We’re very lucky to have a guy like Clarence from BikeTV taking videos of bike fun around Portland.

Here’s the link to his movie of Shawn Granton‘s Eastside Theater History Ride that took place on June 22nd.

Reported by Brian Scrivner:

At least 120 people enjoyed food, music, a short BikeTV show, and animated feature movie at the Hawthorne Hostel on Friday, after the Critical Mass “Memorial” ride.

The Bike-In Movie was again hugely popular, thanks in part to the Critical Mass (special Memorial edition) ride, which was in a way a part of a two-part event with Bike-In Movie. The Memorial Critical Mass (previously reported on) was well attended, spirited, and stopped at three sites for fallen cyclists:
– SE 37th & Taylor
– SE Belmont & 40th
– SE Stark & 49th

Later, the ride converged on the Hawthorne Hostel at SE Hawthorne & 31st, where veteran volunteer Karin, daughter, and friends had done a fabulous job of setting up seating and creating a mountain of popcorn. Many riders demanded “where’s the food?”, and though there was plenty of food donated it hadn’t all been prepared. Maybe more volunteers next year? This was, like last year, a matter of lack of volunteer resources and the organizer having
a day job.

Once the sound system had been set up by the very competent Jasun (thanksagain!) with much help from Hosteller Talbot, it was possible to make an amped announcement for kitchen help, of which more than enough crowded the kitchen a minute later. Hot chai was brewed, chocolate milk (for the non-vegans) was stirred, veggies were baked, and a huge salad (which didn’t
last long) was tossed. Tall Steve kept the donated ‘dogs going all through the rest of the event on the giant gas BBQ. There was much more bread than even this crowd could eat.

During all this kitchen activity, Clarence, the producer of NYC TV show BikeTV, introduced and showed a Portland-filmed BikeTV episode. The audience then voted on their fav movie, rejecting AGAIN the film Kiki’s Delivery Service for another film by Hayao Miyazaki, Porco Rosso. The crowd was entertained for the next hour and a half by the adventures of the ace
pilot flying pig, and courteously picked up the yard before leaving for any of several parties including a trampoline party way up north.

Apologies, but the raffle became a casualty of a lack of volunteer resources. There wasn’t time to coordinate the food, borrowing equipment, etc. and also solicit and pick up raffle donations.

HUGE THANKS are due to the following, without whom the event would not have been possible:
– Most of all, the Hawthorne Hostel, for loaning the place, pitching in, letting us take over the kitchen, and tolerating our mess. Thanks especially to Talbot, who held a lot of things together, prepared some things days ahead of time, and during the event was very tolerant of this often-perfectionist organizer. Thanks to the many Hostel guests and employees who pitched in, some whose names I never got, especially the guests who washed the dishes and cleaned the kitchen before the movie was even finished.
– The very dynamic Jacque, who seemed to be three people as she secured donations, rounded up stuff, and contributed ideas and labor to the event.
– Lewis, for creating an event flyer with short notice when I still hadn’t found a Graphics Slave the week of the event.
– Jasun, for loaning his projector and managing many technical aspects of the event.
– Karin, Tori, and friends, for showing up early and doing a tremendous amount of work setting up the yard and making popcorn.
– Brian S. (no, not me the other Brian S.) for loaning the mixing board which made it possible to tie together the sound and video, and for keeping the tunes going (from laptop computer if I’m not mistaken) pre-movie.
– Mykle for loaning the very nice amp/speakers.
– I’m sure I’ve forgotten some people, but you are not unappreciated!

Also, THANK YOU FOR THE FOOD:
– Java Dogs
– Organics to You
– Redwing Coffee
– Sunshine Dairy
– Tao of Tea

Here they are…the long awaited Bike Kiss-In photos!

[Reported by Elizabeth]

Last Friday’s Bike Kiss-In was without a doubt the best of it’s kind that Portland has ever seen. It inspired mini-kiss-ins afterward at various intersections, and looks to become a nation-wide phenomenon (look for an east coast Kiss-In ride report in the future).

23 couples rode from City Bikes Mothershop to the very visible 39th and Glisan traffic circle. We made Joan of Arc blush, I’m sure. Upon arrival, we dispersed ourselves among the circle, and commenced the spit-swapping in the name of bike love. Some couples held signs as
they made out, including:

• Make love, not traffic
• Honk if you’re jealous
• Lip lock, not gridlock
• Bikes have more fun
• If you rode your bike, you’d be kissing now

The weather held out long enough for everyone to make out for a goodtwenty minutes or so. At the end, we all gathered for a group photo-op and one-minute make out intensive. Then the clouds rained their congratulations upon us and the satisfied participants scattered
homeward.

Props to:

• Alex for the idea
• Carye, Timo and Jeff for spectacular signs and slogans
• the many vegans on the ride (next time I promise I’ll plan better and not buy gelatin-filled Altoids from the Circle K)
• everyone who came to demonstrate bike love to the auto-driving, Friday evening masses; you’re all hot.

I’ve got some tasteful photos that I’ll post soon. All in the name of bike love,
Elizabeth

Reported (and led by) Carye Bye:
6/24

Bicyclists: 8
Museums Visited: 5

On a busy Pedalpalooza Friday, one day from the fair, the Small Museums & Collections ride II squeezed in between BonB and the Critical Mass Memorial Ride.

The tour began at Laughing Planet Cafe on Belmont where half the group filled bellies with burrito fuel for this tour that would bring us to 5 museums scattered throughout the Eastside & Downtown Portland.

At 1 pm we headed to our first stop (2 blocks away) The Belmont Firehouse and Jeff Morris Memorial Museum. In fact this was a last minute add-in. Don Porth, the museum director, gave us a wonderful guided tour. Highlight: Trying out a smaller version of the fireman’s pole – use your feet! Not recommended with shorts!

Next Stop: Movie Madness, – Mike’s movie memorabilia at Belmont & 43rd. Luckily also at the last minute Mike agreed to tell us about his collection himself. We oohed & ahhed over Julia Andrew’s sound of music dress, Orson Welles Touch of Evil Suit, Psycho Stunt Knifes, Blue Velvet’s ear and more! Mike does such a great job putting up signs and photos showing the movie props & costumes from the films. But it was added bonus to hear him gush about his favorite movie dresses.

Then we bike-bombed from SE to the Hawthorne Bridge. We headed over to the Police Museum at the Downtown HQ building. After all our IDs were recorded (everyone handed them over – so we had no fugitives in the group) we headed up to the 16th floor to meet the museum director Lori who gave us a brief guided tour of police weapons, confiscated weapons (criminals are creative!), and Portland’s First Traffic Light. Sadly the talking Macgruff,the crime dog, was taken off the floor for repair, after scaring a child with a mutating voice the day before.

From here, with 1 bicyclist less, we headed back over the Hawthorne Bridge to the “secret” Kidd’s Toy Museum off of SE Grand. It’s hidden in a non-descript gray business building with a little note on the door. The Banks, locks, and (scary) dolls amused us.

Now after 4 pm. All ditched but the leader +1; so the last two biked off down SE 3rd through produce row towards Stark’s Vacuum Museum at Couch & NE Grand. On the way we made a pit stop at City Liquidators to check out 20,000 chairs in stock, and most importantly “The Stairway to Savings” to the Mysterious 3rd Floor room of chairs. Sadly the file cabinets have been taking over, and the furniture chute was closed up.

And finally the Vacuum Museum, which has 100 or so antique, vacuums, some with tags of explanation. Cool stuff, but would have been more appreciated with a guide. However, the staff of Stark’s was very busy showing rosy-faced families how to buy new vacuums and how to use them on a variety of carpet surfaces. The scene in the store was almost more interesting than the discarded mummies at the back of the store.

Reported by Carye:
6/23

Click here for photos

10 bike riders, 25 – 30? at ACME

The ride that started with a beer and ended with third place & a flat.

About 10 people showed up at Portland Mercury HQ (NE 22nd near Sandy) for the bike ride that took us on an odd route past the cemetery, and through a field, and down a hill to ACME in inner SE.

At the HQ we were immediately handed a PBR to get the party started. Zach from the Mercury was to lead the ride – When we got to the field which was Colonel Summers Park, Zach jumped the curb with his bike. A moment of confusion for most of us followed, about whether we should jump the curb too. I made a lame attempt.

At Acme, us hungry bikers headed straight for the spread of party food – we were told there would be appetizers. Soon after sitting down with our food, we were told that wasn’t Mercury’s food but we took it from the Reunion party. Oops. we ate it anyhow.

Then the games began. Four to five to a table. 7 or 8 boggle games. Justin Sanders of the Mercury reading the rules. We played 4 rounds of Boggle. The four top scoring players moved to the final round to compete for a beautiful engraved boggle trophy & air guitar. Also Kudos to the Mercury for making very snazzy Boggle score cards.

Reported by Amy:
6/16 and 6/23

While it’s hard to get a very good count, empty cups and anecdotal evidence reveal the following approximate count for the two Happy Hour events:

• Stoppers and snackers: 50-60 each day
• Gallons of liquids consumed: 4-5 each day
• Thank yous and waves: 100s
• “Get the %^&$ out of my way”s: 6-8
• Wigs worn by event volunteers: 4
• City council members stopping by: 1 (Randy Leonard)

Thanks to Jay Graves from Bike Gallery for providing Shifty Lube service on the Steel bridge esplanade, to Jeff B & helper for distributing lights on the Hawthorne, to Robert, Carie & Cody for transport help, and to Sang, Eli, Traveling Dan, Carye and Jeff on the tallbike for helping transport and serve!

…but don’t fret. You can see a bunch of great photos and ride reports on the Pedalpalooza Blog.

It was truly a memorable “17 days of pure bike fun.” A special thanks to all the volunteers at Shift to Bikes who make Portland the bike fun capitol of the world!

Reported by Shawn Granton:
Ride date: June 23

Figures:

• total riders: 50
• riders all the way up Kelly Butte: most of that 50
• riders all the way to Chez Bernard for the movies: about 20
• men in dresses: 1
• tall bikes: 3? 4?
• gas masks: a few
• hazmat suits: 2
• authentic Civil Defense hats: 1
• confused civilians: many
• buttes climbed: one
• wrong turns: one (sorry!)
• bike collisions: one
• total length of ride: 4 1/2 hours

For a full report visit the Urban Adventure League Blog!

From Shawn’s Urban Adventure League Blog
Wed 22 June 2005

While the weather wasn’t perfect for this Urban Adventure League ride (there was the imminent threat of rain for most of the ride’s duration, and it actually DID rain for a moment), it didn’t deter seventeen people from showing up at the starting point of Ladd’s Circle at 6:30pm for this unique tour. Introductions were given, the zine for the ride handed out, and the bicycle ride headed south-eastward on Ladd Av towards the first destination, the Clinton Street Theater. I gave a brief history of the theater, and the crowd gawked at the new addition to the cinema–Portland’s smallest brewpub (as of this week!)…

Click here to watch Clarence Eckerson’s movie of the ride!
Click here to continue reading the full report!