Pre-Dig Gig

I'm afraid some personal matters at home have kept me from promoting this hunt
more or earlier, but the hunt will go on and in fact it will start tomorrow
(Friday). Clues are written, the medallion is hidden, and there will be prize
money to be won.

The kickoff for the hunt will be Friday, March 12th at Yarusso's this year. 
They've offered us half price on appetizerrs and drinks and their private room
for our use. We'll meet starting at 5pm and the clue will be released at 6pm. 
After that, stick around and socialize and maybe some other activity will even
follow, or perhaps you'll want to run out and look for the treasure! If you're
not familiar with Yarusso's, it is on Payne Ave. across from Swede Hollow. 
Check out their website at http://www.yarussos.com/ for more information.

As for the hunt itself, it will be 12 clues as usual, one per day with each clue
released at 6pm. The hunt is limited to public property in St. Paul. It will
not be hidden in or on water, up a tree, on top of a building, on a steep
hillside, inside anything electrical, or in anything else that would make you
question if looking there might be a bad idea.

The prize will be somewhere between $200 and $500 depending on participation. 
If you'd like to participate as a registered hunter, the cost is $10 and you are
eligible to win the entire prize. All money brought in this way will go towards
the prize. If you wish to participate as a non-registered hunter and you win,
you will get $100 and any additional registration money will go towards some
other Cooler Crew cause.

To register, you can pay me at the kickoff event. If you can't make that, you
can also send me the money via Paypal at this email or you can request an
address to send a check to. You may register up through the release of the 4th
clue. The hunt will continue until the treasure is found, though I do reserve
the right to end the hunt early if there is cause to do so. In the unlikely
event of an aborted hunt, registration fees will be returned.

I believe that covers everything, but if there are any questions, feel free to
post them.

Saturday, January 16, 2010
Obb's Sports Bar and Grill
Downstairs
1347 Burns Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55106
7:00pm til Close
 

Once again Obb's is the place for the annual pre-dig gig. Stop by, have a few libations or even dinner, discuss the first clue which will inevitably be in the early edition of the paper again.

Despite rumors that you may have heard this event is completely free of charge.

Lilman has once again generously offered to bring his DJ setup and spin discs for tips in the basement.

*MOM* will have the annual Cooler Crew buttons available for a dollar a piece.

Thanks to CM for making all of this year's arrangements!

Saturday, January 17, 2009 
Obb's Sports Bar and Grill
Downstairs
1347 Burns Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55106
7:00pm til Close
 

The Pre-Dig Gig is moving this year!

Last year McGovern's said they were full up and they didn't want us. So we moved the party to Matty B's. This year things were all set to be at Matty B's again, but then they closed up shop a couple of days ago! After much debate and research, the powers that be at the Cooler Crew (don't ask me to explain how that works) have decided to have the Pre Dig at Obbs Bar instead. Obbs is located directly across from Indian Mounds Park near Burns Ave. Since the clue has been coming out earlier in the day, and there is a hockey game that night taking up all the parking, we figured there was really no need to limit ourselves to downtown for this particular event. A lot of people had a good experience with Obbs during last year's hunt, they have a private room downstairs, and they're willing to offer us specials for the event, and so it was settled. Do note however that the specials are only good downstairs so don't ask for the same deal upstairs or the other bar patrons may be inspired to crash our party.

As for the nightly gatherings, there really isn't any other bar that's as convenient. When the Rockin Lobster closed just before the hunt a couple of years ago, we ended up meeting at the Great Waters Brewery. Some people got disenchanted with it though because it was set up to be a restaurant, not a bar, and they didn't deal well with people milling about. Consequently the concensus for the nightly gathering seems to be building towards Wild Thymes, right across the street from Great Waters. It's about a four and a half block walk to the paper from there. Some others have suggested a place called the Bulldog in Lowertown. It would be a six and a half block walk from there. But they do have a late night happy hour after 11. Check it out at The Bulldog.

So anyway, that's where the plan stands at the moment for anyone that enjoys the social side of the hunt. Feel free to come out and join us. I'm the one in the black hat and black leather coat.

Thanks to Kat and CM for handling all of this year's arrangements!

Kickoff Party
Fabulous Fern's
Saturday, March 1, 2008
In the bar area
400 Selby Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55102
(651) 225-9414

Well since you mentioned it, let me give the details on what will be the 9th annual (and original!) Mock Hunt (so named because it came between the Medallion Hunt and the Fitgers Bock Hunt, Medallion + Bock = Mock).

This year's Mock Hunt will start on Saturday, March 1st. Clues will come out daily at 6pm on the Allison Wonderland Yahoo group (and will likely be crossposted elsewhere). The rules are largely similar to the Pioneer Press Medallion Hunt with a few differences:

1. The treasure is definitely hidden in St. Paul.
2. The clues are released at 6pm.
3. You do not need to clip the clues or buy a button. However you do have the option to be a registered hunter. Registration is $10 and the money all goes towards the prize pool. If you are registered and you find it, you get all the money. You may also hunt if you are not registered, but you will only win $100 and any extra money in the prize pool will go towards the next mock hunt.
4. The hunt ends when it is found, however long that may take.

There will be a kickoff party at Fabulous Fern's from 5-8pm on Saturday the 1st in the bar area. You can register at that time. You can also register by Paypal or by check up until the time of the 4th clue. Send me a message if you wish to do so.

I anticipate good participation this year so face the challenge of going up against other hunters and see if you can be the one to claim the prize this year!

What: 2008 Pre-Dig Gig

Where: Matty B's - Downtown St. Paul, the Official Home of the Cooler Crew
354 North Wabasha Street
Saint Paul, MN 55102
(651)291-0404

When: Saturday, January 19th, 2008 7pm till Close

Why: To Celebrate the Start of the St Paul Winter Carnival Treasure Hunt (and to celebrate a decade of the Cooler Crew)

Who: The Cooler Crew - Past, Present and Future - Everyone Welcome

Note the change of venue from McGovern's to Matty B's.

The 10th annual Pre-Dig gig will be held this year at Matty B's Supper Club, which is right around the corner from Ma Press. Join us at the official home of the Cooler Crew, from start to finish to kick off this year's medallion hunt. Rumor has it there will also be NTFCF DVD's available for sale.

After much pondering, debate, and negotiating we've finally settled on the details for the Pre-Dig Gig. It will be returning to Patrick McGovern's on West 7th on the evening of January 20th. We will have the downstairs, basement room reserved for us, but not until 8:00pm. You can show up to McGovern's before that and hang out if you wish. The thing to keep in mind is that there is a Wild Hockey game that night as well which not only means the place will be on the crowded side prior to 8pm, but parking will also be tricky. McGovern's does have their own lot, but it will probably fill up quickly. There is some free parking on the street and in the alley behind McGovern's, but that will also fill up quickly. Consequently you may either want to get there really early (I imagine the early arrivers will hang out in the 2nd floor bar), take a bus, or be prepared to spend $10 on parking. In the meantime, we're working on a plan to perhaps have it somewhere else next year to avoid the parking issue. There will be more details about that at the event. Otherwise everyone is invited to attend. There will be nametags so that you can hopefully identify people you've seen posting. if you don't know anyone, feel free to come look for me. I'll have a black hat on. You can tell me your hunting stories and I can introduce you to other people who are new there.

Jake and Mr. Med Hunter have put together a "midterm" mock hunt. the first clue will be released on Nov. 9 at 9PM at Matty B's downtown. Subsequent clues will be released at 3PM each day at Treasure Hunt Headquarters.

The base prize is $100. For a $10 fee, registered hunters will be eligible for an additional $100 in prize money, plus the registration fees collected. Good Luck!

Sunday, February 12, 2006
5pm Start
6pm Clue Release
Fablous Fern's
Western & Selby

by Allison Wonderland

So the hunt is over and you didn't even get to go out yet to look? Well you don't need to totally despair. The 7th Annual Allison Wonderland Mock Hunt will be coming up. Granted the prize is not as big, but it's still a fun chance to get out and search for some treasure with your fellow hunters!

We'll kick it off on Sunday, February 12th. The clues come out daily at 6pm. On the 12th we'll have a kickoff party at Fabulous Fern's in St. Paul starting at 5pm.

The hunt will work similar to what we did last year. You can pay $10 to be a registered hunter with the money going towards the pot. If you find it, you get a $500 prize. If you are not a registered hunter and you find it, you get a $100 prize. Any prize money that is left over will get rolled over into the pot for whoever runs the next mock hunt. The winner of the mock hunt also gets the option of being the person to run the next hunt, or they can designate someone else.

Clues will be posted on this Yahoo group, though I suppose I could post them elsewhere as well if people wanted. This hunt has been a lot of fun in the past and we've gotten some pretty good participation (especially in 2002 which was a year similar to this).

The easiest way to get me the money is to come to the kickoff party on the 12th. Also, it doesn't have to be cash. If you'd rather, you can contribute prizes worth $10 or more. If you can't make the party, you can send me an email and I'll give you an address to send a check to or you can use Paypal at my AllisonWondrland@yahoo email.

This could be a big year for the mock hunt so be sure to get involved!

Saturday, January 21, 2006
7:30pm-close
Patrick McGovern's (upstairs this year)
225 7th St. W. (at Chestnut St.)
(651)224-5821

Join the Cooler Crew at Patrick McGovern's for the 8th Annual Pre-Dig Gig. We'll be upstairs at McGovern's this year instead of in the basement. Be there to party, celebrate the beginning of the hunt, and speculate about the first clue.

With all the luck we've had this past year, finding the flag in Indian Mounds, and sweeping the minbin mouse hunt, Coolerheads will prevail!!