- private
- adults
- kids
- outdoor
The Secrets of the Jewish Lower East Side Scavenger Hunt
Explore the roots of Jewish culture in NYC
See the most fascinating Jewish heritage locations before they disappear! Teams will answer tricky, fascinating questions about the places they discover, from Rivington Street to East Broadway, from Orchard Street to Essex Street.
You’ll see businesses hanging on against the onslaught of trendy cafés. You’ll find barely noticeable signs of Jewish groups on the faces of old buildings. You’ll see an active yeshiva and a synagogue that became a Buddhist temple. Your mouth will water at stores that still serve bialys, bagels, and kosher pickles.
This scavenger hunt is available in two editions: an adult hunt, and a Kids Edition that is designed for kids and adults to do together. Filled with historical tidbits and highlights, the game has been a big hit with student groups from yeshivas and synagogues.
Highlights include…
- The former Forward newspaper headquarters
- The site of the Garden Cafeteria, where the Jewish intelligentsia dined and kibitzed
- Seward Park, site of the daily Chazir Mark, where laborers were hired…or idled
- The birthplace of B’Nai B’rith
- One of America’s most dazzling houses of worship, the Eldridge Street Synagogue
- Essex Market, created to get peddlers and their pushcarts off the streets
What are players saying about the Jewish Lower East Side scavenger hunt?
A 5-star review on Yelp: “We recently did a scavenger hunt of the Lower East Side—what a great way to explore a different part of the city! It was educational and fun for both grown-ups and kids. We learned a lot about the neighborhood, and had fun doing it.”
“Thank you so much for setting up the hunt. The kids had a great time. I thought the questions were a combination of really simple and complicated. It also didn’t hurt that my group won! 🙂 Otherwise, the kids had a great time, got into it and enjoyed walking around and seeing the Lower East Side….At the end of the day, we ask [the students] to talk about something that was a highlight for them that day and many of the kids said the hunt was the highlight.” —a director of education for a student group from a temple
“It was wonderful and we would absolutely recommend it to others and perhaps do it again!” —an organizer of a group from a temple in New Jersey
“Yes, it was great!!” —from a high school for Jewish studies
“Loved it. Thank you for helping us out with a great event.” —from a social group of kids and adults
Contact us to learn more about this group game that celebrates the Jewish Lower East Side—and find more fun in NYC!
- private
- adults
- outdoor
The Munch Around the Lower East Side Scavenger Hunt
From pickles to knishes, a munch for every mensch…
…awaits you on this tasty tour of the vanishing Lower East Side. You’ll discover the best eats of the neighborhood before they go bye, bye, bagel.
On teams, you will follow a train of clues that take you to the neighborhood gourmet hotspots. You’ll need to search for answers to fun questions about what you discover.
Even better, along the way you’ll have to take creative photos of your team enjoying snacks and noshes you purchase along the way. We’ll provide you with the locations and recommended treats; you decide which ones deserve the favor of your taste buds.
To win, you don’t need to know a bialy from a bagel, or a jot of Lower East Side. You just need sharp eyes, good teamwork, and an appetite for adventure.
Along the way, your team might…
- Take a licking at Economy Candy
- Visit the brand-spanking-new Essex Market, a foodies’ nirvana
- Let a hefty ice cream sandwich melt your resolve
- Fish for New York’s finest lox
- Pick your favorite pickles
- Hole up with famous doughnuts
This slice of New York calls out for hungry explorers.
Book a scavenger hunt for a private group anytime—and find more fun on NYC’s Lower East Side!
- private
- adults
- outdoor
The Pastrami and Wry Scavenger Hunt
Explore the heart of the Lower East Side…
…as it changes practically right before your eyes. This hunt explores primarily the area between Houston and Delancey Streets, where new towers are squeezing in between the old tenements. You’ll discover trendy new cafés, bars, and stores located side-by-side with traditional eateries associated with the neighborhood’s Jewish heyday, including Katz’s Deli, Russ & Daughters, and Yonah Schimmel’s Knishery. You’ll see old synagogues that have become artists’ studios and art galleries, a sleek luxury hotel across the street from the legendary Economy Candy store, 19th-century buildings with splashy new murals by rising street artists, and a spin-off of a trendy bakery that has taken over the former home of Schapiro’s Kosher Wines.
