upperwestside
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Out there
What am I missing? The colorful squares were unexpected but pretty, but when I finished the puzzle I hoped they would explode into confetti or something New Year's Eve-ish. But no. Were they supposed to? Or like trophy wives, just sit there for effect? Well anyway, a happy 2026 to the NYT puzzling community.
I never don't finish a puzzle. This one left me behind. No fun intended.
OMNOMNOM? That's an answer? Oh no no no.
I feel stupid revealing this, but I dread most Thursday puzzles. Most of them make me feel stupid. Not this one. Once I got the hang of it, it was fun searching out the places where the rebus fit. Thank you, Mr. Youngs. Let's see more of your work.
Ha! First Thursday puzzle in a long time that A. I solved without help amd B. i got the gimmick without tearing my hair out. So thank you, John Kugelman, for a clever and non-frustrating crossword.
Annoying. Second puzzle in two weeks that is too frustrating to enjoy.
The end graphic was a nice Xmas Eve treat. Peace on earth, good will toward men, women, and animals.
ok I cheated a whole bunch. But I learned a lot, so it was worth it. SPLOOT!! Can a future puzzle constructor use this please?
I'm happy for the solvers who enjoyed this puzzle. I found it annoying and frustrating.
@Steve Including me! But this was more fun. The intersection of Christmas and Hanukkah plus the New Year equals--I don't know. Happy holidays, everyone. And thank you, Seth and Jeff.
OK I had to look up a few. Enjoyable once I understood the theme. I thought it was a good lead-in to Thursday's always quirky puzzles; sort of a Wednesday and a half.
I'm so impressed with the puzzlers who thought this was easy. I tried the rebus and was confused and frustrated when it didn't work. I just didn't get it. Anyway, kudos to those who breezed through this one. I'll just wait for Friday.
Nope. Didn't get it at all. Way above my pay grade.
@J-J Cote If you want to pick nits about Latin, here's one for you. Those two comedians formerly of SNL are not ALUMNI. They're ALUMNAE. Which would throw the whole puzzle off. Whose mistake was that: the editor's or Mr. Seralathan's?
Will Shortz is back! Hooray! I was beginning to doubt and worry. Now I can return to obsessing about the rapidly-approaching presidential foofaraw. Happy New Year, puzzlers.
@Francis We all know. We can't say in a family newspaper...
@Steven M. I don't care. It's wrong.
Maybe I'm just upset with the current political situation but I didn't find this such a fun puzzle.
@R.J. Smith Agreed. I didn't get it, had to look up most of the answers, and had about as pleasure out of this as an enema.
@Rachel C Hey, I'll take easy when puzzles are as clever as this one. Really enjoyed this one. Thanks, Joseph Gangi, and Steve and Ian, whoever you are.
Adorable! User-friendly, thought-provoking, clever. And to snide puzzlers whoused this space to tell Thursday-averse puzzlers [like me] to stick to Monday puzzles, take a lesson from this constructor, who has created a fun, tricky, thought-provoking but accessible offering. Kudos, Mr. Liebeskind.
Yes! Cartoon colors! I love it! More, please!
A little Thursday-ish, but clever and easy enough to solve without looking anything up. Living in a big city apt I had to keep separate room acs cranked up, but they worked. And so did this puzzle.
Killer is right. Couldn't get anything but the 60s folk singer and Reese Witherspoon. Had to look up at least 2/3 of the answers. And even then I didn't know what they were talking about. Oh well. On to Monday. Stay safe and warm, y'all.
I usually dread Thursday puzzles. Not this one. Once I got it, the answers flowed. Thank you, dad and son combo!
@CCNY Talk about magic that works...
I solved this one before I 'got' it. Very clever.
I applaud Mr. Deeney's cleverness, but frankly, he's ruined the Times puzzle for me. Like most people, I am sick of the endless bombardment of ads for big businesses. Now he has spoiled that refuge for me. Bah humbug. And why the anti-math comment?
So clever. But I needed Wordplay to help me. Thanks!
To be filed next to 'Dad jokes.' If this isn't a Dad puzzle I don't know what is. Ouch. But clever.
first time in ages that i got the ha-ha without looking it up.
Fun! But the answer for 'Your point being?..' strains credulity. Otherwise a very clever puzzle. Thanks, guys.
@G O Wow. To all those who solved this one in 20 mins or less: 'You're a better man than I, Gunga Din." I thought this was hard and confusing--not a sports fan and don't know current singers-- and I didn't enjoy the misdirections. My mother in law stopped doing the NYT Crossword when she got up there in age. Now I understand why.
@JP Me too. Made a mistake with epode, though. But still, I started with cautious optimism and ended up pleasant[ly] surprised. There, I said it. Anyway, a pleasant Memorial Day weekend to all.
Ooh tricky. Needed help, I'm not embarrassed to say. But hugely admiring of the skill and cleverness it took to construct this puzzle. Bravo!
@Rich in Atlanta Loved the Coasters. Like you, I needed big help with this one. Not of the Minesweeper generation, so many clues made no sense to me. I didn't get it when my late mother in law said she'd stopped doing the NYT crossword puzzles because she didn't get a lot of the clues. Now that I'm pushing 80, I understand.
@Whoa Nellie Agreed. I didn't enjoy yesterday's puzzle but this one was fun. Ok maybe it was easy. As another reader has commented, most of us needed something easy after today's very difficult happenings. Some way to commemorate the Fourth of July.
@Jim Thanks, Jim, for your positive encouragement. Not a lot of that here.
@John Yeah, me too. Glad that so many solvers enjoyed this. For me, too many misdirects. And 'IGOTTAJET'? Really?
All RIGHT!! I am always apprehensive on Thursdays because I fear I can't figure out the gimmick, and when [if!] I do, the effort won't turn out to be worth it. Not this time. With a little patience, I got the joke--could I call this a Dad crossword?--complete with groan-inducing puns. Very clever, Kiran. And if this is breaking the rules, I don't want to obey.
@George Me too. Cozy mystery? Please. I'm not as charitable as many of the commenters.
@Ro Sigh. Not now...
Glad so many puzzlers enjoyed this one. I'm thinking I'm getting too old for this. Didn't know a lot of the answers. Oh well. On to Monday...
@Norwood Upson Downs! Me too!
@G I prefer ice cream to chips and salsa. And if ice cream is the theme, then the triangles could be cones and the scoop the circle.
Is it me or are any other solvers bothered by clues that are deliberately misleading? This puzzle had a lot of them. Maybe I'm losing my sense of humor...
@Isaac Newton I agree with you. I admire the way Mr. Mendelson constructed his puzzle. Well done. More!
I guess I'm just grumpy. Felt this was a waste of 26 minutes.