Sunday, June 21, 2026

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Hannah Slovut-Einertson’s New York Times crossword, “Big Draw” — Nate’s write-up

06.21.2026 Sunday New York Times Crossword with Giraffe Drawing

06.21.2026 Sunday New York Times Crossword

21A: NECKING [Fighting technique used by [circled letters] (as explained at 76-Across)]
124A: SAVANNA [Habitat for [circled letters]]
20D: OKAPI [Closest living relative of the [circled letters]]
39D: TOWERS [Term for groups of [circled letters]]
81D: ACACIA [Tree whose leaves are eaten by [circled letters]]
109D: SPOTS [Fur pattern on a [circled letters]]

67A: THAT’S A TALL ORDER [“Boy, you’re asking too much” … or what you might say after following the instructions at 76-Across?]
76A: WORLD GIRAFFE DAY [Annual June 21 celebration of the animal depicted in this puzzle by connecting the circled letters from A to T and back to A]

This week’s Sunday NYT puzzle is a 27 x 17 that is as tall as its giraffe subject, which we’re meant to draw after connecting the dots from A to T and back again.  As a post-solve reward in the NYT app, you get a gorgeous giraffe drawing, which is probably more detailed than the pen-and-paper version will be. (Note: 27 x 17 is a 459-square puzzle, roughly akin to a 21 x 22 puzzle and its 462 squares.)

This grid felt largely smooth to me, though I will admit that I got stuck on one final square, at the intersection of 71A and 58D. For [Testify] at 58D, I had BE A ? WITNESS and could not, for the life of me, figure out what went in that ? square. TO? at 71A for [Popular browser for accessing the dark web] didn’t help me at all. I tried BE A (STAR) WITNESS with a (STAR) rebus, thinking that maybe the (STAR) was supposed to be where we start and end the connect-the-dots? Nope! It was BEAR WITNESS crossing TOR (which is maybe where the idea of torrenting comes from?). Anyone else get stuck there? Had to get past a bear to get to the giraffe – yay for wildlife indeed.

What did you think of the puzzle? Let us know in the comments below – and have a great weekend!