New subject: Wikipedia Takes Manhattan! Event this Friday. Rain or Shine.

3 Apr 2008

Important note: You MUST MUST MUST register at

http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=p6ZUwmVAR5AffdgwuyvNNKA

by Thursday 8 PM EST, if there is any possibility you plan on
participating or coming to the party that night..

'"Wikipedia Takes Manhattan!"
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_Takes_Manhattan) is
a scavenger hunt and free content photography contest aimed at
illustrating Wikipedia articles covering the wondrous sights on the
island of Manhattan.

The goal is to take as many photos as possible for Wikipedia articles
that currently don't have any pictures.

We're doing this event with the sponsorship of Free Culture Columbia,
with cooperation from Free Culture NYU.

You can look at their pages, which have their details on the event:

http://www.freeculturenyu.org
http://www.freeculturecolumbia.org/

Most of the participants will probably be Columbia and NYU students.

But the event is open to students and non-students, Wikipedians and
non-Wikipedians, and anyone else who wants to compete or participate.

Everyone will meet up and check in at one of the two starting points,
and after a day of subways, street rambles, photography and free
culture goodness, the night will conclude with a party back at
Columbia.

It is important to register if there's a possibility of your coming to
the party that night, whether or not you choose to compete (for
example, if you want to volunteer, or just to hang out). If you don't
register, we will have problems letting you into the building.  If you
don't plan on competing, you can note that in the 'Team name' section.

*Register online here:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=p6ZUwmVAR5AffdgwuyvNNKA

You can compete in teams of three, or fewer if you wish.

Remember:
* Each team should use only one camera.
* You should start the day with an empty flash card.
* Bring a pen or marker to write with.

At the starting points, you can check-in, and will receive the
finalized goal list of articles needing photographs, and the rules.
The starting points will operate till 7 PM for latecomers.  You must
check-in at one of the starting points to compete.

*Columbia University starting point: the Sundial in front of Low
Memorial Library at 11:30 AM (information packets with goal list will
be given out at 12 noon).  Will run till 7 PM.
*Union Square starting point (run by NYU students): Union Square Park,
in front of Washington's Statue, at 12 noon.  Will run till 7 PM.

The ending party will be held that night at Columbia, the photographs
will be uploaded, and prizes given to the winners.  You must come to
the party to be eligible for the prizes.

The first prize winning team members will get iPod nanos jammed with
free music, and the second and third prize winning team members will
win free copies of the newly-published '' Wikipedia: The Missing
Manual'', generously donated by O'Reilly Media.

*Party location: J.D. Satow Room 5th Floor, Lerner Hall
(http://www.columbia.edu/about_columbia/map/lerner.html),  at 11:30 PM
(-this was earlier scheduled for 11 PM, but it's been changed-).
Lerner Hall is the student center at Columbia.  The party will run
till about midnight, or possibly later.

If you are interested in volunteering that day (either helping people
check-in during the day or helping with uploading and tallying the
winners that evening), please respond to my personal e-mail address,
with your name and mobile phone number.

Thanks,
Pharos