Tuesday November 20th 2018, NY Times Crossword

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Time: 7:35
Tuesday Average: 13:40
Best Tuesday: 6:10

How many holiday-themed puzzles are submitted the NY Times? Enough, I suppose, for each day of the week leading up the holiday. Today, we have a Turkey Day, with four longish answers clued the same way, "Turkey's place." That yields POULTRY FARM, RAZZIE AWARDS (are Turkeys and Razzies the same?), BOWLING ALLEY, and, of course, WESTERN ASIA. I'd be shocked if this theme hasn't appeared before ("Turkey" means so many things!), but it's the first one for me, so I'll take it.

POOR ROSS really is the worst "Friend," right?

I actually enjoyed the long downs more than the themers, with CLEAR AS MUD (a fine phrase that took me a long time to parse) and LEMON WEDGE, clued as "Garnish for a vodka tonic." Well, I'm ready for a Gin & Tonic, anyway, to start this holiday week. Still, I have just today left in the office, so let's attack it with GUSTO before I VAMOOSE! 

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