Tuesday, October 1, 2024 - HOORAH, a Kevin Curry and Jeff Chen collaboration
Kevin Curry and Jeff Chen have teamed up to create a fun Tuesday crossword, based on an ingenious attempt to merge myth and mystery. We won't say any more about it here (as October is No Spoiler Month), but we have plenty to say about it in today's podcast, so do have a listen. Beyond our dissection of today's puzzle, we are also delighted to announce the winners of our latest Triplet Tuesday Contest, and ... it was a tie! Congrats to our winners, as well as all who participated: you'll get ...
2 Okt 202424min
Monday, September 30, 2024 - All good months must come to an end ...
Today's crossword, by Alexander Liebeskind, does what all good Monday crosswords should do: offer entertaining clues and not crush the spirit of crossword solvers just getting their feet wet. Our favorite entry? 39D, Loud and unhappy sports fans, in slang, BOOBIRDS, although we were also quite taken by 6D, Empire whose capital city was Tenochtitlán: AZTEC. Show note imagery: Tenochtitlán, in all its ancient glory We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail...
1 Okt 202411min
Sunday, September 29, 2024 - Joe Deeney rides, er, writes, again!
Joe Deeney has gotten accolades for writing terrific crosswords, and today's puzzle, we are pleased to report, continues the streak. The theme is ingenious, there are lots of gems everywhere you look in the grid, all-in-all a nice bit of work. Deets inside, as well as a return of our "Oh, That's How You Pronounce It" segment, -- which, astonishingly, may provoke the need for another OTHYPI in the near future! Show note imagery: A CATCAFE! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We ...
30 Sep 202422min
Saturday, September 27, 2024 - Tarnation this was a tough crossword!
You know when a grid has words like HORCHATA and AORTAE lurking inside that the puzzle is going to be tough, and that is most definitely the case today, in this epic Saturday crossword by Margaret Seikel, her 9th for the NYTimes, and her first Saturday entry. Jean got through it much faster than Mike, but both were able to persevere and had a grand time, as today's podcast makes abundantly clear. It's Saturday, and we've picked our JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award), which ...
29 Sep 202422min
Friday, September 27, 2024 - A LYRICAL Friday crossword
Today's crossword, Jake Bunch's second for the NYTimes, and his second Friday, was splendid: even though Friday crosswords are typically themeless, this did have a meta-theme, really, really intriguing clues. Beyond those mentioned in the podcast, we had 59A, Composer for whom Poland's largest airport is named, CHOPIN; 26D, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.: Abbr, STS (oh, of course!); and an answer that only shows up rarely in the grid, but we are happy whenever it deigns to drop by, 11D, Simply delectabl...
28 Sep 202417min
Thursday, September 26, 2024 - TARNATION this was a good crossword!
This is Jesse Guzman's first ever NYTimes crossword, and they've started off with a bang, with a theme that took both cohosts (working independently, as they are wont to do) quite some time to suss out, but that AHA! moment was assuredly worth the wait. There were some other great clues in the grid, including 61A, They take off marks at school, ERASERS (😀); 58A, Final circuit in a track race, BELLLAP (🧐); and we have the delightful juxtaposition of 56A, Unit of explosive power, KILOTON, and 4...
27 Sep 202418min
Wednesday, September 25, 2024 - 🎹 DO, RE, MI, etc., etc., ♫
This is Peter Gordon's 129th NYTimes crossword, and a perfect example of why the NYTimes keeps publishing his work. The theme is brilliant, the clues sharp and, pardon the pun, upbeat -- quite a lot to like. We have the deets inside, just waiting for you to download all that goodness. Our Triplet Tuesday Contest is going strong, so if you haven't participated yet, listen to Tuesday's podcast and then submit your entry, for a chance to win bragging rights and some fabulous swag. As promised,...
26 Sep 202417min
Tuesday, September 24, 2024 - Time for the Great PECAN v. PECAN Pronunciation Debate (and a Triplet Tuesday Contest 😍)
Today's episode is action-packed, but at its heart is a crossword by Kevin L. Shellito, his debut, and an excellent debut it is, with some ingenious cluing and a delightful theme - deets inside. Also, we're hosting another Triplet Tuesday Contest, so get ready to play along and then email us how many clues it took you, in total, to guess all 3 answers. Good luck, and may the most deserving Triplet Tuesday Contest contestant emerge triumphant! Contest deadline: Sunday, September 29, 2024, by ...
25 Sep 202424min
