Vaer
Brooklyn
Nobody expects the Spanish Inqui....oops, I mean a Wednesday rebus. That was fun. I particularly liked the double RAY words, most especially cRAY cRAY.
Can't decide between casting Dancy, Grant or Jackman? Sounds like a Hugh problem.
@Nick D. I don't see no stinkin swastika. Can we stop with the overactive imagination, please?
Happiness is a Robyn Weintraub Friday puzzle. You've been missed.
@Bob T/Barry A I feel as if I've checked into Saturday's puzzle, but can never check out.
Isaac, you write: 73A. The [Aussie critters] here are ROOS. There’s not an obvious point in the clue that would denote the shortened term, so I needed a crosser to figure this one out. Aussie is a shortened form. That denotes a shortened form, plus critters is slang, for lack of a better word, indicating a nickname would be involved.
Happiness is a Robyn Weintraub Friday puzzle. With the added bonus of constructor comments.
@Francis Try harder. Most of us are here to take a break from the real world.
CORN BELT again, dear? The better to make AREPAS, I suppose. Another Worthy Wednesday, thanks Rebbeca and Adam.
Deb, I am verklempt. As usual, everyone else is going to be much more articulate than me. But I wanna know, who's gonna take care of the emus?
@Steve L Isn't IMDB the revealer?
@Briana Pretty harsh response to such a benign comment. I don't see anything belittling about it.
That turned out better than I expected. The HARRY Styles clue was fun. And if I'd been willing to give up the wheel and TAKE THE REINS much earlier, I'd have been finished much sooner. Should I blame it on the BOSSA Nova?
The HIDDEN STAIRCASE is the title of the second Nancy Drew Mystery novel and popped right out of my brain and into the puzzle with no crosses, so I was chuffed about that. It was a very entertaining puzzle to solve, so thanks Adrian.
Any puzzle with LIAM NEESON in it is okay by me, though I don't like that movie despite its fabulous cast. I thought the puzzle had a lot of personality for a Monday and a clever theme. If Mazda ever builds another 5 letter sports car, I'm in trouble. Nice job, Jeffs.
Any Tuesday puzzle I can't solve on autopilot is okay by me. Lets hear it for mor Toughened UpTuesdays. Clever theme, guys. Thanks
Can we stop with imagining the swastika imagery finally?
@Puzzlemucker I got a kick out a headline today, although it was not front page. "Twin Test Flight Explosions Show that SPACEX is No Longer Defying Gravity"
@john ezra This is from a post in the Game Play feed. Eric posted it the other day, also. Editor’s Note: Joel Fagliano Edits the Daily Crossword Starting with the March 14 puzzle, Joel’s byline will accompany the daily crossword. By Everdeen Mason March 14, 2024 Many of you have heard by now that our head puzzle editor, Will Shortz, had a stroke last month. He is taking time to recover, and in the meantime Joel Fagliano will be filling Will’s role. Starting with the March 14 puzzle, you will see Joel’s byline on top of your daily crossword. Joel worked as Will’s intern for three summers before joining him as a full-time puzzle editor in 2014. Since then, he has grown into an impressive editor in his own right. He also has the support of a strong editing team of editors, who will take on some of Joel’s regular work while he edits the daily crossword and variety puzzles. Together, we will continue to deliver best-in-class puzzles as Will recovers. As always, thank you to our community of puzzlers for your patience, support and well wishes.
I CAN'T EVEN with all the complaints about this puzzle, which I enjoyed solving despite running into trouble in a couple of spots on the West side. I do find it amusimg that there were complaints about not knowing who TIG Notaro is, as she is known for not recognizing well-known people herself, which she makes fun of in a series of episodes called Under a Rock on Funny or Die. Here she is with Tony Shaloub. <a href="https://youtu.be/oKGcMHpOd1M?si=LNVGuPK7hNe4WCDB" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/oKGcMHpOd1M?si=LNVGuPK7hNe4WCDB</a>
Oh, BOOHOO. I spilled my YOOHOO in my IGLOO while doing VOODOO. NICE WORK, Colin A fun ride, with no HIGHWAY HYPNOSIS.
Caitlin's choice of Munch's The Scream as the picture at the top of her column was more apropos than I initially realized.
Even though I had a tough time with the theme, any puzzle with Isabella ROSSELLINI, Helen MIRREN, ELENA Kagan and ROSIE the Rivetor is okay by me.
That was fun. Like a vocabulary test crossed with Jeopardy! clues. Plus a shout out to Captain Quahog. It was a clever theme and not having heard of the Nintendo game was not an issue.
@Vaer PS Kind of fun to see the STONE gargoyles mentioned on the day that Notre Dame reopens.
FRENCH OPENS was timely, considering that the finals were/are this weekend. I had fun solving this, though hyphens always alarm me at first. And any puzzle that reminds me of ANSEL Adams is okay by me.
Hi everyone without access to the print version of the puzzle as it appears in the Magazine, to see what it looks like go to xwordinfo.com, look at the solved puzzle there and then open the PDF that Jim provides that shows the unsolved print version. Here's a link to get you started. <a href="https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=10/6/2024" target="_blank">https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=10/6/2024</a> And while you're there, think about joining. It's only $20 a year and there are all kind of valuable info there, including access to solveable Variety puzzles.
@Bruce MEL(anie) C as opposed to MEL B Tell me what you want. What you really, really want.
I really enjoyed solving this one. Reading the nit-picky comments afterwards, not so much. Unfortunately after thinking about the puzzle for a while after solving, I realized none of the Original Thinkers were women. That really harshed my buzz. Maybe in the sequel?
If there's a bustle in your HEDGEROW don't be alarmed now. It just might be a RUBBER DUCKY. (Put it down.) <a href="https://youtu.be/acBixR_JRuM" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/acBixR_JRuM</a> Had such a good time solving this. There was plenty of think-beyond-the-obvious cluing, so kudos to David and the editors. It even overcame my circled answers fatigue.
I found this to be a kinder, gentler Sam E. construction. Usually there's a point when I throw my hands up and just hit Reveal. But then again, those might have been Saturday puzzles. I just kept plugging away, using all the PPE available and finally remembered I should look at the title again and see if I could figure out how the themers worker. Lo and behold, I got it with STANDARDSUB. I liked the convertible answer (SPORTY), but I'm giving a little side-eye to ADDY.
That was a lot of fun. Very impressive, Rena. However, if you find yourself having to flyspeck at the end and you're not particularly college sports-minded, 110 Across is YEP not YEs and 111 Down is PITT not sITT
Apparently some are unfamiliar with a Lear jet. Once again it helps to be of a certain age. You're So Vain, sing it Carly...... Then you flew your Lear jet up to Nova Scotia To see the total eclipse of the sun... <a href="https://youtu.be/UXrpJ0VAeC8?si=j60lf9fv3RMG-PVp" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/UXrpJ0VAeC8?si=j60lf9fv3RMG-PVp</a>
@sotto voce As Francis said. Aka The Concorde. I had TWA first, also. My sister and I used to play a game called Timber on my double bed. We'd jump up and down a bunch of times, yell timber, then fall backwards. And that, boys and girls, is how my nose gotten broken when the back of her head hit the front of mine. And my mother was not thrilled with all the blood on the white bedspread, either.
My absolute certainty that it was TiNA not LANA caused me a lot of grief. And Did you know Gwen Stephani has the same number of letters as DOLLY PARTON? Fortunately, the crosses disavailed me of that notion very quickly. Never heard of PADIDDLE in my life. A rare Saturday puzzle solved without having to resort to check puzzle. Congrats on the Times debut.
Welp, the people who complain about calling Odin the Norse God of war should be happy to see TYR today. And I wouldn't have known it, if not for those complaints, so thanks.
@First Time Caller Deb was promised there would be no math.
@Andrzej The matching PJs is a Christmas Eve/Christmas morning thing for many families. Generally flannel with some kind of holiday theme. Not arcane here.
@Cat Lady Margaret Now you have me picturing Elpheba defying GRAVY as she soars over the TARPITS.
Any puzzle with SOME PIG in it is okay by me. Very fun puzzle that played to many of my strengths. Art History, popular culture, life in general. Thanks to all.
@Lewis Nominating Desirable formation for ducks as a clue of the week. So sweet and funny. My OP lauding it never showed up last night.
Ella Fitzgerald, Idris ELBA, LEMON TARTS, and double rebuses. What's not to love? Peace to all.
Cool grid. First pass through I was despairing that I would ever get anything. The first entry I felt secure enough to put in was SRO, but then magically I was dialed in to the puzzle's wave length, so of course it became fun. Congrats on the debut, Larry
Fridays and Saturdays are often approached with ABJECT terror, but this was fun. When I made the connection between Sign of sluggishness and SLIME TRAIL, it was a lol moment. Thank you, Billy.
I think Jim Horne at xwordinfo.com shows the solved puzzle in a very clear way. You can see where the artists are and what the Down words are. Thanks, Jim. <a href="https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=12/15/2024" target="_blank">https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=12/15/2024</a> I didn't have trouble with any of the fill, but as many as have already noted, I had trouble locating where each artist was supposed to go after I found them. It was somewhat headache inducing.
Any puzzle that mentions Beethoven's Third is okay by me. And then three princesses, XENA, ARIEL and DIANA. This puzzle is chock full of interesting clues and fill. There really does seem to be something for everyone.
Let's hear it for another terrific Toughened Up Tuesday. Today I learned what a TAIGA was. I feel like we had the Moynihan quote not too long ago. And finally any puzzle mentioning MRS. POCK is okay by me.
Welp, if you haven't done Friday's Wordle yet, here's your chance for Wordle in one.
Happiness is solving a Sunday puzzle without any typos and getting a gold star and understanding the theme. For me this was a fun, clever puzzle very nicely clued. Thanks Natan.