Emerge Miami from Carmen Rodriguez on Vimeo.

Emerge Miami invites you to our December Boardgame Night! Maximize your Scrabble skills with witty and good-naturedly competitive friends! This month’s event will feature the always popular word games, some vibrant and obscure Apples to Apples arguments, and a special opportunity to beta-test a brand new game! Games start at 8 PM! RSVP on Facebook!

The #OccupyMiami movement is growing rapidly!  This Saturday, October 15th, there is going to be a protest at the Torch of Friendship downtown from 1:30-3:30pm followed by a General Assembly from 3:30-6:00pm.  Come and see how you can get involved!  Ride your bike there!

October 18th – Board Game Night

Play board games with us at Sweat Records October 18th at 8pm.  We’ll be playing all the classics including Jenga, Boggle, Scrabble, Chess, Apples to Apples and more.  This event is free, fun and family-friendly!

October 19th – The Corporation Screening

Emerge Miami teams up with the Coral Gables Rotaract Club and O Cinema to kick off our collaborative film series with an innovative “social media interactive screening” of The Corporation. Bring your WiFi-enabled laptops and social media savvy tools to O Cinema on Wednesday, October 19, to join in the discussion regarding corporate influences on all of our lives! The film starts at 7 PM, with an O Cinema Happy Hour leading up to it. Jump into the discussion at #CorpMiami! Check out the trailer, learn more about the event, and find out how to order tix in advance. O Cinema is located at 90 NW 29th Street, 33127 in Wynwood.

October 22nd – Rescheduled Cemetery Bike Tour

Thank you to all of the brave folks who actually attended this ride!  The ride was mostly rained out.  Not to fear!  This ride is rescheduled for Saturday, October 22nd at 10 am.  Meet at the Adrienne Arsht Metromover Station.  Find out who is buried in Miami…learn some local history!

Stickers

Emerge stickers are here!  They will be distributed at Emerge meetings and events with a suggested donation of $1.

October 22nd – Ice Cream and Comic Books

What could be better than comic books and ice cream together?  Saturday October 22nd from 6-9 pm at Wall’s Ice Cream to benefit ComicEd.  See www.comiced.org for more information.  Wall’s is located at 8075 SW 67th Ave, Miami FL 33173.

October 23rd – Gables Bike Day

Please join us on October 23rd when Miracle Mile (South side) and Ponce de Leon blvd to Ponce Circle Park will be closed to cars for CORAL GABLES BIKE DAY!!

This is a Free, Family event for cyclists, walkers, skaters to enjoy the downtown Gables streets. Music, children’s area, food, bike polo, scavenger hunt, bike tours and more. Gables Bike Day is 10am to 4pm with a rally at 10:30am at Ponce Circle Park. Come show your support for cycling in South Florida!  Miracle Mile is going to be redone in the near future.  Let’s show our support for bike lanes on Miracle Mile!

October 23rd – Sketchy Pink Party

November 1st – Whisk Gourmet benefit for Tropical Audubon Society

Whisk Gourmet (open on Tues. until 10 p.m.) will donate 10% of their dinner checks to Tropical Audubon Society on Tuesday of November, 1st from 6-10 p.m. Head on over to the South Miami area and have dinner after the Emerge meeting. It would be much appreciated! Please forward this to any environmentalists, green thumb folks, and those who would like to dine for a cause.

It is terrifying to think of our own odds, if even a large group of marked police officers cannot get care and consideration from motorists.  Our warmest regards go out to the injured Officers.  We will continue to work hard for bike safety and awareness.  We welcome anyone from your force to join us in our continued efforts.

Best,

Your Friends at Emerge Miami

Introducing #OccupyMiami – Nearly 200 activists, artists, and organizers made clear their intentions last Saturday, at the first #OccupyMiami organizational meeting. The new collaboration assembled to discuss problems facing the community at a local and national level- and subsequently global level- democratically deciding how to address such issues through direct action. The event was the first official meeting, after many of its members spent the previous days conceptualizing how to bring Miami into the effort in conversations that spanned ad-hoc video conferences, Facebook chats, and IRC.

The nationwide Occupy Together movement was inspired by the ongoing #OccupyWallStreet protests which took over New York’s Zuccotti Park, aka “Liberty Square”, on September 17th. The idea, with heavy support from Adbusters, spread to cities from Boston, to Chicago, to LA and around the world, springing up with unprecedented velocity. The message is multifaceted, touching upon common grievances: money’s corrupting influence on politics and the resulting breakdown of hallowed democratic institutions. The symptoms become evident when we observe one of the highest income gaps in the developed world, and extended tax cuts for the wealthy forcing public services to face austerity measures and downsizing.

The local voices perfectly express their discontent: “We want the city made up of immigrants to be a sanctuary for all immigrants.”

Saturday’s meeting started by inviting open discussion in an emergent manner, allowing any individual to proclaim their reasons for attending. The bullhorn exploded with stories of single parents facing layoffs and unsure how to thrive in these upheaved times; alongside young people, unable to find work and lacking healthcare; to families who just want their children to grow up in a world without corporate sponsored wars. Downtown’s half-empty condo towers and developer-run prioritized projects echoed with the outcry against oppressive political tactics that now allow private banks to manage money the Federal Reserve prints out of thin air, all the while charging interest on it. This would serve as absurd art, were it not a symbol of the reality we all confront.

As #OccupyMiami’s voices made clear, it is not difficult to see who elected officials work for these days, when banks cry insolvency and are handed $700 billion checks with carte blanche responsibility attached. Meanwhile, communities eke out an existence in grinding poverty. Somehow, most of our news sources believe this disparity doesn’t warrant so much as a mention. As the worldwide #Occupy movements build momentum, the unheard voices come to the forefront. We are witnessing a time when the news is forced to facilitate that voice- proclaiming itself the “99%” of society cast aside by private interests. This 99% comprises their viewership, regardless of agendas and persuasions. Socialist, liberal, conservative or Tea Partier- all of these movements are finding their placement among the 99%, and, miraculously, they are finding #Occupy to be a common ground upon which to march.

#OccupyMiami broke up into intimate groups of 10 to 15 members for round-table discussions with the primary aim to derive a concrete list of the issues they cared the most about. In the process, they facilitated the essential components of direct action: personal interaction, breaking the ice, and forming bonds.

“We want an education system that teaches kids how to give back to their community.”

Photo courtesy of Alexandra Gaudiosi from Kateri Photography

For many participants, this was their first time partaking in a democratic process. Those who summoned the courage to show up and speak out demonstrated that complacency is no longer an option, and that finding new and innovative solutions to regional, national, and global problems often involves leaving your comfort zone behind. For those who desire fast results, it was a wakeup call to realize that reaching a consensus while allowing for dissenting viewpoints requires patience, resilience, understanding, and communication- all in addition to marching and shouting from the rooftops. The harshest critic of a movement is the one who observes: “They are yelling about something, but I don’t think they know what it is.” #OccupyMiami confronted these challenges with class, establishing its intentions before grabbing the megaphone.

“We will not pay for your illegal wars. This is our money, and we want it going to education.”

The decisions around the big issues that we face are conducted in secret, with corporations leveraging their out-sized power to directly write individual states laws becoming the norm. Our contemporary system ignores the grievances of its own Declaration of Independence, encouraging the gathering of “legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance”. Now, the #Occupy movement asks the important question of our leaders: Why is this behavior acceptable?

There was open concern about how the mechanisms of direct democracy are often absent in our lives and processes. With ballooning campaign costs and a deluge of politicking leading up to each election for years at a time, politicians are left with no choice but to solicit donations that leave them beholden to special interests.

The mainstream media originally leveled accusations at the Occupy Wall Street protesters for lacking a cohesive, unified message. The same proved to be true here in Miami, as a number of issues were brought up throughout the day, from broad issues ranging from healthcare, revoking corporate personhood, ending foreign wars and occupations, immigration rights, and investments in clean energy; to hyper-local issues like public transportation, local organic farms, over-development, education reform, the dual-justice system, and the general sense that that public does not have any input as to what gets cut from the state budget.

In the end, however, what the MSM and opposition does not recognize is the unifying force behind this outcry: the public is fed its beliefs, and they’ve come to suspect those that have malnourished their awareness.

“Corporations have the most cash assets they’ve ever had since 1959, and they’re not hiring.”

Here in the Sunshine State, it would seem that Governor Rick Scott is waging a war on public workers, cutting $2 billion from the education budget, while increasing the budget for the governors office. These initiatives are instilled without a whiff of public input or a moments concern over his polling numbers. Florida is a microcosm of the nation as a whole, but these behaviors reflect the entirety of the issue: the majority voices are being ignored.

“There are many of us without health insurance, and we all deserve to be healthy.”

We are witnessing the onset of a movement that’s adding new members faster than it can bring them up to speed. As they educate the public, we are left to contemplate: if we agree with what they say, what is holding us back from helping it out? This is the kind of movement that is hungry for new leadership; new talents. On the forums, people are recommending groups and volunteering services like an open-source job fair.

Far from showing signs of slowing down, the #OccupyMiami Facebook Group page has doubled its membership since the first meeting. A new generation, concerned about its future and potential outcomes, is waking up to realize that it can no longer remain complacent if it hopes to achieve sustainability.

Towards the end of the day, with the late afternoon sun sinking into the horizon and bathing the Torch of Friendship in golden light, those assembled divided once again, this time into three core groups. Each tackled the essentials for spreading the message:

1. Mobilization, focusing on logistics and tactics for direct action;

2. Media representation, facetiously dubbed the “Ministry of Propaganda and/or Truth”;

3. Education, tasked with creating arts, props, and visual branding elements to help inform, inspire, and get people involved.

Much care was taken to announce that any direct actions would not be antagonistic to the police, although the savvy crowd was familiar with the aggressive behavior that had been directed towards the protesters in New York, regularly cross posting updates from Occupy Wall Street.

The Media crew has its work cut out for it, as Miami is regularly portrayed as apathetic and materialistic, with Channel 4 news obliviously labeling the nascent movement “Hipsters by the Bay” in its coverage. There are those in the MSM who have been quick to prejudge a movement made up of ordinary folks who are not regulars to protests, and just want solutions to problems the government is not providing them.

This collaboration has caught #EmergeMiami’s attention because it is putting into practice many of the core ideas comprising emergent behavior. By presenting broadly defined mission statements that allow for a variety of endeavors without rigid constraints, this movement strives to unify through common interest. #OccupyMiami, and the #Occupy movement as a whole, strives to partner disparate groups that are functionally working toward conjoined goals.

Ultimately, these efforts facilitate community interaction through peaceful, creative, and informative ways. This movement depends on people of diverse ethnicities, political views, and age groups who want to build on this momentum to develop a model for a new society. One that pays more than just lip service to the idea of an experiment in participatory democracy.

For more information, please visit: www.occupymia.org

-Bruce Wayne Stanley
@brucewstanley

That’s why every third Tuesday of the month, Emerge gets together at Sweat Records at 8 pm to throw down.  All are welcome to this free and festive community event.

This week, about a dozen folks got involved in an incredibly boisterous round of Apples to Apples, where there was a particularly argumentative and energetic contest.  Max and Adam dominated the table with their superior word-association prowess.  Good times and high-fives were had by all.

At the other table, a group of us played Konexi.  None of had ever delved into this novel combination of Scrabble and Jenga.  After making it through the initial learning curve, we had a great time balancing letters and making words!

Sweat kept the frothy beverages coming as we chatted, laughed and competed. Delicious pizza was ordered from Andiamo.  As if that weren’t delightful enough, our friend Stephanie made an amazing vegan strawberry vanilla cake to share with all of us!

Our next board game night will be Tuesday, October 18th at 8 pm at Sweat Records.  Be there AND be square!

September 17th – Coastal Cleanup Day
Also this Saturday is the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup Day- Emerge and the Coral Gables Roteract Club will be helping out at Matheson Hammock Park.  Maxwell and Adam are coordinating this- look for the cool guys digging in the mangroves for trash! This is Saturday from 9 am -12 at Mattheson Hammock.  If you go to the guard house at the entrance road, they will let you in for free if you tell them you are doing the beach cleanup. This event fills up quickly, so try to arrive around 8:30!

September 20th – Emerge presents Board Game Night
Board Game Night is next Tuesday at 8 pm at Sweat Records.  Come play games with friends!  It’s free and awesome.

September 24th – Moving Planet: Ride On!
Miami Dade College’s Earth Ethic Institute, Moving Planet, is working with 350.org to integrate the concept of sustainability to the school’s curriculum. We are planning a 10 mile ride that involves vegetarian food and addresses issues of sustainability, local foods and avoidance of fossil fuels.  Emerge has enjoyed 350 Day bike rides and events for several years, and this is a great opportunity to continue bringing awareness to important climate issues! The ride is going to be at 10 am on Saturday, September 24th.  Meeting point at the MDC Wolfson Campus.  The event name is Moving Planet>RIDE ON!—up on 350.org website as a Miami event.  You can also find out more info at Earth Ethic Institute’s Moving Planet Facebook page. Join us!

September 24th – Earthdance Miami
The annual Global Festival for Peace, Earth Awareness, and Community Celebration returns!
Moksha Family Arts Collective presents a day and night of live world music, dj’s, performance artists, a global synchronized peace prayer across 80 countries, art & crafts vendors, the participation of local environmental non-profit organizations, and much more.
Buy pre-sale tickets, visit the official website, and RSVP on Facebook.

6:00pm – Topic: Everything You Wanted To Know About Tofu- The science, history and culinary facts around this popular meat alternative are dramatized in a demonstration of techniques and recipes to enhance your kitchen experience. More details here.

September 29th – ECOMB’s Cinema Green – Trash Inc: The Secret Life of Garbage
ECOMB is hosting a screening of the documentary Trash Inc., a CNBC documentary offering a fascinating look at what happens to garbage in the U.S. and abroad. View trailer. 8pm at Miami Beach Cinemateque. Click here to purchase tickets.

October 8 – Critical Mass Cemetery Tour
Our regularly scheduled monthly ride will be a special Cemetery Tour!  We will meet at Government Center Metrorail Station at 10 am to explore and learn about three of our local cemeteries.  Spoooky!

October 19th – The Corporation at O Cinema
This will be our kickoff in a series of monthly film screenings at O Cinema.  Mixer at 7:30, screening at 8 pm.  We are showing the Corporation to promote the organization Move to Amend.  More details are coming!

October 23rd – Coral Gables Bike Day
Coral Gables Bike Day will be Sunday Oct 23rd. Races start at 7 am. The street festival portion will be at 10 am. There is a Facebook Event Page, and a Facebook page for Volunteers . Ponce de Leon will be closed down to cars between the circle park and Miracle Mile and half of Miracle Mile will be closed to cars between Douglas Rd and LeJeune. There will be a stage at Ponce Circle Park with bands and children’s entertainment. Bike polo will be off of Miracle Mile. Does anyone know any trick riders/BMX people who would like to get paid to entertain the masses? If so, contact Peter at the above-mentioned Facebook page. Bike tours will be led throughout the day. We are looking for sponsorship. There will be police and porta-potties and the works. This costs money so we would love to find a friendly sponsor.

Also in the works, we’re organizing a Moustache Ride and Movember Party to promote men’s cancer awareness.  This will be our regularly scheduled November ride.  Stay connected for more details about locations, events, music, and afterparties!

Our collection of sun-saturated bicyclists takes a welcome break in the shade of Opa-Locka’s Tri-Rail parking lot and two things occur to me:

I first realize that I am entirely out of my familiar area. Despite living in Miami for thirty years, to me Opa-Locka previously represented “over there”- a mysterious nonentity I’ve never had a  reason to visit.

This sensation is quickly followed by my second breakthrough. The Tri-Rail station, I notice, is placed along Opa-Locka’s epically named Ali Baba Avenue, and I’ve just travelled through a portion of town dotted with improbable minarets and Arabic-influenced domed structures- an architectural oasis completely unlike any other area in Miami.

This September’s Emerge Critical Mass collaborated with Urban Projects Collaborative, or Up-Lab, a local nonprofit collective of architects and visionaries working to give people like me stunning realizations such as those which kicked in along Ali Baba Avenue. Essentially, Up-Lab explores Miami’s “over there’s,” and brings the rest of us to them in order to support underprivileged and under-trafficked neighborhoods through awareness and creative inspiration. These opportunities, which Up-Lab dubs “Sketch-and-Rides”, bring out artists, architects, designers, creative minds, and bicycle lovers such as myself, and in doing so live up to their name. These bike rides take us to outstanding architectural landmarks around Miami, most of which you’ve probably never known about. Then we sketch them.

Up-Lab’s concept syncs beautifully with Miami’s love of emergent cultural projects. Think of local hyper-blog Beached Miami’s Sketchy Miami project challenging all Miamians to submit a portrait photo which then may be immortalized as art by any community member, artist or otherwise. Now add Miami’s ever-growing love of bike culture to the formula. Up-Lab’s Sketch-and-Rides are daring the rest of us to stop trolling Google Street View for entertaining and obscure exposures to the outside world, and instead gives us the real deal: a chance to ride into the unfamiliar and underexposed pockets of our community and interact with structural art completely alien to most of our expectations. For example, did you know that Opa-Locka is a hub for architecture directly inspired by “1001 Arabian Nights”? For real.

Now consider this: Up-Lab isn’t just filling artist portfolios- there’s an additionally compelling purpose to these Sketch-and-Ride bike trips. Up-Lab tells it best, straight from their site:

The collaborative

“brings architectural and professional design solutions as well as research and implementation support to under served and underrepresented communities facing emergency assistance, humanitarian aid, poverty alleviation, low income housing needs and community empowerment/development challenges.”

So, how does community development translate to a sweltering Saturday on bikes?

The relevance strikes alarmingly as we roll across NW 90th Street, and those of us on thin-wheeled road bikes unexpectedly slip in the entirely inappropriate sandtraps serving as an unpaved road. At first, I think this is just a driveway and we’ve turned the wrong corner, but I look at the street sign for reassurance and see we’re still on 30th Avenue.

Seriously. An unpaved road in a Miami-Dade County. One of apparently many in the area, left unregarded for whatever reason. Emerger Dario then points out to the riders that this dusty lane has remained unpaved since the neighborhood’s asphalt first went down however many decades ago. Pockets of Opa-Locka enjoy street access and commutes laid along tire-eating and axle-snapping rocky trails dating back to the city’s inception. These idiosyncratic forgotten roads persist either from a lack of local support or an overwhelmed roadway service.

As we emerge from the battered path, we are rewarded by Opa-Locka’s architectural gems. The disregarded infrastructure is juxtaposed by the unabashed originality and beauty detailed in several of Opa-Locka’s inspired buildings. Especially City Hall.

Surrounded by the trappings of a desert oasis, City Hall features endearing artistry clearly inspired by Middle Eastern aesthetics. Featuring several minaret spires, two distinct walled gardens, and one charming sundial, the quaint but outstanding civic center deserves recognition for embodying Miami style by being so uniquely inspired by a culture from elsewhere. I’ve enjoyed occasional jaunts to several of Dade County’s city halls, yet this was the first one where I’d be happy to just hang out.

Still, in keeping with Up-Lab’s ambition to draw attention to municipal issues, there’s something sadly aged and creepily dilapidated about Opa-Locka’s City Hall. The tallest minaret is begrudgingly marred by crumbling masonry. The paint has a tired and resigned look to it. The walls could use many pressure cleanings. Even the sundial is missing its peg. Ultimately, what could otherwise be an icon of Miami individuality, is instead reminiscent of a forgotten back lot set at an archaic movie studio.

As Up-Lab suggests, we can do better than this.

September’s Emerge ride will hopefully be the start of many collaborations with Up-Lab, as we work together to expand the community’s interest and involvement in getting to know its fantastic and surprising details – particularly the unique landmarks that make Miami such a remarkable place to explore by bike.

-Adam Schachner

We are planning a Cemetary Tour for next month’s October Critical Mass. We’ll be strolling through some of the city’s most interesting cemeteries, featuring the City of Miami Cemetery, where some of Miami’s most notable pioneers are buried, including Julia Tuttle, William M. Burdine and Samuel Jones to name a few. Stay tuned for upcoming details about this ride.

September 10th – Critical Mass / Up Lab’s Sketch&Ride

Come out and explore Opa-Locka with us this Saturday! At 10am, we’re meeting at Metrorail’s Northside Station (trains every 30 min, $4 auto parking available). 12 mile route at 12 mph. Sketch&Ride is a series of outreach bike rides organized by Up-Lab (Urban Projects Collaborative) with the participation of local community groups and Miami residents. The goal of the ride is to bring community awareness to Miami residents through visits to a variety of neighborhoods in Miami and through the act of sketching architectural and urban landmarks of local interest. RSVP on Meetup.

Did you know that Opa Locka was designed based on a developer’s obsession with the movie Arabian Nights? In fact, Opa-Locka contains the largest concentration of Moorish style architecture in the western hemisphere. Up to 20 structures –residential, retail and public buildings -are designated in the US National Register of Historic Places.” Read more in this post by Hector from Up Lab: Opa Locka: Against Fundamentalisms in the City

Youth L.E.A.D. Food Justice Film Series presents Forks Over Knives, a documentary that examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting our present menu of animal-based and processed foods. 7pm at O Cinema, 90 NW 29 St, Miami.
A Tasting & Wine Reception sponsored by Raw One will precede the film from 6 to 7pm.

Tropics Natural Infusions, React Energy and ECOMB unite to promote a healthy Miami Beach environment.  100 % of the proceeds from this 5k will help promote ECOMB’s Recycling Programs and the Adopt-A-Beach program in Miami Beach. Registration is $20, complimentary food and beverages will be provided to all participants. For more information on the event or how to register go to:
A 5K RACE AND FUN RUN IN SUPPORT OF THE NEW EMERALD CITY BY THE SEA!

Miami Bike Polo- Continuous
The Miami Bike Polo events are ongoing and growing in popularity! If you are interested in exercising your skills or hanging out with a welcoming crowd, you can join them every Friday evening and Sunday afternoon at Jose Marti Park. Don’t worry about bringing a mallet, you and your bike will do! Check out their website for more info and details.

September 24th – Earthdance Miami
The annual Global Festival for Peace, Earth Awareness, and Community Celebration returns!
Moksha Family Arts Collective presents a day and night of live world music, dj’s, performance artists, a global synchronized peace prayer across 80 countries, art & crafts vendors, the participation of local environmental non-profit organizations, and much more.
Buy pre-sale tickets, visit the official website, and RSVP on Facebook.

6:00pm – Topic: Everything You Wanted To Know About Tofu- The science, history and culinary facts around this popular meat alternative are dramatized in a demonstration of techniques and recipes to enhance your kitchen experience. More details here.

September 16th – ECOMB & Ernst & Young Teacher’s Island Cleanup
Ernst & Young staff members, in partnership with ECOMB and the City of Miami, will clean up Teacher’s Island as part of the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Clean-up Day. Visit their website for more information.
(Note this event requires registration and is not open to the general public.)

September 17th – Beach Cleanups 
The Ocean Conservancy is sponsoring an international beach cleanup day, and is looking for volunteers.  Marta is organizing this at Black Point.  Adam will be doing this at Matheson Hammocks park.  Contact Adam and Marta (marta.viciedo@gmail.com)

September 29th – ECOMB’s Cinema Green – Trash Inc: The Secret Life of Garbage
ECOMB is hosting a screening of the documentary Trash Inc., a CNBC documentary offering a fascinating look at what happens to garbage in the U.S. and abroad. View trailer. 8pm at Miami Beach Cinemateque. Click here to purchase tickets.

Now back to the action! Check out this professionally edited video from the ride, and read up on the latest event previews that we’ve got cooking up.

September 10th – Sketch and Ride
Sketch&Ride is a series of outreach bike rides organized by Up-Lab (Urban Projects Collaborative) with the participation of local community groups including Emerge Miami and Miami residents. The goal of the ride is to bring community awareness to Miami residents through visits to a variety of neighborhoods of Miami and through the act of sketching architectural and urban landmarks of local interest.The last Sketch&Ride for the Summer 2011 will take place in the municipality of Opa Locka on Saturday, September 10th at 10am. Meet at the Northside Metrorail Station 3150 NW 79th St, Miami, FL 33146.

September 17th – Beach Cleanups
Martha & Adam are organizing beach cleanups at Black Point and Matheson Hammock Park. September 17 (Saturday), 9:00am to 12:00pm. Help make our beaches nicer! Join us!

September 20th – Board Game Night
September 20th is board game night! Scott and Dario will host! It’s at Sweat Records at 8 pm. This event is free to all! Sara and Kiar are bringing a new exciting game that will blow your mind. Imagine if Scrabble and Jenga made a baby. RSVP on Facebook.

Bike Co-op
Dario wants to get a bunch of people together to organize a bike co-op. This is a cooperative effort where there will be classes, bike fixing-up. There will be instructions and workshops for the community. If you are interested in helping out, contact Dario at darioishere@gmail.com.

October 23rd – Coral Gables Bike Day
Coral Gables Bike Day will be Sunday Oct 23rd. Races start at 7 am. The street festival portion will be at 10 am. There is a Facebook Event Page, and a Facebook page for Volunteers . Ponce de Leon will be closed down to cars between the circle park and Miracle Mile and half of Miracle Mile will be closed to cars between Douglas Rd and LeJeune. There will be a stage at Ponce Circle Park with bands and children’s entertainment. Bike polo will be off of Miracle Mile. Does anyone know any trick riders/BMX people who would like to get paid to entertain the masses? If so, contact Peter at the above-mentioned Facebook page. Bike tours will be led throughout the day. We are looking for sponsorship. There will be police and porta-potties and the works. This costs money so we would love to find a friendly sponsor.