Double or Nothing #7

Double or Nothing #7 - PDF | PDF (Grayscale) | Solution

Back with another Double or Nothing puzzle. These Patrick Berry-invented creations seem to be a big hit with solvers, so happy to run another one here. Whereas Berry Double or Nothings are built around a multi-part quote (typically about gambling), I tend to use the format as a way to get extra-long entries that normally wouldn't fit in a typical 15x15 grid. In this puzzle, the seeds were 17- and 56-Across and 7-Down. As always, hope you enjoy!

Speaking of Patrick Berry, he's just released a new meta-suite of variety puzzles called The Blabyrinth. Anything that Patrick releases is an insta-purchase for me, so be sure to get your hands on this project if you haven't already.

Just one puzzle to go until Aries Rows Garden ceases weekly puzzles. Check back next week to get the December bundle if you aren't currently subscribed. 12/31/2024 UPDATE: Both the December bundle and the 2024 Second Half bundles are now available! The full 2014-2024 bundle, now including all 444 puzzles, has also been updated and is available in the Rows Garden Archive.

As explained in last month's announcement, I'll be certainly releasing original Rows Gardens in 2025, just on a more sporadic basis. And as also mentioned in that post, the monthly variety puzzles will continue apace, so definitely keep stopping by!

Happy solving,

-Andrew 

Twists & Turns #11

Aries Twists & Turns #11 - Harder (PDF) | Standard (PDF) | Standard (JPZ) | Solution (PDF)

It's Thanksgiving, so that must mean it's time for another Twists & Turns puzzle! If you've never tried your hand at one of these challenging puzzles, I recommend giving the Standard version a shot. The Harder version lists the Twists clues alphabetically which does ramp up the challenge even more, so fair warning that you're in for a workout. The Standard version is also available in digital JPZ format - first download the JPZ link above, then head over to Crossword Nexus and open the file to solve in their smooth online interface. Either way you solve, hope you enjoy!

In case you missed it, I wrote an essay earlier this week announcing the discontinuation of Aries Rows Garden. Thanks to all subscribers who have commented or written emails expressing their support! It really means a lot. As I explained in the essay, these monthly variety puzzles will continue, so do keep coming back and solving.

The monthly bundles are updated to include the November 2024 bundle, so if you're not a subscriber or want a small taste of the puzzles offered with Aries Rows Garden, scoop up a bundle or two. All subscription puzzles dating back to 2014 are offered for sale in the Rows Garden Archive, so if you want a bigger taste of RGs, pick up some whole or half year bundles there.

Happy Thanksgiving, and happy solving!

-Andrew

The End of an Era

After eleven years, I've made the difficult decision to discontinue the weekly Aries Rows Garden subscription service. The final puzzle, #11.53, will be emailed to subscribers on December 31st, 2024. 

I'm proud to say that it's been a good run. When I launched Aries Rows Garden in 2014, there was no puzzle service that exclusively offered Rows Gardens. I was flying blind in a sense, lacking a subscriber base proven to support one niche format, as well as a price point that would attract enough solvers to make it a financially viable venture. Slowly but surely a small but dedicated base emerged. Reflecting now in 2024, and after 444 (!) total Rows Gardens, I'm happy to report that the landscape is much different. There are two other Rows Garden services that have entered the market, and the Rows Garden solvership seems very well-served in comparison to those desolate pre-2014 days. 

While I freelanced as a full-time puzzle writer for five years, I've since transitioned to full-time work outside of puzzles, and I prefer a focused commitment to my current profession. For me, the Rows Garden is a very labor-intensive format, and the time needed to produce quality puzzles isn't as available as it once was. This was a decision that I certainly wrestled with, but ultimately it's the best one for me at this stage in my life. 

What does this mean going forward? First of all, I am planning on continuing the free monthly variety puzzles on the website, so do keep stopping by to solve original variety puzzles such as Twists & Turns, Double or Nothing, and Marching Bands. 

As far as Rows Gardens go, I may be shuttering the weekly puzzles, but I hope to offer RGs on an occasional basis in the future. The monthly bundles have proven to be a pleasant surprise as there seems to be a decent market willing to pay for smallish bundles. Nothing is currently set in stone, but I'm thinking of offering such a bundle of 5 or 6 original Rows Gardens perhaps once a quarter - and I would be willing to make that a regular thing, if a market proves viable. This is to say that I'm not done writing Rows Gardens, and stay tuned to the site for more info on when the next RG offering becomes available.

So while this is the end of one era, I hope it's the beginning of another. I want to extend a hearty "thank you" to all solvers who have subscribed over the years. If you're not a current subscriber but would like to be added to a mailing list so you can be updated on future Rows Garden offerings, just send me an email. And do come back each month to solve the free variety puzzles - I'll be back in just a few days for the annual Thanksgiving Twists & Turns!

Yours in solving,

-Andrew

Candy Boxes (Contest)

Candy Boxes - PDF | Solution (PDF)

It's time for another Boxes puzzle, and this time it's a contest! Special for the Halloween season, it's called "Candy Boxes." The instructions are included, and when completed, the letters not used in Boxes entries will suggest the name of a one-word candy brand. Email this candy brand by next Thursday, November 7th. I'll randomly select two solvers from correct submissions, one current subscriber and one current non-subscriber. Winners will win a three-month subscription (or three-month extension, if already subscribed) to Aries Rows Garden. I'll post the solution as well as announce the winners next week after the deadline. Hope you enjoy!

11/8/24 UPDATE: Thanks to all solvers who submitted an answer! Out of 89 correct entries, the two winners are Frank Broll and Kay Whitman! Congratulations to you both, and thanks again for all entrants. The solution has now been attached above. 

Also, S8: A Section Eight Puzzle Pack has been officially released, so be sure to scoop up a copy if you haven't already. And, the October monthly bundle for Aries Rows Garden is now available. A subscription to Aries Rows Garden is always available if you don't want to wait for the bundles.

Happy solving!

From A to Z #2 ... and Announcing "S8: A Section Eight Puzzle Pack"

From A to Z #2 - PDF | Grayscale PDF | Solution (PDF)

Back with another From A to Z puzzle this month. I hadn't realized it has been a full three years since posting the first of these puzzles. It's a fun and unique format and I'm happy to feature it again. PDF only - hope you enjoy!

Also, the September monthly bundle for Aries Rows Garden is now available, and a reminder that subscriptions are always open if you don't want to wait for the bundle every month. 

Last but not least, I'm thrilled to announce my next puzzle pack: it's called S8: A Section Eight Puzzle Pack! If you're a fan of Section Eight puzzles as much as I am, you'll love this collection of 8 brand-new puzzles. The official release date is October 24th, but if you pre-order before October 24th you'll get an additional two-puzzle bonus bundle immediately upon pre-ordering. 10/24/2024 UPDATE: S8 has been officially released! The Bonus Bundle is still available now as an add-on. For more details and to order, click here.

Happy solving!

Aries Freestyle August 2024

Aries Freestyle August 2024 - PDF | PDF (Grayscale) | PUZ | Solution (PDF)

While a freestyle crossword doesn't count as a variety puzzle, it's definitely a change-up for me. I haven't written a freestyle puzzle since the end of Aries Freestyle in December 2022, so it's definitely been a while. I hope you're okay with the change of pace. I made sure to go extra-hard on the cluing, so don't think you're getting off easy this month. Hope you enjoy!

The monthly bundles for Aries Rows Garden have been updated to include the August puzzles. And if you'd rather not wait for the monthly bundles, subscriptions are always open. The summer special is still available if you are not a current subscriber too. 

Happy solving! Back next month with something more firmly in the "variety puzzle" category.

Section Eight #2

Section Eight #2 - Harder (PDF) | Easier (PDF) | Solution (PDF)

Back this month with another Section Eight puzzle! These Patrick Berry inventions are a sort of current obsession of mine, and what's frustrating about that is that this format is relatively rare, even among Berry creations. I've exhausted the archive of the Berry Section Eights that ran in the Wall Street Journal since they launched their variety puzzle offerings in 2010, but even that well was already fairly dry - there were only five or six total puzzles included in that archive, including a period of eight (!) years where no Section Eight puzzle ran at all in the Journal. Joon Pahk has run a few of these for his variety service (he dubs them "Eight Tracks"), but other than that...I got nothin'. If anyone can point me to some unknown-to-me treasure trove of Section Eight puzzles - please, hit me up; interesting trades considered. 

From a constructing side of things, as I mentioned last year when I first ran a Section Eight puzzle, these are at the top of the list when it comes to "satisfyingly challenging" puzzle-writing experiences. Perhaps to fill the void of being unable to solve more of these puzzles, I've taken to binge-writing them for a new side project, which [hint-hint] you might hear details about soon. So stay tuned.

These are by nature a *hard* puzzle type, so be warned. There are two difficulty levels offered. The Harder version is the version that is offered in the WSJ - only the outermost Ring answers have known placements and letter counts; for all other Rings you must determine the placement and direction of the answers on your own. The Easier version discloses the direction and length of all answers. Still, I imagine the Easier version would play harder than even a Hardest-level Rows Garden, so don't feel like you're cheating by trying the Easier version, especially if this is your introduction to the format. Either version you try, hope you enjoy the challenge!

Speaking of Rows Gardens, there's one more Tuesday in July so stop by next week when the Monthly Bundles will be updated. 8/1/2024 UPDATE: The July monthly bundle is now available! Subscriptions are always open if you don't want to wait for the Monthly Bundles. 

Happy solving!  

Marching Bands #7

Aries Marching Bands #7 - PDF | JPZ | Solution (PDF) 

Back with another Marching Bands puzzle! These are always fun to make and I hope this one is fun to solve as well. There's a PDF for paper solving and a JPZ for digital solving. To solve online, first download the JPZ and then head over to Crossword Nexus and open the file to use their web interface. 

The archive has been updated: first with the June 2024 monthly bundle; also, the 2024 First Half bundle is now available, and the Full Archive dating from 2014 has been updated with the 2024 First Half puzzles. That full bundle now has over 400 puzzles! Get your hands on a bundle today, and/or subscribe to get weekly puzzles straight to your inbox. The Summer Special is still running for first-time subscribers which can get you some free archive puzzles as a bonus upon subscribing - also makes a great gift for the hardcore puzzler in your life.

Happy solving!  

Twists & Turns #10

Twists & Turns #10 - Standard (PDF) | Harder (PDF) | Standard (JPZ) | Solution (PDF)

Back with another Twists & Turns puzzle! If you've never tried your hand at one of these challenging puzzles, I recommend giving the Standard version a shot. The Harder version lists the Twists clues alphabetically which does ramp up the challenge even more, so fair warning that you're in for a workout. The Standard version is also available in digital JPZ format - first download the JPZ link above, then head over to Crossword Nexus and open the file to solve in their smooth online interface. Either way you solve, hope you enjoy!

If you're interested in more T&Ts, pick up the Twists & Turns puzzle pack from a few years ago - 50% off for a limited time! 

On the Rows Garden front, the May bundle has been posted. Subscriptions are always open for Aries Rows Garden - and if you've been on the fence about subscribing, check out the Summer Special for new subscribers: you'll get three *free* months of archived Rows Gardens if you purchase a 1-Year or 6-Month subscription! For more details and to subscribe, head over to the Subscriptions page.

Happy summer, and happy solving!

Double or Nothing #6

Double or Nothing #6 - PDF | PDF (Grayscale) | Solution (PDF)

Back with another Double or Nothing puzzle! It was fun to build this puzzle around a standard crossword theme. The unique nature of a Double or Nothing puzzle means that you can work with a theme set that doesn't have perfect symmetry in terms of the lengths of the answers. While those answers all occupy 15-letter slots in the grid, not every square in those slots are filled in in a Double or Nothing puzzle. The only real constraint is that every answer in a Double or Nothing puzzle needs to have an even number of letters, and I did luck out in that regard. All in all, I liked how this puzzle came together - hope you enjoy!

Still one more Tuesday to go in the month so check back next week to scoop up the Rows Garden monthly bundle for April. 4/30 UPDATE: The April bundle is now posted! Or if you'd rather not wait, subscriptions are always open so you can get puzzles on a weekly basis rather than needing to wait for the bundles.

Happy solving!

Aries Acrostic #3

Aries Acrostic #3 - PDF | JPZ | Solution (PDF) 

Back with another Acrostic for this month's variety puzzle! While I don't construct acrostics too often, it is a fun challenge to break out the Scrabble tiles and build a word list from the quote letters. It's a different kind of construction challenge that has the effect of making several hours go by very quickly. Brain twisting for sure but satisfying at the same time. Anyway, I've got a PDF and a JPZ version posted. To solve digitally, download the JPZ file and then head over to Crossword Nexus and open the file. Either way you solve, hope you enjoy!

Also, the Monthly Bundles for Aries Rows Garden have been updated through March. Snap up a bundle or two, or even better, save the wait and subscribe to Aries Rows Garden for a weekly fix of puzzly goodness.

Happy solving! 

Aries Cryptic #35 - "Leap Day" (Contest)

Aries Cryptic #35 - "Leap Day" - PDF | Solution (PDF) | Intro to Cryptics (PDF)

Back this February 29th with a variety cryptic appropriately titled "Leap Day" - and it's a contest! PDF only this month, and all the relevant instructions are included in the PDF. Email me the final three-word phrase by Sunday, March 10th for a chance to win a 3-month Aries Rows Garden subscription. Two winners will be chosen - one for a current non-subscriber, and one for a current subscriber who will receive a 3-month extension to their current subscription.

Speaking of Rows Garden subscriptions, a reminder that subscriptions are always available. The February monthly bundle has also been added to the archive as well.

Happy solving!

3/14/2024 UPDATE: The solution has been posted. Thanks for all who solved! 62 solvers submitted a correct answer, and the two randomly selected solvers who received a three-month Aries Rows Garden subscription were Roman Koshykar and Priscilla Olson. Congrats to both Roman and Priscilla! 

Ice Boxes

Ice Boxes - PDF | Solution (PDF)

Back with a second Boxes puzzle for this month's variety puzzle. From a solving perspective, these puzzles are among my favorite of the Patrick Berry-developed variety puzzle types, and they're very enjoyable to create as well. PDF only for this format - hope you enjoy!

Still one Tuesday to go in January so check back next week for the January bundle for Aries Rows Garden puzzles. 1/30/2024 UPDATE: The January monthly bundle is now posted! Of course, you can always subscribe to get the puzzles week-by-week so you don't have to wait for the bundles. 

Happy solving!