# Today's (3-17-24) NYT Crossword **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** board-card-word-game\ **Created:** [March 17, 2024, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-3-17-24-nyt-crossword/998942 "2024-03-17T12:35:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-3-17-24-nyt-crossword/998942/1 "2024-03-17T12:35:22Z")
I don’t understand the theme of today’s puzzle. Or at least the clue that describes the theme. I’m not seeing what they mean. Please spoiler your reply if you know the answer. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-3-17-24-nyt-crossword/998942/2 "2024-03-17T12:39:02Z")
I haven’t done the puzzle, but I usually go to New York Times’ “Wordplay” column when I don’t know what is going on. Here’s the one for today: > **[All Over the Map](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/16/crosswords/daily-puzzle-2024-03-17.html)** > > Simeon Seigel’s Sunday debut lays out an awe-inspiring itinerary. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-3-17-24-nyt-crossword/998942/3 "2024-03-17T12:49:51Z")
Cool, thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-3-17-24-nyt-crossword/998942/4 "2024-03-17T12:52:16Z")
Oh good, it wasn’t just me. I couldn’t figure it out either. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-3-17-24-nyt-crossword/998942/5 "2024-03-17T12:53:35Z")
The article **pulykamell** pointed me to answers the question. It’s a tricky one for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-3-17-24-nyt-crossword/998942/6 "2024-03-17T13:09:58Z")
I usually read [Rex Parker](https://rexwordpuzzle.blogspot.com/)’s take on each NYT Sunday puzzle. This is part of what he said about “All Over the Map”: > [@](#): > > I don’t know what this puzzle was trying to do, exactly. That is, I don’t know what it thought the solver (i.e. me) was gonna do. I have no idea what you were supposed to do in order to get the puzzle accepted as “correct.” Click the link for a much more detailed discussion, including readers’ remarks. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-3-17-24-nyt-crossword/998942/7 "2024-03-17T13:23:00Z")
“Totally self-indulgent” is correct. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-3-17-24-nyt-crossword/998942/8 "2024-03-17T14:53:30Z")
I thought it was very well done ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-3-17-24-nyt-crossword/998942/9 "2024-03-17T15:15:16Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I usually go to New York Times’ “Wordplay” column when I don’t know what is going on There’s also the [“Diary of a Crossword Fiend” blog.](https://crosswordfiend.com/2024/03/16/sunday-march-17-2024/#ny) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-3-17-24-nyt-crossword/998942/10 "2024-03-17T15:21:59Z")
Yeah, I also use Rex’s blog for entertainment but the reason I hit up the Wordplay column first when I’m confused is because it has insights from the actual constructor. It’s as “from the horse’s mouth” as you can get. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-3-17-24-nyt-crossword/998942/11 "2024-03-17T15:33:40Z")
Well, I have not solved this one yet, it arrives in my local paper two weeks later than when it appears in the NYT. I’ve considered subscribing to the Times just for the crosswords, but dang, it’s not cheap. (and I don’t care for solving them on a screen, I’m an ink & paper guy) mmm ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-3-17-24-nyt-crossword/998942/12 "2024-03-17T15:45:00Z")
You can print them. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-3-17-24-nyt-crossword/998942/13 "2024-03-17T15:45:24Z")
I liked it, at least once I figured it out. It reminded me a bit of the one from [election day 1996](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossword#/media/File:The_New_York_Times_crossword_Clinton-Bob_Dole_puzzle_1996.gif). ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-3-17-24-nyt-crossword/998942/14 "2024-03-17T15:57:40Z")
Yeah, that one was one of thre greatest puzzles ever. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-3-17-24-nyt-crossword/998942/15 "2024-03-17T15:59:34Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I’ve considered subscribing to the Times just for the crosswords, but dang, it’s not cheap. They run specials where you can get an all-access digital subscription for a few dollars a month. It includes recipes and games. I just re-upped 3 weeks ago for, I think, $4 a month. Call on the phone and ask for it. > [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > (and I don’t care for solving them on a screen, I’m an ink & paper guy) You can print them out. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-3-17-24-nyt-crossword/998942/16 "2024-03-17T16:00:08Z")
I thought today’s puzzle was pretty brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-3-17-24-nyt-crossword/998942/17 "2024-03-17T16:16:00Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > You can print them. > [@needscoffee](#): > > You can print them out. Hmm, that hadn’t occurred to me. mmm **ETA: I just checked and it’s $1 a week for 52 weeks. I am currently paying $3.50 / week for Sunday-only delivery of my local paper (and the NYT crossword is the only part of it I use).** **Seems like a no-brainer. Do any of you print the crossword from a digital-only subscription? Any problems with its appearance, etc.?** mmm ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-3-17-24-nyt-crossword/998942/18 "2024-03-17T16:52:39Z")
Funny, I just filled in all the spaces without thinking about the theme. It wasn’t until after _The San Jose Strut_ played that I noticed the goofy reveal. It’s a bit odd the ‘rebus’ fill-ins for those four squares wasn’t required. Clever, though. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2024, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-3-17-24-nyt-crossword/998942/19 "2024-03-18T03:08:18Z")
I didn’t understand it until I read the explanation, but I still think it was clever boots. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2024, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-3-17-24-nyt-crossword/998942/20 "2024-03-18T03:21:11Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > It’s a bit odd the ‘rebus’ fill-ins for those four squares wasn’t required. It’s not required that you enter the entire rebus in the square; entering only the first letter is sufficient, though entering the whole word may help you in reading the puzzle. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-3-17-24-nyt-crossword/998942.md?page=2)