Street Theater For The G.O.P.

There probably won't be any surprises on the podium at the Republican National Convention in New York City two weeks from now. Outside the hall, however, the protest activity will be unusually creative, from a "Blood for Oil" drive to camps in Central Park dubbed Bushvilles, after the downtrodden Hoovervilles of the 1930s. Here's Notebook's unconventional guide.

GREENE DRAGON The week before the convention, this street-theater group will re-create Paul Revere's Ride, pedaling down Lexington Avenue on bicycles outfitted with cardboard horse heads, shouting, "The Republicans are coming!"

REVEREND BILLY Flanked by members of the "Church of the First Amendment," this actor turned activist will lead a half-hour recitation of the First Amendment — the group will talk into cell phones to avoid looking like protesters — near Ground Zero on Aug. 31

BELLS FOR PEACE About 3,000 people are expected to encircle the World Trade Center site on Aug. 28 and chime 2,749 bells for the 9/11 victims to "ring in peace and justice and ring out war and the suppression of liberties"

AXIS OF EVE Demanding an end to "political cover-up," about 100 women draped in American flags and wearing anti-Republican "protest panties" will perform a "mass flash" on Sept. 1

PROTEST THEATER From Aug. 27 through Sept. 11, six theater companies will stage an American Theater Festival close to Madison Square Garden, featuring political plays like The White Plague, a satire of war by Karel Capek

STRIKE THREAT After working without labor contracts for two years, New York City's police and fire fighters have threatened to strike during the convention. Hailed for their service to the city on 9/11, they now are denouncing Mayor Michael Bloomberg for stalled negotiations