BEVERLY — A Slow Roll Chicago bicycle tour of Beverly and Morgan Park begins at 2 p.m. July 29 at the Ridge Historical Society and ends around 4 p.m. with an afterparty at Tranquility Hair Salon.
Anne Alt is coordinating the bike ride that begins at the historical society at 10621 S. Seeley Ave. in Beverly. An advocate for cycling in the 19th Ward, Alt said its only the second such ride ever planned for the neighborhoods.
She expects more than 50 people to participate in the all-ages ride that will send cyclists along tree-lined residential streets. Alt plans to make several stops along the way to highlight local architecture and public art.
The roughly 10-mile ride is also being planned with the help of the Beverly Area Arts Alliance, which also coordinates the annual Beverly Art Walk, the Uprising Craft Market and Local Art on Tap.
The whole event is meant to bring individuals together, said Alt, pointing to Slow Roll Chicago's mission that aims to "connect a diverse group of people."
In fact, Slow Roll Chicago was founded in September 2014 as an off-shoot of Slow Roll Detroit, which was launched four years earlier. The community bike rides in Detroit now average more than 4,000 riders every Monday night.
She also hopes people already biking in the neighborhood use the ride to get to know others with similar passions living nearby. Such relationships likely will be fostered at the afterparty hosted by the owners of the salon near the 99th Street Metra station.
Tranquility at 9908 S. Walden Parkway is planning a street festival for participants as they wrap up their ride. Megan Barba, an owner of the salon, said the free after-party will include music, craft beer, food trucks and other refreshments along with face-painting and more for children.
Those looking for a good stretch after the ride are also invited to a free yoga session courtesy of E'a Williams, an instructor who also works at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Lincoln Square. Those interested are asked to bring their own yoga mat.
The alliance is also using the afterparty to offer a sneak peek of the work 11 artists participating in the annual neighborhood art walk, which will again transform storefronts throughout the area into makeshift art galleries Oct. 7.
Kevin Demski will be among them. The artist behind Sixty Four Creative will be pulling limited-run prints on site for 3 hours at the post-ride party.
Once the bike riders thin out, Tranquility will use the evening to host the Beverly Music Initiative: Part III of the Backyard Project. The event from 7-10 p.m. will showcase the music of H.a.R.D.
A $25 suggested donation is asked of those interested in the neo-soul band with influences that include funk, heavy blues and hip hop, Barba said. Craft beer will also be provided as part of the entry free.
Previous efforts to transform the salon into a live music venue have showcased a Grateful Dead cover band and a folk duo from Nashville with credits that include opening for Loretta Lynn.
"It will be a great day to be down here," said Barba, who aims to host more music-focused events going forward.
For more information, visit the Facebook page dedicated to the bike ride.
