Join Me This Weekend: “Gasland” Movie and Rally to Restore Sanity

Friday, Oct. 29 – “Gasland” Screening
If you didn’t catch the award-winning documentary “Gasland” when it appeared on HBO, please join me tonight for a screening with filmmaker Josh Fox at Dallas’ Angelika Theater.

“Gasland” is a cautionary tale about gas drilling that is particularly relevant to Dallas citizens as Barnett Shale drilling moves east into our city.  I’ll be there to welcome Josh and discuss what our city should do to ensure gas drilling doesn’t endanger Dallas neighborhoods or the health of our citizens.  The film and a short Q&A with the filmmaker starts at 7pm and ends around 9:30pm.

Downwinders at Risk is hosting a post-screening reception for Josh from 9:30 to 11 pm where the audience can continue the conversation about the local impact of gas drilling.

Saturday, Oct. 30 – Rally to Restore Sanity, Dallas Edition
Tired of crazy political hyperbole, outlandish fear-mongering, and all the nutty rallies that drown out civil political discourse?  Then this rally is for you!

Join me at the Rally to Restore Sanity (Dallas Edition) tomorrow at 11am at Lee Harvey’s (1807 Gould St.) where they’ll be simulcasting the Washington, D.C. rally featuring Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert.  After the broadcast at 2pm, I’ll be joining Human Rights Initiative Award winner Bill Holston and intellectual satirist Rawlins Gilliland for a few words.  (And leave your crazy signs at home.  Unless they’re really crazy.  Then bring ’em.)

Reminder: Taste of Lower Greenville Avenue TODAY

Don’t forget to grab the kids and head down to Lower Greenville today for great food and fun at the second annual Taste of Lower Greenville Avenue.  You’ll enjoy food from dozens of the area’s best restaurants and get to hear some great live bands.  The event will be going on from 11am to 6pm between Richmond and Prospect. 

Here’s a run down of the day’s activities:

10:45 am – Woodrow Wilson HS Marching Band
11:15 am – School Choirs
Noon – City Proclamation for Taste of Greenville Avenue Day
12:30 pm – The Cliff Blues Band
1:45 pm – The King Bucks
3 pm – Chameleon Chamber Group
4:15 pm – Ricki Derek & The Vegas Six
5:30 pm – THe BAckliders

Check out the vendor list to see if your favorite restaurant is taking part in the festivities.  You can find more information at www.tasteoflowergreenville.com.

See you this afternoon!

Bicycling Wrap-Up

We had a great turn-out for Friday’s second annual “Dallas Bikes to City Hall,” to promote greater bicycling awareness:

Dallas City Hall Blog

Dallas Morning News

Unfair Park

Last week, I met with city staff and Friends of the Katy Trail board members to discuss ways to make the trail safer in response to Lauren Huddleston’s tragic death. We will have a plan to address trail safety for all users within 45 days.

Last month’s unveiling of Dallas’ Bike Plan was a great success, with over 200 people attending the meeting at City Hall. Please take a look at the draft maps and give us your input.

The updated bike plan will help us address overcrowding on the Katy Trail by providing alternatives for cyclists. Right now, many cyclists feel that off-street trails are the only safe place to ride. As we develop safe on-street facilities like separated bike paths and well-marked bike lanes, as envisioned by the bike plan, cyclists will have more options and we can take some of the pressure off our trails.

Reminder: Dallas Bikes to City Hall on Friday, October 15

Want to ride bikes?  Then grab your Schwinn and meet me tomorrow morning (Friday, October 15th) at 7:40am at David’s Way (Knox at the Katy Trail) for “Dallas Bikes to City Hall.”  The ride promotes greater bicycle awareness and is sponsored by the City of Dallas in cooperation with DART, the City Parks Department, and Bike Friendly Oak Cliff.

We’ll ride to Union Station where we’ll meet up with other bicyclists from around the city and region.  Then we’ll all ride to Dallas City Hall where councilmembers will welcome everybody and present the draft of the new Dallas Bike Plan.

There are numerous other meet-ups for folks who want to ride in a group.  Here is an update on meet-ups from Bike Friendly Oak Cliff:

Oak Cliff Groups meeting in the Bishop Arts District at 7:30am and departing by 7:45am to arrive at Union Station by 8:10am.

Lakewood Group meeting at the Lakewood Theatre at 7:45am and departing at 8am heading up Live Oak.

Plano and North Dallas Groups leaving from the following:

Plano group (Mike Emmons, Gary Fowler, Warren Casteel and others) 15th and Independence, NW Corner, Big Lots: 6:00am departure

Frankford & Waterview – Far North Dallas: 6:10am

Top of White Rock Trail – North Dallas (Marc Mumby): 6:45am

Forest & Park Central – Medical City: 6:50am

Katy Trail – @ Airline – AMU Area: 7:35am

Union Station – Arrive: 8:00am

I hope to see you tomorrow!