Wednesday, January 29, 2025 - No BADEGGS in this crossword!
This was a tricky Wednesday, thanks mainly to its clever theme (created by Sophia Maymudes, adroitly edited by Will Shortz). We have nothing but good things to say about it, although we are now on tenterhooks wondering what Thursday will bring. Just a reminder that our show notes always include a link to the wonderful website xwordinfo.com, where you can find a completed version of the day's crossword (i.e., a massive spoiler, but also massively useful), look up clues and answers, etc. If yo...
30 Jan 17min
Tuesday, January 28, 2025 - ALL RISE! because, um, ALL RISE is in the grid 🙄😉
This was an intriguing Tuesday crossword by Dan Margolis -- his 5th in the NYTimes. The theme was delicious (literally), and indeed the grid was rife with food for thought, including 3D, Cookie with its name on it, OREO; 52D, _______ ghanouj, BABA; and 58D, _______ slaw, COLE. Yum! Also, today being Tuesday, we have another Triplet Tuesday™ segment, and this time Mike's in the hotseat. To find out how he did, all you need to do is (gently) hit subscribe / download / play. Show note imagery:...
29 Jan 15min
Monday, January 27, 2025 - TAPAS and SWISSROLLs and BRIE? Great in a grid, not so great on a plate 😀
This was a clever Monday crossword from a clever constructor, Alexander Liebeskind, who seems to excel at Mondays. Both cohosts found today's puzzle a bit crunchier (tougher) than usual, but the entertainment value was higher than usual, so it's a wash. Deets inside, including a fascinating attempt to decode SMH that was, TBH, waaaaay off. Show note imagery: a SWISSROLL -- the Little Debbie edition We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line,...
28 Jan 14min
Sunday, January 26, 2025 - Hop on the re-bus 🙄
Today's crossword was a rarity -- its themed clues had pictures 🖼️ that had to be interpreted 🧐, as they were part of a rebus. By "rebus", we don't mean the "multiple letters scrunched in one square" variety, encountered frequently on Thursdays. Rather, we mean the more traditional definition: a puzzle in which pictures and typography are used to sound out an answer. This made for a challenging. but entertaining Sunday: as always, deets within! Show note imagery: Some TAICHI practitioners W...
27 Jan 30min
Saturday, January 25, 2025 - Begone, you ARMRESTHOG, you!
Today's crossword, by Michael Lieberman, was a bear (not the growly kind, obviously, but one of the tougher-leaning Saturday NYTimes crosswords). It was an excellent mental workout, and the cluing really was deviously delicious, just the way we like it! For those of you just starting to solve NYTimes crosswords, just a reminder that the Saturday NYTimes puzzle is traditionally the most difficult crossword of the week, with difficulty ranging from "yikes" to "you have got to be kidding!". So i...
26 Jan 18min
January 24, 2025 - We'd like to AMEND our definition of EMEND 🧐
This was a fine Friday crossword, and not just because the FLINTSTONES were in the grid ❤️. Jean tore through it, Mike spent an inordinate amount of time sorting out the difference between AMEND and EMEND. But both eventually got it solved, and had oodles of fun doing so, as you can tell from today's episode. In addition to the crossword, we are honoring the arrival of Friday with another Fun Fact Friday™ segment, this time, honoring the most famous "modern stone-age family" ever, aka the FL...
25 Jan 20min
Thursday, January 23, 2025 - Another epic from Natan Last & the JASA Crossword Class
It is always a treat to see Natan Last and the JASA Crossword Class in the marquee, because ... well, just take a look at today's crossword to see why: a theme guaranteed to put a smile on your face, and great cluing everywhere. For instance, 37D, Geologic formation from glacial melting, ICECAVE (OK, that's a thing); 28D, Canadian province where "Anne of Green Gables" is set: Abbr., PEI (one of our favorite provinces!); and a word that we long to work into casual conversation, 24D, Vulpine, S...
24 Jan 21min
Wednesday, January 22, 2025 - Egad, this grid's got EGOT 😀
Today's crossword was looking sharp -- and not just because ARMANI was in the grid (but it helped). We liked the daunting open-endedness of 48A, "_____ intended!", NOPUN; appreciated the BROW knitting induced by 24A, Move slightly, BUDGE; and just the opportunity to say 7D, Italian anise-flavored liqueur, SAMBUCA. A great debut crossword by Landon Horton, in our estimation it deserves to peg the JAMCR meter with a full 5 squares. Finally, we've got listener mail! So, for those of you wonderi...
23 Jan 13min
