While this event isn’t specifically an organized ride, there is some organization to it! Friday morning cyclists are encouraged to come out to one of two locations at 7:30am for coffee, bagels, some prizes, and a short proclamation read by city officials in support of the event. In previous years there has been only one location for riders to meet in the downtown area, but this year the Wabash River Cycle Club, Virtuous Cycles, and Bicycle Lafayette the event has been expanded to offer a West Lafayette location as well for those that might not have the time for a ride all the way downtown and then back to the west side for work. So whether you work in Lafayette or West Lafayette, there should be an easy, convenient location for you to come out and show your support and join the fun!

Those wishing to meet in Lafayette should head to the corner of 11th street and Main at 7:30am.

Those wishing to meet in West Lafayette should head to 3065 N. Salisbury at 7:30am (location of the West Lafayette Farmers Market next to the Arni Cohen Softball Fields).

Riders will be departing to their final destinations as they feel comfortable between 7:30 and 8:00am.

FAQ:

• Why does it matter if I show up to this? 
  It’s important to turn out for the Bike to Work Day rally in a town where there is an avid cycling community and a lot of opposition to cyclists slowing down traffic and impeding motorists.  This event calls the community’s attention to the legitimacy of bicyclists on the roads, and promotes commuting to work by bike.  So please show up, and pass the word along to colleagues, friends, and neighbors.  We need to do what we can to promote changes in attitudes, laws, and amenities (bike lanes, racks) that make Lafayette an easier, safer place to ride bikes. Once we reach a critical mass, drivers become more aware of bikes on the road and cut us more slack in traffic, employers accommodate employees who commute to work and shower/change before they appear at their posts, people realize that bicycles are the ultimate green vehicle–and change snowballs, especially as people become more aware of the national obesity epidemic and chronically high gas prices.  So help make it happen!  Show up tomorrow morning!
• Is it OK to attend a Bike to Work Day rally even if I can’t come by bike? 
  Yes!  All of us have days when for various reasons we can’t commute by bicycle.  If you occasionally ride your bike around town, or you generally commute to work, or you’re somewhere in between, please feel like it’s OK to come to one of these rallies.  Warm bodies are what count!

This would be a prime opportunity to come speak with some city officials about your support of the 3-foot Safe Passing Ordinance for West Lafayette and Lafayette!

The post Greater Lafayette Celebrates National Bike to Work Day appeared first on Think Lafayette.

I, as well as our staff, have serious concerns about the validity of the testing that has already occurred

Now, the West Lafayette Community School Corporation superintendent has a documentary to inspire schools to take back their destiny and relinquish control state legislators have imposed. The documentary, narrated by Peter Coyote from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and recent IU Health ads, explores everything from the success of Finland’s schools (spoiler: they don’t have ANY standardized testing) to the practices that make our very own West Lafayette High School the best public institution in the state.

Let’s hope Dr. Killion’s film inspires our communities to de-politicize education. I’m getting the popcorn fired up in eager anticipation of Rise Above the Mark.

The post West Lafayette schools ‘Rise Above the Mark’ appeared first on Think Lafayette.

Looking for something to do this Saturday? With a warm weekend upon us, why not spend your Saturday touring the Ayers mansion at 907 State Street, corner of 9^th and State streets.  This fundraiser tour for Wabash Valley Trust for Historic Preservation will be held between the hours of 1 pm-2pm for Wabash Valley Trust Members and 2 pm- 6 pm for general public.  There will be a beer garden and food to purchase as well.  Tickets are 8$, if purchased early at the Tippecanoe Arts Federation, and 10$ at the door.

The post It’s in the Ayers appeared first on Think Lafayette.

Video by Tim Brouk

The Lafayette Brawlin’ Dolls will be back at it Saturday at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds. For the second home bout, they will be up against the Kokomo City of Fists Rollergirls. Lafayette and Kokomo competed last at the Brawl House in October of 2012 and though City of Fists played passionately, LBD won out 139-92.

The 2013 season changes were a success for the first home bout, due in large part to a record turnout. LBD was thrilled to have fans pack the new Brawl House and also show plenty of love to the new vendors. For this bout seating accommodations will be improved to better maximize capacity and admission will be capped. The doors will open at 6pm so please feel free to get there early if you haven’t yet purchased your presale tickets or if you just want to pick out the best spot. Don’t forget that “suicide seating” will be available on the floor right in front of the track so you can see the skaters up close.

Presale ticket locations include People’s Brewing Company, K. Dees Coffee and Roasting Co., Plato’s Closet, Von’s Records, Eagle Harley Davidson and the EMT Food Truck and online at http://brawlindolls.brownpapertickets.com

The after-party will be hosted by People’s Brewing Company, located at 2006 N. 9th Street.

If you like two wheels as much as eight, jump on your bicycle and join Bicycle Lafayette for a casual ride to the fairgrounds. The ride will depart at 4:30 pm from the John T. Myers pedestrian bridge and arrive at the Brawl House at 6pm.

If you’ve never been to a roller derby bout, you may wonder what the sport is like. Is it staged, like wrestling? That rumor still goes around. In fact the skaters put a lot of time and effort into their craft. The team’s roster-ready skaters show great exuberance to be working to make the sport known locally alongside LBD’s veteran skaters. Please take a couple of minutes to get to know Get Shorty.

Question: How or why did you get involved in derby?

Answer: As soon as I found out that Lafayette had a roller derby team, I knew that it was something I was going to do. I tend to be attracted to aggressive sports and it looked like it would be a blast to play.

Q: What has surprised you about derby?

A: All of the other responsibilities that skaters have outside of skating that are required to run the league including committee work and promotional events. It really is like a second job but way better because you get to hang out with your teammates while you do the work.

Q: What is the most satisfying goal you have met so far?

A: Gaining a better understanding of the strategic part of the game – I’m still learning. I’m striving to be a smarter player.

Q: What are you known for or likely to be doing off the track?

A: Either eating, running, or goofing around.

Q: Are there any skaters you look up to?

A: Varla Vendetta from Windy City Rollers. She’s small like me, incredibly fit, has a great attitude, and can get really low. I have a picture of her taken at the World Cup that reminds me to get lower when I skate.

Q: Are there any LBD changes you are excited about for this season?

A: Yes, we are hoping to become a nonprofit organization by the end of the season. This will open up many possibilities for the league.

The post Meet the Lafayette Brawlin’ Dolls: Get to know Get Shorty appeared first on Think Lafayette.

Josephine Foster is a modern American folk singer-songwriter and musician from Colorado. As an adolescent she worked as a funeral and wedding singer, and aspired to become and opera singer. Later, she abandoned the idea and began to record demos of her songs. Upon moving to Chicago she worked as a singing teacher, began releasing her own solo albums while recording and performing with a variety of musical acts.

BRAINSTORMS pairs visual artist Dana Carter’s cosmic sunlight animations with freakadelic song seamstress Jason Ajemian’s musical blueprints for breath process orchestration, weaving together a hypnotic aural visual experience mirroring the slowness of the natural world.

$10 per person at the door. Come early and enjoy our cash bar with wine and People’s beer. Doors open at 7 pm, music starts at 8 pm. For more information, contact TAF at 765-423-2787 or email Paige.

The post 3rd and final OuterNet, presented by FoamCity and TAF, brings us Josephine Foster and BRAINSTORMS appeared first on Think Lafayette.

Recently, the local paper asked for their readers to share their opinions on a proposal to pass a law requiring a three foot gap between a passing car and a bicycle (read it here). There were some interesting responses, and I’d like to reply to a few.

That’s just common sense. People should be doing that, anyway. What do we need a law for? – Daniel O’Connor

True, but passing the law will help raise awareness of the safety of bicycle riders.

Unenforceable! – J. Martin Mlynarik

Several of the responders felt that enforcement would be impossible, and I agree. But this is about encouraging safe driving, not passing out tickets.

Actually, that is a good start, but I would prefer a complete lane change where there will be no argument about how many feet the car was away from you. What will be the penalties for getting too close? As a cyclist, I consider myself and my bike a vehicle bound by the same laws of the road as any vehicle, therefore it would be good if the law treated me like any vehicle. – Chloe Harshman

This comment from local cyclist Chloe Harshman echoes my feelings on the matter. When on my bicycle, I am operating a vehicle, and receive all the rights and responsibilities as any other user of the road. (Not likely to happen) If the driver can’t use the next lane to pass he/she should be waiting until it is clear.

I think that it would be a very difficult if not an almost impossible law to enforce. I try to give cyclists as much room as possible when passing them, but it can be difficult when they are riding two or three abreast. I would like to see more cyclists obey the rules of the road as they should, such as stopping at red lights, stop signs and not going the wrong way down a one-way street. – Eleanor Mlynarik

This comment shows that many people don’t understand how traffic law applies to cyclists. Riding two abreast is legal in the State of Indiana, and is reenforced in the city code of both Lafayette and West Lafayette. Three abreast? Not so much, but I’m sure she hasn’t seen that very often.

Based on her last sentence, I guess she thinks that just because some cyclists don’t follow the law, then the safety of every cyclist is therefore forfieted. Should my life be endangered because someone else did something wrong?

Only on three conditions: 1. there is no marked bike lane; 2. allowing a three-foot clearance does not force the passing car into oncoming lane; 3. cyclist is not abreast of other cyclists. I live in West Lafayette and frankly feel that cyclist groups are a real hazard, as they ride abreast blocking roads and going well below posted limits. – Don Shipley

This comment really set me off. Let’s tackle them one at a time:

1) So if there is a marked bike lane, we aren’t allowed to ride outside of it? Wrong! There are many reasons why a cyclist would be outside of the lane, plus the law doesn’t require us to use it. Regardless, this is no reason for you to barrel on through.

2) Don, let’s think about this. You are behind a cyclist and want to pass, but there is oncoming traffic. So it is OK for you to squeeze between that car and the bike, endangering both the driver and the rider? Do you see how entitled that sounds? Here’s what a sensible driver would do – WAIT UNTIL IT IS SAFE TO PASS! If there were a slow moving tractor in front of you, you wouldn’t pass when the opposite lane wasn’t clear. It is on narrow roads where this law makes the most sense. I am often passed on Newman Road where its narrow lanes don’t allow a car and bike to fit side by side, and the inevitable oncoming car has to slow or pull into the grass on the side to escape a collision.

3) I already wrote about the two abreast thing, but now speed limits too? You expect a cyclist to maintain a speed of 35MPH just so you don’t have to slow down for 10 seconds until you can pass? A speed limit is the UPPER limit, not the lower. Let me make myself perfectly clear – You don’t have the right to drive as fast as you wish, and I have no requirement to stay out of your way.

I’m not sure I would ever pass one that close. Does that mean cyclists must stay three feet from cars and not ride between parked cars and cars stopped for a light? – Carl V. Covely, Jr.

Yes, Carl, it does.

Many times I had to nearly stop and get way over in the opposite lane in order not to hit a cyclist. I don’t believe an ordinance is a viable solution. – Furman A. Powell

What? You had to react in some way to not kill or maim another human?

I think cyclists and semis should have their own lanes. Always in the way when trying to get somewhere. – Mark Acles

Mark, it’s not all about you.

When I started this post, I was trying to be civil, but these responses just made me angry. Serves me right for reading comments in the paper.

This post was previously posted on DanOnBikes.us

The post Local cyclist responds to the J&C reader’s concerns on 3 ft. passing law appeared first on Think Lafayette.

I made it out to the 2nd annual TAP at Tippecanoe Arts Federation mini-brewfest this past Saturday. Mini-brewfest you say? Well, let me tell you something to love about this event: with 10 breweries, each with an average of three to four beers, and three hours to taste them, I thought I may finally be able to try every beer at a brew festival. That didn’t happen, but this was a much more casual experience than 50+ breweries in three hours at the 2013 Bloomington Craft Beer Festival or approximate 30 breweries in four hours at the upcoming 2nd annual Beers Across the Wabash. More time to talk to the brewers and staff.

The Tippecanoe Arts Federation was excited to put this event on, not only because the weather was beautiful instead of rainy this time around. “We were so happy to be the first to bring this outdoor craft brew festival idea to Greater Lafayette. It weaves perfectly into our mission and expands the opportunities for us to promote our local craft brewers, downtown and secure funding for the arts community,” said Tetia Lee, Executive Director at TAF.

The proceeds from TAP benefit TAF and the 100 member organizations it works with. TAF’s community outreach includes free after-school art classes, a musical instrument lending library for students, and helping send artists to communities to provide specific arts instruction in schools and libraries.

Now let’s talk about about the beers:

There were several beers at TAP that I hear many locals talk about as beers they know and love. These include People’s Amazon Princess IPA, Triton’s Railsplitter IPA, Lafayette Brewing Company’s Black Angus Oatmeal Stout, and Sun King’s Osiris Pale Ale.

Of course, I was more curious about the beers that were limited-release or otherwise less-discussed.

Firstly, I was curious about Big Dawg’s Thistle Sitter Smoked Scotch Ale because I’d heard that it had done very well at the Brewer’s Cup Competition at the Indiana State Fair in 2012. This was a lovely, medium-bodied ale that had roasted and heavy notes like your porters and stouts. This was one of my favorites.

Sun King had a Belgian Ale called Eternal Promise of Spring. This beer is made with maple sugar and has both fruity and earthy character. Though the Belgian ales span a diverse variety, I would say this beer wasn’t categorically typical and I found the taste not only more amenable to the beer drinker who doesn’t care for Belgians; but indeed the ale invoked the freshness of springtime.

Flat 12 brewery BROUGHT IT. The cask-conditioned Nunmoere American Black Ale was a smooth, light-to-medium bodied beer that was a bit earthy with a roasted malt flavor and a spicy and fragrant hop character.

The Brandy Half Cycle IPA was a particular delight. The brandy barrel aging, on this beer, completely changes the quality of it. I wasn’t able to find out much about this beer, and I know it was a bit of a special release for the event. Everyone I know who tried this ale was excited about it. The Brandy Half Cycle had a subdued hop character when countered with the brandy barrel’s sweetness. Some, including myself, were apprehensive, but the intensity of the brandy was not overpowering to the original beer and perhaps improved it through complexity.

Tip:
While Flat 12 has not expressed interest in bringing back the Tangerine Porter, the Cucumber Kolsch will be bottled soon. This is one heck of a tasty kolsch which was available at Beers Across the Wabash last year, and you may see it on tap around town in the coming months.

Our own People’s Brewing Company brought some great beers. My favorite was the Captain Black Strap Imperial Stout. This 9% ABV beer with a slightly light body for a stout was well-balanced with the bitter coffee and sweet molasses flavors. I felt privileged to get to taste this beer, considering I’d missed the week-earlier special limited-reserve tapping and had never tried it before.

People’s also had their recent collaboration with Flat 12, the Hoosier Brown Rye Ale. Rye seems to have been the buzzword lately in the microbrew world, and everyone I know has had good things to say about this beer.

Figure 8 is another brewery that seemed to have an impressive presence. I went for their Jumbo Love Barley Wine. This sweet and crisp treat wasn’t overpowering on either malts or hops. It was, expectedly, both thick and with a yummy roasted flavor. The fruity tones indicated mostly a cherry taste.

Our Lafayette Brewing Company brought a nice IPA they recently had in the taproom, Golden Lady, that had a medium body and the favored citrus and pine flavors.

There were a few beers discussed by my friends and acquaintances that I wish I’d tried. Big Dawg’s Tripplet Hopped IPA is said to be tripple-hopped AND dry-hopped. Flat 12’s Rye Barrel Aged Big Black Dog 68 was praised and sounded like a well-rounded beer. I was also curious about Figure 8’s Offwidth Double Pale Ale.

Bonus:
People’s and Flat 12 took over the taps at The Black Sparrow for an unofficial TAP after-party. People were curious about “the taco beer,” a limited-release Cinco de Mayo treat thanks to Flat 12 which the Sparrow was calling “El Bohemia Taqueria.” If you would expect a beer that smelled and tasted exactly like a GOOD taco, that’s what you got. The cumin was strong, the cilantro was heavy enough to make for a distinct taco flavor, the hot pepper (chipotle?) lingered after each sip, and the body was light for easy-drinking. One pint was worth a trip to the Sparrow if you made it before the beer was gone.

Hope to see you at this event next year, and Beers Across the Wabash in August! It is exciting for us beer enthusiasts, beerheads, and beeroisseurs (or “beer snobs”, if that’s your thing) to have the community interest to support these festivals so they can be available to us right here in the GLA. I’m sure we can look forward to continued improvement. Tasty!

The post TAP Brew Festival Enjoys Great Breweries, Good Turnout appeared first on Think Lafayette.

View Beginner’s Guide to Purdue University Campus in a larger map

Mackey Arena.

Von’s
Von’s is a true independent bookstore, the likes of which seem rare in the days of Amazon. Von’s sells books, new and used, CDs, posters and other popular music ephemera, beads and gifts. There is a little something for everyone. Visitors from out of town often remark that they’ve never been inside an independent book store (yes, really) and consider it a serious destination. The bead selection alone is enough to keep any crafter and jeweler busy for a long while, but bibliophiles will probably be most pleased wandering the stacks. Von’s also has a healthy children’s book section that’s quite magical for little ones. Indie music nerds should also check out their music blog.

Triple XXX
Triple XXX is a long-time Purdue campus staple, a family diner-style restaurant in operation since 1929. The first and last remaining Triple XXX root beer stand in the U.S., they still serve the original root beer recipe and, according to USA Today, serve one of the best burgers in the United States. What all the glowing recommendations don’t tell you, however, is that Triple XXX has a great classic diner breakfast, is open late nights for your 3am post-bar meal, and they always have multiple copies of the paper handy so you can do the crossword while you drink your bottomless cup of coffee. If the diner’s counter seat style isn’t for you, there is also the family-style Route 66 diner with regular booths and tables on the other side of West Lafayette in Purdue Research Park.

The Purdue University Liberal Arts Fountain.

Slayter Hill
In the winter, after a good snow, everyone in West Lafayette goes to Slayter Hill to go sledding. While Slayter Hill is also an excellent open-concept concert venue, it’s hands-down the best sledding hill in the area. Try not to sled into oncoming traffic.

Sledding down Slayter Hill. Photo Credit: Purdue Exponent.

Pappy’s
Pappy’s in the Purdue Union is a popular diner-style restaurant, decked out in chrome and replete with retro jukeboxes. Eat a burger there. It’s fun, wholesome, and totally appropriate for a date or a family outing. Also, the burgers and shakes are delicious.

Harry’s Chocolate Shop
Oh, Harry’s. On a Saturday night after a game day, this bar is two floors of drunken students and alumni, shoulder-to-shoulder, singing “Sweet Caroline,” sloshing around mixed drinks and scratching their names into the walls with ink pens. Harry’s is the stuff of local legend with rumors about involvement in liquor-running during Prohibition, and even more rumors about secret tunnels between Harry’s and a fraternity or two. Opened in 1919 as a family business, Harry’s has been in operation in this location for almost 100 years. You have to go at least once.

Hort Park illustrated map. Click to embiggen.

Hort Park
Horticulture Gardens, aka “Hort Park” to townies, is a huge, open park on the west side of campus, just past Purdue West. Hort Park is roughly 24 acres of gardens, woodland, and grassland devoted to horticultural studies, and makes for a pleasant, pretty, kind of romantic outing, with more than enough places for picnics, hiking, and picture-taking. It can also be reserved for weddings and whatnot if you’re so inclined.

The Village
“The Village,” aka Chauncey Hill Mall, aka Chauncey Hill, is the hub of the campus shopping district. This is also old “downtown West Lafayette” — the old police station, city hall, and public school were housed in this area. Once one of the grittier areas of campus, West Lafayette government is determined to clean this area up, build it up, and make it shiny. The Village houses some of the more interesting retail and eating establishments in West Lafayette, such as Von’s and Harry’s, but it is also home to Amused, a wonderful skateboarding and bohemian retail store run by one of the area’s most interesting entrepreneurs, Jake’s, a great campus sports bar with great bar food, Eclectic, a charming hair salon in a historic building that once housed the WL police station and city hall, and two wonderful coffee houses, Greyhouse and Vienna. The Village is also home to the only (current) campus groceries, which carry a wide array of Asian and American foods. The Village is about to undergo a huge facelift soon, with a major building on the corner of State Street and Northwestern being torn down to make room for new construction. Verdicts are pending.

There is quite a bit more on campus to see, including tons of wonderful public art, the beautiful Purdue grounds, and the excellent architecture all over campus. What must-sees did we miss?

The post Beginner’s Guide to Lafayette: Purdue University Campus appeared first on Think Lafayette.

New Chauncey residents have organized online with Nextdoor, a new social media platform for neighborhoods

New Chauncey neighborhood, 257 acres nestled in the heart of West Lafayette next to Purdue, has so much potential. Sadly, due to various factors during its history, it has been stuck in the status quo. Lacking a historic preservation district, master plan, cooperation from the university, a real downtown with establishments for all ages, the City of West Lafayette and New Chauncey have been held back from becoming a world-class, walkable, near-campus community. That’s all about to change for the better… hopefully.

LEGO model of preliminary New Chauncey land use plan showing proposed building densities

After a long, drawn-out process that saw its fourth anniversary this past Saturday and caused a row between outnumbered residents and property developers, the Tippecanoe County Area Plan Commission (APC) has passed the New Chauncey Neighborhood Land Use Plan. After a consensus steering committee quickly devolved into majority rule of developers, some of the neighbors, including myself, formed a neighborhood residents committee. Working with a group of public rhetoric students to formulate a vision plan and counteract the failed consensus process, we met on several occasions to educate the neighborhood about the developers’ attempts to take away one fifth of the low-density neighborhood for medium and high density housing.

In a surprise twist, after neighbors came out in big numbers, the APC failed to pass the original plan at its February meeting and allowed for an extension to April. This allowed us more time to formulate our plan and even brought about one final meeting with the original steering committee – composed of residents Jay McCann and Peter Bunder  and developers Tom Frey, Loren King, Shane O’Malley, and Patti Weida. The plan was ultimately revised with a less intrusive plan of encroachment from the Northwestern-Fowler corridor.

Vision document expands on Land Use Plan

The New Chauncey Neighborhood Vision Statement, developed by Purdue graduate students and their advisor, Jennifer Bay, has been submitted with the Land Use Plan. The document, added as a supplement to the APC’s plan, addresses:

neighborhood preservation, redevelopment, business development, environmental preservation, partnership with Purdue University, safety improvement, and oversight committee.

Preliminary Land Use Plan from December 2012 – click to enlarge

Final Land Use Plan from April 2013 that somewhat reduced the encroachment from the corridor – click to enlarge

As of 2012, the neighborhood was composed of 60% rental and 40% owner-occupied residential structures. Of the rentals, 61% are single-family, 17% are two-family, and 22% are multi-family units. The key numbers here are 61 and 17. That means over three-quarters of the rental stock in the neighborhood is one and two-family dwellings. Presumably, most of those are homes of the era of my own: early 20th Century with quality construction, hardwood floors, unique architectural detailing, etc. These homes were built to last. As opposed to the sort of homes constructed today in sprawling, homogenized, unsustainable suburban tracts where the “neighborhood” is defined by the proximity to the nearest big box store or strip of national chain restaurants. The prospect of these single family dwellings being destroyed forever is worrisome. This new, compromised map is still an imminent threat to many historic homes that have become neglected by property managers along with beautifully maintained owner-occupied homes such as the Czaja-Wachs home on Evergreen Street. Opening the door to such a large amount of medium and high density development that isn’t even a guaranteed success means that once these homes are gone, they’re gone forever.

Wine bar, anyone? This disused building at the north end of New Chauncey would be a great neighborhood European cafe, bistro, wine bar, or all of the above

West Lafayette is home to great things: a world-class university, the best public high school in Indiana, an urban forest that is 150 years old in some areas of New Chauncey, and extensive bike paths (with more to come) and wooded trails, but it falls short of being a world-class walkable community like our Big Ten peers in Ann Arbor, Madison, Bloomington, and Columbus. Where is the grocery store, the bakery, the local cafe, the European bistro for a dinner out before a Purdue Convocations performance? Tonight’s West Lafayette City Council meeting features the first reading of the New Chauncey plan, with the next steps being a likely vote in favor, followed by an overlay plan from the APC that will specify building styles and a zoning map.

In the shadows These notable homes on Evergreen will soon be overshadowed by the 5  story project at 720 Northwestern and are in an area to be designated medium density: 3 story buildings with 13-35 units per acre

Our residents have organized at the grass-roots level by means of countless living room planning sessions, email exchanges, public forums at Morton Community Center and the County Office Building, and  a social network I formed called New Chauncey Nextdoor. Special thanks go to Peter Bunder and Jay McCann for their efforts of the last four years and to Zachary Baiel for acting as the magnet that has brought more neighbors into the conversation. The work has only just begun, however. Tonight’s City Council meeting sets into motion a plan that will shape our generation as well as many subsequent ones. This should not be taken lightly, and with any luck, will bring together the entire city as part of a master plan. The neighbors will continue to meet and push for an oversight committee that includes the input of all property owners in the neighborhood, Purdue administration and students, as well as the entire community. Let us not allow short-term profit takers decide our future, but instead work together in this good city that can be a carefully planned, world-class one.

The post New Chauncey preservation hangs in the balance appeared first on Think Lafayette.

Click this link from your smartphone http://my.yapp.us/92EZPT to install the application and check out all the action! Details are also available for each event via the Bicycle Lafayette Facebook page.

You can also print the flyer below for the event to hang up in your workplace! Ride all the bikes!

Click to embiggen.

The post How to Download the Bike Month App appeared first on Think Lafayette.

Local band, Tigerfox, will be unveiling their new lineup and sound tonight at FoamCity. Previously 7 members strong, they’ve cut themselves down to 2 members, front man Ryan Puetz and synth-electronic master Aaron Zernack. No drums, no guitars, no light shows, just a mic and collection of synthesizers and other electronics.

“The goal is to show people the direction that we’re heading, what our capabilities are and what we’ve put together in a one month span.” says Puetz, “I think if you like anything the two of us have ever done before, in my mind this is what you’ve been waiting for when you’ve seen us walking around sharing ideas, that this is what was going to come from it.”

“We’re doing stuff I never thought I’d be able to do, so in that, I’m pretty sure people will enjoy it” says Zernack.

Also on the line up is Lafayette native, Chris Benedyk and the artist formerly known as Rocktopus, Kyle Denton, returning to town from Milwaukee to play their new tunes with their band Pow Wow.

Doors open at 8, show starts at 9ish. $5 at the door to get in.

The post Tigerfox and Pow Wow play FoamCity Tonight appeared first on Think Lafayette.

RDP! RDP! RDP!

This week, U.S. News & World Report ranked West Lafayette High School #2 in the Indiana and #347 nationally among the best high schools. Take out charter and magnet schools, and WLHS is ranked #1 in the state.

Truth is, while West Lafayette gets a lot of credit, we’re lucky in Tippecanoe County to have an abundance of good schools and highly engaged teachers.

Congratulations to West Side for the recognition!

The post US News Ranks West Side #2 in the State and #347 Nationwide appeared first on Think Lafayette.

Click to proceed to event details and ticket sales.

The annual Dinner and Bikes Tour, a multimedia roadshow of food and bicycle activism, will be putting on events in 27 cities in eleven states in the midwestern and northeast U.S. during National Bike Month in May. The tour is a call to action for communities around the U.S. to take the lead in growing the national bicycle movement.

Thanks to Bicycle Lafayette, the tour is coming to Lafayette, IN, on May 29, 2013 from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm and costs $10 in advance or tickets are available at the door.  The event will be hosted at the Wells Center of the Tippecanoe Arts Federation, 638 North Street, in downtown Lafayette. Tickets are limited to the first 50 people, so purchase them now!

The tour features writer Elly Blue, filmmaker Joe Biel, and chef Joshua Ploeg.

Attendees will enjoy a gourmet vegan and gluten-free buffet by Ploeg while participating in an interactive presentation about transportation equity by Blue and watching a near-complete excerpt from Biel’s forthcoming documentary Aftermass, a history of bicycle activism in Portland. The tour is traveling with a food- and bicycle-themed pop-up bookstore. Authors will be available to chat and sign books after the event.

Joshua Ploeg is the traveling vegan chef. When not touring the world, he is a personal chef and delighter of secret cafe goers in Los Angeles. His adventure cookbook In Search of the Lost Taste is a smash hit, as is his controversial raw food cookbook, So Raw It’s Downright Filthy.

Joe Biel is the author of brand new book Beyond the Music. founded Microcosm Publishing in his bedroom closet 17 years ago and now publishes nonfiction books, zines, and movies through Microcosm and Cantankerous Titles. In his “spare time” he makes documentaries on empowering topics from punk to bicycling. On this tour, he’ll be showing selections from Aftermass, a feature documentary about bicycle activism in Portland.

Elly Blue is the author of the newly released Everyday Bicycling: How to Ride a Bicycle for Transportation (Whatever your Lifestyle). She is the founder ofTaking the Lane, a publisher of empowering books about unique aspects of cycling. Her writing has appeared in Grist, Bitch, BikePortland, Momentum, and the Portland Mercury, and her own blog. Her second book, Bikenomics, will come out in early 2014.

Past Dinner and Bikes tours have covered the west coast, the mountain states, and the southeastern U.S.

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The Lafayette Brawlin’ Dolls christened its new Brawl House April 20 with a huge 182-92 victory over the Terrorz of Tiny Towns’ Diesel Dolls out of Columbus, Ind.

A packed crowd of over 700 — LBD’s largest crowd in its five-season history — filled the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds. A long line that almost went to Teal Road was a welcome sight for the skaters as the support helped the Brawlin’ Dolls dominate a bout that looked to be a close contest at halftime but instead became a blowout.

The Dolls’ conditioning, vision and deft coaching from Heartless B. and Bang A. Rang decimated the Terrorz of Tiny Towns, who looked to run out of gas, in the second half. Only Terrorz jammer Semper Fiasco was a threat throughout. However, the lithe skater had her head down and was pummeled by one of Dreaded Thunder’s many vicious hits. That smash seemed to break the visitors’ backs as short jams picked up small point totals but it kept the Terrorz’s score sheet mostly blank in the closing minutes.

Bodies flew and penalties were racked up. But the Brawlin’ Dolls physical presence was too much for the Columbus ladies.

The Dolls’ deep bench of veterans and second-year skaters was also on display. Get Shorty, who is one of several entering her second season on the roster, made her debut jam with a cool 10-pointer. This came after more experienced jammers like Psycho Socializer, Sugar Magnolia, Bubblegun and Rampage feasted on Terrorz for big scores. Blocking by Biscuits n’ Crazy, Coquette Threat, Mad-Eye Molly, Stitchez and Ponn Farr Pixie helped create many seams for the fleet skaters to power through.

Heartless B and Bang A. Rang seemed to be a step ahead of the Terrorz by juggling lines. Once the visitors got accustomed to smaller, faster jammers, the coaches threw more powerful jammers like Hepatitis T and Dreaded Thunder at them.

Thanks to strong jams by Tree Slugger, Dreaded Thunder and Sugar Magnolia, The Brawlin’ Dolls were pitching a shutout for the first several minutes of the bout. The black and pink were up 31-0 at one point. However, a pair of costly power jams put the Terrorz in a slight lead at 41-39.

But just minutes later, Psyco Socializer’s 15-point power jam brought the home team back in the lead, never to relinquish it thanks in part to Psycho’s 25-point second half power jam.

After a March road victory versus Southern Illinois, LBD has its first 2-0 start of the season in its history.

The April 20 victory had its bittersweet side, though, as Tree Slugger announced that she has skated her last bout with the Brawlin’ Dolls. During her three seasons with the team, Slugger evolved into one of the top jammers on the squad.

The Dolls will try to keep their winning streak alive May 11 against old foe Kokomo City of Fists. LBD has defeated Kokomo in the past but will the success continue?

Bout jamming stats

Player                                                                       Jams/Points                         Points per jam

Psycho Socializer                                                  7/53                                          7.57

Sugar Magnolia                                                       14/43                                        3.07

Tree Slugger                                                              9/16                                          1.78

Rampage                                                                     6/16                                          2.67

Bubblegun                                                                  7/16                                          2.29

Get Shorty                                                                  3/15                                           5

Dreaded Thunder                                                     2/18                                          9

Hepatitis T                                                                    1/5                                           5

The post Home sweet home: Lafayette Brawlin’ Dolls’ record-setting home opener results in dominant victory appeared first on Think Lafayette.

THC Jam session. Click to embiggen.

Local trio The Heavy Co. recently wrapped up production on their first full length record, Midwest Electric. Four years in the making, Midwest Electric is a strong offering, a blend of Southern Rock and classic American rock, and stoner rock, reminiscent of Neil Young with shades of Skynyrd. It’s Clutch meets Hendrix, a record meant to be played at full blast.

Midwest Electric ambles easily from a driving hard rock number like “The Humboldt County Waltz” to the lonesome guitar wail and lament of “Neil Young” to the spacey, psychedelic drone of “Sailing Towards The Setting Sun.” If it’s an imperfect record, these imperfections are purposeful. The tempo varies and draws out a plodding baseline against  kaleidoscopic guitar solos, highlighted with layers of drawling lyrics. The album’s seven songs are unique to themselves but overall tell a story of isolation, paranoia, and a general disenchantment with Midwestern life, and how this contrasts with the failed, distant dreams of rural Indiana youth.

“Midwest Electric”

This is a worthwhile offering from a promising local band that has a large, emphatic following for their live performances. Highly recommended.

The album will be available on Saturday, April 20 for Record Store Day, at Don’t Think Twice Records.  The digital version will be available on Band Camp. Outside of Lafayette, it will be in Indianapolis at Indy CD and Vinyl and in Chicago at Reckless Records. Kozmik Artifakts/Bilocation Records of Berlin will be the European distributor. Ripple Music will distribute it online in The US.  It is currently streaming at The Soda Shop and will also stream on Spotify.

Below, check out a great live performance of The Heavy Company’s ”The Humboldt County Waltz” at the Lafayette Brewing Co.

The post Get Altered on The Heavy Company’s “Midwest Electric” appeared first on Think Lafayette.