So, I was heading into Uptown via the Greenway. Right as I crossed E. Calhoun Parkway, I saw a semi and a cluster of tents with the courtTV logo emblazoned on them. CourtTV? What’s courtTV doing here? It looked like they were setting up a stage.

As I continued alongside the mall, I saw a slew of other tents as well as Port-a-Potties. At first I thought: “Fringe!” But then I remembered: Uptown Art Fair.

But still. What does courtTV have to do with anything?

If you’re planning on heading to the Uptown Art Fair, note that the Loring Park Art Festival and Powderhorn Art Fair are also going on, and Metro Transit is providing free rides between all three.

Today is the first day of the 2005 Minnesota Fringe Festival. It is a pretty big deal. We have one of the largest Fringe Festivals in the world. So come on down and support it. Many different shows, many different veues. Many good shows, many bad shows. I’ll be seeing a lot of shows because I have an artist’s pass this year. I will hopefully be able to review a few of them for you. Have fun arting it up!!

I was running along, crossing E. Calhoun Parkway, and I hear a guy coming up behind me on a bike, yelling “Beep beep beep beep beep!” I thought, “I know the path narrows here, but there is plenty of room for me and one guy on a bike.”

Just as he passed me, he looked back, grinning, and said, “Let me see a big smile!” I couldn’t help but.

I think he was just in a good mood like that.

Great conversation about neighborhoods at MNSpeak.

UPDATE: And a little more. Anybody live in “dirty Uptown”?

A good friend of mine is currently in Europe. To be more specific, she is in the Alps. A few members of the Twin Cities Unicycle Club (TCUC)is unicycling all the way across the Alps…just for the fun of it. She is riding her bike along to help support Club. You can find out all about the tour here. I have heard back from her once and she is having a great time. She is sore, but loving the countries. So far they have been in Germany and Austria. She hates the food. She IS a vegetarian and I remember there being an abundance of meat when I was there. I’m sure she’ll make it :)

So best of luck to all of you unicyclists taking the tour. I can’t imagine how hard it must be to bike much less ride a one wheeled form of transportation across a huge group of mountains. I bet it’s really pretty, though…

Greg tells me Virgin Mobile is throwing a “free bowling/marketing whore party.” Here’s the scoop:

MINNEAPOLIS
PAYGOIST BOWLING PARTY SUMMER 2005
You are invited…

Escape the summer heat and enjoy FREE BOWLING in air-conditioned bliss, courtesy of Virgin Mobile.
Join Virgin Mobile Insiders and their friends.
FREE FOOD AND DRINKS!
FREE GIVEAWAYS!

Don’t miss out on all the fun…

Who: Virgin Mobile Insiders and Friends
What: A Rockin’ Summer Bowling Party
When: Saturday, Aug 6th, 7-10 pm
Where: New Hope Bowl
7107 42nd Ave N
New Hope, MN 55427
Why: Virgin Mobile loves you!

RSVP to this event ASAP by sending names to minneapolis@virginmobileinsiders.com
See you there!
–Virgin Mobile

Hey, it’s free stuff. In college, the sure fire way to get students to show up for stuff is to provide free food.

It’s a sad sad day in Lynx basketball.

Katie Smith has been traded to Detroit. If you listen carefully, you can hear the weeping of lesbians across the Twin Cities.

That’s like the Timberwolves trading Kevin Garnett. It’s like the Vikings trading Randy Moss. (Oh, wait….)

Katie Smith is one of the team’s founding members and one of the best (and most unsung) players in women’s professional basketball history.

Selfishly, I’m glad she’s gone to Detroit, as that’s my #2 team behind the Lynx. I was at Game 3 in Detroit when the Shock won the WNBA championship in 2003. They have a more complete stable of players and have a far better chance at another championship than the Lynx ever have. And I want that for Katie.

I just dropped the ching on her Lynx jersey, too. Dang.

Get a free vibrator with a $25 purchase next Saturday (August 6) at Smitten Kitten.

Today’s our 2nd Birthday!
Stop by, spend $25 and get a FREE Pocket Rocket Jr!

The first two years have been an amazing experience for us. We’ve had the opportunity to realize our dreams and make them happen: we are running a successful feminist business! Each day in the shop continues to be exciting and a learning experience for each of us.

From the 100’s of first vibrators to 1000’s more enjoying plugs, porn, and the perfect new strap-on, we thank you. We hope to see lots of familiar faces this Saturday, and are excited to meet all of you who are new to the Kitten!

xoxo,
Jessie, Jenny & Jessica

Believe me, it’s easy to spend $25 at Smitten Kitten.

2223 East 35th Street, Minneapolis (next door to the Chatterbox)
Saturday hours: 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Call 612-721-6088 with questions.

This week I had a few moments that were too close for comfort. I am cruising along, minding my own business in my own lane, when I see a Drifter. Drifters are those folks who consider the lane markings to be mere suggestions. They gradually slip out of their lane and into yours. Sometimes Drifters self-correct, weaving back out of your lane into their own, or that of the neighbor on the opposite side.

Sometimes Drifters snap out of their private reverie, jerking their cars back into their lanes. Personally, I hit the horn once the full width of their wheel is my lane.

The worst is when a Drifter is in a large commercial truck, pickup or moving van. They have a whole lot more momentum going on than just the average Honda sedan.

Occasionally Drifters are victims of the situation: they are on the phone, or the sun is in their eyes, or they are responding to the imminent threat of another drifter moving into them. Sometimes there are the very elderly on the road in their large cars, and it seems everyone recognizes them and gives them a wide berth.