AARP teamed up with the New York State attorney general’s office at last year’s ninth annual Shred Fest (photo courtesy AARP New York)
Multiple locations in all five boroughs
Saturday, May 20, and Sunday, May 21, free, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
www1.nyc.gov
No, this is not a wild and crazy guitar festival. Now that tax season is over and spring is upon us, it’s time to get rid of that annoying paperwork you no longer need. But with identity theft such a real problem, you might just want to take advantage of New York City’s tenth annual Shred Fest, a two-day public elimination of bank statements, pay stubs, credit card applications, and anything else that contains vital personal information. On Saturday, May 20, there will be shredders strutting their stuff from ten in the morning till about four in the afternoon (or until they are filled, which is likely to be earlier) at Franz Sigel Park in the Bronx, Bensonhurst Park and Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn, St. Nicholas Park in Manhattan, Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens, and the Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk and South Beach on Staten Island. On Sunday you’ll have to head to Triangle Plaza in Co-op City in the Bronx, Prospect Park in Brooklyn, Union Square Park in Manhattan, and the Springfield Gardens Stop & Shop Plaza Shopping Center in Queens. This is a whole lot more satisfying and exciting than merely ripping paper up and throwing it down the garbage chute in your apartment building, so we’ll see you there; just don’t show up too late.