Dinkens Pickens Ickens
Mystery #21 is here
Mystery #21: A More Perfect Union
I'm thrilled to welcome our newest member of The Mystery League, Mao Reynolds, who comes to us from Loyola University, where he previously wrote dozens of crosswords for the Loyola Phoenix newspaper. One of Mao's first projects here was the construction of a 21x21 meta-crossword, based on a premise that I've been wanting to do for years. You can solve it now here:
Sandy Weisz
A meta-crossword starts out like a normal crossword, but there's a message hidden in there somewhere. To find it, you will have to a) solve the grid and b) deduce the mechanics at play. There are a few clues waiting for you in the grid. If you'd like more hints, you can find them on the page linked above, but they're only visible to Signals Boosters.
June Puzzler
Every month I post a new bite-sized puzzle. Here's the latest one:
Take the last name of a famous nineteenth century novelist. Change one letter to get a word for someone who enjoys pot. Alternatively, change a different letter to get a different term for the same. Alternatively still, remove a letter to get yet another term for the same. Who is this?
Submit your answer here 🗳Visiting PG's Playhouse
Peih-Gee Law
Peih-Gee Law invited me to be a guest on her puzzle podcast, PG's Playhouse. She quizzed me and co-host David Spira on brand slogans and jingles. Then we talked about my business a little bit. It was a really fun time, and this was just part one; if you subscribe you'll be alerted when part two comes out.
DASH Registration closes soon
Different Area Same Hunt (DASH) is a worldwide, day-long puzzle event. This year the theme is Delightful Animal Sanctuary Holiday. I've been to every DASH since #3, and it's one of my favorite puzzle events of the year. After a multi-year COVID hiatus, I'm glad they're back. Registration is only open until June 22. The event is happening in a bunch of cities, including…
- Atlanta, GA
- Boston, MA
- Chicago, IL
- Denver, CO
- Los Angeles, CA
- New York, NY
- Portland, OR
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Seattle, WA
- Washington, DC
… and many more.
A Trans Person Made Your Puzzle
In response to hateful anti-trans legislation and the "Do Not Travel" warning for trans people visiting the U.S., a group of transgender crossword constructors have united to make a special collection of crosswords with proceeds going to U.S.-based trans charities. The puzzle collection, started by NYT-published constructor Ada Nicolle, celebrates trans joy and culture.
To download the set, donate $10 or more to any of the charities listed on their website, send a receipt to the creators, and they'll send you your puzzles. They've already smashed through their goal of $5,000 — which means they'll be adding bonus cryptics and other puzzles to the set.
Square Theory
Adam Aaronson
Adam Aaronson discusses the intricacies of double doubles, or pairs of compound words and phrases that appear similar but mean very different things, like PUB QUIZ and BAR EXAM. It's a fascinating look at semantic connections, the power of multivalent words and how this all applies beyond the world of crosswords — with plenty of visual aids along the way. (See also: Ricki Heicklen's Unparalleled Misalignments.)
Cryptic Snakewords
Cryptic Snakewords is a letter-based sudoku. You have to figure out which 12 letters fit on the grid exactly once per row, column and box. To do so, you have to solve cryptic clues that lead to snake-like entries, each of which starts on a colored box and moves orthogonally until it ends on the designated square.
Sven Neumann, svensvencodes.com
Buzz-le Hunt at Chicago Botanic Garden
For those of you in Chicago: As part of their Garden Game Nights program this summer, the Chicago Botanic Garden is hosting a bee-themed puzzle hunt designed by The Mystery League. It's free to play, with admission to the Garden. It runs June 26, July 17 & 31, and August 14 & 28. More info here:
Solution to the May Puzzler
Start with the name of a famous Hollywood director. Take his first name, remove the first letter, and you'll get the name of an organ. Adjacent to that organ is another organ that may be afflicted with the director's last name. Who is this?