BEQuntimed (Darby)
LAT6:24 (Gareth)
NYT12:50 (ZDL)
The New Yorker3:17 (Amy)
Universaluntimed (Sophia)
USA Today11:42 (Emily)
WSJuntimed (Jim)
Fireballuntimed (Jenni)
Mike Shenk’s Wall Street Journal crossword, “Forgettable Fellows”—Jim P’s review
Theme: MAN is added to the middle of common words. The revealer is INSIDE MAN (59a, [Helper in a bank job, and a hint to an infiltrator in six Across answers]). Theme clues hint at the MAN-less words.
Wall St Journal crossword solution · “Forgettable Fellows” · Mike Shenk · Thu., 2.9.23
- 17a. [Maracas, originally] GOURMANDS.
- 23a. [Lichtenstein in galleries] ROMANY.
- 26a. [Some wines] REMANDS.
- 37a. [Of necessity] PER FORMANCE.
- 50a. [Golden Globe winner for “Chicago”] GERMANE.
- 52a. [Shade] HUMANE.
Solving was slow going for most of this. I ended up at the revealer before getting a single theme answer, so that helped me sort things out. I can’t say I got a lot of joy from the grid as it felt like a slog from start to finish. I wish the theme answers would’ve at least given us some humor, but there was none to be had (maybe something along the lines of EMANATING FOR TWO?).That NW section with OISE, YIP,ROMANY, AVANT, WAYNE, MAYPEAR, MARYANNE, andMINTERS,was brutal.
Clues of note:
- 9a. [Work on figures, maybe]. SKATE. Figure 8s, presumably.
- 10d. [Its highest point is Mount Sunflower]. KANSAS. An apt clue since KANSAS is the Sunflower State.
Three stars.
Alex Rosen’s New York Times crossword — Zachary David Levy’s write-up
Difficulty: Tricky (12m50s)
Alex Rosen’s New York Times crossword, 2/8/23, 0208
Today’s theme: REVERSE EACH / TWO WORD CLUE (With 66-Across, hint for solving this puzzle)
- Too many theme entries to list.. basically, every clue in the puzzle that is two words long should be read with the second word first; for example, Pan Asian should be read as “Asian Pan”, for WOK)
This played slow because a) the sheer volume of misleading theme material, and b) the grid is oversized at 16×15. I was actually able to fill a good deal of the puzzle on crosses alone, cognizant that some of the answers didn’t real make sense vis-a-vis their clues. Decided to skip around so I could uncover the revealers (as opposed to my normal practice of just solving consecutively), and had a genuine a-ha moment. In my opinion, the puzzle does contain an error of sorts — whereas Mount Olympus is quite clever, and capitalized correctly (Olympus being a camera brand), Water buffalo is not (i.e., Buffalo is intentionally left lowercase for the sake of misdirection). It’s a small thing, and unless it’s a subtle jab at the Queen City (it obviously isn’t, Go Bills, Go Sabres), it eats at me.
Cracking:CASPAR— also known as Gaspar inChrono Trigger, the Guru of Time, whose quasi-Noir trench coat clad figure officially marked a place outside of time and space. They don’t make ’em like that anymore. Honorable mention forTRASH TV.
Slacking: ATRA — I myself have used this particularly musty item before, so hating it here is really a form of projection. I am amazed, however, to discover they still make razors for the ATRA despite it being more than 45 years old.
Sidetracking: HEIST — you sun-of-a-bitch, I’m in!
Hahn Huynh’s Fireball Crossword, “Study Group” – Jenni’s write-up
Fireball, February 8, 2023, Hanh Huynh, “Study Group,” solution grid
A quick take today: we have rebi! Each rebus is an academic discipline. Here’s Peter’s grid, which is easier to read. And this is the first time we’ve tagged Hanh Huynh at the Fiend; if this is a debut puzzle, it’s a great start!
- 17a [Treatment often combined with a massage] isARO{MATH}ERAPYcrossingEM{MA TH}OMPSON clued as [Only person to win Oscars for acting and screenwriting].
- 24a [Metropolis known as “Paris of the Plains] isKANSA{S CI}TYcrossing [End credits?] forWORK{S CI}TED.That’s a bit of a stretch, but it didn’t bother me too much.
- 41a [Captivate] is{ENG}ROSS crossingGRE{ENG}ROCERS, [They know their onions].
- 49a [Loan repayment add-on] isLA{TE CH}CHARGEcrossing [Knifehand strikes] forKARA{TE CH}OPS.
And a revealer, which made me laugh: 53a [Subjects of some biomedical research…or a hint to four squares in this puzzle] isSTEM CELLS. Science, Math, Engineering, Technology are the STEM disciplines. Very fun!
What I didn’t know before I did this puzzle: thatEMMA THOMPSON won both those Oscars and that she’s unique in that way. I also did not know thatKANSAS CITY is called Paris of the Plains. Which of course makes me think of this:
Griffin Sullivan and Adrian Johnson’s Universal crossword, “Final Touches” — Sophia’s write-up
Theme: Each theme answer starts with a word that uses three out of four letters in the word “DONE”, in order.
Universal Crossword, 02 09 2023, “Final Touches”
- 20a [Partner for life] – ONE AND ONLY
- 35a [Start of a refrain in “Do-Re-Mi”] – DOE A DEER
- 41a [Journalist on “CNN This Morning”] – DON LEMON
- 57a [Nearly finished, or a description of the first words of 20-, 35- and 41-Across] – ALMOST DONE
What, they couldn’t find a phrase with DNE?? What kind of a puzzle is this???? I kid, I kid! The theme is solid, if a little simple. It would have legit been cool if this idea worked with all four letters of the word DONE, but that is a lot to ask for, and the three out of four work well. I like that the phrases are in order of the letter removed – D missing first, then N, then E.
There isn’t a lot of thematic material in this puzzle (only 36 squares total), but that allows the rest of the grid to really shine. It’s packed full of cool down answers – DEADPOOL, BIG CHEESE, DOT-TO-DOT, SKELETON, just to name a few. I also loved some of the clever clues today, my favorites being [What’s picked up in a hurry?] for PACE and [Get off the internet?] for DOWNLOAD. Because I didn’t figure out the puzzle’s theme until the revealer, I solved it like an easy themeless puzzle, and it was a very enjoyable one! This puzzle really highlights how puzzles that are widely accessible don’t need to be boring in their fill and clues. Great job from the constructors – I think this is Griffin’s debut!
Paolo Pasco’s New Yorker crossword–Amy’s recap
New Yorker crossword solution, 2/9/23 – Pasco
I went a bit slower on this one compared to other recent ThursTNY puzzles, but I can’t swear that the puzzle is any harder than usual. Could be all me!
Fave fill: OREO SUNDAE (though I’m actually not a fan of Oreo-based desserts), ESPORTS, BAD TIPPERS (that is an in-the-language term in my book), RACE CAR BED, LINEN CLOSET, FIRE ISLAND (enjoyed Joel Kim Booster’s Netflix stand-up special, Psychosexual, and his performance on the Apple TV+ series Loot; haven’t seen the movie yet).
Did not know: [2022 Park Chan-wook film about a detective and the widow of a murder victim], DECISION TO LEAVE. Won Best Director at Cannes last year.
Four stars from me.
Paul Steinberg & Karen Steinberg’s LA Times crossword – Gareth’s summary
LA Times
230209
Paul Steinberg & Karen Steinberg [sic] offers a four plus one theme revealed at HOLDTHATTHOUGHT – each of four other long across answers has IDEA between two of its parts.
- [*External troublemaker], OUTS(IDEA)GITATOR
- [*Prized possession], PR(IDEA)NDJOY. SRV!
- [*Camera attachment for a panorama], W(IDEA)NGLELENS
- [*Space-saving option for overnight guests], H(IDEA)WAYBED
I think this puzzle’s fill suffered from one too many theme entry, especially with two fifteens plus a central thirteen, which really makes a balanced black square arrangement nigh impossible.
There are certain groups of first names with similar vowels and I think that it’s always good to keep their crossers fair and clued easily. Today RADOME is a pretty technical word, and it runs into KARA and OXY, parallel to another technical phrase, EXPARTE, which in turn intersects with ELISE. Other difficult nouns included COTIJA, EMOPOP, RILO, AUGIE.
Gareth
Erik Agard’s USA Today Crossword, “Step Up” — Emily’s write-up
This puzzle rises to the top and is among my all-time faves! So much to too love.
USA Today, February 09 2022, “Step Up” by Erik Agard
Theme: each down themer contains —STEP— that climbs higher from left to right
Themers:
- 19d. [Season premiere],FIRSTEPISODE
- 14d. [Worthless materials],WASTEPRODUCTS
- 7d. [Actress who played Joy in “Everything Everywhere All at Once”],STEPHANIEHSU
FIRSTEPISODE took me a few crossings because I kept thinking about a pilot thought that would be for a series—I just couldn’t stop thinking about it. WASTEPRODUCTS I also needed some crossings for, as it’s just not a common enough phrase to me for the cluing. I didn’t realize STEPHANIEHSU was in this movie—it clearly needs to move up in my “to watch” list, as I’m missing out. In addition to —STEP— climbing as it proceeds along the puzzle, the last one ends at the very top, making it all the way up. Amazing.
Favorite fill: FRUITCUP, PINPOINTED, HOPS, and ATWHATCOST
Stumpers: LATEFEES (COMMENT), ATWHATCOST (COMMENT), and CROUTONS (COMMENT)
At first glance, there is so much lengthy fill that it would have been hard to tell if the themers were in the acrosses or downs today if it weren’t for the title hint. Excellent, fun bonus fill. I adore the grid design. The theme is top-notch. Instant fave for me!
5.0 stars
~Emily
Brendan Emmett Quigley’s Crossword #1547, “Going Too Far”—Darby’s review
Theme: This was a going too far puzzle, so each of the black squares was occupied by a letter from an adjacent word. Together, they spelled out a quote from chess master Garry Kasparov.
Theme Answers
Brendan Emmett Quigley’s Crossword #1547, “Going Too Far” solution for 2/9/2023
- 4a [“Space___ (airhead)”] CADET
- 8a [“‘Bring it in!’”] HUG ME
- 12a [“Marks on the face”] ACNE
- 14a [“Antiperspirant choice”] SPRAY
- 19d [“Dip for corn chips”] SALSA
- 7d [“Thriller writer Hoag”] TAMI
- 22d [“Places offering Reiki and crystal healing”] SPAS
- 2d [“Lorena in the World Golf Hall of Fame”] OCHOA
- 20a [“Giants play it”] BASEBALL
- 9d [“Barbecue appliance”] GRILL
- 10d [“Tyler Perry in a drag role”] MADEA
- 28d [“Starter with pool or pit”] CESS
- 22a [“George Clinton’s supergroup, for short”] PFUNK
- 31a [“Mystery writers’ awards”] AGATHAS
- 34a [“Homes in the sticks?”] NESTS
- 37d [“1 or 2 or 3”] DIGITS
- 23d [“Character deficiency”] FLAW
- 35a [“Considered someone to be very important”] HELD DEAR
- 41d [“Typestyle for titles, often: Abbr.”] ITALS
- 27d [“‘Round and Round’ rockers with a misspelled name”] RATT
- 43d [“Hobbyist’s glue”] EPOXY
- 45d [“Actress Cusack”] JOAN
- 44a [“Knife brand with a Japanese name”] GINSU
- 47a [“Like Bob Dylan’s voice”] NASAL
- 8d [“Covering up a couch”] UPHOLSTERING
- 49a [“Vocalist’s vibrato”] TRILL
- 51a [“Best Bowler or Best WWE Moment, e.g.”] ESPY
Quote: “CHESS IS A BLACK AND WHITE JUNGLE.
Once I figured out CHESS, I put together that Garry Kasparov was a chess figure, and so that was hugely helpful in replacing TENTS with NEST when I realized that “BLACK AND WHITE” were a part of the quote I was looking for. I really enjoyed this puzzle, partly because it forced me to print it out and work through it throughout my busy day. I enjoyed the last one of these that BEQ did, so I was pretty excited to see the title of this puzzle when I first loaded the page. Of course, I loved seeing BASEBALL, but ITALS, UPHOLSTERING, and HUG ME were also really fun.
FAQs
What day is february 9th on in 2023? ›
Holidays for Thursday, February 9th, 2023.
What is the special day on 9 February? ›Celebrated on February 9, Chocolate Day makes your bond special with that one thing that's sweeter than love – chocolates. Gift him or her a basket of delicious homemade chocolates oozing with cream and truffles.
What day of the week is feb 2023? ›February Information
February is the second month of the year, 2023 is not a leap year so this year February has 28 days, February 2023 starts on a Wednesday and ends on a Tuesday.
February 9, 2022: Day of the Week
February 9, 2022 was the 40th day of the year 2022 in the Gregorian calendar. There were 325 days remaining until the end of the year. The day of the week was Wednesday. If you are trying to learn French then this day of the week in French is mercredi.
Under Valentine Week 2023, you celebrate February 9 as Chocolate Day, in fact when you give a box of chocolates or a chocolate with love to your lover, it becomes a matter of great consideration.
What phase will the moon phase be on February 9th 2023? ›The approximate distance from Earth to the moon is 400,347.81 km and the moon sign is Virgo. The Moon phase for February 9th, 2023 is a Waning Gibbous phase.
Who all are born in February 9? ›- Singer Carole King turns 81.
- Actor Joe Pesci turns 80.
- Actress Judith Light turns 74.
- Actress Zhang Ziyi turns 44.
- Actor Tom Hiddleston turns 42.
- Actress Rose Leslie turns 36.
- Actor Michael B. ...
- Want to see more celebrity birthdays as well as additional fun facts posts?
February is the only month to have a length of fewer than 30 days! Though it's usually 28 days, February is 29 days long in leap years such as 2020 and 2024. January and February were the last two months to be added to the Roman calendar (c. 713 BC); originally, winter was considered a month-less period.
What is the most important day in February? ›14 February – Saint Valentine's Day
Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14.
29. 2023 is not a Leap Year, so there is no Feb. 29, 2023. (Just one more year, folks!)
What is the important days in feb 2023? ›
The important days in February 2023 include Indian Coast Guard Day (1st Feb), World Wetlands Day (2nd Feb), World Cancer Day (4th Feb), International Epilepsy Day (14 February), Andhra Pradesh Day (20 February), World NGO Day (27 February) & More.
Why does February have 27 days? ›In fact, the word februare means "to purify" in the dialect of the ancient Sabine tribe. After a few years of using the Numa Pompilius' new 355-day calendar, the seasons and months began to fall out of sync. In an attempt to realign the two, the Romans added a 27-day leap month as needed.
Is February 9th a Rose day? ›Rose Day (February 7), Propose Day (February 8), Chocolate Day (February 9), Teddy Day (February 10), Promise Day (February 11), Kiss Day (February 12), Hug Day (February 13) - each of these days gives an opportunity to express love to your partner in myriad ways.
What is the importance of 9th February 2022? ›As such, every year, February 9 is celebrated as Chocolate Day. Many establishments retail special Valentine's Day edition chocolates, while patisseries and bakeries prepare chocolatey goodies. Couples also join baking classes to make this day more special by baking together.
Is 15th Feb slap day? ›Which day of the Anti-Valentine's week is “slap day”? It is observed on February 15.
What are the seven love days? ›Valentine's Week Full List 2023: Valentine's Day falls on February 14. The celebrations begin a week before with Rose Day, Propose Day, Chocolate Day, Teddy Day, Promise Day, Hug Day, and Kiss Day. Know all about the significance of these seven days of love inside.
What are the 7 days after Valentine's day? ›Anti-Valentine's Week 2023 Full Calendar: After Valentine's Day (February 14), people celebrate Anti-Valentine's Week from February 15. The days are called Slap Day, Kick Day, Perfume Day, Flirt Day, Confession Day, Missing Day, and Breakup Day. Read about the significance and correct dates inside.
What is the rarest Moon phase? ›First, the blue moon, when there is two full moon falls in a calendar month, the second full moon is called Blue moon. The word came from the phrase 'Once in a Blue Moon' means something is rare. Blue Moon happens once in every two or three years.
Are more babies born on a full moon? ›To sum up: according to the available statistical data, the Moon phases do not significantly affect the time of births and thus also not the number of births on each day.
What day is the full moon in February 2023? ›Full Moon: February 5, 1:30 P.M.
First Quarter: February 27, 3:06 A.M.
Is February the rarest birthday? ›
What is the rarest birthday? The least common birthday is leap day, or February 29. But because the day only occurs once every four years, it's obvious it would yield the least amount of birthdays. The rarest birthday of the 365 annual calendar days is Christmas day, Dec. 25.
How rare is February born? ›February is the least common birth month, with avereage of 316,891 babies born in February annually.
What serial killer was born in February? ›Gary Ridgway, in full Gary Leon Ridgway, byname Green River Killer, (born February 18, 1949, Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.), American criminal who was the country's deadliest convicted serial killer.
What are February born called? ›They are either an Aquarius or a Pisces. People born between February 1 and February 18 were born under the star sign Aquarius, while those born later in the month are under Pisces.
What are people born in February known for? ›February babies tend to be happier. Even though they are born in the middle of winter and may have to compete with gray skies and cold weather, one study found that babies born in the winter are more content and well-behaved.
What was February originally called? ›Historical names for February include the Old English terms Solmonath (mud month) and Kale-monath (named for cabbage) as well as Charlemagne's designation Hornung.
What is a fun fact about February? ›- February is the shortest month of the year, with only 28 or 29 days.
- February is named after the Roman festival of Februa, which was a time for purification and sacrifice.
- February is the only month that can pass without a single full moon.
February is often known for being a month dedicated to and all about love. But February is not only about valentines and sweethearts; instead it can also be a month for self-love and self-care, fostering relationships with family and friends, and loving others.
Did February ever have 31 days? ›February 31, with regard to the modern Western (revised Gregorian) calendar, is an imaginary date.
Is leap year a lucky year? ›Because such years are rarer than normal years, they have become lucky omens. Indeed the 29th February itself is an especially important day. Anything started on this day is sure of success. Certainly February 29th in the leap year of 1504 was very successful for one Christopher Columbus.
What year will leap year be skipped? ›
The rule is that if the year is divisible by 100 and not divisible by 400, leap year is skipped. The year 2000 was a leap year, for example, but the years 1700, 1800, and 1900 were not. The next time a leap year will be skipped is the year 2100.
Is 2024 a leap year Yes or no? ›When is the next leap year and day? The next leap year will be in 2024, which means the next leap day will be 29 February 2024.
What's the best day to get married in 2023? ›In the first month of 2023, couples should look to get married on January 15, 18, 25, 26, 27, or 30. February is also filled with lucky days (including Valentine's Day!). Those looking to get married that month should look to February 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 22, 23, 27, 23, 27, and 28.
What happens every 4 years in February? ›Simply put, a leap year is a year with an extra day—February 29—which is added nearly every four years to the calendar year.
Why is February added every 4 years? ›Each leap year, the month of February has 29 days instead of 28. Adding one extra day in the calendar every four years compensates for the fact that a period of 365 days is shorter than a tropical year by almost 6 hours.
Did February 30 ever exist? ›February 30. February 30 or 30 February is a date that does not occur on the Gregorian calendar, where the month of February contains only 28 days, or 29 days in a leap year. February 30 is usually used as a sarcastic date for referring to something that will never happen or will never be done.
What happens if you are born on February 29? ›Those born on that day don't always get to celebrate their actual birthday — since that date occurs only every four years. Someone born on Leap Day typically celebrates birthdays on Feb. 28 or March 1 but identification and important documents show a birthdate of Feb. 29.
Is February 29 a thing? ›Nearly every four years, we add an extra day to the calendar in the form of February 29, also known as Leap Day.
What do red roses symbolize? ›Bright ruby red roses are the true sign of love and usually symbolize passion, desire, and romance. Deeper red roses that fall more into the burgundy color family connote commitment and devotion, while roses with a merlot-like red tint represent beauty.
What is the real date of Rose day? ›Rose Day, every year, is celebrated on February 7. on this day, people paint the town red – with the colour of the red rose, that denotes love and passion. People gift roses to the person they love and declare their passion to the world.
Why is it called Rose day? ›
What Is Rose Day? As the name implies, Rose Day is dedicated to expressing your love to your near and dear ones (they don't necessarily have to be a significant other) through the language of flowers, specifically roses.
What day does Presidents Day fall on in 2023? ›Monday, Feb. 20 is Presidents Day in 2023, a holiday celebrating George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and the United States' other commanders in chief throughout the years. Presidents Day is a federal holiday, so closures include government offices, the U.S. Postal Service and most banks and public schools.
Does February 2023 have 29 days? ›Hence, the number of days in February, 2023 is 28. Q.
What day does 2023 fall on? ›Presidents Day is a bank holiday in the Federal Reserve system, so most banks will be closed.
Why does Presidents Day change every year? ›So why is the holiday on the 20th this year, and why do we celebrate other presidents? The U.S. Embassy says Congress fixed the Feb. 22 holiday to make it fall on the third Monday of February each year starting in 1971, creating a long weekend.
What states get Presidents Day off? ›"Presidents' Day" in California, Hawaii, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, and Washington. "President's Day" in Alaska, Idaho, Maryland, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
How old are people born on leap year? ›Being born in a leap year or even being born on leap day does not affect your age in any way. It will affect the day you celebrate your birthday if you are born on leap day. Each leap year you will celebrate your birthday on February 29. On non leap years you will celebrate either February 28 or March 1.
Why is 2023 not a leap year? ›The year must be evenly divisible by 4. If the year can be evenly divided by 100, it is not a leap year unless the year is also evenly divisible by 400, according to mathisfun.com. For example, 2000 and 2400 are leap years, but 1800, 1900, 2100, 2200, 2300 and 2500 are not.
Is 2023 a leap year yes or no? ›2023 is not a Leap Year, so there is no Feb. 29, 2023. (Just one more year, folks!) Those born on that day don't always get to celebrate their actual birthday — since that date occurs only every four years.
Is February 29th rare? ›
What is the rarest birthday? The least common birthday is leap day, or February 29. But because the day only occurs once every four years, it's obvious it would yield the least amount of birthdays. The rarest birthday of the 365 annual calendar days is Christmas day, Dec. 25.
What day should I get married 2023? ›In the first month of 2023, couples should look to get married on January 15, 18, 25, 26, 27, or 30. February is also filled with lucky days (including Valentine's Day!). Those looking to get married that month should look to February 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 22, 23, 27, 23, 27, and 28.
Is any special day tomorrow? ›There are no holidays today for the holiday type you chose.
Which country is in the year 2023? ›Country that celebrate New Year first and Last
Kiritmati, a part of Kiribati Islands wis the first place on earth to usher in New Year 2023. Located on the Pacific Ocean and is a part of the countries in Oceania. It will be just 3.30 pm on December 31 in India, according to the IDL.