I'm with Jeff Chen on this one; there's nothing really wrong with the puzzle, but it doesn't sparkle because tennis terms and movie titles are well-worn topics.
1
In defense of RISOTTOS (despite my earlier ‘risotti’ pun which I was too juvenile to resist):
The -S plural is correct since ‘risotto’ came to us from Italian, not Latin. That’s why we say ‘frescos’/‘frescoes’ and not ‘freschi’ and none of us (I hope) would order two ‘cappuccini’ at Starbucks.
On a different note, the clue for SYN was my favorite. Looking forward to more of Daniel’s work.
1
I liked the crossing of ALJOLSON with SNOG and CASTRATI. Jolson was a baritone, who by all accounts came to every match with a full CAN.
@Fidelio, usually I enjoy your comments very much, but I must admit that your second sentence escapes me entirely. I know -- I must be a thorough bumpkin...
I DOTE(d) on this delightful puzzle. Where I wanted to see chill I had _CARE and finally realized what a SOT is.
Keep the puzzles coming, Mr. Grinberg!
Hi all!
Quick question: Has anyone experienced any Wordplay outages today? In other words, have you come to the Wordplay main page or this column and gotten a “Page not found” message?
@Deb Amlen
No.
Also no.
1
@Deb Amlen
Yes, but it was Tues night. 22:30 or thereabouts.
1
Great puzzle. And solved while watching The U.S. Open.
2
Congratulations, Daniel Grinberg, for a delightful maiden voyage.
3
I wonder if there is quite a lot of overlap between tennis fans and crossword solvers/ constructors. It seems to me that tennis terms appear in the cwp with some frequency.
5
42 A - ORES - was dangerously close to that ubiquitous cookie!
6
@Stephanie
Yes, I thought the same thing. I was missing the S before reading the clue and wondering if we would have it three days in a row!
2
Tennis in the time of the US Open! Well done! Can someone make a Thursday puzzle with all Russian/Czech/Ukranian names? :)
6
Thanks, Deb, for explaining the SYN clue. That one was indeed tricky! I only filled it in through the crossings and couldn't make sense of it.
My favorite clue was "Leaves in hot water? " TEA
Fun puzzle! Congrats on your debut, Daniel. Seeing your name on a puzzle will indeed make me Grin.
5
Nice debut and congratulations!!
One question: how do clue and fill relate for 57D? I have not seen that connect before.
OTOH I do have a couple of quibbles in addition to one posted earlier.
-- 49A is correct 25% of the time. It's not so during a non-leap year.
-- 61A is not made with hummus.
No, not made with hummus. But it’s typically the bread served with hummus.
7
@Dr W. I interpreted 57D as a boatload is lot, and a TON (figuratively) is a lot.
The key to 49A is the word "can." FEB doesn't always begin and end on the same day of the week, but it's the only month that ever can.
61A of course a PITA is not made with hummus, but it is often served with hummus.
9
@Stephanie @RickinVA @Dr W
to me, a PITA is a pain in the ass
you're welcome
4
each puzzle this week took me longer to finish than my average so I "think" they were all challenging for their respective day of the week...or I'm developing dementia.
Patrick,
...or (3) they just weren't in your wheelhouse.
4
Q: Why do CASTRATI sing for their RISOTTi?
A: SODACAN eat.
12
@Sam Lyons
Well, definitely a groaner.
But I congratulate you on your plural of risotto -- which is correct even though the actual fill for 37D is not.
That's my quibble for today,
1
@Dr W, the clue for 37D is all English, and RISOTTOS is the English plural of risotto.
5
@Robert
.....yes .... but..... "risotto" is not English.
Add me to the chorus of delight over the clever cluing; all the "aha!" moments were a great way to kick off a Wednesday. The movie / tennis theme was highly satisfying. I hope we get to see more puzzles from Mr Grinberg.
3
As a keen TENNIS fan I loved this puzzle. I am a bit surprised some found it difficult for a Wednesday; I thought today and yesterday solved the other way round. No wonder Will finds it hard to judge what day is best for a puzzle.
I haven't seen any of the films, but read THE FAULT IS IN OIR STARS, a sad but beautifully written book.
I'm late to word play as I was worried about possible tennis spoilers as I have to record and watch the next day, so hope nobody mentions any results for the next 2 weeks.
5
@suejean
'Love, Actually' is worth watching!
3
@Mean Old Lady,
I'll keep that in mind.
Thank you for a fun and interesting puzzle. Just the right amount of challenge (with a bit of help from Debs column). The best part for me was when I saw the clue about the teenagers with cancer. I glanced over at the stack of books on my nightstand and there it was! Haven’t seen the movie yet.
2
Wonderful debut puzzle that kept me highly interested even though I don't follow rom-coms or tennis. Excellent cluing and the tricky challenges were distributed enough that getting a cross filled in often showed the answer.
I was thankful to be distracted me from the scene at my house, where roofers have been hammering over my head since 7 this morning. My little rescue cat, adopted recently. fled under the daybed in my study, unfortunately right under where they are working.
So I joined her, worked the crossword and calmed her down, and then crossword calmed me down. Crosswords are a great resource on a stressful day.
10
@Carol Indeed they are! I hope you’ll read our latest Solver Story by Olivia Aldridge, which deals with using puzzles to lower anxiety.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/28/crosswords/solver-stories-anxiety-depression.html
2
Congratulations Mr Grinberg on your first NYT puzzle. I am impressed by your tenacity, first by continuing to submit after numerous rejections and second for your successful PhD completion. As one who did not finish my PhD program, I know the high degree of commitment it takes.
I found the puzzle interesting, with a few challenging fills. Did not understand SYN until I read Deb's column. I got the theme when I filled in TENNIS. Never saw any of the movies, but heard of all of them. The theme is timely with NYC presently hosting the annual U.S. Open out in Queens.
3
I enjoyed the puzzle very much.
Can someone clarify 40 across answer of RIT
2
@Gerospartiatis, it's an abbreviation of ritardando, which is a "graceful reduction in tempo" in music.
4
It's a term found on a musicsl score. It's an abbreviation of ritardando, which means slowing down. The opposite is accel., short for accelerando.
2
@Chris
Thank you so much. So many years since I liiked at sheet music.
1
Two thumbs up for Mr. Grinberg's debut.
I sailed through with great enjoyment only to have the one square left blank at the end: Alnico crossed by United, for one. I deduced "Y" or "T" as the only options, went with "Y" and then caught the trick in both directions (as I don't speak "Alloy" fluently).
More please, Mr. Grinberg.
9
@Liane same! I drew a complete blank on Alnico and had to manually step myself through the alphabet before I landed on "Y" for the Across clue.
PROSY was my “Why Y?”
3
@Amy. I had PROSe until I realized that ALLOe didn't make sense. I suppose since poetic is an adjective, PROSY also has to be an adjective.
1
Congratulations on your NYT debut, Daniel! Revel in all your glory today as your intelligence and persistence paid off.
You have a real knack for cluing, too!
So enjoy your day, then get back to work on your next puzzle!
7
Welcome, New Constructor! Very nice.
Best clue: United, for one. I had S-N and thought it had to be SYN, but couldn't get my mind around it until the final moment, when the nickel dropped. Or, I guess now it's a quarter. Inflation.
It is easy to get CAJUN food in these parts, though we're told the shrimpers are having to go far from shore (and the oyster beds have been destroyed) due to the huge influx of fresh water from the floods of the Spring and Summer.
About to go silent for a few days as we relocate from our *very cozy* one-BR apartment into a house at last. While it was gratifying to sell our Conway house so quickly, it did put us in a bit of a crush, or a crunch. Onward!
9
@Mean Old Lady. Does this move to a more spacious residence mean you will change your name to Happy old lady?
3
@Laurie A.
Ha ha, this has been my Nom de CrossWorld for a long time; guess I was feeling crotchety when I signed on way back in the days of Jim Horne, when David Steinberg was in jr. high....
If I'm allowed to dig in the garden and get dirty, I sweeten up nicely. (My fig tree start--rooted off the big one back in ARkansas--and lemon tree --and orchids and succulents and vines and amaryllis and African violets, etc.-- are all ready to go! Oh, and Charlotte the Kitty and the DHubby get to come along, too.) Good times continue!
7
I first had NNE, which would have had me swimming in Lake Michigan if starting in Austin, Tx.. Or Lake Superior if starting in Austin, MN
7
TENNIS is always deserving of a crossword puzzle, say I, but why stop there?
THE COURT JESTER
FORTY WEEKS (with a nod to one of yesterday's more controversial clues)
WIMBLEDON / SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS
BETWEEN THE LINES
THE OPEN HOUSE
THE FIREMAN'S BALL
A SHOT IN THE DARK
THE RACKET / COOL HAND LUKE
THE bLOB
You might want to put your own spin on this, people. I doubt I've even scratched the surface. The ball's in your court.
3
The DEUCE, you say!
3
Nancy,
Notes on another, older tennis debut puzzle....
https://wordplay.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/16/any-pun-for-tennis/?searchResultPosition=2
2
@Nancy
ACE VENTURA:Pet Detective
4
Another one chalked up for the “Solved” column (not just “completed”).
Had “no clue” (scuse!) about SATORI or RIT and never even heard of the first two movies, (Didn’t go see any of them.), and got SYN only from the crosses. (Excellent clueing by the way!)
And I had ZIP in place of NIL for too long. Made a mess of the NE.
And I thought Senatorial agreement was signified by “AYE”. Thus the concluding statement, “The AYE’s have it.”
FAULT IN OUR STARS put me onto the theme though and the other movie answers came as a result.
I agree with the majority of commenters that more contributions from Mr. Grinberg would be warmly welcomed.
4
Many will solve this puzzle, and that will be that. But I love the backstory. Here's this guy Daniel, who has been solving crosswords for a long time, and a year ago he feels the itch to try his hand at making them. He researches the art, including reading years of Jeff Chen's puzzle comments as well as constructor comments, and finally set down to constructing. Twelve times he submits to the NYT, and twelve times he gets turned down. But I'm guessing that the Times editors recognize potential, and their rejection emails are seeded with encouragement.
Then one day Daniel, who has recently completed a doctorate in Film and Media Studies, is enroute to the gym when the crossword muse gift-slams him with a theme that involves his film knowledge, a theme that logistically works in a grid, and he works, and he polishes, and he sends it off and either gets an immediate YES or gets it after some back and forth, and a big dream of his becomes fulfilled. Not only that, but the Times editors, who have been bringing him along, even through the rejections, now have the promise of more puzzles from a constructor with much potential. And solvers are treated to a lovely debut puzzle.
It's a beautiful story, IMO, and may it continue!
38
Never saw any of those films, but still enjoyed every minute of the solve, especially non-themers like LUSITANIA, CORGI, and SATORI. Mr. Grinberg won't be receiving any HATEMAIL over a gem like this.
7
Mr. Grinberg, I mostly enjoyed your debut today. I’ve had the lyrics “I feel it in my fingers, feel it in my toes...” as an ear worm for about two weeks. Imagine my gleeful surprise at seeing LOVEACTUALLY pop up in the crossword! That song is a running joke with my daughter.
The other clue my daughter was involved with was The FAULTINOURSTARS. She’d read the book and insisted that we watch the movie together. Talk about an ugly cry! You’d have had a real SCARE if you saw us bawling.
I got SYN and RIT through crossings, as well as WRY because I was sure it’d be PROSe not PROSY.
However, my stomach flipped at another fill that I got mostly through crossings: ALJOLSON. The clue should have been “Entertainer who was the king of blackface and perpetuation of Black stereotypes.” Call me a hand wringer if you will but that’s what Jolson will always be known for to me and mine. Had he been around longer, he’d undoubtedly have milked these images until his last show, wearing an AFRO wig and mocking African American culture ad nauseum. For baby boomers here, there’s a term we use in this situation: Boy, bye!
Otherwise, a MENSA-quality puzzle.
3
@Ms Korunova
See postings by @Rich in Atlanta!
One of the “life rules” I used to emphasize for my high school students was,
“What you know as the truth may not be the WHOLE truth!”
5
@Ms Korunova
I stand with you,Ms. K.
1
There was a guy in my neighborhood who was a registered sex offender - with young children. He was always very pleasant to me. As an HOA board member, I was particularly impressed by how well he kept up his lawn and property. When his dog got out and chased after my two big dogs, he understood fully the SCARE my dogs gave his. He seemed really nice and normal, but he was not. I would never, ever hang out with this fellow. Do you get my point?
3
In response to a number of comments. The following is from The Wikipedia page for Al Jolson:
While growing up, Jolson had many black friends, including Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, who became a prominent tap dancer. As early as 1911, at the age of 25, Jolson was noted for fighting discrimination on Broadway and later in his movies. He promoted a play by Garland Anderson which became the first production with an all-black cast produced on Broadway. He brought a black dance team from San Francisco that he tried to put in a Broadway show.; He demanded equal treatment for Cab Calloway, with whom he performed duets in the movie The Singing Kid.
Jolson read in the newspaper that songwriters Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle, neither of whom he had ever heard of, were refused service at a Connecticut restaurant because of their race. He tracked them down and took them out to dinner, "insisting he'd punch anyone in the nose who tried to kick us out!" According to biographer Al Rose, Jolson and Blake became friends and went to boxing matches together.
(to be continued in a reply).
21
(continued)
Film historian Charles Musser notes, "African Americans' embrace of Jolson was not a spontaneous reaction to his appearance in talking pictures. In an era when African Americans did not have to go looking for enemies, Jolson was perceived a friend."
Jeni LeGon, a black female tap dance star, recalls her life as a film dancer: "But of course, in those times it was a 'black-and-white world.' You didn't associate too much socially with any of the stars. You saw them at the studio, you know, nice—but they didn't invite. The only ones that ever invited us home for a visit was Al Jolson and Ruby Keeler."
__________________
Was going to add my own comment on this, but I'll just leave it at that.
16
@Rich in Atlanta
I read the same Wiki article before posting (actually, while waiting to post what I had already written b/c Wordplay site for this puzzle was not yet up). I considered adding a reference to it in my initial post. And it is certainly important context. But ... that didn’t change my sense of unease about seeing JOLSON in the puzzle. Whether he should have been or not, as clued, is not my call. There are a lot more important issues in the world than that. And, I still enjoyed the puzzle as a whole very much. But I’m a white guy, so it’s easy for me not to take it too personally when the “King of Blackface” is a featured entry in the puzzle.
3
@Puzzlemucker
So - maybe - the appropriate thing would be to turn your “Unease Sensor” down a click or two.
Or just not publish your unease for public consumption?
There are SO many things that should/do cause outrage these days - let alone “unease” - that this one really need not have bubbled to the surface.
It’s a “free world” however - so you are certainly at liberty to let us know of your discomfort.
6
Would not have passed my oral exam. I need to get out more as I have seen none of these films. I did know Yul, having grown up listening to show tunes. Thanks dad.
Waning days of summer here in Grand Lake Stream as I prepare to head south. Local serves both pomme frites and poutine with plenty of SEL.
Thanks Dan and welcome.
2
@dk
I was introduced to poutine in the restaurant attached to The Voyageurs’ Inn - on a Lake Superior bay - our stopover on the way to Wawa, ON and a float-plane flight over the Ontario “outback” to Lake Wabatongushi - where we fished for Pike and Walleye. (We put all of the former back in the water and never caught enough of the latter to make a decent dinner.)
Anyway - that’s where I decided that “poutine” must be french for BLECHHH!
French fries with gravy and cheese?!?!?🤮
Maybe if I had just paddled a voyageur canoe full of furs or supplies for six weeks and hadn’t eaten anything but hard tack and bark during that time - - but not on anything like a normal appetite.
Nice debut, Mr. Grinberg! Loved the theme and fun fill! More like this, please.
4
Congratulations, Mr. Grinberg on a fine debut puzzle! I enjoyed the cluing and the solving experience.
4
LETTER BOXED
G-R(7), R-S(6)
a 13!
3
@Mari
I had M-E (8), E-E (7) but I knew there was something shorter out there.
My favourite of the many solutions yesterday was NEBULAR REVOMIT.
@Andrew
Good one! Amazing that REVOMIT is proper word.
I had the NYT AMBER REVOLUTION yesterday (my 2nd attempt) - which apparently is the title of a book about orange wine!
@Mari
Yesterday I had VARMINT TROUBLE.
Today I went longer than necessary, just because the two words are related, V-S(8) S-E(9)
SPELLING BEE
Y A H I N P T
Words: 24, Points: 119, Pangrams: 1,Bingo: yes
A x 2
H x 4
I x 2
N x 4
P x 7
T x 4
Y x 1
4L x 4
5L x 16
6L x 2
7L x 1
9L x 1
4 5 6 7 9 Tot
A - - 1 - 1 2
H 1 3 - - - 4
I 1 - - 1 - 2
N - 4 - - - 4
P 1 5 1 - - 7
T 1 3 - - - 4
Y - 1 - - - 1
Tot 4 16 2 1 1 24
52
@Mari 22 of the 24 words end in 'Y' today, so a bit boring, if quick. One spelling of a casual greeting (not a word, in the conventional sense).
Not accepted: NAPPY or PAINTY, HYPANTHIA (a bit too esoteric), PITAHAYA (ditto) and another type of fruit/vegetable that I won't list as it contains a root-word that is.
5
@Mari missing just 2 words h4 & I4, all but 1of my words end in y. No casual greeting that I found.
Also missing that I remember nitty.
@Mari nevermind found them all in seconds with your hints. 5 days in a row Queen Bee
5
Erik Larson's book "Dead Wake: The last crossing of the LUSITANIA" is an excellent chronicle of the ship's sinking
4
ColoradoZ,
Missed it. I grew up on A.A. and Mary Hoehling's "The Last Voyage of the Lusitania" (Holt, 1956).
Question for high school history teachers (or recent high school students) re: Deb's "Hi, kids!" -- Is the Lusitania no longer mentioned when discussing U.S. entry into The Great War?
4
@Barry Ancona
Thanks. When searching Hoehling in library, I note A. A. also has a book Lost at Sea" which looks interesting.
In lieu of saying this puzzle made a racket (groan), I'll instead just say to you all, "ALLOY, maties!"
Nice debut!
7
As an IOWAN (by birth) and a CPA, I like -NAY, LOVE ACTUALLY-this puzzle. If you TRAVEL on I-80 thru Iowa, the Hoover Presidential Library in West Branch is worth a stop.
9
Indeed! Everyone should come visit us. In addition to the well-curated presidential library and museum, the grounds include a section of restored prairie that makes for a lovely walk in the spring and summer.
6
I particularly liked the juxtaposition of HATE MAIL just below LOVE, ACTUALLY.
Congratulations on your debut!
12
A lovely debut
Welcome Daniel
5
Roger Ebert once said something to the effect that if a movie was good it didn’t matter if the content was disturbing. Something for all the hand wringers to think about.
6
@James Hamje
I agree with you (& Roger), although disturbing and disrespectful can be two different things. Seeing AL JOLSON as an entry made me queasy (I would reserve “disturbing” for seeing slurs as entries). However, if I were African-American, I *might* feel worse than queasy or even disturbed. I might feel disrespected, and unwelcome.
Somewhat ironic that you would have chosen Roger Ebert to make your point in the context of this puzzle. As you may know, his widow, Chaz Ebert, is African-American. Her bio is worth reading (below) and it would be nice to see CHAZ EBERT as an Xword entry someday:
https://awfj.org/blog/2019/03/31/spotlight-april-2019-chaz-ebert-filmanthropist-and-activist/
5
@Puzzlemucker
What an interesting article about Chaz. The film about Ebert's illness was searing and inspiring. Her work now deepens their love story.
2
I thought this on the tougher side for a Wednesday, but that could be partly because I kept falling asleep while solving.
Never heard of SATORI and the ALLOY/SYN cross? Oy.
I should be asleep now as I have to get up earlier than usual for a dentist appointment. But HERE I AM watching TENNIS and trying to decide between Al Green and UB40. Al Green tonight, I think. No "sour notes" here.
https://youtu.be/vHAXp39WjZM
1
@vaer
Tough choice! After I listened to Al Green, I went ahead and found the UB40. I'll take them both into my day & my first team meeting of SY19/20. HEREIAM, baby!
@Ann
Back to reality.
1
anf Elke
am not surprized to see only a CORGI, (Queen E.II favourite).
What with SPAYS and CASTRATI a dog would be SCAREd to show up.....
Danie Grinberg- you made me grin :))
6
Austin-to-Boston dir.?
Yes! Have SPurS, will TRAVEL ENE!
2
First time a Wednesday has been easier than a Monday! Even though I am unfamiliar with the movie names that gave me several scares (but no goosebumps).
2
A clever theme and a nice debut! I liked the entry where you acknowledged you made it: HERE I AM!
This was a very quick Wednesday for me, at less than half my average time. Fun puzzle, as I apparently missed some of the trickier clues by getting the crossings instead. I had heard of (but not seen) all of the movies, so they filled in relatively easily; and generally, the crossings were helpful when I needed them to be.
4
Took too long to SNOG that my PLAt was a PLAN.
2
Same!
2
Me too. I still don’t understand RIT, though.
1
@Tom Wild
RITardando is Italian for “slowing down,” part of the vocabulary of music.
2
Aced it! Just kidding; I got stuck on PROSY (had PROSe), and what is alnico? I mean, obviously, it's an ALLOY, but I didn't know it. I love to cook a fragrant RISOTTO. But CASTRATI make me sad. Fun Wednesday, clippier than our recent Tuesday. Congratulations on the first puzzle! Hope we see you again soon.
4
Al(uminium) Ni(kel) Co(balt) alloyed with iron to make powerful permanent magnets, often used in speakers.
10
@Patrick Jordan
And now I've heard of it!
5
Fun puzzle about TENNIS at an apt time in NYC. Enjoyed seeing Faranelli and the King on Broadway about one of the famous CASTRATI.
1
Congratulations on your first NYT crossword Daniel Grinberg! Fun and fast Wednesday solve.
:-)
3
I really liked this puzzle, although I can’t say I’m a fan of any of the movies in it.
I do have one gripe, though. It would have been really elegant if the answer for 37 Down was RISOTTI. This would have been a lovely bookend for CASTRATI, and in my view, a little more accurate.
3
@Daniel Iezzi
But then the clue would have had to be in Italian.
Talk about TOUGH!!
2
Hai ragione, Daniele.
1
Excellent debut, Daniel. Keep them coming.
12
I thought this was going to be themeless, so I got a big smile with that revealer in the lower left. I went looking for it in the lower right, and when it wasn't there I figured there wasn't one. Very nice.
1
Nice, little hard for a Wednesday but that’s the way I like it! Theme helped me up in the NE with THE NET and ...SERVED.
Little snag at RISOTTO/SAX/TAX but everything else was smooth if not a little slower than usual.
Congratulations on your debut!
3
A few “long Downs” worth noting:
EVADED TAX AMPS / “Kept the brakes on levies?”
LOWEST CORGIS / “Extremely short Welsh residents?”
TRAVEL RISOTTOS / “High-end RV fuel?”
I found the puzzle to be both “hard” (had to think hard about some entries/sections) and “easy” (much of it flew by and my completion time was considerably faster than my Weds. average).
Puzzle might get some HATE MAIL. AL JOLSON reminds me at least of blackface, which while part of our history (including recent history), I nonetheless find discomfiting. CASTRATI reminds me of, well, CASTRATI. Weird, to me, to have RHESUS (let alone RHESUS above SCARE) and OUTED in the same puzzle. But I probably wouldn’t have noticed that had I not been looking at the “long Downs”.
BUT I enjoyed the puzzle, a lot. The theme was a bit of an afterthought for me, even though I solved while watching the U.S. Open. But there were some clever/interesting clues (e.g., SALOON, ALLOY) and lively fill (e.g., LUSITANIA, SATORI, ACOUSTICS), and the puzzle overall had a pleasing smoothness. Plus, no OREO (whew!).
6
Just read Deb’s column and Daniel’s Constructor Note. Very, very impressed that this was a debut puzzle! Great job, Daniel and hope too see many more from you.
12
Agree with your comment on ALJOLSON as a puzzle inclusion. And, I’m predicting, you ain’t heard nothing yet.
3
@Puzzlemucker
While in an entirely different context, I found CASTRATI to be somewhat discomfiting....
2
I didn't understand SYN until Deb explained it. That's tough cluing!
15
@One.Across
Agreed. That will be a serious contender for best “glue clue” of the week.
3
@One.Across
I opened the comment feed specifically to comment on that one: loved it! Brilliant and fun misdirection. Kudos.
4
@One.Across
Because I got all the crosses first, I never saw that clue.
1