Becky
Earth
Minneapolis rightly deserves the Nobel Peace Prize.
Great debut puzzle! I affectionately call these sorts of crosswords where the answers move in nonlinear lines “snakes” and this one was a HOOT! I started doing the Times in 2023, my goal was to learn how to solve each day of the week. Deb, your column was a massive help when I needed a hint, or help understanding a theme. I’ve come a ways, racking up over 3000 NYT puzzles (I play extensively in the archives), and feel confident solving every day of the week. I’ve branched out into cryptics (love wordplay), other crosswords (NYT will always be my first love), and logic puzzles. I’m so grateful to the entire NYT Games team, all the constructors, and the games community for creating this wonderful puzzle which sustains and enriches so many of us. Thank you, Deb, and best of luck on your next adventures! I’m beyond excited for Puzzle Mania (preordered my copy and also treated myself to Joel Fagliano’s Puzzle Mania book too!) I’m celebrating Shortzmas. Cool jazz, hot tea, holiday sweets, and Will Shortz puzzles.
Dayum. Seems like you’re doing the puzzles (and life) wrong if they’re angering you. Sending you some chill ❄️
Never heard of the kea before. After a quick google I learned they are the only alpine parrot. They look like dragons. They are intelligent, scrappy, and mischievous (many funny antics including throwing rocks at people). New favorite animal unlocked! The list is long. 007 theme was jolly good. I tip my hat to the constructor.
I would watch DANCING WITH THE TSARS for the outfits alone.
Broadway (and American sports) are my Achilles heel re crosswords. That being so, I enjoyed this puzzle immensely. EINSTEIN, MOBIUS STRIP, and PROLETARIAT were standouts in the creative themed entries. Terrifically fun last Sunday of the year and a lovely tribute to Mr. Eaton-Salners’ mother. Peace to all in 2026.
I have a real pip of a cat, named Pip! She often sits with me while I do crosswords and I enjoy telling her “Pip! You’re adorable! You made the Times puzzle again!”
The STICKER SHOCK is so real these days.
Circe may have been onto something.
turnt - drunk+high turnt up - go wild turnt down - brush/floss+go to bed early u turnt - highly erratic driving maneuvers
I’m finding the world exceedingly cold right now so a reminder that spring will come is a balm. Also I like birds so much more than people.
@Andrzej 🤣 nah, puzzles are for everyone, no one, some guy Bob. Think if artists pandered to the viewer only. Gotta let the constructors have their elaborate set pieces.
I had “held nerve” instead of HELD SERVE as I know nothing about tennis and was thinking, darkly, of a hostage scenario or some sort of situation when one might break. Liked the crossing of FERRETS and WEASELED. Happy weekend to all~
Halloween came early with this puzzle, but no capes dahling!
I’m glad the Martín Espada and Marsha P. Johnson clues made the puzzle. Personally, I want the puzzle to go political. Everything is political. If you don’t stand apart from evil, you are part of evil. As ever - go Gunners! ❤️🤍
Excited for Mike from Munster’s pun today, hopefully regarding the locksmith and STEAMY IRONY.
The gold medal goes to REID for the gay hockey romance novels. 🏳️🌈🇨🇦 Go Canada!
@Ken I’ve only recently started to read the comments section of wordplay, and I’m disappointed. It’s sad that we can’t create a space of joy to discuss the puzzles we all enjoy so much. Social media - bah! I would think it might scare off possible submissions of puzzles, hard to see something you’re excited about nitpicked to pieces. I’ll probably skip the comments and go back to puzzling in peace.
Pip, you’re in the crossword again! When I saw the title I was worried the theme would be way out of my ken. Not so! Breezy solve and themers were cute. Didn’t know The Great Escape was a novel. Go Gunners! I still believe! Let’s LICK Tottenham!
Can someone explain CLASH at 28A? I thought colors opposite each other on the color wheel were complimentary?
Fun puzzle to end the day with. I liked NO CAP next to PERIOD. What even is sparkling water ESSENCE!? Hope the constructors enjoy their celebrations! ✌️
Fun and fresh puzzle! Loved the ⚽️ fill, appropriate as the Premier League just kicked off. Go Arsenal!
I am definitely a fan of Schrödinger puzzles!
@Lpr Same thing happened to me with cereal. I think shrinker shock is great coinage!
@SBK can confirm. I don’t use the timer ever. It feels stressy. And I do puzzles to feel unstressy.
@NYC Traveler Impressive! 🎉 Reaching the point where every puzzle is doable, whether it’s a K2 or a happy little hillside, is very zen. Enjoy the climbs!
Liked the cluing for WAND and the grid placement under DRAGONSLAYER. Also limeade is vastly superior to lemonade. As ever, go Gunners! Dreaming of May and the Treble.
@Cat Lady Margaret Your posts are always so witty and fun! Just had to gas you up. 🩷
Share your most loved/hated films today in honor of Roger Ebert and this puzzle! Also I need some good recs. Loved - Casablanca Hated - LOTR
LATTO was a gimme. After FASHION ICONS, shift shape had me thinking dress not MORPH. SNORKELING made me smile, anything to do with sea life will. Had DiNGS for DONGs. HOT PINK pride triangle makes an important appearance. SEA DOVES are the absolute cutest! I’m EAGER for more, give me ONE OF EVERYTHING. Annnnnnnnnd, go Gunners!
@Em untrue, however the US has even us atheists believing in sin.
@Ken hear! hear! couldn’t agree more! Glad to see there’s fellow puzzlers who enjoy each and every solve as much as I do. Keep on puzzlin on ~
@Cat Lady Margaret I have two cats so sometimes I’m double nap-trapped.
@Rahul Your post made my day! 🙂 I too eagerly await each and every crossword, and credit the NYT suite of puzzles with keeping me sane and happy during trying times. Cheers on the streak! Keep on puzzling on~
A modern variant of NO TRUE SCOTSMAN could be NO TRUE SWIFTIE. Absolutely loved this puzzle! I hope we see more from John Ewbank (thanks!) and more puzzles with a philosophical bent.
@Cal Koolaid Congrats! What a fun feeling! 🎉
@Cat Lady Margaret 🧡 your DEEP SIX
theme 10/10 liked this one a lot
Just GUCCI. ENCORE! ❤️
@Vaer The app solve is très Magritte. Did you truly make a hat? “If you can’t tell, does it matter?”
Awesome puzzle! Great example of why I love Thursdays!
@Dan Interjections are weird. They sound natural in speech but look bonkers in text.
@Francis Smart - the nomenclature war would fizzle out fast if there was only one human left. That’s probably AI’s solution to climate change anyways. 🤷♀️
@CB The misdirection theme felt like Thursday trickery. (Thursdays are the best!) I tip my hat to the creators.
It was fun! 🦇 I love seasonal puzzles. Excited to see the new Dracula film! iykyk