Diane Schaefer
Denver CO
To celebrate my first completion of a Friday puzzle in quite a while, I offer you this: So there we were, all of us arriving for a contest on who could read the most pages of fantasy novels in a single setting. We all lined up, as instructed, under the big sign that read “Start Here.” The judges were all a bunch of micromanagers, ensuring no cheating occurred. Fans showed up from everywhere, even as far as Lithuania. And there was a small contingent of U.S. farm workers cheering us on with a banner that read “Si Se Puede!” Despite all that team spirit, in the end, none in our group came close to winning. Such is life. And though we were exhausted after those 24 grueling hours, all contestants were treated to free gifts from a few pop-up stores. And being true to our nerdy selves, we each opted for sets of fantasy novels that had been runaway hits. Then we left for home, fondly bidding each other adieu.
@Grumpy Grumpy, did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed today? I thought the puzzle was delightful. And I’ll also add that as someone who tends to view things quite literally, I actually took the time to Google “ov, oov, ooov” and I’m not embarrassed to admit that. Even knowing “tall order” and “scooped up” I was still looking at the puzzle in a literal sense, rather than seeing it figuratively. I was about to visit the Urban Dictionary, naturally assuming that middle-aged me didn’t get the memo on these new texting terms! But your criticism seems so unwarranted. It was an ice cream theme. It’s summertime. Who doesn’t love ice cream?
@Striker Bravo! But I’ll just add that if I had been one of your kids, you wouldn’t have opted for that configuration with me! As kids, our parents would take us to Carvel for soft ice cream — are they even still around? — and while everyone else got cones, slowpoke me was only allowed a cup! Chocolate soft ice cream with chocolate sprinkles. By the time I was finished, it was pure liquid mush! And I loved it! I still recall enjoy eating my ice cream slow and melty!
I just assumed “Canine welcomes” were LICKS!! I was stuck for the longest time in the lower left because I didn’t know the Spice Girls song “2 BECOME 1.” Once I looked it up, I immediately realized the correct answer was BARKS! 🤦🏼♀️ This was fun today! Like most have commented, I wasn’t familiar with SNARF but it worked!
Challenging puzzle for me despite getting the theme! I feel a bit silly asking this but — on 28 Down — When to wave the white flag. Answer BELLLAP. I honestly didn’t get this. The only thing that remotely comes to mind is a swim meet? Please anyone reading this, do tell!
@AcidBurn Sorry @AcidBurn — you really should know the term OPART. It is a big part of modern art history. And many of us doing these crossword puzzles are in their early 60s all the way up to 90s — and we all know very famous artists and artworks that are a part of this genre because we lived during this time period. And one further note — we can’t all know everything! But by completing enough puzzles I’ve learned the names of different characters on Game of Thrones and The Simpsons, not to mention many sports figures that were never a part of my life. I learn something new everyday by completing The New York Times Crossword Puzzle!
Loved completing this puzzle! My single complaint on the 1 Across clue — should have read “Long (for)”
@Dee Haven’t lived here very long. I just learned something new! Noticed they have 3 locations! Thanks for the tip! 😉
@Justin They recently opened a location on Belleview. Haven’t tried it yet but I can literally walk over in less than a minute! Thanks for the recommendation! 😉
@lis Thanks for the encouragement! Although I’m not a newbie, this has by far been the most challenging week with my longest solving times. But I was up for the challenge and completed all 3 days. I’m definitely up for Thursday and I really enjoy this day’s clever constructions. I get to Friday each week with mixed results! I rarely bother with Saturday. One of these days when I have a lot of time on my hands, I will start doing a few Sunday puzzles. I think I’ve only ever tried one or two and one was to full completion!
@Patrick J. Thank you Patrick! I appreciate your explanation. I was just stabbing at air! I had to end up turning on Autocheck with this puzzle. I’m not embarrassed to admit that!
@Ellen Thank you Ellen. I was totally in the dark on this one! It pertains to some kind of race. I actually ended up turning on Autocheck to complete this puzzle. But I was proud to at least get the theme and nearly all of it completed.
Kudos to you Timothy Gatz for a very satisfying crossword! And congratulations on your debut! I absolutely adored this puzzle! And I’m proud to say that I almost immediately came up with “No ifs ands or buts” as the solver after filling in the word “Very” instead of “Verify.” That said, I’m far from a fast crossword puzzle solver, especially not on a Thursday, and there were more than a few clues that gave me pause. But figuring out the solver really early on made me life a lot easier and filling out and completing this puzzle that much more enjoyable! Hope we see you return again soon. In the meantime, enjoy your travels and your film pursuits!
@Justin When I was a child, my parents used to call me a “pill.” So even at a young age, I knew exactly what that word meant! I prefer to use ”feisty” — a far better description for a precocious child who’s constantly questioning and being sassy. But then I remember that I also whined. And that is definitely a “pill.”
@HeathieJ Thanks for the inclusion of what is also my favorite “Sisters” performance. The moment I read your comment, I knew exactly what I was clicking on! I thoroughly enjoyed watching it! I’ll have to add White Christmas to my rotation of films to watch this holiday season. It’s been absent for the last few. Happy holidays!
I enjoyed this puzzle! My one minor gripe was the clue for 6 Across, “Exchange letters.” That is a bit of stretch for “IPO” as the answer. I used to work on IPOs in a former life. To me a better answer to that clue would be “NASD” or “NYSE.” It’s a few degrees of separation to get to “IPO” from that clue. Otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed this. And as someone who can’t always complete a Friday, I was super proud of myself!
@Joe I found this puzzle unusually challenging for a Monday. I am nowhere near prolific at completing New York Times crossword puzzles past Thursday or Friday. But over the years I’ve gotten pretty good. I never had a Monday time as bad as this one. It took me nearly 30 minutes. I was in shock! That said, I still enjoyed completing this puzzle. I can’t even blame it on not having my coffee as I ended my Sunday with this puzzle!
Great puzzle Rebecca! I really enjoyed completing this one! As a lover of both hot tea and iced tea, I must confess to not having ever heard of Kombucha. But now I at least know how to spell it!
@Alexis I just loved reading your comment! Cheers!
@Francis I for one am happy you went down that thread. And I’ll just pick up where you left off by exposing the white elephant in the room. Not only have we failed as a nation to come to terms with our past, not only have we as a nation bent over backwards to sanitize it by extolling the virtues of slavery — as currently required be taught, for example, in the curriculum of Florida schools under Florida law — but we have also now denounced and outlawed — under presidential decree — any programs that promote diversity, equity, or inclusion. Why? Because anyone who is a part of any racial or ethic minority — as well as women — are deemed to have not earned their positions by merit alone. So now we have those holding positions of power to be nearly entirely white — and male — and we see with our own eyes the incompetencies on display by those individuals. But at least they were not hired for diversity, equity, or inclusion. Indeed, their only qualifications were an unquestioning adherence to the dictates of one man.
@Andrzej Bravo! And let’s throw in a Touché for good measure!
@Eli Cotham I actually found this Wednesday a tad more difficult. But that’s on me! All that said, I really enjoyed this puzzle. And although I hadn’t heard of this children’s game, I still was able to solve the puzzle and that clue in spite of that. I especially loved some of the answers like “WORTH IT” and “DARE NOT.” Don’t remember having seen those in any puzzles I’ve solved over the past 5 years. I loved seeing “OPART” which I know has appeared several times in the past, but I love art so it was a cool reference. I don’t get the complaints. I’ve been doing these for several years and, though I may not be as advanced as some of the critics here, I find their comments quite elitist.
@T Jones Although I didn’t fill in with PUERH, that was actually my initial guess as well. In fact, my favorite Puerh is made by Steven Smith Teas and is called Chocolate Peppermint Puerh. It is very limited edition — only available seasonally in late Fall — and alas, I have never managed to buy enough to last me all year. Anyway, it is divine and I highly recommend it. 😉
@Steve Thank you for that explanation! Believe it or not, it was among the last of the clues I finally solved! I surprised myself by getting through nearly all this puzzle very quickly. But I was stumped on a few including that clue! Go figure.
@Andy That’s an interesting comment. Maybe that’s why I did so well today - ? I’m honestly not great at trivia — but maybe among this group of brilliant solvers, I’m quite good!!
@Steve L You have my curiosity peaked. I will have to look that one up! 😉
Deb, I’m embarrassed to admit that I was not aware of the term “brood of eggs. Nevertheless, I actually at the answer quite easily. After all, who isn’t brooding about the price of EGGS these days?
@Caroline Kearney This is what I love most about doing crossword puzzles! I learn so much every week from completing them and the best part is learning from our fellow solvers like you! Years ago, when I was single in my 20s and 30s working as a lawyer for Wall Street law firms, I used to complain that many of my male colleagues were looking for a woman who was a rocket scientist and had walked off the pages of Victoria’s Secret catalogue! Sounds a lot like your friend Anita! What a great package — brains and beauty in feminist wrapping!
@B I commented pretty much the same about the answer to 6 Across being IPO. A better answer to the clue Exchange letters would be NASD or NYSE. it’s a stretch to extrapolate IPO as the answer. Aside from that one gripe, I thoroughly enjoyed completing this puzzle. And I’d have to deem it a pretty easy Friday as I don’t typically complete Friday puzzles! P
@Cherry Thanks for this information. I always say that I get smarter every day that I complete another NYTimes crossword puzzle,
@Joey I’m happy to learn I wasn’t the only one thrown by this one! I feel good every day I complete a NY Times crossword puzzle and learn new facts and some new words. I may not necessarily retain every single factoid or word, but many do stick with me.
@James Hey James! I am from the US and I just assumed Mo. hint was referring to the word Month but it made no sense. We do use uppercase 2-letter abbreviations for all states, but I forgot that in normal text, many publications including the New York Times use what I affectionately term “camel case.” For anyone abroad these abbreviations are truly difficult to tackle. Cheers!
@NYC Traveler Thank you @NYC Traveler! I thoroughly enjoyed writing this! I think I’m going to start doing this more often! It was a fun exercise, getting my creative juices flowing! Enjoy your time here in Colorado! I am an NYC transplant by way of many other states on the way!
@Striker I have to admit that I was a bit of a “late bloomer” as far as ice cream was concerned. Come to think of it, that applied to food of any sort. I was a very picky eater. And I remember distinctly turning down ice cream, of all things, at age 5 or 6 when my tonsils were removed! But by age 10, I had indeed fallen in love with Carvel soft chocolate ice cream. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. I’m sure memories of Fentons do the same for you!
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