Hey, you! Do you like scavenger hunts? Need an excuse to go downtown and shop? BOY DO WE HAVE AN EXCITING PROPOSITION FOR YOU.
Wiseguys Events and Downtown’s Center Business Improvement District have teamed up to produce a SCVNGR trek through some shops in Downtown LA that offers some sweet rewards, discounts, and an entry into a sweepstakes to win a grand prize consisting of two nights at the Millennium Biltmore hotel and Afternoon Tea for two and dinner for two at Café Pinot. (Hey, it’s not a trip to Europe, but it’d be a nice local weekend getaway. Unless you live in downtown, of course. Then it might be kind of weird to stay in a hotel a few blocks from home.)
“What’s SCVNGR?” you may ask. Well, at its core it’s a check-in service similar to Foursquare or Gowalla except with an emphasis on completing challenges at different places. These challenges can range from snapping a photo to answering a question or even simply checking in. Things get really interesting when several places are strung together in a “trek,” kind of like a scavenger hunt.
That’s the basis for the Downtown LA SCVNGR Gift Hunt. There’s 8 shopping locations (conveniently listed in the picture above and on this printable pdf) you’ll have to go to downtown. At each one, you check-in and answer a trivia question that corresponds to that location. Once you do so, you’ll get credit for either a free gift or discount at that shop. Complete all eight challenges and you’ll be entered into the sweepstakes. The gifts range from a free Walt Disney Concert Hall pen at the LA Phil Store to 20% off at Ross Cutlery to my favorite, a “free in-store makeover and gift” at Macy’s. (If anyone gets that makeover, please send us before and after shots.)
If you’re game, go download the SCVNGR app on either the iTunes App Store or Android Marketplace. If you have neither of those smartphones, you can also play via text message by texting keyword “DOWNTOWNLA” to 728647. (Obviously you’ll be billed on whatever your SMS plan is.) Once you have the SCVNGR app downloaded, tap “treks” and search for Downtown LA Gift Hunt. Be warned that you have to be nearby for it to show up.
Let us know how well you fare in the comments!
