Ryan solves the NYT, Fri 7-17-9
Good old July 17th, a date that symbolizes the final 36 shopping days until Lollapuzzoola 2: The Son of Puzzoola. August 22nd. Grease boards! Google tickets! Oreos! Speed solvers! Slow solvers! Tables! Pencils! Divisions! Ventilation! And, of course, puzzles of varying sizes and difficulties! Hope to see you there.
Today’s puzzle is by two of our favorite crossword buddies, Barry C. Silk, Friend and Confidante of Doug Peterson, Crossword Gentleman and Man About Town and Doug Peterson, Crossword Gentleman and Man About Town (pictured at right). Much like Doublemint Gum, when these two guys get together the result leaves my mouth feeling minty fresh.
For the first few minutes this puzzle looked completely impossible but somehow my brain commanded me to enter FAIR SHAKE in 1-Across and I was off. And a relatively speedy 40 minutes later, I entered in BURL (a completely made up word) and was done. Very enjoyable puzzle.
Of course, because it’s Doug and Barry, a Yankees fan and a Phillies fan, respectively, the puzzle had a couple of baseball entries.
30D. Rose with a hit record (PETE). One of the few gimmies.
52D. Outfielder Francona (TITO). TITO had a 15 year major league career, he hit .363 in 1959, led the league in doubles in 1960, and was an All-Star in 1961 but he is probably most known for nowadays for fathering the current manager of the Boston Red Sox, Terry Francona.
My question to Doug is, What the hell? Barry gets an ex-Phillie in there plus you have a Red Sox connection but no Yankee references. What happened? And how come there’s been only two Dodger references this entire season?
The rest of the puzzle was filled with fun stuff. I especially enjoyed:
63A. Opposite of avant-garde (OLD SCHOOL).
15A. 63-Across? (ALMA MATER).
Other highlights:
17A. Having a lot to lose? (CORPULENT). I thought this might have something to do with real estate or auctioning off something. I don’t think I’ve ever described someone as CORPULENT although I can’t imagine anyone would appreciate it.
20A. Most night owls (LATE RISERS). I’ve always stayed up way past my bedtime. And morning Ryan is usually pretty made at nighttime Ryan.
22A. Pietà figure, literarily (JESU). Michelangelo finished the sculpture La Pietà in 1499. It’s at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City and Pickles and I will be seeing it in person in September. It has been kept behind bullet proof glass since an attack by a mentally disturbed geologist (really, is there any other kind?).
58A. Comment from the beat (I NEED A NAP). Another of my favorites. It took me while to figure out where they were going with this. All I could think of was a beat reporter.
6D. Berry with juicy parts? (HALLE). When you read this, what did you first think of? Parts as in body parts? Or parts as in acting parts? I’ll admit it, I thought of body parts. Personally, I think Monster’s Ball would have made much more sense if they cast an actress who wasn’t quite so unbelievably attractive.
7D. Chilling, so to speak (AT EASE). Here’s a new word I learned today, chillaxing. I will use it often.
8D. Honorary title bestowed on Bill Clinton, Muhammad Ali and Mae West (KENTUCKY COLONEL). I went with PERSON OF THE YEAR which also has 15 letters. I thought it was a bit of a stretch to think Mae West would be named person of the year but I thought maybe the honor was bestowed on her from Bosom Enthusiasts or some other like-minded organization.
24D. Site of Robert E. Lee’s last victory (COLD HARBOR). I have no idea how this came to me. I had the D and the H and “boom!” went the dynamite.
25D. Means of getting some answers (OUIJA BOARD). OUIJA ends in an A? I thought it ended in an I? Have I been pronouncing it wrong this whole time?
45D. “Hoffman” co-star Cusack (SINEAD). Well, it was Joan or John and I only know one other Cusack.
Great puzzle, guys.
Next stop, Saturday.
