Wednesday, February 26, 2025 - We long for more crosswords by Dan Caprera 😁

Today's opus was most definitely not an abridged crossword, but the full 21x21 marvel that is the NYTimes Sunday puzzle -- and indeed, considering that it had (wait for it...) rebuses, it could plausibly be argued that it was more of an augmented crossword. Regardless of how you look at it, what is most definitely not up for debate is that it was an awesome crossword, for reasons that we cover in today's episode. Enjoy! Show notes: an image suggesting how to count to 60 on one hand We l...

18 Dec 202321min

Today's crossword is TOPRATED, and that's not just because it has TOPRATED in the grid, but because of a panoply of charming clues and intriguing answers that caught our fancy (although not quite as much as our JAMCOTWA winner, that would be ... nope, to find out who won and why, check out today's episode!!). Show note image: An example of OPTICALART 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,...

17 Dec 202314min

A challenging but not insurmountable Friday crossword by Alex Tomlinson - his debut! - with a whopping 8 debut answers. We cover all but 2 of them in today's episode, omitting only 2D, One whose work might be a piece of cake?, PASTRYCHEF (cute!) and 27D, "Don't even think of coming back!", ANDSTAYOUT (ouch!). In short, a lot to like in today's puzzle, and to get the full 411 hit download now (right after you hit subscribe, so you never miss an episode!) and within seconds (eh, if you've got g...

16 Dec 20238min

It is not clear how many Zoom calls Esha Datta, author of today's crossword (her debut!) has been in, but we're willing to bet LOADS of them, based on their (very clever) theme. Beyond that, there were numerous notable clues, from 21A, Only country with a non-rectangular flag, NEPAL (maybe: checkout the podcast for a rebuttal); 37D, Notable lamb owner, MARY (as clues go, this one's not baaaaaad 🙄); 42A, Vehicle at the center of the Hindu festival Ratha Yatra, CHARIOT; and 35D, Collectio...

15 Dec 202318min

A nice mid-week crossword by veteran cruciverbalist Alex Eaton-Salners (this is in fact his 64th), and it is as refreshing as a glass of cool spring water, thanks to a theme that has everything to do with a glass of cool spring water. The clues elsewhere in the grid were enlightening, entertaining, and entirely crosswordese-free. In addition to those mentioned in the podcast, we would like to give a shoutout to 60A, Capital of Italy, EURO 😀; 46D, Latin singer Anthony, MARC (wowza!); and ... n...

14 Dec 202314min

Peter Gordon must be a real MENSCH, and that's not just because he managed to slip that word into today's crossword, as part of a very amusing themed answer. There's a lot more magic happening in the grid, and to hear all the deets (as well as Jean's demonstration of verbal prowess in today's Triplet Tuesday Contest™️), please a) subscribe, b) download, c) listen-up, and d) enjoy! Show note image: Baku, capital of Azerbaijan We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener ...

13 Dec 202317min

There's something about a Monday NYTimes crossword theme -- crafted to put a smile on your lips combined with a "huh!" when recognition dawns. Later in the week, that "huh", sometimes morphs into a "duh" or possibly a "doh", but we do like Mondays, including this fine work, a debut (congrats!!) by Luke K. Schreiber. In other news, we have some very timely listener mail tying into yesterday's discussion of mutton busting ... from an actual mutton buster (well, to be precise, the mutton ...

12 Dec 202315min

A seemingly easier than usual Sunday crossword, especially surprising consider its origin - from the minds and pens of Zachary David Levy and Jeff Chen. Besides a small boatload of puns that comprised the theme, today's puzzle did have some fun gems waiting to be uncovered. For example, 59D, Game divided into periods called chukkers, POLO (featuring our new favorite word, chukkers); 81A, Extreme lethargy, SOPOR (not to be confused with torpor, but we'd forgive you if you did!); 86D, Sal...

11 Dec 202315min