Sunday, 9/27/09

NYT (p) 10:57 ... LAT (p) 5:50 ... MR (p) 7:09 ... BG (p) 5:58 ... ND (p) 5:12 ... LATB (p) 6:45 ... CS (p) 3:01 ... Acrostic 14:30

Finally, some use for the slightly organized data on this site! I can definitively say that this is the hardest Sunday NYT in the last 10 months. (And I loved it.)

Don't think I will have a long-form recap of Pleasantville, so let's see about some random thoughts:

--Of course, it was much fun to see the usual NYC-area suspects! Howard B and Adam C were the other "A" solvers helping to judge. (Also Ellen and Frank Longo, who wouldn't be eligible anyway due to having edited the puzzles...)
--I solved in the back room, so I'll have times to report this week. They're all above-average puzzles by star constructors.
--Glad to see Jeffurry win, after four previous stints at the Big Board. Good karma for Al Sanders?
--Went to Will's house for the afterparty, but didn't get a tour or anything (he did show off a few pieces of memorabilia). I heard Will say to Nancy Schuster, "I don't like him, or his puzzles" -- but darnit, didn't catch who he was talking about! Well, I wouldn't share that even if I knew. Like I won't share some details I heard about Half-Century Puzzlemakers' Week. Here's a tidbit, though: Will has apparently run out of Diagramless puzzles. At least until he starts opening up the last few months' worth of mail...