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Mini Themed

Vermouth Needed

Words:  15 (7×7)

Average Length:  5.73

A few days ago I read an article about the never-to-be-equaled season that a certain baseball Hall of Famer enjoyed in 1968.  Then I watched an episode of Cash Cab where a certain cocktail came up in the answer – and it shared a name with the baseball player.  I realized that the crossword gods were sending me a message; hence the grid. (Think of the partial duplicate as a feature, not a flaw.)

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Mini

Headroom

An additional clue for 1 Across. Photo taken at Lascaux IV, April 2023.

Words:  9 (5×4)

Average Length:  4.44

I may have lost my head thinking this grid was a good idea, but if you keep yours about you I’m sure you’ll have no trouble solving it. Enjoy!

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Mini

Oh Sheet

Street scene, Alesund, Norway, June 2017, with a ubiquitous 5 Down in the lower right

Words:  11

Average Length:  5.27

This one started with the answer/clue pair in 7 Across, which proved surprisingly difficult to build a small puzzle around.  I tried it in every row before finding a layout that worked.  Ah, the woes of constructing!

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Mini Themed

They’re Relatives

Orioles Park at Camden Yards, July 29, 2023 after a storm. Home of the AL East-leading Baltimore Orioles, who have nothing whatsoever to do with this puzzle but are a lot of fun to watch

Words:  12 (6×6)

Average Length:  5.50

Here’s a medium-difficulty grid with some elementary music theory and a Dolly Parton song that, in my opinion, is one of the best songs ever. 

online | puz | pdf | solution | alternate puz link

I just learned the original puz link may be broken. If so, please try the alternate.

Categories
Mini Themed

Out There

Words:  10

Average Length:  4.80

Don’t get lost in 1 Across.  (“Danger, Will Robinson” – and if that means something to you, you’re at least as old as I am!)  Please enjoy, and come back Sunday for a medium-difficulty themed puzzle. 

online | puz | pdf | solution

[Photo: see 1D; taken in the Hungarian Parliament, July 2023]

Categories
Mini

Connect Four

St. Stephens Basilica, Budapest, Hungary

Words:  10

Average Length:  4.60

This one should be solvable in 1 Down/3 Down.  Enjoy!

I just returned from a fascinating trip from Bucharest to Budapest. If you’d like to see some photos and read about it, please check out my travel blog, PuffinlessTravel.com. In addition to the travelogue, the final post is a point-by-point comparison of Viking River Cruises and Tauck River Cruises, if that’s of interest.

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Mini Themed

Wind and Fire

Female and male waterbucks, Fathala Wildlife Reserve, Senegal (see 1 Down) (Photo taken Dec. 2022)

Words:  10

Average Length:  4.60

I guess I could have posted this in either April or September (as you’ll see once you solve), but as we are once again beset by smoky air, heat, and hurricanes, this is as good a time as any. If any solvers have personal knowledge that the clue for 5 Down is wrong, please let me know!

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Mini Themed

Gotta Split

Random picture of Albert Einstein made out of gourds, Hartheim, Germany (Oct. 2019). There’s no need to be an Einstein to solve this puzzle!

Words:  11 (6×5)

Average Length:  5.09

I set ‘em up so you can knock ‘em down.  Enjoy!

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Mini Themed

Alchemy End Points

See 4 Down. This is Mia. She fell asleep reading the book, which I don’t understand because it’s a pretty tense thriller.

Words:  11

Average Length:  4.73

I’ve seen this concept done as a word ladder, but a mini-puzzle doesn’t allow for such sleight of hand.  Nothing fancy here; I clued 1 Down the way I did because that show perfected the technique of starting out fabulous, keeping it up for three seasons, then cratering.  Just my opinion, of course.

online | puz | pdf | solution

Categories
Mini Themed

I Shutter To Think

Good morning from Paddington (picture taken in Lima, Peru, Aug. 2022)

Words:  11 (6×5)

Average Length:  4.36

Given the subject matter, I’ll call this a point-and-solve.  Quick and easy, I think, with minimal post-processing needed.

online | puz | pdf | solution