Wednesday, February 26, 2025 - We long for more crosswords by Dan Caprera 😁

Brandon Koppy knows how to make great crosswords, and is at the top of his form in this one! An amusing and unexpected theme is the topper, but the rest of the clues are designed to educate and make you think. Five squares on the JAMCR scale, we can't wait for his next opus. Here's the entire crossword, solved, in case you want to check it out. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we're on FaceBook, so fe...

6 Huhti 202318min

Andrea Carla Michaels and Christina Iverson have devised a COZY Tuesday puzzle, with just the right HEFT, never a BORE. We enjoyed the crossing of 32D, They're made by doing jumping jacks lying downs ", SNOWANGELS, and 35A, "Band on the Run" band, WINGS; and 51D, Decimal measuring system, METRIC, and 53A, Opposite of well done, RARE, the latter representing the chances that the former will become widely adopted in the US! All in all, we consider this crossword a genuine 48A, Hit the jackpot, ...

5 Huhti 202314min

A nice Monday crossword, with nothing too overwhelmingly difficult, as befits a Monday -- and a clever "vowel progression" for the theme. We approve! Five squares on the JAMCR scale. Also, if you haven't already done this crossword, and do not plan to do so, feel free to feast your eyes on the clues and solution We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and...

4 Huhti 20238min

Ease over to your easel, and get ready to BINGE on 7 different works of art, all ensconced in a puzzle which is not coincidentally also a work of art (albeit of an entirely different hue). While this crossword was undoubtedly difficult - both Jean and Mike (solving independently as usual) had to strain to the utmost, it was assuredly worth the effort. Deets inside, and if you want to check out the paintings in question here they are: THESTARRYNIGHTREDBALLOONTHEMONALISATHEBIRTHOFVENUSTHESONOFM...

3 Huhti 202320min

It's not clear if today's crossword-constructing duo -- Wyna Liu and Joel Fagliano -- regard themselves as iconoclasts, but they certainly broke a few rules in today's puzzle, in fact, one of the cardinal, inviolable rules of the New York Times crossword. Intrigued? We thought you would be, so check out today's episode for all the deets (as well as to discover who won our JAMCOTWA - Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award). Want to see the solution to today's crossword, all fille...

2 Huhti 202314min

An epically difficult Friday crossword, as one can expect towards the end of the week. But this one seemed especially fiendish, like a Saturday crossword that slunk into a Friday slot by mistake. Clues like 46D, Harvard or Cambridge grad, CANTAB (say what?); 39A, Heavens, ETHER (fair but good); and 44D, Senator, in brief, NHLER (nice!) just give a small taste of what's in store, a real mental workout. We loved it, and only regret that we haven't seen more of Rich Norris' work in these pages. ...

1 Huhti 202320min

A very pleasing Thursday crossword by Adam Wagner and Brooke Husic. Jean's overly large vocabulary got her into slight difficulty in the middle of the grid, whereas Mike's smaller lexicon, once again and just as ironically as always, came to his rescue! There were numerous TWL (Today We Learned) moments in today's grid, for instance, 28D, Two-stringed Chinese instrument, EHRU; 26A, Faith that follows the teachings of The BáB, BAHAI; and 32D, Spaces where people pay to destroy household object...

31 Maalis 202319min

Once again, the NYTimes rises to the occasion with a great, great crossword, with an inspired theme and one answer in particular that has to be seen (and possibly Googled) to be believed. We won't spoil it by saying any more here, but we will say that this was a delicious crossword and are convinced that you'll feel the same. In today's listener mail, a reference as made to Thinking Inside the Box, by Adrienne Raphel, and the book sounds great, so check it out. Finally, here's a link to tod...

30 Maalis 202314min