Thursday, October 26, 2023 - ELSIE the MOOCOW makes an appearance, and we're going to milk that for all it's worth 😀

A fine Thursday crossword and a debut for John Donegan. That's why we didn't recognize the name, but we did recognize the tight quality control common to all NYTimes crosswords. Just take a look at a few awesome touches: 6A, Character who nails a doubloon to the Pequod's mast, AHAB, sitting right above 15A, Surfer's wish, WAVE (perfect!); and 17A, First name in cosmetics, ESTEE, crossing 3D, Salad, sometimes, but soup, rarely, ENTREE (brilliant!); and the thirst-quenching 42D, Slice, e.g., SO...