In case you haven’t had the pleasure, Foursquare is a location-based
social network and game all rolled into one. Just over a year old, the
popularity of Foursquare is currently surging as fans use the app to
“check in” to favorite destinations around town using their mobile
devices.
Everybody knows that Mary Fender can frame one hell of a picture. In fact, she has cornered the market in RVA for forward-thinking picture framing design. But get this, in just a few hours Fender will add another unique talent to her bailiwick -- Foursquare party planner extraordinaire. Maybe there’s a badge for that?
Accolades aside, Fender is responsible for organizing Richmond’s first Foursquare Day, an event that kicks off this evening at Sheba Ethiopian Restaurant. Pegged as “Foursquare Shockoe Swarm,” the festivities are part of an international push to recognize the fun (and business value) that can be found in the Foursquare community.
In case you haven’t had the pleasure, Foursquare is a location-based social network and game all rolled into one. Just over a year old, the popularity of Foursquare is currently surging as fans use the app to “check in” to favorite destinations around town using their mobile devices.
While there is a scoring system that allows users to win mayorships and badges for their travels, the real appeal of Foursquare is the ability to connect with people in real life who are in close physical proximity to you at any time. As an added bonus, Foursquare encourages its feisty fan base to get out and explore their city, which subsequently gives a handy dandy boost to local merchants.
As for the lil’ fete planned at Sheba tonight, Fender has attracted the likes of Ipanema Café, Rostov’s Coffee, Empire, Garnett’s Café, and Science Museum of Virginia. These hometown favorites, in addition to Frame Nation and Sheba Restaurant, have all agreed to offer up party swag in honor of the Foursquare festivities happening across the globe today.
Fender says that anyone who registers for tonight’s event will receive goodies like IMAX tickets from the Science Museum of Virginia, caffeine inspired giveaways from Rostov’s, and gift certificates from Frame Nation.
As if things couldn’t get much better than geeking it out for giveaways, Fender hopes that Foursquare Day in Shockoe Bottom will also produce a Swarm Badge, an honor bestowed by Foursquare when fifty or more users check-in to a common locality within a short period of time. While many in RVA acquired the badge in a recent spate of Foursquare infused events, Foursquare Day offers a chance for those still looking to unlock the coveted badge.
Fueling the fun, Fender has made arrangements for a special Foursquare cocktail, called the ”FourSwarm” and she plans to chalk off a Foursquare court outside for people to play the game as they did in the olden days – with a ball.
