My vet says he'll fix my toucan. He just sent me the bill. (These puns can't be beak!)
@Mike That Big Bird never ceases to be Amazon! What a built! (Two can play at that game)
@Mike Made me laugh aloud, so I’ll do more than hit “recommend,” and post a comment.
@Mike More than one is able to (think about that) play at this game. When you get the bill, I guess you'll have toupee.
Two early week puzzles in a row deserving of extra praise. This one not just for an interesting theme but for two triple 9 letter stacks, not easy to do smoothly that it makes for a Tuesday level puzzle. I think some trickier clueing this could have been a Wednesday. Finally BFS and FILA was almost a Natick for me—I’m familiar with BFFS but not BFs and not really familiar with FILA—it’s a nice change from Nike and Avia though. Wasn’t surprised to see Erik Agard’s byline, this has the mark of a seasoned constructor.
@SP Me, too. I stared at it for a while and finally decided "F" was my best bet, but I was by no means certain.
@SP I've seen and maybe even worn Filas though my ties to Keds run deepest. Are Filas a regional brand? And I would have read BF as best friend but maybe that's just me.
@SP At first I put in FIFA but the cross required a correction. FIFA the organization; FILA the kicks. I think my mind blocked out FILA because I hate that chicken joint.
@SP During the MOESHA era, I was AWED to see the CELEB “TUCAN Touch This” singer on CNN wearing FILAs, but that attire CANTHOLDACANDLE to his trademark HAHA pants
A gentle Erik Agard puzzle? Is that an oxymoron?
@Barry Ancona Not really. His last Tuesday puzzle (Feb 18) was rated Easy on xwstats.
@Barry Ancona One reason I enjoy solving New Yorker puzzles in a ddition to NYT: it offers relatively gentle, themeless puzzles by experienced constructors--Agard, Robyn Weintraub.
@Barry Ancona almost everything he published in USA Today was the same level of difficulty as this one. My husband and I competed against each other for solve times back then. We finally decided to subscribe to the NYT in 2020 and here we remain 😉
Shouldn't the partner of "ty" be "par"? PAR-TY! PAR-TY! PAR-TY! Guess I'm getting rowdy in my old age.
I'm so glad I didn't check to see the constructor's name before I started the puzzle and avoided the fear factor. This one was an easy-ish, straightforward puzzle, with a little Agard magic to spice it up. A Tuesday puzzle shouldn't need look-ups and this one didn't for me. Thank you, Mr. Agard. Your New Yorker puzzles can make my heart sink, but this one was just flat out fun.
Early week E Agard puzzle? Yes please! Enjoyed it immensely.
Someone mentioned Erik in Sunday's comments and now here he is just like Beetlejuice, though this is a kinder, gentler Tuesday Agard. Just my speed. Today's song is Yes, We CAN CAN by the Pointer Sisters. No cringing necessary. <a href="https://youtu.be/IzZkjjENj_w?si=9i1_GF52nqj9-o33" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/IzZkjjENj_w?si=9i1_GF52nqj9-o33</a>
@Vaer Love it! I've put on my dancin' shoes and I'm yes-we-can-canning all over my living room. :-) Thanks!
@Vaer Still wilting in steamy Toronto but them Pointer girls can always get me up and grooving!
Given my bone-deep disinterest in the brands of anything aside from pianos, I didn't know FILA was a sneaker brand. Other than that, the cool morning air in the midst of the current heat wave must have put me in exactly the right mental state for this puzzle - it was a PB by more than a minute, and the only non-Monday puzzle I've ever finished in less than 7:00. What a nice way to start the day! I am feeling motivated by my success, and I plan to do all the laundry, lay out next year's lesson plans, and achieve world peace by dinner time. Nothing like a good solve to help me carpe that diem!
@Bee Winberg If it's not a Steinway & Sons, it's just a keyboard.
For a brief moment, I thought 58D [Follower of Attila] might be "THE" ...
@T Jones maybe it would have if the clue was found in a later-in-the-week puzzle!
T Jones, 442 appearances here for THE, but your suggested clue would be a debut. Now I expect to see it soon!
@Barry I suspect many of those were clued as "café alternative" or other such Frenchiness. Mine would be "Mott ___ Hoople" just to keep it weird.
I was hoping, with one square to fill, that B_S for "Certain significant others, informally" might be BFS, and it was. FILAS is an actual sneaker brand! I can still do Tuesdays without Autocheck, but how much longer?
@kilaueabart Exactly the same for me.
@kilaueabart That is a daunting thought. I understand it from a different perspective... That of my mother-in-law. Still, today you won. Celebrate every win!!
@kilaueabart I remember FILA sneakers being popular in the hip hop scene. Run DMC preferred Adidas, though.
I'll tip my hat to anyone who was able to guess the revealer. Double hat tip to anyone who was able to suppress a groan as they wrote it in. Another terrific puzzle from another seasoned pro this week.
@Nancy J. Thanks! TWO hat tips for me! I got TOUCANS off the -UCA- And I suppressed the groan since it did, indeed, Reveal the double CANs... Starting a puzzle at the bottom has advantages! But it did make things a bit too simple....with the exception of the SNeaker brand crossing the food cart. There are SO many sneaker brands (just when our feet are requiring ever more accommodations--wide toe box, zero drop, etc.) and the mysterious food stand. (NObody is out on the street with a food cart when the heat index is 109 F.....maybe in states where the Summer climate is gentler?
Heels was not the five letter word that first came to mind for that clue
Got my best Tuesday time ever (ten min less than average) on this one with no hints or lookups. Nice!! For once, no frustration felt, only triumph!
🙋🏼♀️ hand up for having NOd before NOM. MOANA corrected that for me. ⭐️ My husband and I used to solve the USA Today crossword puzzles daily for a couple of years. That was our introduction to Erik Agard. This puzzle was very reminiscent of those days. Not too difficult. Just the right amount of cleverness. Thank you Mr Agard. Enjoyed it!
@Jacqui J Nice puzzle but NOdS did me in since I'd never heard of NOMS as an abbreviation, nor did I know MOANA. That's the lot of an expat. All things considered, I don't mind ... And no, we're not all TAXEXILES.
@Jacqui J The Rolling Stones were famous TAX EXILES who moved to France because they were paying the top rate of 90% in Britain. A few years later, Labour took power and raised the top rate to 98% and Rod Stewart moved to the US, and David Bowie went to Switzerland. That's the problem with "soaking the rich;" they can afford to move, and you end up getting nothing from them. Note to Mr Mamdani...
Fun puz! Usually I low-key dread seeing Erik’s name in the by-line, but this one would’ve been a PR for me if not for NOd. (And that was just silly because “Do Ana” would make a terrible Disney-movie name.)
Nice puzzle, Eric, but it reminds me that it's time to get off the computer and make that batch of pie dough--off Up North this morning, for four days, and Thursday will be blueberry picking day, and subsequent pie.
Nothing better than blueberry pie. I made one last week with the high bush blueberries we get in southern Quebec. But the real treat are the low bush blueberries from the Saint-Jean region. Your post reminds me that they should. be arriving down south soon, if not already. I'll check out the produce markets this week. I imagine that if you are going up north in Michigan you are also getting the wild low bush variety. Enjoy your pie!
@Bill Blueberries are the best. If you're ever on the North Shore in MN, check out Betty's Pies in Two Harbors. I always get the blueberry pie there.
Oof, that felt tough for Tuesday, or maybe the fourth heatwave of this summer has finally melted my brain. Got up at 6 to feed and water the animals before it got too hot. I am NOT a morning person so it did not feel good. Really got stuck in the middle section: I didn’t know the sneakers (aka trainers here), the cart or what Chicana means. Ditto the actress/lawyer/film, or the ?singer/sitcom. All in all a proper crawl. But, that’s the way it goes sometimes. Chuckled at the theme reveal when I finally got there. In Alpaca news; I’ve sadly had to concede defeat on gaining any fibres to spin. The shearing was too late in the season, will not be using him again. The fleeces too dirty because of the drought. Those girls love a good roll in the dust. The lovely guy who came to the shearing rescue had to mangle the cut just to get it off the animals as it was so thick and matted. Ah well, no socks this year.
@Helen Wright sorry to hear it was all for naught. Here’s hoping next season goes much better!!
@Helen Wright Nothing brings it home like an Alpaca adventure, be it good, or otherwise.
@Helen Wright Admitting defeat, Helen said, "Alpaca in fot this year."
I don't remember ever before solving an early-week Erik Agard puzzle. I CAN't begin to tell you how it confused me. My brain played a trick on me and got me thinking it was Friday. But then the cluing wasn't reflecting that. And how could it be that I'm acing an Agard puzzle? I'm glad there was Wordplay to wake me from my reverie! For anyone else who thinks it's Friday and wants to dance the night away, here's Bobby Brown with "Two Can Play That Game" -- <a href="https://youtu.be/Ug6L0GiOev8?si=VUVUDjNX7vHuHK3rWr" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/Ug6L0GiOev8?si=VUVUDjNX7vHuHK3rWr</a>
P.S. Thank you, Mr. Agard for a great puzzle. I like your Tuesday style!
The "He and I" being the elements helium and iodine was used quite recently, I think. Maybe that's why puzzles seem to be getting easier. Even if we can't quite remember, maybe we're getting several boosts per puzzle by repetitive clueing.
@Francis Here’s what I found for similar ELEMENT clues on xwordinfo.com: [He or I, but not you?] 4/2/21 [He or I may represent one] 7/28/95 That sort of clue has never been used for ELEMENTS. Do you do puzzles other than the NYT? If so, maybe you saw a similar clue in another publication.
@Francis Yes. "He and I, but not she and you" for CHEMICALSYMBOLS. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/crosswords/game/daily/2025/07/23" target="_blank">https://www.nytimes.com/crosswords/game/daily/2025/07/23</a>
Nice Tuesday puzzle and an enjoyable solve. None of the theme answers coming to me just from the clues, but they all came to me with some crosses. And a nice 'aha' moment when I filled in the reveal and the theme dawned on me. Two thumbs up. A couple of perhaps appropriate puzzle finds today. First - a Tuesday from February 9, 2010 by Robert Cirillo. One theme clue and answer example: "Chocolate candy from Portugal?" LISBONBONBON And other theme answers: SOBERBERBER INCANCANCAN BOTTOMTOMTOM Here's the Xword Info link: <a href="https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=2/9/2010&g=41&d=A" target="_blank">https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=2/9/2010&g=41&d=A</a> I'll put the other puzzle in a reply. ...
@Rich in Atlanta As threatened: A Thursday from October 11, 2012 by Byron Walden. Here are the theme clues and answers: "Bach work performed at the Moulin Rouge?" CANCANCANTATA "One spotted at the Rodeo Drive Taco Bell?" CHICHICHIHUAHUA "North African counterpart to an Italian Baroque sculptor?" BERBERBERNINI Here's that link: <a href="https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=10/11/2012&g=19&d=A" target="_blank">https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=10/11/2012&g=19&d=A</a> I'm done. ....
For follower of Attila I tried bae, boo and HoN before getting HUN.
@ad absurdum Bae, boo, hon: that would be Kay Sludge (as "Mrs. AtH"). (IYKYK)
As yesterday, a nice crossword with all the unknowns, like NOMS, HEELS and THE CUT gained from crossers. Most enjoyable.
If you ever find your way to Cape May, this visit well worth the time: <a href="https://www.harriettubmanmuseum.org" target="_blank">https://www.harriettubmanmuseum.org</a>/
@John Carson Been to Cape May but sure don't remember seeing anything about this museum. Wish I had.
I figured BFS was Best Friends, as in BFFs.
@Ken Could be. In Japanese, “BF” and “GF” are fairly common terms for a male or female lover, respectively. I think they have some currency in English, as well, at least in texting and whatnot.
I'm not crazy about the clue for 29D. NOMS sounds like it should be a snack attack or something, and besides I always thought getting the NOD for an award was getting nominated.
@Dave S Sheesh, I have GOT to start reading the column before I post a comment. SMH.
@Dave S I agree - I had NOD and that was the error keeping me from getting the happy tune
@Dave S Does it also bother you when SISI is clued as an Austrian Empress instead of an enthusiastic yes in Spanish (or vice versa)?
Anyone else bothered by the clue for the revealer (63A) suggesting that the two instances of the same three letters per theme answer is a "phonetic" suggestion for those answers? After all, in CANDY CANE, there aren't two CANs phonetically; there's one CAN and one CANE. Phonetically, that is.
@Steve L the “phonetic” is referring to the “TOU-“ for “two”
@Steve L The second CAN is in CANE. I thought TOUCAN was very, very clever.
@Steve L Yes, I have a clean empty can set aside in my kitchen just for occasions like this. I'm about to get dressed now, go outside, put both hands in my pockets, brood, and kick that can around the block.
@Steve L Should have been "candy can", clued as "Where Grandma keeps her ribbon confections". 😂
I was thinking about dance revealed, "can can" Shoprite can can commercial <a href="https://share.google/CeoAI4a0m5Q93EsLj" target="_blank">https://share.google/CeoAI4a0m5Q93EsLj</a>
Just for this puzzle, the NYT should have replaced the "San Jose Strut" with this: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfaYXLDlQnA&list=RDgfaYXLDlQnA&start_radio=1" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfaYXLDlQnA&list=RDgfaYXLDlQnA&start_radio=1</a>
@Bill Makes me want to go to ShopRite. Those who live in the NYC metro area know what I'm talking about.
@Bill, perfect! I enjoyed watching that; thanks for sharing!
TENANTS, TOUCANS, and a partridge in a pear tree.
@Charles Nelson Reilly Just for you information... APARTRIDGEINAPEARTREE is... 21 letters. And it was a down answer in a Sunday puzzle from December 22, 1974 by Anne Fox with the title: "Holiday Gleanings" And there were three other grid-spanning entries in that puzzle. Here's the Xword Info link: <a href="https://www.xwordinfo.com/PS?date=12/22/1974&g=3&d=D" target="_blank">https://www.xwordinfo.com/PS?date=12/22/1974&g=3&d=D</a> ...
Just wanted to pop in and say “Nice one”, Erik! Thanks.
Celebrating my 100 puzzle streak! Was doing only thu-fri-Sat before I decided a few minutes every day was more fun. Tied my personal best for a Tuesday - a typo in one square or I would have had it. Yay! Fun puzzle, clever theme.
@Ellen in Bend, Congratulations on making it to triple-digit territory! Yay!!! 🎉
A Normal Erik Agard puzzle? No grid-spanning name of a Celeb from a foreign country, whose country I’ve never heard of? No wailing and gnashing of teeth from me? Oddly yes it is.
@Gina D Great. Saves our ears and your teeth.
Well done! Had me some fun today.
Does anyone else open the completed puzzle more than once just to hear the ditty that you solved it correctly? 🤓
@Dan Collins Sometimes I'll open it on my phone after completing it on the computer . . . but not for the reward ditty. Fun idea if you're having a blah day. :-)
@Dan Collins I’ve made this the text chime on my phone
Nice breezy solve for me. Great theme. I CAN CAN do it. YES WE CAN CAN.
I was speeding through this, was mostly filling out the across entries and was nearly finished, when I discovered that... I didn't know FILA was a sneaker brand. I permanently stopped watching TV two shows into SNL's disastrous (sixth?) season when they lost Lorne Michaels and their entire original cast, so I didn't know MOESHA. I didn't know that HALAL carts existed (not surprised, though). I had no idea that this particular actor had played ANITAHILL. The clue for ELEMENT eluded me until I already had it filled in the answer. I did google FILA, after filling it in, just to confirm it actually was a sneaker brand, but otherwise solved the remainder cleanly from crosses and guesses.
@Bruce I was caught speeding as well. I mis-read Brandy for Brady, and plunked in MARSHA. Wait, I don't remember that being a spinoff...
Delightful Tuesday and a PB for me. Thanks!
Today's grid looked interesting, I thought it might be tied to the theme. Alas, it does not look like a TOUCAN, more like a bulldog.... The puzzle was still enjoyable though. I found many of the clues quite tricky for a Tuesday.
5:44. This felt quite soft for a Tuesday and, in my mind, was notably easier than yesterday's. Cute theme, though.
A 13.04 TW 7.39 B 6.44 6016 puzzles solved 100% solved rate 754 current streak 754 longest streak
Loved the reveal! I got it. Lovely puzzle. I flowed through it without even a speed bump. It was delightful. I throughly enjoyed 47D. All of the wordplay was fun. Not difficult, but required a moment to consider possibilities. Easing into my favorite puzzle day, Wednesday. In the meantime, stay cool, safe, and hydrate. ✌️
@Bonnie Ann Okay, I'll bite. What was 47D? I wanted 'drought' for 54A...with this heat, it's all we can think about...All over the country, RAIN is either not enough or way too much.
@Bonnie Ann what was 47D???
@Bonnie Ann Was your reference to the nonexistent 47D supposed to be 45D ELEMENT? That is a clever clue. I know all too well how the Central Texas heat and humidity can mess up your thinking. That’s why I don’t live there anymore. Please be sure to follow your advice about staying cool and hydrated.
@Mean Old Lady, Jacqui J, Eric Hougland 47D was AMBLED 42D was RAMBLED 54D was BLED 56D was LED(which seemed weird since 21D was also LED) My favorite was 49D, HATS OK! Didn't any of you get the theme?!
@Bonnie Ann @Mean Old Lady @Jacqui J @Eric Hougland Please forgive my typo. Yes, Mr. Houghland you are correct. I was referring to 45D ELEMENTS. I did think it was clever and thought I was clever for solving it. But pride cometh before a fall, and I misquoted the clue number. Cheer y'all for catching my error and calling me on it. ✌️
@Remy Worried about a stealth stroke? Or a dramatic hormonal change?
@Remy He can do tough, he can do easy. What he can't do is deliver a less than high-quality puzzle.
No problem completing this breezy Erik Agard unusually easy and enjoyable puzzle. No problem filling in HALAL. But I never heard of a cart referred to as HALAL, which is just the assurance that what's being sold is within the dietary guidelines for those people whose religion dictates that what they eat must be Halal-certified. It doesn't say what the cart sells. Likewise, I never heard of a Kosher cart. There are hot dog carts, hamburger carts, any kind of food cart, but Halal isn't a food per se. I just can't wrap my head around the clue. Pun definitely not intended.
Times Rita, HALAL Cart is definitely a thing (here, these days, in any case). <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halal_cart" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halal_cart</a>
@Times Rita Here in NYC it’s a common shorthand to say “a halal cart” b/c if they’re halal they all serve variations of street meat & rice dishes. “Street meat” may or may not sound negative ;) it’s v popular!
@Times Rita The HALAL Guys have been around since 1990, starting with their HALAL cart on 53rd and Sixth. Now they are an empire. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Halal_Guys" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Halal_Guys</a>
@Times Ritacan van confirm that these were around in 2015 when I was in NY for 6 months. Had the word halal on them. Not quite as good as Montreal's middle eastern food but it did the job.
@Times Rita Toronto has several kosher mobile eating establishments. One has achieved the dignity of a truck but one is literally "The Kosher Kart", selling burgers, dogs, fries, + some ethnic specialties.
Oh... what the heck. One more puzzle find. Another one with a rather unique theme. A Monday from June 1, 1998 by Evie Eysenburg. Three theme clues and answers: "Question of understanding, to a Spanish count?" UNOWHATIMEAN "What a doctor prescribes, to a Spanish count?" DOSOFMEDICINE "Minute nutritional components, to a Spanish count?" TRESELEMENTS Thought that was quite clever. Here's the link: <a href="https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=6/1/1998&g=20&d=A" target="_blank">https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=6/1/1998&g=20&d=A</a> ..