This web browser is not supported. Use Chrome, Edge, Safari, or Firefox for best results.

New York Times, Monday, December 16, 2019

Author:
Howard Barkin and Kevin Christian
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
27-Down : Unpredictable, in an unwanted way
TotalDebutLatestCollabs
127/23/20141/20/20222
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
3302211
RebusScrabDebutFresh
11.666044%
Howard Barkin
TotalDebutLatestCollabs
185/22/201311/21/202310
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
01042011
CircleScrabDebutFresh
21.657930%
Kevin Christian

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 78, Blocks: 40 Missing: {Q} Spans: 1 This is puzzle # 10 for Mr. Barkin. This is puzzle # 11 for Mr. Christian. Monday freshness: 19%
Constructor notes:
KEVIN: The original version of this had RICE KRISPIES BOX 15, NORTH POLE 9, KEEBLER AD 9, and JRR TOLKIEN BOOKS 15. Joel emailed ... read more
Jeff Chen notes:
I love it when a Monday puzzle temporarily mystifies me. What connects LORD OF THE RINGS, RICE KRISPIES BOX, SANTAS WORKSHOP? Ah! They ... read more
1
Y
2
O
3
U
4
T
5
H
6
G
7
O
8
O
9
F
10
R
11
E
12
B
13
A
14
A
R
N
I
E
15
O
M
A
R
16
E
V
I
L
17
M
A
D
E
A
18
L
I
T
E
19
M
A
N
E
20
L
O
R
D
21
O
F
T
H
E
22
R
I
N
G
S
23
D
R
S
24
W
A
X
25
B
26
A
27
D
28
G
E
R
29
J
30
O
I
N
31
D
32
D
33
T
34
A
R
I
E
S
35
P
O
O
F
36
A
U
R
A
37
R
I
C
E
K
38
R
I
S
P
I
39
E
S
B
O
X
40
B
A
E
Z
41
O
T
I
S
42
N
E
A
L
E
43
S
L
Y
44
A
C
H
E
45
A
V
A
I
L
S
46
O
A
K
47
T
R
I
48
S
49
A
50
N
T
A
S
51
W
52
O
R
K
S
53
H
54
O
55
P
56
P
L
O
T
57
T
O
B
E
58
A
I
L
E
59
Y
60
R
O
V
E
61
A
V
O
N
62
G
L
A
R
E
63
Y
E
A
R
64
R
E
E
D
65
E
L
V
E
S
© 2019, The New York Times12/16/19 ( No. 25,605 )
Across
1
___ hostel (inexpensive accommodations) : YOUTH
6
Err : GOOF
10
McEntire of country music : REBA
14
Links legend Palmer, familiarly : ARNIE
15
Actor Epps of "House" : OMAR
16
Wicked : EVIL
17
Recurring Tyler Perry movie role : MADEA
18
Miller ___ (low-calorie beer) : LITE
19
Hair on a horse or a lion : MANE
20
*Trilogy set in Middle-earth, with "The" : LORDOFTHERINGS
23
A.M.A. members : DRS
24
Candlemaker's supply : WAX
25
Nag, nag, nag : BADGER
29
Unite : JOIN
31
Banned insecticide : DDT
34
Early April zodiac sign : ARIES
35
[Just like that, it's gone!] : POOF
36
Otherworldly glow : AURA
37
*Container for a Kellogg's cereal : RICEKRISPIESBOX
40
Folk singer and protester Joan : BAEZ
41
Singer/songwriter Redding : OTIS
42
Author Zora ___ Hurston : NEALE
43
Cunning : SLY
44
Muscle pain : ACHE
45
Is of use to : AVAILS
46
Wine barrel wood : OAK
47
One more than bi- : TRI
48
*Reputed place at the North Pole : SANTASWORKSHOP
56
"The ___ thickens" : PLOT
57
Words before and after "or not" in a Shakespeare quote : TOBE
58
Choreographer Alvin : AILEY
60
Wander about : ROVE
61
Bell-ringing makeup company : AVON
62
Harsh light : GLARE
63
Once around the sun : YEAR
64
Marsh plant : REED
65
What the answer to each of the starred clues has : ELVES
Down
1
Orange root vegetable : YAM
2
Kind of test whose answers can't be erased : ORAL
3
Computer command to go back : UNDO
4
Arena section : TIER
5
Physical expression of frustration, in modern lingo : HEADDESK
6
Plays a round : GOLFS
7
Leave off, as the last letter in this clu : OMIT
8
Words at a swearing-in ceremony : OATH
9
Amenity at most hotels and airports : FREEWIFI
10
Altered version of a song : REMIX
11
"Dear ___ Hansen" (Broadway hit) : EVAN
12
Google alternative : BING
13
Pub offerings : ALES
21
Hockey Hall-of-Famer Bobby : ORR
22
Published : RAN
25
Nasty comments : BARBS
26
Typeface alternative to Helvetica : ARIAL
27
Unpredictable, in an unwanted way : DICEY
28
"Unbelievable!" : GEEZ
29
Animated lead singer of the Pussycats : JOSIE
30
"My bad!" : OOPS
31
Largest city in the United Arab Emirates : DUBAI
32
Wryly humorous : DROLL
33
What the I.R.S. collects : TAXES
35
The white stuff in an orange : PITH
36
Riding the waves : ASEA
38
Jon Bon Jovi or Simon Le Bon : ROCKSTAR
39
Make a mental image of : ENVISAGE
44
Grp. to call for a tow : AAA
45
Biblical boat : ARK
46
Furry swimmer : OTTER
47
Poll finding, perhaps : TREND
48
Lively for one's age : SPRY
49
Spiky plant with soothing juice : ALOE
50
Celestial explosion : NOVA
51
Created a tapestry : WOVE
52
Slender woodwind : OBOE
53
Ending with Capitol or Faith : HILL
54
Name of many Norwegian kings : OLAV
55
___ Noël (boss of 65-Across, in France) : PERE
59
Positive response : YES

Answer summary:
2 unique to this puzzle, 2 debuted here and reused later.

Found bugs or have suggestions? Please let us know.

Like this puzzle? Please share this page on social media to help spread the word about XWord Info. Thanks!

XWord Info Home
XWord Info © 2007-2024, Jim Horne
84 ms