Bike Lady has been tempting fate by pretending that Ridge now has a bike lane. Traffic has been so light on Ridge, with only one lane, that the white line marking off the gutter (protecting cars from pipes and drains that are now above the asphalt) is just wide enough for a bike. So, I'm riding north on Ridge for a block or two, not in front of anyone or in anyone's way, with traffic beside me quite slow, and passing on the right many cars backed up at the stop lights, when a car in front of me decides to stop in the far right side of the lane, making it impossible for me to continue.

Is this purposeful the Bike Lady wonders? Could there really be someone who would chose to idle, waiting for the red light to change, in such a way as to completely block my progress on the bike? It appears so, as once traffic begins to move again, the car slides back over to the left within the lane.

The day is coming, coming with $5.00 or $6.00 gas when the cars still on the road will have to share with more buses, bikes, motorcycles, scooters, parents pulling trailers, and those darling little smart cars. Learning how to share the road only makes it safer for everyone, don't you think?

By the way, I was thinking Ann, if the survey for El stops along the Skokie Swift now were taken, I wonder how the responses would change?

Bike lady - don't ride in the traffic on Ridge - illegal.

close to 100 people at the 1800 - 1300 Brummel and Dodge village meeting - wonderful people that care about each other.

http://evanstonnow.com/business/bill-smith...et-at-old-osco-site

As of now it appears we are golden!

Ann, I was thrilled to see the Evanston Now article about the new market at Oakton and Asbury with a photo of the owner (showing that he is already at work in the building!) and some information from him. The selection sounds great. With the predicted five months until the opening, I'm looking forward to them opening around December 1.

Sorry for my ignorance but in what year was that location redistricted out of the 8th Ward?

Bike Lady, I run across the lane blockage every once in awhile. It's hard to tell why some drivers stop that close to right hand side of the lane.

I agree on the whole notion of gas prices going up and more people biking. Hopefully more and more people are finding out how much more fun it is to ride a bike or walk to do errands about town than it is to sit in traffic.

Be careful out there!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080702/ap_on_...tarbucks_closings_8

Anybody know if any of our Starbucks are on the chopping block? I'm going to be really, really annoyed if they close the Howard/Western one and leave that space empty again...

What a small world. Richard, Ann, and anybody else out there. I happen to be a collector of toiletries for Hilda's place. My drive ended on Sunday. I collect every June because they seem to run low(est) during the months of July and August. The person that you can speak with is Kevin Rak, he'll gladly give you instructions on how to meet up with him and donate. Kevin is the volunteer manager. Our venture started as a capstone project during my undergraduate years at Loyola U. We needed to find a not-for-profit org and see what we could do to help. This was our project and Kevin asks me to do it every year. I attend Reba Place Church and we have a drive during the entire month of June. Kevin is happy to receive the items for the clients.

a few years back i noticed all the bad eggs wearing white t's
  i doubt they all called each other the night before to plan their wardrobes i have been out of se evanston 2-3 days now & i can happily say my new neighborhood in jefferson park is the quietest place i have ever lived in. sorry all but i had to get out of se evanston. 3 yrs was enough! good luck everyone lisa

QuickTopic daily digest <qtopic-3-PTurbdRYBOn6hl24iI3@quicktopic.com> wrote: < replied-to message removed by QT >

My dear granddaughter lives in Jef Park and that is where my mdh grew up and then raised his children there. Very interesting enclave, full of city workers, good luck, Lisa.

Edited by author 07-02-2008 11:31 AM
Yesterday's Wall Street Journal reports that Steve and Barry's is closing 100 stores nationwide and filing for bankruptcy.

At their last meeting, the City's Economic Development Committee approved 3/4 of a million dollars to the owner of the Dempster/Dodge shopping center to remodel one of the vacant stores in order to convert it to a Steve and Barry's.

What happens to the money in the case of S&B's bankruptcy?

Ryan - can you let me know where you live annrainey8 at aol

Ryan and all:

The agreement with Freed is carefully crafted. The assistance only takes place if Steve and Barry's opens and operates.

If the store opens and operates but then closes after a certain period and a comparable store does not take its place, then the deal is extinguished.

Of course, if the store never opens there is no deal.

Depressing to think it might not happen. I have never thought the Freed leasing people were on the ball.

Ann Rainey and Anjana Hansen invite everyone to an excellent meeting!

Come and meet the owners of the new Farmers Best Market - please bring a lawn chair or not if you prefer to stand - refreshments will be served (I think).



Farmers Best Market
 
Neighborhood Meeting

to be held in the store at 430 Asbury
 
Wednesday, July 9, at 7:30 PM

I am so glad to hear that Farmer's Best Market is coming to Asbury. I will definitely be shopping there! Can't wait.
Thanks, Alderman Rainey.

re: Ryan's note about Steve & Barry's, the blogosphere is all lit up over this one, and one thing that keeps surfacing is how S&B's have been operating on a shoestring by -- wait for it -- negotiating one-time payments from malls to open stores, then only being marginally profitable once open. Malls are desperate to fill vacancies, and Steve and Barry's are desperate to get these deals. A real shame, doesn't look good for Dodge/Dempster or for any of us.

But at least we got a market coming!!!!