IN THIS ISSUE
• Quote Unquote: Ballot Boxing
• Summer Scavenger Hunts, including a Special Discount Offer
• Pop Quiz: Candid Candidates
• Hunt News: Hunters Hit Facebook
• Jokes: Driven Crazy, featuring George Carlin, Steve Martin and Garry Shandling
• Web Adventures: Monty Hall and a Heavy Metal Dog
• FAQ: Where’s My Culture Vulture?
• The Culture Vulture Archive
If you’d like to receive The Culture Vulture in your own mailbox, sign up here—and on the next page you’ll see, be sure to check off the “Washington, D.C./Baltimore Area” box:
(We do NOT share your address with purveyors of spam.)
QUOTE UNQUOTE: BALLOT BOXING
Don’t vote for politicians. It just encourages them. —Billy Connolly
Back to the top
SUMMER 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 are sharp wits 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 Washington Post, Citysearch, National Geographic Traveler, Time Out, The New York Times, Travel + Leisure, Daily Candy and many other media outlets. More than 87,000 hunters served since 1999!
See the at-a-glance Hunt Calendar
The Murder at the National Gallery Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by The DC Traveler
Saturday, June 28, 2 to 4:30 p.m.
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 about greed, lust, pride, revenge and treachery... Learn more and buy tickets
Also available August 2
The Secrets of Georgetown Twilight Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, July 12, 5 to 7:30 p.m.
See the best of Georgetown while uncovering amazing tales and nooks (but not crannies). One of the best things about this hunt is its variety, covering parts of the neighborhood’s three distinct personalities. Highlights include... Learn more and buy tickets
The Museum of Natural Hysteria Family Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by Budget Travel and GoCityKids.com
Saturday, July 19, 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Kid and adults work together on a quest for dinosaurs, stuffed tigers and giraffes, a camping vampire, a flossing bison, live insects, the Hope Diamond, mummies and more... Learn more and buy tickets
The Haunted Washington Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by the Washington Post
Saturday, July 26, 7:30 to 10 p.m.
Armed with only a flashlight, you’ll visit ghost-plagued buildings around and near Lafayette Park while learning the stories of the restless souls you might disturb.... Learn more and buy tickets
The Murder at the National Gallery Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by The DC Traveler
Saturday, August 2, 2 to 4:30 p.m.
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 about greed, lust, pride, revenge and treachery... Learn more and buy tickets
The Naked at the Art Museum Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, August 9, 4 to 6:30 p.m.
Search for the naked and the naughty in the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the racy secrets of famous Americans at the National Portrait Gallery. Highlights include... Learn more and buy tickets
The American Museum Madness Family Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, August 16, 2 to 4:30 p.m.
Come see all of the presidents—plus a wild and wacky collection of American art and portraits of other famous Americans—at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery... Learn more and buy tickets
The Secrets of Georgetown Twilight Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, September 6, 5 to 7:30 p.m.
See the best of Georgetown while uncovering amazing tales and nooks (but not crannies). One of the best things about this hunt is its variety, covering parts of the neighborhood’s three distinct personalities. Highlights include... Learn more and buy tickets
The Plane Crazy Family Scavenger Hunt: The Udvar-Hazy Center Edition (Dulles)
Recommended by GoCityKids.com
Saturday, September 20, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
A giant building filled with airplanes, jets and a space shuttle can be exciting to a wide-eyed child—but also overwhelming. On this fun and funny scavenger hunt at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum near Dulles Airport... Learn more and buy tickets
Don’t See Your Favorite Hunt Here?
Check out the Public Hunts page for descriptions of all of our hunts. Let us know if there’s one that you want to see on our schedule sooner.
Road Trip! Summer Highlights in Other Cities
• Boston: The Secrets of Old Boston Hunt on the Freedom Trail, July 19
• Chicago: New! The Wild Wildlife Hunt at the Lincoln Park Zoo, July 19
• Los Angeles: The LACMA Mania Hunt, featuring the new Broad Contemporary Art Museum, July 19
• New York: The Sex and the Village hunt, featuring locations from the hit TV series Sex and the City, July 5
• Philadelphia: The Munch Around the Market Hunt at Reading Terminal Market, July 26
How to Purchase Tickets and Learn Meeting Place Information
To purchase tickets online, click on the Learn more and buy tickets links above or check out the Hunt Calendar. To purchase tickets by phone, call us toll free at 877-9-GO HUNT (877-946-4868), extension 22. (Please note that there is a $1 surcharge for phone orders.) You will receive meeting place information on your e-ticket at the end of the transaction. You can also get more extensive meeting place info on the Public Hunts page.
Questions?
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page first. If you still can’t get no satisfaction, call the Hunt Hotline, 877-9-GO HUNT (877-946-4868), extension 22, or e-mail us.
Back to the top
POP QUIZ: CANDID CANDIDATES
Our hunts are more a test of teamwork than trivia knowledge, but you’ll discover many fascinating facts and places along the way. As you might expect, you’ll encounter quite a few political figures. You’ll meet White House ghosts on the Haunted Washington Hunt (July 26), you’ll see where famed politicos live on the Secrets of Georgetown Twilight Hunt (July 12, September 6) and you’ll learn about presidential peccadilloes on the Naked at the Art Museum Hunt (August 9). To whet your appetite, here’s a quick look at people who ran for office...and sometimes tripped and fell...
1. Swear to God: During a 1914 campaign rally in front of St. Augustine’s Church in South Boston, mayoral candidate James Michael Curley was leading the crowd in the Lord’s Prayer: “Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses...” At that moment he noticed someone reaching into his car and shouted, “Get that sonuvabitch, he’s stealing my coat!” The candidate then quickly resumed, “...as we forgive those who trespass against us.” The election was two days later. Was that gaffe enough to lose the election for him?
2. Running from Precedent: A current or former presidential candidate can boast that a Chicago park is named for him/her. But that might be an ill omen: The park is thought to be the site of the 1812 Fort Dearborn massacre, where Potawatomi warriors ambushed a band of 148 soldiers, women and children and killed 50 of them. Who is the park named for?
(a) Carol Moseley Braun, because she was the first female African-American senator (b) Barack Obama, because he used to be a community organizer in Chicago (c) Hillary Clinton, because she grew up in a Chicago suburb (d)
John McCain, because he survived the massacre
3. Grand Old Quip: A presidential candidate once said, “My opponent has a problem. He won’t get elected unless things get worse—and things won’t get worse unless he’s elected.” Who said this?
(a) Ronald Reagan (b) George H. W. Bush (c) George W. Bush (d) John McCain
4. “I Did Have Sex with That Woman”: Most government officials caught in a scandal will hem and haw and deny it. Not Alexander Hamilton. While serving as Secretary of the Treasury under President Washington, he had an illicit liaison with 23-year-old Maria Reynolds. Her husband, James Reynolds, found out and actually encouraged the affair—provided Hamilton give him money. The randy patriot coughed up a total of $1,000 over several years. But then James got ensnared in a scandal involving wages for Revolutionary War veterans, and he implicated Hamilton, figuring he’d come to Reynolds’ defense rather than admit the affair. Reynolds was wrong. Hamilton would rather admit to adultery than have his integrity as a public official impugned. A Congressional inquiry exonerated Hamilton and decided to keep the matter quiet. But when a scheming political opponent learned of the scandal, he spread whispers and made sure the details reached the press. Hamilton responded by writing and publishing the sensational, though blandly titled, Observations on Certain Documents, in which he confessed everything, in surprising detail. He resigned from Washington’s cabinet, and his career slid downhill from there. Who was the political opponent who played a crucial role in Hamilton’s exposure?
(a) Thomas Jefferson (b) Aaron Burr (c) John Adams (d) Snidely McBlabsalot
5. Abe for Veep? The first ever Republican Party convention took place in Philadelphia in 1856. John C. Fremont won the nomination for president. True or false: A young upstart named Abe Lincoln drew 110 votes from convention delegates to join the ticket as vice president.
6. Rough Ride: At the 1900 Republican Convention in Philadelphia, it seemed that everyone wanted Theodore Roosevelt to run for vice president except for one: Theodore Roosevelt. He thought his current job as governor of New York was far preferable to the do nothing, dead-end job as No. 2. But New York political kingpin Thomas “Boss” Platt hated Roosevelt and wanted to be rid of him. It was his scheme to put Roosevelt on the ticket as vice president with incumbent President McKinley. (The first term veep, Garrett Hobart, had died in 1899 of heart failure and the position remained vacant for more than a year.) In the end Roosevelt couldn’t argue with the convention, which gave his nomination every vote but one—his own. And yet his dead-end job led quickly to the top job. How did he become president?
(a) he ran for president four years later (b) McKinley died from a seizure (c) McKinley was assassinated (d) the vice president accidentally shot his boss on a hunting trip
7. Unconventional Disaster: In an amazing trifecta, Philadelphia was host to three political conventions in 1948, for the Democrats, the Republicans and the Progressives. The delegates were appalled by the shortage of rooms, the price gouging and the stifling heat they endured. Officials had balked at spending $300,000 for air conditioning during construction of Convention Hall, and 108 people were treated for heat prostration. Many delegates vowed never to return to the City of Brotherly Love. In what year was the next major politician convention in Philadelphia?
(a) 1968 (b) 1974 (c) 2000 (d) there hasn’t been one since then
8. To Err Is Truman? One 20th-century “dark horse” candidate for president had had a child out of wedlock (with a woman other than the eventual First Lady), and he was having an ongoing affair with one of his wife’s friends. (During the campaign, the party paid for the mistress to take a vacation abroad.) Many experts, including Malcolm Gladwell in the book Blink, said that this politician won principally because he was handsome and “looked like a president.” Gladwell even used the president’s name in coining a term for this kind of hard-to-shake first impression—the “____ ____ Error.” Who was the president?
(a) Warren Harding (b) Calvin Coolidge (c) Harry Truman (d) Ronald Reagan
Answers
1. No, he won. No 24-hour news channels back then...
2. (c) Hillary Rodham Clinton Women’s Park
3. (b)
4. (a)
5. True
6. (c)
7. (c)
8. (a) Gladwell’s term is “the Warren Harding Error.”
Back to the top
HUNT NEWS: HUNTERS HIT FACEBOOK
Watson Adventures on Facebook: Where Hunters Meet and Chat
Become a “fan” of Watson Adventures on Facebook to learn about special discounts and offers, share your favorite hunting experience, offer advice to new hunters, reconnect with people you’ve met on past hunts, ask advice on which one to try next and much more.
1. Click here to view our fan page:
If you have a Facebook account, log in using the link at the top of the page. If you don’t have a Facebook account, you can register for one there.
2. Click on “Become a Fan”: The link is on the upper right-hand corner of the page.
3. Tell your friends: Click on the “Share” link on the lower right-hand corner of the page to send a message to your friends and post information about Watson Adventures to your personal profile.
4. Participate in the Watson Adventures Facebook community: You can upload photos you’ve taken at hunts, post your favorite Watson Adventures experiences on the Wall, or start a topic on our discussion board.
5. Enter our contest: Hop on our Facebook discussion board and add your thoughts to the thread: “What was the most interesting thing you discovered on a Watson Adventures Scavenger Hunt?” We’ll feature the best responses on our Web site and in the next newsletter —and if yours is chosen you’ll win free admission for yourself and three friends to a public hunt of your choice! (Museum admission not included where applicable.)
Private Hunts: A Cost-Effective Way to Boost Morale or Enjoy a “Staycation”
Maybe your department or friends don’t have a budget to take everyone to see the Nationals or to board a booze cruise or go rock climbing in Timbuktu. But you can have an amazing adventure within blocks of your office or home on a Watson Adventures Scavenger Hunt—and still have money left for a post-hunt gathering at a bar or restaurant.
Our hunts are a cost-effective way of making your favorite neighborhood, park or museum seem new and exotic. And wise managers know that there’s no more important time to keep up morale and boost teamwork than during times of economic uncertainty.
To find out how we can help you go on a memorable “staycation,” visit the Private Hunts page or call us toll free at 877-9-GO HUNT (877-946-4868), extension 11 for Group Sales. Or fill out our handy e-mail form. Don’t miss out on adventures in your own city.
A Tip of the Hat to Our Newest Clients
We send a special word of thanks to the companies and other groups who recently did their first team-building event with us, including...
Education: Catholic University of America, M.I.T., The National Society of College Scholars
Event Planners: PRA New York, RBY Event Planning
Financial: Adams Street Partners, BlackRock, Brinster & Bergman, Group M, TSG Consumer Partners
Insurance: Continental Corp., Nationwide Mutual, XL Insurance
Legal: Allen & Overy, Davis Shapiro Lewitt & Hayes, Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner
Media: Crave Online, Avenue A | Razorfish, Selecciones Magazine, Threespot Media
Medical: Atlantic Health, C.R. Bard, The Medicines Company, Revera Healthcare Systems, Takeda Pharmaceuticals America
Technology: ASML, IBM Market Intelligence
Travel: Allied Pilots Association
Other Companies: Gel Conference, Lincoln Property Company, Performance Development Group
Charities and Other Not-for-Profit Organizations: Juvenile Justice Initiative Program, Tuesday’s Children
We look forward to providing more amazing adventures for you.
See the complete client list
Back to the top
JOKES: DRIVEN CRAZY
With gas becoming almost as expensive as bottled water, you might consider seeking adventures closer to home this summer. For example, going on the Museum of Natural Hysteria Family Hunt (July 19) is like taking the kids on a trip around the world. (Sorry, the adult version isn’t until October 11). If you need more reasons to shun your SUV, consider the experiences of these comedians....
I am the worst driver. Let’s just say I always wear clean underwear. I should drive a hearse and cut out the middle man. —Wendy Liebman
There’s a new device to wake sleepy drivers. The old device was the car crash. —Craig Kilborn
I remember learning to drive on my dad’s lap. Did you guys ever do that? He’d work the brakes. I’d work the wheel. Then I went to take the driver’s test and sat on the examiner’s lap. I failed the exam. But he still writes to me. That’s the really nice part. —Garry Shandling
I just got back from a pleasure trip. I drove my mother-in-law to the airport. —Henny Youngman
One of the first things they teach you in driver’s ed is where to put your hands on the steering wheel—at ten o’clock and two o’clock. I put mine at 9:45 and 2:17. Gives me an extra half hour to get where I’m going. —George Carlin
Remember, folks: Traffic lights timed for 35 miles per hour are also timed for 70 miles per hour. —Jim Samuels
When I’m driving I see a sign that says, “Caution: Small Children Playing.” I slow down, and then it occurs to me: I’m not afraid of small children. —Jonathan Katz
Back to the top
WEB ADVENTURES: MONTY HALL AND A HEAVY METAL DOG
Is the car behind Door No. 1, Door No. 2 or Door No. 3? Many a contestant wrestled with this dilemma on the old game show Let’s Make a Deal. But philosophers and logicians have wrestled over what happened after the contestant picked, say, Door 1. Host Monty Hall would then open one of the other two doors—let’s say Door 3—and reveal a goat. Now, would the contestant like to change to Door 2 or stick with Door 1? Does it matter? The answer: The contestant should always switch to the other door. Try for yourself, and find out why this is the smart strategy, at these sites:
Let’s Make a Deal
Monty Hall Simulation (another re-creation of the game)
nytimes.com: The Monty Hall Problem
nytimes.com: “And Behind Door No. 1, a Fatal Flaw”
If that’s all a bit too cerebral for you, try this: a heavy metal dog.
See a collection of our favorite sites. Scroll down for the weirder stuff
Back to the top
FAQ: WHERE’S MY CULTURE VULTURE?
So you signed up to receive newsletter in your e-mailbox, or you paid for admission to a hunt, but you haven’t received any e-mails from us. What gives? You may be having problems with an overzealous spam filter. Find out what this means, and what you can do, by visiting the Frequently Asked Questions page, in the Receiving E-Mails from Us section.
Back to the top
GET THE CULTURE VULTURE IN YOUR MAILBOX
Just type in your e-mail address below to have our newsletter and the latest hunt schedule sent to you every month. On the next page you’ll see, be sure to check off “Washington, D.C./Baltimore Area.” If you have a junk mail filter, remember to add “watsonadventures.com” to your “safe list.”
We greatly appreciate your support. And we DO NOT share your information with purveyors of spam.
That’s all, folks. See you at the hunt!
Back to the top
©2008 Watson Adventures LLC. All rights reserved. Including the right to wish that the whole presidential election process could be condensed into one season of ‘American Idol.’ Plus we think picking David Archuleta as a running mate will really help McCain pull in the youth vote.
Updated:
6/26/08
