Saturday, November 3, 2023 - ROOKS and FOUNTS and TAGINE, Oh, My!
A just-the-right-level-of-almost-impossible crossword to wrap up our crossword solving week, one of those where the solving rate seems to follow an S curve -- tough and slow-going at the beginning and at the end, but with a glorious middle section where the clues come relatively rapidly. We liked this crossword so much that we awarded it this week's JAMCOTWA -- Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award -- for numerous reasons that will become apparent once you checkout today's podcast. ...
5 Nov 202319min
Friday, November 3, 2023 - Was this a fun Robyn Weintraub puzzle? YESSIREE!
Robyn Weintraub's puzzles are legendary, and today's effort shows just why: the clues are awesome, the crosswordese is non-existent, and the difficulty level is juuuuuust right. We approve, whole-heartedly, 5 squares on the JAMCR scale! Deets inside, so download, listen up, and enjoy right now!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 strike up a conversation!
4 Nov 202314min
Thursday, November 2, 2023 - This crossword was definitely NOTTOOSHABBY
Today's crossword featured a h--hly entert--ng th--e, and if you can't suss out what it was from what we just wrote, then download today's episode, where all will be revealed! A reminder to check out xwordinfo.com, a fabulous resource for crossword aficionados, with the solution and meta information on the day's crossword. Highly recommended! 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, s...
3 Nov 202314min
Wednesday, November 1, 2023 - MUIR, an adMUIRable national monument 🙄
A nice Wednesday crossword and a debut (yay!) by Steve Weyer, with an inspired theme, some very funny clues, and as a bonus a reference to a fascinating 16th century algebra text, ARSMAGNA (The Great Art). The theme is covered in the episode; some of the more intriguing clues not mentioned there include 51D, Bunyan's ox or Hoggett's pig, BABE 🐷; 57D, Swear to mend things, DARN 😀 ; Manilow's "hottest spot north of Havana", COPA 🎶; and (Mike's favorite), Sierra runners, MACS 😀 😀. We love feedba...
2 Nov 202313min
Tuesday, October 31, 2023 - It's HALLOWEEN - outside *and* in the grid!
A scary Tuesday crossword, thanks to a slash of scary movie titles in the grid. Neither cohost had seen any of them, but fortunately the answers were either almost gimmes (17A, Horror film franchise named after a holiday, HALLOWEEN (BOXINGDAY wouldn't fit 😀)) or easy to guess with some judicious help from the crosses (60A, 2011 dark comedy slasher film that takes place during a family reunion), YOURENEXT (an awesomely scary title)). Overall, this was a great crossword, and we award it a chill...
1 Nov 202314min
Monday, October 30, 2023 - Kenneth Cortes had a BRIGHTIDEA, and, lo, a crossword was born!
Put on your sunglasses before attempting this crossword, because it's based on a BRIGHTIDEA -- literally! There were a few other answers that glowed, in a manner of speaking: 14A, What magma becomes when it's erupted, LAVA; 35A, Light on a nightstand, LAMP; and 52A, "Suns" of some breakfasts, EGGYOLKS. Just a reminder that we love 5 star reviews, so please leave us one wherever you're listening to this episode! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listene...
31 Okt 202314min
Sunday, October 29, 2023 - OutKast and Black Star and TPAIN, Oh, My!
Today's crossword featured a number of rare-ish answers, making this a bit crunchier than usual for a Sunday. Notable examples include 60A, Brooklyn art school, PRATT; 100D, Country that's more than 2,600 miles long, CHILE; 70A, Latin "Behold!", ECCE; and 20A, Character who lives on the "tippy-top floor" of the Plaza Hotel, ELOISE; and there's more, which you can see in the grid and hear about in today's podcast. Just a reminder, solving the NYTimes Crossword is a proven strategy for revers...
30 Okt 202323min
Saturday, October 28, 2023 - All hail SAMTHESHAM 🎶
Ryan McCarty does not hold back (much) in today's uber-challenging Saturday crossword, pegging both the difficulty and deceptivity meters multiple times. We have full coverage inside, so have a listen for that -- as well as the announcement of this week's JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award). Enjoy! 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 st...
29 Okt 202320min
