SUNDAY PUZZLE –Hello, solvers! My name is Tobin, and I’m so excited to welcome you to the first Michigan Daily Games crossword of the summer! I will be the Summer Managing Games Editor for this semester, and I’m honored to lead this team of fabulous constructors, as well as put out some absolutely fantastic puzzles. Stay tuned for a big puzzle every week, some minis here and there and potentially a new puzzle format. More to come!
If you have any specific feedback or suggestions on the puzzle, feel free to reach out to me at tobinsax@umich.edu! More general concerns or questions can be sent to crosswords@umich.edu. Happy solving!
Tricky Clues
18A: Alliteration is one of my favorite devices to use in clues, just to add a little edge to them. The “Scalding Sicilian site” refers to Mount ETNA, Europe’s highest active volcano!
42A: Entries in other languages always give way to fun cluing methods. “Girl from Ipanema?” refers to ELA, the Portuguese word for “she,” but this clue also references the title of the beautiful bossa nova song by Stan Getz. I recommend the Getz For Lovers album!
55A: TAO is the “Chinese concept relating to the natural order of the universe,” which is very prominent in East Asian philosophy!
3D: If “Illustrations typically drawn with five lines and one circle” stumped you, I’m here to recommend you think of simpler illustrations, particularly of people. STICK MEN only require five lines and one circle (two arms, two legs, one very lanky body and a circle for the head)! I’m not ashamed to admit they are still the only kind of figures within my drawing capabilities.
5D: This is a term I was not aware of until including it in this puzzle, but I think it’s hilarious. “One who’s arrogant about ales” is a BEER SNOB. Read more here!
16D: I am a huge fan of sitcoms. From “Friends” to “How I Met Your Mother” to “Scrubs” to “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” I love ‘em all! However, even though this clue mentions “what sitcoms always begin and end with,” it is referring to the letters at the start and end of the word “sitcoms,” which are ESSES!
49D: I love classical music and can even play a few pieces on the piano! Chopin is one of my favorite composers, so when I had the opportunity to include him in a puzzle, I knew I had to take it. “Tristesse” and “Black Keys” are nicknames given to two of Chopin’s ETUDES, Op. 10 No. 3 and Op. 10 No. 5, respectively. Etudes are piano compositions written with the goal of practicing a specific technical skill.
Today’s Theme
This puzzle’s theme came to me from the song “buttons” by natalie jinju, in which she repeats the refrain “Sometimes, you push my buttons / but you push ‘em just right.” My crossword brain immediately went to brainstorming doohickeys, gadgets and apparatuses that require buttons to be used. A long list spawned in my notes app, and I tried out a bunch of different grids and theme entries. After a while, I found a set and grid that worked! At 20-, 28- and 48-Across are CASH REGISTERS, GAME CONTROLLERS and VENDING MACHINES, all devices that might “say” PUSH MY BUTTONS, the revealer at 57-Across, in order to be operated. If you’ve read this far, I hope none of your vending machine snacks ever get stuck! Also, check out natalie jinju’s 2024 album, Last September, it’s such a bop.
Answer Key:
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