August 28 Run: Start at Big Dog Coffee on the South Side, 2717 Sarah Street

Since we didn't come up with a plan on Sunday,  I've got the controls here.  So I was recently inspired by reports of Pittsburgh's plan for a new giant park in Hays, so let's do a South Side run on the trail, starting at Big Dog Coffee, and heading toward the Bald Eagle nest, which is in Hays Woods.  I don't think there is a trail in from there, but we can look.  We can watch the river along the way, and also hang out on the Big Dog terrace afterwards.

On Sunday we followed Lainy to the hidden pedestrian entrance to the Fort Pitt Bridge (guess what - next to Fort Pitt) and so inaugurated one more river crossing for the RG.  Runners headed down to the West End Bridge to get back; walkers went over the Smithfield Street Bridge, after a detour inside the Grand Concourse which was unaccountably open at 7:30 - good to know when in search of a gorgeous bathroom.   Conversation and endorsements were technology focused:

• Pittsburgh Gigapanorama (thanks, David Bear!) - so you can see what's on top of the downtown buildings.  Sometimes there is a surprise - see photo.
• Cut & Sew classes and workshops (will the cashmere obsession return with cold weather?) Also Lainy mentions: Gloria Horn studio.  This is technology too!
• App-a-rama:
• Life360 tracks your family
• Find My Friends tracks everyone
• Transit will change your non-automobile life anywhere
• PAT Track covers, naturally, PAT buses, in real time
• Target Cartwheel - special discounts 
• GoMobile - will change your automobile parking life
• NoWait gets you seated at restaurants without the lines
• The WSJ weekend magazine shows you what apps celebs are using. 

August 21 Run: Downtown from PPG Place fountain aka Tomb of the unknown bowler

Direct from our leader Lainy: "Downtown.  Tomb of the unknown bowler.  3 Rivers run including running group first... A bridge the group has never crossed on foot before!"
If that doesn't get you there, I don't know what will.

Last week was a North Side tour - starting with the amazing Randy Land.  I can't report for the runners, but the (power)walkers headed up, up, up into Fineview for, naturally, some definitively fine views, and the marvelously named corner of Compromise and Hemlock.  Coffee at the newest
Commonplace Coffee locale, lovely though, due to their exceedingly careful attention to coffee technique, a bit slow.  But nobody cared.

August 14 Run: North Side run - meet at Commonplace Coffee, 1501 Buena Vista

August 14 already!  I don't care how miserably hot and humid it's been (and I'm living without air conditioning) - it's summer, and it's almost over! Well we might as well make the most of the rest of it, i.e. early morning runs that aren't dark, so let's meet this Sunday at the newest Commonplace Coffee - 1501 Buena Vista Street on the North Side.  Lots of possibilities route-wise - bring ideas! Powerwalk option is now a fixture.

Due to my terminal midsummer laziness, last week we had a bulletin instead of a posting, so here's the quick story:  last week, downtown prelude to Open Streets, visiting some riverside spots, including the newly resurrected bronze Manchester Bridge statues on the North Shore (click on that link for cool details!)
and this past week, Highland Park highlights.  I did keep track of endorsements:

• Open Streets was fabulous - new route to the West End snaked around multiple neighborhoods and over 2 bridges in surprising ways - lots of activities involving spandex - last one until 2017 :-(
• Sunday evening Highland Park "Reservoir of Jazz" (5-7) followed by Summer Soul Line Dancing with Roland Ford (7-9)
• Movies:  Bad Moms (stay for the credits) and Lo and Behold from Werner Herzog (many CMU-ites involved.)
• Our CLO - Aida (over), and South Pacific (coming up this weekend)
• Gaucho Parrilla Argentina - someone else recommended it, but I just checked out the menu and am totally psyched about the Choripan, which I had no idea was available in the Northern Hemisphere. Assuming it's made with Argentine chorizo - could be revelatory.
• Kayaking. The Venture Outdoors rentals in Aspinwall and on the North Shore couldn't be easier.   Plus, Pam found a kayak at T.J. Maxx that fits inside a Prius!
• Iceland - Virginia will report back
• Painters - Bill Ervin/Recovery Painting (there was another but I can't find him)
• Quadrathlons - we want to develop one that has Water Aerobics (led by Karen), Zumba (Wendy), Yoga (me) and finishes with the Original Jane Fonda Workout video  (this copy is blurry but it's the whole thing.)  Did anyone else start their journey to fitness with Jane and Leslie "there's so much more to you than meets the eye" Lilien?  They're still awesome!
  

July 31 Run: Back downtown for Open Streets - meet at PPG Place

We'll start our run (and probable alternate powerwalk) at the PPG Place fountain downtown (parking usually available on 4th) and will finish our coffee just as Open Streets will begin downtown at 9 a.m. So you may want to bring a change of clothes, your bike or your rollerblades in the car - this time the new route map expands across two bridges to the West End and the Northside!  Also the video is awesome.

Last week we went in a whole new direction from Mellon Park to Frick Park, where Pam, Wendy, and David revealed a hidden pottery installation which was explained but is still deliciously ghostly and mysterious.  We also initiated a powerwalk group to accommodate those of us on the DL, or who just feel like walking. I went because of my broken toe, but liked it because it's even easier to talk - my primary motivation anyway.

Endorsements:

• Bad Lip Reading  - all of them, especially the latest Cruz Talks Trump
• The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up - has indeed changed some lives
• Busy Beaver in Lawrenceville has a surprisingly generous selection of mousetraps.  Related fact: Asian cockroaches are called "747's".
• The West Wing - decade-old but still inspiring TV series puts some sanity into this scary election season - can watch on Hulu or ??
• Other escapes:  Harper's Ferry WV, Frostburg MD (especially Allegheny Trail House and Shift Restaurant,)  Polymath Park

July 24 Run: Mellon Park parking lot at Beechwood and Fifth

I'm just making this one up because our original plan for Sunday is postponed for a few weeks - so let's meet at the Mellon Park parking lot across from the intersection of Beechwood and Fifth Ave. We can either head up Penn Ave. towards Allegheny Cemetery, or down Fifth towards Shadyside. We'll flip a coin!  And a choice for coffee at Bakery Square:  Panera or Coffee Tree - choose your adventure.

Now returning to this post the following day, after (against my better judgment) watching the end of the Republican Convention, I can no longer summon any lightness, so will just report that last week's run all around Frick Park showed us new ways of seeing it and its neighbors, and the coffee at Audrey's was showed us more of the joys of friendship and of baking.
Two notes:

• If you have had any recent problems posting to the list, please let me know at roye.werner@gmail.com - we're still working on this
• If anyone is interested in learning Mahjong (sort of a cross between bridge and dominoes - RG has numerous fans, most of which are beginners), please contact Audrey at aekane@gmail.com                                                                                                                                                         

July 17 Run: Frick Park run beginning on Kensington St. in Pt. Breeze

On Sunday we have a special treat which will be a potluck coffee at Audrey's, so we'll start there.  It's on Kensington St. (a small street) in Pt. Breeze - off of Braddock (towards Frick Park) between Penn and Forbes (closer to Forbes.)  Not much parking on Kensington, but should be plenty on Braddock. If anyone wants to contribute any goodies, please see Wendy's shared google sheet to see what's already there.

As for Sunday's run downtown, so much transpired that we are letting the photos below do the talking.  In order, side and below: 

• Visit (#1) of our dear friend and fellow runner Jacquie, with husband Tony and new baby Paavo, en route from their home in Iowa to NYC. 
• Tour (#2,3) conducted by Teri of the awesome 33-story new Tower at PNC Plaza with its "state of the art green technology," art everywhere and astounding views.  
• Tour (#4,5) conducted by Virginia of the bright and open new offices, home to all those familiar names that tell us what's new every morning, of the historic Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 
• New art underfoot on Strawberry Way (#6) 

Also the weather was sparkling.



Endorsements: 

• Salted tahini chocolate chip cookies (with heads up to refrigerate overnight before baking)
• Green beans with tahihi from Zahav 
• Hoteling - new workplaces keeping you on the move
• Stamoolis on the Strip - if you haven't been there in a while, or ever, it's had an upgrade, has a terrific selection and is a great way to support the Greek economy
• YogaintheSquare - in Market Square, we saw many yogis gathering from where we were sitting - namaste!

July 10 Run: Downtown starting at the PPG fountain (aka Tomb of the Unknown Bowler)

Next Sunday we'll meet at PPG Place downtown at the usual starting time of 7 (plus 5 minutes) - parking can usually be found on 4th Ave.  If there is anything you want to check out downtown, hold that thought and we'll put it on the route. Like the new installation on Strawberry Way for instance.  Or some Furries still hanging around from last week's convention.

The holiday weekend as usual provided for double dipping, through perfect weather on both Sunday and Monday from the old 61C.  (It's actually not that old, at least for Pittsburgh.)  First run went straight down Murray into Greenfield, where Wendy obliged with the correct pronunciation of B'nai Emunah, and we discovered a new Asian massage place, and then backtracked on Beechwood. Second run headed through Schenley Park and then took a winding route through the CMU campus, where we found a terrace with a great view behind the Potato Chip (aka Scaife Hall) and after finding an open door, did some dubious traipsing around inside, down corridors and through tunnels.

Coffee outdoors at 61C was a treat both days, with just a few endorsements:

• Masters Hardware - just like the olden days - in Swissvale on Noble St.
• The reincarnation of Mr. Rogers (we always knew he had Buddhist tendencies) in Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, and those songs that make us cry
• Imagining alternative futures - mainly the one where Al Gore becomes president - but also
• 11/22/63 by Stephen King (evidently unputdownable)
• The Man in the High Castle (book by Philip Dick and also Amazon Prime series)
• The Plot Against America by Philip Roth
• The Frangipane Tart (via PtB) and also the Gin & Lemon Tart (could we get that one too?)
• Almond Macaroons (via me) adapted from my brief sojourn in Enrico's bakery

July 3: Meet at 61C Cafe for a Runners' Choice Run; July 4 holiday also at 61C

I have been out of town, but didn't want to leave you hanging.  I return early tomorrow morning, so I hope to make it to one or both of the runs this time!

Apologies for not getting this out earlier:

Sunday July 3: 7am at 61C
Monday July 4: 7:30 at 61C

June 19 Run: Meet at 61C Cafe for a Runners' Choice Run

This Sunday, let's meet at our default location, 61C Cafe, for a spontaneous unplanned run. We have a few runners out of town, or on the injured list, so if you come to the run, there's a good chance your route idea will win!

Last Sunday's run started at the waterfront and crossed the bridge over to Duck Hollow, then followed the river for a while.  We still need to do some reconnaissance on how/whether the trail connects with the Glenwood Bridge.

We are all very excited about the Hays woods becoming a city park, so any intrepid runners with a day off wanting to do some exploring for a future run would be welcomed.  There is the question as to where to park/meet, as none of the news articles mentioned specific locations of trailheads.  The Running Group is no stranger to bushwhacking, so this news was very exciting indeed.

June 12 Run: Meet at the Waterfront Starbucks for a Trail and/or Duck Hollow Run

This Sunday, let's start and end at the Starbucks in the center of the Waterfront for a trail and/or Duck Hollow run.  

Last Sunday was full of delights: a nice figure eight through the lush, leafy Schenley Park, then a delicious brunch in celebration of Wendy's birthday, hosted by fellow runner Elaine.  Focusing less on a number and more on the fabulous things that have come to those who have reached said number, it was a lively party that lasted almost until the time when normal, non-morning people have their brunches.  There were too many conversations to post endorsements, but I do recall some baby bump comparisons, the larger of which hopefully doesn't foretell the presence of multiples! More to come... but there are at least two new baby runners in the oven.  All very exciting.  And Elaine's backsplash definitely lived up to the hype!

June 5 Run: Meet at Wendy Bennett Trailhead for Wendy's Birthday

Next week, let's meet at the Wendy Bennett trailhead (intersection of Bartlett, Greenfield Ave, Blvd Allies) for a Schenley Park run.  Elaine will be hosting a potluck brunch/coffee at her house after the run in honor of Wendy's birthday.  Contact Elaine at emormer@pitt.edu if you need her exact address.  Also, feel free to drop off any perishable items at Elaine's house before the run.

Last week was a humid start to the day, as we made our way through the back alleys and train trestles of Lawrenceville.  Open Streets was about to kick off.  Some of us peeled off to do some Open Street yoga; the rest of us went to Barb's Corner Cafe for a delicious brunch.  Although the hipster effect has raised the prices a bit, it was still worth every penny.  Although the conversation was engaging, we didn't really discuss any endorsements per se.  See you on Sunday!

May 29 Run: Meet in Lawrenceville at Barb's Corner Kitchen 4711 Butler Street; May 30 Memorial Day holiday run to meet at 61C Cafe

Next Sunday, let's start and end/eat at Barb's Corner Kitchen at 4711 Butler Street, so we can celebrate the beginning of Open Streets Pittsburgh, where Butler Street and Penn Avenues are closed to vehicular traffic between 9am and 1pm and various events take place (see below). Monday is a holiday (Memorial Day), so we will meet at 61C Cafe for a Runners' Choice run.

Info on Open Streets:

"What better way to celebrate the coming of summer than to close a street from Downtown to Lawrenceville and fill it with family fun? OpenStreetsPGH plans to bring the festivities once again this year and the first one of the summer is on Sunday, May 29. From Market Square to Sixth Street and Penn Avenue then down Penn to Lawrenceville, the roads will completely shut down to motorized vehicles but open up to an array of all different forms of foot/wheel traffic. From walking and yoga, to bicycling and skateboarding, the streets will fill with different activities and events. Be sure to check out the major hubs in Downtown:

Market Square:

• 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. - Zumba and Turbokick boxing
• 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. - Yoga in the Square Kick-Off
• 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Pure Barre Class
• 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. - Hype-Spin Cycling

28th Street and Penn Ave:

• 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. - Morning Yoga with the Yoga Hive
• 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. - Chris Anthony Fitness: Bodyweight Cardio
• 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - YMCA Pittsburgh: Soul Line Dancing
• 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. - Shape Training
• All Day - Find Some Flow: Stonehenge and Kinetic Games

23rd Street and Penn Ave:

• All Day - Burgh MAN!
• All Day - Thick Bikes, Butler Wobble and the Wonders Uni-cycling
• All Day - Neville Roller Drome: Skate!

OpenStreetsPGH will also be host to small businesses along the route that will offer deals to all participants with specials available throughout the entire route.

Join in the fun and help to continue Pittsburgh’s streak as one of America’s most livable cities. Did we mention that it’s all free?"

This past Sunday, we ran Downtown, and discovered lesser-known streets like First Avenue, past the old printing presses at the old Post-Gazette building, then on to the Point.  We reached the Point just 10 minutes before they turned it on, and because we were running along the river, we missed the exact moment that it was turned on.  We will have to catch the magic another time!

Coffee in the lovely lobby of the Omni William Penn included the following topics:

Newton shoes purchased via Runners World include a 90 day guarantee, no matter how many times you have worn them!

Itsdeductibleonline.com, which is essential for tracking your donated items and estimating their value for tax purposes.  

Save the Date: Sunday, June 5th post-run coffee/snacks will be at Elaine's for Wendy's birthday.  Potluck!

May 22 Run: Meet at the Omni William Penn Hotel downtown - entrance on Wm. Penn Place

Downtown run next Sunday - starting at our coffee locale, the Omni William Penn hotel at the Wm. Penn Place entrance.  There's usually plenty of street parking on Sunday morning. So many route options - tour of new restaurants?  bridge hopping?  watch them turn on the fountain?  magical luck circle around the Buccos stadium?  What's new dahntahn?  Send in your idea!

Last week we made a new route from the Wendy Bennett Trailhead to take in Our Lady of the Parkway aka the Shrine of the Blessed Mother as well as some of the more eccentric homes and spectacular views from the top of South Oakland.  Chris gave us some impressive data on new ecological feats at Phipps - flower-power!
Over at 61C, a variety of endorsements:

• Adventures in Good Company Tours - Sarah will report
• Row House Cinema in Lawrenceville - themed movies and drink a beer while watching
• Giant Goodwill in Cheswick - apparently the largest of all?  How's the cashmere?
• All-Clad Factory Sale coming up - though Chris says the cookware at the restaurant supply store on Penn Ave. in the strip is superior - he's done some industrial testing on it.
• Fiestaware Tent Sale in WV - this is getting pretty far afield but may be worth it
• Adding one more post-run - The Lion at the City Theater - I just saw it tonight and it's marvelous.

May 15 Run: Meet at Wendy Bennett Trailhead for a Mary Statue Run

Next Sunday, let's do a run in honor of Mother's Day (belated, but without all the Race for the Cure crowds) starting in Schenley Park at the Wendy Bennett Trailhead (Panther Hollow Road/Blvd Allies and Bartlett Street/Greenfield Road is the technical intersection).  We'll run a bit through the park, then on to South Oakland where the constantly changing Mary statue is kept cliffside, overlooking the Parkway.

Last Sunday, a medium sized group of us ran through the beautiful trails of Frick Park, up and around the new Environmental Center (which is really coming along), then winding our way back up.  It was perfect running weather, and Lainy regaled us with the most suspenseful story about her daughter's Mother's Day surprise.

I can't find the link for it, but there will be a hardhat tour of the new Frick Environmental Center.  If I find it, I'll send it along to the group.

 

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