hope on the water

This story offers hope that paraplegics may find more ways to exercise, retain strength and aerobic capacity, and reduce or reverse bone loss. Very cool.

funky Friday

49th ward bike day tomorrow

This Saturday 7/11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. will be a Pedal Party at Touhy Park, 7358 N. Paulina (across from the new Clark Street fire station), a day of fun activities focused on bicycles and bike safety.

Whether you're a hardcore bicycling enthusiast, or simply want to spend a nice summer day riding bikes with your kids, this is the place to be. Local businesses and community organizations will offer the following:

* Bike safety checks
* Helmet fittings
* Cycling merchandise
* Gift certificates
* Rider safety tips
* Children's activities

The Recyclery, Rogers Park's used bike collective, will be accepting donations of used bikes, and the Rogers Park Parents Group will host some kid-friendly activities for all ages. Mayor Daley's Bicycling Ambassadors will also be on hand with a table of activities for kids and adults.

At Noon, it's time to enjoy an Ambassador-escorted bike ride through the neighborhood and back to Touhy Park for a picnic lunch provided by Partners for Rogers Park!

Many thanks to Roberts Cycle, 7054 N. Clark, for providing the safety checks, helmet fittings, cycling merchandise and gift certificates.

The 49th Ward Green Corps is one of the sponsors of Bicycle Day. Making our community more bicycle friendly helps to make a greener, more liveable community.

Space Shuttle in view until 7/16

The Space Shuttle will pass within 200 miles of earth between now and 7/16. It will be visible briefly at dawn and dusk. Here are general instructions for using NASA's skywatch web page and data for Illinois on when the Shuttle will be in view, how long, and where in the sky. Now we just need some clear mornings and evenings....

New 400 Theater opens today

The New 400 Theater is opening today at 6746 N. Sheridan Road (at Columbia). This neighborhood landmark movie theater has been transformed. The building's new owner, Anthony Fox of CDF Capital, bought it in 2007 and restored much of the terra cotta facade and thoroughly renovated the interior with eco-friendly materials.

The original name of theater was the 400 Theater when it first opened in 1914. Its name was changed to the Village North in the early 1990s.

All 4 screens will feature new-release movies. The owner plans to occasionally show art films and provide some live performances in the largest theater, such as poetry readings, comedy acts, children's activities and other cultural events.

At tonight's grand opening, you will receive a free large popcorn with your ticket purchase. You can get showtimes by calling the New 400 Theater's recorded phone line at 773-856-5980. A web site will be up soon.

funky Friday

Two from Peter Gabriel:

scram, skyrats!

Here's a bit of good news from one of Joe Moore's e-mail blasts. He says that spike strips have recently been installed under all the Metra viaducts from Howard to Pratt to prevent pigeons from roosting there.

This is a welcome change, as the stench, mess and risk of getting splattered by pigeon crap has been a real problem for years.

Too bad there aren't any raptors in the 'hood to reduce that pesky skyrat population. (At least I don't think there are. I know that downtown Evanston has several. Uptown does, too.)

dancin' in the park on 6/25

Thursday 6/25 6-8:30 p.m. it's Swing night at Willye White Park, 1610 W Howard. May I Have This Dance will offer 1 hour of free instruction from 6 - 7 p.m., followed by an hour and a half of open dance. Come on down and dance!