Washington DC Hidden Canadian Club Whiskey

[Bricker]

This isn't really a comment on Cecil's column, although it is inspired by it.

I remember the ad that announced the case hidden in DC from when it was first published. Amazingly, it can be found at Google Books. The puzzle portion said:

Start at a place that was named for America's most important city. See where a bark takes you. From there, go to what you can't miss. When you have arrived, face in the direction of a past scandal that was uncovered and made public. Turn in the opposite direction and make tracks for a nearby Metro station. Ride three stops.

Come up and then find the way to a famous ending. Continue in the most obvious direction, when you know the time is right. Before it's too late, head for the nearest bridge that can take you over water. If it becomes impossible to continue in a straight line, go toward a body of water and find a spot with three banks. From the highest bank, go in the direction of a bridge. When you've reached it, walk back 100 paces and you'll be right over the hidden treasure: a whole case of Canadian Club.

I have vague memories of reading an article describing how this one was solved. I especially remember the "three banks" clue turned out to be

SPOILER:

two actual financial institutions and a restaurant called Rive Gauche, French for "left bank.")

. (Why I'm spoiler-boxing this thing after 35 years, who knows?)

Anyway -- does anyone remember any more detail or perhaps have a link to the in-depth story?

[Ravenman]

Well, shoot, I know what I'm doing with the rest of my afternoon!

All I can find is that the Rive Gauche used to be at Wisconsin and M St.

[Ravenman]

After spending quite some time on Google Earth, if Rive Gauche is indeed one of the banks, then the most likely spot seems to be the park on the northeastern side of the Key Bridge. There are also bridges over the C&O canal, but 100 paces "back" from those bridges would put you right over a sidewalk. I suppose the hidden case could have been in one of those sidewalk service elevators, like right outside what is now Filomena's restaurant.

(Caveat: Riggs Bank is also located at Wisconsin and M, but I can't figure out what the third bank would be. I'm assuming Riggs Bank would be the "highest.")

[samclem]

Having grown up in Arlington, Va., and knowing a bit about Georgetown, assuming that the clues are correct, and that Rive Gauche was correct, then, when you reached Rive Gauche, and then headed in the direction of the nearest bridge(Key), the clue says "When you've reached it, walk back 100 paces and you'll be right over the hidden treasure: a whole case of Canadian Club. "

This is one poor clue. "When you've reached it" means what?. When you've actually set foot on Key Bridge? I doubt it. Probably it meant the sidewalk on M street, and then go back 100 paces, 300ft?, and you might, just might have been at one of the best discount liquor stores which a poor college kid living in Arlington might go to to buy a case of cheep booze. I think the case was in a discount liquor store on M Street in Georgetown. Not buried at all. A quick newspaper database search from the period turns up nothing.

[Bricker]

Maybe the "nearest bridge" wasn't Key Bridge. Maybe it was one of those little bridges that go over the canal as you head dwon from M Street towards the harbor.

[Bricker]

Originally Posted by Ravenman

After spending quite some time on Google Earth, if Rive Gauche is indeed one of the banks, then the most likely spot seems to be the park on the northeastern side of the Key Bridge. There are also bridges over the C&O canal, but 100 paces "back" from those bridges would put you right over a sidewalk. I suppose the hidden case could have been in one of those sidewalk service elevators, like right outside what is now Filomena's restaurant.

(Caveat: Riggs Bank is also located at Wisconsin and M, but I can't figure out what the third bank would be. I'm assuming Riggs Bank would be the "highest.")

I'm sure I remember that Riggs Bank (now non-existent) was one of the "banks," and that the location of the three was Wisconsin and M.

[samclem]

There are articles, which I can't access right now, about the solution, and who solved it. Washington Post,
Sept. 16, 1980.

[The Scrivener]

Not exactly on topic, but if I were to embark on a wild-goose chase like that today for the same prize, I know what my earworm for the occasion would be: "Sober" by Muse:

"Royal Canadian blended,
the spicy aroma had mended me.
Matured for years and imported,
into my glass you poured it.
And you're the only reason that I remain unfrozen.
Suppose it stands to reason
that you would turn on me..."

[ZenBeam]

Originally Posted by samclem

Probably it meant the sidewalk on M street, and then go back 100 paces, 300ft?, and you might, just might have been at one of the best discount liquor stores which a poor college kid living in Arlington might go to to buy a case of cheep booze. I think the case was in a discount liquor store on M Street in Georgetown. Not buried at all. A quick newspaper database search from the period turns up nothing.

I was wondering why they'd take the risk that an underage kid would find it. I know times were different then, but still, that seems a bit much. If you have to speak with a liquor store owner/clerk to getit, that would make sense.

[Ravenman]

Originally Posted by samclem

There are articles, which I can't access right now, about the solution, and who solved it. Washington Post,
Sept. 16, 1980.

Do you have the name or page of the article? I may try to look it up next week if you cannot access them. I'm very curious about this.

[Captain Amazing]

You have to ask somebody to get it. The ad says "It's all yours if you're the first to find the person in charge and say, 'CC, please', with feeling."

[samclem]

Finally got to read the story.

It was solved by two 20-somethings from Oakton. They went to the Rive Gauche, then headed to the C&O bridge over the canal, and backtracked 100 paces. At that point, they stood over the steel cellar doors to Nathan's, a bar in Georgetown. They entered and said to the general manager(who was the only person who knew about the secret) "CC, please."

The night manager, who had no knowledge of what was going on, said that perhaps a dozen people had come in before this but didn't know who/what to ask for.

[Freddy the Pig]

Did the story decode the entire puzzle? What does the line, "See where a bark takes you" mean?

[samclem]

Originally Posted by Freddy the Pig

Did the story decode the entire puzzle? What does the line, "See where a bark takes you" mean?

No, I didn't see that. I'll look later to see if I can find anything about that.

[Neptunian Slug]

I have been trying to figure out where exactly you had to go. Appreciate any input from others.

Start at a place that was named for America's most important city.

SPOILER:

Washington Monument or Washington Circle?

See where a bark takes you. From there, go to what you can't miss.

Don't know. I was thinking about a statue of a dog or K and 9th St (K9).

When you have arrived, face in the direction of a past scandal that was uncovered and made public.

SPOILER:

Watergate

Turn in the opposite direction and make tracks for a nearby Metro station. Ride three stops.

SPOILER:

Head towards Foggy Bottom and ride to Metro Center.

Come up and then find the way to a famous ending.

SPOILER:

Walk around the corner to Ford's Theater

Continue in the most obvious direction, when you know the time is right.

SPOILER:

I want to say the old convention center had a digital clock. So walk up 10th Street.

Before it's too late, head for the nearest bridge that can take you over water.

SPOILER:

Turn on H and head towards the bridge's over Rock Creek Pkwy.

If it becomes impossible to continue in a straight line, go toward a body of water and find a spot with three banks.

SPOILER:

You can't walk straight anymore, so you have to veer onto Pennsylvania which turns into M just after the bridge.

From the highest bank, go in the direction of a bridge. When you've reached it, walk back 100 paces and you'll be right over the hidden treasure: a whole case of Canadian Club.

I guess its been revealed that this is Wisconsin and M

[Freddy the Pig]

Hey Bricker, how did you find that old ad? I'd be thrilled if anyone could post a link to the one from Chicago. (Maybe we could start a thread in the Game Room.) All I remember about it was that it included "rocks from around the world", or words to that effect, which was a reference to the collection of historic stones in the Tribune Tower.

This was the Coolest Ad Campaign Ever.

[Dewey Finn]

The first clue bothers me. "Start at a place that was named for America's most important city." Aren't most of the places named Washington named for the president and not the city? (Although it just occurred to me that the clue could refer to Washington National Airport.) As for the "bark," isn't that some type of boat?

[psychonaut]

Originally Posted by Dewey Finn

The first clue bothers me. "Start at a place that was named for America's most important city." Aren't most of the places named Washington named for the president and not the city? (Although it just occurred to me that the clue could refer to Washington National Airport.) As for the "bark," isn't that some type of boat?

I've always seen it spelled "barque".

[Bricker]

Originally Posted by Freddy the Pig

Hey Bricker, how did you find that old ad? I'd be thrilled if anyone could post a link to the one from Chicago. (Maybe we could start a thread in the Game Room.) All I remember about it was that it included "rocks from around the world", or words to that effect, which was a reference to the collection of historic stones in the Tribune Tower.

This was the Coolest Ad Campaign Ever.

Here you go.

Chicago.

If you ever needed more reason to visit than its spectacular architecture and windy spirit, you've got it now. For here we've hidden a case of Canadian Club.

To find the C.C., start at a tower with stones from around the world, and cross the street nearest the Alamo stone to an ex-president. Hail the Chief with "The Best in the House," then walk right to the nearest flagpole, turn left and pass eight more. Pass 11 light poles, cross a street and pass three more. Still with us?

Who said "Less is more?"

Now look right and find Mr. "Less is more." Back on your former path, continue past a plaque recalling the last time the "outs" were "in," and head straight across an island to an "old bald cheater." Next head toward Chicago's oldest dwelling, counting columns in the street to 14. Here cross the street, turn right, and walk till you reach footloose rocks (not the kind you'd pour C.C. over). Then traverse the nearest lobby, and head again for the oldest dwelling until you find "Arris."

Find an island and a mountain.

You're warm now, so retrace your path past an eastern island and mountain until you're kitty-corner from a famous paddler's place. Here turn left, walk to the ninth light pole, and find a date four years older than C.C. inside the second door to the right. Now retrace your steps to the corner. In sight once stood a warehouse designed by a famous Bostonian. Learn what its owners did, enter the nearest building whose owners are in the same business, then exit toward water. But don't get wet 'cause now you're very hot.

Ascend and descend.

Go against the flow till you spot what Chicago newspapers are full of. Count em', ascend that number of floors, descend 90 steps. Enter a place that doubles itself, say, "C.C., please," and claim your case.