May 7 Run: Meet at Wendy's house, 6425 Wilkins, at Beechwood

It's Marathon Day on Sunday, so we'll navigate the road situation and start at Wendy's house on the corner of Beechwood and Wilkins.  There should be plenty of street parking around there, and here's the info. about road closures that morning.  Coffee at Wendy's (thank you!)  

Last week we visited Art All Night (a few bleary-eyed attendants and LOTS of definitely unusual art pieces) and its rarely visited environs around The Strip, Polish Hill, and Lawrenceville.  The James Cafe turned out to be just right - we tarried lots of time to endorse

• Newest and most adorable RG member:  Ruby (pictured below - the one with fur)
• More love for Linda Meacci's yoga retreats - 2 in Mexico and a new one in Spain.
• Knives - buy Global ones; sharpen whatever you have at In the Kitchen
• Well, let's hope we don't have to use this one anytime soon:  Shadyside Hospital.
• Mah jongg - we need to start again! 
• RG fave Buffalo Rose free concert this Saturday! 3Rivers Outdoor Co in Regent Square, 5-6 pm.

April 30 Run/Walk: Meet at the James Cafe (a new one!), 2550 Smallman St. on the Strip

After our memorable visit there last year, we want to catch the 26th Annual Art All Night at the 31st St. Studios, so we'll meet at the nearby James Cafe, another new one for us.  It's at 2550 Smallman and they have "adaptogenic drinks" - OK!  (Also coffee and pastry, no worries.)

Last week we visited the hills, dales, deer, turkeys, and deceased Mellons and Fricks at Homewood Cemetery. Not to mention the haunting Motherless statue.  Also we walked down Woodwell St., the most poetic street in Pittsburgh.  Even more poetic:  the cardamom buns at Five Points, where we endorsed:

• The Dyson hair dryer, a game changer for sure, though only if you win one - see photo below for Teri's unforgettable demo.
• The Merlin bird ID app from Cornell's Ornithology Labs, amazing, free, and this is the time.
• Newest RG Expansion: Thursday Evening Bike Rides!  Starting May 4 at 5:15 at the Greenfield Jail Trail parking lot.  (Correcting the wrong date I gave 2 weeks ago.)  If we keep this going into wintertime we can train to join the Frigid Bitches.
• Quantum Theatre's brilliant forays into uncanny spaces.  The Devil Is a Lie is on until Sunday in the Frick Building lobby.
• Some success in keeping deer out of your hostas with this.
• Best Bar Mitzvah gifts - this one was unique.

April 23 Run/Walk: Meet at Five Points Bakery, 6520 Wilkins in Squirrel Hill

We know about the yummy confections at Five Points, but they also have Espresso a Mano coffee and some seating, so we'll give that a try this week.  It's at 6520 Wilkins, corner of Severn, street parking all around.  We can walk around a neighborhood poetry installation, wander through the famous graves in Homewood Cemetery (including the Princess, my favorite), see the marvelous mosaics made by Max, etc.

Last week we visited the Strip environs once again, and rounded the 3 Rivers, wondering: why they didn't turn on the fountain?!  Or the fabulous water walkway under the Convention Center?!  These were sorely missed,  but at least at La Prima #2 we celebrated the return of Springtime and outdoor convos.  What we learned:

• You can use Maps on your iPhone to locate your car.
• Verona has a great pickleball court.
• Everyone seems to have HOKA running shoes.  Why?
• Buying a new mattress, a baffling ordeal: Saatva? Costco? The Original Mattress Factory? These seem to be worth considering.
• Whom to elect soon as Allegheny County Executive: another baffling ordeal - so watch this recent debate. 
• After you wake up from that, you could also watch Pretty Baby.
• Listen: to the mellifluous Small Hours trio at the Pittsburgh Winery, April 30 at 3:30 pm.  

April 16 Run/Walk: Meet at the Union Station Rotunda (next to the Amtrak station) downtown.

As we lament the state of Pittsburgh's Amtrak Station, which is pathetic, we will at least honor the remains of the historic Union Station next to it and meet under the Grand Rotunda.  Here's a map - it is currently the entrance to the Pennsylvanian Apartments at 1100 Liberty Ave.  Parking may be a little tricky -  but there is a parking garage at Penn and 12th St. a block away, with some parking spaces on Penn too. Coffee to follow at the new La Prima that is 2 blocks away on Smallman (another map.)  

Last Sunday's foray to the Duck Hollow trail and thereabouts featured sunrise on the Mon, and a terrifying underground tunnel that looked like the Mouth of Hell.  We still can't see how to get to the Glenwood Bridge though.  At Panera - topics included husbands and uteri - and multiple endorsements (with a few from last week):

• We are starting Thursday night bike rides on May 1!  Meet at the Greenfield Jail Trail parking lot at 5:15 - be there.
• Watch:  Jews of the Wild West (on Prime Video), Robert Caro documentary (it looks like you can see this on iTunes), and Bob Hope road movies.
• Listen:  Aria Code podcast will open your ears to opera.  Also the future podcast that Elaine is going to make about Duck Hollow.
• Potential day trip to Greensburg on the train
• Magnet fishing which is happening at Duck Hollow and you can get artillery shells.
• There appear to be puzzles for dogs.

April 9 Run/Walk: Meet at the Duck Hollow Parking lot (see message for map)

Two seders and my own general inefficiency are resulting in a short script this week:

On Sunday we're going to investigate Duck Hollow and the Duck Hollow Trail, and then we'll figure out where to have coffee.  Get to the Duck Hollow Trail parking lot using this map. Basically go down Browns Hill Road, pass the IHOP and the CVS to take a left onto Parkview and then a fairly quick right onto Old Browns Hill Road (but don't go into the JAA apartment complex) which you follow down the hill until the end and then take a right at the river - you should see the parking lot there.  

Last week:  Swisshelm Park revisited after 16? years was totally fun and so was the Parisi Cafe.

Happy Easter and Passover and Ramadan and Springtime to all!

April 2 Run/Walk: Meet at Parisi Cafe in Swisshelm Park (map link in the message)

Not since April of 2007 have we had a run in Swisshelm Park, then led by Wendy who at the time lived on Goodman St.  Time flies! And so did we at the time. This week we return, maybe not flying so much, with Wendy and Beth to show us around 💕.  We'll start at the Parisi Cafe, about which we know nothing but it looks cute!  Map is here.

Last week we honored our new Senator Fetterman by spending a morning around his favorite Sunday spot, the Waterfront, where we often hung out together.  Well, sort of.  Anyway, all ensconced at Panera we raised our coffee cups to heartily wish him a speedy recovery.  Hopefully we'll see him on the trail sometime this summer!  Many fascinating topics for endorsement:

• Fish Fries still reign at Elks on the North Side, also Sacred Heart, and especially the Hazelwood Community Kitchen.  Only one more week!
• Watch and laugh: Mel Brooks' History of the World Pt. 2.   Also read his book:  All About Me.
• Read, blast from the past:  Jane Eyre.
• Attend:  any CMU musical - this year's was Godspell, but they are fabulous every year.
• Sleep:  Nothing Much Happens, bedtime stories
• The Pac Tom video, did you know about this guy? - astonishing!

March 26 Run/Walk: Meet at the Waterfront Starbucks: 270 W. Bridge Street Homestead, PA

This Sunday, let's meet at the Waterfront Starbucks, in support of John Fetterman.  

Last Sunday, we were at Riverview Park to see Beth's amazing tree plantings and to applaud her volunteer work as a Forest Steward.  If I remember correctly, she said there were 300 trees planted!  She will have a photo time lapse to see how the trees grow over time.  Great work, Beth!

Then the runners and walkers split off and I can say the runners enjoyed a full-body workout when we went off-trail to take a look at Perry High School.  You know it's a good incline when you have to put your hands down for balance!  Then on our way back to the cars, we found the house where Joanne's dad grew up (see photo below).

Coffee at Commonplace coffee included the following endorsements:

The Nordic Theory of Everything
The Mother Tree
The Overstory
Hidden Life of Trees

March 19 Run/Walk: Meet at 141 Riverview Ave (park around there) for a Riverview Park Run with Beth

On Sunday, Beth has offered to take us on a Riverview Park Run/Walk on March 19, so park here on Riverview Ave. She'll show folks the newly planted urban forest area along a trail in the park that she help steward.  We’ll have to drive to coffee so let's make that Commonplace on 1501 Buena Vista. 

Last Sunday we tried out the convenient Whole Foods cafe, which was OK except for a relentless barrage of video screens.  But the charm of the morning was the exquisite sunrise over Garfield.  And our sparkling conversation, and endorsements:

• Artist Felix de la Concha who created multiple series of Pittsburgh scenes, one of which is 365 views of the Cathedral of Learning - I think you can still see it all displayed in Alumni Hall at Pitt.
• The Westmoreland Museum of Art in Greensburg - and you can take the train! (though it leaves at 7:30 am.)
• Japanese Techno-toilets , but they are a little scary.
• Recommended fishfry:  St. Max in Homestead
• Armina Stone for your countertop
• And speaking of kitchen remodels, this astounding payment plan:  get $10,000 dollars in Home Depot gift cards from the Giant Eagle - that could give you free gas for a year.  If you charge the gift card, free flights too. 

March 12 Run: Meet at Whole Foods Coffee Shop: 5700 Penn Avenue

I'm filling in for Roye this week to send out the blog.  Looks like a Morningside and Stanton Heights Run, led by Joanne! 

Some endorsements for Fish Fries:

https://diopitt.org/fish-fry-guide

St. Alex in Homestead

Swissvale Fire Hall

March 5 Run/Walk: Meet at Tazza D'Oro, 1125 N. Highland Ave.

Back to Highland Park, meeting and having our klatch at the happily restored Tazza D'oro.  Maybe if there's sun we'll see it gloriously rise over the reservoir.

Last Sunday was full of treats and discoveries.  A spookily misty Frick Park revealed a hidden Little Free Library dedicated to outdoor adventures.  And at Virginia's house, in addition to the delectable bounty and conversational warmth, the most adorable canine in Regent Square.  Also recommended:

• Voss TV & Appliance - far but worth it
• Garden Hose Living Designs garden care by wonderful women
• When out walking, only ONE earbud, if that - awareness is all!

February 26 Run/Walk: Meet at Virginia's house, 1200 Lancaster Ave. in Regent Square

Great news!  Virginia invites us all to her lovely house in Regent Square for coffee after the run - and of course there are innumerable captivating routes to take from there.  

Less great news!  No time today to enumerate our bons mots and brilliant ideas from last week.  Will try to make it up next time.  

February 19 Run/Walk: Meet at Sidecar Coffee Shop, 200 N. Craig St. at Bayard St.

We'll meet at a new coffee shop again (we should really start writing reviews) - Sidecar, on the corner of N. Craig and Bayard in North Oakland.  The website says it opens at 9 on Sunday, but the phone message says 8, so we'll go with that.  Lots of unexplored (by RG) territory around there - was looking for a way to walk across the Bloomfield Bridge and found some info. on Urban Traipsing which should be our group's real name.  

Last week we moseyed around Lawrenceville, where Elaine's angelic status was captured photographically.  We ended up taking most of the space inside Espresso a Mano, and discussing the extensive traipsing being done by ourselves in Europe, Canada, Sedona, Mexico, and around town with several hundred Frigid Bitches.  More items considered:

• Patrick Mahomes (he did it!)
• Watch:  Good Luck to You, Leo Grande
• the August Wilson Center
• Van Life?  Not according to Nomadland.
• Defined: "That's a husband crime."

February 12 Run/Walk: meet at Espresso a Mano - 3623 Butler St. - for a Lawrenceville excursion

Haven't been to Lawrenceville for a while so we'll see what's up there these days - coffee at Espresso a Mano, Butler St. near 37th.  

Last Sunday was a tour of our fair city with a return to 19th c. elegance in the William Penn Lobby, where access to coffee has been revived, and we kibitzed around a giant borne settee (more about that item here.)  We also patronized the nicest publicly available rest room downtown.  It was hard to leave.  We liked:

• Clear zinc sunscreen - fewer nasty chemicals
• Frigid Bitch winter bike race (can we do it?  TBD...)
• Many excellent almost new bikes available on Craigslist (and similar) because they were dumped after the pandemic.
• Tiffany windows at Calvary Church
• Pittsburgh neighborhood map 
• Watch:  The Untouchables (movie) and Mindy Project (series)
• Polar Extreme socks

• 

February 5 Run/Walk: Meet at 530 Penn Place entrance to Omni William Penn Hotel downtown

On Sunday we'll return to the gracious old world lobby of the Wm Penn Hotel, and imbibe the elegance with the coffee which once again is available inside! (The Starbucks disappeared in the pandemic.)  For those of you who have yet to experience an RG gathering in this space, it's a treat.  But give yourself a little extra time to find downtown street parking (though there is paid parking in the Mellon Square lot on the next block.) Also many places to run and walk dahntahn.

Rain as expected held off for exactly the time of our excursion through Schenley Park last week - here are the runners as seen through the trees by walkers (photo by Beth.)  Convo covered the usual wide range, with endorsements:

• Beloved band Buffalo Rose is on its national tour - hopefully will come back to the Burgh soon.
• Casa Brasil restaurant on Bryant St. - get some moqueca!
• Schenley Park had stables until 1971 - and a sulky race track at the Oval.
• RG's professional expertise extends to dry cleaning legislation which could prove lucrative.
• There is also dry cleaning at home.
• Read: Cooked by Michael Pollan, especially the section on fermentation, about which here is a DIY from Beth. 
• Ride:  Women at Work Cycling

January 29 Run/Walk: Meet at the Wendy Bennett Trailhead

It's back to Schenley Park now that it's a little lighter in the a.m., starting at our own Wendy Bennett Trailhead (first mentioned in this blog in 2006!)  Corner of Greenfield Ave. and Overlook Dr. - map is here.  Coffee locale TBD, though probably 61C.

Last Sunday we kept by the river on the South Side in both directions - the water view is always so soothing.  Big Dog actually had a table that fit 13 of us. Virginia took the photo which captured the amount of coffee/exercise/friendship-fueled happiness, leading to numerous endorsements:

• Yoga with Linda Meacci - a retreat in Mexico coming up soon will have RG representation!
• The New Yorker Radio Hour
• Want to read:  Beaverland: How One Weird Rodent Made America - seriously this may explain our current political situation
• Speaking of which, George Santos - the gift that keeps on giving. 
• Pasties - not those - we were discussing the meat pies.  They actually didn't sound that good.
• Spinning classes and Pelotons - and the JCC has both.

January 22 Run/Walk: Meet at Big Dog Coffee, 2727 Sarah St. on the South Side

Heading back to the South Side this Sunday - meeting at occasional favorite Big Dog Coffee on Sarah St. - destination could be up the Slopes or down to the Mon.

Last week we initiated a new coffee locale - nice! - explored the North Pt. Breeze and Park Place neighborhoods, and did some shopping at the East End Food Coop.  Endorsements:

• The East End Food Coop
• Winter Sowing- DIY seedlings to start outside now in milk jugs - ask Beth, or this guy.  Also this guy.
• By popular demand, the official RG upcycled wool sweater mitten pattern.  We of course use primarily cashmere.  More info. available from Roye, Lainy, or Wendy.  They are awesome, not to mention made famous by Bernie Sanders.
• Gibsonia - home to the Western PA Model Railroad Museum (includes entire GAP Trail) and Goodwill (good cashmere source for the above.)
• Dog rescue:  The Road Home Animal Project
• For more animal news - Mr. Beaver returns!  Thank you @pghparkrangers
• The Puppy Bus, and classic cat videos  (Is this us now? It used to be all about elementary school and Bar Mitzvah parties.)

January 15 Run/Walk: Meet at the East End Food Coop, 7516 Meade St.

We're aiming for coffee at the NEW Commonplace Coffee location buried in the new space-age industrial space of Rockwell Park, across from the East End Food Coop.  The EEFC has a parking lot, though there is also street parking on Meade St.  Forays can be made into Homewood, Pt. Breeze, Wilkinsburg, and just a few blocks away, Boudoir in the Burgh, which I'd say deserves a look-see.

Last week, Shadyside held its charm even through the gloom.  Attendance was up to 15, walkers a majority!  So much to discuss - 

• Watch:  What the Constitution Means to Me at the City Theatre
• Change your lifestyle:  Noom
• Smell good:  Jo Malone's Myrrh-Tomka.  
• Listen: How I built this (more on scent-making.)  Or for Tales of Hollywood: You must remember this.
• Solve:  Spelling Bee - you will lose your morning, possibly the whole day.
• Petland - good, PetSmart - bad.  Also, a debate: muzzles vs. dog testicle removal.  There was actually much more re canines.

January 8 Run/Walk: Meet at Round Table Coffee, 5830 Ellsworth in Shadyside

Never a shortage of new coffee spots - we'll try out Round Table Coffee on Ellsworth near the corner of Maryland in Shadyside.  And run/walk around there, maybe simply look at all the pretty houses that always remind me of the opening scene of Lady & the Tramp (did any of you watch this movie approximately 100 times with your kids?  We called it Spaghetti Doggies.)

Last holiday weekend had another 2-run bonanza and occupied the 61C cafe accordingly.  A first was achieved: piling into an Uber to get back in time for coffee.  Much was discussed that is off the record, but we can admit to:

• Fleet Feet has just opened a running shoe store in Bakery Square.  OK, we didn't know this before but evidently they recycle bras.
• COVID is not just another virus.
• Read:  the trove of unread books that is already on your shelves.
• Watch:  The Gilmore Girls - it's on Netflix and like a warm cup of cocoa that lasts 7 years.
• Trespassing.

New Year's Day Run/Walk at 7 - plus the day after that at 7:30: meeting at 61C in Squirrel Hill

Light turnout last weekend, thanks to a holiday and a wind chill that freezes flesh in 15 minutes, so we're making it simple this time and meeting both days at our usual default spot, the 61C cafe in Squirrel Hill.  7 am on Sunday and 7:30 on Monday.  Should be absolutely balmy!

A few endorsements were recorded:  

• Peloton, where you can tour the Hebrides on your bike in company with a very cute guy
• Loehmann's and Marshall's in their heydays - and when will there be another Boden sale?  
• Haflinger slippers
• Vinegar for cleaning your oven and everything else

December 25 Run/Walk: Sunday, meet at 7 am at Starbucks on Forbes/Shady corner; Monday, meet at 7:30 am at the 61C

Yes, Virginia (and thank you Virginia for writing up this message!), there is a run/walk on Christmas Day.  Whoever isn't otherwise occupied can meet at 7 am at the Starbucks at the corner of Forbes and Shady.  Then the next day (the federal holiday) we'll be meeting at good old 61C cafe in Squirrel Hill at 7:30 am.  

After tours of the holiday lights Downtown, we had a nice coffee adventure at Aslin Brewery -- a huge space that opens every day at 6:30 a.m. They don't offer pastries yet, but those will be introduced soon. The biggest challenge of the place was figuring out how to angle park backward, per the design of the parking on Smallman. I've heard people have gotten tickets if they don't back into the spaces.

Discussion: 

• We learned the term: DTR: define the relationship 
  
• Also: Meet cute
• Endorsements for "The Holiday", the charming 2006 movie starring Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Cameron Diaz and Jack Black.
• Another endorsement for the Ultra podcast.
• Several of us also compared notes on the season finale of "White Lotus."
• Also endorsed:  Yumuniverse - gluten free recipes and online cooking courses.