Michael Lieberman’s New York Times crossword, “Length-ening” —Nate’s write-up
Happy November! As we get closer to Thanksgiving, let’s certainly give thanks for today’s fun Sunday NYT puzzle, whose themers are quite enjoyable :
11.06.22 Sunday NYT Crossword
– 24A: SQUARE EN ROUTE [Why the party’s about to get less hip?] – Square (en) root
– 35A: HOW EN SUITE IT IS [Realtor’s exclamation about a primary bathroom?] – How (en) sweet it is
– 49A: MARINE ENCORE [How Shamu acknowledged the crowd’s appreciation?] – Marine (en) corp
– 70A: EN GARDE IANS OF THE GALAXY [“Prepare for a sword fight, McKellen, Fleming and all other namesakes out there!”?] – (En) Guardians of the Galaxy
– 90A: MAKEUP ENTREE [Dish cooked to smooth things over after a fight?] – Makeup (en) tray
– 106A: CHOPPING EN BLOC [What students in a karate class are often doing?] – Chopping (en) block
– 118A: THE ROYAL ENNUI [Challenge for a court jester?] – The royal (en) we
Each theme entry is a term or phrase where “en” has been included (and words re-spelled as need be) to lengthen those entries in new, fun ways. THE ROYAL ENNUI was easily my favorite, though a lot of these were really enjoyable transformations. One of my favorite types of themes, especially when done well as in this case!
Other random thoughts:
– 1A: AT BATS [Opportunities for singles] – I usually dislike baseball entries, but I will begrudgingly admit to enjoying this clue!
– 100A: THOU [The old you?] – Also cute!
– 93D: ELON MUSK [Business magnate who is a Stanford University dropout] – Ooooooooooof. Brutal inclusion here, given the timing of this puzzle. Also, the clue seems to imply that he is a (successful) “business magnate” even though he dropped out of Stanford… without mentioning his wild inheritance from his father? An unfortunate ding on an otherwise super fun puzzle!
Evan Birnholz’ Washington Post crossword, “Peak Experience” —Matthew’s write-up
Evan Birnholz’ Washington Post crossword solution, “Peak Experience,” 11/6/2022
Evan brings us a somewhat nontraditional theme this week, as we’ve got six series of circled letters in the grid and only one long entry.
Starting with these circled strings, we’ve got SHASTA, VESUVIUS, OLYMPUS, RUSHMORE, WASHINGTON, and WHITNEY. Clearly the rising and falling pattern of each set is meant to be a mountain, and indeed our revealer at 74a [Peak, and a synonym of the word spelled out in the circled peaks’ highest points] MOUNTAINTOP both confirms that and points toward another Easter Egg: using the “peaks;” the S of SHASTA, U of VESUVIUS, etc, we can spell SUMMIT, a lovely additional layer that ties the theme together, particularly since there are few theme entries.
That’s not to say the theme isn’t constraining — by a very quick count, roughly 2/3 of the puzzle’s entries interact with a square that’s part of the theme. Much like last week, keeping the letters of VAMPIRE and WEEKEND in order in both readings, Evan manages to keep SUMMIT in order while plain just getting the grid filled.
Other highlights:
- 28a [Disaster films?] BAD MOVIES. This tickled me — I don’t think I’ve ever called a plain old bad movie a “disaster,” but it certainly might be to a studio, and the overlap with the more common meaning of “disaster film” is fun.
- 53a [Great Chagos Bank in the Indian Ocean, e.g.] ATOLL. This is the largest ATOLL in the world, and the first I’m hearing of it. Eyeballing it on Google Maps, looks about 200 miles south of the Maldives.
- 84a [Quality of sneakers?] STEALTH. I continue to be amazed how uncommon “sneakers” is compared to “tennis shoes.” The latter had absolutely zero purchase where I grew up.
- 113a [Pundit Alexander once featured on “Point/Counterpoint” segments] SHANA. New to me, perhaps not to you
- 130a [Org. for the Hershey Bears] AHL. This is the American Hockey League, the highest level of minor league hockey under the NHL. Apropos for the Washington Post, the Bears are an affiliate team of the NHL’s Washington Capitals.
Doug Burnikel and Zhouqin Burnikel’s Universal Sunday crossword, “Eight-Pack Abs”—Jim P’s review
Team Burnikel are showing off their ABs in today’s grid. Theme answers are familiar phrases (eight of ’em), each with an added AB.
Universal Sunday crossword solution · “Eight-Pack Abs” · Doug Burnikel and Zhouqin Burnikel · 11.6.22
- 23a. [*Quiz about an elephant king?] BABAR EXAMINATION. Bar examination.
- 39a. [*Beetle-shaped war ornament?] BATTLE SCARAB. Battle scar.
- 62a. [*Most amazing routine practice?] GREATEST HABIT. Greatest hit. This would’ve been nicer as a plural, but once upon a time I owned a cassette entitled “Pachelbel’s Greatest Hit” which featured multiple versions of the Canon in D by various artists.
- 74a. [*Online leader of monks?] INTERNET ABBOT. Internet bot.
- 99a. [*Run out of the country?] ESCAPE ABROAD. Escape road. Hmm. I’m familiar with “escape route” but not “escape road.” Most online dictionaries define it thus: “A road, usually ending in a pile of sand, provided on a hill for a driver to drive into if his brakes fail…”
- 117a. [*Mollusk on the move?] TRAVELING ABALONE. Traveling alone.
- 38d. [*Country founded by conspirators?] CABAL STATE. Cal State.
- 46d. [*Blah jalapeno?] DRAB PEPPER. Dr. Pepper.
Solid enough, yeah? I picked some nits above, but mostly it was an enjoyable solve. I liked the first and last entries most.
Most of the grid real estate is used up with the theme, so there isn’t much in the way of sparkly long fill. We get EGO TRIPS, OLIVE OIL, and MACAROON but that’s about it. I’m accustomed to seeing plenty of fun colloquialisms in a Burnikel grid, so maybe a six-pack would’ve been sufficient for the theme and allowed more fun fill. Not sure I’ve ever seen the word FADDISH before [Like fidget spinners, back in 2017], and I don’t expect I ever would outside of a crossword.
Clues of note:
- 56a. [Cookie made with coconut, maybe]. MACAROON. Make sure you know the difference.
- 122a. [Make a cameo]. CARVE. We’re talking jewelry here, not acting.
- 14d. [000-00-0002, for “The Simpsons” character Mr. Burns]. SSN. I guess the joke being that he’s that old. Who’s -0001 though?
Solid but not a lot of sparkle. 3.5 stars.
Universal Crossword, “Themeless Sunday 15” by Scott Earl — norah’s write-up
THEME: None
FAVORITE ENTRIES:
Universal, S. Earl, 11-6-2022
- GOTCHADAY 17A [Annual celebration for a pet parent]
- TIP 30A [Money left on the table]
- WHATASHOCKER 39A [Phrase of mock surprise]
- TWOSPIRIT 58A [Umbrella term for Indigenous nonbinary gender identities]
- SLOWEATER 64A [Person who really savors flavors]
- LOVEWINS 12D [Pride parade sentiment]
- WRAPPER 39D [Candy coat?]
OTHER NOTES:
This puzzle is so fun! I am so glad to see TWOSPIRIT in a puzzle! GOTCHADAY is also wonderful. The grid and clues serve up great LGBTQ vibes 💖
EVE (22A [Titular spy show role for Sandra Oh]) comes from “Killing Eve,” a BBC show (now available on Hulu!) that is one of my favorites of the last few years. The two main characters, both bisexual women, develop a mutual obsession that unfolds over four seasons, interwoven with spy vs. spy shenanigans. Highly recommend!
HAVEDIBS (36D [Are able to get first choice]) is a little awkward of a phrase and results in a clue that is similarly a little awkward, but this was the only sticking point for me in this puzzle.
Thank you Scott!
Zhouqin Burnikel’s USA Today crossword, “Food Capitals” —Darby’s write-up
Editor: Erik Agard
Theme: Each theme answer is a food that has a capital city in its name.
Theme Answers
Zhouqin Burnikel’s USA Today crossword, “Food Capitals” solution for 11/6/2022
- 16a [“Vegetables that look like mini cabbages”] BRUSSELS SPROUTS
- 40a [“Legumes paired with shellfish”] LIMA BEANS
- 63a [“Roasted meat served with chun bing”] BEIJING DUCK
I’m a super food-oriented person so I was very pleased to see this theme. BRUSSELS SPROUTS was very fun. They are definitely mini cabbages. I needed the crossed to help with BEIJING DUCK, but LIMA BEANS fell smoothly into place.
I enjoyed SOUNDS GOOD going down, as well as the fun fact about RAMADA (that it’s the 8d [“Sister brand of Super 8”]), even as I started to fill in MOTEL 6. The bonus food items in 50a [“Long sandwich”] TORPEDO, 42a [“Garlicky sauce”] AIOLI, and 67a [“Pita or paratha”] BREAD were also pretty cool, especially given my love for sandwiches.
Overall, a super foodie puzzle!
NYT: “En Garde Ians of the Galaxy” was my favorite theme answer. I feel like the discovery of that witty play on the movie title led to the rest of this puzzle. :P
That’s the best of the theme answers. THE ROYAL ENNUI is pretty good, too.
Thing I learned today: I’ve been pronouncing ENNUI incorrectly (with three syllables). Fortunately, I never actually pronounce it aloud – only in my head, while doing crosswords.
Agree. My second is how en suite it is.
Good overall
Regarding it’s leading to the the rest of the puzzle, well, it didn’t. The bio note in the Sunday print magazine explains that its germ was in thinking of, and rejecting, “ennui didn’t start the fire,” pursuing alternatives from there.
I wish that hadn’t appeared, though. It lets you know in way the title doesn’t that spellings will change from the original phrase in adding EN-.
I actually didn’t know EN SUITE or EN BLOC, but they were easily deducible, and I definitely don’t have a fond spot for movies like Guardians of the Galaxy, although it rang a bell. So this wasn’t a fave of mine by any means, but it’ll do.
I was wondering how EN SUITE would play. I associate “How sweet it is!” with entertainer Jackie Gleason, who is pretty old-school.
Same here. Jackie Gleason was still on TV when I was a kid, but his schtick seemed a bit out-dated the — and that was 50 years ago.
Do younger people use “How sweet it is!”?
Same here. My mother was friends late in life with the woman who’d played Trixie on The Honeymooners, which I kinda sorta pretended to remember. It was fascinating to see how their friends, mostly once on the margins of a show-biz career and then in their 80s, deferred to her. But then maybe I’d have deferred to James Taylor! (Was marveling at his guitar style in his work on Joni Mitchell’s Blue, which was widely covered in the media on the anniversary of its release. So there you couldn’t have to remember!)
Anyhow, all deducible without much in the way of remembering. I did have trouble with the crossing of BET and BOP IT.
BOP IT was in a NYT Mini a year or so ago. I had never heard of the toy, and whatever crossed it wasn’t obvious. That was the only time I ever needed a lookup to finish a Mini puzzle. But it’s etched in my memory now.
Thanks. Maybe it will be in my memory now, too. I’ve never done the minis.
BTW, before those tired of us who find many pop culture references tough and might see me favoring ones for boomers because I can remember them, let me clarify that I had only two points in mind. First, yes, some clues like that are terribly dated. And second, some might be justified because they are covered by mainstream publications like, yes, the NYT today. (This week got a ton of coverage all over the place of the remix and remastering of the Beatles and Revolver.)
I remember the phrase from Marvin Gaye’s song “How Sweet it is (to be loved by you)” … recorded 57 years ago… whew! 10 years later by James Taylor, still long ago.
I got stuck trying to figure out the phrase Makeup Tree…DUH. Had to say the whole thing aloud a few times for Tray to come to light :D :D.
Loved the Engarde Ians of the Galaxy …
I’d forgotten that song, though I remember when both were radio hits. Still, as you noted, that was a while back.
Anybody know how I can get the solution to WSJs Variety puzzle last week? (named “Catching Z’s) Their usual link is screwed up again…it only gives the pdf to the current acrostic variety puzzle. I tried emailing their support, but they only help subscribers.
WaPo: I forgot to see what the circled letters at the tops of the mountains spelled. Impressive from a construction standpoint.
LAT: Seriously, TWO “xxth Greek letter” clues? Easily gettable from the crosses, but still… not like some word-play double clues or same definition-different word clues.
Otherwise, I did enjoy the puzzle and finding the notes.
I had trouble finding where in 61A RENAISSANCE IRE and 71A VIDEO GAME CONES the notes went — until I realized I had fa and so/sol in the wrong order. (I’m no musician.)
Oops. This was supposed to be a reply to marciem’s comments on the LAT puzzle.
all the stars for that gem of a WaPo, incredible craftsmanship
Yet another Sunday of no comment or analysis of the LA Times by Gareth. Why even bother to list him as a team member?