Serenity Now
◆ · By Wendy Walker · Published 2024-05-13T04:01:09.369Z
Meta Prompt
The meta answer is something that's a core part of serenity.
May 2023 marked the publication of my first meta crossword puzzle, "Postcards from the Edge," the answer to which was my vacation destination, OUTER BANKS. Now that May has rolled around again, Peter Abide suggested that I create a "first anniversary" puzzle. Alas, Alan Kennan had just constructed a puzzle using the theme of "paper," the traditional first anniversary present, so the puzzle I ended up creating has a definite, but more subtle, link to my first one. This year has been full of puzzle fun and, I hope, a lot of improvement as well, thanks to the patient help of Peter, Alan, Cap'n Rick, and more of my dear Muggle friends than I have room to mention. What an awesome community this is!
Checking for previous play data...
1A
Gratuity
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Across
- 1AGratuity
- 4APro bono TV or radio spots
- 8ABigger than med.
- 11AMake amends
- 13APerched on
- 14AIt might surround a castle
- 15ACattle ___ (construction zone feature)
- 16AItalian grandmother
- 17A___ mater
- 18ASnake who had too much coffee?
- 20ABrowns, Cavaliers, or Indians, on a scoreboard
- 21ALake and Palmer's bandmate
- 22AIncursions
- 24A___ but not heard
- 25ABetter triglyceride and cholesterol results, perhaps
- 29ACPR pro
- 31ACookie that has its name stamped on it
- 32AText expressing astonishment
- 33ATrain station in a Colorado resort after ski season's over?
- 38AMotorists' org.
- 39AVowels after "A"
- 40AOPEC member
- 41AWinged boy who's not shooting straight?
- 44AUber rival
- 48APotions professor
- 49A"This situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid ___” ("Animal House")
- 51A___ Simbel (temple site in Egypt)
- 52AThey got Richard Nixon in big trouble
- 55ALatin name for a maple tree--and not just in Taiwan
- 56A"Way ahead of you, Boss!"
- 57AUnder the influence of reefer
- 58ALaurel or Lee
- 59AWords of denial spoken by the Fly or the Little Red Hen
- 60A"That Ain't My Truck" singer Rhett
- 61ANeighbor of Syr.
- 62ATiny but irritating insect
- 63AMao ___-tung
Down
- 1DCovering for a bald pate
- 2DIt brings people together electronically
- 3DA jury of one's ___
- 4DPressed sandwich
- 5DHalt
- 6DTop-notch
- 7DHow boxers practice
- 8DSucker
- 9DEnticing taste of "World of Warcraft" or "Grand Theft Auto"
- 10DIt's between zeta and theta
- 11DPartner of pains
- 12DPopular stuffing herb
- 14DHong Kong neighbor
- 19D___ pile, early battery named for its inventor (as was a relevant unit)
- 22DValerie Harper sitcom
- 23DUSAF rank
- 26DAppear suddenly
- 27DAnger
- 28DStripped
- 30D"Rubbish!"
- 33DChows down
- 34DThey occupy the top of the bill
- 35DGoldilocks found his chair, bed, and porridge bowl too big
- 36DOld French coin that has come to mean a trifling amount
- 37DWhere future unagi might be stored until needed
- 42DReject with prejudice
- 43D"Understood"
- 45DWell-dressed, upwardly mobile city dweller
- 46DRefrigerant gas
- 47DQuizzes and finals, e.g.
- 50DErmine
- 52D"To ___ Fu, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar"
- 53DInformed about
- 54DPocket bread
- 55D"Do __ say, not as ..."