Sunday, June 23, 2024 - A picture-perfect puzzle!

FACTIS, this was an AWE-inspiring Sunday crossword, we are SHIRR, um, sure, of that! Jean cruised through it without too much difficulty, Mike got hung up in the neighborhood of 94D and 95D, having forgotten that 95D, Patchy in color, was PIED, and either forgotten or possibly never even learned that 101A, Money in coins rather than bills, was SPECIE, and 98A, Bake, as an egg, was SHIRR. Still, HUGSANDKISSES to the creators, we give this a 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. We love feedback! Send ...

28 Dec 20208min

It's a Saturday, that should mean tough. and John Guzzetta does not disappoint, with a crossword that crackles with clever clues. Most of the crossword was just ... difficult, but John really cranked it up in the southeast corner. Our best advice: only try a John Guzzetta puzzle when well rested. We give it a 5 on the JAM CR scale. 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 dr...

27 Dec 202011min

Ho, ho, ho, it's a classy Christmas present from the New York Times, a gentle Friday from Erik Agard and Wendy Brandes, i.e., NOTBADATALL. It had some nice juxtapositions - RIPOFF (1D, Con), and RIFFEDON (25D, Used as improv fodder, say), and some amusing clues -- 59A, Perfect score ... or half of one, TEN, and 21D, Labour leader?, DOULA. A great way to end the week! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Al...

26 Dec 20208min

Happy Christmas Eve, everyone! And to celebrate, the New York Times has provided a cheery Thursday crossword, by Billy Ouska, that could be done, NOLIE, in almost no ___________ at all. Note that the (attempted) humor in that last sentence will become apparent once you've listened to the podcast. Jean cruised through the crossword as usual, Mike confidently and incorrectly assumed that 23D, There are more of these in the U.S. in October than any other month, surprisingly, was BIRTHS -- as opp...

25 Dec 20208min

Today's crossword, while perhaps not the greatest thing since SLICEDBREAD, is still, INALL, a fun and challenging Wednesday (and that's no JIVE!). It had some clever clues, like 7D, Stands up for dustpans, say, abbr., ANAG (short for ANAGRAM), 20A, 10th and 11th, e.g., EXT[RAIN}NINGS, and the rather obscure47A, Lawless figure with legendary fighting skills, XENA.All in all a fine puzzle, we give it a 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact In...

24 Dec 202016min

Today's puzzle may put you on CLOUD9, or at least in a HAPPYPLACE, as you experience that SHEERBLISS that comes with solving a crossword (or at least giving it the old college try). Beyond the theme, there was a nod to PAPAHAYDN (41A, Affectionate nickname for the "Father of the Symphony"), and the definitely not serendipitous, because Amy Yanni and Jeff Chen are involved, placement of NENE (33D, Hawaii's state bird) and NANA (66A, Nickname for grandma). It's Tip Tuesday, and for today's tip...

23 Dec 202012min

Today's crossword was filled with GOBBLEDYGOOK, MUMBOJUMBO, and BALDERDASH, but we mean that in the best possible way: because today's crossword revolved around words/phrases that implied nonsense. There were a few names that might have proven difficult for newer and younger solvers, like 6D, Actress Saint of "North by Northwest", and 8D, 1957 title role for Frank Sinatra, PALJOEY, but for the most part the cluing was about as gentle as ALAMB, with plenty of opportunities for novices to exper...

22 Dec 20205min

If you are INTHEMOOD to reminisce, then this crossword is just what you need. It's a stroll down memory lane, if memory lane happened to run through a toy store, because all the major theme answers are famous, enduring and endearing toys, including CHATTYCATHY, SILLYPUTTY, TAMAGOTCHI and ETCHASKETCH, to name a few. Jean, as is her wont, breezed through today's crossword, while quite a few clues were a surprise to Mike including 50D, Promoting peace, IRENIC, and the spellings of 76D, Operatic ...

21 Dec 202019min