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50 puzzles with Editor comments — 8/2/2020 to 5/30/2021

Showing 50 out of 510 total with editor comments.

Use the older and newer links above to see more.

Sun 5/30/2021 GAME OVER
RADNERSOTSSEAMSBFA
ASIAGONCAACLIOAWARD
PHAROSITLLHIMALAYAS
COLEADVOCATEDBETAS
DRIPSEEMDOMESSCRIM
SENTSLOGPESOSHEED
IMAMMACJRDABEARS
HOTCOCOARHODAVID
ANAWENTBYEBYEONEIDA
RAMDORICANTIDOTES
ARETUTINKERIRSABC
SURFINUSAMIDASLTE
SNAILSINBADSHAPEION
DETERRTEAMEXCARD
EGGDROPMYERSOATH
LEARWEIRDSOTUALLY
ITSOKENJOYJESULIEU
FLUESDONOTOPENKONG
BRINGITINSHUECUANDO
TENDERAGEHIREUNREEL
WEELEGOSINNSTITLED

Adam Wagner, of Oakland, Calif., is a senior copywriter for an ad agency in San Francisco. He says his real No. 1 job, though, as of about two months ago, is being a first-time dad.

Adam solves the Times crossword aloud every night with his son cuddled next to him — "so I imagine he's one of the few people alive who can claim that he literally has a lifelong New York Times crossword solving streak."

Sun 5/23/2021 YOU DO THE MATH
DISCSCATSASKSVAMPS
ICAREACHYUNITINOIL
MERYLIRANTIMEGATOR
DIFFERENCEOFOPINIONS
OSLOHALFNOTES
CLAROSOWETOOUSTIMP
HIGHWAYMEDIANTATTLER
ALIENOATTNUTEVITE
TALLCURIOBOOTMARS
SCEPTERNERDAVOCADOS
STOCKDIVIDEND
HOTSAUCESODARATTRAP
OPALSKORSMELLRELO
ORNOTSNOWSEAHADIT
DAGWOODANIMALPRODUCT
SHOALIAENEMYAMEXES
SPAREROOMAFEW
MODEOFTRANSPORTATION
ATARIIAGOHAILENDOW
GOTINETONIKEAADELE
SHAFTRENESSNSMSDOS

Jennifer Nebergall, of Boulder, Colo., is a former finance director at the University of Colorado. She started doing crosswords several years ago as a weekly tradition over Sunday brunch with her husband. Since the birth of their baby, though, they shifted to doing them during naptime. Jennifer writes, "Having spent my career in finance and analytics, this theme appealed to my dual loves of math and wordplay."

It is Jennifer's crossword debut.

Sun 5/16/2021 A SHOT IN THE DARK
BRAHEGGOMERLEAPSO
LAMETRONPAEANCRUMP
UNEDUCATEDGUESSTAPER
RUNGSNOLOVEESIEGE
PSEUDOBETTERMOURAP
TRALARBIBIPOD
HAIPLANTAPPALLGUMP
ATOMSTHETONEBOPIT
MITEGOODSORTSEDERS
STARGENUINTICLERED
SPANSAOBURN
ISMSILICRUBBERIBAR
MAILINCAFENOIRNONO
AURASCOIFDOETEXTS
CLAPPANNEDPRIVAYES
COOEDCUESTERN
SELBRICATINGSTIFFS
ALEXALOTZONAFILTH
ALBUMLASTDITCHEFFORT
BERRAATEAMMAIMTRAM
NAYSCIAOSEATSYAWL

Joe DiPietro, of Brooklyn, owns a bar called "one star" in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. He previously owned a bar called "No Idea," which made a confusing answer to the question "Where do you want to go tonight?"

As a crossword constructor, he hates partial phrases (answers like TUG OF and IF I) and grids with "S" in the lower-right corner. This puzzle has neither of those.

Sun 5/9/2021 MOTHER'S DAY CONCERT
DOCSCABACHESTERMS
OPALORICHILLASIANS
REMIGETAKICKOUTOFYOU
IREMITERSTAPLERS
CARRYTHATWEIGHTHERES
HAIOATAXLEERA
COCOTCELLREGATTA
HURTSSOGOODPUSHIT
USEPUPAETOMSSKEET
MEWEVERTFINALEASY
IWANNABESEDATED
USPSTEPIDEELEDZAP
REALMORSOADOREODE
SCREAMIMCOMINGOUT
ATATROTDENCHMALE
GNUALTAANAANT
AMEBABABYONEMORETIME
CANARIESABUTSMOT
THEKIDSAREALRIGHTAVA
SERENEMARRYTAROLIP
ROSESITSMESTOPSEE

Brad Wiegmann is a national security lawyer for the Department of Justice in Washington. He dedicates this puzzle to his mother, "a voracious reader, talented knitter, mahjong maven and all-round supermom." He says he's never personally seen any of the musical artists named in the puzzle's theme clues, but he did once attend a 23-Across concert.

Brad's last Times puzzle, Crossword Buff appeared in February.

Sun 5/2/2021 INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
LEGUPAWARDRANSACK
OPINEDBABOONEPICURE
COVEREDBRIDGEGETITON
ADEGAIALINEARSOW
LESSONSGINARELIST
AILMOETPOTTYMOUTH
GERMANARMYPAYNARNIA
ARIAYESPERFIDYEND
DADBODSTERRAMAARGO
STEELENOTEBRAOLSEN
GARDENAPARTMENT
SPRAYOWEPLAYDEEPER
TEENBUDSEEDMISRULE
ARMSUREDIDPOOFTEE
VIEFORARRDIRTYTRICK
ELMERSGLUEOTOHRUN
BEETLENTWTEDITORS
BEDARISENARESROC
CARLSJRCOMPASSNEEDLE
OREOPIEUNPACKSCREEN
LSDTABSGOTHSTAROT

Dan Schoenholz, of Walnut Creek, Calif., is the community development director for the city of Fremont. Like many crossword constructors, he got his start after watching the 2006 documentary "Wordplay." The idea for this puzzle occurred to him one day when he was running on a trail that crossed a creek, and he thought of the clue and answer at 23-Across. Back home he searched an online crossword database and found that his theme idea was new.

This is Dan's 26th puzzle for The Times.

Sun 4/25/2021 STRETCHING EXERCISES
POEMPHILTRIPINFECT
ENTOURAGEHURLSOOTHE
PECORINOCHEESESCOTIA
LASSHUHAQUADUCK
ALTOELITES
ARISILKALEXEELBIG
HANDNOOBLACEDSODA
ENCODERASSLEDHIYALL
ABIDESELLGLUTENFREE
SOFREAKINLY
DYETUXPARRAISIR
BESTRAPPERFORMANCE
THIRSTEASYBREED
VANITYIMEANITSOYEAH
AIDECOEDSDOMEARGO
DRYRAHBUTTPUTSYET
LATEPAPERSSCAM
ROLWORAWTRUESUP
ORIENTBENICIODELTORO
DAMAGEOPUSMOANK
ELOPEDYANKSHOWAPSE

Jeremy Newton, of Austin, Tex., is a software engineer who makes mobile games. Titles he has worked on include Crosswords With Friends, Zynga Poker, Dragon Academy, and many others. He's been a puzzle enthusiast since he was a child when a grandmother got him hooked on Jumble. As a crossword constructor, Jeremy says he likes "wacky themes" (as a glance at today's grid might suggest).

This is Jeremy's 14th Sunday crossword and 21st Times puzzle overall.

POW Sun 4/18/2021 A RARE FIND
LOCALTHOUJAKE
PARTIAFCHENNAATON
STAREMOAELTONWARD
MISSIONIMPOSSIBLE
ITSALOSTCAUSEENOLA
MRIISLETSLIN
PENPALOLEELONEMEA
HISNOISEROCKANT
GMAILGUTGASHIDS
RIDSPSSTOILSUPNET
ANAHEIMRATBITEMAR
SIMSCISSORFERRERA
POWCATHAYBAYSANEW
IRESHAYRONSTUDS
NESSASHAYINGTIE
GOTTOSHAYNERASPED
OUIHAYLEYBRA
ICONSNEEDLESSTOSAY
NEEDLEINAHAYSTACK
SELAALGERSEELAILA
URLSMMHMMSSNOLDEN
ETSYSTYENASTY

Johan Vass is a restaurant worker in Stockholm, Sweden. Though he has never been to the United States, he has been solving American crosswords for many years. He says his personal best times for New York Times puzzles range from 3:21 on a Monday to 10:36 on a Sunday.

Somewhere along the way he started constructing crosswords in English — which is quite a challenge for someone coming from another language and culture. Johan says this one took him two months to make. I'm honestly in awe.

Sun 4/11/2021 MERGER MANIA
CIRCEABRAMOBJECTORS
UBERXHUEVOBEAVERHAT
LIFECOACHESINBALANCE
DETERSYRUPTONEPOEM
RELAYDYLANUSS
UKETEARNOOKTIBIA
SINGLESBARSDRIVENUTS
UNDEADATEAMBEELIST
ADULTSCEPTERSSTELMO
LAMEMMAISOSPUTTER
TROUBLESHOOTERS
MIGRANTOAFPARMTSP
AQUILADOCILITYOPINE
SUITCHEHEIDIMIAMOR
TIDEPOOLSSPAMFILTERS
STORETIEDBAILCEE
ALEARROWBLAIR
BARESALLSIZEDENNUI
ANIMATIONPOLOGROUNDS
GETINHEREUNLITDICES
SWELTEREDPESTOETHAN

Dick Shlakman, who's turning 82 next Sunday, is a retired lawyer and corporate executive from Plano, Tex. Will Nediger, 31, is a professional crossword constructor from London, Ont. Dick saw Will's offer of crossword mentorship on Facebook and reached out for his help. They've now made several puzzles together. "I come up with a theme idea that I think is absolutely perfect," Dick says, "and Will shows me the error of my ways — then suggests how to take that idea and make it ideal."

This is Dick's third crossword for The Times and Will's 37th.

Sun 4/4/2021 GAME CHANGERS
SNARFJUSTSOMANNERED
WALDOUNPACKITSALIVE
IDEALBREAKERNEWHAVEN
FIXKEYENAMELPARS
TRAUMABUNTSERIOUSLY
LUSHESAVERSE
LAWNSTUDENTSARLOSAW
SINAIMERLOTSYSTOLE
AMBCOBSCRUBSHASTE
TEASBEDSOFAIRSOGOOD
PEORIAONETWO
LINEDETECTORETANCOS
THECWSEADOGIREALA
DORSALSLEBRONGOMAD
SPFROOSLABOROFGLOVE
ADULTSASLOPE
INVISIBLESINKGLOBAL
CHOODARWINSIAERA
HOTWATEREXTRAINNINGS
APIARISTRARINGTRIOS
SETLISTSSMOOTHSANTO

Angela Olson Halsted is a legal secretary in Washington, D.C., and the mother of two college students. Doug Peterson is a professional crossword constructor in Pasadena, Calif.

The two met at a crossword tournament in 2007 and have been friends ever since. Both are baseball fans (Nationals for Angela, Yankees for Doug), and they have attended at least one M.L.B. game together every year (not counting last year) since 2011.

Sun 3/28/2021 OVER THE MOON
RAIDIDTAGGRADIENT
ZELDANEALEROLEPLAY
JOLLYRANCHEROUTCASTS
ARIELCIAOTUGSON
IBEGTELESCOPEDEVIL
LASERSTONGEMINI
BLISSFULIGNORANCE
ASKGANYMEDEUFOS
UTEPYELLSWILDBIFF
GREASETAMALETETRA
HAPPYDAYSAREHEREAGAIN
TITANMOULINROILED
SNOWJOSETAMPANINO
POOHSTONEAGEADM
CHEERYDISPOSITION
DEIMOSHEMNOSIER
CYNICCHEWBACCAAMBI
TEAREDTALLARSON
STATELAWMERRYGOROUND
LOVEDONENAIADHENRY
ROADSTERORATEMAGE

Olivia Mitra Framke, of Jersey City, N.J., is an academic adviser at the New School's College of Performing Arts in Manhattan. She started solving crosswords during college — but not at college. Her dad would hoard New York Times Magazines, and the two of them would solve together when she returned home.

This is Olivia's ninth crossword for The Times, and her fourth Sunday.

Sun 3/21/2021 MORES
ESSAYSCOTBIBLEGRAB
PIPPAAUTOAFFIXOHME
SLEEPINTHEBUFFETDEUS
OVEROKIERBIRASSLE
MADCOWTRAILERPARQUET
UAELEERATMUST
NBATYPEABSALSA
COLDHARDCACHETADDLED
IDLESOILROSANNEIVY
SEEMAFTABAICANSEE
YOUVEHADYOURFILET
SPONGESBROETAWINK
OHOLESBIANWIIEMCEE
PIPPINLETSMAKEADELAY
ENOKIOSIRISELS
MOREONBASEREF
BACKSTAGEPASSEBLARED
LATISHCPRWAZEMOJO
ALOEUNSOLICITEDBIDET
MOPSGRIMEONESONICE
EXITSATESBENTGENTS

Julian Kwan, of Dumont, N.J., is a software test engineer for a telecommunications company. He started solving crosswords in college (University of Pennsylvania, class of 1997). Several years ago, after noticing that all the Times puzzles had bylines, "I figured, why couldn't one of them be me, right?"

This is Julian's fourth published crossword, but his first for The Times.

Sun 3/14/2021 THEY ALL LAUGHED
MCSSAMBALEICAWORM
CHEALARMANNUMFIXUP
GRAFFITIPROOFBUILDING
ROSIESOLOISSUED
AMORCELSOCELOIRT
WANTSTHREEBLADERAZOR
OHISEEARALENEMY
ASPDECSORRYBISTRO
SPELLCHECKERHENCE
CINDERRAIDLORDEJIB
ACESELUDEFORGEMONA
PERTTOPSKLEETOOBAD
RHETTSNOWBOARDING
SPEEDSSTIESVIANEE
SPUDSWAIFBALLOT
AUTOMATICREDIALBREWS
GNUUSERSSUCHTREO
PERONIMEALCIVIL
ALJAFFEEOFMADMAGAZINE
LOOTSTSARSAARONEEL
EBBSSTRATMSDOSWRY

Jacob Stulberg, of Otis, Mass., is a second-year law student at New York University — currently taking classes remotely. He's been making crosswords for The Times since 2013.

Jacob is a longtime fan of the publication mentioned in 101-Across. When he was 11, he wrote a letter to the editors, which they published, correcting their use of the term 'gluteus maximus."

Sun 3/7/2021 TAKE TWO
POSTHOCBEAARTHURROB
OATMEALEVAPORATEERR
STRIPTEASEARTISTSPDA
SEAHEFTSPETERI
ESPYSSROWTORUNONS
EASEOFFTHEGASPEDAL
RASSLEOVERDOUNE
UNWISEINVESTMENTECCE
MTIDACOESNEAKPEEK
POLOCEREALSPIA
SNLNOEMPTYTHREATMEL
FRYTENUOUSSALE
GIVEALIFTTORSEZME
ACIDYOUAREOUTOFORDER
IANWRIESTBLEARY
UNENVIABLEPOSITION
STRAINYSLISHSAUTE
GISELELEPEWNOD
COPWITHOUTANYWARNING
HOEENTERTAININVITEE
INNDEARSANTAZESTERS

Celeste Watts, of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., is a retired elementary school teacher. After years of solving puzzles in her spare time, she decided to try making one herself. Her first 14 attempts for The Times were rejected, but she persevered.

For this one she collaborated with Jeff Chen, a writer and professional crossword constructor in Seattle, whom she calls "a gifted, patient mentor." The theme idea is Celeste's. Jeff helped her execute it. Finally, success! "One off my bucket list!"

Sun 2/28/2021 CROSSWORD BUFF
TREBEKVALISESDEBONE
OHIOANIMALONEEPIPEN
LENTTOBARELYMANAGING
LASTSEESVAILWEE
OBSESSIVESLEET
BLAMEONMANYMOONSAGO
LADLESTHATTOONOTYET
ANDESROEGDRAGSLEI
DAISRAWRECRUITSWOKS
EINSTEINHADATFIRS
PENNOPINEETON
REINBERETSMIRNOFF
EASTCOMICSTRIPSILER
RICLEWISAINTINDIE
INABITLIVEMASENGINE
EXPOSURETIMECLOSETS
ECASHSOREPOINT
APEESTALUSTREAL
FULLYRECOVEREDICEAXE
ITALIAARISINGSEASON
TONINGRESTDAYTOKENS

Brad Wiegmann is a national security lawyer for the Department of Justice in Washington. About a year and a half ago, while solving some crosswords on vacation, he wondered aloud if he could make one himself. It took several tries, but … voilà!

You'll want to put on your silly puns hat before you begin.

Sun 2/21/2021 KARAOKE BARS
APPEALTHEDOWETCETC
LIOTTAOEDIPALCHACHA
FLUTESFLYMETOTHEMOON
FRUITCUPSREWROTE
HESTEACARLAIOWA
ORODRAINSACIDEMU
LEMMASINGININTHERAIN
IDEALSRKOANDSOARCH
SWEARBYSPAPAMELA
PIUSGOATENTSOATEN
ANGJAILHOUSEROCKHAD
SCALELLOYDERRHERS
THRONERVSONTOPIC
IWONMOUSEPODWITHIT
MONEYMONEYMONEYASAMI
ERMTALCEVADEDMAN
MEATOTHERAAHPLY
CRANIALSTARPUPIL
DANCINGONMYOWNPELOSI
INARUTNOSEDINEVENED
TATAMIITSAGOROASTS

Matthew Stock, 24, grew up in Dallas and now lives in St. Louis, where he teaches ninth-grade algebra through an Americorps-affiliated tutoring program. He started constructing puzzles several years ago after he attended a crossword tournament in Boston and "had a great time chatting with puzzlemakers throughout the afternoon."

This is his third crossword (and first Sunday) for The Times.

POW Sun 2/14/2021 SEALED WITH A KISS
SNARUMPANAMBIORCAS
YOMAMAOXONOUNLEACH
STEFANWISPIESTSISQO
TARTONEALLTHESEQUA
ELISCRLOUSTRANQUIL
MOCSTOPUSNINCBETS
TAPERCHARTERUS
ARESOHYPETORPBR
CAPTAINPAPONSALE
BESEATEDALLIASKCRUS
ARSESVICEVERSACAIRO
NEUTGENERISHUNDRARD
JARETOECOANARCHY
OLYIFIISTOSANAA
OPENFLOORATTAR
NOSETGILLDVISENIT
EXTRACRTSIEGESMAHI
ITATHETAFRERRYATAN
GENIINOTLEASTONIONS
HAZELTAROITERSTLNE
SMARTSTAXREXEAREAL

Lisa Bunker, of Exeter, N.H., is the author of two novels for young readers — Zenobia July, about a trans girl with a troubled past starting over with a new family and school, and tackling a cyber mystery; and Felix Yz, about a boy fused with an alien counting down to a risky procedure to separate them. Both were published by Viking. She also represents Exeter in the New Hampshire House of Representatives.

This is Lisa's sixth puzzle for The Times and her first Sunday

Sun 2/7/2021 TODDLER TALK
DOCKPOISEPSSTABIT
OPRAHASNERLASHTENS
UTILETAKEAWAYNECHECK
LIMERICKINAFLORAS
ANELEPHANTINTHEWOMB
SOYERASEBODEREK
SWEATWIGDOORSELI
HITWOKBOTTOMNODAWOL
ANNELOUSEWEAKADEPT
DEADHEATCASHSNORES
GETWITCHQUICK
PIVOTSEKESNCAAGAME
IVANVVIESPACERALOE
ZINEHOGTHEWHEELDEAL
ZENSACHAARMUSEBY
ADASTRASALSAOYL
WEEDBETWEENTHELINES
SCHWASLOLAIRALERT
WHISKEYBUSINESSBICEP
AUTOLEONLEVEEYUCCA
GMENLEWDLEASEMOTT

Katie Hale, of London, England, and Christina Iverson, of Ames, Iowa, are both stay-at-home moms. Katie is also co-founder of a community organization that recycles children's books. The two connected online after Katie read about Christina's first Times puzzle and reached out for mentoring.

This is Christina's seventh crossword for the paper. It's Katie's debut.

Sat 2/6/2021
LEOMILHEY
INNEEDOFHONE
STEPHANIEHELGA
PECSHERSTORIES
ERABORSCHTBELT
DIRGESTARWARS
CARPSSPOIL
TEACHEARTH
ATLASTIEIN
SATIATEDNANOS
THEWESTWINGDUE
NONONSENSEEFTS
OVERTDISHITOUT
TEAKNERDCORE
ELSDUOTNT

Every daily crossword this week, Monday to Saturday, is made by an African-American contributor. Kameron Austin Collins is a writer in Brooklyn. This is his 15th crossword for The Times.

Fri 2/5/2021
ITSONSEESFIT
NEWDADHAVEAGO
TREETOPERECTED
ERASCROLLRITA
NARCSOILEMIT
DIJONFLOWSTATE
NAVELBUICK
REPARATIONS
RAZORSTOPS
IMALLEARSSCOOP
MOREDELAKILL
PORTATLASTLOU
ALITTLETAGTEAM
CAVEATSPIERCE
THEROOTFASTS

Every daily crossword this week, Monday to Saturday, is made by an African-American contributor. Erik Agard is a crossword editor in Kansas City, Mo. This is his 68th [daily] crossword for The Times.

Thu 2/4/2021
WELDMEANFAVE
ELOIACAIIVEY
DORAJOHNDEERE
ELLENEINAWL
SALSASPEDWII
ONEIOTAMUSTANG
PAINTITANKH
SCOOPANGST
BARREBRAND
ONEAWEDDING
DISPOSESWEETEN
AMIBAMINSITU
KIDAGEADDIS
SUBMARINEGNAT
TARAIKEANOME
SLRSLEGSSTYX

Every daily crossword this week, Monday to Saturday, is made by an African-American contributor. Derek Allen is an accountant in Mishawaka, Ind. This is his third crossword for The Times.

POW Wed 2/3/2021
PUBSCABSGPS
ISAACOUNCEROI
NONVIOLENCEAPP
GEORGIASFIFTH
ROOMBANINTRO
CRUELBITCOIN
ACTOCASIOANOS
JOHNLEWIS
BIWAATONALSAO
ANEMONEKNACK
DEVILOFFAYES
FREEDOMRIDERS
ATMGOODTROUBLE
TIEALOESSTOOL
SATGARROOPS

Every daily crossword this week, Monday to Saturday, is made by an African-American contributor. Yacob Yonas is a software engineer in Manhattan. This is his sixth crossword for The Times.

Tue 2/2/2021
HATTONDAPBOP
AIROUTSEGAANA
GRASSHOPPERLDS
LISTREEESTES
MINUSMANONICE
INSPHARDKNOCKS
LEEAYNSTEW
KSTATEHOSERS
SONSYENCEL
CLAYMATIONRONA
DATESACSBETTY
RIOTSNOHASOF
ADDTENNISCOURT
CUDAXISANDREA
KPSROCLESSEN

Every daily crossword this week, Monday to Saturday, is made by an African-American contributor. Adesina O. Koiki is a sports journalist in Queens. This is his second crossword for The Times.

Mon 2/1/2021
APPTYAMAPLUS
FURYMAKESEETO
TRIPALBAKEANU
ESSENTIALWORKER
REMASTERRUG
YESGOTRICH
ASIGNWINOSHA
HOMECOMINGQUEEN
AMMOCUZUPEND
BEARHUGMFA
GELMARIANAS
USMILITARYDRONE
STEALHIVEMIND
DUNNOEMIRERIE
AFUSSMSNDEER

Every daily crossword this week, Monday to Saturday, is made by an African-American contributor. Soleil Saint-Cyr is a high school senior in Moorestown, N.J. This is her New York Times debut.

Sun 1/31/2021 PRODUCT MISPLACEMENT
CIVILPESOAJARMATES
OPINEAUTOKIWIGRUNT
MONSTERRAMRALLYMERCI
SEISMSRPITSARATON
SOILADODOTLUG
NATUREABHORSAHOOVER
CARETYEAFOIESPADAY
USEDRIGGOPLOGE
SANMYSOLORUNNETHOVER
PLATOONOLINSORARE
ANKARIGIDPURE
INTERNMETALEMMING
WORKEDFORPLANTERSWAR
ERICSTUSIRKONA
BASALTINCASEQNINNY
THROWINGINTHEBOUNTY
POLLIVAGOSNAG
ARIDGORPLOSNUNCIO
MINISTALEOFTHESCOTCH
POEMSEGOTARIAELATE
ASNERDADAROCKDELAY

Jim Hilger, of Amarillo, Tex., is a retired computer analyst and educator. Besides making crosswords, he enjoys collecting old 45-r.p.m. records (he has more than 10,000 of them), cartooning and watercolor painting. "Most of my paintings end up looking like cartoons, however."

The starting point of this puzzle was 38-Across. Jim apologizes in advance to the maker of every product he has "misplaced" herein.

Sun 1/24/2021 SUGAR, SUGAR
TOSHIBARACYBMWORG
ARCANUMISHECRAMBAM
NERDSRINGPOPFADDIETS
KLEEUBERSOILNYT
USESBABYRUTHSNICKERS
PENTONISUEBUMRAP
WHISKASRESTRASPY
CRUNCHNOWANDLATER
ERINSPINYETIKFC
LATKESUSGAEELYAOK
AYEWHOPPERSSPREENYU
NOREASEDISCRAFTER
NSALAPSLEAFOAST
MILKYWAYSTARBURST
SALADASECSCAREDY
ALOTOFATSARAYSAC
LIFESAVERSPAYDAYWELL
BTUJAYSEPEEARLO
HAIRLINEMARSSMARTIES
ABEUTESAKINPROTEGE
MARGASOSLOGETSSET

Lucy Howard, of Austin, Tex., teaches therapeutic yoga and does internet marketing. She made her first puzzle as an icebreaker for her wedding last year. Ross Trudeau, of Cambridge, Mass., works for a K-12 education nonprofit. They met online last summer. Ross says, "We quickly bonded over our mutual love of crosswords and rock climbing." They spent many hours together on Zoom making this puzzle.

This is Ross's 37th puzzle for The Times. It's Lucy's debut.

Sun 1/17/2021 DOUBLE-CROSSED
CLOSEBBCBATORABUT
REMITALAARENASCAMO
OVERHEADRSONOMAISPY
WIGEVERTIMOEGADS
ETARADIICARTOETWORK
DYSONVEESSIDTABOO
FESTERSTALLSSOAP
LEFTTOPLEXETCHERS
AIMEEUGENIEASEA
GLORIAREDKURDARCANA
RATEDRTIDEPODMIOTIC
ACEDITETONSTROBEECT
NOAMPEASOUPMAHI
GASMAINMEWLDEBATE
RICOSTAIDPINENUT
ADHOCIRSAONEMESON
BALNARTISTSVOLGAWOE
OPRAHOASADAIRICE
ACAIREFUTEDAYTIMEYS
LUNEEFILESEDUDITTO
LESSTEARSSAPEBSEN

Tracy Gray lives in Sparks, Md., near Baltimore, where she and her husband own and operate a lawn-and-landscaping business. Tom Pepper lives in Eden Prairie, Minn., next door to Edina, of crossword fame. In April he plans to retire from his position of finance director for the city of Eagan after 29 years.

Tracy and Tom met at a crossword tournament several years ago and have been exchanging theme ideas ever since.

Sun 1/10/2021 OH, FOURPEAT'S SAKE!
PRESSUREORALBSPIFF
AIRLANESAMELIAARNIE
NOMANISANISLANDLACED
STAMPHUEDOREOADORE
DEMOBAHAMAMAMAMIX
HASADATEIDSELISE
AMONRACREDANTTEN
WELCOMEHOMEHONMCHALE
KNEEVOWSARIELIXIR
SOHOPRIMETIMETV
SSRTOKEGODEVANSEE
WHEREWEREWEALGA
ARTUROILEICEDRASH
TERRIFKINGKAMEHAMEHA
SKITSAREFIONERUN
BIDETTKOTHUDDING
ALUMINUMINGOTOREG
DOTESAONEDIBSRURAL
ARIASROMATOMATOSAUCE
PRONETRADERREVERSES
TENTSSENSEBLANDEST

Alex Bajcz, of Morris Plains, N.J., is an assistant professor of Biology and Environmental Science at Drew University. He studies how and why plants produce fruits — he says he's one of the few biologists who gets to eat his research. The name "Bajcz" is Hungarian. Since that's difficult for American tongues, his family pronounces it "badges."

This is Alex's sixth Times crossword and second Sunday.

POW Sun 1/3/2021 BUSTING MOVES
EBBTSKRADARSSNOGS
GORDITAPOPIDOLHIDEY
ETAILERSUPREMELEADER
SHIRTWAISTEPEESSKI
TENTTOTESTOPUPADA
SRSSLEDSOILAARON
KHAKIBOYPROBLEMS
MOUNTAINGOATLOLAT
UNSEEDEEDAMUSESEIS
FAULTROBECIGSAPE
ATALLCRUMBCAKEDOTES
SILSALONCANCASCA
APSOBEADSRIMSASIAM
GOBADPORTAUPRINCE
SHORTANSWERIPADS
LAVERIDEATENSBIB
EVEOPTINOSCARGIGI
EERRANGESAILSALONG
VOLLEYBALLNETINCOLOR
ENIACONEMOREKONMARI
SEETORETORTEWEBEG

Paolo Pasco, of San Diego, is a junior at Harvard studying computer science. He sold his first crossword to The Times five years ago when he was 15. With this being his 20th puzzle for the paper, the number of his Times puzzles has already reached his age.

Paolo's crosswords appear in many places, including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, the crossword-specific Fireball, and his own blog, Grids These Days.

Sun 12/27/2020 PARTNERSHIPS
MAMBAFACTISISAYMOA
ABOILIDUNNONOTEART
JUDGEANDJURYBUTTDIAL
STEPREMOTEGEREETNA
OBESEPARTONLAGS
HARPISTPEACEANDQUIET
AGAPEVIVIENETD
PENANDPAPERALTEREGOS
SEANOONECEOSONO
CHIRPSUCHASROES
BREAKINGANDENTERING
ZOOMDELTASADIOS
IDSLORICEDEDQIN
TESTPILOTBOOMANDBUST
ADOZEALOTLEASH
HUGSANDKISSESSPEEDOS
UNITTENETSSHIRR
MEMEAFARSPECIEPLEA
BALSAMICROOMANDBOARD
USEWEEKALLUREINDIE
GETERRSGOOSEDOGEES

Daniel Grinberg, of Philadelphia, is a researcher and designer in the field of user experience. In 2018 he earned a Ph.D. in Film and Media Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

When the pandemic started, Danny had the idea of constructing 30 crosswords in 30 days as a way of coping with lockdown anxiety. He didn't quite make it — more like 28 puzzles in 60 days. That's still quite productive. He thought of this puzzle's theme while brushing his teeth one night (which is not a hint). It's his second appearance in The Times and his first Sunday.

Sun 12/20/2020 TOY STORY
BAHTBUSSOREMSANS
IDEALANTIEPOXYERIC
BARBIEDOLLTAMAGOTCHI
IMSOMADINTHEMOOD
ROSASCAASPATES
HAMSETCHASKETCHTIME
APRCLAROAEIOUCECIL
SEPIASATLTRUETOKLM
ADORNTWISTERAZALEA
TOTEDOCALADOYLE
MANYCHRISTMASCOMA
TILEDSAYSOONEIL
BROCASPLAYDOHUSEME
AAHNLEASTSPAAPOLLO
SNEADTRASHINONEMON
STATCHATTYCATHYROWE
IODATEOPAIMDUE
ROSSPEROTSAMBAED
RUBIKSCUBESILLYPUTTY
ERRSNANASASEASTONE
FLAKARTYTHAWSPAR

Randolph Ross is a retired high school principal and math teacher who lives in Manhattan. He's been making crosswords for The Times since 1991.

The theme of this one arose out of some factoids about 111-Across and 33-Down that he gave a grandson. "It occurred to me that for this Christmas and Hanukkah, with so many grandparents and family not able to see the children from their lives in person, a crossword about toys might bring a smile."

Sun 12/13/2020 CINÉMA VÉRITÉ
DANFLATCARCABIN
IMAMLONGOPOETEPOCH
SITEIONIALURESPOIL
RAIDERSOFTHELOSTARK
OBVIATEHINDSIROBOT
BLEATSUNSETBOULEVARD
EESOUTREYELPEGGS
CUTLABSAAH
RICOTTAPATRIOTGAMES
OSAYERGSPURNELICIT
ALTORIOTSSEOULDARE
NECTAROVERTRPIDREA
THEGODFATHERSMOLDER
ATAODININE
DAISMETACASTEAPP
ONTHEWATERFRONTSAVER
MYSOREONCUEEPISODE
HONEYISHRUNKTHEKIDS
CRETEALEEPANSYIDLE
HARESDEUSSPOOLNEET
INERTASPETNADRS

Dan Margolis, of Westfield, N.J., is a semiretired software applications trainer. In his spare time, he referees high school basketball games and plays keyboard in a "dad rock band," Landing Party — so named because all the members are "Star Trek" fans.

Dan has been solving puzzles since he was a teenager. The first ones he constructed were on graph paper back in the day. This is his fourth crossword for The Times, and his first Sunday.

Sun 12/6/2020 GET OUT OF HERE!
JAMSESHABACIABLEST
ALITTLEWEIRDOCLAMOR
BONECONTENTIONLATOYA
STDHARESETESDIJON
BLINISSTROKEGENIUS
ALLENSAYSOWAS
BOOKGENESISPEZBLAM
BOWSVOWELPRIDEPLACE
ANNPINEIRONSLIMES
IOTADESISTSUMBRA
STREAMCONSCIOUSNESS
AWAITEARTHENICKY
GOSSIPPAREBTUSDUI
FREECHARGEMRCUBPEGS
ADDSOUIRITEPASSAGE
ANGAMUSEPARSE
COMEDYERRORSAFLATS
HAUERREARICIERAID
ISTRIAFRAMEREFERENCE
CITIFYSALIVATREETOP
ASSETSTEXANHYDRANT

Tony Orbach, of Montclair, N.J., is a construction project manager, saxophonist, and crossword constructor. Today (Dec. 6) happens to be his 59th birthday.

Tony's love of puzzles runs in the family. "My father was a big crossword solver, and as a teen, I would look over his shoulder and help." Once Tony made a Puns and Anagrams crossword for his dad. "He loved it and made me one in return." By "my father," incidentally, Tony means the actor Jerry Orbach of Broadway and Hollywood fame.

Sun 11/29/2020 SIX-PACK
GMAILSWEEPSTINKO
EROICABEAGLECUEBALL
NACRESRANGINUPDATED
EPHEMERALDSPEPERAPS
SHADEHISSBADPRSTA
ALVINGILGAMESHOW
DEALTINORELSEATLAS
ETTEPEPPILLRINSE
SHARDREMINISCEESPN
ANTEBENDYSINAPILE
INECHIVASETCETCDUE
PONTIACITEHEREWES
ALDOMETRONOMESIMON
OOMPHREBUSESSANE
DANTEARAMISLIVENED
FIRSTRATEGYTIBIA
ESCIRISEARIZSCRIM
SLAVNESTOBAMACARENA
TIDINGSARRIVEAVENUE
EKESOUTREADERMISERS
RESAVETYLERESTEE

Eric Berlin, of Milford, Conn., is an assistant publisher at Penny Publications, a puzzle magazine company, and the creator of Puzzlesnacks, a website for kids. He is the author of The Puzzling World of Winston Breen (Penguin) and two sequels.

When he started constructing, Eric says, "My goal was to sell exactly one puzzle to The New York Times, just to say I did it." That was almost 20 years and more than 40 Times crosswords ago.

POW Sun 11/22/2020 IT ALL ADDS UP
MENURAGUCAPOICICLE
UNITATOPOARSNOONAN
SONEOPOOLTHELASONERD
EKERANDOMSMILEETA
IDBETGATSANACIN
ELSHADAKIDSUNTRAP
BADEAIMRISESREHIRE
ALBASTEFANITHERULES
HEARTHSTROTTEDTRENT
TERSERERATOPTSTSA
DAYSOTWOLIVES
CAMMOTOOVENPEOPLE
LOGANREPUTEDATECROW
ILIKEIKEREROUTECEDE
SOLEMNMODELNITUSES
PRESETSOUTOFITGPS
WAHWAHHOOTBUYER
OAFEARLSKRAKENVAC
FRFOURTRAINBREAKZERO
USAUSAOLGAEDENANEW
MORROWWANTSSNSCTRL

Alex Eaton-Salners, of Lake Forest, Calif., is an in-house attorney for a technology company. He spent his junior year of college studying at a Japanese university and living with a homestay family. He also worked in Japan for several years before returning to the U.S. for law school.

Alex made the Playing With Food Sunday crossword in September. This is his 44th puzzle for The Times overall.

Sun 11/15/2020 THEME SHMEME
BARTABDRAWBBALL
IVORIESCRASHCOURSE
NATURALSTRICKORTREAT
ALOETEALEAVESATBAT
COURTREPORTERAWLS
ANTRIPWRENJUDEWWE
MAXWEIRSUGARCOAT
FORAYGARBTUNEDHURT
AVERMOILIENORSALMA
DELETEDSCENESSPENDS
ERASERTHINNEDRECIPE
SYNCEDADESTEFIDELES
RITESARTERYTIMSILT
AGESGRETAWHENWIELD
THATSOKAYSEARPIT
ATMHUEDSPEDARMDUA
DERNSKINNYDIPPING
ALARMSHOESTOREREBA
SLUMBERPARTYWEBSITES
PLANETEARTHPUMMELS
FAUSTDYESSHORTI

Caitlin Reid, of Santa Ana, Calif., is the mother of two boys and two girls ages 4 to 11. Like Margaret Farrar, the first crossword editor of The Times — who was also a busy mother — Caitlin does most of her puzzle work after the rest of the family has gone to bed. That's when things quiet down.

Caitlin is a classically trained pianist who plays at her local church. Her favorite crosswords to make are themeless ones, like today's, which feature long, fresh, lively vocabulary and lots of humor and playfulness in the clues. This is Caitlin's ninth crossword for the paper, including a collaboration last Sunday.

Sun 11/8/2020 WAIT, WHAT?
MICROLOANPATELSILO
ADHERENCEELUDEIKNOW
YOUGOTTHATSTRUTDEUCE
ALMSHAYROOKSERENA
SAPCUSSSENSITIVE
MORALWOEROTSSOL
FOLEYCHIMIATADORM
WHYTHELONGFUSSTBONES
IAMIDEEREDSHERO
WIPEGALPALUFOADD
RUDDERSOFTHELOSTARK
SUELEISEDAKADOES
CARYSPARTAMEPGA
ACCEDELOADEDTHEBUSES
HAHSCSINYIOSBAILS
EPALIMAIMPBEETS
MUCKUPARTISTSROD
CHASERHOPELEOLADE
SHIFTTHENUMBOFTHEGUM
KINKSTURINFREEAGENT
INGAVNECKFIREWORKS

Evan Kalish, 33, of Bayside, N.Y., is a writer and crossword constructor. His hobby is visiting and photographing post offices around the country — more than 10,000 to date. Many photos and accounts of his travels appear on his blog, Postlandia.

Caitlin Reid is a mother of four in Santa Ana, Calif. The two connected online and collaborated by email and video chat. This is Caitlin's second Sunday Times crossword, and Evan's first.

Sun 11/1/2020 WEST-SOUTHWEST
ONSTARICUEBERTCHUG
REPOSERAGXAXESROME
SWAYUPHIGHQUANTASIN
EMTSODESUMMERSWEAR
RESTAPLEPOISWANLAKE
ORALSORSOSPA
SWARMRECEPTIONSPITES
AONETRENDTHORSNARK
MENSCHDIKEROCTERI
SEADOVEAIWAOBOE
FORWANTOFABETTERSWORD
OPEROEUFOTHELLO
ARTYNASOBIESUPERB
MARESMEANCELIAOLAY
SHORTUSPARKLINGSWINE
ANYACUEELATE
ISCARIOTCDTSANDREEF
SWEPTFORJOYSTYDANO
LILIOHYOUSWISHLISTS
APTSROSINHALSEVERS
MESHMOTETATLTIEDYE

Julian Lim, of Singapore, is an assistant professor at the School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore. He leads the school's Awake Lab, which studies the effects of mindfulness practice on sleep, well-being, and cognition. He holds a B.S. from Duke and a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania.

Julian started solving British crosswords in high school, later getting hooked on American ones. He says he has solved every New York Times crossword since 2004.

Sun 10/25/2020 AT THE HALLOWEEN PLAY ...
SLEPTMMSAIMEMAILS
MANORSMYLANTANESTEA
AUDIENCEHISSEDGNAWAT
CRINKLEEPHEMERAPANE
KANTMARIOIRVSTE
BAREBONESRENDITION
DEBGENLTANGELO
AVARIETYOFPARTSLUCAS
SECONDBOLGERSERAPE
HUGPAIGEEATSLIE
SPEXWARTSANDALLGLAD
EELWARMSAUTEIRE
TROJANHATERSANORAK
HURONNOBODYTOACTWITH
ETAILERSIREDMZ
REFLECTEDONHISROLE
ELODOTOATESSAGS
TEXTLIVEOAKSERITREA
AVIARYATTHEWRAPPARTY
PEERATCARSEATMOTETS
ENRAGEALAMREDETOO

Peter A. Collins is the chairman of the math department at Huron High School, in Ann Arbor, Mich., where he has taught for 40 years. He has been married for 33 years and has four adult daughters, all still in the Ann Arbor area. The genesis of this puzzle was hearing about an actor who had [answer at 48-Across]. That made him think of Frankenstein, and an idea was born.

This is Pete's 114th crossword for The Times.

Sun 10/18/2020 TITLE BASIN'
YOSHIMAUDETOAST
ASTONSLUGFESTSELBOW
LSATSLIFEOFPIEADORE
LORDDEAFICEDCUTE
TENDERISTHEKNIGHT
INASNAPNUKESIDEATES
MONKEYSNOMTOEPICK
ARECANDIEDMRI
YAWNSORLYNUITTEEUP
OHSTOPROOMED
INSEARCHOFLOSTTHYME
ADOEGOAWRAPEVEOOF
ROVERSNIDEELENA
FLAXGAPILLAVAETSY
THELITTLEPRINTS
SWEARSTOHEADSLAP
HEARSTSPEEDOSSHIRAZ
ENSNAREGOTONSCIENCE
ISAJULIUSSEESHEROKS
DEBODEONSPENTLET
IIIBEANALESDRY

Miriam Estrin is a native of St. Louis, now living in London. She works for Google as a policy manager dealing with international laws and regulations on access to information. After graduating from Yale Law School, she spent four years at the U.S. State Department. Miriam started constructing crosswords a year ago after reading the Times's online series "How to Make a Crossword Puzzle."

This is her second puzzle for the paper and her first Sunday.

Sun 10/11/2020 &pi;r<sup>2</sup>
DOTTEDISMOSTPUMPON
ORNAMENTALLENIGUANA
CONSPACYTHEORYNANTES
SEDALIAUSESSELA
HOMESENLACEPESTS
UNATWOTISHVAMPEBAT
BARGAINSATEANAEROBE
CULOTTESASSIGNSOBA
ATONEGOUTINLAWTIT
PONESPRUCEENOYES
RESPATORYSYSTEM
SPAMAOINNATEAMAL
HAWUSUALNAPSBRAVE
AREASEPTETSPOAGNEW
REIGNITELOCOINBOUND
PENNANTSLOOPTOYAGE
SURGEBITMAPABLER
TAPSSOUPFLONASE
OXIDESMISSISSIPPIVER
RENEWSALIKEELSINORE
EDGIERTSARREENGAGE

Gary Larson, of Edmonds, Wash., is a retired comedian. He spent the last 15 years of his career entertaining on cruise ships, where crosswords were a way to pass the time between shows.

One day a clue-and-answer combination in a New York Times crossword cracked him up, and he thought, "Why don't I try making one of these? I love writing jokes. How hard can it be to fit them into a puzzle?"

He found out. This is his 592nd puzzle. It's his fourth in The Times.

Sun 10/4/2020 YOU'RE TELLING ME!
ADMIREACTUPHOTDATE
GODSENDDIANETRUEDAT
OCTOBERMAKINGMEBLUSH
MUMBAIEQUALSALTO
OUTOFYOURGOURDBYTES
WHARFBLARNEYOJOS
LUMPALISHOOGAS
SHAHSMISSINGTHEPOINT
THATDERAILROAR
BOOHOOSFLOWERPETCO
INFORITNOWDARNTOOTIN
GEHRYIROBOTOURSONG
TOESHANGRYSTET
ONLYASGOODASTHEAMITY
PEPBIOSAHAACRE
FLAGDIALINGCREEL
CAMRYCOMPANYYOUKEEP
OTOESAIDNONURSES
SOMETHINGELSEOATMILK
TWOPAIREXAMSSKIAREA
ANARCHYSTRUTAPNEWS

Sam Ezersky, 25, is an associate puzzle editor of The New York Times. He sold his first crossword to the paper when he was 17, just before starting his senior year at South Lakes High School in Reston, Va.

Eight years and 30 Times crosswords later, Sam says his professional goal is to "never, ever create an ‘ordinary' puzzle." His favorite clues/answers in this one are at 111A and 81D

Sun 9/27/2020 PLAYING WITH FOOD
AJARPCPISPOSEDRAPE
GODOFWARTHENHLRENAL
OHIDUNNOBANKOFGUYANA
UNDIDTHAWPRIAMKIP
TOANDDIEINLAENGRAINS
IRSLAGGEDWASRONNIE
SERGESTAXHULA
SPINEYEBASEBALLCARD
ORGIESBATHEVEINRE
FOOTPATROLSALEANNAL
ATTPYRITEGOLIMPATE
REYESINSBANANASPLIT
ASOFLASMEMESERENE
STUFFEDOLIVELITEEGS
ERASAMYREDOES
SPACEROPICIALISIDO
LISTENUPCHOPPEDSALAD
ARKZEPPOOLAYAMORE
MASHEDPOTATOEASYWINS
OTTERESTHERARTSALES
NEONSREOILSREPYODA

Alex Eaton-Salners is an in-house attorney for Western Digital, a technology company headquartered in San Jose, Calif. He's been interested in puzzles and language since he was a child. He keeps a list of crossword theme ideas on his phone, so he can add to them wherever he goes. As a constructor, Alex says he likes to "subvert (responsibly) as many different crossword conventions as possible."

Sun 9/20/2020 WORD LADDERS
LOGOPFFTDRIPSHALL
SURPRABLERUNEITALIA
DIETITIANJESTPEGLEG
EESIUMSTERONEDO
UNDEPARTYARICINES
ISHITSABETILLICIT
BRODATETRAVEGLOVE
ADREPICONCURSENECA
RANSOMNOTECLAMDARTS
PLOPROFEOFMESOP
MOATTONIREALTOR
CITRINELOKISEEN
SOXFORTHEPICEDA
TIERSESAUAWARDGALAS
ENDOWSTANLINEECOLI
FRUITFYINGLESTOIL
LETSLIEGOOGLESKEL
LIVESLSUROOTOFLAN
OPIMOLINGELLAOL
OPENITCARAICALLDIBS
FEWESTAGOGVANILEVIL
ARSESNIKEETTUSEXY

Sam Trabucco is an American cryptocurrency trader based in Hong Kong. When he's not working, he enjoys playing board and card games, especially Magic: The Gathering and poker. Sam says one of his top priorities as a crossword constructor is to make his fill relatable to younger solvers. "I want this hobby to remain relevant forever!"

This is his 25th puzzle for The Times.

Sun 9/13/2020 FINAL OFFER
OATHAMPATARIHEISTS
SLAYLAOLORENOLDHAT
HAPPILYEVERAFTCALICO
ASSOCIATEABSOLUTEPOW
ONSIDENOSED
PLANCAVITIESMET
PHONIESADIOSPAGODA
RECYCLINGCENTTITANIC
INKSTATUSAMENBROTH
COERCEGOATSONSET
ELDERPOSTTWOSSERFS
GAILYEMAILSTREET
BRAINTEASARMADAFRA
REVOKEDCELLPHONENUMB
ANONYMDANTEGENESIS
NOWFENESTRADOES
PROOFSALAMI
RELIEFPITCHNOMINATES
UTOPIANOLAUGHINGMATT
SAVINGEMIRSANTOKRA
TSETSESEPTASOYSEEN

MaryEllen Uthlaut is a writer and homemaker in Charleston, S.C. Some years ago she was at her local library doing research for an article when she stumbled across a book about crosswords that had been mis-shelved. She checked it out, read it and started constructing. Her first-ever puzzle appeared in The Times in 2010.

This is her third crossword for the paper and her first Sunday.

Sun 9/6/2020 COULD YOU REPEAT THAT NUMBER?
STRAPTOMBSROPESIAN
IRINAORIONEXERTRBI
LOFTSMANGAVIRGOELL
ONESELFGERIDALANES
YOUONLYLIVETWICE
ODSSPREESBASIEECO
VEEIDEDAILOLDSAWS
UNSEENWIZLAUREL
LITTLEBROWNANDCOMPANY
AREASLICITEWOKS
ROTSONOHEPASIS
SPASMBUILTCLINT
TINKERTOEVERSTOCHANCE
OMEARASNLAUSTIN
INERTIALIECAMPATT
ODESTIEGTOBOOTXES
INTERCONTINENTAL
GENOAIRTREGKEROUAC
RTESOFIAABASESUNRA
ITSEULERMAMIEASIAN
NASDREDDPRESSLETBE

David Kwong is a magician and crossword constructor in Los Angeles who regularly combines puzzles and sleight of hand in his performances. His 2014 TED Talk includes a trick with a New York Times crossword and has been viewed 1.7 million times to date. David has a new virtual show with puzzles, titled Inside the Box, opening in a few weeks with the Geffen Playhouse in L.A.

This puzzle is his 21st crossword for The Times.

POW Sun 8/30/2020 ALL AFLUTTER
SHOPGOTTAULCERECON
TONIENEWSNIHAOSADE
ALEECHAOSTHEORYSNIT
BESPOKEAURASPCGAMES
MANORCRYPTSEEYA
MANATEMPOTSKS
JULGARBDEYCALFETC
ESLELVESMOVERARE
SITRASSLEHECATELEN
SCHISMTORNADOBELLAS
IMINOFFTODIARYATMO
CANDOORCSJAPEETHER
ANGERSIATUESEERS
BUTTERFLYEFFECT
STATBENLAOFEDORTS
PHIBARDORRSRTAERA
ARRAYAWAKEWIPED
DIFFERENCEINTHEWORLD
EVALADEEREDITSWILE
SERAGEARSSORTAASIN
SETENTSREPSNES

Olivia Mitra Framke, of Jersey City, N.J., is an academic adviser at the New School's College of Performing Arts in Manhattan. She describes herself as a flutist, dog lover and "all-around gaming nerd" (video games, board games, role-playing games, you name it).

This is her seventh crossword for The Times, including her third Sunday. Like her previous Sunday puzzles, this one has a visual element.

Sun 8/23/2020 MUSICAL INTERLUDE
BASKALLINBFFCHEERS
ORCANUTRIRAEHOLDIT
AMAZINGDOGRACEENLACE
REMOTESBITTEFAKETAN
DEPOTFORESTERPARENT
YESITISROOT
DIMNPRCROWSAKIN
ORGANDOMINATIONGRATE
TAUTESTMACROANTLER
STEIGINAPTTYPOEMO
SCARFACERESOURCES
ADSTOYSENORMCRABS
DONKEYMUSTIMAHALIA
AVOIDPARASOLMILITARY
METACAGEREEGODD
SOSOSEAGRAM
GLAREATGRANDMASHAMS
REMORSEECIGSWIRETAP
ONESETTHEPITIEDPIPER
ATNINEOARNEPALSAVE
NODEAREBBGLORYTREE

Barbara Lin is a computer engineer in West Chester, Pa. She says her work is like constantly solving puzzles. "The difference is that in engineering there's no answer key."

She has been constructing crosswords for about a year and a half. This is her third puzzle for The Times and her first Sunday.

POW Sun 8/16/2020 ALTERNATIVE CINEMA
MAOISTSSTAMPSMORASS
UNPLAITIAMTOOAVENUE
TWELVEANGRYMENRANKED
EARARRANTICIALDA
DRAWNTHEAFRICANQUEEN
ETTUDRIEDPAULS
FLANUPINILROTORS
DOCTORSTRANGESATCAT
IGETITDEPENDONASKME
COROLLANUYSPACPSST
BYEBYEBIRDIE
AMIESOOSMEEEDHELMS
SANDLUNTHAWEDRODEOS
PTAACTWATERSHIPDOWN
SANRIOYRSLIVINNS
YELLSLOUISTEVA
THELADYVANISHESALUMS
RAVIBMISAVOIRSAL
UNEEDAAMERICANBEAUTY
CONFITNOLUCKGESTATE
KITSCHDRINKSSTEELER

Francis Heaney, of New York City, is a professional puzzle maker and editor, who frequently constructs the American Values Club Crossword. For 15 years he has edited puzzle books for Sterling.

His early interest in puzzles was encouraged by his grandmother, who gave him a subscription to Games magazine for his 10th birthday. Francis has been contributing crosswords to The Times, on and off, since 1996.

Sun 8/9/2020 CRAFT SHOW
FACADEARROZVACAAS
ERODEDSLOANEIDASLO
NOODLEMECHANICALSUN
CALLINSICKPICKMEAMI
ERSMITTWRATHNSYNC
LICEBEERHATDESI
ORNOTPRELLTUPAC
LEOVSKISLOPESTRUTS
EDGEAIMSALPHARITA
HOTRODSITSASKIMPY
WEARYSHIPSHAPEATEIN
WARIERODOMANALYSE
IDEAOTTERCYTOLIRA
SANCTASTORYARCINRI
GRILLMASSEINKED
SALECULPRITNYSE
TONEDPALINNCOSCDS
NWTINDIRAFISHMARKET
OHITOWNSQUAREAREOLA
TACOUIOUTLAWMAINLY
ETSRNSNEALEAENEAS

Ruth Bloomfield Margolin, of Westfield, N.J., serves on the boards of several community nonprofit groups. For the past three years, she has spoken on crossword construction at area libraries — lately adding Zoom presentations to her repertoire.

Ruth created a crossword for her son's July wedding (now postponed), which included the couple's favorite board game, Pandemic. Whoops! She's revising that puzzle now to feature only "fun" things.

Sun 8/2/2020 PUZZLIN'
ICEBERGSHARPTONCUSS
MATINEECOMEHEREASET
STANDINGROOMONLYBEAR
ENTRAPSNAYMEADE
ZANYSLOPJENSALLOW
EPEESEVERLASTINGLOVE
BIRTHSERVINEDEMOTED
RADIOCARTEIXEIRA
ASAOAREROSBOTCAAN
FALLINGRAINMOMJAYNE
IMEANTARPSAOSIRENS
SOROSIINPARKINGRAMP
HATSDMSTRIXRAGYER
LEGALAIDEAGLEEYE
SCAPULAONETONSENSES
QUALIFYINGROUNDSTIRS
UPLASTNGOCUREORSO
IRATEPLOACHIEVE
SORTFEAROFMISSINGOUT
HUGEANTIPODESTOOPTO
YSERTHEATERSYESISEE

David Levinson Wilk, of Brooklyn, works for television game shows. For the past year he was the head writer of ABC's "$100,000 Pyramid" and Bravo's "Cash Cab." For nine years he was a staff writer for "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." He creates original puzzles for the San Diego Reader and other weekly newspapers across the country.

David sold his first crossword to The Times in 1996, when he was a sophomore in college, and he has been making puzzles ever since.

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