August bicycle rides feature gardens, ice cream and art

Join the Heights Bicycle Coalition (HBC) and community members for fun and relaxing bike rides in August. Cycling is a great way to expand your world, meet new people and have fun. All ride participants are asked to sign waivers; helmets are mandatory and bike locks are encouraged. You’ll need a bike light if you are pedaling in the dark.

Aug. 1, 10 a.m. to noon: Back to the Farm, Back to Nature.

This ride begins at the Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Arch, at the southeast corner of Coventry Road and Euclid Heights Boulevard, and will feature rain gardens, bioswales (rain collection areas), permaculture (sustainable growing practices), community gardens, “Food not Lawns,” and an opportunity to meet a new generation of gardeners. [Rain date: Aug. 2, 1–3 p.m.]

Aug. 6, 6 p.m.: Family Fun, Ice Cream and “E.T.”

At 6 p.m. a Cedar Lee Ice Cream Social, at Katz Club, 1975 Lee Road, will feature complementary ice cream, rides on the Euclid Beach Rocket Car, face painting, cupcake decorating and crafts. At 7:45 p.m., participants can join in a family bike ride to Coventry School for an outdoor screening of the movie “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” at 9 p.m.

At 8 p.m., the Natural History Museum will present a program, Is Anybody Out There, with telescopes and sky-watching. A playground is also on-site.

Ice cream social sponsors are Katz Club, Edible Cleveland and Cedar Lee Special Improvement District (SID). The movie and sky-watching program sponsors are Coventry Village SID and Cleveland Museum of Natural History. The ride leader is Greg Jolivette and family.

Aug. 20, 7 p.m./Aug. 22, 10 a.m. to noon: Public Art in Cleveland Heights – 2000 to the Present.

On Aug. 20, Peggy Spaeth, former director of Heights Arts, will give a talk on public art in Cleveland Heights in the Heights Arts Gallery, 2175 Lee Road.

The Aug. 22 bike ride will tour the art locations highlighted in Spaeth’s talk. At some sites, the artists will discuss their work. [Rain date for the bike tour: Aug. 23, 1:30–3:30 p.m.]

Registration is required for the Aug. 20 talk, but not for the bike ride. To register, and for more information, visit www.heightsarts.org.