Friday, December 5, 2025 - Brian Callahan & Taylor Johnson

 Theme:  "Pocket change"

And here is a YouTube clip of one of the songs from this album

Puzzling thoughts:

The reason I chose "Pocket Change" as the theme title is because, well, I found that cool album cover photo and an equally cool song from that album.  So there!  But if we use it to describe today's puzzle, it fits; we see four entries that are all created from the letters in the word "pocket", so in a sense, we have (a) pocket "change"  

In the grid image below, I highlighted the word P-O-C-K-E-T in each of the entries. I was hoping that the remaining letters in each entry would have some added meaning, so I reached out to Taylor Johnson (one of the co-constructors) to further define what this puzzle's all about: 

Taylor replied, "It's essentially a letter-bank theme! Basically, the reveal is saying that each of those entries is "made OUT OF POCKET," meaning that the only letters used to make those entries are the letters in (the word) POCKET.  Some letters are repeated in some entries, but overall, the only letters that appear are P-O-C-K-E-T. I hope this clears things up! Thanks!"

Taylor said nothing more about whose idea this was, his or Brian's.  Both of these gentlemen have scores of published crossword puzzles between them; not sure if this was their first collaboration though

Entries:

17-across. *Odist with a passion for the culinary arts?: COOKTOP POET.  Might this inspire the Chairman to embrace this entry?  Why not!  How about a Moe-l'ick for a change?

        Former chef just decides to embark

        Doing stir-fry.  He went on a lark

        Opened restaurant in town

        Near the green; what a clown!

        'Cause he calls it: "A Wok in the Park"        

24-across. *Eight-member band from Seoul, perhaps?: K-POP OCTET.  How about another Moe-l'ick?

        K-Pop octet conducted a poll

        And the question was painfully droll:

        "Just because that we lack

        Any singer who's black

        Do you think that we ain't got no Seoul?"

37-across. *Social media community obsessed with quick kisses?: PECK TOK.  Sorry, nothing in this one inspired the Chairman, poetically ... and to be honest, I thought this entry could have been left out

 

However, after I wrote today's blog, I got an email from the constructors and explained (to this old Boomer) what this meant.  Apparently, people who love reading (for example) might have a "community" on Tik Tok that refers to all the people who make videos about books; and they are then known as "Book Tok".  I suppose that those who do kissing videos might resemble this one:

 

 

48-across. *Beverage sold at a Florida theme park?: EPCOT COKE.  I dunno if Brian and Taylor checked first, to see if Disney World features Coca-Cola products, but they do.  So, I guess I can let this one slide.  And because Disney serves Coca-Cola products, this one inspired a Moe-ku:

        Disney hired Coke

        To build a new attraction

        Called:  Fanta - Sea Land

Reveal:

59-across. Like some expenses, and how the answers to the starred clues are made?: OUT OF POCKET.  (Described above)

Here's the grid, and then off to the rest of the clues and answers:

Across:
1. Casual top?: CAMI.

5. __ page: website introduction: SPLASH.  Would've preferred ___ pool for this one; fun!

11. Spanish infinitive: SER.  To be in Espanol

14. Stratford-upon-__: AVON.  Birthplace of Shakespeare

15. Cause: LEAD TO.

16. Hullabaloo: ADO.  Does anyone remember this Hullabaloo?

[theme entry]

19. "Snowden" org.: NSA. Snowden

20. Morsel: TIDBIT.

21. Flavor of some purple ice cream: UBE.  I would not want ice cream to taste like this

22. Condition that affects one's ability to focus, briefly: AD/HD.

23. Pastoral: IDYLL.

[theme entry]

26. Word on a shoppe sign: OLDE.  Here is a shoppe where you can buy olde signs

28. "Yes __!": SIRREE.

29. Soft "Hey, you": PSST.

32. Great Basin people: UTES.

35. Gets warmer, in a way: NEARS.

36. Prefix in some genre names: ALT.

[theme entry]

39. Jazz guitarist Metheny: PAT. 

 

40. Paris river: SEINE.

42. Catch: HEAR.

43. IDs on tax forms: SSNS.  Mine is 123-45-6789.  Yours? [don't reply!] 

44. Star associated with Venus: SERENA.  Her sister; former tennis stars, Venus and Serena Williams.  The movie, King Richard, talks about their rise from Compton, CA to being the best sister act in sports

46. Expand: GROW.

[them entry]

51. Catch: HITCH.  

55. Infielder played by Bernsen in the "Major League" films: DORN.  An interview with Roger Dorn

56. Weep: CRY.

57. Eritrea's capital: ASMARA.

58. Egg cells: OVA.

[theme reveal]

61. Hat similar to a songkok: FEZ.  Songkok?  What the *?!# is that?  Oh, this:

62. "The way things stand ... ": AS IT IS.

63. "Je t'__": French "I love you": AIME.  

64. Get too much sun: FRY.

  

65. Change from residential to commercial, say: REZONE.  

66. Educational spots, briefly: PSAS.

Down:
1. Arizona flora: CACTI.  CSO to Lucina, Yuman, and yours truly - any other Arizonans I've missed? Here is a picture of a very rare cactus 

Crested Saguaro

2. Steer clear of: AVOID.

3. Mercurial: MOODY.

4. Image that's subject to interpretation: INK BLOT.

5. Opening: SLOT.

6. Verve: PEP.

7. Relish: LAP UP.  "Condiment" did not fit

8. Vinegary sauce: ADOBO.  Maybe one of our posters can share a recipe? 

9. Brews: STEEPS.  As in tea

10. Word with tip or take: HOT.  Hot tip; Hot take

11. Driving challenges?: SANDTRAPS.  The ones in the photo below are known as "The Church Pews" and were last seen in this past June's U.S.Open Championship held at Oakmont CC outside of Pittsburgh

12. "Thinking Out Loud" singer: ED SHEERAN.  Ed and I share the same birthday.  Here are some others who were born on this date.  And below you can listen to a seasonal song from Mr. Sheeran

13. Driving challenges?: ROAD TESTS.  If I recall, I passed on the first go around.  Had to parallel park; serpentine through cones; and do it all in a car with a manual gear box.  Apparently this is what the PA test involves nowadays

18. Register: TILL.  This:

22. Lot unit: ACRE.

24. Fore-and-aft rigged boat: KETCH.

25. [I'm a pig!]: OINK.

27. Outstanding: DUE.

29. Sent along (to): PASSED OFF.

30. Pajama party: SLEEPOVER.  Is this a song video you'd play at a sleepover? [contains a few nasty words so beware]

31. Suffering from cabin fever: STIR CRAZY.

33. Pull (out): EKE.

34. Play area: STAGE.

37. Cooped (up): PENT.

38. Bobby of the Bruins: ORR.  The best NHL player to wear the #4 sweater? 

41. Quite bright: NEON.

43. Pool wear: SWIM CAP.  What do you think of this one?

45. Point the finger at: ACCUSE.  

47. Very, very: OH SO.

49. Ana of "Love, Victor": ORTIZ.  This person: 

50. Onetime capital of Japan: KYOTO.  Maybe my co-blogger MalMan can comment about Kyoto?

52. Brand of rolled tortilla chips: TAKIS. Total unknown to me.  Don't think that I have ever tried them.  To those who have, are they any good?

53. Taco topping: CREMA.  It's the Mexican version of cream cheese

54. Abhors: HATES.

57. Cathedral area: APSE.  Crosswordese

59. Dory propeller: OAR. and 60-across. Dory propeller: FIN. Are clechos.  

59 across DORY

60 across DORY

Since I don't have deep pockets, this is all you get for today!  Have fun with your comments and/or questions.  See you in two weeks

Friday, November 28, 2025, Wendy L. Brandes

Good Morning, Cruciverbalists.  Malordorous Manatee here hoping that everyone shared a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday with family and friends.   Now, however, it is time to shake off those trytophan-induced food comas and take a look at a Friday puzzles by Wendy Brandes.  The theme of the puzzle seems appropriate both because yours truly has recently taken several days (weeks) off and because many people have today off from work/school.  Let's start with the unifier:

62 Across.  "You need some time away from work," and how to make the starred clues match their answers: TAKE A FEW DAYS OFF.

At three places in the grid (with their clues bearing stars) we need to drop an abbreviation for a day of the week from the clue in order to make the answers fit those clues.  The days of the the are consecuitve and we can only specultate as to whether or not that elegant twist was intended.

17 Across. *Bucket list entries?: LIFE LONG FRIENDS.  Drop the FRI(day) and the result is a group of life long ambitions.

27 Across. *Result of being left off a guest list?: SOCIAL SATIRE.  Drop the SAT(urday) and the result is SOCIAL IRE.  One might be angry for missing out on a social activity.

48 Across. *Big victory for the Mets or the Yankees, e.g.?: SUNNY DELIGHT.  Drop the SUN(day) and many folks in the Big Apple will be delighted with the win.  Without the "drop" it's a drink.

The completed grid looks like this:

Below are the rest of the clues and and answers.  Note that there are ten to thirteen names/proper nouns depending on what you wish to include (e.g. NASCAR) which seems to this blogger to be in line with current trends in the crossword world.

Across:

1. "Good to go!": ALL SET.

7. Happy dances: JIGS.

11. Spice mixture: RUB.  Common in BBQ circles.  Here's a link to one of the Manatee's favorite rubs:  Amazing Ribs - Memphis Dust Rub

14. Water heater: BOILER.

15. Again: ANEW.

16. Actress de Armas: ANA.

20. East, in Spanish: ESTE.

21. Had on: WORE.

22. Oft-turned things in a spy thriller: PAGES.

23. Implored: PLED.

25. Witty: CLEVER.

31. Show appreciation: THANK.

32. Jewel: GEM.

33. City choker: SMOG.

37. Broadcast: AIR.  Used as a verb.

38. Made secret, in a way: ENCODED.

42. Had oatmeal, say: ATE.  Clued this way there are countless substitutes for oatmeal.

43. Used cars?: RODE.  Used was used as a verb in the clue (and not used as an adjective).

45. B+, e.g.: ION.  B being the symbol for the element boron and the plus sign indicating an ION.

46. "High School Musical" actor Zac: EFRON.

52. Not commissioned: ON SPEC.  As in to speculate.

54. Environmentalist Brockovich: ERIN.  Made famous by the Jula Roberts film.

55. "To repeat ... ": I SAID.  Don't you make Al repeat it . . .

56. Crowd sound: ROAR.

58. British tennis player Raducanu: EMMA.  Unknown to this solver.  Thanks, perps.

65. __ out a win: EKE.

66. Reusable shopping bag: TOTE.

67. Org. that might have a Mustang circling a track: NASCAR.  Not a horse racing reference.  A Ford Motor Company reference.

68. Irate: MAD.  My girlfriend  got mad at me because I wouldn’t stop singing “I’m a Believer” by the Monkees. At first, I thought she was kidding.  But then I saw her face.

69. Peepers: EYES.

70. Indignant retort: DOES SO.


Down:

1. Qualified: ABLE.

2. "Number the Stars" novelist Lowry: LOIS.

3. Big moment in a pairs figure skating routine: LIFT.

4. Hit the snooze button, perhaps: SLEEP IN

5. Dragon roll fish: EEL.  With apologies to Dean Martin, Harry Warren and Jack Brooks:

When you swim in the creek, and an eel bites your cheek.  That's a moray.   When the moon hits the sand and an eel bites your hand  That's a moray.

6. Masonry tool: TROWEL.  What do you call a tech-savvy shovel?  An internet trowel.

7. Jaromír who is the oldest NHL player to record a hat trick: JAGR.

8. Passed on a bug to: INFECTED.

9. Eur. land: GER.  GERmany is in EURope.

10. Thief on "Dora the Explorer": SWIPER.

11. Spot for burners: RANGE.  As in what we cook on.

12. Below: UNDER.

13. Low voice: BASS.

18. Go-aheads: NODS.  Approvals.

19. Rainwater diverters: EAVES.  True but a bit of a stretch.

24. Winnebago, e.g.: LAKE.  RV was too short. 

26. Flavor of green Skittles: LIME.

27. Lead: STAR.  Hmm.  The clue/answer could be either a pair of nouns or verbs.

28. Home of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center: OHIO.

29. Part of a hand: CARD.  Palm would have fit.

30. Ecstasy's opposite: AGONY.

34. Actress Helgenberger: MARG.

35. Texter's "Let's look at this a different way": OTOH.  On The Other Hand

36. Fellow: GENT.

39. First number in Hawaiian ZIP codes: NINE.

40. Grounded in reality: CONCRETE.

41. Grocery section: DELI.

44. Always Morphing nail polish brand: ESSIE.  Some of us know ESSIE, Opi and Ulta well . . .but only from our puzzles. 

47. Delicacy: FINESSE.  Not something to eat.  Tact.  Looks sorta like ESSIE.

49. App release: UPDATE.

50. Out of power: DEAD.  Could have been clued Grateful ______ .

51. Entry on a to-do list: ERRAND.  Chore and task were both too short.

52. Honshu port city: OSAKA.

53. Bare: NAKED.

55. Tabloid pair: ITEM.

57. Needs to pay back: OWES.

59. Comfy shoes, for short: MOCS.  Moccasins

60. Some design degs.: MFAS.  Master of Fine ArtS

61. Natural hairstyle: AFRO.  The hairstyle is not really "natural" despite often being clued this way.

63. "The Crown" actress Claire: FOY.

64. NBA legend Ming: YAO.  A basketball reference.

Well, that will wrap things up for today.  For those who are interested, the travels went smoothly although we were surprised by this fellow upon turning a corner in Tokyo:

_______________________________________________

Friday, November 21, 2025 - Emet Ozar

 Theme:  "Repeat after me ..."

Puzzling thoughts:

Emet's crossword debut occurred @ Universal in June 2021 as part of their Pride Month celebration. IIRC, Universal featured puzzles that month that were created by LGBTQ+ constructors. The puzzle was titled: "I want the world to know".  In a Google search I found this @ autostraddle dot com: "Emet (Ozar) is a queer and genderqueer program manager, crossword constructor, and married parent to four children." 

Emet has been published a dozen or more times during this decade, including a NYT Sunday (debut) in 2022, and was last seen @ LAT in June, 2025

Today's offering seemed odd until I parsed each of the entries based on the clues.  My conclusion is explained in each of them below, and to make it easier to understand I separated the repeated words/phrases in each entry:

19-across. Beer endorsed by a British pop star?: DUA LIPA DUAL IPA.

Dua Lipa is a 30-year-old British Singer-Songwriter.  Click the link for a more complete biography

A Dual IPA (or Double IPA) is a category of India Pale Ale that features an increased level of malt and hops which both elevate the flavors and alcohol content by volume (the image below is one of my favorites in this category)

24-across. Relaxed prankster?: A TEASE AT EASE.  A "tease" might refer to a prankster.  When I started dating in HS, the term "a tease" had a much different meaning, but I digress ...

"At ease" is a term used mainly in the armed forces to "command" the troops to relax after standing at attention.  At the end of the clip below, Sgt. Hulka's men had a different interpretation of the term.  

"It's time to party, Italian style!"

44-across. Post-punk sudden death period became extremely exciting?: GOTH OT GOT HOT. 

Goth is a late 1970's early 1980's rock music sub-culture that appeared post punk rock.  OT (short for OverTime) refers to extra periods in various sports events that are needed to break a tie score at the end of the allotted time for the game (regulation).  "Sudden death" was a referral as to how the overtime period ended, as it once involved the first team to score to be declared the winner.  Now (for football, anyway) that has all changed 

"GOT HOT" might refer to how The Big Bang Theory's Howard Wolowitz was feeling, right up until the following scene from "The_Gothowicz_Deviation"

51-across. Jerk risked growing hangry?: TOOL ATE TOO LATE.  The term "tool" is an unflattering name for a person who acts like a jerk, is foolish, or is unlikable. The word "hangry" is an adjective/portmanteau that defines someone who is irritable due to being hungry or who hasn't eaten anything in quite a while  

I seem to recall an erstwhile commercial for a canned food product that had a similar reference.  In this case it was a tool WITH a tool ... just watch:

Was this puzzle too clever, perhaps?  I dunno.  I really wanted to be awed by this theme and set of entries, but I wasn't.  I realize how difficult it was to create, let alone find, a quartet of repeating phrases/words that have different meanings when parsed but it somehow fell flat for me 

FWIW, I thought the first two entries were more than OK and quite clever; the third was a real stretch though; and the fourth was a bit sophomoric.  Yeah Moe, sophomoric, eh? That's kind of like you (the pot) calling the kettle black! 😂

There are a few forced entries here and there which I will address as I get to them.  If I had to rate this puzzle with stars (1 ⭐ being a real clunker and 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ being the most fun I've ever had, solving a puzzle) this one gets ⭐⭐ and 3/4 ⭐

 

The Grid

Across:
1. Fiddle with: ALTER.  

6. Forensic facility: LAB.

9. Largest isle of the Inner Hebrides: SKYE.  And home to the dog breed Skye Terrier

[akc dot org says] "The heavenly breed with the heart of a lion,' the long, low, and level Skye Terrier is among the AKC's most distinctive-looking breeds. This elegant but sturdy aristocrat was bred as an exterminator on Scotland's remote Isle of Skye. Long, low, and level, this unique earthdog is among the AKC's most distinctive-looking breeds. Skyes stand 9 or 10 inches high and feature a long, flat-lying coat and peekaboo hairdo. They're known for big, feathery ears that stand up like bat wings, but Skyes can also have 'drop ears,' which lie flat against the large, long head. Beneath the profuse coat are short, muscular legs and a deep chest. When seen in profile, these elegant but substantial terriers are twice as long as they are high

13. Manufacturer "where every mattress is sheep approved": SERTA.  Cute commericial!

14. Zaire's Mobutu __ Seko: SESE.  I needed a google search to get this answer

15. Cosmic span: AEON.  I checked and this is the debut for the clue "cosmic span" to define aeon

16. Opening day squad: A-TEAM.  "TWENTY-SIX MAN ROSTER" was too long to fit; "opening day" to me connotes the reference to Major League Baseball - not sure I recall hearing the term a-team used for that sport

17. Hidden surprise for an observant gamer: EASTER EGG.  Emet's NYT Sunday puzzle on April 17, 2022 contained a plethora of EGGs.  Click on the link to see it

[theme entry]

21. Germane: APT.  Moe-ku: (and also a Fun Fact!)

        Google Translate says:

        "Zur Sache gehörig" is

        Germane, in German      

22. Currently: NOW.

23. Hosp. scan: MRI.

[theme entry]

30. Smoked jalapeño: CHIPOTLE.  

Also, the name of an eponymous restaurant

33. Longed for: YENNED.  What's the difference between yenned and YEARNED?

34. Malek of "Oppenheimer": RAMI.  Rami Malek and Issa Rae are two 21st Century actors who've become popularized (to some extent) with their inclusion in so many crossword puzzle answers/clues

35. Cozy spot for a cat: LAP.  Fun fact:  Moe is/was never a big fan of cats.  When he and Ms. Margaret moved in together, she had a cat (Sadie) that was going to be a part of our household.  I tolerated Sadie; she obviously wanted me to like her as is evidenced in the photo below:

37. Against: ANTI.

38. State on the Chukchi Sea: ALASKA.  Another "debut clue".  Honestly:  How many of you here today can admit that you knew of or had heard of the Chukchi Sea before?  Not I

By golly, there it is!

41. Precedent setter, legally: TEST CASE.  Those in IT probably got this one without having to google it

[theme entry]

46. __ carte menu: A LA.

47. Charged particle: ION.

48. Baked beans holder: CAN.  My favorite canned baked beans brand (Bush's):

[theme entry]

56. Emmy-winning role for Catherine O'Hara: MOIRA ROSE.  Ms. Margaret and I binge-watched the entire series of "Schitt's Creek" episodes back in the early COVID days.  Ms. O'Hara also played the mother role in the "Home Alone" movies.  But her Moira Rose character was my favorite (watch video)

57. Some "Bridgerton" characters: EARLS.

58. Odometer unit: MILE.  KILOMETER was too big to fit

59. Mardi __: GRAS.  I'm sure this goes without saying, but the translation of Mardi Gras is "Fat Tuesday" (Mardi = Tuesday; GRAS = Fat) 

60. Bite lightly: NIP AT.

61. To boot: ALSO.

62. Curvy shape: ESS.

63. Frock: DRESS.  I seem to remember the term "simple frock" being used to describe a dress, back in the day ... the one below looks anything but "simple", though

Down:
1. Carne __: ASADA.  Several foreign words in today's puzzle; this one, ASADA, means "roasted" in Spanish - Carne = Meat

2. Subside: LET UP.

3. "__ yourself!": TREAT.  "Suit" was too short to fit.  "Treat yourself" sounds like an invitation for a spa day

4. Bibliography abbr.: ET AL.  Moe-ku (this one is a bit tricky, but you'll get it!):

        Flying saucer crew

        Was under the command of

        Pilot ET AL 

5. Collide with: RAM INTO.  A literal take is in the video below:

6. Kryptonite blocker: LEAD.  I guess I had forgotten this from when I read Superman comics.  You'd think that given his other-worldly abilities, he could have fashioned his costume out of lead threads to ward off any krypton-induced assaults 

7. Accept without evidence: ASSUME.  And as the saying goes, when you do (assume), you make an ASS out of U and ME

8. Part of a radioactive decay stream: BETA RAY.  Or when parsed differently, a Moe-ku:

        Romano's debut

        Was delayed. Network had to

        Test a BETA RAY

9. Wrapped garment: SARI.  Moe-ku with the second and third lines inverted:

        Apple assistant

        Wore ugly frock. "That's

        A sorry SARI, Siri"

10. Care for: KEEP.

11. Practice with poses: YOGA.  How is it that when I try to do this it looks more like a downward facing log??

12. Lang. course: ENG.  I think I tried ESL at first, not realizing that the "L" for language would not be accepted as it's already in the clue

14. Element of coastal defense: SEAWALL.  Moe-ku:

        Rebel General's twin

        Brother was an Admiral,

        Named "Seawall" Jackson

        
18. Upper echelon: ELITE.

20. Sonia Sanchez, for one: POET.  Her biography

24. Very silly: APISH.  The word's second definition; its first definition means "resembling an ape"

25. Cold War defense gp.: SEATO.  Short for SouthEast Asia Treaty Organization.  It was founded in the fall of 1954; came into a treaty position in 1955 and was disbanded in 1977.  The member countries included the US, UK, and France in addition to New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan, Philippines, and Thailand.  One of its tenets was to prevent the spread of Communism to the region 

26. Make official, in a way: ENACT.

27. "Shogun" star Sawai: ANNA.

28. Related groups: SETS.

29. Nicollette's "Desperate Housewives" role: EDIE.

Edie is the one in the middle

30. Mountain goat's spot: CRAG.  A word normally found only in crossword puzzle answers

31. Beyoncé song with the lyric "I got my angel now": HALO.

32. "__ my wit's end": I'M AT.  Did any of you solvers say this phrase as you staggered to finish this puzzle?

36. Department store section: PETITES.  Two facts:  

        1) I am a man/was a boy so the dept. store section PETITES is/was unknown to me 

        2) I was a bit too heavy for my height as a boy and the dept. stores back then had a special section                for me known as HUSKIES

39. Lethargic marsupial: KOALA.  I think I tried SLOTH at first.  Are they marsupials?

40. On the lam: AT LARGE.  Moe-ku:

        A male sheep's AT LARGE;

        Hid at his kid's place, so yes,

        He's out on the lam(b)

42. "Scram!": SHOO.

43. Incessantly: TO NO END.

45. Gainesville collegians: GATORS.  The University of Florida is located in Gainesville, FL; their athletic teams' nickname are the Gators.  Their list of NCAA Championships across all sports

48. __ diem: CARPE.  "Seize the day!"

49. Book that's been mapped out?: ATLAS.  Clever clue

50. Makes preparations during pregnancy: NESTS.  This preparation (in the comic below) looks like something that Moe would do!

51. Work very hard: TOIL.

52. Essential __: OILS.  Here's a picture of a few of them

53. Cookie since 1912: OREO.  And in 1913, the word OREO made its first crossword puzzle debut

54. Those, in Spanish: ESAS.

55. Hideaway: LAIR.

56. UFC sport: MMA.  Short for Mixed Martial Arts

Comment below if you like ... BTW, SO to my daughter who celebrates a birthday today.  I know how old she is and I still can't believe it! Happy Birthday, sweetie!