Clues
Published on Friday, February 13, 2015
Minneapolis! Welcome to the treasure hunting fold!
Explanation:
With the first word of the hunt—"Minneapolis! " —we tell hunters right off the bat in which of the Twin Cities to search for the jewel.
The first letters of each line in the first stanza spell "MECC "—an acronym for the Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium. They were the awesome little local company that produced the computer game The Oregon Trail . The "Oregon Trail" that forms the main theme of this hunt is Portland Avenue, which borders Todd Park to the West.
Besides "Minneapolis " and "St. Paul ," two other city names are referenced in the first stanza: "Independence " (Missouri) and "Counsel ... bluffs " (or Council Bluffs, Iowa). These were two of the most common starting points for settlers on the Oregon Trail.
"Stay out of the roughs " and "don't fall for any bluffs " are meant to suggest hunters be wary of potential red herrings.
"out of bounds, for what it's worth " could be taken to suggest that Theodore Wirth Park is out.
"worth " could also be taken to suggest Henry Wadsworth Longfellow—whose Hiawathas and Minnehahas are smattered throughout Minneapolis (and to a lesser extent St. Paul).
"Don't just sit there " is meant to suggest that the jewel is near a place to sit—in this case a bench on the third base side of field #3.
"my good friend " could be taken to suggest the lyrics "Yes me friend, me good friend" from Bob Marley's song "Duppy Conqueror," and another lyric from within that song—"I've got to reach Mount Zion." Mount Zion Lutheran Church is adjacent to Todd Park on Chicago Avenue.
"Get up, the rooster's crowing " is meant to suggest a rooster atop the steeple at Mount Zion Lutheran Church—one of the highest points nearby.
"Get up " is also meant to suggest that the jewel is hidden on one of Todd Park's small hills.
"Get up, " could also be taken to reinforce Bob Marley lyrics ("Get up, Stand up.")
"it's no time to play pretend ." is meant to introduce the second clue: Though the Pretenders' song "2000 Miles" is quoted directly, this set-up is meant to suggest that there are likely no grand mysteries to be unravelled from examining the rest of the lyrics.
Published on Saturday, February 14, 2015
A single footfall starts the journey of two thousand miles:
Explanation:
"two thousand miles " is meant not only to approximate the distance of the Oregon Trail, but is also the title of The Pretenders' song "2000 Miles," referenced at the end of the clue.
"scowling teacher " anagrams to "circle the wagons" — another Oregon Trail pointer.
"A man, a plan, a canal ," is the beginning of a well-known palindrome ("A man, a plan, a canal—Panama."). The ending is conspicuously missing. This may have had people looking in any number of places—notably Irvine Park near Panama Flats historic rowhouses. However, the following line—"But patience is a virtue, too "—is meant to suggest holding off on palindrome-related noodling until a later clue.
"A mostly-senseless knight defenseless to our gem is clinging " is meant to suggest popular country artist Jewel Kilcher's... uh... unique?... book of poetry A Night Without Armor , which concealed our jewel, and was itself wrapped in cling wrap and buried in the snow.
"Sparkling in the snow–we left it there—our hearts were singing " paraphrases (and quotes directly) The Pretenders' song "2000 Miles," and is meant to suggest the jewel is hidden in the snow near Diamond Lake. ("Diamonds in the snow sparkle / Our hearts were singing")
Published on Sunday, February 15, 2015
Kansas and Nebraska, Wyoming and Idaho:
Explanation:
This clue is meant to suggest hunters ignore streets named after states and saints , and also that other street names will play a factor in the hunt—just not those in Saint Paul ("Patronizing St.s might have you pulling out your hair "), where all the streets listed are located.
The "Oregon Trail" reference here is the order in which the state names are listed—"Kansas and Nebraska, Wyoming and Idaho "—which roughly outlines the passage of the Oregon Trail.
Published on Monday, February 16, 2015
Life's a game sometimes, it seems: you often play the fool.
Explanation:
This clue references three songs by Jewel: "Fool ish Game s," "Who Will Save Your Soul ," and "You Were Meant For Me."
"Think South " is meant to suggest looking in South Minneapolis, and in the southern portion of Todd Park.
"eat, pray, play, and live " references First Course restaurant and Mt. Zion Lutheran Church (both across the street on Chicago Ave.), the park's playground and ballfields, and residences nearby.
"Life went awry for a man nearby who had but one to give " is meant to suggest Nathan Hale, the Continental soldier for whom the nearby elementary school and neighborhood is named (and who famously said his only regret was having "but one life to give" for his country). The red herring here is intended to lead those stuck on Saint Paul to Nathan Hale Park (and its statue of Hale) on Portland Avenue near Ramsey Hill.
"Life's a game " could also be taken to suggest The Oregon Trail computer game.
Published on Tuesday, February 17, 2015
One and one is two, of course, and two and two is four.
Explanation:
"One and one is two ... two and two is four ," and "sweet home " are meant to suggest Robert Johnson's classic blues song "Sweet Home Chicago" — and Chicago Avenue, which forms Todd Park's Eastern boundary.
"of course " is meant to suggest First Course restaurant on Chicago Ave.
"make tracks " is meant to suggest that hunters "blaze a trail" — Portland's basketball team is, fittingly, The Trail Blazers.
The second half of the clue is meant to suggest Todd Park's baseball fields ("Don't forget to bring your mitt "), Torii Hunter's return to the Twins ("One Hunter learned the hard way there's no place like home sweet home "), and the late, great Hubert H. Humphrey Metro"'dome " (which stood at Chicago Avenue).
"One hunter learned the hard way there's no place like home sweet home " was also intended to reinforce the Ramsey Hill red herring—as a well-known statue in Cochran Park (adjacent to Hale Park)—"An Indian Hunter and His Dog"—was once removed and placed in Como Park, only to be returned to its original location.
Published on Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Hamlet's amount will lead you nearly straight up to the prize,
Explanation:
"Hamlet's amount " and "tout a helmsman "—which bracket the clue—are anagrams for "Multnomah seat." The city of Portland is the seat of government for Multnomah County in Oregon.
"A killer in the ring " is meant to reference wrestling legend Walter "Killer" Kowalski—and suggest Kowalski's Market across Chicago Avenue from Todd Park.
"killer " could also be taken to suggest Harmon "Killer" Killebrew, whose number 3 is referenced as a marker later on.
"killer " could also be taken to suggest Pearl Park's ballpark, commemorated for Harmon Killebrew.
"cut it down " is meant to suggest a nearby tree stump—referenced again in the final clue.
"The question of who's meeker " is meant to reference Ezra Meeker—a famous traveler of the Oregon Trail.
"flight " is meant to suggest nearby Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, and the many planes passing overhead.
Published on Thursday, February 19, 2015
The stakes are high. The cards are out. The money's on the table.
Explanation:
"call our bluff " is meant to suggest hunters fitting clues to St. Paul—particularly the Ramsey Hill area—rethink their approach.
"One card short—missed the flush! " is meant to suggest hunters look for a park with four (baseball) diamonds in it.
"Don't be upset when you get all wet if you attempt to ford the river " is meant to suggest, again, that Saint Paul (and Ford Parkway) is out.
"attempt to ford the river " is a risky maneuver in The Oregon Trail computer game.
Published on Friday, February 20, 2015
Find a path amongst our words, and take it to the keep:
Explanation:
This clue confirms the Oregon Trail theme of the hunt, and suggests hunters find a conduit to a street name ("Find a path amongst our words "), if they hadn't already.
"Find a path " is also meant to suggest that the jewel is hidden near a footpath in the southern part of Todd Park.
"Slosh your oxen through the ruts, through dust six inches deep " is a paraphrase from The Oregon Trail computer game.
Published on Saturday, February 21, 2015
There rose a city in the West, and—city hall permitting—
Explanation:
"There rose a city in the west " is meant to suggest "Rose City"— Portland, Oregon's nickname.
"To place a bird upon its crest " is meant to suggest the "Put A Bird On It" sketch from TV's "Portlandia."
"two other gemstones in the rough " are "Pearl Park" and "Diamond Lake"—both adjacent to Todd Park.
"A local-boy-done-good of ours once wrote about this stuff ." That's Prince, and his song "Diamonds and Pearls."
Published on Sunday, February 22, 2015
If this hunt gives you nothing but stress and anxieties,
Explanation:
"more varieties " is meant to suggest "Heinz' 57 Varieties" — and 57th Street, which borders Todd Park to the south. This could also be taken to suggest Walter Hines Page, for whom the adjacent Page neighborhood is named.
"little chuckle " is meant to suggest Minnehaha—in this case the Creek, which forms the northern boundary of the Hale-Page-Diamond Lake area.
Published on Monday, February 23, 2015
By now you know our Oregon Trail is Portland Avenue.
Explanation:
"Now, on our mark, go to the park that ..." is meant to recall the second clue's "patience" on finishing a palindrome—and to look for the end of one within the line: "Todd erases a red dot ."
"Name a James who's frosty and whom all the girls adore " is meant to suggest "Ladies Love Cool James" or "LL Cool J," whose given name is James Todd Smith.
"iron lion " is meant to suggest the Bob Marley song "Iron Lion Zion" — and Mount Zion Lutheran Church.
"hit the nail right on the head " is meant to suggest "Hammerin'" Harmon Killebrew, whose number 3 marks the nearby baseball diamond, and is in view of the hiding spot.
"by the book " is meant to suggest the book in which the jewel is hidden.
Published on Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Todd Park in Minneapolis, just east of Diamond Lake,
Explanation:
This clue puts hunters on (or at least very near) the hiding spot—there are a number of "bench "es and "stump "s nearby—and alludes to both The Oregon Trail computer game ("a grueling pace ") and the MacGuffin ("A book of verses even worse than ours ") one last time.
