First, the good news

Despite a bad case of 'missing front tooth', I did my duty last night and personally accepted the mayor's proclamation of Bike 2 Work Day at last night's City Council meeting. Of the two other people who were supposed to appear with me, one failed to show, and the other (at the last minute) refused to join me at the podium. But I stumbled through it, and will try to have the audio for you, along with other news later in the week.

So plans for Bike 2 Work Day are falling into place, and yesterday the Thai Taste restaurant joined the list of food providers for next week's Bike 2 Work Day lunch at the Town Square pavilion.

Meanwhile, another e-borhood the Arbor District Newsletter reports good news about the Buckminster Fuller dome home. . . and newly-announced Mayoral candidate Sheila Simon tells me she is shutting down her blog, but starting a new campaign web site.

Advice to Newbies

A couple of writers from Iowa sent me the following email query:

. . . [We] are children's book authors in Central Iowa, looking for a slightly-warmer, more-progressive place to live. We're coming to Carbondale May 15-16. Your reports are quite insightful. That's why we'd ask you: If you had never been to Carbondale before and wanted to explore, where would you go? Who would you try to meet? Thanks for any ideas you can share, and for making a difference in the community.

Is that a fun question! Who and what would you recommend, Bloggee? I'm thinking on it.

For starters, the SIU campus, of course, and Giant City State Park . . . a drive down Elm Street and left on Forest St. to Oak Street to Poplar (that's the Arbor District), then East to Illinois Ave. and a look at the historically closed Varsity Theater, then North on Illinois, across Main to Jackson St. Make a right, cross the tracks, park. Walk around the block. Stop in as many places as you choose. Cross over Main St. at Washington to the large building with the word BENING on it. Visit the Art Lovers Trading Company gallery there. Tell 'em Dave sent you.

Now get back into your car and head west on Main St. several traffic signals to the Murdale Shopping Center . . . You'll see a big park on the left. Turn there and park anywhere. Walk down the shopping center and check out all the shops and see the new location of the Neighborhood Coop and go on down to the Vegetable Store at the end of the strip. If it's Saturday Morning, then you'll see the Farmer's Market!

Another shopping area worth visiting is over by the Campus Shopping Center. Another area where you can just park your car and check out the area on foot.

Which reminds me . . . the Jackson Street businesses ought to try closing the street to foot traffic for one day . . . a Sunday . . . when the bars wouldn't be hit by loss of biz. Get some artists and musicians and food vendors . . . You know the drill. It would be fun.

There I go "magic wanding" again. Any event like that should probably wait until the new businesses fill the spaces vacated by the Neighborhood Co-op and New Chillans. We know that Arthur Agency is moving into the Co-op space. Before I put my magic wand away . . . someone should talk to the folks at Arnolds Market about opening a small store in the corner location.

As for the second part of the query . . . Who should the Iowa couple try to meet?

Would any readers like to meet these authors of children's books? They're for real . . . I checked them out on google. They'll be here Sunday, May 15 and Monday, May 16.

I suggest on Sunday night that they go to Hangar 9 and hear Carbondale's classic jazz combo Mercy, then over to Key West to hear Ivas John Band play the blues. I'll drive.

And speaking of Ivas, his band has been booked to play at the WSIU Fantasy Auction.

So what's the bad news? A dental crown broke off and I am missing front tooth, and I don't have dental insurance. The answer? . . . Smile like Elliott Yamin.