"The Party Starts at 10" - December 31, 2020

[Inca]

on the beach, see you in 2021.

Tom

I'm on shore. I was having trouble saying something about how obvious the answer was without getting into spoiler territory. Before I'd solved it, I had trouble coming up with something that was a 4 word phrase.

Happy New Year!

if it's not the 4 word phrase I submitted, I have a very solid argument for it being the correct answer.

On shore with high certainty, but not entirely clear on the solution's connection to the title.

it's loose, if we're on the same beach.

There's a solid connection to the title.

Hmmmmmm....I see a connection but I wouldn't call it solid but the phrase is just so perfect. I guess I should keep looking but I can't imagine a better phrase than the one I found. And, having found one solution, what are the odds that I will be able to get it out of my mind and find another?

[ChrisKochmanski]

Late to the party, since I didn't realize puzzle would be early. I'm sure I have it, though I may be missing one step. This week's "out of left field" cryptic is also a meta, by the way...recommended for anyone who likes both metas and cryptics. Happy New Year!

Yes, do the Out of Left Field meta cryptic. Fun!

[ChrisKochmanski]

I thought I posted earlier, but maybe I didn't. Not seeing it on a quick skim through the comments so far. Anyway ... I thought I was on shore, but maybe I'm not ... based on the many "fear of pageant" comments here. Yikes! I'll revisit the puzzle tomorrow, when my head clears of Cava.

HNY, all!

[Jeremy Smith]

Well, celebrating the end of 2020 (which in a few hours, will literally be 2020 (in) hindsight), and coming ashore. Solved fairly quickly (no, not 11 minutes Al!), but can see that I need to start using Joe's excel file. Celebrating with a new Avatar! I know - - seems like I'm a cigar fiend. Well, okay. Wishing everyone a wonderful 2021 and beyond. Can't believe how much fun I've had with this group since joining in April!! Major kudos to Brian/Bob for their weekly labors! And Jay, wow, great way to send us off into the new year!

Nothing wrong with enjoying a good cigar. I’ve got a Cuban Ramon Allones ready to go with a Margarita at midnight.

[CPJohnson]

I have finally seen Something, but I’m with Inca....the connection with the title for what I have found is a stretch. Count me on shore, Bob, but I may study a bit more before I actually submit.

[cbarbee002]

Well, celebrating the end of 2020 (which in a few hours, will literally be 2020 (in) hindsight), and coming ashore. Solved fairly quickly (no, not 11 minutes Al!), but can see that I need to start using Joe's excel file. Celebrating with a new Avatar! I know - - seems like I'm a cigar fiend. Well, okay. Wishing everyone a wonderful 2021 and beyond. Can't believe how much fun I've had with this group since joining in April!! Major kudos to Brian/Bob for their weekly labors! And Jay, wow, great way to send us off into the new year!

Nothing wrong with enjoying a good cigar. I’ve got a Cuban Ramon Allones ready to go with a Margarita at midnight.

Now we're talking! I'm firing up a Monte!

[billkatz]

Safely on shore - that wraps up 3 years since my "pageant" miss (assuming I'm correct) Happy New Year to all my puzzle friends near and far!

[dudeski]

Ashore.

[Commodore]

What day is it? So confuzzled.
But not by this meta. Firmly on sand. And Al, I am quaffing Guinness Draught Stout by a warm fire.

Earlier this afternoon, my daughter hit into the brook that eats golf balls. However, on this day, her ball skittered across the hard ice and neatly popped onto the green. I laughed myself silly.
Then did the same.
Some days are treasures. Here's wishing more for us all.

[BarbaraK]

For WSJ subscribers only, there's a bonus puzzle pack at https://www.wsjplus.com/offers/puzzles-winter-2020

My New Year's puzzle resolution is to broaden my horizons and do more variety puzzles, not just crosswords. This was a fun way to get started with that (so obviously not all that difficult:)

[LadyBird]

As much as I've searched the grid, I can't find "Good Riddance to 2020" so I'm sticking with my first answer.

Waiting to pick up dinner to go from one of our favorite restaurants. Happy new year!

[Bird Lives]

And, I am the only person in the world at Isaac's bar. I see nothing.

You are not alone, Cynthia!

I'm having some computer "issues" and am having to "lay low" for the next week or so waiting for delivery of a charger/connector.

Co-incidentally, I'm also having to lay low in terms of meta solution --
Screenshot 2020-12-31 152808.png

I feel as though I'm seeing too much -- too many snippets of pathways that aren't leading to anything definitive --- will keep on sniffin' ---

Issues and lay low in quotes because you think it should be problems and lie low, right? Forget it. Those battles were lost long ago. Say, "Houston, we have an issue" today, and nobody will notice the difference.

[JennyByrd]

Solved and submitted, although I didn’t find the solve as tightly elegant as they are normally are. Now I wondered if I have landed at pageant beach...[

[Susan Goldberg]

I am on shore. And as others have said this site has been such a wonderful haven during a terrible year. Happy New Year and best wishes for meta success in the coming months.

[sharkicicles]

I think there’s clearly only one correct answer here but that’s just, like, my opinion, man.

But how do you feel about The Eagles?

Get out of my cab!

[escapeartist]

As much as I've searched the grid, I can't find "Good Riddance to 2020" so I'm sticking with my first answer.

Waiting to pick up dinner to go from one of our favorite restaurants. Happy new year!

Haha! I briefly looked hoping that was in there.

I'm on shore now.

It didn't really jump out at me, so I just shrugged and said to the wife, "Welp, I hope that's it 'cause I'm done looking."

[MatthewB]

Quickly on shore just in time for the champagne. Happy New Year muggles!

[flyingMoose]

Done

[Sean]

Beach! Hot cocoa with a shot of Jameson's, please.

[Trey]

Marion and I are declaring ourselves on shore - don't really feel 100%, but it's got to be it! So............we are on the sand.

Luck to all.