Alex

Not fun. I got the "two out of three" revealer early on and from there was able to solve the theme clues on crosses, but it was a slog. And, after all that, the theme answers didn't have any sparkle to them. The three parts of each answer were just random computer-generated words that could be combined into two random computer-generated words. That's not wordplay to me -- I mean, where's the playfulness or joy in learning something new? Oh, well, Adam and Simeon, I hope this is the start of a beautiful friendship.

I'm a daily solver and generally have fun solving. I'm more of a word person than a visual person, so I've had to learn to look at the grid. Here, the grid, together with the puzzle title (Travel Bug) were helpful clues. I've also learned to like -- or at least note hate -- rebuses, so I caught on to that pretty early in my solve. Even so, the puzzle was frustrating until I got the "wormhole" revealer. All that said, though, I didn't enjoy this puzzle -- not because it was too hard or because I'm a "hater". (Can we please not call names?) This puzzIe was just not my jam. I prefer wordplay in the form of puns or riffs on famous quotations or themes related to history or pop culture. At least it was interesting to learn that Oprah gave eulogies for Toni Morrison and Rosa Parks -- I'll have to look those up. Also, love that Barb and Star made it into the NYT crossword!

Loved this puzzle. It reminded me of Lin Manuel Miranda’s 2008 Tony acceptance speech for In the Heights, in which Miranda rapped his thanks,including an homage to Sondheim: “Mr. Sondheim, look. I made a hat where there never was a hat. It’s a Latin hat at that.” :) Have a good day, all! (Deb, I hope you’re enjoying your next chapter!)

I don’t think I’ve ever watched an entire episode of Star Trek, but my pop culture bona fides got me through this very fun puzzle! And Jeremy Newton’s description of a world that “embraces compassion, cultural diversity and scientific curiosity” has me thinking that it might be about time for me to take a fantastic voyage on the Enterprise.

What this girl wants: wordplay … as in playfulness. Give me some puns, teach me a new word — extra points if it’s one that will impress my GenZ kids or teach me something about a subject I know nothing about. I need a little linguistic razzle-dazzle, some sparkle and fizz. Sadly, this one didn’t do it for me. Filling in all those blank clues felt like putting together an IKEA desk, a bit tedious even when the task was completed.

This might have been more fun if “chance” and “chants” had been tied together in some way besides simply being homophones (more or less). Linking them through wordplay — e.g., a pun — or a theme would have made it less of a slog.

Loved this! Congrats on your graduation and best wishes in all that lies ahead of you both, especially many more years of friendship.

Fun puzzle, but "screw the haters"? Really? Was that necessary?

“Amazeballs” was a fun throwback to my daughter’s middle school and high school years years, back in the 20-teens. When she and her friends would gather at our house to get ready to go to a dance, Sweet 16, or Bar/Bat Mitzvah, “You look amazeballs!”was the highest compliment they could pay to one another.

Delightful!

Thanks for a lovely start to the day — doing this puzzle while looking out the window to admire my rhododendrons.

One day more . . . <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbDPdLsFPkc" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbDPdLsFPkc</a>

@Caitlin Lovinger — I think the spearmen (10D) are in Aida.