Friday, July 4, 2025 -- Happy Fourth!!!
Although there were not any literal fireworks in today's crossword, it was filled with innumerable flashes of brilliance and crackles of wit. Among our favorites not covered in today's episode were 48D, What comes before B?, ORAL 😀; 3D, Order in the court, PLEASERISE 😀 😀. ; and the sneaky 60A, To pieces?, ODES 😀 😀 😀. This is Colin Adams' 6th NYTimes crossword, and we eagerly await number 7. Show note imagery: The incredibly versatile SHOHEIOHTANI We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact In...
5 Jul 12min
Thursday, July 3, 2025 - Happy Fourth Eve!! 🎆
Today's crossword was by Adam Wagner, which means that you know, without even looking at it, that it's going to be good. The good cruciverbalist does not disappoint, providing a crossword that must've been a real BEAR to construct, but was an IDEAL Thursday solve. We have all the deets inside, so please have a listen, and, as always, we value your feedback! Show note imagery: A photo at beautiful (obviously) TOPANGA State Park We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener...
4 Jul 8min
Wednesday, July 2, 2025 - IBIZA beckons! 🎰 🏖️
Today's theme was great (as always), and there were oodles of appealing clues lurking in the grid today (see previous parenthetical remark 😉). A few of our favorites were 45A, Cabinet department since 1913, LABOR (now we know!); 53D, Creator of a lot of buzz in the music scene, KAZOO (cute!); and 6D, Language of W.W. II "code talkers": Var., NAVAHO (absolutely fascinating). Show note imagery: The Red Lion Pub (one of many, in the UK) We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We ...
3 Jul 11min
Tuesday, July 1, 2025 - Was this a great crossword? NOCAP!
For those of you wondering about the episode title, it is explored and explained, along with a multitude of other topics riffing off of today's excellent puzzle, in our "Canada Day" special. In addition, Mike may (or may not) have gone down in flames in today's Triplet Tuesday™ segment; place your bets, and then have a listen to see if you (unlike, possibly, Mike) are a winner! Show note imagery: Some delicious ELOTE, a delicious Mexican street food, which often, understandably, causes partak...
2 Jul 16min
Monday, June 30, 2025 -- All hail the Mighty Mighty Bosstones! 🎉🎺
This was a delightful Monday crossword, thanks to the hardworking team of Dena R. Verkuil and Andrea Carla Michaels (abetted, no doubt, by the mighty mighty Will Shortz). The theme was funny, and the clues were "Festival Food fresh", as we like to say in Northeast Wisconsin. Deets inside, so have a listen, and, as always, invite the crossword-philes in your life to have a listen as well. Show note imagery: BYEFELICIA We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener m...
1 Jul 10min
Sunday, June 29, 2025 - Wheels within wheels ...
Once again an NYTimes contributor -- today, that would be Mike Hobin -- has created a theme that will make you want to cheer, doff your hat, and applaud (although not simultaneously, for obvious reasons): it deserves that much praise. The rest of the clues were of course also of a very high caliber, resulting in the delightful puzzle that we take a magnifying glass to in today's episode. Show note imagery: The one, the only ... Daffy Duck, smiling because he was mentioned in today's cros...
30 Jun 15min
Saturday, June 28, 2025 - A deliciously devious Saturday crossword!
This was Jesse Guzman's third NYTimes crossword, and with quality this good it's no surprise that the publication of his fourth NYTimes crossword is imminent. There was no theme, but the clues were uniformly brilliant and tricky, perfect for the "Hardest Crossword of the Week", aka, Saturday's. We approve, and bestow upon this puzzle the maximum number of squares -- that would be 5, for those of you not keeping track -- on the JAMCR scale. Show note imagery: Just a few of the many characters ...
29 Jun 15min
Friday, June 27, 2025 - Carolyn Davies Lynch ACES her OPUS
Today's crossword marks Carolyn Davies Lynch's third NYTimes crossword, and she just keeps getting better and better. This had some great clues, including 9D, It's not observed in Hawaii, DST (😀); 27A, Hypocorism for Harold, HAL (🧐); and 46D, Smart guy, ALEC (🤣). There were plenty more where those came from, so check out today's episode for the 411. Show note imagery: Syzygy, without which we wouldn't have solar eclipses. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail...
28 Jun 15min
