Please note that we will be CLOSED on December 25th and 26th due to a penchant for sitting on our couch all day watching terrible Christmas movies – that opportunity only comes round but once a year!

And From January 1st through the 9th we will be CLOSED for an overhaul. We’ll be doing a lot of cleaning and reorganizing, small reno work, upkeep, re-visioning and implementing some new organizational plans (think: inventory! usage log! bike sales tracking! Pirates are dreaming big this year).

If you would like to help with this tune-up – which may include creative thinking and heavy lifting – please let us know! Contact us at info (at) bikepirates (dot)com and we’ll let you know what hours we plan to be in the shop.

Pirates will be open again for all regular scheduled hours on Monday January 10th. Any further closures over the winter due to weather or volunteer availability will be posted HERE.

We also have a Christmas Wish List, with some items that would make this tune-up even more successful. If you are able to donate any of these items or know where we might get them please let us know:
vinyl/rubber/laminate flooring (approx. 8′ x 45′)
new electric range
small display case
folding chairs (10-20)
Books and magazines related to cycling and bicycle repair (current or old, new or used)
sturdy extension cords (long or short)
screws and nails!
a gallon of paint – green or blue or purple maybe

many thanks for your help and support all year round!

RADICAL MOVIE NIGHT
G20 Legal Fundraiser

On Friday December 3rd we will be hosting a radical movie night to raise funds for our friends and allies facing G20 related legal charges.

Come join us for an amazing night of movies, drinks, board games, snacks, hanging out, and all around rockin good times.

All welcome!

7pm – 9pm: Land and Freedom (Tierra y Libertad)

Directed by Ken Loach, this 1995 film narrates the story of David Carr, an unemployed worker of the Communist Party of Great Britain, who decides to fight for the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War. A heart wrenching portrayal of the attempt by ordinary people to build an anarchist society, and its subsequent betrayal. The movie won the FIPRESCI International Critics Prize and the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival.

10:30-midnight: What to do in Case of Fire (Was tun, wenn’s brennt?)

Directed by Gregor Schnitzler, this 2002 film tells the humorous and touching story of six anarchist friends living as squatters in Berlin in the 80s, when they leave a handcrafted bomb in a mansion. Only thirteen years later the bomb explodes, wounding two people, forcing the group to reunite and, ultimately, come to grips with the reason they separated years ago.

Free popcorn!

Pay what you can (suggested $5-10). Come for one or both movies.
All proceeds go to the G20 Legal Defence Fund.

A cyclist was killed Sunday night after being struck by two cars.

Police say the male cyclist in his 40s was traveling south on Colborne Lodge Dr. and was trying to cross Lake Shore Blvd. W. when he was hit.

He was struck by a car travelling east, and the force of the impact threw him into another lane, where he was hit by a second car.

Nigel Ghough was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Bike was placed today and will be in the island where he was lost. His friends and fellow cyclists will remember.

Please visit his Memorial page
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=157499424275176

Or Flicker
http://www.flickr.com/photos/martinreis/sets/72157624996068617/

Hello Everyone!
It is with great enthusiasm that we invite you the season finale of Art Spin on Thursday, September 30th which promises to be our best one yet. As usual we will be meeting in Trinity Bellwoods Park at the Queen St. gate between 6:30 – 7 pm. Geoff from the Bike Pirates will once again be on hand conducting complementary bike tune ups and we’ll be Arting-up our bikes before we set off to visit a whole new selection of galleries and site specific performances, as well as a very special light based interactive group installation. There will be many surprises along the way and the whole tour ends at a 10,000 square foot historic warehouse for a group exhibition featuring the work of over 20 artists in all fields and disciplines followed by a racus after party with live musical performances by Michael Louis Johnson & The Red Rhythm, MooCow, Ludy Dobri & The Organic Streetscape Project and Rambunctious. Catered appetizers and drinks will be served.

Whether or not you’ve been on Art Spin before this tour is poised to be one of the most engaging and exciting art events of the season and something not to be missed.

See atached evite for more details, or visit our website, www.artspin.ca, for a more complete list of all participating artists.

If you are interested in only attending the exhibition portion of this event the warehouse space is located at 1655 Dupont St in the Planet Building. It runs between 9pm – 1am, and feel free to invite your friends.

On behalf of the Art Spin team thanks for making the 2010 installment of Art Spin so successful and so much fun. We hope to see you all on the 30th!

Cheers,

The Art Spin Team
info@artspin.ca
www.artspin.ca

Car Free Day Event on Concord Avenue (Sun. Sept. 12th) Toronto, ON

This has become an annual event for this neighborhoods with a street party, road closures for several blocks south of Bloor Ave. Contact Ron Nash (ron.nash@sympatico.ca).

Car Free Day Event on Delaware Avenue (Sat. Sept. 18th) Toronto, ON

Delaware Ave. between Shanly and Hallam Streets in the Dovercourt neighborhood will be closed for a petrol-free party for residents from noon to 11 pm. Contact Heidi Westfield at heidiwestfield@yahoo.ca.

Main Car Free Day Event at Queen’s Park North (Wed. Sept. 22nd)Toronto, ON

Our biggest Car Free Day has moved from Yonge & Dundas Square this year to Queen’s Park North. We are planning activities with U of T for their Environment Week. City of Toronto Council supported this event in a 31 to 3 vote on August 27. Activities will include cycling education and bike repair, an Art Battle, community tabling, yoga classes and more! Contact Emma Cane (emmac@sierraclub.ca).

Car Free Day in Mississauga, (Sat. Sept. 25th) Mississauga, ON

Mississauga’s Car Free celebration will take place at Streetsville Memorial Park from 9 am to noon.

Co-sponsored by TD Friends of the Environment, City of Mississauga and Ontario government along with the busy Peel Group of the Sierra Club. You can expect face painting, community groups, speakers and displays on environmental and transit issues, musical entertainment, BBQ and much more. Contact Rosemary Keenan (rosemarykeenan@rogers.com) or Peter Orphanos (porphanos@rogers.com).

Car Free Day in Leslieville, (Sat. Sept. 25th) Toronto, ON

Another annual road closure and party organized by the residents, this one includes a pot luck dinner & activities. Contact Jennifer Story (jstory@rogers.com).

Car Free Day at 10/3 Lake Promenade in Etobicoke (Sun. Oct. 3rd) Etobicoke, ON

LakePromenadefrom 39th to 42nd Streets will be closed for a street party. You can bike or skate in from the Waterfront Trail near Marie Curtis Park. Join the folks for street hockey, a bike clinic and kid activities. Contact Mike Olivier (rapidtransitman@yahoo.com).