It's hard to get rid of perfectly good shoes ... even if they're not perfectly good anymore.

I know--I currently have about 4 pairs of old running shoes sitting at home that I never wear. That's not including the ones I keep around for camping or messy occasions.

Normally, I'd take them over to Goodwill or donate them elsewhere. The problem with these particular pieces of footwear is that the padding is worn through from running in 'em or they're pretty worn out in general.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Shedd Aquarium Beach Sweep this past Saturday! It was a ton of fun--and a huge success!

We even had a great day for it--until the rain came in at the very end. Thank goodness for those RedEye ponchos!

Here are the numbers from the garbage that was picked up, along with some of the strange things we found ...

Just because Chicago's Olympic bid is over doesn't mean we should stop trying to keep the city shiny and clean. This is especially true for Chicago's beaches and lake.

Join the Shedd Aquarium and RedEye--along with me--at the Shedd Aquarium Beach Sweep this Saturday at North Avenue Beach. From 1-3 p.m., we'll be cleaning up the beach. In addition to making it look better, keeping garbage off the beach and out of the water protects our drinking water as well as the wildlife that depends on the lake.

And if you're one of the first 100 participants, a post-part at Corcoran's with some free food and drinks will be thrown in too!

What's not to like? Free food, free drinks and helping the environment!

See you there!

Heard about the Great @redeyechicago Outdoor Tweetup? It's a huge social media party in Pioneer Court, next door to the Tribune--today, starting at 11:30.

In addition to food, drinks and free T-shirts, some of your favorite RedEye/ChicagoNow personalities will be there--including me toward the end!

Check out RedEye's blog for more information.

See you there!

Happy Carfree Day, everyone!

Every Sept. 22, the World Carfree Network asks everyone to leave the car at home for a day to see what it would be like to be less dependent on our vehicles.

And for the lucky people that live in Chicago ...

The Active Transportation Alliance's Veggie Bike & Dine definitely makes my list of top birthday presents. It was amazing!

It combined a few of my favorite things: Food, bicycles, Chicago and, in a surprise at the end, beer!

Art Brut, playing Saturday @ 9 p.m. at the Chicago Green Music Fest

Street fests don't generally tend to be the greenest of events in Chicago. All those cups and plates used by vendors, the electricity needed to power the music, and just general non-earth friendliness.

It's finally here! The Greenheart Shop (1911 W. Division St.) is hosting its opening party tomorrow--July 23--at its new shop. Here are a few more details: 

Remember the Greenheart Shop? Well they've moved to a bigger location on Division and their grand opening on July 23 is something you won't want to miss. Along with their regular goodies, they'll also have fair trade treats all day long.

If you go, let me know what you think. 

Green, fair-trade non-profit shop Greenheart is packing up and moving, but don't worry. It's not going too far. It's just moving to a new, bigger location at 1911 W. Division St.

Despite the economy, this shop is obviously doing well for itself, which shows Chicagoans' dedication to eco-products!

Check it out, courtesy of the Wicker Park and Bucktown Chamber of Commerce Web site:

Wicker Park and Bucktown Shredding and Recycling Day

Gather your old financial records, canceled checks, credit card statements, love letters from your ex and watch them get destroyed in a matter of minutes, right before your very eyes. WPB has partnered with Secure EcoShred, a Chicago based woman-owned portable document destruction company, so you can have all of your sensitive paperwork shredded for free! There is a 3 box/bag limit; but you can have additional material shredded for $5 per box/bag.

The All Things Organic Conference and Trade Show started today at Chicago's McCormick Place, and I'm really excited to go!

While a lot of it is about organic products, particularly for people distributing and selling them, there's a lot of environmentally focused stuff that goes on along with it. It's amazing the amount of products that are targeted toward green-minded consumers. Some of it good, some of it bad.

But I'll let you know how it goes when I head over there later this week--and I'll have a few product reviews coming your way.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009 -- 8:05 p.m.

I was only able to go for about an hour and a half, but I still had a ton of fun at the Green Festival at Navy Pier on Saturday!

It was great to see so many people there listening to speakers, talking to exhibitors and just walking around. To me, it seemed like there were a lot more booths on solar panels and other things to help greenify homes. I also loved all the great information on where/how to recycle cell phones and the local shops selling products.

This year, I was determined to try some food from the restaurants that had set up shop. Among them: Soul Vegetarian East, Chicago Diner and Cousin's Incredible Vitality. I ended up with a plate from Soul Veg, since I rarely get far enough south to try them. On it was some cooked kale, a corn muffin and seitan barbecue (or maybe ribs? Forgive me for not knowing my meat products!). They were out of the mac n' cheese :( But still delicious and very satisfying!

I also made a few purchases at Abbey Brown, a local soap shop--all their products are made in-house. Their soap smells divine, and I might have to end up at the West Loop shop again sometime in the future.

Sadly, I didn't have time for much else. But if anyone else had favorites from the Green Fest, I'd love to hear about them!

Saturday, May 16, 2009 -- 10:07 a.m.

What are you doing this weekend? I hope it's going to the Green Festival at Navy Pier! The festivities, which will be going on from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, are a great chance to get out and see and hear about what's new (or at least new to you) in the green world.

In addition to 150 speakers, the festival is host to workshops, kids' activities, lots of samples, music and organic food, beer and wine.

It's also a great place to check out green businesses that might have products you're interested in. Last year, I found a CSA for a friend, as well as some products I now love.

Plus, it's only $10 to get in--if you ride your bike, the bus, you're a senior or a student. Otherwise it's $15. Kids under 18 get in for free.

Friday, April 24, 2009 -- 2:58 p.m.

If you're haven't been walking around Michigan Avenue for the last few days, you might not know that it's Arbor Day today.

The Morton Arboretum has been handing out green ribbons all week to help us commemorate the day. And, it has a tree in the middle of Michigan Avenue with ribbons tied to it that are filled with messages from CPS 4th graders about why trees are important to them.

I have to say, it makes me so happy to see so many people sporting their green ribbons. It means that they're aware of the day and have some sort of commitment toward the environment.

So where does Arbor Day come from exactly? Well, it actually didn't have much to do with the environment, per se.

According to the Morton Arboretum's Web site, J. Sterling Morton encouraged planting trees after moving to Nebraska--a Plains state--in 1854. He proposed April 10 as Arbor Day in the state--and supposedly Nebraskans planted a million trees that day. The date on which it is now celebrate mostly depends on the best time of year to plant trees.

I learn something new every day ...

Here's also a story from Newsday about how to plant a tree. Today's the perfect day to be outside!

Friday, March 27, 2009 -- 10:54 p.m.

So obviously, I'm behind Earth Hour. I've written about it, supported it last year, and I'm planning on celebrating again this year by turning off the lights and going to a dinner by candlelight some friends are hosting.

But I do have a little issue with this year's Earth Hour--it contradicts itself in what electricity should be turned off. Last year--and my memory may not serve me well--I could swear that people were encouraged to turn off all electricity, as well as unplug anything non-essential.

Here's what' it says in the FAQ section of Earth Hour's site:

10. Do I have to turn off all of my electricity for Earth Hour?

Not at all. Through Earth Hour we are asking people to turn off all non-essential lighting. Emergency lighting, televisions and computers can stay on for the hour. The main point of Earth Hour is to unite people, companies and governments around the world through the symbolic flip of a switch. Earth Hour in itself will not lower our carbon footprint, rather it sends a signal to those in a place of power that we as individuals and communities demand action.

The decision on which lights to turn off can be made individually, but usually consists of overhead lights in rooms (whether it is your house or a business), outdoor lighting that does not impact safety, computers, decorative lights, neon signs for advertising, televisions, desk lamps, etc.

So maybe they're referring to TV as an emergency tool? Not sure.

Either way, I'd like to encourage everyone to turn EVERYTHING off. Not just the overhead lights. OK, the fridge is a good exception--no need to let good food spoil. But go after all that phantom electricity too. And turn off the TV and computer ... it probably won't kill you for an hour.

Take advantage of the fact that you've got an hour to make a point, and that you've got an hour to yourself--do it all out.

Monday, March 23, 2009 -- 6:10 p.m.

Looking for something to do for Earth Hour on March 28 at 8:30 p.m.? Here are a few ideas on how to celebrate:

>> Have a candlelit dinner with your significant other or friend.

>> Take your four-legged friend on a long walk.

>> Have an eco-friendly Earth Hour party: Ask your friends bring candles and a bottle of somethin.

>> Tell ghost stories--they're not just for Halloween, ya know.

>> Find a local restaurant participating in Earth Hour. I know Flat Top Grill is doing something again this year.

>> Shadow puppets--under street lamps.

>> Read a book by candlelight.

>> Sit outside and enjoy the dark(er) Chicago sky. Maybe you'll even see a star--or airplane ...

>> Spa time! Put on a mud mask--no one will be able to see it.

>> Redhead Piano Bar will feature a "Lights Out" drink (with a glow stick!) for $8, $5 of which will go to World Wildlife Fund.

And if you have any ideas about what to do during Earth Hour or know of other events in Chicago, post them in the comments field below!

Monday, March 16, 2009 -- 10:17 a.m.

Remember when the city turned off its lights last year to raise awareness about global warming and the need for energy efficiency? Earth Hour's back again this year, and Chicago is again its flagship city!

On Saturday, March 28 at 8:30 p.m., the World Wildlife Fund calls for you to turn off your lights for 1 hour "to make a global statement of concern about climate change and to demonstrate commitment to finding solutions."

Now, it might seem like turning off the lights won't really do anything. After all, it's not going to lower our carbon footprint enough to make that much of an impact on the overall level. But as a symbolic action, it goes a pretty long way. Many of the major cities in the world are signed up for participation--and the lights are even going out at major landmarks including the Sears Tower, Google's homepage, Rome's Coliseum, the Sydney Opera House and Coca-Cola's billboard in Times Square.

If nothing else, seeing the lights out at all of these places, as well as dark neighborhoods and dimmer skylines, will prompt a conversation--short and long. Even if a minority of the population gets something out of this, it's a result that will have a great impact.

And you don't just have to sit around the house with the lights off--though I did that with my roommate and some wine last year. But we also ventured out. Flat Top Grill last year had dinner by candlelight, which made for a unique, fun experience that allowed to me to support Earth Hour as well as local business--and yummy food.

I'll post updates as I hear about locations around the city that are having special events for Earth Hour. In the meantime, you can get updates on their Facebook page and by signing up to participate in Earth Hour.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009 -- 5:23 p.m.

Looking for an inside activity that'll get you outside of the house, but doesn't require a jacket? Check out the Museum of Science and Industry's Green Revolution exhibit, which is part of its Black Creativity program.

The exhibit will showcase African-American architects, business leaders, engineers, etc., that have been involved in the green movement. Plus, you get to learn more about green innovations in areas such as organic farming and renewable energy, and play with worm composting and a solar-powered car, among other things.

If you get a chance to explore, check out the rest of the museum--the place is one of my all-time favorite museums out there. The hatching chicks are especially cute.

Oh, plus there's a bonus if you go before the end of the month--general admission is free Jan. 15-Jan. 31. And this exhibit is included!

To save on the $16 it costs to park in the museum's lot, take one of the many CTA buses that makes a stop out front. Here's a list from their Web site:

• Hyde Park Express (#2): This bus stops at 57th and Stony Island—one block west of the Museum.  The #2 runs during morning and evening rush hour.
• Jackson Park Express (#6): This bus stops on 56th Street and Hyde Park Boulevard—one block north of the Museum.
• Stoney Island Express (X28): This bus stops on 56th Street and Hyde Park Boulevard—one block north of the Museum. The X28 runs on weekdays during morning and afternoon rush hour.
• Museum of Science and Industry Bus (#10): This bus runs every day from Memorial Day through Labor Day and from Thanksgiving week through New Year's Day, and weekends-only for the rest of the year. The #10 will drop you off right at the front door.

Check transitchicago.com for details from your house.

Informative, fun and cheap! I like it.

Friday, October 10, 2008 -- 2:22 p.m.

Looking to purge some stuff--computers, keyboards, TVs, cell phones and the like? Here's your chance: Motorola is co-sponsoring a recycling event in Schaumburg.

Click here for more information.

Friday, September 12, 2008 -- 1:49 p.m.

If you've been meaning to safely dispose of old medicines or electronics or pick up a rain barrel and compost bin for your yard, you're in luck. You can do it all this Saturday at 900 E. 103rd St.

The city of Chicago is holding an exchange of household hazards, as well as selling compost bins and rain barrels and giving out free compact fluorescent light bulbs and gas cans.

If you can't make it Saturday, you can always drop off hazardous household chemicals and recycling at the permanent facility at 1120 N. North Branch St.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008 -- 7:55 p.m.

So, you've probably heard that there's a Democratic National Convention going on. Denver is hosting the event that will end with Barack Obama as the Dem's nominee for president.

What you may not know is that the people behind the convention have been working for about a year to make sure as many aspects of the DNC were as green as possible. A link on the official DNC site outlines all the steps they've taken to monitor and limit their carbon footprint by minimizing waste, energy use and transportation.

The Environment News Service had a little more to report as the convention kicked off in Denver. For example, tomorrow is Delegate Service Day, during which more than 1,000 delegates will volunteer at community service sites. That's one way to make a convention more productive!

September's Republican National Convention in Minnesota will be making a green effort, as well, according to its official site.

Is one following in the footsteps of the other? I don't know, but those are certainly the right footsteps to follow in!

Thursday, June 12, 2008 -- 9:06 p.m.

There's only one thing better than a Chicago summer festival--a fest that's greens up its act.

This weekend, Andersonville's Midsommarfest makes an effort to keep much of the waste out of landfills by using biodegradable cups at its beer booths. And, according to a press release, incentives have been offered to food vendors to use biodegradable and/or recycled food service items. You'll be able to tell who's participating by special signage on their booths. And that's only the beginning--they eventually plan to allow only biodegradable items at future fests.

Pretty cool considering how much booze and food get consumed at street fests.

But that's not all. One of the stages will be entirely solar-powered--including sound systems and lighting. The rest of the fest's power will come from generators that use 85% biodiesel/15% synthetic fuel oil.

And ... no fliers! Event schedule kiosks will take the place of all that paper usually handed out--and eventually tossed. Waste also will be collected in biodegradable bags.

The fest runs Saturday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. $5 suggested donation--but kids and seniors are free. Main entrance can be found at Clark and Foster. For a complete lineup, check out their Web site.

Happy (biodegradable) drinking!

Monday, May 19, 2008 -- 10:08 a.m.

I had a fantastic weekend, one of the highlights being the Green Festival at Navy Pier. I learned a lot, tasted yummy food and came home feeling greener just having attended!

They collected entrance badges upon leaving, offering to recycle them, food vendors were required to use compostable containers and the carbon offsets were provided for the entire event.

But one of my favorite things about the Green Festival was the effort to divert as much waste as possible from landfills. They set up waste stations, with volunteers at each to help direct items to their correct container--including the basics such as aluminum and paper, as well as dry and wet compostables.

In addition to all the hard work being done in the festival area, a large group of volunteers in the background worked to go through the pre-sorted materials again to ensure everything went to the right place.

Kristen Kennedy of Seven-Star (green event experts) said they worked with the City of Chicago's recycling program, as well as a few others in order to make sure they recycled as much as possible. She said new this year was a place they found that recycled plastics #3, 4, 5, etc.--plastics not taken by the city. That, Kennedy said, would increase the percentage of waste diverted from landfills this year.

If only we could all do that!

Sunday, May 11, 2008 -- 10:08 p.m.

After you swing by the Green City Farmers Market on Saturday (May 17), do some good in your community by participating in Mayor Daley's Clean & Green, a citywide volunteer cleanup.

It's an event that's been going on for 20 years, with the help of the city, volunteers and community groups. And you don't have to bring anything but yourself. Rakes, brooms, bags, etc. will be provided.

The only downside? To find cleanup locations and sign up, you have to call the city's 3-1-1.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008 -- 8:43 p.m.

Thinking about buying your own place? I am, and it's a pain in the butt. Being the green-minded person that I am, I thought--for a full 10 seconds--that I could settle in one of those eco-friendly buildings going up across the city.

Then I saw how much they cost and nearly passed out.

A billboard for this place on Lincoln Avenue caught my eye when I was biking past it one day. The completed version would be LEED certified, use solar power to pre-heat water and boasts a green roof, among other things.

Sounds like heaven, right? Uh, not so practical for a journalist like me.

So, I moved on to next obvious (and reasonable) option: Buying an existing condo without any of those green options--which technically is Earth-friendly in its own right because I'm buying used.

Until I can afford one of these sustainable residences--which will be never--I'll think I'll pass the time daydreaming at Chicago's "greenest home" at the Museum of Science and Industry.

Starting tomorrow (Thursday, May 8), "Smart Home: Green + Wired" (right) will open in a park on the museum's east side.

According to a press release, the fully functioning home has the latest eco-friendly technology and helps people learn about big and small ways they can be kind to the Earth. You can even pretend you're attending an open house: Guided tours are offered around the 2500-square-foot home.

Home, sweet home--kinda.

Wednesday, April 30, 2008 -- 3:35 p.m.

On Sunday, I visited the Global Food & Style Expo at McCormick Place, which included All Things Organic. The organic portion of the expo focused on everything from organic fruits and veggies to flavored drinks and dairy. Also on display were green cleaning supplies and compostable and biodegradable containers, bags and to-go boxes.

My overall impression? Anything that can be organic is being made organically--and people seem to be buying it (or at least pretending for the samples).

The consumer's desire for "all things organic" is high, and companies are buying into it. Even Del Monte pickles are going the organic route.

I also had the opportunity to speak with Sara Snow, a green-living expert who had TV shows on the Discovery Channel. She was there on behalf of Blue Horizon, a sustainable seafood company her dad, Tim Redmond, co-founded.

One of the most fascinating things about Snow was, in my opinion, the fact that she grew up in a family that lived an eco-friendly, organic, natural lifestyle. Redmond also founded Eden Foods in the late 1960s. According to Snow's bio on her Web site, the Redmond family also built an eco-friendly home with solar energy in the '70s.

Talk about an eco-friendly family.

So it wasn't surprising to see her family working the Blue Horizon booth at the expo. Her mom and sister were cooking up samples of the company's frozen skillet meals and spring rolls while Snow and her dad talked to me.

And Snow managed to answer my first question without me ever having to ask it: What does organic seafood mean exactly?

Snow acknowledged that organic seafood was not something on most people's radar, but compared it organic meat in that the shrimp are hormone and antibiotic free and are farmed in a sustainable way. There isn't a USDA certification for organic seafood yet, but they follow standards set by an organic program in Europe, according the the Blue Horizon Web site.

As a non-meat eater (and yes, that includes seafood), the idea of animals being pumped with hormones and such to make them bigger and plumper sounds pretty disgusting, but, from what I can tell, some meat-eaters also find it less than palatable.

I also asked Snow about how she felt about "greenification" of everything and the eco-culture becoming more mainstream. She said that for a while, the "fad factor" didn't worry her, but it recently has started to cause some concern. Especially the celeb involvement.

But Snow said she things that even if the green trend fades, the message of health and the need to put good things in your body will stay with people because that's something there's always interest in.

I also spoke to Snow's sister, Elizabeth Redmond, who invented human-powered electric grids, some of which were installed in Millennium Park in October (see some of the pics here). The tiles essentially harness our body's kinetic energy and uses it to generate energy to power other things like lights, E. Redmond told me. She said these tiles would be particularly useful in places like parks and airports.

Pretty darn cool, I think. The city could light up the entire lakefront path with all the runners and walkers that pass over it each day. Or we could light up the room if a dance floor was filled with them. Oh, the possibilities.

And it's true--there ARE lots of possibilities, lots of opportunities, lots of ideas.

So, I went into the organic food expo slightly jaded by all the so-called natural, organic products out there; I left excited and optimistic realizing how many great ideas there were out there to make a healthier person--and planet.

(I know, I know. Very cheesy.)

Sunday, April 13, 2008 -- 6:15 p.m.

Here's a list of a few Earth Month events around Chicago. It is not, of course, complete, and I'll be updating the list as I discover more. Feel free to contribute to the list too!

>> Party for the Planet: Zoos and aquariums across the country are celebrating the Earth.
April 22--Shedd Aquarium
April 20--Lincoln Park Zoo hosts the Green Apple Music & Arts Festival

>> City of Chicago Earth Day Celebration: Check out Daley Plaza for events and fun from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 22

>> Chicago Park District: Help clean up parks around Chicago and enjoy walks and crafts throughout April.

>> Green Apple Music & Arts Festival: "America's largest Earth Day celebration" is happening in cities across the country, including New York, Miami, Denver, L.A., and, of course, Chicago. It's a weekend-long event that takes place all over the city, with various bands performing and Bears QB Kyle Orton MCing the main even on April 20 at Lincoln Park Zoo.

>> Nau/Creative Pitch: A night all about sustainability, art, fashion and drinks. Donations to benefit art programs for underserved children. April 17.

>> Acts of Concern: Earth Day 2008: Four short original plays presented at last year's Climate of Concern Festival are read at Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Tickets are $10. April 21.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008 -- 12:27 a.m.

I bought a new pair of running shoes this weekend! No, they're not eco-friendly ... I'm just so excited about them that I had to share the news. I can't wait to go for my first run in them!

Don't worry--I'm not going to keep talking about my shoes. I managed to find something relevant to this blog to tie into my shoe purchase.

I got my lovely new shoes at Fleet Feet, which also offers a ton of seminars. And on April 6, they're hosting a talk called "Be Fit, Be Green." Here's a description of the seminar:

Learn how small changes in your daily life can make a big difference in the world around you. This seminar will feature a panel discussion about "green opportunities" that exist for runners, from choices in apparel to nutrition to races nationwide.

Panelists speaking include Ecoscene's Aimee Heilbrunn and Whole Foods' Katherine Melenovsky. Join us as we learn to incorporate eco-friendly practices into our healthy lifestyles.

It's being held at Fleet Feet-Piper's Alley at 5:30 April 6 (Sunday night). Whether you occasionally run or race regularly, consider RSVPing for the talk. I'll be there!

Monday, March 31, 2008 -- 3:29 p.m.

Tomorrow, April 1st, is Fossil Fools Day--and I will most certainly not be participating.

What exactly is Fossil Fools Day? According to a press release I received recently:

"Fossil Fools Day" is an international day of protest focused on climate change and energy issues. Actions being planned so far include Critical Mass bike rides, green job rallies, protests and civil disobedience at power plants, energy companies, urban sprawl developers, Bank of America mass account closures, car dealer "adoptions," no coal photo petitions alternative energy expos, and more.

International day of protest, bike rides, rallies--those all sound like fantastic ideas. But the disobedience at power plants and disruptions at banks? That's not my idea of getting the word out in a positive way.

They even have a "Guide to Fossil Fooleries" they link to that makes some suggestions as to how to target "fossil fools" that includes putting up "out of order" signs on ATM machines, letting the air out of tires on SUVs, and blocking off roads to coal plants.

I don't know how widespread the event will be--I've only seen a mention of it in a few newspapers I found Googling it. But it makes me sad to know that there are people out there that will represent the green cause in such a disrespectful manner.

Why not educate and inform in a peaceful, legal manner? Some people say that no publicity is bad publicity--and in the case of Britney Spears, that may be true. I have to argue, though, that the actions the day is advocating are more likely to raise ire in the community and lead to negative stereotypes about the eco-friendly sort.

There are much more effective ways to raise awareness of the issues surrounding fossil fuels, so instead of using pranks to make our point, let's go do something that will actually move us closer to our goal.

Friday, March 28, 2008 -- 10:53 a.m.

As we all know, being green isn't easy. So, take a load off and treat yourself to a TreeTini.

Sip one of the organic vodka drinks and Live It Green, in conjunction with participating locations, will plant a tree!

Uncommon Ground hosts monthly Green Room Sessions, a "live music and environmental awareness series" and serves the TreeTini for $5.

You also can quench your tree-planting thirst at Whiskey Blue and Whiskey Sky, which will be serving the TreeTini during the month of April in honor of Earth Day.

So stop stressing out and grab a drink!

Thursday, March 27, 2008 -- 10:19 a.m.

When I first heard about Earth Hour, I honestly didn't think it would be a big thing. Perhaps I'm a cynic, but the effort to have people across the country--and even the world--turn out their lights seemed far-fetched. I saw it as something only the most eco-conscious would grab on to.

It seems that I was completely wrong--and I couldn't be happier.

On Saturday, March 29, World Wildlife Fund's Earth Hour is calling upon residents and businesses to turn off their lights for an hour starting at 8 p.m. local time. Why? To show that even small actions can have an impact on the environment. Though it's largely symbolic, the idea is to bring awareness about the importance of reducing energy usage and carbon emissions.

The effort has a particularly local twist: Chicago is the World Wildlife Fund's flagship city for the U.S.--and residents aren't the only ones participating. The Sears Tower, Macy's, U.S. Cellular Field,  McDonald's, the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel and The Museum of Contemporary Art are just a few of the large number of businesses and buildings turning off some or all of their lights for an hour.

Celebs have even signed on for the event: Nelly Furtado and Fall Out Boy are in.

As for what you're supposed to do with the lights off for an hour? I had to remind myself that the whole lights thing includes the computer and TV too ... But candles emit light, and there is more to life than electronics. For example, books, conversation, playing with puppies, going for a walk, board games, cards ...

Or, you can head to Flat Top Grill for dinner. From 8-9 p.m., they'll be offering dinner by candlelight in support of Earth Hour.

And Metromix has a rundown of some other spots around Chicago where you can go dark.

I might have to turn out the lights more often.

But before you turn off the lights, add Earth Hour to your Facebook page to show your support. And while you're at it, add Practically Green's new group too!