"Connecting Through New York City" - December 12, 2021

[hashbrown]

SEASON FINALE!

This week's puzzle: Connecting Through New York City
Difficulty: Challenging

The answer to this week's meta is the entry in this grid that completes a relevant two-word phrase.
(You probably won't need Google.)

Crosshare link: https://crosshare.org/crosswords/gUe7XEy9M8mlF4uWWnQd

Will urged people in this week's email to give the puzzle a go even if the harder difficulty would normally put you off - but if you're reading or posting to this thread then you've probably already solved it or had a try!

[Dplass]

Will wrote "If you normally see "Medium", "Challenging", or "Difficult" under a puzzle and immediately look for something else to do, I urge you to give this one a shot! This one is doable, I promise!"

I opened the grid, and went back to sleep. See you next season, I guess.

[auee89]

Grid finished in less than 40 minutes. That’s fast for me. Now, on to the meta!

[Cap'n Rick]

Dino me! "Challenging" indeed! Needed all hints plus confirmation from Will that I was on the right track.

Thanks Will, and good luck!

[whimsy]

Lots of dinos in this one but they're all off the gingerbread train --

Thanks,Will, and and best of luck with your studies and exams next semester.

[dudeski]

Well done. Dino me!

[boharr]

The nudges have helped free the dino from the box. Clever puzzle.
Happy Holidays and good luck with your exams, Will. We will miss you.

[MajordomoTom]

Connection made, dino'd

[woozy]

75% of the way there. Can't put the last bit together but what I've got, even though it doesn't appear to go anywhere, must be the correct idea.

[oldjudge]

Not that difficult—Dino me . I’ll be counting the Sunday’s till Will is back. Study hard for the orals!

[Schmeel]

Dino me!
Enjoyable season finale, looking forward to the next.
I hope the exams go well!

[ChrisKochmanski]

Dino me!

Loved it! Got close on my own, then got antsy and read the hints. Still, a fun aha even with the help.

Terrific puzzle, Will! Knock ‘em dead on your exams!

[RPardoe]

Thanks for a fun Season 3!
Good luck w/ the exams.

[Hammertime]

Got it with the first hint, but 2nd hint probably helped, even though I would've made it on my own (delusional self-talk perhaps). Thanks to Will and good luck this winter!

[lbray53]

What a great end to the season. I really liked this puzzle with the hints which still required a bit of thinking. It took two submissions but the lightbulb finally went on.

I signed up to be a member. Looking forward to next season.

[MikeM000]

I haven't done the meta yet, but in the spirit of last week's Gen-X hoedown, I just want to note that I immediately knew 69-Across from memories of playing the Atari 2600 Raiders of the Lost Ark video game....

[Laura M]

Dinoed! I got part of the way on my own, but my college kid helped me across the finish line.

Will, thanks for a great season!

[hcbirker]

Dino me out of the box whatever. Thanks Will for a great season and kill it on your next semester!

[Anita]

where are these hints people are referring to?

[BarbaraK]

where are these hints people are referring to?

https://pandorasblocks.org/connectingthrunyc

Will sent the link in his email with the puzzle this morning.