Urban by Choice - Rochester, New York
Check back often as I will keep this up to date with Treasure Hunt news. Click on one of the "Comment" links below to let us know how the Hunt is going. We would love to know things like where keys are being found and how many clues you have solved.
The 3rd Annual 19th Ward Treasure Hunt has come to a close. At Square Fair today about 300 keys were tried in the lock, but only a few fit. Those that didn't were turned in for a Treasure Hunt Raffle ticket. All of the prizes were awarded either through a winning key or the Raffle.
The weather was GREAT for Square Fair this year and there was a large turnout. It was hot in the sun, but if you found a spot in the shade, the breeze made it very relaxing!
We want to thank all our SPONSORS for the prizes they donated and all the work they did setting keys out in their stores and helping us promote the event. Web statistics show that we had at least 481 unique visitors to the site (it was really more because we didn't get the logs going until 4 days after the start). Most were from Rochester, but many were logged in from about 20 surrounding cities. We hope they made it to Square Fair and got a chance to see what Urban Living is all about.
One more day to square fair and the end of the 19th ward treasure hunt. But low and behold looking around I found 20 keys that haven't but set out in the wild yet. Peter Evans dropped off the treasure hunt door today, so I was randomly trying out keys and found a winning key I had set aside to distribute because I was waiting to hear from a sponsor if they were donating one prize or two. So that means Friday AM I need to set that key out with the others somewhere.
Will it end up:
In the Ravenwood Garden
In a sponsor's store
Over at the coffee house at 332 Arnett Blvd, Rochester NY 14619
In the Pink Panther video casette container at the Arnet Library
On the wooden structure underneath which the treasure hunt box sits with all those other keys waiting for someone to solve the puzzle.
Will it end up in the Peace maker Garden
Maybe on the pediastrian bridge over to the U of R.
Maybe it will be on the curb where the 19th ward running and walking groups meet at 6AM on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Keep your eyes especially peeled Friday and Saturday because that key will be out there somewhere. Watch for the two guys on the bikes, we will have the keys until they are gone.
With the treasure hunt ending, we are trying to make sure all of our keys get set out for people to find. As such there are some new opportunities to pick up keys.
On Thursday and Friday some of our sponsors and future sponsors will be giving away keys to customers who purchase an item at thier store. They will still be setting our a few keys each day for individuals to find. This give away is on top of the normal key distribution. I know there are some avid key collectors out there who are stopping by our sponsors stores on a daily basis to search for keys, so get there early if you want to find a key.
El Latino will be giving away 25 keys to the first customers on Thursday. When those keys are gone then they're gone.
Jim Dalberth's Sporting Goods will also be giving away 20 keys starting Thursday. The first 20 people making a purchase will get a key with their purchase.
Sensous Satiables will also be giving away 10 keys each day (Thursday and Friday) one key with a purchase to the first ten customers.
The French Quarter Cafe (332 Arnett Blvd, Rochester NY 14619) will be giving a treasure hunt key to their next 20 patrons. They are open Wednesday - Saturday 11 AM - 7 PM and Sunday 10 Am - 3 PM
The Coffee Shop at 332 Arnett Blvd (the old Creator's Hand) will also be giving away 20 keys. One key to customer who puchases a beverage starting Wednesday until they run out of keys.
So Plan a little shopping trip. The other sponsors will continue to set out keys every day, including the Thurston Road Garage.
Lastly don't forget the Treasure Hunt Box. There are still around 90 keys in that container, and there were at least 5 winning keys in the Treasure Box. If you're working on the clues but got stumped, remember to check out the ALL the postings in this WebLog for additional clues. Also consider writing a comment asking others what they have found out so far. We won't give you the answers but we want those keys to be found.
5/30/08 Keys distributed at the Public Market
6/1/08 Keys distributed in and around the 19th ward
The French Quarter Cafe (332 Arnett Blvd, Rochester NY 14619) will be giving a treasure hunt key to their next 20 patrons. They are open Wednesday - Saturday 11 AM - 7 PM and Sunday 10 Am - 3 PM
Another hint for Clue 2:
"where we save or spend our pay" is the number you seek
Another hint for Clue 4
I am three parts, in harmony, surrounded by "bungalets"
5/28/08 - Keys set free around Wilson Magnet, Wilon Intemediate School, Chili Avenue, Thurston Road, Genesee Park Blvd, and other 19th Ward side streets.
5/29/08 - Keys set free aroud SWAN and PLEX neighborhoods
I am close to South Park, not the Comedy Central comedy; but that's what I was told in the 19th century.
Check out the May 26th D&C Article about 19th Ward Treasure Hunt. They did a very nice job covering our event and the 19th Ward.
I am the 19th Ward's major contribution to the birth of Levitttown. I was designed to evoke a rural feel to city living.
Found a key, please click on the comments secton and let us know your key story. Where were you when you found your key?
Running a little behind on reporting where Keys are being found in the wild, but this brings us up to date.
Monday May 26th (Memorial Day) - Keys were set free in the 19th Ward, near Wilson High School, in Corn Hill, in and around the Cornhill Gazebo, along the Genesee River Trail near the Public Safety Building, in the Public Market (for garden days), along the Memorial Day Parade route (in the East End, and along Main Street), and in Spot Coffee (this is a repeat but they are open at 6:30 AM).
Sunday May 25th - Keys were set free primarily in the 19th Ward
Saturday May 24th - Keys were set free this AM in Highland Park, at the Warner Castle, in Mount Hope Cemetery, and in the 19th Ward
Friday May 23, Keys were set free this AM along the the 19th ward, the Arnett Public Library, the Genesee River Trail, and Downtown Rochester
On Thursday, May 23 in the early morning another batch of keys were set free around Corn Hill Landing, Downtown Rochester, Spot Coffee and Geva Theater.
In the 19th Ward is hidden a large metal container with a lock around it. In this container are 100 Keys. If you find the container, take one key. Again take only one key and leave the others. Put the container back just as you found it. Take your key to Square Fair on Saturday June 7th.. If your key opens the lock you can pick from one of the prizes. If your key does not open one of the locks, turn it in to be eligible for a raffle for additional prizes. Any unclaimed prizes will be added to the raffle to be held at 3:00 pm. Square Fair is held at Aberdeen Square, on Aberdeen Street between Post and Woodbine Avenues.
To find the hidden treasure you need to collect information from throughout the 19th Ward and then solve the following puzzles. Good luck! To solve each clue, you may need to browse the web, hit the library, ask long time residents, or visit some of our sponsors. Each of the clues leads you to the address of a notable 19th Ward location. The first number of the street address of the locations that are linked to Clues 1-4 provide you with the needed code to unlock the Treasure that is hidden at the location linked to Clue 5. As an example if the location of Clue 1 was 508 Genesee Street, 5 would be the first number of the code you will need to unlock the treasure hunt box. By the time you solve Clues 1 ˆ 4 you will have a four digit combination lock number that will open the lock on the treasure hunt box. The treasure hunt box is hidden but still visible and easily accessible, although under a wooden structure.
The 19th Ward Treasure Hunt made it onto R-News most of yesterday with at least 2 different video segments airing. It is also on the R-News web site at
Be sure to leave comments on this Weblog page to let everyone know how the Hunt is going. We would love to hear where you are finding keys!
Keys were set free into the wild in Highland Park, in Strong Memorial Hospital, in the 19th Ward, and at Rochester General Hospital.
Look for keys tomorrow in the 19th Ward, around the Ford Street Bridge, in Greece, and in Pittsford. And don't forget that our Sponsors will be putting out new keys each day in their stores.
Got up early this morning to meet Wendy from R-News at the Tops Friendly Markets on West Avenue at 5:45 am to film a few spots for their newscast today. We were originally scheduled for the Live Van, but got bumped for Senior Professional Golf. Now we will get a couple of edited spots, which will be great. A few loyal fans turned out to witness the big event!
Then it was back to Tops at 8:00 an for the OFFICIAL launch. The initial run of Clue sheets and keys were distributed to Sponsors. Tops is having 5000 of the clue sheets printed up later today and they will be available at all the Sponsor stores. We will add the clues to this web site later today.
Kathleen Graim from Tops Friendly Markets corporate office and Craig Werner, Store Manager of the West Avenue store met with Dan DeMarle for the kick-off. They announced that in addition to all the other prizes for the Hunt, all the keys would be winners. Bring any key you find to the West Avenue Tops Friendly Markets and it will get you a FREE loaf of their Baker's Oven French Bread.
Hard to believe, but the 19th Ward Treasure Hunt is about to begin. At 5:45 am tomorrow morning (Wednesday May 21, 2008) we are being met by R-News at the TOPS Friendly Markets on West Avenue in the 19th Ward for a pre-start News Conference. They plan to get our story into their news cycle beginning at 6:00 am.
HOW DO THEY DO IT SO QUICKLY???
Then at 8:00 am, it is back to TOPS for the OFFICIAL 19th Ward Treasure Hunt kick-off. We will announce the rules and hand out the first clue sheets. Check back on this web site later in the day to find the clues here as well. Our Clue Creators have come up with a devilishly clever Hunt for this year. I wonder if anyone will figure it out??? That is what I thought about my Hunt last year and the first people figured it out in less than 2 days!! We'll just have to wait and see.
Keep coming back to this Weblog during the contest as I will try to keep it up to date with how the contest is going. Also, please post comments here to let me and others know what you think of the 19th Ward Treasure Hunt.
Dan
Copyright 2008 - Dan DeMarle