The  Shiver Me Timbers! Pirate Invasion treasure Hunt (auction) is now open!  Run by the auction site Bidding For Good this auction is a project of The Queens Galley in order to support their kids Snow Day Program.

This  local treasure hunt is a city wide silent auction with a twist. When treasure hunters go into one of the over two dozen participating locations to bid they will find a QR code on the bid sheet. Use of a smart phone to scan the code for treasure reveals food and drink special offers and free items offered by local artists. Each bid sheet has a unique QR code and codes will change out during the treasure hunt to entice bidders to return to the stores.

The auction is supplemented Online.  The auction has both local treasure (gift cards to restaurants, boutique items from full circle, Bop to Tottom,) and some not so local like a guitar autographed by Cher and a first class premium package that offers Two tickets to the world series including air travel, hotel and an autographed ball from the game.

The Pirate invasion activities culminate on Sunday 1/15 in the round-out area of Kingston’s waterfront district.

4pm at ASK, 97 Broadway, is professional story teller Maura O’Meara, presenting Grace O’Malley Pirate Queen of Western Ireland – Ruler Over Land & Sea telling tales of sea adventures and 5PM Parrots of Peace demonstration by Gloria Waslyn. 6pm the finale at Dermot Mahoney’s 40 Broadway for auction winner announcements and 7pm performance by 3 Pints Shy (loud songs about rum and beer from a popular NYC native band).

Additional highlight includes a “kids food booty challenge” by 7th grader Mickey Hein (son of county executive Mike Hein and wife Christine). Mickey has sent a challenge to students at other schools to see which class can collect the most food for the kids snow day program. The food drive drop off is also at Dermot’s on that Sunday from noon through 6pm.

Queens Galley chose the day to coincide with MLK day of service, hopeful to remind people that as a nation we do the most good when we remember to do SOMETHING. 16 million kids rely on school lunch and sometimes it’s all they get. When it snows and school closes too many kids go hungry…but not here in Kingston!

The Queens Galley works with the YMCA and Boys and Girls club to bring lunch to about 100 kids EVERY scheduled snow day. The program now in its fourth year enables kids in those drop in programs to be guaranteed a meal when school is closed for inclement weather.

Diane Reeder’s husband, Jay is a participating business owner in the treasure hunt. Like many others, his store Knightly Endeavors, 319 Wall street will see a decline in foot traffic in January and welcomes the opportunity to meet new potential customers even if they are stopping into his shop just to place the free bid and to claim the secret treasure from the QR code.

Linda Scevola owner of Full Circle, another business participant says “it’s another way to get feet on the street and that’s what we as small retailers need. It’s also a really good cause and a win-win for Kingston businesses and residents”.

The list of participating businesses:

Parent Teacher Store, Blue 57, Stella’s, Full Circle, Rage Hair Salon, Deisings, Paw Prints and Whiskers, Mario’s Trattoria, Bop to Tottem, Market Basket, Knightly Endeavors, Boitsons, Tonner Dolls, Savona’s Trattoria, On the Hill Antiques, Albrechts Hair Salon, Style Fabrics, Flower Nest, Trend Salon, Mint, Rosita’s, Burgevin Florist, JK Wine and liquor, B3 Burger Bar.