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:
Title: “Theme and Variations”
Prompt: This week’s contest answer is a frequently performed opera.
493 solvers found TOSCA as Joshua Kosman’s meta theme, concealed via four anagrams (“variations”) of that work, as defined by long clues:
17-A: [Variation #1] = COVERS WITH PAINT, yielding COATS
27-A: [Variation #2] = SILKEN NECKWEAR, yielding ASCOT
48-A: [Variation #3] = LITTORAL REGION, yielding COAST
63-A: [Variation #4] = HARDSHELL SNACKS, yielding TACOS
All variations on the original theme of Tosca.
david says:
With a cast o’ thousands?
Similarly, haverwench:
Finished, but at such a cost!
DelphiRune is a Nation cryptics fan:
Clever clues. We always enjoy Kosman puzzles.
Stephen McFly says:
Bravo!
And Norm Hurlbut writes:
Outstanding meta, all the more so for being related to the constructor’s other occupation.
I agree. Thanks for starting us off so skillfully, Joshua!
This week’s winner, whose name was chosen at random from the 493 correct entries received, is Francie Boyer of Lawrence, Kan. In addition to a MGWCC pen, pencil, and notepad set, Francie will also receive a subscription to Matt Gaffney’s Daily Crossword.
GUEST CONSTRUCTOR MONTH 2018, PUZZLE #2:
Our constructor for Week 2 is Jeremy Horwitz, who holds a special place in MGWCC history: he was the contest’s first winner, ten years ago this week. Jeremy lives in San Francisco and is a cryptographer by day and a pub-quiz host by some nights. His love of trivia—especially pop culture—is probably pretty clear from most of his crosswords. He has written puzzles for many of the usual suspects (e.g., Fireball Crosswords and The New York Times) and some less-usual suspects (e.g., wineries and coffee mugs). He says he has particularly enjoyed the last ten years of Fridays thanks to the MGWCC and hopes that you enjoy MGWCC #523!
I’m sure people will, Jeremy — so here it is:
THIS WEEK’S INSTRUCTIONS:
This week’s contest answer is a country musician.
Solve well, and be not led astray by words intended to deceive.