Last year it was Twitter; this year foursquare is all the rage. Using your phone to “check-in” to locations, you unlock badges, gain mayorship for frequent check-ins, and add tips for other users. Plus your friends can keep up with your comings and goings. I’ve started doing a little foursquaring, but only on the weekends when I can borrow my husband’s iPhone

Social-media-savvy businesses are starting to get on board, making special offers for mayors or first check-ins. From foursquare’s site, here’s a list of Richmond locations that currently offer official rewards for foursquare users:

America’s Sweet Shop – 3324B West Cary Street
S. Crenshaw, Richmond
Free gourmet cookie for the Mayor! Choose between old fashioned chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, snickerdoodle or peanut butter. YUM!

Capital Ale House – 623 E Main St
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 780-2537
Free Giant Bavarian Pretzel for the Mayor!

Carraba’s – 11450 Midlothian Turnpike
Richmond, VA USA 23235
(804) 794-1771
Show that you’re the Mayor of Carrabba’s and enjoy a complimentary dessert with the purchase of an entrée. Grazie!

Empire – 727 W Broad St
at Laurel St
Richmond, VA 23220
(804) 344-3323
Free 24oz PBR (with empire can coozie) to the person that overthrows Linz as the mayor of empire

Frame Nation – 11 S 15th St
btw E Cary & E Main Sts
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 643-7263
Get a free monogram cut mat for your first check in on Foursquare!

Garnett’s Cafe – 2001 Park Avenue
at N Meadow St.
Richmond, VA 23220
(804) 367-7909

Hey hey! Show that you’re the Mayor of Garnett’s Cafe and get a coffee, on us!

Ipanema Cafe – 917 W Grace St.
btw Harrison St. & Shafer St.
Richmond, VA 23220
(804) 213-0190
Hey hey! Check-in and show that you’re the Mayor of Ipanema Cafe and get an order of sweet potato fries, on us!

Nile Ethiopian Restaurant – 309 N Laurel St
btw Broad St & Grace St
Richmond, VA 23220
(804) 225-5544
A Free Beer or Wine for the Mayor of Nile! 1/2 Off Appetizer for 1st Check-In! Eat~Drink~Play

Qdoba – 933 W Broad
Richmond, VA
Free drink for the mayor

Rostov’s Coffee & Tea – 1618 W Main St
Richmond, VA 23220
(804) 355-1955
Fifty cents off all coffee bar drinks once a day when you check-in. Mayor receives free coffee bar drink!

Science Museum of Virginia – 2500 West Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23220
Two free IMAX tickets for the Mayor!

Sheba Ethiopian Restaurant – 9 N 17th Street
btw E Main & E Franklin
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 308-3649
Free PoPcorn & 1/2 Off Appetizer on your 1st Check-In! Become our Mayor and get a free drink or Appetizer on us!

Sticky Togogo – 2227 W Main St
Strawberry St
Richmond, VA 23220
(804) 358-2633
Are you the mayor of Togogo? Show us and get a free order of Sticky or Garden Balls with your order! Show us you’ve checked in 5 times and get a free side of our delicious Tots! Woo Hoo!

Tarrant’s Cafe – 1 W. Broad St at N. Foushee
Richmond, VA 23220
(804) 225-0035
Free 10″ Specialty Pizza for the mayor!

Wack! Salon – 305 N Robinson St
Robinson and Stuart
Richmond, Virginia 23220
(804) 377-9225
Bring a friend and Check-in @Wack Salon! Buy one get one for free!-(new clients please)

(Are you on foursquare? What do you think? Do you want to be my friend?)

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