very glad to finally stop climbing, and initiate the newest local Starbucks (does one open every day on the planet?) and take over a group-friendly table and schmooze for quite a while.  The multitude of topics simply overcame me so I have just a few endorsements to note:

• Charming photography of Belle Epoque Paris at the Frick

• Super low prices for trips to Montreal and other Canada destinations - experience a civilized country for a change

• The Full Monty - latest musical at CMU theater - sadly it's over now but don't miss their next production

February 28 Run: Fifth Ave. in Oakland across from Soldiers & Sailors - a new Starbucks

On Sunday we'll meet at a new Starbucks in Oakland that is so new it's not on Google Maps, so I don't have an exact address, except that it's on Fifth Avenue across from Soldiers & Sailors Memorial, probably next to the Pitt Student Union.  We'll have an Oakland run that will take us up to the Water Tower, with a view of the whole city in all directions, especially now before the leaves come out.

Last Sunday we headed out toward Schenley Park and CMU - where students were taking some unusual vehicles for a spin - first a real drone (they promised it had no weapons) and then a slew of buggies all around Flagstaff Hill.  Weren't the first driverless cars seen right here, years ago, scaring the pants off of onlookers?  Running seemed positively medieval.

Coffee was lively and totally fun as usual.  After we expressed our outrage over the idiocy of retractable leashes in the parks, and puzzled over a weird set of buzzing wired-up pots on the windowsill (HTG evidently stands for High Tech Gardening - who knew?), we endorsed:

• Terrific line dancing taught at the Homewood YMCA by master instructor, Roland Ford, though I can't remember the day/time so better call.
• TV: Vinyl, Making a Murderer, Nurse Jackie, Master of None, and Louie (Louis CK)  
• Movie: The Witch (scary but brilliant)
• Podcast:  Serial is back!!
• Web series:  Margot vs Lily (please forgive shameless promotion - but running is involved!)

February 21 Run: Meet at 61C Cafe for a Runner's Choice Run

This Sunday, we default to our standby 61C Cafe location for a run TBD.

Last Sunday, Virginia and her sister-in-law were the only ones who braved the frigid temperatures and winter weather advisory.  That has got to be a record for smallest group of people on a Sunday run, I think!

Virginia asked me to pass along this great running article:

Running is best for the brain!

Note by Wendy 2/18/2016

Lainy and Sarah and David and I must have set out just before Virginia and her sister-in-law arrived, but they still beat us as the smallest group. It was c-o-l-d and we had fun.

.

February 14 Run: Meet at 61C Cafe for a Valentines' Schenley Park Run

Next Sunday, let's meet at 61C Cafe and run over to Schenley Park in the spirit of Valentine's Day.  Bundle up and wear those hotties!  If it's too cold to run, at least come to coffee afterward.

This past Sunday, Roye led us on a very nice run through Lawrenceville, traversing train tracks several times, passing a dog run/park, admiring the city view from the river trail, and passing many businesses, both new and old.  Endorsements abound, all along the run, including:

Roundabout Brewery
Lester Yon garage
Triftique, Goodwill, Sears Scratch n' Dent
Barb's Country Kitchen
Kaleidoscope Cafe

At coffee, endorsements included:

More hand sewn cashmere mittens!
The Outsiders- show filmed at the JCC Family Park in Monroeville
Books: Crude Look at the Whole, How Starbucks Saved My Life

February 7 Run: Lawrenceville: Espresso a Mano cafe at Butler and 36th Street

There was some enthusiasm about a Lawrenceville run, so we'll start at 36th and Butler and go from there.  That's at the Espresso a Mano cafe, which is a favorite, but interest was also expressed in having breakfast at Barb's Country Kitchen (nearer to 47th St.)   However, people may not have time, so we can decide on the run.  We can see what's new on the river trail (apparently a dog park?), and what hip new storefronts have opened.  Also the Allegheny Cemetery awaits.  Many possibilities!

Last week we explored the South Side flats - basically we ran from the Goodwill to the Salvation Army and back (checking out the potential cashmere haul) and visited the Thinnest Building in Pittsburgh, the Terminal Shops (kind of an unfortunate name), the Heritage Trail, and then settled down into the coziness of Big Dog Coffee, which did have the promised fireplace, plus an actual large dog upstairs.  You can tell what most of us are doing evenings by the fact that endorsements fell heavily into the Watched on TV category:

• The Great British Baking Show (many thumbs up)
• Mozart in the Jungle
• The Americans
• Fargo
• Black Mirror - esp. episode with John Hamm
• Master of None
• The Bachelor?  
• Movies: Inescapable and Meet the Patels

Also (not sure what this indicates)

• The Aviary
• Bell bottoms, culottes and gauchos
• Locksmiths - Ace Locksmith, and also the Squirrel Hill Locksmith which also repairs appliances.

Finally the great suggestion that, after we learned that PCTV has many slots available, our running group could have a show of our own, modeled on The View.  We could call it The Schmooze.

January 31 Run: from Big Dog Coffee Shop on 2717 Sarah Street, South Side

By popular request, since we haven't done this in a while, we'll run through the South Side, starting and ending at the charming Big Dog Coffee Shop, first introduced years ago by Pam.  I think they have fireplaces!  We don't have a route yet but one will magically appear.

We got a bit confused last week, since I missed Lainy's message about the run starting at her house and offering not only coffee and goodies but mitten-making lessons.  Well, actually I was the only one confused, so I missed the start and ran on my solitary way, also managing to get locked out of my car (damn those electronic keys!)  But it all came together when I saw the runners returning and gathering in Lainy's kitchen for freshly baked bread and other delicious things AND a table set up with sewing paraphernalia and piles of cashmere - yes, cashmere! We cut and sewed like mad; like
the Zika Virus, the contagion of cashmere mitten-making is spreading fast.  If you want to get involved, just ask at the next run - but be aware it may take over your life.  In a nice warm soft way.








Bonus from the Jan. 17 run - photo by Laurie - our view of the Allegheny at dawn.

January 24 run: default at 61C Cafe, Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill

Neither Aimee nor I were at coffee discussions of the running plan last week, so we'll just meet at our usual spot - 61C Cafe in Squirrel Hill - and figure it out from there ☕️

January 17 Run: 21st St and Liberty Avenue parking lot- Strip District/La Prima Run/Coffee

This coming Sunday, let's get back to our old friend, the Strip, for an oldie but goodie, followed by the local favorite, La Prima coffee.  It's been too long since we've enjoyed those warm almond meles!

This past Sunday, we had quite a large group of intrepid souls willing to run in the soggy weather.  Unfortunately, it rained for almost the entire run, but it was delightful nonetheless.  Michelle led us through Edgewood, Swissvale, and Wilkinsburg sections of Regent Square as well as a loop through Frick Park.  We saw wildlife!  An opossum crossed our paths after giving us quite the dirty look!  We saw history!  Old Pittsburgh trolley tracks!  We saw commerce!  Active train tracks!  I would say this run met Elaine's definition of a "designer run" given all these attributes.

Unfortunately, we were all so waterlogged and damp that we didn't stay long enough to record endorsements at the sleepy but beautiful City Cafe (former shoe repair shop turned into a beautiful cafe with a pressed tin ceiling).  It's so hard to believe that only a few days ago for the run, it was warm enough to comfortably run in the rain-- oh how quickly things change.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate for Sunday's run.  If not, grab those buffs and cashmere mittens!

January 10 Run: Meet at City Cafe, 106 E Swissvale Ave, Edgewood

Next Sunday, meet at City Cafe (106 E. Swissvale Avenue) for a Stairs/Tunnel Run in Edgewood.  Park on the street near the School for the Deaf.

Last Sunday, we met at the newly opened historic Ace Hotel (former YMCA) in the burgeoning East Liberty, so we could stylishly sip coffee in the hip lobby.  Even though we're a hardy group normally accustomed to the cold, since we had been spoiled by the warm-ish weather, the 20 degree morning was a bit of a shock to our systems.  Good thing there was plenty to distract us from the wind (as well as new homemade Running Group mittens)!  We headed toward Allegheny Cemetery, but turned around after hearing there was a brand-new restaurant about to open across the street, Apteka!  And we were delighted to see one of the owners there with a couple of contractors constructing the most important part, the bar.  After a bit of a chitchat, we continued along, heading back to Ace along the sidestreets toward the gorgeous sunrise.

Now with such a large group, I only caught the side toward the right of the photo.  Endorsements and topics of discussion from my side of the couch included:
Political canvassing, some love it, some hate it
Hillary Headbands, a throwback to the 1990s!
Hot Flash Designs
Rasicka restaurant in DC
Midwives and some harrowing birth stories!

New Year's Day Holiday Run: Starbucks in Sq. Hill - and Jan. 3 Sunday Run: the Ace Hotel, 120 S. Whitfield St., East Liberty

Once more, an embarassment of running riches this week:  2 runs - holiday New Year's Day default run at 7:30 from Starbucks (on Forbes) in Squirrel Hill, followed by the Sunday run at 7:00 starting at the new Ace Hotel on 120 S. Whitfield St., East Liberty.  We're not sure about coffee availability there but Zeke's is around the corner, also great and open at 8.  If nobody else wants to lead, I'll take it up to the Allegheny Cemetery and back.

Last week I not too hopefully asked for ideas for the Squirrel Hill runs, assuming there is nothing new under the Forbes@Murray sun, but how wrong I was. PtB and Iain took us out some unaccustomed streets over to Fernwald and its romantic view of a misty sunrise all the way down to the Carrie Furnace, not to mention a surfeit of stunning mid-century modern homes, all expertly described by Wendy.  Our sadly unfulfilled search for holiday decorations last week was totally redeemed in many yards this time, especially one on Marlborough that absolutely ruled them all and included tiny dancing and singing snowmen (photo thanks to Pam.) Then on Sunday Pam took us into every hidden cul-de-sac off of Beechwood and Shady (good interval training as every one goes straight uphill.)  More architectural gazing at secret mansions we never even knew were there (how many Pittsburghers are in the 1%?) including the Scaife estate on Braeburn Place, which as you can see below is creepily blocked out on Google Maps street view.  Now that's power. 


Had to race back with bagels for visiting rambunctious nephews, so no endorsements recorded - though feel free to write in with anything essential.

Dec. 25 (Xmas Holiday Run at 7:30) at Starbucks on Forbes and Shady AND Dec. 27 (Normal Sunday Run at 7) - at 61C Cafe on Murray at Bartlett

Wow, that was a long subject line. But it had to include the default 7:30 a.m. holiday run on the 25th (Starbucks on Forbes and Shady), as well as our usual 7 a.m. run on Sunday (61C Cafe on Murray at Bartlett.)  And I might as well add the New Year's holiday run at 7:30 a.m. on Jan. 1 - also at Starbucks - but will send a reminder next week.  A lot of running time coming up!  No special routes planned yet - bring your ideas. 

Last week we had a rather deflated tour of holiday inflatables - a few sad puddles of plastic, and not much else to look at.  Even the glowing Moravian stars on Hastings are gone.  Maybe it's hard for homeowners to get in the seasonal spirit when it's so damn warm.  Sorry, but winter should come with icicles, snowdrifts, frigid air blasts, drippy noses, numb toes, etc.  Call me Scrooge, but I love that nice warm feeling you get after a good run in the freezing cold, especially when a group coffee is involved.  Also, we need it so that we can wear buffs.

Speaking of which, many endorsements!

• For families that are combining Chanukah and Christmas:  special glasses that turn Christmas lights into little Stars of David
• Christmas Music events - Pittsburgh Camerata , Heinz Chapel, and madrigals at the East Liberty Presbyterian Church (note for next year) 
•  Leaf and Plate on Ellsworth - teas to cure whatever ails you - seriously
• smitten kitchen cooking blog - and we were just asking about gingerbread!
• the new Ace Hotel in East Liberty - great lunch, and how did we get so trendy?
• the story of Kaufmann's Department Store and the family behind it - a real saga from the PG - so many things we didn't know!
• Kenyon Jewelers in Wilkinsburg - provides jewelry therapy as well as repairs
• Another don't miss series:  The Man in the High Castle - not the heart-warming kind though
• Future runs:  Troy Hill and its Shrine, and Aspinwall/Sharpsburg

Stay tuned for more...