'"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 might have problems letting you in 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 PM. 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.

Now is also your last chance to add items to our goal list of articles needing photos. That list needs to be complete by Wednesday evening.

Thanks, Pharos