I thought this was a great Monday puzzle, and I'll tell you why. It wasn't so much the fill, which was quite straightforward, even for a Monday. It was the unexpectedness of the theme - I couldn't see what the three long answers had in common until solving the revealer, which made me chuckle out loud.
- "Device that helps you make a point in class?" (PENCILSHARPENER)
- "Toy likely to be found at a pop-up store?" (JACKINTHEBOX)
- "Revolutionary kitchen gadget?" (SALADSPINNER)
Excellent QMC-type cluing but then the revealer "Response to a series of complaints..." turns out to be SOMEBODYSCRANKY. So THAT's what connected those clues! Love it!! Not for the first time, I say "who thinks of these things?"
As noted above, aside from that lovely surprise, not much jumps out of the grid. ESCHEWS ("Forgoes") is a grand word. Maybe a niggle with 30A "Wished (for)" (HOPED): Are hoping and wishing really the same thing? With regards to 57D "Gumbo ingredient" (OKRA) - I made gumbo for the first time just recently and that was my introduction to gumbo. I'm not sold. It's kinda slimy. Maybe there's a special way to prepare it. (Anyone?)
See ya tomorrow!
-philbo
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