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2017 Allison Wonderland Mock Hunt

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Allison Wonderland's picture
Submitted by Allison Wonderland on Mon, 02/06/2017 - 16:18

I wasn't sure that I would ever use Swede Hollow for a Mock Hunt because it has kind of a sketchy reputation and indeed some people did express some reservations about hunting there. But there have been other Mock Hunts there and some people do love the park. Still, it wasn't my original plan. My original thought was I wanted to write a clue about Carbones that used a car and bones. So I looked at the Locations page of Carbone's website to see which ones were by parks. It turned out the answer was just one and it was Swede Hollow. So Swede Hollow it was. And then I decided to work Carbone's into the first clue as well. I spent a while getting that one together. Then I went on a binge and wrote clues 2-10 in one day. I finished up clues 11 and 12 the next day. And then when I was all done and happy with the result, I realized I never even used the car + bones clue. But I felt like what I had was already better than that, so I just dropped it, even though it was the reason I ended up in that park to begin with.

And another side note, when I went to the park, I parked on Bates where there is an obscure entrance to the park. There's a trail there that leads to the stairs and I was going to hide it somewhere along there. But there was this old couple slowly climbing the stairs. I didn't want to hide it with them there and I didn't feel like waiting for them, so I went up the stairs to the top part and looked around there. I walked around there looking for places and things to write clues about. I noted the parking lot was gated off which seemed pretty strange. And then I noticed all the leaves along the curb. I did have it in my head as a possible strategy to hide it very near the parking lot as people would probably assume it was further into the park. So then I thought, why not in the parking lot, especially since it is closed off anyway? So I kicked aside some leaves, dropped it, and then covered it up again. And that got us to Clue 10.

Hunt information
Dates:
First Clue:Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Found on:Saturday, March 11, 2017
Finders:
NameHometown
Coldest Hunter Saint Paul
Matt Koskie Hastings
Prize:
Maximum Prize:$300
Awarded Prize:$300
Location:
General Location:Swede Hollow
Exact Location:In the upper parking lot, on the curb near handicap sign
Concealer:Wrapped in to-go cutlery and placed under leaves
Clues
Clue #1
Published on Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Call your Med Hunt buds and your digging studs
Convene all the Brainiacs that you know.
Kickoff time has come so prepare to scrum,
A challenge lies ahead, even without snow.

First I'll assure all, yes it's in St. Paul.
You'll need your usual tools and widgets.
Still, where does one start? Maybe if you're smart
Pie will help you pick out the right digits
Explanation:
This clue announces the start of the hunt and affirms that the Mock Hunt remains true to St. Paul as well as the acknowledgement of a lack of snow. Beyond that, the rest is just a puzzle. Look at the first word “Call”. There are seven lines after that, one for each digit of a phone number. In this case, use the length of the first word in each line to get 771-5553. Since the clue specifies St. Paul, it is safe to assume a 651 area code. This is the phone number of the Carbone’s on 7th St. very near Swede Hollow Park. Carbone’s makes pies, pizza pies that is.
Our Thoughts:
Barefootguy's take: Great hunt/clues, and congrats to Steven! I didn't get the phone # in the first clue until Steven told me about it, but I did get Swede a different way: "Where does one start?" Highway 1 in northern MN starts at highway 61. East 7th by Swede is highway 61. For the last line, I suspected that "digits" had something to do with a phone number. "Pie" on a telephone keypad is 743. The address of Hamm Park, which is the little triangular part of Swede that touches E 7th, is 743 E 7th. Crazy coincidence!
 
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Clue #2
Published on Friday, March 3, 2017
Clues that were spoon fed rarely ever led
To a result that did not turn out bleak
Yet, when time to go, it may help to know
North and east are the directions to seek
Explanation:
The spoon refers to how the medallion was hidden, inside the plastic wrapping that comes with fast food plastic utensils. Also in the wrapping is a napkin and a spoon. North and East refer to the medallion being in the NE part of the park, but they also refer to North St. and East St. that run into and through the park.
 
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Clue #3
Published on Friday, March 3, 2017
A day in the park might just light a spark
As you scout conditions on the ground.
Just follow the path and let go of wrath
And back at the start is where you'll be found.
Explanation:
Lighting a spark refers to a couple of historical fires in Swede Hollow. There was the burning of the Hamm mansion and the burning of the run down houses in the Hollow when they closed down the neighborhood. Following the path to let go of your wrath refers to the David Barton Community Labyrinth next to the southern end of the park. It also refers to the paths in the park and that the treasure is to be found in the parking lot, where you would start on the path (or end).
 
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Clue #4
Published on Saturday, March 4, 2017
A Burgundy wine, considered divine
By those who don't like things to be too sweet.
But drinking too much, if you have no crutch
May force you to go looking for a seat.
Explanation:
Burgundy wine, is considered a “dry” wine because it is not sweet, which is a clue that the treasure is in a dry part of the park. “Divine” and “wine” also hint at the First Lutheran Church next to the park. Needing a seat refers to the benches in the park near the treasure, but the last two lines also hint at the nearby Green House which is an alcoholic treatment facility.
 
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Clue #5
Published on Sunday, March 5, 2017
Moving like the Dow can be a cash cow
But which is better? The bull or the bear?
A coin on the ground is not that profound
Better to spot the one up in the air.
Explanation:
The Dow Jones moves up and down, alluding to a park with both high and low ground. One may or may not decide to interpret “cash cow” as the nearby Burger King. As for the bull or the bear, both are good. The bull represents when the market is up, and up is where you want to go in the park. The bear is the carving of the Hamm’s bear right across the street from the treasure. The “one up in the air” obviously refers to being able to see the “1st” landmark in downtown which in turn would lead you to the upper part of the park where it is visible.
 
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Clue #6
Published on Monday, March 6, 2017
Alternative facts are for sad sacks.
Crazy theories spouted by the wasted.
Losers who can't gloat will need a scapegoat
From the cup of success they've not tasted
Explanation:
Crazy theories and being wasted are a reference to the nearby Flat Earth Brewing Company. The scapegoat refers to the nearby Goat Coffeehouse.
 
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Clue #7
Published on Tuesday, March 7, 2017
A successful shot onto a small plot
Brings you quite close to where you need to be.
But don't look for holes or those little poles
A course might just mean something else to me.
Explanation:
The first two lines are indeed a golf reference talking about the “green” which in turn is a hint for Greenbrier St. as well as the Green House which are both very near the treasure. The last line is a hint about Metro State University which is next to the park. Also, the first letter of each line spells out “ABBA” which was a very popular rock group from Sweden in the 70’s, another hint for Swede Hollow.
 
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Clue #8
Published on Thursday, March 9, 2017
Oh the wicked things the western wind brings,
Takes a lady of mettle to stand it.
Trial by jury will quell the fury
And may abate the passions that fanned it.
Explanation:
The first line is meant to make you think of the Wicked Witch of the West who was played by Margaret Hamilton in The Wizard of Oz. Some may remember Como 2001 when “A man of mettle” meant “Ironman”. The Iron Lady was a nickname for Margaret Thatcher. Together the two women they hint at Margaret St. which runs right into the treasure spot. Trial by Jury is guaranteed by the 7th Amendment, hinting at nearby 7th St. and “abate” is a hint for Bates Ave.
 
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Clue #9
Published on Thursday, March 9, 2017
Viking regression leads to depression.
Leaving the fans to feel empty inside.
Yet while fans wizen, on the horizon
Hopefuls still seek a glimpse of purple pride.
Explanation:
It’s time to start spelling it out for any that haven’t gotten the park yet with “Viking” plus “depression” standing in for Swede and Hollow. To feel empty inside is also to feel hollow. The glimpse of purple pride alludes to the fact that you can see downtown Minneapolis from the upper part of the park, which is where you need to be.
 
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Clue #10
Published on Friday, March 10, 2017
Look out to see homes, a couple of domes,
And trees who shed all of their precious leaves,
There sits your quarry and hunting glory.
But where? Depends on how one apperceives.
Explanation:
From the treasure spot you can see two domes, houses, and lots of trees. The treasure is hidden under some leaves in a cement area, which may sound a bit like how it was hidden last year.
 
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Clue #11
There's one way in and one out again
But not really too much room for parking.
You could take a walk, if you mind the clock,
And your dog doesn't do too much barking.
Explanation:
The first two lines refer to the small 8 space parking lot in the upper part of the park where the treasure is. Minding the clock, i.e. park hours, and keeping your dog from barking refer to two of the signs posted very near the treasure spot.
 
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Clue #12
No time to wallow, head to Swede Hollow.
Seek out the land that once was a mansion.
Avoid handicaps, and curb your mishaps
And leave your fortune to expert scansion
Explanation:
Hopefully no one needs to be told the park at this point, but there it is. The upper part of the park is where the Hamm Mansion used to be. The treasure is hidden on the curb in a parking spot next to a handicapped spot. No expert scansion is actually required, but it would be funny to watch someone try and find obscure patterns in the meter of the clue while everyone else scrambles for the medallion.
 
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