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Brandon Koppy wants us to use our instincts.
Jump to: Today’s Theme | Tricky Clues
WEDNESDAY PUZZLE — If yesterday’s crossword theme felt like a gimme for birders, then today’s — in a puzzle constructed by Brandon Koppy — would feel just as intuitive for anyone with a New York City ZIP code.
I say this because while solving this puzzle, I found myself appreciating how many of my specific phobias, pop culture references and personal tastes are a direct result of my having lived in New York for the last 14 years.
Crosswords are in the eye of the solver, of course, and you may find that today’s grid speaks to you in an entirely different way than it spoke to me. What unites us all is the quest for the fill — I invite you to “Ch-Check It Out” below.
The revealer at 37-Across — “Rap group with the classic 1986 album “Licensed to Ill” … or a description of 17-, 24-, 48- and 57-Across?” — refers to the BEASTIE BOYS, a hip-hop group from New York formed in 1981. The album is filled with anthems of the city’s young and restless: I know I’m not the only one who has lost her voice screaming along with “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” at a karaoke night.
Now, let’s lay out what Mr. Koppy’s revealer means for our other themed clues. At 17-Across, the “Longtime host of CNN’s ‘The Situation Room’” is WOLF BLITZER. At 24-Across, the “11-time P.G.A. Tour Player of the Year” is TIGER WOODS. Each of these notable male figures has a first name that also is an animal. Thus, they are BEASTIE BOYS.
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NYT Crossword Answers — May 31, 2023 – The New York Times
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