MONDAY PUZZLE So, an Australian wind instrument, a system of underwater mountains and a wedding attendant walk into a bar and

Sorry, I was just stalling. I needed some extra time to figure out this Monday theme by Stanley Newman. It wasnt immediately apparent, but thankfully, there is a revealer at 62D to help get us in the door.

16A/17A. I liked the twin clue White gemstone for both OPAL and PEARL.

36A. Most people probably know O RINGS as those rubber gaskets, but I remember a time during the late-1970s to early 80s when they were worn as jewelry. I dont know if the singer Madonna started the trend but she definitely made them famous.

Mr. Newman offers us three theme entries that each contain the letters ID twice. For example, the Australian wind instrument at 18A is DIDGERIDOO.

And why are we being asked for two forms of ID? Because apparently, one is not good enough not that I am bitter.

Interesting side note: The entry BRIDESMAID has not appeared in The New York Times Crossword since 1954.

Most of the ideas for the crosswords I make come from a twisty interpretation of everyday things I see, read or hear. The inspiration for todays was just like that seeing two IDs required in a newspaper article. With the assistance of the very constructor-useful onelook.com, I selected the three most lively theme answers available. (Sorry, but ETHIDIUM BROMIDE didnt make the cut.)

While Monday grids with all-easy answers are most easily accomplished with a closed-off grid of maximum answer count (78), I wanted something more intricate for Will, The Times and you. So, wanting to have the IDS revealer as the last Down answer, and opening up the grid as much as this-human-ly possible, I managed to successfully complete todays 74-answer diagram. The 10 Down answers of more than seven letters were a little tricky to accomplish, necessitating the one answer that Id rather not have used (40-Downs NAES), but Will didnt mind it and I hope you didnt either.

For any early-week crossword I make for The Times, the cluing is a tug-of-war challenge. For any puzzle for Will, I always check the database of Times clues, striving for as many new clues as possible. The extra challenge comes from avoiding trickery and ambiguity at the same time.

Will kept the essence of somewhat more than half of my clues; the changed ones were typically made easier with a better-known fact, such as HEIDI as a Project Runway host rather than Mrs. Ted Cruz.

And thats all I have to say about that.

Almost finished solving but need a bit more help? Weve got you covered.

Warning: There be spoilers ahead, but subscribers can take a peek at the answer key.

Trying to get back to the puzzle page? Right here.

Your thoughts?

Link:
Quick Trip to a Store and Back - The New York Times