In total agreement big G, but an argument would be that the PP needsto sell papers to come up w/ the prize $, however it seems that Cub is footing the bill.
No prob ninja.... we knew it had to be there someplace... we were out there right after clue 11 came out, til 10 - 10:30 the next morning... that area was the last place we looked too... we figured if it was anyplace, it had to be in that area... so thats why it was the first place we were heading to look.... when we got outta the car, we were thinkin "Aight.. this should take about 5 minutes, and we'll be outta here".... too bad we didnt know ahead of time, how much more trashed the park was, when we got back, than it was when we left.... or else im almost positive we would have found the place before even meeting up with the rest of you ninjas. It just sucks ass that we were a little bit too late.
Well I'm sitting here at Gabe's right now. They have a computer and an internet connection you can use for free. So hopefully I'll see some of you soon and we can report from the party!
I guess the plan is to go to Gallivan's downtown after Gabe's. I don't know where Jake is. I thought he was going to be here. I called him and there was no answer. He was over at Como filming, but took off before I did.
We were surprised how much the cops were acting like little baby dumbasses..... When we first got to the park, we were trying to find parking.. and saw TONS of cops all over the place, pulling people over, for no reason, and stopping 3 - 4 cars at a time... we were sure that we would have gotten pulled over... just for the makeup alone.
And then afterwards... hahaha.... as people are getting in their cars to leave, they come around saying "The Medallion has been found...You must leave the park immediately"
Well.... NO SHIT, SHERLOCK!!! Why the hell do you think we're throwing our gear in the trunk??
Explanation: Medallion hunters disgruntled at last year’s early end to the hunt. Reveals the puck is in a park — among something, in this case, the leaves. Faith refers to nearby churches, such as St. Andrew’s Catholic Church.
No. 2: Standing here, you can see, so clear
A view of our Capitol dome.
If it’s treasure you seek,
nearby you should peek
And you may see our
medallion’s home.
Explanation: Mural of Capitol dome is on wall near Como Park swimming pool and suggests reader take a peek in nearby woods.
No. 3: Keep yourself warm, away from the storm
Even in the dead of winter.
Wide as triple E, our door will always be
Open to all who enter.
Explanation: The west-facing entrance to Como Park is adorned with a stone entry donated by E.E. Englebert from the Crosby Estate in 1937.
No. 4.: The coldest star will guide you far
In finding the puck this year.
The red white and blue is a
lovely clue
Your legions should hold dear.
Explanation: Coldest star refers to the Star of the North or L’Etoile du Nord, the name of the French Immersion school a couple of blocks from Como Park. Red, white and blue refers to the French flag, and legions to the French Foreign Legion.
No. 5: Treasure hunt lifer,
prepare to cipher.
This one’s yours to keep.
Was it two or three, they seem not to agree
When St. Paul made a great leap.
Explanation: There are seemingly contradictory accounts of when the park was founded — the Web site says 1872, when the state Legislature authorized St. Paul to buy the land; the park signs and other references say 1873, when St. Paul bought the land. Also, Feb. 29, 1872 — leap day — was when the Minnesota Legislature authorized St. Paul to buy land for a park, which turned out to be Como.
No. 6: Of course we all know there’s not too much snow
To cover the place where it’s lying.
But do not dismay, we’ll find a way
To stick it where the sun ain’t
shining.
Explanation: Stick and where “the sun ain’t shining” reveals it’s in a wooded area.
No. 7: Rid of the man she ran and ran,
They say she was quite the talker.
A carpenter’s beau — many said so —
Neared the finish with a walker.
Explanation: Ann Bilansky, convicted of killing her husband, Stanislaus, (“the man” means Stan) escaped from jail and hid out near Lake Como in 1859. She was assisted by John Walker, the carpenter many thought was her lover. Both were caught; she was hanged the following year.
No. 8: Head on out, have not a doubt
A good time to take a stroll.
Gab aloud with the hunting crowd
Lure me precious to your soul.
Explanation: “Me precious” is an oft-repeated line from the ring-obsessed Gollum in the new “Lord of the Rings” movie, “The Two Towers,” which in turn suggest the sandstone walls that once supported the now spanless old streetcar bridge near the medallion site. Take the first words from each of the lines and you will sound out “Hedda Gabler,” a famous play by Henrik Ibsen, whose statue was recently returned to the park after a long absence.
No. 9: Here’s a who done it, now you’ve begun it
To solve this mystery of sorts.
If I were a sleuth, I’d search for the truth
By playing this greatest of sports.
Explanation: Add Horton to “here’s a who,” and you have the title of the famous Dr. Seuss book, “Horton Hears a Who” — and you’ll have discovered Horton Avenue, a street just north of the prize. Sport refers to nearby McMurray Field and the medallion hunt.
No. 10: With a car, you don’t get far
And a horse would get you nowhere.
But celebrate, it’s not too late
For round and round, you’ll get there.
Explanation: Horse to nowhere and round and round refer to the carousel in the park; also car not getting you far refers to the blocked off road near the medallion site.
No. 11: Who hears a who? Search a park with a zoo
Better yet, cross the street from the sculptures.
It’s a little bit cool for a dip in the pool
But a woodsy course will feed you vultures.
Explanation: “Horton” hears a who, as in Clue 9. Como is a park with a zoo, and Horton is the street separating the snow sculptures from the medallion site. The pool is just to the east of the site, and woodsy course refers to a bumpy course — we guess it’s used by dirt bikers — in the wooded area where medallion is hidden.
No. 12: The last of our clues will put leave on your shoes
And should lead you straight to the goods.
Between Como and Horton, a place fit for courtin’,
Is a dense stand of tumbledown woods.
From the old fireplace, look north and pace
Over hillocks that give cyclists pleasure.
The last row of humps faces some fallen-down stumps
Forty paces from the last hill to the treasure.
Fallen trees mark the spot, look low — now you’re hot!
Do not lose your Minnesota Nice.
If you’re in the fine fettle, you’ll discover the medal
Next to timber, under leaves, encased in ice.
Explanation: Clue spells out the location of the medallion
Let me be the first to say clue's 5 and 7 are incredibly obscure and fairly lame. All in all a bit too intellectual probably for their own good. With such complex explanations, people aren't going to want to try and find it. And what is with the French thing??!! A couple of blocks away from the park??!!! And a mural of the Capitol??!! Was there even one thing in the clie to suggest that it might not be the real Capitol we need to look for? Well, they got their long hunt, but by cheating. Which to me just means they hurt themselves because next year, people will just not pay attention to the hunt until clue 11 or so.
I was close on the 2 or 3 thing in that it had something to do with the start of something at Como. I thought it was the deer that started the zoo and that deer leap. I didn't know there was a dispute about when the park was founded. And would anyone even possibly figure that out? Well at least they admitted that the first clue really was a shot at us.
I agree AW. It seems like there is no "middle ground". Last year was way too easy, this year- way too obscure. There's just no pleasin us cooler heads!
Hi everyone. Been waiting all day for the clue explanations, and finally they're posted. As always I can hardly believe it. A good excercise each year would be to read through the previous 5-10 years clues and explanations. Then come up with a list of the "tricks" they use in each clue. It's good to remember how ridiculous the explanations can be sometimes. some of the are pretty cool though. I actually like the clue 5 explanation because it is based in the history/founding of the park. The problem with it seems to be that it is SO obscure a reference. For example the website says one thing and signs in a park say another- that's pretty hard to fit together. Also, I gotta love the complete misuse of the word "beau"!
Another thing that bothers me is they're referring to things that were all over the place. The triple E gate and the Henrik Ibsen bust are nowhere near each other or the hiding spot. Basically this hunt was designed to be a crap shoot it seems.
We shall always have our 15 minutes o'fame, in perpetuim (that rite?). We have made the history books of The Medallion Hunt.
I was kind'a surprised at the true meaning o'the clues... But at least they were better'un last year, as was The Hunt. Give this clue writer some credit - and some time. Granted, maybe s/he went overboard, but let him/her fine tune things and get into the swing o'this hunt thighy.
Good gods in a handbasket. Those poor folks at MomPress are always between a rock and a hard place with us. It's like they're damned if they do, damned if they don't. Cut'um some slack.
And the thought did occur to me, you know... They just mite like a shorter hunt as it cuts down on their liablity and the damage done: short hunt = less folks/time to damage.
I say, "Three CHEERS for MomPress, for trying to do better, trying to make us happy, trying to give us what we love and want. All things considered, I think it was an xcellent hunt. They dun good.
In total agreement big G, but an argument would be that the PP needsto sell papers to come up w/ the prize $, however it seems that Cub is footing the bill.
No prob ninja.... we knew it had to be there someplace... we were out there right after clue 11 came out, til 10 - 10:30 the next morning... that area was the last place we looked too... we figured if it was anyplace, it had to be in that area... so thats why it was the first place we were heading to look.... when we got outta the car, we were thinkin "Aight.. this should take about 5 minutes, and we'll be outta here".... too bad we didnt know ahead of time, how much more trashed the park was, when we got back, than it was when we left.... or else im almost positive we would have found the place before even meeting up with the rest of you ninjas. It just sucks ass that we were a little bit too late.
Well I'm sitting here at Gabe's right now. They have a computer and an internet connection you can use for free. So hopefully I'll see some of you soon and we can report from the party!
I heard from the film crew that the guy who was in line was actually the one to find it after getting back to the park from downtown.
Damn.... that line was crazy... it stretched around the corner of the building and right to the next corner...
Cooler, Allison! A party via the net.
We'll be there by about 7.
Internet connection, cool! Please post where you guys will be heading after Gabes. I might hook up with ya later. Thanks AW
Hopefully people hurry, the place is starting to fill up. I wonder who's coming?
I guess the plan is to go to Gallivan's downtown after Gabe's. I don't know where Jake is. I thought he was going to be here. I called him and there was no answer. He was over at Como filming, but took off before I did.
That's ok, there are kids much younger than you running around here Regman.
We were surprised how much the cops were acting like little baby dumbasses..... When we first got to the park, we were trying to find parking.. and saw TONS of cops all over the place, pulling people over, for no reason, and stopping 3 - 4 cars at a time... we were sure that we would have gotten pulled over... just for the makeup alone.
And then afterwards... hahaha.... as people are getting in their cars to leave, they come around saying "The Medallion has been found...You must leave the park immediately"
Well.... NO SHIT, SHERLOCK!!! Why the hell do you think we're throwing our gear in the trunk??
We'll be here until at least 8. I don't think you need to be 21 to go to Gallivan's either.
Would love to come but Jakes having a party at Buggs
Eh, blow him off. hehe
I don't believe you do. It's not like they're checking ID's or anything. As long as you're not trying to drink you should be fine.
I would come.. but i Uh..... am kinda out of money at the moment...
Well.. no.. thats a lie...
Ive got like 8 bucks or somethin like that. I think I'll just chill here and finish off the last of my Captain....
Posted on Thu, Jan. 30, 2003
Explanation of the 2003 Treasure Hunt clues:
No. 1: A crueler crew
we never knew
Than those whose barbs have stung us.
Faith be anew, here’s your first clue:
The puck, it’s parked among us.
Explanation: Medallion hunters disgruntled at last year’s early end to the hunt. Reveals the puck is in a park — among something, in this case, the leaves. Faith refers to nearby churches, such as St. Andrew’s Catholic Church.
No. 2: Standing here, you can see, so clear
A view of our Capitol dome.
If it’s treasure you seek,
nearby you should peek
And you may see our
medallion’s home.
Explanation: Mural of Capitol dome is on wall near Como Park swimming pool and suggests reader take a peek in nearby woods.
No. 3: Keep yourself warm, away from the storm
Even in the dead of winter.
Wide as triple E, our door will always be
Open to all who enter.
Explanation: The west-facing entrance to Como Park is adorned with a stone entry donated by E.E. Englebert from the Crosby Estate in 1937.
No. 4.: The coldest star will guide you far
In finding the puck this year.
The red white and blue is a
lovely clue
Your legions should hold dear.
Explanation: Coldest star refers to the Star of the North or L’Etoile du Nord, the name of the French Immersion school a couple of blocks from Como Park. Red, white and blue refers to the French flag, and legions to the French Foreign Legion.
No. 5: Treasure hunt lifer,
prepare to cipher.
This one’s yours to keep.
Was it two or three, they seem not to agree
When St. Paul made a great leap.
Explanation: There are seemingly contradictory accounts of when the park was founded — the Web site says 1872, when the state Legislature authorized St. Paul to buy the land; the park signs and other references say 1873, when St. Paul bought the land. Also, Feb. 29, 1872 — leap day — was when the Minnesota Legislature authorized St. Paul to buy land for a park, which turned out to be Como.
No. 6: Of course we all know there’s not too much snow
To cover the place where it’s lying.
But do not dismay, we’ll find a way
To stick it where the sun ain’t
shining.
Explanation: Stick and where “the sun ain’t shining” reveals it’s in a wooded area.
No. 7: Rid of the man she ran and ran,
They say she was quite the talker.
A carpenter’s beau — many said so —
Neared the finish with a walker.
Explanation: Ann Bilansky, convicted of killing her husband, Stanislaus, (“the man” means Stan) escaped from jail and hid out near Lake Como in 1859. She was assisted by John Walker, the carpenter many thought was her lover. Both were caught; she was hanged the following year.
No. 8: Head on out, have not a doubt
A good time to take a stroll.
Gab aloud with the hunting crowd
Lure me precious to your soul.
Explanation: “Me precious” is an oft-repeated line from the ring-obsessed Gollum in the new “Lord of the Rings” movie, “The Two Towers,” which in turn suggest the sandstone walls that once supported the now spanless old streetcar bridge near the medallion site. Take the first words from each of the lines and you will sound out “Hedda Gabler,” a famous play by Henrik Ibsen, whose statue was recently returned to the park after a long absence.
No. 9: Here’s a who done it, now you’ve begun it
To solve this mystery of sorts.
If I were a sleuth, I’d search for the truth
By playing this greatest of sports.
Explanation: Add Horton to “here’s a who,” and you have the title of the famous Dr. Seuss book, “Horton Hears a Who” — and you’ll have discovered Horton Avenue, a street just north of the prize. Sport refers to nearby McMurray Field and the medallion hunt.
No. 10: With a car, you don’t get far
And a horse would get you nowhere.
But celebrate, it’s not too late
For round and round, you’ll get there.
Explanation: Horse to nowhere and round and round refer to the carousel in the park; also car not getting you far refers to the blocked off road near the medallion site.
No. 11: Who hears a who? Search a park with a zoo
Better yet, cross the street from the sculptures.
It’s a little bit cool for a dip in the pool
But a woodsy course will feed you vultures.
Explanation: “Horton” hears a who, as in Clue 9. Como is a park with a zoo, and Horton is the street separating the snow sculptures from the medallion site. The pool is just to the east of the site, and woodsy course refers to a bumpy course — we guess it’s used by dirt bikers — in the wooded area where medallion is hidden.
No. 12: The last of our clues will put leave on your shoes
And should lead you straight to the goods.
Between Como and Horton, a place fit for courtin’,
Is a dense stand of tumbledown woods.
From the old fireplace, look north and pace
Over hillocks that give cyclists pleasure.
The last row of humps faces some fallen-down stumps
Forty paces from the last hill to the treasure.
Fallen trees mark the spot, look low — now you’re hot!
Do not lose your Minnesota Nice.
If you’re in the fine fettle, you’ll discover the medal
Next to timber, under leaves, encased in ice.
Explanation: Clue spells out the location of the medallion
We'll probably be at Gallivan's for quite a while. Some of us have nowhere else we need to go so we might be there until closing even.
Did you guys read the clue explanations yet???
Are they finally out?
Yes AW, they are. Wow...is all I can say.
Hey reg!
I'm printing them out and will bring them with. We're taking off as soon as the printer is done.
Explanations
Let me be the first to say clue's 5 and 7 are incredibly obscure and fairly lame. All in all a bit too intellectual probably for their own good. With such complex explanations, people aren't going to want to try and find it. And what is with the French thing??!! A couple of blocks away from the park??!!! And a mural of the Capitol??!! Was there even one thing in the clie to suggest that it might not be the real Capitol we need to look for? Well, they got their long hunt, but by cheating. Which to me just means they hurt themselves because next year, people will just not pay attention to the hunt until clue 11 or so.
I don't think anyone got the carpenteur's beau...or the 2 or 3 thing.
Ha-ha-ha-ha!!! NEENERS, NEENERS, NEENERS!!!
I got a clue right! I got a clue rite! :D
#1...
After that... Well... Hay! Only way I can go izz up! Can't get too much worse at noodlin' the clues! :D
I was close on the 2 or 3 thing in that it had something to do with the start of something at Como. I thought it was the deer that started the zoo and that deer leap. I didn't know there was a dispute about when the park was founded. And would anyone even possibly figure that out? Well at least they admitted that the first clue really was a shot at us.
I agree AW. It seems like there is no "middle ground". Last year was way too easy, this year- way too obscure. There's just no pleasin us cooler heads!
Hi everyone. Been waiting all day for the clue explanations, and finally they're posted. As always I can hardly believe it. A good excercise each year would be to read through the previous 5-10 years clues and explanations. Then come up with a list of the "tricks" they use in each clue. It's good to remember how ridiculous the explanations can be sometimes. some of the are pretty cool though. I actually like the clue 5 explanation because it is based in the history/founding of the park. The problem with it seems to be that it is SO obscure a reference. For example the website says one thing and signs in a park say another- that's pretty hard to fit together.
Also, I gotta love the complete misuse of the word "beau"!
Different years. Different clue writers.
There have never been two hunts alike actually. Everyone has it's own uniqueness, frustrations and celebrations.
Clues are done printing. We're heading out. Be there in a few minutes, Allison.
Another thing that bothers me is they're referring to things that were all over the place. The triple E gate and the Henrik Ibsen bust are nowhere near each other or the hiding spot. Basically this hunt was designed to be a crap shoot it seems.
So... "Whos going to the paper tonight??"
hahaha...
Ok, well I'm going to sign out then. See some of you here. I'm dressed all in black if you need to find me. I'll try to stay somewhere easily visible.
We shall always have our 15 minutes o'fame, in perpetuim (that rite?). We have made the history books of The Medallion Hunt.
I was kind'a surprised at the true meaning o'the clues... But at least they were better'un last year, as was The Hunt. Give this clue writer some credit - and some time. Granted, maybe s/he went overboard, but let him/her fine tune things and get into the swing o'this hunt thighy.
Good gods in a handbasket. Those poor folks at MomPress are always between a rock and a hard place with us. It's like they're damned if they do, damned if they don't. Cut'um some slack.
And the thought did occur to me, you know... They just mite like a shorter hunt as it cuts down on their liablity and the damage done: short hunt = less folks/time to damage.
I say, "Three CHEERS for MomPress, for trying to do better, trying to make us happy, trying to give us what we love and want. All things considered, I think it was an xcellent hunt. They dun good.
I'm dressed all in black if you need to find me.
So your going as a spotter?
P.S. I still hold to Conspiracy Theory 2003...
Where ya been green! havn't seen you in a couple days!
LL, I've been here! Haven't missed a single day! But you were out hunting, I think, and at MomP and all that...