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New York Times, Friday, December 4, 2020

Author:
Patti Varol and Doug Peterson
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
24-Across : Speculative fiction writer Stephenson
TotalDebutCollabs
112/4/20201
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
0000010
ScrabDebutFresh
1.46490%
Patti Varol
TotalDebutLatestCollabs
572/20/200610/13/202435
SunMonTueWedThuFriSatVariety
6383313183
RebusScrabDebutFresh
31.6226368%
Doug Peterson

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 68, Blocks: 27 Missing: {JKXZ} Puzzle has duplicate clues. This is the debut puzzle for Ms. Varol. This is puzzle # 48 for Mr. Peterson. Friday freshness: 75%
Constructor notes:
PATTI: I've been waiting a long time for a New York Times byline, and I love that it's on a collaboration with Doug — even though this ... read more
Jeff Chen notes:
Patti! She's the editor for the Crosswords Club as well as Rich Norris's assistant at the LA Times. How is it possible that this is ... read more
Jim Horne notes:

I have a theory. Patti Varol waited this long to get an NYT byline just so she could snag Shortz Number 1000.

1
C
2
A
3
T
4
T
5
L
6
E
7
T
8
H
9
I
10
E
11
F
12
I
13
S
14
M
15
A
G
O
R
A
P
H
O
B
I
A
16
G
O
O
17
M
I
N
I
S
T
E
R
I
N
G
18
O
R
E
19
P
L
O
P
S
20
C
A
S
S
E
21
T
T
E
S
22
Y
E
W
S
23
M
O
T
E
24
N
E
A
L
25
V
A
N
I
S
26
H
27
A
N
O
28
N
29
F
30
A
31
N
32
D
A
N
G
O
33
E
34
L
P
A
S
O
35
E
Q
U
A
L
T
O
36
G
R
O
O
M
E
D
37
S
U
M
M
E
R
38
P
L
O
T
T
E
R
S
39
T
A
B
S
40
A
41
L
I
E
N
S
42
V
E
E
43
S
44
A
N
N
S
45
M
46
U
47
S
48
S
49
A
I
R
L
I
50
F
T
E
D
51
S
A
N
T
A
52
A
T
T
53
G
R
E
T
A
54
G
E
R
W
I
G
55
R
A
E
56
N
A
T
A
L
I
E
C
O
L
E
57
P
E
N
58
S
T
O
R
E
F
R
O
N
T
S
© 2020, The New York Times12/4/20 ( No. 25,959 )
Across
1
One who takes stock : CATTLETHIEF
12
Can you believe it?! : ISM
15
Fear of public places : AGORAPHOBIA
16
Sticky stuff : GOO
17
Tending (to) : MINISTERING
18
Half of a frozen foods brand : ORE
19
Makes a splash : PLOPS
20
Tapes, say : CASSETTES
22
Trees symbolizing death in Celtic culture : YEWS
23
Crumb : MOTE
24
Speculative fiction writer Stephenson : NEAL
25
Go away : VANISH
27
Before thou knowest : ANON
29
Company that owns Rotten Tomatoes : FANDANGO
33
Neighbor of Ciudad Juárez : ELPASO
35
On a par with : EQUALTO
36
Prepared : GROOMED
37
6-9 months? : SUMMER
38
They're involved in the scheme of things : PLOTTERS
39
File extensions : TABS
40
1986 sci-fi film sequel : ALIENS
42
Pair of skivvies? : VEES
44
Writers Patchett and Brashares : ANNS
45
Tousle : MUSS
49
Choppered in or out, say : AIRLIFTED
51
Figure that goes through the roof in December? : SANTA
52
QB's stat: Abbr. : ATT
53
Director of two Best Picture-nominated films of the 2010s : GRETAGERWIG
55
Issa of comedy : RAE
56
"Unforgettable ... With Love" Grammy recipient : NATALIECOLE
57
Author : PEN
58
Lineup on a city block : STOREFRONTS
Down
1
Absurdly exaggerated : CAMPY
2
Dexterous : AGILE
3
As yet : TONOW
4
Sets off : TRIPS
5
Young woman : LASS
6
Brand for determining if you're expecting : EPT
7
World's deepest river : THECONGO
8
Survivor at the end of "Hamlet" : HORATIO
9
Long-legged waders : IBISES
10
Fifth of fünf : EINS
11
Steely Dan singer Donald : FAGEN
12
1973 Jim Croce hit : IGOTANAME
13
Rage quitter, maybe : SORELOSER
14
Tavern in the same town as Krusty Burger : MOES
21
Leaves home? : TEAPOT
23
It bears repeating : MANTRA
25
View from a highland : VALE
26
Long-legged waders : HERONS
28
Communicates nonverbally, in a way : NODS
29
Ending with love or snooze : FEST
30
Powerful spirits : AQUAVITAE
31
British P.M.'s residence, informally : NUMBERTEN
32
Young woman : DAMSEL
34
Things to draw or cast : LOTS
36
Los Angeles suburb bordering Griffith Park : GLENDALE
38
Sticky stuff : PINETAR
41
Not on time for : LATETO
43
Communicates nonverbally, in a way : SIGNS
45
One of the racing Andrettis : MARCO
46
Like a prize that's still up for grabs : UNWON
47
Wooden leg? : STILT
48
Venerable advisers : SAGES
49
Org. whose website has a Social Security Resource Center : AARP
50
School house? : FRAT
51
Tarot reader, e.g. : SEER
54
Tweet attachment, at times : GIF

Answer summary:
3 unique to this puzzle, 1 debuted here and reused later.

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