Hey Folks,

We're working hard at getting ready for Bike!Bike! 2013 down here in New Orleans and I just wanted to take a moment and address some issues with registration, conference events, and looming (extended) deadlines.

We've pushed back the deadlines.
- If you need housing or would like to borrow a bike, you still have time. We need to have your completed registration and bike and housing request in by September 14th. That's it. That's as late as we can push it. After September 14th, you can still request housing and a bike and we'll do our best, we just can't guarantee anything.  You may score one or the other, but possibly not both. It depends. We're gonna do our best.

Billeting information for housing is already being sent out! We're trying to handle this in as timely a manner as possible. For this reason, please register as soon as you're able to! (Hint!)

Registration Immediate payment is NOT REQUIRED to register for this event! If you've held back, please go ahead and register. We can accept any contribution when you arrive.

Registration on the website is a little complicated this year. It's a 2 step process. First, you have to register on the website. It will also ask you to register your affiliation with a bike project or to register a new bike project. If you are unaffiliated with a bike project or are local and want to attend the conference, just affiliate yourself with "Unaffiliated" located in lovely Chalmette, Louisiana. The answer to the secret question is Bike. Everyone who asks to join this group will be accepted and then you can move on to.....

Registration for this year's event, which is a whole different matter. Here's where you can let us know about housing needs and whether you need a bike or not.

EVENTS - In addition to the usual menagerie of workshops, Bike!Bike! this year will feature an amazing array of events in celebration of it's 10th Anniversary.

Wednesday, there's an Alleycat, Book!Book!, hosted by Nola Alleycat. It's free with Bike!Bike! registration, so register now! (hint) More info:
https://www.facebook.com/events/476741065754573/?ref=3

Thurday,
there's an amazing free concert at Armstrong Park featuring the Soul Rebels Brass Band and the special 10th Anniversary edition Bike!Bike! Nola Social Ride. This will be a giant group bike ride with hundreds of people showing off New Orleans and the culture here. It will be pretty friggin' awesome. More info:
https://www.facebook.com/events/304825819659116/?ref=3

Friday,
you'll have your chance to shake your ass off at Booty!Booty! a show featuring some of the Dance Music in New Orleans, from Brass bands to Bounce Artists. You can only attend if you're a registered Bike!Bike! attendee, volunteer, or housing provider. More info:
https://www.facebook.com/events/693609703999878/?ref=3

Saturday, it's Bike!Bike!'s 10th Birthday Party.
The location's awesome and we're going to feature some New Orleans cultural icons that we don't want to reveal just yet, but it's going to be incredible. Also, there will be cake.

Sunday will be our closer and we're going out with a bang! This is also a little secret, but don't leave before Sunday night or you're going to miss something amazing.

We'll send out more details as the time gets closer.


FOOD - There will be breakfast every morning, featuring gourmet coffee from local St. Coffee, a constant supporter of bike culture in New Orleans and breakfast prepared by New Orleans' own Community Kitchen, a grass roots non-profit that feeds the needy in New Orleans. We'll need a few dedicated volunteers for setting up food each day and working with Community Kitchen, so please let us know if you're interested.

Community Kitchen will also be handling our food needs for lunch on Thursday and Friday and on Saturday, in lieu of lunch we'll be hosting a 6pm Shrimp and Vegetable boil so you can get to the big birthday party with a belly full of yummy. Don't worry, we're making sure that we have as many veg and gluten free options available as possible.

That's about the best update we can give you right now. Any specific questions, please respond to this thread or email us at nolabikeproject@gmail.com.


-- 
Victor Pizarro
Project Organizer
Plan B, The New Orleans Community Bike Project