It's raining, it's pouring...

...and we're still on for biking and celebrating this afternoon.

My brother and I are heading out on our bikes in a bit for a little sibling ride to Old Town (and more than likely a little brother-sister ice cream scarfing at Ben & Jerry's). For those of you coming to meet up with us, here's a recap of the salient details:

3pm cyclist meetup in Old Town Alexandria: We're meeting just south of Founders Park near the corner of Pendleton and N Union streets. I'll be the one on the yellow "bikeable feast" t-shirt.

5pm everybody else meetup in Columbia Heights: Social is located at 1400 Meridian Place, NW. I'll be the one in a soaked yellow "bikeable feast" t-shirt.

10pm-ish dancing crowd transition to a local hotspot: TBD. I'll be the one finally changed out of spandex and sporting the new dancing shoes.

See you soon!

The Homecoming: venue update

So it seems things are moving along and I am on track to roll into DC in a week. (A week! After fourteen and a half months on the road!) For those looking to ride the final few miles into the District, we're still planning on meeting up in Old Town Alexandria at 3pm next Saturday -- did I mention it's only a week from today?? -- and cycling the last 8 miles of the Mt. Vernon Trail together, then snapping a few photos just over the Key Bridge at mile marker zero of the C&O Canal Towpath before making our way to Columbia Heights for some nibblies and a few drinks.

For those hoping to meet up afterwards for the beer-and-food portion of the homecoming activities, please join Ollie and me after 5pm at a new local hotspot, Social. (It's sprung up in the time since I've been gone and I've heard lots of good things. Thanks, Nicole, for helping with the logistics on this!) With a regularly changing menu and kicking happy hour specials, Social may well become one of our favorite hangouts. It's located at 1400 Meridian Place, NW in the hip and happenin' Columbia Heights neighborhood, just 3 or 4 blocks from the Columbia Heights metro stop on the green/yellow line.

It's a relatively safe neighborhood and there is some outdoor seating, but for those of you biking I'd advise bringing a bike lock. And for those of you daring enough to come dancing later, perhaps also a change of clothes. Unless you like to salsa in spandex.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Back in Black (Spandex): The Homecoming

Greetings, loyal readers. The rumors (mostly started by me) are true: I'm heading home!

Many of you have been following the Bikeable Feast around the country as Ollie and I explored organic farms and community gardens, ranches and food co-ops, kitchens and edible schoolyards. We've met with farmers, educators, chefs, and policy makers as we worked, camped, and cooked our way around this big, beautiful country. Your help and encouragement, and in some cases donations, have helped us along. We may have been out on the road on our own, but we were not alone. In fact, we could never have done this alone.

We'll be rolling into the city soon and that means that it's time to celebrate. We've missed you! Ollie and I invite you to join us for the final ride into our beloved District of Columbia, and for some food and drink at one of our favorite local restaurants on Saturday, July 10th.

The plan

Meet along the Mt. Vernon bike trail at 3pm and bike into the city together. Enjoy food and drinks afterwards and have your picture taken with the famous J. Olympia Surly (or at least try not to spill beer on her... unless it's a local brew).

Info for cyclists

We'll meet up along the Mt. Vernon trail just north of Founders Park. Closest cross streets are Pendleton Street and N Union Street in Old Town, Alexandria. Closest metro stop is Braddock Road on the blue/yellow line. (Those arriving early will most likely find me scarfing a cone of Chunky Monkey at the nearby Ben & Jerry's.)

The route* (and approximate timing, allowing time for, um, well, a flat tire or two...)

3 pm Mt. Vernon Trail: Old Town Alexandria to the Key Bridge (8 miles)

4 pm Key Bridge to C&O Canal Towpath mile marker zero (where it all began! -- 0.5 miles)

5 pm A restaurant in Columbia Heights (location to be determined)

After 10 pm (and a couple of beers) I wouldn't be surprised if I talked a few folks into a little dancing at one of my favorite local hotspots....

For those who are not cyclists, or who for one reason or another prefer to meet up with us at the restaurant, I will be posting information on the venue soon.

There will be some ABF end-of-tour commemorative postcards for those who might want to contribute a few dollars -- with original Vincent artwork and recipes, as always. (Funds raised will go toward a plane ticket to Italy this October, where I have been invited to attend the prestigious Terra Madre conference.)

*The Mount Vernon trail is 18 miles long, but we will be cycling only the final 8 miles of it. It is a *bike trail* so aside from street crossings should be relatively car-free. (Watch out for folks with strollers. Oh, and joggers with headphones. And for heaven's sake, wear a bike helmet. I am not above lecturing friends and loved ones on the dangers of not wearing a bike helmet, even during the homecoming festivities.) The rest of the ride will be on streets, but midday on a Saturday in a group should be relatively safe. Still, please be careful! Also, I'd advise bringing sunscreen, water, and a snack or two. If you're coming to the restaurant, you'll want to bring some cash and a sturdy bike lock to keep your ride safe.

A Bikeable Fiesta (Happy Hour Edition)

So, I realize that there are a lot of folks I have managed to have over for dinner, go on a ride around town with, meet with for a beer or a pot of tea in recent weeks. And yet, somehow there are a number of people who I worry I may not see again before I head out on the C&O trail on the 26th. Some of you will be joining me on the first leg of the trip to Great Falls, but too many others are not bikers, will be out of town, don't have a bike....

Thus: Come and bid farewell to Ollie and Ibti over a pint of good beer at one of our favorite neighborhood watering holes!

Meet at the Wonderland Ballroom for happy hour on Thursday, April 23rd. (Right on the corner of 11th and Kenyon, just a few blocks from the Columbia Heights metro.)

The happy hour special ($2 off all draft beer and a few other goodies, including $6 Delirium Tremens) runs from 5-8pm. I will likely be there well past 8pm, but the cheaper beer may not be. There's food, too, including some veggie options, so not having eaten after work is no excuse. (I'm talking to you, Jeanne.)

I'll also be handing out limited edition "Cookmarks" -- ABF bookmarks with illustrations by my dad and original recipes designed by me and tested in the capable kitchen of my friend Beth in North Dakota -- to any who care to make a donation to ABF. (I'll be mailing out cookmarks to those of you who have been so kind as to donate online already -- thank you!)