Singer Building at Night, Charles Vezin (1858-1942)
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Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Puzzle by Jim Page, edited by Will Shortz
NYC (38A. Song from 65-Across that’s hidden in 20- and 54-Across and 10- and 35-Down) and ANNIE (65A. Hit Broadway musical based on a comic strip); along with TONYCURTIS (20A. “The Defiant Ones” co-star, 1958); JOHNNYCAKE (54A. Cornmeal dish often served with maple syrup); FUNNYCIDE (10D. 2003 Kentucky Derby winner); and PONYCARTS (35D. Vehicles at a petty zoo), are the inter-related entries of this Wednesday crossword.
A pleasant puzzle with fairly equal-sized entries. However, I don’t much care for groups of ten-letter entries serving the purpose of a three-letter inter-related reference, and Tony Curtis, Johnny Cake (sounds like two thespians), along with the equestrian Funny Cide and pony carts entries, are no exception. They just land with a thud and seem lifeless. A little less lifeless, probably due to their being autonomous of any inter-relationship, are the eight-letter CANNABIS (40A. Hashish source), recently in the NYT puzzle as REEFER; and SET PIECE (36A. Movie chase scene, e.g.) followed by four seven-letter entries, DISCMAN (28A. Sony music player introduced in 1984); ARGYLES (43A. Some socks); MESSKIT (8D. Not backing); and BEIJING (41D. 2008 Olympics host).
Six-letter entries, CLOROX (6D. Bleach brand); ASPENS (26D. Quakers in the woods); METALS (27D. Most are good conductors); BENOIT (44D. 1984 gold-medalist marathoner Joan); MAPPED (32A. Delineated, with “out”); and KNEADS (42A. Massages).
Five-letter entries, AMISS, RECAP, ELITE, IDIOT (37A. Yo-yo); EDGED; MOLAR, CROPS, ARETE, MELON (2D Deep pink); ICING (3D Hockey no-no), usually defined in relation to cake; SATYR, ROUTS; SHOTS, SCORN; TALON (48D. Kite’s clutcher), thought “child”; OKAPI; and PERSE (50D. As such), which appeared this last Sunday.
Four-letter: CRAM, FAZE, LONE, URAL, OUTS, NIPS, NASA, ENGR, STOP, AQUA, BURR, the nicely contrasting ITOO and NOTI, LIST, ETAS, GEST, SPEC, ANTI, ARIA, ZAPS, ELSA, USED, MICA, ADAR, PING, MEGA, ACED NEDS, ABLE, QUIT, KEEN, STOP, URSA, OTOE, and YMCA, also a song.
Three-letter: KAY, MEX, NIX, DEC, CSI, SEE, SYS, and SOS.
Off to work -- Leapin' Lizards!
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For Annie's first appearance, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
Puzzle available on the internet at
THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games
If you subscribe to home delivery of The New York Times you are eligible to access the daily crossword via The New York Times - Times Reader, without additional charge, as part of your home delivery subscription. Across: 1. Wrong; 6. Study hard and fast; 10. Faze; 14. Game follow-up; 15. Sole; 16. Orsk’s river; 17. Like Green Beret units; 18. The triple in a triple play; 19. Just beats; 22. Rocket launcher; 23. Many an M.I.T. grad: Abbr.; 24. Brillo rival; 25. The second Mrs. Michael Corleone; 27. Felipe Calderon’s land: Abbr.; 32. Delineated, with “out”; 39. Just beat; 44. Would-___ (aspirants); 45. “___: Miami”; 46. Cross-referencing word; 47. Organ piece; 51. Pale hue; 57. Gore Vidal historical novel; 58. Langston Hughes poem; 59. Back biter?; 60. Not discounted; 61. Terse denial; 62. Trims in Photoshop, e.g.; 63. Itinerary data: Abbr.; 64. Heroic exploit. Down: 1. Glacial ridge; 4. Rakish sort; 5. Something risky to work on; 7. One sided contests; 8. Not backing; 11. Andrea Bocelli delivery; 12. Microwaves; 13. “Lohengrin” role; 21. Hand-me-down; 28. Boxing Day mo.; 29. Prefix with bucks; 30. Nailed; 31. Beatty and others; 32. Easily split mineral; 33. Month after Shevat; 34. Unwelcome auto noise; 36. Part of S.S.S.: Abbr.; 38. Grafton’s “___ for Noose”; 42. Razor-sharp; 46. Scoring attempts; 47. Show contempt toward; 49. Six-foot-tall African animal; 50. As such; 51. Fit for duty; 52. Conk out; 53. “Superman II” villainess; 55. Oklahoma tribe; 56. Workout locale, for short.
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