Upcoming: Gowanus Canal Habitats Fest

If positive thinking, planning, science and art have a role to play in helping to fix the Gowanus and steer the future of the community around it, Habitats should be an interesting event. The festival is taking place today (11/9) through Sunday (11/12) at the Brooklyn Lyceum, which is at 227 Fourth Avenue. The event is being sponsored by Eidolon Culture along with the Gowanus Canal Community Development Corp. and other organizations.

The events will feature "a variety of unique visions of a sustainable environment for the Gowanus Canal, in which the spirit of counterpoint creates an ongoing dialogue highlighting both aesthetic and ecological issues."

Some 30 artists are participating in the event and there will be panel discussions and musical performances. A PDF of the full schedule is available by clicking here.

There will be discussions led by Park Slope author Steven Berlin Johnson, Daniel Pinchbeck, Douglas Rushkoff and Peter Principle. There will be a water quality discussion at 1PM on Saturday led by Dr. Franco Montalto, a member of the Gowanus Canal CDC board, and a green building conference at 1PM on Sunday moderated by Michael Ingui, the chairperson of the Gowanus Canal CDC board, with the panel chaired by Andrew Giancola, of Giancola Contracting, Inc.

Admission to weekend afternoon events (noon to 4 p.m.) is $5, including both the conference and an art installation. Admission to evening events on Friday, Saturday and Sunday is $15, including open forums, live performances and installations. For more, go to the Habitats website or call the Lyceum at 866-GOWANUS.