Wow, the NYT and the Stumper both went hard today. Look at all those scratch-outs. But I always enjoy some HOTCIDER (but please not from a K-Cup). No idea what DERNIERCRI is, either. I did love 51A in the Stumper, though; Jake is being ADORABLE and getting spoiled right now, in fact.
At least the Universal and LAT were easy today. Nice to see PANROMANTIC in a puzzle. And I'm hoping our landlord will be reasonable when we renew next year so no RENTSTRIKE will be required.
Today was for coincidental fill across the puzzles. With a MAI in the LAT, and TAIs in both the NYT and Universal, we've one-and-a-half MAITAIs for a Friday. And IDAHO is well-represented, spelled out in the NYT and abbreviated in the USAT.
Universal easily wins the puzzle-of-the-day award with MECHAGODZILLA and GIRL Scout Cookies. I learned my knowledge of NYC-adjacent geography is lacking; I thought YONKERS is over somewhere near Flushing, but it's north of the Bronx? And of course I am so glad I haven't needed OKCUPID for many years, though at least it has a cute name.
LAT SURPRISEd me with the Among Us sense of SUS; I've seen that in plenty of indies by now, but didn't know it had gone mainstream.
USAT amused with its 4/20 theme. I'll never hear JOINTCOMMITTEE in quite the same way again.
NYT was fun with its rotated theme. I miss the ZOOMZOOM ads. SADIRONS was a wtf?
Stumper stumped me today. Had to give up and google for ASYNDETON to get going in the SE. I was not expecting the SHILLELAGH in the Celtics logo, but at least that I could get through crosses. ALABROCHE was new to me, too. At least SHIBBOLETH was easy, since that was one of my favorite Bible stories as a kid.
LAT had some fun answers with RAGTAGARMY and OCEANARIUM. I don't think I've ever had a CHELSEABUN, but they look yummy. Also pleased to see the Chicago representation, even if the MAGNIFICENTMILE was always one of my less favorite parts of town (too high rent for any of the good pizza places).
Universal continues their nice Saturday themelesses. PRDISASTER is a fun entry, and THATSAMORE was stuck in my head for a while after solving.
The NYT was solved after SLEEPINGIN until noon, and I approve of any puzzle with a CAT.
#crossword #NYTXword #LATXword #UniversalXword #SaturdayStumper
A fun day in crosswords. Universal had a SOMELIKEITHOT theme; I was thinking I might go see that this weekend.
NYT had a clever SNOWBALLEFFECTS theme; I had fun making my writing small enough to fit SWELL in a square, completing everyone's favorite site for spotting ETS.
The LAT was full of unexpectedly tricky clues for a Thursday, along with an amusing PROMOTIONS theme. I'm still laughing at MARQUISCHOCULA.
AndyHat