June 2 Run: Meet at 61C Cafe for Runner's Choice Run

We have a default run location for this Sunday because I don't remember anything else being chosen. We will hope for drier weather...

Last Sunday we had a gorgeous clear morning for a run, making for some great views across the river.  It was a Strip District run that crossed over to the trail and over through Herr's Island.  Keeping it short this week, but will share some great photos below.  This run included only minimal trespassing through a construction site; we did not attempt to bushwhack our way through the truly dangerous closed trail pictured on the right!

May 26 Run: Meet at the Strip parking lot off of Liberty at 21st St.

This Sunday is a Strip run, and afterwards for those who can stay, we'll go to brunch at DeLuca's to celebrate Aimee's 40th birthday!

Last week the forest bathing in the springy green festival of Frick Park was glorious.  As were the baked goods at the EveryDay Cafe, where the coffee can also speak.  Endorsements:

• Events at the EveryDay Cafe
• A beautiful tree with hanging flowers (Yellowwood - thanks, Joanne), 
• Some tiny blue wildflowers (bluets)
• Quantum's King Lear production at the Carrie Furnace - a dynamite pairing - see it if you can, only rush tickets available though.
• Alternatives to knee surgery, discussed with 2 of the RG's resident physicians - with varying degrees of recommendation from NO to could be good - stem cell injections, steroids, synovial fluid, spironolactone, ultrasound, or rooster comb (?)
• "It's comforting that we all have osteoarthritis."
• Nanette  - Hannah Gadsby, Australia comic
• UShake running pack for those of us who are ready to recycle our 1980's fanny packs

May 19 Run: Meet at the entrance to Frick Park at Reynolds and S. Homewood Ave.

We're meeting at Reynolds and S. Homewood at the entrance to Frick Park, and have our own Green New Deal as it is at it's lushest right now.  There may be mud, but we'll be looking up.  Maybe we'll rediscover the owl nest and the fox den, if anyone can remember where they are.   Coffee: let's try Everyday Cafe again.

Last week we tragically missed our first Zumba opportunity, but Wendy promises another one soon.  It must be admitted that the rain was simply pouring.  However, a surprisingly good showing of intrepid runners and walkers paid no mind, and soaking wet, we later dripped all over the floor of the Tazza D'Oro. Never did a cappuccino taste so good.  So much to talk about (includes last week):

• Nature!  There is a Mushroom Club in Pittsburgh - Birding can be transcendental but evidently some people are overdoing it - Hurray for fly-fishing c/o Beth and her Stream Girls - plus the wildflowers in Boyce Mayview Park.
• Eden Hall is very cool and will soon host the Funky Fly Project and an Earth Wind & Fire night.
• Music - The Pittsburgh Girls' Choir sings about Anne Frank at Rodef Shalom on June 14 - recommended!  Also, Resonance Works has amazing performances but it looks like we've missed the whole season, so I'm signing up for updates.  
• TV:  Game of Thrones!  I know, I know, it's overhyped and super-violent.  But what a show.  Also This is Us (location: Pittsburgh), The Good Fight (helps deal with the current national emergency), and Three Identical Strangers, fascinating documentary about triplets separated at birth.
• Books:  SO MANY free audiobooks from the Carnegie Library - it's worth getting a quick free tutorial from one of their librarians to save the time in figuring out how to use them.
• Hair - recommended stylists: Mary at Classic Hair, Beth at Evolve, Marianne at Denim and Co., Griff at Capristo.  
• Birthdays, notable ones:  Laurie will be celebrated on July 20 with a dance party - save the date - and we'll toast Aimee on May 26 with a Strip run and then head to Deluca's for b'day brunch.  
• Eyeglasses - good ones at Lenscrafters that don't cost a fortune.  Also, Transition sunglasses don't work inside cars - good to know!
• Summer Line Dancing starts May 17.

May 12 Run: Meet at entrance to Highland Park at top of Highland Ave. for a surprise event!

By special request of group members, we have a treat this week courtesy of our Zumba Instructor Extraordinaire, Wendy!  At the garden entrance to Highland Park (location of the famous summer line dancing,) Wendy will teach an authentic, aerobic, and super fun Zumba class - here's a preview!  Then if there's time left over, we can finish with a lovely dawn run around the reservoir.  And then drop down to the Tazza D'Oro for coffee.  What could be better?

There are many things to say about last week, which was fun! but there's no time right now, so we'll keep the endorsements on the burner until next message.  Except that Axe-throwing in the Burgh is a thing.

May 5 Run: Start at Everyday Cafe on S. Homewood Ave. for a Frick Park run

Though it has been our tradition to pre-run some of the Marathon route before the race gets to Shadyside, we're going to change it up this time, and start and end at the Everyday Cafe on 532 N. Homewood as a new way to get to Frick Park, where we will do some springtime forest bathing.  To everyone running in the Marathon, may the force be with you!


Last week we broke new ground over Hazelwood and tried out the new trail, which has a cool post-industrial/nature-preserve vibe. Our new friend Kevin introduced us to the soon-to-be CMU Robotics center, probable home to something equivalent to the dreaded wights swarming through the latest GOT episode (more expounding on that for sure this Sunday.)


The Big Dog just gets better and better, so we lingered there and endorsed:

• Genetics: the mystery of x&y
• the new Jeopardy genius with a rubbery face
• Replacements - when you need to add to your grandmother's china set.  
• Maybe:  the Health App that is a standard feature on iPhones and which keeps tabs on many things you may actually not want it to
• The annual Marathon Health & Fitness Expo this weekend at the convention center, which I have always missed but not this time.
• The Slowskys commercials
• A wallpaper steamer because it will change your life, and fly fishing because you don't have to kill a worm.
• The Pittsburgh Center for Creative REuse - crazy, unique stuff, and doing its part to save the world.
• Teddy Grahams - apparently still exist!

April 28 Run: Meet at Big Dog Coffee on 2717 Sarah St. South Side

We're going to explore the new Hazelwood Trail on Sunday, so be prepared for adventure!  We'll start and end at the always welcome Big Dog Coffee shop on the South Side, 2717 Sarah St., cross back over the Hot Metal, and go from there into the unknown.

Our Squirrel Hill Bird Run proceeded as usual, that is, many things were pointed out that are not there any more, in particular, birds.  Also hills were killer.  Walkers had a similar experience in the other direction.  We were all glad to get back to the familiar comfort of 61C where schmoozing is an art form.
Endorsed:

• Penn Ave. Fish Company - a legit quality fishmonger, a bit pricey but worth it.  Also very fun for a casual dinner.  And I just noticed:  oyster BYOB happy hours!? - let's discuss.
• Pittsburgh Botanic Garden - so new we don't think of it - but in spring glory right now
• Superstitions that work, i.e. turning over a glass and/or praying to St. Anthony to find things
• Velcro bandages (socks?) for plantar fasciitis. RG can diagnose this in a half-minute.
• "Speaking of gels that make you feel better" - particularly CBD gels for arthritis. We corrected the idea that you have to go to Seattle to get it because if you have the permit, it's available at the Solevo Wellness Center.  I discovered that I am the only person in Pittsburgh who didn't know that was a medical marijuana dispensary.  
• TV:  Schitt's Creek, One Day at a Time (Rita Moreno is amazing.)
• The return of the Lobster Door Handles from Poli's

April 21 Run: Meet at 61C Cafe for a Runners' Choice Easter Run

Next Sunday is Easter, so we will default to the 61C Cafe for a Runners' Choice run.

This past Sunday we had a small group of runners and walkers, and the rain held off until we were safely at coffee.

The theme of the run was Teardowns, as there was a hotly debated issue on the NextDoor app prompting a visit past a home demolition.  We began at 61C and ran up Murray past said house, then checked the status of the soon-to-be demolished house on Woodland Road.  We ran through Chatham, where Joanne gave us a tour through the center of campus as well as the top of campus with the views.  The foot of Wilkins where we headed back up to Squirrel Hill revealed a recent teardown and active construction site.  To bring the run full circle (and uphill), we saw a brand new home on Aylesboro that had replaced an older home.

I did not take notes at coffee, but I will share that the ratio of pastries to people was 1:1, which I believe is unprecedented and a sign of a great run or walk and healthy appetite!

April 14 Run: Start at 61C Cafe on Murray heading to parts unknown.

On Sunday we'll start and end at the 61C Cafe in Squirrel Hill - what happens in between is up for grabs.  I won't be there so hopefully someone else will take over this blog for next week.

We did enjoy the promised Springy Frick Park last Sunday - with added attractions of real owl nests, pointed out by Lainy, and a dramatic dawn on the Rollercoaster Trail.  Later, endorsements:

• Food - The Impossible Burger, a veggie-burger that evidently can fool the most devout meat lover.
• Books:  Warlight by Michael Ondaatje, Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver, and Evicted by Matthew Desmond.  Excellent, but all so sad!  So, to counteract:
• Comedy:  Improv at the Waterfront, Tracy Morgan, Leslie Jones
• Upcoming run plans include the brand new Hazelwood Trail  and a visit to Oakmont!

April 7 Run: Start at the front steps of Colfax School, 2332 Beechwood Blvd.

Next run will go from the front of Colfax School, an old favorite which I just discovered (by googling of course) is on the National Register of Historic Places! We will pay homage and then descend into a hopefully Springy Frick Park.  Coffee at 61C.

Too little time this week to fully review last week's events except to recap the recitation of Monty Python's Philosophers' Song by none other than Tom.  There was also the recollection of, years ago one misty morning, running alongside a naked bicyclist. Sadly we have no photos from that era.  

Big Love and Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman were endorsed.  

Until next time!

March 31 Run: Wendy Bennett Trailhead (map in message) and Schenley Park

There may be some evidence of Spring by Sunday, so we'll search for shoots of green in Schenley Park, starting at the famous Wendy Bennett Trailhead (map.)  Don't forget - we have both runners and walkers!  Coffee probably at 61C afterwards.

Last week we trekked over the blessedly flat streets of Shadyside and East Liberty.  Unaccountably, no photos this time!  Pastries at Coffee Tree at Bakery Square seem to be getting better, so we made the most of that.  I also love the cute little seltzer water they give you with espresso.

Much to recommend though:

• Being early for flights!  Otherwise, nightmares can ensue.
• While on that flight, thinking about where you would disappear, assuming that you want to do that for a short or long time.  (Not related to the witness protection program.)

• A place that will not be mentioned so that one of us will not be found
• The Arizona Biltmore
• Diamondhead in Honolulu
• Anywhere in Vermont
• Yosemite
• A mountain lodge in Banff
• Somewhere on a train in Canada, going from one gorgeous railroad hotel to another
• Or in the US, sleeping on the train, as in this delicious NYT article sent in by Wendy
• Burping and other bodily noises, which seem to be proliferating - maybe this is not an endorsement.  But may we heed the Yiddish proverb: "Burp and be healthy!" (I looked this up and couldn't find it, so it's possible Lainy made it up.)
• Book: The Art of Racing in the Rain, about dogs
• Dogs:  "everything now is some kind of doodle" - especially the Burnedoodle
• Finance: following enthusiastic endorsements for Sharon Reese as a financial planner - who was at the next table!  You can contact her at 412-883-6271.
• Mortality: RG's own Karen will lead a conversation called "Emotionality, Familiality, Terminality" on Thursday, April 4, 7-9 pm at Point Breezeway, 7113 Reynolds St.  With light refreshments and vino, and "will include the effects of unresolved family conflict on end of life experiences." Please come and share - and RSVP to karenengro@hotmail.com 
• History: if you want to know everything about our recently visited Westinghouse Park and excavating the mysterious buried remains of the George Westinghouse estate - here you go!  

March 17 Run: Meet at parking lot at 21st St. and Liberty Ave. for St. Patrick's Day Strip Run

Top o' the mornin' run next Sunday on the Strip, meeting at the parking lot off of Liberty Ave. at 21st. St.  (I won't be there so don't forget to tag someone to send next week's message.)

Last week gave us both the Happy Hour midweek and the 3R/3B (rivers/bridges) Run on Sunday - see pictures at the bottom that tell it all.  We were under those chandeliers a lot!
Endorsements:

• Running lights used by Lainy with awesome customer service.
• Books:  the vast archive of children's books we gratefully have access to here, i.e. the whole Nancy Drew series, Little Women and its sequels, really too many to list.  Also (not for children, and only if you want to stay up all night) All the birds singing. 
• Podcasts: First let it be known that this powerful story originated with the Post-Gazette!  Then appropriated via the Washington Post to PBS Frontline Dispatch, and called "I don't want to shoot you, brother."  Also "Last seen" about the amazing heist, still unsolved, at the Gardner Museum in Boston.  Also Finding Cleo - the appalling tragedy of indigenous children taken from their homes in Canada.  Also (sigh) Offspring has another convert.  
• Movies:  Alan Arkin - esp. in Love the Coopers (lots of Pittsburgh scenes) and Pierce Brosnan in the Thomas Crown Affair.
• Kaufmann's Historic Murals - did we actually talk about these?  I have something in my notes, so I followed it up and just lost the last half hour, but it was interesting! In addition to murals (long gone), they also had pink vinyl chairs in the hair salon, and Laurie got one at their auction.

March 10 Run: Meet in the William Penn lobby downtown for the famous Three Bridges Three Rivers Run! (Also March 5 Happy Hour, same place.)

This favorite run, created by Lainy, has river views from every angle! We start and end downtown at the William Penn hotel lobby, and, as advertised, cross 3 bridges and 3 rivers.  It takes a little more than an hour so be prepared.  Then we sink into the deep cushions of the hotel sofas and kibitz.  It's ideal.

Meanwhile - also in the aforesaid William Penn lobby - Happy Hour will happen tomorrow, Tuesday, March 5, at 5:30 pm.  Come, even if you've never run or walked with the group.  We still miss the lovely person who came to lunch with us once many years ago in the Carnegie Museum cafe: where are you?

Also:  Save the date!
Paula (aka PtB) and Iain are leaving their beloved Pittsburgh to return to their also beloved British Isles so they can straighten out that Brexit thing. Come raise a glass and bid farewell!
Date: Tuesday, March 12, 5:15 - 7:00 pm
Place: The Squirrel Hill Cafe; 5802 Forbes at Murray Ave

So about the latest run/walk, first let's say Three Thumbs Up for EveryDay Cafe!  Totally delightful, with perhaps the best muffin (lemon cranberry but somehow more than that) ever.  Also the best music.  We'll be back.  Much to see on our trek: street art, the elegant Homewood Library, the Busway from above, the Trash Raccoon (again), historic George Westinghouse Park, Black Radish Kitchen, and Chris' ElectroGrip factory that makes mysterious things like Electrostatic Chucks.
Endorsements:

• Food Glorious Food on Bryant Street.  Everyone in the world is cutting out gluten and carbs, and yet the lines out the bakeries are ridiculous.
• TV - nobody can understand the accents, but you can turn on subtitles!  Perhaps a case in point is (here it is again) Offspring (from Australia).  Also Anne with an E (Canada.)
• LARC - Long-acting reversible contraception - I was wondering how we made that transition but then it became clear:  Offspring! (Not really.)
• How to stop sitting still: standing desks. (But then the high chairs that you have to get to sit at them.) They also work well for fidgety school kids.  Also, sitting on a giant ball.  Which can also be used when you are in labor.  If you're not in labor, you can dance around while sitting on them.  However, if you do that, they have been known to explode.
• Spiritual Midwifery, and The Farm in Kentucky where it was, ahem, born. 
• Boots from La Canadienne and hiking shoes from Keen.  They are from Costa-Plenty, as my husband likes to say, but you can also type whatever into Ebay and find a bargain.  But may I add, I was just at Little's (also often endorsed) where terrific boots are on incredible sale RIGHT NOW.
• Fun and uplifting: volunteering at "Project Prom" which provides free prom gowns, shoes and accessories to eligible teens, and happens at Thriftique - Wendy recommends highly!  It's coming up soon - if you can sew, bring your machine, but plenty to do if you can't.

March 3 Run: Meet at the Everyday Cafe, 532 N. Homewood Ave.

We'll meet on Sunday at the Everyday Cafe at 532 N. Homewood Ave.  in Homewood near the busway stop.  It's our second try, and this time they promise us they will be open!  Bring your credit card because it's no-cash, and I don't know if they take bitcoin, which naturally everyone has. Lainy will show us the Pitt Community Engagement Center, and I am trying to recruit David Bear who is working on the secret history of Westinghouse Park, which included tunnels and a giant gas well that shot flames 100 feet into the air.

Last week we had perfect running weather and, well, you'll have to guess about he run from the pictures, because Linda and I had a perfect bracing Highland Park walk with inspiring views over the river and the reservoir.

Of course we always join forces for coffee, chat, and endorsements:

• The exquisite Lavender Latte at Tazza D'Oro, especially the one pictured.
• Rob Rogers - we miss him!  (He has a book signing on Friday, March 1, tomorrow.)
• Speaking of which, newspapers!  May the force be with them.
• Continuation of our sustainable anti-plastic efforts:  Beth sent in the recipe she uses to make homemade laundry soap - no more giant plastic laundry jugs!  
• Cabaret - too late, you missed it, and so did I.  I have to remember that the musicals at CMU always sell out early.  Gretchen said it was terrific.
• Movie:  The Favourite - it's wild.
• Do you remember that window of time when long-sleeve running shirts had those handy little thumbholes?  Where are they now?

Feb. 24 Run: Highland Park from Tazza D'Oro, 1125 N Highland Ave.

Back to Highland Park (thank you, Joanne!) home of the brilliant sunrise over the reservoir and the ever-evolving Tazza D'oro - what will we find this time?  I hope at least the apple dumplings.

Last week we revisited the adorable and quirky Staghorn Home & Garden Cafe which, as we suspected from this photo is a bit David Lynch-esque.  We also did a backwards run through Schenley Park which looked spookily different and added to the Twin Peaks vibe.  But the scones were definitely worthy of the BRITISH BAKING SHOW which must now be included in every post.  We endorsed:

• New dates for the RG Happy Hours at the Wm Penn Hotel downtown:  now the first Tuesday of every month, the next being MARCH 5 at 5:30 - everyone come!
• Wendy's Zumba class on Thursdays at 5:45 at LA Fitness! Just email her if you want to drop in.
• Weddings!  Much better when they are someone else's.  Even though you can marry yourselves in PA. But can you marry yourself?
• Related to that - vows.  Not necessarily the one someone recalled that "promised a life of struggle."  
• Also related - here's a shoutout to Jacquie!  Now in faraway Iowa, we fondly recalled her time with the group, her marvelous wedding at Sandy's house, and her visit with husband and new baby.
• Game of Thrones - just the whole thing, it's fascinating.  This article in the New Yorker from 2011 tells how George R R Martin was almost killed by his fans.
• TV - Schitt's Creek on Netflix.  Also for foreign language shows - use dubbing so you can cut out your mittens while watching.
  
  
  
  

Feb. 17 Run: Meet at Staghorn Garden Cafe on 517 Greenfield Ave.

It will be worth having the run start at The Staghorn Home and Garden Cafe to figure out what this photo means.  We may be having coffee in Twin Peaks.  Anyway we're starting there - 517 Greenfield Ave. - to explore the neighborhood crannies, cross the bridge ("The New Greenfield Bridge makes me so happy!") and see if Schenley Park looks different when you enter it from the other side.

Last Sunday Aimee took us on a sparkling excursion all around Observatory Hill in Riverview Park, where the pink winter dawn lit up the iciness all around, though the road was clear. The woods had a fairytale Hansel-and-Gretel-y quality, possibly requiring breadcrumbs, and we saw a few venerable ruins.  We then headed back to the perfectly comfy CCAC Starbucks (though next time we're in the North, let's remember the cuter Commonplace Coffee on Buena Vista.)  Toes gradually defrosted as we endorsed:

• RG Happy Hour - hoping for regular First Wednesdays downtown at the Wm. Penn lobby, 5:30 pm, next one:  March 6.
• Implosions - the Old Greenfield Bridge and of course, Three Rivers Stadium (alava shalom) RG just made it to the 8 am viewing.
• Theater! 
• PICT's Run the Rabbit Path at the Fred Rogers Theater at WQED
• Split Stage Productions - Bonnie and Clyde, the Musical at the Lamp Theater in Irwin
• CMU's Cabaret
• Quantum Theatre's Gun Show
• Speaking of which - who has shot a gun? Surprises ensued.
• Shtiseling - the art of discussing Shtisel, preferably with total strangers.

Feb. 10 Run: Meet at entrance to Riverview Park - Riverview Ave. right off of Perrysville Ave. (see message for detail)

It's the long-awaited visit to Riverview Park, the third of Pittsburgh's ineffable (terrific word) city parks - last described in the blog in November 2014, led by Aimee. 
Instructions:
"There’s a clear entrance to the park.  Riverview Avenue off Perrysville Ave.  Tell people to park on either side of Riverview Ave.  If they want to plug something into their gps, say 159 Riverview Avenue Pgh PA 15214.  Not sure where we should do coffee.  3 possibilities: Crazy Mocha (North Ave & Federal), Starbucks at the CCAC, or Lindo’s (Western Avenue).  Lindos is good if people are hungry—it’s more like a diner and delicious.  We could also see if people want to organize carpools up there, although it’s really a 15- minute drive from the East End and not too far."
And here's a map.

We had a memorable run and walk last week all around Lawrenceville, mainly away from the Butler Street cuteness.  We saw the giant CMU Robotics Center (scarier all the time) and the mystifyingly named 43 1/2 Street (shades of Harry Potter.)  We traversed the riverside trail and made a quick trip down to the ice-lined Allegheny.  We traced a secret munitions tunnel from the Civil War era, Beth gave a tour of the seriously haunted and historic Frank B. Clack County Health Center, and Pam revealed a hidden cider garden.  All followed by a wide-ranging convo at the Ineffable. (Just love saying that.) Delightful but if you order the Vietnamese coffee, which is yummy, be prepared to stay awhile.  This week we liked a lot of things:

• Ways to avoid using plastic - i.e. reusable big grocery bags, smaller mesh bags for buying produce, milk in glass bottles. 
• Make your own laundry detergent!  Beth, please send recipe.
• Keto diet - no dessert but lots of liquor.  Result: "The majority of my plastic bags are beige ones from the liquor store."
• Sfogliatelle (not on the Keto diet) from Labriola's in Aspinwall, where you can also get cannoli shells and the filling separately (best practice) 
• Coconut oil instead of cream in coffee
• Staving off dementia:  our neurology expert counsels exercise, coffee, fruits and vegetables - first two happening every Sunday!
• There is such a thing as a urine chart.  
• Plumber:  Matt Mertz, what a great name.
• New toy:  unicorn with babies inside?
• New Orleans cold brew coffee 
• British Baking Show - this happens so often that I think we should rename this group

Feb. 3 Run: One more time: meet at Ineffable Ca Phe, 3920 Penn Ave.

Call it laziness, call it lack of imagination, or call it crazy, but this Sunday let's go back one more time to the Ineffable at 3920 Penn Ave., near corner of 39th.  We loved it so much last week that, failing any other plan for this Sunday, we'll just go with that - and there are any number of terrific runs/walks we can take from there. Also some of us didn't get to try the Vietnamese coffee.

Low on time, so just a quick catalog of endorsements:

• Hen & Chicks - florist and event planning - imaginative!
• Signing up for your Giant Eagle Advantage Card - if you lose something there, Sarah might call you to come get it.
• Inside Trader Joe's podcast (really?) 
• Kombucha: the sourdough of tea (is this an endorsement?)
• Martinis - this IS an endorsement
• TV: The Kominsky Method - alte kokers par excellence, Alan Arkin is amazing - and finding that link showed me that there is also a Law & Order alte kokers episode (?)
• TV:  Shtisel again.  Oy.
• Singer sewing machines
• The Whole 30 Diet - wow there is a lot written about this - Joanne says thumbs up.
• vs. Cheesecake.  Just cheesecake.  More thumbs up.

Notice:  the Wednesday RG Happy Hour at the William Penn on Feb. 6 has been postponed:  stay tuned.  

January 27 Run: Redux: Meet at the Ineffable Ca Phe at 3920 Penn Ave.

OK, we're trying again:  meet at the Ineffable Ca Phe which actually opens early enough for us on Sundays, at 3920 Penn Ave., near corner of 39th, and on to explore Upper Lower Lawrenceville.  And walkers please come, we need you!  Actually our speeds are converging.

Last week, the Giant Snowstorm of Potentially One Foot of Snow (which I admit I was hoping and praying for) was actually just a few measly centimeters, but the deep freeze and the icy streets were bad enough so that both runs didn't really happen.  The intrepid Laurie had a solo run on Sunday (and the Ineffable Ca Phe didn't even open - how ineffable is that?)  On Monday, Janet and I walked pretty quickly around a few blocks and then settled in to a lovely warm chatty time at the 61C.  But next Sunday looks just fine so we'll give Ineffable one more try.

January 20 and 21 Runs: Sunday at the Ineffable Ca Phe 3920 Penn Ave., Monday at 7:30 at 61C - Holiday Run

Trying something new and intriguing:  meet at the Ineffable Ca Phe which actually opens early enough for us on Sundays, at 3920 Penn Ave., near corner of 39th, and on to explore Upper Lower Lawrenceville. And then the usual default holiday run (this one at 7:30) from 61C in Squirrel Hill.  I'll be away so make sure someone signs on to scribe duty for next week.  Also - walkers please come, we need you!  Actually our speeds are converging.

Last week, we went down into the park to get bathed in the violet light that happens when snow falls at dawn.  It wasn't even too slippy.
We came back and, with an abundance of pastry on the table, had a pretty high concept conversation about the Constitution, adolescent love, and old slide projectors, and endorsed:

• PBS Great Performances program about Hamilton
• 13th - documentary by Ava DuVernay
• Ear Hustle podcast - now in American history context
• Interview with Jill Lepore who was just in Pittsburgh- ditto
• Laurel Hill State Park
• the UPMC Shuttle that goes from stops in Oakland to Children's Hospital in Lawrenceville - anyone can take it supposedly - schedule here
• Quote:  "Nothing says weekend hobby like a hazmat suit"
• Last but definitely not least - MONTHLY RG HAPPY HOURS - next one on Wed., Feb. 6, 5:30, William Penn hotel lobby downtown - be there!

January 13 Run: Meet at 61B Cafe on S. Braddock Ave. in Regent Square

We're meeting at the 61B Cafe (map) in Regent Square because it's cozy and we haven't been there in a while and maybe Michele will come :-).

I don't know where the run or walk went to last week because I was assisting in cleaning up after the overnight baking of the Roscas for the Fiesta de Los Tres Reyes at St. Catherine's church.  How's that for an excuse, for a nice Jewish girl yet?  But I did make it to the coffee, and have to say, those plastic igloos are fabulous.

It has a heater!  And many tchotchkes. Here is Sharon holding one.
And this is what it looks from the outside.

OK, endorsements:

• Hamilton, Hamilton, Hamilton, again - "there's no bad time to see it"
• The Great British Baking Show, again - this came in response to some yelling about the movie Vice, in which arch-villain Cheney is made to look sympathetic.  There is NOTHING villainous in the GBBS.
• Dickeys - does anyone remember them?  They really keep your neck warm.  But buffs are the item.
• Book:  The Great Believers, 
• Musical: Tic, Tic, Boom (I think this was it...)
• Steam rooms (not saunas)
• ASMR - actually pick the Jennifer Garner one - weird shushing sounds that are therapeutic, or maybe just weird.  Equally bizarre, Trump's recent sniffling has been tapped as part of this.  Don't under any circumstances listen to those.
• FitBits can monitor your sleep!  We don't know if that's good or bad.
• Roscas - I didn't actually get to eat any, but they are impressive!