New York Times, Sept. 26

First off, thanks so much for the support for my first NYT-size puzzle. I haven’t gotten a lot of specific comments on it, but the 10 Facebook “likes” are good enough for me. Since I’m the only one of my friends who does crosswords, I can only humbly assume complete strangers have solved the grid and found it worthy. I hope to have another one soon — though I doubt it will be as visual or self-referential as the puzzle today.

The grid by Pamela Amick Klawitter comes with a note that basically says the eight theme answers are paired with eight sets of circled letters. I tried to illustrate this with a photo and four very old highlighters, with less than stellar results. (The pink marker looks like orange, and with only four colors, I had to use each highlighter twice, which made the attempted color-coding a little confusing.) Suffice to say, the pairings are all about location.

So, let’s start with a straightforward pairing: 91 Down, “City chiefs” — MAYORS. “MAYO” is in circles running down the left side of the grid … aha! MAYO on the side. But what does is pair with? After a little solving, it matched up with 22 Across, “Specification in a salad order”: DRESSING ON THE SIDE. Another easy one: 68 Across, “First name alphabetically in the Baseball Hall of Fame,” is AARON, which is placed in the centermost spot in the grid. That pairs with 115 Across, “Go-between,” which is THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE.

Two other horizontal reads: 1 Across, “When repeated, a resort near the Black Forest,” is BADEN, with DEN circled. That top-row answer is referenced by 57 Across, “Opening for an aspiring leader” — ROOM AT THE TOP. And at the very bottom, 123 Across (“Falls (over)”) is KEELS, with EEL circled; that connects with BOTTOM FISH (97 Across, “Carp or flounder, typically”).

Other letter sets were more visual. 8 Down is the upper-left corner of a 2-by-3 rectangle of circled letters that spells MENTAL, making it a MENTAL BLOCK (67 Down, “Cause of thoughtlessness?”). Over near 21 and 25 Across is a 2-by-2 square of circled letters that spells MILE, as in SQUARE MILE (34 Across, “Unit in measuring population density”). Another set of circled letters (STONE) in the bottom right corner forms a backward L — a literal CORNERSTONE (15 Down, “Place for a date, frequently). And if you’re looking for SLANTED LINES (75 Across, “Diagonals”), try reading the five circled letters that shoot diagonally from 65 Across — SENIL. Then sit there puzzled for a few minutes, like I did, and realize you need to read it backwards: LINES.

Not The Same Old Song Dept.: The answer to 80 Down is pretty familiar — ONE I, as in “The One I Love” by R.E.M. Except the clue here was “‘The ____ Gave My Heart To’ (1997 Aaliyah hit).” Along those same lines, I was surprised that the clue for MEME (118 Across) was a sorta stodgy foreign reference (“Same: Fr.”) instead of an Internet reference.

Questions or comments? Tweet me @crosswordkathy.

New York Times, Sept. 19

When I was 12, nearly every adult in my life told me I would regret quitting piano lessons. I quit anyway; I was miserable at the keyboard, and stubborn to boot. Can’t say I have any regrets — I’m much more comfortable at this keyboard — though I did find myself red-faced at a “Nutcracker” performance when I recognized the music only as being from a Toyota commercial.

Luckily, today’s puzzle did not require me to name any classical tunes, only composers. The theme answers are common phrases made punny by inserting a composer’s name: “‘Carmen’” composer-turned-dam builder?” is BIZET AS A BEAVER (22 Across); “Embrace more than just a family of Baroque composers?” is THINK OUTSIDE THE BACHS (29 Across); “Romantic overindulgence in nocturnes and mazurkas?” is a CHOPIN SPREE (39 Across); “Singing a ‘Messiah’ piece too quickly?” is FLYING OFF THE HANDEL (55 Across); “Countrywide music celebration in Hungary?” is a NATIONAL LISZT PARTY (66 Across); “Part of a children’s game with the Father of the Symphony?” is HAYDN GO SEEK; “Grand nuptials whose only music was ‘Peer Gynt’?” is MY BIG FAT GRIEG WEDDING; and “Try to capture the Waltz King” is GRASP AT STRAUSS.

Ewwwwwwww Dept.: “It’s often carried around a gym” — ODOR (91 Down).

One-Hit Wonder Dept.: I would have bet money that “Who Let the Dogs Out?” was the one and only hit by BAHA (20 Across) Men. According to the clue, they apparently also do a song called “Move It Like This.”

Very Clever Puns Dept.: “How current events may happen?” (29 Down) is TIDALLY; “It helps you change the locks” (30 Down) is HAIR DYE.

Let’s Hope Not Dept.: “Mad person?” (54 Down) is EDITOR, which I hope refers to Mad Magazine and not my boss.

Not Just Any Queen Dept.: “Ohio city named for a queen” (81 Across) is MARIETTA. I’ve never heard of a Queen Marietta, so I looked it up … and turns out it was named for Marie Antoinette.

Questions or comments? Tweet me @crosswordkathy.

New York Times, Sept.12

There are enough limbs in this puzzle to make a tree.

Looked at another way, the finished grid is pretty macabre: It squeezes the letters ARM and LEG into single squares, scattering appendages everywhere. But that’s the price you pay — “an arm and a leg” — for a puzzle titled “It’s Going To Cost You.”

The ARMs: ”Bad news on Wall Street” (23 Across) is a BEAR MARKET, which is entered as BE(ARM)ARKET; it crosses with 3 Down (“David Bowie single with the lyric ‘If we can sparkle he may land tonight’”), ST(ARM)AN. ”Three squares” (36 Across) is REGUL(ARM)EALS, crossing with 29 Down (“‘____, I’m sure’”), CH(ARM)ED; “Unit of star measurement” (61 Across) is SOL(ARM)ASS, crossing with “Frightens” (53 Down), AL(ARM)S; “Arc de Triomphe and Nelson’s Column” (77 Across) is W(ARM)EMORIALS, crossing with 78 Down (“Emporio ____”), (ARM)ANI; and “April, May and June” (114 Across) is CALEND(ARM)ONTHS, crossing with 99 Down (“Smugness”), SM(ARM).

The LEGs: “Like some doughnuts and windows” (59 Across) is DOUB(LEG)LAZED, crossing with 51 Down, (“Throat stuff”), PH(LEG)M; “Blow it” (75 Across) is BUBB(LEG)UM, crossing with 69 Down (“Mournful songs), E(LEG)IES; “Neutral space” (94 Across) is MIDD(LEG)ROUND, crossing with 86 Down (“Brand for hay fever sufferers”), AL(LEG)RA; “Blah-blah-blah” (116 Across) is ID(LEG)OSSIP, crossing with 117 Down (“Permitted”), (LEG)AL; and “What Fels-Naptha” banished, in old ads” (23 Across) is TATTLE-TA(LEG)RAY, crossing with 15 Down (“Assert without proof”), AL(LEG)E.

I’d never heard of “Fels-Naptha,” so I didn’t know what it banished — in old or new ads. Turns out there’s a copy of an old ad on the soap’s website if you click the “See Fels-Naptha in action” button. In fact, there were a lot of answers I was unfamiliar with, including MONODRAMA (62 Across, “Beckett’s ‘Krapp’s Last Tape,’ e.g.”); OSCINE (28 Across, “Relating to songbirds”); and MALLARME (62 Down, “‘L’Apres-midi d’un faune’ poet Stephane _____”).

Fun Terms Dept.: “Tough rubber?” (88 Across) is an INK ERASER; “Contends for valedictorian, say” (7 Down) is GETS ALL A’S.

Current Events Dept.: “Hazards for marine life” (72 Across) are OIL SLICKS.

Later this week, I’ll publish my first attempt at constructing a 15×15 grid — feedback is welcome (but please go easy on me)!

Questions or comments? Tweet me @crosswordkathy.

New York Times, Sept. 5

A title with “Turning” in it nearly always indicates some kind of backward wordplay … and, indeed, today’s “Turning Back” takes common two-word phrases and reverses the second word, creating a humorous twist. So 23 Across, “Taking the dimensions of busybodies?” is MEASURING SNOOPS, which is SPOONS spelled backward.

Others: “Done swimming?” (42 Across) is OUT OF THE POOL; “Giving an award to the wrong person?” (45 Across) is PRIZE SLIPUP; “Slandering a Thanksgiving dish?” (70 Across) is TURKEY TORT; “Othello, before Act V, Scene II?” (74 Across) is a LIVING MOOR; “Summary of ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’?” (101 Across) is an INDIANA RECAP; “Pious spouse’s ultimatum?” (123 Across) is LOVE ME, LOVE MY GOD; and “Comment in a women’s mag?” (99 Across) is COSMO REMARK.

Speaking of Cosmo Kramer, he is actually the fourth “Seinfeld” character to appear in today’s puzzle. Check out 4 Down, ”Surname of TV’s George, Frank and Estelle” — COSTANZA. If only constructor Will Nediger could’ve gotten MANZIERE into the grid …

Bling Bling Dept.: AIR JORDAN (“Sneaker with a Jumpman logo,” 40 Down) and CRISTAL (“Champagne often mentioned in hip-hop songs,” 6 Down)

When’s Dinner Dept.: “Dish with greens and ground beef” is a TACO SALAD (53 Down).

Lovers’ Quarrel Dept.: The grid had both I MISS YOU (“Sweetheart’s telephone comment,” 96 Down) and AM I WRONG (“Is it not so?” 94 Down).

Words I’ve Never Seen In A Crossword (Or Anywhere Else) Dept.: POMELO (“Fruit with a thick rind,” 16 Down, which is apparently sort of like a grapefruit, but not really); AZERA (“Hyundai sedan,” 127 Across); and DOZY (“Ready for a nap,” 119 Down). When I’m ready for a nap, I am tired — and then I doze off. I’m never DOZY.

Questions or comments? Tweet me @crosswordkathy.