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On the morning of August 7, 20010, forty-seven teams and fourteen race officials gathered at Columbus Circle to start The Interesting Race 5.
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| Starting Line: Columbus Circle |
At the start of the Race,
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| Location 2: Pier 40 - West Side Highway |
When teams completed the Intersection successfully,
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| Location 3: Washington Square Park |
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Once teams had located either of the buildings they had to submit their answers to the Race Officials in Bowling Green. The first team to submit the right answer would have the chance to use a U-Turn against another team. In this case, the U-Turned team would have to go back and find the address of the second building as well. Teams were informed that their next clue would be available at 11:30am. This gave lagging teams a chance to catch up and early teams a chance to rest.
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| Location 4: Grand Army Plaza |
At 11:30am, teams received Clue #3 directing them to the corner of Laight and Varick Streets.
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When teams arrived they were given Clue #4, a Fast Forward. The Fast Forward told them they needed to be on the other corner of Laight and Varick Streets, across four lanes of traffic to receive their next clue. However, the route they would have to travel would be decided by reaching into a bag filled with green and white marbles. If they selected a green marble they could travel via the pedestrian bridge. If they selected a white marble they would have to travel around the traffic rather than go over it.
The first team to arrive at the opposite corner of Laight and Varick Streets would have the chance to use a Roundabout against another team. In this case, once the Roundabouted team arrived at the correct corner, they would have to return to the corner with the marble bag, select another marble and travel the route again depending on which color marble they chose.
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| Location 5: Park Avenue - Summer Streets |
As teams arrived on the other corner of Laight and Varick Streets, they received Clue #5.
A clue in two parts, teams had to first figure out the relationship between the coat of arms of El Salvador and Dominick Street. Dominick Street is three blocks long bordered by Hudson Street and 6th Avenue (or Avenue of the Americas). In the late 1950s, when modern octagonal-shaped aluminum lampposts began to appear on 6th Avenue, Avenue of the Americas started to truly live up to its name...as dozens of distinctive medallions bearing the flags of dozens of nations in North, South and Central America made their appearance on the new poles. The only remaining lampposts with medallions are in the West Village and for a few blocks further north near Central Park. The medallion for El Salvador is located on Dominick Street.
Once teams made the connection, they knew they had to search 6th Avenue for the medallion with the Canadian coat of arms. Once it was found, it would reveal the answer needed to solve the clue.
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Teams had to submit their answers to the Race Officials in Father Demo Square. The first team to arrive with the correct answer had the option to use a Yield against another team. In this case it meant stopping another team from racing for fifteen minutes.
As the teams arrived they received Clue #6.
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| Location 6: American Folk Art Museum |
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When teams arrived at the Bliss 49 Spa, they received Clue #7: Teams had to find a customer to purchase an $18 tube of hand cream and get a picture with their customer in order to receive their next clue.
( A big thanks to all the customers who helped the teams!)
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| Location 7: Petrosino Square |
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When the purchase of the hand cream was complete and the picture had been taken, teams received Clue #8: they had to travel to Duffy Square. Duffy Square is actually the northern side of Times Square and the first team to arrive there would have the option of Yielding another team. It was also the first of three elimination points in the race. The number of teams would be reduced from thirty-five to twelve.
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| Location 8: Sandra Cameron Dance Center |
One member from each of the twelve remaining teams were taught a version of the Thriller dance by our choreographer Vic (who also invited his class of professional dancers to join in). After the "teach", Vic broke up the class into groups of three to audition for him.
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If Vic felt that team members had mastered the dance combination, he would award them Clue #10.
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| Location 9: Ryan's Irish Pub |
| Location 10: Christopher Street Pier -Pier 45 |
Teams had to figure out how many of the symbols in the clue were used in the monument's design. Only the first six teams to submit a correct answer would advance. The remaining six would be eliminated.
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The remaining six teams all received Clue #12: a movie trivia riddle. Teams had the find their next clue at the intersection of the character pictured on the clue.
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| Location 11: The Balloon Saloon - Broadway and Duane Street |
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Once teams figured out that their next clue was at the corner of Jane and Hudson Streets (Baby Jane Hudson) teams gathered there to receive their next clue at 4pm.
What they weren't expecting was that Clue #13 was inside a can and that they would have to find a way to open it.
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Once the teams managed to get Clue #13 out of the can they were directed to search The High Line for their next clue. The first team to arrive would have the option to Yield any team behind them. This location was also the last elimination point in the Race. Only the first three teams would advance. The other three would be eliminated.
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The final three teams were given Clue #14: the teams had to locate the woman pictured on the clue near the corner of 96th Street and Madison Avenue. Once they found her they had to take delivery of a package which they had to bring to the Finish Line.
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| Finish Line: The Dubliner - 45 Stone Street |
When Team Tatalacious showed up first to the Finish Line with their package they were presented with Clue #15: Inside the package they brought was a cake. The first team to finish eating the entire cake would win The Interesting Race.
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| Then, of course, there's the after party... |
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