On May 9th, over 125 Yorkville enthusiasts joined us for an awesome adventure, using an interactive web application to explore the history of our neighborhood. Players raced around Yorkville accomplishing photo challenges to identify architectural details, replicate historic photos, and imitate ornamental building features. They made stops at local haunts like Glaser’s Bakery, Schaller & Weber, and Heidelberg Restaurant. They were prompted to write a sidewalk poem about their love for Yorkville. And there was even a live actor playing Jacob Ruppert, founder of the Ruppert Brewery and owner of the New York Yankees from 1915 to 1939!
Through trivia and memory questions, the teams discovered how immigrant groups lived, worked, worshiped, and played, as well as how they retained their culture through food, music, and language.
One participant commented:“Fabulous idea to connect historic preservation and new media/technology. Doing so illustrates its approachability and relevance to all audiences … and makes engagement all the more fun! The Go Game was smartly crafted and Friends even smarter for utilizing it as a tool!”
Another said: “It was a cool experience. Well written and researched. I was impressed. I say this as a lifelong resident who is knowledgeable on borough history, as a tour guide and adjunct history professor.”
The hunt ended at the local favorite Ryan’s Daughter Pub, where Council Member Benjamin Kallos announced the winners and participants recounted highlights from the day.
DID YOU MISS OUT ON THE FUN???
Not to worry! The Yorkville Urban History Hunt is now available to be played at any time, at your leisure. Just click on the following link http://thegogame.com/yorkville or download the instruction sheet below.
THE GAME IS LIVE NOW!
Gather some friends or play by yourself! You can play for as long as you like, but we recommend setting aside an hour for the full experience. All you need is a fully charged iPhone or Android, some comfortable shoes, and a love of strudel (optional, but highly encouraged).
WHERE IS THE GAME?
All the site-specific clues lie between 82nd and 90th, York and 3rd Ave. Your phone will guide you where to go! But everything is within walking distance.
IS IT FOR ALL AGES?
Yes! We’re experts on programming for kids AND adults. We have special missions for teams with players under the age of 12, as well as more sophisticated missions for the mature set. Whether you are 2 or 92 years young, you will have a blast and learn a lot.
Step 1: Download this instructions sheet:
Step 2: Download this architecture sheet:
Step 3: GAME ON!
Questions? Email
jenny@thegogame.com
ABOUT YORKVILLE
Yorkville generally covers the area from East 72nd Street to East 96th Street, from Lexington Avenue to the East River. Once an enclave for many immigrant groups in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including German, Hungarian, Czech, and Irish, the area is rich in cultural heritage. Though it has changed now, much evidence of this historic fabric remains in the built environment. Some of these remnants are not obvious to the regular passerby, thus making it the prime location for scavenger hunt participants to find hidden clues to the past.
ABOUT THE GO GAME
The Go Game is a San Francisco-based company that designs high-tech urban adventures games for clients worldwide. In addition to producing safety games, creativity training games, circus games, team building games, marketing campaigns, training experiences, tourism games, and games purely for entertainment, The Go Game has worked with industry leaders in tech, fashion, energy, media, and education to create unforgettable custom group experiences and buzz-worthy public spectacle.
RKO Proctor’s 86th Street Theatre, Designed by Thomas W. Lamb Source: NYC Municipal Archives