"Opening Act" December 27, 2025

[Plymouthrock]

Can’t get no satisfaction. But ashore. I’ll have a Falcon Smash.

[Janet]

I'm ashore with the crowd. Too geezie, unless I've been pageanted.

[Bobj]

Didn't think I'd even have time to do the puzzle this week, but got up when I couldn't sleep and worked on it. Went with the obvious answer, like most everyone else. Did have to google with the mechanism to get the specifics. Thought one of the clues might affect the answer, but it didn't seem to fit so I discarded it (at my peril).

[haydendog]

Ashore, very happy to have a puzzle like this to finish the year!!

[PQ63]

Ashore. It’s a crowded beach.

Grey Goose Martini please.

[Bob cruise director]

Good morning muggles

The crowd on the beach continues to grow. Isaac and @The XWord Rabbit are commiserating about the lack of business over some carrot juice. So far we have 207 on the shore relaxing and enjoying themselves with some beach volleyball.

The shore contingent includes:

MikeyG
Jace54
MatthewL
Kay
benchen71
Eric C
charliewentling
joe
Wendy
ajk
mattythewsjpuzzler
DCBilly
minimuggle
girubato1
Jean
streroto
Tcassutt
paige
pjc
Meg
NebFaninCA
ky-mike
michaelm
Al
D B Miller
BrennerTJ
oldjudge
HeadinHome
Mister and Mrs. Squawk
Beth A
scrabbler
Georgeall
Brainbow
Homer
Dave C
SamanthaA
SewYoung
billum
mlvilv
Mirage
Brian K
Joe R
Beth T
Mike H
Cindy
boharr
Eric P
sharkicicles
Flying_Burrito
Peter
Jeremy
Schmeel
Heidi
Cinny
Fogway
krf
CallMeShane
Commodore
CAe39
mikeB
Ergcat
flepper
ArthurD and wife
Don and Cynthia
Chris
whimsy
Cruise Director
newbymar and brothers
lymanrpaden
Kevin L
lxpeterson
BoomerBanker
Lee-Ann
Richard
JimJim
Tom Wi
Jkj
H and J
otlaolap
Sheila
Bird Lives
SingleMalt
MarkWoychick
Merry Potter
Guffman
DaveG
SamKat9
Don and Lisa
batfella
Barbara K
JeanneC
Franky_T
DelanQ
Zobo3737
Harbo
JoeFlanders
Glyn
Jayboy1
copperriver
elvanya
Scott M
ladybird
CPJohnson
clonefitz
relic (and Maggie)
hoover
Tina
cbarbee
Steveb
CV-at-Sea
EVJ
regfish
MileHighSolver
Kas
Guy L
WC50
Acarl
CarolF
Katiedid
Mikey and puzzle buddy Jane
Yoda66
dpl11
jhseeman
darth
docison
Rita and George
woozy
Joepickett
MajorDomoTom
Dickie_Dunn
Miki
Sleepy
BigPear
Googly
schmidzy
RDaleHall
turbotron
Nlobb
Birdbrain
JaneGummy
Laurab
Beth C
Beleaguered Castle
Aragorn
avian
Ben B and son
JerryF
TeamDoubleTow
Barnhart6
NDStegs
b4alltime
Matthew
ehobbs
Aaron
BisbeeTam
EmilyW
Steve M
Tom Mueller
Pelicanz
Onaquest and Tim
CdnMG
TheKater
jimbo1
mitchel674
FatJack
jmorgie7
Berto
Al Laubenstein
Libbypibby
AustinBunny
Susan G
Tom S
Char
Deb
M and M
Bill
DrTom
Gman
Bob B
ELSavage
Mbutterfly
seans
RVAtoOBX
escapeartist
hunkra
JRS51
Momo
WSJosh
bread-girl
Cap'n Rick
Qmark
Grover
Trey , Jill, Marion and Mitch
Drew and Kasia
RichA2
PapZ
Dow Jones
Janet
PlymouthRock
Cindy N
Bobj
rjy
haydendog
PQ63
DannyWalter
sloane
iblinked

Good luck winning the mug and have a safe New Years celebration

[Scoopdave]

Ashore too quickly must be a hip fake

[LittleGood]

On the beach again.

[DaveG]

I've convinced myself that the obvious is not our answer to the Meta, and have finally submitted my answer. I maybe overthinking it, but I feel like there lies a bit more the confirmation in the grid to my answer than simply handing it to us on a platter. I may be a 1% of incorrect answers on Monday for Mike Miller's synopsis, but Danger is my middle name. Happy Weekend everybody.

This will be fun reading. I will either be crestfallen or consoling but either way I am bookmarking Dave Danger G for Monday perusal.

T

I will definitely write it up… on the plus side, if I’m correct I bet I get the mug! And if I’m wrong, at least I’ve got a lot of empty beach. Hoping a volleyball washes up!

[steph]

Ashore!! Hope everyone has had a nice holiday - we have been traveling a bit but now back home (and in time to get the puzzle done!)

[FKelly]

On the beach!
A nice gift from Matt for the holidays.

[debbierudy]

Ashore, and getting ready to welcome 2025. Happy New Year, Muggles!

[Crest]

Ashore

[Penny_Keatley]

Nice to finish the year with a solve. Ashore! Pinot noir please.

[Colin]

Quick to shore today,
Festive muggles everywhere.
Glad I brought my beer!

[eagle1279]

Ashore, solved in the air en route to San Diego for the New Year.

[Kas]

Sometimes...it's a duck. In this case, a New England Beach Duck. (Little-known term for a Rhode Island Red, if you must know...)

[sharkicicles]

here in chicago if you ask them there is a place way up north that will do duck dinner if you ask a day in advance, it's amazing, we take our friends every holidays,

[DianeA]

think i'm ASHORE. have been batting zero for weeks, so I may be overly optimistic.

[Joe Ross]

For those craving a solve, check out @DrTom's SSS and @ebirnholz delivers a year-end treat in 3 Marching Band puzzles which are a meta, in total.