Zohran Mamdani hosts NYC scavenger hunt, rewards winner with a cup of chai

Imagine 2,000 people flocking through the streets of Manhattan on a Sunday afternoon—not for a parade or protest, but for a scavenger hunt led by mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. Part campaign rally, part citywide game, the event drew crowds with humor, history, and even a cup of chai at the finish line.According to The New York Post, the hunt began at Union Square, where supporters lined up to collect specially printed cards from campaign volunteers. Each clue pointed back to New York’s political past, guiding participants through seven stops including John V. Lindsay East River Park, before ending at Little Flower Café in Astoria—one of Mamdani’s favorite coffee spots.

Mamdani announced the event in a video while holding a bag of sour cream and onion crisps, a cheeky jab at Mayor Eric Adams’ former adviser Winnie Greco, who was criticized last week for handing a reporter a snack bag filled with cash.

“I’ve got something to hide. A lot of things, in fact,” Mamdani joked in the clip.

By the end of the hunt, volunteers were handing out cups of chai as thousands queued around the block to meet the candidate. Many snapped photos and shared updates with the hashtag #ZcavengerHunt.For some, the event was more than lighthearted fun. Zmus, a 38-year-old Greenpoint resident originally from London, told The New York Post that while she can’t vote as a green card holder, she wanted to “donate with my feet” by taking part.

She called Mamdani “refreshing” and said he “speaks to the New York City of today,” contrasting him with rivals Adams, Andrew Cuomo, and Curtis Sliwa.“I don’t think about them because they are completely far behind,” she said. “They just sound so archaic and very Gotham City … They’re not in the real world like we are. Mamdani is.”

She dismissed criticisms of Mamdani, especially Cuomo’s attacks over his rent-stabilized apartment.

“That’s something all New Yorkers are striving for. That’s not living lavishly. That’s borderline comfortable, if not survivable income,” she said.Speaking to reporters at the finish line, Mamdani framed the hunt as a reflection of his campaign’s values. “You can’t serve a city, you can’t fight for a city, if you don’t love that city,” he said, calling the event “the foundation of what this campaign is all about.”