Category: Themeless

Themeless 85

Grand Palace, Bankgkok (See 30 Across). Photo taken Apr. 2024.

Words: 72

Average Length: 5.25

Note – due to my oft-demonstrated inability to include accurate cross-references, please note that the proper cross-reference in the clue for 60 Across should be 6 Across, not 2 Across

I think a lot about interconnectedness – my 66-year-old brain often acts like it’s still back in a late-night dorm room discussion – which led directly to the three seed answers (the grid-spanners). I’ll leave you with this link to 15 Across (one of my favorite early Dylan songs) and with a plea not to think me too delusional once you see the clue for 55 Down.

online | puz | pdf | solution

Tags Difficult crossword, Themeless Crossword

A Lot of It

Post author By Jeff
Post date August 21, 2024
1 Comment on A Lot of It

Nothing to do with the puzzle, just a cool pic from my recent trip to Iceland (the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, to be precise)

Words: 18

Average Length: 4.89

1 and 7 Across were the seed entries. I spent far too long trying to configure them and fill them in a way that worked, then clued everything, then relaxed – and realized I’d violated a cardinal rule of construction: avoid duplication of entries or parts thereof. Alas, a certain 2-letter word appears three times in this mini, but what are indie puzzles for if you can’t break the rules once in a while? So I decided to embrace the iconoclasm in the title. (Also, my apology if you find 4 Down offensive. But if the sandwich fits ….)

online | puz | pdf | solution

Tags Crossword, Medium Difficulty, Mini

Themeless

Themeless 84

Cat guarding the coin box. Madeira (Nov. 2022). See 1 Across.

Words: 70

Average Length: 5.34

The three longest answers were the seeds. Each of them found a home here after failing to fit well in a couple of themed puzzles that just didn’t pan out.

Here’s a bonus hint for 20 Across: two of my favorite songs of theirs are covers: Friend of the Devil and Big Yellow Taxi. Favorite originals: Rain King, Hard Candy, Mrs. Potter’s Lullaby (which has one of my favorite lines: “If dreams are like movies, then memories are films about ghosts”).

online | puz | pdf | solution

Tags Medium Difficulty, Themeless Crossword

Themeless

Themeless 83

Post author By Jeff
Post date August 4, 2024
1 Comment on Themeless 83

Female blue-footed booby, Santa Fe Island, the Galapagos (see 25 Across). Photo taken Sept. 2022.

Words: 68

Average Length: 5.56

I had lots of fun cluing this one (favorite clue: 32 Across; I’m also partial to 2 Down and 3 Down). The seeds were the two long down answers, though I’ve wanted to include 20 Across and 24 Across in a puzzle for a while. Please enjoy!

online | puz | pdf | solution

Tags Difficult crossword, Themeless Crossword

Themeless

Themeless 82

Post author By Jeff
Post date July 21, 2024
1 Comment on Themeless 82

Reflection of my granddaughter’s dress in some soap bubbles (Rockville, MD July 2024). Nothing to do with the puzzle but pretty neat, huh?

Words: 73 (16×15)

Average Length: 5.59

I’m trying something different with this write-up because it’s a rainy Saturday afternoon and constructing complete sentences seems like a lot of effort at the moment.

Favorite clues: 25A, 61A

Favorite fill: 10A

Least favorite fill: 4D. I spent a lot of time looking for alternatives, alas to no avail.

Recommendation: 41A – if you like dark, darkly humorous crime fiction, check out the Ian Rankin books mentioned in the clue.

Favorite trivia: 51A

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Tags Difficult crossword, Ian Rankin, Themeless Crossword

Themeless

Themeless 81

Post author By Jeff
Post date July 6, 2024
No Comments on Themeless 81

Swamp (see 11 and 12 Down). Photo taken in Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Del Ray, Florida Jan. 2015)

I’m really happy with the architecture on this one: only 29 blocks and 6 three-letter answers, with wide-open corners and lots of flow. Oh, and an opportunity to include one of my favorite Jackson Browne songs (55 Across) and historical fiction authors (30 Across). Throw in a crispy applesauce delivery device (40 Down) and a mecca for great bagels (38 Across) and you’ve got yourself a grid.

online | puz | pdf | solution

Tags Bagels, Difficult crossword, Jackson Browne, Themeless Crossword, Wolf Hall

Themeless

Themeless 80

Post author By Jeff
Post date June 23, 2024
1 Comment on Themeless 80

See 51 Across. Photo taken in Rockville, MD May 2024.

I think this one should play a bit gentler than most of my themeless puzzles. I’ll leave you with two gorgeous recordings of 47 Down, which is one of my favorite Beatles songs, early or late. (1) The original. (2) Cover version by Emmylou Harris:

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Tags Cash Cab, Difficult crossword, Emmylou Harris, The Beatles, Themeless Crossword

Themeless

Themeless 78

Post author By Jeff
Post date May 26, 2024
1 Comment on Themeless 78

Words: 68

Average Length: 5.53

The two grid-spanners were the seeds for this themeless, and once I had them in place I decided to design a grid with minimal 3-letter answers (only four, in this case). For solving accompaniment, here’s a link to the late, great Warren Zevon performing “Werewolves of London” (see the clue for 22 Across).

online | puz | pdf | solution

Tags Difficult crossword, Themeless Crossword

Themeless

Themeless 77

Post author By Jeff
Post date May 12, 2024
1 Comment on Themeless 77

7 Down seen from St. John’s Church. Photo taken March 2012.

Words: 72

Average Length: 5.47

This one probably will play pretty tough, what with lots of long fill, not many 3’s, a bit of German, and a few twisted clues. Think how satisfied you’ll be when you complete it!

online | puz | pdf | solution