I have a real problem with the clue for 50D. If that is an accepted definition of the meaning of AFOOT, it’s wrong (IMO). “The game is afoot” does not mean that A game is “ in progress,” it means that THE game (an animal(s) being hunted) is moving, ergo it is “afoot.”
I’m so relieved to have found the comments section for these crosswords. I was beginning to get frustrated with myself today, because my pace was much slower than I’ve come to expect from a Tuesday puzzle. I’m relatively new to this as a regular activity, so sometimes I get stuck on random esoterica. And of course, I had to learn what the heck a Rebus was! Seeing the reactions to this puzzle helped in repairing my damaged ego. Thanks! ;)
3
I took 17 minutes more than my Tuesday average and that was using some help, which isn’t normally needed on Tuesdays. I wouldn’t normally begrudge the effort, but this one wasn’t satisfying, just hard work.
6
See now, this one was just my speed—challenging (i had no memory or knowledge of Duane Reade, but with 3 crosses i intuited the answer) and slightly askew and easy all rolled together.
'Ns in Athens' should be 'nis' not 'nus'--- if you are speaking Greek while you are there in Athens!
2
this one simply wasn't enjoyable to me. clues were too much, some areas were particularly difficult, little satisfaction in the places I did get. just wasn't happy with it.
6
I had no idea who READE was. Made kind of a natick for WICKEDNINE, since I couldn’t remember NINE and HASFUN fell hard. The best clue, IMO, was fall setting for EDEN. Clever. There was other interesting fill, such as STRETCH, BADEGG, SNOOT, and EARED.
This Tuesday puzzle seemed more like a Friday or Saturday puzzle to me. Very interesting and enjoyable.
:-)
5
I remember waiting in line at the Duane Reade near City Hall in Manhattan when the young woman in front of me, on the phone with her friend planning a party, emphatically asked "why spend so much on a cake that no one will eat."
1
Forget it. I give up. I found it very difficult for a Tuesday. Two times thru all the clues and I had a half dozen answers at best. I normally do better than that even on a Saturday. I'm giving up with about half the puzzle done. It's no fun when you need to keep revealing letters and then after revealing all of them you still have no idea. STERE, DONA, SCALA, TAGALOG, SEGO, BASTE (Stitch loosely?)
I guess I can feel happy I got FARAD.
13
agreed. clues we're Thursday or later level difficult at many times, and generally in a style I don't respond well to.
5
Goofus and Gallant! (Typo)
For 46D I first entered GOOFUS. Anyone else remember the Googus and Gallant characters in the Highlights for Children magazine found in pediatric medical and dental offices in the 1960s?
1
@Lorraine
Yes! I still frequently measure my own and others' behavior by them. Which is also funny and sad.
1
@Lorraine
Cheers to Goofus and Gallnt!
This had to be the toughest time I ever had with a Tuesday. There was a point in time where I really didn't think I was going to finish it and it wasn't just because of the theme; I was struggling with a number of answers. Still quite satisfying to finally slug it out.
Did not realize that these were all musicals - was just thinking movies - and there at least three (COMPANY, NINE and ONCE) that I was not familiar with at all. Was surprised there wasn't a reveal, but I'm not sure it would have helped.
The only thing I ever saw on Broadway was 'Golden Boy' with Sammy Davis Jr. back in 1964. It never occurred to me at the time that I would never get back there again.
8
Still perusing the grid post solve. A better clue for 45A might have been the B'way hit "Damn Yankees"
1
Fun puzzle -- got the theme after I completed the grid and realized what the years in the clues meant. Slightly morbid connect therefore between across fills 26 and 32.
On a lighter note,
21A gave me a chuckle. We need more guided ogs.
2
I thought this was a tough-Tuesday! Not being a theater (theatre?) goer, I only knew of Wicked, Hair, and Grease. Other clues/entries were late-week IMHO: DOBBS (for us non-New-Yorkers), OWEN, READE, STERE, etc.
Got hung up spang in the center: Couldn't finish the entries HAS___, IT___, and couldn't grok on the entries FIG, USERS, and of course, ______NINE for ages. Finally came up with ITISI and the rest fell quickly (funny how that works!).
Reminded me of an earlier puzzle with blended movie titles, also with years of release in the clues. (Sorry if I'm repeating others' observation.)
1
Is mine the only eye that glimpsed a tribute to a distant Garland?
Perhaps it was the STOLE under DURESS? Perhaps the casual reference to a WICKED NINE? If you ask me, we're clearly GUIDED to MAKE GOOD from a BAD EGG, as FARAD the eye can see.
If you think this is a STRETCH, BOO HOO ever you like.
(1988, 1985)
BEAR WITNESS
10
@Leapfinger
HAH! First thought you meant Judy and was really scratching my head. Now I get you. Hilarious. Only not at all. Grrrr.
2
Say hey, @kelpurnia!
Given the nature of the theme, a big facepalm that it never occurred to me... Of course, for today only: the love-child of David Merrick and Judy Garland
1
I had trouble connecting the column photo with today's puzzle, except that it's Broadway. And, of course, the Winter Garden houses many a musical and (as far as I know or can imagine) never a play. So I guess that's it.
I had to Google, though, about the show in the photo. All you can see is "Hayride," obviously the end of something longer. Apparently it's Cole Porter's "Mexican Hayride." I wondered if it was ever made into a movie. Turns out it was, with Abbott and Costello, and according to Wikipedia, "No songs from the stage musical were used in the film." Sacrilege!
When I saw BIG COMPANY I was halfway to the theme but didn't think "COMPANY" was ever made into a flick (it wasn't, but there was a televised concert version with Neil Patrick Harris). I'd forgotten (along with everyone else) the ill-fated Broadway musical adaptation of "BIG."
Possible quibble for the date on "HAIR": The show opened off-Broadway (at the old Phoenix) in 1967 and moved to Broadway in 1968. I saw both versions.
I also had to Google to see if the musical "NINE" (based on Fellini's "8-1/2") had gone back to the big screen. It had.
Gosh I wish Broadway weren't so expensive!
Non-themers were pretty much near-gimmes, with Suzanne VEGA the only true no-know.
No GUIDE DOGs, but October is Adopt a Shelter Dog month.
2
@Deadline - your opening remarks jolted my memory - for "Irma la Douce" - where the movie was made based on the prior musical comedy, quoting songs in the soundtrack, but not as an actual musical movie. A strange middle ground. I've played in the pit for that show so it really struck me when I saw the movie version.
@Deadline
The only time I ever took in a B'way show before I moved to NYC was on a trip from CA when I was advised about publicly available discount ticket booths in Times Square. Apparently those still exist; try a web search for that.
Dr W,
TKTS is still there (with a new building), and at two other locations and online. A $69 ticket for tonight's "Beautiful" is available for only $57.
John Prine's song “Sam Stone” mentions that little pitchers have big ears and until today I wondered what he meant. Who knew little pitchers were listening children?
Thanks!
3
@David/ Port Lavaca (?!)
'... Who knew little pitchers were listening children? ...'
Well... Ewers truly, for one. But I can still relate to that kind of wonderful delayed Aha!! moment.
1
I was perseverating on Chris Isaak today and really wanted the answer to be WICKEDGAME. I thought, surely there's been a show at some point called Game. Otherwise, this was slow and steady for me.
So Tuesday is the new Friday? OK, I'm getting that. But why?
24
In re WEE-BEE
In addition to the inexcusable omission of TONDO (after TRIPTYCH the other day), and another obscure word describing a writing style, the (chiefly scientific) 15-pointer was out of character, as was the 5-letter genetics word.
The status of the disallowed T__D (we'll ignore the related childish word, D__D__, which would also have worked) is peculiar. It's considered "slang" in British, and either "informal or "rude" in American English. It is one of those words with a fine Old English pedigree, describing an everyday object for which I know of no better alternative, which has become tarnished by its non-literal usage.
2
@NICE CUPPA
I finally worked out what T__D and D__D__ are. I tried both myself as well and was unhappy that they were not accepted.
But the 15-pointer you're talking about - isn't that the second pangram? It's 19 points, right? The first pangram is 16 points.
I think that one was reasonable, since the two pangrams are basically antonyms. In the chemistry sense, it's a pretty common term. Your point being that it's uncommon outside of the field of science, right? But it's taught in elementary school. Wires and other electrical stuff. I think most people, even those that are not scientifically inclined, know the two terms.
2
@Wen and NICE CUPPA
I get the science aspect of the one pangram and its relative that you refer to, and as a non-scientist don't think they're too hard in that respect.
But to one who was a child in San Francisco, that meaning was utterly by the bye. Mainly, they are the two kinds of people on a cable car.
1
@NICE CUPPA
Same thought here about the two non-allowed words. My copy of Webster's says informal for the first and (harsh!) vulgar for the second.
Remember one time as a small kid when I looked up some (what I thought then) were rude words and they were IN the dictionary. It made me LOVE the dictionary and most likely cemented (concreted?) then and there two of my lifelong loves, words and not pussy-footing (can I say that?) around them.
Mind you, not that I seek to be rude. In the Dispossessed, Ursula K LeGuin needed to mention S__T, so she did so. It's just a truth. I'm not as brave as Lenny Bruce.
We learn about the beekeeper as we go; that she is a bit prim but not shy of the slangiest slang. And, the other day, that she's not much into Middle Eastern food (no KOFTA? no KOOKOO?). Bzzz.
I’ve been wondering how to leave a comment and just figured it out today. I agree that this seemed harder than the usual Tuesday puzzle but very satisfying all the same. As another reader said, very crunchy. Nice challenge.
5
Welcome to our motley crew.
2
@Dag Ryen
Ditto
Welcome, Shari Coats!
Commenting on WP is restricted to people who are willing to try clicking on any-/ everything, no matter how unpromising in appearance.
Had no idea of the theme until I came here after the solve. But I enjoyed FIG for some reason.
2
As a grower of FIGs, I took that one ill. A ripe FIG is magnificent. When ours is bearing, I try to eat my weight in FIGs daily. People ask if we grill them or wrap them with bacon or stuff them with mascarpone.... but why trifle with perfection?
3
@Mean Old Lady
Which variety of figs do you have?
@Mean Old Lady
Fresh juicy figs are awesome. Anyone doing anything with them were just working with inferior unfresh figs.
Today's puzzle was so difficult that it had me running to check my calendar. (Seems there has been a lot of that going on these days. No WICKED Supreme Court reference intended.) If it's Tuesday this must be Belgium. But I digress. Still, today's time was close to my average Thursday and identical to my best Sunday time, which makes no sense at all...
Way out of my wheelhouse obviously. However, having lived several years in Southern Ontario and War of 1812 territory, LAKE ERIE came quite easily. Interesting how one's take on the War can change depending on which side of the line one lives. We grew up with the spin that we were defending against Americans intent on invading and taking over Canada. Speaking of which, glad to see that we have managed to keep a free trade agreement in place.
Dreading Wednesday...
16
Wednesday is heavenly — not to worry!
1
Hey! No preveals!
One of the things that has bugged me is when Deb does the live solve on Thursdays on Facebook. I mean...she's already solved it beforehand, right? So she sorta has to half-pretend she's doing it fresh.
So when she says so-and-so said 3D is this, she then says, well, I think that's not right, I think it's something else...she knows she's right. I mean, I appreciate what Deb does on these - I think it's fantastic and it's a lot of work to read comments live and talk through the whole thing, and kind of reveal the thinking behind the solving process. But you know, there is still that little bit of nagging thought in my mind that she already knew all of the answers - after all, she had to write the Wordplay post to be published by the night before.
Anyway, nothing new here. Carry on.
I've never posted here before, but I have to do it today, to voice my frustration. Not with the puzzle itself, but with the app! I tried multiple times to open Wordplay for some much-needed insight, and it crashed. Three times. Finally had to come to work and open it on the desktop.
Growl.
Now, on the the puzzle...
3
My personal best: I solved this with no help at all, at a minute or so slower than average. And I’m not particularly knowledgeable about movies or Broadway, but somehow I tumbled to the theme early.
The fun of puzzles — what’s easy for one is a poser for another. I don’t mean to be a SNOOT though. I kept trying to fit SNOB in there!
2
@Tom Wild
How can it be your personal best if you solved it "a minute or so slower than average??"
Ron,
Perhaps because unlike earlier puzzles in the average, Tom solved it "with no help at all?"
Obviously I don't see enough movies! At least one of these I've never heard of, others I've heard of but not seen, and one ('BIG') I really enjoyed...on TV.
I wanted DEFANG, which has more zing than DEFUSE.
Stuck at Amazing (23 words/ 89 points) and about to leave the house for most of the day....oh, the ignominy!
4
@Mean Old Lady
Well there is 1 word that is worth 15 points and will take you soaring into the GENIUS level; it is simply the opposite of the pangram. Its typical usage is in scientific circles, so it was unexpected from the BEE-keepers. There's another (short) scientific word from modern genetics that also surprised me when accepted. There is in addition a 7-letter word that is an obscure derivative of a word you already have. It describes a writing style, which is why the BEE-keepers include it, but is not a word in broad circulation......
And no TONDO ! Doubly (even triply) surprising when we had TRIPTYCH just the other day. Clearly there some holes in their liberal arts education.
2
@NICE CUPPA Not sure if MOL has seen this yet but I was in similar Amazing ignominy till I got your clue which did indeed catapult me into Genius territory. Thank you!
@NICE CUPPA Thanks for the clue.. maybe a bit more of a clue than usual, but I was getting frustrated at Amazing and was just glad to be finished looking at those seven letters all day!
Meanwhile, back in the "clue, not definition" department, to DEFUSE a device (or a situation) does make it less dangerous but it does *not* "Render [it] harmless."
EOD
I needed a GUIDE DOG to be able to MAKE GOOD on this puzzle. Meaning, it was a harder than usual Tuesday, but an enjoyable one at that. It was a lot of fun recalling the titles mentioned. And reliving the musicals that I actually saw on Broadway.
No real problems other than DEfang before DEFUSE.
Thanks for memories, Paul Coulter!
2
In the main puzzle, since so many plays are made into Broadway shows and vice versa, I wasn't sure which was which and the years just added to my confusion. Fun, though!!
Today being Opus Dei's 90th anniversary of its founding, it was fun to see a "reference" in the mini.
1
Yes, much harder than usual for Tuesday, and the difficulty is all in the fill. Very crunchy, very crosswordy. One writeover, at 59A: Disarm/DEFUSE.
9
@archaeoprof
Defang before DEFUSE.
2
No Sorrowful sound from me today as I quite enjoyed the puzzle. I didn't know quite a few of the plays, but everything fell into place with the crosses and the ones I did know. All were well clued.
I always like to see ORION (especially in real life) and today very much enjoyed learning that the origin of "boondocks" was from the Philippines.
4
Ahh the old Times Square. Thanks for the photo. I can imagine the GENTS exclaiming "Nice gams." And, they would know who Tom Swift was. This summer I found an original Tom Swift book in a Bookstore in Calais. It was given to a student for perfect attendance in 1944.
Never heard of a FARAD but I cannot wait to use it in a sentence, SNOOT that I am.
Thanks Paul
2
@dk
Farad is a unit of capacitance and was named in honor of Michael Faraday whose experimental investigations did much to advance our knowledge of electric and magnetic issues in the 19th century. Look him up on wikipedia.
@Dr W
Apologies to those who also replied similarly earlier.
SPELLING BEE
4* 5* 6* 7* 8* 9* 12*
C 10 3 2 2 2 - 1 -
D 8 4 3 1 - - - -
N 1 - - - - - - 1
O 4 1 1 - 2 - - -
R 4 1 2 1 - - - -
T 1 1 - - - - - -
U 2 2 - - - - - -
Total 30/139
2 pangrams
Bingo
* = number of letters
Trying something similar to Wen’s matrix. Hoping this works out visually with the spacing.
I had to cheat because there was a 5-letter “c” word I didn’t know. Otherwise all were gettable.
5
@BM
Nice summary! The counts helped me get the last two. Thanks!
3
@BM
That looks great. Thanks for the stats. re: the matrix - trust the tabs to do all of the work to line things up. Don't use spaces.
I'm having a hard time with this one - can't even see the pangrams yet. :(
@Wen
Phew, got the pangrams, got to Genius. Disasters averted. On to QB!
Wicked, this one.
3
* Cute theme.
* Brain-loving more resistance than a normal Tuesday (due to unknown words and some vague cluing).
* All the plays were familiar except for NINE, which, after I looked it up, I remembered.
* Mini-theme of double O's (6).
* A dozen words starting with S (I don't know if it is, but that feels high).
* All over the puzzle, three-letter words ending with G: BIG, VEG, DOG, FIG, TAG, LAG, KEG, TOG, RIG, EGG, REG, NAG. (Not that I like word searches -- quite the contrary -- but my eyes just kept falling on these.)
3
I generally enjoy the NYT crosswords from a non American perspective and enjoy learning about the couple of American phrases strewn about, In this case however I found the "down-to-earth" approach too obscure for someone not being steeped in the common phrases of the US. I think the difficulty of this puzzle increases disproportionately with cultural distance. Doable but I prefer to not have to look up anything and this time it was extremely necessary.
7
Don’t worry, none of us knew where the battle was without the crosses either
4
Speak for yourself, Patrick. I knew it would be LAKE ERIE since New Orleans didn't fit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL7XS_8qgXM
@Patrick Mcgovern
Actually that one was kind of easy. Not because I knew of the battle, but knowing that the war was between England and the USA and Canada was part of the UK, I expected there to be a battle near the border. Since it was 1812 a more easterly battle would be expected as well. My issues were with local phrases such as boondocks and the type of pitchers mentioned. On top of the common usage of local landmarks, i.e. Annapolis inst., Broadway musicals and other bits of Americana, Duane ____, just made this one too much tailored to the American this time. It's the first time that me not being an American made the puzzle several degrees harder than necessary, just wanted to mention it so the NYT might wage it in its considerations.
I recall a SNOOT as the conical attachment to narrow the beam of a spotlight from photography school, not as a snooty person.
Familiar with both. I was surprised that at Dictionary.com, RHUD doesn't include the "lighting" use of SNOOT, but it is shown as "British" usage in Collins.
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/snoot
I have one word for this puzzle and that is gamey.
The rest of my words explain how I needed twice as much time to infiltrate the North-West corner and had to STRETCH to thread DARNS and BASTE together.
I too got the theme after the “Pomade” clue, but not knowing much theater (even Broadway gone Hollywood theater) left me with a slower than average time but a good feeling of accomplishment.
A good puzzle.
Just a bit gamey.
3
It seemed kind of hard for Tuesday, but it was very well-clued and aside from a couple of little dead ends I made for myself, lots of fun. Very clever! DURESS was funny.
The whole thing made me sorry again that Raul Julia is gone; he was a wonderful actor.
10
As not much of a theater-goer, I think I was aware of only 5 of the musicals. Not that it mattered much to solving the puzzle. About average for a Tuesday for me. Speaking for the minor part of the world outside the 5 Boroughs, I don’t really pay attention to the goings-on on Bway. (Okay, I know; I’m just speaking for myself.)
Reposting a question I added very late to yesterday’s convo: in SB, what is a “bingo”? Is it a 7-letter pangram?
3
@David Meyers
BINGO is a term we coined to mean that the complete word list contains at least one word beginning with each of the 7 letters on the wheel and hub. Nothing more.
1
@NICE CUPPA - I think somebody (maybe you?) used the phrase "perfect pangram" to describe a 7-letter pangram.
Thanks for the bingo explanation.
Yes, I knew of Faraday, but had no idea that there was an electrical unit named for him. That was the only clue that had me stumped, but the crosses came to my rescue.
I had the capacity to remember that one. Nyuk nyuk
4
I will meditate on your response, Tom.
@Spanker
As an EE major, FARAD was a gimme for me. To each his own!
I found the themed entries easy but then had a tough time with the fill. VEGA crossing SEGO, SELA, and STERE were all quite difficult. ACAI is common crosswordese now or I'd never have gotten it from the clue.
@balshetzer
If you don't know SUZANNE VEGA, you should get to know her – at least her classic stuff. A unique talent.
Here is a link to Marlene on the Wall:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=httsEPYOSLA
3
@NICE CUPPA Thanks!
@balshetzer - The No. 1 must-know Suzanne Vega song: "My Name Is Luka."
https://youtu.be/VZt7J0iaUD0
I lived in Brazil for seven years and never heard of ACAI na tigela. Back then, in Rio, there was a fruit juice bar on every corner and we often stopped in, so I remember the fruits, and I don't recall the acai. But that was in the last millennium, before it caught on and was highly marketed as some kind of superfood. Bottom line, a pretty obscure clue.
3
Wags,
Elsewhere in today's comments, we have a European noting the number of Americanisms in the puzzle, but ACAI was an entry for which I hadn't a clue from the non-U.S. clue. I can understand your pre-millennial non-encounter; per the footnotes in the Wiki, NYT did not take note until 2010.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%C3%A7a%C3%AD_na_tigela
Fun, but tough for a Tuesday, and I'm a Broadway guy.
10
@mjengling I also thought this was very hard for a Tuesday, especially following an abnormally tough Monday puzzle... Glad it's not my first week solving!
19
Caitlin's post re: loanwords picks up well on yesterday's discussion - er, diatribe - er, whatever...
A word, once borrowed into another language, becomes its own word - that is to say, it does not continue to mean exactly, and only, what it meant in the original language. The "tamale" deal comes into full focus here.
What we mean by "sushi" is not what "sushi" means in Japan. What we mean by "pierogi" is not what "pierogi" means in Poland. What we call a "czar" or a "tsar" is not what a "tsar" or a "czar" is in any other language.
English has the highest importation rate of any world language, by a good margin. We use many words that have complex origins and we use them in complicated ways. Good for crosswords; a mixed blessing for dictionary writers; and a sad state of affairs for language purists. But that has been the situation for English since there ever was a language that could be called English! And long may it be so. Melting, smelting, English is a hot mess.
15
@David Connell
Yes – A hot, dynamic, beautiful mess.
However, STERE seems to be a singularly useless import.
3
STERE was originally the metric measure for firewood or cut wood, analogous to a cord. We still use cords here. Wonder if you by firewood in France by the stere?
@DC
My God, what does sushi mean in Japan? (Anything like NATICK?) Inquiring minds want to know?
lots of good performances here. I would like a little more resistance -- I like to be AWED!
2
Decent enough puzzle today. Just under my average time.
Maybe it's just my browser, and maybe I'm the only one who cares, but why is the "To the Moon" titled in a non-serif font?
What is this “To the moon” to which you refer?
@Michael O My font is also different! I was wondering if it was part of the movie marketing? Could also just be a glitch.
@David Meyers: It's the title of a promotional bonus puzzle for "First Man" - in my screen view, it appears just to the right of the daily puzzle and above the ad for the movie. (The ad seems like it's on the puzzle page to stay...at least for now.)
@David Meyers
on the web page
https://www.nytimes.com/crosswords
there is an advertising sponsored extra puzzle called "To the Moon"
EGO, unmodified, does not mean SWELLED HEAD.
3
@Nobis Miserere Clues are *clues* not *definitions*. Someone with a swelled head can be said to have an "ego", therefore "swelled head" as a clue for "ego" is appropriate and entirely within decades of precedent of NYT crossword cluing.
13
@Tyler
Noted,