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50 puzzles with Editor comments — 3/15/2020 to 2/3/2021

Showing 50 out of 540 total with editor comments.

Use the older and newer links above to see more.

POW Wed 2/3/2021
PUBSCABSGPS
ISAACOUNCEROI
NONVIOLENCEAPP
GEORGIASFIFTH
ROOMBANINTRO
CRUELBITCOIN
ACTOCASIOANOS
JOHNLEWIS
BIWAATONALSAO
ANEMONEKNACK
DEVILOFFAYES
FREEDOMRIDERS
ATMGOODTROUBLE
TIEALOESSTOOL
SATGARROOPS

Every daily crossword this week, Monday to Saturday, is made by an African-American contributor. Yacob Yonas is a software engineer in Manhattan. This is his sixth crossword for The Times.

Tue 2/2/2021
HATTONDAPBOP
AIROUTSEGAANA
GRASSHOPPERLDS
LISTREEESTES
MINUSMANONICE
INSPHARDKNOCKS
LEEAYNSTEW
KSTATEHOSERS
SONSYENCEL
CLAYMATIONRONA
DATESACSBETTY
RIOTSNOHASOF
ADDTENNISCOURT
CUDAXISANDREA
KPSROCLESSEN

Every daily crossword this week, Monday to Saturday, is made by an African-American contributor. Adesina O. Koiki is a sports journalist in Queens. This is his second crossword for The Times.

Mon 2/1/2021
APPTYAMAPLUS
FURYMAKESEETO
TRIPALBAKEANU
ESSENTIALWORKER
REMASTERRUG
YESGOTRICH
ASIGNWINOSHA
HOMECOMINGQUEEN
AMMOCUZUPEND
BEARHUGMFA
GELMARIANAS
USMILITARYDRONE
STEALHIVEMIND
DUNNOEMIRERIE
AFUSSMSNDEER

Every daily crossword this week, Monday to Saturday, is made by an African-American contributor. Soleil Saint-Cyr is a high school senior in Moorestown, N.J. This is her New York Times debut.

Sun 1/31/2021 PRODUCT MISPLACEMENT
CIVILPESOAJARMATES
OPINEAUTOKIWIGRUNT
MONSTERRAMRALLYMERCI
SEISMSRPITSARATON
SOILADODOTLUG
NATUREABHORSAHOOVER
CARETYEAFOIESPADAY
USEDRIGGOPLOGE
SANMYSOLORUNNETHOVER
PLATOONOLINSORARE
ANKARIGIDPURE
INTERNMETALEMMING
WORKEDFORPLANTERSWAR
ERICSTUSIRKONA
BASALTINCASEQNINNY
THROWINGINTHEBOUNTY
POLLIVAGOSNAG
ARIDGORPLOSNUNCIO
MINISTALEOFTHESCOTCH
POEMSEGOTARIAELATE
ASNERDADAROCKDELAY

Jim Hilger, of Amarillo, Tex., is a retired computer analyst and educator. Besides making crosswords, he enjoys collecting old 45-r.p.m. records (he has more than 10,000 of them), cartooning and watercolor painting. "Most of my paintings end up looking like cartoons, however."

The starting point of this puzzle was 38-Across. Jim apologizes in advance to the maker of every product he has "misplaced" herein.

Sun 1/24/2021 SUGAR, SUGAR
TOSHIBARACYBMWORG
ARCANUMISHECRAMBAM
NERDSRINGPOPFADDIETS
KLEEUBERSOILNYT
USESBABYRUTHSNICKERS
PENTONISUEBUMRAP
WHISKASRESTRASPY
CRUNCHNOWANDLATER
ERINSPINYETIKFC
LATKESUSGAEELYAOK
AYEWHOPPERSSPREENYU
NOREASEDISCRAFTER
NSALAPSLEAFOAST
MILKYWAYSTARBURST
SALADASECSCAREDY
ALOTOFATSARAYSAC
LIFESAVERSPAYDAYWELL
BTUJAYSEPEEARLO
HAIRLINEMARSSMARTIES
ABEUTESAKINPROTEGE
MARGASOSLOGETSSET

Lucy Howard, of Austin, Tex., teaches therapeutic yoga and does internet marketing. She made her first puzzle as an icebreaker for her wedding last year. Ross Trudeau, of Cambridge, Mass., works for a K-12 education nonprofit. They met online last summer. Ross says, "We quickly bonded over our mutual love of crosswords and rock climbing." They spent many hours together on Zoom making this puzzle.

This is Ross's 37th puzzle for The Times. It's Lucy's debut.

Sun 1/17/2021 DOUBLE-CROSSED
CLOSEBBCBATORABUT
REMITALAARENASCAMO
OVERHEADRSONOMAISPY
WIGEVERTIMOEGADS
ETARADIICARTOETWORK
DYSONVEESSIDTABOO
FESTERSTALLSSOAP
LEFTTOPLEXETCHERS
AIMEEUGENIEASEA
GLORIAREDKURDARCANA
RATEDRTIDEPODMIOTIC
ACEDITETONSTROBEECT
NOAMPEASOUPMAHI
GASMAINMEWLDEBATE
RICOSTAIDPINENUT
ADHOCIRSAONEMESON
BALNARTISTSVOLGAWOE
OPRAHOASADAIRICE
ACAIREFUTEDAYTIMEYS
LUNEEFILESEDUDITTO
LESSTEARSSAPEBSEN

Tracy Gray lives in Sparks, Md., near Baltimore, where she and her husband own and operate a lawn-and-landscaping business. Tom Pepper lives in Eden Prairie, Minn., next door to Edina, of crossword fame. In April he plans to retire from his position of finance director for the city of Eagan after 29 years.

Tracy and Tom met at a crossword tournament several years ago and have been exchanging theme ideas ever since.

Sun 1/10/2021 OH, FOURPEAT'S SAKE!
PRESSUREORALBSPIFF
AIRLANESAMELIAARNIE
NOMANISANISLANDLACED
STAMPHUEDOREOADORE
DEMOBAHAMAMAMAMIX
HASADATEIDSELISE
AMONRACREDANTTEN
WELCOMEHOMEHONMCHALE
KNEEVOWSARIELIXIR
SOHOPRIMETIMETV
SSRTOKEGODEVANSEE
WHEREWEREWEALGA
ARTUROILEICEDRASH
TERRIFKINGKAMEHAMEHA
SKITSAREFIONERUN
BIDETTKOTHUDDING
ALUMINUMINGOTOREG
DOTESAONEDIBSRURAL
ARIASROMATOMATOSAUCE
PRONETRADERREVERSES
TENTSSENSEBLANDEST

Alex Bajcz, of Morris Plains, N.J., is an assistant professor of Biology and Environmental Science at Drew University. He studies how and why plants produce fruits — he says he's one of the few biologists who gets to eat his research. The name "Bajcz" is Hungarian. Since that's difficult for American tongues, his family pronounces it "badges."

This is Alex's sixth Times crossword and second Sunday.

POW Sun 1/3/2021 BUSTING MOVES
EBBTSKRADARSSNOGS
GORDITAPOPIDOLHIDEY
ETAILERSUPREMELEADER
SHIRTWAISTEPEESSKI
TENTTOTESTOPUPADA
SRSSLEDSOILAARON
KHAKIBOYPROBLEMS
MOUNTAINGOATLOLAT
UNSEEDEEDAMUSESEIS
FAULTROBECIGSAPE
ATALLCRUMBCAKEDOTES
SILSALONCANCASCA
APSOBEADSRIMSASIAM
GOBADPORTAUPRINCE
SHORTANSWERIPADS
LAVERIDEATENSBIB
EVEOPTINOSCARGIGI
EERRANGESAILSALONG
VOLLEYBALLNETINCOLOR
ENIACONEMOREKONMARI
SEETORETORTEWEBEG

Paolo Pasco, of San Diego, is a junior at Harvard studying computer science. He sold his first crossword to The Times five years ago when he was 15. With this being his 20th puzzle for the paper, the number of his Times puzzles has already reached his age.

Paolo's crosswords appear in many places, including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, the crossword-specific Fireball, and his own blog, Grids These Days.

Sun 12/27/2020 PARTNERSHIPS
MAMBAFACTISISAYMOA
ABOILIDUNNONOTEART
JUDGEANDJURYBUTTDIAL
STEPREMOTEGEREETNA
OBESEPARTONLAGS
HARPISTPEACEANDQUIET
AGAPEVIVIENETD
PENANDPAPERALTEREGOS
SEANOONECEOSONO
CHIRPSUCHASROES
BREAKINGANDENTERING
ZOOMDELTASADIOS
IDSLORICEDEDQIN
TESTPILOTBOOMANDBUST
ADOZEALOTLEASH
HUGSANDKISSESSPEEDOS
UNITTENETSSHIRR
MEMEAFARSPECIEPLEA
BALSAMICROOMANDBOARD
USEWEEKALLUREINDIE
GETERRSGOOSEDOGEES

Daniel Grinberg, of Philadelphia, is a researcher and designer in the field of user experience. In 2018 he earned a Ph.D. in Film and Media Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

When the pandemic started, Danny had the idea of constructing 30 crosswords in 30 days as a way of coping with lockdown anxiety. He didn't quite make it — more like 28 puzzles in 60 days. That's still quite productive. He thought of this puzzle's theme while brushing his teeth one night (which is not a hint). It's his second appearance in The Times and his first Sunday.

Sun 12/20/2020 TOY STORY
BAHTBUSSOREMSANS
IDEALANTIEPOXYERIC
BARBIEDOLLTAMAGOTCHI
IMSOMADINTHEMOOD
ROSASCAASPATES
HAMSETCHASKETCHTIME
APRCLAROAEIOUCECIL
SEPIASATLTRUETOKLM
ADORNTWISTERAZALEA
TOTEDOCALADOYLE
MANYCHRISTMASCOMA
TILEDSAYSOONEIL
BROCASPLAYDOHUSEME
AAHNLEASTSPAAPOLLO
SNEADTRASHINONEMON
STATCHATTYCATHYROWE
IODATEOPAIMDUE
ROSSPEROTSAMBAED
RUBIKSCUBESILLYPUTTY
ERRSNANASASEASTONE
FLAKARTYTHAWSPAR

Randolph Ross is a retired high school principal and math teacher who lives in Manhattan. He's been making crosswords for The Times since 1991.

The theme of this one arose out of some factoids about 111-Across and 33-Down that he gave a grandson. "It occurred to me that for this Christmas and Hanukkah, with so many grandparents and family not able to see the children from their lives in person, a crossword about toys might bring a smile."

Sun 12/13/2020 CINÉMA VÉRITÉ
DANFLATCARCABIN
IMAMLONGOPOETEPOCH
SITEIONIALURESPOIL
RAIDERSOFTHELOSTARK
OBVIATEHINDSIROBOT
BLEATSUNSETBOULEVARD
EESOUTREYELPEGGS
CUTLABSAAH
RICOTTAPATRIOTGAMES
OSAYERGSPURNELICIT
ALTORIOTSSEOULDARE
NECTAROVERTRPIDREA
THEGODFATHERSMOLDER
ATAODININE
DAISMETACASTEAPP
ONTHEWATERFRONTSAVER
MYSOREONCUEEPISODE
HONEYISHRUNKTHEKIDS
CRETEALEEPANSYIDLE
HARESDEUSSPOOLNEET
INERTASPETNADRS

Dan Margolis, of Westfield, N.J., is a semiretired software applications trainer. In his spare time, he referees high school basketball games and plays keyboard in a "dad rock band," Landing Party — so named because all the members are "Star Trek" fans.

Dan has been solving puzzles since he was a teenager. The first ones he constructed were on graph paper back in the day. This is his fourth crossword for The Times, and his first Sunday.

Sun 12/6/2020 GET OUT OF HERE!
JAMSESHABACIABLEST
ALITTLEWEIRDOCLAMOR
BONECONTENTIONLATOYA
STDHARESETESDIJON
BLINISSTROKEGENIUS
ALLENSAYSOWAS
BOOKGENESISPEZBLAM
BOWSVOWELPRIDEPLACE
ANNPINEIRONSLIMES
IOTADESISTSUMBRA
STREAMCONSCIOUSNESS
AWAITEARTHENICKY
GOSSIPPAREBTUSDUI
FREECHARGEMRCUBPEGS
ADDSOUIRITEPASSAGE
ANGAMUSEPARSE
COMEDYERRORSAFLATS
HAUERREARICIERAID
ISTRIAFRAMEREFERENCE
CITIFYSALIVATREETOP
ASSETSTEXANHYDRANT

Tony Orbach, of Montclair, N.J., is a construction project manager, saxophonist, and crossword constructor. Today (Dec. 6) happens to be his 59th birthday.

Tony's love of puzzles runs in the family. "My father was a big crossword solver, and as a teen, I would look over his shoulder and help." Once Tony made a Puns and Anagrams crossword for his dad. "He loved it and made me one in return." By "my father," incidentally, Tony means the actor Jerry Orbach of Broadway and Hollywood fame.

Sun 11/29/2020 SIX-PACK
GMAILSWEEPSTINKO
EROICABEAGLECUEBALL
NACRESRANGINUPDATED
EPHEMERALDSPEPERAPS
SHADEHISSBADPRSTA
ALVINGILGAMESHOW
DEALTINORELSEATLAS
ETTEPEPPILLRINSE
SHARDREMINISCEESPN
ANTEBENDYSINAPILE
INECHIVASETCETCDUE
PONTIACITEHEREWES
ALDOMETRONOMESIMON
OOMPHREBUSESSANE
DANTEARAMISLIVENED
FIRSTRATEGYTIBIA
ESCIRISEARIZSCRIM
SLAVNESTOBAMACARENA
TIDINGSARRIVEAVENUE
EKESOUTREADERMISERS
RESAVETYLERESTEE

Eric Berlin, of Milford, Conn., is an assistant publisher at Penny Publications, a puzzle magazine company, and the creator of Puzzlesnacks, a website for kids. He is the author of The Puzzling World of Winston Breen (Penguin) and two sequels.

When he started constructing, Eric says, "My goal was to sell exactly one puzzle to The New York Times, just to say I did it." That was almost 20 years and more than 40 Times crosswords ago.

POW Sun 11/22/2020 IT ALL ADDS UP
MENURAGUCAPOICICLE
UNITATOPOARSNOONAN
SONEOPOOLTHELASONERD
EKERANDOMSMILEETA
IDBETGATSANACIN
ELSHADAKIDSUNTRAP
BADEAIMRISESREHIRE
ALBASTEFANITHERULES
HEARTHSTROTTEDTRENT
TERSERERATOPTSTSA
DAYSOTWOLIVES
CAMMOTOOVENPEOPLE
LOGANREPUTEDATECROW
ILIKEIKEREROUTECEDE
SOLEMNMODELNITUSES
PRESETSOUTOFITGPS
WAHWAHHOOTBUYER
OAFEARLSKRAKENVAC
FRFOURTRAINBREAKZERO
USAUSAOLGAEDENANEW
MORROWWANTSSNSCTRL

Alex Eaton-Salners, of Lake Forest, Calif., is an in-house attorney for a technology company. He spent his junior year of college studying at a Japanese university and living with a homestay family. He also worked in Japan for several years before returning to the U.S. for law school.

Alex made the Playing With Food Sunday crossword in September. This is his 44th puzzle for The Times overall.

Sun 11/15/2020 THEME SHMEME
BARTABDRAWBBALL
IVORIESCRASHCOURSE
NATURALSTRICKORTREAT
ALOETEALEAVESATBAT
COURTREPORTERAWLS
ANTRIPWRENJUDEWWE
MAXWEIRSUGARCOAT
FORAYGARBTUNEDHURT
AVERMOILIENORSALMA
DELETEDSCENESSPENDS
ERASERTHINNEDRECIPE
SYNCEDADESTEFIDELES
RITESARTERYTIMSILT
AGESGRETAWHENWIELD
THATSOKAYSEARPIT
ATMHUEDSPEDARMDUA
DERNSKINNYDIPPING
ALARMSHOESTOREREBA
SLUMBERPARTYWEBSITES
PLANETEARTHPUMMELS
FAUSTDYESSHORTI

Caitlin Reid, of Santa Ana, Calif., is the mother of two boys and two girls ages 4 to 11. Like Margaret Farrar, the first crossword editor of The Times — who was also a busy mother — Caitlin does most of her puzzle work after the rest of the family has gone to bed. That's when things quiet down.

Caitlin is a classically trained pianist who plays at her local church. Her favorite crosswords to make are themeless ones, like today's, which feature long, fresh, lively vocabulary and lots of humor and playfulness in the clues. This is Caitlin's ninth crossword for the paper, including a collaboration last Sunday.

Sun 11/8/2020 WAIT, WHAT?
MICROLOANPATELSILO
ADHERENCEELUDEIKNOW
YOUGOTTHATSTRUTDEUCE
ALMSHAYROOKSERENA
SAPCUSSSENSITIVE
MORALWOEROTSSOL
FOLEYCHIMIATADORM
WHYTHELONGFUSSTBONES
IAMIDEEREDSHERO
WIPEGALPALUFOADD
RUDDERSOFTHELOSTARK
SUELEISEDAKADOES
CARYSPARTAMEPGA
ACCEDELOADEDTHEBUSES
HAHSCSINYIOSBAILS
EPALIMAIMPBEETS
MUCKUPARTISTSROD
CHASERHOPELEOLADE
SHIFTTHENUMBOFTHEGUM
KINKSTURINFREEAGENT
INGAVNECKFIREWORKS

Evan Kalish, 33, of Bayside, N.Y., is a writer and crossword constructor. His hobby is visiting and photographing post offices around the country — more than 10,000 to date. Many photos and accounts of his travels appear on his blog, Postlandia.

Caitlin Reid is a mother of four in Santa Ana, Calif. The two connected online and collaborated by email and video chat. This is Caitlin's second Sunday Times crossword, and Evan's first.

Sun 11/1/2020 WEST-SOUTHWEST
ONSTARICUEBERTCHUG
REPOSERAGXAXESROME
SWAYUPHIGHQUANTASIN
EMTSODESUMMERSWEAR
RESTAPLEPOISWANLAKE
ORALSORSOSPA
SWARMRECEPTIONSPITES
AONETRENDTHORSNARK
MENSCHDIKEROCTERI
SEADOVEAIWAOBOE
FORWANTOFABETTERSWORD
OPEROEUFOTHELLO
ARTYNASOBIESUPERB
MARESMEANCELIAOLAY
SHORTUSPARKLINGSWINE
ANYACUEELATE
ISCARIOTCDTSANDREEF
SWEPTFORJOYSTYDANO
LILIOHYOUSWISHLISTS
APTSROSINHALSEVERS
MESHMOTETATLTIEDYE

Julian Lim, of Singapore, is an assistant professor at the School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore. He leads the school's Awake Lab, which studies the effects of mindfulness practice on sleep, well-being, and cognition. He holds a B.S. from Duke and a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania.

Julian started solving British crosswords in high school, later getting hooked on American ones. He says he has solved every New York Times crossword since 2004.

Sun 10/25/2020 AT THE HALLOWEEN PLAY ...
SLEPTMMSAIMEMAILS
MANORSMYLANTANESTEA
AUDIENCEHISSEDGNAWAT
CRINKLEEPHEMERAPANE
KANTMARIOIRVSTE
BAREBONESRENDITION
DEBGENLTANGELO
AVARIETYOFPARTSLUCAS
SECONDBOLGERSERAPE
HUGPAIGEEATSLIE
SPEXWARTSANDALLGLAD
EELWARMSAUTEIRE
TROJANHATERSANORAK
HURONNOBODYTOACTWITH
ETAILERSIREDMZ
REFLECTEDONHISROLE
ELODOTOATESSAGS
TEXTLIVEOAKSERITREA
AVIARYATTHEWRAPPARTY
PEERATCARSEATMOTETS
ENRAGEALAMREDETOO

Peter A. Collins is the chairman of the math department at Huron High School, in Ann Arbor, Mich., where he has taught for 40 years. He has been married for 33 years and has four adult daughters, all still in the Ann Arbor area. The genesis of this puzzle was hearing about an actor who had [answer at 48-Across]. That made him think of Frankenstein, and an idea was born.

This is Pete's 114th crossword for The Times.

Sun 10/18/2020 TITLE BASIN'
YOSHIMAUDETOAST
ASTONSLUGFESTSELBOW
LSATSLIFEOFPIEADORE
LORDDEAFICEDCUTE
TENDERISTHEKNIGHT
INASNAPNUKESIDEATES
MONKEYSNOMTOEPICK
ARECANDIEDMRI
YAWNSORLYNUITTEEUP
OHSTOPROOMED
INSEARCHOFLOSTTHYME
ADOEGOAWRAPEVEOOF
ROVERSNIDEELENA
FLAXGAPILLAVAETSY
THELITTLEPRINTS
SWEARSTOHEADSLAP
HEARSTSPEEDOSSHIRAZ
ENSNAREGOTONSCIENCE
ISAJULIUSSEESHEROKS
DEBODEONSPENTLET
IIIBEANALESDRY

Miriam Estrin is a native of St. Louis, now living in London. She works for Google as a policy manager dealing with international laws and regulations on access to information. After graduating from Yale Law School, she spent four years at the U.S. State Department. Miriam started constructing crosswords a year ago after reading the Times's online series "How to Make a Crossword Puzzle."

This is her second puzzle for the paper and her first Sunday.

Sun 10/11/2020 &pi;r<sup>2</sup>
DOTTEDISMOSTPUMPON
ORNAMENTALLENIGUANA
CONSPACYTHEORYNANTES
SEDALIAUSESSELA
HOMESENLACEPESTS
UNATWOTISHVAMPEBAT
BARGAINSATEANAEROBE
CULOTTESASSIGNSOBA
ATONEGOUTINLAWTIT
PONESPRUCEENOYES
RESPATORYSYSTEM
SPAMAOINNATEAMAL
HAWUSUALNAPSBRAVE
AREASEPTETSPOAGNEW
REIGNITELOCOINBOUND
PENNANTSLOOPTOYAGE
SURGEBITMAPABLER
TAPSSOUPFLONASE
OXIDESMISSISSIPPIVER
RENEWSALIKEELSINORE
EDGIERTSARREENGAGE

Gary Larson, of Edmonds, Wash., is a retired comedian. He spent the last 15 years of his career entertaining on cruise ships, where crosswords were a way to pass the time between shows.

One day a clue-and-answer combination in a New York Times crossword cracked him up, and he thought, "Why don't I try making one of these? I love writing jokes. How hard can it be to fit them into a puzzle?"

He found out. This is his 592nd puzzle. It's his fourth in The Times.

Sun 10/4/2020 YOU'RE TELLING ME!
ADMIREACTUPHOTDATE
GODSENDDIANETRUEDAT
OCTOBERMAKINGMEBLUSH
MUMBAIEQUALSALTO
OUTOFYOURGOURDBYTES
WHARFBLARNEYOJOS
LUMPALISHOOGAS
SHAHSMISSINGTHEPOINT
THATDERAILROAR
BOOHOOSFLOWERPETCO
INFORITNOWDARNTOOTIN
GEHRYIROBOTOURSONG
TOESHANGRYSTET
ONLYASGOODASTHEAMITY
PEPBIOSAHAACRE
FLAGDIALINGCREEL
CAMRYCOMPANYYOUKEEP
OTOESAIDNONURSES
SOMETHINGELSEOATMILK
TWOPAIREXAMSSKIAREA
ANARCHYSTRUTAPNEWS

Sam Ezersky, 25, is an associate puzzle editor of The New York Times. He sold his first crossword to the paper when he was 17, just before starting his senior year at South Lakes High School in Reston, Va.

Eight years and 30 Times crosswords later, Sam says his professional goal is to "never, ever create an ‘ordinary' puzzle." His favorite clues/answers in this one are at 111A and 81D

Sun 9/27/2020 PLAYING WITH FOOD
AJARPCPISPOSEDRAPE
GODOFWARTHENHLRENAL
OHIDUNNOBANKOFGUYANA
UNDIDTHAWPRIAMKIP
TOANDDIEINLAENGRAINS
IRSLAGGEDWASRONNIE
SERGESTAXHULA
SPINEYEBASEBALLCARD
ORGIESBATHEVEINRE
FOOTPATROLSALEANNAL
ATTPYRITEGOLIMPATE
REYESINSBANANASPLIT
ASOFLASMEMESERENE
STUFFEDOLIVELITEEGS
ERASAMYREDOES
SPACEROPICIALISIDO
LISTENUPCHOPPEDSALAD
ARKZEPPOOLAYAMORE
MASHEDPOTATOEASYWINS
OTTERESTHERARTSALES
NEONSREOILSREPYODA

Alex Eaton-Salners is an in-house attorney for Western Digital, a technology company headquartered in San Jose, Calif. He's been interested in puzzles and language since he was a child. He keeps a list of crossword theme ideas on his phone, so he can add to them wherever he goes. As a constructor, Alex says he likes to "subvert (responsibly) as many different crossword conventions as possible."

Sun 9/20/2020 WORD LADDERS
LOGOPFFTDRIPSHALL
SURPRABLERUNEITALIA
DIETITIANJESTPEGLEG
EESIUMSTERONEDO
UNDEPARTYARICINES
ISHITSABETILLICIT
BRODATETRAVEGLOVE
ADREPICONCURSENECA
RANSOMNOTECLAMDARTS
PLOPROFEOFMESOP
MOATTONIREALTOR
CITRINELOKISEEN
SOXFORTHEPICEDA
TIERSESAUAWARDGALAS
ENDOWSTANLINEECOLI
FRUITFYINGLESTOIL
LETSLIEGOOGLESKEL
LIVESLSUROOTOFLAN
OPIMOLINGELLAOL
OPENITCARAICALLDIBS
FEWESTAGOGVANILEVIL
ARSESNIKEETTUSEXY

Sam Trabucco is an American cryptocurrency trader based in Hong Kong. When he's not working, he enjoys playing board and card games, especially Magic: The Gathering and poker. Sam says one of his top priorities as a crossword constructor is to make his fill relatable to younger solvers. "I want this hobby to remain relevant forever!"

This is his 25th puzzle for The Times.

Sun 9/13/2020 FINAL OFFER
OATHAMPATARIHEISTS
SLAYLAOLORENOLDHAT
HAPPILYEVERAFTCALICO
ASSOCIATEABSOLUTEPOW
ONSIDENOSED
PLANCAVITIESMET
PHONIESADIOSPAGODA
RECYCLINGCENTTITANIC
INKSTATUSAMENBROTH
COERCEGOATSONSET
ELDERPOSTTWOSSERFS
GAILYEMAILSTREET
BRAINTEASARMADAFRA
REVOKEDCELLPHONENUMB
ANONYMDANTEGENESIS
NOWFENESTRADOES
PROOFSALAMI
RELIEFPITCHNOMINATES
UTOPIANOLAUGHINGMATT
SAVINGEMIRSANTOKRA
TSETSESEPTASOYSEEN

MaryEllen Uthlaut is a writer and homemaker in Charleston, S.C. Some years ago she was at her local library doing research for an article when she stumbled across a book about crosswords that had been mis-shelved. She checked it out, read it and started constructing. Her first-ever puzzle appeared in The Times in 2010.

This is her third crossword for the paper and her first Sunday.

Sun 9/6/2020 COULD YOU REPEAT THAT NUMBER?
STRAPTOMBSROPESIAN
IRINAORIONEXERTRBI
LOFTSMANGAVIRGOELL
ONESELFGERIDALANES
YOUONLYLIVETWICE
ODSSPREESBASIEECO
VEEIDEDAILOLDSAWS
UNSEENWIZLAUREL
LITTLEBROWNANDCOMPANY
AREASLICITEWOKS
ROTSONOHEPASIS
SPASMBUILTCLINT
TINKERTOEVERSTOCHANCE
OMEARASNLAUSTIN
INERTIALIECAMPATT
ODESTIEGTOBOOTXES
INTERCONTINENTAL
GENOAIRTREGKEROUAC
RTESOFIAABASESUNRA
ITSEULERMAMIEASIAN
NASDREDDPRESSLETBE

David Kwong is a magician and crossword constructor in Los Angeles who regularly combines puzzles and sleight of hand in his performances. His 2014 TED Talk includes a trick with a New York Times crossword and has been viewed 1.7 million times to date. David has a new virtual show with puzzles, titled Inside the Box, opening in a few weeks with the Geffen Playhouse in L.A.

This puzzle is his 21st crossword for The Times.

POW Sun 8/30/2020 ALL AFLUTTER
SHOPGOTTAULCERECON
TONIENEWSNIHAOSADE
ALEECHAOSTHEORYSNIT
BESPOKEAURASPCGAMES
MANORCRYPTSEEYA
MANATEMPOTSKS
JULGARBDEYCALFETC
ESLELVESMOVERARE
SITRASSLEHECATELEN
SCHISMTORNADOBELLAS
IMINOFFTODIARYATMO
CANDOORCSJAPEETHER
ANGERSIATUESEERS
BUTTERFLYEFFECT
STATBENLAOFEDORTS
PHIBARDORRSRTAERA
ARRAYAWAKEWIPED
DIFFERENCEINTHEWORLD
EVALADEEREDITSWILE
SERAGEARSSORTAASIN
SETENTSREPSNES

Olivia Mitra Framke, of Jersey City, N.J., is an academic adviser at the New School's College of Performing Arts in Manhattan. She describes herself as a flutist, dog lover and "all-around gaming nerd" (video games, board games, role-playing games, you name it).

This is her seventh crossword for The Times, including her third Sunday. Like her previous Sunday puzzles, this one has a visual element.

Sun 8/23/2020 MUSICAL INTERLUDE
BASKALLINBFFCHEERS
ORCANUTRIRAEHOLDIT
AMAZINGDOGRACEENLACE
REMOTESBITTEFAKETAN
DEPOTFORESTERPARENT
YESITISROOT
DIMNPRCROWSAKIN
ORGANDOMINATIONGRATE
TAUTESTMACROANTLER
STEIGINAPTTYPOEMO
SCARFACERESOURCES
ADSTOYSENORMCRABS
DONKEYMUSTIMAHALIA
AVOIDPARASOLMILITARY
METACAGEREEGODD
SOSOSEAGRAM
GLAREATGRANDMASHAMS
REMORSEECIGSWIRETAP
ONESETTHEPITIEDPIPER
ATNINEOARNEPALSAVE
NODEAREBBGLORYTREE

Barbara Lin is a computer engineer in West Chester, Pa. She says her work is like constantly solving puzzles. "The difference is that in engineering there's no answer key."

She has been constructing crosswords for about a year and a half. This is her third puzzle for The Times and her first Sunday.

POW Sun 8/16/2020 ALTERNATIVE CINEMA
MAOISTSSTAMPSMORASS
UNPLAITIAMTOOAVENUE
TWELVEANGRYMENRANKED
EARARRANTICIALDA
DRAWNTHEAFRICANQUEEN
ETTUDRIEDPAULS
FLANUPINILROTORS
DOCTORSTRANGESATCAT
IGETITDEPENDONASKME
COROLLANUYSPACPSST
BYEBYEBIRDIE
AMIESOOSMEEEDHELMS
SANDLUNTHAWEDRODEOS
PTAACTWATERSHIPDOWN
SANRIOYRSLIVINNS
YELLSLOUISTEVA
THELADYVANISHESALUMS
RAVIBMISAVOIRSAL
UNEEDAAMERICANBEAUTY
CONFITNOLUCKGESTATE
KITSCHDRINKSSTEELER

Francis Heaney, of New York City, is a professional puzzle maker and editor, who frequently constructs the American Values Club Crossword. For 15 years he has edited puzzle books for Sterling.

His early interest in puzzles was encouraged by his grandmother, who gave him a subscription to Games magazine for his 10th birthday. Francis has been contributing crosswords to The Times, on and off, since 1996.

Sun 8/9/2020 CRAFT SHOW
FACADEARROZVACAAS
ERODEDSLOANEIDASLO
NOODLEMECHANICALSUN
CALLINSICKPICKMEAMI
ERSMITTWRATHNSYNC
LICEBEERHATDESI
ORNOTPRELLTUPAC
LEOVSKISLOPESTRUTS
EDGEAIMSALPHARITA
HOTRODSITSASKIMPY
WEARYSHIPSHAPEATEIN
WARIERODOMANALYSE
IDEAOTTERCYTOLIRA
SANCTASTORYARCINRI
GRILLMASSEINKED
SALECULPRITNYSE
TONEDPALINNCOSCDS
NWTINDIRAFISHMARKET
OHITOWNSQUAREAREOLA
TACOUIOUTLAWMAINLY
ETSRNSNEALEAENEAS

Ruth Bloomfield Margolin, of Westfield, N.J., serves on the boards of several community nonprofit groups. For the past three years, she has spoken on crossword construction at area libraries — lately adding Zoom presentations to her repertoire.

Ruth created a crossword for her son's July wedding (now postponed), which included the couple's favorite board game, Pandemic. Whoops! She's revising that puzzle now to feature only "fun" things.

Sun 8/2/2020 PUZZLIN'
ICEBERGSHARPTONCUSS
MATINEECOMEHEREASET
STANDINGROOMONLYBEAR
ENTRAPSNAYMEADE
ZANYSLOPJENSALLOW
EPEESEVERLASTINGLOVE
BIRTHSERVINEDEMOTED
RADIOCARTEIXEIRA
ASAOAREROSBOTCAAN
FALLINGRAINMOMJAYNE
IMEANTARPSAOSIRENS
SOROSIINPARKINGRAMP
HATSDMSTRIXRAGYER
LEGALAIDEAGLEEYE
SCAPULAONETONSENSES
QUALIFYINGROUNDSTIRS
UPLASTNGOCUREORSO
IRATEPLOACHIEVE
SORTFEAROFMISSINGOUT
HUGEANTIPODESTOOPTO
YSERTHEATERSYESISEE

David Levinson Wilk, of Brooklyn, works for television game shows. For the past year he was the head writer of ABC's "$100,000 Pyramid" and Bravo's "Cash Cab." For nine years he was a staff writer for "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." He creates original puzzles for the San Diego Reader and other weekly newspapers across the country.

David sold his first crossword to The Times in 1996, when he was a sophomore in college, and he has been making puzzles ever since.

Sun 7/26/2020 MADE-TO-ORDER
LASSMANICLEAFOVAL
ICONALEROETNABIOTA
SQUARECHINASTIALLEY
PURGEHISSEDONESEC
INSIDEHOSTINTHEDARK
LEODIMELOOPIESTNEE
ESTDIRGEANDWAIST
ACESDISMISSEDBOBCAT
ESAUTAZITSWARCALL
ADSMENUAXISSEE
ABETAROUNDTHEBUSH
SALSAGABIEBEMU
CREWREJOINOOPACTI
ACCEDEBEGINWATCHING
RABBICSAMENSAMDS
ADAMAHIMAHISTOWPOT
BELOWMACARONIOSAKAN
DMITRIMILNERRENEE
PAWATALSOOCEANDEIST
IVINSDIORVALLIPSIS
CANIEASYESSEXSTAY

Trenton Charlson, 24, is a crossword constructor and Scrabble aficionado from Columbus, Ohio. The North American Scrabble Players Association currently ranks him No. 213 among all players and No. 5 in his state. Trenton's Twitter page declares that he's the founder of Z.J.X.Q. — Americans Against Accurate Acronyms.

This is his 23rd puzzle for The Times.

Sun 7/19/2020 DOUBLES PLAY
ETSTHECOPAPANICBAR
SARAHEALSUPIRONRULE
TRAPPARTISTSCCTHEDAY
OFSORTSNITESSADE
RUHROHAGEEICETGRE
ELYTUMSDIZZCONTROL
AIRDUCTDEEYAHOOS
STRIPTTRETOUCHBRUTE
TRIMSBENEPHOTOOP
EASEOCTANESWIRETAP
ALIAMUUMENTPARKSHIE
MANOWARRAPANUIMILT
GRANDMAGABSNONET
TATERSORBETSCLOCKYY
TRIADSTMISTRAINS
OLDDSTATIONARKSCOM
POEOBOEONCEELAINE
LENASIDEADLISTER
GGLOUISESURPRIIPARTY
UPACREEKALTROCKHOWL
SAWHORSEYESISEEINO

Wyna Liu, of New York City, is an artist and jewelry designer working with magnets and tensegrity. (You can see examples of her craft at wynaliu.com.) She has been solving crosswords for 10+ years but just started making them recently.

Wyna says 91-Across is a shout-out to her parents, who own and operate a chain of radio channels. They made up the name Wyna (pronounced "WIN-uh") to mimic radio call letters — "Y 'n' A" for the initials of their names, Yvonne and Arthur, and the starting "W" because they're on the East Coast!

Sun 7/12/2020 CHORES GALORE
IGLESIASJEMIMAORATE
DUALROLEOSIRISNOTAX
TAKEOUTTHETRASHPATTI
AVECARIDOTHEDISHES
GARTHADSSEAATTEST
EINSTEINPONCHO
SWEEPTHEFLOORVSHAPED
OILSHAVENICEMETA
WIIGMESAPOORATRON
NUMEROUNOGOTOTHEBANK
SIAADMITITALE
SORTTHEMAILNIBBLESON
UDOEUROPAAGEENIKE
MIDIAROMASSAYLAW
ONENESSPICKUPTHETOYS
WEAKERHERESHOW
SCARRYAIGDIEHOSER
PAYTHEBILLSCPASURI
INIGOCLEANTHEGUTTERS
TONALCANDIDRUNSAMOK
SENSESTEEPSSECURELY

Sam Donaldson is a law professor at Georgia State University, teaching Contracts to first-year students and Wills, Trusts and Estates to upper-division ones. He is the author or co-author of several textbooks on these subjects.

Since 2011 Sam has written the annual Orca Awards for the blog Diary of a Crossword Fiend — his choices for the best American crosswords across all publications.

POW Sun 7/5/2020 TO-DO LIST
TSPPSASMECCABARE
APUSOAPTIDOLSTAMER
RETHONEYMEMOSICING
DESSERTSCENESTEASES
IDLYMAFIASEAHORSE
SOIREEATMHOTHAND
PUPSQUAREFOOTITCH
RESPECTAREARSSIOU
INTEARTOOLTATTICUS
AVOWRAMISTLOHUNKS
SENIORPROMHERDEDCATS
LASSOINONTOYTALEE
TOPHATSSTASHLEDLAE
EPIYAKEDIEATEITUP
LEGONORELATIONASH
UNDRESSSVUUNLESS
ARTISTICBORONABUT
BLACKTMARTYRFARMORE
RETROPAPUAINTROXFL
ORIONAGENTENEMYEEL
STOPWEDGESENSSRA

Laura Taylor Kinnel, of Newtown, Pa., teaches math and is the director of studies at a Friends boarding school near Philadelphia. Since her last puzzle appeared in March, she has spent lots of time with colleagues developing best methods and new processes for remote teaching.

Laura remarks that she now sits and conducts classes from home in the same spot where she normally makes crosswords!

Sun 6/28/2020 POWER-UPS
COARSEHASTEASPIC
APPENDSCOSSETPLOUGH
THEDUDERAHRAHALUMNA
SEXGALLERYMISTSPOT
PLAYSLAVSROOTEDIRT
AIMEEPIETAPALMTREE
WASATCHCROWDINCHOIR
CHASEPREACHENT
CUTSOUTSETINHELL
ALACRITYREPORUBOFF
BASRAEXPONENTSNOLIE
SNEEZYISLEOINTMENT
AZALEAINSOLEBONE
TAMWOLVESCLOSE
THREWSMELTERSTPETER
RETREATSASSAMSNARE
IFSBOTTOMSWABSCLUB
RACEKORNWELCOMEEDU
ETALIAELAINENEATNIK
MEMORYEARNEDGAVOTTE
ESSIETYKESREESES

Jon Schneider, of New York City, is a research scientist for Google, working on problems in machine learning and economics. Anderson Wang, of Mountain View, Calif., is a software engineer currently between jobs. They met at M.I.T. in the early 2010s, where they lived in the same hall. They've been making and solving puzzles together ever since.

This is the first New York Times crossword for each of them.

Sun 6/21/2020 ANIMAL CROSSINGS
CARAFECHURNSHASSAN
ACADIABAZOOKAOPPOSE
RECASTSWIMMINGTRUNKS
ELEPHANTSENDOWDIET
DARTWAVETANKBIBADS
LAPSSEDINAR
OPENEYESKREMEGSHARP
PITONQATARISSMILES
EXTRADRUMSTICKSANIMA
DYEDCHICKENSOUTOFIT
STOODANTIC
WESTENDFOCACCIAEELS
ACORNELECTRICCHARGES
NODOFFCATSEARROOST
ENAMORDRACOACCESSES
SLAMSALBHHS
TADDIAHONEYBEEELSE
AVOWDUGINFIREFLIES
LIGHTNINGSPEEDTAIPEI
CAMAROCHEEREDADZING
SNAPATSTEELYHEADON

Byron Walden is a math and computer science professor at Santa Clara University. Harrison is his 8-year-old son who, with occasional assistance, has been doing crosswords for more than a year.

The jokes in this puzzle's theme are a collaboration between the two. Byron spearheaded the fill — although the top right and lower left corners are completely Harrison's. The two wrote the clues together. (Happy Father's Day!)

Sun 6/14/2020 MAKING ARRANGEMENTS
OWINGTOCHIAFACEMASK
NOSERAGHULUANATOLIA
CONTAMINATEDLITANIES
DSTNEVERISSOANNE
ADREAMWITHINADREAM
CLOVESIMSETTIC
GINABILKOSYCOPHANT
IAMNOTACTIVEEMSTAO
RETURNEDIGLOOSDENT
TOFFLEGUPDEANS
FORTYFIVEOVERFIFTY
TONKASIDESROAD
ALSOHIHATSBADRISKS
TIESODVACATIONTIME
ACTSPHONYLUMENALOT
ACUEULEREWINGS
WHATAMIAMINDREADER
RAGASTANELGINSUD
IRONRULENOADMITTANCE
STRICKENELMOTEASELS
TEACARTSYEASADSPEAK

Randolph Ross, of New York City, is a retired high school principal and math teacher. He is one of the longest-running active crossword contributors to The Times, having had well over 100 puzzles published during the past 30 years.

He writes, "Staying in my apartment so much these days has increased my crossword solving and constructing. I feel fortunate I have an avocation that keeps my brain engaged."

Sun 6/7/2020 SURPLUS STORE
CATBERTABSENTOPTICS
AQUIVERREELINAIRMAN
SURGERYVERDICTTRIFLE
SANDRAESTATECYANIDE
SATIRERENALNINER
CMONSURPRISEFIGHTERS
ZINCENSUESINLAY
ANTESROMPDIEGONBC
REOHAIFASURLYMAJORS
RIDOFRAPIDLINEN
ATHEISTMOVESBILLOWY
SHEETAILEDHEIST
SURFERBALLSWOWIESHH
TSABACKSMAUITOQUE
SHISHWAISTSRULE
SURPASSEDPERFECTDIAL
ATEATONEILSHAKER
MATCHESDELPHIFORTWO
OHOKAYSURFEITOFANGER
SALLIESCREEDDELOUSE
ANDERSNEEDLEDRAWNTO

Andy Kravis, of Brooklyn, joined The Times as an associate puzzle editor in April. A 2013 graduate of Columbia Law School, he previously worked as a Transgender Rights Project Legal Fellow for the L.G.B.T. rights organization Lambda Legal, before turning to puzzles full-time.

In addition to the theme, Andy tried to include as many fresh answers in the grid as possible — including 1A, 104A, 4D, and 82D, none of which have ever appeared in a Times crossword before.

Sun 5/31/2020 WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN
ETCSPECKICEDSHUI
GOESHELLOMILECENT
GELTENIACPAILCELLO
TIARASSHOOTIEONEON
MOBRARIESJUVENQUENCY
ITALYOPSSNOEURAKA
NOTISNAILDADAIST
TEENPOPZEALITPEOPLE
GILLENDORSECLUES
ATEETASAZTECREMAP
MEDICINTSCOMMETARY
OPINEROPESSUEDSYS
NECCOSABRINAHAIL
GETAFLATONITANTEDUP
SPYFILMTOMMYGENE
FARASASENNAMMATTE
INOPPORTUNTELABORAIL
NOBLELIEAHEMDAMMIT
ARBORHERDRELAYONLY
LAIDAMIEANGLEREED
EKESTSPSSTAIDDDS

Lewis Rothlein is a yoga instructor and onetime journalist in Asheville, N.C. He teaches a popular course on "The Art of Solving Crosswords" for senior citizens at the University of North Carolina in Asheville. Jeff Chen is a writer in Seattle. They exchanged over 100 emails, back and forth, just brainstorming this puzzle's theme.

Lewis has had five previous puzzles in The Times, all Thursdays. Jeff is a regular contributor here.

Sun 5/24/2020 THE MYSTERY OF MCGUFFIN MANOR
ATTACKRACERSTAMEN
LEAGUEREVILESCIMINO
PATINAOVERLAPAKINTO
APTLYNAMEDCELEBRITIES
COLEFALANICEYORE
ATEBLINISINGENOS
WEARINGNAMETAGS
SWEEPEAUALSORROWS
GERARDGAGONREREAD
RAINSIMACUOFATESLA
AWNSUMFARTIM
BEGETHYMNFUNKSCENE
SEENASASIANAMANAS
DRYMOPSENVOSMONDS
APPLESWEATSHIRT
GTSAHEAPAMORETVS
OATHARUTSKORCHET
THEONETOTHEWESTOFHERE
HIPPOSONEVOTEAROUSE
ANOINTMITEREDTASSEL
MINNIEKARENSTEADY

Andrew Chaikin is a musician and game inventor in San Francisco. This crossword contains a whodunit.

Sun 5/17/2020 WIDE-OPEN SPACES
ATPARANCHOVYSPEEDO
RHINOAPARICIOPLANER
KENTCIGARETTESLASTED
AVESSERRATEDFUNTIME
NATWENTATITBARTERER
SUREBETTINCONGOREDS
ALEXAKINGHUSSEIN
STETSTOVETOPSSLATED
RECIPEHOPESSUAVE
SEASONSDETESTSSHIN
OURLORDSAPIDPISTOLS
USNANEBULAENATURES
THIRDRESINIGUANA
SIEGELUSAINBOLTLIZA
ECURRENCIESBIDEN
ZEPPOMARXBETBELAIRS
AQUILINECULTHEROTOW
MUZZLEDHOTSEATSMAZE
FIZZERHUNTERGATHERER
INLATEARGONGASSNORE
REESESPLANSONTUDOR

Byron Walden is a math and computer science professor at Santa Clara University, "currently on sabbatical at the exotic location of my dining-room table." He picked up his love of crosswords from his grandmother and father and is now passing it along to his 8-year-old son.

This puzzle is themeless. It features longer, sometimes more challenging vocabulary than usual, with only 122 answers (versus the standard 140).

POW Sun 5/10/2020 BORDER CROSSINGS
INFOSPAMDONTHAAGEN
TOILTOREFREEAREOLA
CHADLIBYALEWDRAILON
HOTCOCOALAOSCAMBODIA
OAKYPOTCROESUS
ALCOVEFEELUNDTIS
GUATEMALABELIZEPEROT
AMCSUPERCUPBRAINY
REAPPEAFINDOESKIN
SNOOTBULGARIAGREECE
POBLANOBEMUSED
AUSTRIAGERMANYQUALM
INWARDSEARORKPREY
SMORESENGGUANOROB
HARTSBRAZILARGENTINA
ANDDEERELSELIDED
DIECASTKIATHAD
MYANMARCHINAWROTEOFF
YENFORIDLECHILEPERU
SOCUTENASAPOPEONUS
THENEADYADAMESDOGE

Adam Fromm is a songwriter/musician from Brunswick, Me., who has been making puzzles "as far back as I can remember." His first published puzzle appeared in Games magazine in 2000. This one grew out of a geographical curiosity he noticed.

Fun fact: Adam is a huge fan of Amazon Prime's "36-Down," which he was very happy to include in the grid.

Sun 5/3/2020 SHIFTING SOUNDS
SOCKOAGOGBASSSTOLI
ABOILDEARUSMATOKEN
HOUNDSHAKEDIEMALIEN
LENSHERNEDFLOUNDERS
THEIRHARITABLA
AAMILNEEDGEDNIELSEN
SHIPMENYESSESDELUXE
IOSTAJFADPEC
SYSTEMCOUNSELEDCHECK
ANOMENTORREAIRS
SMUDGETELUNARMS
STEREOSISTERLLB
MOUSEMARKETINGTOOFAR
ARADOOLEIALI
YERTLEWASABIMAGPIES
INTEARSLOBESAVERRED
QUITELINTMEDOC
TROUNCESTATEEARPOST
RABIDETONFUZZYMOUTH
EMILELONGINREOSCAR
SPEAREPEETOADNEHRU

Ben Zimmer is the language columnist for The Wall Street Journal, a contributing writer for The Atlantic and a former language columnist for The New York Times. Brendan Emmett Quigley is a professional crossword constructor. They met some 12 years ago when Brendan began contributing crosswords to the Visual Thesaurus, where Ben was the executive editor.

The making of this puzzle — brainstorming the theme, filling the grid and writing the clues — was a full collaboration. Brendan has had many puzzles in The Times. This is Ben's debut.

Sun 4/26/2020 TURN, TURN, TURN
SWEETOAREXPOPONE
HASBROFEEXMANMOTES
ASSEENONTVMAKESALIST
HAIRSALONSASUASKSTO
STETRITAPRELIMS
BANEPAISANAFIRE
PRAIRIEREINTACOBAR
TUNNELFEEDERHEREIGO
ANNUMSLURRENEGEZED
STEREOTYPICTAKEADE
ENLAINAGTNUTS
ALADINGRADIOSHACKS
MICBADGESYEOWELROY
IRESIGNTUNEINVISION
GALILEEPETSCURABLE
ASADOSCREWYPOLS
XLSHIRTDOUGFAHD
ARABIAICUROLLACIGAR
TOTEMPOLESACIDTONGUE
OBITSSIREMKTEMAILS
METAUSSRPSYELESS

Royce Ferguson, 34, is an American living in London, currently between jobs. He says one of the perks of residing in Europe is that the international edition of The New York Times prints both the Saturday and Sunday puzzles on Saturday, "enabling a regular Saturday crossword binge." He got the idea for this puzzle while on holiday in Switzerland, a nation known for its 47-Acrosses.

This is Royce's crossword debut.

Sun 4/19/2020 OF COURSE!
NPRAPIARYPISCESAPP
ORELESLIEARMADACAL
MICROCHIPSPLURALPLO
ADOUTSENSEROMELAN
DENGASTROKEOFBADLUCK
RANTSUTNEMIDGES
ASSANGEPLEATEVE
CAPTAINHOOKITSARFED
EKELETUPSGREEDWEAR
SEEDYLEILATENANTS
DISTRACTEDDRIVING
BOBSTAYEASYAEDSEL
ALASRABIDDENTALHWY
AEGISNASWEDGEISSUES
DOETAGONPRECISE
DOTELLSALKGEENA
IRONDEFICIENCIESRPMS
TNUTGAGSNARFEJECT
HEPWALNUTNOTUPTOPAR
EREENCASEANEMIASTU
RYESTOLENSEDANSISM

Jack Mowat, 20, of Omaha, Neb., is a sophomore at Notre Dame studying civil engineering. A self-described crossword "fanatic," he and his roommate used to solve the New York Times crossword together every day and hang the completed puzzles on the wall. The inspiration for this one was his dad, an avid golfer. This is Jack's second puzzle for The Times.

His collaborator, Jeff Chen, is a writer and professional crossword constructor in Seattle.

Sun 4/12/2020 BARISTA TRAINING DAY
ATLASAPERCUBABAWAWA
LEAPTROMEOSEARTHDAY
TAUPESPILLEDTHEBEANS
ERRABEYURISWARM
RUELANAIMISCTESLA
SPLITHALFANDHALFCOG
SHALLOTREIMPOSE
SAPPYLACKEDAFILTER
EBAYPIEDHALSTRUTS
RBITHANLAGERHAM
FARFROMYOURAVERAGEJOE
AYNAWMANDOVEURL
HEROESLEDISEEBALM
RANOUTOFSTEAMSONYS
INDETAILMOROCCO
MOIGROUNDSFORFIRING
SINGSGOERFIDOSTEA
ARESTMAAMESSHUM
GOTINTOHOTWATERORATE
RAINDATEEEYORERACER
PRESSBOXRRATEDSTARS

Joel Fagliano is the digital puzzles editor for The New York Times and creator of the daily Mini. He sold his first crossword to the paper when he was 17. He graduated from Pomona College in 2014 with a double major in linguistics and 45-Across.

Joel says this puzzle is the result of having had some extra time at home recently … and drinking lots of coffee.

Sun 4/5/2020 DOUBLE TALK
TUBASENOKINAGGOSH
OCEANLEWISCOILUNTO
GOAHEADWITHOUTMESELL
ANNEMOTESTILETTOED
SNOOZERSSCHEMEHANOI
MESATHEAYESHAVEIT
ASEADROOLSAM
IWANTTOBEALONELETSBE
RETIREISTPELLSICON
SALAXEBURLAPLIDS
TURNABOUTISFAIRPLAY
GENESAPPHOTARTOT
MRCUBYADAPSADOSIDO
ASHPANHOWNOWBROWNCOW
RESAPACEEARN
COGITOERGOSUMSPAR
ARENANOSOAPSTARDUST
SCRUBBEDUPEIEIOMIA
THARAGEISJUSTANUMBER
RILERANTANAISSEETO
ODDSBLTRAINYEGRET

Jim Peredo, of Lakewood, Wash., is a stay-at-home dad and former communications engineer in the Air Force. He got into crosswords by way of geocaching — posting puzzles online whose answers are geographic coordinates. (Search for "Team Peredox" for examples.)

Jim counts himself as a Chamorro: both his parents are Guamanian, although he himself has lived in Guam for only a year.

This is his ninth puzzle for The Times and his second Sunday.

Sun 3/29/2020 KEEP THE CHANGE
KODAKRUBSCOBLICIT
ALIENERATENOFUTURE
YESNOAGREEDTOLISTEN
TELLLEFTFROMRIGHT
SQUALIDTIPOPIOIDS
OURSVEALSCOLDTNUT
BIBTEAREDFEINTGNU
DISHLAGUNASNOWDEN
BAPESBODICESWOODW
LAMESLEXEMESHOGH
AGRANADAINADAZEI
CETSCONCHESTONIT
KTASKADVERSEADESE
BONESAWSNAILSESPN
ARFSUSANSOLOEDOOF
WIFICYANSNALAINTO
SOANDSOKONAVENGER
SPOTTHEDIFFERENCE
BAHAMAIDITARODDOBBY
ADORERLLCDANAEMOTE
MOTTSLYEETSYDEBUT

Ricky Cruz, 22, of Glendale, Calif., is a video game concept artist — a maker of detailed designs for other artists to use when creating 3-D game environments. He says this puzzle is an attempt to turn a crossword "into a fun visual experience." The unusual grid alone tells you something novel is up.

This is Ricky's third puzzle for The Times, and his first Sunday.

POW Sun 3/22/2020 BRING YOUR 'A' GAME
PAPASCOMBATSLIMJIM
TBILLBLUECAPPENTODE
ACQUIREACHOIRINCENSE
STUMPERHERFCCATBAT
VENOMANOISEANNOYS
INSIPIDSRIITAN
LSUVIMPUMMELSJAW
APPALLAPAULIDSPONY
REDBEANSNASSAUDEVIL
SWORETOAUNTEMCERISE
ARIVALSARRIVALS
AFGHANTEEHEEOUTOFIT
CROATDEEDEEMILANESE
DEEMPEAATTACKSATAX
CDSTOYLANDENETOT
PASOIRECANDIES
AVOWELAVOWALKLEIN
BASALDEMBOSLEARNED
ONTRIALAPATCHYAPACHE
RCADOMESATHOMESPAIN
TELSTARPESTOSEENSY

Brendan Emmett Quigley of Brookline, Mass., has been creating puzzles for The Times since 1996 when he was a senior at college. This is his 170th regular crossword for the paper.

For the past 12 years, he has played for the Boston Typewriter Orchestra, a percussion ensemble whose only instruments are old typewriters. You can check them out on YouTube. Brendan's the member with glasses and a beard and who is follically challenged on top.

Sun 3/15/2020 READY, SET ... GETS LOW!
ABBAICUSCADSAPCALC
DEEDFOPOAKENHOORAH
ALLHAILHALLALEARMANI
GLIDELIBELGAGKANYE
EYEITALORAKEDCAF
BOOBLURREDBLUEBIRD
DEPAULTEAPOYBRANDO
IMANICEIMOELITISM
SONERVOUSNOSERVICE
UTEDENCHNEMEANAXES
SERRACHANDENSHUEVO
ESAUWARREDNOIREDEW
STEVEDOREDIVASTORE
SALTINEPATREDOUST
AGEISTAGENTSIDOTOO
DUTCHTOWNTOUCHDOWN
TIMOREOSRAISESPF
ALEUTRECSTONYEMCEE
LETTERBCHORDKEYBOARD
ERRATAIHOPEIREONCE
SAYHEYTIPSYESPSTYX

Nancy Stark, of New York City, is a writer, lyricist and former editor for the Literary Guild book club. Will Nediger, of London, Ontario, is a professional crossword constructor. They met through a notice that a friend posted for Nancy on Facebook seeking a collaborator. Nancy came up with this puzzle's theme and wrote most of the clues. Will did the grid.

This is their third collaboration for The Times, but their first Sunday together.

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