First, the triple stacks in the NE and SW:
CLEARASMUD // TORTELLINI // EARLYBIRDS and IMPRIMATUR // SPOONERISM // HERDEDCATS. I almost stood up and applauded!
The downs are great too. TROMPE l’oeil, TORPOR, CLAWFOOT (with TUB for good measure), TEDLASSO, a great bit of light misdirection in the clue for STEEPENS, RANRIOT, DEALIO.
Working in both a good Always (PADS) clue and MIRENA to get away from the usual old white guy bias? Cluing TASSEL in the burlesque sense? JET clued in relation to Ebony magazine? I’m here for all of it!
Yeah, that was a good one. The lower left got me at first because I mixed up ARO with ACE and was sitting there saying that really looks like it should be torpor, but that doesn’t fit. Had to solve all around it and then go back and see that yes it is torpor, so the other letter is probably an R and bingo, puzzle done.
Wow, I really enjoyed that one!
Lots of great fill (spoilers)
First, the triple stacks in the NE and SW: CLEARASMUD // TORTELLINI // EARLYBIRDS and IMPRIMATUR // SPOONERISM // HERDEDCATS. I almost stood up and applauded!
The downs are great too. TROMPE l’oeil, TORPOR, CLAWFOOT (with TUB for good measure), TEDLASSO, a great bit of light misdirection in the clue for STEEPENS, RANRIOT, DEALIO.
Working in both a good Always (PADS) clue and MIRENA to get away from the usual old white guy bias? Cluing TASSEL in the burlesque sense? JET clued in relation to Ebony magazine? I’m here for all of it!
Essentially a perfect Friday for my taste. 👏👏👏
Yeah, that was a good one. The lower left got me at first because I mixed up ARO with ACE and was sitting there saying that really looks like it should be torpor, but that doesn’t fit. Had to solve all around it and then go back and see that yes it is torpor, so the other letter is probably an R and bingo, puzzle done.
Definitely had that same mixup briefly.
TROMPE was the one that clued me in, though. Definitely love a good trompe l’oeil…