LAT tk (pannonica) rate it
NYT 6:40 (Amy) 
[3.67 avg; 3 ratings] rate it
Universal tk (Jim P) rate it
USA Today tk (Ben P) rate it
Coz Berlin’s New York Times crossword—Amy’s recap
NY Times crossword solution, 7/17/26 – no. 0717
It’s been a while since we’ve had a triple triple-stack, what with Martin Ashwood-Smith seldom being seen in these pages of late. Debut NYT constructor Coz Berlin gives us nine 15s and they’re a lively set: SCALLION PANCAKE, MADE A CLEAN BREAK, ORDERED A LA CARTE, timely(?) ANTIWAR MOVEMENT, LEONARDO DA VINCI, MOIST TOWELETTES, SAUCE AMERICAINE, “IS NOTHING SACRED?” (my favorite!), and STAND AT THE READY.
There are six 6s and all the rest of the fill is in the 3-5 letter range. Fave fill: SKOR, S’MORE, SWATCH. Triple stacks are known for clunky short crossers. ETD is pretty much the worst of the crossers, and it’s actually pretty decent. (Across EWERS is meh.) Nice work filling a commanding grid, Coz!
Three more things:
- 3D. [Google smartphone feature that edits the photographer into the group shot], ADD ME. But that makes the picture a lie! Sigh. I didn’t know the answer from the clue and filled in the wrong verb tense in the crossing, MAKE A CLEAN BREAK, had to use the “check solution” tool to quickly find my wrong square.
- 7D. [Dated many years ago?], OLDE. Is that really an ancient spelling, or is it used in modern times to convey oldness?
- 10D. [What the names of all but one continent end with], ANA. I don’t get this. Africa, Europe, North and South America, Oceania, Asia, Antarctica … ohhhh, it’s AN A, not -ANA. Tricky!
4.25 stars from me.
Puzzle: NYT; Rating: 4.5 stars
NYT. Terrific puzzle and a debut to boot. The 15’s were all fair and approachable. The fact that I thought the puzzle went “swoosh” despite its structure is a real compliment to its construction. Did not know that fact about Leonardo da Vinci. Yuck. 4.5 from me.