The NorthShore Merchants Collective is hosting its Second Annual Holiday Window Treasure Hunt to benefit the Northside Neighborhood House.
"To join in the fun, all you have to do is pick up a game card from any one of twenty-seven participating businesses and start a-hunting," officials said. "Similar to those 'find the hidden object in the picture"' games you might remember from 'Highlights Magazine,' the NorthShore's version makes you take to the sidewalk, looking for unlikely hidden items in the holiday-themed windows of local businesses. For example, you might find an out-of-place ice cream scoop from Clumpies in the window of Embargo 62, or a wooden coat hanger from Merch Northshore in the window of the River Street Deli."
Completed game cards are ultimately deposited, along with a one dollar contribution, at one of five NorthShore businesses. Each successful treasure-hunter is then registered for the chance to win a giant gift basket valued at $1,000, which is filled with gift certificates and goodies from favorite NorthShore shops and restaurants. All collected monies will be matched by NSMC and donated to the NorthSide Neighborhood House for its annual Toy Drive. NNH works with its clients to purchase the specific toys and items their children have requested from Santa.
The Second Annual Holiday Window Treasure Hunt kicks off on Friday, Nov. 11, the weekend of the NorthShore's Holiday Open House, and runs until Jan. 2, 2017. "So if you don't have time during the pre-Christmas rush, you can join in the fun after Christmas, before the little ones have to return to school," officials said.
This NSMC signature holiday activity was inspired by one of its members, Jamie Paul George of Frazier Avenue's GOOD DOG. Mr. George remembers a similar activity from his childhood in the town of Gillingham in Dorset, England. "It was a lot of fun and an annual tradition there," he recalls. "You'd run into your friends doing the same thing, so it was a good way to catch up with everyone. The tradition prevails--my own mother still does it to this day."
Participating NorthShore businesses include Backstreet Betty's, Belle Rive, blue skies, ClearSpring Yoga, Clumpies Ice Cream, Embargo 62, European Wax Center, Frankie and Julian's, Four Bridges Outfitters, GOOD DOG, Hair a go-go, Healthy Glow Studio, In-Town Gallery, Massage Envy Spa, Merch Northshore, Olive Chattanooga, Quality Tire Pros, Plum Nelly, Revelator, River Street Deli, Rusted Buffalo, The Sandbox Children's Boutique, Sophie's, Tangerinas, Terra Nostra, Whole Foods, and Willa Collection.
