The first-ever Obliteride, a charity bike ride benefitting cancer research through the Fred Hutch, kicks off tomorrow night, Friday August 9th with an opening night celebration at Gas Works Park featuring Michael Franti and Spearhead.
Now, there are lots of different kinds of people in Wallingford: The Lycra Set read that sentence, and thought “charity bike ride! How long and where do I sign up?” The Aging Bleeding Hearts said “oh, cancer research! Can I donate without riding?” Whatever set I am said “Michael f***ing Franti is playing Gas Works?!”
Franti blends hiphop with funk and a dash of spoken word into a delicious, rocking smoothie or rock, and let me tell you, the man can put on a show to bring down the house. I’d travel to see him, so the notion that he’s playing at a park in my neighborhood leaves me stuttering and blinking. You can give a listen to all their albums on the Franti web site.
Of course, you do need to be registered for the ride to get into the show, but you could go as a “Virtual Rider”:
[Updated: DOUG. notes in the comment section that while it doesn’t say so explicitly on their web site, you must raise over $1,000 as a Virtual Rider to be eligible to attend the festivities. I guess it’s time to break out the biking gear, the donors or make yourself comfortable just outside Gas Works.]The ‘no bike required’ way to make your mark against cancer. Simply donate $25, create a fundraising page, then ask everyone you know to donate to cancer research.
Registered riders get two tickets to the festivities, which also includes a salmon dinner catered by Tom Douglas, and why not ride? Choose between 25 mile, 50 mile, 80 mile or 180 mile routes, as befits your training level.
The weekend-long line-up also includes performances by the Not-Its for kids and Vancouver’s alt-Irish band The Paperboys at Magnuson Park, the races starting point on Saturday morning.
All sortsa info on the Obliteride web site.
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today, THURSDAY, is august 8. tomorrow, FRIDAY, is august 9
I’d file this under “too good to be true,” because to be eligible as a Virtual Rider, you need to raise $1060 by 4pm tomorrow.
doug i don’t know where you are looking but on the obliteride site that is linked to in the OP it states:
VIRTUAL RIDER
The ‘no bike required’ way to make your mark against cancer. Simply donate $25, create a fundraising page, then ask everyone you know to donate to cancer research.
Yep, and since $25 for two salmon dinners and a Spearhead show sounded too good to be true, I emailed their Project Coordinator who replied, “To be able to come as a virtual rider you need to raise $1060. It is an event for those who are riding and have committed to raise the money. We have opened it to Virtual Riders who have raised $1060.”
I wondered about that also.. I saw open an account and my brain went dead.. as I dont like to open accpounts on the internet.. it often is easy in th emind of the code writer, but I often miss something. However it does make it sound like just pay 25, open acct and ask fds.. no minimum stated.
Of course, I am not as good at arguing as some.. reference to another thread…
doug: DAYUM. i guess paying $40-50 to see other franti/spearhead shows now won’t sound quite so daunting to me! thanks for the info!
They have covered the lower east side and a large central playfield.. one long row of parking is already roped off, though they are doing nothing wiht it except holding neighbors out of the space. Looks poorly coordinated.
I just reread the article posted. In order to hear the show we have to make ourselves comfortable outside Gasworks. Since when did Gasworks becoem a music festival venue refusing entrance to neighbors in the area? There ar eother venues, parks and places where their space needed would not completely shut down the park. What about Magnuson/ West Seattle Park?
Fred Hutch is great, Franti is great.. More power to them and cheers to the Obliteride riders! For what it’s worth, Gas Works does close from time to time for events, this isn’t the first time. Instead of being bummed about being locked out of an park for a few hours, why not be glad that this biking event will raise lots of money for cancer research?
1.) There are many parks whose square footage is much larger and the event would ntoessentially close them down to neighbor use.
2.) It isn’t about being bummed aagainst cancer research. It’s aout being a bit angry that they chose to dominate and clos eoff the park for almost 3 days.
Yes, FH is great, so is cancer research.. does it have to close up our park? It can be located where it doesn’t close a park fo rthe entire weekend. I was there yesterday and read the dates on the NO parking signs… 8th to the 11th.. a bit excessive.
I was down at Gas Works on Friday night and we were able to walk around fairly freely. The organization did not dominate the entire area, at least for that evening.
With the exception of the Southeast corner of the Gasworks, the entire park was open to the public. Many people listened to the music from outside the short fence they had set up, so really anyone could have gone to see the music.
I don’t think it is too much of a sacrifice to give up a corner of a city park one Friday night to celebrate the people who raise money and help support cancer research.
On Thursday night the central area was blocked as was a long line of parking. I still feel the square footage percent of total park blocked off was simply too much. It’s a matter of opinion… Maybe I shall have a sit-in