Welcome to the Frederick Puzzler's Corner
This is a monthly event to encourage puzzle solving in the geocaching community, and all are welcome.
September 12th is Chocolate Milkshake Day. Dating from 1885, Chocolate Milk Shake Day celebrates a drink loved by old and young alike. Originally served in bars, a milk shake was an alcoholic concoction of whisky, eggs and cream. If the customer enjoyed the drink, he shook hands and tipped the barman. By 1900, the whisky was replaced with chocolate, vanilla or strawberry syrup. In 1922, a Walgreen’s employee in Chicago - Ivar “Pop” Coulson - added a generous scoop of ice cream to his malted milk drink (now with milk, chocolate syrup, and malt powder) and the milkshake as we know it today was born. Also in 1922, the electric blender was invented by Steven Poplawski and sold to drug store soda fountains to make Horlick’s malted milk shakes. Steven’s Electric company was eventually bought by John Oster in 1946, and is still going strong today. I don’t know about you, but the original sounds like it’s worth trying, though I’ll never give up my blended chocolate malts!
Celebrate this special day by going out with friends and family for chocolate shakes at a traditional soda fountain or check out recipes and blend some different chocolate shakes at home. And don’t forget the whipped cream! Here is Pop’s original recipe from 1922:
Old Fashioned Chocolate Malted Milk
. Use a Frosted Malt Can
. 1 1/2 oz. Chocolate Syrup
. 3 - #16 Dips of Vanilla Ice Cream
. 5 1/2 oz. of Cold Milk
. Add Malt Powder (One Heaping Tablespoonful)
. Place On Mixer Only Until Mixed - Do Not Over Mix
. Use a Generous Portion of Whipped Topping In A #1808 - 10 oz. Glass
. Pour Malted Milk in Glass Approximately 2/3 Full
. Serve Remainder Of Malted In A Shaker Along With The Glass To The Guest With Straws and Package of Fountain Treat Cookies
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! So newbies and addicts, socialites and lone wolves, mark you calendar.
If there’s 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, at minimum.
This event has evolved to a think-tank-type gathering, with everyone collaborating on the latest tantalizing quizzler on their radar. Occasionally there may be a short tutorial on some aspect of puzzle solving, but the learning seems to come from working with one another to solve a teaser. 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, or you may find someone who has already solved a puzzle using a similar technique. We continue to see successes and progress at each gathering.
For the puzzle junkies, bring your puzzle paraphenalia - cache listings, laptop or tablet (Wi-Fi is available), theories, worksheets, (sp)eye glasses, abacus, scratch paper (don’t forget your writing instrument) - you never know who (or what!) will show up, and what kind of help you might encounter. 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 topic you'd like to learn more about, or have a specific puzzle you'd like help with, feel free to make note of it in your Will Attend log.
When: Tuesday, September 12, 2017, 6pm - 8pm
Where: Wegman's Market Cafe
7830 Worman's Mill Road
Frederick, MD
If you also bring your appetite, all costs are your own responsibility.
Field trips not included.
(But it's a good time to plan them!)