I had two bikes stolen in the past 5 months, both overnight, right in front of my apartment. This is NYC, that stuff happens, I get it.

But here is where my story is different: that first bike that got stolen? It’s locked and parked outside my apartment right now.

On January 17, 2013, I locked my bike outside my East Village apartment. The next day I went out to go for a ride and ended up walking up and down my street several times before accepting the fact that my bike was gone without a goodbye or a trace. I immediately started tweeting about it, made a Facebook post (even sponsored it hoping to get more reach) but I also went the old school route and put a sign (pictured above) right at the spot where it was taken. Maybe it was the fact that my handwriting is easily mistaken for a 5th grader, but somehow it managed to stay up much longer than I thought. The following week I left New York for a month-long trip. When I returned, I accepted the fact I’d never see that bike again and picked up some new wheels from Recycle-A-Bicycle. My new bike got stolen, again, within a week of when I purchased it. Unable to be in the city without a bicycle, I went out and got a new ride and reluctantly decided I should try parking it inside.

Two days later, I was about to sit down to dinner with two friends at my apartment when my doorbell rang. My friend Eva answered the door. She called me over saying a person wants to tell me something about a bike. When I walked out to the hallway he asked to walk outside, because he ‘has a bike.’ When I stepped outside, to my right was my original bike, in excellent condition, resting against the a gate. I was speechless. It was like someone had come back from the dead. The fenders, back rack, even the bell - exactly as it was on January 17. After a minute of just staring at it, I turned to him and he began with broken English: “I am sure you will not believe me, but I have been trying to bring you this bike for months. I come from Brooklyn on the train to ring your bell and you are not home. I kept it inside next to my bike.” I sensed he wasn’t eager to share the details of how he got it, other than he found it down the street, and I was totally okay with that. I could tell he was a person genuinely concerned with doing what he felt was right. The line that struck be most was, “I know someone must have put lots of work into this bike (which was spot on - I’d originally found this bike discarded in pieces and had been bringing it back to life over the past year) and that they must want it back. I know how it feels when you put time into something and how it feels to lose it. So I wanted to make sure you got this back.”

This man deserved a medal of honor in my book, but barely accepted his reward. He left me inspired and pretty damn grateful.

The original post for the reward sign. The original post when my bike was returned.

This week’s Music Monday post comes from Anthony Green (of Circa Survive) with his song “She Loves Me So”.  

Anthony has always impressed me as a very gifted and creative artist. I greatly empathize with his work that often showcases a balance between a love for life and a struggle of inner conflicts. 

I’ve loved all of his work, from early Saosin to Circa Survive, as well as his collaborative work with The Sound of Animals Fighting and now his solo work. 

Consider this a love song for the Spring time. 

“I’m only truly happy if I know…”

The lyrics here are as well-crafted as the video. A poetic walk by South Philly’s Lushlife, the thoughtful lyrics are combined with a smooth electro funk hip hop beat. You can also watch the making of the video.

My Music Monday jam comes via Brendan.

(Source: vimeo.com)

It’s official: National Bike Month is here! 

The Holstee Team (as shown above) encourages our community for the month of May (and beyond!) to embrace two wheels. Need a reason? Here’s a few:

1. What could be better than biking on a warm, spring day?
2. It’s daily exercise, which we all need. Getting in 20-30 minutes leads to fewer sick days, heightened alertness and more productive employees.
3. Driving a car has been recognized as one of the top, consistent situations people associate with feeling stress.
4. It’s a fume-free ride! And traffic jams: what traffic jams? 
5. You can get a handy basket for transporting groceries, gear for work or cute animals.
6. Think of all the extra ca$h you’ll save: no Metro card necessary!

All of these reasons and more are we’ll will be participating in Bike to Work Day, which for NYC is May 17th! So what about you? To find or organize a day in your area, go here. Or go here to check out other events in your city. 

Our top 5 finalists have been chosen! Voting has gone live here! Finalist with the most votes by Thursday, May 9th, 2013 12PM EST will be declared our winner! 

Applications are still open through May 10th for the second Holstee Fellowship!

Marquis Taylor - Coaching For Change 

“Coaching for Change will pilot a 6-week summer basketball project in partnership with Stonehill College to create a cross-age mentoring program that trains teenagers in business skills by creating, organizing and running a basketball clinic from start to finish.”

Lorin Beller - Kids Entrepreneurial Curriculum

“A 12 week program that will be geared to youth groups and schools to lead kids through an entrepreneurial experience and inspire young minds to start their own companies. The modules will focus on 12 aspects of Entrepreneurship.”

Claire Charamnac - Chautara Resource Center for Young Woman Leaders in Kathmandu, Nepal. 

“Chautara, in Nepal, means a stone platform and seating structure around the base of a Banyan tree that serves as a resting place for travelers and a meeting place for informal or village-council social gatherings. It will serve as a meeting place for the young feminist and social entrepreneurship community in Kathmandu.”

Dana Anderson - Youth Media Initiative

“Launching a youth media initiative that will engage low-income students in a variety of media projects. These projects will spark a healthy dialogue about three key challenges faced by contemporary Indian students: Suicide prevention, health/wellness education and the development of self-esteem.”

Madden Zappa - Expand on service project for the homeless

“Every year I hold collections of different things that people normally take for granted: blankets, socks, winter hats, gloves, scarves, and disperse these items to different homeless shelters in the Twin Cities. Every year I exceed my goal, and I’d like grow the project to happen more than once a year and in multiple cities.”

On Friday night I went to Crossing Brooklyn Ferry at Brooklyn Academy of Music to see Solange Knowles perform.  Aside from her lovely voice and the live band, what I really liked was her down-to-Earth vibe and enthusiasm.  The crowd must have been with me on that because no one was sitting and the Opera House became a massive dance party!  You can see what her unique style is all about in this video, Losing You, from her most recent album True.

The Holstee team took a field trip to Swayspace Letterpress in Brooklyn (just a few blocks away from our soon-to-be new office!) and we were super excited to see some of these amazing machines in action. 

Huge thanks to the Swayspace group who made us feel so welcome, gave us tons of information and even sent us home with some awesome coasters and cards. 

Our friends at GOOD are celebrating Neighborday this Saturday, April 27th, and we are, too! 

How will you get to know those in your community? Send us your tweets (@HOLSTEE and @GOOD) on how you celebrate, make new friends and cross that fence!

Be sure to tag #moreofthis.