Every year I ask readers to consider what the blog is worth to them on an annual basis and give accordingly. 2026 is a big year for me, as Rex Parker Solves the NYT Crossword will celebrate its …

Oct 1, 2024 · The song has been in the puzzle, of course—seven other times—but no one (apparently) had thought to build a theme around it, despite the fact that it seems to be crying out for rebus …

I was talking with my dad and sister about the puzzle, and ELIDE (64A: Skip over, in speech) produced a funny family moment. While we were all sitting on the couch,, my sister said the word correctly, and …

The fact that the puzzle got *all* the words crossing "LINE"s to be hyphenated answers—that's pretty impressive. It didn't make the solve itself very exciting, but it definitely made me respect the intricacy …

Jul 1, 2025 · And the puzzle, for the most part, does that admirably. I didn't even notice the "C" clue thing at all until I was beginning to do my write-up and fully read the revealer clue.

Aug 1, 2025 · This puzzle was really rescued by the theme—specifically the revelation that there was a second element to the theme. I had the circled squares as "UP"s and was wondering what was so …

Mar 1, 2025 · I will be away next Sunday because I will be attending the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament in Stamford, CT, for the first time in nearly a decade. Hope to see some of you there.

May 1, 2025 · While I thought very little of FAE (22D: Winged species of folklore) when I saw it in the 5/19/25 puzzle because of all of the romantic fantasy books I've read, I read Rex’s write-up, and he …

Nov 5, 2024 · My struggle in the puzzle mainly came with BEL ESPRIT (66A: Clever person), which is a term I’ve just never heard before, and the literal translation, “pretty spirit,” doesn’t really suggest a …

Feb 1, 2025 · I've seen a lot of rebus puzzles in my day, so any time a puzzle takes a rebus somewhere fresh or new or unexpected, I'm thrilled. Maybe "thrilled" is too strong for today, but "solidly amused," …