LisaK

I hated this puzzle! I like challenging clues when the reveal elicits that amused aha; these all landed with THUDS. I even contemplated ending my 1827-day streak so I wouldn't have to finish it...

Is it true!? Is Will Shortz back?!! You've been missed Mr. Shortz.

A small quibble about the clue for 16D...a typo is not made by a pen, but from typing. "Slip of the pen" (or, to give the pen the slip) would be to type.

I always read Wordplay after I complete the puzzle, just to see what clues were tricky, what the constructor has to say, etc. I'm not expecting to laugh out loud at the columnist's comments. Well done Caitlin, you had me giggling throughout!

Hi Will, Delighted to have you stop by! Hope you'll come around more often (and lovely words about Deb; I agree, she'll be missed!).

Congrats to my buddy Jared, an amazing player at the Toronto Scrabble Club. If he tackles crossword construction with the same determination that he has with Scrabble, he’ll be hitting the ‘cycle’ in record time!

Am I the only one who felt very let down upon finishing this puzzle and nothing happened? I was sure all those colourful doodads would explode or light up...or something!

I thought I had finished the puzzle when everything was filled in but the circles - which I had left empty as 'holes'. Personally I think that works better than filling them in with the rebus.

How does "Open Faced" mean themeless?? I finished the whole puzzle frustrated that I never found anything alluding to faces!