Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

This was a gentle Monday crossword. Jean moved through it almost as fast as a MAKO (up to 46 mph, according to 29D). Mike took a tad longer, but was still able to MAKO good time 🙄. We have all the deets inside, so have a listen, and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss another episode.

Show note imagery: A few bars from EINE Kleine Nachtmusik, by Mozart

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In crossword circles, a debut answer is one that has never appeared in the grid before -- and they tend to bet quite interesting. Today, for instance, we had 33A, Food-centric broadcasts originating in South Korea, MUKBANGS (sounds intriguing); 65D, Periods of abstinence from TV, news, social platforms, etc., MEDIAFASTS (sounds like a focused Dandelion Break); and 111A, Some large structures for pet owners, CATCONDOS. All great answers,  cleverly clued, and part of an even greater crossword: we give it 5 squares on the JAMCR scale.

Show note imagery: The PENTAX 17, a film camera!!

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Today's crossword was a "relatively" straightforward Saturday crossword.  Saturdays are always tough, and this was by no means a walk in the park, but neither was it a rope-free climb of El Capitan. There were a few surprising clues in the grid -- most notably 27A, "That's so relatable," in modern slang, MOOD -- a very modern clue for an ancient answer, which made its first appearance on New Year's Eve, 1944. And right next to that we had the very witty 29A, Aquarius is one, perhaps surprisingly, AIRSIGN (nice!). And one that was a novelty (to Mike, at any rate: Jean, no doubt, is on their mailing list), 26A, ___ Dunn (brand of ceramic art and other housewares), RAE.

We have more fascinating facts inside, so have a listen, and, as usual, please let us know what you think!

Show note imagery: Agatha Christie's "The Mousetrap", now in it's 73rd-ish year!!

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This was a nice Friday crossword by Adrian Johnson, a bit of a palette cleanser after yesterday's definitely crunchier-than-usual epic. We found some great clues in the puzzle, such as 34A, Passage in a mystery novel?, HIDDENSTAIRCASE (😀); 12D, Light touch from a decorator?, ACCENTLAMP (brilliant, especially when it's turned on 😎); and the very best of the best, 23D, Styles of music, HARRY (😀 😀).

Show note imagery: Bahla Fort, OMAN, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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This was a debut crossword by Kathleen Duncan -- congrats!! -- and it was a doozy. Jean managed to get through it in fairly good time, but Mike ran into the proverbial lexicographic abyss in the southwest corner, and managed to escape just in the NICK of time. To hear more about his harrowing escape, and Jean's easy sashay through the very same puzzle, have a listen to today's podcast, and, as always, please tell others about us on social media.

Show note imagery: A SHEAF of paper, not to be confused with a SHEATH of ... paper

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One of the most enjoyable moments in NYTimes-crossword-solving, is when one is completely floored by an answer, only to discover, with a bit of research, that it is apparently the 5th most popular word of the year, and that you are the only person in a 10 mile radius who has not heard of it. We had such an experience in today's puzzle -- a fine effort by Brandon Koppy -- and we leave it to you, the listener, to determine which answer we are referring to. [Hint: it won't take you long to do so 😀]

Show note imagery: The original IMACs

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We had a fine Tuesday crossword by a frequent contributor to the NYTimes, Alex Eaton-Salners. There are many perfectly good reasons why AE-S has had 73 puzzles published in the pantheon of crosswords, and they are all on display in today's work. So check it out, and, as always, let us know what you think.

In other news, we have our latest Triplet Tuesday Contest winner, and very soon that winner will have ownership of a lovely bit of northeast Wisconsin swag, and a lovely t-shirt to boot. For those of you who entered but did not win, fear not! There will always be ... another TTC.

Show note imagery: Sao Tomé and Príncipe

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This was Thomas van Geel's second NYTimes crossword, and it is an awesome example of an LOL theme. Have a listen, and you'll see what we mean.

A reminder, this is your last day to enter last week's Triplet Tuesday Contest, and potentially win some magnificent swag. Just check out last Tuesday's episode, and then send your entry our way.

Show note imagery: Mount DENALI

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Today's crossword was somewhat of a gently sloping foothill for Jean, and an Everest atop an Everest for Mike. The former made it through the crossword in a longer-than-usual-but-still-reasonable time frame, whereas for the latter it seemed that several civilizations rose, prospered, and fell, before he finally got the happy music. 

We've covered the theme in today's episode, but some of the (many) notable clues that did not make the cut include 103D, Support line?, ISECOND 😀; 71D, Blood line, VEIN (😀 😀); and 49A, Honcho, NABOB (also an excellent brand of coffee, sold primarily in Canada ☕️☕️☕️). 

Show note imagery: A delicious WHOOPIEPIE

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We are delighted to announce the purely coincidental arrival, on the same day that this fabulous crossword brought us BARBIECORE,  of crosswordcore™ -- the rules of which are quite straightforward, and we are very pleased to be able to set forth, for the first time AFAWCT, right here:

1. Rule 1: wear and/or decorate with any color you want, as long as it's black or white 😀 
2. Rule 2: Other than rule 1, pretty much anything goes ... it is a rather laissez-faire core.

The puzzle that inspired crosswordcore was a fine one - Jean breezed through it, Mike euphemistically took his time to contemplate and savor every clue and answer, so that he could truly appreciate the genius of this puzzle's constructors -- Greg Snitkin and Glenn Davis.

Show note imagery: Either the map of a PLAYACTION, or possibly a physics diagram showing the interaction of subatomic particles (but we think the former).

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