Grid: 25 minutes; meta: solved it whereas finishing the grid
Matt Gaffney’s Wall Avenue Journal contest crossword, “Make a Run for it” — Conrad’s writeup.
This week we’re on the lookout for a sort of footrace. There have been 4 lengthy theme entries:
- [17a: Airport gift shop buy?]: TACKYKNICKKNACK
- [26a: Small stand outside an experimental lab?]: SKUNKWORKSKIOSK
- [44a: Paddling person in an Illinois city?]: KANKAKEEKAYAKER
- [59a: Illegal payments in a Japanese playhouse?]: KABUKIKICKBACKS
Every theme entry had 5 Okay’s, resulting in our contest answer 5 Okay. Properly, that’s what I submitted. I hesitated a bit as a result of further Okay in LACK/NECK. There have been 21 Okay’s within the grid, and a half marathon is often known as a 21K race. I believe 5 Okay races are extra generally recognized, and including an additional Okay from a non-themer appears off. However: you possibly can make an argument for 21 Okay, and I wouldn’t be shocked in the event that they settle for both reply. Solvers: please let me know what you suppose. Have been you on crew 5K or 21K?
I’m doubling down on crew 5K, and thought I’d share a track by Pizzicato 5. In the event you have been a fan of 90s different rock again within the day you could bear in mind Twiggy Twiggy. I deliberate to share that track, however heard イッツ・ア・ビューティフル・デイfor the primary time at present and I beloved it. One other “aha” second for me.