IMPORTANT NOTE: As of January 2015 MGWCC is a subscribers-only crossword. The cost is $26 per year, and you can subscribe (or get a free trial month first) here:
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS:
We were looking for a well-known group of three last week.
First insight: the first word of each theme entry suggests a group of three:
PITTSBURGH’s three rivers (Monongahela, Allegany, Ohio)
The CHIPMUNKS (cartoon singers — Simon, Alvin, Theodore)
The Three TENORs (Carreras, Pavarotti, Domingo)
The BALTIC States (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania)
NEAPOLITAN ice cream (chocolate, vanilla, strawberry)
Second insight: the initials of each of those trios spells out a grid entry: MAO, SAT, CPD, ELL, and CVS
Third insight: those five are placed symmetrically in the grid, with the exception of SAT in the bottom right corner.
Fourth insight: its mirror image in the grid is MCL at 1-A, so we need a well-know group of three with initials MCL. That would be one of the most famous trios of all time, THE THREE STOOGES, a.k.a. Moe, Curly, and Larry, found by 321 solvers. Easy as 1 (-Down), 2 (-Down), and 3 (-Down)!
ASB solved it while gazing at the Italian countryside:
Molto bene.
This week’s winner, whose name was chosen at random from among the 321 correct entries received, is Philip Hall of Baltimore, Md. In addition to a MGWCC pen, pencil, and notepad set, Philip will also receive a 1-year subscription to Matt Gaffney’s Daily Crossword.
SPECIAL PRIZE THIS WEEK:
In addition to a MGWCC pen, pencil, and notepad set, this week’s winner will also receive a copy of Nate Cardin’s compilation project QueerQrosswords.
THIS WEEK’S INSTRUCTIONS:
This week’s contest answer is a five-word sentence I hope you don’t say after solving this meta.
Solve well, and be not led astray by words intended to deceive.