Dan's Papers - April 18, 2008 - When In Manhattan

Remember how easy Earth Day used to be? Holding hands around a tree, picking up a few pieces of trash, boycotting Styrofoam cups or planting a sapling did the trick. But these days, with mandatory recycling and hybrid taxis you've really got to work your butt off to do something special for Earth Day - or do you?

Central Park screams Earth Day. With 843 acres of grass, trees and water it doesn't take a genius to realize the importance of this New York oasis. The largest park in Manhattan is an obvious meeting place to celebrate and educate. Most of the events kick off at noon on Sunday and Rumsey Playfield is the place to go. Don't take a taxi or the subway, ride your bike past the blossoming forsythia bushes and daffodils and soak up springtime in the city. If you're wondering where to lock your bike - don't. Because this is your chance to feel like a big shot and get your bike valet parked for free, courtesy of Transportation Alternatives.

If you forgot to take notice of the trees around you, meet up with Josh Galiley, Central Park Conservancy's "tree-guy-extraordinaire," for a tour. You'll be amazed at how many species exist in the park. Feel like rolling out the blanket and having a picnic? It's a great idea. Live music will be performed throughout the day. I'm not talking about a boring marching band either - this is part of the Green Apple Festival. On hand will be bluegrass legends Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, rock stars Big Head Todd and the Monsters, The Bacon Brothers, South African artist Vusi Mahlasela, and Vienna Teng. If you forget your picnic basket, don't fret, Greenmarket will be on site with local organic snacks for sale.

Bring the whole family because Earth Day is about educating the next generation, plus a lot of the programs are geared toward kids. Not having enough space is always a problem in NYC, so while having a large garden may be out of the question, letting your children learn how to build a miniature veggie garden that they can take home is a wonderful way to teach them about planting, growing and harvesting food. If your kids aren't into getting their hands dirty, maybe Recycled Musical Instrument Making is more their tune. Materials for the Arts, an organization that collects materials from companies that no longer have use for them and redistributes them to artists and educators, will be onsite to conduct the project.

Urban Park Rangers will be on staff to introduce visitors to the wildlife of the city. And I'm not talking about giant rats and alligators in the sewers. They'll also be able to give you a little information about composting so you can keep the green themes going once you come out to the Hamptons.

Release the artist inside you at peaceXpiece live '08. Conceptualized by Glint & supernumblivemachine and carried out by Modern Art contemporary Paul Kostabi, this is a chance for you to be part of what will be the largest and longest "eco-art" mural in NYC. All you have to do is show up and they'll give you a six-inch square canvas and supplies. Return the piece with your artistic creation and it will become part of a 500-foot mural assembled by Kostabi and be unveiled at an undetermined New York museum. (Note: The project will begin on noon April 19 at the Bandshell where the first 500 people will get a chance to create. On April 20 at noon, festivities will start up again, but this time at Rumsey Playfield, offering another 500 participants a shot at eco-art greatness.) Another part of the peaceXpiece festival offers a chance to kick it back to the good old days when all you had to do on Earth Day was plant a tree. On April 19, again starting at noon, the first 1,000 visitors can nab themselves a "plant-a-tree" package for free. It consists of planting directions, peat moss and 3-5 Dawn Redwood saplings. These trees grow to be giant so don't expect your super to be happy when he sees it sprouting from your window box.

Although they say Earth Day is every day, it's nice to actually step up and acknowledge the impact you have on the world around you. If you want to get technical, Earth Day is April 22, so visit Central Park over the weekend and keep the momentum rolling, at least through the real date. Plant a tree, eat an organic apple and love your Mother Earth.