Monday, April 21, 2025 - A crossword that's nothing to sneeze at!
This was Thomas van Geel's second NYTimes crossword, and it is an awesome example of an LOL theme. Have a listen, and you'll see what we mean. A reminder, this is your last day to enter last week's Triplet Tuesday Contest, and potentially win some magnificent swag. Just check out last Tuesday's episode, and then send your entry our way. Show note imagery: Mount DENALI We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, w...
22 Apr 10min
Sunday, April 20, 2025 - ADVENTURE is out there (... and in the grid!)
Today's crossword was somewhat of a gently sloping foothill for Jean, and an Everest atop an Everest for Mike. The former made it through the crossword in a longer-than-usual-but-still-reasonable time frame, whereas for the latter it seemed that several civilizations rose, prospered, and fell, before he finally got the happy music. We've covered the theme in today's episode, but some of the (many) notable clues that did not make the cut include 103D, Support line?, ISECOND 😀; 71D, Blood...
21 Apr 20min
Friday, April 18, 2025 - BARBIECORE? That's nothing compared to ... wait for it ... crosswordcore™️!!!!
We are delighted to announce the purely coincidental arrival, on the same day that this fabulous crossword brought us BARBIECORE, of crosswordcore™ -- the rules of which are quite straightforward, and we are very pleased to be able to set forth, for the first time AFAWCT, right here: Rule 1: wear and/or decorate with any color you want, as long as it's black or white 😀 Rule 2: Other than rule 1, pretty much anything goes ... it is a rather laissez-faire core.The puzzle that inspire...
19 Apr 14min
Thursday, April 17, 2025 - Let's see, there are FARRIERS and FURRIERS, but no FIRRIERS or FORRIERS ... that seems very UNFAIRIERS 🙄
Our cohosts took highly divergent paths towards victory on this crossword - Jean took the high road, and had a lovely time; Mike took the low road, and for his pains got repeatedly stuck in the mire. Still, there was a lot to admire in today's grid, and to find out what that was, check out today's episode. Show note imagery: The JETSONS! 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 ...
18 Apr 17min
Wednesday, April 16, 2025 - Three cheers for the Rubber Ducks of AKRON, OH! 🐥
This was a slightly crunchier than usual Wednesday*, for one very good reason. We're not going to tell you that reason just yet, but we cerealously believe you'll like it once you hear it 😀😉🙄. Besides the terrific theme, we had numerous intriguing and occasionally perplexing clues, such as 18A, Flying Cloud and Royale, for two, REOS; 60A, "Nelson's blood", RUM; and the fun to say 33D, For sure, for short, DEF. Show note imagery: Fred and Barney, making a splash *the crossword, not the day: th...
17 Apr 12min
Tuesday, April 15, 2025 - It's a two-fer! An abfab crossword, *and* an abfab Triplet Tuesday Contest, huzzah!! 🎉
In today's episode, we have a two-fer. First, an awesome crossword, a debut by Per Bykodorov that is just brimming with microtome-sharp clues, and an LOL theme. But wait, there's more 😀 We have our latest Triplet Tuesday Contest, your chance to go (asynchronously) head-to-head against Jean to see who can grab the TTC ring. The rules are straightforward and brilliantly (ok, adequately) explained, so have a listen, and then get your entry in by next Tuesday at 6 PM CDT (2300 Zulu time for...
16 Apr 18min
Monday, April 14, 2025 - Happy Tax Day Eve! 🙄
This was a very nice Monday crossword, and an NYTimes debut for both of its authors, Stacy Cooper and Ken Cohen. There were, of course, a variety of clues, some fun -- 51A, Roller coaster exclamation, WHEE 😀; some enlightening -- 65A, Elite group whose members include Steve Martin and Geena Davis, MENSA; and some particularly timely -- 30D, Org. that reviews W-9s, IRS. Show note imagery: a MOSCOWMULE, served in the traditional copper mug. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We l...
15 Apr 10min
Sunday, April 13, 2025 - John Kugelman is an INSPO to us all 😀
This was a sweet Sunday crossword, with an unusual theme, unusual grid size (!), but the usual great clues that we expect from a Sunday NYTimes crossword. We've covered the biggies in today's episode, but we'd also like to note the "little" people, er, answers, without which this grid would be comically empty. For example, 32D, Prefix with bel, DECI (ha!); 87D, Items being replaced, OLDONES (duh!); and our favorite, 95D, Snatches, comic-book style, YOINKS (rah!). Remember our Triplet Tuesday ...
14 Apr 15min
