Constructor:Joel Fagliano
Relative difficulty:Easy
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THEME:"Clothes That Fit"— theme answers are clothes, which are clued as apt for certain job types based on reimagining the definitions of the words:
Theme answers:
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This is what an *average* NYT Sunday should be. Solid. Clever. Well-crafted. The clothing combinations are quite ridiculous at times, but that is, I think, the theme's charm. That center answer is like a fashion dare. That's the one I most want to see. Whereas PANTS AND A SWEATER, I mean, I can see that in the mirror on many different days, Nov. to Apr. SOCKS AND A BELT, possibly more often. Would you wear BLOOMERS AND HOSE, together? Does it matter? Probably not. Anyway, cute enough theme, with a nice, well-crafted grid. The NW corner, for example, is exemplary in its effortless smoothness, with longer answers cascading into longer answers, and with all joists in solid working order. Very acceptable work.
Resistance points were few. Got very held up at first trying to get the back ends of the first two themers because I decided 22D: Religious branch sometimes spelled with an apostrophe (SHI'ISM) was BAHAISM. BAHA'ISM? Dunno. Something more specific than "Religious branch" might've helped. Anyway, that answer was positioned in such a way that my error formed a roadblock, preventing me from completing those themers. Had to squeeze around it and fill in surrounding material in order to bring the roadblock down. Had ELAN for BRIO, but who hasn't made that error? (31D: Pizazz). I am not often a fan of the repeated clue gag, but I enjoyed its use with ON RAMP / EXIT LANE (19 & 27A: Interstate highway feature), perhaps because of those answers' proximity and parallelitude.
I've never heard of Jonathan NOLAN and have yet to see a second of "Westworld," though I imagine that will change soon. I have heard of PISTES but only barely. Thought the clue on CONSENT was inventive (113A: Sex ed topic). SANDM is one of my favorite ampersandwiches (58A: "Fifty Shades of Grey" topic, for short). I am teaching John DONNE this week, and have taught that specific poem for like 20 years, so that was cake (71A: "Death be not proud" poet). DONNE is perhaps my favorite poet, but that particular Holy Sonnet is one of my least favorite of his poems. I'll leave the poetry lecture for another time. À LUI will always be terrible fill, but it is virtually alone in its terribleness today, so absolution: granted. I wonder if anyone went CRONOS / CLINE instead of KRONOS / KLINE. Seems a very plausible mistake. OK, bye.
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Facebook]
Relative difficulty:Easy
Theme answers:
- PANTS AND SWEATER (21A: The aerobics instructor wore ...)
- SUIT AND BRIEFS (29A: The lawyer wore a ...)
- BLOOMERS AND HOSE (46A: The gardener wore ...)
- TURTLENECK, BOA, AND CROCS (62A: The reptile expert wore a ...)
- TUBE TOP AND CLOGS (74A: The plumber wore a ...)
- SOCKS AND A BELT (93A: The boxer wore ...)
- SLACKS AND LOAFERS (103A: The happily unemployed wore ...)
n.1. A skitrailwith an artificiallypreparedsurface of packedsnow.2. An unpavedroad or beatentrack. (thefreedictionary.com)
• • •
Resistance points were few. Got very held up at first trying to get the back ends of the first two themers because I decided 22D: Religious branch sometimes spelled with an apostrophe (SHI'ISM) was BAHAISM. BAHA'ISM? Dunno. Something more specific than "Religious branch" might've helped. Anyway, that answer was positioned in such a way that my error formed a roadblock, preventing me from completing those themers. Had to squeeze around it and fill in surrounding material in order to bring the roadblock down. Had ELAN for BRIO, but who hasn't made that error? (31D: Pizazz). I am not often a fan of the repeated clue gag, but I enjoyed its use with ON RAMP / EXIT LANE (19 & 27A: Interstate highway feature), perhaps because of those answers' proximity and parallelitude.
I've never heard of Jonathan NOLAN and have yet to see a second of "Westworld," though I imagine that will change soon. I have heard of PISTES but only barely. Thought the clue on CONSENT was inventive (113A: Sex ed topic). SANDM is one of my favorite ampersandwiches (58A: "Fifty Shades of Grey" topic, for short). I am teaching John DONNE this week, and have taught that specific poem for like 20 years, so that was cake (71A: "Death be not proud" poet). DONNE is perhaps my favorite poet, but that particular Holy Sonnet is one of my least favorite of his poems. I'll leave the poetry lecture for another time. À LUI will always be terrible fill, but it is virtually alone in its terribleness today, so absolution: granted. I wonder if anyone went CRONOS / CLINE instead of KRONOS / KLINE. Seems a very plausible mistake. OK, bye.
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Facebook]