Rafael Musa, of San Francisco, is a software engineer at Airbnb.
 
    
	
		
			
				Sun 11/2/2025 Open-Faced
			
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Rafael Musa, of San Francisco, is a software engineer. His favorite kind of crossword to construct is themeless, like this one, because of the freedom it gives him in filling the grid.
This one has only 117 answers — the lowest ever for a Sunday Times puzzle, beating the previous record by one. It's full of long, colorful words and phrases not seen in puzzles before.
It's Rafa's 22nd construction for The Times since 2022.
	 
		
			Fri 10/3/2025
		
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			 | E | L | I | O | T |  | E | W | E | S |  | M | D | S | 
		
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			| S | A | T | E | D |  | L | I | L | Y |  | W | A | R | M | 
		
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			| A | S | K | A | N | Y | O | N | E |  | E | E | L | E | D | 
		
			| B | E | E | R | T | E | N | T |  |  | A | R | O | S | E | 
		
	
		
			Fri 8/8/2025
		
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			| O | P | T | I | C |  | E | C | O | H | O | T | E | L | S | 
		
			| G | E | E | T | H | A | N | K | S |  | W | A | R | T | Y | 
		
			| S | A | T | E |  | L | G | S |  | W | E | S | T |  |  | 
		
			 |  |  | B | A | B | A |  | C | E | L |  | U | S | A | 
		
			 | S | C | A | M | A | L | E | R | T |  | C | R | U | X | 
		
			| Y | O | U | C | A | N | C | O | U | N | T | O | N | M | E | 
		
			| T | U | S | K |  | I | A | S | S | U | M | E | S | O |  | 
		
			| D | R | S |  | F | A | T |  | A | R | I | D |  |  |  | 
		
			 |  | W | E | A | N |  | C | D | S |  | S | P | O | T | 
		
			| S | T | O | A | T |  | S | H | E | E | T | P | A | N | S | 
		
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			Fri 5/30/2025
		
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			| L | E | T | S | G | O |  | R | O | C | K | B | A | N | D | 
		
			 | W | I | S | E |  | D | U | H |  | P | I | N | E | S | 
		
			 |  |  | A | L | L | A | B | O | A | R | D |  |  |  | 
		
			| M | E | A | N | S | I | T |  | O | P | I |  | D | I | E | 
		
			| A | R | L | O |  | P | E | A |  | S | C | I | O | N | S | 
		
			| D | R | I | V | E | R | S | L | I | C | E | N | S | E | S | 
		
			| R | E | S | A | L | E |  | E | C | O |  | S | A | R | I | 
		
			| E | D | T |  | D | A | D |  | A | R | T | I | S | T | E | 
		
			 |  |  | S | O | D | A | B | R | E | A | D |  |  |  | 
		
			| O | T | T | E | R |  | Z | O | E |  | T | E | N | S |  | 
		
			| H | A | V | E | A | N | I | N |  | F | A | J | I | T | A | 
		
			| S | L | A | M | D | U | N | K |  | I | M | O | K | A | Y | 
		
			| O | L | D | S | O | N | G | S |  | R | I | B | E | Y | E | 
		
	
		
			Sat 4/26/2025
		
			| E | G | G | H | E | A | D | E | D |  | A | G | L | O | W | 
		
			| D | R | E | A | M | Y | O | G | A |  | I | N | A | N | E | 
		
			| W | A | N | T | T | O | T | R | Y |  | D | A | T | E | S | 
		
			| I | V | I | E | S |  | T | E | S | H |  | W | E | P | T | 
		
			| N | Y | E |  |  | H | O | T | P | A | D |  | R | A | E | 
		
			 |  |  | M | O | O | D |  | A | I | R | S | I | G | N | 
		
			 |  | B | O | N | M | O | T |  | L | A | P | S | E | D | 
		
			 | S | E | C | R | E | T | A | D | M | I | R | E | R |  | 
		
			| R | U | S | H | A | T |  | M | E | A | N | E | R |  |  | 
		
			| O | P | T | I | M | U | S |  | E | R | S | E |  |  |  | 
		
			| Y | E | A |  | P | R | E | P | P | Y |  |  | A | N | D | 
		
			| A | R | C | S |  | F | I | E | F |  | T | A | M | E | R | 
		
			| L | I | T | O | N |  | S | T | A | G | E | D | I | V | E | 
		
			| W | O | O | L | F |  | M | A | K | E | M | A | G | I | C | 
		
			| E | R | R | O | L |  | S | L | E | E | P | M | A | S | K | 
		
	
		
			Sat 4/5/2025
		
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			| A | U | T | O | M | A | K | E | R |  | M | A | Y | B | E | 
		
			| T | R | O | J | A | N | W | A | R |  | I | N | C | A | N | 
		
			| C | R | A | S | H | S | I | T | E | S |  | D | A | F | T | 
		
			| H | O | T |  | A | P | S |  | P | R | I | O | R | I |  | 
		
			 |  |  | A | L | O | E | S |  | A | R | M | A | N | I | 
		
			| O | H | I | F | O | R | G | O | T |  | A | W | M | A | N | 
		
			| L | E | N | T |  | T | U | N | I | C |  | A | B | L | E | 
		
			| A | L | T | E | R |  | Y | O | G | A | C | L | A | S | S | 
		
			| F | L | O | R | E | S |  | S | H | R | E | K |  |  |  | 
		
			 | H | O | P | O | U | T |  | T | E | A |  | M | T | V | 
		
			| C | O | D | A |  | N | O | P | R | E | S | S | U | R | E | 
		
			| A | L | E | R | T |  | P | H | O | N | E | I | T | I | N | 
		
			| P | E | E | T | A |  | P | I | P | E | D | R | E | A | M | 
		
			| E | S | P | Y | S |  | S | L | E | D |  |  | S | L | O | 
		
	
		
			
				Sun 2/23/2025 In the Rearview
			
				| E | C | L | A | T |  | A | P | P | L | E |  | S | P | Y |  | S | C | R | U | M | 
			
				| S | H | E | B | A |  | Q | U | E | E | R | B | A | I | T |  | O | R | A | T | E | 
			
				| Q | U | I | C | K | T | U | R | N | A | R | O | U | N | D |  | B | I | T | T | E | 
			
				 | M | A | D | E | W | A | R |  |  |  | A | C | E |  | P | E | S | T | E | R | 
			
				 |  |  |  | H | I | S |  | W | H | E | R | E | D | I | D | I | P | A | R | K | 
			
				| M | A | I | D | E | N |  | R | A | I | D |  |  |  | M | A | T |  | I | R | A | 
			
				| A | T | R | I | A |  | W | I | N | G | I | T |  | H | A | S |  | P | L | O | T | 
			
				| L | O | O | K | T | H | E | O | T | H | E | R | W | A | Y |  | C | A | S | T | S | 
			
				| A | N | N | E |  | A | R | T | S |  |  | A | H | I |  | A | I | R |  |  |  | 
			
				| R | E | I | S | S | U | E | S |  | F | E | D | E | R | A | L | G | R | A | N | T | 
			
				| I | R | E |  | O | N | O |  | M | O | N | E | Y |  | C | A | N |  | R | I | O | 
			
				| A | S | S | B | A | C | K | W | A | R | D | S |  | I | T | S | A | F | A | C | T | 
			
				 |  |  | M | P | H |  | I | S | M |  |  | L | O | I | N |  | I | B | E | T | 
			
				| S | K | E | W | S |  | I | M | H | A | P | P | Y | T | O | O | B | L | I | G | E | 
			
				| P | A | L | S |  | T | S | P |  | T | O | U | C | A | N |  | R | E | C | U | R | 
			
				| U | T | E |  | G | E | L |  |  |  | O | N | E | S |  | M | E | D | A | Y | S | 
			
				| R | E | V | E | R | S | E | C | O | U | R | S | E |  | C | O | W |  |  |  |  | 
			
				| I | B | E | X | E | S |  | A | T | L |  |  |  | T | O | P | C | H | E | F |  | 
			
				| O | U | N | C | E |  | S | C | O | T | C | H | T | A | P | E | R | O | L | L | S | 
			
				| U | S | T | E | D |  | H | A | W | A | I | I | A | N | S |  | E | S | S | A | Y | 
			
				| S | H | Y | L | Y |  | H | O | N |  | S | P | O | K | E |  | W | E | A | N | S | 
			
		
Daniel Grinberg, of Philadelphia, researches user experience for an energy company. Rafael Musa, of San Francisco, is a software engineer at Airbnb. They met last year at a crossword tournament and hit it off.
This is Daniel's seventh crossword for The Times and Rafael's 16th. Most of Rafael's puzzles here have been collaborations. He says co-constructing "is a great way to get to know someone."
	 
		
			Sat 2/1/2025
		
			| A | C | I | D | T | R | I | P |  |  | S | A | S | H | A | 
		
			| P | A | N | O | R | A | M | A | S |  | U | N | T | I | L | 
		
			| A | P | P | L | E | T | A | R | T |  | S | N | A | R | L | 
		
			| C | R | A | C | K |  | F | E | U | D |  | E | G | A | D | 
		
			| H | I | R | E |  | B | A | N | D | I | T |  | E | G | O | 
		
			| E | S | T |  | A | I | N | T | I | A | W | O | M | A | N | 
		
			 |  |  | A | N | G |  | S | E | M | I | T | O | N | E | 
		
			 | W | A | X | I | N | G |  | S | O | N | O | M | A |  | 
		
			| M | I | N | I | M | O | O | N |  | N | E | E |  |  |  | 
		
			| O | D | D | S | A | N | D | E | N | D | S |  | M | B | A | 
		
			| R | E | V |  | L | O | U | P | E | S |  | L | A | O | S | 
		
			| M | O | O | S |  | S | T | A | G |  | A | U | R | A | S | 
		
			| O | P | I | U | M |  | C | L | A | S | S | M | A | T | E | 
		
			| N | E | L | L | A |  | H | I | T | P | I | E | C | E | S | 
		
			| S | N | A | K | Y |  |  | S | E | A | S | T | A | R | S | 
		
	
		
			Fri 11/22/2024
		
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			| T | R | O | O | P |  |  | O | L | D | N | O | R | S | E | 
		
			| A | E | I | O | U |  | S | L | E | P | T | L | A | T | E | 
		
			| I | S | I | T |  | S | P | I | T |  | S | I | D | E | D | 
		
			| D | O | N | T | B | E | E | V | I | L |  | N | A | R | S | 
		
			 |  | S | O | E | X | C | I | T | I | N | G |  |  |  | 
		
			| I | D | I | O | C | Y |  | A | B | L | E |  | K | A | Y | 
		
			| P | E | S | T | O |  | P | R | E |  | A | B | I | D | E | 
		
			| A | C | T |  | O | H | I | O |  | C | R | E | D | O | S | 
		
			 |  |  | B | L | I | N | D | D | A | T | E | S |  |  | 
		
			| S | T | Y | E |  | M | E | R | E | M | O | R | T | A | L | 
		
			| H | E | A | T | S |  | L | I | F | E |  | H | A | L | O | 
		
			| A | S | T | R | O | L | O | G | Y |  | T | A | B | O | O | 
		
			| P | L | E | A | S | E | G | O |  |  | A | L | L | O | T | 
		
			| E | A | S | Y | A | S |  |  |  |  | C | L | E | F | S | 
		
	
		
			Fri 8/23/2024
		
			| S | A | R | A |  | S | N | A | R | E |  | S | P | A | S | 
		
			| I | H | A | V | E | T | O | R | U | N |  | W | O | R | E | 
		
			| N | O | T | E | T | O | S | E | L | F |  | I | L | E | X | 
		
			| E | Y | E | D | U | P |  | Y | E | A | H | F | I | N | E | 
		
			 | T | H | A | D |  | H | O | R | N | Y | T | O | A | D | 
		
			| P | H | I |  | E | S | A | U |  | T | M | I |  |  |  | 
		
			| E | E | K |  | S | I | N | K | S |  | N | E | I | N | S | 
		
			| C | R | E | W |  | T | O | I | L | S |  | S | N | A | P | 
		
			| K | E | S | H | A |  | I | D | E | A | S |  | D | N | A | 
		
			 |  |  | O | R | C |  | D | E | C | O |  | I | C | Y | 
		
			| S | H | A | K | E | O | N | I | T |  | L | A | S | H |  | 
		
			| C | I | N | N | A | M | O | N |  | W | A | R | P | E | D | 
		
			| I | A | G | O |  | B | I | G | P | I | C | T | U | R | E | 
		
			| F | L | E | W |  | A | R | M | W | R | E | S | T | L | E | 
		
			| I | L | L | S |  | T | E | E | N | Y |  | Y | E | A | R | 
		
	
		
			Sat 6/29/2024
		
			| M | A | A |  |  | P | E | T | S |  | P | I | N | T | A | 
		
			| E | I | D | A | L | A | D | H | A |  | A | W | O | R | D | 
		
			| S | N | O | W | A | N | G | E | L |  | T | O | T | E | D | 
		
			| S | T | R | E | S | S | E | A | T |  |  | N | E | M | O | 
		
			| U | S | E | D | T | O | I | T |  | W | A | T | S | O | N | 
		
			| P | O | D |  |  | U | N | E | V | E | N | B | A | R | S | 
		
			 |  |  | B | O | T |  | R | I | B | T | I | P | S |  | 
		
			 |  | P | O | P |  | A | D | A |  | S | T | P |  |  | 
		
			 | J | U | S | T | F | Y | I |  | L | Y | E |  |  |  | 
		
			| R | U | S | S | I | A | N | S | P | Y |  |  | O | R | B | 
		
			| O | N | H | A | N | D |  | T | H | R | A | S | H | E | R | 
		
			| A | K | O | N |  |  | T | R | A | I | L | A | W | A | Y | 
		
			| S | A | V | O | R |  | A | I | R | C | A | N | A | D | A | 
		
			| T | R | E | V | I |  | M | C | M | A | N | S | I | O | N | 
		
			| S | T | R | A | P |  | E | T | A | L |  |  | T | N | T | 
		
	
		
			Sat 2/24/2024
		
			| L | A | R | A |  | R | A | S | P | S |  | R | I | R | I | 
		
			| E | V | E | N | T | U | A | L | L | Y |  | A | H | E | M | 
		
			| G | O | L | D | E | N | H | O | U | R |  | C | A | N | S | 
		
			| S | W | O | O | N | S |  | T | O | A | D | E | T | T | E | 
		
			 |  |  | N | A | P | A |  | T | H | E | B | E | S | T | 
		
			| C | O | M | E | N | O | W |  |  |  | M | I | T | T |  | 
		
			| E | P | A |  | T | I | G | O | N | S |  | B | O | R | G | 
		
			| N | E | R | O |  | N | E | W | A | T |  | S | A | I | L | 
		
			| A | N | K | H |  | T | E | N | N | I | S |  | S | K | A | 
		
			 | S | E | G | O |  |  |  | C | L | I | N | K | E | D | 
		
			| R | E | T | O | R | T | S |  | Y | E | T | I |  |  |  | 
		
			| H | A | R | D | B | O | I | L |  | T | U | G | S | O | N | 
		
			| I | S | A | Y |  | S | M | A | R | T | P | H | O | N | E | 
		
			| N | O | T | E |  | C | O | M | P | O | S | T | B | I | N | 
		
			| O | N | E | S |  | A | N | A | I | S |  | S | A | T | E | 
		
	
		
			Fri 1/26/2024
		
			| R | C | A |  | H | E | R | O | N |  | I | T | S | I | N | 
		
			| P | U | S | H | O | V | E | R | S |  | N | O | O | N | E | 
		
			| G | R | E | A | T | I | D | E | A |  | D | E | F | E | R | 
		
			| S | T | A | R | W | A | R | S |  | P | E | L | T | E | D | 
		
			 |  |  | L | I | N | E |  | B | E | B | O | L | D |  | 
		
			| T | U | B | E | R |  | W | E | R | E | T | O | A | S | T | 
		
			| E | N | A | M | E | L |  | N | A | V |  | P | U | P | A | 
		
			| A | S | L |  | S | E | T | T | E | E | S |  | N | A | G | 
		
			| S | U | L | A |  | D | R | E |  | S | T | U | C | C | O | 
		
			| E | N | E | M | Y | T | U | R | F |  | A | S | H | E | N | 
		
			 | G | R | I | E | V | E |  | R | A | R | E |  |  |  | 
		
			| C | H | I | L | L | S |  | D | I | R | T | R | O | A | D | 
		
			| R | E | N | A | L |  | N | O | T | G | U | I | L | T | Y | 
		
			| O | R | A | T | E |  | G | R | O | U | P | D | A | T | E | 
		
			| P | O | S | E | D |  | O | A | S | E | S |  | F | A | D | 
		
	
		
			
				Sun 12/31/2023 It's Going Down
			
				| H | I | M |  | I | D | L | E |  |  | E | S | S |  |  |  | F | E | T | A |  | 
			
				| A | D | A |  | M | E | A | N | T |  | S | H | A | K | A |  | O | R | A | L | B | 
			
				| H | E | R | B | I | V | O | R | E |  | P | O | W | E | R | B | R | O | K | E | R | 
			
				| A | S | I | A | N |  | S | I | N |  | N | E | W | Y | E | A | R | S | E | V | E | 
			
				| S | T | E | L | L | A |  | C | A | P | U | T | O |  | A | L | E |  | A | E | R | 
			
				 |  |  | L | O | T | I | O | N | S |  | R | O | B |  | L | A | D | S |  |  | 
			
				| P | O | P |  | V | I | D |  | T | Y | P | E | D | U | P |  | L | O | H | A | N | 
			
				| S | P | I | C | E | T | E | A |  | C | O | E |  | G | R | U |  | H | O | S | E | 
			
				| H | E | P | A |  |  | N | I | G | H | T |  | F | O | O | T | B | A | T | H | S | 
			
				| A | R | E | N | A |  | T | R | E | O |  |  | L | U | C | I | A |  |  |  |  | 
			
				| W | A | T | E | R | B | I | L | L | S |  | S | A | T | E | L | L | I | T | E | S | 
			
				 |  |  |  | K | A | T | I | E |  |  | O | T | B | S |  | L | G | A | M | E | 
			
				| T | H | A | T | S | L | I | F | E |  | C | A | S | A | S |  |  | G | H | E | E | 
			
				| M | A | Y | O |  | L | E | T |  | B | A | R |  | G | O | B | E | Y | O | N | D | 
			
				| I | N | C | U | R |  | S | E | R | A | P | E | S |  | R | A | Y |  | E | D | Y | 
			
				 |  | A | R | A | B |  | D | E | L |  | W | E | A | S | L | E | Y |  |  |  | 
			
				| D | I | R |  | N | O | R |  | L | L | B | E | A | N |  | L | I | S | T | I | C | 
			
				| I | C | A | N | T | D | E | C | I | D | E |  | O | N | O |  | N | E | W | T | O | 
			
				| T | I | M | E | S | S | Q | U | A | R | E |  | A | U | T | O | G | R | A | P | H | 
			
				| Z | E | B | R | A |  | S | E | N | O | R |  | K | A | T | S | U |  | I | R | E | 
			
				 | R | A | F | T |  |  |  | T | P | S |  |  | L | O | O | P |  | N | O | N | 
			
		
Matt Linzer, of San Francisco, is a former professional ballet and contemporary dancer who now works in graphic design and art. Rafael Musa, also of San Francisco, is a software engineer at Airbnb.
This is Matt's second puzzle for The Times, Rafa's ninth. After Matt solved Rafa's Pride-themed puzzle in the paper last June, he reached out for help in developing this one's theme.
	 
		
			Fri 11/24/2023
		
			| K | E | N | O |  | A | L | I | G |  | A | R | S | O | N | 
		
			| A | R | A | L |  | M | A | N | O |  | R | E | T | R | O | 
		
			| N | E | R | D | F | E | S | T | S |  | M | E | A | N | T | 
		
			| S | C | R | E | E | N | T | E | S | T |  | D | R | U | G | 
		
			| A | T | O | N | E |  | P | R | I | U | S |  | S | R | O | 
		
			| N | S | W |  | L | E | A |  | P | R | O | V | I | S | O | 
		
			 |  |  | V | I | G | G | O |  | N | U | D | G | E | D | 
		
			 | C | H | A | N | G | E | O | F | P | L | A | N | S |  | 
		
			| S | L | E | I | G | H |  | H | A | R | P | Y |  |  |  | 
		
			| C | O | L | L | I | E | S |  | K | O | A |  | E | R | A | 
		
			| H | U | P |  | T | A | U | P | E |  | T | A | X | O | N | 
		
			| I | S | L | E |  | D | R | A | M | A | C | L | U | B | S | 
		
			| S | E | I | K | O |  | E | Y | E | S | H | A | D | O | W | 
		
			| M | A | N | E | D |  | T | E | A | T |  | M | E | T | E | 
		
			| S | U | E | D | E |  | Y | E | T | I |  | O | D | O | R | 
		
	
		
			Fri 9/22/2023
		
			| S | T | O | A | T | S |  | L | S | D |  | O | P | E | N | 
		
			| C | A | R | R | O | T | C | A | K | E |  | R | O | M | A | 
		
			| O | X | Y | M | O | R | O | N | I | C |  | G | O | O | D | 
		
			| T | I | X |  | B | A | B | A | R |  | Y | A | L | T | A | 
		
			 |  |  | L | I | P | S |  | E | V | O | N | N | E |  | 
		
			 | E | C | I | G | S |  | P | S | E | U | D | O |  |  | 
		
			| A | L | O | F | T |  | S | H | O | T | H | O | O | P | S | 
		
			| P | A | L | E | O |  | P | O | R |  | A | N | D | O | R | 
		
			| E | N | D | O | F | R | A | N | T |  | D | O | L | M | A | 
		
			 |  | F | R | A | N | C | E |  | C | O | R | E | S |  | 
		
			 | B | U | D | I | C | E |  | D | E | N | S |  |  |  | 
		
			| E | A | S | E | L |  | R | E | U | S | E |  | L | I | D | 
		
			| A | S | I | A |  | J | A | M | E | S | J | O | Y | C | E | 
		
			| R | I | O | T |  | A | C | T | S | N | O | R | M | A | L | 
		
			| P | E | N | H |  | Y | E | S |  | A | B | S | E | N | T | 
		
	
		
			Fri 8/25/2023
		
			| H | E | L | L | S | C | A | P | E |  | B | A | I | L | S | 
		
			| I | L | H | A | N | O | M | A | R |  | U | N | L | I | T | 
		
			| M | I | A | M | I | D | A | D | E |  | S | I | L | V | A | 
		
			| O | T | S |  | T | E | S | T |  | O | Y | S | T | E | R | 
		
			| M | E | A | L |  |  | S | H | O | P |  | E | R | A | S | 
		
			 | S | N | I | P | E |  | A | W | E | S |  | E | L | I | 
		
			 |  |  | N | O | P | A | I | N | N | O | G | A | I | N | 
		
			 | M | A | D | L | I | B |  | I | M | L | A | T | E |  | 
		
			| P | O | R | T | A | P | O | T | T | I | E | S |  |  |  | 
		
			| A | T | M |  | R | E | D | O |  | C | S | P | A | N |  | 
		
			| N | O | R | M |  | N | E | O | N |  |  | S | C | O | W | 
		
			| G | R | E | E | T | S |  | R | O | C | K |  | C | P | A | 
		
			| R | O | S | S | I |  | B | E | L | I | E | B | E | R | S | 
		
			| A | L | T | A | R |  | T | A | T | T | L | E | D | O | N | 
		
			| M | A | S | S | E |  | S | L | E | E | P | D | E | B | T | 
		
	
		
			POW Fri 7/28/2023
		
			| I | N | C | H | U | P |  |  |  | T | E | M | P | T | S | 
		
			| S | E | R | A | P | E | S |  |  | I | N | A | R | E | A | 
		
			| O | V | E | R | D | R | A | W |  | G | O | C | O | L | D | 
		
			| B | A | D | M | O | U | T | H | S |  | S | A | G | E | T | 
		
			| A | D | O | S |  |  | I | O | W | A |  | W | A | P | O | 
		
			| R | A | S |  | L | A | N | D | A | R | T |  | M | O | S | 
		
			 |  |  | P | E | C |  | O | N | C | A | M | E | R | A | 
		
			| E | N | G | A | G | E | M | E | N | T | P | A | R | T | Y | 
		
			| G | O | R | D | I | T | A | S |  | I | A | N |  |  |  | 
		
			| O | W | E |  | T | I | C | T | A | C | S |  | T | M | I | 
		
			| B | O | A | S |  | C | O | H | N |  |  | Y | A | R | N | 
		
			| O | N | T | O | P |  | S | A | K | E | B | O | M | B | S | 
		
			| O | D | O | U | L | S |  | T | H | R | O | U | P | L | E | 
		
			| S | E | N | S | E | I |  |  | S | O | L | D | O | U | T | 
		
			| T | R | E | A | D | S |  |  |  | S | T | O | N | E | S | 
		
	
		
			
				POW Sun 7/2/2023 About Two Feet
			
				| B | T | S |  | S | K | I | M |  | W | A | T | C | H |  |  | D | I | M | S |  | 
			
				| U | A | E |  | O | N | M | E |  | A | N | I | T | A |  | R | E | C | A | L | L | 
			
				| T | H | E | E | L | E | P | H | A | N | T | M | A | N |  | A | V | E | N | U | E | 
			
				| W | E | S | T | A | T | E |  |  | D | E | B |  | H | E | S | S | 
			
				| H | O | Y | A |  |  |  | A | R | S |  | T | O | L | L | B | O | O | T | H | S | 
			
				| Y | E | A | R | N | E | D |  | P | I | R | A | T | E | S | Y |  | 
			
				 |  |  | B | E | B | O | P |  | N | I | N | E |  | A | I | N | T |  |  |  | 
			
				 | T | H | U | N | B | E | R | G |  | O | K | R | A |  | T | E | E | M | S |  | 
			
				| G | E | O | D | E |  |  | O | A | K |  |  | I | U | D |  | S | L | A | T | E | 
			
				| A | C | T | S |  | N | A | P | T | I | M | E |  | T | U | B | E |  | S | A | L | 
			
				| S | H | Y |  | S | Y | M | B | O | L | I | C | L | O | G | I | C |  | C | U | E | 
			
				| P | H | O |  | O | T | O | E |  | N | B | O |  | R | A | N | G | 
			
				| S | U | G | A | R |  | S | T | P |  |  | O | O | P |  |  | M | E | R | C | Y | 
			
				 | B | A | N | T | U |  | S | L | E | D |  | L | A | H | D | I | D | A | H |  | 
			
				 |  |  | N | O | N | E |  | A | P | E | S |  | Y | I | E | L | D |  |  |  | 
			
				 | Y | O | U | F | L | A | T | T | E | R | M | E |  | S | N | O | W | D | A | Y | 
			
				| D | E | C | A | T | E |  | O | S | U |  |  |  | A | I | M | E | 
			
				| I | N | T | L |  | E | T | A |  |  | I | T | S | B | E | E | N | R | E | A | L | 
			
				| S | T | A | F | F | S |  | B | I | G | S | H | O | E | S | T | O | F | I | L | L | 
			
				| S | A | V | E | A | S |  | O | V | U | L | E |  | R | A | R | E |  | N | I | A | 
			
				 | S | E | E | D |  |  | O | S | T | E | R |  | S | U | E | S |  | S | E | T | 
			
		
Rebecca Goldstein, of Albany, Calif., is a research scientist at Merck, developing immunotherapies for cancer. Rafael Musa, of San Francisco, is a software engineer at Airbnb. Each has been published individually in The Times, but this is their first collaboration.
As friends they see each other occasionally at Bay Area puzzle events and otherwise. They worked separately, though, through many different versions, to implement this crossword's ambitious theme.
	 
		
			
				POW Sun 6/4/2023 Flying Colors
			
				 |  |  | D | U | N | B | A | R |  | S | L | O | G | A | N | S |  |  |  | 
			
				 |  | A | R | M | O | I | R | E |  | C | O | L | O | N | I | E | S |  |  | 
			
				 | O | N | A | N | D | O | F | F |  | R | E | D | S | T | A | T | E | S |  | 
			
				| W | H | O | Y | O | U |  |  | I | T | I | S | S | O |  |  | S | A | L | E | 
			
				| O | A | R |  |  | L | O | S |  | A | B | S |  | U | S | A | T | L | A | S | 
			
				| O | R | A | N | G | E | J | U | I | C | E |  | S | T | E | R | O | I | D | S | 
			
				| T | A | K | E | I |  | O | C | T | O |  | O | C | H | E | R |  | N | E | O | 
			
				 |  |  | A | N | D |  | C | E | S | S | N | A |  | T | O | E |  |  |  | 
			
				 | D | A | R | K | R | O | O | M |  | Y | E | L | L | O | W | L | A | B |  | 
			
				| S | O | S |  | G | A | R | R |  | P | R | I | D | E |  |  | F | L | A | G | 
			
				| F | I | T |  | O | W | N |  | M | A | I | L |  | G | N | C |  | E | R | E | 
			
				| O | N | E | S |  |  | O | C | A | L | A |  | F | O | O | L |  | U | R | L | 
			
				 | G | R | E | E | N | T | A | P | E |  | C | A | S | S | E | T | T | E |  | 
			
				 |  |  | A | N | O |  | S | L | O | T | H | S |  | E | R | A |  |  |  | 
			
				| A | L | F |  | S | M | I | T | E |  | I | O | T | A |  | I | N | D | I | A | 
			
				| P | E | A | C | O | A | T | S |  | B | L | U | E | J | A | C | K | E | T | S | 
			
				| I | D | C | A | R | D | S |  | P | R | E |  | N | A | S |  |  | P | A | T | 
			
				| A | T | T | N |  |  | A | T | E | A | S | E |  |  | I | A | M | A | L | I | 
			
				 | V | I | O | L | E | T | R | A | Y |  | B | R | A | D | B | U | R | Y |  | 
			
				 |  | S | E | T | P | I | E | C | E |  | A | T | H | E | I | S | T |  |  | 
			
				 |  |  | D | E | S | E | X | E | D |  | Y | E | S | S | E | S |  |  |  | 
			
		
Rafael Musa, of San Francisco, is a software engineer at Airbnb. This is his third crossword for The Times.
The idea for it came from a giant 57/58-Across at the intersection of Castro and Market in San Francisco. "I was stuck at a light looking at it and thought — could this be a crossword puzzle? Turns out, yes, it can!" He adds, "This one is very special to me as it's running 10 years, almost to the day, after I came out for the first time."
	 
		
			
				Sun 1/1/2023 In Play
			
				| T | R | E | E |  | J | A | P | A | N |  | S | P | A | M | S |  | A | C | T | S | 
			
				| Y | E | N | S |  | A | I | O | L | I |  | A | E | R | I | E |  | L | O | I | N | 
			
				| R | E | C | T | A | N | G | U | L | A | R | P | R | I | S | M |  | E | L | M | O | 
			
				| A | L | E | R | T |  |  | R | E | L | O |  |  |  | S | I | M | P | L | E | R | 
			
				 |  | L | O | V | E | W | I | L | L | T | E | A | R | U | S | A | P | A | R | T | 
			
				| D | R | A | G |  | N | O | T | E |  |  | D | O | E | S |  | C | O | B |  |  | 
			
				| A | I | D | E |  | T | W | O |  | S | W | I | N | G | A | T |  |  | O | P | A | 
			
				| M | O | U | N | T | A | I | N | S | T | A | T | E | S |  | O | U | T | R | U | N | 
			
				| E | T | S |  | H | I | E |  | P | A | R |  |  |  | F | I | N | E | A | R | T | 
			
				 |  |  | T | E | L |  | D | O | C | T | O | R | D | O | L | I | T | T | L | E | 
			
				| A | X | I | O | M |  | T | O | O | K |  | Z | E | R | O |  | C | R | E | S | S | 
			
				| G | E | T | B | A | C | K | I | N | S | H | A | P | E |  | G | O | A |  |  |  | 
			
				| I | N | S | I | G | H | T |  |  |  | E | R | R |  | S | U | R |  | P | A | T | 
			
				| L | O | N | N | I | E |  | B | R | E | A | K | O | U | T | I | N | S | O | N | G | 
			
				| E | N | O |  |  | M | A | N | U | A | L | S |  | N | A | N |  | A | S | T | I | 
			
				 |  | B | B | S |  | L | A | I | C |  |  | S | O | L | E |  | L | E | I | F | 
			
				| F | R | I | E | N | D | S | I | N | H | I | G | H | P | L | A | C | E | S |  |  | 
			
				| L | E | G | R | O | O | M |  |  |  | S | U | R | E |  |  | D | I | N | A | R | 
			
				| U | R | G | E |  | P | I | C | T | U | R | E | I | N | P | I | C | T | U | R | E | 
			
				| B | A | I | T |  | E | T | H | O | S |  | S | N | E | E | R |  | E | D | E | N | 
			
				| S | N | E | S |  | S | H | I | N | E |  | S | E | D | G | E |  | M | E | A | T | 
			
		
Adam Wagner, of Oakland, Calif., is a creative lead at Patreon, the crowdfunding site for content creators. Michael Lieberman is an attorney in Washington, D.C. Rafael Musa, of San Francisco, is a software engineer at Airbnb. They met through crossword posts on Twitter and now play on the same team in a weekly Zoom trivia night.
The idea for this puzzle was Michael's. Rafael and Adam added to the theme. They all collaborated on the grid and clues.
	 
		
			POW Fri 10/21/2022
		
			| E | B | A | Y |  | B | A | S | T | E |  | L | A | W | N | 
		
			| S | O | S | O |  | O | N | T | O | E |  | I | D | E | A | 
		
			| P | L | A | Y | I | T | C | O | O | L |  | L | U | R | E | 
		
			| N | O | N | O | T | T | H | A | T |  | B | A | L | E |  | 
		
			| U | S | A |  | C | L | O | T |  | F | A | C | A | D | E | 
		
			 |  |  | B | A | E |  |  | B | A | R |  | T | O | N | 
		
			 |  | H | A | N | G | O | N | A | S | E | C | O | N | D | 
		
			 | W | A | I | T | R | I | G | H | T | H | E | R | E |  | 
		
			| W | I | N | T | H | E | L | O | T | T | E | R | Y |  |  | 
		
			| A | N | D |  | U | E | Y |  |  | R | A | N |  |  |  | 
		
			| R | E | T | U | R | N |  | B | E | A | D |  | I | N | A | 
		
			 | C | O | L | T |  | C | O | N | C | E | R | T | O | S | 
		
			| D | A | W | N |  | D | R | U | N | K | D | I | A | L | S | 
		
			| U | V | E | A |  | V | E | N | U | E |  | P | L | I | E | 
		
			| G | E | L | S |  | R | E | D | I | D |  | E | Y | E | S |