Ye olde CCDC is turning five! (Interestingly, so is The Bridge.) What this means to you, my friends, is a chance to shake your groove thing with the designingest crowd in town, not once but twice. But first, some edification:
Tonight, yes, TONIGHT, September 3, get over to the CCDC and learn all about the history of public streets in the U.S. They weren’t always built for cars! UVA prof Peter Norton will enlighten you as to how public streets turned from places you could walk, to places where walking can get you killed. Norton is said to be a great lecturer and will come armed with slides. The show starts at 7pm. I recommend getting there by bike.
After Norton’s presentation, the "Street Action Team" from the Alliance for Community Choice in Transportation (ACCT) will give a short talk about the parking spot takeovers they’ve been doing over the last half a year. C-VILLE gave these people a shoutout in our Best Of issue this year, ’cause we think it’s cool to kick cars out of parking spots temporarily in order to demonstrate other ways that humans can use those spaces.
After talking comes rocking. A dance party follows Norton and the bike revolutionaries. Once again, folks: This is tonight. Now is the time to start airing out the leather pants.
If you miss tonight’s party, know that the CCDC is throwing its own bash next Saturday, September 12, which not only includes a 10pm dance party but a 7pm reception and an 8pm celebrity edition of "Olio," which is where smart local people get up and talk about amazing things they’re working on.
I mentioned the Bridge earlier, and that’s as good an occasion as any to let you in on this: WENDELL BERRY IS COMING. Yes! Wendell freakin’ Berry! December 2 and 3. I can hardly believe it. Keep your eye on the Bridge site for details, and you can bet you’ll be hearing more about this from me. Few authors mean as much to this blogger.
