Friday, May 9, 2025 - At long last, GRACEHOPPER is in the grid!
This was a Friday crossword, and even a casual glance through the clues and grid makes it clear that co-constructors Willa Angel Chen Miller and Erik Agard are dialing up the difficulty. Clues like 33D, This too shall pass, PHASE; 26D, What one might subscribe to, ISM, and 30D, Seeking comment, READYORNOT (brilliant!) make it perfectly clear that this is not a Monday crossword, far from it. [Four days from it, to be precise 😀] Show note imagery: DRU Hill, an R&B group 18 Interesting Facts...
10 Maj 17min
Thursday, May 8, 2025 - Battle stations! An incoming Dan Caprera crossword at 9 o'clock!!
It seems appropriate that MENSA was in the grid (well, 4/5 of it, anyway - see the podcast for deets), because this crossword was genius. It had a stunning theme, which made the puzzle much tougher than one might expect for a Thursday. In short, think of this less as a "walk in the park" and more of a "sprint through Disneyworld". Show note imagery: Alain-René Lesage, simultaneously sitting for a portrait and (probably) plotting out his next novel. We love feedback! Send us a text... Co...
9 Maj 19min
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 - Happy Belated Wordle Day!
We have it on good authority that yesterday was Wordle Day - ironic, because one of the answers in today's puzzle also solved today's wordle! That cannot possibly be a coincidence, in our humble opinion, because the odds are too low and Will Shortz is too smart. The rest of the crossword was a delight, as constructor Tom McCoy apparently does not know how to write any other kind. Deets inside, so have a listen, and, as always, we welcome your feedback. Show note imagery: Pittsburg, PA, m...
8 Maj 14min
Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - Ho, ho, this grid's got HOHOS 😀
This was a terrific Tuesday crossword by Enrique Henestroza Anguiano, featuring -- of course -- a terrific theme and a strong supporting cast of "other clues". As an example of the latter, we have 60A, Ocean, poetically, MAIN; 70A, They need a push to get started, PEDALS; and the indisputable 1D, Crossword construction, e.g., CRAFT. Wrapping it up, we have a great Triplet Tuesday™ segment, in which Mike demonstrates that stalling, too, is a CRAFT 😀. Show note imagery: GIL SCOTT HERON, author ...
7 Maj 16min
Monday, May 5, 2025 - Boo-YAH, this was a marvelous Monday crossword!
We try and be as impartial as possible while discussing the crossword, but when our favorite vehicle -- the DeLorean, of course -- appears in the grid, we find it very difficult to stay neutral, so, we won't! Instead we will sing the praises of Eric Rolling's third NYTimes publication. Well, done, Eric! Show note imagery: TAMARA de Lempicka and friend (Salvador Dali, to be precise), undoubtedly pegging the "Great Artist Meter". We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listene...
6 Maj 8min
Sunday, May 4, 2025 - Ah, who can forget the uplifting strains of 🎶 tum, tum, .... tum, tum, tum, tuuuuuuuum, tum 🎶🚀 😀
Today's crossword must've surely been challenging to construct, but the end result is brilliant, thanks to constructor Brandon Koppy (under the keen supervision, no doubt, of editor Will Shortz). This puzzle was also very well timed, for reasons that will become clear as soon as you start listening (or have figured out the episode title, whichever comes fourth, er, first). Show note imagery: One AFGHANI (worth approximately US$ 0.014, C$ 0.019, and € 0.012) We love feedback! Send us a text......
5 Maj 15min
Saturday, May 3, 2025 - Pass the SHAKSHUKA -- fun to say, delicious to eat!
This was a very nice Saturday crossword by Michael Lieberman, his 29th for the NYTimes. It had a boatload of fine Saturday-level clues, perfectly positioned as far as difficulty is concerned: enough to make you sweat, but (if you've been solving these puzzles for a while) not enough to crush your spirit, either. There were no major Naticks* (except for the junction of 9D, Japanese energy-healing technique, REIKI, and 20A, Spicy alternative to a Frito, TAKI). We also have identified our latest...
4 Maj 14min
Friday, May 2, 2025 - A tip of the tiara to Robyn Weintraub, Queen of the Friday crossword
Robyn Weintraub is well known for writing awesomely good clues, and that talent is definitely on display today: it is not for nothing that she is known (eh, at least to us), as the Queen of the Friday crossword. We have proof inside, so do have a listen. Besides the crossword, it's Friday, and we have a fabulous Fun Fact Friday segment for your edification and enjoyment. Show note imagery: A Sunfish, ready to rumble We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop...
3 Maj 15min
