The Gangsters’ New York Scavenger Hunt
- public
- private
- adults
- outdoor
Recommended by the New York Times and Time Out New York
Discover bygone clubhouses and battlegrounds as you roam the streets of Chinatown and Little Italy, where gangs ruled, tong wars raged, and wiseguys got rubbed out.
You’ll see locations featured in such movies as The Godfather and visit the notorious Five Points spot that inspired the book and movie Gangs of New York. You might even find Jimmy Hoffa.
But you’ll learn much more than gangster lore—you’ll also discover cafés, bakeries, teahouses, colorful stores, exotic sidewalk markets, historic buildings, and the streets where Irving Berlin sang, Christopher Walken’s goons had a gunfight, and the Sex and the City gals strolled.
You might answer such questions as…
Amble along Mulberry, Little Italy’s Main Street, and pause at the corner of Hester St. In 1972, mobster Joey Gallo was rubbed out at Umberto’s, a restaurant where Da Gennaro is now. He was shot inside, staggered outside and died on Hester. (As they say, “He ordered clams and got slugs.”) Now, fuhgeddaboud smoking guns. Where will you find hints of a smoking volcano?
If you don’t spot the answer, you can get a hint: Get a good look at restaurant signage. The answer? The sign at Caffe Napoli features a smoking volcano. (Mount Vesuvius famously erupts near Naples.)
No previous knowledge is required to answer the questions. You just need sharp eyes, comfy shoes, and good teamwork.
Explore twisty streets, find hidden history
As you might expect, these neighborhoods aren’t keen on putting up plaques telling you about bygone gangsters, so the hunt will give you the historical notes and tales that paint a vivid picture of the old days.
Part of the thrill of this hunt is that the streets are narrow and twisting and often confusing to most visitors—but with our clues, directions, and map, you’ll feel like a master navigator.
The Gangsters’ New York Scavenger Hunt is offered to the general public on select Saturdays, and to private groups any time. Click below to buy a ticket or contact us to learn more—and find more fun in downtown NYC!
The Munch Around Chinatown Scavenger Hunt
- public
- private
- adults
- outdoor
Treat your taste buds to an exotic adventure…
…in this downtown culinary wonderland. Discover the most unusual and enticing restaurants, cafés, markets, and even food carts in Chinatown and neighboring Little Italy. You’ll not only answer our usual array of tricky questions with your team to try to win the hunt’s top prize—you’ll also be challenged to find and taste such foods as…
- dumplings
- roti canai (Malaysian fried bread)
- mini cakes hot off the grill
- bubble teas
- pizza
- cannoli cupcakes
- egg custards
- banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches)
- rice balls
- stone chocolate
- and much more!
Your team will be offered a variety of optional food stops, and you get to choose which treats work best for your diet and taste buds. We’ll recommend our favorites, but you get to make the final decision.
Savor a sample question…
On Bayard St. between Mott and Elizabeth, visit a dragon cooling his fire [as seen on the flag flying outside the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory]. Every flavor here is handmade and delicious, especially pumpkin pie, ginger, and Zen butter (peanut butter with toasted sesame seeds). Peek inside. On the list of flavors, what are chocolate and vanilla classified as?
The answer? A sign categorizes those flavors as “Exotics.” Remember, you’re in Chinatown!
Along with that potential food stop, you also get a note about another nearby snack option:
Bayard, between Mott and Elizabeth: Old timers and those in the know hit Mei Lai Wah at 62 Bayard for delicious $1.75 roast pork buns.
If you hunger for adventure, join us! This hunt is occasionally available to the general public on weekends, but it’s available any time for private groups. Contact us to learn more—and find more fun in downtown NYC!
