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Read the press release here.

Kids Hunt for 'Where's Waldo?' in Fort Greene

By Janet Upadhye | August 1, 2012 4:10pm

FORT GREENE — Waldo, the bespectacled fellow in the red and white shirt of "Where's Waldo?" fame, turns 25-years-old this year, and Fort Greene celebrated his birthday in the only appropriate way, with a neighborhood-wide scavenger hunt.

During the month of July, 20 local businesses hid a small cutout of Waldo in their stores. And local kids went from business to business to find him.

The kids who found eight or more Waldos were entered into a raffle where they could win gift certificates from participating businesses.

“Most kids have never heard of Waldo, who was one of my childhood favorites,” said Jessica Stockton Bagnulo, co-proprietor of Greenlight Bookstore and organizer of the month-long event. “This gave them the chance to discover this wonderful character.”

It also gave both parents and children the chance to explore businesses in their neighborhood.

“We went to 16 different businesses to find Waldo,” said local dad Grant Bremer. “I had already been to most, but to revisit them, and discover new businesses was fantastic.”

Bremer’s two sons carefully strategized how to attack the scavenger hunt in the most efficient manner. They found 16 Waldos in just two afternoons.

And both Bremer boys won raffle prizes Tuesday night at the Where’s Waldo finale party at the bookstore. Prizes were drawn and handed out by local City Councilwoman Letitia James.

The party also had cake, cookies, games, and books, making it a hot party spot for kids.

Phillip Kellogg, Manager of the Fulton Area Business Alliance was also at the event.

“It was terrific to give people the opportunity to go into different stores up and down Futon street in Fort Greene and Clinton hill,” he said.  “And everybody pulling together was great. “