Friday, July 3, 2026

LAT tk (pannonica) rate it
NYT 7:33 (Amy) [4.00 avg; 2 ratings] rate it
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Barbara Lin’s New York Times crossword—Amy’s recap

NY Times crossword solution, 7/3/26 – no. 0703

Oof! I have a sample size of two, me and another solver. And we say that this puzzle took about 50% longer than a typical Friday NYT. None of the 15s were gimmes, and the cluing overall is tough.

Fave fill: SMILE LINE(s), PRESIDENTIAL RUN, NETI POT (I’m a Neilmed sinus rinse user), “I KNOW THE FEELING,” IMPULSE BUY, PLEADS IGNORANCE (tried PLAYS … first), AMNESTY, BIRDS OF PARADISE (both a bird and a flower), garage DOOR OPENER, and SET DESIGNS.

Not keen on HIT OUT, 48D. [Strongly criticize, with “at”]. What? Who says that? SSNS, TSETSE, EWERS, ELIA, also meh.

Nine clues:

• 15A. [Loses some hair, e.g.], MOLTS. Tried BALDS first.
• 22A. [Bring on board], literally, on a ship: LADE. Not the figurative HIRE.
• 31A. [Lays out some green for], SODS. I went for PAYS.
• 34A. [Makes a return that hits the net?], EFILES, Nothing to do with tennis.
• 66A. [Lifestyle for those who go both ways], BI CULTURE. Not sure I’ve seen the term before.
• 1D. [Item that’s not on the list, say], IMPULSE BUY. *chef’s kiss*
• 28D. [Pros in Washington], YEAS in Congress. Yep, I tried the NATS. Considered POLS.
• 50D. [Bass player], WOOFER. Playing the bass tones in a speaker, not playing either sort of musical instrument called a bass.
• 57D. [Brothers ___ (pop stars of the 1960s-80s)], GIBB. The Bee Gees, the brothers Gibb. Barry, Maurice, and Robin.

3.75 stars from me. The cluing level was too hard for a Friday! God knows what’s in store for us in the Saturday puzzle.