A few weeks ago I wrote an article alerting you to an international activity that took place on September 21 called Park(ing) Day. As predicted, the event, in its third year, was an overall hit. From a little over a dozen parks last year, this year’s international event tallied up 180 parks in 47 cities worldwide. San Francisco, Park(ing) Day’s hometown, accomplished 53 parks and 5 sidewalk plazas, LA boasted 45 parks, and NYC came in 3rd with 25 parks. If this isn’t enough to make your toes tickle, then view the images of participating parks and activities.

This year, the event gained necessary traction to make it recognizable and eventful. People remembered it from the year before, and were less hesitant to step out of their shell and visit with strangers, and many even took the day off or a few hours off to set up their own parks. As a statement of activism, the event stands to highlight how much public municipal space is designated for private vehicular parking. "Why can’t we park a bench instead of a car?" Well, that is exactly what many did.

According to the New York Times, the event’s irony lies in the fact that "This, after all, is the city where people, surrounded by 3,500 pounds of metal, have fought duels over who is entitled to park a 189-inch-long vehicle at 190 inches of curb space." But on National Park(ing) Day, participants are able to forget that, and see parking spaces as something new. Not only do they take a new form but also the scale of the 190 inches is put into a new perspective, and the space is used in a new, interesting, and appreciated way. In a space where one would park a vehicle that on a regular basis only transports a single passenger, up to 10 people can relax and visit.

The most appreciated factor of this day is the community participation. People are encouraged to visit, relax, and enjoy a minute or two of their day. In cities, we are under the impression that we sacrifice living space for more public space. Yet the majority of public space is designated for semi-private or privately owned public space i.e.: restaurants… The amount of city-owned public green space is getting more and more sparse.

So let’s imagine Park(ing) Day 5 years from now. We could transform streets worldwide into ballparks, or networking corridors. What if we could take up a lane on all city roads and designate it for eased foot traffic, or a place to notice your neighbors, catch-up, and sip a cup of coffee while observing the passing of time? Oh how community could grow…

Unplug it Mr. Independent: image courtesy or unplugart.comEvery object on this earth has an embodied energy. What is accounted for in the embodied energy is the whole energy life cycle of the object: the energy captured in the raw materials, and mostly all the energy required for the processes associated with it. Included in this calculation is the energy required to dispose of or decompose it. A tomato, for example, has a low embodied energy compared to that of a set of silverware, or a Lazy-Boy chair. Lets take an apple for example. Although they are grown in all 50 states, the average apple travels 1,555 miles to get to Chicago’s central market. Due to transportation costs, it seems this food has a higher embodied energy than necessary.

We Americans consume a lot of energy. Many of our appliances, such as our toothbrush, razor, and clocks, have become unnecessarily electrical, all consuming energy from the electric grid daily. If your energy bill has become morbidly obese, you are not alone. The average American family produces 15,000 pounds of carbon emissions each year. Imagine the damage we do just one single hot holiday! So, aside from supporting local and alternative power generation, here are a few fun things to do today to eat, drink, and celebrate your way to electrical independence today.

1. Go around your house and unplug all of the unused appliances, all those hidden clocks and battery packs on your coffee maker and chargers are constantly sucking our electricity.

2. Go to the lake and allow the kids (or yourself) to go swimming and wash up for the day rather than taking a shower.

3. Drink a local beer or wine. At least the transportation energy is lower than those coming from Australia or Sicily. If the average American mean travels 1500 miles to get from farm to plate, at least you can do your duty with recreational consumption. I mean with your liquid bread.

4. Eat raw. Keep the oven off and the house cooler. Make a batch of Gazpacho (with seaweeds for protein) and a raw chocolate mouse for dessert. Try it, its surprisingly spectacular!!

5. For you electricity independent lovers, check out the aphrodisiac qualities of raw foods and have some fun.

6. Sun brew tea. It takes a few hours but it keeps the stove off and gets you that vital caffeine. You can even try coffee in a filter sealed up on top. Or put your press pot out in the sun for a couple hours before you press it.

7. Play outdoors, where little electrical energy is required in order for you to expend your own. Stay clear of the shopping mall, the movie theatre, and, dare I say it, maybe even the bar. Instead, pack a picnic, go for a walk in the park, on the beach, or out in town, go for a swim at the lake, or play a game- you can even make one up! An added bonus: being outdoors is downright good for your health.

8. Ride a bike or walk if you need to get somewhere. If you can’t get there by foot or pedal, reconsider whether you really need to go or not! If you do, go to the park and ride and utilize as much public or unplugged transportation as possible

9. Build a bonfire instead of retreating into your lit up home tonight for cocktails and celebration. Gather around a bonfire and burn some old scrap wood.

10. Sweep up at the end of the day rather than turning on your vacuum.

Without further ado, I will let you get creative with your unplugged adventures today and I hope the residual of each engaging and enchanting option carries through to tomorrow.