57. Product Placement

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Time to go to the store today! (I actually do - Ginger Cat wants more crunchies!). Also time to console myself since the Cubbies might still be sellers at the tradeline for the third year in a row (I miss April, haha).

And that's all from my end. Now onward to the meta!

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1. Puzzle #56 answer: LEAVE IT TO BEAVER

Correct entries: 52

Tamara does it once again!

Shortest explanation: Four entries in the grid (FASTEDDIE, WALLYLAMB, THEODORE, and WARDROBE) allude to characters from the 1950s TV show, which is definitely "associated with June" (the mother's name was June Cleaver). Note also the clues at the first- and last-across entries, also pointing in the direction of LEAVE and BEAVER.

Maybe more like a Level 2, since you did have to get those references, which can be hit-or-miss sometimes (I actually had a mini-themeless on Crosshare earlier this year with the spanner of LEAVEITTOBEAVER clued the same way).

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2. Leaderboard (through the first two weeks - will update for week 3 soon!)

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3. This puzzle is a Week 2 in the month, but it will almost certainly fall at most at a Week 1.5.

Keep on puzzling, and may all your solves be beautiful!

Mikey G

The answer to the meta is a brand.