Monday, June 2, 2025 - Yup, this crossword was dee-lish!
This was a very fine sophomore crossword by Anthony V. Grubb, appearing almost exactly one year after his NY Times debut (also a Monday). The theme was cute; the clues, at an apposite Monday level, included a few gems. For instance, 19D, Superfan, in slang, STAN (we're big STAN STANs 😀); 31D, Pink Nintendo character from Planet Popstar, KIRBY (we're also big KIRBY STANs 😀 😀); and the somewhat fishy 55A, Hook, line and sinker, for an angler: GEAR (😉). Show note imagery: Just in time for s...
3 Juni 8min
Sunday, June 1, 2025 - Time to dust off those Jumble skills!
If you grew up on Jumble (as, apparently, the author did), then you'll feel right at home tackling this awesome homage to anagrams, an impressive debut by Sam Brody. Ironically, the word anagram does not have an anagram, and so it is with great pride that we introduce the newest word in the English language, gramana, (n., a feeling of bliss that a grandmother feels upon first meeting the reason that they have ascended to the rank of grandmother). Show note imagery: Fanny HESSE, who revo...
2 Juni 16min
Saturday, May 31, 2025 - Happy Last Day of May!
Today's puzzle was an enjoyable albeit challenging tag-team effort by Adam Aaronson and Ricky Cruz. Jean got through it in good time, Mike ... got through it, slowed down in numerous areas, but primarily by his refusal to accept that [DELETED, NO SPOILERS] was a real word. In other news, we've selected our JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award), and it really was an easy choice this week: deets inside. Show note imagery: Yep, those are indeed camels, going for a dip in the...
1 Juni 16min
Friday, May 30 2025 - ALLABOARD ... the crossword express! 🚂 😀
This was a fine end-of-work-week crossword by Rafael Musa, his 19th for the NYTimes and his 9th Friday, so he certainly knows this day well! Though seemingly not hugely difficult, it was a good warmup for Saturday, with fun late-week clues, such as 24D, 4 is a good one, in brief, APSCORE (🧐); 51D, Like some orders, TALL (😀); and 38D, Mythical land of untold riches, ELDORADO (👑) In addition to the crossword, we have a great bit of listener mail / Fun Fact Friday segment for your enjoyment and ...
31 Maj 15min
Thursday, May 29, 2025 - You'd probably need to be in Mensa to get the clue about Mensa 😉
The constructor of today's crossword, John Kugelman, is mostly known for his Sunday crosswords: but somehow he managed to squeeze all that ken into a 15x15 grid, and the result is this fine Thursday oeuvre. Some particularly noteworthy clues include 2D, Anarchist Sacco, NICOLA (yes, it's Wikipedia time 🙄); 1D, Something to wear on a run, SKICAP (⛷); and 51A, Word from a loud speaker, maybe, RANT (😀). Show note imagery: Mensa seems to be lacking in star power -- it only has 4 of them -- but th...
30 Maj 15min
Wednesday, May 28, 2025 - 🎶 Traditiiiiiiiiion, tradition 🎶 🎻
This was a clever Wednesday crossword, and not just because its author, Peter A. Collins, slipped 21A, Understanding, KEN, and 22D, Astuteness, ACUMEN, into the grid. It was, inevitably, the theme that made this crossword shine, and you'll discover the meta-joke in that assessment when listening to today's episode (or when you've solved the crossword, whichever comes first). Show note imagery: Members of the G6 - France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom We love feedback! ...
29 Maj 18min
Tuesday, May 27, 2025 - Just like 5D, this crossword was ALLGOOD!
This was a fine Tuesday crossword by Ginny Too, with a twee theme that lent itself to some amusing segues, as you will discover in today's episode. We also have our Triplet Tuesday segment, so to see how Jean does (hint: A frequent source of water on a farm), check out today's episode. Just a friendly reminder that solving the NYTimes crossword has been proven to keep your neurons in peak form, and make you more attractive to whomever you want to appear more attractive to! Just wander over to...
28 Maj 15min
Monday, May 26, 2025 - In today's episode, we drill down on dental definitions 🙄
This is Ari Halpern's third NYTimes crossword, but his previous crossword appeared seventeen years ago. We're hoping that's because Ari found other things to do in the interim, and not because he's suffered 16 years worth of rejection. Although, if he had, this would make for a gripping story of perseverance and redemption; and since Ari's day job involves film and TV scripts, he could just sell it to ... himself? Hmm... maybe not. Show note imagery: An example of a billionaire's boat - a sup...
27 Maj 10min
