Pro cycling with a full-on family festival fills Downtown Evanston, Illinois, as it hosts the NorthShore University HealthSystem Grand Prix (the bike race formerly known as the “ENH Grand Prix of Cycling”). Mark your calendars for Sunday, July 19, 2009. A circuit through the main streets of town will be closed to cars as elite amateur and Olympic-level pro cyclists zip around the course at 30+ mph. Women’s and men’s pro races start at 4:00 pm, but there’s thrills, dining, shopping, music and more all day.

The Grotto gang partnered with title sponsor NorthShore University HealthSystem and Turin Bicycle to deliver a press conference announcing the race and all its features just last week. Newly minted Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl lent her support: “Evanston is a world class city. It is events like this one that help define Evanston as a lively, engaging, and fun place to live, work, study, dine, shop, and play.”

Come out and join us for a really great day. With more than 70 restaurants to choose from within mere blocks of the race (half of which are RIGHT ON THE COURSE), you can enjoy tastes and beverages from around the world. Bring the kids (BYO-bike!) so they can race right on the course at 3:15 pm. And scope out deals and free stuff in the Festival Area and shops around town. We love promoting the NorthShore Grand Prix and invite everyone to come down and see what all the excitement is all about.