I’m on a 73-day streak, but I know that that will end soon. The Jewish holidays are coming, and that will mean missing the days puzzle here and there. Don’t worry, though, I’ll have other content posted on those days.

I pulled out 65A Brand in the ice cream aisle: EDYS because I feel like the brand only exists to be featured in the NYTXW so frequently. Out here in the west, Dryers is the same brand but the one used on the east coat. Like Carl’s Jr. and Hardees.

Theme time!

16A With 26-Across, game that uses a blindfold: PINTHETAIL / ONTHEDONKEY. I immediately got this. The only one I could think of as an alternative is Hit the Piñata, but that didn’t quite fit.
36A Item exchanged in a so-called “yankee swap”: WHITEELEPHANT. Probably my least-favorite office holidaytime tradition. (My favorite? Vacation! Wooo!)
50A Frequent reveler, or a hint to 16-/26- and 36-Across: PARTYANIMAL.

I now realize that the theme is specifically political. The Democratic Party is the donkey, and the GOP is the elephant.

Finished this one in 7:58.

Day	This Wk	Best	Average	4-Wk Avg	Streak
Monday	6:52	3:49	9:27	7:31	70
Tuesday	10:07	5:22	13:37	11:44	13
Wednesday	7:58	7:38	17:25	16:26	11
Thursday		12:12	29:06	22:53	10
Friday		16:23	34:43	33:08	10
Saturday		27:43	35:10	33:18	10
Sunday		15:11	55:13	40:49	10