This is Joel Woodford's second publication; his first was a NYT puzzle last year in August. Today we have a letter-replacement-at-the-end-of-phrases theme, with "d" becoming "i", and a very clever reveal. A simple solve ( for me ) this time, stumbled just a little in the center and down in the SW. Standard grid, no circles, just a handful of names, a couple of twurds, two 9-letter Downs, 15 3LWs - and four Coopers~! The themers and reveal;
20. Small car that can only follow a single route?: ONE-TRACKMINI - One-track minD, like me and 14A.; the Mini was a British car, then it became the Mini-"Cooper" (#1), and now a line from BMW - I think; it's hard to tell who owns them, manufactures them, and markets them . . .
An A I visual evolution - I am beginning to appreciate A I
29. Songs heard during a colorful spring festival?: MUSICONHOLI - Music on holD; we appreciate your patience - please enjoy this 20min flute solo . . .
43. First dish made at a cook-off?: OLDESTCHILI - Oldest chilD - I am the oldest of two, but my brother likes to behave like the alpha, so I let him; speaking of my brother, I am going to be house-sitting and walking my buddy in June~! Yay~! AND, I have found a place to adopt a schnauzer puppy, but I have to stabilize my work schedule before I commit, then fence in a part of my yard.
Cooper (#2)
52. Designer's asset, or a phonetic description of 20-, 29-, and 43-Across: EYEFORDETAIL - parsed differently, it reads "I" for "D" tail - the last, or "tail" letter of the theme answers changes from an i to a d - very clever reveal~!
Но подожди, И это ещё не всё~!
ACROSS:
1. Meat in some fried rice: SPAM - I like Spam, buy it in bulk at BJs, get the low(er) sodium one
10. Inspiration for the DC Comics hero Green Arrow: ROBINHOOD - I did not know this - filled via perps. I grew up with Robin Hood imagery , as my parents were born & raised in Nottingham England
11. Consumed: ATE
12. Barbie, e.g.: TOY - Doll, Name, Movie - several choices, but I like one-to-one vague cluing, as long as we're talking words, not names - it feels like I am learning something . . .
13. 24-hour care ctrs.: ERs
21. Scuttlebutt: RUMOR - I thought 'scuttlebutt' was a person, not a term
25. Aim: GOAL - I have struggled with what my aim/goal/intent/dream/purpose ( see yesterday's puzzle ) is to be for the 'second half' of my life - the first was to buy my own home, which I accomplished in 2022. I am going to focus on the production of my board games; found an intellectual property lawyer, have a business plan - amd I'm beginning to embrace A I as an effective tool, too.
A trial playing of one game, back in 2017
26. "One more thought ... ": "ALSO... "
27. Parks it: SITS
30. Like Guinness: IRISH - Dah~! Not STOUT -and a SO to Miss
31. Crew team leader: COX - the lightweight "jockey" at the back of a boat with the rowing guys
32. Biker trying to miss the bus, perhaps?: DAREDEVIL - I love this clue/answer. I had just been griping about people who do NOT get up to speed at a highway on-ramp - I acually said "if you were jumping 26 buses, do you want to be going 40, or 140mph~?!"
OK, so it was only 14 buses, and just 95mph . . . 51D.
35. Per: APOP - possibly the worst twurd, not the word "EACH"
36. Chorus syllables: LA-LA - meh. I tried TRAS
37. Shipshape: TIDY
38. __ drop: MIC - yeah, I went with DEW
39. English county: SHIRE - Sweet~! The generic, crossword answer, not the crossname ESSEX
41. Eye affliction: STYE
42. Trudged: PLODDED
44. Authoritative retort: "SAYSME."
45. "Jackpot!": "I'MRICH~!" - No, I am Rich~! ( when I'm not Splynter ) name(ish), twurd(ish)
46. "You're being cruel!": MEANIE - this was part of my mom's affectionate email address, "Mrs. Meanie" - a moniker she earned over 30 years as a teacher's assistant
47. Formats, as text: ALIGNS - I use center align for my images and "justify" for text on the blog
48. Archipelago units: ISLETS
51. "Even so ... ": "STILL . . ." Evel Stunt Cycle
54. "Metamorphoses" poet: OVID - ooh, good WAG on my part; name #5
56. NYC ave. on the East Side: LEXington - ah forgot about that one. The Chrysler Building is located on Lexington @ 42nd street; the building is in dire need of modernizing . . . and pays rent to Cooper Union (#3)
Cooper again~! This time, the Square (#4)
Numbered 'backwards', east to west, 1st - 12th
57. Sushi option: AHI - interesting that the last Down fill ends with an "i"
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