Festival Brings Green Education to Manayunk

The Eagles may be back on the field, but that's not the only reason the area is seeing green. This weekend, the Manayunk Development Corporation will host the first annual Manayunk EcoArts Festival, a celebration of local green initiatives that will feature eco-minded artists, businesses and community groups sharing resources and education about green living.

"As a completely green and sustainable business, I found it important that we take part in the festival," said Stephen Falvo, owner and artistic director of Art + Science, an eco-friendly spa located on Main Street that will have a booth at the event.

"This is a great way for people to learn more about what we are doing to be an eco-conscious business and that it is not as hard and expensive as people think.  It's the little things that you do that add up to make a big difference."

The festival kicks off with a launch party at Mango Moon on Sept. 23 at 6 p.m., during which Mayor Michael Nutter and Democratic Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. will be presented with "EcoChampion" Awards. The green carpet will feature runway looks from Nicole Miller and specialty green drinks created by Mango Moon and Mugshots Coffeehouse and Café.

The main event will take place over two days, Sept. 25 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sept. 26 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and will include art showcases from the Destination Schuylkill River project and the Friends of Manayunk Canal-funded Recycling Rain Barrel Design contest.

The festival will also host an Eco Car Show that will include green cars like the Mini Cooper, the Nissan Altima Hybrid, the Smart Car, the Ford Fiesta, and the Ford Fusion Hybrid. The X-Prize West Philly Hybrid X Team, who recently received a shout out from President Barack Obama for the work they've down with West Philly High School to build a production-ready car that runs on very little fuel, will also be in attendance.

"We've been doing a lot to combat the environment impact of dirty cars, and we believe it's really important to get out there and educate people," said Ann Cohen, a Roxborough native and the manager of the West Philly Hybrid X Team. "An event like this is great, because the attendees are open to the message. At the end of the day, we're teachers who are passionate about educating people about green technology."

The Philadelphia F/M Film and Music Festival will be taking place on Cotton Street, and the festival also will include the presentation of two more "EcoChampion" Awards, this time to rapper Schooly D and Phillies set-up man Ryan Madson, both of whom have recently begun eco-friendly rehabs in their Philly-area homes. The HYDRA, which is said to be the world's only system that provides pure drinking water from 100 percent renewable solar and hydrogen power, will also be on display.

Overall, the event will host dozens of exhibitors, both local and national. Concerning the local businesses, Falvo, whose Art + Science is 100 percent green and goes so far as to take the hair clippings from our guests and we send them to a company that makes booms to soak up oil spills, said the event is a great way to show that businesses in Manayunk care about the area.

"I think it's important as a business on Main Street to be involved in these events as it keeps business on the street and keeps the street sustainable," Falvo said. "I believe that we need to sustain the street in order to keep it strong during this economic time. It's important for local people to know that there are businesses that support green initiatives and their community."

Click here for more information on the EcoArts Festival or here for the car show.