A Walking Tour of Atwells Avenue Mystery Cache
Anonymike7: I'm letting this one go. I haven't been happy with the execution and it's time to think about new options.
A Walking Tour of Atwells Avenue
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The historic Federal Hill neighborhood sits in the center of Providence, and at its heart is Atwells Avenue. For more than a century, Atwells Avenue has been the hub of the city’s sizable Italian community. Before that, the neighborhood was mostly Irish.
While Atwells is still mostly Italian, newer waves of immigration are also represented. This walking tour will show you the richness of diversity and history on this popular destination for tourists and locals alike.
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While the starting point for this cache is at the foot of Atwells Avenue, your tour begins at Garibaldi Square. It's immediately to the north of the large arch with the hanging pinecone. From there you will be heading west down Atwells Avenue, paying attention to the neighborhood. It shouldn’t be hard to gather the information you’ll need to solve this puzzle. Before setting off on your tour, you may optionally enjoy finding the micro hidden here.
The Festa Italiana Society is an organization that aims to promote and preserve Italian-American culture. They’ve got a monument in this park; take a moment to find it, then take note of (A) the number of medallions on top. NOTE: This park is currently under construction/renovation and it may be difficult to access. (A) = 3.
As you move westward, take notice of the many Italian restaurants in the area. Angelo’s Civita Farnese may be the oldest in the neighborhood. Their ceiling-mounted train set is almost as old as the restaurant itself! You may also begin to notice a distinct Middle Eastern/Lebanese influence, in the form of several restaurants and hookah bars that have opened up on “The Hill” in recent years.
To the north as Dean crosses Atwells, find the monument to Monsignor Cavallaro. Take note of (B) the number of low columns at this corner, then keep on heading west. You’ll begin to see that Chinese and Caribbean cultures are making their presence felt on the street and in fact, you’ll want to remember (C) Tina’s street address.
By now you may have noticed that among the newer establishments there are plenty of old, established businesses like Scialo Bros. Bakery, which has been around since 1916, and Gasbarro Liquors further down the street, which has been in operation since 1898. You may wish to take a moment to look at the fanciful cakes in Scialo's window, and note that you’re starting to come across the first of many art galleries on the street.
Pretty soon, you’ll come across Costantino’s Plaza, aka DePasquale Square. Take some time to enjoy the fountain and the lively atmosphere. In warmer weather there’s often live music to entertain the al fresco diners. Not only will you pick up some valuable clues for this cache, but you can also get started on Yawppy’s cache, found here.
Find Antonelli’s poultry market, where you can choose your own bird or rabbit to be slaughtered and butchered for you on-site. Examining the sign above their door, make sure you pay attention to (D) how many eggs are pictured. You’ll also want to count how many lions can be seen on the top of both (E) the yellow-and-white Hotel Dolce Villa and (F)pink Caffe Dolce Vita.
As you head back out to the street, take notice of Costantino’s Venda Ravioli. This old-school market makes fresh pasta daily and has a deli counter full of fresh meats, cheeses, and prepared foods. There are two other great markets to explore as you keep heading down the road, notably Tony’s Colonial Food and Roma Marketplace. Make sure you write down (G) the month Tony’s colonial opened for business.
Before you head that far down, though, take a peek across the street to the Sovereign Bank building. You’ll need to know (H) how many individual panes of glass are in the arched window above the front door. Marching onwards toward Olneyville, you’ll see another part of the world represented by Don Jose Tequilas restaurant. Take note of (I) their street number, then cross the street to St. John’s Park. You should see a marker in the pavement that explains the history of the site. The important number here is (J) the year the church that once stood here was erected.
We’re almost done with our tour…keep going! You’ll come across Tammany Hall, which one could say represents the Irish. After all, the original Society of St. Tammany in New York was responsible for helping Irish immigrants to rise in the political arena. On the same side of the street as Tammany you’ll find Blind King, which, with a stretch, can represent Greece. After all, Sophocles’ Oedipus was a blind king! Take note of Blind King’s (K) street number.
Across the street is Lili Marlene’s, which one can argue represents Germany, since Lili Marlene was a popular German love song during WWII. Lili's is a cozy, low-key neighborhood bar where the locals gather for burgers and drinks. You’ll want their (L) street number, too. Your last stop is the Holy Ghost Church at the end of the street. Take a moment to appreciate the architecture, sit on the steps, and relax. Then you’ll have to count the same objects you counted around Monsignor Cavallaro. Be sure to count them all, since this will be your final clue item, (M).
So now that you have all the important information, what are you supposed to do with it? Why, follow the instructions below, of course! You may want to do the math while sitting on the church steps, or you may want to enjoy a drink at one of the many local watering holes as you work on the puzzle. Either way, it shouldn’t take you too long.
The formula for determining the final coordinates is:
N M (B*B).(K+C-200)
W (L-I) (G+H).(A+J+(D*E))/F
You can check your answers for this puzzle on Geochecker.com.
Please note that this neighborhood is even more diverse than what's on Atwells alone. Within a few blocks you can also find Indian, Japanese, Turkish, and Guatemalan businesses.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
[Final] Lbh'ir tbg gb yvsg vg hc, ohg qba'g gehfg lbhe svefg vafgvapgf.
Treasures
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