London is gearing up for the Hide and Seek Festival, held on June 27 and 28. Encompassing everything from flashmob games to location-based art installations, it's for kids — and very big kids at heart alike. It's designed to celebrate the social joys of art and games, so you can just show up and join in though some require a reservation.
If you're wondering what the heck a flashmob is — or if group pranks are more your style, New York magazine had this feature on the group Improv Everywhere. The "public scene making" collective stages elaborate stunts, like the Grand Central Station "freeze" below, and my personal favorite "everybody show up at a Best Buy wearing khakis and a blue polo."
The group has accomplished over 70 “missions,” including the annual No-Pants subway ride that last year got 900 people pantsless. How to play? The group's leader has a 13,000-person mailing list, and would-be participants get an email outlining the general facts and asking for an RSVP.
Why would someone participate in a group playdate like this? Improv Everywhere's founder says, “someone once told me, ‘What you’re doing is giving other people anecdotes. You don’t regularly see things in New York that make you go, ‘Wow, that’s awesome.’ You don’t see humans interacting in a way that takes you off guard and makes you smile.”
That's a good enough argument for me. Would you play along?
Christine Bec
Odille
Sonia Rykiel
Someone could lose an eye?
1Eyes are in constant danger.
How can someone be in NY and not regularly see things that are awesome? They must have their eyes closed or their protective goggles are too tight. I hate planned fun, it never is.
2That planned fun looked pretty fun. I can see how it would be fun to be in on an inside joke, and do something you couldn't do with your immediate group of friends without way too much planning.
But yea. I would definitely have to wear some protective goggles!
3I think this sounds fun. It may be a way for some to meet new people.
4Wow, I do crap like this to amuse myself with a group of 5 or 10 people, 200 would be amazing!!! I would so do this.
5Hahaha, flash mobs! Memories...
6I thought flash mobs exposed themselves to random people en mass. I guess this is why I am facing misdemeanor charges for public lewdness.
7Sounds like fun. I love embracing my inner child
8There is a place in Indianapolis that was a big playground for adults. It had a gerbil tubes (a la McDonald's playland, only larger), a wicked game room, and a decent restaurant.
9ya
10UnDave - Really? I live here and I've never heard of it! Unless you're talking about Sybaris, which is an adult's only hotel that's a different kind of adult playground altogether...
11It's (or was) in Castleton (82nd st). They converted an old movie theater. It's called Block Party.
12Thanks, as far as I can tell it's still there (I'm in the Southport/Greenwood area on the far south side, so I'm not usually up there) and I'll have to check it out
13I would. It's really cool.
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