Words: 72
Average Length: 4.97
Difficulty: Easy like Sunday morning … if you’re a Motown fan
Smokey, the Temptations, Stevie, Marvin, and the Supremes have restaurants named (with a twist) after some of their most famous songs. Let’s eat!
Please enjoy, share, and comment if you like.
Words: 78
Average Length: 4.82
Difficulty: Like a Drake Passage crossing?
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!
Words: 78
Average Length: 4.74
Difficulty: In inverse proportion to 2021 …
… 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).
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?
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!
Words: 76
Average Length: 4.82
Difficulty: 2.5 out of 5
Here’s a gentle, Thanksgiving-themed puzzle. Best wishes for a scrumptious, safe, and stress-resistant holiday. Enjoy!
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.
Words: 77 (16×15 grid)
Average Length: 5.14
Difficulty: 2-4 out of 5
The difficulty range depends on whether certain mathematical/physical symbols are all Greek to you. Helpful hints/spoilers for the theme answers are below the photo. I hope you enjoy the puzzle. Next week (11/14) brings a challenging Themeless.
HINTS/SPOILERS:
19A: Psi is the symbol for the wave function.
26A: Lambda is the symbol for wavelength
57A: Rho is the symbol for density
60A: Nu is the symbol for degrees of freedom
Jeff's Puzzles