LAUNCH Community this is ladies night

It started two years ago when Alicia Pol and two of her friends were looking for a place to ride their bikes in Dallas. “There was a ride called Monday Night Mash, and it was a fast, pretty much male-led ride,” she says. “So we got together and made a slower ride for beginners that was femaleled, and that’s where it all came about.” The ride has garnered a lot of attention in its two years of existence, due in no small part to its feminine, if brash, name — Tits Tuesday. “We have anywhere from two riders in the winter to 50 or 60 people in the summer,” Pol says. Riders meet at 8 p.m. weekly at the Lakewood Whole Foods, and they typically ride 8-10 miles, or about an hour and a half. The route changes every week but always ends at a bar or restaurant. The group frequents trendy spots like the Amsterdam Bar in Exposition Park or Barcadia on North Henderson. Participants show up on an array of bikes as diverse as the riders themselves: mountain, fixed-gear, road bikes, cruisers; all are welcome. A few Tits Tuesday regulars even rode down to the Austin City Limits Festival last year. But the experts welcome the novices. “The group was started for beginners, so I try and teach people the rules of the road,” Pol says. “Our hope was there would be benefits that not only encourage the bike community but others outside of it. We are also one of the longestrunning groups that is not a shop ride, meaning we aren’t associated with a bike shop. We make our own community.” The Tits Tuesday riders stay in touch and organize through Facebook. But unless it’s very, very cold or pouring down rain, the group is sure to meet, on any given Tuesday, at the Whole Foods on Abrams at Richmond. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t have the hardware specified in the name. “It’s supposed to be female-led, but being called ‘Tits Tuesday,’ a lot of guys have come out to join as well,” Pol says.

—Breajna Dawkins

A Day At The Bike Races

David Adams describes his bicycle racecourse at the Wilson Historic District like this: “It’s like a really beautiful woman who is an axe murderer.” The Matrix Challenge, known as “the King of Crits,” is a two-day event every April consisting of 36 bike races, and it draws at least 1,000 competitors from all over the region. It pays $25,000 in cash prizes, and it is the oldest and largest bike-racing event in the state of Texas. Adams, who lives in the White Rock Lake area, has been promoting the races for 10 years. The Matrix Challenge started in 1982 at Collin County Community College. Later, it moved to a location on Campbell Road and then to Fair Park. When construction at the park forced the Matrix Challenge to move five years ago, Adams imagined a course at the Wilson Historic District. The Meadows Foundation, which oversees the district, was leery at first. But once the foundation realized it was a safe, family-friendly event, the Matrix Challenge was given a home there. “It’s at Old City Park, and a lot of people bring their picnics and just hang out,” Adams says. “It’s beautiful.” But the racecourse is brutal. “We don’t call it the Matrix cake walk,” he says. A criterium, or “crit,” is a time-driven race on a short track. Think NASCAR on two wheels. In elite races, the pack could be moving at 45 miles per hour. “There are significant team tactics involved. People can work together to control the speed of the pack while one team member goes off the front,” Adams says. “It gets quite complicated.” The Matrix Challenge also features a just-for-fun kids’ race that is free and open to kids younger than 12, who all receive medals created from recycled bike parts. The races, on April 21-22 this year, are free for spectators. Adams suggests arriving in time for the men’s race that starts at 11:25 a.m. each day. That is followed by “the kiddie challenge,” the elite women’s race and the elite men’s race at 2 p.m.

—Rachel Stone

Brumley Gardens

Make a statement in your garden with this stunning head bust. Use as a stool or plant holder. Drop by to see all our new products for spring. Brumley Gardens 10540 Church Rd. 214.343.4900 brumleygardens.com Shop Local

The Store In Lake Highlands

Thymes fragrances enhance the quality of your daily life through the transformative power of fragrance. Moisturizers, mists, candles, bubble bath, body wash and scrubs. Mon-Sat 9:30-5:30 10233 E NW Hwy@Ferndale (near Albertsons) 214.553.8850 TheStoreinLH.com

JENNA B’S

Gear up for spring with fabulous dresses from Jenna B’s! New shipments arriving weekly! 5706 E. Mockingbird Ln. @ Greenville Ave. 214.484.7116 JennaBsBoutique.com

Glasshouse

Pictured: Fireplace back with carved design on copper metallic painted glass. Find unique art glass for your decor - showers, mirrors and special projects. Showroom: 919 Dragon St. 214.761.1100 glasshouseproducts.com

Yoga Mart

Zafu meditation cushions and many other meditation items in many new colors and prints to help you sit still. 6039 Oram (at Skillman) 214.534.4469 yogamartusa.com

Debutantes And Cowboys

Spring is in the air!

9219 Garland Rd. (in the shopping center of the Reserve at White Rock) dcboutiqueonline.com

Once Upon A Child

March into Spring Savings. We buy & sell clothes (0-18 youth) with experience – plus toys and equipment. 6300 Skillman St. #105 Dallas, TX 75231 214.503.6010 onceuponachildlakehighlands.com

La Mariposa Imports

Come discover our one of a kind clothing, jewelry and folk art. New shipments arriving weekly! 2813 N. Henderson Ave. 214.826.0069 lamariposaimports.com

T-HEE GREETINGS

Hats, beads, novelties and decorations. Everything you need to celebrate St Patrick’s Day! Mockingbird & Abrams and Walnut Hill & Audelia 214.747.5800 t-heegifts.com.

HD’S CLOTHING

Spring is full of bold color and flirty prints. This tank and cardigan, the choice is yours, wear as separates or as a gorgeous set. HDS Womens 3014 Greenville Ave. 214.821.8900 FB Hdsclothingco menswomens

The Hospitality Sweet

Catering custom homemade sweets & savories to friends, family and businesses. Let us create your perfect event! Kristen Scott and Meghan Adams 214.534.2241 thehospitalitysweet.com

The T Shop

Entertaining party ideas and supplies! Spring is in the Air. 1911 Abrams Parkway 214.821.8314 Visit us on Facebook.

Callidora

Beautiful Jewelry makes great gifts ... and we’ll gift wrap it for Free! We also carry other unique Gifts, Sterling Silver & do Custom Work, Restringing & Repairs. 2913 Greenville Ave. (next to Blue Goose) callidoragifts.com 214.515.9188

The Advocate Foundation’s limited-edition, numbered, and hand-painted ornament; perfect gift for the new home owner or Dallas transplant. Sales benefit neighborhood organizations. 214.292.0486 foundation.advocatemag.com

More than 200,000 sets of eyes are checking out these items right now. Get your specialty items or featured products in front of your neighbors that love to shop local for unique items.