Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

A rather curious THeme, Jean sussed it immediately, Mike aspires to do so at an indeterminate point in the hopefully near future. 😀 There were some curious clues to go along with the theme, we're still puzzling over 21A, Baseball pitcher's feat, slangily, NONO, and would also like to know what happened to the ending IE in 43D, Buns, PATOOT. Still, all-in-all a fine puzzle , this being B...

Stacey Yaruss McCullough has created a fine debut crossword , with some dazzling feats of portmanteau-rhymery, and if that isn't part of the English language, we hereby nominate it for such posthaste.  A friendly reminder that when listening to these podcasts, if you haven't solved the puzzle (and don't intend to), you can see the entire solved puzzle at xwordinfo.com. Having it ope...

Sam Buchbinder ha a reputation for writing splendid clues and crosswords, and he certainly lives up to it today , with some very amusing clues, including one that one of our cohosts was unable to even read , after much practice, without bursting into a mild chortling fit half way through. Which cohost? And which clue? Well, we all live for suspense, so we'll keep you in it ... unless you want...

A surprising Monday crossword by Kenneth Cortes, who has gone against the convention that themed clues run in the same direction -- but he had an excellent reason for so doing, as we explain in today's episode. Show note imagery: The Washington METRO We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we're on FaceBo...

Take two really superb crossword constructors and put them together, and what do you get? A crossword like this  one , chock full of heart, artistry, and attention to detail, clearly written by two cruciverbalists at the top of their games. Deets inside, as well as some fine listener feedback on the proper pronunciation of POMPANO Beach, so do have a listen! Show note imagery: Christina's Wor...

It's been a challenging couple of days, crossword-wise, and Joel Fagliano didn't let up on the gas when selecting today's , which happens to be a) by Brandon Koppy, and b) our JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award) winner. For the record, the two are not  a coincidence! Deets inside, so have a listen, and, as usual, please tell others about us on social media. Show not...

A frisky Friday crossword from Kate Hawkins - her 14th - on her lucky day, Friday, when 6 out of those 14 puzzles have been published. This was a great themeless puzzle, with some stellar cluing -- 41D, Number of sides for a hendecagon, ELEVEN; 32D, [I won't repeat myself in this note], SEEABOVE (very nice!); and 4D, Arch, SLY (yes, yes it is).  In other news, it's Fun Fact Friday, and w...

A deliciously tough crossword by a constructor whose puzzles skew towards that end of the spectrum -- one Damon J Gulczynski. One's perception of this crossword just might depend on whether you grokked the theme -- in which case it was probably a typical Thursday crossword -- or not, in which case the difficulty hovered somewhere between Saturday and a day so challenging nobody's provide...

Samuel Donaldson has had 41 crosswords published in the NYTimes, for reasons that are made abundantly clear in today's puzzle - a terrific theme, crisp clues, and references to musical groups that, if you don't already know, you should! We'd mention them here, but no spoilers -- check out today's episode to find out who should be up next on your playlist. Show note imagery: A b...

Benjamin Panico, in his debut NYTimes crossword (yay!), has put together an excellent puzzle in which he managed to cram 6, count 'em, 6 novels by TONIMORRISON. It is an excellent feat, and a great place to start when looking for your next summer read. In addition to the crossword, we also have a fine Triplet Tuesday™️ segment, so check it out, and, as usual, let us know what you think. Show...

This is Shaun Phillips' second NYTimes crossword , and it has only been about 2 weeks since his last one, so clearly he is on a tear! This was a tad easier than the last (a Wednesday), but no less enjoyable -- so we are eagerly awaiting his third crossword, which, extrapolating, should show up about the end of the month! Show note imagery: The two, the only ... Calvin and Hobbes!! We love fee...

A most definitely above average Sunday crossword by Caryn Robbins, thanks to an artful, inspired theme and a few crunchy clues to chew on. We have all the deets inside, so you are cordially invited to download, listen up, and enjoy! Show note imagery: SNARLUPS can be a real pain, as these Cairenes would no doubt attest. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop...

Today's crossword was Spencer Leach's fifth, and it is a gem . The clues are challenging, novel (there are 7 debuts) and delightfully deceiving. Definitely worth 5 squares on the JAMCR scale, for reasons ... that are thrashed out in today's episode. We are also proud to announce the winner of this week's JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award), so check that out as...

Hemant Mehta has written some dazzling late-week crosswords -- and this is one of them . The clues are so well done, tautly written, prone to make you ponder. We've covered most of them in today's episode, but here are a few others: 40D, Heads, slangily, DOMES; 57A, Why don't sheep shrink when it ________? : George Carlin, RAINS 😀 ; 32D, Meiji and Taisho in Japanese history, ERAS....

It's Rebus Thursday, not an official holiday as far as we can tell, but a) it is Thursday, and b) the grid is riddled with rebuses (rebusae?), so the name seems apt. The crossword was Christopher Youngs' fifth for the NYTimes, but his first Thursday effort, so it's a debut, of a sort. We're betting his next crossword will be a Sunday. Show note imagery: Some JAWAs, probably up...

For those of you entranced with the subtleties of English pronunciation (rules? where we're going, we don't need rules!), have we got a crossword for you ! Meghan Morris has done a bang-up job shining a bright line on some of the  many inconsistencies in our favorite language. We also have a spot of listener mail, all the more reason to check out today's podcast, and, as always, let...

If numbers tell the tale, then Daniel Raymon's favorite day of the week is ... Variety, as he has created 18 variety crosswords for the NYTimes. By that same measure, today would be his second favorite day, when he's had 6 puzzles published. We liked the theme, we enjoyed the cluing, and if this were an Olympic event he'd definitely deserve a medal! In other news, it's Triplet...

For those of you who are fans of the Royal and Ancient Game, you'll have a leg up working on today's crossword -- and for those who are not, fear not, it is a Monday and therefore not too difficult. We have the deets (and WOOTs) inside, so have a listen, and, as always, let us know what you think! A reminder that if you want to follow along with our discussion and haven't solved the...

A splendiferous Sunday crossword by Scott Hogan and Katie Hale, their third as a team, and there's something in the grid for everyone! For instance, pun-lovers will appreciate 114A, Kit-chat, MEOWS; Sesame street-aficionados will appreciate 67A, Furry friend of Rosita, ELMO; and surely everyone will appreciate the puzzle-within-a-puzzle that is 7D, What dry ice doesn't do, MELT. Show not...

Another tricky Saturday crossword , this by long-time contributor Rich Norris. There were quite a few fascinating answers in the grid, including 40A, Home run, informally, DINGER (huh!); 53A, Last syllable of a word, ULTIMA (say what?!?); and the rarely seen 52D, Agendas, for short, SKEDS (about, rest assured, we have SCADs to say in today's episode). Besides our analysis, we have chosen the...

Kate Chin Park has constructed a fine Friday crossword : no theme, just SCADS of crunchy clues, ones that make you furrow your brow, stroke your chin, tap your temple, and all those other gestures that one tends to do when the difficulty meter starts to rise. We have all the deets in today's episode, so check it out, and let us know how you fared doing it. Show note imagery: The birthplace of...

Another fabulous Thursday crossword , a debut by Rajeswari Rajamani, but you wouldn't know it based on the quality of the clues, and the brilliant theme. With clues like 43D, Where you might find yourself on edge?, ICERINK,  the enlightening 51D, Who pays all legal costs under the so-called "English Rule", LOSER, and the astonishing 66A, Where Columbus thought he had landed in 1498,...

An awesome midweek / end of month crossword by the Matz brothers - Jackson and Ben, to be precise. Ben had 18 rejections before he hit pay dirt with this puzzle, so, while PERSISTENCE is not in the grid, it is everywhere else in this puzzle! We particularly enjoyed 3D, What it would be a mistake to write twice?, BOO (😀), and the surely not coincidental proximity of 50A, Aftereffects from working...

Jeffrey Martinovic and Will Nediger have produced a splendid Tuesday crossword , with an inventive theme and some cute clues, including one of the best that we've seen all year (and it's almost August!). Deets inside, as well as another exciting Triplet Tuesday episode, so for all that and more, we invite you to download, listen up, and enjoy! Show note imagery: VINGRHAMES, aka Luther St...

A fine Monday crossword by Jeffrey Lease, his second - his debut being a Sunday (!). The theme was cheery, and we have a soft spot for any puzzle that contains OZARK, as in 18D, Missouri's _____________ Mountains, and we also like the spunk of SORRYNOTSORRY, as in 26A, Sarcastic nonapology. Show note imagery: an OMELET (not to be confused with an OMELETTE. Oops, too late! 😀) Looking for a gr...