#ymun

I am mourning over all the hours I could have slept today. 

by Emmanuel Quartey

I finally got around to checking out Foursquare. This is what I found.

1) Deals and discounts: I was pleasantly surprised to discover that a number of local businesses are offering rewards for checking in on Foursquare. For instance, Box 63 offers two Foursquare specials, a Flash Special, where "You buy the meal, [Box] buy the drink!!" and a Friends Special, which gets you 50% off an appetizer.

Be mindful of the small print, though. The Flash Special is invalid on Saturdays, and the Friends Special is invalid on Fridays as well as Saturdays.

2) A replacement for the "Where is everyone?" text/email: Foursquare allows you to see where your friends have checked into, which is perfect for quickly deciding which parties to head to (or avoid). If you're in an unfamiliar place, Foursquare suggests local venues your friends have visited.

3) Tips and comments: The comments section of checkin pages are a goldmine of information, even for venues you thought you already knew. For instance, a regular warns that Elm Bar is "CASH ONLY. Cards not accepted. ATM in the back if you need it." and another FroyoWorld enthusiast advises that "If you want to get out of there for less than $4, fill in the cup less than halfway. Still plently of deliciousness."

My favorite example of Foursquare use is by the Best Delegate blog. The blog is a resource for Model UN teams, and the blog organizers curated a handy Foursquare list of venues for delegates who attend the Yale Model United Nations and Security Council Simulation at Yale conferences. Each venue features a useful tip for a delegate looking to strategize with others , catch a quick meal or learn more about Yale.

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