Winter 2006-07 is going to be remembered as the one where global warming became more than a liberal/environmentalist talking point rolled out on Earth Day. It may have to do with Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth or his congressional testimony. It may have to do with people realizing what shit the Iraq War really is and the coinciding availability of secondary and alternative fuels like hybrid cars, green roofs and wind farms. Whatever the case, here in Philly we can look at this winter's weather and remember "my god, that was awful." Awful as in a total snow accumulation of six inches, awful as in overcast and 45 degrees for what seemed like six months straight.

And then out of nowhere, BAM: here comes Earth Day to strut its stuff. The first genuinely spring weekend was crystal clear, 75 and sunny, and the Schuylkill River reflected this. Add the Manny Flick regatta to the throngs of joggers, cyclists, tourists and lovers and you have a utopadelphian Schuylkill experience. This set has two sides (the A side and the B side). The A side has all the standards: blossoms on Kelly Drive, rowing races, people having fun. The B side is the night experience after all the people have gone back home: the Schuylkill Bridges from Falls Bridge to Spring Garden Bridge and the skyline in the distance.

And hey, a big shout to my man Meatballs for inspiring this particular ride.