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48. A Romantic Centerpiece

Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2023 2:00 am
by MikeyG
PDF and PUZ

Crosshare

Image

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Sometimes, I have no idea what to put here, haha.

It's a bit of a visual meta this time, and I give super shout-outs to both @Abide and @whimsy for their amazing feedback on this one! Seems like I've been in a Level 2.5 groove as of late, and that's what this one will likely be as well.

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48. A Romantic Centerpiece

The answer to the meta is a 3-word phrase visually depicted in the grid.

Deadline is Tuesday, February 21 at 1 pm ET.

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Best of luck, and may all your solves be beautiful!

Mikey G

Re: 48. A Romantic Centerpiece

Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2023 4:16 am
by benchen71
Solved, and yes, it was beautiful! Nice one, @MikeyG.

Re: 48. A Romantic Centerpiece

Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2023 7:14 am
by schmidzy
Nicely done! The clue for 4d taught me some new words, too.

Re: 48. A Romantic Centerpiece

Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2023 7:26 am
by Cinny
Grid was kind of tough, but great meta!

Re: 48. A Romantic Centerpiece

Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2023 8:38 am
by Cap'n Rick
Fun one! Thanks, Mikey!

Re: 48. A Romantic Centerpiece

Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2023 10:05 am
by Meg
Fun puzzle and lovely meta. Thanks, Mikey.

Re: 48. A Romantic Centerpiece

Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2023 10:44 am
by boharr
Nice. Thanks, Mikey.

Re: 48. A Romantic Centerpiece

Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2023 3:37 pm
by ky-mike
Made me think about it for a while. Nicely done.

Re: 48. A Romantic Centerpiece

Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2023 4:41 pm
by lbray53
NIce puzzle. Thanks.

Re: 48. A Romantic Centerpiece

Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2023 5:23 pm
by hcbirker
Cute!

Re: 48. A Romantic Centerpiece

Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2023 6:12 pm
by ChrisKochmanski
Je l’adore!

Re: 48. A Romantic Centerpiece

Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2023 6:18 pm
by Bird Lives
I PMd my answer as an oblique musical reference. Not yet confirmed.

Re: 48. A Romantic Centerpiece

Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2023 7:30 pm
by KayW
:crossed_swords: :rabbit: Beautiful meta!
catflower3.jpg
(This is a 1990s photo of my one-time cat Mercedes)

Re: 48. A Romantic Centerpiece

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2023 1:04 am
by rjy
Clever challenge, Mikey! Thanks -

Re: 48. A Romantic Centerpiece

Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2023 9:46 pm
by Dow Jones
Any nudges, Mikey ??

Re: 48. A Romantic Centerpiece

Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2023 1:26 am
by MikeyG
Dow Jones wrote: Sun Feb 19, 2023 9:46 pm Any nudges, Mikey ??
Coming tomorrow! By which I mean today. Let me go to sleep and wake up first, haha.

Re: 48. A Romantic Centerpiece

Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2023 10:41 am
by MikeyG
Current solvers: 45

Let's see if we can get to the half-century mark!

Nudges

1. This is more of a visual meta; the phrase is not gleaned from a mechanism in the grid but in something that is represented within.

2. The title implies that what I'm trying to find in the grid is located somewhere at or near the center.

3. This visual image is symmetrical as well!

4. The last-minute "breadcrumb" addition for the clue for 42-Down is a clue for you to notice that some vowels in the grid are less prevalent than others.

5. Also note 1-Across, which points to the two vowels (in the clue!) that are most relevant to this meta.

6. The long spanner at 44-Across also points to elements, and if you take that in conjunction with the two least commonly occurring vowels, you might notice a central pattern!

7. Look toward the center of the grid for the two vowels in question. What shape are these forming?

8. What element has the chemical symbol referenced in 1-Across that this shape comprises?

9. See if you can put the shape and the element together to get the three-word phrase (whose middle word is "of").

Mikey G

Re: 48. A Romantic Centerpiece

Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2023 10:58 am
by MatthewL
Welp -- needed 8 of 9 nudges to get it. I'll console myself with the fact that I didn't need the ninth. Would never, ever have gotten this without the help. That being said, very clever puzzle.

Re: 48. A Romantic Centerpiece

Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2023 11:23 am
by jhseeman
Needed the second clue.

NIce puzzle, and Meta mechanism. Thanks.

Re: 48. A Romantic Centerpiece

Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2023 3:06 pm
by Dow Jones
Nudged to the solve. Thanks, Mikey