I pulled out 8D City sieged by Joan of Arc: ORLEANS because I’d initially put ORLANDO and figured maybe it’s like how there’s a city in England that’s been Boston since the 15th century (clearly a retcon), even though the real Boston was founded in the 17th century. About 10 minutes after I had solidified ORLANDO as the only reasonable answer [HEY HERE’S A SPOILER, SO I’M MAKING THE TEXT WHITE SO YOU CAN HIGHLIGHT IT AND SEE IT ONLY IF YOU WANT TO] remembering this past Sunday’s puzzle clue 50D Magic can be seen here [spoiler link], I realized that it was more likely to be ORLEANS because French. You know, like New Orleans but older and in a different country.
The theme of this puzzle was pretty good!
7D Hybrid creature of myth: MERMAID.
17A After the top half of a 7-Down, sophisticated lady: OFTHEWORLD. The upper part of a mermaid (woman) + the answer to this clue (of the world). Woman of the world.
30A Before the bottom half of a 7-Down, tipple and then some: DRINKLIKEA. Tipple (drink alcohol) and then some (drink a lot of alcohol). So drink like a + bottom half a mermaid (fish). Drink like a fish.
42D Hybrid creature of myth: CENTAUR.
45A After the top half of a 42-Down, circles around the block?: HOLECOVERS. Top half of centaur (man) + circles you see while walking around blocks (__hole covers). Manhole covers.
58A Before the bottom half of a 42-Down, keeps arguing after something has been decided: BEATSADEAD. Keeps arguing (beats a dead____) + the bottom half of a centaur (horse). Beats a dead horse.
Finished this one in 27:52.
| Day | This Wk | Best | Average | 4-Wk Avg | Streak |
| Monday | 4:52 | 3:49 | 9:27 | 6:12 | 68 |
| Tuesday | 16:29 | 5:22 | 13:39 | 11:08 | 11 |
| Wednesday | 8:13 | 7:38 | 17:30 | 15:41 | 9 |
| Thursday | 27:52 | 12:12 | 29:19 | 30:21 | 9 |
| Friday | 16:23 | 34:46 | 30:46 | 8 | |
| Saturday | 27:43 | 34:08 | 33:23 | 8 | |
| Sunday | 15:11 | 55:51 | 37:56 | 8 |