Let the Earth Day Celebrations Begin

Every year since 1970, April 22 has been celebrated as Earth Day. The idea was hatched by then-Sen. Gaylord Nelson, who wanted to spread awareness about the environment and what needed to be changed in our habits as stewards of the planet.

Now, 40 years later, with the economic climate combined with the climate crisis, Earth Day seems even more important.

We have to take action, to save our planet while also saving money, maybe by replacing light bulbs with ones that are more energy-efficient, buying used clothing, or cutting down waste by bringing lunch to work (or school) instead of buying it.

Making changes in your daily habits to positively impact the environment will also increase an appreciation for that environment. Earth Day celebrations held throughout Brooklyn do just that: celebrate and appreciate the Earth by raising awareness.

Here’s a list of some upcoming Earth Day events:

New York Aquarium Earth Week Green Fest
Now through Sunday April 19 including April 22, New York Aquarium, 610 Surf Ave
The week features a Green Fest — a celebration of all things “Green” at the aquarium. Exhibits and vendors will be on hand to help you and your family learn about what you can do to protect our planet. The event will feature: sea lion shows, demonstrating how to protect our sea life; keeper chats with the help of animal ambassadors; an Earth Day mural, where families can help create an artful tribute to the planet; a chance to make an Earth Day souvenir using recyclable materials; music with a “Save the Earth” theme; local public school children displaying murals created from recyclable art; and canvas shopping bags for children to decorate.
Admission is $13 for adults, $9 for children ages 3-12 and $10.00 for senior citizens (65 and older); children under 3 years of age are admitted free. For information, call (718) 265-FISH or visit www.nyaquarium.com.

Earth Day Celebration with PACC
Saturday, April 18, 10 a.m. -1 p.m., Gibb Mansion at 218 Gates Ave. between Classon and Franklin avenues
Be a part of the 45th anniversary celebration of the Pratt Area Community Council and make Gibb Mansion greener. Prep soil, plant flowers, build a raised vegetable bed and pick up gardening tips from a Brooklyn-based landscape architect. Also available will be coffee and breakfast from a local bakery, desserts by Michael Allen.
RSVP to rsvp@pratt area.org. Call (718) 522-2613 ext. 14 for more information.

Earth Day at Habana Outpost
Saturday April 18 and Sunday, April 19 from noon-6 p.m., Habana Outpost, 757 Fulton St., corner of South Portland
The two-day free event will feature green crafts and face painting for children sponsored by Habana Works and The Leadership Learning Lab; a children’s eco-fashion show with the Scrapkins; and a recycled art show featuring the art work of local students. There will be information for adults from groups including Green Homes NYC, Transportation Alternatives, Green Spaces and Brooklyn Green Drinks, as well as Habana Outpost suppliers, Solar Energy Systems, Tri State Bio Diesel and Rolling Press.
For more information and a schedule of events, visit www.HabanaOutpost.com or call (718) 858-9500.

Earth Day Celebration at the Greene Grape
Saturday April 18 and Sunday April 19, 753 Fulton St. at South Portland and 765 Fulton St.
Plant sale, April 18 and April 19 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.: Outside Greene Grape Provisions, 753 Fulton St. at South Portland, the Brooklyn Brownstone Garden District will hold an edible plant sale and help kids make ‘seed bombs’ using recycled coffee grounds from the coffee bar.
Wine tasting, Saturday, April 18 12 p.m.– 7 p.m., Think Global, Drink Local: The Greene Grape Wine store at 765 Fulton will be holding an all-day tasting of environmentally-friendly wines, featuring the founder of Brooklyn Oenology, a Brooklyn label that uses New York grapes and labels by Brooklyn artists, who will pour Social Club White 2007; and three wines will be opened from the Greene Grape’s monthly New York Cork Club, which features two new wines each month from the Empire State.
Wine tasting Sunday, April 19, noon-7 p.m., Economical and Earth-Friendly: The Greene Grape Wine store at 765 Fulton St. will be holding an all-day tasting of environmentally-friendly wines, featuring four organic wines all under $15 including a 1-liter Malbec (a type of wine) in a tetrapak (Yellow+Blue Malbec 2007).
For more information, visit brooklyn.greenegrape.com or call (718) 797-9463.

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts National Grid “Earth Month” Celebration
Sunday, April 19, 5 p.m., Walt Whitman Theatre Plaza at Brooklyn College, 2900 Campus Road
The second day of the second annual National Grid Earth Month celebration, to be held following a performance of Montana Repertory Theater’s To Kill a Mockingbird. Educational materials, give-away items and family activities will highlight the need for conserving energy, recycling in the home, and having a heightened awareness of the global issues that we face today. The Council on the Environment of New York City’s Office of Recycling, Outreach and Education will present interactive family recycling games, the Brooklyn-Queens Land Trust will be on hand to promote urban composting, and the New York City Fire Department will provide life-saving tips on fire safety in the home. Live music by Showstoppers and large-scale puppets from the Brooklyn College Community Partnership program will also be featured.
National Grid Earth Day Celebration events are free and open to the public. Tickets to To Kill a Mockingbird may be purchased through the BCBC Box Office.
For more information, visit www.brooklyncenter.com.

Celebrate Earth! Festival at Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Saturday, April 25, Sunday, April 26, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave.
The new Celebrate Earth! Festival features events including: hands-on art and science workshops that focus on the planet’s resources and the ways people can care for them; crafting a pressed flower or a book cover from candy wrappers; an eco-scavenger hunt through the museum; discovering the science behind wild weather; help creating a sculpture from recycled items; touring the green features of the new museum, and more.
For more information and a schedule of events, visit www.brooklynkids.org or call (718) 735-4400.

10th Annual Gowanus Canal Earth Day Flotilla Spring Clean-Up
Saturday, April 25, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., meet at 2nd and Bond streets at the Canal
The Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy will guide eco-volunteers on an ecological cruise to explore, rediscover and help collect floatable debris in and along the historic Gowanus Canal.
To register, call (347) 224-5687, (347) 224-5828 or e-mail theurbandivers@yahoo.com.

Block Institute Earth Day Celebration
May 6, all day, both Block Institute locations, 376 Bay 44th St. and 2214 Stillwell Ave.
Featuring an Earth Day-themed lunch; art projects made from recycled materials; spring planting and garden preparation; a recycling drive; and a Mother’s Day/Earth Day sale of green bags, plants, wooden roses, arts and crafts and note cards. Special guest Miss Brooklyn 2009, Keelie Sheridan, will be attending.
For more information, call (718) 946-9700 (Bay 44th Street location) or (718) 947-3200 (Stillwell Avenue).

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