design notes
May 11, 2011
In this issue…bike month under way, mayoral bike ride, native plant sale, Urban Omaha 3, upcoming events from The 11, weekly charrette series.
Bike Month Under Way
May is National Bike Month, and there are many opportunities to get involved locally. Click here to access the calendar of activities.
Mayoral Bike Ride
Activate Omaha is out there activating Omaha once again. Head to the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge Friday, May 13, at 8:30am and mingle with the mayors while atop your bicycle. Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle, Council Bluffs Mayor Tom Hanafan and Bellevue Mayor Rita Sanders will ride to promote commuter cycling in the metro. Attendees can get the latest information on the local cycling scene, and snacks will be provided. You don’t need to have a bike to attend, but they’re more than welcome. For more information, call 402.934.5923.
Native Plant Sale
The Nebraska Statewide Arboretum is teaming up with the Fontenelle Forest Nature Center to host a native plants sale Saturday, May 21. The event will be held from 9:00am to 2:00pm at the center, 1111 N. Bellevue Boulevard in Bellevue. The sale will feature wildflowers and regionally recommended plants. For a plant list, visit arboretum.unl.edu/plantsales. For more information about the event, call 402.472.2971 or visit www.fontenelleforest.org.
Urban Omaha 3
It’s almost time to do some adventure racing. Activate Omaha, in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska, will host Urban Omaha – the Ultimate Adventure Race – Saturday, June 4. The event will start and finish at Stinson Park in Aksarben Village. Teams of three will bike, run, walk, climb and navigate their way through the midtown area and beyond while searching for checkpoints. The race is designed to accommodate people with a wide range of fitness levels. It will feature two divisions – the Full Bull course (four to six hours) and the Half Calf short course (two to three hours). All competitors must have their own bike. To register your team online, visit www.raceregister.net. For more information or to volunteer, email info@activateomaha.com.
On The List
The Village Pointe Farmers Market got under way April 30, and its Summer Concert Series begins Saturday, May 28. The Omaha Farmers Market began its 2011 season May 7. What do they have in common? They’re all on “The 11: Events You Shouldn’t Miss If You Live in Omaha” list. Compiled by Omaha by Design’s Place Game facilitators last fall, the list recognizes the important role programming plays in activating a public space. For more information about the Village Pointe Farmers Market and Summer Concert Series, visit villagepointeshopping.com. For more information about the Omaha Farmers Market, visit omahafarmersmarket.org.
Weekly Charrette Series
The Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, in conjunction with the Bemis Gardens exhibition and design laboratory, is hosting weekly charrettes with professionals from diverse fields to consider macro urban land use futures and speculate on specific possibilities for the center’s site. The charrettes are intended as collaborative dialogues and will be formalized as actionable proposals. They are being held every Thursday through July 28 from 4:00 to 6:00pm, and there is no cost to attend. For more information, visit www.bemiscenter.org/art/exhibitions/bemis-gardens.html.