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Scavenger Hunts, Wizards at the Museum, Road Trips
July 2009, Vol. 11, No. 7

IN THIS ISSUE
• July Scavenger Hunts, a July 4 Offer, a Harry Potter–Themed Hunt and the High Line
• Private Hunts: Be Penny Wise, But Not Pound Foolish
• Pop Quiz: Who Said It?
• Hunt News: Win Free Tickets for Answering Trivia Questions on Twitter and Facebook

You can also read this newsletter online at WatsonAdventures.com/culture.html.


JULY SCAVENGER HUNTS

On teams of up to six people, you’ll search for answers to tricky, humorous questions. No hunt requires that you know anything about the hunt location—all you need is a sharp mind and a good pair of shoes. You can bring your own team, or we’ll help you join up with kindred spirits at the start. Our hunts have been recommended by The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, National Geographic Traveler, Time Out New York, Travel + Leisure, Daily Candy and many other media outlets.

See the complete Hunt Calendar

July 4th Weekend Scavenger Hunts

The Murder at the Met Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by the New York Times, Time Out New York, New York Magazine, the New York Post, Newsday, AM New York and About.com
Friday, July 3, 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Fans of murder mysteries and The Da Vinci Code will enjoy this scavenger hunt throughout the Metropolitan Museum of Art. A murdered curator has left behind a cryptic trail of clues connected with secrets in works of art. As your team gathers answers about the art, you begin to piece together a sordid tale of greed, lust, pride, revenge and treachery, all revolving around the museum’s planned multimillion-dollar purchase of a rare painting by Leonardo da Vinci. The murder victim knew too much—and now it’s your turn to learn what he knew and discover what drove one of four suspects to commit murder. To find out, you’ll have to crack a secret code left in the victim’s appointment calendar. Can you figure out who dunnit? Be prepared for our most challenging hunt. The darkened and less crowded galleries in the evening make a setting perfect for...murder (cue sinister laugh). Price, which includes museum admission: $42.50 per person ($34.50 with valid college ID). Also available July 11, 18 and 25. Buy tickets now

The Grand Central Scramble Family Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by GoCityKids.com, New York Magazine, the New York Times and Time Out New York
Saturday, July 4, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Kids and adults work together to uncover the secrets of this amazing train station. To win, you’ll have to go nuts in the Whispering Gallery, learn a secret about the stars, find TV celebs in the food court, stand on fish under an upside-down tree in the Grand Central Market, learn the arrival time of a “ghost” train and think like Willy Wonka in the Transit Museum Gallery. For ages 7 and up. Kids must be accompanied by an adult, and vice versa. Please bring one digital camera per team for the Team Photo Challenges. Prices: Ages 7-12, $18; Ages 13 & up $22. Buy tickets now

The Secrets of Central Park Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by the New York Times and Time Out New York
Saturday, July 4, 2 to 4:30 p.m.
Celebrate Independence Day with a stroll in the park and discover places you might never otherwise visit. Highlights include a bird sanctuary (find out why birds won’t go near it), the Carousel (featured in Catcher in the Rye), the Dairy (yes, kids could once get fresh milk there from farms outside the city), Strawberry Fields (almost named for Bing Crosby!), the Sheep Meadow (and, nearby, the former nightspot for the sheep, now Tavern on the Green), the Mall (intended to be the only straight path in the park), Bethesda Fountain and the Lake (made from a swamp). Along the way, you’ll uncover hidden messages, secret symbols, writing in the sky, movie and TV locations, hidden history and Balto the wonder dog. Price: $24.50 per person. This hunt is for adults. Also available July 18. Buy tickets now

The Murder at the Museum of Natural History Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by the New York Times, Newsday and Time Out New York
Sunday, July 5, 2:30 to 5 p.m.
Someone, or something, has been bumping off museum staffers involved in acquiring a sacred Egyptian relic. Is it the dreaded Curse of Ahtchu? Or is a serial killer on the loose? Your team of sleuths will have to crack a hieroglyphic code and uncover the museum’s secrets to stop the killings. Please be ready to hunt by 2:30. If you plan on checking a bag or coat, arrive by no later than 2:15—the lines are staggeringly slow. Price, which includes museum admission: $38.50 per person ($36.50 with valid college ID). Also available July 11. Buy tickets now

The Murder at the Museum of Natural History Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, July 11, 2:30 to 5 p.m.
See July 5 for details. Buy tickets now

The Murder at the Met Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, July 11, 5:30 to 8 p.m.
See July 3 for details. Also available July 18 and 25. Buy tickets now

The Ghosts of Greenwich Village Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by Time Out New York, the New York Times, the New York Post, the Daily News, About.com and NY1
Saturday, July 11, 7 to 9:30 p.m.
Armed with a flashlight, you’ll visit ghost-plagued buildings and secret cemeteries while learning the stories of the restless souls you might disturb. Starring the spirits of Mark Twain, Aaron Burr, Edgar Allen Poe, Washington Irving, Thomas Paine, artist John LaFarge, The Shadow, Clement Clarke Moore, Mayor Jimmy Walker, Lee Chumley, Patrolman Schwartz, a few skeletons and various other apparitions, sudden chills, rustlings and knockings. This hunt is for adults only. Price: $24.50. Buy tickets now

Celebrate the Release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
The Wizard School Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, July 18, 4 to 6 p.m.
Follow in the footsteps of young wizards on a field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in search of art that echoes characters, places and enchanted objects in the famed Harry Potter books and movies. Keep your trusty wand handy as you track down a powerful sorceress, a Snape-like potions master, flying owls and dragons, Hagrid-like giants, centaurs and unicorns like those you’d see in the Forbidden Forest, strange mermaids and sharks that seem straight out of the Triwizard Tournament, fierce knights in armor, and cloaked and masked figures as scary as any Death Eater or Dementor. Wizards and muggles (i.e., people who aren’t Potter experts) can play and enjoy this game. The hunt is not an addition to or variation on Harry’s adventures, but instead references to the books will provide a surprising bridge to many strange and wonderful works of art. It’s a great way to discover—or rediscover—the Met. This hunt is designed for kids and adults to do together, but all-adult teams will be allowed to compete separately. Kids must be accompanied by adults. For ages 7 and up. Prices, which include museum admission: Ages 7 to 17, $29.50; Ages 18 & up, $38.50. Also available July 25. Buy tickets now

The Murder at the Met Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, July 18, 5:30 to 8 p.m.
See July 3 for details. Also available July 25. Buy tickets now

The Secrets of Central Park Twilight Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, July 18, 6 to 8:30 p.m.
See July 4 for details. Buy tickets now

The Munch Around the Village Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by Time Out New York, the New York Times, NFT (Not for Tourists)
Sunday, July 19, 1 to 4 p.m.
At last, a hunt for people who literally hunger for adventure. Discover the gourmet delights of Greenwich Village while collecting treats and answers along the way. Starring some of the best pizza, kebab, cheese, cannolis, paratha, gelato and peanut butter you’ve ever had. Price: $24.50 per person, plus please bring $10 cash per person for food purchases. (We ask you to bring cash so that you can have a wide range of food options to suit your taste and diet. We’ll point you toward our favorites, but the ultimate choice is between you and your tummy.) Also available July 25. Buy tickets now

The Meatpacking District Dash Scavenger Hunt
Friday, July 24, 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Discover this exciting, trendy “new” neighborhood on a hunt that reveals the best of its chic sights, buzzing sounds, rough-and-tumble textures, savory tastes and enticing aromas. The full hunt features not just the transforming-before-your-eyes Meatpacking District but also a bit of Chelsea and the West Village. Highlights include walking along the new High Line (an elevated railway that was turned into a park), Chelsea Market (birthplace of the Oreo), glitzy new restaurants, hotels and stores, a hotel that took in survivors from the Titanic, movie locations, the blocks where Herman Melville once worked and Alexander Hamilton died, and John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s home before they moved to the Dakota. Price: $19.50. Buy tickets now

The Munch Around the Village Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, July 25, 1 to 4 p.m.
See July 19 for details. Buy tickets now

The Wizard School Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, July 25, 4 to 6 p.m.
See July 18 for details. Buy tickets now

The Gangsters’ New York Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by Time Out New York, the New York Times and the New York Post
Saturday, July 25, 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Discover the bygone haunts and battlegrounds of gangs and gangsters in Little Italy and Chinatown. You’ll also explore cafes, bakeries, teahouses, stores, markets, historic buildings, TV and movie locations and more. Along the way, you’ll learn the answers to such questions as: What word got rubbed out where Joey Gallo ordered clams and got slugs? What place associated with Lucky Luciano and Jimmy Hoffa has traded mobsters for lobsters? What beasts stand guard where Don Corleone got shot? And at the Bloody Angle, what can you do with a “fun goon”? Come for the hunt, stay in the neighborhood for an amazing dinner. Price: $24.50 per person. Buy tickets now

The Murder at the Met Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, July 25, 5:30 to 8 p.m.
See July 3 for details. Buy tickets now

Road Trip! Upcoming Hunts in Other Cities
Click on the name of the city to see the complete calendar.
• Boston: The Munch Around Cambridge Scavenger Hunt, July 25
• Chicago: The Navy Pier Pressure Scavenger Hunt, July 18
• Los Angeles: The Santa Monica Pier Pressure Scavenger Hunt, August 1
• Philadelphia: The Murder at the Philadelphia Museum Scavenger Hunt, July 25
• San Francisco: New! The De Young & De Restless Scavenger Hunt, August 15
• Washington, D.C.: The Animal Magnetism Scavenger Hunt at the Zoo, July 25

August Highlights in New York
• The Secrets of the East Village Scavenger Hunt, August 1
• The Art Attack Family Scavenger Hunt at the Met, August 8
• The Skyline at Sunset Scavenger Hunt in Brooklyn Heights, August 15
• The Fright at the Museum Family Hunt, featuring objects in the Museum of Natural History seen in the Night at the Museum movies, August 22
For the complete schedule, see the online August calendar.

Ready to Buy Tickets?
Buy tickets online by clicking on a “Buy tickets now” link above, or click on the button below to see the full Hunt Calendar. To buy tickets by phone, call 866-811-4111. Please note that there is a $1 surcharge on phone orders.



Questions?
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page first. If you still can’t get no satisfaction, call the Hunt Hotline at 877-9-GO HUNT (877-946-4868), extension 12, or click here to e-mail us.

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PRIVATE HUNTS: BE PENNY WISE, BUT NOT POUND FOOLISH

Belt-tightening shouldn’t be confused with starving to death. During tough times it’s more important than ever to keep spirits up and appreciate the value of the people around you. A Watson Adventures hunt is a cost-effective way to show appreciation and boost teamwork while staying local.

• Literally hundreds of corporations from around the nation turn to Watson Adventures for outings that build teamwork and reward hard work.

• Individuals with something to celebrate—a birthday, a family reunion, an anniversary, a bachelorette party, a Bar or Bat Mitzvah—have discovered that our hunts make celebrations memorable and amazing.

• Teachers, summer camps and other organizations for kids use our hunts to introduce youth to the wonders of New York in a way that is fast-paced and fun.

Leave the worry to Watson! To find out what we can do for you, see Private Hunts or speak with our hunt coordinators at 877-9-GO HUNT (877-946-4868), extension 11. Or you can fill out our handy e-mail form. Don’t miss out on the benefits of adventure!


POP QUIZ: WHO SAID IT?

Feeling that old summertime itch to get in the car, put the radio on and drive? Us too. Have fun with us in Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Chicago and L.A. You don’t need to know any trivia to excel, but here are some unusual quotes from famous people featured on hunts in the months ahead....

1. The new Haunted Hollywood Hunt in Los Angeles features one restless ghost who has made multiple cameos around town. On the hunt, she’s most likely to show up by the pool of the legendary Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. She was once asked whether she had posed for a calendar with nothing on, and she replied, “I had the radio on.” Who was the poser?
(a) Rita Hayworth (b) Marilyn Monroe (c) Mae West (d) Madonna

2. At Washington’s Air & Space Museum, the new Flight at the Museum Family Hunt features a coat worn by a famous aviator seen in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. In her last letter to her husband, she wrote, “Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail their failure must be but a challenge to others.” Who was she?
(a) Sally Ride  (b) Charlotte Tuskegee (c) Amelia Earhart (d) Amanda Nosenthrote

3. The jaw-dropping new wing of modern art at the Art Institute of Chicago will now be part of the trail of clues on the Murder at the Art Museum Hunt. One featured artist, who has multiple works on display, had a disdain for computers, saying, “They are useless. They can only give you answers.”  And yet this artist was once featured in an Apple campaign. Who is he?
(a) Linus Torvalds (b) Pablo Picasso (c) Robert Rauschenberg (d) Leonardo da Vinci (inventor of The Da Vinci Code, a computer language)

4. If you’re in town for July 4th, you could join us in uncovering the Secrets of Central Park. One secret involves the statue of an author, whose famous lines include, “O what a tangled web we weave, / When first we practice to deceive!” Who spun those words?
(a) Walter Scott (b) Hans Christian Andersen (c) Shakespeare (d) Balto

5. As you might expect, The Murder at the Franklin Institute Hunt features an appearance or two by Philadelphia’s ubiquitous Ben Franklin. He once wrote a list that concluded, “8th and lastly. They are so grateful!!” This was part of “Reasons for Preferring …” what?
(a) freed slaves as workers
(b) the free distribution of lightning rods, instead of applying for a patent
(c) dogs over cats as pets
(d) an elderly mistress

6. The Haunted Salem Hunt, in the town just outside Boston, takes you to the cemetery wherein lies a judge who participated in the infamous witch trials. One of his descendants wrote The Scarlet Letter, with an opening scene set in the Salem Custom House. The author once declared to an editor, “America is now wholly given over to a d—d mob of scribbling women.” Who was irked by those scribblers?
(a) Nathaniel Hawthorne (b) James Fennimore Cooper (c) Emily Dickinson (d) Norman Mailer

Answers
1. (b); 2. (c); 3. (b); 4. (a); 5. (d); 6. (a)


HUNT NEWS: WIN FREE TICKETS ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK
PLUS, WATSON ADVENTURES AT CLUB GETAWAY

Answer Trivia to Hunt for Free

As a special treat for our Twitter followers and Facebook fans, we’ll be offering free tickets for specific hunts to the first people who correctly answer trivia questions that we’ll post from time to time. Speed, smarts and fast fingers are the key to winning. (Please note that the tickets are not transferable to other hunts. If we ask you a trivia question about, say, the Gangsters’ New York Hunt, and you win, you can use the tickets only on the specified Gangsters hunt.)

To participate on Twitter, follow Watson Adventures (@watsonscavhunts) and look for trivia questions in your Twitter feed. To win, be the first to @ reply with the correct answer.

To participate on Facebook, become a fan of Watson Adventures and look for the questions in your news feed or by visiting our fan page. To win, be the first to post the correct answer on our wall. If you write a blog and would like to host a trivia contest on your site for a pair of Watson Adventures tickets, let us know!

Share your thoughts

Other hunters and kindred spirits would love to hear about your hunting experience with Watson Adventures. What hunts have you done? Do you have a favorite clue or hunt location? What was your team’s name? Have you hunted in more than one city? Let us know! Just reference @watsonscavhunts on Twitter or post your experience on our Facebook wall.



Go on a Scavenger Hunt in the Berkshires and Save $25 on a Club Getaway Weekend

Need to get out of the city? You can literally head for the hills on a unique Watson Adventures scavenger hunt in the Berkshires this weekend. Watson Adventures will offer our special camp-themed hunt during Club Getaway’s July 4 Holiday Celebration from July 2 to 5. Located in the Berkshires of Kent, Connecticut, Club Getaway is a “summer camp for adults” and New England’s premier sports resort offering all-inclusive weekend vacations. The scavenger hunt is included in the price of your getaway.

You can receive a discount of $25 off the price of a Club Getaway weekend vacation this summer when you mention Watson Adventures. Just click here or call 877-746-7529 to book your getaway.

PSSSST! PASS IT ON!

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The hunt’s afoot!

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Address inquiries to Watson Adventures LLC, 262 W. 38th St., Ste. 1203, NY, NY 10018