What, you thought you’d seen the last of Carole Baskin and Joe Exotic, just because their Netflix mini series wrapped, Carole’s turn on Dancing with the Stars ended and Joe’s, well, in prison? Nah. The streaming service recently announced the second season of Tiger King is coming soon, so it’s only fitting to finally don the costume you meant to rock last year, you know, if COVID hadn’t kept us all in lockdown. (On that note, these lewks are bold enough to rock on Zoom, should your party go virtual this year.)
The internet loves a good throwback, so this year, why not throw it way back? Say, circa 1996, when Scream made that creepy Ghostface mask ubiquitous? The iconic scary movie turns 25 this year, so to celebrate, we’re serving you two easy costume ideas: First, the serial killer (c’mon, we had to). Second, Drew Barrymore’s Casey Becker. Yes, she’s a minor character in the film, but she’s an unforgettable one. Anyway, onto the costumes!
*Psst: This makes for a great last-minute costume, since you can order the whole thing via Amazon Prime!
Check back every day this week for even more costume ideas, as part of Life Between Weekends’s 13 Days of Pop Culture Halloween Costumes series. BTW, this post contains affiliate links, which helps fund the hosting of this site.
Tampa Bay’s food scene has come a long way over the past decade. There’s no shortage of great places to eat, and if you’re looking for recs, you’ve come to the right place. After dining all over Hillsborough and Pinellas counties—especially as we worked on the Hey, Maywood project this past year—we’ve vetted dozens of spots, and this is our (ever-growing, ever-evolving) list of the best restaurants in Tampa Bay.
Van Dough (Photos: Candace Braun Davison)
Breakfast
1. Van Dough Looking for the best donuts in Tampa Bay? Look no further. These minis have massive flavor (plus, there are more than 16 options to choose from), and their cold brew is on point too.
2. Lucky Dill Yes, this New York-style diner serves lunch and dinner, but brunch is where it’s at. You’ll start with a complimentary basket of danishes, muffins and other pastries, then face the hard part: Choosing an entree. The cheesy soft-scrambled eggs are not to be missed.
3. Another Broken Egg Café Okay, okay, it’s a bit of a chain, but the restaurant’s creative twists on classic menu items are not to be missed. And if you mention it’s your first time, they’ll greet you with a small plate of warm beignets. How sweet is that?
Blind Tiger Coffee Roasters
Coffee
4. Tukro Coffee This Dunedin coffee shop is a newcomer on the scene, but it’s quickly earning a reputation for its solid iced coffee and lattes. It has plenty of outdoor seating and a relaxed atmosphere that makes you want to sit and sip awhile.
5. Blind Tiger Coffee Roasters Grab a guava and cheese pastry and an iced coffee, and you’re ready to take on the world. If you prefer a sweeter drink, you’ve got to try The Dirty Thaiger (a double shot of espresso, served over ice with Thai tea and sweetened condensed milk and topped with cinnamon).
6. Paradeco If you want to know what the inside of my brain is decorated like, it’s this place. The sunwashed tropical-meets-art-deco vibe is outstanding, and the coffee isn’t too shabby either. It’s a bit of a splurge though.
Whiskey Joe’s
Casual Lunch/Dinner
7. Craft Street Kitchen Ask about the daily specials, and if the sage and sweet potato gnocchi is on the menu, order it. It’s a killer combination of flavors, offset by crispy, salty prosciutto. But really, we’ve yet to try anything on this gastropub’s menu that hasn’t been impressive.
8. Datz When you’re in the mood for something off the wall—say, an entire head of cauliflower, battered and drenched in buffalo sauce, or a burger sandwiched by fried jalapeño mac & cheese buns—head here. It’s a diet destroyer, but oh, what an enjoyable way to go out.
9. La Teresita This family-run Cuban restaurant serves some of the best ropa vieja and plantains we’ve ever tried. Don’t miss out.
10. Mama Maria’s Where does my Greek family go when they don’t want to cook (but still crave the comforts of home)? Mama Maria’s. The location in the Sponge Docks serves the most consistently awesome food (admittedly, other locations have been a bit hit or miss). Our go-to’s? Dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), pastitsio (Greek lasagna/pasta bake) and Greek salad.
11. Shaker & Peel This Oldsmar restaurant boasts some of the most creative takes on tacos we’ve ever tried. We’re talkin’ Jamaican Jerk tacos, volcano shrimp, Korean BBQ beef, grouper, Tampa Hot chicken…the list goes on. (But Tampa Hot Chicken, served a habanero glaze, corn slaw and buttermilk aioli, is our absolute fave.)
12. Whiskey Joe’s Come for the vibes, stay for the views. You’ll find plenty of sandwiches, burgers and seafood on the menu, and they’re all great (particularly anything drenched in the guava BBQ sauce), but the real joy here is dining outside at sunset, overlooking the water, with your toes in the sand.
13.Fish Bowl Kitchen While it’s known for its Dole Whips and poké bowls, this place has no shortage of creative menu items (ahem, General Tso’s pork belly fried rice). It’s a Chipotle-esque dining experience, making it great for grabbing on the go.
Oxford Exchange
When You’re Feeling Fahhhncy
14. Ciro’s This Gatsby-esque speakeasy is just fun, period. You’ll find plenty of top-notch cocktails, you know, once you find your way in. (Psst: It’s located in the Bayshore Royal Building.)
15. Bern’s C’mon, we had to include the classic steakhouse. It’s an institution in Tampa. Sure, the lobby decor is little Haunted Mansion-y, but the steaks are impeccable. Ask for a tour of the wine cellar—it’s the largest privately owned one in the world, boasting 500,000+ bottles.
16. Oxford Exchange Part store, part coffee and tea lounge, part restaurant—and all of it chic. Expect to see influencers (and influencers-in-training) snapping pics of everything at all times here, because everything is that photo-worthy. Thankfully, the food tastes just as good too. The menu focuses on highlighting local, seasonal ingredients, and if you plan a visit, make it an early one—the restaurant closes at 5 p.m.
17. The Fenway: HEW Parlor Another steakhouse? Yes. If you’re feeling something a little more contemporary than Bern’s, hit up this hotspot. Parking can be a challenge, but the steaks are tender and the sides are bursting with flavor. Plus, it’s a short walk to the bustling downtown Dunedin area.
The first day of school can be anxiety-inducing…for parents and kids alike. Why not inject a little fun into that morning, turning the morning routine into a treasure hunt of sorts? Here’s a simple list of things to do—and look out for—as your kids get ready. Presenting the First Day of School Scavenger Hunt.
The Rules:
School has enough rules. This time around, you’re simply seeing how many tasks you can tackle en route to the classroom. Although if there’s a treat after school (or some sweet new school supplies, scrunchie, mask or whatever just before you say goodbye), I’m sure your little one won’t mind.
What to Search for on the First Day of School Scavenger Hunt:
Your first day outfit
A hairbrush
School supplies that start with the letter “P”
Something that reminds you of home
What you want for breakfast
Something that helps you stay organized
A first day sign
A photo of you with that sign
Your shoes
An eraser that’s never been used
A folder with prongs or pockets in it
Something that starts with the first letter of your name
Something that could fit in your lunch box
Your favorite book to read
Something on your walk to school that makes you smile
I didn’t expect Life Between Weekends to turn into a scavenger hunt blog, but the feedback I’ve been getting is: KEEP THE IDEAS COMING! (So urgently, in fact, that all caps is required.) Well, as someone whose wild nights in high school involved organizing group scavenger hunts—yup, I am not even joking a little about that—I’m happy to oblige. The latest edition? Backyard scavenger hunt ideas that will help you look at your own space in a whole new way.
How to Host a Backyard Scavenger Hunt:
Gather your crew, divide everyone into groups (or have them search individually), hand out this list, and set a timer for 20 minutes. Try to find as many items as you can, either by taking photos of them or physically collecting them. In the end, you’ll appoint a judge, assigning one point for every item found, and three points for the most creative find for each category. Whoever has the most points wins…bragging rights? A pool of money? A cookie? I’ll let you decide that.
How to plan a hunt via Zoom:
Send everyone the list and let them go into their own backyards for 20 to 30 minutes, setting a time for everyone to log onto Zoom (or the video chat service of your choice) and share their findings. Easy as that!
Our Top 25 Backyard Scavenger Hunt Ideas:
Ready, set, search for…
The best part of backyard cookouts
A leaf that looks like something else (be it a celeb, an animal, anything)
A cloud that looks like something else
A bottle cap
A flower
A weed
Something that reminds you of summer
Something that reminds you of winter
Something that reminds you of childhood
A rock that’s larger than your fist
A pebble that’s smaller than a dime
An acorn
A twig
Something that doesn’t belong outside (like a pen, a cup, etc.)
It took years away from Florida to make me fully appreciate it: the sunsets, the beaches, the easy way of life. St. Pete and Clearwater may get all of the attention in Pinellas County, but just north of it is the the area’s true hidden gem. Dunedin’s downtown scene is flourishing, and it seems like every day there’s a new restaurant, bar or boutique to hit up. Here are a few you can’t miss on your next trip. (You know, when the blessed day comes when we can travel freely again.)
A blueberry scone from The Scone Age Bakery & Cafe // Photos: Candace Braun Davison
The Best Places to Eat in Dunedin:
The Scone Age Bakery & Cafe— Start your day with breakfast at this charming little bungalow, which offers dense Scottish scones (with clotted cream, no less), a killer everything bagel dog and all kinds of coffee. I’m a fan of the cold brew.
Fenway Hotel — It’s a bougie place to stay, and an equally bougie place to grab dinner. This is an anniversary meal sort of place, with a rooftop bar and chophouse. There’s a decent amount of outdoor dining, and the steaks and smoky cocktails are top-notch.
Taco Baby— Billed as “Florida’s tiniest taqueria,” this ATM kiosk-sized booth serves a killer street taco. At $3 apiece, they’re pricey for each palm-size bite, but they’re a great grab-and-go snack as you wander Downtown Dunedin. Order the Al pastor tacos with pineapple salsa.
Strachan’s Ice Cream— Steps away from Taco Baby in Downtown Dunedin is this old-school ice cream shop, featuring hard ice cream and a killer hot fudge sundae to boot. Be sure to sample the carrot cake ice cream, which combines carrot cake batter ice cream with chunks of the shop’s housemade cake.
The sundaes at Strachan’s are a must-try.
4 Fun Places to Visit in Dunedin:
Honeymoon Island— Cruising the causeway and taking in the waves is my ultimate stress reliever, but when I’m looking to spend the day at the beach, it’s worth paying $8 (or $4 if you stop by an hour before sunset) to visit Honeymoon Island. The white sand beaches are less rocky—and way less populated.
Palm Latitudes & Other Downtown Dunedin Shops — With its flamingo and mermaid tchotchkes, Palm Latitudes is the ultimate Florida beachcomber store. You’ve got to visit it, and take a stroll along all of the other boutiques along Main Street. Worth it.
Pinellas Trail — Rent a bike, grab your skates or just throw on some sneakers and travel part (or all) of this 38-mile pedestrian trail. It stretches throughout the county, cutting right through Downtown Dunedin.
Kiwanis Sprayground — Make your kids’ day at this 3,000-square-foot water park. It’s ADA accessible, features a pirate ship with a massive slide and all kinds of sprinkler-like attractions.
The view from the causeway in Dunedin, FL
3 Fulfilling Things to Do in Dunedin:
Dunedin History Museum — OK, not everything I recommend is in Downtown Dunedin, but it’s pretty dang close. This museum’s right on Main Street, and it features more than 2,000 artifacts detailing Florida (and the city’s) history. You’ll get a great sense of what life was like for pioneer families in the 1870s, and there’s an educational railroad to boot. Plus, admission will set you back just $5, and kids 12 and under get in for free.
Dunedin Highlanders Performance — Play tourist and attend a high school football game? Why, yes, if it involves catching a halftime performance by the school’s Scottish Highlanders Marching Band, which celebrates the heritage of the city’s early settlers. Trust me: The bagpipe players are not to be missed. (Due to COVID, many concerts are streamed via Facebook, so you can catch them that way too.)
Dunedin Highland Games & Festival — Another cool slice of life? Catching the Highland Games & Festival. This year, it takes place in April, with Scottish athletics, piping and drumming events, and a Highland dance competition. There’s food, there are drinks, there’s culture…what more could you want?
Planning a virtual holiday party is like fighting a battle of awkwardness. Typically, all you really need to do is plan a menu, set some holiday music and decide on whether you’re doing a Secret Santa or white elephant exchange, and you’re good. But when the party takes place online, you’re playing the role of cruise director and TV show host, actively directing and producing a show (of sorts), while socializing and keeping people engaged.
In that sense, it’s always helpful to have a few planned activities, interspersed with moments to chat and catch up, so that people aren’t staring at their screens, silently willing time to pass (or their wifi to fail), so they can log off. A Zoom scavenger hunt can help break the ice, and some holiday movie trivia can get people bonding over their favorite Rankin/Bass Christmas special or the scene from Elf they can quote by heart. We’ve covered the former a few different ways; here’s our take on the latter.
18 Holiday Movie Trivia Questions
How to Play: Have everyone type their answers in chat or write them on paper and reveal them together. Award 2 points for the first person to answer correctly; 1 point for a correct answer in general. The person with the most points earns…whatever you deem fitting. (Answers at the very bottom.)
What is the first thing Frosty says when he comes to life?
Instead of a toymaker, what does Hermey the Elf dream of becoming in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?
What’s the last name of the neighbors with the unruly, dinner-stealing dogs in A Christmas Story?
What gift does Ralphie really want for Christmas?
In the movie Elf, according to Buddy, what are an elf’s four main food groups?
What holiday song does Buddy sing with Jovie?
What’s the name of the angel trying to earn his wings in It’s A Wonderful Life?
What are the names of the burglars chasing after Kevin in Home Alone?
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation fans, what gift does Clark receive as his Christmas bonus?
And on that note, what’s the secret ingredient in Aunt Bethany’s Jell-o mold?
What’s the name of Tim Allen’s character in The Santa Clause? (Hint: He shares the same initials as Santa Claus, as you’ll remember from his PJs.)
How many years did it take for Judy the Elf to perfect her hot cocoa recipe?
Tim Allen’s role in The Santa Clause was originally intended for another actor. Any guesses who?
In the movie Four Christmases, what island are Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn’s characters planning on visiting?
What’s the name of Turbo Man’s furry sidekick in JingleAll the Way?
What real-life toy inspired Turbo Man?
In the 2006 movie Deck the Halls, why does Danny DeVito’s character go crazy trying to cover his house in lights?
Finish this line from The Grinch: ““And they’ll feast, feast, feast, feast. They’ll eat their Who-Pudding and ____________________.”
Holiday Movie Trivia Answer Key:
“Happy birthday!”
A dentist
Bumpus
Red Rider BB Gun
Candy, candy canes, candy corn and syrup
“Baby, It’s Cold Outside”
Clarence Odbody (double points if you get the full name!)
Marv Merchants and Harry Lime (double points for full names here too!)
A one-year membership to the Jelly of the Month Club
I grew up watching ALL of the Rankin/Bass Christmas specials, from Thanksgiving Day through January 1st. Not just Santa Claus Is Coming to Town or Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer; I got into them all—even Rudolph’s Shiny New Year (seriously).
That said, it can spark a little debate in my family as to which shows are the very, very best each holiday season. Here’s my take, though I welcome any friendly debate on the matter. And if you haven’t seen the No. 1 pick, add it to your queue stat!
Rankin’ Rankin/Bass’s Christmas Specials, from “Skip” to “Must-Watch”
12. Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July
Rudolph has to save Frosty’s family from melting while they work the carnival circuit. This is the Rankin/Bass equivalent of Fonzie jumping that shark.
11. Rudolph’s Shiny New Year
Given that this special aired 12 years before what may be Rankin/Bass’s most famous movie, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, we have to cut them some slack. They had to be running out of storylines. This story of Rudolph going out to find Happy, the new year’s baby, so the world isn’t doomed to live in Dec. 31 forever, is sweet, but also incredibly cheesy. To the point of being hard to sit through.
10. The Leprechaun’s Christmas Gold
This 25-minute short could make kids everywhere terrified that banshees might be buried under trees. But hey, that “Christmas in Killarney” jingle is pretty catchy.
9. The First Christmas: The Story of the First Christmas Snow
A young boy named Lucas who’s been blinded by lightning yearns to see snow one day. The plot line is a little heavy, though it lacks the poignancy and depth that some of Rankin/Bass’s other specials have to make it truly moving.
8. Frosty the Snowman
C’mon, it’s a classic. And it’s oh so sing-a-long-able.
7. The Year Without A Santa Claus
Santa gets a cold and a crotchety, old doctor convinces him that people don’t care about Kris Kringle anymore. So two mostly competent elves, Jingle and Jangle, set out to find proof of the contrary. In their travels, they meet the evil Heat Miser and Cold Miser, and one great soundtrack ensues.
6. Jack Frost
Jack Frost turns the world ice cold, but all he really wants is to experience the warm-blooded world (and get the girl, naturally). The bittersweet love story is pretty adorable.
5. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
This movie is just so quotable. I’ve been known to awkwardly shout “Eat Papa, eat!” and “Bumbles bounce!” and countless other phrases while watching this movie. I still can’t decide whether Hermey, the elf-slash-aspiring-dentist, or Bumble the abominable snowman is my favorite character.
4. The Little Drummer Boy
Rankin/Bass specials go one of two ways: lighthearted takes on classic Christmas songs, or heavy, emotionally draining takes on classic Christmas songs. This is the latter. It’s much more intense than any of the other specials, but it is fantastic, in a gripping, be-kinder-to-people-after-watching-this way.
3. Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town
This is one of two tales of how Kris Kringle became Santa Claus; consider it the lighter take. There’s a love story (ooh, that chic-but-uppity schoolteacher, Jessica!), drama (the Burgermeister Meisterburger!) and kids who need toys. What more could you ask for?
Oh, wait. Bonus: The whole thing’s narrated by Fred Astaire.
2. Nestor the Long-Eared Donkey
This is the first movie that made me cry as a kid; I actually found it so moving that I designed a small wooden wall hanging for my mom for Christmas in second grade that read, “Merry Chistmas, Mommy! Don’t forget about Nestor!” (Typo included.) The film tells the story of a little donkey who’s mother gave her life to save his, and that little donkey goes on to carry Mary to Bethlehem to give birth to Jesus.
Heavy? Yes. But Nestor’s character is beautifully complex, and the story itself provides a whole new take on the story of the nativity; something few attempt to do.
1. The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus
Okay, I’ll be honest: I’ll be shocked if anyone agrees with me that this mystic take on the genesis of Santa Claus is the best Rankin/Bass holiday special. Very few people even know it exists, let alone have seen it, but the storyline, based on a 1902 novel — nymphs caring for an abandoned baby, who becomes a toymaker who cares for children worldwide and is vying for immortality before the Angel of Death can take his soul — is so compelling you won’t be able to stop watching.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally posted on Dec. 16, 2015. It’s been updated to meet 2020’s SEO standards, though the rankings themselves haven’t changed.
You want to give a special gift, something meaningful your [insert friend/relative/beau/dog] will actually use and appreciate, not just relegate to a shelf with an “aww, that’s nice.” Every November, I start a list in Google Keep with ideas for everyone I share the holidays with, as I try to find something that captures (as the great poets the Spice Girls have said, is) what they want, what they really, really want. Asking directly is always the best route, but we all know people who brush off and deflect that question. That’s where these gift ideas come in. They’re all items tested, tried and vetted, unless otherwise noted, and they’re all a little extra special than the generic scarf or candle or grill brush.
Photo: Amazon
A Candle-Making Kit A gift that doubles as your new hobby (at least for one night)? Sign me up. Choose from one of five scents combinations, and you—or whoever you’re gifting—will receive a kit with everything needed to create four candles. $46, Amazon
Delicora Neptune Double Chain Necklace The necklace itself is delicate and really catches the light well, but the best feature, by far, is the ultra-strong, ultra-discreet magnetic clasp closure, which makes putting it on and taking it off a breeze. Delicora.com, $58
Wits & Wagers Board Game We’ve written about this game before, but that’s just because it’s that good. It’s a friendly, no-money-involved betting game that gets everyone engaged but doesn’t require a ton of thought or strategy (so it’s perfect if your brain is fried and you just want to have a good time). Oh, and if the person on your list has the original, the company released a new Vegas edition. Amazon, $20
Photo: Candace Braun Davison
5. Priority Planner It’s pricey for a notebook, but I’ve really enjoyed using Rachel Hollis‘s priority planner this past year, and I believe that it truly does help you focus and set goals. (Case in point: I dreamed of quintupling my traffic this year, as crazy as it seemed to me, but by breaking the goal down and honing in on it every day with the planner—I’ve met and exceeded it.) Target, $23
6. Blockaroos Foam Building Toys LEGO and Magna-Tiles get all the attention, but Blockaroos are even more versatile: These foam building blocks attach magnetically, double as bath toys, make ratcheting noises as you twist and play with them, and are much softer underfoot if you stumble across them in your kid’s room in the middle of the night. What’s not to love? Amazon, $30
7. Gund Kai Bear This super soft, super cuddly, gigantic-headed psychedelic bear delights little kids. Emerie takes it wherever she goes, and it’s quick to turn heads among the preschool set. It’s also available in a slightly more mellow, purple-and-blue color combo. Walmart, $25
8. Baby Yoda Bop-It Part doll, part game: The ’90s “twist it, turn it” race-against-the-clock game has been Star Wars-ified, and while I wonder what this means for poor Baby Yoda, it does mean fun for the whole fam. Walmart, $15
9. Cold Brew Coffee Maker For the friend with a Starbucks obsession, there’s no better gift than the ability to make one’s own cold brew. It’s way easier than you’d think. Amazon, $18
11. Gideon’s Bakehouse Merch Support your favorite local shops by confessing your love on your sleeve. Gideon’s Bakehouse in Florida is a fave of ours, and the brand’s just launched a series of tees—and a coffee cake cookie-scented candle—so you can bring a bit of their magic home, no matter how far away you are. GideonsBakehouse.com, $29-$31
12. Quay Blue Light Glasses If you spend all day in front of a screen, these can be a worthwhile investment. While I’m not sold on the science behind them, I can say wearing a pair throughout the day has cut back on the headaches I’d been having. (Psst: Sign up for their emails and hold out for a sale—select styles are often reduced to $25 to $29.) Quay.com, $25-$65
13. Personalized Minimalist Rings Stamp your name, the GPS coordinates of where you met (or were married), the date your kids were born, you name it. This customized gift, available in silver, gold or rose gold, is a showstopper. Etsy.com, starting at $29
15. Ripstix Set If you know someone who wants to live healthier but hates the idea of hitting the gym, a pair of Ripstix and a one-month subscription to Pound Backstage could be just right. The cardio drumming classes are so much fun, you truly don’t realize you’re doing nonstop lunges and squats. Promise. Amazon, $20(Backstage subscription = $10/mo.)
A long, long time ago (READ: 14 years) in a land far, far away (READ: the glorious suburbs of Tampa, FL), Candace introduced me to the wonderful world of team photo scavenger hunts. Here’s how it would work:
Create a list of places, people, actions and things that everyone will need to find (ex. Find an amphitheater in a park and act out a play, jump in a fountain and dance, or compete in a shopping cart race at a supermarket). The more challenging the item, the more points.
Assign teams that will work together. Confirm that all groups assign a driver (typically the person with the most space in their car) and a photographer (typically the person with the most space on their phone).
Find items on the list as quickly as possible during the allotted time. Teams are encouraged to get creative with the photos.
Share photos with the other teams, tally up the points, and have a good laugh about the experiences you’ve had.
… And away you would go.
Photos: Nathan Davison
Admittedly, speeding all over your neighborhood with a crowd of people and asking strangers to help you build a human pyramid are probably not ideal while we all try to stay healthy and respect our social distancing guidelines. And so, in the spirit of embracing our current circumstances and maintaining the fun we’ve experienced with scavenger hunts in the past, here’s a new take on this classic tradition with Street View Scavenger Hunts. The basic rules remain the same, and you can leverage the power of screenshots and Google Street View to find a variety of fun and interesting items.
The big difference? In this version, you’ll distribute a scavenger hunt list, give everyone a set time frame to search for the items listed (say, an hour or two), then everyone gathers via video chat (Zoom and Google Meet are great for newbies) to reveal their finds and tally scores.
BACKGROUND: What is Google Street View?
Street View, by Google Maps, is a virtual representation of our surroundings on Google Maps, consisting of millions of panoramic images. This platform allows users to virtually ‘walk’ up and down the many of the roads across the world – From New York to New Delhi, Key West to Kenya. My dad would often describe it as taking a virtual vacation to explore some of the great wonders of our world with just a few clicks of the mouse. You can learn more about Google Street View and how to access it here.
OPTION # 1 – Create your own list of things to find
As you create your own Street View Scavenger hunt, we recommend a healthy mix of the items you want fellow (scavenger) hunters to find, sorted into three levels of difficulty. We’ve built this handy template with examples that will allow you to quickly add, share, and score your hunts. Make a copy and it’s yours.
Easy items to find include things that are easily searchable, stationary, and readily available on just about any map. Examples of this might include schools, businesses, or Taxi cabs in New York City. A simple way to score would be to count anything found in this category as being worth one point.
Medium items may require a bit more thought to find and are often on-the-move when you’re looking at a map. Examples of a medium might include an ambulance or police car, construction work, or graffiti on the street walls. We recommend scoring these at two points a find.
Hard items require some clever detective work and often, a little bit of luck. They should be scored at 3, 4, or even 5 points per find. These are also a lot of fun to brainstorm and often feel like a secret Easter egg when you discover them. Imagine something like a clown walking down the street, a person walking three or more dogs, or a breakdancer frozen in a photo doing a handstand. Here are some pretty out-there examples of the crazy things that you can find on Google Street view for inspiration (here, here, and here).
Click here for more hunt ideas and to make your copy of our Street View Scavenger Hunt template.
OPTION # 2 – Leverage a pre-made street view scavenger hunt
In addition to creating your own scavenger hunt lists, many sites offer various scavenger hunts that are worth reviewing for inspiration. Here are a few that we found that may point you in the right direction.
virtualglobetrotting.com – A nice list of things you may want to add to your own scavenger hunt list.
Google Arts & Culture – Although many people often think of Google Street View as something that lets you virtually explore the streets around the world, they also have a robust library of museums, historic sites, the wonders of the world where you can take virtual tours using the same 360° technology.
Now, the only thing left is to create your own list and get started!
More than a third of Americans plan on staying home this Thanksgiving (us too), but that doesn’t mean our micro holiday has to be any less festive. Zoom scavenger hunts are one of the least-awkward—and most fun—ways to connect via video chat, so we decided to put a Turkey Day spin on the trend with these 20 Zoom Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt Ideas.
How to Play:
First things first: You don’t have to use Zoom. Any video chat service will do; it’s just Zoom seems the most popular. Facebook Messenger and Google Meet are both free, and they’re pretty user-friendly for newbies.
Second: Setup is easy. Download the video chat service of your choice, create a link for a meeting, set a date and time, and invite your crew. Enlist one person (perhaps you, as the host?) to play emcee, calling out items for people to find in their homes and giving them 1 minute or so to track them down. Award 1 point to anyone who successfully tracks down the item in the allotted time, and 3 points to the person who delivers the item the fastest (or comes up with the most creative item—because maybe a photo of your cheesy cousin makes for an even better definition of “ham” than that honey-baked beaut sitting on your counter).
Ready? Let’s get to it.
Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt Ideas:
Canned cranberry sauce
A handprint turkey
A football
A gravy boat
Your fanciest serving platter
A Thanksgiving decoration someone in your family made
A photo from a previous Thanksgiving
Your most ridiculous apron
The thing you’d be most embarrassed for a guest to find in your house
A pie
A turkey
The food you’re most likely to overeat
One thing you’re grateful for
A Black Friday ad
Crispy onions (like the kind you put on green bean casserole)
A Christmas/Hanukkah decoration you already have on display
A decorative gourd
Freshly fallen leaves
A scarecrow
A cookbook
Once you’ve tallied up the score and declared a winner (bragging rights for life! Or until next year), if you want to keep the party going, check out these Zoom-friendly games.
A newly opened abandoned mall?! How can that be? The American Dream in New Jersey isn’t an abandoned mall at all. In fact, it’s the third-largest shopping megaplex in the U.S., just behind the King of Prussia Mall and Mall of America. To call it a mall is practically an understatement: It houses Nickelodeon Universe (a mini theme park), a water park, an NHL-sized ice rink, multiple mini golf courses and an indoor ski resort.
While it technically opened almost a year ago (Oct. 25, 2019), when I visited in late February, I couldn’t help but feel like I was trespassing. It was open to the public, but very few parts of it actually were: the rogue cookie kiosk, the ice skating rink, the Nickelodeon theme park (though it seemed like a third of the rides weren’t operational that day), a three-story candy shop.
Then the pandemic hit, and all malls closed, The American Dream included. It’s been shuttered ever since, but the mega mall has recently announced plans to reopen on Oct. 1, 2020. Several stores are expected to open for the first time, NJ.com reports, like H&M, Aritzia and Primark. And to prepare for the big reopening, the mall’s hiring roughly 300 people to fill roles ranging from lifeguards for the DreamWorks Water Park (which was undergoing ride testing the day we were there) to sales people and ice rink attendants. If you live in the New Jersey area and are interested in applying, you can apply directly through the mall’s job postings site.
The Easter Bunny photo display setup, which was sadly never used this year, due to the pandemic (the mall closed in mid-March to prevent the spread of COVID-19).
In anticipation of its grand reopening, here’s a glimpse of what it was like pre-pandemic. Maybe I should’ve taken that abandoned mall vibe as a harbinger of what 2020 would bring.
The American Dream Photo Tour (as of Feb. 2020)
An outsider’s view of Nickelodeon Universe
The area surrounding Nickelodeon Universe and IT’SUGAR (the candy shop) were by far the busiest
Food options at the time were pretty limited. While pricey ($5 each), these Bang Bang Cookies were gooey, chewy and studded with chocolate.
DreamWorks Water Park wasn’t open to the public while I was there. (The people inside are friends/family of park employees.)
The most impressive part of the ice skating rink? The giant skylight ceiling, which flooded the place with natural light.
