Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

This was a slick Thursday crossword by Brandon Koppy, with some significant Golidlox cluing - not too easy, not too hard, just right -- assuming that you've been doing the crosswords for a while. If you're just starting out, the clues might be better characterized as hard, impossible, and huh? Some of the lesser known clues (to us) include 23D, 13th-century poet who wrote the "Masnavi", RUMI; 6A, Comedian Ken of "The Masked Singer" (unknown to Mike: Jean had apparently written a small m...

20 Joulu 202416min

The themed clues in today's crossword were so good that they might've out shone some other gems. Fortunately we always solve our crosswords while wearing shades, so we can report that these clues -- 64D, Sending help?, UPS; the delicious combo of 6D, "It's so c-c-c-old!", BRR and 7D, Refreshment served with a spoon, ICEE; and 4D, Fool, from the Yiddish, YUTZ -- were also worth the price of admission. A nice work, 5 squares for sure on the JAMCR scale. A reminder, yesterday we featured our Tr...

19 Joulu 202417min

Yes, the moment you have all been waiting for has finally arrived, another Triplet Tuesday Contest! Of course, for those of you who are fans of Kathy Lowden, the constructor of today's crossword, if that was the moment you were waiting for, well, your ship has come in as well -- and the great thing is that we cover both in today's episode. Yes, it's a twofer! Tldr: We've got a great contest and we hope you enter it, deets inside. Kathy Lowden has written a very funny Tuesday crossword, and w...

18 Joulu 202420min

This was a fun, frothy Monday crossword by Ailee Yoshida, her second for the NYTimes. The theme was (as always) ingenious, and, being a Monday, the grid was populated with words that we mainly know. It did have two debut answers (19A, Tidbit in a nutritious pudding: CHIASEED; 23A, Department handling media inquiries: PRESSOFFICE) and one not seen since 1984, 43D, Lip-plumping injection, FILLER. For the record, in 1984 FILLER had no connection, whatsoever, with Lips. Show note imagery: A WRIT...

17 Joulu 202413min

This was an extraordinary Sunday crossword by David Kwong, his 24th for the NYTimes. David is a magician, fitting since there is so much magic in today's grid ... and art! In fact there is a palette of artists (and if palette's not the unit in which artists are measured it ought to be) as well, all part of a very, very clever theme. Deets inside! A reminder that our next Triplet Tuesday Contest is coming up this Tuesday, and you might be our next winner. All you need to do to participate is ...

16 Joulu 202427min

This was a remarkable NYTimes crossword, first because it was a debut Saturday crossword for Owen Bergstein (not too many cruciverbalists debut on a Saturday), and second, because Owen is a high school junior! Talk about starting young! The crossword itself is great, and we have all the deets inside, as well as our JAMCOTWA winner, some listener mail, and a reminder about our upcoming Triplet Tuesday Contest (this Tuesday, mark your calendars). Show note imagery: CEREBRO, a MARVELous inventi...

15 Joulu 202423min

Our cohosts had slightly different experiences solving today's crossword ... Jean found it to be a tricky but straightforward Friday, Mike found solving it more akin to climbing the Hoover Dam one-handed: doable, but only with a lot of patience (and possibly a temporary repeal of the law of gravity). Deets inside, as well as a fine Fun Fact for Fun Fact Friday™️ (and the promise of a future bit of listener mail). Show note imagery: a photo by Dorothea LANGE (pronunciation TBD), documenter of...

14 Joulu 202423min

This was a fine Thursday crossword by Daniel Bodily, including a slick theme, smartly implemented. There were some great clues, including 42A, It makes Max profits, HBO 😀 ; 24D, Plant used in xeriscaping because of its tolerance to drought, AGAVE (we just love the word xeriscaping 😀); the delicious 57A, Low-key place for gnocchi, TRATTORIA (which is much more amusing if you know how to pronounce gnocchi!); and our favorite, 31D, Word after one fell, SWOOP (😀 😀). All in all an excellent ...

13 Joulu 202419min