Feb. 26 Run: meet at Biddle's Escape, 401 Biddle Ave. in Wilkinsburg

On Sunday we're meeting at old favorite Biddle's Escape in Wilkinsburg at 401 Biddle (what else?) Ave.  They apparently serve a maple bacon latte! Also super creative signage all around.  Not sure what route we'll take from there but there are many options.  If Michelle comes (hint, hint) maybe we could revisit her run with all those surprises.

Last week on the Strip had no rain, no crows (where were they? crow mystery continues,) no hills, and lots of river views.  We ran through a tiny tunnel under the Interstate that none of us had seen before. Back at La Prima, meles were delish, as was the talk.  Unfortunately, the recording napkin has gone missing, so endorsements have flown - however, a previous endorsement requires an update:

• The In bed by 10 dance party is returning to Spirit this Friday night from 6-9 p.m. - dance away your bad news blues!

Feb. 19 Run: Redux: Strip run starting at the parking lot off of Liberty Ave. and 21st. St.

One more time!  Rain interfered last week, so the next run will be on the same plan: around the Strip with coffee at La Prima.  Park in the parking lot which you enter from the corner of Liberty and 21st St. (go up the ramp.)

That parking lot is key because last week a few of us who KNEW that it never really rains on the run (it didn't!) were witness there to the most stupendous, wheeling, sky-blackening, deafening crow gathering overhead, even wilder than the one we saw in front of Carnegie Library.  Well, I just wanted to see if it will be there again, and then you'll have to be the judge.

Then we had a lot of fun trying out the ellipticals at the Cork Factory's gym for a while before heading out under CLEAR skies to make the circuit over and along the Allegheny River, and back to a quiet La Prima way before the almond meles ran out.  Much to endorse:

• Galentine's Day Yoga event at the History Center - actually primarily the word Galentine's
• Showtimes, now and upcoming:  25th Putnam County Spelling Bee at Pitt, Ragtime at CMU, Alice in Wonderland at the PBT, awesome Pilobolus at the Dance Council.  All in the shortest month in the year!
• Cure for this season's political news and simultaneous Norovirus:  Bourbon, sometimes served hot - and Old Grand-Dad is 100% proof.
• Moms and their hair appointments - nice that some things never change.

February 12 Run: Strip run starting at parking lot off of Liberty at 21st St.

The next run will be a return to the beloved Strip - again no hills! - with coffee at La Prima and hopes that the meles will be still warm at 8.  Park in the parking lot which you enter from the corner of Liberty and 21st St. (go up the ramp.)

For last week's run, we went from Regent Square to Frick Park, particularly enjoying the lovely new-ish path along Nine Mile Run, a pastoral bubbling brook, albeit under Interstate 376. Well, we're in the city after all.  Adding to the unreality that seems to be part of life these days, we got on the topic of some fairly extreme experiences that we could undergo for a modest fee:  cryotherapy, sensory deprivation in water tanks, and an "infrared" sauna that operates sort of like a microwave.  Anything to get away from the news.

We agreed it was great to get back to the 61B - yay for indie coffeehouses!  Next time, maybe The Abbey in Lawrenceville - stay tuned.
Here we endorsed:
Crystal Spring water deliveries from Costco
Kitchen appliances that "changed my life" - silicone ice molds and the immersion blender (my favorite because its name in Spanish is pronounced "minipeemer".)
The fact that a guy in Lady Gaga's band is from Allderdice, and Leo Pellegrino in Beyonce's band went to CAPA.
Delish and Tasty cooking videos - addictive just to watch
"Order of the Phoenix" Pittsburgh citizen activist group on Facebook - very useful if you want to get more information about resistance activities, like meeting with legislators or postcard writing sessions at bars.  (To join you need to be added - so let me know - roye.werner@gmail.com - if you'd like to be.)
Did I say cashmere mittens?  Just speak up if you'd like a pair!

February 5 Run: 61B Cafe on S. Braddock Ave. in Regent Square

Is it Saturday already?  Sorry guys - this is what retirement is like.  Anyway, the run is from the 61B (NOT C) cafe at 1108 S. Braddock Ave. in Regent Square - we'll see what's going on in that part of town and stay there for coffee afterwards.  

Last week's Shadyside run was great!  Especially the no hills part.  And talk swirled around our current political reality, the therapy of friendship, pussyhats, 19th century novels, retirement homes, cashmere again, and the power of sisterhood.  But I want to get this out now without ado, so will leave you with that tantalizing hint - undoubtedly will be even more so this Sunday so don't miss it.

Jan 29 Run: meet at Mellon Park Playground parking lot (Beechwood and Fifth)

Starting at the Mellon Park playground parking lot (where Beechwood Blvd. meets Fifth Ave.) we'll have a nice flat Shadyside run - no theme yet but many options present themselves.  Coffee will be at the Bakery Square Coffee Tree.



From Phipps we first experienced an astounding crow gathering in front of Carnegie Library, theb we went down an unknown Oakland staircase into the hollow - then over the railroad tracks - then backwards through Schenley Park - and somehow got back to Phipps.  A new perspective on the Schenley park run!

Endorsements:

Marching, and more marching
Pussyhats - seen everywhere, even on the Panthers:
Crow invasion - see photo for
Pantsuit Nation Flashmob
Baltimore field trip
Skytop Lodge
Center for Creative Reuse
Running as cure for politics anxiety

January 22 Run: Meet at Phipps Conservatory

This Sunday’s run (January 22) we’ll meet at the entrance to Phipps Conservatory for an Oakland run, hoping to experience the cacophonous swirling mass of crows roosting in the Oakland trees (brimmed hats suggested).

Last weekend’s runs involved the following: Sunday, an abundance of bird droppings from the massive roost mentioned above and Sarah’s Mom who joined us from Michigan.

 and Monday:  a new pedestrian bridge in East Liberty and a stop at  the Franklin West Memorial Statue in Shadyside….and Anat who joined us from New Jersey.

Coffee…..touched on all things musculoskeletal, trips to New Zealand, and other things that didn’t get recorded on a napkin.

Posted by Elaine

January 8 Run: Schenley Park starting at Wendy Bennett Trailhead

Hoping for a non-icy wintry scene in Schenley Park, we're meeting at the storied Wendy Bennett Trailhead where Bartlett meets Hobart in Schenley Park (map).  If there's ice, we'll re-route from there.  

Last week:  another holiday weekend with 2 excellent runs around Squirrel Hill.  See photos for the little lights in the dark scene from Fernwald Drive, and the cute gingerbread house at the cozy 61C.  I'm currently in Colorado at 7800 feet with about 10 inches of snow falling, so I'm definitely not running around here, but I did go ice skating on a frozen lake.  







Endorsements:
Found in Philly:  chocolate chip and cherry cookies - recipe.
Quantum Theatre - many of its productions are just unforgettable.  Also the amazing offerings of Pittsburgh theater in general
Movies:  Fences (Pittsburgh!), Manchester-by-the-sea (especially if you miss Boston accents), Jackie (ditto, to an extent), and Man of the Year with Robin Williams (prescient) 
Book: Resisting Happiness by Matthew Clark
Recycling, especially sweaters!

January 1 and 2 Runs! 61C Café on Murray at 7 (Jan 1) ; then Blue Slide Park on Beechwood Blvd at 7:30 (Jan 2) What better way to start the new Year!!

61C says Yes, they will be open on News Years Day at 8 a.m. (thank you for checking, Cheryl), so we’ll start the year off with that weather friendly location at 7.  Then the extra holiday run will take place in Squirrel Hill South, starting at the entrance to Frick Park by the Blue Slide Playground on Beechwood Blvd at 7:30.  If the weather cooperates and we have some morning light (sunrise is scheduled for 7:43 a.m.) we can get in some wooded trails and the usual spectacular park views…   

How is it that we failed to take even one photo on last Sunday’s Christmas morning run? Must be that Sarah W was away and the rest of us fell down on the job. We had an enthusiastic group, heading through Chatham and then Shadyside, climbing back up to coffee at Starbucks in Squirrel Hill.  

Monday’s holiday run started in Shadyside, where we welcomed back Cheryl and a new friend, Jan. We ran through Oakland passing the giftwrapped house on Fifth Avenue and visiting the Shrine of the Blessed Mother, before returning for coffee at Coffee Tree on Walnut street. Coffee highlights included Cheryl pulling a mystery item out of her running tights…the hysterical laughter seems to have wiped out any other memories of that coffee chat.

Posted by Elaine (thank you!) - now endorsements from Sunday being added by Roye:

• Crows - greeting the group every week with the "sound of the winter run" and their general amazingness
• Coffee made with the "Clover" machine at Starbucks, and also the Aeropress in anyone's kitchen.  Ask David for tips on how to use.
• Nigella's Almond Clementine Cake - make one or beg PtB for some
• Shows:  Mozart in the Jungle (season 3 is out! perhaps mentioned before but can never be recommended enough), Project Runway Junior, (perhaps negated by) The True Cost of Clothing, Raiders of the Lost Art, Shameless
• Running up 34 flights of stairs multiple times (and taking the elevator down to spare the knees) seriously there was a guy there who does this once a week.

December 25 and 26 Runs: Starbucks on Forbes at 7; then Coffee Tree on Walnut Street at 7:30

This holiday posed a new dilemma: is the Christmas Day run at holiday-time or regular time?  This required no less than a group referendum. And, planned locations have been switched, by me.  After checking with the usual coffee haunts, (apparently the ONLY coffee place open on Christmas Day is Squirrel Hill Starbucks,) we'll start there on Sunday at 7.  Then the extra holiday run on Monday will take place in Shadyside, starting at the Coffee Tree on Walnut at 7:30. Did I make that confusing or what?  Sorry - just look at the title of this posting, it's all there.

Last Sunday, what looked like it was going to be a miserable freezing rainy run kept all but a valiant two of us in bed, but then the attraction of visiting Cheryl in her new Cork Factory apartment made the rest of us hop out and get there in time for coffee. Stunning views (picture doesn't do it justice,) elegant coziness and terrific company of course made it hard to leave.
Just some of the endorsements that surfaced:

• The gorgeous dogs at the Cork Factory - perhaps more gorgeous than the people (excepting Cheryl)
• Gel shots for knees - also possibly spirinolactone (Pam spelled it for me) - but what to do about yoga butt?
• Meraki exercise studio - something new again
• Blue Apron cooking ingredient delivery
• Or, just go out to:  B52 in Lawrenceville, Di Anoia's Eatery, Smallman Galley
• Best idea yet:  "In bed by 10" dance party.  Hope to see you there!

December 18 Run: Start at the Cork Factory (Apartments), 2349 Railroad St. in the Strip

(Thanks to Elaine, this week's communicator!)

December 18 Run: We'll start at the Cork Factory to join Cheryl, have a strip district run, and she'll treat us to coffee in her new apartment. Meet at: the Main building of the Cork Factory 2349 Railroad St. in the Strip.

Sunday’s run was the annual tour of downtown holiday decorations…The new “neighborhood” Christmas tree at the City/County building was delightful and alas, no PVC pipe menorah in site. The Christmas windows at the former Kaufmann’s department store have been replaced with photos by Teeny Harris (of Pittsburgh Courier fame). The tour included a few gilded and marbled lobbies in downtown buildings (Koppers, Gulf, William Penn Hotel). Oh, and we found a note in the snow welcoming us to the Christmas tree at Point Park (see photo)….maybe Santa left it? (or someone else whose name starts with San….?)  
Coffee at Market Square Starbucks included endorsements for:

·        All things cat…including cat Instagram accounts and cats in the bathtub

·        Drunk History on the comedy channel

·        Luther- on Netflix

·        Flying Falcon with prey vs driver in Oakland

David Adler’s History books for grown-ups who want to read books written for young readers

·        Congrats to Aimee on the birth of baby boy Alexander Conrad! We all look forward to meeting him and seeing you back on the streets…

December 11 Run: Annual Holiday Run! Starts at PPG skating rink downtown

On Sunday we're in for the annual Dahntahn Holiday Run, starting at the PPG ice rink, where we go from one festive site to another, and comment on what's new, what's old, and whether they've finally replaced that wretched PVC pipe menorah with a decent one. But what will replace the Kaufmann's windows?  I won't be there, so please report.  (Speaking of which, thank you in advance to whomever takes over this message next week.  Special treat to announce:  on the 18th, we'll start at the Cork Factory to join Cheryl, have a strip district run, and she'll treat us to coffee in her new hip apartment!)

Last week's trek through Frick Park was just right, and we did find the secret rope ladder entrance, and also a truly impressive inflatable Hanukah scene - rivaling the awesome inflatable Mary on the North Side, which we really must revisit one of these days.

Endorsed:

• Burgatory burgers
• Hot toddies as the best winter medicine
• Tile wireless trackers for finding anything. Easy to use?  "I don't know - my daughter set it up."
• Strange mysteries emanating from baby monitors
• Uncle Tungsten by Oliver Sacks
• Moonlight the movie
• the Cheswick Goodwill as a source for more cashmere

December 4 Run: Colfax School on Beechwood Blvd.

On Sunday we'll meet at Colfax School on Beechwood Blvd. Maybe we'll revisit the new Frick Environmental Center?  Or the secret entrance to the park via rope line? Plans were sketchy, in fact I'm not even sure this was the locale, but we'll go with it.  Coffee most likely at 61C.  Coming soon: annual holiday run downtown!

Last week we ran at dawn, and tweaked a familiar route along Penn Ave in East Liberty - first paying respects to the once hopeful Democratic campaign HQ in Bakery Square (alav hasholom) and then heading up into high Garfield where Pam posed with an alarming crocodile and we encountered a bunch of whimsical decorations and a terrific view.

At coffee by the fireplace, we were treated to a celebrity visit by the adorable Iggie (his grandparents came too) and heard about the new Quantum Theater opera, wedding wardrobe malfunctions, and families and their mishegoss.  (All this Yiddish - must be the holidays!)

Thanks to group photojournalist Sarah for the photos!

November 27 Run: Mellon Park parking lot where Beechwood meets Fifth Ave.

This week has been a bit crazy, so no news (also I lost the napkin.)  Let's just say we'll meet at the Mellon Park parking lot where Beechwood ends at Fifth Ave.   Coffee most likely at Bakery Square Coffee Tree, and we'll probably head up Penn Ave. to Allegheny Cemetery and try to run off some of that butter-laden holiday.  Though feel free to invent something new!
Roye

November 20 Run: Wendy Bennett Trailhead - the Last Leaves of Fall Run

We'll meet up at 7 am (actually 7:05) Sunday at the Wendy Bennett Trailhead - where Bartlett meets Hobart in Schenley Park (map) - and hear the crunch of dead leaves underfoot surrounded by a brown and yellow haze, hopefully missing the rain.  Can you tell I'm depressed?  It's been a tough week.  I'm sure the run will be great.

But last Sunday was lovely - right at the border of 2 seasons with a red sun rising and white frost on the grass.  Also the deer (photo credit: Lainy) at this point are looking at us the same way teenage kids do - "oh, not you again."  And the season is already getting busy, so most had to run off before coffee - but we did get this endorsement:

Annual Harvest Dinner at the Jamison Farm, famous for its lamb - but you REALLY have to like lamb.

November 13 Run: Blue Slide entrance to Frick Park on Beechwood Blvd. opposite Nicholson

This Sunday we’ll meet at the entrance to Frick Park by the “Blue Slide” playground on Beechwood Blvd, so we can enjoy the sight of brilliant fall colors and the sound of fallen leaves crunching beneath our shoes.

During last week’s run Teri took us on a whimsical tour of little free libraries sprinkled about Squirrel Hill. The photo tells it all. Happy Birthday to Teri!!!

(Thanks to Elaine for posting)

November 6 Run: 61C Cafe in Squirrel Hill again

There was some talk of next week's run being a Little Library tour, but without a particular zone - so we might as well meet at the old standby, 61C Cafe, and see what little libraries we can find from there.  We'll at least find the Big Library at the corner of Forbes and Murray - where, we are reminded, there is still the infamous weekday run that starts every Wednesday and Friday at 5:45 a.m.!

In a hurry again (still looking for some other bloggers to take a turn or two) so not reporting a lot about last week - luckily Sarah sent this photo.
We saw some pretty impressive Halloween displays, including a giant mobile cat head, and a yard full of creepy ghosts at Aylesboro and Murray.

Endorsements:

• Annie Proulx's Barkskin and Accordion Crimes
• Attack Theater
• perhaps Mall Cop
• BodenUSA Liquidation Sale at David Lawrence Convention Center Saturday Nov. 12
• NCJW Designer Days - evidently up and running - though described as "not as good as it used to be, just like life itself" - still worth a try, at Lawrenceville location.
• not taking your Samsung phone on a plane
• Shmatas and their interventions - ask at the next coffee

October 30 Run: Start at 61C Cafe in Squirrel Hill for Halloween Theme Run

Short and sweet - courtesy of Elaine:

Next week’s run meet at 61C in Squirrel Hill for the annual Halloween Inflatables tour!

Last week’s run took us on a spectacular sunrise loop around North Park Lake. Coffee was at the North Park Boathouse lakeside restaurant.

Photos tell more - courtesy of Sarah and Teri:

Teri: "If we could we would run about the earth seeking the successive autumns. (With apologies to George Eliot)".

October 23 Run: North Park Boathouse parking lot

(Further update:  if you want to carpool to North Park, be at 61C Cafe at 6:30)
(Thanks to Elaine for this update!)

NEXT WEEK: FIELD TRIP TO THE NORTH! We’ll welcome in the fall colors with the 5 mile loop around North Park Lake. Meet in the parking lot of the North Park Boathouse (here's a map.) If that lot is closed off for an event, park across the street at the Rose Barn lot.

We had a hearty group of runners and walkers this week, heading out under the light of the Hunter’s Supermoon. We ran from the 61C to and through Schenley Park, thanking Mary Schenley for her kind gift of this spectacular wooded haven.  The trees are showing fall colors and a friendly deer unflinchingly  greeted us along the trail.   Coffee was boisterous and we were glad to see Audrey to wish her a fond farewell.

Endorsements:

Duolingo- Free app for learning or reviewing a 2^nd language. (Laurie was speaking French before the first cup of coffee was consumed!)

Neutrogena- Rapid Wrinkle repair

Using a napkin to record coffee talk endorsements (which was not done!)

E.

October 16 Run: start at 61C Cafe in Squirrel Hill - destination unknown

Next Sunday:  starting at 61C Cafe in Squirrel Hill - no particular plan as yet.

Last Sunday - I missed the Highland Park run but made it to coffee - so the photos (thanks, Sarah!) will tell the story and show off the romantic dawn light.  Enrico's Tazza D'Oro continues to be particularly comfy for RG confabs - this time endorsing:

• Warby Parker eyewear
• hot apple cider
• buns as the new hairstyle (yay, librarians!)
• Babysitter Club books, now linking moms and daughters

Much election talk, which continues to amaze, dismay, scare, horrify, and very occasionally uplift - in other words, truth stranger than fiction.  Only 4 more runs before the big day!

October 9 Run: Possible Morningside run starting at Tazza D'Oro on Highland Ave.

Meet in Highland Park at Tazza D’oro Café on Highland Avenue, where we will head towards Morningside (maybe).

Coffee time was short but very sweet…

Major endorsement was sandwich platters that could be ordered from Costco to feed a crowd. And one was ordered as we spoke :-).

Photos tell the story of last week's run:  dawn light at the very top of Oakland, and Tom explaining the significance of historic baseball sites in Posvar Hall.

Thanks to Elaine for reporting!