Entries Tagged as 'bike'

UPAF’s Ride For The Arts

May 25th, 2011 · No Comments

Please consider sponsoring my family on our ride. To do so, click here.

On June 5th, my dad and my brother and I are participating in the UPAF Ride for the Arts in the Milwaukee area. My brother and my dad have done this bike ride in years past, and last year my brother and I did it, but we’ve never all gone together. We will be riding the 25-mile route on bike to help raise awareness and money for the United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF), which supports 34 performing arts groups in Southeastern Wisconsin.

Since 1981, over a quarter of a million people have participated in the UPAF’s Ride for the Arts and it is considered to be one of the nation’s largest one-day recreational bike rides. This year is the 31st year of the event, which has generated $7 million for the UPAF. The money is used to help UPAF’s member groups produce over 2,000 live performances of music, dance, theater and opera each year. When you support the arts, you’re helping your local economy, improving education, and strengthening outreach programs to the disabled and elderly – all while adding culture to your own life.

Last year the ride was not easy, but very do-able. I thought I’d be dying and sore the next day, but I surprisingly was not. Sure, the day of there were lots of aches and pains, but they did not last. And since Miller Lite sponsors The Ride, the finish line party on the Summerfest Grounds is really fun. Last year there were bands playing and it was a total celebration. I’m not going to lie, the I only made it through the last few miles of the bike ride because I was thinking of ice-cold Miller Lite. Honestly, it was the best beer I ever tasted. Last year there was also one sponsor who donated 5,000 hotdogs to the event, so everyone got a free hotdog on completion. Looking forward to the ride this year and to helping support UPAF’s great cause.

Please consider sponsoring my family on our ride. To do so, click here.

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Chicago B-Cycle

January 6th, 2011 · No Comments

Last summer Chicago got its first bike sharing program, Chicago B-cycle. They have placed self-service bike rental stations along the lakefront and in the loop. These photos are of that station located at Daley Plaza. So, you become a member and then you can pick up bikes at any B-station and drop them off at any other B-station. The things is, the rates are not cheap, and it does me, personally, no good to have stations only on the lakefront and the Loop. Is this only for tourists?

Also, if you didn’t notice, these photos were taken during a Critical Mass gathering in October.

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Metal Head

September 17th, 2010 · No Comments

I locked my bike to this pole.

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Logan Square is on Fire! The Bike Lane, Barbara & Barbara, Boiler Room, Bucket ‘O Blood, Cafe Mustache, Letizia’s, Play, La Boulangerie, Jam, & Wasabi

July 17th, 2010 · 7 Comments

There have been so many new places that have opened since we moved to Logan Square just under two years ago – The Rocking Horse, Cole’s, Longman & Eagle, Dill Pickle Food Co-op, New Wave Coffee, Revolution Brewery, Logan Square Kitchen, Ciao Napoli Pizzeria, Sparrow, to name a few. It seems that every week I hear about even more new places opening here. It’s an exciting time to be in Logan Square. I love going to new places and I can’t help but think this will be good for the market value of our condo if we choose to sell it one day. Here are a list of even more new things I’ve been hearing about … and all within short walking distance from where I live!

The Bike Lane is a new bike shop in Logan Square on Milwaukee Avenue across the street from the Congress Theater. I noticed it one night while walking home a couple months ago and took a quick photo.

A few weeks ago Dallas and I needed to get a new bike pump so we walked over and bought one at The Bike Lane. The inside of the store had a just-moved-in feeling, but the guy that helped us out was very nice and they had a good selection of what we were looking for.

A few weeks ago we were at Summer Sessions on the Square. Afterwards, Stephanie and I were shopping around at Wolfbait and B-Girls. We noticed that something new opened right next door to the store. We were talking to someone who worked at Wolfbait and she mentioned that a new salon had opened that very day. It’s called Barbara and Barbara and their website says they do a shampoo, cut, blowdry and beer for $20. Perfect hipster combo at the perfect hipster price!

If you’ve been following along here on this fine website, you’ll remember a preview I attended for a new pizza place called Nice Slice. Well, Nice Slice changed its name to Boiler Room and opened last week. I know some of the people involved in this project and was invited to the opening, but I had other plans that night. I hope to visit really soon.

Bucket ‘O Blood Books and Records opened last month on Milwaukee Avenue near the intersection of California. I haven’t been inside yet, but their sign says they specialize in fiction, fantasy, horror, vinyl, and “awesome.” Awesome!

A couple months ago I wrote about Cafe Mustache opening on Milwaukee Avenue near the California Avenue intersection. I noticed this morning that on the Cafe Mustache Facebook page, they announced that they’re opening their doors on Monday, July 19 and having a preview on Sunday night. Yay!

In February I noticed that Letizia’s is opening on California Avenue, just south of Logan Boulevard. I thought it’d be open by now, but everyone’s still waiting eagerly for the work to be completed.

As I noticed last month, Play is a children’s toy and gift store that is slated to open this summer. That’s about all I know about it. Play will be located in the same building as New Wave.

One more that I mentioned previously, La Boulangerie is a bakery coming to Logan Square and will also be located in the same building as New Wave and Play.

Jam is a restaurant in Ukrainian Village that I’ve been hearing some very good things about their brunch. It has been in the back of my head forever that I should try it out and I never have. A couple weeks ago I heard they’re opening a second location in Logan Square on Milwaukee Avenue, nearby New Wave. I don’t know the exact location, but there’s a storefront just to the south of The Rocking Horse that is being renovated and it’s my #1 guess.

Finally, yesterday Grub Street reported that they were walking around Milwaukee Avenue trying to figure out exactly where Jam is going to be when they noticed a storefront with a new awning. Just to the north of The Rocking Horse is going to be Wasabi Japanese restaurant.

There is one new Logan Square business on Milwaukee Avenue at Richmond that I am not that excited for, though:

The new Cash America pawn shop! At least it looks nicer than 99% of the pawn shops I’ve seen.

But mostly, though, I’m so excited for these new developments. Logan Square is the place to be these days!!!

Update 06.19.10: I forgot, there’s also a new coffee shop called Nothin’ Less that opened a few months ago on Milwaukee Avenue just north of the Logan Square blue line stop.

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Tour de Fat

June 30th, 2010 · No Comments


Tour de Fat


Killian & Jill


Molly & Liz


Stephanie & Dallas


Stephanie & Dallas


Front: Killian, Dallas Back: Lisa, Jess, Brian, Stephanie, Andrea


Stephanie & Rachelle


Crazy Tall Bike


Bike Powered Bubbler


Sign at the crazy bike corral entrance.


Rachelle


Stephanie


Stephanie & Rachelle


Stephanie & Rachelle


Rachelle

After the Tour de Fat bike parade, Jen and Quinn had to head out but the rest of us went over to Palmer Square for the Tour de Fat festival. Last year we had just a few people with us at Tour de Fat, but this year we had something like 10, plus we ran into our condo neighbors and hung out with them. Last year Brian, Dallas and Killian’s friend from college, drove in from out of town for the event and has so much fun that this year he brought his wife with him.

There were a few new things at Tour de Fat this year, but generally things were the same as last year. Same crazy bikes, some of the same music and performance acts. Dallas wished they had switched it up a little, but I still had a fun time. It had stormed in the night before the fest so the grounds were pretty muddy. And while it didn’t rain the day of, it was so hot and humid. My hair was wet with sweat. Kind of gross, but still a good time.

After a while some of our friends headed over to Dunlay’s to check in on World Cup soccer. Steph and I walked around a little bit then met them at Dunlay’s. We sat outside, though, with all the other people who didn’t care about soccer. Then a bit later on Jess (my friend, not my niece!), Dallas, Steph and I had dinner at Rocking Horse.

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