Party Girls: Ciel Bike Shop Grand Opening Party

New York City is so much fun that even my dog, Bonnie, has had plans the last two Friday nights.
Last week she went across town to a house-party hang-out and this week she was my date to the Ciel Bike Shop grand opening party.

Photos from Bitch Cakes NY

Bitch Cakes/Sheryl was the model on the party flier. That's Sheryl, Amanda, Bonnie and Me.

Ciel Bike Shop is a very sleek and clean bicycle shop on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. They are located on 65th street very close to 1st Ave. I told the owner of the shop and the guys of Biria bicycles that the location of this shop is fantastic since the bicycle lane running up 1st Avenue comes so near this shop. It's also not far from the East Side River Path. The Biria founders were there celebrating their 10 year anniversary of business.


I'm still kinda thinking about that cute yellow Biria. Birdie the Biria would be a great name for such a darling yellow bicycle.

The NYC Bike Share that's coming this summer is going to help people who are interested in biking NYC to realize or rule-out whether it's for them. Many people who find that biking is for them will want to invest in their own bicycles. Ciel has some pretty sexy bicycles in stock. 
This shop is smart to have so many great accessories stocked for those who want their own bikes, but also for those who just want to make their bike share experience more comfortable & customized. (With accessories they can wear or remove from the bike share bikes easily, like sleek helmets, bags, etc.)

Ciel has a great selection of my most-favorite bike helmets: Bern brand. I love a little visor.


They also have a Fyxation accessories wall! The hot pink was stocked. Kudos for that.



1. Bonnie & Friend, 2. ECO White Bike, 3. Sexy B&W Fyxation bike, 4. East Side Collage Bike

There are more photos of the party on the Urban Cyclist Worldwide website.

Bike NYC Progress

Bad picture - EXCELLENT NEWS! Check the lower-right corner. Witness the birth of a freshly painted bike lane! 
The bike lane up 1st Avenue, the one that I went to Community Board meetings to speak on behalf of. One of which I prepared a little statement and got on a stage and stood at a lecturn and used a microphone to speak on behalf of... is now sketched-out in fresh paint up to 72nd street (and surely beyond) on the Upper East Side.

I was overjoyed to see this on my way home Thursday afternoon while I was stopped at the light. I quickly pulled out my camera to capture the good news. Democracy at work, babes. Get up, speak out. Bike Polite. We the people? Julie the people? Either way- people can feel a little bit better biking up crazy wild 1st Avenue if they feel the safety of some painted lane just for them. I definitely feel more cozy in a bicycle lane.

Back to the Bicycle Share meeting I attended on March 26th. I bit my tongue on social media and didn't slander the trouble-maker at my table who put "No" red arrows on every proposed bike share station location on the lovely map the DOT brought for us to see and comment on. You could put a red arrow to say "Not a good idea" or put a green arrow to indicate "Great idea!" - In regard to proposed bike share station locations.

One woman in our group put red "NO" arrows on every proposed sidewalk location. She didn't want bicycles on the sidewalks. Ever. She even "No"-marked sidewalks that she wasn't that familiar with against the advice of the group leader. (We were asked to weigh in on locations we were familiar with. I put a green arrow next to the ramp for the river-side pathway. How convenient will that be?!)

Saturday morning I observed this excellent example of a sidewalk with plenty of pedestrian room and bicycles parked perpendicular to the street and thought back to that lady. There are seriously bikes everywhere, all over most streets in Manhattan. That crazy lady.  Can't we all just get along? Who cares- NYC Bike share is coming and it's going to be rad.

Saturday Morning Stuff

Saturday I left early to do an escort volunteer shift at Planned Parenthood. I remembered to use the recently re-opened and renovated East Side Path.

I did a later shift than usual, so it was a different traffic if that makes sense. I was there late enough to see the early-morning protesters pack it up and leave.

It was St. Patrick's Day and I'm superstitious so I had on some green. Matt met me after my shift.


We went to eat breakfast at Peels. It was really good. The biscuit is a whole menu item, but my shrimp & grits weren't huge, so I'm glad I also ordered the biscuit. Matt did the same thing. Order a breakfast + a biscuit.


We checked out some shops. I wanted to go to Madewell and TopShop and in exchange for his patience during that, I agreed to go to REI with him.

Bonus Monday - Fyxation Discount Code!

Big Monday means sneaker-time. Pixel Rose dress, Roxy Vest, Adidas Honey Pimsoles.

GREAT news if you want pink or green or brown or white tires too! I'm so happy! I've never had a Discount Code named in my honor! Use code JULES to save 15% off all the products in the Fyxation online store. Good thru June 2011.

I was intimidated about which size tires I needed. If you are too, email them!
If you're a smarty, you can find your tire size written, probably in raised letters on the side near the rim/wheel.

This morning on my ride through Central Park, I met Liz P. who is organizing the Short Skirt Celebration rides in NYC. We need to bring LadyBiker visibility to our fellow citizens. It was so nice to be chatting with a fellow LadyBiker first thing this morning. She flagged me down on my commute through the park this morning and took my daily outfit pic. Thanks, Liz!

After work, I rode up to the Upper West Side to attend this super-rad function. I was on the fence about Sarah Powell, but she stole my heart and officially became my homegirl tonight.

I've been stalking Amy Sedaris for a few years -She recognizes me at events and accuses me of breaking out of the group home. She was grrreat tonight, but John freaking Hodgeman stole the show! As did Sarah Powell! It was an all-around awesome time. It was like history lessons with curse words. I. Loved. It.


On my way home, I remembered that I had readthat Tory Burch is opening a new store uptown so we stopped to look, because the cover-up thing (to hide the construction) is graffiti'd by De La Vega.

It's a pretty sweet wall. I'm a huge sucker for Octopuses wearing lipstick!

Too tired for words Tuesday

Just pics.