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So March!

◆ · By Wendy Walker · Published 2023-06-11T02:16:42.572Z

Meta Prompt
The meta answer is three letters long.
I had a lot of fun making this one. It all came together over a quick breakfast-for-dinner at Perkins with my boyfriend Mark. Three Post-it notes of scribbling and we had seven beautiful themers, plus a few in reserve that I'll use for nudges. Thanks to Dr. Tom for feedback and Abide for the perfect title.
Checking for previous play data...

Leaderboard (updated hourly)

  • kurtalert solved at 2:52 on 6/11/2023
  • Kent solved at 2:59 on 6/11/2023
  • Schmeel solved at 11:56 on 6/11/2023
  • KayW solved at 12:22 on 7/5/2023
  • boharr solved at 12:42 on 7/5/2023
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  • edestlin solved at 12:56 on 7/5/2023
  • Cindy Heisler solved at 13:07 on 7/5/2023
  • Meg solved at 13:17 on 7/5/2023
  • Tom Wilson solved at 13:23 on 7/5/2023
  • JM solved at 13:24 on 7/5/2023
  • DCBilly solved at 13:34 on 7/5/2023
  • MatthewL solved at 14:07 on 7/5/2023
  • whimsy solved at 14:26 on 7/5/2023
  • BarbaraK solved at 14:30 on 7/5/2023
  • Hector solved at 14:52 on 7/5/2023
  • hoover solved at 14:57 on 7/5/2023
  • I K Snamhcok solved at 15:18 on 7/5/2023
  • Bird Lives solved at 15:22 on 7/5/2023
  • Sharkicicles solved at 15:26 on 7/5/2023
  • heidi solved at 15:50 on 7/5/2023
  • DrTom solved at 15:54 on 7/5/2023
  • rjy solved at 16:15 on 7/5/2023
  • BrennerTJ solved at 16:34 on 7/5/2023
  • merlinnimue solved at 16:38 on 7/5/2023
  • ajk solved at 16:58 on 7/5/2023
  • woozy solved at 17:16 on 7/5/2023
  • Dow Jones solved at 17:59 on 7/5/2023
  • lbray53 solved at 18:02 on 7/5/2023
  • Berto solved at 19:11 on 7/5/2023
  • ReB solved at 19:32 on 7/5/2023
  • Abide solved at 19:36 on 7/5/2023
  • Pair O Ducks solved at 19:44 on 7/5/2023
  • Mwoychick solved at 19:52 on 7/5/2023
  • Laura M solved at 19:55 on 7/5/2023
  • Carolyn solved at 20:20 on 7/5/2023
  • Ergcat solved at 21:04 on 7/5/2023
  • Qmark solved at 21:58 on 7/5/2023
  • SJMcK solved at 22:04 on 7/5/2023
  • CPJohnson solved at 23:36 on 7/5/2023
  • Capn Rick solved at 0:02 on 7/6/2023
  • Tyrpmom solved at 0:06 on 7/6/2023
  • HeadinHome solved at 6:03 on 7/6/2023
  • SeamusOL solved at 9:54 on 7/6/2023
  • Gutman solved at 11:30 on 7/6/2023
  • JHSeeman solved at 14:06 on 7/6/2023
  • Johnny Luau solved at 15:04 on 7/6/2023
  • DIS solved at 15:26 on 7/6/2023
  • Jaclyn solved at 18:49 on 7/6/2023
  • jbird solved at 12:26 on 7/8/2023
  • Flora Wynn solved at 16:54 on 7/8/2023
  • Rick solved at 1:20 on 7/9/2023
  • markhr solved at 1:31 on 7/9/2023
  • Alex Sisti solved at 13:49 on 7/10/2023
  • sledge solved at 13:25 on 7/18/2023
  • Darth solved at 3:47 on 8/8/2023
  • Shivangi solved at 5:54 on 8/17/2023

Comments

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  • kurtalert 11:08 · 2023-06-11T02:52:23.391Z
    Nice one, thanks Wendy!
    • Wendy Walker constructor · 2023-07-05T13:14:46.897Z
      Thanks for solving, Kurt!
    • boharr 16s · 2023-07-05T12:43:59.259Z
      I solved it after a couple of entries (and tries). Now to finish the grid. Thanks, Wendy.
      • Wendy Walker constructor · 2023-07-05T13:15:18.016Z
        Haha, yes, I figured that's how it would work once people spotted the gimmick!
        • woozy 33:40 · 2023-07-05T17:23:24.803Z
          Wait! It' possible to submit with an unfilled grid?
        • KayW 🤓5:52 · 2023-07-05T12:24:56.517Z
          Very nice!!! of course I knew what the answer would be once I figured out those DEVIOCROSS entries (haha see what I did there?) but wanted to finish the grid properly and enjoy all the cluing before submitting. Wendy you are definitely the rookie of the year of constructors! And already an ex-rookie!
          • Wendy Walker constructor · 2023-07-05T13:15:53.376Z
            Thanks for the kind words, Kay! I am really having fun being a constructor!
          • Cindy Heisler 2s · 2023-07-05T13:10:15.647Z
            I should have gotten it with 1A1AOne of eight[-------], but it took me a bit longer to see. Excellent meta. Thanks!
            • Wendy Walker constructor · 2023-07-05T14:23:18.811Z
              So glad you solved! Thanks!
            • Meg 2s · 2023-07-05T13:19:58.362Z
              Before getting 5d5D___ de soie (soft fabric)[----], I thought Wendy was going for a rebus with PUS, which sounded pretty yucky to me. Nice puzzle!
              • Wendy Walker constructor · 2023-07-05T14:23:57.410Z
                EWWW! That would not pass the time-honored "breakfast test"!
              • Tom Wilson 11:27 · 2023-07-05T13:25:03.739Z
                Nicely done, Wendy. I hope your holiday was a safe and relaxing one! (And is there anything better than breakfast for dinner?)
                • Wendy Walker constructor · 2023-07-05T14:25:20.218Z
                  Thank you, Tom! Breakfast for dinner is a regular Sunday treat in this household!
                • MatthewL 11:37 · 2023-07-05T14:09:06.965Z
                  Was having my doubts about Wendy's spelling ability for a minute there, but then I saw what was going on. Very nice!
                  • Wendy Walker constructor · 2023-07-05T15:36:26.764Z
                    Haha! That will never happen: You are talking to a spelling bee winner here!
                  • whimsy 23:34 · 2023-07-05T14:31:58.259Z
                    And that's why I had such difficulty with the grid! :-)
                    I knew I wanted a variation of that mushroom exclamation from the start, and when I realized how I could do it, well, that was the key!
                    Fabulo__ _+!
                    • Wendy Walker constructor · 2023-07-05T15:37:15.747Z
                      So glad you solved!
                    • Hector 2s · 2023-07-05T15:00:37.299Z
                      Nice. I think I'll celebrate the solve by grilling up a thond sages.
                      • Wendy Walker constructor · 2023-07-05T15:37:24.691Z
                        Yum!
                      • I K Snamhcok 1s · 2023-07-05T15:18:50.464Z
                        Hope you had a great Fourth!
                        • Wendy Walker constructor · 2023-07-05T15:40:01.213Z
                          We went hiking. About a mile in, when two trails merged, Mark started singing, " 'Reunited and it feels so good' ... hey, that might be a good meta!"
                        • Bird Lives 5s · 2023-07-05T15:30:59.993Z
                          Loved the Stars and Stripes Forever title. You didn't ask for solver contributions, but you're going to get them anyway. Just remember correlation is not CATION. And of course Tom Hulse and F. Murray Abraham, who are AMADECTORS.
                          • woozy 33:40 · 2023-07-05T17:22:22.254Z
                            Oh! I didn't get that bit! That's excellent!
                            • Wendy Walker constructor · 2023-07-05T21:33:04.229Z
                              Other possibilities I came up with were EXC---BLE, GIVE---BREAK, SPO---L, PRI---UTO, and (ick) SIN---BSCESS!
                            • DrTom 4s · 2023-07-05T15:56:15.076Z
                              Lovely! and Mr. March is SO USA. Clever tie in. Thanks for MEOWing! Your "rookie" season is definitely over!
                              • Wendy Walker constructor · 2023-07-05T21:26:20.645Z
                                Thanks for letting me contribute, Dr. Tom!
                              • rjy 4s · 2023-07-05T16:25:55.359Z
                                Agree with Kay above... what a great puzzle, only a month or so after your maiden voyage?? And remarkably elegant too, with all those USAs symetrically extracted - wow! (love the title too, Abide!)
                                • Wendy Walker constructor · 2023-07-05T21:27:06.877Z
                                  Thank you so much for your compliments! I have a long way to go, though!
                                • woozy 33:40 · 2023-07-05T17:19:00.007Z
                                  very clever! hard to figure out what was going on but worth it. Despite that it was still a tough (in a fun way) grid. I overthought the actual meta in trying to spell out the letters the USAs stood for.
                                  Great fun.
                                  • Wendy Walker constructor · 2023-07-05T21:27:27.532Z
                                    So glad you enjoyed it, Woozy!
                                  • ajk 23:13 · 2023-07-05T17:05:22.427Z
                                    Fun, thanks. Couldn't finish the NE corner because I had a couple of wrong squares (I never spell UHURA19AStar Trek lieutenant[-----] properly, and entered one of the USA letters into 30A30AIt lets you stream channels like 70s on 7 and Elvis 24/7[------] by mistake). Eventually got there with a few googles. Nifty puzzle overall.
                                    • Wendy Walker constructor · 2023-07-05T21:27:42.021Z
                                      Thanks so much, Alan!
                                    • ReB 3s · 2023-07-05T19:38:43.366Z
                                      Almost forgot the clever tie in with the title...Strike up the band!
                                      • Wendy Walker constructor · 2023-07-05T21:28:06.820Z
                                        Abide is the master of clever titles!
                                      • ReB 3s · 2023-07-05T19:36:56.963Z
                                        Very clever and timely. Must say that I had a tough time with quite a few of the straight entries. One I figured out 1A1AOne of eight[-------] then it became a game to discover the other locations.
                                        • Wendy Walker constructor · 2023-07-05T21:28:44.021Z
                                          Yes, I was hoping it would be fun for solvers to find all of them!
                                        • Carolyn 9s · 2023-07-05T20:20:57.157Z
                                          Fun! Thanks
                                          • Wendy Walker constructor · 2023-07-05T21:28:53.108Z
                                            You are very welcome!
                                          • Laura M 🤓22:33 · 2023-07-05T20:06:16.969Z
                                            Nice puzzle, and love the title!
                                            • Wendy Walker constructor · 2023-07-05T21:29:12.476Z
                                              The title was ALL Peter Abide's doing!
                                            • Ergcat 19:38 · 2023-07-05T21:07:48.157Z
                                              Fun one! Thanks, Wendy! My favorite was “Fungus Among us” hahaha!
                                              • Wendy Walker constructor · 2023-07-05T21:30:06.932Z
                                                That one came naturally to me, living as I do in "The Mushroom Capital of America" (lots of mushroom farms around here). Glad you enjoyed it!
                                              • Qmark 4s · 2023-07-05T21:59:10.061Z
                                                Fun puzzle...thanks Wendy!
                                                • Wendy Walker constructor · 2023-07-06T01:02:30.427Z
                                                  You are welcome!
                                                • Capn Rick 9:58 · 2023-07-06T00:03:08.703Z
                                                  Fun one, Wendy. Thanks!
                                                  • Wendy Walker constructor · 2023-07-06T01:02:51.377Z
                                                    So glad you enjoyed it, Cap'n!
                                                  • Tyrpmom 2s · 2023-07-06T00:11:51.240Z
                                                    I’m glad no one had to watch me fill in the grid. They would have taken my pencil away in frustration. Haha. Great puzzle.
                                                    • Wendy Walker constructor · 2023-07-06T01:03:02.642Z
                                                      Thank you so much!
                                                    • HeadinHome 🤓12:04 · 2023-07-06T06:06:37.931Z
                                                      I can imagine how fun that was to think of the themers ..maybe not so much fitting that many into a grid! You have outdone yourself!
                                                      • Wendy Walker constructor · 2023-07-06T13:07:33.236Z
                                                        So much fun! Actually this one came together pretty easily: Except for the central themer, all of them were six or seven letters long (minus the USA), so I could fit them in the grid symmetrically.
                                                      Play today's daily mini crossword
                                                      1A
                                                      One of eight
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                                                      Across
                                                      1. 1A
                                                        One of eight
                                                      2. 8A
                                                        Attack from above
                                                      3. 14A
                                                        Italian city destroyed -- yet preserved -- by layers of volcanic ash
                                                      4. 15A
                                                        Single-serving beverage container
                                                      5. 16A
                                                        Egg-containing capsules
                                                      6. 17A
                                                        Classic 1959 jazz LP with "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat"
                                                      7. 18A
                                                        ___ & Stimpy
                                                      8. 19A
                                                        Star Trek lieutenant
                                                      9. 21A
                                                        Actor Mineo
                                                      10. 22A
                                                        One-man play about Capote
                                                      11. 23A
                                                        ___ boom
                                                      12. 26A
                                                        Pension prefix?
                                                      13. 28A
                                                        CIA predecessor
                                                      14. 29A
                                                        Fan ___ , stories about established characters, say Harry and Hermione
                                                      15. 30A
                                                        It lets you stream channels like 70s on 7 and Elvis 24/7
                                                      16. 32A
                                                        Monocled colonel on "Hogan's Heroes"
                                                      17. 34A
                                                        "Take ___," Eagles hit
                                                      18. 35A
                                                        "There's ___!" (A morel just showed up!)
                                                      19. 37A
                                                        Coals
                                                      20. 39A
                                                        High five!
                                                      21. 40A
                                                        Amen!
                                                      22. 41A
                                                        Trying to get a #1 spot on Google: Abbr.
                                                      23. 42A
                                                        Santa's favorite words
                                                      24. 45A
                                                        SASE, say
                                                      25. 46A
                                                        He sang "Mack the Knife"
                                                      26. 48A
                                                        Mother Bethel ___ Church (oldest U.S. church property continuously owned by African Americans)
                                                      27. 49A
                                                        "Yes" vote
                                                      28. 51A
                                                        Simone Biles, Troy Aikman, or any other Bruin
                                                      29. 54A
                                                        Alternate H.S. degree
                                                      30. 55A
                                                        Charge
                                                      31. 58A
                                                        All excited
                                                      32. 60A
                                                        Atomic mass units
                                                      33. 61A
                                                        Bookkeeper, often
                                                      34. 62A
                                                        Disposable
                                                      35. 63A
                                                        Book for aspiring owners of large Australian birds?
                                                      Down
                                                      1. 1D
                                                        Portuguese city known for its wine
                                                      2. 2D
                                                        Conceals, with "up"
                                                      3. 3D
                                                        Term used during NASA countdowns
                                                      4. 4D
                                                        They can be photo or psy
                                                      5. 5D
                                                        ___ de soie (soft fabric)
                                                      6. 6D
                                                        Well-off
                                                      7. 7D
                                                        ___ funds (spending unwisely)
                                                      8. 8D
                                                        Letters with poli or fi
                                                      9. 9D
                                                        Large cask for beer or wine
                                                      10. 10D
                                                        Shoulder-fired missiles: Abbr.
                                                      11. 11D
                                                        Speech problems
                                                      12. 12D
                                                        Snafus
                                                      13. 13D
                                                        Genre for Avicii (RIP) and Skrillex
                                                      14. 15D
                                                        Nickname for Cosmo
                                                      15. 20D
                                                        "___ was never written for or performed for conservative tastes": Frank Zappa
                                                      16. 24D
                                                        Enjoys
                                                      17. 25D
                                                        Gas station brand
                                                      18. 27D
                                                        28A28ACIA predecessor[---] employee, perhaps
                                                      19. 29D
                                                        Private Instagram account
                                                      20. 31D
                                                        Enlist again
                                                      21. 32D
                                                        Britney's ex
                                                      22. 33D
                                                        Sensational, as a tabloid story
                                                      23. 35D
                                                        "Upon the seat / Of ___ built for two"
                                                      24. 36D
                                                        "Yes, we serve midnight snacks"
                                                      25. 37D
                                                        It has just one pupil
                                                      26. 38D
                                                        Native American tribe in Virginia
                                                      27. 42D
                                                        Bargain
                                                      28. 43D
                                                        Egg dish
                                                      29. 44D
                                                        Passover meals
                                                      30. 47D
                                                        Seeks office (in contrast, in the UK, it's "stands")
                                                      31. 50D
                                                        Sharp words for Brutus
                                                      32. 52D
                                                        Tiny bit
                                                      33. 53D
                                                        Quibbles
                                                      34. 55D
                                                        "Much ___ About Nothing"
                                                      35. 56D
                                                        Platform used by many tablets
                                                      36. 57D
                                                        "You're the ___ that I want"
                                                      37. 59D
                                                        Siesta
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