Friday (03.30.07) on The Signal…

These bikes (or parts of them) will end up on the road again, thanks to Baltimore’s Velocipede Bike Project. (By the way, here are the details on Velocipede’s upcoming “Bikes Brunch and Bands”: Sun May 6 at noon at Charm City Art Space, 1729 MD Ave… brunch at noon followed by a leisurely ride around the city, bands afterward at CCAS)

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• We’ll visit the headquarters of Baltimore’s Velocipede Bike Project, a co-op that enables cycling enthusiasts of all stripes to volunteer their time and talents, refurbishing old bicycles and teaching their skills to “bike-curious” newcomers.
• We’ll sit down with Richard Chambers, head of the Maryland advocacy group One Less Car, for a conversation about what bicycling can add to the health and social fabric of city neighborhoods.
• We’ll talk with Sun newspaper photographer Amy Davis about what goes into taking a picture that’s truly worth a thousand words.
• And in honor of the April Fools Day holiday, Heather Moyer and Mike Subelsky of the Baltimore Improv Group join the program to share their stories about pranking — and getting pranked.

Velocipede organizer Beth Wacks inspects a refurbished three-speed

Co-op member Howard, from Mount Clare, shows off his new custom-built bike at Velocipede

“Throw some D’s on that B****!” Rims, rims, and more rims await truing…

This April Fool’s Day weekend, Baltimore’s top stand-up comics and improv troupes are getting together for a three-day, seven-show comedy extravaganza, the proceeds of which are going to benefit Pathfinders for Autism, an non-profit that raises funds for autism research and resources. This Second Annual Baltimore Comedy Fest happens at two venues: Hampden’s Mobtown Theatre and Hunt Valley’s Renegade Studios. Directions, show times, and other information is online at www.baltimorecomedyfest.com.

Tomorrow afternoon, Wide Angle Youth Media presents a program of films, poems, and performances designed to clue us in to what goes on in the real lives of 12 to 18 year olds in what they’re calling the Youth Media Festival. The event is happening at Baltimore’s Centerstage theatre from 2 to 4 p.m., and tickets are free, but you’ll want to call ahead for reservations at the Centerstage box office: 410.332.0033 or at www.centerstage.org.

Tomorrow night, The American Visionary Art Museum plays host to a showcase of Baltimore’s premiere female spoken word artists: Signal favorites Jahipster, Olu Butterfly, and Love share the bill with a number of other socially-conscious female artist in a show they’re calling Ladies Verse 7: Mama Said. Tickets and information are at www.poetology.com.

And if the spring weather is inspiring you to stop and smell the flowers, you might want to drop by The Walters Art Museum this weekend for a special weekend they’ve dubbed Art Blooms 2007. Floral still-lifes will be on display by artists ranging from Cezanne to Matisse to Andy Warhol, as well as actual floral-arrangement interpretations of these great works by various local garden clubs. More information about the “Art Blooms” weekend is online at www.thewalters.org.