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New York Times, Sunday, December 18, 2022

Author:
Ryan McCarty
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
44-Across : Annual honors celebrating African American achievement
TotalDebutLatestCollabs
286/17/20178/24/20242
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ScrabDebutFresh
1.6124496%
Ryan McCarty

This puzzle:

Rows: 21, Columns: 21 Words: 122, Blocks: 60 Missing: {JQV} Puzzle has duplicate clues. This is puzzle # 23 for Mr. McCarty. Jeff Chen's Puzzle of the Week pick. Sunday freshness: 100%
Will Shortz notes:
Ryan McCarty, of Washington, D.C., is a principal consulting manager at a firm specializing in data/analytics for federal clients. He is also a baritone in multiple vocal ... read more
Ryan McCarty notes:
Thrilled to have my first Sunday puzzle in the Times! This grid features one of my favorite open middles that I've made as it pulls from a variety of subject areas. I had originally tried ... read more
Jeff Chen notes:
Visually stunning layout, sort of like a cross between a windmill and a hedge maze. All of the black square diagonals produce a mesmerizing sense of movement and grid flow. Ryan is ... read more
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A
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H
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B
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G
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P
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C
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B
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W
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G
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P
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C
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G
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L
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P
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P
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P
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C
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© 2022, The New York Times12/18/22 ( No. 26,703 )
Across
1
"I'm in heaven!" : AHBLISS
8
Word of gratitude overseas : MERCI
13
Optimists keep them high : HOPES
18
Bunk : BALONEY
19
One might crawl out of the woodwork : CARPENTERANT
21
Goofed (around) : CLOWNED
22
"I'm in heaven!" : THISISTHELIFE
23
Entered a school zone, say : SLOWED
24
What used to be yours? : THINE
25
Got a newer smartphone, maybe : TRADEDUP
26
Persian polymath Khayyám : OMAR
27
Quibbles : CARPS
28
Many a consulting hire, for short : MBA
29
They may be locked and loaded : SAFES
30
Loretta who played "Hot Lips" Houlihan on "M*A*S*H" : SWIT
31
All-woman rock band with the 1982 hit "Vacation" : GOGOS
32
Bit of deception : FEINT
34
Scrubbed, as a rocket launch : NOGO
35
Go through : PENETRATE
37
Moves to attack : COMESAT
39
___ Carter, most-recorded jazz bassist in history : RON
40
Exercise typically done lying down : LEGRAISE
41
Largest U.S. state capital by population, on a postmark : PHOENIXAZ
43
When doubled, a classic Mardi Gras tune : IKO
44
Annual honors celebrating African American achievement : BETAWARDS
46
Likely Cotton Bowl attendee : TEXAN
48
Place in math class : TENS
50
Many equal rights champions : FEMINISTS
52
Pros and cons, e.g. : SIDES
54
Peevish displays : SNITS
56
Welcome sights on road trips : RESTSTOPS
58
"Boxcars" : SIXES
60
Style of column at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate : DORIC
62
2017 chart-topping hit whose YouTube video was the first to reach 3 billion views : DESPACITO
64
Mark in art, in a way : ETCH
65
Playground game cry : NOTIT
67
Joke that goes over the line? : CRANKCALL
69
Turf ___ (football injury) : TOE
70
Caused to kvell : MADEPROUD
72
"This really needs to stop!" : IMSODONE
74
Piece of fudge? : FIB
77
Reveal the juiciest details : TELLALL
78
Squatting motions : KNEEBENDS
79
Muslim leader : IMAM
81
Volleyball star-turned-model Gabrielle : REECE
82
Close up on the screen? : GLENN
83
Scotland's ___ Lomond : LOCH
84
Charged : RANAT
86
Neighbor of India: Abbr. : PAK
87
Having a sailor's mouth, so to speak : CRASS
88
Group once led by Darth Sidious : SITH
89
Paintings such as "View of Toledo" : ELGRECOS
91
Given name of Caligula and Augustus : GAIUS
92
Harshly criticize : LASHAT
94
Joint accounts? : POLICEREPORTS
96
Québécois dish of French fries, cheese curds and gravy : POUTINE
97
Some limited-time offers : ONESHOTDEALS
98
Rhythmic pattern : CADENCE
99
Peevish : TESTY
100
"Somewhat" : SORTA
101
Wee bit : SMIDGEN
Down
1
Fundamentals : ABCS
2
Portmanteau for an extended autumn celebration : HALLOWEEKEND
3
Fried appetizer that resembles a blossom : BLOOMINGONION
4
Ebb tide feature : LOWWATER
5
___ child : INNER
6
Number in a tournament : SEED
7
Pink Floyd co-founder Barrett : SYD
8
Primary pipes : MAINS
9
Hebrides tongue : ERSE
10
Engineering sch. in Troy, N.Y. : RPI
11
"That's fine," in French : CESTBIEN
12
Making its way there : INTRANSIT
13
Doesn't ignore : HEEDS
14
Author Susan played by Meryl Streep in 2002's "Adaptation" : ORLEAN
15
Covered, in a way : PAIDFOR
16
Really hot, slangily : ENFUEGO
17
Squooshes, maybe : STEPSON
19
Bad things to find in a tea set : CHIPS
20
Lil Wayne's "___ Carter V" : THA
22
Sudden pang : THROE
24
Worked on in tandem : TAGTEAMED
27
Amusement park ride, informally : COASTER
28
Sort of investment purchase with a spike in popularity through social media : MEMESTOCK
30
Skedaddles : SPLITS
31
"Oh, good ___!" : GRIEF
32
One might offer concessions : FOODSTAND
33
Early springtime woe : TAXES
36
Neighbor of the Q key : TAB
37
Basketball legend nicknamed the "Point God" : CHRISPAUL
38
Their business is picking up : TAXIS
41
Term for a male opera character played by a woman : PANTSROLE
42
"White Teeth" novelist Smith : ZADIE
45
Witticism : WISECRACK
47
Very little : NEXTTONOTHING
49
River: Ger. : STROM
51
Thai cuisine quality : SPICINESS
53
Opportunity to make things right : SECONDCHANCE
55
Occupy, as a booth : SITAT
57
Landing sites for bees : STAMENS
59
"Good Lord!" : SHEESH
61
Apple product : CIDER
63
Elizabeth who starred in Marvel's "WandaVision" : OLSEN
66
Gets there in no time? : TELEPORTS
68
Defensive badminton shot : LOB
71
"Go right ahead!" : PLEASEDO
73
Removed from an exchange : DELISTED
74
Earthenware container for transporting heat : FIREPOT
75
"No one's here but me" : IMALONE
76
Ornamental bracelets : BANGLES
78
2019 animated Christmas film nominated for an Academy Award : KLAUS
80
New York college known for its polls : MARIST
82
Southern breakfast bowlful : GRITS
85
Into gadgets, say : TECHY
87
Soul singer Thomas : CARLA
88
Mecca resident : SAUDI
90
Boardroom V.I.P. : CEO
91
Parent of kids : GOAT
92
Mix of sand, silt and clay : LOAM
93
Many a TikTok user : TEEN
95
"___ my last email …" : PER
96
IT department inventory : PCS

Answer summary:
18 unique to this puzzle, 2 debuted here and reused later, 4 unique to Modern Era but used previously.

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