Jump to: tricky clues
Friday Puzzle — If you ask 10 solvers for their opinion on a given crossword, you’ll probably get 10 different answers. Even if they solved the same puzzle, their experience would have been very personal. That’s part of what I love about solving difficult clues and learning new things from crosswords. You usually get more out of it than you put in.
I had a lot of fun solving Jem Burch’s grid, but I’ll admit it was a struggle, even though it was packed with lively entries and clever tips. There was a lot of jumping around and filling in parts where you could get a foothold. Eventually the answers came together and I sat looking at the completed puzzle.
The triple stack of 11 in the middle (Thanks a Heap, Quantum Leap, Bunny Slope) was a lot of fun and the rest of the grid shined as well.
But what really hooked me was the abundance of misdirection and tricky clues. “Green house?” As an ATM clue (“green” is slang for money), it was a standout. BUNNY SLOPES’ “Tends to Help Beginners” was similar (get it? It slopes like a hill!).
So what do you say? Is it hard, easy, or like Goldilocks said, just right?
Even if it’s difficult, don’t be too hard on yourself. Next week, you might be able to use the tricks you learned this week to solve Friday’s puzzle. And maybe you’re more on the constructor wavelength. That’s the good thing about daily crosswords. Each is a new adventure and a new chance to get things right.
tricky clues
1A. Clue: “What’s inside the boom box?” We’re not talking about the sticky contents of the boom box, but about the contents of the box that says “BOOM!”. The answer is TNT.
37A. I don’t know why I didn’t look this up, but today I learned that the common crossword item LOA means “long” in Hawaiian. Analysts typically consider this to be part of the volcanic mauna LOA.
1D. The “Who’s Trying to Take a Break” tip isn’t about luck. I’ve never surfed, but from what I’ve researched, obstacles such as rocks can cause waves to “break,” allowing surfers to ride them.
5D. THIN MINT My household accounts for the majority of the Girl Scout cookie market, but if that deliciousness accounts for “about a quarter of Girl Scout cookie sales,” then apparently this cookie… It seems we’re not the only ones who love it.
6D. Eating at Danish restaurant NOMA is on my bucket list. For now, I own that chef’s famous book on fermentation. Has anyone eaten there and does it live up to its “World’s Best Restaurant” accolade?
10D. “Flowchart?” This puzzle is not a diagram, but an ocean map showing the flow of ocean currents.
27D. “High roller?” Not a strong gambler. It’s the person who rolls airplanes high into the air, or STUNT FLIER.
35D. “Inspiration” means not only breathing in, but also motivating, and BREATHS requires that breathing.
36D. “Discipline” is not a verb in Birch’s puzzle. It is a noun, and those “disciplines” are areas of study or practice.
Constructor notes
I’ve always been in awe of Robyn Weintraub’s ability to effortlessly produce triple-stacked themeless stuff packed with tons of fresh phrases with few trade-offs. This puzzle was heavily inspired by her work. I also seeded the grid with her 34-Across, which I’ve been trying to puzzle into for a while. Although the relatively open structure placed many constraints on the fill, it did allow me to include some personally significant phrases. 13-Down was in my head thanks to my geology class, and I had just learned a lot about 6-. I went down while researching Scandinavian cuisine. I was happy to include 53-Across. Because that’s the industry my father (and primary test taker) works in. And she’s 7-Down, she’s one of my favorite players on the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team. Especially since she scored in her one game. An exhilarating 2015 World Cup final.
Writing clues is always a bit of a struggle for me, so I’m very grateful to the editorial team for helping me in that department. But I was also happy to see some of my favorites compete, especially his 27-Down and 10-Down clues.
Please solve it too!
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