Pee-Wee Herman & His foursquare Badge
“And you all remember what to do whenever anyone says the secret word, right? SCREAM REAL LOUD!!!!” says one of the most endearing comic characters of all time during his riotously-funny revival of The Pee-Wee Herman Show, which just finished its limited run on Broadway.
Some things have changed since we last saw Pee-Wee. He has a thriving Twitter account and Facebook page, but it’s what he did with foursquare that turned New York City into a 3-month Pee-Wee Herman party that ended this past Sunday at Bowlmor Lanes Times Square.
It all started with a Tweet on October 7th at 10am EST:
@peeweeherman: The word of the day is @foursquare! I’m spending the day roaming NYC – checking in all over so you all can meet up, say hi & earn my badge!
And that’s exactly what he did, hitting major landmarks and neighborhood hot spots – a “Katz’s Reuben” in the Lower East Side – from the Brooklyn Bridge to Harlem.
Those who joined Pee-Wee’s big adventure in New York City, and checked-in during the parade or throughout the show’s run at the Stephen Sondheim Theater, earned the Pee-Wee Herman Show badge. Our source at foursquare tells us it was unlocked by thousands of fans, but it was only a lucky few hundred badge-holders and their guests who made it on the list for an exclusive event, ‘Pee-Wee’s Sunday Bowling Party’ and the chance to “join Pee-Wee for food, drinks and bowling at NYC’s newest funhouse – Bowlmor Lanes Times Square,” as the invitation read. The Pee-Wee Herman Show and Bowlmor opened in NYC one-week apart and a block from each other, both bringing uber-nostalgic fun to the Great White Way and the perfect pairing for Sunday’s foursquare fan party.
Black Bowling Lounge
Spread over 90,000 sq. ft. formally occupied by The New York Times, Bowlmor has 7 themed rooms including the world’s first all-black alley, a decadent 1960s-themed bowling lounge, as well as tributes to Central Park, Andy Warhol, and Chinatown, alongside the Coney Island game room. The Stadium Grill, a sports bar, features a menu designed by famed chef and author, David Burke, offering a range of gourmet food including an upscale twist on bowling alley staples, Bowlmor Bob’s Badass Burger and Killer Grilled Cheese, as well as Tuna Tartare Parfait and Beef Shortrib Stroganoff. Not a 10-pin player? Grab a drink in the candlelit fireside lounge, Luna Park, which is adjacent to The Tribeca Loft, a nightclub complete with DJ booth, bar and stage for live performances.
The Tribeca Loft
With 80s music filling Bowlmor, Pee-Wee spent the night chatting, bowling and taking pictures with excited fans (some of which flew in from as far as Atlanta) and foursquare staffers. Rounding out the event, he took the stage in The Tribeca Loft for a rare stand-up performance followed by a Q&A.
For those who didn’t make it to the Broadway show, HBO, where Pee-Wee first appeared on the premium net in 1981, filmed a live performance set to air in 2011. Some lucky foursquare badge-holders were also invited to attend that event.
Pee-Wee’s visit to NYC was all about his fans. They played together for 3 months on foursquare and in the end at Bowlmor Lanes Times Square, where the word of the night definitely was party (insert scream here!).
