It's a dream come true for patrons of arts. i'm so proud of Dallas for investing in the Arts District.

• For anyone who didn't make it out to the grand opening, check out the photos I snapped.

• Joy Tipping's article in Monday's The Dallas Morning News: AT&T Performing Arts Center's Wyly Theatre and Winspear Opera House impress crowds at free downtown Dallas fest.

• Curtain rises on Dallas arts center: Just about everything you need to know about the PAC.

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If you worked in downtown Dallas yesterday, you may have noticed a strange sight. Bikes. Lots of them.

The mass of non-motorized transportation was part of Bike Friendly Oak Cliff’s nine days of bike awareness (Cyclesomatic bicycle festival; great name, eh?). The group’s goal yesterday was raising awareness for their causes — creating a bike-friendly city and advocating cleaner healthier lifestyles that benefit cyclists and the community as a whole. Read Dallas Morning News reporter Roy Appleton’s story about yesterday's bike gathering. And watch Ron Baselice's video.

What’s really strange about yesterday’s crowd of bicyclists is that seeing bikes around here is strange. In most major U.S. cities (Portland, New York, Chicago, Austin, Boston, Seattle, Milwaukee …) many commuters opt for pedal power for myriad reasons. Of course, a good infrastructure for cycling, which all those cities have, certainly helps. And Dallas is notorious for lacking that system of roads and paths. In fact, according to Bicycling Magazine, “we’re” the worst in the country. I’m not gonna deny that I was embarrassed when that article came out. The truth hurts.

Even with the bad rating, I know there are cyclo-commuters out there. I applaud y’all. Heck, I’m envious. I miss biking to work. When I lived in Rockford, Ill., my 2.5-mile ride into the office was the highlight of my day. It started the day just right. And the return ride home was a nice way to unwind from a stressful day.

So do any of y’all bike to work or around town for certain errands? Why do you opt for a bike? Are there cities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area that are bike friendly? I want to hear your story, and I’m sure others would, too. Comment below, send me a message on the site or send me an e-mail. And, most of all, keep on riding …

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Admitting that I’m having a hard time putting sentences together is difficult.

Writing and editing is my livelihood. It’s among the things I think I do best. Yet here I am with plenty of things I would like to say/write/share, but I can’t find the right words to express the hope, joy, gratitude, inspiration and love I feel, see and share in my life, at work, from family and friends. I guess the good news is … well, it’s all good news.

I think my upcoming week off from neighborsgo-ing (unplugging, logging off and rebooting, so to speak) will help. I generally return refreshed from days away from work.

So, what do you do, faithful neighborsgo contributors, when words fail you? Does it happen often? Is a vacation all that it takes to recharge? (more)

Um-diddle-diddle-um-diddleye Um-diddle-diddle-um-diddl … I saw Mary Poppins the musical last night and loved it.

The two original Broadway leads — Ashley Brown and Gavin Lee — were excellent as Mary and Bert. Brown’s accent sounded just like Julie Andrews. Lee’s dancing was better than Dick Van Dyke’s, which I attribute to the remarkable stage choreography.

I’m no Broadway musical aficionado, so check colleague Lawson Taitte’s review for a more professional opinion.

My final thoughts: The show’s songs are just as good as any fan would hope (“Step In Time” is the showstopper) and there are plenty of surprises that will delight all ages. Reconsider taking children to the 8 p.m. performances. A 170-minute run time will test most kiddoes’ patience (and the patience of neighboring patrons).

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