Artist Scott Shubin, left, watches Tim Johnson bolt the Steam Punk Bird into place. (Fort Worth Avenue Development Group)

First came a bench. Then a bicycle. Now a bird.

Steam Punk Bird, the name is. And there it rests, on a 7-foot pole near the corner of Malone Drive and Fort Worth Avenue, conveniently beside Metro Paws Animal Hospital. In case something happens down the road.

The metal work of artists Juli Hulci-Kessinger and Scott Shubin was christened Saturday at a public gathering. Now it rests there alone, rotating at the whim of the wind.

The bird is the third piece of public art funded by the Fort Worth Avenue Development Group.

The Mobius Bench, created by Erik Glissman and Nicole Horn, graces a corner of Fort Worth Avenue and Pittman Street. Robertus Joost van der Wege’s “Magic Bike,” arouses the imagination in front of Smoke restaurant, seconds away from Steam Punk Bird.

The development group’s art selection committee chose Hulci-Kessinger and Shubin to produce an installation outside Commerce Grinding Co.’s plant on Fort Worth Avenue.

But alas, owner Joe Lodor didn’t go for the proposal and is having one of his employees produce what will stand outside his shop at 635 Fort Worth Ave. The work will include a Carlton Radial Drill donated by Lodor and probably be unveiled before year’s end. This from David Lyles, former development group president.

So the avenue will soon have four offerings of streetside art for the price of three. “We pulled a rabbit out of the hat with this,” Lyles said.

Steam Punk Bird, a creation of Juli Hulci-Kessinger and Scott Shubin (Roy Appleton)

For more than a decade, the Well Community has been helping adults struggling with mental illness.

The Oak Cliff- and faith-based organization could use your help as well, starting with financial support to help meet the increasing demand for services.

An opportunity to do so is coming right up with the Well’s second-annual benefit concert Thursday night, Oct. 30, at the Kessler Theater.

The Robbie Seay Band, a Houston-based Christian contemporary group, will headline with a warm-up by the Leaky Faucets, including members of the Well Community. Doors open at 7 p.m. Music starts at 8:15 p.m.

Buy those tickets (or donate if you can’t make it) right here. 

Beyond this weekend’s Oak Cliff Home Tour, which raises money for neighborhood groups and projects, other opportunities await. Such as:

* The Oak Cliff Chamber’s annual Healthcare Conference from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 17 at Methodist Dallas Medical Center’s Hitt Auditorium, 1441 N. Beckley Ave. The event, called “Healthcare Reform: The Local Impact,” will feature speakers discussing the Affordable Care Act, the “history of epidemics” and “how collaboration will enhance health care in the Dallas community.” So says a news release. $15 for chamber members, $20 for non-members.

* The North Oak Cliff Music Festival, Saturday, Oct. 25 at Lake Cliff Park. Oak Cliff native Edie Brickell headlines with the New Bohemians. A production of the Kessler Theater’s Edwin Cabaniss and Jeff Liles. Read more about it and buy tickets right cheer.

* The creations of some of Oak Cliff’s finest chefs will be yours for the tasting at a benefit/family-style dinner Monday, Oct. 27 in Bishop Arts. Proceeds will support Cafe Momentum and Reagan Elementary School. Read more about Big Night, Big Table. 

* Party with food, drink, music, exercise and whatever else pops up Nov. 15 at Kidd Springs Park. It’s a smorgasbord of the annual Blues, Bandits & BBQ and Cliff Fest events, along with a new 5K run. Details, signup forms here.

* Help recognize people who help make North Texas a greener place to live. Apartment developers Wood Partners have saved so far some mighty fine trees at the former site of a trailer park on West Commerce Street. They want to honor tree-friendly folks with plaques or markers at what they are calling Pappy’s Tree Grove at their Alta West Commerce apartment site. And they welcome your nominations. 

* Bike Friendly Oak Cliff’s monthlong Cyclesomatic celebration continues Friday with a Bike In Movie at Rosemont Elementary School, 719 N. Montclair. Read more about the gathering and other events with a simple click right here.

* The Sunset High School Alumni Association this year gave the school’s teachers and coaches some $12,000 to bolster their work with students. In 12 years the group has provided more than $125,000. Now the association is reaching out to alumni, businesses, anyone who would like to help out. Contact them at sunsetbisons@gmail.com.

Check out 2315 Fouts on this weekend's Old Oak Conservation League Home Tour. Photo by Shoot2Sell. (Old Oak Cliff Conservation League)

Finally, we made it past the censors after three or so weeks of wrangling.

So back in the blog business, we be. As in:

The Old Oak Cliff Conservation League’s 40th Tour of Homes will feature 10 stops this weekend.

Check them out from noon until 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. And help the league help others, as the tour is its primary fund-raiser for grants to mostly Oak Cliff neighborhood groups and organizations.

This year $25,000 was awarded for a variety of improvements and projects. The latest recipients are Turner House/the Oak Cliff Society of Fine Arts, Twelve Hills Nature Center, Friends of Oak Cliff Parks, Dallas Homeowners League, Dallas Mexican American Historical League, Hampton Illinois Library Friends and the Fort Worth Avenue Development Group.

Tickets are $20 ($12 for seniors) if purchased in advance; $25 and $15 on tour weekend. Buy them right here for now. Tom Thumb stores will sell tickets. And you can buy them on tour days at Simply Austin (Bishop and Eighth Street) or at any of the homes.

This year’s tour will include properties in eight Oak Cliff neighborhoods, including two being represented for the first time: Sunset Hill and Brettonwoods.

And here they are:

* 3246 S. Ravinia Drive, Kiestwood neighborhood, built in 1961.

* 922 N. Edgefield Ave., Kings Highway, 1944.

* 122 S. Waverly Drive, Sunset Hill, 1935.

* 2637 Gladiolus Drive, Brettonwoods, 1953.

* 1065 Kessler Parkway, East Kessler Park, 1957.

* 2315 Fouts Lane, West Kessler, 1950.

* 3936 Lost Creek Drive, Oak Park Estates, 1972.

* 1606 Oak Knoll St., East Kessler Park, 1950.

* 434 W. Greenbriar, East Kessler Park, 2012.

* 714 S. Manus Drive, Wynnewood North, 1959.

The birthday party kicks in at 5 p.m. Saturday. Come on out to Lake Cliff and help celebrate its 100 years as a city park.

Music. Costumes. Food. Drink. History exhibits and much, much more.

But first, come to Founders Park near Lake Cliff from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday.

Check out the new disc golf course.

Enter the inaugural Roger W. Lytle tournament. Win prizes. Learn the sport. Toss some discs. Bring your own or buy one there. And perhaps partake of an adult beverage and snacks in the beer garden.

Soak up an afternoon and evening in north Oak Cliff.  How civilized.

The Sunset Bisonette drill team took it to the streets at the first Sunset-Adamson pep rally in 2012. (Mona Reeder/The Dallas Morning News)

Speaking of return engagements, Bishop Arts will be unusually wound up come Friday afternoon.

Count on some cheering, twirling, whistling, clapping, parading, strutting, bragging and such as the Adamson and Sunset High School faithful gather for their third annual pep rally. Starts at 6 p.m.

The two teams will kick off for keeps at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Kincaide Stadium. Winner gets the Oak Cliff Super Bowl Trophy, held by Adamson the first two years.

Go Leopards. Go Bisons.

The Oak Cliff Super Bowl Trophy (Craig Schenkel)