Categories
Themed

Jazzy You Know Who

See 49 Across. Photo taken in Kotor, Montenegro, Oct. 2024

Words: 78

Average Length: 4.74

You don’t have to solve crosswords for long before figuring out that some names come up over and over again.  Well, more accurately, some first or last names (ENO, ISSA, ALOU, ESAI …). 

One of the most commonly used names – a first name, in this case – belongs to a wonderful singer who deserves to have her full name, along with the song that is often used to clue her, contained in a puzzle.  This puzzle, in fact.  And, because that song can be read as an imperative, I decided to take its instruction to heart in more than two dozen of this puzzle’s entries.

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Mini

AB Positive

A not-so-humble 2 Down: Monaco’s Palace Princier (Oct. 2024)

Words: 10

Average Length: 5.00

I started this grid with the 2D/8A combination, then added 3D/7A,  then decided to include as many other soundalike as I could.  I hope the result is enjoyable rather than annoying!

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Themeless

Themeless 109

See 30 Across. Photo taken in Amsterdam, Oct. 2019

Words: 72

Average Length: 5.36

I had lots of fun cluing this one – consider that fair warning to expect a bit of silliness.  The seed was 37 Across, which originally was going to be one of a suite of answers for a themed puzzle.  I couldn’t come up with enough other decent themers, so it’s been repurposed here.

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Midi

Go With the Flow

Here’s an additional clue for 16 Down. Photo taken in Cologne, Oct. 2019.

Words: 28 (9×9)

Average Length: 4.93

The seeds for this puzzle, not surprisingly, were 4 and 24 Across, which make use of the title in different ways.  14 Across also was a seed, just because I like the logic of it.  Fitting  4 Down in was serendipitous – or therendipetouth, as Sylvester would say. 

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Themed

Streaming Tunes

Te Anau, New Zealand (Feb. 2024)

Words: 79 (16×15)

Average Length: 5.01

Every so often, when angling for a theme, I cast my line once again into the musical deeps.  For today’s puzzle, I landed four tunes (18, 25, 41, and 52 Across) whose titles fit nicely into a piece that premiered three centuries ago (66 Across).  I hope the solving experience is smooth sailing!

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Uncategorized

G’day Mates 1

Sydney Opera House, Jan. 2024

Words: 11 (6×5)

Average Length: 5.09

Here’s a shout-out to all the wonderful Australians I’ve met on my travels over the past few years! 

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Themeless

Themeless 108

A different kind of 55 Down. Photo taken in Lisbon, Portugal, Nov. 2022.

Words: 70

Average Length: 5.43

Here’s a straightforward themeless, clued a bit more gently than my usual.  Note on the clue for 20 Across: that’s what “puttanesca” means.

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Midi Uncategorized

What Are They Worth?

Parrots seen last Tuesday at an aviary near the Port of Cartagena.

Words: 24 (9×9)

Average Length: 4.67

I’ve been wondering about the difference in valuation between 10A and 4D.  Is it because we value our own thoughts more highly than others value them?  (Anything to avoid thinking about the state of the world!)

online | puz | pdf | solution

I just returned from a cruise that took me from San Diego to Miami. If anyone is interested, I’ve been blogging about it on my PuffinlessTravel site. Here are links to the posts:

Aboard the Oceania Insignia

Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo

Zihuatanejo

Guatemala – The Tour That Didn’t Happen

Costa Rica – Pura Vida!

Transiting the Panama Canal – Bay Gulls and Locks

Cartagena, Colombia

Grand Cayman

Sailing the Oceania Insignia from San Diego to Miami

Categories
Themed

In the Beginning

I went through the Panama Canal last Monday. Here’s a picture of the Miraflores Locks with a huge ship in front of ours.

Words: 72

Average Length: 5.14

I set myself a construction challenge on this one – come up with a grid where the revealer crosses all four theme answers.  I succeeded in doing so, but at the expense of including a passel of 3s.  Have at it, and enjoy!

If you’re a fan of all manner of word puzzles – crosswords, Rows Gardens, acrostics, snake charmers, spirals – do yourself a favor and check out Jeanne Breen’s brilliant new puzzle site, In Pursuit of Puzzles.

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Mini Themeless

Puns, Anagrams, and General Goofiness 2

Goofy statues in San José del Cabo, Mexico

Words: 18 (7×7)

Average Length: 5.00

I’m nearing the end of a wonderful cruise from San Diego to Miami.  On a sea day last week, while waiting for trivia to start, I decided to construct a ridiculous puzzle, as one does.  This one includes a made-up word (1 Across), an anagram or two, a bunch of puns, and some absurd definitions. 

online | puz | pdf | solution