Theme: HANG IN THERE – the theme solutions are all locations to “hang”, in several senses of the phrase.

New York Times, 09 26 2022, By Margaret Seikel

• 17a [*Indoor bouldering locale] – CLIMBING GYM
• 37a [*Male equivalent of a she-shed] – MAN CAVE
• 11d [*Room by the foyer, often] – COAT CLOSET
• 27d [*Place to buy a painting] – ART MUSEUM
• 58a [“Stick with it!” … or a hint to the answers to the starred clues] – HANG IN THERE

Loved at the moment’s theme – it’s simple sufficient to know from a Monday-theme stage, however the completely different types of hanging elevates it. In that method, COAT CLOSET and ART MUSEUM are slightly redundant. That being stated, I solved this puzzle with my mother, and she or he didn’t like that three of the solutions had been literal and one, MAN CAVE, was the extra figurative “hanging out”, so to every their very own. I additionally like how Margaret had a few of the theme solutions oriented vertically, to be able to squeeze in 5 themers with out sacrificing fill high quality.

Oftentimes on NYT Mondays I don’t know what to say in regards to the puzzle past the theme, as a result of the fill and the clues are wonderful however often easy and issues I’ve seen earlier than. Not so at the moment – loads of the fill was attention-grabbing and felt new, with out being reliant on pop-culture data that may convey up the problem stage.

Favorite fill: DEMO TAPE, PINCH ME, DOGSAT, TOUCH UP

Favorite clues: 34d [A big one might be standing in a concert hall] for OVATION, 4d [Place where elbows bump on a plane] for ARMREST, 41d [Claims rated “four Pinocchios,” say] for LIES.

Favorite debates with my mother and father: “I’ve seen Mean Girls as much as anyone else, and I have no idea on 49a [Janis ___, “Mean Girls” sidekick]. People aren’t going to love that.” – my mother (IAN was a gimme to me). “I don’t think a she shed and a MAN CAVE are the same thing. Isn’t one a detached structure?” – My dad