The Chicagoist will be launching later but in the meantime please enjoy our archives.

UChicago's Annual Scav Hunt Is Back To Up Chicago's Whimsy Levels

By Rachel Cromidas in Arts & Entertainment on May 5, 2016 8:44PM


The world's wackiest and most open-to-interpretation scavenger hunt is back for another year on the University of Chicago's Hyde Park campus this week, to kick the city's Relative Whimsy Level through the roof (more on that in a minute).

the annual Scav Hunt pits teams of students, alumni and other Chicagoans against each other to solve a 284-plus-item list that typically calls for more engineering knowledge than scavenging skills. This year's massive, 18-page list was released at midnight, and the teams have until Sunday morning to present their items to the hunt's judges.

As in past years, the list contains a mix of unusual demands, self-referential references to ongoing Scav Hunt activities and a one-day Scav Olympics that this year includes such challenges as beard-waxing and corn-on-the-cob chomping. There are also a few uniquely Chicago items, which should perplex the hell out of anyone who happens to be in the right place at the Scav time this year. A select few, including items that call for teams to besiege Chicago-area bars, skateparks, and the Kenwood diner Valois with their nonesense:

111. To the tune and in the linguistic style of the original Schnitzelbank, conduct a Chicago-area bar in singing about the topic of your choice. The non-Animaniacs version with a poster accompaniment is preferred.

113. Using two (2) fake giant fingers and one (1) real normal-sized skateboard, pull at least three (3) classic Tech DeckTM tricks at one (1) of Chicago’s many free skateparks. Please note that legs dressed to look like fingers will earn you zero (0) points.

126. Talk about a two-way twister! Let’s share the love with our municipal fambam. Hit up as many of Chicago’s sister cities as you can, and be sure to commemorate each visit by performing the Sister, Sister theme song in front of a local landmark. [3 points per official international sister city included]

247. After rumblings of widespread dissatisfaction in Chicago’s Relative Whimsy Level (RWL) were reported, the city government decided to transform Chicago’s Loop into its very own loop-de-loop! Do your part in improving our city’s RWL by bringing a scale model of Wabash Street—including a functional loop-de-looping train line of your choice—to Judgment. [37 points for a functional loop-de-loop,
a photo-accurate train, and more than five identifiable Wabash Street buildings]

24. Your music video for the Quiet Riot classic “Come On Feel Valois.” Must feature big hair and Valois being rocked to its very core by the power of your metal. [This one goes to 11 points]

Other list items with a high RWL (in our opinions) include calls for a butt-plug "lovingly" carved to look like Theodore Roosevelt, the recreation of favorite Animorphs book covers, and a life-size Neko Atsume yard where human players dressed as cats can take pictures and distribute mementos. Teams that are reading: We are so down to join you.