By Billy Tuite
The Raw Deal is following Easter in a fitting manner as they are throwing all their eggs into one basket on April 27 for an Earth Day celebration of epic proportions. It’s called Earth Day All Day, and it’s going to be chock-full of music, guest speakers and a multitude of other activities.
“We’ve done something to celebrate Earth Day every year, but we’ve never done an all-day thing like this before,” said Amber Georgakopoulos, The Raw Deal’s events coordinator. “In the past it may have been a music show or an Earth Day-focused art show, but this is the first time we’ve put it all together.”
The Raw Deal will be hosting a wide assortment of presentations by guests from around the Menomonie community who will be discussing such subjects as cloth diapering, the environmental effects of coffee, seed transplanting and making scarecrows.
One particularly interesting presentation from the Menomonie ReWild University will cover how to reconnect with nature in the current digital age.
“They teach a unique set of survival skills that will help you make nature and technology work together,” Georgakopoulos said. “You can connect with nature without having to give up your cell phone.”
The eco-friendly festivities will also get a little more hands-on. Attendees will be able to participate in woodblock printing with the Drive By Press, poem and paper crane making with Arts Coming Together and a couple litter pick-up walks around town sponsored by Main Street Menomonie.
Of course, the day wouldn’t be complete without some free musical performances. The event will feature such local acts as Joe Carlson, Zach Graves, Rachel Kolias and the Sliced Bread Jug Band.
“My favorite part is the idea of everyone coming together,” Georgakopoulos said. “They’re all really enthusiastic and generous and that’s fun to see.”
Earth Day All Day is a collaborative effort by a very diverse group of guests, and this personable and friendly atmosphere plays a significant role in The Raw Deal’s eco-conscious operations and emphasis on organic food and drinks.
“It’s not just a mission statement or a line in our manual,” Georgakopoulos explained. “People here care about it and do a lot of research independently and constantly provide suggestions on how to improve service. It’s exciting to see people so invested.”
Georgacopoulos invites everyone to treat Earth Day All Day as an opportunity to be a part of this collaborative effort and learn a thing or two about how to take care of this beautiful planet of ours.
“Even if you can only come for 20 minutes, odds are you’re going to learn something,” Georgakopoulos stated. “You might even connect with someone there who shares your ideas and is pursuing the same things towards bettering our planet.”
Earth Day All Day will take place at The Raw Deal on April 27 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Attendance is free, so come with a willingness to learn and a love for Mother Nature!