I’m sorry to miss a regular puzzle posting for what I think is the first time since I launched the site back in January 2020.
As many of you know already, we lost my dad last week suddenly. I’m doing pretty okay, but I’m not in the right headspace to puzzle very much. Thanks for understanding, and I’ll be back with another themeless on the 8th.
I made this grid a couple of years ago and got around to cluing it only a couple of weeks ago. Have fun!
Here lies a puzzle that was too esoteric for mainstream-land. I’m still going to hold onto the seed at 19A and try and use it somewhere that DOES go out to the wider world, because I think it’s a cool word that can be clued fairly. (It is also a word that describes me.)
I’ve been experimenting a bit with pinwheel-esque grids lately. Hope you enjoy this one!
This closes out year 3 of Tough as Nails. Whether or not you’ve been along for the ride, please pre-order the book! There are 18 new puzzles in the mix.
Thanks as always for solving!
This will be the last mini cryptic that I do on Tough as Nails. This is not to say that I don’t want those of you who are interested in cryptics but not ready for a full-size puzzle yet to give up! It’s just that there are other ways to do that now: There’s one every month with AVCX (subscription required), and also free 5×7 minis once a week at The Browser. So I’m leaving you in good hands!
In the meantime, this one’s quite sugary. Enjoy!
The library is open, darling. OFFICIALLY!
Despite the near-total focus of this blog on crosswords of various sorts, I really do spend a lot of time on trivia as the text under my logo implies. (Hey Jeopardy! Wanna hire me?)
I’ve gotten to explore the intersection between trivia and crosswords a lot through Inkubator’s collaboration with Atlas Obscura, and today’s puzzle is in that vein (although not in AO’s specifically). I was inspired to make it when I thought of the songs referenced at 19- and 57-Across, which are both really fun, and the connection between them even though they sound nothing alike. I hope you enjoy this departure from the usual!
PS: Want me to write trivia, or a trivia puzzle, for your organization? Hire me!
I see 1-Across everywhere I go, it seems, so here’s a puzzle!
Crosswords and Trivia by Stella Zawistowski 