June 26 Run/Walk: meet in Market Square Downtown

Downtown calls us again, so the meeting place on Sunday is Market Square, and there are 3 Rivers to explore from there.

Frick Park was at its most glorious last Sunday, and everything was sun-dappled and chock full of wildlife.  Also the bridge construction is now using monstrous machines which will mesmerize small boys.  We settled down for coffee, etc. in a custom-made clearing and it was hard to leave.  Endorsed:

• Don't miss Buffalo Rose at South Park amphitheater June 24 7:30 p.m. 
• The Beverly Hillbillies theme song which we ALL KNEW BY HEART
• The thrill of victory and agony of defeat on the Wide World of Sports, then and now.
• Smoothie update:  add chia seeds, almond milk, and ceylon cinnamon to whatever you're using. 
• Watch Tehran but only if you can hold your breath for several minutes at a time.
• La Fermiere yogurt from la belle France is incredibly delicious and comes in the cutest little pots which can be used in many ways.
• The East End Food Co-op - gets better all the time.  Chia seeds and La Fermiere available there.  But the barefoot guy who used to work there has gone. 

 

June 19 Run/Walk: Meet at the parking lot of the Frick Environmental Center, 2005 Beechwood Blvd.

Frick Park is a forest bathing mecca right now, so let's meet at the parking lot of the Environmental Center.  (I wish they had stuck with "Nature Center".)  We can search for the owls!  Also there is an adorable clearing in the woods with tree stumps in a circle, just calling out for the group chat.  I'll bring a thermos of coffee, cups, and some tasty carbohydrates but maybe bring your drink of choice too since my thermos probably serves 4.  Insect repellent is a good idea.  And maybe a chair or pillow if you want something more comfy than a stump. We're not the girl scouts we once were.

Last Sunday we had several exciting run-ins with the Lt. Gov and his family at their customary Sunday morning on the Waterfront.  Not to be too starry-eyed about it, but... he honked his horn and waved at us as he drove by!  We did some strategizing about how to support the upcoming campaign.  Runners visited Homestead.  In other news: we also had some exciting run-ins with goats.

Endorsements:

• How to add calcium to our shrinking bones:  Kukicha Tea, smoothies with kale, add powdered milk to anything, more protein.  Also find ways to build your muscles and your balance. 
• Buy 100 fresh peeled garlic cloves in a jar from friendly people at the Asian market on Forward.  
• Volunteer at the Mission of Mercy which is giving free hearing aids and tests to kids  (along with dental care), Aug. 4-6.  
• August Wilson's Two Trains Running is at the Public Theatre 
• Prayer
• Tree Pittsburgh keeps our city green and also has a delightful event space on the Allegheny.  
• Also you can party at a new public space on Hazelwood Green.  Don't forget the Buffalo Rose band will be there at Solar Fest on Saturday!
• Plus you can read: Harry's Trees by Jon Cohen - sort of a fairy tale for adults.

June 12 Run/Walk: Meet outside of Starbucks at the Waterfront

Back to the Waterfront (meet outside Starbucks but coffee and treats can also come from Panera next door.)  We can explore in many directions, get a view of the Mon, and make use of the excellent bathrooms and outdoor seating. (Not outdoor seating in bathrooms.)  And - maybe have an opportunity to congratulate our very own Lt. Governor and the 2nd Lady on the upcoming Senate candidacy!  Perhaps discuss how we can help.  

Last week we all had a lovely trek through Squirrel Hill, which always reveals something new.  Walkers explored the high rent district.  Did you know that the most elegant streets have their unsightly utility lines buried underground? How nice for them. And that the district contains the home of Michael Chabon's mom, who gave away his crib to be used by the Mormer children?

Our delightful coffee klatch in Sharon's backyard had the added benefit of Nancy B's return and multiple endorsements:

• Watch:  The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem.  Also..... Offspring!
• Bike on the Armstrong Trail. But, warned by Cheryl:  don't speed, and always wear a helmet.  Though good to know that ambulances can reach you there.
• To save your hostas, you don't have to endure the disgusting aroma of the usual deer repellent - it also comes in Mint!
• Match.com.  Really?
• Barred Owls in Frick Park - summer goal: find one.

June 5 Run/Walk: Meet at Sharon's house, 5612 Woodmont

Sharon has invited the group to her delightful backyard (5612 Woodmont) this Sunday so see you there!

Last week we hit Frick park from the Biddle Trail side on a sparkly May morning and what could be more refreshing?  Intrepid investigators scoped out the bridge progress, which is definitely moving along.  After that, the Memorial Day holiday run to Schenley Park (ditto on refreshing) and also later a bike excursion add-on.  In all, a welcome RG togetherness weekend.

Keeping up with a backlog of endorsements:

• For foot/ankle surgery - Dr. with the fantastic name of MaCalus V. Hogan
• But because it's ridiculously hard to get through to any UPMC doctor through normal channels - the next time you see one in the flesh, make sure you get their internal phone #.
• Great experience for any kid: a job in retail.
• Gretchen's heavenly singing daughter Margot and her Buffalo Rose band will be at Solar Fest on Hazelwood Green on June 18.
• Presque Isle State Park on Lake Erie - pretty close and it has a beach - and where you can also visit the Brig Niagara (affectionately AKA the Brig Viagra - go ahead and ask me.)
• Hair, including "faculty hair" is well and reasonably styled by Liz at Studio Booth and Tammy at Puccini's.
  
• Masks - don't forget about them - Aimee reports that one day of no masks at Colfax may have led to an outbreak.
• Prunes - they're delish!

May 29 Run/Walk: Meet at Biddle's Escape corner of Biddle and S.Trenton in Wilkinsburg

Just a bulletin today: 

This Sunday we'll escape (don't we need it) to Biddle's Escape.  Then afterwards if you like - it's Open Streets, happening from 10 - 2, Market Square to the South Side and through the Armstrong Tunnel!

Last week:  Lawrenceville - and they still haven't finished the trail so there was some bushwhacking involving trains.  

Also the tale of Nick's marvelous wedding, where there was a little fainting and a lot of dancing.  

Also a $10 cinnamon roll which we should have photographed.  

May 22 Run/Walk: Meet at The Abbey, 4635 Butler St., in Lawrenceville

Old favorite The Abbey, on Butler near 47th in deep Lawrenceville, which as long been closed or semi-open, is now back on track.  We think it has patio seating, and if not there's always takeout and Allegheny Cemetery across the street if we want to be outside.  Will COVID every leave?  We will ask Dr. Sharon.

Last week Beth offered up the highlights of Millvale - both the frisson of getting lost in Girty's Woods Nature Preserve and the appeal of cute bars, shops, gardens, and riverfront.  Lincoln's P&G Diner warrants another try when it's not so full, but we were undaunted, found a park, and kept on talking.

Recommended:

• Deckers Creek Trail in WVA
• 
  Read:  Women Don't Ask, and then, Ask for It - Linda Babcock's great advice to women who keep getting pushed off the ladder.  Also books on burnout by Kathleen Byers. 
• Watch: CODA - heart, Tehran - suspense, and Slow Horses - just fun.
• Regret: Jerry Kittman's chalushous Millvale furniture store, not there any more.
• Beth's explanation of how small water renovation projects around the city, like the Wightman Street planters, are finally channeling the dreaded stormwater.  Love hydrologists!
• Simon Girty.

May 15 Run/Walk: Millvale ahoy! Meet at Lincoln's P&G Diner, 232 North Ave.

Beth is taking us around Millvale!  We'll meet at Lincoln's P&G Diner, 232 North Ave. (map) Through her connections at the Allegheny Land Trust, she has the inside scoop on the new Girty's Woods park, and also other great things Millvale:

The Millvale run/walk can cover the highlights of this fun little place - two breweries, a knitting store, a community garden, a pocket park, the Riverfront Park, how to access their new 155-acre green space “Girty’s Woods” and wait, there’s more! The St. Nicholas Catholic Church where you can see the Maxo Vanka murals when the church is open.

The run on Mothers' Day was just right - cool-ish and sunny, passing through rarely seen South Oakland streets and reaching Our Lady of the Parkway, aka the Queen of Peace (with all our hopes and prayers for that) at the Shrine of the Blessed Mother, which RG first visited in 2008. Much annoying talk from myself and others about how we liked it better before (it's less unique now.)  But still the same inspiring sanctuary high above the interstate. Read the history!

Also, thank you Pitt Union for providing tables and chairs in the sunshine and Starbucks for finally allowing people to bring their own coffee cups.  

Endorsements:

• Emergency rooms:  Magee! Excellent care, not crowded, kind staff.  Who knew? They take men now too.  
• Heart health - women need to read this.
• Skincare:  What are we doing?  Not much.  Should we follow Elizabeth Warren's advice and stop washing and use Pond's? But so many chemicals. My grandmother's Nivea had formaldehyde. Maybe Andalou Naturals? Probably doesn't help.  We are gorgeous anyway.
• Voting in the primary on Tuesday! So much rides on this.  Info here.

May 8 Run/Walk: Meet at Oakland Starbucks - 4022 Fifth Ave. - for a visit to the Shrine

We're meeting in front of the Oakland Starbucks, across from Soldiers & Sailors, to make the annual Mother's Day pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Blessed Mother! Ahead of time we can start praying that the rain will stop.  Also that absolutely everyone doesn't have COVID by then because that looks like a possibility.  Also that Russia stops bombing innocents to smithereens, and our country doesn't become a fascist theocracy, and our planet is saved from atmospheric armageddon.

OK, let's start over.  We have each other!  Do bring a warm jacket and maybe even your mittens in case we decide to sit outside - it does promise to be nice though on the cool side.  Coffee and treats will be available at several cafes on that block.  

I'm sad I missed last week - which included the treat of an impromptu coffee at Wendy's and at long last a view of the sparkling renovations.  Endorsements can wait.

May 1 Run/Walk: Meet at the Mellon Park, corner of Beechwood and Fifth - and park carefully

May 1 - we made it through another covid winter!  Just barely.  And Sunday is both Marathon Day and Pitt Graduation (thank you Sharon for the reminder.) We'll do our usual thing: RG non-racers will meet at Fifth and Beechwood and maybe head down the race route to check out preparations.  Park wisely.  To the racers: whoa, you can still do this!

Last week was the long-awaited trek through Bloomfield, down the hill into the rarely seen and fairly ragged area underneath.  We found the TryTryTry steps.  Some of us got to the tail end of Art All Night on the Strip, others to Friendship Park.  Coffee at Yinz was only marginally comfy - maybe we need more tattoos.  But as usual, some endorsements:

• Gretchen's Half-Marathon fundraiser for Magee Womens Research.  Go Gretchen!
• Podcasts:  Tiffany Dover is Dead - how conspiracy theories happen, and Hidden Brain - Why Conversations Go Wrong, and Outlaws - "hot, urban flavor"(or was it the TV Series Outlaws?  Lots of outlaws out there.)
• Daily news insight with history and sense: Heather Cox Richardson
• Plumbers: Pawlak and Restano.  Or post on Thumbtack if you're adventurous.

April 24 Run/Walk: meet at YINZ Coffee at 4525 Liberty Ave. in Bloomfield

See yinz at YINZ Coffee in Bloomfield on Sunday - 4525 Liberty Ave.  In 2018, the group evidently ran over the Bloomfield Bridge for the first time and reported that it was awesome, so maybe that's in the plan.  And what's happening with the crumbling ruins over at Iron City Brewing?

Last week we located more unseen parts of Squirrel Hill - odd houses on Lower Burchfield - and paid our respects to the departed Sylvania Natives (another thing that is not there anymore.)  Woodland Road mansions were apparently also on view.

Happily we could still schmooze maskless at the 61C and discuss:

• Last week's graupel storm
• Deer control - OK, we know, Bambi, etc. but it's getting literally too close to home. There are now coyotes and hawks in pursuit. Your hostas are toast. Will arrows be flying through the park? In the meantime try Liquid Fence.
• Whatever happened with that bridge collapse anyway?  Investigators are baffled.  
• If you are ever going to Melbourne, you can absolutely stay in NINA PROUDMAN'S HOME! (If you don't know who Nina is by now, you haven't been reading these messages.
• We recalled when Diabolique with Sharon Stone brought sex and murder to St. Philamena's/CDS
• Old Enough on Netflix, described by them as "the most wholesome show you’ve ever seen — in this unscripted series, Japanese toddlers (ages 2-5) are sent on simple errands to help their parents and the results are just so pure."
• I Still Have Anxiety on Tumblr

Get rid of that anxiety and come on Sunday!

April 17 Run/Walk: Meet at 61C Cafe for a close-to-home Easter Sunday route

On Easter Sunday, we'll start and end at the old fave 61C to hop around Squirrel Hill and environs. (For those newly on the list, this means Murray and Bartlett at 7 am on Sunday.)   This will put us equidistant to Frick Park, Schenley Park, and B'nai Emunoh, all excellent destinations.  If the latter, Wendy will tell us how to pronounce it.

Last week we did some serious recon in Frick Park surrounding the Bridge-that-isn't-there-anymore. All those orange plastic fences are sad! But they are working on it. Endorsements:

• Getting your booster at the Pitt Covax Center. It’s free to everyone and super easy in-out. They validate your parking below Soldiers and Sailors and you’re tended to by friendly nursing and pharmacy students. You can sign up here. 
• Gretchen is running the Pittsburgh Half Marathon and simultaneously raising funds for Magee-Womens Research Institute, professional home of Janet, so 2 great things at once.
• Going places seems to be getting harder - lots of late or cancelled flights.  I guess we're endorsing staying home.
• Where there is still Magic!  Meaning Liberty Magic downtown, shows every Wed - Sun nights, fun and definitely offbeat.
• Get a job: the Allegheny County Virtual Career Fair, which, even though it took place today, apparently "will remain open 24/7 for 30 days." 
• Watch:  "Servant of the People" on Netflix - a Ukrainian TV series from 2015+ in which the real Volodymyr Zelenskyy played a comic role of an accidental President.  It's not only prescient, it's really good!  But the loveliness and normalcy of Kiev will break your heart.

April 10 Run/Walk: Meet at the Frick Environmental Center (aka Nature Center) parking lot

On Sunday we'll meet at the parking lot for the Frick Environmental Center (map) - which was called the Nature Center when ye olde running group came across the smoldering ruins in August 2002.  And now it's a gleaming example of environmentalism.  Maybe giving some hope to counter the smoldering ruins that we see every day in the news.  Some runners will be attending the Bird Talk at 9, others will figure out where to schmooze instead.  Route may involve some bushwhacking and/or trespass. We are always prepared.

Last week we visited Garfield and were treated with many signs of urban renewal, wall art, and ruminant herbivores.  Endorsements included:

• Dr. Sharon's help on dealing with new covid concerns: order your free government home tests before the money runs out (mine came in 3 days!) and think about timing your next booster closer to travel plans.  
• Speaking of travel plans, we were informed of a whole world of aids for female peeing.  Also graphically warned about criminal consequences of not finding a bathroom - apparently a legal specialty. 
• On to less biological topics:  Mother-of-the-bride facemask - basic black or matching the dress? Opinions varied.  
• One Brilliant Boutique in Aspinwall. And the nearby Sol Collective for shoes.  And the nearby consignment store and Spark Books children's bookstore - Brilliant Ave. is the promised land.
• Doorbells - do we really want to see what goes on?

April 3 Run/Walk: Meet at Commonplace Coffee 5467 Penn Ave. in Garfield

Aimee has offered to lead a seldom-travelled Garfield route - so we'll meet at the Commonplace Coffee (aka Voluto) at 5467 Penn Ave. (across from the Glass Center) and head out from there.

The never-ending snow and ice did not deter the group from its appointed rounds on the Strip on Sunday, as we crossed and re-crossed on some slippy bridges.  A mysterious turtle on a historical medallion at the Point was later investigated and found to be a symbol of Native American influences, or perhaps just a turtle.  And the Oscar for best after-run ambiance goes to - Cafetano Coffee Roasters. ¡Maravilloso!  Where we endorsed:

• Long lost Happy Hours!  So now we have one: come on down to the next RG Happy Hour, next Thursday April 7 at the Galley at Bakery Square! It's from 4:30-6:30 so show up whenever.  Even if you've never been on a run.
• The salacious bridal showers of yesteryear - now you get an instant pot.
• But an immersion blender is still loved.
• As is a tree!  Tree Pittsburgh makes it easy.
• Chuck Beard - his photos and his beard
• Watch oldies:  Gilmore Girls, West Wing, Legally Blonde, Offspring (of course!!)
• Listen to: All About Me - Mel Brooks audiobook
• Read:  Fresh Water for Flowers
• Social Security and the Spousal Benefit (oy, did we ever think we would be talking about this?

March 27 Run/Walk: Meet at Cafetano Cafe on the Strip, Penn and 16th St.

We miss the Strip, and have been wanting to try this cafe for a while, so we'll meet at Penn Ave. and 16th St. and check out the Italian/Honduran offerings which look impressive.  Oh, yeah, we'll run and walk around the area also.

Meanwhile last week, under only a few drops of the threatened rain, we visited rarely-seen parts of Squirrel Hill (amazing that is still possible) such as Westland Drive, with long views, slightly rundown romantic mansions and bizarre constructions.  At a leisurely coffee we endorsed:

• Getting your booster shot at Costco
• The upcoming fall RG bike trip to Cumberland (yes, anyone getting this email is welcome!) for which please fill out this Doodle Poll to figure out dates.  We're thinking it will be a Fri-Sun but lots is still TBD.  
• Read (naturally) The Great Allegheny Passage Companion
• Taking a shower in plain sight of a zoom meeting (this actually happened)
• Electrician:  Mendelson Electric
• 
  Watch:  Power of the Dog (harsh but memorable), Friday Night Lights (old but great), Dopesick (upsetting but important) Curb Your Enthusiasm (none of the above)
• Get ready for the upcoming May 17 primary - hear the US Senate Democratic candidates forum right here (really, please do, this is a crucial one)
• Microsoft Teams Together Mode (we need to do this)
• 

March 20 Run/Walk: Rerun of 61C meetup but without the clock change

We'll meet at 61C cafe in Squirrel Hill again - last week we somehow missed each other for coffee, so we'll try once more.  Maybe it will be balmy and we'll sit outside!  We'll look for more of these:

March 13 Run: Meet at 61C Cafe and SPRING your Clocks Forward!

Daylight Savings Time begins on Sunday so make sure you Spring your Clocks Ahead an hour.

Meet at 61C for a Runners' (and Walkers') Choice Route.

Last Sunday our East Liberty/Friendship run started out with a drizzle, but the rain knows not to mess with Running Group, so the skies cleared and the sun was out by the time we were drinking coffee.  Bird-friendly coffee!  ("Bird-friendly coffee is sourced from farms that hold certification from the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center. This certification means, among other things, that the coffee from these farms is grown with minimal deforestation.")

The run included a fair amount of looking, seeing, and trespassing, as usual.  The new Whole Foods building is coming along.

Endorsements include:

Two-factor authentication and

Mixtiles

Have a great week!

March 6 Run/Walk: Meet at the Detective Building, 224 N Euclid Ave., East Liberty

Back to the Detective Building (which once really did house the Pittsburgh Police detectives) but now we are going there for the coffee at Redstart Roasters (which is "bird-friendly.)  Unclear how that is related but maybe we'll find out.

Last Sunday after our travels through Homewood and Larimer, it was all about getting down with the hipsters at KLVN on Hamilton - pretty nice but, the years are passing and the bouncy techno tunes made it a little hard to hear our words of wisdom.  But here's what got through:

• Listen: Israel Story podcast (endorsed once before in 2016 - still going!)
• LARCs (of course you knew that was Long-Acting Reversible Contraception) - and this unusual explainer, "Watch me get an IUD -- for the planet"
• Watch:  Mrs. Maisel, particularly Season 4 Episode 4, in which there may be the joke about the woman who married her gynecologist, "I guess he liked what he saw."  
• Onto another topic:  "What was lost in Pittsburgh's Broken Bridge"
• Read better news:  Letters from an American (helpful daily updates from a thoughtful historian) and Print: Pittsburgh's East End Newspaper (super-local and really in PRINT.)
• In planning:  RG bike trip to Cumberland in the fall!  

February 27 Run/Walk: Meet at super-hip KLVN Coffee Lab at 6600 Hamilton

We'll explore the area all around the super-hip KLVN Coffee Lab at 6600 Hamilton and see if we can cover 5 neighborhoods all in one route.  (From that spot it's possible, as Pam once showed us.)

Last week we just made the sunrise and it was as advertised - providing the glow that lasted through our grateful return to the Tazza D'Oro, where there were too many people talking at once, but here's a sample:

• When it's time to move out of the big house: how about an apartment in Maxon Towers?  Is it already a NORC? Oy, do I have to think about this already?
• Crows - we love to see them taking off in the dawn - here's why they do.
• Watch:  Offspring is back! (it will never leave.) 
• Read: Mel Brooks, All About Me.
• 
  Watch then read:  Inside Melissa Clark's Home Kitchen - her Dinner cookbook
• Go: the bike/beer tour outlined by Virginia on Pittsburgh Magazine
• Sol Collective shoe store in Aspinwall.
• Make something with wool crafting supplies from the famous Pendleton Mills.
• Alterations Plus near Trader Joe's can give you good mending advice even if they can't fix it.

February 20 Run/Walk: Return to Tazza D'Oro, 1125 N.Highland Ave.

Just discovered that Tazza D'Oro has re-opened after being a pandemic dropout - perhaps there is light at the end of this tunnel!  And, this may be the last time we can catch the sunrise over the Highland Park reservoir (at 7:06 am on Sunday and getting earlier).  So let's do it.  Hopefully there are apple dumplings.

For our pre-Valentine's excursions, we wandered out from Mellon Park.  Intrepid walkers uncovered the origin of the soon-to-be-created Brilliant Line bikeway/walkway from Aspinwall to the East End over the Allegheny River. Hurry up already! At the moment you can get to one end of the rail route up a ramp off of Hamilton near N. Dallas, and when snow blesses us, it's a cross-country ski route all the way to the river.  Then we visited the gorgeously renovated Homewood Library and the bridge over the busway to Westinghouse Park.  Panera beat Starbucks so we'll find another one soon.  Endorsed:

• Three Rivers Outdoor Co. in Regent Square (locally owned) hosts events.
• Senita running clothes (lots of bras!) and this link should get 15% off first purchase
• The Moth is gone, but storytelling remains in the Burgh with Story Club
• Black Radish big and small catering for all of us who miss Kate Romane's scrumptious E2 restaurant.  Especially Farm to Family Fridays for 6 - 8.
• Brunch at 40 North and Revel are also yum.
• Plant trees in the parks (my Valentine's present!)
• 1Password pw manager
• Voss Appliance - apparently we are all buying ovens
• You can hide your nude photos.  This becomes more urgent by the year.

February 13 Run/Walk: Meet at Mellon Park Playground parking lot at Beechwood/Fifth

Meet at the parking lot to the Mellon Park playground, where Beechwood meets Fifth Ave. We'll check out what's new at Bakery Square and environs - or else head to Shadyside - or else...  There may be some way to connect this to Valentine's Day weekend - we'll see!  For coffee, we can go corporatist (Panera or Starbucks) or indie: (Commonplace on Reynolds) - make your bets.

Last week felt normal! (I'm almost afraid to write that.) We pretty much skated through frozen Frick Park, miraculously without injury, checking out what views we could snatch of the sunken bridge.  Then convened to kibitz and endorse more things than I could keep track of, but here are selections:

• 
  Induction cooktops
• Appliance-related:  "I had this lovely experience with a man named Stephane."
• Also related: Hauck Appliance Repair and Bosch dishwashers
• Getaway! find an upscale tiny house in the Ohio woods or anywhere and unplug
• Gretchen's Margot's band's EP Release Party (click there and listen!) at Thunderbird Cafe on 2/25
• Wendy's Hill's artist Remi Wolf at Mr. Small's on Feb. 8 (sorry this message is too late)
• Instagram is bad, I know, but @pghparkrangers may redeem it.
• Read: Finding the Mother Tree and then read: The Overstory
• Get free N95 masks at Rite Aid 
• Plastic drain snakes
• The magnificent J.P. Morgan library in NYC - and the unknown woman behind it, Belle da Costa Greene (though not the recent blah book about her)
• The Return of Persephone and February holidays