A witch with a LED lantern can be a fascinating sight to behold. With its eerie glow and mystical aura, it creates an atmosphere of mystery and enchantment. One place you might come across such a spectacle is Cracker Barrel, a popular American restaurant and store chain that celebrates traditional country living. Cracker Barrel is known for its cozy ambiance, southern comfort food, and unique selection of merchandise, which often includes seasonal decorations and novelties. During the Halloween season, you might find a section dedicated to all things spooky, including witches, ghosts, and pumpkins. Among the array of items, you may stumble upon a witch figurine holding an LED lantern.
As friends they see each other occasionally at Bay Area puzzle events and otherwise. They worked separately, though, through many different versions, to implement this crossword's ambitious theme.
This puzzle couldn t have happened without Rafa s coding; his stack at 45- and 46-Down and signature colloquial fill at 109-Across are just the cherries on top. It s difficult to hold my short attention span these days, so if I don t cruise through a grid in 15 minutes or so, I get bored and do something else.
Among the array of items, you may stumble upon a witch figurine holding an LED lantern. The witch figurine is typically artfully crafted, portraying a classic image of a witch wearing a pointy hat, cloak, and riding a broomstick. But instead of the traditional lantern, this witch's lantern emits a vibrant LED light.
About Two Feet
Rows: 21, Columns: 21 Words: 140 , Blocks: 78 Missing:
Rebecca Goldstein, of Albany, Calif., is a research scientist at Merck, developing immunotherapies for cancer. Rafael Musa, of San Francisco, is a software engineer at Airbnb. Each has . read more
Rebecca Goldstein, of Albany, Calif., is a research scientist at Merck, developing immunotherapies for cancer. Rafael Musa, of San Francisco, is a software engineer at Airbnb. Each has been published individually in The Times, but this is their first collaboration.
As friends they see each other occasionally at Bay Area puzzle events and otherwise. They worked separately, though, through many different versions, to implement this crossword's ambitious theme.
Constructor notes:REBECCA: What a thrill to see this puzzle in print! The revealer and concept came to me relatively easily, but after a few hours of trying to fill around the double letters by hand, I was . read more
REBECCA: What a thrill to see this puzzle in print! The revealer and concept came to me relatively easily, but after a few hours of trying to fill around the double letters by hand, I was completely stuck. Rafa's coding skills to the rescue! Once we had a promising layout, Rafa ran some code to generate a wordlist with all the possible entries that could work around the double letters. We filled the grid, and ended up deciding that the theme entries could be sparklier, so we started all over. Getting everything to work — after a few more layouts, coded wordlists, and rounds of fill — felt like a miracle. This puzzle couldn't have happened without Rafa's coding; his stack at 45- and 46-Down and signature colloquial fill at 109-Across are just the cherries on top.
RAFA: Beyond excited to be back so soon for another Sunday! I'm always in awe of Rebecca's theme brain, and I was immediately in love with this revealer when she approached me with this theme idea. It was cool to use the knowledge from my software day job to write code to make it easier to fill this grid. Stacked themers are no joke to fill around, so I'm particularly proud of the fun bonus fill we were able to squeeze into this grid, as well as the nods to our Bay Area home at 54-Across and 45-Down.
Jeff Chen notes:I haven't been this delighted by a revealer in quite a while. I was underwhelmed as I solved, given that this "stretched letters" theme type has been done and done and done again, but BIG . read more
I haven't been this delighted by a revealer in quite a while. I was underwhelmed as I solved, given that this "stretched letters" theme type has been done and done and done again, but BIG SHOES TO FILL was such a perfect revealer. HEEL, BOOT, CLOG, FLAT are all literally big shoes — and the solver is filling them in!
Such a smooth solve, too. It's difficult to hold my short attention span these days, so if I don't cruise through a grid in 15 minutes or so, I get bored and do something else. Ooh, something shiny! Hey, it's a squirrel!
Stupid social media and YouTube.
Each pair of themers was solid, and the fill around them was buttery. There was even some spice with PROP BETS, RED DWARF, and the awesome sign-off toward the end: IT'S BEEN REAL. Not once through my solve was I tempted to look at my phone and see what else there was to do.
I did wonder, was having singular shoe and shoe and shoe and shoe weird? Yes. Were four types of singular shoe enough to make it feel thematically dense enough? No. However, as with almost all Sunday 21x21 140-word grids, there will be trade-offs. I bet Rebecca and Rafael could have packed in pairs of singular shoes or added another one or even two types of shoe — check out Jeremy's grid, for example — but that might have sacrificed solving flow. I'd much rather accept lesser density for overall quality.
Well-established theme categories are tough to excel in, but this revealer and the silky execution helped LIFT this one.
The LED lantern adds an extraordinary touch to the overall ambiance of the witch figurine. It casts a soft, glowing light that illuminates its surroundings, creating a captivating visual effect. The vibrant colors of the LED light further enhance the otherworldly nature of the witch figurine. Whether displayed on a shelf, as part of a centerpiece, or as a stand-alone decoration, the witch with a LED lantern from Cracker Barrel can act as both a festive Halloween item and a conversation starter. Its unique combination of traditional imagery and modern LED technology adds a modern twist to an age-old Halloween symbol. Additionally, the LED lantern is not only visually appealing but also practical. With its energy-efficient LED light source, it provides long-lasting illumination without the need for frequent battery replacement or the worry of open flames. This makes it a safe option for decorating both indoor and outdoor spaces. In conclusion, the witch with a LED lantern from Cracker Barrel is a delightful addition to any Halloween decor. It brings together the charm of a classic witch figurine and the allure of modern LED lighting, creating a bewitching display that is sure to enchant all who encounter it..
Reviews for "Make a Statement with a Witch with LED Lantern from Cracker Barrel"
1. Michelle - 1 star - The "Witch with LED Lantern" decoration from Cracker Barrel was a huge disappointment. The quality was very poor and it looked nothing like the picture online. The lantern itself was flimsy and the LED light didn't even work. The witch's face was poorly painted and the overall appearance was cheap. I will definitely think twice before purchasing any decorations from Cracker Barrel again.
2. Robert - 2 stars - I was not impressed with the "Witch with LED Lantern" from Cracker Barrel. The paint job was sloppy and there were visible brush strokes on the witch's face. The lantern was made of cheap plastic and the LED light was barely noticeable. It felt like a waste of money and I expected better quality from Cracker Barrel. I would not recommend this decoration to others.
3. Lisa - 1 star - The "Witch with LED Lantern" from Cracker Barrel was a complete letdown. The LED light was so dim that it was barely visible, and it stopped working after just a few days. The paint on the witch's face was chipped and the overall construction was flimsy. I was really disappointed with my purchase and I would not buy from Cracker Barrel again based on this experience.