Off the Grid: Sally breaks down Paste BN's daily crossword puzzle, Opening Hours
There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! Opening Hours
Constructor: Erik Agard
Editor: Amanda Rafkin
What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle
- STRIKES (26D: Potential synchronized events of May 2028) Although people in the United States associate Labor Day with the first Monday in September, International Workers' Day – also known in some countries as Labour Day – is May 1. Several U.S. unions have put out a call for simultaneous strikes to occur on May 1, 2028. The idea came from the United Auto Workers (UAW), after their 2023 strike involving the big three automakers, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and Stellantis. The result of that strike was agreements with the three companies that all expire on the same day, May 1, 2028. The UAW has put out a call for other unions to plan for their contracts to expire on the same date, in an attempt to increase worker leverage. These plans are news to me, and I am happy to learn about them. Learning new things is one of the benefits of solving crosswords.
- SUNNY (52D: Bobby Hebb song with the lyric "Yesterday my life was filled with rain") Bobby Hebb (1938-2010) was an R&B singer-songwriter. His most popular hit was the 1966 song, "SUNNY." I like this clue, because even though I was not familiar with this song, once I got a few letters filled in from crossing answers, I was able to figure out that the title of "SUNNY" makes sense for a song with the lyric, "Yesterday my life was filled with rain."
Random Thoughts & Interesting Things
- ENYA (15A: One-named Irish singer) It's always a good day to listen to an ENYA song. You can't go wrong with any ENYA song, but if you need a recommendation, today I'm feeling ENYA's version of "How Can I Keep From Singing?" "My life goes on in endless song / Above Earth's lamentation..."
- ALONE (16A: "You're not ___") In case you need this reminder today, "You're not ALONE."
- EAT (20A: What cats might crowd around a bowl to do) and ADOPTION (38D: Option for becoming a cat owner) Sometimes solving a crossword takes me on a trip down memory lane. This clue for EAT reminded me of the time we had five cats (and a dog!) at our house for a few days. It was Christmas 2017, and our kids were home from college with their respective cats plus one extra. (Make no mistake, our house is not really big enough for five cats and a dog!) Our daughter decided she wanted to get all the cats together in one place to get a "group photo." So she laid out the little Christmas stockings we had made for them, putting a few cat treats in each stocking. This photo is the closest we came to a group photo. Here is Toby (our daughter's cat, the gray one in the foreground), Lily (one of our son's cats, the calico in the middle, and Harry (a friend's cat, the fluffy orange one). In the background, you can see my cat, Willow, peeking around the corner. Willow is not really fond of other cats. (Honestly, that's a bit of an understatement!) Not pictured: Mister, our son's other cat, who is extremely shy, and our dog, Ping Pong, who would have been in the middle of all of this if we hadn't been holding her back. Ah, such a fun memory that I hadn't thought about in quite some time. Incidentally, all of these pets found their forever homes through ADOPTION.
- SAUDIS (22A: Residents of Mecca or Riyadh) Mecca and Riyadh are cities in SAUDI Arabia. Mecca is the birthplace of Muhammad, the founder of Islam, and is considered to be the holiest city in Islam. Riyadh is the capital of SAUDI Arabia, and the largest city on the Arabian peninsula.
- CETERA (30A: The "c" in etc.) I am so used to seeing the abbreviation "etc.," that I sometimes forget it stands for the two-word Latin expression "et CETERA," which means "and other things."
- REID (35A: Apt-sounding surname for a book lover) REID is indeed an apt-sounding surname for someone who likes to read. My first thought here was Page, which would also be appropriate.
- HAPPY BIRTHDAY (37A: "Celebrating you! <3") If today happens to be your special day, this clue's for you. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
- HBO (44A: "True Detective" channel) True Detective is an anthology TV series that airs on HBO. An anthology is one in which each season is self-contained with a different set of characters and story lines. The show first aired in 2014, and the fourth season, True Detective: Night Country, aired last year. The fourth season was set in the fictional town of Ennis, Alaska, and it starred Jodie Foster and Kali Reis.
- NASA (53A: Apollo 11 org.) The Apollo program, which lasted from 1962-1972, was the NASA program that ultimately led to astronauts walking on the Moon. Apollo 11, specifically, was the spaceflight that lasted from July 16 - July 24, 1969. This mission was the first time humans landed on, and walked on, the moon.
- NOR (57A: Conjunction used in conjunction with "neither") The repeated use of the word "conjunction" here tickled me.
- MIA (59A: Soccer great Hamm) MIA Hamm is a retired professional soccer player. She was a member of the U.S. women's national soccer team that won Olympic gold medals in 1996 and 2004, and an Olympic silver medal in 2000.
- SEINE (60A: French river) The SEINE is a river in northern France. It flows through Paris and into the English Channel.
- GOLDEN BOY (61A: Guy who's in favor) I got off track here thinking this clue referred to a guy who was voting in favor of something. Pro voter? Supporter? Nothing was making sense until some much-needed help from crossing answers got me on the right track. Aha! GOLDEN BOY as in one who's looked on favorably.
- TONYS (67A: Awards with two faces on them) The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Broadway Theatre are more commonly known as the Tony Awards, or simply the TONYS. The actual award consists of a spinnable medallion mounted on a black base. The medallion has two "faces" on it, a comedy mask and a tragedy mask.
- SEWS (68A: Uses a Singer) The capital "S" alerts solvers that Singer is a brand name here. Singer as in the sewing machine manufacturer.
- AUSTEN (3D: Jane who wrote "Mansfield Park") Jane AUSTEN's novel, Mansfield Park, was first published in 1814. The book centers on Fanny Price, who at the age of ten is sent to live with her wealthy aunt and uncle. The story follows Fanny as she grows, until she is 18.
- CAYENNE (30D: Hot pepper) and HABANERO (37D: Hot pepper) Nice clue echo. My biggest challenge here was remembering how to spell HABANERO.
- ORE (62D: Bauxite or chalcopyrite) The ORE known as bauxite, which is a source of aluminum and gallium, was first discovered in the early 1800s near the village of Les Baux in southern France. Chalcopyrite is the most abundant copper ORE.
- NEW (63D: Word in four U.S. state names) Oh, look, it's a built-in opportunity for a geography quiz. Can you name the four U.S. states whose names include the word NEW? I was able to think of three immediately, and with some visualizing of a U.S. map, eventually dredged the fourth one out of my memory banks. The answer will be at the end of this article.
- A few other clues I especially enjoyed:
- IRONS (64A: Appliances on boards)
- WEED (69A: Something pulled by a gardener)
- ENDURE (6D: Keep on keeping on)
Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis
- RUSH ORDER (17A: "Need it soon!" request)
- HAPPY BIRTHDAY (37A: "Celebrating you! <3")
- GOLDEN BOY (61A: Guy who's in favor)
OPENING HOURS: The OPENING word of each theme answer can be paired with the word HOUR to make a new phrase. Our OPENING HOURS are: RUSH HOUR, HAPPY HOUR, and GOLDEN HOUR.
It's always a joy to see Erik Agard, who was the Paste BN crossword editor before Amanda Rafkin, return as a constructor. I enjoyed the upbeat vibe of this puzzle, with HAPPY BIRTHDAY centrally located. As mentioned above, I also appreciated learning of the potential STRIKES of 2028. Of the OPENING HOURS, my favorite is the GOLDEN HOUR, a term used in photography to refer to the first HOUR after dawn and the last hour before dusk, when the light is "just right" for photo opportunities. Thank you, Erik, for this delightful puzzle.
Answer to the Geography Quiz: The four U.S. states with the word NEW in their names are NEW Hampshire, NEW Jersey, NEW Mexico, and NEW York.