Lukas

Today’s NYT crossword, crafted by August Lee-Kovach, was an absolute delight—a Friday grid that struck the perfect balance between clever and conquerable. I zipped through it in just over ten minutes, and every clue felt like a satisfying little nod to my puzzle prowess. The fill was smooth and lively, with entries like TAFFY, AGORA, and FREUD giving the grid a nice mix of sweet, historical, and cerebral. I especially appreciated the cultural nods—DEREK Walcott was a classy inclusion, and WES Unseld brought a sporty flair that didn’t feel forced. There was no overt theme today, but the puzzle didn’t need one. The cluing was tight, the wordplay was fair, and the aha moments came steadily. “Chase, as some flies” for SHAG made me chuckle, and “Pool owner’s problem” for ALGAE was a nice seasonal touch as we head into summer. All in all, this was a puzzle that made me feel smart without being smug. A great way to kick off the weekend—thanks, August and the NYT team!

There’s something deeply comforting about a Monday NYT crossword, and today’s puzzle delivered that familiar, satisfying ease with a touch of clever charm. As someone who relishes the gentle ramp-up into the week’s solving journey, I found this puzzle to be a delightful warm-up—like stretching before a long, rewarding run. The theme was light and playful, centered around the phonetic phrase “OH GEEZ”, which tied together four long entries: OLIVE GARDEN, OLYMPIC GAMES, OPERAGLASSES, and ORANGE GROVE. Each one brought a smile, not just for the “O.G.” initials but for the variety and vivid imagery they evoked. Who doesn’t love a mental stroll through an orange grove or a nostalgic nod to unlimited breadsticks? Clues were crisp and accessible, with just enough sparkle to keep things interesting. Highlights included: “Queen of the Nile, informally” for CLEO — a classic clue with a breezy twist. “Shake, as a dog’s tail” for WAG — simple, yet joyful. And “Silverstein who wrote ‘A Boy Named Sue’” for SHEL, which felt like a warm literary hug. The grid was clean, the fill smooth, and the solving experience—start to finish—was like sipping a perfectly brewed cup of coffee. No obscure trivia, no awkward abbreviations, just a well-constructed puzzle that reminded me why I love Mondays in Crosswordland. If this is the tone-setter for the week, I’m excited to see what Tuesday and beyond will bring. Here’s to a week of wordplay, wit, and that unbeatable “aha!” feeling.

Today's Grid was a delightful midweek challenge—cleverly constructed, elegantly clued, and full of satisfying “aha!” moments. One standout clue that brought a smile was "Bird whose name sounds like a hip-hop dance move"—the answer: NENE. It instantly transported me back to a family road trip in Hawaii, where we spotted the endangered Hawaiian goose (the nēnē) and my niece, thinking it was pronounced like the dance, started doing the "Whip/Nae Nae" on the trail. We laughed so hard we nearly scared the poor bird off! The puzzle was rich with wordplay—entries like SIGN LANGUAGE and FINISH LINES were especially elegant, and the grid had a nice balance of pop culture (Trevor NOAH, Naomi OSAKA) and classic crossword fare (ALAN Turing, HERA). It’s the kind of puzzle that reminds you why you fell in love with crosswords in the first place. How did you do with today’s grid? Any clues that tripped you up or made you chuckle?

Just finished today’s NYT crossword by Rebecca Goldstein and Adam Wagner—what a clever and visually satisfying solve! The theme was a standout, with shaded letters forming shapes that matched the answers: O’s for MOOD RINGS, C’s for CHARACTER ARCS, S’s for REGRESSION CURVES, I’s for DIVIDING LINES, and L’s for ALL ELBOWS. It felt like solving a mini art piece. The fill was smooth, with fun clues like PR GURU (“Spin instructor?”) and BE A PAL (“Come on, help me out”). Online chatter seems to agree—lots of praise for the inventive theme and clean execution. Some noted the visuals made the theme easier to crack, which helped me too. If I had one nit, it’s that the theme density made a few spots feel tight. But overall, this was a refreshing, smart midweek puzzle. Big kudos to the constructors!

If you enjoy rebus squares that make you question your grip on reality, today’s “Double Negatives” theme was your fever dream. Two “NO”s somehow equaling a “YES”? Cute—until you’re staring at LYESOAP wondering if you’ve lost your mind. The clues ranged from groan-worthy to aggressively vague. “Beast with a horn”? RHINO. Groundbreaking. “Statements that can be seen as positive”? Only if you enjoy linguistic gymnastics. I finished it, but I’m not proud. I feel like I survived something. Barely.