12/5 Hike CANCELLED due to weather

I don't really mind hiking in cold and I'd LOVE to hike in snow, but the potential for mid-30's and rain is just miserable. Due to the forecast for inclement weather we will be rescheduling this hike for a later date. Possibly next weekend. Stay posted...

Artichoke Bliss workday is still on for 2pm Saturday. Meet in the vacant lot beside Dynamic Dish on Edgewood in the Old Fourth Ward. Easy to bike, walk, or MARTA to this spot.

Stay warm,
Eli

Saturday, 12/5/09- Hike to ATL's hidden forests

Hello UrbanHikers,
Join us this Saturday for an urban hike to some of Atlanta's hidden
forests. Here are the details:
What? hiking exploration of urban forest on the city's east side
When? meet Saturday @ 10am- Dr. Bombay's coffee shop in Candler Park
Where? Dr. Bombay's, 1645 McLendon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA
http://www.drbombays.com/

Also note- there is an opportunity to help beautify the brand new green
space called "Artichoke Bliss" in the Old Fourth Ward following our hike.
This will start around 2pm.

I encourage you all to bike or ride MARTA to both the urban hike (Dr.
Bombay's is just 3 blocks from the CP Marta station) and to Artichoke
Bliss (just north of the MLK Marta station).

rough map of our route on Saturday


map of Artichoke Bliss

I hope to see you all on Saturday!

~Eli
Urban Hiking Guru and Native Tree Enthusiast
www.urbanhikingatlanta.blogspot.com

2 newly beautified green spaces in ATL

The past two weekend have afforded me the opportunity to help beautify 2 urban green spaces that until recently I didn't even know existed. I invite you all to visit these spaces and explore them on your own!

Reynolds Park- Kirkwood:

View "Reynolds" Park in Kirkwood, Atlanta, GA in a larger map
This park is owned by city of Atlanta and thanks to the efforts of KNO volunteers and a large group of Emory volunteers we have reclaimed this forgotten green space as a usable park! To access it, you can park in the back of the lot across from the DeKalb Health Center or the adjacent senior center.

removing invasive species from Reynolds Park



















creating a new trail
















Reynolds Park Plan (from the Kirkwood Neighborhood Organization website):























Artichoke Bliss- Old Fourth Ward:

View Artichoke Bliss in a larger map
This space was "discovered" by one of our urban hikers (Hayley). With the help of facebook we have pulled together over 30 community volunteers on 2 work days and converted this empty lot into a welcoming green space with a bench, 3 trails, and a swing! It's right beside Dynamic Dish on Edgewood between Boulevard and Jackson.



pictures from Artichoke Bliss:




























































































If the weather cooperates we're looking at having our last urban hike of 2009 on Saturday, December 5th. I'd like to hike some of the newly renovated (and accessible) trails along the Beltline and also visit Artichoke Bliss!

Final urban hike of 2009?

Looking at having a hike that highlights some of the recent work on the Beltline trail system the first Saturday in December. We'll probably end up in the Old Fourth Ward to highlight a recent renegade garden project next to Dynamic Dish off Edgewood. We're calling the greenspace "Artichoke Bliss" and it's pretty sweet!

Thoughts?

~Eli

**Our 1st Urban Bike Ride**

Hello UrbanHikers!
We WILL be having an urban bike tour this Saturday (tomorrow), 11/14/09.

Meet up location: Park Grounds- 142 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta 30316
Time: 9:30am
Destination: Piedmont Park Green Market... and beyond- bring cash for food
or drinks at the market
Who's invited: YOU and everyone else

This is a change from our normal walking routine, but let's see how it
goes... I know many of you don't have bikes, so fear not- we will be
continue more explorations on foot as well!

~Eli
Urban Hiking Web Monkey
www.urbanhikingatlanta.blogspot.com
urbanhiking@wonderroot.org

Brainstorming Session Tomorrow (9/15) @ WonderRoot!

Got an Urban Hike Idea? We want to know what you like/dislike/would like
to see in the future regarding our hikes.

Any new themes will be considered and all ideas are welcome- art
themes, science themes, entertainment/history themes, whatever!

Join us in sharing your ideas for future hike opportunities
on September 15 at 7pm at the WonderRoot Community Arts Center- 982
Memorial Drive, ATL 30316. Vegan cookies will be served!!

Email with any questions or call Eli at 404-403-0822

Have a splendid day and I hope to see you tomorrow!
~Eli/Urban Hiking Web Monkey

September Dragon*Con hike synopsis

Here's a map of the 6 mile loop we did today from Park Ground to the Dragon*Con parade downtown and back via the PATH, Freedom Parkway, and Inman Park.

photo's:

Angel was with us again to help drop some knowledge about the in-town neighborhoods and the Beltline project


About a dozen of us left Park Grounds, wound our way through Cabbagetown and the Old Fourth Ward in route to downtown and the Dragon*Con parade



I wonder who gets this money? maybe the Taskforce for the Homeless??


The parade was absolutley NUTS and completely fun! Such an interested social event. Very family-friendly too. Storm troopers high-fiving little kids and such.








Cardboard Star Wars characters!


Bananaphone!!!!


View near Highland and Freedom Parkway. We walked along a very new section of the PATH at this point. A very nice urban bikeway with dedication paved paths- I highly recommend checking it out!


All-in-all we did a nice 6 mile loop with great weather along the way. Next month's hike will likely be mid to late October due to some schedule conflicts... stay posted!

As always, you can get on our email list by sending a message to urbanhiking@wonderroot.org

Urban Hiking Web Monkey,
Eli