A weekly meta crossword created by members of the forum. Difficulty levels will vary. Hints are usually available starting Wednesday, and solutions are posted on Sunday.
Happy New Year! I hope 2023 brings you peace, happiness, and plenty of challenging new metas. And speaking of "New" metas, it was one year ago this month that I created my first meta - "New Beginnings". The initial version was a bit rough, but @Abide and @Al Sisti were great mentors who helped me get it ready for my MMM debut. In addition to marking my 1-year anniversary, today's puzzle by my good friend and guest constructor "Carri Kelly" is a tribute to the 5th anniversary of another significant event that I'm sure many of you will remember.
I rise from the couch, megaphone in hand, yelling "Gimme an R" or should it be "Gimme a C." Whoever the constructor is, they deserve a cheer, especially since they weren't around here till nearly three years after the date in question.
I think I'm off the couch, but unsure. I guess we'll see.
Edited to add: It appears that I am. Didn't appreciate the full import of the meta, but the good Captain clued me in. Great puzzle, and Happy New Year!
OK, well that was fun and mildly retro! Any of us old timers immediately know what we were supposed to do, even if not how. Congrats to Carri and her mentor.
This afternoon, what to do what to do. As a Pennsylvanian (and attendee of a college with a non notable FB team) LONG time PSU fan. However, I am a proud degree holder from the University of Utah. So I'd be Lion if I said this was not Uteilizing a lot of my time debating. I think the best course for me is to simply be a Solomonic fan and say:
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges IF ASKED; metas should be about fun, not frustration. PM me what you have done so far, because often you are closer than you think, and I will try to help you move along.
Very tricky for me, but I was assisted to the answer. The couch is vacated!
Check out "The MOAT Mini Pack of Marching Bands" here. US$5 gets you 7 Marching Bands which, hard enough on their own, now contain metas too. And once again there's a mega-meta!
Thanks for the puzzle, Cap'n and Carrie! Off the couch, with an observation from a fellow muggle. I remember the event; this was a great tribute. (Had to backsolve for 1 letter.)
DrTom wrote: Mon Jan 02, 2023 2:50 pm
OK, well that was fun and mildly retro! Any of us old timers immediately know what we were supposed to do, even if not how. Congrats to Carri and her mentor.
This afternoon, what to do what to do. As a Pennsylvanian (and attendee of a college with a non notable FB team) LONG time PSU fan. However, I am a proud degree holder from the University of Utah. So I'd be Lion if I said this was not Uteilizing a lot of my time debating. I think the best course for me is to simply be a Solomonic fan and say:
Solomonic Fan.jpg
@DrTom I hope that you went with your long time allegiance and not your proud degree
is a tribute to the 5th anniversary of another significant event that I'm sure many of you will remember. 
Very clever, Carri!
