26. That's How It Starts
Meta #11 PDF / PUZ A much tougher meta this time, in honor of my favorite beverage! 1. September recap September answer: ZARF Correct entries: 13 Winner: Meg - congrats!! We had four themers in this puzzle all about COFFEE BEST DRINK EVER, along with the title "Make It a Double" and my predilection toward clue-based hints. I try to be vigilant against dupes and would never place words intentionally in the grid in clues without there being a purpose to it. Four non-coffee related words in each of the themers are "doubled" in the clues elsewhere in the grid. BABY = "Baby Blues" character = ZOE PROPER = Proper = APT YOURSELF = "Check this out for yourself!" = READIT SPILL = Take a spill = FALL The first letters spell ZARF , something that contains coffee (a mini-hint with "contained" in the meta prompt). I actually first heard of this word due to another cruciverbalist! It can both refer to the cardboard sleeve around the cup, in...