Billy Bratton opens our solving weekend.
Jump to: Tricky Clues
FRIDAY PUZZLE — We’ve talked about crossword stacks in the past, and how constructors must make sure that the entries crossing these stacks are interesting fill as well. If you try to stack entries as a newer constructor, there is a chance that you will run into issues as you build out the rest of the puzzle around the stack. You may find yourself resorting to less than desirable fill, such as obscure acronyms or crosswordese. If you are not sure what crosswordese is, you can learn more about these words by taking our quiz.
Billy Bratton, who constructed today’s puzzle, has mastered the fine art of stackery. His 10-letter stacks in the northwestern and the southeastern parts of the grid are lively reading across, and their crossings aren’t plagued by obscure and dull fill. (I allow for one or two whiffed entries. I’m not a monster.) The same goes for the stair-step stacks in the southwest and northeast.
I learned a bit from Mr. Bratton’s puzzle, too, which is always a good thing. More on that in the Tricky Clues section.
Tricky Clues
15A. The clue [Musician’s pitch?] sounds as if it refers to how well a musician hits the notes, but this is about a marketing pitch. Musicians who are looking for work in advertising and television pitch their work via DEMO tapes. Up-and-coming artists post their work on social media and send out DEMOs. Source: My ex-husband, who is in the music industry.
We are having trouble retrieving the article content.
Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
Already a subscriber? Log in.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Source: Elections - nytimes.com
