Today’s New York Times crossword puzzle starts easily.
1 Across: “Home to Santa’s workshop.” 4 letters. Hmmm…”North Pole” doesn’t fit. So…just “Pole,” right?
Okay. 1 Down: “Affluent Connecticut town.” Also 4 letters.
Wow. I can’t think of any towns that start with “P.” Or even any 4-letter affluent Connecticut towns. Well, maybe Avon…
On to 5 Across, to the immediate right: “Popular outdoor clothing brand, with ‘The.'” The only one I can think of is “North Face.” But there are only 4 squares. Leave that for later…
I’ll try the next one on the top line. 9 Across: “Minnesota NHL team from 1967 to 1993.” That’s simple: “North Stars.” But wait — there are only 5 letters. So…just “Stars,” no?
Aha!
Every answer on the top is missing “North.”
Why would that be?
Oh yeah! Because they’re on the top line — in other words, the “North”!
So that must mean, um — the bottom line would be “South.”
Let’s check it out. 67 Across is “Country hosting the 2018 Winter Olympics.” I haven’t paid attention yet, but I’m guessing it’s not South Africa. What about…South Korea?
Yep — there are 5 squares. Bingo!
So back to the top — 1 Down. I’m betting every answer on the left side starts with “West.”
Which would make that “affluent Connecticut town” — the one with only 4 letters, starting with a “P” — “Westport”!
It’s a clever crossword. And I’ll be sure to thank Times puzzle editor Will Shortz for it personally, next February.
You know — when he makes his annual appearance at the Westport Library Crossword Competition!
Will Shortz at the Westport Library, last February.
(Hat tip: David Schwartz)
It gets better than that Dan… if you look at the greyed out clues… (*SPOILER ALERT*)… the top row contains letters that spell… CAN..CER. The answer for the middle grey row is EQUATOR. And the bottom gray row spells, you got it…CAPRI CORN. Very clever!!
Yes, very clever puzzle. I loved it!
And wasn’t the ‘aha’ moment great!?