Take a Letter, Maria by Al Sisti

STARTING APRIL 30, 2023

Contest Crosswords Combating Cancer (CCCC) is a bundle of 16 meta puzzles created to help raise money for cancer-related organizations. Many of the constructors and test solvers involved with the project are members of the Muggle community. The bundle is available in exchange for a donation to any cancer-related charity. For more information, visit CrosswordsForCancer.com or email CrosswordsForCancer@gmail.com.
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AnswerPfinder
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Take a Letter, Maria by Al Sisti

#1

Post by AnswerPfinder »

Take a Letter, Maria by Al Sisti.

The answer to this meta is a fitting five-letter title of note.

ribbonrow.png

This puzzle is part of the CCCC bundle. To access the bundle and for more information, see this post.
Contest Crosswords Combating Cancer (CCCC) is a bundle of 16 metapuzzles created to help raise money for cancer-related charities. It is available at CrosswordsForCancer.com.
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Conrad
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#2

Post by Conrad »

Fun meta! Thanks, @Al Sisti!

I haven't heard this wonderful song in a million years (no spoilers): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9Y0x1jLkLg
Check out my meta crossword writeups on Crossword Fiend: https://crosswordfiend.com/author/conrad/
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boharr
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#3

Post by boharr »

Nice one. Thanks, Al.
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benchen71
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#4

Post by benchen71 »

I had the answer before finishing the grid, but this is a wonderful meta idea that has been beautifully executed. Loved it! Thanks, @Al Sisti!
Check out "The MOAT MEOW Mashup Pack" here. US$10 for 14 metas that don't always abide by the "rules" of the game: asymmetry, 2-letter words, uncrossed letters, who knows. And this time there's a mega-meta! :shock:
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Schmeel
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#5

Post by Schmeel »

Good cause, good puzzle. I liked this one.
Thanks for the puzzle!
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sharkicicles
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#6

Post by sharkicicles »

I haven’t finished the meta yet, but I did address a copy of the puzzle to my wife.

Edit: got it! Clever.
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Cindy
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#7

Post by Cindy »

Solved. Took me a hot minute to see it.
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BarbaraK
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#8

Post by BarbaraK »

Nothing, dead end, nothing, nothing, wait a minute, aha, wow! Very nicely done!
If you want help with a meta, feel free to PM me. The more specific you are about what you have and what you want, the more likely I can help without spoiling.

(And if I help you win a mug, I’ll be especially delighted.)
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Bob cruise director
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#9

Post by Bob cruise director »

Really cool meta and well done cluing

I am a bit disappointed that Utica is not on the grid somewhere :lol:

Great job and I am off to @MarkWoychick Fifth Wheel

And then on to savor the constructors that are new to me.

@AnswerPfinder - Will - great job putting this together
Bob Stevens
Cruise Director
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Al Sisti
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#10

Post by Al Sisti »

I'm not sure if we're allowed or expected to provide nudges for our individual puzzle, so if you don't want or need a nudge, don't click on the Spoiler button... but if you do:

The original wording for 34D was "According to them, taking a letter is a crime; in this meta, it is not (abbr.)"
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whimsy
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#11

Post by whimsy »

Dare I say it? Very cute! ...and fun too.
Had a few Spidey sensings while filling in the grid that I fortunately remembered when it came to crunch time.
Also, absolutely loved the imagery for 41A.
Thanks, Al!
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DrTom
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#12

Post by DrTom »

A fortunate error led me home. Clever idea and lovely grid. Thanks Al.
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges where needed; metas should be about fun, not frustration. Send me what you have done so far because often you are closer than you think!
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Wendy Walker
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#13

Post by Wendy Walker »

Fun one, Al, thanks! I remember the song well.
Good luck, fellow Muggles!
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Jeremy Smith
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#14

Post by Jeremy Smith »

Nice meta! Thanks, Al!
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KayW
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#15

Post by KayW »

Loved the cluing and the meta. Thanks Al!

Still giggling at 41 across. 9 down taught me what an octothorpe was. Who knew? Not me. And 8 across brought to mind an adage I heard in grade school: If you expect to rate, don't expectorate.
Contest Crosswords Combating Cancer (CCCC) is a bundle of 16 metapuzzles created to help raise money for cancer-related charities. It is available at CrosswordsForCancer.com.
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MikeyG
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#16

Post by MikeyG »

BarbaraK wrote: ↑Wed May 03, 2023 10:11 am Nothing, dead end, nothing, nothing, wait a minute, aha, wow! Very nicely done!
Absolutely! I had no idea how to pull this off at first, since nothing jumped out but then all of it sudden the light emerged!

Also, per the title: that is a great song. I love songs that frame things differently or tell a story - and bonus points if you can do it in roughly 3 minutes ("Take a Letter, Maria" is 2:44).

Others that come to mind, roughly from the same era (since I was raised properly)

"Bad Bad Leroy Brown" (3:02)
"Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" (3:06)
"Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show" (3:31)

Feel free to let me know others I would like based on this, not to turn this puzzle into musical matchmaking. (Although Al knows I was humming a bit as I was doing this one!)

Again, thanks for the great puzzle!!

Mikey G
Less cross words, more crosswords.

Solve my latest "Pun of a Kind" Meta!: 92. It's a Breeze
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Al Sisti
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#17

Post by Al Sisti »

MikeyG wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 12:48 pm
BarbaraK wrote: ↑Wed May 03, 2023 10:11 am Nothing, dead end, nothing, nothing, wait a minute, aha, wow! Very nicely done!
Absolutely! I had no idea how to pull this off at first, since nothing jumped out but then all of it sudden the light emerged!

Also, per the title: that is a great song. I love songs that frame things differently or tell a story - and bonus points if you can do it in roughly 3 minutes ("Take a Letter, Maria" is 2:44).

Others that come to mind, roughly from the same era (since I was raised properly)

"Bad Bad Leroy Brown" (3:02)
"Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" (3:06)
"Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show" (3:31)

Feel free to let me know others I would like based on this, not to turn this puzzle into musical matchmaking. (Although Al knows I was humming a bit as I was doing this one!)

Again, thanks for the great puzzle!!

Mikey G
That (video recording of you solving) was so cool to watch! And yeah, you have a great memory and a great voice...
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rjy
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#18

Post by rjy »

Wow, Al! Great theme, metanism, and construction… really! Had to park it, nothing caught my eye, but gave it one more shot to solve, resisting the nudge aaaaaaand got it. Fun journey with a perfect answer!
Ray
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ChrisKochmanski
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#19

Post by ChrisKochmanski »

Nice!

Only one CCCC puzzle left. 😕
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Hidden in 3D
Posts: 389
Joined: Sun Nov 17, 2019 11:42 pm

#20

Post by Hidden in 3D »

Fun one, Al! And now I have a catchy earworm playing in my head - but this is a fun one and will be much enjoyed as I work in the yard today!
Sara
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