Sefkow invented that is a вЂњPortmanteau coinage describing this puzzleвЂ™s theme.вЂќ That portmanteau is ALLITERNATION, which combines вЂњalliterationвЂќ and вЂњnationвЂќ to describe the four theme entries, all of which are alliterative phrases with a nationality in them. The clue вЂњWhere model workers can be found?вЂќ refers not to paragons of industriousness (although they may also work here), but rather to people who work on car models at an AUTO SHOP. I loved this meta clue for ERA, which tells us that it is the вЂњMost common answer in New York Times crossword puzzles (more than 6% of all puzzles).вЂќ The crossword podcast вЂњ Fill Me InвЂќ has been doing a deep dive into these вЂњmost common answers,вЂќ and ERA was discussed at length in this recent episode.ДЈ7D.

We have a wordplay clue here, as indicated by the вЂњ?вЂќ at the end: вЂњProfessional you might need to see?вЂќ is one that you might literally need in order to see - an OPTICIAN.ДЈ5D. For some reason, I was certain this park was spelled with an вЂњmвЂќ in place of the вЂњnвЂќ and pronounced like the unprintable slang word that roughly translates to вЂњone not to be trifled with.вЂќДЎ2D. This was my 7D (ERROR) that sent me on the lengthy hunt described above. вЂњCanadaвЂ™s oldest national parkвЂќ is BANFF. Now you know, in case you ever stumble across these five useful letters again in a future puzzle.Д¦D. Speaking of words more commonly seen in crosswords than in real life, the вЂњTip of a shoelaceвЂќ is called an AGLET. TOPO map is short for TOPOgraphic map, which is a вЂњMap with elevation linesвЂќ - the вЂњin briefвЂќ lets you know that the answer will be an abbreviation.Д¦7A. ESPORTS is one of those rare e-words that really is a distinct, stand-alone concept that essentially translates to вЂњcompetitive video games,вЂќ two of which are named in the clue (вЂњCounter-Strike or League of LegendsвЂќ).Д¦2A. We often see gripes about the addition of the letter E- to the beginnings of words to create new, digital versions of the same word (see e-ink or e-tail or e-zine). IвЂ™m guessing the editors pinned the number to вЂњover 115вЂќ to keep the puzzle accurate even if new elements are discovered.ДҐ4A. The clue вЂњOne of more than 115 on a tableвЂќ refers to a very specific table - the periodic table, which has over 115 ELEMENTs on it (currently 118, to be precise). I enjoyed the clue вЂњNile biterвЂќ for ASP, the official snake of the New York Times Crossword, because it sounds like вЂњnail-biter,вЂќ which I assume was the point.ДЈ2A. Once more through the Acrosses, and I realized the truth: I had a wrong letter in one of the long theme entries, which I had mentally skipped over on the first pass because I was so certain the theme entries were right.

IвЂ™m certain of all of these too, I grumbled (internally). These all look right, I thought, beginning to get frustrated. What, I thought, how can that be? I didnвЂ™t have to guess any of the letters at all! And so I began my hunt for a typo. I filled in my last letter, all ready to hear the victory jingle, when BAM! вЂњNot quite!вЂќ appeared on my screen. I moved through the next section with scarcely a second thought, and the rest of the puzzle flowed in a regular, sometimes sticky but never impossible, voyage through the grid. My solving experience today is potentially instructive for new solvers, so I will briefly recount the saga of my hunt for a вЂњCause for correctionвЂќ (7D):ДЄt first, everything was going swimmingly - I knew 1A right off the bat, and that whole corner came together shortly thereafter. I love hearing the origin stories of creative themes like this one (described in more detail below), and I am particularly fond of clever portmanteaus, which, as far as IвЂ™m concerned, are the height of wit. Sefkow coined himself and just knew he had to build a puzzle around. Dept.TUESDAY PUZZLE - Congratulations to todayвЂ™s constructor, Conor Sefkow, for making his New York Times Crossword debut! This puzzle is built around a term that Mr.The Mindy Project actor Barinholtz crossword clue.Popular frozen vegetable crossword clue.Daily Celebrity Crossword JAnswers Latest Crossword Clues.