“A lot of what we’re doing here in New York is straight-up stolen from San Francisco,” Stark admits, drawing a direct line between what he calls Gotham’s “glorious amateurism” and SF-based groups like the Suicide Club and the Cacophony Society. (Stark helped originate New York’s first Idiotarod race, another West Coast import.) “In San Francisco, you’re expected to make your own fun. In New York, it’s so easy to do nothing but attend top-notch dance, theater and film every night of the week,” says Stark. “I love those things, but they reduce me to the role of a consumer. I want events where everyone brings their own creativity, not just the people we label ‘artists.’ ”

Comedian Charlie Todd made his first foray into impromptu performance art in 2001, when he passed himself off as singer-songwriter Ben Folds at a local bar— garnering free drinks and telephone numbers all night. That same year, he founded Improv Everywhere (improveverywhere.com), which stages tongue-in-cheek “missions” that usually leave spectators scratching their heads. (Past endeavors have included a redheads-only protest of Wendy’s and the annual “No Pants Subway Ride.”)

“We do what makes us laugh, but we’re also interested in reclaiming public space,” says Todd, who also performs at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre with the improv troupe Reuben Williams. “If giant corporations can slap ads all over town, we should be able to blanket the city with comedy.” The key to an IE event, he explains, is making the stunt somewhat plausible and never breaking character. “There’s no ‘reveal’ moment. It’s more interesting to let people draw their own conclusions, like, Who the hell were those people in their underwear?!?”

Though these participatory events can draw large crowds and disrupt traffic, the authorities seem to have adopted a mostly laissez-faire attitude. “We never give advance notice and we never ask for permission, so we don’t know for sure how the police are going to react,” says Etundi. “They’re usually baffled at first, but when we explain we’re celebrating the city, they appreciate it.” The police who showed up at “One Night” were so accommo-dating, he says, “that it felt like we were buddies.” (Ironically, a number of the participants had been arrested at Critical Mass rallies or the RNC convention in 2004.)

For Stark, who has worked on stunts with the Madagascar Institute, keeping on your toes is essential. “You have about a ten-minute window where you can get away with anything,” he says. “If you keep things moving, you’re not going to be that particular officer’s problem for very long. And honestly, a lot of the cops are just laughing their asses off at the whole thing.”

The real threat, argue the leaders of senseless culture, isn’t the police, but rather an apathetic society that relies on others to provide entertainment. “Just because a bunch of reporters say New York nightlife is over doesn’t mean you should give up,” says Stark. “What are you doing to make it better? If you want dancing in the street, start dancing! Don’t just sit on the sidelines bitching.”