We Are Atlas : The Scavenger Hunt

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

SCAVENGER HUNT INTRODUCTION

The 8 Bi11ion Month’ 23

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU PLAY THE GAME

****

TEAM B CLUES & FINDINGS

STREET ADS & MORE

SCAVENGER HUNT INTRODUCTION

We Are Atlas is a free eco-scavenger hunt on the streets of Brooklyn, New York. And even more than that, it is a coffee table book in electronic format with lots of pictures! So, first comes the book, while the actual stroll is a bonus if you ever happen to be in the correct zip code, 11206!

In case you are in New York, see it as a perfect activity for groups, but one person alone could do it as well. When enough people gather they can divide in two teams since there are two routes available. The teams* leave simultaneously from the same starting point and meet again at the end! (*The size could vary from 2 players up to 10, or even 15, however, playing one team at a time also works great.)

The scavenger hunt is a fun way to spend a morning or an afternoon for both tourists and New Yorkers. If you’re not in the mood for searching details on the streets, no worries! You could do it as a tour; just read the clues and use the information along with the photos provided to go straight to the findings! Meaning that you could also do a visual tour remotely, from wherever you are in the world!

This document contains Team B clues and numerous photographs which are especially helpful if people outside New York City decide to browse through it.

It also reveals details about the history of the hunt, including the meaning of the name, We Are Atlas, and the inspiration for the logo.

If you are going on the scavenger hunt in person, choose daytime hours and pay attention when you cross the streets; the hunt is not responsible for accidents, robberies or any other incidents. Most likely you will have a great time! Wear walking shoes and dress for the season! If a tourist can do it, so can you! (Meaning that almost any type of weather is appropriate for taking a stroll. Stay hydrated, use sunscreen and a hat if it’s hot outside.)

Players advance from clue to clue outlining a route on the map. Most of the clues are street art/tags (by unknown authors) hidden in plain view. You will understand from the text of the hunt that some clues are handwritten (so they will be seen on vertical surfaces, such as walls), while others are ‘carved in stone,’ hence you will have to examine the sidewalks.

Organized groups are playing this game beginning with the fall of ‘22, and the clues were always discovered. However, just like in life, things on the route change; a written tag may be erased here and there, a sidewalk may be redone, a door may get repainted or a building demolished, so some findings will get lost. Accordingly, new ones could arise — as it happened a few times since the hunt was created. This text generally reflects the reality as it was in November ’23. (Team A was published online on November 28^th ’23, #CallToEarthDay, and Team B followed on December 22^nd ’23.)

Let’s call November 2023 The 8 Billion Month, as it marked one year since the population on Earth became 8 billion, on November 15^th, 2022! Furthermore, until we become 9 billion, decades from now, November will be our common anniversary as The Generation of the 8 Billion!

To celebr8 that, the ones who went on the hunt in person during the first year of its existence were invited to redeem eco-gifts (while the funds allowed) from a Brooklyn location.

The gifts were:

1) One good quality travel mug for hot or cold drinks with a carabiner (which prevents losing or dropping the mug),

2) One foldable tote bag and

3) One metal water bottle to refill when the water quality allows.

They all fit under the large umbrella of Peaceful Personal Progress. More people should start using them. If you do, please don’t let the improvements stop at you; in other words, encourage others to make the switch to healthier habits and products!

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU PLAY THE GAME

The starting point is next to 11 Lewis Avenue, across the street from Bushwick City Farm, walking distance from the G, L, J, M, and Z train lines, and several bus stops. If you come from miles away, please save your energy for the hunt, so don’t walk to Lewis Avenue; instead use the public transit, a car or a cab. Once everyone is there, both teams can read their first clues and depart in two different directions.

Before the hunt was transferred online players received their gifts at the starting point, as well as instructions and a few other objects, as it follows:

• One person in each team was handed a poop doggie bag, plastic gloves, hand disinfectant, and was responsible for collecting the littered vapes on the route. You probably won’t have those available, so limit yourself to looking out for littered vapes/ learning to notice them; and then consider collecting them outside of the hunt (if you don’t live in NY, please read about correct recycling of electronics on the sanitation website of your city).
• One person was given a fly swatter and was responsible to kill the lanternflies, which are pest. Please be prepared to hunt the lanternflies on your path (seen from early summer till December) with or without a fly swatter!
• Players were told that they received a travel mug because paper cups are not recyclable, and since the meeting point is next to a little farm, they were also reminded that composting food leftovers is very important! When we compost, the rat population goes down!
• Players should use maps, but they should also check visually their surroundings.
• One player keeps track of the points earned (each finding is a point, unless otherwise stated).
• If two teams play simultaneously, keep the pace up in order to finish around the same time! The duration for each route is around 2-3 hours or more, depending on your speed & chosen format (hunt versus tour).
• Leaves (in the fall), snow (in the winter) and sometimes trash may cover clues on occasions.

This document contains more than one hundred images so don’t get intimidated by the number of pages. Think of it as a digital coffee table book! And since some players may have more time than others, a few areas will be marked with the title Read Now or Later. (Do the same when it comes to the articles and short videos shared in this material; go over them in a coffee break, on the train or in the airport!) This game is suitable for both tourists and New Yorkers. If you’re a tourist, gift yourself the aforementioned trio as a practical NY souvenir, especially that most likely you got to New York City by airplane, and you’ll leave the same way. Reduce your footprint by eliminating the frequent consumption of paper cups, disposable plastic bags and single-use bottles!

Let’s call this The Frequent Flier Challenge! Don’t compare your footprint only to the footprint of the ones who fly private planes; compare it to our ancestors’.

Naturally, New Yorkers who ever set foot on a plane, economic class included, are invited to switch to this trio for the same good reason!

P.S. Furthermore, “Live in the present” is outdated, unless we align the way we live, thus our actions, to the present of a plastic bag (500 years), of a plastic straw (200 years), of a set of 6-pack plastic rings (400 years), of a plastic bottle and cup (450 years), of a coffee pod (500 years), of a fishing line (600 years), or of a disposable diaper (500 years). (Find this data & more in the free to watch documentary Ocean Emergency – Currents of Hope)

Now, let the hunt begin!

Team B – Clue 1

Team B (if two teams playing); or one or more players taking this route together, read the first clue at the starting point, next to Bushwick City Farm or 11 Lewis Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 11206.

Here comes first clue:

Close to you, there is a ‘big H’ on the map (it is a Hospital) & on this scavenger hunt you will look again and again for a word that starts with H.

Literally, Get It @ Graham, since to get this going you’ll have to walk to the plaza where Graham Avenue starts (also known as Avenue of Puerto Rico), across from the big H. Read next clue only when you’re there!

The arrow circled in blue (next to the H = the Hospital) points out the plaza where Graham Avenue starts. That is where the first H word waits to be found. Walk there & when you are close to the fruit stand, read Clue number 2. (The fruit stand should be there 24/7; in case it is not, read Clue 2 as soon as you arrive at the plaza.)

P.S. Mark your maps for later — on your way you’ll pass by another H you should know about. Don’t stop now, but Horseradish Market at 839 Broadway Avenue sells a few types of food in reusable containers; check them out after the hunt. Less is more, especially when it comes to packaging!

Another store you should swing by is the Maison Jar refillery located in Greenpoint, at 566 Leonard Street.

Now go!

Team B – Clue 2

If you are reading this it means you’ve already arrived to the plaza where Graham Avenue starts. Check the following photo to see what you’ll be looking for — Heaven — sometimes carved, sometimes handwritten; carved here in soft cement by an unknown hand!

The plaza might be busy with vendors and crowd, so hold your horses & don’t shout Heaven when you find it ;) Instead, be slick! And then go to the next page to verify if you discovered the first carved Heaven on this route!

Hopefully this is similar to your finding, meaning that you just scored your first Heaven point! Congratulations! Make a Wish that is worth it!

Team B – Clue 3

Now look for the second Heaven, also carved, feet away from the first one.

Because the plaza may be crowded, you receive some extra help –> search on the concrete in between the Smoke Shop & La Isla Cuchiofritos. Be discreet & earn one Heaven point!

Go to the following page to compare your finding with a photo of the second carved Heaven on the route.

Team B – Clue 4

Some would expect number Eleven to drop a Heaven. Would you?

Street Says,

“To the ones who believe in it, Angel Number 11 brings a gift.”

To everyone else on your team, regardless of their belief — win one Heaven point for real!

HINT: While the first two Heaven were carved, others may be handwritten on vertical surfaces, such as Heaven at street address #11. Hence, aside from the sidewalk, also pay attention to walls, storefronts, light poles and such. See photos on next page & Make A Wish as soon as you find Heaven!

People read books, attend seminars & watch videos trying to learn how-to-manifest. Following is a free formula made of multiple-steps, courtesy of Street!

Street Says, “STEP one of manifesting is wishing for good things to come true. You can’t manifest the vague, the unnamed, the un-verbalized. STEP two – breathe in, breathe out, close your eyes – feel what you’d feel if your dream materialized. Rinse & repeat, believe in it, and you may achieve it.”

Since this was Heaven-at-number-11, know that the hunt was created to mark the moment we became 8 billion people on Earth, on 11/15/22. For that reason it was initially called 8 Million to 8 Billion ’22.

And then, the hunt was renamed We Are Atlas 238 in ’23! Observing the one-year anniversary, We Are Atlas organized an art event called The 8 Bi11ion Month, Real Love, Simple Action which was all about offering & receiving examples of everyday ‘green upgrades’ many of us could easily do; let’s call them ‘peaceful personal progress.’ Check out this meme for inspiration.

The event was held on 11/11 and these two handbags made of littered items were on display since together they indic8 the d8. Look carefully & you’ll notice one 11 on each handbag (aside from the Roman style ‘XI’ seen on the clock).

Team B – Clue 5

37 Heaven is a website, how about that?

Offline, # 37 stays consistent, since it patiently waits with one Heaven (handwritten). Find it for 1 Heaven Point.

Go to the next page to see photos!

Team B-Clue 6

Look around. It’s a Shoppers’ World, but don’t shop! Only stop for window-shopping.

“As you window-shop, look for the sky!

Three times the sky is fake (this includes its reflection in the window and a lake), but the fourth version is real!

While you face them all, you’re also facing the right direction!”

Go to next page to see photos confirming the right way!

* May’24 Update *

The fake sky was a fun element in the hunt, which survived independently for 23 months!! As of April ’24, the fake sky photograph is gone, but this clue will stay as it was due to its playful & historical value ; )

The good direction is towards the sky. You can see the real sky on the left, and the “fake” sky on the right*; so you are now facing the good direction! This is the way to go!

*On the right hand side you’ll discern the fake sky thrice-> two times the sky is seen in a photograph, this includes its reflection in a lake, and one time you see the reflection of the real clouds in the window of Shoppers’ World.

Photograph showing a clear picture of the fake sky & its reflection in a lake.

*** SPECIAL ***

If you care for a quick $ 1.50 slice of pizza, try one from Graham Pizza & Chicken, seen in the background, or come back later!

Unsolicited/surprise photo off-route sent by Team B players at the May 29, 2023 edition — showing Earth Power.

P.S. – The security gate was replaced on 12/20/23 … so you cannot see “EARTH POWER” anymore … but the message stays.

Photo taken while the window design replacement was in progress, at the end of September ‘23.

The window display changes every season & major holiday, however, since the end of May ’22 the framed picture of the “fake sky” was placed in the left upper corner (under the ‘LADIES’ sign) & was never removed (as of February ‘24), even though entire makeovers kept happening!

Watch the promotional video of the hunt & you won’t see it there; the shot used in the video was recorded in May 2022. The framed sky photograph was added precisely at that time & was left in the same spot ever since. This is exciting because Shoppers’ World is continuously & involuntarily playing with us on the hunt by keeping this clue active & alive*!

P.S. *This is also exciting because it compensates for the loss of one Heaven which was carved on the right-hand side of Shoppers’ World — marked with pink in the following photographs:

The plastic partition in between the two stores was removed in the summer of ’23 & so was the slab of concrete that had HEAVE(n) carved on it. This was not the first mishap on the routes! A few things have changed since late August ‘22, and as seen in this case, even some of the words written in stone disappeared over time!

However, new Heaven, new findings & new happenings bloomed as well! For instance, the first ‘major’ loss was the Atlas container on route A, in early September ’22; literally a big visible, loss, accompanied by equally large disappointment.

While months went by, the lesson learnt was, as Street Says, “Have patience & learn how to fall” — fill yourself with acceptance rather than with regrets, since things will fall into place — always & anyways!

Therefore, the disappointment gradually diminished and was replaced with only taking note of each change. “Trust the progress & keep going!” Street Says!

Now get ready for next clue!

Team B – Clue 7

“From Shoppers’ World to Party King Don’t tell ‘em what you feel;

Street Says,

‘You’d better hide the Envy.”

Now that you know the direction to take, take a look at your maps, visually check the side of the street you are on, or just go to next page to see photos of the three storefronts mentioned above in bold italics.

* Change-in-progress alert * As of April ’24 the party store is going out of business!

***

Street is kidding! As an apology for being silly or offending, Street would like to offer you one Heavenly & four Heaven (carved). Find them in between Envy Nails & King Party, so visually inspect the pavement on that block.

*** NEW *** BONUS ***

On the door of the store next to this heavenly bunch you’ll notice a sign (one on each side of the glass door) saying that they now sell reusable bags & paper bags (No More Plastic Bags!). Find that sign for 1 Heaven on Earth Point (1 bonus H.O.E.P.)! Go to next page to verify your finding, and then read the next clue!

Team B – Clue 8

“Go ahead, cross the street from the 5 carved Heaven using the crosswalk close to Shoppers’ World. Once you’ve crossed, find one carved Heaven on the sidewalk (before you even reach the door of the bank). Go to next page to verify your finding!

*** LAST MINUTE BONUS FROM STREET *** ** NEW CARVED HEAVEN ALERT **

On 11/23 ’23 Street gave us a new carved Heaven in front of the bank. Look for it first, and then turn the page to see photos.

Attention! You may have noticed this Heaven first, and that is fine. Street is sentimental & sticks to chronological order this time, but the points are yours! So, switch these last two findings in your mind & keep the hunt going ; ) 45

Team B – Clue 9

Now walk just a few feet & stop in front of building number 55.

Position yourself as if you would be taking the above picture and look for the word Rise.

Then go closer until you discern clouds & Rise Heaven in one visual frame. Look again and you will see Heaven twice, both carved; Rise Heaven stutters!

Note — the word ‘Rise’ & the clouds are on a storefront belonging to a business that is closing as of September ’23, so you might have to rely on photos to catch this heavenly combo once the space goes to another business owner. Regardless, Heaven stays carved in stone twice, and the above picture leads you to the area where both wait to be found!

Go to next page to see photographs of Rise Heaven stuttering!

Detail of Heaven Wisdom (check out the brand name of the luggage) — seen closer to the fake clouds. (Clouds & Rise were still present on the window in June ‘24.)

Team B – Clue 10

Yes to ‘Rise Heaven-Heaven Wisdom’ & to scoring double!

Now return to where you were facing # 55. From there walk to the left-hand side & look for 2 handwritten Heaven.

Hint: find them before you even get to the bank.

Go to next page to verify yourself!

And now, go back to the same initial spot in front of building # 55 and search in front of you, where 2 more carved Heaven await to be found! See the two carved Heaven on next page.

Two carved Heaven in front of the electronics shop. The following photo shows the position of all 4 Heaven you were supposed to find under clue 10 (two carved, two handwritten).

The four pink markings show where the 4 Heaven are situated (2 handwritten seen further away, and 2 carved in the left corner of this photo). (To summarize them all on this block, don’t forget that aside from these four Heaven, there are 2 more carved next to the bank — so towards left, and 2 carved in front of the fake clouds, so to the right — that is 8 Heaven altogether as of 11/23/23. Yes, the calendar stutters, too!)

Team B – Clue 11

Return to the original spot facing the façade of # 55. You have now in front of you, to your left and your right, on this block, 8 Heaven & the clear-fake-blue-sky.

Like an arrow, the fake blue-sky points the direction, so from left to the right you go, but not before reading next question:

“Would you happen to speak Mathematics from Heaven? Sky + 8 Heaven = 1 Angel”

***

In case you don’t speak it, this is the translation:

‘Correct Direction (Fake Blue Sky) + Signal-To-Move-On (+ 8 Heaven found) mean that (=) you’ll very shortly run into an Angel.

When you do, send a photo of this hand drawn Angel for one clue!’

Hint: You may cross the street, but do not switch the sidewalk! Go to next page to verify yourself.

This angel is right on the corner of Graham Avenue & Moore Street. Sometimes the pile of trash blocks it, but despite the occasional lack of visibility, remember, the angel is always there!

Team B – Clue 12

Angel Speaks,

“Hello, Halo, Lovelies! There is one Heaven carved on this sidewalk (plus one partial), not that far away from us. Finding them adds two Heaven points to your collection & brings valuable information for the progress of the team. Go to next page to see photos.”

Team B – Clue 13

“A clue is a key, and we make keys. Can you see the shop? If not, check the map; but the pairs of eyes on your team altogether should be enough to identify this spot.

Go there & find The Big Golden Key to receive a note!”

P.S. If this store is closed for the day & you cannot see The Big Golden Key because the entrance door is not wide open as it usually is within business hours, no worries! This place is the place where one could easily find a copy for a key, 24/7.

Go to next page to see a photo of The Big Golden Key & one photo of the 24/7backup, and then read the note!

Team B – Clue 14

Big Golden Key Says, “There are different kind of keys, and not all come from the hardware store. (Still man-made; but instead of a pocket, they pertain to the soul.) For instance, two keys are patience and hope.”

**

Heaven-in-a-dead-end suggests that when one plan fails, what you get from the leftovers reinvented it is often times better

than what was initially expected!

Street Says, “Patience, hope & maps take you places. It is a fact. Now, let your map reveal a dead end! There, find one Heaven (carved)… but score double to celebrate resilience!”

***

… and also to celebr8 progress! Check out these photos taken in that dead end in the fall of ‘22, one month apart! At that time, the dead end was beautified & was maintained ever since!

Street asks you to do cleanups or one tree bed care, just as you practice a sport. Meaning that you can do the above with a cleanup group, but it is perfectly fine to act alone! Don’t wait for others, and don’t get drained or delayed by planning an entire operation. Instead, take a pair of workers gloves, a trash bag & go out on your block when you feel you should stretch, or if you need a distraction from your phone! (Some parents do it while waiting for their kids to finish sports practice.)

If you want friends to join, then throw yourself a birthday cleanup to mark any of your 12 monthly birthdays, and send them this explanatory video when you invite them. Also, watch & share the keep-it-calm video.

(Fact-> when you pull out the weeds not only that you have greater visibility and access to remove all litter, but also much less trash will accumulate there over time.)

Photo taken on 10/31/23 showing maintenance one year later & a Dead End sign! Now, Street invites you to find Heaven-in-a-dead-end on this side of the sidewalk.

Go to next page to see photos of Heaven in a dead end.

The dead end is on McKibbin Street. This hydrant is seen in the previous photo collage, next to the man cleaning the street in the ‘before’ photo.

Now read the next clue.

Team B – Clue 15

Street Says, “A Cul-de sac is not game-over.

Get out of it, make a right & do not cross or switch the sidewalk.”

… Howeve’-eve’-eve’, while on this block … visually scan the other side…

Street Says, “Look for 22 twice!”

***

Twenty-Two can be a number, a symbol, could be the exact words typed, or the clear suggestion of a pair or of a couple.

HINT: Pictured is Heaven in a Mirror, illustrating the concept or the idea of what should you expect to see. Attention! While the representation of Twenty-Two is double — it is real!

22 Twice as Geminis II

Geminis II

Photo taken in June ‘24 across from Gemini II, showing a much loved local & a Postal Office worker assigned to this leg of Graham Ave. “Route 22” is handwritten on top of the wheel because the name of this Graham Ave segment is… Route 22! How sweet is that? Street is not playing, not even when we’re playing <3 ;)

June ’24 Update: This is a story for another time, but the mailman won 8 Heaven on Earth Points organically without even playing the Hunt!

Team B – Clue 16

Yes, 22 Twice is palpable & real, and it is Street’s way of inviting each of us to reflect over the unique position of being 1 in 8 billion (the 8 billion mark was hit in ‘22; we’re expected to reach 9 billion two decades from now).

Such as-> what is one simple green upgrade you could introduce in your lifestyle as soon as tomorrow?*

Using a travel mug, wearing a sturdy, light, foldable tote bag as part of your outfit, a reusable water bottle, composting, using powder laundry detergent, recycling the cardboard TP roll and recycling your electronics & everything else properly, doing one tree bed care, cleaning up your block, quitting straws, as well as eliminating balloons at parties (because balloons are number one cause of death for seabirds, while straws kill, too) — all count as good examples. If you work at a school, stop decorating the school with balloons at graduations. Align your teachings with your actions. (If you are a parent, convey the previous information to your kid’s teacher.)

In case you lost someone dear and plan to celebrate their life, don’t do it with a balloon release; balloon release equals innocent death of many wonderful animals. Would the departed want or even like that? #balloonreleasekills even thousands of miles away from the point of origin!

If you smoke, of course, stopping is the way to go, but until you do that, collect your butts in a small box, and regardless if you smoke or not, share the next information with others-> not enough people know that cigarette butts are the most littered items on the planet! (Check the Heaven photos showing the first two Heaven on this route, and the second Heaven-that-stutters; they will help you understand and perhaps notice from now on the phenomenon.)

Answer the question* later in order to keep winning personal Heaven On Earth Points even after this game is over. Implement one form of ‘Simple Love, Real Action’ as often as possible. If you post about it, Varet Street Says, “Use the hashtag #EarthPower”

Ordering food is an extremely common practice. So, let’s make the following ‘recipe’ simple. Regardless of the plastic bag ban status in your state or country, use your heart & logic.

1) If you send out food & the delivery person has an insulated bag for deliveries, please do not hand out a plastic bag unless it is really necessary! (For instance, if there is some oily situation going on.)

2) If you deliver food and you don’t need to place the bag on the horns of your bicycle (so you either have an insulated backpack while on the bike or motorcycle, or you drive a car) please do not accept a plastic bag.

3) If you are the customer in this relation of 3, please make a note that you do not want a plastic bag, nor do you want plastic cutlery in case you already have cutlery (for instance, you are at home or at work). Go back to drinking without a straw, since 99,99% percent of our ancestors did so for 200,000 years. The life of a plastic straw is 200 years; so, a straw used for five minutes in 2024 will kill a majestic hawk, an albatross or any other innocent bird today, or even in 2124…

4) If you sell or buy food to be consumed right away (for instance there are tables outside or indoors, where most customers sit & enjoy their meals), please do not utilize a plastic bag!! (Will Skip the Stuff law work beyond looking good on paper, if 4 years later after plastic bags were banned, we rarely show the initiative of limiting their avoidable usage?)

Let’s call this ‘the good embarrassment,’ meaning that you are possibly feeling uncomfortable towards yourself (so even if nobody sees you) knowing that you’re about to make a plastic bag enter the 500 years circuit with literally no purpose.

Let’s avoid that together. If only one of the three actors in the food delivery equation says ‘No,’ that bag will never happen. What you feel, think & do matters. If you believe that it does not, you are denying your greatness & the fact that you have an impact —while in fact, you’ve always had it->

-> When you use an unnecessary plastic bag you do have an impact. It is negative, it exists & it will live for hundreds of years, even if you don’t acknowledge it. (The 2,000 plastic bags that killed a camel represent 2000 people who said, “It is just a plastic bag.” Please, don’t emulate them...)

-> Switch to saying ‘No’ to that disposable bag, acknowledge your action, feel the pride, get the dopamine AND have a positive impact. Plus, you’ll inspire your children, who will now have real deal essay material for Earth Day & Climate Week assignments from first grade till graduation!, And possibly more but only the future will tell & you’re not supposed to know it. Legacy is not a will linked to your bank account; legacy is like a seed. It is like planting a forest that you might not even see. -> Think of the contemporary Sanskrit Language fable at the end of Team A material. Be an inspirator!

Well, if you do as little or as much as the simple, right thing from above, it means that you’ve nailed it!

In other words, if your favorite number is 7, you’ve just turned a minus seven into a plus seven.

Street Says, “Congratulations, you speak Mathematics from Heaven ! <3

On the first corner you’ll find Atlas, who has the next clue for your team.

And remember, Atlas* can present as a map, could be the globe; can only be a word (as shown*), or could even be Atlas — the person who carried the weight of the planet all alone…

Go to next page to verify if you found Atlas!

Yes, that is Atlas as a map of Middle-Earth (from Lord of the Rings), seen at the Deli on the corner of Graham Avenue & Boerum Street.

Now read next clue!

Team B – Clue 17

Yes, Atlas-as-a-map is Lord of the Key Rings! Also, due to supporting the world on his back by himself, thus inspired by his own bodily aches, Atlas Says, ‘Keep your backs straight! There’s nothing like good health!’

Indeed, Atlas wants us to hold the world together on our backs, because the task will be lighter & it makes much more sense.

Aside from that, pay attention to posture, especially since you’re checking your phones for so long and so often! A good trick is keeping your chin up & tilted towards back at all times. The spine & the shoulders will follow. (You’ll smile more & you’ll look others into their eyes!)

Thus, the chin, as tiny as it is compared to the rest of your body’s size, works like a small key that opens a large door, since it will be a reminder to pull everything back & to regain control of your presence & comfort.

Atlas Says, “Numbness and pain will come after years of compressed nerves due to incorrect posture — and until a smaller device that keeps you hooked will be invented (to be easily held up around the eye level), you’ll all be known as the generation of the question marks. Don’t let that happen!”

**

Now, collect two Heaven Points from the opposite side of the street; so, it is time to cross! Similar to health and illness, the keywords which signal the hot spots are in antithesis; thus, look for ‘tree’ & ‘smoke’ and find one Heaven next to each, in front of two storefronts (first handwritten, second carved).

Go to next page to verify your findings & to advance.

One handwritten Heaven is in between Orange Tree store & the Laundromat.

*** BONUS ***

Atlas-as-a-map asks you to make a quick detour and say ‘Hi’ to his twin. You couldn’t have discerned his twin very clearly while next to the corner store; meanwhile, the twin (located on Boerum Street, close to the Dollar Store) has a better view of the deli from where he is standing. Go and see for yourself!

Find the Atlas Twin for one bonus Heaven point (check the photo on next page).

Now that you found the Atlas Twin, continue on Graham Avenue where one carved Heaven awaits for your team at the smoke shop! Check next page to see a photo.

One Carved Heaven is in front of this smoke shop. (The question marks will pop up later once more on this route, reminding you to keep your back straight!)

This carved Heaven Raquel <3 is in front of the smoke shop. Take this Heaven Love as a reminder to collect littered vapes outside of this hunt (thus, a gesture of real love, simple action), even for non-vapers. Read about reasons for saying ‘no’ to vapes regardless if you vape or not, in this article. And then get ready for next clue!

Team B – Clue 18

Now, continue on this very same sidewalk, pass by the bus stop, use the crosswalk in front of you, and only when you hit an Avenue that rhymes with “rose” prepare to switch to the opposite side of the street.

But before you do that, verify the correct street name by looking at the screenshot of the map on next page!

If anyone needs to use the bathroom, now is the time to direct them inside the bakery on the corner & to also buy a drink.

(1) Once there, find out if they offer discount when you bring your own cup.

(2) If so, do they have a visible sign advertising it?

Attention!

Use the Eco-Rate app or any other similar app to let other people know if the coffee shops & other institutions you run into are Earth-loving. And check out these 11 tips for sustainable coffee consumption; yes, We Are Atlas is # 11!

Rate coffee shops, but you could also r8 hotels! Many hotels worldwide offer free unlimited coffee in the lobby area, providing their guests with countless disposable paper cups, which are not recyclable!

Following is one eco-friendly alternative that hotels could look into implementing. Run a test, especially if your hotel already has a dishwasher installed.

1. Get a stock of good quality travel mugs (twist on lid, spill free) with a full handle that allow the usage of a carabiner (to avoid losing the mug. Don’t use mugs with built in carabiner, because if that breaks, the whole mug is compromised. You want to use long-lasting products.)

3. If the guests wish access to free coffee to go, offer them a travel mug with a carabiner for a refundable deposit.

4. At the end of the stay offer them the option to keep the duo as a great, practical souvenir (and as a visible, traveling business card, since it comes with the name of the hotel on it).

5. If the guests don’t want the mug, they get the money back, minus a few dollars maintenance fee used to cover daily washes in the hotel dishwasher plus wear & tear (get stainless steel mugs; no-paint no-scratch). So, at the end of each day, guests drop off the mug they just used & pick up a clean one; much like it happens in the restaurant industry when we traditionally share washed cutlery, cups, glasses and plates with strangers ;)

6. Sell mugs with the hotel logo in case some travelers love the idea & are looking for practical souvenirs!

7. Keep track on the number of travel mugs rented/sold and make periodic announcements-> “Together we have saved XYZ trees from being cut!” Most tourists get to a hotel by riding a car or an airplane. When they switch to a travel mug they compensate for the carbon footprint of their travels. Let them know that!

That is another story for another time, but you should know that the idea of travel mugs for hotels stays behind the creation of the “We Are Atlas” concept in March ’22. At that time, it presented itself as an answer in a dialogue. Shortly after, it was used as a tagline in a stop-motion animation video & it finally became the name of this tour/scavenger hunt in 2023. Street hopes it will turn into a widespread form of real love, simple action towards all streets out there & Earth.

Attention x 2!

“This sidewalk is made for walking, so don’t even think of lingering in front of the bakery especially if you are part of a larger group,” Street Says to the rest of the team

Send the representatives in now; meanwhile everyone else should use the other crosswalk (marked with the third red arrow on the map) to cross to the opposite side of the street.

Right there you’ll be rewarded with one carved Heaven Heart. Check your finding by looking at the photo on the next page.

Team B – Clue 19

Yes, you found Heaven <3!

Heaven Heart marks a block rich in Heaven (2 more carved & 2 hand-written; stay on this sidewalk!) So… be meticulous from crosswalk to crosswalk… and Street will pay you!

In the name of Heaven <3 & Amore, Street is helping you-> this Pizza shop is closed one day per week, but… know that the two hand-written Heaven are situated on a metal surface in front of it & they are light pink. Look everywhere!

And then, find two carved Heaven at the following street corner.

*** BONUS ***

Score one bonus Heaven point if you notice a Green Upgrade in the following photo of the Pizza shop (hint — it is an ad).

Now, advance to next page to see photos of the other 4 Heaven you are supposed to find on this short block, two handwritten & two carved!

This is one handwritten Heaven in front of the Pizza place. (Get a slice, now or later, it is really lovely!) This photo was taken by Team B players at the May 29^th ’23 edition. You can catch a glimpse of the travel mug with a carabiner & the metal water bottle offered as a gift to each player! (In fact, the Green Upgrade ad to be noticed in the pizza shop window is an advertisement for water in aluminum bottles, opposed to plastic! Do you know how to call that? #RealLoveSimpleAction ; )

90

Photograph of two carved Heaven at the Corner of Graham and Meserole Street sent by Team B players on May 29^th ’23. Stand here as you read next clue!

(On 11/23/23 a trash can was covering the Heaven on the right hand side, so be prepared for such a possibility.)

*** BONUS ***

For months, on the left pole next to the two carved Heaven there was a street ad (now gone), partially covered. After many weeks, the message was uncovered by unknown hands & Street’s words were shown to all who passed by.

Street wants you to know that “You deserve HEALTHY LOVE even if you’ve never seen it before” That’s amore!

Here comes next clue!

Team B – Clue 20

Congratulations for scoring all those Heaven points on the Pizza Amore block!

Street has more Heaven for you!

Don’t walk far; instead, only cross the street, but do not switch to the opposite side. So, stay on this sidewalk!

This corner of Graham Avenue with Meserole Street also holds a reference to twins, a pair, or a couple.

Visually check the intersection and/or the map & when you kind of see double, you’ve got the answer! Go to next page to verify if your guess is right!

Yes, The Graham Bar, which is next to you, is on this corner of Graham Avenue, so Graham Twice is the reference to twins! Now Street has a message!

Graham Street Is Saying,

“How many Heaven there are on the pavement on my side (so on Graham Avenue), that’s how many points you’re getting… multiplied by TWO!”

** IMPORTANT! **

There are 4 Heaven carved on the asphalt on the Graham avenue side of The Graham. Even when the tables are out, you should still be able to find them.

If people are sitting down, do not bother them & don’t divulge what you are looking for. Be slick!

Attention! While all Heaven are special, you are about to see the first one ever discovered, which inspired this entire hunt!

Go to next page to see photos of Four Carved Heaven!

NYC has 6300 miles of streets and 173,000 sewers, yet this corner was part of a series of unique geographical synchronicities!

Just feet away (under 1 minute walk) is the production studio where the We Are Atlas video was finalized! It is pure geographical coincidence, since the video project came into the picture in the spring of ’22, totally unrelated to this Heavenly charged zip code, and to the Heaven story that started developing in 2021!

(Then, the idea for this hunt was born at the end of August ’22, and the first hunt took place in October ’22. Its initial name was 8 Million to 8 Billion ’22, currently known as We Are Atlas, but you can also call it… The Heaven Tour!)

In other words, the location of the studio could have been anywhere else on the map of New York City, however, it is just a stone’s throw from The Graham!

While Einstein said that God doesn’t play dice with The Universe, Street says that The Universe loves board games, since it neatly aligned everything in this zip code!

The first Heaven ever noticed (that inspired the whole game), was seen in the early summer of ’21 in front of The Graham, on Graham Avenue.

That first-Heaven-ever in front of The Graham stood out due to the fact that it marked a very, very dirty spot. So, the "High Contrast" made one person stop. Long story short, Heaven became part of a Birthday Cleanup organized on July 31^st 2021!

This is how everything started, and since it was the first Heaven spotted, that sewer was temporarily called Heaven; and then a new name came to life — not only because more and more Heaven tags were discovered as time went by, not because of the Birthday Cleanup, not because it ignited a good butterfly effect, but due to a happenstance, which was in fact, the first synchronicity event (acknowledged ) connected to this spot, on the same day into night with the Birthday Cleanup.

If I were to name a moment so precious I cannot put a price on it, you'll be surprised; it is a state of mind, and is comprised by all those small coincidences we let our eyes to notice . A déjà vu our present has, a glimpse of the ongoing future connected to the past. No, no, no; a glimpse of the ongoing past connecting to the future. Same thing! As future is the dying present, while seconds flow into another second every second. So, past is pouring into present and into future, as we’re talking. Or better to be said, ‘were talking.’ My riddle is, ‘What is the present?’ Which one is yours? Perhaps the future?”

The first Heaven wasn’t too hard to discern due to the visual antithesis — a big, big pile of colorful trash & Heaven carved on top of it, next to the crosswalk.

When the cleanup started, the surprise came! The sewer itself had sunk in & was lowered a few inches under the level of the street; so the pile of trash was not only wide, but it also had a certain depth to it! Four flattened orange traffic cones were hidden in there, in combination with various types of garbage, including vacuum cleaner tubes! That situation looked like a real lasagna of trash!

While one eager person initiated the operation alone 15 minutes ahead of the scheduled meet-up, the birthday group took over (for reasons not to be mentioned now) & finished the work at the end of the cleanup session, close to 1 pm, on that July 31^st.

Just a few hours later on the same day, another string of events unfolded; different faces, different time, even different zip codes, yet connected to the Heaven spot! This is a separate story of multiple synchronicities, which 12 hours later led to the co-creation of a new name for this sewer; and that is… Hole To Heaven.

Indeed, after the deed was done, there was a hole left in the pavement that must have bothered quite a few New Yorkers in the next two months.

And then another surprise came, when in early October 2021, this sewer was seen freshly fixed by the city; finally elevated to the level of the street! Probably many unknown voices have called 311 to report the existence of the hole and so, the good butterfly effect did its job when a dirty, faulty sewer was turned into a good one, triggered by one birthday cleanup!

Team B – Clue 21

Congrats! You scored more Heaven points!

Now keep going straight. For one year and a half on this short block, in between the corners of Meserole & Scholes Street, one business had a window sign announcing a Green Upgrade. Following is a picture of the sign!

True, this small store had a disposal box for used vapes like the one in this photograph, offering their customers the chance to feel good for doing the right thing! The box was emptied a few times, when hundreds of vapes were dropped off at sanitation collection points for electronics.

Summer ’24 Update – this smoke shop was closed by the City of New York, but it is important to note that businesses can host a vape disposal box WITHOUT selling vapes! Both vapers & non-vapers appreciate them; some became more aware about correct recycling of all electronics in general, while a few vapers expressed the desire to actually quit vaping! Also, many have said that vape-ashtrays should become a real thing.

Now, keep walking to the corner of Graham with Scholes Street and stop next to the mailbox to read another interesting fact & of course, your next clue!

Team B – Clue 22

For just a few weeks in 2023, Street had a message on this mailbox, when an unknown New Yorker placed here this haunting street ad->

“A careless world, a needless sinking.”

And Street Is Singing, “Peter Kalmus, Trying to … UnCalmUs”

Look up Peter Kalmus now or later & remember — don’t ignore the tears of a climate scientist, who is also a parent. Instead, make, maintain & promote simple, daily, green upgrades in your lives — such as using a travel mug, a refillable water bottle, carrying a tote bag, recycling your batteries & vapes as electronics, composting, ditching straws and balloons & and many more!

Other examples (mentioned in the free to watch documentary Ocean Emergency – Currents of Hope) are-> switching to bamboo toothbrushes & to toothpaste tablets, switching to lufa sponges for your dishes, but also to dish soap, to shampoo bars and to regular soap in the shower, since many of the products we use daily come in unnecessary plastic packaging!

Real Love, Simple Action — That’s Amore!

Real Organic, Compostable Bug Vs. Fake Bug, Made of Littered Mini-Vape & Electronic Vape Circuits, confronting each other while on a pile of empty single-use chewing gum plastic containers. (When full, these chewing gum containers are sold for around one dollar each at Dollar Stores.) Which bug is scarier?

Now get ready to discover another Heaven, but… before you do that, take a quick stroll to #222 Graham, to receive reinforcement from Street that all the green upgrades you are about to do in your life… are for the children!

Graham Street is pointing to Graham Child Care at #222.

Before you head back to find Heaven, hear a message on behalf of The Universe & all children, via Graham Adonis.

Now use the same sidewalk to return to the intersection. If you haven’t noticed carved Life Is A Loop on this block, here comes the moment!

From here, return to the Graham & Scholes intersection; there, search for one handwritten Heaven on one of the light poles. Go to next page to compare your finding with a photo.

Yes, that is one handwritten Heaven, diagonally positioned from the corner with the mailbox.

Team B – Clue 23

Keep walking on this sidewalk, and right before the rental bike station you should find one carved Heave(n) on the pavement. Check out the photo on next page.

*** Lost Heaven Update *** As of April ’24 the entire sidewalk on this side of the block was remodeled and the carved Heaven is gone; so the photo on page 114 has historical value only. (The following photograph shows the current situation.)

Team B – Clue 24

Now, walk a few more steps to the intersection of Scholes with Manhattan Avenue.

From there one with vision 20/20 could discern even before crossing the street a hand-written Heaven on another light pole, confirming the direction you should take! (Hopefully, it is not covered by a street ad.)

Compare your finding with a photo, but before you do that, take a look at this image of Street Brilliance New York City at Manhattan 223, only one block off-route.

Just like you walked to #222 Graham, if you have time, walk to #223 Manhattan, then return here to continue the hunt. (The van with stickers saying Street Brilliance New York City is usually parked in front of building number 223; this is maybe Street’s way of telling us to pay attention to its Words of Wisdom in 2o23 and onwards.)

From here, walk back to Scholes & Manhattan. Stay on the same sidewalk as before to collect one bonus (handwritten) Heaven and one bonus Heavenly on your way back there.

And now, find another handwritten Heaven at the aforementioned intersection, confirming the direction (it is next to the corner store).

Team B – Clue 25

Yes! The direction is towards Montrose Avenue. Keep the pace up and look-out for vapes; only stop to find another Life Is A Loop on one corner of Manhattan & Meserole.

From here, continue down the same sidewalk as before till the first deli, where another carved Heaven waits for you.

Chances are that Heaven associated with this deli is no more than a word carved on asphalt — you can find out by stepping in and checking if they still give away free plastic bags, or not.

A true Heaven on Earth is ‘more than words,’ like the song from the 90’s is saying.

When you continue making & promoting any form of peaceful personal progress outside this game, you will keep winning Heaven on Earth points; thus a true Heaven on Earth equals simple, good action.

*** IMPORTANT ***

New York is one of only ten states in USA having a ban on plastic bags, meanwhile, too many NYC bodegas still offer them for free, while numerous customers accept them (despite New Yorkers being already into the good habit of carrying reusable bags when they shop at big supermarkets).

Moreover, deli regulars generally typically live minutes away from their local corner stores, yet they accept disposable bags (even for the tiniest items) only to often throw these bags in the garbage once they’re home.

Others are aware that accepting them is not the right thing to do, but they plan to use them as trash bags. However, the right opinion matters when is aligned with the right action. Also, your tiniest action matters.

Let trash bags be trash bags! To elimin8 single-use plastic bags we should not reuse them once; we should replace them!

At the same time, if customers don’t have a tote bag on them, since they aren’t given other options, they end up accepting single-use bags…

In order to fracture this vicious cycle, as a customer, start wearing a very light, foldable tote bag attached to your outfit (being attached to you makes it ‘unforgettable’/always within reach), & then remind delis again & again to stop giving away free disposable bags!

Corner stores are given as an example because, like the name says & like this hunt shows, they are literally on every corner; but there are other types of small businesses that could eliminate plastic bags! If, with your help, delis open this new way, perhaps the rest will follow!

Find this deli soon on the route. The New Way Deli will confirm the right way, minutes away from the final destination!

Last, but not least, with a little bit of willingness, we could show everyone what is NY pride, and that the change of the city logo from I <3 NY to WE <3 NYC is not only a marketing move, or just words on the asphalt!

Let’s show the world our Real Love; let’s make the deli-magic happen!

The purpose of this tax-deductible donations campaign was to gift to as many delis as possible starter kits of unforgettable-foldable-tote-bags. The plan was for participating delis to start selling these bags, like the bigger stores do, and to stop giving away free plastic bags.

If you know how to use a sewing machine then go ahead, make foldable tote bags for your friends, or to sell them. Get new fabric or use scrap material that you already own.

Let’s wear & promote practical #Compassion8EarthFashion

Consider talking about the campaign even if you are not in NYC. This hunt was initially called 8 Million to 8 Billion ’22; so if you are 1 in 8 million, or 1 in the remaining 8 billion, and can help in any way, please do.

Progress in NYC today may trigger progress elsewhere tomorrow! This is important because regardless of what country one comes from, we’re all from Earth! The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (twice the size of Texas or three times the size of France) is in international waters, and the trash in the ocean starts on the streets. Let’s correct this!

Love is Love, Earth is Earth & being involved in any way will get you steps closer to solving this quiz that both the hunt & the campaign have in common (and so do all of us).

Now, go to next page to see Heaven as a word carved on the pavement. 123

Team B – Clue 26

From here, continue on Manhattan Avenue. Do not switch to the other side of the street & watch out for lanternflies, from early summer to December!

This marks the beginning of the last leg of your trip. The frequency of carved & handwritten Heaven will go down, so Street reminds you to keep the pace up!

This is what to look for-> you will walk by three sets of street ads on three street poles before you hit Broadway Avenue, so examine the poles well.

Each set contains one atypical street ad. Every time you recognize an atypical ad go to the next page to check your finding & to read Words of Wisdom from Street!

** ATTENTION **

Street Says Words of Wisdom, but not all spot them. Will you?

The order matters-> 1. Find atypical ad on a street pole (first ad is announced by one carved Heaven, second ad announces one carved Heaven, while the third ad marks an area where one handwritten Heaven was lost).-> 2. Read Street’s message in this document-> 3. Earn Heaven points.

These are paper ads, thus prone to being removed or covered; so in case you ‘heaven’ seen the first and second one by the time you reached Carlo’s Deli, and you ‘heaven’ seen the third one by the time you walked by Cook Street then it is possible they’re gone.

• It is okay then to rely solely on the photos. Also, if you can, please be an Atlas and help Street by printing the missing ads & putting them out on the route. (Find the ads at the end of this magazine!)
• Feel free to put these ads out anywhere else you wish, in New York City or outside, but for the sake of the game & while on this segment of this Street, they should be only on a few specific light poles. Remember to use the Heaven ’24 ads in 2024.
• And of course, if you are taking the tour online, you do rely exclusively on these photos ;)

Now go! Check next page for a photo of the first set of atypical ads! 125

Team B – Clue 27

The first atypical ad is on a light pole at the corner of Manhattan Avenue & Boerum Street.

Here come Street’s Words of Wisdom,

Street Says, “When you walk the same direction, Things will happen, like I mentioned — Life goes on; the world is spinning, But together you’ll be winning

Over distance.”

Street is not being poetical; physics & friendships back up what this street is saying,

However, N.Y.C. has six thousand three hundred miles of streets… And streets have ‘babies,’

such as 139.000 sewers and plenty of tree beds.

Everyone agrees — Street is cool and wise, But it is also way too proud to ask… “Would you help me?…”

Yes? Perhaps? Maybe? No time now for a cleanup?

Worry not! You help tremendously by using and promoting reusable cups and bottles for daily liquids intake; and of course, tote bags!

Remember what the atypical ads are saying! And learn that there are 13,000 delis in NYC & many more small stores!

(1)-> Ask your local vendors to stop offering unsolicited plastic bags!

(2)-> Skip the stuff, enough is enough, you’ve got it!-> Don’t accept single-use bags & carry a durable, foldable tote bag, so light that you won’t even perceive it as it hangs attached to your backpack, purse or belt!

(3)-> * NEW * NEW * NEW * !!! The campaign is closed, but new bags may come in. Nomin8 a deli to receive a free starter kit of reusable bags on your behalf! To do so, mention the details of the store under the deli post on Instagram (@WeAreAtlas238)

***

YOUR REWARD: one carved Heaven is very close to you; if you ‘heaven’ seen it yet, walk back a few feet. Check yourself by looking at the photo on next page!

Team B – Clue 28

Go to the next page to see the second atypical street ad & to read Street’s words of wisdom.

In case you are not familiar with New York street ads, know that the moving ad which inspired the Heaven ad is an iconic New York advertisement seen for many, many years on street poles all over the city — from Harlem, to Brooklyn, to Queens, to Manhattan and back.

Read what the ad is saying and find clear, printable copies at the end of this magazine.

Here come Street’s Words of Wisdom,

“Street Says

When you break a bigger bill — such as a fifty for a two dollar ice cream,

and the sales associate doesn’t check it if it’s fake, you

make sure the change received is real.”

A friendly store clerk offering you a single-use plastic bag, a plastic straw, or who won’t inspect the bills they’re handed may be well-intended, but… Street Is Asking… “Is that person truly helping?”

In order to remember this store related information, Street is offering you one carved Heaven — to be found in front of the classical NY-looking Deli in front of you. Find it for one Heaven point & then don’t stop till the next atypical ad.

Check yourself by looking at the photos on next page. See the deli & the position of the carved Heaven in front of it (first image), then catch a detail of Heaven (second image), while the last photographs shows the iconic NYC deli look captured in early 2016.

8

Team B – Clue 29

Now, prepare to find the third set of ads.

On your way there, if you pass by any person in need, offer to buy them food and a drink, or give away some dollars. (A little bit from a few of you will do the job.) Many could use help, yet there is one wise, old man who wouldn’t panhandle; so, remember to offer support even if you’re not asked. Street Says, “Hear with both your ears and eyes when you run into Paul.”

If that happens, you will be rewarded with 1 Heaven on Earth Point (1 bonus H.O.E.P.) to compens8 for the lack of calligraphic Heaven.

Then walk to the next atypical ad to hear more of what Street has to tell you! Compare your finding with the photo on next page.

Next, read Street’s Words of Wisdom!

Street Says,

“Look both sides when you cross a one way street.“

Some motorists drive in reverse & they aren’t shy with speed.

Bikes, scooters, skateboards, even joggers or electrical wheelchairs could do harm as well.

Watch out for ‘surprise’ bike lanes!

So… one detail missed (or noticed on time) will break (or reinforce) the line

between Heaven on Earth and hell…

Street Says, “Attention Avoids Avoidable Accidents”

At one point, in July ’23, the Heaven ad on this pole was temporarily covered by an advertisement for electric wheelchairs, so, yes, Street is very serious about asking you to look both ways when you cross a one-way street! Anything with a little bit of speed & some weight attached to it could hurt you greatly at impact. Stay alert.

***

Now, keep the pace up & continue on Manhattan Avenue till you hit Broadway; cross it & continue on Whipple. Walk to the end of the block. When you reach the corner again cross the street, but instead of entering the next block of Whipple… make a left on Throop, and head towards the large intersection which in other parts of the world would have been a roundabout.

Don’t be confused by the multitude of options; Street will help you!

Street Says, “Go straight & cross the big Avenue in front of you. On the first street pole you will find one hand-written Heaven, reinforcing the direction!”

Go to next page to see a photo!

*** Faded Heaven Alert *** As of April ’24 this Heaven is almost gone. Maybe the Heaven Person should do a touch-up!

Team B – Clue 30

Yes, continue on Throop! Street Says to follow ‘the big H on the map’ from the distance, so stick to this sidewalk!

On this last segment you will run into Heaven, yet not that often as before… and for that reason… Street wants you to know — especially when Heaven gets scarce or hard to notice, look for reinforcements, keep the faith & trust the progress!

Street will show you a few confirmations on the final leg of your trip, including a Hidden Heaven.

Now, you can start walking. Just feet away, as promised, you’ll pass by 3 question marks — handwritten on the fence. Remember, they mean ‘keep your back straight,’ but also… ignore the doubt & trust the process!

From here, cross Hopkins, then Ellery Street, and as you go straight on Throop, visually scan the walls, doors, and even the trashcans.

Two hand-written Heaven wait for your team before Park Avenue!

However, the first Heaven is so hard to catch, that Street offers it to you as a bonus-gift.

Street Says, “Be confused not. This Heaven is faint, and this is exactly why it is so powerful. It serves as a reminder to believe in Heaven — thus, to have hope — even when you ‘heaven’ seen or heard enough encouraging events going on around you… Silence hides action in the background, so have patience and the results will reveal themselves to you.

Tick Tock. Time is scary because it is all that we want; yet nobody owns it. But also, time is friendly; think of the face of a clock. Big. Plain. Intimidating, maybe? Hostile? Tick Tock!

But baby, good news, despite the quietness, many unseen wheels move behind that dial; therefore, there’s action happening for you even while you think it is not! So do not feel lonely and hopeless; have patience and never give up.”

Now look carefully at this photo & then find a Hidden Heaven on the door at # 190.

Street Says, “If you’re used to think faint-is-weak, think ‘spider silk.’ You barely can see it, yet ‘pound for pound, spider silk is stronger than steel and tougher than Kevlar.’ Oh, wondrous Terra, you’ve thought of everything !”

Only steps away from the Hidden Heaven, another one follows; it stands out, large & bright in color! Go to next page to verify yourself.

Team B – Clue 31

At this intersection

A three-reel combo will confirm the New Way

in true slot machine style, bam-bam-heaven!

To notice the lucky sequence not only check the map, but also the building where you are at — doors, walls and store sign. The exterior holds the answer.

Attention-> this building is wrapped around the corner, so inspect both sides.

The-pairing-of-three unlocks what’s next… Hint –> you are looking for a lucky sequence of a lucky number. Similar to the fake blue sky that earlier pointed the direction like an arrow, so will these numbers.

Once you’ve found them, go to next page to check the correct answer!

Team B – Clue 32

Keep walking on this new Avenue you are on, and shortly, another Deli will confirm that the New Way is the way to go!

So really,

follow this direction — and once you recognize the New Way Deli (which you’ve seen earlier in a photo) — stop to read an important note!

…did you find the right deli?!

Indeed, this is the New Way Deli, and the third deli seen from the corner of Park & Throop, on one short block!

Yes, there are over 13,000 delis in NYC and most of them still offer free single-use plastic bags. Some do so even with the smallest purchase to be consumed right away, such as one can of soda or an ice cream in a cone; and customers accept them.

The Fractured Atlas campaign was designed to gift delis starter kits of eco-friendly bags, and this depends on how many people believe in immediate progress & donate, or even only share the campaign.

However, this is not just about donating. Opening the conversation is good enough; let’s change the way we look at bags. We learn from errors to do better; Ergot (explained on Route A) says that when we cancel people, the most we get is someone bitter. Information helps people to correct themselves; that way they can enlighten & inspire others, starting with their children.

Street Says, “Congratulations; if you Mathematics from Heaven! Thank you!”

***

After 777 thrice & New Way Deli, Street Says to stay in the magic of the 7 hundreds, and leave aside any doubt. Trust the process.

When Heavenly circumstances are not obvious, other subtle confirmations may come up.

Regardless if you notice them or not, it is important to remember that they exist, like the almost invisible (yet stronger than steel) spider silk. So, keep the faith & keep on going!

Only one block away you’ll arrive at fire engine 230 — 701 Park Avenue.

Film still from the scavenger hunt video, showing one fire truck from engine 230 & one fireman looking at the sky (minute 1:10), next to one location of the Heaven ‘22 ad on the route of the hunt.

No matter if you believe in angels or not, firefighters are angels on Earth who put their lives at risk daily to save us. Everywhere, they mean a lot to society, especially in New York.

Mural on a deli, close to the initial gift pick-up location, paying tribute to NYC firemen & to the victims who perished at the 9/11 attacks in 2001. The firemen with wings are seen ascending to Heaven, on a ladder. You can discern a ghost of the Twin Towers on top of the Billiards sign, to the left side of the moon.

You may remember from Team A material that one Heavenized corner of NYC Street & Atlas gifted the hunt sealed boxes containing over ten types of pristine posters, most of them showing the Twin Towers, on high quality paper, dated 2001, taken by Yaroslav Storojinsky (36 Inches X 11 3/4 Inches).

There was no doubt that these posters were found to help the mission of the hunt. Thus, at the beginning, they were offered as a gift to the ones who participated at the 2022 editions.

Now, the wish is to direct the funds towards buying more foldable tote bags that will be offered not only to NYC delis but also to everyone, in order to maximize the chances for eco-progress to happen!

If you want to see NYC cleaner, and if you wish to own a beautiful collectible poster from 2001, buy one, because the funds are directed to acquiring more foldable tote bags!

Photo taken on the 11/11 weekend showing 10 types of posters & a piece of art made of 3 found posters as background, & a series of small items on both sides (most of them littered & a few mementos). Just like the hunt, this is eco-art, with the same message.

Team B – LAST CLUE

Street offers you a final handwritten Heaven, so keep walking past Engine 230 and you’ll soon see it on the same block.

Go to next page to see a photo.

This is one handwritten Heaven at #689.

And now, your final destination is past the end of this block! There, you will find the Gate to Heaven! When you see it, you’ll know it.

If two teams played the game, this is where you meet the other team. Just like in life, we start the same, end the same, yet what we feel is similar.

Hint-> visually scan all light poles (so you will have to cross in order to do that), however, do not leave the intersection. Stick to it and look for handwritten Heaven twice.

Go to next page to verify your finding!

***

Congratulations, you found the Gates to Heaven! And then, it’s up to us to figure Heaven in 2o23 & further.

Does it exist on Earth? Is it a feeling, an action, a moment — or is it a metaphor?

Is it a word, like love, or is it more than that (also like love)?

Until then, you just outlined a route. Street & Atlas thank you! Today, everyone wins!

P.S. What matters long-term are the Heaven on Earth Points that anyone could accumul8 when they align with the simple philosophy of the atypical street ads. (H.O.E.P. go to individuals, but also to businesses, such as the ones you’ve noticed on the route promoting Green Upgrades! Also, each used vape discarded in a vape box on its way to being recycled as electronics represents 1 person who earned 1 H.O.E.P. & so on. Trust & be the progress! Street is right; we are the legacy builders, planetary movers, legacy contractors, turnkey!

“Is This Real Love?” — over 20 littered plastic packaging from male enhancement pills typically sold at NYC delis & smoke shops, found on the streets of Brooklyn over the span of 4 years, were applied on this vintage coat. This coat together with the purse (made of littered items as well, partially seen on the right-hand side of this photo) tell a story of Fake Love versus Real Love while taking the viewer around the planet — and the good news is that Real Love exists! This art tandem was on display in the fall of ’23 at the gift pick up location.

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Attention! The campaign mentioned in this hunt ended one day before Valentine’s Day ’24, however, it will stay in this material past the end d8 because the idea should stay alive until the unforgettable foldable tote bags thrive.

Back view of the purse offering a glimpse into the interior through the wide-open door. The exterior shows a view of the world, of nature, and then of the streets of New York. (The interior zooms in on a couple representing all of us, no matter if we are single or not.)

*** BONUS ***

As mentioned, this scavenger hunt was called initially 8 Million to 8 Billion ’22, and then it was renamed We Are Atlas 238 in ’23, since we were still 8 billion in 2023.

The purpose of this hunt is to instill hope and offer ideas of Real Love, Simple Action in a playful manner.

In the fall of ’23, We Are Atlas was invited at a small event observing Climate Week, focused on art.

Following is the first ticket bought online (donation basis). Someone well intended chose the alias Zeus Hope & paid $ 8,23! The playfulness was appreciated & we took it as a sign of good luck.

Street & Atlas express their gratitude to everyone who made this happen, especially to the Heaven Person — for the perseverance shown over the years & for the word that was chosen. Heaven on Earth is real. Also, thank you, Universe & thank you — yes, you! — for being part of this!

Are you intrigued by the question at the bottom of the Heaven ads? Make your guess; please ask friends! Read the Ami books for hints (page 131)! The answer will reveal itself, or maybe you will reveal it soon! Stay tuned!