Friday, February 23, 2024 - CHEESEDIP and HAUTECUISINE, together at last 😀 😀
Jean and Mike had entirely different solving experiences tackling today's crossword, a fine effort by Larry Snyder. Jean made short work of it, but Mike started inventing words out of whole cloth, a fraught activity when solving a NYTimes Friday crossword. Yet, while their solving experiences might have differed, they both agree that this crossword most definitely deserved 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. In other news, it's Fun Fact Friday, and Muppet / Hunter S. Thompson fans will find much t...
24 Feb 202415min
Thursday, February 22, 2024 - This crossword was quite JAKE, and that's no JAPE 😀 😀
This is Dan Schoenholz's 29th NYTimes crossword, and it shows -- a nicely polished grid, with an exceptional theme. Since the preponderance of Dan's crosswords have appeared on Sunday, it might seem like he'd be a bit constrained, squeezed into a 15x15 grid, but, even without rebuses (spoiler alert! Oops, too late 😀), he managed to craft an elegantly enjoyable crossword. We've got all the deets inside, so please, subscribe, download, listen up, and enjoy! Show note imagery: OTIS Redding (sec...
23 Feb 202414min
Wednesday, February 21, 2024 - This crossword's got STYLE (and a whole lot of other words 😀)
Jeffrey Martinovic has managed to work the word TAUTOLOGICAL into the grid, and for that alone he should receive some sort of commendation. But we can't also IGNORE some other great clues, such as 69A, Some downtown street liners, METERS; 11D, Is French?, EST (c'est bon!); and 62A, "Mud", JOE (😀). A fine crossword, definitely worth 5 squares on the JAM CR scale! Show note imagery: Queen MAB, hard at work (?) We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a l...
22 Feb 202413min
Tuesday, February 20, 2024 - Let's get crackin', and learn how to pronounce KRAKEN
This is Robert S. Gard's second NYTimes crossword. We reviewed his first in season 8, episode 38, and like that Saturday puzzle, this one was equally august, albeit much easier, as befits a Tuesday . We have all the deets inside, as well as Mike's valiant attempt to not make a fool of himself during the Triplet Tuesday contest, so have a listen, and let us know what you think! Show note imagery: Beware the KRAKEN! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop ...
21 Feb 202415min
Monday, February 19, 2024 - We'd like to mention the presence of MENSCH in today's crossword 🙄😀
This is Adam Wagner's 19th NYTimes crossword, but it is a debut, in a sense - his first Monday puzzle. It was a little crunchier than usual, but the theme made it all worthwhile. Deets inside, so have a listen, and as usual, tell others about us on social media. Shownote imagery: A thaw of ICEBOATS (and if "thaw" isn't the appropriate unit, it ought to be!) about to start racing We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.c...
20 Feb 202411min
Sunday, February 18, 2024 - We 🎶 HEARDITTHROUGH THEGRAPEVINE 🎶 that this was an awesome crossword!
Sid Sivakumar dials it back as he slips into his Sunday best, and this was indeed one of his best Sundays, his fourth for the NYTimes. There were some fine clues in the grid, including 75A, Home to the Great Ziggurat of Ur, IRAQ (we just like the sound of "Great Ziggurat of Ur" 😀); 116A, What hits the ground running, SOLE (ha!); and 55D, So ... or a word following "so", TRUE (double ha!); and a hidden gem at 89A, Windy part of a kite?, REEL (triple ha!). To sum up, we were impressed, ...
19 Feb 202421min
Saturday, February 17, 2024 - Here comes the ... ZITI?
Spencer Leach and Jem Burch have produced a splendiferous Saturday crossword that entertained, educated, and ... whatever the opposite of enervated is, ah, yes, energized. The highlight of the grid was undoubtedly 60A, Finished, colloquially, DONEZO, although 61A, Drinks are on me!, BARMENU, definitely gave it a run for its money. There was much more to this puzzle, though, and we have all the deets inside. Show note imagery: Speed skater Johann OLAV Koss, winner of 4 Olympic golds and occas...
18 Feb 202416min
Friday, February 16, 2024 - Not one SOURNOTE in today's grid, Colin Adam's creation is all NICEWORK
Colin Adams has turned in a fine (debut!) Friday crossword: no theme (as befits a Friday puzzle), but plenty of sharp cluing (as one would also expect). We cover a boatload of them in today's podcast, but even the "also-rans" were quite good. Consider 30A, European airline that was nationalized from 1944 to 2001, IBERIA; 62A, [Violin emoji], OHBOOHOO; and the fabulous 66A, Moving company?, TROUPE. We also have a Fun Fact Friday, and some great listener mail, so ... enjoy! Show note videogra...
17 Feb 20249min
