đź“° Puzzle Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Title | Open-Faced |
| Constructor | Rafael Musa – a San Francisco–based software engineer at Airbnb |
| Grid Size | 21Ă—21 (larger than a standard Sunday puzzle) |
| Grid Type | Themeless – no recurring theme or linked answers |
| Number of Answers | 117 – the lowest count ever for a Sunday NYT crossword, breaking the previous record by one |
| Constructor’s Record | This marks Musa’s 22nd construction for The New York Times since 2022 |
🧠Puzzle Characteristics
This Sunday’s crossword stands out for its complexity and originality.
Rafael Musa designed a spacious grid with very few black squares, giving room for long, vivid words and phrases—many of which have never appeared before in NYT puzzles.
He mentioned that he enjoys creating themeless puzzles because they offer more creative freedom when filling the grid. This approach allows unusual wordplay and a wide range of clues, making the solve feel fresh and modern.
đź’ˇ Notable Challenging Clues
| Clue | Answer | Context / Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| [Instrument for which Beethoven and Mozart composed] | FORTEPIANO | An early version of the modern piano from the 18th century. It makes its NYT debut here, though “pianoforte” has appeared before. |
| [I held onto the notion this [-time theater] would be something you could eat] | MOVIE REEL | A clever misdirection — it sounds like “meal,” but refers to old film reels, now largely obsolete. |
| [_____ (all reaction to bug bites)] | SKEETER | A humorous, informal reference to mosquitoes and their itchy bites. |
| [Villain] | BADDY | A lighthearted word for a bad or evil character, often used in pop culture or movies. |
| [Child who ___ to put away?] | FUSSY EATER | Wordplay — not about toys or clothes, but food. A child picky about eating. |
| [Author of 2010 bestseller ‘___’] | AMU UPTON | The 2010 bestselling author — a first-time appearance in the NYT Crossword. |
| [_____ K author of The Arabesque Table] | REEM | Refers to Reem Kassis, known for her Middle Eastern cookbook, The Arabesque Table. |
🧩 Grid Structure
The crossword grid uses mirror symmetry, adding balance to its design.
Several of the words included are brand-new to the crossword world, making the solving experience both fresh and tough.
Despite the difficulty, the puzzle’s fill quality and intersecting long entries make it elegant and rewarding to complete. Musa’s careful construction results in a grid that’s both challenging and visually satisfying.
