Wordle on the Street
How one Saratoga friend group is bringing an online word game to life. PLUS: retail moves, Derby prep and a rain-ignoring al fresco migration.
When 10 giant, inflated koalas frolicked down Broadway this past Wednesday evening, they got a lot of stares—and a lot of questions. “All joking aside, what is this?” asked one gentleman who, hilariously, was visiting Saratoga for the first time and thus his first impression of the city was…that. (“Koalas are natives,” Carrie Zappone deadpanned.)
Other passersby offered up guesses: Did someone lose a bet? Is it a sorority rush thing? “I’m flattered you think we’re sorority age,” replied one of the koalas, many of whom are in their mid- to late-30s. The real answer, as self-appointed koalan spokesperson Julie Grassi repeated to curious onlookers throughout the night: The 10 women are part of a Wordle group.
Yes, Wordle—that New York Times–owned online word game involving five-letter words that everyone was obsessed with at the beginning of 2022, and most people have forgotten about (or at least aren’t still playing competitively) in 2023. These women are not most people.
Still confused? You should be.
This particular Wordle group (or, more accurately, group chat) was formed in March 2022, around the time many Wordle group chats were conceived. The difference? This one hasn’t fizzled out like all the rest. “We just celebrated our one-year anniversary,” Andrea Zappone said, proudly. Every month, someone is assigned to keep track of everyone’s Wordle scores.
Here are the rules:
+2 points if you guess the day’s word in two guesses, +3 for three guesses, etc.
+8 points if you miss a day of Wordling
-3 points if you somehow get the word on the first guess
“My mom has gotten it in one twice,” Andrea said. “Do you know the odds of that? Like 25,000 to 1.” At the end of the month, whomever has the lowest score gets $50 from everybody—a $450 payout. “Most times we donate it, but that’s not a requirement,” Andrea said. “We’re basically a charity.”
OK, but why koalas?
Well, the winner of each month is announced at a monthly Wordle dinner, of course. And since this friend group loves a themed party (past soirées have featured feathers, sparkles, collars, groutfits, togas and Nike apparel), obviously, they dress up as Wordle words from the past month. Some months, everyone dresses up as a different word—gloom, hinge, hairy, goose, piety, sloth, etc.—and other months they all dress up as the same word, like when they all dressed up as aliens and had a pool party. (Naturally.) When Jen Skerker found an Amazon flash deal on blow-up koala suits soon after the Wordle word was koala, this month’s theme was a no-brainer.
On Wednesday, I caught up with three koalas just outside Cantina; they had hoped to take over the rooftop, but it was closed due to weather. “We’re trying to deflate, just to go in, and then we’ll inflate,” Andrea said. “Are we taking our heads off? Oh, it’s kind of choking me.” Inside at the bar, there wasn’t much room to inflate; Cassy Dean was asked by an employee to deflate while she was inside. “I have to pee,” Jen said, “but I need help.”
Between sips of a spicy margarita, Andrea remembered she hadn’t played the day’s puzzle. She pulled out her phone, so as not to get a +8 on her monthly score, but the margarita seemed to be impairing her cognitive function. That, or the fact that there was a group of people who already knew the word watching over her shoulder. “I want it to be retro,” she said, stumped. “Why can’t it be retro?” I asked; I’ve played enough Wordle to know the letters lined up. “Because retro has already been a word,” she said, simply. Yeah—that’s how much Wordle this group plays.
As more koalas arrived, each came with a story of their journey to the party. Some stopped to take photos with kids on the street. One Uber driver who didn’t speak English very well asked if his passengers were wearing rain suits. “No,” Carrie told him, “let me tell you about Wordle.” One koala was told by someone outside Cantina, “The other koalas are in there.”
After a round (or two) of drinks, the group headed outside for a fully inflated koala photoshoot with yours truly behind the camera. “I’m gonna pee my f***ing koala suit,” Andrea said. “Mine keeps messing up my eyebrows,” someone else said. “The thigh gap in these is impressive,” Carina Rodriguez added. “I don’t even care if a car hits me in this,” another unidentified koala said.
The throng of koalas caught the attention of an employee at The Misfit, who offered the women free shots if they came into the bar for a photo. “This is the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen,” someone said as they squeezed into the bar’s narrow doorway. After the shots—watermelon Jolly Rancher ones—it was on to dinner at The Merc, where a surprise birthday had been planned for Ellen Scharf, Andrea’s mom. “When you deflate it’s kind of depressing,” Carina said before heading into the restaurant.
But even deflated, the suits were something to behold. “Can I ask?” someone seated at the bar said.
“OK, everyone,” Julie said, gesturing to the entire bar. “Gather around.”
—Natalie
Shirt of the Week
Moving Day
As of yesterday, Saratoga fashionistas can now find Piper Boutique down Broadway in the former Eddie Bauer space at 338 Broadway. “If you told 23-year-old Allie that this would be my store 13 years later, I wouldn’t believe it,” owner Alessandra Bange-Hall says. Piper won’t take up that whole storefront, though—also moving into the space is Overland Sheepskin Co., an outerwear, accessories and home décor store. The new location marks Overland’s first on the East Coast since 2017. “We are incredibly excited to be opening in Saratoga Springs,” says Overland co-owner Roger Leahy. “Having spent time in the area, Saratoga Springs offers a vibrant backdrop for the brand and provides year-round interest to make this the perfect fit for Overland.” Overland’s Saratoga location is set to open May 12.
Hall Pass
This week, the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame announced its 2023 class. On the list? Jockeys Corey Nakatani and Fernando Toro; racehorses Arrogate, California Chrome and Songbird; and “Pillars of the Turf” John W. Hanes II, Leonard W. Jerome and Stella F. Thayer. All three horses were elected in their first year of eligibility and were therefore contemporaries; Arrogate surged by California Chrome in the final yards to win the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Classic and secure the Eclipse Award. Saratogians, though, may better remember the Bob Baffert–trained horse for breaking the 37-year-old Travers Stakes and track record at Saratoga the same year. The members of this year’s class will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame at a free event on August 4 at the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion.
Talk Derby to Me
The announcement of this year’s Hall of Fame inductees isn’t the only thing going on in the world of horse racing this week: We’re officially one week out from the Kentucky Derby, the kickoff of the Triple Crown. Next Saturday, keep an eye on Jace’s Road, a contender that’s part-owned by Saratoga’s own West Point Thoroughbreds, and likely favorite Forte, who won the Hopeful, the top 2-year-old race at Saratoga, last summer.
Get Outside
The Saratoga Farmers’ Market, which operates in Wilton Mall on Saturday mornings through the winter, is officially moving outside. Today’s market will be in the mall, but will move to its summer location at High Rock Park this Wednesday from 3-6pm—despite the very Upstate, rainy spring forecast. Stop by Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings for the rest of the warm-weather season!
This Week in Saratoga Living After Hours
On Tuesday, we debuted On Deck, a new type of post highlighting things to do each week in Saratoga and beyond.
Then, on Wednesday, we recapped what went on at the Saratoga Springs Lions Club’s Night at the Brewseum fundraiser. Or was it a LARP?