Ideas for an Easter egg kinda gift?

[cn-i-crash-here.livejournal.com]

I haven't lived in metro Camberville in a while, but I still make periodic visits. My next visit will be in a couple weeks.

Now I've found out that a friend of mine from here in Oregon is visiting Boston too. But I'll miss him by a few days. Since I won't see him, it would be neat if I could plant a present for him there and email him in October with some oblique clues to finding it. Ideally, it would be something novel, cheap, and unlikely to be snatched before my friend finds it.

So far, all that has come to mind is a coffee shop ten-punch card. I would get nine punches on it and leave it in the store's card container for him to retrieve and enjoy. That idea isn't too exciting to me; but anyway, I don't know of a shop that does those punch cards, never mind one that holds them for customers.

Ideas? My friend is male, early 20's, and a serious musician (trombone). He has an outsider's love of the Boston area, so he might appreciate some local color, too.

Comments

[anomie666.livejournal.com]

Is your friend specifically coming to Davis Square?

You could plant something in a park or some place like that and leave him clues about finding it (obviously something small and inexpensive).

[cn-i-crash-here.livejournal.com]

I'll be staying near Davis, and I don't think he'd mind traveling there. I am not sure what to plant in the park, though, or where. And I get nervous about doing kinda subversive things in public areas. (No dirty retorts, please!)

[ron_newman]

Mr. Crepe has these punch cards (Buy 8, Get One Free)

[cn-i-crash-here.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I'll make that something to check out.

[rikchik.livejournal.com]

Deli-icious also has such cards, for a free meal after 10 paid ones.

[cn-i-crash-here.livejournal.com]

Ah, thanks. I can't invest nine-meal money in this gift, but maybe I can find someone who doesn't mind donating her card.

[phoenixy.livejournal.com]

Deli-licious and JP Licks both do the cards (JP Licks's is a plastic credit card like thing but functions similarly). Not sure of their willingness to participate in a scavenger hunt, though. Also wouldn't it be cheaper to just give a gift certificate for $5-10 somewhere than to spend all the money to get the punches in the card?

[cn-i-crash-here.livejournal.com]

Thank you--

Not sure of their willingness to participate in a scavenger hunt

Yeah... If I find the right "frequent buyer" card, I might just have to find some creative way to hide it for him.

Also wouldn't it be cheaper to just give a gift certificate for $5-10 somewhere

Nah, trust me, that would be too "gifty".

Free ice cream

[madscientist01.livejournal.com]

Last time I went to JP Licks, they asked if I had a cow card. I did not. So, they gave me one - with one free ice cream on it! You could get a cow card for the cost of one ice cream if you just ask for one at the cashier.

Re: Free ice cream

[cn-i-crash-here.livejournal.com]

Whoa! Excellent tip.

[inahandbasket]

if he's here on columbus day weekend, make sure he knows about honk fest in Davis!

[magid.livejournal.com]

Cafe Zing in Porter Sq. Books has something like that, but they do it by name instead of punchcard.

[cn-i-crash-here.livejournal.com]

Sounds good.

[notnatalie.livejournal.com]

I have a coupon good for 1 free small brewed coffee (hot or cold) at Diesel Cafe, and one that's $2 off admission to Johnny D's. If you end up making a little packet of Davis Sq enticements (that free cone at JP Licks is good to know!) I'm happy to donate. If you are nervous/can't think of how to 'hide it in plain sight' I know the When Pigs Fly bread shop will be happy to hold an envelope for your friend (yeah, I got connections). OR you could pre-purchase a cupcake for $3 from Kickass and leave the certificate at When Pigs Fly next door, as well....where he can also feast on free samples. Let me know how to contact you if you are interested in any of these options. And I second the opinion that he should make the effort to arrive during Honkfest (Oct 8-10)...it may be a life-altering experience in his trombone career!

[cn-i-crash-here.livejournal.com]

You're very nice for offering this help. Can I write to you when my arrival date is nearer?

[notnatalie.livejournal.com]

Sure, write at not.natalie at yahoo.

[artguychris.livejournal.com]

My wife organized a scavenger hunt for my birthday leading me down Mass Ave to Harvard Sq. Several of the hunt items were small gift certificates left for me at stores & cafes along the way. She put them in envelopes with my name and had the staff hold them. Of course the enthusiastic people she left them with weren't there when I went looking for them, so half the fun was helping the person at the register find them. Given here success, you shouldn't have too much trouble finding a shop to go along with something like this.

[dial-zero.livejournal.com]

That is so sweet! :)