Bon Appétit Mini-Hunt — July 2015 (IV)

TCTreasure

APÉRITIF

«Bonjour à tous!» Good morning, all—let's rise and greet the sun!
The TC Treasure «Bon Appétit» Mini-Hunt's begun!

The prize you seek is hidden in our good old «Villes Jumelles»—
A hiding place with downtown views and, truly, «c'est si belle!»

The winners will be wined and dined—a night of «haute cuisine»:
Fifty Blue Plate Restaurant bucks; now, wouldn't that be keen?

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HORS D’ŒUVRES

As you stroll the «promenade», and noodle for the find,
It would be best for you to keep a couple things in mind.

Do not hunt with any tools; from private land steer clear;
And golf courses are not in play, so please do not go near.

Beyond all that, you're on your own; let common sense prevail.
Now, as they say in France, «dépêchez-vous» and hit the trail!

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ENTRÉE

Many «bêtes fantastiques» live here in this verdant land.
«Enchanté!», you might just say, when in this place you stand.

Look through your dictionary, search it well from A to Z;
Locate a stormy phantom, placed in loving memory.

Our prize's site is hidden to the west of an old man.
No two ways about it, here; now claim it if you can.

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PLAT PRINCIPAL

«Il était une fois» is how all fairy tales begin,
But sadly, we too often miss the treasure hid within.

Marty's «nom de plume royale» should prove a crucial clue;
And if you're doubtful, just remember: I believe in you.

Four years gone, though not forgotten—legend will endure:
A «château» in the east, where she'll live «heureux pour toujours».

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DESSERT

Bus, car, truck, boat, bike, or foot—whichever be your chariot—
«Prenez-le, vite—tout de suite!—aux rives de Harriet!»

A bank and a «banc»—both indicate the treasure's secret harbor,
Where a «petite famille» built a secret humble home amid the arbor.

The map's now pared to a tiny space—therefore, thus, and thence:
This mini-hunt is mini in the very truest sense.

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CAFÉ

«Trouvez un petit bonhomme» who lives all by himself;
He lives here in the summertime, but winters on the shelf.

His house is on the southern bank, but rarely is he home—
«Parlez, ami, et entrez» if you chance upon our gnome.

Leave the spot most undisturbed; take only what you seek!
Please close the door behind you when off with the loot you sneak.

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DIGESTIF

Congratulations to Team Annex—they found the spot and won!
Of all the hunters this go 'round, they proved second to none.

Mr. Little Guy sends his «felicitations» too:
Our hero left a bonus for the victors—«sacré bleu!»

Now, it may seem «petit bourgeois», but French food's not for me:
On-a-stick and deep-fat-fried's how all good fare should be!

Great Minnesotans, get together for your next expedition:
On August 27th we commence another mission!

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CLUE EXPLANATIONS

APÉRITIF

"A hiding place with downtown views" is meant to suggest that the treasure is hidden behind a tiny elf door on the southern shore of Lake Harriet—from which you can view the Downtown Minneapolis skyline. This could, however, be taken to suggest any number of places in either Minneapolis or Saint Paul.
The English translations for the French terms in this clue are "Good morning, all!", "Have a good meal", "Twin Cities", "it's so beautiful", and "fine dining", respectively.

HORS D'OEUVRES

«promenade» is meant to suggest that the treasure is hidden on a pathway along a body of water.
The translations in this clue are "waterfront/walk" and "hurry up".

ENTRÉE

«ENTRÉE» is French for "entry"—and could be taken to suggest finding an entryway.
The first letter of each line in this clue spells out "MELLON,"—an Elvish word for "friend" from The Fellowship of the Ring, by J.R.R. Tolkien. Gandalf the Grey utters this word when prompted by the Elvish inscription above the Doors of Durin: "Speak, friend, and enter." This is meant to suggest finding an elfin door.
«bêtes fantastiques» ("fantastic beasts") is meant to suggest that you are looking for a mythical creature, or, in this case, his abode.
"verdant land" is meant to suggest the green ash tree which acts as home to the Lake Harriet Elf.
«Enchanté» is a common greeting, akin to "nice to meet you," in French—but literally means "enchanted." This is meant to reinforce the mythos of this hunt's hiding spot.
"Look through your dictionary; search it well from A to Z" is meant to suggest searching Minneapolis' alphabetical avenues, from Aldrich to Zenith, for the prize.
"stormy phantom" anagrams to "Marty Thompson," for whom a bench near the hiding spot is dedicated "in loving memory."
"west of an old man" is meant to suggest that the treasure is hidden on the west side of the Mississippi ("Old Man River," colloquially).
"No two ways about it, here" is meant to suggest Lake Harriet Parkway and bike path—both of which are one-way around the lake.
The translations in this clue are "fantastic beasts" and "Nice to meet you/Enchanted!".

PLAT PRINCIPAL

«Il était une fois» and «heureux pour toujours» are French for "Once upon a time" and "happily ever after," respectively. This is meant to reinforce the idea of looking for a mythical creature or some kind of fairy.
"fairy tales" could be taken to suggest searching for stories about elves—in this case that of the Lake Harriet Elf, also known as "Mr. Little Guy", who for twenty years has dutifully written over 2000 letters to the children of Minneapolis.
"Marty's «nom de plume royale»," or "Marty's royal pen name" is meant to suggest looking for the aforementioned bench, dedicated to Marty Thompson, and that the prize is hidden on the path nearby, between where Queen and Penn Avenues intersect Lake Harriet Parkway.
"I believe in you" is Mr. Little Guy's signature phrase.
"Four years gone, though not forgotten" is meant to suggest that it has been four years since Marty Thompson passed away, per the dates on the bench dedicated to her.
"A «château» in the east" is meant to suggest Mr. Little Guy's winter home, as well as the location of the treasure in relation to the Marty Thompson bench.
The translations in this clue are "Once upon a time", "royal pen name", and "happily ever after".

DESSERT

This clue is meant to indicate the treasure's approximate location, and to reinforce earlier clues.
The translations in this clue are "Take it, quickly—right away!—to the shores of Harriet", "bench", and "little family".

CAFÉ (Unpublished)

The translations in this clue are "Find a little fellow" and "Speak, friend, and enter".

LONGSHOT

Before the Mini-Hunt began—and throughout the hunt itself—Elvish script for the word "mellon" would fade in slowly at the bottom of the TC Treasure home page. As explained above for the Entrée clue, "mellon" is J.R.R. Tolkien's Elvish word for "friend," and is used as an open sesame at the enchanted Doors of Durin ("Speak, friend, and enter.").