Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

Today's crossword was Blake Slonecker's 9th in the NYTimes, and his 4th Saturday, so he definitely knows how to write challenging clues. The grid here was impressive, with 4 full-width and 4 full-height answers -- no easy feat. And the clues were engaging, amusing, and educational. Apart from the clues mentioned in today's podcast, we did appreciate learning about 52A, Colorful knit top with Scottish origins, FAIRISLESWEATER; enjoyed 47D, Core location, TORSO; and were suitably deceived by 49A, Corruption below deck, perhaps, WOODROT. 

Apart from the crossword, today's episode features our JAMCOTWA - Jean and Mike Crossword Of The Week Award™️ - so have a listen, and, as usual, please tell others about us on social media.

Show note imagery: A FAIRISLESWEATER by Stella McCartney (eh, the company, owned by Stella McCartney, the designer)

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What, you may ask, makes for a perfect Friday crossword? We're not sure about the what, but we are about the who: Adrian Johnson, the author of today's and 5 prior NYTimes Friday crosswords, definitely knows how to make one. Both hosts found his latest to be exceptionally tricky, but, ultimately (with a little luck, a lot of experience solving past NYTimes crosswords, and a surfeit of caffeine), doable.

Besides the crossword, we also have a Fun Fact Friday™️segment, and it's a really sockerooni 😀 

Show note imagery: a CANTILEVER, a beam where only one end is attached.

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This crossword had a most ingenious theme. Jean spotted it at once, enabling her to solve the puzzle in a goodly time; Mike, alas, solved it in a not-so-goodly time, meaning he had more time to savor all the ingenuity packed into Timothy Gaetz's debut crossword (bravo, Timothy!).

All the themed clues were outstanding, but the non-themed ones weren't slackers, either: 56D, Down Under bounders, ROOS; 67A, Flat sign, TOLET; and 15A, Like 2027 and 2029, but not 2025, PRIME, are just a few examples -- check out today's episode for even more.

Show note imagery: OSCARSHALL Palace, even more stunning on the inside.

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It is unclear when "crunchy" was first used to categorize crosswords, but what is clear is that today's was definitely a crunchier than usual Wednesday - just the way we like it! Need proof? Check out today's episode, when we run through the crunchiest of the crunchy clues, for your edification and amusement.

Show note imagery: T.S. Eliot, not looking nearly as stern as his middle name might lead one to expect 😉 

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There was a lot to love in today's crossword, but it had us at 25A, Ref. work with definitions for "colour" and "aluminium", OED (our favorite reference work of all time). We became even more smitten thanks to 27A, Andy Warhol's "Campbell's Soup Cans," e.g.,  POPART; and the kicker had to be the shoutout to one of our favorite foodstuffs, 30D, Vegan protein source, TOFU (yum!).

Since it is Tuesday, we have another one of our patented, trademarked and copyrighted Triplet Tuesday™️ segments, so to see how Mike (in the hotseat tonight) fared, have a listen to today's episode.

Show note imagery: The OED, further proof that the Brits don't know how to do anything by halves 😀 

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This was a very fine sophomore crossword by Anthony V. Grubb, appearing almost exactly one year after his NY Times debut (also a Monday). The theme was cute; the clues, at an apposite Monday level, included a few gems. For instance, 19D, Superfan, in slang, STAN (we're big STAN STANs 😀); 31D, Pink Nintendo character from Planet Popstar, KIRBY (we're also big KIRBY STANs 😀 😀); and the somewhat fishy 55A, Hook, line and sinker, for an angler: GEAR (😉).

Show note imagery: Just in time for spring, a SPRIG of thyme 😉

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If you grew up on Jumble (as, apparently, the author did), then you'll feel right at home tackling this awesome homage to anagrams, an impressive debut by Sam Brody. Ironically, the word anagram does not have an anagram, and so it is with great pride that we introduce the newest word in the English language, gramana, (n., a feeling of bliss that a grandmother feels upon first meeting the reason that they have ascended to the rank of grandmother). 

Show note imagery: Fanny HESSE, who revolutionized microbiology through her brilliant suggestion to use AGAR, instead of gelatin, to culture microorganisms.

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Today's puzzle was an enjoyable albeit challenging tag-team effort by Adam Aaronson and Ricky Cruz. Jean got through it in good time, Mike ... got through it, slowed down in numerous areas, but primarily by his refusal to accept that [DELETED, NO SPOILERS] was a real word. 

In other news, we've selected our JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award), and it really was an easy choice this week: deets inside.

Show note imagery: Yep, those are indeed camels, going for a dip in the [DELETED, NO SPOILERS].

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This was a fine end-of-work-week crossword by Rafael Musa, his 19th for the NYTimes and his 9th Friday, so he certainly knows this day well! Though seemingly not hugely difficult, it was a good warmup for Saturday, with fun late-week clues, such as 24D, 4 is a good one, in brief, APSCORE (🧐); 51D, Like some orders, TALL (😀); and 38D, Mythical land of untold riches, ELDORADO (👑)

In addition to the crossword, we have a great bit of listener mail / Fun Fact Friday segment for your enjoyment and edification, so prepare to become joyful and edified 😀 

Show note imagery: Possibly the Louvre of topiary, done for the love of topiary 😀 

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The constructor of today's crossword, John Kugelman, is mostly known for his Sunday crosswords: but somehow he managed to squeeze all that ken into a 15x15 grid, and the result is this fine Thursday oeuvre. Some particularly noteworthy clues include 2D, Anarchist Sacco, NICOLA (yes, it's Wikipedia time 🙄); 1D, Something to wear on a run, SKICAP (⛷); and 51A, Word from a loud speaker, maybe, RANT (😀).

Show note imagery: Mensa seems to be lacking in star power -- it only has 4 of them -- but then it does have the Large Magellanic Cloud, with 30 billion, so it's all good.

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