CROSSWORD #797: Safe Spaces

SAFE SPACES: [ ACROSS LITE][ PDF] 
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Stephen Sondheim is a lot of things; his biography isn’t really worth repeating as we all know what he did. Well, one popular bit of Sondheim trivia was that he was a crossword constructor. Setter is probably the better word as he wrote cryptics for New York Magazine in the late ’60s. Here’s the motherlode if you’re interested in doing them yourself. I approached them this week as more of a curiosity, rather than expecing to be blown away by them. And to be sure, variety cryptics, and regular crosswords for that matter, have evolved demonstratively since then. However, I have to say, the ones I’ve done so far are, mostly, clean-filled with amusing themes. And get this, it’s entirely possible that Sondheim was an indie crossworder as early as 1968. Sure as shooting, here’s one clue: “Purge from the East–so be it, from the East (5).” And yeah, the answer iss this word. Amazing. Check out the puzzles if cryptics are your sorta thing.

REMINDER: Looking for custom gift puzzles? I’ve got your back. Email me sooner rather than later and let’s get one for every member of your family.

Share the puzzle. New one on Monday.