(59A: With 57-Down, part of a morning routine) = BREAKFAST (57A: With 59-Across, basketball tactic) = FAST BREAKĪbout halfway through the grid I got an eerie 'it's too quiet in here' feeling, like in a horror movie: where were this puzzle's theme entries? I'd noticed a large number of cross-referenced clues but it wasn't until about 80% of the way through that it all clicked. (58A: With 54-Down, waffle alternative) = PANCAKE (54D: With 58-Across, bakery container = CAKE PAN (40A: With 31-Down, jazz legend) = ARMSTRONG (31D: With 40-Across, coerce) = STRONGARM (38A: With 38-Down, place to drop a coin) = WISHING WELL (38D: With 38-Across, desiring happiness for someone = WELL WISHING (23A: With 33-Across, fan of the N.F.L.'s Packers) = CHEESEHEAD (33A: With 23-Down, deli product) = HEAD CHEESE (disgusting phrase and thing) (16A: With 12-Down, not natural) = MAN-MADE (12D: With 16-Across, mob inductee) = MADE MAN (6D: With 8-Down, lime shade) = LIGHT GREEN (8D: With 6-Across, approve) = GREENLIGHT Seven pairs of words cross in the grid, and form a familiar word or phrase no matter which word you start with. Took me until almost the very end to catch this snappy and original theme. The name of the Stoic school of philosophy derives from 'stoa'. Early stoas were open at the entrance with columns, usually of the Doric order, lining the side of the building they created a safe, enveloping, protective atmosphere. Stoa is a term defining, in ancient Greek architecture, covered walkways or porticos, commonly for public usage. Word of the Day: STOA (44D: Ancient Greek colonnade)

THEME: - 'either way, it makes sense' - seven pairs of words cross in the grid and are clued to the two words/phrases they form

Screenwriter sorkin crossword