Downtown Asheville - CITY NEWS, INFO & EVENTS

LAAFF and Tall Bike Event

2009


LAAFF it up this Sunday
All-local, somewhat-loco, all-original, free street festival
*IT DOESN'T GET MORE FUN OR FUNKY THAN THIS  at Arts2People's 8th annual street festival, known as the Lexington Avenue Arts and Fun Festival | LAAFF is held on North Lexington Ave. in Downtown Asheville between College St. and I-240 overpass from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sun., Sept. 6, 2009. Everyone is invited to attend this free, family-oriented, musical, funky and fashionable, street party. | For the three-stage schedule of musical performers and events, visit Lexfestasheville.com or Click Here> | To visit the performers' website links, Click Here> | For info about Arts2people.org, Click Here>




2008
'Tall-Bike Nut' Michael Mooney Fails to Break the Record at LAAFF

*44-FOOT-HIGH 'TALL BIKE' EXTRAORDINAIRE MICHAEL MOONEY Made Two Attempts on Sun. at approx. 6:30 p.m. to Break the Guinness Book of Records, But Failed 

THE OLD DAREDEVIL TRY
On Sept. 7, 2008, LAAFF co-founder Michael Mooney gave it the old daredevil try -- twice -- to beat the tall-bike riding record. He made his attempts at the 7th annual Lexington Avenue Art and Fun Festival (LAAFF) in Downtown Asheville. 

After failing the first time, he gave the LAAFF crowd hope on the second try. 

On the second go-around, Mooney pedalled his two-wheeled tall-bike for approximately five seconds before falling off.

THIRD ATTEMPT FOILED
Unfortunately, he was unable to make a third attempt at the record: he became injured when falling off, and the top four feet of his bike frame was bent when it slammed into a wall. However, he was able to walk away with assistance amidst a cheering, appreciative crowd of hundreds who encircled the parking lot on N. Lexington Ave., located near the I-240 overpass.

Immediately following the second attempt, Kitty Love, LAAFF co-founder, told DowntownAsheville.com that she was on her way to see if Mooney had broken his foot.

Asheville Crane did its part in providing a cable that was attached to Mooney during his runs at the record. 

2009?
Will Asheville's famous "tall-bike nut" be back next year to try again? "I'm sure he will be," said one of the "Tall Bike Traffic Cop" attendants. No doubt, Mooney's many fans will be back next year, too. 

* For Mooney's 2008 second (and longer) attempt on YouTube, Click Here>

* For Mooney's World Record attempt last year on YouTube, Click Here> 

* For Guinness World Records website, Click Here>

* For Citizen-Times' photos of this year's attempt, Click Here>



Michael Mooney Warming Up for the Tall-Bike Ride at Last Year's LAAFF

Become Part of History with 'Tall-Bike Nut' Michael Mooney on Sept. 7

Yes, he's going for the Guinness Book of World Records - AGAIN - so become part of history by volunteering to help him at LAAFF

*44-FOOT-HIGH 'TALL BIKE' EXTRAORDINAIRE MICHAEL MOONEY Needs Volunteers to Help Him Make History at the Upcoming Lexington Avenue Street Festival | LAAFF (Lexington Avenue Art and Fun Festival), which is held annually every year Downtown, needs volunteers to help make this year's fun fest a success on Sun., Sept. 7, 2008. In particular, Michael Mooney needs volunteers to help him succeed in getting in the Guiness Book of World Records.

*For Mooney's World Record attempt last year on YouTube, Click Here> 

*For Guinness World Records website, Click Here>

*For Mooney's Open Letter for LAAFF Volunteers, SEE BELOW:


BECOME PART OF HISTORY AT LAAFF ON SEPT. 7, 2008

Open Letter from Tall-Bike Nut MICHAEL MOONEY who is going (AGAIN!) for the GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS and he needs your help.

Help? Michael Mooney here asking for your help to beat the world record for tall-bike ride (44 feet high!)

When? Sunday, September 7, 2008.

Where? At the 7th annual Lexington Avenue Arts and Fun Festival (LAAFF).
 
Who and How Come? My partner, Miss Kitty, and I started the LAAFFestival seven years ago with the idea of throwing a local party for the locals, stimulating the art community at the grass roots level, and helping create the culture we want to live in here in Asheville (ya know, keeping it a little funky?).

All the art, artists, musicians, performers, food, and beer are made locally. We don't allow any large corporate sponsorship, or even the sales of any commercial sodas there. It's all local. That's part of why I need your help.

I need volunteers to help me with this thing. Oh yeah, I'm also riding the 44-foot bike again this year. I know, I know, it's not safe. I hurt myself last year, blah, blah, blah. I'm either stubborn, stupid or just a slow learner (probably a mixture of them all).

Anyway, I think I have worked out the issues and am set for success this year, as well as getting into the Guinness Book of World Records. But, I need your help. Don't just come to the festival. Be a part of it. Volunteer to help make our community better.

And I'll also give you two free beer coupons if you work a shift.

I need volunteers in these sections at LAAFF on Sept. 7:

1. Bicycle Joust: 6 volunteers needed from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. for registration, squires and traffic control.

2. Tall Bike Set-up and Security: 20 volunteers needed from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., as well as one hour in the morning  for set up and one 2-hour shift during the day to help in some aspect of crowd control.

3. General Festival Set-up: 20 volunteers needed from 8 to 10 a.m. (for early risers)

If you are interested in being part of the community, part of the LAAFF party, and part of history (GOING FOR THE WORLD RECORD), contact Mike Mooney's tall-bike volunteer coordinator MIKE SULE at ashevilleonbikes@gmail.com or call 828-582-4705.

Please come out and support your community.

Thanks,
Michael Mooney
tallbikefreak@gmail.com

Respectfully,
Asheville on Bikes
North Carolina

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