Welcome to the Frederick Puzzler's Corner!
This is a monthly event to encourage puzzle solving in the geocaching community, and all are welcome.
March 5th is Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras!
Mardi Gras refers to events of the Carnival celebration, and culminates on March 5th this year. Mardi Gras historically starts on Twelfth Night (the last night of Christmas, or January 6th, which begins Epiphany) and continues until the day before Ash Wednesday, or the start of Lent. Some countries start their Mardi Gras season as early as November.
Popularly, Fat Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday) is the best known single date for Mardi Gras, where everyone can feast and frolic one last day before the constrictions of Lent begin. Mardi Gras is a celebration of life and prosperity, and is recognized in many parts of the world. Rio de Janeiro's famous Carnival is a Mardi Gras celebration, as is Fastnacht in Germany, Carnevale in Italy, Maslenitsa in Russia and Ukraine, Shrovetide in the UK and Ireland, and Fettisdaggen in Sweden, among others. Most Americans would probably recognize the events in New Orleans, specifically along Bourbon Street and in the French Quarter, as the most famous of all the celebrations in the USA.
New Orlean’s Mardi Gras festivities started in the late 17th century as a tradition brought over by French colonists. The first organized Mardi Gras celebration in what was to become the United States took place in the then capital of Louisiana Territory, Mobile (in today’s Alabama), in 1703. The first mystic society, or krewe, was formed in Mobile in 1711. Many cities with early French heritage along the Gulf Coast and farther inland celebrate Mardi Gras, as well. Are you ready to join in?
Laissez les bons temps rouler!!!
And now, for the usual spiel…
This event is open to all cachers, no matter what your statistics say or whether you even like puzzles! Newbies and addicts, socialites and lone wolves, mark you calendar.
If you've got a puzzle or mystery cache that's currently got you stumped and you'd like to pick some brains, this event is for you! Zombies are not welcome here though, so please leave your pets at home - we want everyone to leave with the brains they brought.
This event has evolved to a think-tank type gathering, with everyone collaborating on the latest tantalizing quizzler on their radar. Generally, the learning seems to come from working with others to solve a targeted teaser, but there may be a short tutorial thrown in once in a while. You don't have to work on puzzles to enjoy this, as there are plenty of stories to be heard. However, you'll have plenty of others to commiserate with, and you might discover someone has solved a puzzle using a similar technique. We continue to see successes and progress at each gathering.
For the puzzle junkies, bring your puzzle paraphernalia - flagged caches, laptop or tablet (Wi-Fi is available), theories, library card, worksheets, (sp)eye glasses, HTML color code charts, Enigma machine, abacus, scratch paper (don’t forget your writing instrument) - you never know who, or what, will show up, from which you can gain an advantage. Maybe you’ve recently cracked a tough one and want to see the wheels spinning while others tackle it - that can be loads of fun! Yes, we have regular head-slapping moments!
If you have a specific puzzle or puzzling topic you'd like help with, feel free to make note of it in your Will Attend log.
When & Where:
Tuesday, March 5, 2019, 6pm - 8pm
Wegman's Market Cafe
7830 Worman's Mill Road
Frederick, Maryland
All food and beverage costs are your own responsibility.
Field trips not included.
(But it's a good time to plan them!)
If you drop any trackables into this event, make sure they have all been claimed or reclaimed before you leave. We don’t want them getting lost in the muggle world!