Author: Jeff

Categories
Themeless

Themeless 25

Words:  68

Average Length:  5.38

Difficulty:  Yes

Chain Bridge with Buda Castle (Budapest) in the background. See 22 Across.

In constructing this puzzle, I wanted most of my grid-spanners to be phrases.  That’s one thing I love about Tim Croce’s Club 72 puzzles; many of his long answers are conversational.  (Check out his puzzles here. He posts challenging themeless puzzles every Tuesday and themeless or variety puzzles every Friday.)

puz | pdf | solution

A couple of other notes:  I’m particularly (yet inexplicably) fond of the punny clues for 29 and 52 Down, and I’m always happy to include 41 Down in a grid; she’s one of the very greatest singer-songwriters ever.

Enjoy, share, follow, etc.  Next up (1/16) will be a puzzle with tips for where to eat in Motown.

Categories
Set List

Set List 3:   Springsteen/Bryan Adams/Bee Gees/Springsteen/Katy Perry

Words:  74

Average Length:  4.95

Difficulty:  Mostly easy listening with an occasional #9 chord

Two years ago today, I was on the Celebrity Constellation – decorated with the requisite statue of gorilla holding a fish – on my way from Dubai to Singapore.

puz | pdf | solution

After several months, here’s another Set List puzzle.  (The first two are available here and here.) As the note says, assume these musicians are playing a concert together (Bruce gets two songs because he’s Bruce, after all).  Bruce starts it off, Bryan Adams continues, and the songs run into each other.  Your job is to figure out the set list.  Please enjoy, share, etc.  Next up (1/9) will be a tough themeless.

Categories
Themed

Down Under (Guest Puzzle)

Words: 78

Average Length: 4.82

Difficulty: Like a Drake Passage crossing?

My brother Eric, Nanortalik, Greenland, 2010

puz | pdf | solution

Here’s a mid-week bonus: a themed puzzle crafted by my brother Eric, celebrating a certain land mass where he and I will be traveling in February (assuming Omicron and all other Greek letters cooperate).

Eric is an astrophysicist, world traveler (>110 countries visited), multi-linguist, and avid consumer of films, books, and spicy vegetarian food. I learn something from all of his puzzles – including at least four new words/terms in this one – so prepare yourself for a challenge and emerge enlightened!

Categories
Holiday Themed

My New Year’s Wish for You

Words:  78

Average Length:  4.74

Difficulty:  In inverse proportion to 2021 …

Here’s to you!

… that is, assuming your 2021 was as challenging as most people’s.  This grid shouldn’t put up too much of a battle:  I didn’t want to make it difficult to uncover my New Year’s wish for y’all.  So solve the puzzle, share it, enjoy your New Year’s celebration if that’s your thing, and come back next week (Jan. 2!) for the inaugural puzzle of 2022 (a “Set List” puzzle where you have to figure out the song titles in a concert of musicians who might not ordinarily play together). 

puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Themeless

Themeless 24

Words:  66

Average Length:  5.42

Difficulty:  Surmountable with a stepladder

Bridge, Kinderijk, Netherlands (see 20A)

puz | pdf | solution

After last week’s end-of-the-civilized-world vibe, this week’s grid is kinder, gentler, and a comparative ray of sunshine.  Please enjoy!

I figure crossword solvers generally like to read, so I’m linking below to lists of the best fiction and non-fiction books I read in 2021. I’m always happy to get book recommendations, so let me know if you’ve got any, particularly if they’re not well-known.

Fiction | Non-fiction

Categories
Themeless

Themeless 23

Words:  72

Average Length:  5.19

Difficulty:  At least four “oys”

A horse (see 57 Across)

My seed entry was 19 Across, spurred by a vote of the Spotsylvania County (Virginia) School Board to remove – two members urged burning – “sexually explicit” books in school libraries.  Many of the targeted novels include LGBTQ content/characters.  The school board reversed itself a week later, dealing a setback, for now at least, to prudish yet prurient Puritans.

From there, I entered a dystopian death spiral, which accounts for 9D, 21D, 34A, and 54A.  At least I was able to include 40A, yet another expressive and inherently comic Yiddish word (as is “kvell,” in the clue).

puz | pdf | solution

I promise a less eschatological grid next week!  Please enjoy, share, and comment if you’re so inclined.

Categories
Midi Themed

Who Rocks the Alex Trebek Stage?

Words:  45 (12×11 grid)

Average Length:  4.80

Difficulty:  Like a $600 question in the Shakespeare category

Serene, just like the subject of this puzzle

While the Professors’ Tournament gives her a two-week break, I thought I’d drop a tribute puzzle focusing on 21 Across, who is brilliant, accomplished, serene, and truly inspirational.  May her reign continue!

puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Themed

Historical Grocery Shopping

Words:  76

Average Length:  4.87

Difficulty:  Harder than the average themed puzzle, though you’re probably smarter than the average bear, so maybe not so hard?

Stroopwafels, Amsterdam. They’re way more addicting than what’s sold at 45 Acrosses.

puz | pdf | solution

While wandering the aisles in Safeway a few weeks ago – pretty much the extent of my travels for the past too many months – 10 Down occurred to me.  By the time I checked out I had 25 Down.  Two more theme answers (17 Across and 61 Across) and voila, the bones of a puzzle.  In the fill, I was happy to work in one of my favorite musical groups (30 Across), favorite soft drinks (47 Down; it may be an acquired taste), and favorite noshes (48 Across).  I’m also particularly pleased with the clue for 1 Down.  The clue on 57 Down is a nod to Mike Graczyk, whose Pun of a Kind puzzles are always fresh and entertaining.

If you enjoy the puzzle please share it.  Comments, reactions, and suggestions (within reason) welcomed!

Categories
Themeless

Themeless 22

Words:  70

Average Length:  5.54

Difficulty:  Quartzish on the Mohs scale?

They’re sheep! (see 12 Down) (taken in Northern Ireland, 2019)

I hope you all had a wonderful time last week with friends and family. The seed for this grid was 14 Across, where my brother and I will be going in February!   (Oh, the difficulty rating thing:  numbers are falsely precise, I think.  Henceforth I will come up with other ways of estimating the sweat of your collective brows.)  Please enjoy, pass along a link to the puzzle or my site, and be well!

puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Holiday Themed

I’ll Never Be Your Feast of Burden

Words:  76

Average Length:  4.82

Difficulty:  2.5 out of 5

puz | pdf | solution

Here’s a gentle, Thanksgiving-themed puzzle.  Best wishes for a scrumptious, safe, and stress-resistant holiday.  Enjoy!

From the Nov. 20 Washington Post. I saw the final band in Junior High School. They played in the cafeteria. This has nothing to do with the puzzle, unless your Thanksgiving dinner turns dramatic.

Two solving notes: (1) the song at 9/25 Down is from the 1969 movie of the same name.  The movie has aged poorly, but I still love the song – all 18 minutes of it.

(2) In researching a clue for 61 Across – I ended up going with the obvious – I came across some fascinating background:  In 1939, Federated Department Stores (61A’s parent) prevailed on FDR to move Thanksgiving up a week so there’d be more time after the holiday for Christmas shopping.  The Republicans objected (shocking!), and for a couple of years there was basically a Democratic Thanksgiving and a Republican Thanksgiving.   In 1941 Congress passed a law fixing Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November.