Jeffrey Martinovic and Jeff Chen’s New York Times crossword, “Working the Night Shift” — Nate’s write-up
10.27.2024 Sunday New York Times Crossword
The Phases of the Moon
84D: THE (MOON) [This puzzle’s subject]
111A: IT’S JUST A PHASE [“They’ll grow out of that” … or a description of eight squares in this puzzle]
Those eight circled squares were involved in these crossings:
M: 43A EMAILED x 35D ARM
MO: 67A KE(MO)SABE x 63D S(MO)OCHED
MOO: 91A (MOO)SE MEAT x 55D MAKE IT (MOO)
MOON: 97A HONEY(MOON) SUITE x 84D THE (MOON)
OON: 88A I CAN’T G(O ON) x 53D HIRED G(OON)
ON: 64A LOND(ON)ER x 58D S(ON)ORITY
N: 40A WAR SONG x 31D INN
(Dark circle acting as a black square between 30A and 33A)
19A: ROUND TRIP [Complete journey … or what 84-Down makes in this puzzle?]
37A: GOING FULL CIRCLE [Completing a cycle, like 84-Down in this puzzle?]
This week, we’re treated to an incredible depiction of the moon cycle, with eight circled squares depicting, in rebus form, the waxing of the word MOON and then its subsequent waning. Wow! On top of that, we have a number of thematic entries like IT’S JUST A PHASE, ROUND TRIP, and GOING FULL CIRCLE also describing what’s going on with this tribute to THE MOON. This felt like two complementary themes in one Sunday puzzle, and they worked together for me in the best of possible ways. Bravo to the constructors!
I wonder if anyone will experience the solve similar to me: I cruised through the top half of the grid at nearly record speed and then struggled a lot more in the bottom half, perhaps because of the rebus squares (it took me a bit to figure out what the rebus circled squares were doing, but I loved the aha moment of discovery!) and perhaps because of some trickier fill in that region. LINED OUT / TSR was a tough crossing for me, as was MICRODOT / SOU / TEY. That said, this puzzle and its multi-layered theme felt quite satisfyingly executed and made for a joyful solve.
What did y’all think? Let us know in the comments. Have a great weekend and, if you are eligible to vote in the US elections, please do so!
that was a tough Thursday masquerading as a Sunday. took a while to get going. but worth the payoff in the end!
also worth mentioning and didn’t see in the write up (maybe i missed it)—the moon is orbiting a central EARTH in the puzzle.