Wednesday's New York Times crossword puzzle solved: September 26, 2018

My time: 7:32

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Joel Fagliano doubled up with Melinda Gates to make this puzzle, which initially seems confusing, but then clears up.  Certain phrases that belong with one initial are entered in the puzzle with that first letter doubled, and then clued literally.

For example, "lover of Cummings's poetry?" is E.E. READER.  I think the cleverest clue is "area below 'To:' in an email," which is obviously the CC SECTION.

I don't admire "group of buildings housing a King" (B.B. COMPLEX); it's kind of clunky, and I think "obsession with small metal ammunition" would be better.

It's a funny and fun theme, but I felt there was something missing.  Where's the capper?  It would be nice to have some kind of pun capper to bring it all together.  As it is, it's entertaining but feels light and incomplete.

As I've said before, I don't know nothin' 'bout musical notation or sheet music.  "Musical run with four sharps" is E SCALE.  It seems to be actually called E major.  The similar b chord appeared on April 14.

AMY Grant is the singer with the 1991 #1 "Baby Baby."

I didn't know Adele had a song called "Million Years AGO," but it's pretty easy to guess.

Never heard of a BLUE ROAN, a "horse with evenly mixed black and white hairs."  Some people get mighty particular about what is and isn't a true roan.

ELSA Peretti is an Italian model turned jewelry designer.

There sure are a lot of small liberal arts colleges in America.  ECKERD, founded in 1958, is located in St. Petersburg, Florida.  Go Tritons!

Author Audre LORDE was an African-American lesbian feminist writer on civil rights and social injustice.

Clever clues: "Use a lot?' is PARK.  "Irony?" is FERRIC.

Duke's mascot is the Blue DEVIL.  Not to be confused with Arizona State's Sun Devils.  This came up on October 29, 2017.

Ghost psychic Oda MAE Brown (played by Whoopi Goldberg) was featured on December 11, 2017.

Hmm.  Gotta pick up the PACE, it seems.  EAU well, I'm OFF.