Chicago-area Dopers: Find the hidden C.C. Case!

[Freddy_the_Pig]

The esteemed Bricker has tracked down the long-ago Canadian Club “hidden case” puzzle for the Chicago area, which is reprinted at the bottom of this post.

The CC is long gone, but it should still be fun to solve the puzzle—to the extent the clues are still valid after 30 years. “Solving”, in this context, means not only determining the location of the case, but in decoding the many clues along the way.

Rather than use spoilers on a 30-year-old puzzle, I’m going to ask that anyone who wants to try this cold should stop reading after this post. Unboxed commentary can be added in later posts.

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.

[Freddy_the_Pig]

Here’s what I know so far: The puzzle begins at the Tribune Tower, which has “stones from around the world” embedded in its outer walls. Mies van der Rohe said “less is more”. The “oldest dwelling” is probably Fort Dearborn, which was located at Michigan and Wacker. The “famous paddler’s place” is probably either the Marquette Inn, at 60 W Adams, or the Marquette Building at 140 S Dearborn. “Go against the flow” is a coy reference to the Chicago River flowing out of Lake Michigan, not into it.

But who is the “old bald cheat”? Where are the “footloose rocks”? What is the building that doubles itself? I have no clue.