MountainViews

Great one today - nice execution of a good idea!

This one belongs in the best-of list.

IMO this puzzle is a step down from the quality I've come to expect from the NYTimes. Certainly its a clever theme. But the fill could hardly be more contrived. ALEAK ITS NAW INAPP TSHAPE LUV ICAME SSW (clued as opposite of NNE) UMM GAEL PRE SCI IMOF SFPD UCONN WII OXO ESE Come on folks. Your own standards say you should do better.

The NYTimes crossword web site just broke my streak of almost a year by not recording the successful completion of the weds puzzle. If y'all are going to set up these artificial inducements, please implement them correctly