Festivus Begging

I have few breaks in my school schedule to allow me to work on Festivus planning so I have to start now to think that I can pull this off.

If you are not familiar with the FBC Festivus, it is a decorated bike ride that terminates at an event with bicycle themed games and prize giveaways. Last year was a overwhelming success with several businesses and individuals making donations. This year promises to be much larger and I am starting my annual begging for prize donations. Here is what I posted on Facebook:

With the Festivus Ride being so early in December (5th), I am working on donations for the event.

There are several events planned that include podium prizes (1st through 3rd). These events would include but not limited to the same ones from last year, such as the bike decorating contest with two categories and possibly an overall winner, the frame toss event and the very popular ring toss game. I would like to have others like maybe a slow race or some fixed gear stuff. Some of the 1st place prizes last year were pretty big, including wine from Caterina, a big gift certificate from Fresh Abundance, gear from North Division Bicycles, free stuff at The Scoop and Neato Burrito.

If you or someone you know would be able to donate something from your business or local bike shop, the FBC Spokane would certainly appreciate it. So much in fact that I would be able to post your logo or link on the blogspot, linking to any possible online information or a website and generally go on and on about how cool you are. Also, if you have a banner that you would like to display at the event you are welcome to do so, granted that you are responsible for bringing, hanging and removing.

Since all of this sounds like a good idea and you would like to participate, you are welcome to contact me here on facebook or the other FBC email address with what you would like to donate and information on how I can retrieve you donation:

fbcspokane(at)hotmail(dot)com

Thanks for being a fan. You make this whole thing work.

Like I mentioned in the post on Facebook, please contact me at the above email address and I can make arrangements to meet with you to collect whatever sort of donation you would like to make.

The Lifetime Members For Life really do make this whole thing work.

Super Secret Success

(click image for pics)
While eating my traditional post-fiasco breakfast of a bowl of croutons and lager, I could not get over how awesome the night was and that my head was pounding me with the force of a thousand Bing Crosbys.

This time our destination was Fresh Abundance. At first you may think that a bike trip to the grocery store is nothing out of the ordinary, but it was Fiascoween. Friend and Lifetime Member For Life, Bright Spirit runs the place and had this great idea of using some empty space behind the building to host a couple of bands, an outdoor beer garden, two fire pits, beer, wine and snacks. And do it all without charging a cover at the door. I'll have to say, she and her staff pulled it off magically. It was a great idea handled as smoothly as possible and I had nothing to do with it. Now that you know you can safely get there by bicycle, be sure to go by Fresh Abundance some time and buy some organic groceries.

Big thanks also to Quarter Monkey and B-Radicals for playing and even wearing costumes. I'll have to admit that one of the guitar players should have won the contest based solely on committing to shaving a bald spot on top of his head. That's dedication.

For the costume contest I just let the crowd decide and they narrowed the field first to about 15 participants then it was down to two. The Garden Gnome and Zombie Superman. Really, how do you pick? Again letting the crowd decide, there was overwhelming support for Zombie Superman who won a Sigg water bottle with the FBC logo on the side.

If you have pictures of Fiascoween you can link to them in the comments section or on the facebook site (link above, left).

I would also like to thank the weather for being extra awesome.

125+ riders; 45 degrees and clear

THE NEXT RIDE

The Fiasco on the horizon will be the Festivus Ride December 5th. For those of you that were able to participate last year, you know what a big deal this one is. I am in the process of contacting local and non-local businesses to get donations for prizes. There will be several events this year, all having podium prizes. I will also be looking to get volunteers to man these stations during the games. Don't worry, it shouldn't cut into your beer time or prevent you from participating in any of the events. So if you or a business you know of would be willing to help out the FBC this year, feel free to contact me. I am pretty busy with school this time around and could use all the help I can get. I will post more information as I get it. Any questions, email them.

Fiascoween III

Fiascoween is approaching rapidly and you still don't have a costume? Shame on you. Get into that box of crap that you never did unpack when you moved in two years ago, and find something to wear. If that doesn't help, or you have taken that box to donate, go buy it back from Classy Rack. For an extensive collection of Fiascoween gear, you can always go drop some coin at Value Village and get yourself a snazzy outfit.

I mentioned before that if you have some crazy, elaborate face decoration planned, be sure there is a way we can identify you so you can get in and enjoy all the adult beverage choices because this is a 21+ event.

Speaking of the event, we will be meeting at The Swamp, Saturday Oct 31st, at 7:00p.m. and having some fun there before getting saddled up for a ride to the Fiascoween III: Super Secret Party. There will be a band, wine by the glass, draft beer, snacks, an outdoor beer garden (as well as indoor, you pansies) and a costume contest. I don't know what sort of prize I will be able to give away for best costume, but I will come up with something.

The FBC received a mass mail out and got this about an event going on before Fiascoween, along with a flyer (I did not make it):

It is time to rock the November ballot with Spokane's first ever Trick or Vote!

The Washington Bus and Eastern Washington Progress are throwing the only Halloween rally in town. We will gather in our costumes at 3pm to do some training, and then go into Spokane neighborhoods to turn out votes (and get candy in the process)! We will offer people some info and will encourage Approving Ref. 71 and Rejecting 1033.

Here are the details:

What: A FREE Halloween canvass for equal rights and a better Washington! Youth and family friendly, all-ages event. Everyone is welcome to participate.
When: 3-7pm on Saturday, October 31st, 2009
Where: 17 W. Main Ave. in the Community Building Warehouse (Green building with ROW Adventure Center in the window. Right next door to Merlyn's.) Some free parking is available on E. Main across Division.

Doorbelling is one of the most effective ways to reach voters on important issues, AND it's fun! You get to explore a neighborhood, meet interesting people, and get more mileage out of your costume! Volunteers will go out in pairs, but larger groups are also possible if you want to Trick or Vote with your whole posse.

When people are done with canvassing (routes will be provided on clip boards) we will have a volunteer appreciation social after people get back to the warehouse. Then you'll be out the door with plenty of time to enjoy other holiday functions.

To RSVP:

1. Reply All to this email so our Volunteer Coordinator Suzy can put you on the list!
   
2. RSVP to Trick or Vote on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=149280051427
3. Sign up as a "Zombie Captain" to bring at least 5 of your friends. Send your team's email addresses to Suzy at shalberstadt@gmail.com.

So there you go. The important thing is that you make it to The Swamp Saturday Oct. 31st at 7:00p.m. to join in the fun. Get there early to get a spoke card and if you can, donate a dollar

Fiasco 28: Two Thumbs Up

(click card for pics link)
I'm a day late on the post but my book learnin' is coming along just fine. Thanks for asking.

The new owner of the recently reopened Magic Lantern Theater, Joe Davis, invited the FBC to come watch a movie and have some beverages. We struggled over the movie selection and when we found it extremely difficult to find a proper copy of Rad, Joe opted to show two very popular 80's films and they did not disappoint. In the small theater he was showing Breakin'. IMDB describes it as:

"A struggling young jazz dancer meets up with two break-dancers. Together they become the sensation of the street crowds. Features ICE-T in his film debut as a club MC."

Why would you not own this movie? As for the large theater, we were shown Quicksilver:

"Jack Casey (Kevin Bacon)used to be a hot-shot stock market whiz kid. After a disastrous professional decision, his life in the fast lane is over. He loses his nerve and joins a speed delivery firm which relies on bicycles to avoid traffic jams of San Francisco, is attracted to a fellow bicycler, Terri, and befriends Hector, a budding entrepreneur. Can Jack regain his nerve and his self-respect, and rebuild his life on a more sound basis?" also from IMDB Written by Reid Gagle

I don't know what a 'speed delivery firm' is but you have to enjoy this movie. If not for the disturbingly odd fitting pants on Kevin Bacon then for the handleba-rection. That's right. Watch the entire movie for a one second moment where you will laugh yourself into wetting your own ill fitting britches. Also, the comments from the peanut gallery where pretty good, too.

Again, thanks to Joe Davis and the attentive staff at Magic Lantern for the free movie and delicious refreshments. And another thank you to our friends at Doma Coffee for their contribution to our great night.

After all that, we still had to go ride our bikes. Being that we started earlier and in a different spot, it was only natural that we head to The Swamp. We always start there but we never stick around long enough to enjoy the band. This time we did and it was awesome as usual. Unfortunately, I had to leave early. That shit won't learn itself.

Clear, 46 degrees: 125+ riders

ALERT...ALERT...ALERT...ALERT...ALERT

FIASCOWEEN

Here is your fair warning about the upcoming ride. We are having a ride on October 31st. Due to the November full moon falling on the 2nd, we will move it up a couple of days to Fiascoween.

Also, get out there and get your costume. There are several outlets for stuff you can buy but you have enough crap in your closet you can throw together. Be advised that you will have to pedal in this getup and if you have extensive headgear you may be asked to remove it briefly for getting carded at the party. Did he say party? He did in fact say party.

We will be attending a super secret party just for the FBC. So if you find out about it, do me a favor and don't go blabbing it around town. There will be kegs, wine, a band, snacks, an indoor/outdoor beer garden, a fire pit and a costume contest. Please wear a costume. Don't just show up in sandals and socks and say you dressed like your Dad. Though, if you show up in ONLY sandals and socks, now that would be a costume. Small, but a costume.

CALENDAR:
OCTOBER 31ST - FIASCOWEEN

NOVEMBER - no Fiasco

DECEMBER 5TH - FESTIVUS

DECEMBER 31ST - BLUE MOON/NEW YEARS EVE

If you need something to do in November, there will be a revival of the popular Fixed The Race series. That will happen on November 3rd at 7:00pm from the Riverfront Park Fountain. Their blogspot.

October Fiasco Plans

Here's the skinny.

The FBC will be MEETING AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION and AT AN EARLIER TIME.

Fiasco 28 will start at The Magic Lantern at 7:00p.m. We have been awarded the special privilege of taking over the place and showing movies just for us in both theater rooms. There will be refreshments for the thirsty. Doma will provide coffee, there will be beer and a limited amount of the hard stuff. We don't have to pay for the movie, but bring your milk money for drinks. Also, if you have a donation for the spoke cards I would appreciate that as well.

Also, as a special bonus, there may be a raffle at the end of the movie to take that movie home with you. You don't want to miss that.

From there we will take a short ride to someplace else. See you there.

The Magic Lantern, Sunday October 4th, 7:00pm